Tony Kornheiser faces pushback for criticizing Post’s placement of WNBA over MLB

Sports commentator Tony Kornheiser faced pushback on Wednesday after he criticized The Washington Post’s placement of coverage of the WNBA’s Washington Mystics above of a story about MLB’s Washington Nationals after both teams saw post-season wins.

Some Twitter users slammed Kornheiser for saying on his podcast that it is “insane” that the paper put a story about the Mystics at the top of its sports section front page.{mosads}

“It’s insane that The Washington Post stripped that game across the top. The Nats got the bigger play, but you’ve got to be kidding me. I mean you’ve got to be kidding me,” he said about 40 minutes into his show. 

“This Nats game may well have surpassed Jason Werth’s home run as the greatest moment in Nats history and you’re putting a game 2 of the WNBA finals…ahead of that in the paper. I don’t get that,” he added later. 

The longtime sports writer was criticized on social media for the remark. 

 “Imagine watching that Nats win and feeling those beautiful feelings and seeing that giant happy picture on the front page then thinking, “You know what soured this? The presence of women,” tweeted sports reporter Ava Wallace. “How utterly pathetic.”

Imagine watching that Nats win and feeling those beautiful feelings and seeing that giant happy picture on the front page then thinking, “You know what soured this? The presence of women.” How utterly pathetic

— Ava Wallace (@avarwallace) October 2, 2019

Post sports editor Dan Steinberg said he believed the page’s layout was “good and correct.”

Kornheiser on today’s sports front: “It’s insane that The Washington Post stripped that [Mystics] game across the top. The Nats got the bigger play, but you’ve got to be kidding me. I mean, you’ve GOT to be kidding me.” pic.twitter.com/DzWOurHndw

— Dan Steinberg (@dcsportsbog) October 2, 2019

Ok it has been correctly pointed out that saying I will sit this out is stupid. I work at the place. I think we played it correctly. And it isn’t about page views or attendance. It’s about editorial judgment. I think this page was good and correct.

— Dan Steinberg (@dcsportsbog) October 2, 2019

“Kornheiser’s views is a representation of the problem in today’s society,” wrote James Wade, who coaches the Chicago Sky WNBA team. 

Kornheiser’s views is a representation of the problem in today’s society. It’s the freakin Finals MAN.

— James Wade (@coachjameswade) October 2, 2019

Other Twitter uses defended Kornheiser, saying that the Nationals game was particularly important. 

I had the same complaint. Wanted to keep and possibly frame, but didn’t think it got the treatment it deserved

— Dustin Fox (@dustinmfox) October 2, 2019 

Yet I hate to say it… but he’s right. That sports page should be devoted to the Nats. Just the way it is.

— Travis Rechenbach (@trechenbach) October 2, 2019