Best of DLS: 15 Minutes of Miami Inventions (feat. Jim Rome)

Summary

The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

Episode: Best of DLS: 15 Minutes of Miami Inventions (feat. Jim Rome)
Date: December 26, 2025

---

Episode Overview

Broadcasting from the Elser Hotel in Downtown Miami, Dan Le Batard, Stugotz, and their crew dive into a wide-ranging, tongue-in-cheek exploration of Miami’s contributions to cultural and technological invention, sports banter, and radio goofiness. The episode’s main theme is a playful, crowd-sourced effort to define what—if anything—was actually invented in Miami, quickly devolving (as only the Le Batard universe can) into debate, mockery, and confusion. The show is peppered with calls, running gags, and special bits, including Frank Caliendo’s hilarious Jim Rome impression and a segment with Stan Van Gundy reminiscing about NBA all-star antics and an embarrassing sports knowledge confession from Dan.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. What Did Miami Actually Invent? (03:19–20:14)

• Premise:
  The crew spends a chaotic 15 minutes inviting callers to suggest "things invented in Miami," quickly discovering that actual innovation is hard to pin down.

• Recurring Gags:

  • Miami’s Civic “Inventions”:
    • Pitbull (as a civic product, not an invention)
    • "We invented cocaine" (05:32)—to which Dan retorts, "Our downtown is built atop a foundation of it, but we did not invent it."
  • Blurring Brands and Inventions:
    • Burger King, Carnival Cruise Lines, Pollo Tropical constantly surface but are dismissed as brands, not inventions.
    • Stugotz: "I'm having a difficult time believing that we don't have a single great inventor or invention of Miami." (05:15)

• Notable Call-ins & Disputes:

  • Amazon/Jeff Bezos:
    • Caller: "The inventor and founder of Amazon went to Palmetto Senior High in Miami, Florida." (06:22)
    • Stugotz: "That's not really an invention. The guy made a store." (06:35)
  • Fire Rescue & Medical Tech:
    • Caller: "Fire Rescue Department invented fire rescue here. And... [EKG] telemetry, also invented here." (07:48)
    • The panel debates the legitimacy. Stugotz skeptically says, "We didn't invent rescuing people from fires. Cavemen invent...I mean, anyone who saw someone in a fire said, I gotta get that guy out of the fire." (08:00)
    • The EKG telemetry technology is given a bit more respect.
  • Facebook:
    • Hawk: "The co-founder of Facebook... went to Gulliver Prep." (08:23)
    • Stugotz: "It's an electronic yearbook. Yearbooks have been around forever." (08:33)
  • Sunscreen/suntan lotion debate:
    • Multiple callers and texters argue over whether sunscreen was invented in Miami versus Austria, with repeated checks of dubious online sources. The group can’t agree on the difference between suntan lotion and sunscreen.
    • Don LeBatard, exasperated: "Suntan lotion and sunscreen are two different things." (11:15)
    • Stugotz: "This is like inventing the cigarette, right? They thought it cured everything. And now we know. Maybe not the greatest invention." (12:02)
  • Miami slang—“Dog”/“Dawg”:
    • One caller claims, "the slang word ‘dog’, like, ‘hey, dog’… originated down here." (16:48)
    • The group is skeptical but amused.
  • Actual Innovation:
    • Cordis Corporation’s drug-eluting stents (12:28)—the group agrees this is a worthy invention, albeit with their usual irreverence.
    • Advantage Systems’ efficient cooling technology and Citrix's GoToMeeting software (15:12) get rare acknowledgment for substance.

• Meta-humor:
  Hawk: "Someone pointed out we invented bad radio." (14:03)

---

2. Frank Caliendo as Jim Rome: “10 Questions” Segment (23:27–30:14)

• Bit Premise:
  Dan plays "10 Questions" with Frank Caliendo, brilliantly impersonating sports talking-head Jim Rome. The segment is a mix of absurd, meta-sports media jabs, and Caliendo’s wordplay.

• Memorable Quotes:

  • On being evil:
    • "I am definitely not full-fledged evil. More like the Anakin Skywalker of broadcasting. Roman Skywalker." (Dan/Frank as Jim Rome, 24:02)
  • "My verbiage is my lightsaber. Hey, Le Batard, look out. Let me cut off your hand with my verbiage." (Jim Rome, 24:19)
  • Dan: “Give us a take that sucks.”
    • Jim Rome: "Le Batard is cool." (26:00)
  • "I want to say thwarted at the same time as overthrown. Who cares if I mash two words together? … I am Romakin Sky Thunder." (26:18)

• Segment Tone:

  • Over-the-top, rapid-fire puns and pop culture references (“bow to the wow,” “chromekin is back”).
  • Parody of sports radio’s faux-epic tone and self-seriousness.

---

3. Stan Van Gundy Segment: NBA All-Star Anecdotes & Dan’s Embarrassing Admission (34:29–44:43)

• Dan’s Confession:

  • Shares a “shameful admission”: “Yesterday I’m watching a press conference and my honest reaction to it—I can’t believe I’m saying this—my honest reaction was, ‘wait a minute, Bernie Bickerstaff is black.’”(34:33–35:58)
  • The rest of the panel jokes through the awkwardness, Stan Van Gundy tosses in an anecdote about NBA owners not recognizing famous players.

• Stan on All-Star Game Coaching:

  • The challenges of coaching the NBA All-Star Game: “You want to make sure you’re fair to everybody with the minutes. You don’t do any coaching, it’s just… a very hard thing to do.” (39:23–39:58)
  • Stan describes a bench moment where assistant coach Brendan Malone almost ordered a hot dog mid-game, which was the highlight of his All-Star Game experience. (44:05–44:43)

• Alternative All-Star Game Ideas:

  • Stan floats the idea of having retired legends coach the teams: “Let Oscar Robertson and Bill Russell coach a team… the head coaches don’t want to do it.” (42:01–42:58)

---

Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• "That's not really an invention. The guy made a store. He just opened a successful store."
  — Stugotz on Amazon/Bezos, 06:35

• "Pitbull's mother invented Pitbull."
  — Don LeBatard, 05:23

• "We didn't invent cocaine. Our downtown is built atop a foundation of it, but we did not invent it."
  — Don LeBatard, 05:35

• "This is such clichéd sports radio."
  — Stugotz, 11:23

• "Do whatever I want. Great. I am Romakin Sky Thunder."
  — Frank Caliendo as Jim Rome, 26:18

• "Yesterday I’m watching a press conference and… ‘wait a minute, Bernie Bickerstaff is black.’"
  — Don LeBatard, 34:33–35:58

• "On the bench and he was going to do it. I thought he was going to grab… the waitress service and order a hot dog sitting on our bench. That was the highlight of my All-Star Game in Dallas."
  — Stan Van Gundy, 44:40–44:43

---

Highlights by Timestamp

• [03:19–20:14] Miami Inventions Call-In Chaos
  "Did we invent anything, or are we just good at brands and bad radio?"
• [23:27–30:14] Frank Caliendo/Jim Rome Bit
  “My verbiage is my lightsaber... Let me cut off your hand with my verbiage.”
• [34:29–44:43] Stan Van Gundy NBA and Admission Segment
  • Dan’s shameful "Bernie Bickerstaff" admission
  • All-Star coaching as a curse
  • The hot dog on the bench saga

---

Tone and Style

• Irreverent, fast-paced, full of inside jokes, digressions, and self-mockery
• Collaborative “bit building” — everyone riffing on the same theme until it collapses
• Candid, with the kind of “too honest” moments the Dan Le Batard Show is famous for

---

Takeaways for New Listeners

This episode is a classic example of how the Le Batard crew blend sports, Miami culture, and absurdist radio into something uniquely entertaining. The hunt for Miami's "real" inventions delivers plenty of laughs, even as it comes up empty. The show’s riotous energy, quick-witted banter, and willingness to lean into awkward, uncomfortable truths create a memorable listen—whether you care about Miami, inventions, or just want to hear grown men squabble about mango salad.

Transcript

[Dan Le Batard]

Today's episode is brought to you by Venmo. Look, no matter how your favorite team does this season, there's still one way to feel like a winner, and that's with Venmo. That's because when you use venmo to transfer 50 or more to a DraftKings DFS account for the first time or the first time in three plus months, you'll get $25 in DraftKings bonus credits. Terms apply. Just go to draftkings.com venmoffer to activate your offer. Then choose Venmo to add Funds to your DraftKings account. Add $50 or more and boom, 25 bonus credits will appear in your DraftKings account if you're eligible. This offer is only good through February 15, 2026, or while supplies last, so don't fumble your chance before time runs out. Here's the deal. Venmo is a fast, easy way for you to add money onto DraftKings. And if you don't have a Venmo account yet, don't sweat it. You can download the app and sign up in minutes. So what are you waiting for? Just add $50 or more to your DraftKings DFS account with Venmo and you'll get $25 in bonus credits. Go to DraftKings.com venmoffer and go get that bonus. Gambling Problem Call 100 Gambler in New York, call 877-8-HOPE NY or text Hopeny at 467369 in Connecticut. Help is available for problem gambling. Call 888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org 18/plus in most eligible states, but age varies by jurisdiction. Eligibility restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. 1 per customer, minimum 50 transfer from your Venmo account to DraftKings DFS account. 25 reward issued as non withdrawable DK dollar site credits that do not expire while rewards last. 20,000 total transfer redemptions available. See [e-mail] Venmoffer ends February 15, 27:59pm.

[Chris Cote]

Eastern critics are calling Marty Supreme a full throttle masterpiece and the best movie of the year. I couldn't be more excited to see this one that's got my boy. Timothee Chalamet from A24 and starring Timothee Chalamet alongside powerhouse cast Gwyneth Paltrow, Odessa Azion and Tyler Acoma. Marty supreme now playing only in theaters.

[Chris]

All right, kicking things off with Smirnoff, the official vodka sponsor of the NFL and the number one vodka in the World. Chris, Cody, you're here.

[Dan]

Smirnoff.

[Don LeBatard]

Wow. You're on the money with Smirnoff, Chris. You know what goes great with Smirnoff?

[Chris]

Yes, but I'm really talking about game day fit. The style's gotta match the vibe. All right, here's the deal.

[Don LeBatard]

Game day is everything.

[Chris]

And that's exactly why your fit has to match the occasion. Starting this December, Smirnoff is giving fans 21 and over the chance to score limited edition Smirnoff commission merchandise from some of today's top creators, including Kayla Jones, Gavin, Matthew, and Aleli May. Here's the kicker. One lucky fan will take home the grand prize, a trip to the biggest game of the offseason. Plus, one fan will win a Laylee Mays one of one game day jacket.

[Listener or Guest]

Wow.

[Chris]

The merch will be dropped on select dates from December to January 21st. And it's all courtesy of what brand? That's right, Chris. Fans 21 and over can head to Smirnoff Socials to learn how to sign up. And don't forget to grab a bottle of smirno vodka, number 21, at your local retail.

[Dan]

Smirnoff.

[Chris]

Please drink responsibly. Smirnoff number 21, vodka distilled from grain, 40% alcohol by volume. The Smirnoff Company, New York, New York. Please do not share with anybody under legal drinking hate Smirnoff. No purchase necessary. Must be legal. US resident, 21 or older. Sweepstakes starts 12:15, 2025 at 12:00am Eastern and ends 1:23, 2026 at 11: hours, 59 minutes and 59 seconds p.m. eastern. See official rules at program website.

[Dan]

This is the Dan Levatar show with the Stugats podcast.

[Chris Cote]

All right, Chris, if you thought that.

[Dan Le Batard]

Hour was strange, wow, it's gonna get weirder.

[Chris Cote]

So we're about to listen to Dan, Stu and Hawk take 15 minutes of calls live on the radio asking people for things that were invented in Miami.

[Don LeBatard]

I like them.

[Stugotz]

It.

[Chris Cote]

Yeah, it's. It's. It's bizarre. And what's really fun is to show you how long ago this was. Someone mentions that a guy from Miami invented Amazon. Nobody knew that. Jeff Bezos. His name. That's how long ago this is before.

[Dan Le Batard]

Everyone started before this in Miami.

[Dan]

Yes, exactly. Yeah, that's.

[Don LeBatard]

That's exactly right.

[Chris Cote]

And then we have. You'll hear Dan interviewing a fake Jim Rome. Frank Caliendo is fake. Fake Jim Rome asking what's supposed to be 10 questions. Again, some editing we had to do. Then A couple of moments with Stan Van Gundy that include him telling a story about almost eating the hot dog in the middle of a all star game he was supposed to be coaching. And Dan making an admission about Bernie Bickerstaff. That is embarrassing. That. Well, I'll just tell you it's embarrassing. So you guys can enjoy the final hour of this week. Next week we got something kind of different and special coming at you. Not quite the same as this, but we are going in a bit of a way back machine. So we'll have some stuff coming for you next week. But hey, enjoy your day after Christmas. I hope you're getting to spend it with family and not working and. Yeah, we'll see you next week, guys.

[Dan Le Batard]

I think Burger King started in Miami.

[Stugotz]

I'm having a difficult time believing that we don't have a single great inventor or invention of Miami.

[Don LeBatard]

The many texters are pointing out that Pitbull's mother invented Pitbull.

[Stugotz]

Valid point. Yeah, I mean that's a valid point. He is source of civic pride.

[Hawk]

Also pointing out we invented cocaine.

[Don LeBatard]

We didn't invent it. Our downtown is built at top of foundation of it, but we did not invent.

[Stugotz]

There are actual buildings built out of.

[Don LeBatard]

Made out of cocaine.

[Stugotz]

It's not concrete. A lot of people think it's poured concrete. It's actually poured cocaine.

[Don LeBatard]

Not so that is true.

[Hawk]

We don't have a single great inventor.

[Stugotz]

It's shocking.

[Hawk]

We have nothing.

[Stugotz]

We're a major city. Like nothing.

[Don LeBatard]

Well, I think somebody's going to come up with something. 786-360-0790. We just because we don't know doesn't make it so. Remember, we're dumb.

[Stugotz]

But what's based down here, you've got. You've got. Burger King is based down here.

[Don LeBatard]

We didn't invent Burger King.

[Hawk]

Carnival Cruise Line is based down here. Did we invent the cruise industry?

[Don LeBatard]

What are you guys doing?

[Stugotz]

So did we.

[Hawk]

Did we invent the cruise lines?

[Stugotz]

Spirit Airlines is based down here. We invented. We invented. Little ticky tech fees.

[Don LeBatard]

Al, you're on 790.

[Dan]

Yes. The inventor and founder of Amazon went to Palmetto Senior High in Miami, Florida. So there's one.

[Don LeBatard]

See that? Yeah. See that?

[Hawk]

Getting smarter.

[Don LeBatard]

I've heard that before actually.

[Stugotz]

But that's not really an invention. The guy made a store. He just opened a successful store. I'm talking about like inventing a computer chip.

[Hawk]

Right?

[Stugotz]

The guy opened a successful bookstore.

[Don LeBatard]

You're talking like Bill Gates, like somebody who invented something.

[Stugotz]

I mean, would you the guy that invented Barnes and Noble. Like, okay, you invented a bookstore.

[Hawk]

So what? Fair point. Copycat.

[Don LeBatard]

Well, how many great. I mean, is it the iPhone? Like, how many great inventions have there been in the last few years?

[Stugotz]

I'm looking in the studio. You guys are sitting in. The microphone is a great invention. The. The headphones are Beats by Dre. Are you wearing those? Are you wearing Beats by Dre right now? Those headphones? Dre. Dr. Dre from NWA invented something great. He's from California.

[Don LeBatard]

Wait a minute. That's all he did. He didn't invent. The headphones were already invented. And he created something else.

[Stugotz]

Awfully made it better.

[Don LeBatard]

You can't say that Dr. Dre. Beats by Dre is a better invention than Amazon.

[Stugotz]

I think it's more of an invention than Amazon. I'm sticking with that. That Burger King invented really good fast food. Onion rings.

[Don LeBatard]

Tracy.

[Hawk]

Based down here or they have an office down here?

[Stugotz]

No, I think Burger King is based down here.

[Don LeBatard]

Tracy, you're on. Yeah, they were headquartered. Aren't they moving? I think they're moving. Tracy, you're on 790. Tracy.

[Dan]

Guys, two major inventions from Miami. Fire Rescue Department invented fire rescue here. And the thing that lets doctors and paramedics share EKGs, telemetry, also invented here. There you go.

[Stugotz]

Wait a second. Wait a second. We didn't invent rescuing people from fires. Cavemen invent. I mean, anyone who saw someone in a fire said, I gotta get that guy out of the fire.

[Dan]

Now, now, now, don't be a hater. The whole concept was invented here. Go. Fat check.

[Hawk]

Oh, don't take credit for that. That's ridiculous.

[Don LeBatard]

We'll give you credit for your second one. But, I mean, we invented fire rescue. Like, what the hell does that mean?

[Hawk]

I think we. I think we have it here. The co founder of Facebook. Many people are saying went to Gulliver Prep. Co founder of Facebook.

[Dan]

Oh.

[Stugotz]

I mean, what is it? It's an electronic yearbook. Yearbooks have been around forever.

[Don LeBatard]

You're dismissing Facebook? Tony, you're on 790, the ticket. Tony. Go ahead, Tony. Frank, you're on 790. Frank.

[Dan]

We, the people of Miami, are the inventors of churros.

[Hawk]

Churros?

[Stugotz]

No, that's from Mexico.

[Don LeBatard]

Mike, you're on 790, the ticket.

[Dan]

Mike. What about alienware?

[Don LeBatard]

What?

[Hawk]

Huh?

[Don LeBatard]

Goulet, you're on 790, the ticket. Goulet.

[Dan]

Yes. A Miami beach woman invented sunscreen. Sunscreen.

[Stugotz]

Now, if that's the case. If that's the case, that's A great invention.

[Don LeBatard]

Is that so?

[Hawk]

No, I'm on it.

[Don LeBatard]

Then we continue with this. I want to continue with this throughout the weekend.

[Stugotz]

Pretty interesting. No.

[Don LeBatard]

7 not really.

[Stugotz]

We need to know more about the city that we work in.

[Don LeBatard]

3600790 we would, but we're dumb. Emailer writes in we invented Medicare fraud. I would say we perfected that. That and foreclosures. We didn't invent them. Somebody else invented them, but we mastered it.

[Hawk]

About Miami subs.

[Don LeBatard]

A brand Stugat Polio Tropical what?

[Stugotz]

Well, if we invented tropical polio, that.

[Don LeBatard]

Would be something stugot. Are you getting the difference between inventions and brands?

[Hawk]

Well, we're getting there. It just.

[Stugotz]

You feel like other cities, like didn't, didn't Seattle, don't they have Boeing? Like, didn't they invent modern jet airplanes? Right. Like, didn't that come out of Seattle?

[Hawk]

Well, that's not fair what you're doing there.

[Dan Le Batard]

What do you mean?

[Hawk]

He called Amazon just a store. Like there was an airplane invented before.

[Don LeBatard]

They invented their bubble. Didn't Amazon essentially invent E commerce?

[Stugotz]

Yeah, but then, I mean, commerce was already around.

[Hawk]

E commerce.

[Don LeBatard]

Texture writes in the first suntan lotion was invented by a Miami beach pharmacist, Benjamin Green, in 1944. Does that count?

[Hawk]

No, I have an Austrian guy doing it in 1936.

[Don LeBatard]

Sunscreen and sun lotion are two different things.

[Stugotz]

Are you looking at like sun tanning lotion that makes you get a better tan? Cause we're talking about sunscreen which actually prevents the UV rays.

[Hawk]

I'm talking sunscreen.

[Don LeBatard]

Milton Blake, this person is writing that suntan lotion was invented by a Miami beach pharmacist.

[Hawk]

Well, I'm just telling you sun Protection and products guide.com is telling me that Milton Blake invented it.

[Don LeBatard]

Stugat Suntan lotion and sunscreen are two different things.

[Hawk]

We didn't invent the suntan lotion either.

[Stugotz]

This is such cliched sports radio.

[Don LeBatard]

It's not cliched, but man, is it bad.

[Stugotz]

It's Montana or Marino all over again. Tan or sunscreen, right in.

[Hawk]

Benjamin Green, 1940s Miami, Florida physician, Coppertope.

[Stugotz]

That's okay. That's a good invention. Sunscreen.

[Don LeBatard]

That's all that sun tan lotion.

[Stugotz]

That's a bad invention then. Bad invention.

[Hawk]

It's green or lotion, though.

[Don LeBatard]

Oh, for the love of God, you guys, I'm going to wrestle you in the hallway. I mean.

[Stugotz]

Well, we would agree though, that suntan lotion was actually bad. We didn't know at the time.

[Don LeBatard]

I Mean, it's like he invented something cancerous, right?

[Stugotz]

It's like inventing the cigarette, right? Yeah, it was great back then. They thought it cured everything. And now we know. Maybe not the greatest invention.

[Don LeBatard]

Danny, you're on 790, the ticket. Danny, incidentally, we've got 20 commercial free minutes here, and I'm regretting every last one of them. Danny, you're on 790. Mike, you're on 790.

[Dan]

Cordis Corporation invented drug eluding stents. And before Swamp Thing shoots it down and says, who needs a heart and who needs arteries? We also invented swagger.

[Hawk]

I had an excellent take. Very good call. Who?

[Chris]

I.

[Stugotz]

Swamp Thing?

[Don LeBatard]

Were you Swamp Thing or were you. No, why are you Swamp Thing?

[Stugotz]

I get. I get that a lot. I get Gargoyle a lot. I don't know why.

[Hawk]

Look at him.

[Don LeBatard]

Who needs. Who needs hearts and arteries? I mean, he neutered you.

[Stugotz]

Yeah, that was a perfect call. I mean, I can't argue that call.

[Don LeBatard]

Irene, you're on 790.

[Dan]

We invented the Spanglish language.

[Don LeBatard]

Oh, Spanglish. That's ours. Spanglish.

[Stugotz]

Is that ours?

[Don LeBatard]

Yes, that's ours.

[Hawk]

Okay.

[Don LeBatard]

Un sanguiche. Run out there and get me San.

[Stugotz]

When I first came down to University of Miami, I, you know, was hanging out with a couple Cuban girls and they said, let's go get a sandwich. And I was like, what a what a sandwich? And we're saying it seriously.

[Don LeBatard]

Edison, you're on 790, the ticket. I don't believe your name is Edison.

[Dan]

Why?

[Don LeBatard]

We're talking about inventions. Go ahead, Edison.

[Dan]

Or Eddie Ocho and Chonga.

[Don LeBatard]

Flamon, you're on 790.

[Dan]

All right, I'm trying to help you Miami people out. I think a Haitian guy created and designed the Chrysler 300.

[Don LeBatard]

A car, again, different between brand and invention.

[Stugotz]

Just a design. And the Chrysler 300 is good looking car, but not really an invention.

[Hawk]

Though someone pointed out we invented bad radio.

[Don LeBatard]

Rick, you're on 790, the ticket.

[Dan]

Hey, you scoff at it, but we actually invented the base and mango salad.

[Hawk]

Yeah, yeah, mango salad.

[Don LeBatard]

I'm talking about my mango salad.

[Hawk]

No, I think he's right on that.

[Don LeBatard]

Then what?

[Hawk]

I think we did. I read that somewhere.

[Don LeBatard]

What do you mean we? Mango salad.

[Dan]

What is that?

[Hawk]

Was invented down here.

[Don LeBatard]

It's just throwing mangoes on lettuce.

[Stugotz]

Actually, you know, there's that whole argument about the Anchor Bar in Buffalo. Like they actually invented Buffalo wings.

[Don LeBatard]

The chicken wing.

[Stugotz]

Like what? We haven't invented a real food item.

[Stan Van Gundy]

Like that.

[Stugotz]

Unless we really did invent the mango salad.

[Don LeBatard]

No.

[Stugotz]

Although the mango salad doesn't have the national cache of a buffalo wing.

[Don LeBatard]

Dave, you're on 790. The ticket. Dave, I don't know that we invented that. The. The roasted pork. The pork on Noche Buena.

[Dan]

The.

[Hawk]

I don't know, the mango salad, by the way, invented in Southeast Asia.

[Don LeBatard]

Raul, you're on 790.

[Dan]

Hey. The most innovative and energy efficient cooling product right now in the market was invented, developed, and is manufactured in North Miami. And the name of the company is Advantage Systems. They figured out how to decompress and dehumidify air without using direct expansion refrigerant. Instead, they use a salt brine, which basically eliminates about 75% of the energy use. And also, Citrix, who developed the software for GoToMeeting and GoToMyPC is based on. I think it's Cypress Creek and i95. They got about four high rises there. They're a Fortune 100 company.

[Don LeBatard]

I feel like when the smart callers call the show, it's like a rose growing from a sewer.

[Stugotz]

Like, that guy's the smartest guy in Miami.

[Hawk]

You don't belong here, sir.

[Don LeBatard]

But that guy. There were. There've been a handful of callers who. When they're talking about stuff, they're clearly smarter. And this is not to derail our mango salad friend, but, I mean. I mean, there are some people coming with some information that. That is legitimate.

[Stugotz]

I mean, that guy obviously flipped to the wrong stage.

[Don LeBatard]

The guy who called you Swamp Thing, Right?

[Stugotz]

He's our caller.

[Hawk]

He belongs.

[Don LeBatard]

No, he's smart. You talked about he belongs.

[Dan]

He belongs.

[Stugotz]

He gets it. Like, that guy's on the wrong station. He's like, why is schnit not on today?

[Don LeBatard]

Peter, you're on 790.

[Dan]

Yeah. Neil Arado was invented in Miami, Dade County.

[Don LeBatard]

Yeah, that's true. Nyoke. That's right. It's a store. The title is Damn, how Cheap, Or Holy bleep, how Cheap. Junior, you're on 790.

[Dan]

Listen, man, the slang word dog, like, hey, dog. What's up, dog. Yeah, that originated down here. I'm 35 years old. I've been saying it since I was 10. All right. That word started here, baby.

[Hawk]

You invented it, dawg.

[Stugotz]

Is that true? I mean, that's some. That's something that we should probably publicize a little more. No.

[Dan]

Mm.

[Stugotz]

I mean, everyone uses that.

[Don LeBatard]

I do, dawg.

[Hawk]

Dog, did we invent Highline?

[Stugotz]

No Spaniards, I believe.

[Hawk]

Air conditionings, units. No air Conditionings. I mean, you would think that we would. That Miami, perhaps someone down here.

[Don LeBatard]

Yeah, right. Because we're the only hot place in the world.

[Hawk]

Oh, you just.

[Don LeBatard]

That's true. That's true. You're right. We're the only hot place in anywhere.

[Hawk]

You would agree if someone asked you, where was the air conditioner invented? Like, one of your choices would be Miami.

[Don LeBatard]

The same reason we invented the mango salad. Because it's refreshing.

[Hawk]

But it was a multiple choice question. You would agree that Miami would certainly be on there. A, B, C, D or E. Right.

[Don LeBatard]

I would agree that you would fail whatever multiple choice test is being put.

[Hawk]

In front of you.

[Stugotz]

You had no direct advantage when a.

[Don LeBatard]

Test was multiple choice, did you?

[Hawk]

None.

[Don LeBatard]

Dog coop, you're on 790.

[Dan]

We invented the dunk. Not in the dunk. As LeBron James embarrassing people every night. The dunk. As in the antique car. D, O, N, K. That phrase was coined in Miami. Donk.

[Don LeBatard]

As in the badonkadonk?

[Dan]

No, as in the car. The 76 Impala.

[Hawk]

Yeah.

[Don LeBatard]

Okay, but that's again, that's a brand.

[Stugotz]

Like Seattle invented the hoopty. We invented the donk.

[Hawk]

I think we invented Gatorade.

[Don LeBatard]

That's Gainesville, isn't it?

[Stugotz]

Yeah, North Florida.

[Hawk]

Yeah.

[Stugotz]

We're talking about Miami.

[Don LeBatard]

How does Gainesville count?

[Hawk]

I'm reaching, Dan. But it doesn't count.

[Stugotz]

God, that's like saying we invented Disney World.

[Hawk]

I think we invented Gatorade. It may have been invented in Gainesville, but the guy who invented it was from down here. Loophole.

[Don LeBatard]

Fake Ed Kaplan, you're on 790. The ticket. Fake Ed Kaplan.

[Dan]

Being able to talk and watch sports with your favorite exhaust and lay in your lap was invented at the cheetah.

[Don LeBatard]

Call from a landline next time. Fig. Ed Kaplan. Frank, you're on 790.

[Dan]

Hey, Dan, we invented the Arrozco mango in Miami again.

[Don LeBatard]

Rice and mango.

[Stugotz]

Is that very prevalent down here, the mango? Because I've never had one.

[Don LeBatard]

Anything that uses the mango.

[Hawk]

How about a hurricane shutter? We had to invent that, right?

[Don LeBatard]

Because we're the only place that has hurricanes.

[Hawk]

I think so, yeah.

[Don LeBatard]

Larry, you're on 790.

[Dan]

That was very apropos to. Guys, I have the trifecta. My great uncle in the 50s invented storm resistant windows for the hotels Superior window Miami Lakes Florida. The Ollie Burger on South beach that he sold for millions to lungs. And we invented and perfected the undefeated season 1972. Never duplicated.

[Hawk]

Yeah, there you go.

[Don LeBatard]

Texture writes in. We invented the venom unit. That's true. The venom unit for serpents. Miami Dade Fire is the only one in nation to use that. That's true. And. And then somebody else follows with Miami invented the ass clap.

[Listener or Guest]

It's a holiday season and the 50th anniversary of Miller Lite. The holiday is all about spending time with friends and family. Why don't you sit back and toast a few Miller Lights? Make your holiday time. Tis Miller time. And with the 50th anniversary of Miller Lite, you get to remember and reflect on all the good times that you had with your trusty buddy by your side. Miller Lite. Brewed for flavor with simple ingredients like malted barley, rich balanced toffee notes, and that iconic golden color. And at 96 calories and 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces, it lets you enjoy the season without weighing you down. The original light beer since 1975 and still hitting different 50 years later. The best holiday beers are the ones you don't expect. Miller Lite great taste. 96 calories. Go to millerlight.com dan to find delivery options near you. Or you can pick up some Miller Lite pretty much anywhere they sell beer. Tis Miller time. Celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Co. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 96 calories and 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces.

[Chris]

All right, so apparently everyone is launching their own AI agents. Now. You get an agent. No, you get an agent. They're automating tasks, running workflows, making decisions, and occasionally absolutely wrecking your day. You know what I'm talking about. An agent deletes the wrong files, changes something you've never approved, or just goes completely off script. Like it's trying to improvise its way out of a paper bag. And suddenly you're the one stuck trying to figure out what went wrong. Unless you're using Rubrik Agent Cloud. Because here's the thing. AI is moving fast. Like, really fast. Rubrik Agent Cloud is the only platform that lets you monitor, govern, and rewind AI agent actions. One platform that lets you unleash more agents faster without fear that they're going to burn the place down. You get full visibility into what your agents are doing. You can enforce guardrails. You can actually quantify the risk. And if something breaks, you just rewind it, like an undo button, but for AI. And that rewind happens in minutes, not hours or days. And if your business relies on AI agents, you need the ability to monitor, govern, and rewind their actions. Right now, Le Batard show listeners get exclusive early access to Rubrik Agent cloud. Head to rubrik.com that's R U B R I K.com rubrik.com critics are calling.

[Chris Cote]

Marty Supreme a full throttle masterpiece and the best movie of the year. I couldn't be more excited to see this one. That's got my boy. Timothee Chalamet from A24. And starring Timothee Chalamet alongside powerhouse cast Gwyneth Paltrow, Odessa A. Zion and Tyler Acoma. Marty supreme now playing only in theaters.

[Don LeBatard]

Don LeBatard. While there's nothing official and conversations are still ongoing.

[Hawk]

Was that a fake shifter? Because it was pretty good. Yeah.

[Don LeBatard]

I feel like there's legs.

[Stan Van Gundy]

Yeah.

[Don LeBatard]

Tried at the beginning and then I lost confidence in it. It was good.

[Hawk]

It was good.

[Don LeBatard]

You got this. Nothing official. Conversations are still ongoing. STS it is trending towards Nick Sirianni remaining the head coach of the Eagles.

[Hawk]

This is the Dan Levatar show with the st.

[Don LeBatard]

I'd like to play 10 questions with Jim Rome. Is Jim Rome available? Frank?

[Dan]

Definitely here.

[Don LeBatard]

Would you like some musical accompaniment?

[Dan]

I would like some. I would like you to break me off some instrumental Snoop Dogg. That'd be phenomenal.

[Don LeBatard]

All right. I didn't think of Jim Rome as a Snoop Dogg guy.

[Dan]

But listen, I take the bow to the wow.

[Don LeBatard]

Jim Rome drops it like it's hot. Are you ready to play 10 questions? Jim Rome.

[Dan]

Bow wow wow. Yippee. Yo yipp. Jim Rome in the house.

[Don LeBatard]

Question number one. Jim Rome, are you evil?

[Dan]

I am definitely not full fledged evil. More like the Anakin Skywalker of broadcasting. Roman Skywalker. There's potential to be bad or potential to be great. Phenomenal. My verbiage is my lightsaber. Hey, Levitar, look out. Let me cut off your hand with my verbiage.

[Don LeBatard]

Question number two. For a verbose Jim Rome, a word you use too often.

[Dan]

It'S pretty difficult. How about great? I'm gonna go with great because I describe myself so often. I am great.

[Don LeBatard]

How do you feel about Dick Vermeil always crying Jim Rome.

[Dan]

I'm a little bit tired of it. I think the only time you should cry is when you hear a really sweet poem, which I love to hear. Not any of that. Roses are red, violets are blue. I'm talking about something that doesn't even rhyme, that makes you feel warm inside and keeps you from going to the dark side. Chromekin is back.

[Don LeBatard]

Question number six for Jim Rome. What is your take on to?

[Dan]

Dude should have a permanent to take some timeout. We're gonna go ot on to and say dude should not be playing football. Dude needs to get another job. Start rapping. Start doing something else. Football's not for you.

[Don LeBatard]

Okay, Excellent. Pause. Question number that was actually a pause.

[Dan]

Where I couldn't think of something. Not a pause because of coolness.

[Don LeBatard]

Right. Question numbers.

[Dan]

Trying to think of the name Ron Artest, but it wasn't coming to me. Wanted to compare Tio with Ron Artest. Tio, the Omarosa of the NFL. Guess what? You're fired.

[Don LeBatard]

Question number seven for Romakin. Give us a take. That sucks.

[Dan]

Levitard is cool.

[Don LeBatard]

Question number eight.

[Dan]

That was simple and you moved on. Saying that Dan Levitar is cool was not a bad take. It's a great take. I was trying to get you. You overthrow me. That is not cool. I want to say thwarted at the same time as overthrown. Who cares if I mash two words together? Do whatever I want. Great. I am Robic in Sky Thunder.

[Don LeBatard]

Question number eight.

[Dan]

Hold on a second. Yes. Let me go to the dark side for a second. Dude. I'm gonna start the heavy breathing between pauses. Have it taken. Go suck. Your turn.

[Don LeBatard]

Wait a minute. That sounded like John man being woken from a deep slumber.

[Dan]

He presses a button and I do that.

[Don LeBatard]

Question Question number eight for Jim Rome. John Madden sings much better than you. I'd like to play a little something from John Madden for you and see if you can top this real quick. Now, I allege you've already brought Love Boat to the equation, and I'm sorry, I'm boring you. Hawk's scurrying back there. He had no idea I was gonna ask this. Ask for John Madden singing. So you brought Love Boat to the equation and we had a different stroke song from John Madden that you gave us last week. Can you help me stall here? Jim Rome. Somebody help me stall.

[Dan]

No. I'm having a lot of fun just listening to you. How hard it is, Dan. You need to develop a pause with asthmatic symptoms in the middle of it. That jaw man sleeping? No, it's just my paws, dude. If I was a bear and I had paws.

[Dan Le Batard]

Cool.

[Dan]

All right. I would pause with my paws. This is almost as great as the time I was in the Vatican. My call on my cell phone. I was roaming. Roman. Rome. Rome cubed. Phenomenal.

[Don LeBatard]

We will get to John Madden in a second. Question number eight. What's your opinion of Drew Rosenhaus?

[Dan]

Drew, do me a favor. Try to save the game. How about you start on the other side, start negotiating for the teams, then maybe we'll see some of the best players. Play, Dude, I'm going for meal.

[Don LeBatard]

Question number nine. Who would you rather have negotiating on your behalf if you are to ralph Jesse Jackson.

[Dan]

Because half the time you have no idea what dude is saying, but you know, it's eloquent. Phenomenal. Jesse Jackson rhymes things. Brings a vermeil close to my eyes. Wait a minute.

[Don LeBatard]

What was that? That was Romakin waking up. John Madden. Question number 10.

[Dan]

Knocked him out, like. Knocked him out like an Ewok extra.

[Don LeBatard]

You want to hear John Madden sing? We finally got that for you.

[Dan]

Definitely. This is from Different Strokes. Now, the world don't move to the beat of just one drug what might flack for you may not be right for some A man is born He's a man with knees and long Comes to They got nothing but their genes it takes different strokes it takes different strokes it takes different strokes to move the world hold on. Everybody's got a different kind of Everybody finds a way to shine don't matter what you got Not a lot they got D. You got yours and I got mine and again we'll be fine. Takes different strokes Takes different strokes Makes different strokes around the world Boom.

[Don LeBatard]

Top that, Rome.

[Dan]

I can't. I thought I could, but then I heard that and had no idea how ridiculous it sounded. And I can't believe you let him get the whole way through. When I say him, I mean me. And it. You don't get it. Think about it.

[Don LeBatard]

All right, we're gonna take your calls now.

[Stan Van Gundy]

That's it.

[Don LeBatard]

Ten questions for Jim Rome. If you want on with Pacino, if you want on with George Bush, John Madden, Jim Rome. We got a couple of minutes left. We've been hogging him throughout this segment. 1-888-790-3776. If you have questions for any of those characters or Frank Caliendo, let's go out to Omar on the cell phone. OMAR, you're on 790.

[Dan]

I would love to hear a carpool between President Bush and Al Pacino ordering breakfast at McDonald's. That would be great. Well, you're luckified because we just did that today and we recorded it. Yes, I'd like a. I like one of those. Just get the eggs. Get the deluxe breakfast. Come on, you're tiring. Want. Want those McMuffin things with the egg? It's an Egg McMuffin, jackass. Think about it. Egg. What's it called? Egg McMuffin. I said an Egg McMuffin with. With sausage. Good job. Now on to me. No, I'm not done yet. I would Also like, dude, guess what? I'm in the car too. Nice ball reference.

[Don LeBatard]

Those jingle bells remind me that holiday basketball is here and when stars like Kobe White, Jalen Williams and Tyler Herro start cooking. Rap King Sportsbook, an official sports betting partner of the NBA is where you wanna be. I keep singing that song when I do this read.

[Dan]

I can't help it.

[Don LeBatard]

But don't forget DraftKings has you back with Early Exit. If your player goes down in the first half, you still get paid in cash.

[Dan]

What?

[Stan Van Gundy]

Is this true?

[Don LeBatard]

This can't be. Really?

[Stan Van Gundy]

Oh my God.

[Dan]

It's absolutely true. It's absolutely real.

[Don LeBatard]

If your player goes down in the first half, you still get paid in cash. Download the DraftKings sportsbook app and use Code Dan. That's Code Dan. New customers can bet five bucks. Get $200 in bonus bets. If your bet wins in partnership with DraftKings, the Crown is yours.

[Dan]

Hell yeah.

[Hawk]

Gambling problem call 1-800- gambler in New York, call 877-8-Hopeny or text hopeny 467-369 in Connecticut. Help is available for problem gambling. Call 888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org Please play responsibly on behalf of Boothill Casino and Resort in Kansas. Pass through of per wager tax may apply in Illinois 21 and over.

[Don LeBatard]

Age and eligibility varies by jurisdiction.

[Hawk]

Void in Ontario. Restrictions apply. Bet must win to receive bonus bets which expire in seven days minimum.

[Don LeBatard]

For additional terms and responsible gaming resources.

[Hawk]

See DKNG Co Audio Limited Time Offer.

[Dan]

This episode is brought to you by State Farm. Listening to this podcast Smart move Being financially savvy Smart move Another smart move having State Farm help you create a competitive price when you choose to bundle.

[Don LeBatard]

Home and auto bundling.

[Dan]

Just another way to save with a.

[Don LeBatard]

Personal price plan like a good neighborhood.

[Dan]

State Farm is there.

[Don LeBatard]

Prices are based on rating plans that vary by state. Coverage options are selected by the customer.

[Dan]

Availability, amount of discounts and savings and eligibility vary by state.

[Don LeBatard]

There's a reason Chevy trucks are known for their dependability because they show up no matter the weather, push forward no matter the terrain and deliver. That's why Chevrolet has earned more dependability awards for trucks than any other brand in 2025, according to J.D. power, because in every Chevy truck, like every Chevy driver, dependability comes standard. Visit cheap Chevy.com to learn more. Chevrolet received the highest total number of awards among all the trucks in the JD powered 2025 U.S. vehicle Dependability Study awards based on 2022 models. Newer models may be shown. Visit jdpower.com awards for more details. Chevrolet together.

[Dan Le Batard]

Let's drive.

[Don LeBatard]

Don LeBatard, you know how these late season games are.

[Stan Van Gundy]

We don't know. It's a big game for the Knicks. We have absolutely no idea how Boston will play it. I don't know who they'll play, who they won't play.

[Hawk]

Stugats.

[Don LeBatard]

Okay, all right, that's fine. That's an excellent promotion. You know, I love that. That'. That's it. That's perfect advertising for the game. The national game. That was a shitty sales job.

[Hawk]

This is the Dan Levatar show with the Stugach.

[Don LeBatard]

Let's get to my shameful admission. I can't believe I'm saying this. This makes me really uncomfortable.

[Stan Van Gundy]

This is.

[Don LeBatard]

I mean, I'd like to under. Under promise and over deliver. And I'm telling you, you guys in here in the studio are going to look at me funny. And if we could see Stan right now, if he weren't in Orlando, he's going to look at me funny because the admission I'm about to make about what happened to me last night, now he's proud of myself. You know, one of these things you do Stugats is you'll throw in your sports knowledge to prove to people that you have sports knowledge. I was proud of myself earlier in the show as Stan Van Gundy, basketball savant. A guy who knew Kenny Smith. Remember the game from 1983 and the players playing in it? He blurted Fred Hoiberg. And I got in there and I corrected him with a name I've since forgotten. Tim Floyd. Tim Floyd.

[Hawk]

It was Floyd.

[Don LeBatard]

Right? But wait a minute. But wait a minute. The admission I'm about to make right now, I. I can't believe I'm gonna admit this.

[Hawk]

Oh, just go ahead.

[Don LeBatard]

I can't believe it. I'm uncomfortable admitting it.

[Hawk]

You're in too deep. Go.

[Don LeBatard]

I know I am. Stan.

[Stan Van Gundy]

Yes, sir.

[Don LeBatard]

Yesterday. I'm not. I can't believe I'm going to admit that. Yesterday I'm watching a press conference and my honest reaction to it. I can't believe I'm saying that. My honest reaction was, wait a minute. Bernie Bickerstaff is black. I had no.

[Dan]

I don't know what happened there.

[Don LeBatard]

I was that. I don't know, I assumed it was. He was white because it was burning. I don't know what I did there. Look at my grand face.

[Stan Van Gundy]

Bernie's only coached in the league for about 35 years.

[Don LeBatard]

You know, that's mortifying. Are you Saying he's been a head.

[Stan Van Gundy]

Coach in the league.

[Listener or Guest]

Stand.

[Don LeBatard]

Don't make it worse now.

[Hawk]

Make it worse, Dan. Make it worse.

[Stan Van Gundy]

I mean. Well, I'll tell you what now, Dan. I'll go back to Oscar Robertson on this, and I don't want to hurt anybody's feelings, but when we won the Eastern Conference in 2008. No, 2009, and we're out for. You know, they do that ceremony at half court and the whole thing with the trophy, and Oscar was one of the guys presenting the trophy. And our owner, Rich DeVos, said to his son in law, who was our CEO, he said, who's this guy standing next to me? Yeah, the guy owns a team in the NBA.

[Don LeBatard]

He had no idea.

[Stan Van Gundy]

Like, who is this guy standing next to me? And, you know, they're contemporaries, basically. I mean, Mr. DeVos is even older than Oscar Robertson. So he had to watch him as an adult and he had no idea who he was.

[Hawk]

I'm wondering what happened here, Stan, because as you pointed out, he's been in the NBA. Bernie Bickerstaff has for 35 years. Dan did that based just on name alone.

[Don LeBatard]

But here's the thing. But here's the thing, though. Like, I don't know what happened. And I don't know whether this is a product of age or what. Like, I know the Bickerstaff resume. Like, I know where he coached. I just can't believe, clearly, Charlotte. What I can't believe is that I didn't know that. Like, I don't know what happened there. I don't. Stan, have you had any senior moment?

[Stan Van Gundy]

Not that bad. Yeah, that's not that bad.

[Hawk]

I can't chalk that up to us.

[Don LeBatard]

Are you trying to chalk. What I'm saying is what I don't understand how the inconsistency here, you would admit, like, this doesn't make any sense whatsoever. The ability to tell Tom Izzo that he was thinking of Tim Floyd when Stan Van Gundy couldn't remember that name. That doesn't make sense paired against what? I just volunteered to you that I didn't know that Bernie Bickerstaff was black. Those two things don't fit together.

[Hawk]

Now. His real name, it's not. He shortened it. It's not Bernie. It's Bernard Bickerstaff. Would that have helped if it was Bernard?

[Don LeBatard]

You know what I was doing there? You know what I was doing there.

[Hawk]

Well, how about this? His middle name, his full name then is Bernard Tyrone Bickerstaff.

[Dan]

Yeah.

[Stan Van Gundy]

I'm not even getting into This I know.

[Don LeBatard]

I understand. Stan's learning.

[Dan]

ST is learning.

[Don LeBatard]

Excellent, Stan, because I really don't want to get you in trouble. I would be mortified if you blurted out something and under the guise of, hey, we're just having wacky fun here, nobody's listening, and next thing that happens, that's. That's a very wise decision by Stan Van Gundy to just sort of back away from the microphone. I'm a basketball elitist, and I never watched the All Star Game except that one time I had to coach it. Oh, that two times. Those two times I had to coach it. Had to coach it.

[Hawk]

Can't put my finger on it, Dan.

[Don LeBatard]

I was forced at gunpoint to coach because I had the best record in the East.

[Hawk]

I'm wondering if Stan tried to avoid having the best record in the East.

[Stan Van Gundy]

I told Eric this year he should have avoided it. I. There were a couple games there he could have thrown and, and possibly gotten of that and then still been the top seat at the All Star break. I mean, it's really hard for a coach. It really is. I mean, you want to make sure you're fair to everybody with the minutes. You don't do any coaching, it's just. I don't know, it's. It's very hard. It's a very hard thing to do. I haven't talked to Eric since Sunday. I'd love to see what he thought of it, but it's a hard game to. To coach, and it's a hard game to enjoy.

[Hawk]

Dan, think about that. Because I'm not certain if I were a coach, I wouldn't throw games to avoid it. You have five or six days off, they're going to want to see a movie for the first time in two years as opposed to going to coach a bunch of guys who aren't going to listen to you.

[Don LeBatard]

You know what I really would have enjoyed, and I thought Popovich was going to do this, Stan. And he's exactly the coach who would have done this. And I feel like he's got the players who would have signed off on him doing it. I thought that Popovich was going to put Parker and Duncan out there for, like, one possession to just actually put them out there and then pull them right out and. And then just play all the Thunder players, like, just as a joke.

[Stan Van Gundy]

Duncan didn't play much more than one, right? But I looked at the box score. He played, what, six minutes?

[Hawk]

He should have set up, like, cots.

[Don LeBatard]

On the back, like, made a show of what he was doing. Popovich has got that sneaky sense of humor. Made a show of what he was doing one possession and then yank them or even just, I don't even know. Are you allowed to do this? Insert them in the game and then just immediately call timeout and pull them out? Them taking a step on the all star basketball court during play.

[Stan Van Gundy]

Yeah, there's actually no rules governing like how much you have to play anybody or anything else. I mean your starters are selected, you have to start them. But other than that there's, there's no rules to it. You know, I, what you do is you, you get an idea. First of all, like I'm sure that what happened with Garnett, I looked, he only played like eight minutes. I'll bet he told Eric like, hey, you know, I don't want to play a whole lot. And so Eric went ahead and did that. You'll occasionally have players do that or some guys will say, look, I know minutes are tough, you know, don't worry about me. I had Grant Hill do that, you know, with me, like, hey, you know, don't worry about me. And so that helps you out a little bit. Other than that, you try to balance a minute.

[Chris]

It's.

[Stan Van Gundy]

The game's not bad. It's the practice. You know, they have this public practice and the NBA's got all this stuff.

[Hawk]

Oh, stop this.

[Stan Van Gundy]

Really what they should do, and I mean this sincerely, I think it would be great. There's no coaching going on. I really honestly believe what they should do is get some of the great ex players and let them coach it. I think it would be great for the game. Like let Oscar Robertson and Bill Russell coach a team, you know, let, you know, Jerry west and Magic Johnson coach against each other. I honestly think, think it would be part of the show. It would be good for the fans. I think it would be a lot better and maybe, you know, put an assistant coach from one of the teams there like they do in the tremendous rookie, sophomore rising, you know, halfway decent young player game to, to help them and you know, manage the minutes or something. But I think that would be great. I mean, why would that not be be a great idea? The head coaches don't want to do it.

[Don LeBatard]

This suffering, this. I mean, Jesus had his cross to bear and Stan had it.

[Stan Van Gundy]

Just trying to help the All Star game. Look, I've always tried to step forward with ideas to help the league. I've been for not a bad idea with those ideas.

[Don LeBatard]

One of those ideas, Commissioner Stern, and.

[Stan Van Gundy]

If he would just listen, we could Overcome a lot of problems.

[Hawk]

Those, those sound like ideas that keep you home during the All Star break. That's all they sound like.

[Don LeBatard]

Still not a bad idea.

[Stan Van Gundy]

But honestly, wouldn't that be better? Wouldn't it be part of the whole.

[Don LeBatard]

And nobody wants to watch the coaches. I mean, Stan, did you have to come out on stage and everything when they were introduced? Oh my gosh, how uncomfortable was that?

[Stan Van Gundy]

Yes, but no. Why wouldn't that be better?

[Don LeBatard]

Did you run through smoke and stuff?

[Stan Van Gundy]

Why wouldn't that be better if that were Oscar Robertson or Bill Russell or somebody who had accomplished a whole hell of a lot more than I was ever going to accomplish in that league?

[Hawk]

Did you smile?

[Don LeBatard]

Like, how did that work? I want to hear, I want to hear the introduction of Stan Van Gundy.

[Stan Van Gundy]

Look, I don't remember exact. Sure I danced, you know, I mean.

[Don LeBatard]

He was like with the Jabberwockies. He was like putting a hand over his heart, making it beat.

[Stan Van Gundy]

Like last time I did it, I got in a conversation with my assistant coach, Brendan Malone, because in Dallas, you know, we played in the football stadium and the thing was huge. You can actually see the game better watching it on the monitor. But we sat in these really comfortable chairs. I mean, literally we were almost falling asleep and Bill Russell was right next to us and he ordered one of those foot long hot dogs and it just looked great. And so my assistant coach, Brendan Malone wanted to order a hot dog and I got in this argument telling him he could not order a hot dog.

[Don LeBatard]

On the bench and he was going to do it.

[Stan Van Gundy]

I thought he was going to grab, you know, they have the waitress service and order a hot dog sitting on our bench. That was the highlight of my all Star game in Dallas.