The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz Hour 1: Dan Lets Go Of Coach Spo

Date: March 4, 2026
Location: Elser Hotel, Downtown Miami
Hosts: Dan Le Batard, Stugotz, plus show regulars

Episode Overview

This hour of the show blends the signature chaos, humor, and sports talk of the Le Batard crew, all while touching on moments of genuine reflection, sports culture, and some inside-baseball on the world of podcasting. The central threads are: Ron McGill’s heartfelt retirement announcement, a humorous yet substantive discussion of sports podcast awards (and Greg Cote’s infamous stomach growl), and deep-dive debates on the sports world, including steroid suspensions and NFL quarterback markets – with particular focus on Kyler Murray’s future.

Ron McGill’s Retirement Announcement

[00:08–02:38]

• The show opens with Ron McGill’s moving message announcing his retirement from Zoo Miami after 46 years.

  • He reflects on his journey from the old Crandon Park Zoo to the world-class Zoo Miami.
  • Quote: “To have witnessed and even played a small part in that evolution has been one of the greatest honors of my life.”
  • McGill emphasizes zoos’ responsibility to fund conservation efforts, not just maintain animals for exhibits.
  • He stresses the legacy of the Ron McGill Conservation Endowment (“...it'll continue to fund conservation initiatives and scholarships that will help ensure the survival of some of our world’s wonderful wildlife for generations to come.”)
  • He will remain as the Zoo Miami Foundation’s Goodwill Ambassador and ‘Conservation Liaison’, also running the Into the Wild Travel program for donors.

• Dan reassures listeners that while Ron retires from Zoo Miami, his relationship with the show continues.

  • Quote: “He's not going anywhere as it relates to this show we love. ...he will be around here for as long as we're around here.” [02:38]

Pablo Torre: Podcasting Dominance & Award Banter

[02:38–07:21]

• The show pivots to celebrating Pablo Torre’s awards:

  • “Pablo Torre Finds Out” has swept several major podcasting awards, including:
    • Best Sports Podcast
    • Podcaster of the Year (Ambies – “the Oscars of podcasting”)
    • Gold Signal Award (Best Sports Show)
    • Silver Signal Award (Best Video Podcast)
    • Gold Medal, Best Documentary Podcast (Sports Podcast Awards)
    • Edward R. Murrow Award, Peabody nomination

• Playful skepticism and jealousy:

  • Tony jokes that Pablo “named himself Podcast of the Year” [04:06].
  • Dan pushes back, pointing out the Ambies are industry-voted.
  • Prize envy: Others note even industry icons like Greg Cote have not won a Murrow. Greg dubs Murrow “the Ed,” insisting:
    • “That’s what we call it in the industry.” [07:25]
    • Dan asks if new producers even know who Murrow is; some guess, “horse,” others “journeyman newsman.”

Comedy Gold: Greg Cote’s Stomach Growl

[04:35–09:02 | 17:12–19:52]

• Dan and crew roast Greg Cote for the mysterious “growling” sound picked up on mic at the end of a previous episode.
  • Multiple playbacks and denials from Greg, who blames it on coffee, lack of breakfast ("no bacon"), and even AI manipulation.
  • Dan proposes tricking animal expert Ron McGill by playing the sound and asking him to identify the “animal.”
• Memorable quotes:
  • "That noise did not." – Greg Cote, adamantly denying his own stomach sound [04:52]
  • “Bacon gate.” – Greg, on being denied his usual breakfast [08:49]
  • “You did make that sound. We’re not making this up.” – Dan, insistent [19:19]
• The segment showcases the show’s improv energy and affectionate ribbing.

Diminished Outrage: PED Scandals & Athlete Suspensions

[09:08–12:22]

• Topic shifts to the state of cheating in sports, focusing on Jurickson Profar’s full season PED suspension:
  • Dan argues that only “star” suspensions register outrage, while marginal players like Profar elicit shrugs:
    • “What do I have to do in baseball? ...I have to make it a star. Right. I have to make it Aaron Judge or Ohtani for anybody to actually care about this.” [10:03]
  • Greg Cote agrees – only big names like Clemens/Bonds/A-Rod matter:
    • “...so when you get somebody who's not a household name, it barely resonates with me.” [11:31]
  • Show members recall the surprise of early “no-name” suspensions under new MLB drug rules.

Extended NFL Quarterback Market Debate: Is Kyler Worth It?

[21:30–37:37]

• Topic: Where will Kyler Murray land next, now that the Cardinals are moving on?
• Dan’s stance: Kyler still has value; he could be reinvented with the right team (e.g., Vikings) and play-caller.
  • “If I put Kyler Murray in Minnesota, I reinvent him.” [24:22]
• Tony’s skepticism: Prefers bigger QBs like Sam Darnold for better field vision, doubts Kyler’s adaptability.
  • “He can’t throw to the boundary. He has a really tough time throwing up the middle because he can't see. ...Sam Darnold, 6-4 and a half... Kyler Murray’s like, what, 5-10-ish?” [24:41]
• Market value discussion: Kyler preferred over Tua; likely to get starting job offers given QB demand, e.g., Minnesota, Atlanta, Jets.
• Bomani Jones' take invoked: “Bomani says that he would take Kyler Murray over Jalen Hurts, Bo Nix, and Bryce Young.” [29:21]
  • Consensus from the room: Disagreement; some wouldn’t take Kyler over those QBs.
• Dan contextualizes the shifting archetype of NFL QBs:
  • “Because quarterbacks have to be the size of Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, Right?” [29:32]
  • Biggest QB-busting issue: Height/vision, not athleticism.

Sidebars & Notable Moments

• Podcast Award Skepticism:
  • Greg insists “the Ed” (Murrow Award) is above reproach, until Tony reveals you also have to pay to enter.
    • “I want to get to some football things with you guys...” [21:30]
• Career management: Discussion around Miami-related rumors for Malik Willis and Arizona’s next QB move [37:01].
• Ron McGill update: Will join the show tomorrow due to “doing zoo things” (presenting painted dog pups). [32:18]
• Absurd animal/shark headlines: Dan and Stugotz riff on a news story about a woman being swallowed whole by a shark unnoticed by friends.
  • “Every friend group has a Shelly though, that if they go missing because a shark ate them whole, you wouldn't notice.” [15:59]

Tony’s "Low-Key NFL Free Agents" Top 5

[38:08–41:08]

(Presented in intentionally low-key tones)

1. Chigoziem Okonkwo (TE, Titans)
   • “Can run like a horse... they didn’t use him as much as they should have.” [38:47]
2. Mike Evans (slightly less low-key, potentially for New England)
   • Only has thousand-yard seasons (except when injured). [39:37]
3. Isaiah Likely (TE, Ravens)
   • “If he gets to a team... all of a sudden, Isaiah Likely with Patrick Mahomes...” [40:09]
4. Kenneth Walker III (RB, Seattle)
   • “Highest key name,” Super Bowl MVP, now a free agent. [40:15]
   • “Can a Super Bowl MVP be low-key?” [40:28]
5. Alec Pierce (WR, Colts)
   • Dan: “Just boredom... and what position does that guy play?” [40:50]

Memorable Quotes

• Dan, on Podcast Awards:
  “There are a lot of people making podcasts. Everyone’s got a mic, everyone’s got a show. Pablo’s the one winning all the awards.” [19:40]
• Dan, on Kyler Murray’s future:
  “If I put Kyler Murray in Minnesota, I reinvent him.” [24:22]
• Greg, on PED Scandals:
  “When you get somebody who's not a household name, it barely resonates with me.” [11:31]
• Dan, on shifting QB types:
  “Never before... would there have been a quarterback of that size that's allowed to play the position.” [27:25]
• Show recurring joke:
  “Bacon gate.” [08:49]

Timestamps – Key Segments

• [00:08–02:38] – Ron McGill’s retirement message
• [02:38–07:21] – Pablo Torre awards, podcasting jokes
• [04:35–09:02 | 17:12–19:52] – Greg Cote’s stomach growl saga
• [09:08–12:22] – Cheating in sports, Profar’s suspension
• [21:30–37:37] – Deep-dive NFL QB market discussion (Kyler Murray, Tua, etc.)
• [38:08–41:08] – Tony’s “Low-Key NFL Free Agents” list

Tone & Style

• Playful, irreverent, and self-deprecating.
• Frequent inside jokes, quick pivots between deep analysis and random absurdity.
• Emphasis on group riffing, sideline banter, and “award show” sarcasm.

For New Listeners

This hour is a quintessential slice of the Le Batard Show: part heartfelt community (McGill’s retirement), part chaos (Greg’s growl), and sharp, contemporary sports debate (Kyler Murray and the ever-evolving NFL). The takeaway? Don’t take sports (or yourself) too seriously—unless you’re Pablo Torre, in which case, accumulate those trophies and let the haters hate!