The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

Hour 1: "And Boom Goes The Dynamite" (feat. Jason Benetti)

Date: October 29, 2025
Guest: Jason Benetti

Episode Overview

Broadcast from the Elser Hotel in downtown Miami, the first hour dives into the show's signature blend of irreverent sports talk, pop culture riffs, and in-the-moment humor. The episode features Fox/Detroit Tigers' play-by-play announcer Jason Benetti, who joins the crew (Dan Le Batard, Stugotz, Mike Ryan, Amin Elhassan, Zaslo, and others) for debates about the World Series, the singular greatness of Shohei Ohtani, viral video lore, random sports memories, and the delightfully awkward "Boom Goes the Dynamite" clip that inspired the episode title.

Key Discussion Points & Notable Moments

1. Polka Nakua and the Art of “Firsts” (03:31 – 06:40)

• Poka Nakua Song & Mispronunciations
  The crew pokes fun at Dan mispronouncing “Puka Nakua” as “Polka Nakua,” leading to a lively original polka song performance about the Rams receiver.

  • “Puka Nakua is here for you and me. With that we can all agree. So many receptions...” – Jason Benetti, [04:34]
  • Benetti humorously counts 12 key changes in the song, likening it to “Living On A Prayer.”
  • Amin calls out the necessity of incorporating mispronunciations for humor.

• Viral Video Lore and Instant-Classic Banter
  Benetti brings up the “Boom Goes the Dynamite” viral newscast as a touchstone for broadcast mishaps, setting up a segment where the crew plays the clip for Chris Cody, who shockingly has never seen it.

  • “Remember when the kid did the update at Ball State and it went viral and he was like, ‘Reggie Miller looking good’... then ‘boom goes the dynamite’...” – Jason Benetti, [06:40]

2. Baseball Deep Dive: Shohei Ohtani’s Greatness and Postseason Lore (09:21 – 26:49)

• Ohtani: Ruthian Marvel or Best Athlete Ever?
  Dan posits Ohtani as maybe “the single greatest athlete that we have ever seen.”

  • Benetti compares Ohtani to legends like Jim Brown and Jim Thorpe, but highlights the possible uniqueness of Ohtani's two-way dominance.
  • “Not only is he a great pitcher and a great hitter, but he's great at very specific things within those two that people don't do either...” – Jason Benetti, [10:43 – 12:25]

• Precision, Context, and Baseball’s Future
  Benetti speculates whether Ohtani will inspire similar two-way players or if his abilities are genetically singular.

  • “I think we find out at the end of this trial period... if they can't [replicate Ohtani], then I would say definitely... he's the best ever.” – Jason Benetti, [12:25]
  • The crew relishes the magic of postseason “prisoner of the moment” reactions and what makes this Dodgers roster potentially the best ever.

• Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Elite Bad-Ball Hitters
  Guerrero’s penchant for hitting un-hittable pitches is spotlighted:

  • “Guerrero takes pitches that are off the plate well, but he also is very willing to smartly expand the zone... If you unintentionally try to intentionally walk Vlad Guerrero Jr., he can beat you on your misses.” – Benetti, [15:35]

• First-Association Game
  Benetti responds in rapid-fire fashion to teams/venues with the first thing that comes to mind:

  • Blue Jays: Joe Carter
  • Cowboys: Emmitt Smith
  • Notre Dame: Tony Roberts
  • Dodger Stadium: “...Can it be Dodger Dogs? Vin Scully.”

3. Whimsical Baseball Randomness (26:16 – 32:00)

• World Series Small Moments
  Benetti lauds actual series oddities, such as Will Klein’s unexpected heroics, and the tradition of random postseason legends:

  • “Will Klein is going to eat for free at some high end restaurants for a long time. That’s the fun part of the random – baseball is so un-random in the regular season...” [26:53]

• Debates: Intentional Walks and Baseball Strategy
  Benetti defends the intentional walk as “a piece of strategy,” humorously telling critics:

  • “That's like saying, ‘why do those bishops only move diagonally? I hate that.’...Go play checkers, then go play checkers.” – [29:21]

4. "Boom Goes the Dynamite": Revisiting a Viral Classic (35:20 – 41:18)

• Context and Reaction
  The iconic Ball State “Boom Goes the Dynamite” clip is played for Chris Cody, with Benetti and the rest dissecting its nervous energy and accidental comedic brilliance.

  • “[It’s] the sound of a broadcaster drowning.” – Mike Ryan, [37:25]
  • “He had 'boom goes the dynamite' loaded up to make sure he was going to nail it...” – Mike Ryan, [37:47]

• Unpacking the Classic
  Benetti highlights the relatable nature of recognizing Reggie Miller and clinging to a familiar phrase as lifeboat.

  • “It is full absolute five alarm panic... It's Reggie Miller, and then he's looking good and this dude feels great about it, and then there's sadly another highlight...” – Jason Benetti, [36:57]

• Origins and Legacy
  “It’s the original viral video before things were viral.” – Guest/Caller, [38:25]
  Benetti and others recall how the phrase entered both the NBA lexicon and pop culture, including Family Guy.

5. NBA Week 1 Hot Takes & Segment Bits (44:11 – 46:10)

• Amin’s Top 5 NBA Observations

  1. Wembanyama is exceeding already-high expectations.
  2. Zion is still struggling with injuries.
  3. Amazon and NBC are positive forces for basketball.
  4. Rockets may regress.
  5. Sixers look better without Joel Embiid: “For the first time in about six, seven years you can watch a Sixer game that doesn't have Joel Embiid in and be like, I kind of like what I see.” – Amin Elhassan, [46:10]

• Zaslo’s Daily MVP Nominee

  • Tyrese Maxey gets MVP nominee status; Greg Cody jokes about renaming the arena “Maxey Pad.”

Notable Quotes & Timestamp Highlights

• On Ohtani’s Unique Talent:
  “There are all these micro reasons that he is one of the greatest ever, if not the greatest ever.” – Jason Benetti, [11:41]

• On Baseball Randomness:
  “That’s the fun part of World Series – baseball moments in the regular season just kind of fizzle over time... Will Klein is going to eat for free at some high end restaurants for a long time.” – Jason Benetti, [26:53]

• On "Boom Goes the Dynamite":
  “It's the sound of a broadcaster drowning.” – Mike Ryan, [37:25]

• On Criticizing Baseball Strategy:
  “That's like saying, 'why do those bishops only move diagonally? I hate that.'... Go play checkers, then go play checkers.” – Jason Benetti, [29:21]

• On Virality:
  “It’s the original viral video before things were viral.” – Guest/Caller, [38:25]

Additional Fun & Callbacks

• Running Gags:

  • Dan mispronouncing names, particularly “Puka Nakua.”
  • The “prison of the moment” as a metaphor for impulsive sports takes.
  • Multiple nods to food and signature drinks, playing off sponsor reads and local sports culture.

• Crew Chemistry & Inside Jokes:

  • Benetti’s faux frustration about falling asleep during the 18-inning game and “getting his baseball card revoked.”
  • Amin’s sharp one-liners and mock penalties handed out for broadcast infractions.
  • Nostalgia for slow-paced '90s NBA, and jabs at modern-day scoring.

Segment Timings — Quick Reference

| Topic | Time | |-----------|----------| | Opening/Polka Nakua bit | 03:10 – 06:40 | | Ohtani as greatest athlete? | 09:21 – 12:25 | | Precision & Ohtani’s influence | 10:43 – 12:25 | | Dodgers/Blue Jays upset? | 12:25 – 13:49 | | Vladimir Guerrero Jr. appreciation | 14:04 – 16:53 | | "First thing you think of" game | 17:23 – 18:05 | | Random World Series heroes | 26:16 – 27:51 | | Intentional walk debate | 29:14 – 30:19 | | Boom Goes the Dynamite clip/play | 35:20 – 41:18 | | NBA Top 5 observations | 44:11 – 46:10 | | Zaslo’s MVP nominee | 46:31 – 47:03 |

Summary

This episode is quintessentially Le Batard: a freewheeling, laugh-filled hour blending sharp sports insight with ridiculous song parodies, deep-dive baseball nerdery, and communal celebration of viral oddities. With Benetti’s playful participation, the show delivers both substance—especially around Ohtani's place in history—and sublime silliness (as with the “Boom Goes the Dynamite” viral legend). The chemistry, callbacks, and sheer volume of references make it a rich, rewarding listen for sports fans and podcast regulars alike.