The John Thompson Show 3-7p on Sportstalk 980 in DC is perhaps the greatest sports talk radio show of all time. That’s not saying much of course, considering the sorry state of the medium. Know-nothings like Jim Rome dominate the airwaves by shouting “Rack Him!” incessantly.

Nonetheless, JT 2’s show is unbelievable not only for Thompson’s cantankerous old-guy attitude, but because he has all the connections to get all the good guests. Instead of John Clayton, et al calling in (the old analyst interviewing another analyst routine) real players and other figures that are legitimately connected with the world of sports are interviewed.

The other day NBA Commisioner David Stern was on. He had a lot he could gloat about, but Stern was fairly low-key as always. The dress code has transformed from controversial deprival of freedom to non-stop pre-game fashion show. Even Rip Hamilton who normally resembles a Tupperware Darth Vader looks sharp in an expensive suit. It turned out to be a brilliant move for King Midas.

So what’s next for the great tinkerer? Stern hinted at something that might be coming down the pike, something I’d applaud: stopping the players from ####ing about foul calls all the time.  The Commissioner admitted that there were missed calls, but thinks that the constant whining is unattractive to the game and I agree. Kids emulate players like LeBron. LeBron complains after every single call that goes against him. You think this isn’t going to have an effect? Do you want your kids’ role model to be a cry-baby?

Superman never complained, even when Lex Luthor hit him with the Kryptonite. John Wayne never appeared in a movie called “The PMS Cowboy.” And even the legitimate sports Superheroes didn’t #### and whine even when they had much better reasons than perpetual complaint machine TO.

Lou Gehrig didn’t get up to the microphone in his last appearance at Yankee Stadium and say, “It’s not fair! Why can’t somebody else die instead? I’m Lou Gehrig!” Jackie Robinson endured endless racist words and death threats. Mario Lemieux has been battling a crippling illness and doesn’t moan about it on or off the ice.

So can David Stern shut these spoiled brats up before every picture of an NBA game looks like a birthday party at Jeepers? I hope so, because when you’re on TV, the World is watching. And I don’t want the world to think we’re a bunch of babies.