Does Portugal Have a Cristiano Ronaldo Problem? | Local Hour

Summary

---

The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

Episode: "Does Portugal Have a Cristiano Ronaldo Problem?" | Local Hour

Date: June 18, 2026
Location: Elser Hotel, Downtown Miami

---

Episode Overview

The Local Hour kicks off with Dan, Stugotz, Mike Ryan, and the crew diving into the opening days of the 2026 World Cup and a razor-sharp, funny, and sometimes biting exploration of aging superstars in sports—most notably, Cristiano Ronaldo's current struggles with Portugal. The episode travels from a debate about whether Ronaldo is helping or hurting his national team, into broader conversations about athlete ego, the challenges of coaching superstars, and the ever-entertaining back-and-forth that defines the show. Football (soccer) is the centerpiece, but the crew’s sideways humor and detours—including musings on a coach’s handsomeness and the Miami Heat’s front office—bring the signature Local Hour flavor.

---

Major Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Cristiano Ronaldo 'Problem' for Portugal

• The Context:

  • (02:48) Dan confesses being obsessed with the World Cup, noting the excitement of seeing global stars and marveling at passionate Colombian fans.
  • The central question: Is Ronaldo now a liability rather than an asset for Portugal?

• Performance Analysis:

  • (03:03) Don Le Batard notes Ronaldo's lack of recent decisive goals: "He hasn't scored an important goal since 2021."
  • (04:09) Mike Ryan frames Ronaldo as a fading icon: "He's 41 years old and always going to be tethered to the hip of Messi... but [Messi] put that debate to rest last time."
  • (09:09-09:35) Mike identifies Ronaldo's physical decline: "Ronaldo... his speed is totally gone... he's cherry picking right now, and he's just constantly offside and it's messing up the passing lanes for... the best midfield in this tournament for Portugal."

• Aging, Ego, and Team Dynamics:

  • (10:15-10:48) Mike underscores the danger of Ronaldo's ego: "Cristiano Ronaldo cost them the game... rather than have the team score the goal, Ronaldo was going to score the goal. So now the conversation is either Ronaldo looks himself in the mirror... but we got to change our game up."
  • (11:32) Don: "It would be his ego who would have to choose it. Cuz no one's going to do it to him... See if he's hurt. Or insulted... The one who's an international superstar. Handsome. Hey, would you like to go to the bench and not take it as insult?"

• Solutions and Challenges:

  • (11:02) Mike suggests a concrete role: "I think he can be hugely impactful as a match-dependent sub... but right now his ego may be getting in the way."
  • (13:46) Mike: "He, he was invisible yesterday, but he would have been better if he were actually invisible. He was quite literally getting in the way."

---

2. Sports Ego & The Difficulties of Benching Legends

• Coaching Dilemmas:

  • (11:32) Dan and Don note the problem is multi-layered: you can’t just tell an icon to sit. Benching Ronaldo requires sensitivity—no manager wants to shoulder that fallout.
  • (12:54) Dan asks the crucial question: "How did they not know the manager, all the people who run the team? How was there not at least an idea that this may be a thing?... Can we take care of this before the first match at the World Cup?"

• Broader Athlete Comparisons:

  • Don compares the situation to NBA star Carmelo Anthony refusing a bench role, emphasizing just how deeply rooted these ego concerns can go for world-renowned superstars.

---

3. Hervé Renard—The “Most Handsome Man in Soccer”

• A Hilarious Side Quest:
  • (06:21 - 08:12) The crew becomes obsessed with Hervé Renard, Tunisia’s new manager—fired into the World Cup after just one match, and, in the hosts’ estimation, "the most handsome man in the world."
  • (07:02) Mike: "Yeah, I believe he's gorgeous. Yeah. His sport, his nationality is gorgeous."
  • (07:41) Don: "[Video team] does not judge that very well. And attractive is very high on the list of what they don't judge well... When he was introduced to us... I was hypnotized. I looked into his eyes and could not stop staring."
  • (08:11) Mike, deadpan: "Most gorgeous people are [smokers]."
  • (20:12—20:34) Crew shares photos, mock-jealously debating which version of Renard is the most beautiful, leading Don to declare: "You cannot fire a manager after one game in the World Cup unless it’s to hire this man."

---

4. Messi, Ronaldo, and the GOAT Conversation

• On Changing Narratives:
  • (03:44) Dan: "Ronaldo is not scored in his last five World Cup matches, in his last 10 international appearances..."
  • (04:27-05:14) Mike recounts that the Messi v. Ronaldo debate was "highly contested"—but Messi’s performances (and Ronaldo’s age) have settled it for most observers.
  • (04:49) Mike: "I think that we should all feel privileged that we lived in the era where they're both doing this... Ronaldo's older. 41. 41."

---

5. Miami Heat Roster Debates & NBA Trade Rumors

• Quick Turn:
  • (24:57) Mike Ryan and the crew analyze Pat Riley and the Miami Heat’s strategy (or missteps) regarding trades and talent acquisition—comparing missed chances (OG Anunoby, Siakam) with the ongoing rumors swirling around potentially trading for Giannis or Jaylen Brown.
  • (27:36) Mike: "Dan and Jeremy, since the finals lost to Denver, they have constantly misread their own talent level, the lay of the land inside their conference."
  • (36:09—41:47) Debates on trade rumors, sources (with Mike at odds with established reporters), and the implications if Jaylen Brown is actually available as a trade chip.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Ronaldo’s Decline:

  • Dan Le Batard (03:22): “He stinks.”
  • Mike Ryan (09:35): “He’s cherry picking right now, and he’s just constantly offside and it’s messing up the passing lanes... It looked like he had no knowledge of what the attacking plan was for Portugal.”
  • Mike Ryan (13:46): “He was invisible yesterday, but he would have been better if he were actually invisible.”
  • Don Le Batard (11:32): “See if [Ronaldo’s] hurt. Or insulted with wherever ego is on soccer divas... The soccer divas can make the wide receivers look ridiculous when it comes to ego.”

• On Hervé Renard’s Looks:

  • Mike Ryan (07:02): “Yeah, I believe he’s gorgeous. Yeah. His sport, his nationality is gorgeous.”
  • Don Le Batard (07:41): “When this man came into my life, he did so with a jawline. I was hypnotized. I looked into his eyes and could not stop staring.”
  • Mike Ryan (08:11): “Most gorgeous people are [smokers].”
  • Don Le Batard (21:02): “This is the world’s most beautiful man. You cannot fire a manager after one game in the World Cup unless it’s to hire this man.”

---

Key Timestamps

• 02:48: Dan begins his deep-dive into World Cup mania and the “Cristiano Ronaldo Problem.”
• 03:22-05:14: Ronaldo’s recent ineffectiveness and legacy, with discussion of Messi vs. Ronaldo.
• 06:21-08:12: Hilarious tangent on Hervé Renard’s beauty; fired Tunisia coach storyline.
• 09:09-11:00: Mike Ryan’s detailed critique of Ronaldo’s impact on the Portugal squad.
• 11:32-13:46: Dan and Don debate the complexities and egos in benching sporting legends.
• 24:57—27:36: Miami Heat trade strategy, critique of the front office, and general NBA roster talk.
• 36:09—41:47: Jaylen Brown, Giannis, and the NBA trade rumor swirl—with Mike going against the grain of mainstream NBA reporters.

---

Episode Tone & Style

Signature Dan Le Batard: a potent combination of irreverent wit, pop-culture riffing, and genuine analysis. The episode is filled with sharp soccer insight, but just as often detours into laughter, mock-serious debates about handsomeness, and the friendly sniping that defines the show’s chemistry.

---

For Listeners Who Missed It

Expect a rich, funny exploration of how hard it is for teams to navigate the late-career decline of iconic athletes, framed by Ronaldo’s travails for Portugal. Get a window into how coaches and federations tiptoe around superstar egos. Plus, enjoy the crew’s irrepressible obsession with Hervé Renard’s cheekbones and the sort of honest, loud NBA Heat talk that always stirs the Miami pot.

---

In sum: This episode serves up “the Ronaldo problem” not only as the biggest storyline of the World Cup’s opening week, but as a microcosm for the challenges of coaching egos in sports. Between the jokes, the analysis, and the parade of tangents, it’s a classic Local Hour worth a listen for soccer and sports fans alike.

Transcript

[Chevy Commercial Announcer]

The 2026 Chevy Equinox is more than an SUV. It's your Sunday tailgate and your parking lot snack bar. Your lucky jersey, your chairs and your big cooler fit perfectly in your even bigger cargo space. And when it's go time, your 11.3-inch diagonal touchscreen's got the playbook, the playlist, and the tech to stay a step ahead. It's more than an suv. It's your Equinox Chevrolet. Together, let's drive.

[Home Depot Commercial Announcer]

This Father's Day. Do more with dad and spend less. With low prices guaranteed at the Home Depot, get him fired up with a new grill and accessories like the next Grill 5 burner for just $299 so you can spend more time together while he becomes the grill master he was always meant to be. Or build memories with savings on top. Brand power tools so you can tackle projects side by side, gift more and do more together this Father's Day with help from the Home Depot. Exclusions apply. Seehomedepot.com Pricematch for details.

[Sports Song Performer]

Football, Football, football is back, Jack the beautiful game is on a roll and we'll have an eye on every goal Shouting magisterial no need to back down just park the bus, Stop the attack Will the hand of God put your head or back on track? Football is back, Jack Mbappe's flying through the air Ronaldo's here for one last

[Dan Le Batard]

prayer

[Sports Song Performer]

Will Messi come out to play? Or is it victory for the usa? It's corner kicks when the box is packed that's how you know that football is back, Jack Let me hear you say football, football, football, Football is back, Jack. The time is here, open the gates the long wait is over so we'll yell let's go, States no need to back down Just strike the ball, start the attack if you say this game's the best, I'll say zag Football is backjacked Football is back, Football is back, Football is back, Jack.

[Dan Le Batard]

Let me tell you something. I've been wrapped up in this World Cup. I stayed up, I watched all the games yesterday. I could confirm Colombia, great fans.

[Don Le Batard]

I told you, I haven't been an expert on all things soccer. I mean, I can't believe that Jude Bellingham has returned to the pitch with the form of two years ago. But Harry Kane and the superstars being great at the most beautiful game. And Ronaldo, like, right off the bat and. Oh, you. You're a problem. Ronaldo, you star.

[Dan Le Batard]

He stinks.

[Don Le Batard]

Well, but he stinks so much that you gotta get him off the field. You Might win it without him, but. But you sure aren't going to win it with him because he hasn't scored an important goal since 2021 and it wasn't that long ago. Zaz, like, when we talk about these goat conversations, it's amazing to look back and be like, yeah, about seven, eight years ago, we were saying Messi wasn't going to be it. Ronaldo was the best player in the world is.

[Dan Le Batard]

Mike, you'll have to help me here is. Because Ronaldo is not scored in his last five World cup matches, in his last 10 international appearances, is Ronaldo's last international goal the one where it may have hit like a hair on his head. And he tried to take credit for the goal.

[Unidentified Speaker (brief interjection)]

Remember that?

[Dan Le Batard]

Was that his last goal?

[Mike Ryan]

I have to look it up. You may be right.

[Dan Le Batard]

He tried to take credit for a goal that was not his.

[Mike Ryan]

The Ronaldo storyline, this is a storyline that transcends obviously, he's a huge personality, one of the biggest superstars in the history of sports on this planet. Right. And he's 41 years old and he's always going to be tethered to the hip of Messi. I kind of felt like Messi put that debate to rest with his performance in the last one, but he was behind.

[Don Le Batard]

Messi was behind. Before that, Mike, we spent a couple of years. It wasn't. It wasn't. We were not saying Messi was the best player in the world or ever. We weren't even saying he was certainly the best player of his time when next to the statuesque guy who's pretty and isn't frumpy and is somebody who thought looked more like what soccer wants to look like.

[Mike Ryan]

Well, it was a highly contested debate between the two of them. And now Messi's conversation is with Maradona and Pele and it's, you know, a little sad, I feel like. And look, I know I'm not trying to turn this into a Ronaldo Messi thing. I. I like both. And I think that we should all feel privileged that we lived in the era where they're both doing this. And it's should be noted. Ronaldo's older. 41. 41.

[Don Le Batard]

Three years older.

[Mike Ryan]

It's. It's tough. However, Ronaldo at that age was not. Was already showing signs of falling off. And, you know, he had the whole thing with Manchester United. I want to talk about what his options are here for this World cup because Portugal is absolutely loaded and headed into the tournament. I like them to win the championship, provided that Ronaldo could fit in. And Dan, he looked like a beer league player that was told. You're playing for the national team. Figure it out, Mike.

[Don Le Batard]

I can't believe that one game into this thing, you're getting the gold of. Talk about storylines with the legend. You're going to have to get him off the field if you want to win. As all the other stars, all the other worldwide guys, Harry Kane, like everyone comes out right at the start. No one's screwing around anymore. And also, the stakes are so high that your country might fire its manager if it loses one game. And then bring in the most handsome devil that there has ever been in the history of soccer.

[Mike Ryan]

That's right. Herv Renard is back in our lives. That should be the number one talking point from the World cup here for us instead of Ronaldo.

[Dan Le Batard]

But I like that they fired him after one game. That means you're all in.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah.

[Dan Le Batard]

Your country's telling you we're in this to win it.

[Mike Ryan]

Tunisia had one of the more puzzling performances of the opening round of matches because they don't concede. Now, you could pick apart the fact that they really got lucky in qualification, but they were supposed to be this stout defensive team and they let in a billion goals against Sweden. And so a man who's a bit of a football vagabond, Dan, he's been coaching men's and women's teams. It's Saudi Arabia, French women's team.

[Dan Le Batard]

And what's his nationality, Herbert?

[Sports Song Performer]

Not.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah, I believe he's gorgeous. Yeah. His sport, his nationality is gorgeous.

[Don Le Batard]

Is Herv's. Put it on the poll at Lebatard show. Is Herv's nationality gorgeous? Because I don't think. I question the video team in a number of different ways, and I don't want to exclude the audio audience here, but I don't believe that they went and chose the photos that were handsome enough. Okay? I don't believe that they're doing this man justice. When he was introduced to us. Yeah, okay, he was.

[Mike Ryan]

It has been a couple years, but

[Don Le Batard]

don't show me modern photos of him, please. He still looks wonderful for his age. He's exactly the guy you get if you're going to fire a coach after one game. But I want the original. I saw photos of him.

[Mike Ryan]

This is the guy you're talking about, Dan.

[Don Le Batard]

No, I'm. The video team does not judge that very well. And attractive is very high on the list of what they don't judge well. Okay? Because they've done this poorly. They've Put in front of me a man. It may be because they're playing with that AI still, that is not as attractive as the most beautiful man I've ever seen. When this man came into my life, he did so with a jawline. I was hypnotized. I looked into his eyes and could not stop staring.

[Unidentified Speaker (commentator)]

That guy looks like Sean Penn now.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah. I mean, he's a smoker. Most gorgeous people are.

[Unidentified Speaker (commentator)]

Smoke show.

[Mike Ryan]

But, yeah. Herb Renard, who goes from tweeting about the World cup back into our lives as Tunisia sacked their manager after one match and her.

[Dan Le Batard]

They're all in.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah. I mean, you gotta be. So hopefully they get back to their game. But. But let's go to the. The other handsome man in this conversation, Cristiano Ronaldo, for just a brief second more. Cristiano Ronaldo cost them the game. There was one moment in particular. First off, I thought Cristiano Ronaldo was going to come out super aggressive. Everybody did because of what happened the night before. With all the stars performing so well, you're like, man, Cristiano Ronaldo is going to be bombing sh. 30 yards out.

[Dan Le Batard]

Can I ask you something real quick? How has he performed like this past season in Saudi?

[Mike Ryan]

You know, it was. He definitely showed signs, but the league isn't ultra competitive. He did end up winning a trophy. Largely a disappointment. I think there were. There was like a whole, like, rebellion against him by that supporter base briefly in Saudi Arabia.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah, we're doing the same thing here

[Mike Ryan]

against Messi, but like Messi, too, people are quick to point to the level of competition in the. In the league. And Ronaldo, he was on the national team list. You'd imagine he would be since he's still active and still scoring goals at a. At a reasonably high clip for his club. But Ronaldo is one of the fastest attackers in the history of the game, and his speed is totally gone.

[Don Le Batard]

So much so that's a problem.

[Mike Ryan]

So much so that. So much so that he's cherry picking right now, and he's just constantly offside and it's. It's messing up the passing lanes for what is, I think, the best midfield in this tournament for Portugal. They have some really, really good players. And there was one. There was one really ugly moment late in that game. I know historically when we say, man, that's one of the worst striker performances ever, it's usually because a guy misses an opportunity right in front of the net and you're like, oh, how do you miss that? Or he misses a pen. He didn't Even put himself in the position to miss sitters. Like he was just so out of position, so out of sorts of. It looked like he had no knowledge of what the attacking plan was for Portugal.

[Don Le Batard]

This is a crazy conversation.

[Mike Ryan]

And late in that match there's a dangerous cross played into the box. Cristiano Ronaldo supposed to be going to the near post and it's played beautifully for Bruno Fernandes. If that meets Bruno Fernandes foot, it's a game winning goal. Instead, Ronaldo drags his foot back to try to intercept the pass. And rather than have the team score the goal, Ronaldo was going to score the goal. So now the conversation is either Ronaldo looks himself in the mirror, which he does often, and says, you know, you're still super handsome, but we got to change our game up.

[Dan Le Batard]

There's no way that happens.

[Mike Ryan]

I, I think he can be hugely impactful as a match dependent sub. Right. You have one of the greatest goal scorers in the history of the sport.

[Dan Le Batard]

You'll never convince me to do that.

[Mike Ryan]

He's there. I think his legs aren't what they used to be. So if you bring him on in one of these knockout rounds as like an extra time sub, I think that there is a role where he can absolutely help his team. And I think his branding would really, would really have a positive spin on it if he assumed this role, player, leader type of role for Portugal. But right now his ego may be getting in the way because he is quite literally physically getting in the way.

[Don Le Batard]

Okay, but what you're saying, and this is why this is fascinating and I do want to get to the celebration of the people who are great and we have a bunch of Giannis developments that everybody wants to get to. That is the beautiful Ronaldo, the statue for Ronaldo, one of the worst pieces of art ever made. But one of the reasons what you're saying is patently ridiculous on whatever it is you imagine sports ego to be. Okay, Melo wasn't going to the bench. Whatever you think sports ego is. I heard a coach yesterday who understands Ronaldo's place in the world. A manager scared to say the wrong thing about, I'm going to bench this person. It would be his ego who would have to choose it. Cuz no one's going to do it to him. They understand what that resume is and they understand the insult in it. We're here still talking about Jaylen Brown. Should he be hurt or insulted? Yes. Send Ronaldo to the bench during the World cup. See if he's hurt. Or insulted with wherever ego is on soccer divas. And not, not just soccer divas, because the soccer divas can make the wide receivers look ridiculous when it comes to ego. The soccer divas go ahead and do it with this one. The one who's pretty too. Like, see how that goes for you? The one who's an international superstar. Handsome. Hey, would you like to go to the bench and not take it as insult that you're literally getting in the way? Do you want to look in the mirror in a way that's self aware as opposed to vain?

[Dan Le Batard]

The place where I would go and I guess this and look, maybe they've had these conversations and we're not privy to it. Like, that's totally possible. But how did they not know the manager, all the people who run the team? How was there not at least an idea that this may be a thing? Can we take care of this before the first match at the World Cup? Because can you imagine, you start the World cup and Ronaldo, okay, he's like, you can't do it now. Like, now it's a conversation the world is having. How did they not have any idea that this might be the case? Because guess what, we're one game in and it's already an issue. Like, shouldn't they have known that maybe this is going to be a problem? And let's, let's bring Ronaldo off the bench. Let's have this conversation now before everyone else sees it as difficult of a

[Mike Ryan]

conversation as that is to have at this moment. It's even more difficult to have without that result under your belt. Right now you have, now you have the evidence of him literally getting in the way. Dan, I'd say he, he was invisible yesterday, but he would have been better if he were actually invisible. He was quite literally getting in the way. And I think that entire team, and it needs to come from Ronaldo, he needs to be the leader there and say, guys, I don't have it like that. I can help this team in different ways. I think it would be a great redemption arc for the guy. I think everybody would be pulling for him. I think the moment where Cristiano comes in off the bench in a tie game or a game that they're trailing is going to be an all time sports moment for him. And I hope that he realizes that because he is hurting the team right now.

[Boar's Head Commercial Announcer]

Dan Boar's head brings to the deli the taste of deep fried turkey. One bite and flavor takes over. Perfectly seasoned and deliciously golden fried Boar's heads Get it right like they always do. And take it from a guy who knows a little bit about turkey. Boar's Head should be your go to Deli Meat, a backyard tradition available at the deli. Presenting the Friar's Turkey breast only from Boar's Head. Discover the craftsmanship behind every bite at your local Boar's Head deli. Boar's Head, committed to craft since 1905,

[Chewy Commercial Announcer]

folks, you know my dog, Samantha Bennett. We call her Benny. She somehow is convinced that every package that delivers is for her. It doesn't matter what it is. Dog food that. Well, that makes sense. New headphones, Benny's package. Tax documents, also Benny's package. If you're a pet parent like me, you already know about Chewy. And when they say they've got everything you need to keep your pet happy and healthy, they're not messing around. Chewy has over a hundred thousand products from all the brands Benny loves food, treats, toys, beds, you name it. It shows up in one or two days, which is great, because I tend to realize we're almost out of dog food at the absolute worst time. Plus, their customer service is available 24 7. And if Benny decides that she doesn't like something, which, to be clear, changes constantly, Chewy's 100 satisfaction guarantees lets me return anything within a year, no questions asked. Honestly, I use Chewy. And you should, too. For life with pets, there's Chewy. And right now you can save 20 on your first order and get free shipping by going to chupanions.chewy.com levitarcho that's chupanions.chewy dot com Le Batard show to save $20 on your first order with free shipping. Minimum purchase required. New customers only. Terms and conditions apply. See site for complete details.

[Greg Cody]

Hey, it's Greg Cody's inner monologue. You know, every friend group has that one person who's somehow better at summer than everybody else weekends. You'll never see me without a beer in my hand. Straight up. That time is Miller Time. As soon as I finish the column, I'll say a little something, head over to the garage, crack open a nice cold Miller Light, and I'll stay there for a good 90 minutes, listen to my own voice, watch back some videos, see some feedback of people loving me. Then I'll. I'll send a voice note to YETI or something. And then more you know about myself, more talking about myself, that kind of thing. Legendary moments start with Miller Time, and they're made even better by a Miller Time MVP like me. We all have that one friend who makes every game better. Now it's time to give them their moment. Head over to any of Miller Lite's social media pages and learn more about being a Miller Time mvp. You can pick up some Miller Lite pretty much anywhere they sell beer. It's Miller Time. Celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 96 calories and 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces.

[Sports Song Performer]

Hey, that's what I'm talking about.

[Don Le Batard]

Don LeBatard.

[Dan Le Batard]

My algorithm on Instagram is. Dan. It's all boobs.

[Mike Ryan]

Stugats.

[Dan Le Batard]

It's a good algorithm.

[Mike Ryan]

This is the Don lebatar show with the stugats.

[Don Le Batard]

It's funny that you say all of that. Plenty of time to talk about it. I wasn't listening, though. The reason I say it's funny, because it didn't sound like anyone was laughing. I wasn't listening to you at all because I was gazing into the eyes of Renard on my phone. And. And it's different.

[Chewy Commercial Announcer]

Your personal stash, like.

[Don Le Batard]

Well, I'm gonna. Here's the thing. Personal stash guy. I'm gonna make you come in here and look at the photo I'm looking at.

[Mike Ryan]

You're gonna come in there?

[Don Le Batard]

Yes, I'm gonna ask him to come right in here. Yes, come right in here. Right here. And I want you to look at this and compare it to the video or the pictures that we have on the screen here of the video team's judgment on what I believe to be the most handsome man in the world and the real star of this World Cup. I do have to set up, though. Wait for a second here, Chris. The fact that the NYPD has now shut down the New York City parade route way early, and we were going to go to a mean. And I'm not sure Amin is going to be able to get in because they're saying there's no more room at the Knicks parade. They are now already hours early turning people away. And we've sent Amin there. And I don't have any faith in his Internet. I don't have any faith in Amin in general. I worry that the party is going to get to him, to his throat, and I don't trust his cell phone connection. But we're going to try to go to this parade, but we've already been locked out of that parade. So let's check in with Amin. Get me Amin from wherever it is he is, because were you guys expecting this thing to be shut down two hours early?

[Dan Le Batard]

I don't know. I feel Like I kind of would expect that. Yeah, it's going to be an obscene amount of people.

[Don Le Batard]

Okay, so the NYPD is saying that's it. It's closed. So we will find out shortly whether or not we can get in there and we'll get to the Yanis stuff. Maybe we'll get some Giannis opinions from Amin at the parade. If his Internet works, which I do not trust. I have no faith in everything that's about to happen here or not happen.

[Greg Cody]

But.

[Don Le Batard]

Chris, put up on the screen now, video team, the picture of the beautiful Renard. By your judgment, because you guys have no judgment when it comes to. That's actually a beautiful one you've put. There weren't many ugly ones, but you guys, we did it. No, that's a. That is a beautiful one, but I. But the. Yeah, like that. That where. He looks like a scarecrow from Ukraine.

[Mike Ryan]

Like, I mean, they must have some hot looking scarecrows in Ukraine.

[Don Le Batard]

Look that.

[Chewy Commercial Announcer]

Are you glad you brought me in here?

[Don Le Batard]

Yes. I'm gonna tell you why. Even though your breath smells like breakfast. Are you ready? I'm gonna tell you why. You look at. The best moments in life are shared. Okay. I want you to love this man with me, so you come right in here.

[Chewy Commercial Announcer]

I'm coming.

[Don Le Batard]

You come here.

[Mike Ryan]

Okay.

[Chewy Commercial Announcer]

Oh, oh, oh, the dimples.

[Don Le Batard]

Your breath.

[Chewy Commercial Announcer]

Come on.

[Unidentified Speaker (commentator)]

Performative.

[Don Le Batard]

His breath is not performative.

[Dan Le Batard]

Oh, shush.

[Don Le Batard]

His breath is terrible. It's sausage, links and eggs.

[Chewy Commercial Announcer]

I did have an egg sandwich.

[Don Le Batard]

I could smell it. I could taste it. I could taste that egg sandwich. Look at Mike, Tony. You look.

[Mike Ryan]

I'm well versed in nerve or no, no.

[Don Le Batard]

But this picture. The picture I'm.

[Unidentified Speaker (commentator)]

If you show me Sean Penn, I'm gonna be pissed.

[Don Le Batard]

The one I keep in my wallet. The one I keep in my wallet

[Chewy Commercial Announcer]

in your front pocket or your back pocket.

[Don Le Batard]

I'm gonna. I'm gonna give this to the video team. Louis, I'm sending this to you right now, and I want you to just put it in P and tell me when it is that we're going to go to it so I can watch the whole team gaze at what it is I'm talking about. This is the world's most beautiful man. You cannot fire a manager after one game in the World cup unless it's to hire this man. The Giannis stuff you heard yesterday, it made Jeremy and Zsasz insane. But Mike has not been here. And Mike, I believe, has claimed in the past to have invented heat Twitter. Mike Ryan has been more critical of Pat Riley and the Empire Miami Heat, then I'm going to say anybody in local media during Pat Riley's time, past or present, I do not believe that there has been a voice in this market, written or spoken, that has gone after Pat Riley. Because Pat Riley put the expectations in a place where in 2010 Mike thinks and Heat fans think they deserve the greatest star every time and they deserve to win all the time. Pat Riley, you have to live with those expectations. You made them. You agree with my assessment. You are sure have not been as hard. You reluctantly trade Bam in the middle of last season and it causes you great pain. Who's second place to critical of the Heat in this town to Mike Ryan and I'm dead serious. And how far away is dead is second place?

[Dan Le Batard]

Whoever is second place is going to be, it's going to be a distant second place. Like I'm not sure who it is, but I think you're right.

[Don Le Batard]

I'm going to say Peter Vesey in the history of Pat Riley is the is the second loudest critic of Pat Riley things. And you have been very aggressive.

[Mike Ryan]

And yesterday I don't think I've been very aggressive. I think I'm aggressive compared to you guys. And one thing that you omitted, Dan, is like, yes, I've been critical, but I've also been the most right about this team over the last few years. And another eye roll from Jeremy Tashay. Jeremy, you've been the most wrong.

[Don Le Batard]

Well, but they have made two finals and I want to stop them.

[Mike Ryan]

No, that's why I said the last few years. And yes, they were doubted. And that quite honestly might have been the worst thing that ever happened to this Colts because you guys, I hate

[Chewy Commercial Announcer]

going to the finals.

[Mike Ryan]

All right, we said immediately after they got waxed in the finals against Denver, the rest of the conference is elevated and you just got told pretty, pretty resoundingly that you don't have enough. We all knew that we needed a player better than Jimmy Butler. That was the aim. Instead we end up jettisoning, jettisoning Jimmy Butler. We don't get a player better than Jimmy Butler. Now Bam's your best player and you're constantly whiffing on getting a player to pair next to Bam. I think this is. There's an interesting conversation here about their standards. We all know how difficult it is for them to trade. They don't want to have a trade hurt. But I think look at the lay of the land too, guys. It's not just the whales that they're striking out on because we know that they haven't had the assets compared to other people. And the Dane thing got screwy in part because of how Miami approached that. Really impactful acquisitions that aren't superstar acquisitions in the last few years from the Toronto Raptors purge of an incredible roster. In retrospect, everyone was saying, like that championship team was, you know, it was Kawhi and a bunch of randos and Golden State got hurt. Go ahead and look at that championship roster. It was one of the most loaded championship teams ever.

[Don Le Batard]

Well, it's not that, but Siakam and Anunobi are a lot better than we thought they were.

[Mike Ryan]

Right. And Siakam last season proved it. He was a hugely valuable piece that got Indiana over the hump and into the finals. And now OJ Anunoby was a brilliant two way player and a huge piece in a championship winning team.

[Dan Le Batard]

The Heat went and got a guy from that Toronto roster. He just happened to be my least favorite Miami Heat player of all time, Kyle Lowry.

[Mike Ryan]

And Miami did kick the tires on those players. It was reported out there that Miami was kind of interested, but then they ultimately decided to keep their powder dry for a superstar. I think you could accurately say that's a bit of a misread, especially for a franchise that is so great at developing talent. Or what are you worried about in acquiring an OG Anunoby? You're giving up a lot of pieces. What about developing OG Anunoby when he is on your roster? Because I guarantee you right now, OG Anunoby has more value today than he did when the Knicks acquired him.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah, I mean, like you say that they've struck out on getting some of these guys. It's. There's a difference between them striking out and them choosing to go a different direction.

[Mike Ryan]

Prioritize a star.

[Dan Le Batard]

Right, Right. Yeah.

[Mike Ryan]

I'm saying that you could argue that's a misread. I don't want to stay there too much because I think that there's an interesting Giannis conversation. Yeah, you guys sounded like loons yesterday.

[Don Le Batard]

Okay, so I want to get into this and I want to see if we can get out to a main. And I want to continue to stare in the eyes of my beloved new coach.

[Greg Cody]

But.

[Don Le Batard]

But before we get too far down the path on this, I don't believe if they had gotten. If you had told me, even with the information we have now, hey, they got Anunobe and Siakam the last few years, but sorry, you can't get Giannis in 2026, I would have said, okay, I would have taken that deal. I don't. And I understand what you're saying. I also understand, as we've been talking about Jalen Brunson when we say, hey, would we ever have found out how good he was if he had just stayed to Luca the entire time? Oh, look, we have found out how Kawhi actually had a couple of players who were good.

[Mike Ryan]

Right? But therein lies a fallacy. My point is, my contention is you mentioned Siakam and og. That's not an either or. They. They viewed it as an either or. Hey, let's prioritize the superstar. The Miami Heat could be in on Giannis, and they could use a piece like Siakam Oroji and an Obi in that package. These are valuable assets.

[Don Le Batard]

Fair enough.

[Mike Ryan]

And they just decided to go in a different route. So it's one thing that I'm kind of seizing on that. But it was under the radar. We always discuss them whiffing at the. At the big names. Right. But the internal misread on no, no, no, OG is not worth it. Let's hold firm. When OG could have been a piece that helped you get those stars down the line.

[Unidentified Speaker (commentator)]

The thing is, the idea for them to develop guys they already had instead of giving away pieces for a guy that maybe would have been good.

[Chewy Commercial Announcer]

Right?

[Unidentified Speaker (commentator)]

So they've developed so many guys.

[Mike Ryan]

I get the debate. I get the debate.

[Don Le Batard]

I'm.

[Mike Ryan]

I'm very clearly playing the result here, but I'm saying you're also playing the process, though.

[Don Le Batard]

You are. Look, it's easy to play the result right now. Everyone agrees with the result. Pat Riley agrees.

[Greg Cody]

Result.

[Don Le Batard]

You're also here criticizing the process because you're saying correctly, just collect assets. It doesn't have to be either or.

[Mike Ryan]

Dan and Jeremy, since the finals lost to Denver, they have constantly misread their own talent level, the lay of the land inside their conference.

[Don Le Batard]

Since Dion Waiters and Hassan Whiteside were signed to extensions, they've been having more misreads than we're used to.

[Unidentified Speaker (commentator)]

The thing that they did was believe in Tyler Hero. That was part of this, was they believed he was a better complementary piece to what was then Jimmy Butler and Bama Tobayo than OG Anunoby or Pascal Siakam would have been. Plus, he was younger. And so their belief was, if you were going to be in this position now, who would have not only been a more valuable asset, but maybe turned himself into that third piece to a team that could have continued to compete for championships, and that was their read. He did become an All Star last year and now here's where we sit.

[Don Le Batard]

So this is where these things get interesting on both process and result. Everybody's mad about the result. No one is satisfied with the result. Now, they did develop Tyler Herro into a one time All Star. That is correct. They did acquire Norman Powell who became an All Star. But the team's not good enough. And any conversation after that starts there. There is no question they've fallen behind nine teams in the conference. Younger, better, and it doesn't even matter if it's process or result. It's what's happened. Like, so that's where we are. And we can make all sorts of assessments about that that would be accurate and fair as criticisms. But there is new information coming out all around this and the Jaylen Brown conversation continues to be interesting to me. So before I get to that though, can we go to. Because I need to know to set up the show today if, if Amin's going to get into this parade. Because I thought Amin was going to be joining us from the parade and I thought Jessica was going to join us from the parade and I thought unhappy Sam Moral, who didn't seem like much of a parade guy, would join us from the parade and Mero would join us from the parade. But now we got the spotty wifi. Spotty WI fi issue, I would assume. Right. Like we've had Internet problems all week and now we're going to a really congested area. Do we have any confidence that if we go out to Amin, he's either as going to get in to the parade or have good WI fi?

[Dan Le Batard]

Well, do we have any, like, the parade starts at 10. So is a mean, like on his way there now. Okay, so he's there already.

[Don Le Batard]

Okay, so he's all right.

[M]

So I don't know how it happened. We got through. I'll be honest with you. Sean's got a backpack that would get flagged anywhere, any security situation around the world. It looked wires and timers and stuff. I was like, oh my God, I don't know him. She's just like, hey, just have him hold your backpack as you walk through. I was like, really?

[Don Le Batard]

And we're in.

[M]

And so if you look right there, Champions Way Broadway. This is the Canyon of Heroes. This is the whole parade route. We've got about three hours before it starts. But you can see the crowd is already crazy. As I said earlier, there's a massive crowd waiting on the other side of that barricade. And when they get over here, I Don't know how good of a shot we're gonna get. You can hear people cheering and loud clapping and everything.

[Sports Song Performer]

Okay.

[Don Le Batard]

Oh, he's in. Okay, he's in. It's pixelated. And that's gonna only get worse.

[Dan Le Batard]

That was not terrible.

[Don Le Batard]

It was okay. A sound. I'm worried about this because it's probably not going to be good video if we keep getting pixelations. It's not yet crowded like it's crowded.

[Dan Le Batard]

Maybe they're going to pump more WI FI in as more people come.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah, for sure.

[Dan Le Batard]

Is that a real thing?

[Chewy Commercial Announcer]

The plan now is just we're going to have them PNP when we have signal, he'll flag us down. If we. We're going to try to go to him. We're going to see how it goes with Internet.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah. I heard you say as we marched in, like, man, ESPN's coverage looks good. They don't have any Internet issues. And I'm like, chris, they have a production truck that's on site with a satellite. We got Sean McGill in the backpack.

[Don Le Batard]

He's got Ron McGill's kid. Yeah, with. With a giant backpack.

[Chewy Commercial Announcer]

We just slung shot Sean McGill up to New York.

[Don Le Batard]

Tony's looking. He doesn't like slingshot being made as slung shot.

[Unidentified Speaker (commentator)]

I would have gotten jumped all over for that.

[Chewy Commercial Announcer]

Would it be slingshot?

[Unidentified Speaker (commentator)]

Slingshotted.

[Don Le Batard]

Slingshotted, yeah.

[Mike Ryan]

It's a difficult pass sense, but you shouldn't have gone there.

[Greg Cody]

Chat.

[Don Le Batard]

I've never heard it as sling shat.

[Sports Song Performer]

Sling sh.

[Dan Le Batard]

It might be Sling Shack. Yeah. The cup is taking over the US and only DraftKings sports has you fully covered. The Draft King sports app is now available in all 50 states, giving you access to every market and keeping you in on the excitement at the speed of sports sweat. All the matches you love all in one place with one app. New DraftKings customers sign up with code DAN, spend five bucks and get $200 in rewards within 21 days. That's code DAN in partnership with DraftKings. The crown is yours.

[Unidentified Speaker (brief interjection)]

Bet with DK Sportsbook gambling problem. Call 1-800- gambler 1-800-my reset, New York call 877-8-HOPE and why or text HOPE and why. Connecticut called 888-789-777 or visit CCPG DO of Boothill Casino in Kansas. Vettex Pass through. May apply in Illinois. 21 and over void in Ontario. Event contract trading with DraftKings. Predictions involves risk of loss. Sportsbook bonus bets expire in seven days. $50 in predictions. Dollars issued weekly for three weeks expire in one year. Redeem one non withdrawable reward. Availability varies. Predictions offer void in New York ends June 28th. Terms at DKNG Co Audio.

[Don Le Batard]

Don Libertard. I'm just here to say one thing. The Knicks are back.

[Mike Ryan]

Stugats.

[Don Le Batard]

Tyree Salibraton, six points.

[Greg Cody]

Fraud.

[Don Le Batard]

Everybody was like, yo, he's better than Jalen Brunson. He's better than Jal. That attracted him.

[Greg Cody]

Fraud.

[Don Le Batard]

This is the Dan Levatar show with the stugats. I can't stop staring at coach.

[Unidentified Speaker (commentator)]

Oh, Ervono.

[Greg Cody]

Let's.

[Don Le Batard]

Let's put up on the screen just so. And I'm sorry, Audio audience. No, Louis, please. The photo I sent you by text because you keep choosing ugly ones is the one I want. I want to put in front of the group.

[Greg Cody]

Right.

[Don Le Batard]

Thank you. That's the one that's in my wallet.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah, that looks like the Antichrist straight up. And I'd follow.

[Don Le Batard]

Wow, like you're gonna Zaslow. That is the. That is the most beautiful man there has been. I would follow him anywhere. A born leader. Look at that chin. An obvious ectomorph.

[Dan Le Batard]

You act like you never seen a good looking guy before. Am I?

[Mike Ryan]

He is right. We are a little breathy here. There's a lot to discuss. Messi hat tricks. Ronaldo having the a tailor made sports discussion for you and the Giannis thing because you guys again sounded loony.

[Don Le Batard]

Okay.

[Unidentified Speaker (commentator)]

Salt and pepper in the corners.

[Don Le Batard]

I mean, just beautiful. As. As we talk about Jaylen Brown, I want to give you the latest stuff. Okay. So Windhorse says on get up this morning, his information has been good. The word out of Boston is that Jaylen Brown has not been offered for anybody. That's the story the Celtics have and they're sticking to it. Have the Celtics and Bucks talked? I believe that they have. From what I am told, the Bucs are yet to receive an offer they're willing to accept for Giannis, which is somewhat what happened at the trade deadline. I'm told they intend to trade him by the draft. I think it's possible they don't find a deal they like. Miami has been the team that's been most aggressive in trying to get him, but they have seven or eight different pieces they can trade and none of them I consider super premium. I think the Bucks probably want all of them. And then Sam Amick says he believes the Heat are still in the lead for Giannis, but he doesn't think a deal is going to be done in time for the draft. He says I'M legitimately starting to wonder if a deal goes down today. I've already made some calls this morning. It's the same old story. I don't think the Bucks are happy with what is coming their way. And then Jake Fisher says about the Celtics getting frustrated with everything that's happening with Giannis. We must acknowledge the undeniable rumbles in circulation that the Celtics, weary of incessant speculation about a Giannis to Boston deal featuring Jaylen Brown, are getting frustrated with the process. One source familiar with the matter insisted that all the Jaylen Brown to third team talk is premature. That's what credible people are reporting. Mike thinks Jaylen Brown is up for sale.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah, I think he's on the table. And if he is indeed on the table, then I think he fans the world over need to concede that you don't have the nuts there. Boston has the nuts. Now I will piece together something that I was hearing last week, which is the Miami Heat were talking to other teams about Tyler Herro. And I think the reason for that is I think Miami was told that Tyler Herro wasn't good enough, and so they started reaching out to teams to try to present something to Milwaukee that was more attractive than the hometown product, Tyler Hero. I have heard from well placed people. This is secondhand information I have not independently verified, but I trust these people that are plugged in.

[Dan Le Batard]

Just tell us who it was that

[Mike Ryan]

Jaylen Brown is absolutely on the table. And trust me, I know Brian said the opposite, but the very first thing Milwaukee says when Boston calls them is how do we get Jaylen Brown in this package? It would be a third team, though. It would absolutely be a third team. There is no scenario here in which Jaylen Brown ends up going to Milwaukee. Given where they are both geographically and right now, the lay of the land in the east, they're a team that's looking to rebuild. And Jaylen Brown, who's already told you he liked how last year felt, he wants to be the focal point of a team that is competing.

[Don Le Batard]

Zaslow, given everything that we talked about yesterday, about who you believe and don't believe, and given how much I just generally talk about journalism, information and facts. Okay, I just read to you three people who are credible basketball people giving information that is different than what Mike thinks, it's happening. It's the opposite of what Mike thinks is happening. Mike's information all over the place on a number of different subjects has had a lot of happen to know in it. But on the verifying of sources, I'M going to. I'm going to give you one example of, like the. The stuff that journalists can have in the bag and not use because they haven't been able to get it verified solidly enough that they won't embarrass themselves. So I have heard and have no idea whether it's true because I don't have sources in Buffalo. So I would ask the people who are covering the charges right now and the Bills to ask this question because I don't have the sources to report as fact what is simply a rumor. And you don't want to get this stuff wrong inaccurately, that McDaniel, when he left here, wanted to go help McDermott, help Josh Allen and be the offensive coordinator. But when they let go of McDermott, McDaniel was offered the Bills job and did not want the Bills job anymore because of what they'd done to his friend. It's a great story. If it's true. I don't know if it's true and I haven't been able to get a second source. So everything I just said I can't confirm and is merely rumor. Like, it's not. I have not been able to get the sourcing. I need to report a story that I think would be pretty big in Buffalo if all of that happened. So I'm telling you all of that as preface to say, please, Buffalo and charges reporters, go ask the questions to find out if that's true, because I don't know if it's true. But Mike's saying the opposite of what three credible people are saying and what Mike's saying is true. If Jaylen Brown's available, they've got the better offer no matter what happens after that.

[Unidentified Speaker (commentator)]

Yeah, but you need a third team to facilitate the trade, and that's the issue.

[Mike Ryan]

They would have it. They would have it.

[Dan Le Batard]

How would that be?

[Chewy Commercial Announcer]

Everybody's repeated.

[Dan Le Batard]

There's plenty of teams that would take

[Mike Ryan]

Jalen Brown and you have to deny, given the star power of Jaylen Brown and the uncertainty there. Like the smart play here for all the people involved if they want this deal to go through, is don't talk to anybody. Deny, deny, deny. I will provide a little bit more context to give this a little bit more juice. Remember when I was saying the Marcus Freeman stuff and that he was talking to the New York Giants? Very reputable people were swearing up and down that that meeting did not happen. Turns out I was right about that. I was hearing right. This came from the same person that was pretty plugged in there while Everybody was saying that was inaccurate. This person ended up being right. So I think that you guys have to open the door up to the possibility that Jaylen Brown is on the table. I guarantee you they have at least had conversations about Jaylen Brown. And Jaylen Brown and his team had been made aware of the teams that they are discussing. Other teams are in this mix as well. I don't know how long this can go. I imagine it'll develop quickly. You mentioned Jake Fisher. Jake Fisher also reported recently that the Pistons have interest in Tyler Hero. Why? Why would Tyler Herro be on the table for Detroit? I think that gives credence to Miami being told something about their offer. Didn't quite sit right. News changed and they started having conversations. I don't know who engaged who, but people are kicking the tires on Tyler Herro, and they were talking to other teams about maybe getting more for Tyler Herro to sweeten their offer.

[Unidentified Speaker (commentator)]

In regards to the Heat offer and the Heat fans and all that stuff, you can't play if you got the nuts. You can't play your hand underneath the table and be like, no, no, Jaylen Brown's not available, except for a couple of teams that I'm trying to play under the table. When he gets put on the table is when everybody.

[Don Le Batard]

The nuts are always under the table. They're always under the table. They're never on the table, but there is always under the table.

[Mike Ryan]

There is no foreseeable path for Miami to outbid whatever Boston machinations of that deal looks like with Jaylen Brown.

[Don Le Batard]

Not with their own pieces. Maybe if someone wants Khalil, like, maybe if someone else has something Boston or something else that Milwaukee wants.

[Mike Ryan]

But let me a little wear, like, no one's as good as Jalen Brown. Like, no way in this package. In fact, I think Boston is perhaps a little crazy here because if they're considering trading a superstar for Giannis, number one, I think I'd rather have Jalen Brown than Giannis. But number two, like, I think you're picking the wrong guy if you're willing to ship out Jalen Brown because he's unhappy. I get that. But your other star.

[Don Le Batard]

Slow down.

[Mike Ryan]

Your other star is coming off an Achilles injury.

[Don Le Batard]

Slow down.

[Mike Ryan]

Jalen Brown was the Finals mvp.

[Don Le Batard]

You didn't just do that.

[Mike Ryan]

I don't know why there isn't a Tatum contract.

[Don Le Batard]

You didn't slow down. I asked you to slow down. You didn't slow down.

[Sports Song Performer]

No, you didn't slow down.

[Boar's Head Commercial Announcer]

He sped up.

[Mike Ryan]

I think this whole thing is. And it's clear that Jaylen Brown is unhappy because he's been acting like a diva wide receiver a little bit on social media. And look, you have the disgruntled superstar in the history of the NBA. That usually means it's the end of the road. So I get it. The fact that he's disgruntled is a bit of a tiebreaker if you have it as a tie between Tatum, him, and Brown. But maybe you're backing the wrong horse there.

[Don Le Batard]

Says he didn't slow down. He sped up. Guys, can you help me rein him in? He's been off for three days. Come on, guys, help me. Like you got.

[Unidentified Speaker (commentator)]

It was his local hour, Dan.

[Don Le Batard]

Guys, both of you, please.

[Mike Ryan]

It was Herbert Norris.

[Don Le Batard]

The World cup is happening right now. I'm distracted by the beautiful coach.