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Dan LeBatard
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Mike Ryan
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Jon Stugotz
This is the Dan Levator show with the Stugats podcast.
Jessica
As a man with a New York Knicks jersey tries and fails to replace back road Jess. There was a voice missed yesterday on the show deeply because this clown car, this clown car needed somebody to make fun of this show pivoting to becoming Knicks fans. And thankfully, Jessica has made herself available. I cannot if you heard any of this, I cannot imagine how much you were biting your own face wanting to yell at all of us in terrible disgust.
Amin Elhassan
Yesterday was really embarrassing. Dan, for the show, for Mike, for you, for everyone I was listening to. First of all, Mike has been sending me these like Knicks texts, cheering on the Knicks for the last like four days now. So I don't know when this started, but I do not like it. I know you tried to explain it as, like, oh, we're not Knicks fans. We're just rooting against Boston. It's not like. Not really what it sounded like to me. So, with some help from some of our friends, I have a top five list for today's show of people who are allowed to celebrate a Knicks playoff run. And I'm hoping that you will realize that none of you are on this list and you will stop debasing yourselves.
Jessica
Do you have any other commentary on yesterday that is missed before we get to that list? Because I imagine there's a lot left unsaid. I was looking, searching for your voice somewhere in our. You know, our fake fandom.
Amin Elhassan
You were very mean to Chris, I would say.
Dan LeBatard
Another text I got.
Amin Elhassan
Yeah, well, Chris. Chris was like, you know, what do you want to talk about tomorrow? And I was like, the next stuff, obviously. And then later in Invisible, Inc. Also, Dan was really mean to you. I was talking about.
Jessica
I lashed out. I'm sorry, Chris.
Jon Stugotz
I got condolence texts yesterday.
Amin Elhassan
You're still multiple.
Jessica
Yeah, I was. I would. I'm sorry. It's. Just. Return my calls, please.
Billy Corben
I don't understand invisible in text messages. What are for.
Amin Elhassan
It's for when you're saying something and you're like, ooh, if someone's reading this over this person's shoulder, oh, they have a way to, like, you know, make sure that no one sees it. So they're like, oh, this is something. This is something spicy. Let me wait till I'm somewhere where I can press down and read it and be like, oh, okay. I don't know anyone else.
Billy Corben
I say something.
Amin Elhassan
I mean it.
Billy Corben
Whatever.
Amin Elhassan
Well, okay. I would also like to add, this isn't from yesterday's show, but Amin's shrimp in a cake analogy. One of the. The greatest, I think, of all time in the history of the show in describing some of Dan's requests. Very good analogy.
Chris Cote
I mean, from one Nick fan to another. Thank you.
Amin Elhassan
I'm not even a Knicks fan. Okay. Like, this is not. I'm not on this.
Chris Cote
You're here now. You're here now. Oh, we're here now. Everything.
Amin Elhassan
Honestly, I have very mixed feelings about this Knicks run because, yes, obviously, I want my boyfriend to be happy, whatever. But he started this annoying bit where he jumps in the pool every time the Knicks win. And, like, it's just like, why are you jumping?
Greg Cote
He does that, too.
Chris Cote
It's our thing. It's kind of our thing. I've done that once.
Jessica
I can't Wait to tell you guys the story one time in my life.
Amin Elhassan
Were you okay? Can you tell us the story?
Greg Cote
Yeah, tell us the same story.
Amin Elhassan
Suspense killing us. I didn't want.
Greg Cote
No, no. Now that's like the actual perfect time to tell your story after a Knicks game when we're talking about jumping into the water.
Jon Stugotz
Was it celebratory? You just jumped in.
Jessica
I didn't want to interrupt what she was saying. And I interrupted what she was saying.
Greg Cote
But you did. And then you left us with a cliffhanger.
Jessica
All right, so the. What the. What was the team? Oh, the Patriots that were going to undefeated, if indeed they went undefeated. I had to do some horrible thing where I talked to each of the 1972 dolphins and wrote a column about each of them. And so when the Giants beat the Patriots in the super bowl, preventing another team from being undefeated, I joyously threw my hat in the air and jumped into a swimming pool. It was just joy because I didn't have to do a ton of work.
Amin Elhassan
Ah, not worth good story.
Jessica
Not worth interrupting you, though. But I regretted it as soon as.
Dan LeBatard
I said, you did say you can't.
Jon Stugotz
Wait till I tell his story.
Amin Elhassan
It would have been worse if you teased it out for three hours and then told us that story, so I'm glad we just got it out of the way.
Greg Cote
Always produce them.
Amin Elhassan
Okay. Oh, I. This is again the list of people who can celebrate a Knicks playoff run. At one point in your fandom, Pablo Peroni was legitimately the best option you had at point guard.
Jessica
That's a tough name. Yeah, that's a.
Greg Cote
Taking your cookies again.
Amin Elhassan
I'm not. I'm not included in this list. I have another Oli, though. A glimpse of a photo of Rick Smith's stupid face will send you into a frothing fit of PTSD fueled rage.
Chris Cote
Bing bong. I hate that light bulb head he had when he shaved his head.
Greg Cote
Hate him.
Amin Elhassan
There's a separate list of stupid faces, but we can get to that later. Now we're on to number five. You had a Langston Galloway jersey.
Chris Cote
Bing bong. Wow.
Amin Elhassan
I hate. I. I miss the fanfare. I hate this fan. Bing bong. Whatever. It just doesn't feel as good as getting fanfare.
Dan LeBatard
I'll give you fanfare if you want it.
Amin Elhassan
Thank you, Chris.
Chris Cote
God.
Amin Elhassan
Number four, you have a memory of Alexi Shred running a pick and roll at the Mecca Basketball.
Chris Cote
Pride and joy of Cheska Moscow.
Amin Elhassan
The fanfare helps shred you. This is number three. Now, you had arguments that nearly ended friendships over the inclusion of Timofey Mozgov in the deal for Carmelo Anthony gave us too much.
Chris Cote
Still a mistake. He was going to come in free agency anyway. They had catch place. They didn't need to do all that. Bing bong.
Amin Elhassan
And you've had arguments about it. I mean, I can tell Knicks fan number two, you have personally sat and commiserated with Bobby Bakala from the Sopranos on the state of the franchise at the old Paris Cafe. One feels very specific. And finally, number one, you remember where you were when Andrea Barnyani tried to dunk from the foul line.
Chris Cote
Oh, what a time that was. Bing bong.
Amin Elhassan
I think he hurt himself. It was not a good, not a good situation.
Jessica
What a horrific stretch of a generational Knick basketball for those to be the arguments.
Chris Cote
Bing bong. What about when Mario has only a dunked on Giannis Antokounmpo? That was a time I thought he.
Greg Cote
Was going to be good.
Amin Elhassan
Make your own list also. Yeah, so I'm, I'm happy for the Knicks. I love Timothy. Timothy. I heard the other day someone call him the patron saint of city kids. I mean, I don't know if you can like, I don't know if you agree with that. That's a, that's a big praise to give, Timothy. But I'm happy for the Knicks. I think if they do end up winning the series and I don't see the Celtics winning three in a row, I guess I do kind of see it because I. All the things I just said in the list could, you know, happen to the Knicks again. But yeah, the Pacers, if the Pacers in the Knicks play in the next series and Reggie Miller and Kevin Harlan are on the call, that would be a bad time for Knicks fans, I think. So there, there may be still a lot of pain ahead.
Chris Cote
Well, Jessica, first off, I don't know why you said if the pace is in the Knicks play in the Knicks.
Amin Elhassan
I gave the caveat something really bad could still happen to the Knicks. There's three. I think Knicks fans all have ptsd. Right. I also say all of this with the. Also the caveat that I know the fans are sick of Knicks talk. So I'm sorry, everyone.
Chris Cote
Also, Jessica, I want to apologize to you because you said Timothy is the patron saint of city kids and I thought you meant Timothy Mozgov. And I was kind of confused, but I was like, I want to. Yes, I'm going to. Yes. And yeah, sure, I could see it. There are a lot of Russians in the city And I was like, why was. Why is she going on this Mozgov tangent? And then it hit me like, oh, she means Chalamet.
Amin Elhassan
Yeah. Sorry.
Jon Stugotz
You described him as a patron saint, and I believe in the past, you've been described as unapologetically Catholic. How do you feel about a Chicago Pope?
Amin Elhassan
Billy? The quote from Dan was Catholic to my core. Chicago Pope was probably the most memorable day of my entire life. Just all of it. The memes, the jokes, the disbelief, the informing Chicago people. Why is David Sampson wearing a Pope? Because he's in charge of Meadowlark now. I get it.
Jessica
No, he wants to be Pope of Meadow Arc. We can't let him do it.
Chris Cote
Well, it's an election. We got it. We got to see what the smoke says.
Dan LeBatard
Are we.
Amin Elhassan
We should do it. We should do that. I mean, that's a good idea. The College of Meadowlarks, like, where the birds were Cardinals. Get it? Because they're birds. I don't know.
Jon Stugotz
Working on it. Workshop that. Yeah.
Amin Elhassan
Yeah.
Greg Cote
You can have Sugats host a conclave, but he's a con man.
Jon Stugotz
Are we ready for an American Pope? Because as soon as, like, he was named Pope, I saw what happened was they're like, let's find out what his brother was up to on Facebook. And I was like, I don't know if we should have a Pope from America.
Amin Elhassan
Yeah. Have you met us? My. I mean, I. I was shocked when I heard the news, and I told my parents, and I'm staying with my parents right now because we haven't moved into our apartment yet in New York. But my parents were like, he's not American. They wouldn't elected American Pope. And I'm like, he's actually from Chicago, too. And they're like, no, he's not. But they did say when they announced he was the new Pope, he's the least American American. Which is kind of a hilarious way to insult the rest of Americans. But, yes, there he is at. At the World Series game at Kaminsky Park.
Chris Cote
Wait, which one is he?
Amin Elhassan
The one on the phone. He's calling in to God and saying, please, this is going to be the only moment of joy this fan base feels for my entire life. Please let the White Sox win this game.
Chris Cote
This is going to sound dumb, but somehow a Pope using a cell phone is such a mind f for me right now. Like, what? The Pope had a cell phone? What year are we in?
Amin Elhassan
2005.
Chris Cote
The Buck Rogers futures where we're at.
Greg Cote
Kelsey Grammer doesn't feel American even Though he is.
Jon Stugotz
What?
Amin Elhassan
Do you remember when he fell off the stage at that one event and just, like, ate shit? It was a funny YouTube video back in the day. It was like the Grape Stomping lady, but it was Kelsey Grammer.
Billy Corben
Oh, the Grape Stomping.
Greg Cote
It's just. I don't understand where the accent came.
Jon Stugotz
What does he feel like to you? That's like Johnny Depp from Broward, but he pretends he's French or whatever.
Greg Cote
Get out of here.
Jon Stugotz
Johnny Depp, please.
Greg Cote
Kind of feels like British.
Chris Cote
Him and Nigel from the show. I don't know his real name.
Greg Cote
David Hyde Pierce.
Chris Cote
Oh, yeah, him.
Greg Cote
Wow. I've got, like, a depth of Frasier knowledge.
Chris Cote
What's the name of the dog?
Greg Cote
You got me. Okay, I guess I'm not. My bad.
Amin Elhassan
Isn't it Frank? Oh, is that their dad? Someone's named Frank Frazier the dad.
Chris Cote
By the way, that's probably what Kelsey Grammar's dad is like, right? Like, just like all American guy. And then he's got a son who talks like this.
Jessica
Billy. Billy, can you help me with why it is that you're Pope obsessed?
Jon Stugotz
Why am I Pope obsessed? How am I Pope obsessed? I was trying to come out here and give you guys all of the news while the papal conclave was going on. It was a big story in the world, so I was letting you guys know. And Jess is unapologetically Catholic, as we've discussed. And also she's. When you think of Jess, you think Chicago and New York and South Bend and Pittsburgh and just a number of different places, but Chicago's one of them. So I thought maybe she came across. She crossed paths with, you know, the Pope in Chicago or something at some point.
Amin Elhassan
Billy. I never crossed paths with the Pope prior to him becoming the Pope. However, he. He was born at the hospital my grandpa worked at. My grandpa was a chemist. Yeah. So maybe their paths crossed, which is crazy to think, because when you grow up Catholic, there's one thing, really, that you're sure of, and, well, two things. One, that you should feel guilty all the time, and two, that the Pope is never going to be from America, and he's certainly not going to be from Chicago of all places. I am glad he's from Chicago, though, because imagine how annoying, like, Philadelphia fans would be if he was from Philly or, like, Boston people like, at least Chicago, we can make funny, like, hot dog jokes and malort jokes.
Jon Stugotz
What does a chemist do in the hospital?
Greg Cote
We're very confused.
Jon Stugotz
In the 1900s, I did not know.
Greg Cote
That they Housed them in the hospital.
Chris Cote
We're having an argument right here that what does a chemist do in a hospital that's different from what a pharmacist would do in a hospital?
Greg Cote
Because then he's not a chemist, he's a pharmacist.
Chris Cote
Yeah.
Amin Elhassan
All I know about my grandpa's chemistry career was that at one point, he was a chemist in a lab working down the hall from where LSD was first. First invented.
Jon Stugotz
Yeah. Your grandfather. Your grandfather's a bad guy. I think it's fair.
Chris Cote
Breaking Bad drug dealer.
Dan LeBatard
Yeah.
Jessica
Your grandpa sucks at Lebatard Show. Does Jessica's grandpa suck? And at Le Batard Show. What the hell? Johnny Depp, Please get out of here. Please. Like, why is this the grandpa.
Amin Elhassan
Sorry, Dan. This is also the grandpa who never gave my grandma roses that she was talking about in that one. Flowers. Voicemail.
Chris Cote
So that was a bad guy.
Jessica
We had no greater. Greater failure around here than not yet turning your grandmother into a star. Like, do you guys have the sound? Because Grandma came in here and. Yeah, she. She endured Grandpa. It sounded like.
Amin Elhassan
Well, I mean, I don't want to speak ill of my grandfather, but I. You know, my grandma, she seems like a hoot, right? She seems like she thinks that a lot of things are funny, and she's very humorous. Well, my sister sent our big family group chat last Thursday when the Pope was announced an Onion article about, like, the Vatican elects first Chicago style Pope. And it was a photoshop of the Pope in a bun with, you know, tomatoes and sport peppers and whatever. Relish. Like, he was a Chicago style hot dog. And my grandma just responded to the whole group, like, our entire, like, 35 person group chat. Not funny.
Chris Cote
Oh, wow. Wow. She didn't take kindly to the Chicago jokes, huh?
Amin Elhassan
She did not like the Pope jokes. I don't think it was. Well, although that's a good qu. Maybe she was offended on behalf of the hot dog, not the Pope. I'll have to follow up on that.
Jon Stugotz
You guys remember when the Pope's, like, official Instagram account liking thirst traps, like, a couple of years ago?
Chris Cote
That's why I had to get rid of the last one.
Greg Cote
Yeah.
Amin Elhassan
Are you sure you're not confusing him with Ted Cruz?
Jon Stugotz
No, it was a thing that happened. It was like, a big story. The Pope likes, like, Instagram models. Thirst traps. Speaking of thirst traps, Dan, I don't know if you saw this. Have you ever heard of Yellowstone National Park?
Jessica
Yes, Billy.
Jon Stugotz
Well, Yellowstone National Park. Apparently they're losing funding and they've resorted to an Assignment about this beforehand. Yeah, apparently they're losing funding. They've resorted to posting thirst traps on TikTok, hoping that they go viral and then they can raise funds for their national parks through the help of hunky men.
Chris Cote
Oh, I thought you meant thirst traps of like the animals. Like, it'd be like Yogi Bear.
Jon Stugotz
No, that's like something wrong poking it out.
Amin Elhassan
Like, bear weak.
Greg Cote
Yeah, thirst trap. There would be like a geyser, like a hot spring, because, like, oh, there's some water. But it's a trap because it sprays you in the face with water that'll melt your face off. Also, one thing that I don't like about Instagram is like, I followed you for sight. For science reasons.
Jon Stugotz
Me.
Greg Cote
And no, no, no. Like, oh, no, like certain accounts. Like I was following like a curb your Enthusiasm account, and then all of a sudden it's like softcore porn.
Chris Cote
That's porn.
Greg Cote
And then I was like, oh, like, oh, alcohol facts. That seems like a fun follow. And for.
Amin Elhassan
Yeah, that happens to me all the time.
Greg Cote
All of a sudden. Jugs.
Amin Elhassan
What are you talking about?
Greg Cote
That doesn't happen to you, like all the time? Where IG accounts like, change. Like they sell. And all of a sudden there's like, there's like a butthole. No, no, no, no, no.
Jon Stugotz
They meme accounts sometimes change themes.
Chris Cote
Yeah, no, but they don't change the title. Like, so the Curb one I follow too. And it was like, it's always these clips from Curb and like, haha. Remember when Larry did this? Wrong, Larry did that. And all of a sudden there's like a school teacher and it's like, boing. Everything pops out like, what the hell's.
Greg Cote
Going on my phone here in public? And you got like, there's a butthole and it shoots.
Chris Cote
Butthole shoots to the top of my feed. It's not even me scrolling.
Greg Cote
You can do my discover page.
Chris Cote
Yeah, well, don't do more.
Amin Elhassan
I like that. Mike, this is smart of you to get ahead of whatever your wife is going to find later on your phone. This is actually really good. This is putting this out publicly now. And this is the explanation. This is. And it's a smart move.
Greg Cote
I mean, granted, my ally is a meme, but this happens all the time.
Dan LeBatard
All the time.
Jon Stugotz
He has to zoom in to make sure if it's science or not. Like it's the whole thing.
Jessica
Wow, Billy Wednesday, I'm gonna go take a victory lap on something. I'm gonna leave this to you guys.
Chris Cote
Not the thunder. I hope you don't deserve a victory lap.
Greg Cote
You turn your ankle and then you.
Chris Cote
This is what we need, Dan. I'm gonna tell you, we don't need a victory lap for you. We need a loser's lap. You gotta do a loser lap in there.
Jessica
No.
Chris Cote
Yes.
Jessica
Okay.
Jon Stugotz
Careful. You hurt your ankle yesterday.
Jessica
Yes, I did. But I have something that I feel like I can be victorious on. I will leave you to your own devices for a moment.
Jon Stugotz
Don't take it personally, Jess, that he's leaving as soon as you're back.
Amin Elhassan
And Grandma will be thrilled. She doesn't like Dan that much when she listens to the show. Jessica. Holy.
Jon Stugotz
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Amin Elhassan
Yep.
Jon Stugotz
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Greg Cote
Hey, everybody, it's Mike Ryan. You know, I'm a race fan. You know, I travel to races. And I had a great experience a couple of weeks ago sitting outside the Toasting the Good Times with Miller Lights in hand with some of my best buddies. It was truly a memory that I will remember forever and truly. A time that was made better by making that time a Miller time. Trust me when I say there just isn't a better feeling than hanging out with your boys, clanging those beautiful white cans of Miller Lite and realizing that you don't gotta worry about the taste of your beer. Because the taste of your beer is designed for people who love the taste of beer. A taste that you know you can depend on. A great beer trusted by beer lovers for 50 years. From game night to race night to parties with friends or a special anniversary, celebrating important occasions means more moments with the coolest people in your life. Cheers to 50 years of Miller Lite. The great tasting light beer for people who Love beer since 1975. 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. It's Miller time. Celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Co. Milwaukee, Wisconsin 96 calories and 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces.
Dan LeBatard
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Amin Elhassan
Don LeBatard I don't think I ever got that many roses in my whole life. Stugats. Certainly not from your lovely grandfather, God. May his soul rest in peace.
Jon Stugotz
This is the Dan Levatar show with the stugats. Why are you afraid of mercury poisoning?
Amin Elhassan
Me? Yeah, because Billy Lehman's been out of town the last few days and when you. When you start dating someone who knows how to cook, you realize, a, I just don't cook anymore. But then when they go out of town, you realize like, oh, I actually. I don't know what I'm gonna eat. And I know basically how to cook, like, two things. And so for the last six days, I've just been eating cans of tuna. And I'm starting to wonder at what point I should be concerned because apparently there's mer and cans of tuna, and it takes a long time for your body to process out mercury.
Greg Cote
Yeah, you're dead.
Amin Elhassan
So how much tuna reasonably can I eat? Can I eat it every day?
Chris Cote
I think I gave you too much credit because I thought the story was going, Lehman's out of town. So me and my best friend Priya have been going out and eating sushi every night in the fanciest places. And I'm like, wow, you gotta watch out for mercury poisoning from all that sushi. And instead it's like, no, I'm eating cans of tuna. Like a bachelor.
Amin Elhassan
Like a. I mean, it's so gross. I put, like, plain tuna on a piece of toast with, like, a little squirt of mayonnaise. And that's my lunch. Also, have you guys noticed this protein trend, that everything has, like, added protein in it now that can't be healthy, right? You don't need 100 grams of protein every day. You need, like, what, like 20, 25.
Greg Cote
If you take, like, 40. So, like, I'm big into fitness now, and that's also my algo. Until it turns into. Yeah, but, like, if. If you have, like, 40 grams of protein right before bed, it can increase your muscle mass.
Jon Stugotz
I saw that.
Greg Cote
Yeah.
Jon Stugotz
Like, is that true?
Amin Elhassan
40 grams.
Greg Cote
And also, cold plunges are bad for you, which is what I've always maintained. Like, there's no way the cold plunge craze is actually good for you.
Chris Cote
What?
Greg Cote
No, no. It reduces muscle mass.
Chris Cote
Well, no, the cold plunge is all about. It's all about, like, extracting the lactic acid from your muscles. Right. You're going hot, cold, hot, cold.
Jon Stugotz
And help, which is never reaching.
Greg Cote
No, it's. It's none. It's all bad.
Amin Elhassan
But it was good for your vagus nerve. Yeah. So I feel like the cold plunges like tuna in that it's probably okay in moderation. But I'm wondering what is moderation for me? Like, I'm not that big of a person. I'm about six one, you know, 125. How much tuna reasonably can I eat in a Week. And how often should I be cold plunging? Because it's probably fine. A little bit.
Jon Stugotz
So the FDA recommends that adults eat up to 12 ounces of canned light tuna per week.
Chris Cote
Wow, 12 ounces a week. Wait, how much comes in a can?
Amin Elhassan
Not a lot. I would say probably less than that much.
Greg Cote
You're worried about, like, microplastics and, like, gotta be balls.
Jon Stugotz
Yeah, they're gonna go.
Amin Elhassan
I thought the microplastics were in the balls.
Greg Cote
No, no, no. They were found in the balls too. But I'm sure they're found all over the place.
Amin Elhassan
Body.
Chris Cote
Oh, wait, I thought you meant the microplastics came in little balls. Not they were literally found in the balls.
Amin Elhassan
I think it's both.
Chris Cote
So wait, if they're in the balls, how do they get out?
Greg Cote
Apple pectin.
Jon Stugotz
Huh?
Greg Cote
Do apple pectin. I'm telling you.
Chris Cote
Apple.
Jessica
Peg.
Jon Stugotz
What? Do you eat a whole. I mean, do you eat a whole can of tuna?
Amin Elhassan
Yeah. And it's not enough. I would eat. I would eat two cans if I was not worried about mercury.
Jon Stugotz
That's like your weekly serving. If it's 12 ounces of cans, like 5 ounces a week. Yeah. Jesus Christ. Yeah. You're dead. Sorry. It's nice knowing you. Bad news. Hank Azera is not going to your funeral. Can Hank Azaria cheer for the Knicks?
Amin Elhassan
Um, I think he probably. Yeah, he probably fits one of those criteria. Mike doesn't. I. That list was for Mike.
Greg Cote
No, no, no. I. I get to be a Knicks guy for this round. I do. No, I did. I'm as passionate as. Anybody you know about the Knicks for this round?
Amin Elhassan
Not. I mean, only in the way that you're passionate about, like, things where you sort of like swoop into a thing and then you really, really like it for like a week. Like stocks, like brain pills or whatever.
Greg Cote
Yeah, I. I switched to elite brain and out. But I'm still doing the lion's mane.
Jon Stugotz
Didn't you have an open top?
Chris Cote
Yeah.
Greg Cote
That'S still there for you. Big time Knicks fan, Jess. I, I really.
Chris Cote
It should be at a peak right now, right there in the finals Sell.
Greg Cote
Yeah, well, I. But business isn't exactly booming. Why, Jess, I've actually really missed you this week because Miami got the number one recruit in the nation and I wanted to. I learned on social media that Miami has more money than both Oregon and Georgia combined. Why is this narrative perpetuated by schools that lose recruiting battles? Because Miami is a school that is private with a student body of like 18,000 with one of the worst broadcast sports deals ever. But anytime a recruit goes to Miami, it's always because they have more money than, you know, Georgia Mike, you need.
Amin Elhassan
To stop being triggered by people on the Internet. That's my.
Greg Cote
It's a program now.
Amin Elhassan
Just be happy you got the number one recruit in the country. Like, woo hoo, Yay, Miami.
Greg Cote
Well, I did have the number one recruit in the country. And upon committing to Miami, he already slid like, four spots, which is also something that happens.
Amin Elhassan
But that does happen all the time. Yes, I.
Greg Cote
But I just get really bothered by all these other schools putting this out there. Like, oh, we didn't lose this recruiting battle because, you know, Alex Mirabal is really good at developing offensive linemen. It's because Miami has more money than us. Who believes this? Why do people perpetuate this? Why is there this narrative that Miami and their shitty broadcast deal have more money than Phil Knight? It makes no sense.
Amin Elhassan
Probably because Carson Beck is driving, like, several stolen Lamborghinis. Or not that he stole, but I know. And he got them at Georgia Mike. I don't. I mean, just. Just call them poor and move on. I don't know. You missed me so that you could find an entryway to talk about Miami to then make me upset. Okay, I got it.
Greg Cote
Yes. That's our dynamic, Jaz. That's what I miss about us.
Chris Cote
I also want to point out that last night, maybe I'm revealing confidences here, but Mike proudly said that the U is going to whoop up on Notre Dame this year.
Greg Cote
Yeah, we're going to kick their ass.
Jon Stugotz
Wow.
Chris Cote
Like, he said it with, like, lots of confidence.
Greg Cote
It would replace their defensive line with guys that took a break from football and are recovering from knee injuries.
Billy Corben
Like, I think Dan's ready. Guys who?
Amin Elhassan
Jason Onye and Gabe Rubio.
Billy Corben
She's running.
Greg Cote
I think Miami's gotta beat that ass.
Chris Cote
He's not running hard enough.
Jon Stugotz
He's there for second. Then Izzy was there.
Amin Elhassan
It's May. I guess this is all you have in college football, right?
Chris Cote
You gotta run harder. Run harder, Dan. I want you out of breath.
Jessica
You see what's happening? As soon as I leave the room, Mike goes.
Chris Cote
He is out of breath. Wow.
Jessica
Mike goes right to the, um, talk as soon as I leave the room.
Greg Cote
Tried to tell you not to leave the room, pal.
Jessica
Okay, well, what's happening right now seems unfair to me because you guys say this is a loser lap and not a victory lap.
Jon Stugotz
Are you in a church?
Amin Elhassan
I think they were just saying that because you're doing it which is not nice.
Jessica
Okay, well. But okay, so you guys, you guys tell me, then you make a ruling here whether I'm right or wrong. And I'm sorry, I've been running so long that my pants are beginning to fall.
Billy Corben
So not a lot of people run while holding their glasses like that.
Jessica
Well, I've been running for about nine minutes here non stop. And that's. Yeah, that's the way we're supposed to do this.
Amin Elhassan
And we've gone about a quarter of a mile.
Jessica
Uh huh. And my pants are falling. So there's the chance that the belt isn't going to hold up throughout the rest of this. But you tell me whether I'm right or wrong. Okay.
Greg Cote
On this bit or not on the bit.
Jessica
On the question I'm about to ask.
Greg Cote
Okay.
Jessica
And the question is, are you indeed unapologetically Catholic? If your grandma doesn't allow Pope jokes.
Chris Cote
Wait, no, wait, yes, I think her grandma is. That's the definition of unapologetically Catholic.
Jessica
So Jess is unapologetically Catholic then, right?
Amin Elhassan
I mean, I was, but I was like raised Catholic. I don't go to church.
Jon Stugotz
Don't apologize, Jess. Don't apologize.
Chris Cote
Are you apologetically Catholic? Is that what's happening?
Greg Cote
I think you've apologized for the Catholic Church plenty.
Amin Elhassan
Also, I don't think I need to.
Chris Cote
Also, isn't apologizing the biggest thing a.
Jessica
Catholic ought to apologize for the Catholic Church?
Jon Stugotz
She can't. She's unapologetic.
Amin Elhassan
But I don't. Okay, I don't want to get into.
Jon Stugotz
Dan, you can't eat more than three cans of a week. We discovered while you were out. It's too much mercury poisoning.
Chris Cote
Dan can eat tuna anyway.
Greg Cote
You know the International church has zero sexual assault allegations on record.
Chris Cote
Good job.
Greg Cote
What?
Jon Stugotz
Dan, I saw, I saw. Just, I thought about you the other day because I saw that one of your favorite tequilas is being sued in a class action lawsuit for using artificial things that I don't think would be good for you.
Chris Cote
I don't think this topic would be good for us either.
Greg Cote
I don't think so either. While Billy Wednesday, someone of our sponsors.
Chris Cote
Well, Dan's favorite tequila is Cuervo and Cuervo's not in any lawsuits, so. What are you talking about, Billy Gal, what are you talking about? What are you talking about?
Jon Stugotz
Not his favorite.
Greg Cote
I don't like additives. Additives are bad.
Amin Elhassan
Also, Dan, it was Catholic to my core, not unapologetic.
Jessica
Okay, but so are you Catholic to your core? Are you Catholic to your core? If. If you. If your grandmother won't allow Pope Joe.
Amin Elhassan
I would say she is definitely Catholic to her core and unapologetically Catholic. Yes.
Chris Cote
Yeah. I think the grandma not allowing Pope jokes is the most Catholic thing you can be. So that would confirm that usually when you're. Are you such and such. If this happens, they have to be opposites. Right. Like, are you Catholic to your core if you don't observe Lent? That's the way that setup kind of works. The way you're doing it is, are you Catholic to your core if this Catholic to your core thing is happening? Well, yeah. Yeah, it is.
Jessica
And the point is that I'm just right. That's the point. The point is just that I'm right.
Amin Elhassan
Yeah.
Jon Stugotz
Catholic to your course sounds like a. Like a workout routine run by. Yeah, yeah. Like a thirst trap account.
Chris Cote
And Catholics, it's like. It's like a shirtless dude, but he has the priest college.
Jon Stugotz
Exactly right. Core dude. We're saving Yellowstone.
Jessica
Do 10 reps of shame.
Chris Cote
Rosary counts, right? Like. Like doing, like, 1, 2, 3. I don't know how to cut the.
Greg Cote
Chains, but it's rosary.
Amin Elhassan
You say hell marries on the beads, and then I think you say that Our Father on the big beads. My grandma does that on the plane every time she flies somewhere.
Chris Cote
Does she?
Amin Elhassan
Very jarring. Yeah. And it makes everyone really anxious.
Chris Cote
Yeah.
Amin Elhassan
Like, why are you praying the rosary right now?
Chris Cote
What's he praying for?
Greg Cote
Jess, can I ask you about yesterday's big NBA story? It was. I. I argued that it was Jason Tatum. That was a massive story, but a lot of people picked. We put this on the poll, and it was Nico securing the number one pick, and this was great.
Amin Elhassan
I want to talk about this. Yes. Tell me what you think.
Greg Cote
Well, my whole takeaway is, I don't know why the NBA keeps doing this with this lottery, because their whole argument for it is to prevent tanking. It doesn't do that. And all it leaves them with. Granted, there's theater, and they probably love the attention that it got yesterday. But you have something that doesn't stop what it's designed to stop, and it just leaves a whole bunch of NBA fans saying, this is rigged. So I'm very confused as to what the benefits are of this thing.
Amin Elhassan
I'm sort of confused about what the. So I was one of those people that when I found out the Mavericks won, I was like, it's rigged. And then I thought about it, and I was like, but why? So I'm sort of confused now what the argument is for why the NBA would rig it so that the Mavericks would get the.
Billy Corben
Because apparently if you help Los Angeles.
Greg Cote
Chris Paul, you get reward. Anthony Davis, Luca Donchi.
Amin Elhassan
They. They just decided though, like in the last few weeks when the Mavericks became eligible to be in the lottery and have, I guess, like, when did they decide to do this?
Jon Stugotz
Yeah.
Greg Cote
I mean, does. It doesn't matter. They could have decided the morning of like, they decided to.
Amin Elhassan
It does matter because it's a bad conspiracy theory. Because I don't understand. Understand it.
Greg Cote
Right. That's precisely all conspiracy theories that gain traction, apparently. Like, yeah, they tend to defy logic.
Chris Cote
Look, I don't want to divert audiences elsewhere, but if you want to do conspiracy theory talk, Basketball Illuminati has you covered. We covered this exhaustively. And it's not the lazy. Oh, it's because they try to look at like, we've got math involved, we've got numbers. You don't want to miss a thrilling new episode of Basketball Illuminati. Weber.
Amin Elhassan
No. Yes. I mean, I do want to get into it though, because I was listening to Tom on Bomani's podcast earlier and. And also I was listening to. He had Zach Lowe on also. And Zach was talking about sort of the injury stuff in the NBA. Like it's. It's almost a certainty that you're going to have some sort of injury like this now be. And there's a number of reasons why perhaps that's the case and maybe it is comes back to workload and youth sports especially. And I think that that's really interesting too. But back to. I mean, your point. So can you just sort of break down the actual conspiracy and why it would make any sense for the NBA to rig the draft lottery for Dallas?
Chris Cote
Well, this is the easy explanation why it's not rigged. Right. Is prison. Yes. That's why they're in the. Where the lottery happens in a back room. Right. Like what we see on tv. That's not the lottery. That's the lottery results that they create a TV show around. Right. The actual lottery happens in a back room and there's a representative from every team that's in the lottery. There's Ernst and Young who are doing the accounting, and then there's NBA security. And then there are also media members there.
Billy Corben
It's like a half dozen journalists.
Chris Cote
Yeah. Like Ben Galliva, for instance.
Amin Elhassan
People like me back there.
Chris Cote
Yeah, well, not people like you. Actual journalists. So anyway.
Amin Elhassan
Right. And Gulliver also wrote in his story, he had a quote from a Mavs executive who Was like, I can't believe that this happened. Like, I've been working on the, the draft lottery in this process and been dealing with conspiracy theories my whole career. And now like basically there's the subject of one, but go on.
Greg Cote
I mean, one of the prevailing theories, I mean is you have a brand new owner that just paid $3.5 billion for this franchise and immediately nuked it as one of the first actions of their, their ownership reign. So it's kind of like a make good.
Chris Cote
Well, see. Okay, so by the way the executive talk about is Rick Welts. Rick Welts. I worked with him in Phoenix. Rick Welts is the guy that invented All Star Weekend. Rick Welts was instrumental in the invention of USA Basketball. He was supposed to be. At one point they were saying he was gonna be the next commissioner of the NBA. So shout out to Rick Welts. But yeah, he's someone who's had to deal with conspiracy theories when he worked in the NBA all the time. And now he's on the opposite end of it. But to finish what I was saying about that room, like I said, the people were in there. And then the way it works is there are 1001 different combinations. A thousand and one. So when they say someone has a 14% chance, really what they mean is there are 140 different combinations that are pre assigned. Right. And then you just wait and see what balls come up. We've had years where people have. I believe there's a year where the spurs kept winning it. Right. Like they won the top three picks.
Billy Corben
Because they draw number one first.
Chris Cote
Yes.
Amin Elhassan
They should be allowed to do that, by the way.
Chris Cote
Yeah, exactly.
Amin Elhassan
Have the lottery be like all one team.
Jon Stugotz
I'm on the Ernst and Young Wikipedia page and there's an entire section dedicated to accounting scandals, audit practices exam, cheating by audit professionals, investment banking, sexist training program.
Billy Corben
You don't think they're risking their firm over Cooper Flag?
Jon Stugotz
I'm saying it seems as though this firm has a sordid history in which it seems as though in the past there's been malfeasances.
Greg Cote
Yeah. I would say that this is one of their higher profile accounts. And I'd say that they would risk it for that given that they have this in their past.
Amin Elhassan
And I would say I'm still waiting for an explanation why this would. This would be worth rigging for the Mavericks. Please.
Chris Cote
I mean, the reality is this is like what people say. Oh, the only reason why X team won was because everyone got injured. You should put an asterisk on it. And the reality is, when you go through the history of the NBA, every champion has an asterisk. Same thing here. Any team that would have won, we would have been like, oh. If San Antonio had won, we were like, oh, of course. They always would it. If Philly had won, like, oh, of course they're trying to, like, get them because of.
Greg Cote
Yeah, there was. There was a moment where the top four teams that were vying for the number one overall pick, everybody outside of Charlotte, I was like, this is rigged.
Chris Cote
Right?
Billy Corben
Three of the four were, like, interesting scenarios.
Greg Cote
Yeah, it was like, san Antonio, that's rigged. Philly definitely rigged. And then it went to, like, one of the most rigged options.
Amin Elhassan
I mean, if the end of. If the NBA wanted to interfere with Dallas, wouldn't they just try to interfere to get Nico fired? Because he's a bad executive? And that is.
Chris Cote
He. He just got them in the border ball pick. What are you doing?
Amin Elhassan
He didn't do anything.
Greg Cote
He traded a superstar to L. A. That's how you do it.
Billy Corben
He agreed to follow the league. He agreed to follow the league's orders to send Luca to LA.
Greg Cote
One team.
Amin Elhassan
See, now you've lost me again. It's the best conspiracies are the simplest, have the simplest premise. I think this one is a little too convoluted for me.
Jon Stugotz
Didn't you see the video of Adam Silver at Duke? And one of the graduates yelled at him, adam, help out my maths. We're going through it right now. And he looked at him and he smiled and kept walking. I mean, smoking gun.
Chris Cote
Which then he winked and, like, pointed at him, Right? Yeah, yeah.
Billy Corben
I like how LeBron, remember when he was on McAfee and LeBron. LeBron continues insinuating, you know, that the draft is rigged. And LeBron, like, I mean, just explained there's a thousand one different combinations. They draw four balls that all have numbers on it, and whatever that combination is, you look at a big booklet. I got it. Bingo. And LeBron on McAfee talking about how the draft lottery, you know, when the ball pops out and says Cleveland, like.
Chris Cote
No clue how it works, as this is the plight of so many NBA players that they don't know shit about how this league works. Not how the salary cap works, not how trades work, not how the draft lottery works, not how polls work, not how awards work. Right? They don't know shit like LeBron, I guarantee you, when he was, like, shitting on all the guys who said, you know, this guy was overrated, he thought probably Fans voted that he didn't even realize his players. By the way, Rachel Nichols did the math.
Billy Corben
No, definitely media people, because media people are lame. It's the media that voted over it.
Chris Cote
But this is my favorite thing. Rachel Nichols did the math. It was like, what, the percentage of people who said Tyrese Halbrand was overrated. And then how many players responded in the poll?
Billy Corben
Yeah.
Chris Cote
Comes out to 13 guys. Thirteen NBA players said he was overrated. That's what we've been running with this whole time.
Amin Elhassan
And one of them was definitely LeBron.
Chris Cote
One of them absolutely was LeBron. Jessica, come on. Come on. Like, that's. I'm just trying to figure out who. We're just trying to figure out who did this. Right. Him in the hot dog costume right there.
Amin Elhassan
Okay. I mean, I do want to ask you another question, though. How screwed are the Celtics moving forward? Because I know, you know, they obviously still have a lot of talent left on that team, but with the new CBA and Tatum being out probably for all of next season, if I had to guess, he's obviously still really young. Like, what. What do you expect them to do now?
Chris Cote
So, okay, so they already, before the injury, were dealing with, oh, what are they going to do? Because the money is incredibly high. And then they got new ownership. Right? So. So those things are already coming in now. You got. Tatum is out. Tatum is going to be out for an entire year. This is the recovery time for a ruptured Achilles. So how good are they going to be as is? I guess we'll get a taste of that tonight. We'll see what it looks like when Tatum isn't out there. But there's going. There was already whispers that they're going to have to start making some moves. Maybe those whispers turn into yells and screams.
Dan LeBatard
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Greg Cote
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Podcast Summary: The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
Episode: Hour 1: Catholic To Your Core
Release Date: May 14, 2025
In this episode, titled "Catholic To Your Core," Dan LeBatard and Stugotz delve into a variety of topics ranging from sports fandom controversies to intriguing discussions about pop culture and health trends. The lively exchange among hosts and guests, including Jessica, Amin Elhassan, Greg Cote, Chris Cote, Billy Corben, and Mike Ryan, offers listeners a blend of humor, critical analysis, and personal anecdotes.
The episode kicks off with a heated discussion about the previous day's show, where the hosts faced backlash for seemingly mocking Knicks fans. Jessica steps in to defend the perception shifts on the show, leading to a spirited debate about genuine versus fake fandom.
Amin Elhassan criticizes the recent Knicks-related content, stating, "I have a top five list for today's show of people who are allowed to celebrate a Knicks playoff run. And I'm hoping that none of you are on this list" (03:12).
Jessica expresses frustration, saying, "I cannot imagine how much you were biting your own face wanting to yell at all of us in terrible disgust" (01:51).
The conversation evolves into a playful mockery of each other’s Knicks fandom, with Chris Cote and Greg Cote contributing humorous anecdotes about game-day traditions and fan behaviors.
A significant portion of the episode revolves around the humorous concept of an American Pope, sparking a blend of theological humor and pop culture references.
Jon Stugotz ties the discussion to Jessica’s Catholic background, asking, "How do you feel about a Chicago Pope?" (09:37).
Amin Elhassan shares a family anecdote, mentioning, "this is the grandpa who never gave my grandma roses" (14:32), blending personal history with the ongoing humorous discourse.
The hosts engage in playful banter about Catholic traditions, rosy relationships, and the idea of an American Pope, culminating in a lighthearted consensus that Jessica maintains a strong Catholic identity: "I think that confirms that usually when you're... Are you Catholic to your core if this Catholic to your core thing is happening?" (31:24).
The conversation shifts to the evolving landscape of social media, particularly focusing on how Instagram accounts often change their content unexpectedly, leading to awkward or unwanted surprises.
Greg Cote laments, "Like, certain accounts... it's like softcore porn" (16:47), highlighting the unpredictability of following themed accounts.
Amin Elhassan humorously touches on personal experiences, noting the challenges of maintaining desired content feeds: "I like that. Mike, this is smart of you to get ahead of whatever your wife is going to find later on your phone" (17:04).
The hosts joke about the intrusive nature of certain content popping up unexpectedly, emphasizing the need for proactive content management.
Health-related topics take center stage as the hosts discuss the implications of diet choices, particularly focusing on the risks of mercury poisoning from excessive tuna consumption and the burgeoning trend of fortified protein products.
Amin Elhassan raises concerns about his high tuna intake, asking, "How much tuna reasonably can I eat? Can I eat it every day?" (22:25).
Jon Stugotz provides factual information, citing FDA recommendations: "The FDA recommends that adults eat up to 12 ounces of canned light tuna per week" (24:47).
The discussion extends to modern dietary trends, with Greg Cote and Amin Elhassan debating the necessity and safety of high-protein diets, ultimately suggesting moderation as key.
A substantial segment of the episode is dedicated to dissecting conspiracy theories surrounding the NBA draft lottery, specifically questioning the integrity of the process in favoring teams like the Dallas Mavericks.
Greg Cote articulates skepticism about the lottery's fairness: "I don't know why the NBA keeps doing this with this lottery, because their whole argument for it is to prevent tanking. It doesn't do that" (32:45).
Chris Cote counters by explaining the actual mechanics of the lottery, emphasizing the procedural safeguards: "There are 1001 different combinations. A thousand and one. So when they say someone has a 14% chance, really what they mean is there are 140 different combinations that are pre-assigned" (35:02).
The hosts collectively debunk the conspiracy theories by highlighting the transparency and logistical complexities involved in the NBA's draft lottery system.
The hosts touch upon environmental concerns, specifically addressing the funding challenges faced by Yellowstone National Park and the innovative, albeit unconventional, methods being employed to raise awareness and funds.
Jon Stugotz introduces the topic humorously: "Yellowstone National Park... they're losing funding and they've resorted to posting thirst traps on TikTok" (16:08).
The conversation evolves into a critique of marketing strategies, with the team debating the effectiveness and appropriateness of using social media gimmicks to secure financial support for national parks.
As the episode draws to a close, the hosts engage in lighthearted farewells and final jokes, maintaining the show's signature humorous and dynamic atmosphere.
Amin Elhassan: "I have a top five list for today's show of people who are allowed to celebrate a Knicks playoff run. And I'm hoping that none of you are on this list." (03:12)
Jessica: "I cannot imagine how much you were biting your own face wanting to yell at all of us in terrible disgust." (01:51)
Jon Stugotz: "How do you feel about a Chicago Pope?" (09:37)
Greg Cote: "I don't know why the NBA keeps doing this with this lottery, because their whole argument for it is to prevent tanking. It doesn't do that." (32:45)
Amin Elhassan: "How much tuna reasonably can I eat? Can I eat it every day?" (22:25)
In "Catholic To Your Core," The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz masterfully intertwines humor with insightful commentary on sports fandom, societal trends, and health. The hosts' chemistry and ability to navigate diverse topics make for an engaging listen, offering both entertainment and thoughtful discussion for fans and newcomers alike.
For convenience, notable quotes are referenced with their respective timestamps:
Note: Advertisements and non-content segments are excluded from the detailed discussion sections above.