Monday, 11 May 2026

Tony Kornheiser

Contest: The US Athletic Hall of Fame - Commentators 2026
Embed from Getty Images
Sport(s): Football & Sports Talk Show Host
Statistics & Accolades: National Sports Media Association Hall of Fame
Washington D.C. Sports Hall of Fame
National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame
For the first 20 years of his career, Tony Kornheiser was revered as one of the wittiest and sarcastic sports writers in the country, especially at the Washington Post, where his weekly “bandwagon” article became a must-read for sports fans. In the early 90’s, he launched his radio show, but it was the television pairing with Michael Wilbon that made them synonymous with the sports-debate format, a concept that he may not have created, but certainly perfected.

In 2001, Kornheiser and Wilbon started “Pardon the Interuption”, a rapid-fire sports debate show where, for 30 minutes, the sports debates of the day are discussed in not only quick fashion, but with intelligence and humor. The format has been replicated often, but the copycats have yet to duplicate what Kornheiser and Wilbon created.

Kornheiser would also have a three-year run as a color analyst on Monday Night Football, and he is a regular on ESPN's football programming.

We are proud to nominate Tony Kornheiser for the United States Athletic Hall of Fame.