Editing Michael Wilbon

{{Short description|American sportswriter (born 1958)}}
{{BLP sources|date=June 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2012}}
{{Infobox person
| image              = Michael Wilbon 2011 (cropped).jpg
| caption            = Wilbon in 2011
| name               = Michael Wilbon
| birth_name         = 
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|1958|11|19}}
| birth_place        = [[Chicago]], Illinois, U.S.
| occupation         = {{hlist|Sports journalist|TV personality}}
| years_active       = 1979–present
| education          = [[Northwestern University]]
| relatives          = [[Carole Simpson]] (cousin)
| spouse             = {{marriage|Cheryl Johnson|1997}}
| children           = 1
}}

'''Michael Wilbon''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|w|ɪ|l|b|ɒ|n}} {{respell|WIL|bon}}; born November 19, 1958<ref>{{Cite web |last=@PTI |date=2024-11-19 |title=Happy Happy, @RealMikeWilbon! |url=https://x.com/PTI/status/1859007495534006750 |website=Twitter}}</ref>) is an American commentator for [[ESPN]] and former sportswriter and columnist for ''[[The Washington Post]]''. He is an analyst for ESPN and has co-hosted ''[[Pardon the Interruption]]'' on ESPN since 2001.

==Early life and education==
Wilbon was born and raised in [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://espnpressroom.com/us/bios/wilbon_michael/ |title=Michael Wilbon |author=<!-- Not stated --> |website=[[ESPN|ESPN Press Room]] |access-date=2022-10-14 |quote=Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, Wilbon graduated in 1980 from Northwestern University...}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.chicagomag.com/chicago-magazine/may-2020/michael-wilbon/ | title=ESPN's Michael Wilbon on Life Without Sports }}</ref> He graduated from [[St. Ignatius College Preparatory School]] in 1976 and received his journalism degree in 1980 from [[Northwestern University]]'s [[Medill School of Journalism]].<ref name=":0" /> While in college, Wilbon wrote for ''[[The Daily Northwestern]]''.<ref name=":1" />

==Career==
=== Newspapers ===
Wilbon began working for ''[[The Washington Post]]'' in 1980 after summer internships at the newspaper in 1979 and 1980.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://www.bethesdamagazine.com/Bethesda-Magazine/September-October-2014/Bethesda-Magazine-Interview/|title=Michael Wilbon: sports writer turned TV star|last=Elfin|first=David|date=September–October 2014|work=Bethesda Magazine|access-date=2017-07-07|language=en}}</ref><ref name="PTI on ESPN">{{cite web|title=Pardon the Interruption with Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/print?id=1365321&type=page2Story|access-date=October 16, 2007|work=[[ESPN.com]]}}</ref> He covered college sports, [[Major League Baseball]], the [[National Football League]] and the [[National Basketball Association]] before being promoted to full-time columnist in 1990.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="PTI on ESPN" /> His column in the ''Post'', which dealt as much with the culture of sports as the action on the court or field, appeared up to four times a week until he left to work full-time for ESPN on December 7, 2010.<ref name="washingtonpost.com">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/06/AR2010120606607_pf.html|title=For Michael Wilbon, a fond farewell to The Post|date=December 7, 2010|newspaper=Washington Post|first=Michael|last=Wilbon}}</ref>

In his career, Wilbon  covered ten Summer and Winter [[Olympic Games]] for ''The Washington Post'', every [[Super Bowl]] since 1987, nearly every [[Final Four]] since 1982 and each year's [[NBA Finals]] since {{nbafy|1987}}. Notably, he was also the only reporter based outside of [[Hawaii]] to cover the [[1982 Virginia vs. Chaminade men's basketball game|historic basketball upset]] of top-ranked [[1982–83 Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball team|Virginia]] by then-[[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics|NAIA]] member [[Chaminade Silverswords men's basketball|Chaminade]] in 1982 (he was in [[Honolulu]] to cover [[1982 Aloha Bowl|a college football bowl game]]).<ref name="resonates">{{cite news|last=Bolch|first=Ben|title=Improbable basketball victory by small college in Hawaii still resonates|work=Los Angeles Times|date=November 19, 2011|url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-xpm-2011-nov-19-la-sp-1120-college-basketball-upsets-20111120-story.html|access-date=December 17, 2013}}</ref>

During his time at the ''Post'', Wilbon earned the reputation as one of "the best deadline writer[s] in American newspapers."<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Mansfield |first=Stephanie |date=5 August 2002 |title=Revenge of the Words: The yak attacks of Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon on ESPN's 'Pardon the Interruption' prove that friends make the best arguments |url=https://www.si.com/vault/2002/08/05/327407/revenge-of-the-words-the-yak-attacks-of-tony-kornheiser-and-michael-wilbon-on-espns-pardon-the-interruption-prove-that-friends-make-the-best-arguments |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170818090910/https://www.si.com/vault/2002/08/05/327407/revenge-of-the-words-the-yak-attacks-of-tony-kornheiser-and-michael-wilbon-on-espns-pardon-the-interruption-prove-that-friends-make-the-best-arguments |archive-date=August 18, 2017 |access-date=2017-07-07 |magazine=Sports Illustrated}}</ref> In 2001, Wilbon was named the top sports columnist by the [[Society of Professional Journalists]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.alumni.northwestern.edu/cwoc/cwoc_01_06.html|title=Pardon the Interruption!: A Talk with Michael Wilbon|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060901094713/http://www.alumni.northwestern.edu/cwoc/cwoc_01_06.html|access-date=October 16, 2007|archive-date=September 1, 2006|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In recent years,{{when|date=May 2024}} Wilbon has become more known{{by whom|date=May 2024}} as an ESPN personality than as a reporter.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}} On December 7, 2010, he wrote his last column for  ''The Washington Post'' and officially dedicated full-time to work for ESPN and ABC.<ref name="washingtonpost.com" />

=== Television ===
After contributing to ESPN's ''[[The Sports Reporters]]'' and other shows on the cable network, Wilbon began co-hosting ESPN's daily opinion forum ''[[Pardon the Interruption]]'' (''PTI'') with [[Tony Kornheiser]] on October 22, 2001.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://archive.peninsulapress.com/2014/04/29/michael-wilbon-espn/|title=ESPN's Michael Wilbon on childhood, sports and 'Pardon the Interruption'|last=Otis|first=Allison|date=29 April 2014|website=Peninsula Press|access-date=2017-07-07}}</ref> Wilbon was also a member of [[ESPN on ABC|ABC]]'s ''[[NBA Countdown]]'' (which he hosted with [[Jalen Rose]], [[Bill Simmons]] and [[Magic Johnson]]), which was the pre-game show for the network's NBA telecasts. Prior to joining ESPN, Wilbon worked on the BET Budweiser Sports Report show. One memorable segment had Wilbon taking issue with Brian Williams  (née Bison Dele) transferring from Maryland to Arizona.

In addition to his work at ''The Washington Post'', ''PTI'' and ESPN, Wilbon appeared weekly on [[WRC-TV]] in Washington, D.C., with WRC Sports Director [[George Michael (sportscaster)|George Michael]], and [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]]rs [[John Riggins]] and [[Sonny Jurgensen]] on ''Redskins Report'' during the football season. He also appeared with Michael, ''[[USA Today]]'' basketball writer [[David Dupree]] and [[Tony Kornheiser]] on ''Full Court Press'' during the basketball season. Both of these shows were canceled in December 2008 due to budget cuts.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/29/AR2008122901353_pf.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|title=Leonard Shapiro: Loss of Michael Is a Truly Deep Cut|date=December 29, 2008|first=Leonard|last=Shapiro|access-date=May 12, 2010}}</ref> Wilbon also forged a close friendship with former Marshall and former NFL quarterback [[Byron Leftwich]] while the young passer was a standout player for HD Woodson in Washington, D.C.

In late 2006, Wilbon agreed to a multi-year contract extension with ESPN. After accepting the contract, Wilbon offered to resign from the ''Post'', but the newspaper's chairman [[Donald E. Graham|Don Graham]] and executive editor [[Leonard Downie, Jr.|Len Downie]] both asked him to stay on.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonian.com/2007/01/25/will-wilbons-8-million-tv-deal-make-him-a-stranger-at-the-post/|title=Will Wilbon's $8-Million TV Deal Make Him a Stranger at the Post?|last=Jaffe|first=Harry|date=2007-01-25|website=Washingtonian|access-date=2017-07-07}}</ref> The network gained priority therein with regards to conflicts with his newspaper assignments.<ref>{{cite news |author=Michael McCarthy |date=December 27, 2006 |title=Wilbon now more of an ESPN guy |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/2006-12-27-wilbon_x.htm |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604153008/https://www.usatoday.com/sports/2006-12-27-wilbon_x.htm |archive-date=June 4, 2011 |access-date=November 21, 2024 |newspaper=USA Today}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/2006-12-27-wilbon_x.htm |title=Will Wilbon's $8-Million TV deal make him a stranger at the Post?|magazine=Washingtonian|author=Harry Jaffe|date=January 25, 2007}}</ref> The first major conflict occurred on February 4, 2007, when Wilbon covered a [[Detroit Pistons]]–[[Cleveland Cavaliers]] game instead of [[Super Bowl XLI]].

==Personal life==
Wilbon currently lives in [[Bethesda, Maryland]], and also has a home in [[Scottsdale, Arizona]]. Wilbon and his wife Cheryl Johnson Wilbon had their first child, Matthew Raymond Wilbon, via [[surrogate pregnancy|surrogate]] on March 26, 2008.<ref>As mentioned on ''PTI'', March 26, 2008. This was during the ''PTI'' Rundown as announced by [[Tony Kornheiser]].</ref><ref name="Mitchell">{{cite news|last=Mitchell|first=Fred|url=http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/cs-080326-mitchell-davidson-ncaa-wennington-bulls,1,1397024.column|title=Word on the Street|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=March 26, 2008|access-date=March 29, 2008}}</ref> Kornheiser often refers to Matthew affectionately as "Lilbon."<ref name=":1" />

Wilbon has a cousin, [[Travon Bellamy]], who played for the [[Illinois Fighting Illini|University of Illinois football team]].<ref>As mentioned on ''PTI'', Feb. 7, 2007. This was during a discussion of questionable [[Recruiting (college athletics)|recruiting]] by head coach [[Ron Zook]].</ref> Former [[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] reporter [[Carole Simpson]] is Wilbon's cousin.<ref>{{cite news|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021123195731/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/liveonline/02/regulars/sports/tkwilbon/r_sports_tkwilbon102802.htm|archive-date=November 23, 2002|title= The Chat House|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/liveonline/02/regulars/sports/tkwilbon/r_sports_tkwilbon102802.htm|newspaper=The Washington Post|last1=Kornheiser|first1=Tony|last2=Wilbon|first2=Michael|date=October 21, 2002|access-date=March 6, 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Wilbon suffered a heart attack on January 27, 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brinson |first=Will |date=January 29, 2008 |title=Wilbon Reportedly Suffers Heart Attack |url=http://www.aolnews.com/2008/01/29/michael-wilbon-reportedly-suffers-heart-attack/ |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120603114055/http://www.aolnews.com/2008/01/29/michael-wilbon-reportedly-suffers-heart-attack/ |archive-date=June 3, 2012 |access-date=November 21, 2024 |website=Aol News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106037901|title=Sports Writer Turns Attention to Heart Disease|last=Martin|first=Michael|date=29 June 2009|work=NPR|access-date=2017-07-07|language=en}}</ref> After complaining of chest pains, he was taken to a Scottsdale hospital where doctors performed an [[angioplasty]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sportsmediawatch.blogspot.com/2008/01/espns-wilbon-has-heart-attack.html|title=Sports Media Watch: ESPN's Wilbon has heart attack.|website=sportsmediawatch.blogspot.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/31/AR2008013103759.html|title=A life-changing turn of events|newspaper=The Washington Post |first=Michael|last=Wilbon|date=February 1, 2008}}</ref> Wilbon is also a type-2 [[diabetic]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/04/AR2010030404828.html|title=Hoyas star Austin Freeman is far from alone in living with diabetes|last=Wilbon|first=Michael|date=5 March 2010|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref>

On August 10, 2008, during a Cubs–Cardinals game at [[Wrigley Field]], Wilbon threw out the ceremonial first pitch and then sang "[[Take Me Out to the Ballgame]]" as part of the seventh-inning stretch. Footage of Wilbon wearing a tucked-in Cubs jersey and bouncing the pitch is frequently shown on ''[[Pardon The Interruption]]'' as a friendly teasing by Kornheiser.<ref name=Sullivan>{{cite news|last=Sullivan|first=Paul|url=http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-080810-koskue-fukudome-chicago-cubs,1,1861608.story|title=EXTRA INNINGS|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=August 11, 2008|access-date=August 11, 2008}}</ref>

In May 2009, Wilbon competed in a made-for-TV "King of Bowling" show against pro bowling star [[Wes Malott]]. Wilbon beat Malott by a score of 256–248, but Wilbon received a 57-pin handicap and Malott had to use a plastic ball.

Wilbon has served as a trustee of Northwestern University.

==White House visit==
[[File:ATHwhitehouse2.jpg|thumb|Tony Reali, Tony Kornheiser, and Michael Wilbon meeting President Barack Obama]]
On July 12, 2013, Wilbon, Kornheiser and [[Tony Reali]] (PTI statistician and de facto co-host) were guests at the [[White House]]. After lunch the trio met in the [[Oval Office]] with President [[Barack Obama]].
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==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{IMDb name|1123990}}

{{ESPN}}
{{NBA on ABC}}
{{Curt Gowdy Media Award}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilbon, Michael}}
[[Category:African-American sports announcers]]
[[Category:African-American sportswriters]]
[[Category:American sports radio personalities]]
[[Category:American television sports announcers]]
[[Category:ESPN people]]
[[Category:NBA broadcasters]]
[[Category:NFL announcers]]
[[Category:Medill School of Journalism alumni]]
[[Category:St. Ignatius College Prep alumni]]
[[Category:The Washington Post people]]
[[Category:Writers from Chicago]]
[[Category:Sportswriters from Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Sportswriters from Illinois]]
[[Category:Writers from Bethesda, Maryland]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]