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Dan Le Batard
You're listening to Giraffkings Network.
Stugotz
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Roy
Thanks.
Stugotz
The Venmo MasterCard is issued by the Bancorp Bank N.A. pursuant to license by MasterCard International, Inc. DOSH cashback terms apply. This is the Dan Levator show with the Stugats podcast.
Billy
This episode of the Dan Levitar show with Stugats is presented by DraftKings.
Jessica
DraftKings. The Crown is yours.
Roy
Roy. I feel like you're a little scared, a little gun shy. I feel like that.
PK Subban
He's got a lot going on, Dan.
Roy
He's got a lot going on. That seat has a lot of buttons. Yeah. A lot of stuff going on. He's gotta make sure microphones are on and over here. Yeah. So keep. Stay on it.
Dan Le Batard
But he's doing a good job.
Roy
Yeah.
Stugotz
A great job.
Roy
I would never say otherwise. I alleged I'm a shit talker. I believe myself to be a supportive friend and ally to all involved here.
Billy
Thank you.
Roy
I believe as well that I will have a hard time getting Jessica, Billy, Andrew Hawkins and Stugats to meet the enthusiasm of Roy and Mike for what is presently happening in hockey. And PK Suban is going to join us here in moments. I don't believe I will get from the group fired up people. I believe Stugach right now is looking up everything that happened this weekend so he can get caught up on all things hockey.
PK Subban
I was looking up Wes Welker.
Stugotz
I mean, seems like this is minor. It's like you guys aren't going to care about this.
Roy
Well, all right, so what I'm asking you to do is create chemistry for me here when I have trouble with leadership and I run a loose ship. Mike and Roy badly want to talk about this. I don't think anybody else does. And it's always a problem around here when we've got like, real good sports content. But also people want the funny and I've got to make the chemicals combine. And sometimes I do it by just shit talking.
Jessica
Yeah, well, what do you want to talk about? Do you want to talk about the hockey? Because we'd love to get you aboard. On our side. You've highlighted a bunch of people that you don't feel like want to talk about it. You haven't been driven in the world.
Roy
Because I. Because I want to talk about. I want to talk about Taryn Shannon. That's what I want to do.
PK Subban
Huh?
Roy
I want to talk about that Illinois ceremony. That's what I want to do.
Billy
That's a weird way of saying you don't want to talk about her, right? Yeah.
PK Subban
You should just do what you want to do.
Stugotz
We're not watching Saturday Night. It was a lecture. That empty netter.
Roy
Oh, I was watching Saturday Night Live, which is what I wanted to talk about earlier in the show. But people assume that I'm in control of what's happening.
Dan Le Batard
I was watching Kevin Hart take pictures with women much taller than him, which we also need to talk about. But we could start with the hockey.
Jessica
Also, Saturday Night Live aired on Sunday.
Stugotz
I didn't like that.
Dan Le Batard
I didn't like that either, Billy. They should have done it on Saturday for tradition sake.
Stugotz
I know.
Dan Le Batard
It was like a four day thing.
Jessica
For 50 years we've had this one time slot. You know how we're gonna honor it? By putting it on a Sunday.
Dan Le Batard
But it was a Sunday. That felt like a Saturday. Cause we had Monday off.
Stugotz
But there was also a Friday concert.
Roy
Correct.
Stugotz
So there was just nothing airing on Saturday.
Jessica
Well, they knew not to go up against the Four Nations.
Stugotz
Yeah, probably.
Billy
And it's also 50 years. Come on, give them. They're allowed to do one night, the next day.
Stugotz
Compilers.
Billy
No. Saturday, Sunday.
PK Subban
No, I'm with Billy on this.
Mike
Whoa.
Stugotz
We could have probably stopped at 30 years.
PK Subban
They need to get over themselves. I'm serious, Dan. That show hasn't been funny in 25 years.
Billy
Come on. Comedy hasn't been funny for 25 years.
PK Subban
Unfair.
Roy
Unfair.
Dan Le Batard
Why are you doing a ghost?
Roy
I'm horrified on how disrespectful that is.
Jessica
It is super disrespectful. Chris Wig's like my favorite character ever on SNL. And she was in that 25 years that you've eliminated just one person.
Billy
Come on.
Dan Le Batard
Apparently they aired the first ever SNL episode on Saturday.
Stugotz
That seems problematic.
Jessica
There's warnings for it.
Billy
What is it? That it's not funny in the last 25 years or we're not allowed to watch the first episode? It can't be both.
Stugotz
Can I ask you as a question about those warning things that we put before stuff? Because, like, he wasn't listening to you.
Roy
At all, by the way. He was just going to go. It's a great question, but he was.
Billy
Just an incredible question.
Roy
We'll get back to it. But he's going to go and do.
Stugotz
What he know it's about what you guys are talking about. You said that there's warning things beforehand. Like Disney plus, like, half of their old movies for kids have the warning thing beforehand. It's like, careful. Like, this is probably racist and you may offend a lot of people. It's like, are we gonna take a stand or not? Like, we're just gonna, like, okay, like, we're good. We're just gonna keep airing it. We just. We have the warning at the front end. So, like, our hands are clean of this. We don't need to do anything.
Jessica
Disney altered the warning where they say they softened it. Societal shift, everybody.
Billy
I did see Ben Stiller post about Heavyweights, and he said that Disney plus will probably never put it on there, but it was like the 20th anniversary of heavyweights. Is anybody in here a Heavyweights fan?
Jessica
Love Heavyweights.
Billy
One of my favorite movies of all time. Show my kids all the time. Probably not appropriate in today's day and age, but damn it if it ain't funny.
Jessica
It's the exact same character from Dodgeball 2. Exact same character.
Billy
Yes. And it's one of those movies that I wish actually had a remake. Like, I wish that they would do Heavyweights in Adult Version. We should create that movie right here on this show.
Roy
If we can talk about some of the difficulties that there are in comedy, because Stu Gotz and Billy have the opinion of a lot of people that it would be hard for a show to keep up in the modern age on funny when they are live on Saturday night and for the criticism very commonly is of a show that has existed for 50 years, which is crazy. Not surprising that at the end people would disrespect it with you haven't been funny for 20 years. If they gave us 25 of 50 years that are funny, still Unbelievable that they would have a 50 year television show when sketch comedy. I can't even imagine how hard it is to do right now something. And they don't do it well all the time. They do it less well than they used to. But in this realm, I do believe some comedy has gotten harder in 2025.
Billy
Absolutely. Because of the Internet. There's a social media comedian named Mark Phillips, Supreme Dreams, who points this out is that it's hard to do sketch comedy shows today because there are so many at home comedians and sketch artists that when something happens, almost immediately you see a sketch on it. Like, I'm talking about within minutes, hours, like, let alone if you're waiting till Saturday, it's too dated. Content doesn't last that long for anything.
Stugotz
But the Internet's a gift and a curse for snl. Right? Because like, that's how the majority of their content's actually being viewed. Like, I don't think there's a ton of people who are sitting at home on Saturday night watching SNL anymore.
Jessica
It's also how they're discovering talent now, mainly.
Roy
Oh, but it's just such a great way to see meritocracy play out. Yes. The Internet is trying to make all of this harder, so it's harder to compete. And the late night shows have crumbled at the feet of that as well. All of it's gotten a lot faster because people see that there's money to be grabbed 10 minutes later and that's where media shakes and crumbles. Like, that's how it happens.
Billy
That's it. Here's a Look at Look At Me Louie moment here. I did Last Dance sketches almost immediately. And a cast member from snl. Come on, Hit me, Loy Roy. Sorry. Look at Me Louie. Can I also have stats for Look At Me Louie? Because I feel like I've earned a lot like, per show. Look at Me Louie.
Jessica
You're also.
Billy
I gotta be up there. I am. But, you know, don't be mad because I'm patent.
Roy
No, but it's cheating. It is cheating.
Billy
It is how I talk. Okay.
Jessica
It is my rondo with assists. Yeah, he's good at it. But still.
Dan Le Batard
Yeah, but like the thing that SNL has that the, a lot of like the TikTok comedians don't have is the A list celebrities. Which is why I think they leaned all the way into making the entire show. Just like, look at all of these famous people that have played a role in what our show's been for the last 50 years. Like the entire Audience was all famous people. Like, it was like Kevin Costner sitting next to, like Bad Bunny sitting next to Adam Driver next to Julie, Louis Dreyfus.
Jessica
I was locked in on Costner and.
Dan Le Batard
Billy weirded out by this.
Billy
And Demi Lovato were at the Daytona Vlog.
Jessica
No, because there was like. There's a part where Cher's hand is like really high on Costner's thigh. There's a weird look that he gives Ryan Reynolds at a certain point.
Dan Le Batard
He's got weird vibes.
Jessica
There's. He's also got like a rumored romance right now with Jennifer Lopez.
Billy
Whitney Houston in him. There's like a. Yeah, there was something. I don't know. It was a social media bodyguard. I don't know. What I like best on SNL are the pre recorded sketches. I think they do those the best.
Dan Le Batard
And I think it probably shouldn't be.
Billy
Saturday Night Live, Saturday Night tapes. Yeah, it should be Saturday Night taped. And that was the evolution that they missed on favorite SNL sketch over the last 20 years was the other Cavaliers that actually did make it into the show. You should look this sketch up. It's when LeBron was at his height in Cleveland, 2018, and they did like an intro to the other Cavs you never hear about. And it is the funniest shit I've ever seen in my life.
Dan Le Batard
I liked the most the montage of all of the fake advertisements. Like the fake commercials for the fake. Like the mom jeans, like all of those and that, like, super colon blue. Like, that was a funny bit. And then they also did a bit at the end where they did an in memoriam for all of the characters and sketches over the years that are not questionable makeup, child molestation, problematic. And they went category by category. And I think that was like a funny way to laugh at themselves for some of the questionable things that they've done. And they also blurred out every actor who was in blackface or brown face in that entire.
Billy
Okay, that's smart. I like what they did there. Chappelle Show, Key and Peele. I think you should leave all that.
Jessica
That's where I think some of their strengths are, is you just identified shows that didn't do too many. They're sketch comedy shows, but they didn't necessarily do like, topical like this is in, because they were taped so far before. And that's where SNL is really struggling. Yeah, I get it. To be topical and vibrant with the way that SNL is known for, especially in the opening sketch. I can see where that's more Difficult, but where they've really struggled, where they've lagged behind are these benchmark characters that would spawn off movies. So, like, they're just kind of lacking in that department right now.
Billy
Ted Lasso is a miss for Saturday Night Live. That should have been a Saturday Night Live.
PK Subban
Should have started there.
Billy
Yeah, it should have started there.
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Roy
Don Lebatard.
Mike
There is no question, Dan Lebatard show included anybody else that this guy is the best player on the planet. Whether he wins the Stanley cup or the Khan Smite this year, there is no question about it.
Roy
St Wait, what's going on? Altered world or what?
Mike
Oh, my goodness.
Stugotz
This is the Dan Levatar show with the St Gods.
Roy
Do you think KK Subam has any interest in this conversation? Because I've been wanting to get to this conversation since the beginning of the show, but I don't have any over here. What it is that we're doing? So now we're going back to hockey. Do you have any interest in talking about Saturday Night Live with us? Does it mean anything to you as a pop culture phenomenon? I think everyone's being disrespectful because they didn't like the last show. When 50 years on television is just a crazy achievement, they're allowed to celebrate it. Whether. And you're allowed to not find Any of it funny if you had expectations for it.
Mike
Well, Keenan is a friend of mine. I was able to work with him. He's probably the only person that I know that works on Saturday Night Live. I've never been on the show, so can I say I'm a fan. I've been a fan of a few things that they've done, but I don't watch it consistently. So I think maybe if I get on the show, I think, okay, so.
Roy
Okay, you'll give us true opinions if they invite you on the show. I think Billy and Stugotz might have the majority opinion here. Just dismissing this as something while the last 25 years or 20 years or 15 years, it hasn't been funny.
Stugotz
Hold on, PK. He's trying to put us in a really bad spot here because Keenan has had quite the career starting on all that, then Keenan and Kelly, then he does all the stuff on Saturday Night Live. He's in the Grinch remake. Keenan is really a testament.
Mike
I mean, stud, absolute stud.
Billy
He. He's devoted his life to sketch comedy. He's made us laugh since we were nine on the same formatted show. And to say the last 25 years haven't been funny. Well, it has when Keenan has been on there the whole time, making me laugh, like profusely.
Stugotz
Keenan also knows, you know what, like this is working for me. I'm not going to be the guy that's going to leave Saturday Night Live and go be a Hollywood star. Not that he's not, but he's not going to turn his back on Saturday Night Live and his roots of sketch.
Roy
Like all the others.
Stugotz
I think, I think he might be one of the longest tenured SNL cast members of all time.
Billy
The longest tenured SNL cast member. The most episodes. And it's not even close. He's like by a long shot.
Dan Le Batard
Pierre Escargot.
Mike
Yep. And he's. And he's good looking too, right? Live on the air. Good looking brother too.
Billy
Absolutely. He looks the same. Let's do this.
Roy
Okay. Let's go ahead and just give out all the shout outs for the good looking brother. Just go ahead. I'd like to do this.
Mike
Go this is.
Roy
Do this.
Mike
As long as you. All my good looking brothers.
Billy
Yes.
PK Subban
I want his top five good looking brother.
Roy
I did too. We'll get to that in a second.
Billy
From the bottom of my heart, pk, I appreciate that Shout out.
Roy
Appreciate the part that I loved about that. And, and the single best part of that is that was absolutely him saying my Fellow good looking brother.
PK Subban
Oh, he's perfectly his own.
Mike
Top five.
Roy
I'm writing 100% fraternity of us o top five good looking brothers. It's not where I thought we were going to start, but let's go ahead and do it. Number five. I know you're. This is. This requires some time for you to think, but number five on your top. Top five good looking brothers. Go ahead. Number five.
Mike
Hey, Diggs. I'm going with Tay Diggs at number five.
Billy
Number five.
Stugotz
Okay, hold on a second. Is this list just good looking brothers or are these ones that are on TV presently?
Mike
I'm just gonna give you my top five. I don't know where.
Roy
All right, get out of the way, everybody. All right, clear out. Everybod to the ball.
PK Subban
Tay digs.
Roy
Yes.
Mike
Number four, Kobe Bryant.
PK Subban
Oh, okay. Yeah.
Mike
Kobe Bryant at number four. I got MJ at number three.
PK Subban
He's always number one.
Billy
I think he's mixing top fives.
Mike
But I got Tyson Beckford at number two. And I got Denzel at number one. That's my top five right there.
Jessica
No, Jalen hurts.
Roy
Silver or Keenan at the end or PK Jalen hurts.
Mike
He's an honorable mention. Keenan. Keenan's in there. He's in my top 10. He's in my top.
Roy
You want to do top 10? Eric Allen. He has lagoons fries.
PK Subban
It's his list.
Billy
PK Subar's top 50 best looking black men.
Roy
Hold on. Let's do it in America.
Billy
Billy wants it to be whether it's entertainment or not. So try to figure the guy in apartment 6B that lives near Billy.
Roy
Yes. Do it with number 10. We'll do it number 10 and we'll go to 10. To 6.
Mike
Number 10, Carl Suban. I'm going. My dad.
Billy
Yeah, good choice.
Mike
Good choice. Apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
Roy
Number nine.
Mike
Number nine. I'm gonna go with Kevin Weeks. ESPN analyst, friend of the show.
PK Subban
Excellent.
Billy
Nice.
Mike
I'm gonna go with Kevin Weeks. Number eight. I'm gonna go with Mike Greer, hockey guy, DM of the San Jose Shark. Shout out to BU Boston University. I'm going with him.
Stugotz
Go Terriers.
Mike
Where are we at now? Number seven.
Roy
Number seven.
Mike
Number seven.
PK Subban
Yep.
Mike
Lucky number seven. I'm gonna go with Jordan Suban. My youngest brother just got married this summer.
Stugotz
Good looking family.
Roy
Wait a minute. No, this is ridiculous. This list. List stinks now. No, it's a terrible list. It cannot.
Mike
Number six. Number six. I'm going with. With the Worldwide West. New York Knicks are going well, so I'm going with World Wide west, my boy. That. That one's from way out left field. No one saw that one.
Billy
He said Keno was on his top 10. He named the top 10. He didn't make the top 10.
Roy
This list is asinine.
Billy
Jalen Hurt. I got another top five.
Roy
What do you mean? The number one?
PK Subban
I wrote it down.
Mike
You can throw Spike Lee in there. Spike Lee?
Roy
What is happening right now?
Billy
Are you naming people you want to work with?
Roy
Is this asinine?
Billy
This is district. Flip it off and you can get on Saturday Night Live. It's a star in a Spike Lee movie.
Roy
Offensive to me. Offensive that you would have a top.
Billy
10, get a Jordan deal of best.
Roy
Looking brothers, and it would be your family. No, Michael Shea. Three family members.
PK Subban
That's not the offensive one.
Mike
It's World Wide West.
PK Subban
I mean, unbelievable.
Mike
He got a shout out. Crazy got a shout out.
Billy
His top five. Taye Diggs, Kobe Bryant, MJ Tyson, Beckford and Denzel. That is a list that was made 25 years ago when SNL was funny. No more. My Aunt Charlene has the same top five. She's 66.
Roy
You are so right.
Billy
Come on, man.
Roy
What a fraud list.
Dan Le Batard
Dan, it's his list. And it's Black History Month, so maybe.
Mike
Exactly so. You know what?
Billy
Stop fucking shit. Thank you very much, Jessica.
Mike
Anything goes right now, guys.
Billy
True ally. Jessica, I appreciate you. Dan, you're out of line.
Jessica
Except hockey, I would say.
PK Subban
Yeah.
Billy
Out of line.
PK Subban
Anything goes right now.
Billy
You let this conversation between PK Roy and myself. Okay. Greatly appreciate it.
Roy
I will not respect Black History.
Billy
You will not clip that. That clutch.
Roy
You guys clipped me saying. You clipped me saying.
Billy
Y'all heard what you said that much.
Mike
You guys didn't even let me get it out. That's respectful. Top five, though. You got to respect that. Top five.
Billy
It is.
Roy
I do, But I don't have to expect it because of Black History Month.
Mike
Well, I didn't say it. Hey, don't put that on me.
Roy
I did say it. You did.
Mike
You. I. I heard it come from the other side and I acknowledge that. It is Black History Month. I didn't say that. You asked for my top five. You asked for top 10. I gave you 10. You know what I mean? That's. You asked for it. Yours, Joe. Hey.
Billy
See, I'm just saying look at the box. Look at the four box right now. You know why? Because Dan thinks that all your whole top five looks exactly the same.
Mike
Well, yeah. You asked me for top five brothers. I gave you the best looking Brothers, it's not my fault if they. They kind of look the same. They're all good looking.
Billy
I don't think that was the brotherhood Dan was looking for.
Mike
All literally your brother. Well, what did you guys think? Why don't you give me your top five? What's your top five? Huh?
PK Subban
Dan, Dan, Dan, Dan.
Billy
I don't. I, for one, am not interested in Dan's top five brothers. Can I be? Can I go out on a limb and say that, you know, I'll join you on that limb during black history that Dan doesn't respect.
PK Subban
Yeah, but I am interested in him having to come up with the top five right now off the top of his head.
Billy
Good luck.
Roy
I do not respect black history.
Billy
We got it, Dan. We said it already. You don't respect black history. How many sound bites of it do we need?
Roy
Damn month. That much that I would allow these guys to decide. That Denzel Washington, that number one, okay.
Billy
That'S the least controversial one on that list.
Mike
Hold on. Denzel Washington. I walk into Starbucks, I get a coffee like everybody else. They ask you for your name. This has happened to me at least 50 times. He's going to say, I go into Starbucks.
Roy
No way.
Mike
There's a long lineup. It finally gets to my turn. I order my matcha, my green tea matcha, or I get my Americano, double shot of espresso, almond milk or oat milk, steamed. Sir, what's your name? Denzel.
Billy
Okay?
Mike
Every single time I say Denzel, they laugh. Why are they laughing? Every single time I go to Starbucks, they ask me what my name is, I say, Denzel, and she laughs in my face. So, you know, I don't know. I think Denzel's a pretty good looking guy. I don't know. I think I kind of look like him a little bit. When I cut my hair, I knew it.
Billy
That's where it was.
Mike
When I cut my hair, I knew.
Billy
You, you son of a. I knew you were going there, pk if you.
Mike
Come straight on you, where's the.
Billy
Look at me, Louis.
Mike
You gotta look from the right side.
Billy
I felt the setup from the start, pk. I knew where it was going the moment you asked for silence as you told that story about Denzel, I knew where the hell you were going with it.
PK Subban
Dan, does he look like Denzel?
Mike
When I turned to the side, he didn't laugh anymore.
Billy
Oh, sorry, Denzel.
Stugotz
Sorry.
Billy
Maximus.
Roy
This man is shocking to me. The amount of ego on this man, on how handsome he believes himself to be.
Mike
Hey, no, I don't Think I look like Denzel? I think I.
PK Subban
Yes, you do.
Mike
No, I don't. No, no, no. I don't look like. I gotta be honest about that. That's a stretch.
Stugotz
What, Dan?
Mike
That's a bit of a stretch.
Stugotz
No, not this month.
Billy
No.
Jessica
Nine days left, man.
Dan Le Batard
Because I thought MJ was a good.
Billy
Complete lack of respect for black history.
Mike
Well, I figure if you shoot for Denzel, you're gonna fall somewhere short. Maybe in between, like Morris Chestnut and a Tay. Dig somewhere in there, you know what I mean?
Billy
That's good. Yeah. That's great. All right. I'm not mad at the. The association to put yourself in that company. I like it. You know. Hey, man, I was more upset you didn't put yourself on your top five or your top ten, but I guess you kind of did because you put too much family members.
Mike
Too much mustard if I do that. Too much ego. Nobody takes you seriously if you put yourself in the.
Billy
Yeah.
Roy
Valid your thoughts on hockey. Stealing basketballs weekend. I did not think I would ever live enough lifetimes to see something like that happen in this country.
Mike
Well, stealing. I mean, that's quite a word. I don't think we. We stole anything. I think anything that we get from hockey is earned. You know, when you look at the hockey culture itself, it's always protected the team aspect of the game, and that's as deep into the culture. I mean, it's intertwined in the fabric of the culture as deep as you want to go. So what you're seeing now is the evolution of sports. Is hockey growing with that, with the changing landscape of media and social media and all of those things, us being able to show the brightest spots of the game, and fans are noticing that. But one thing that's never changed, which is consistent, is the team aspect of the sport that's never wavered. And ultimately, what that is is the players, coaches, everybody that is in the game. No one thinks they're bigger than the game. And when you have that, you have a commitment. You have a commitment from your core hockey fan, which pays for that, which has paid for that over the years. But the growth of the game, you know, now we're seeing it take off. And a lot of that has to do, like I said, with the changing landscape. So I don't think we stole anything. The NBA. I think anything we get isn't a slight at the NBA at all. We're different leagues. You know, I think it comes down to the fan and what the fan wants to pay for. You know, I think that you're getting your money's worth. When you pay the price of admission to go into a building to watch a hockey game today, I think you're going to be happy with what you see on the ice. I think you're going to enjoy the experience. And I think we were put on a platform. This Four nations tournament has been such a huge success because the players. First the league put the structure around it and then the players. The players showed up in a big way and have showed up in a big way and they've earned it. Anything that we're getting right now is all earned, and it's earned on the backs of the players.
Billy
You talk about growing the audience on television. What about at a grassroots level? What is the league doing to help grow the game that way?
Mike
Well, you know, since I. I mean, since I've retired, I've obviously worked on the media side and I've worked with the league, you know, I've, you know, as a co chair in the PIC and working with the pic, we have a ton of programs and players, you know, that do things locally. Not everything is national, but we, we do have a lot of players that are involved in individual programs locally. If you follow the NHL, we have a lot of players in different cities that are doing programs, inner city, and it's different. That's one thing that's cool about the NHL is that every city is different. For example, my Blue Line Buddies program that I started in Nashville, they still continue that program. I go back every year. I'm lucky enough, and it's such an honor to go back. They honor me every night. They honor the program, they bring kids to the game and law enforcement officers, and that's what I can speak to. But we have a ton of guys in the league that are doing things. So, you know, depending on what city you're in, you can find out about all of it.
Roy
But pk, the gate, the game, the game is growing right now just for a number of different reasons. But when you're speaking about what this weekend was symbolically, right. And what it is locally, as I see the Florida Panthers becoming what Tampa was, and I see something again I didn't think I'd ever see in my lifetime, which is Florida caring about hockey in a way that wants to fight with Canada at these political times, teams to seek a chuck protect, specifically what you're talking about, the team concept of hockey and the things that you care about to, you know, bring himself to the superstardom of. Now we're wrapping some of this stuff in the flag as well. I'm watching Tkachuk be at the center. You give me the perspective in the history on this of what is going to be one of the best trades in the history of hockey and sports. To see Tkachuk turn Florida into this, to turn the American hockey player into this. The guy who will fight nine seconds into a game and will hit and I'll hit Connor McDavid, because he's here to represent America and hockey that way, the way that you love it.
Mike
Well, you just said something very, very key towards the end. Represent hockey. And that's what our players get. They not only represent their families, they not only represent their country, they represent the game. And that is the key in all sports. I'm sorry, that's what greatness is. Because, you know, when I look at greatness in sports, you talk about Matthew Tkachukin. This is going to go down as one of the biggest trades ever. Well, with that being said, there's greatness there. So we're going to recognize some of these players as all time greats when it's said and done. But what, how do we look at players as all time greats? If you want to talk about basketball, hockey. Let's talk about hockey for a second. Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Jean Bellavolt, all of these guys. Guys. Sidney Crosby now is the guy in today's game. Connor McDavid is going to be next in McKinnon. All of these players have forged paths for the next generation. And part of greatness is not just winning championships. It's are you forging a path for the next generation like Magic Johnson and Larry Bird did in basketball with Michael Jordan and Kobe, Are you forging that path? And I can tell you as a retired player, newly retired player, when I look at Matthew Tkachuk, Brady tkachuk, Sidney Crosby, McKinnon, McDavid and what these guys are doing, they are putting the game in a phenomenal position for the future players. And that's, to me, part of greatness. That's a part of what fans want to pay for. That's what fans invest in and that's what our game is today. We got players that are all in for the right reasons.
Jessica
Pk all of American hockey. Twitter is trying to give Jake Sanderson food poisoning here in the next couple hours so Quinn Hughes can play in this game. Why doesn't the NHL, the governing body here, allow for Quinn Hughes to just play this game so we can get the best offensive minded American defenseman on the ice, they're enforcing these roster rules more than they enforce long term injury list.
Mike
Rules are rules, Rules are rules. So at the end of the day, they made rules. At the beginning of the tournament, all the teams knew that Quinn Hughes, God bless him, you know, I Talk about Cale McCarr being the best defenseman in the world. Well, Quinn Hughes probably going to win the north trophy this year. He's right in line for it. So you know, obviously we want to see him on the ice playing and God willing, if something does happen, he'll be in the lineup tonight. But as of right now, there's rules. And everybody's had to tiptoe around those rules. Not just the United States now. So, you know, I think when it's all said and done, no matter who's on the ice, that's what we have with these players. They're going to put on the best show that we've seen throughout this tournament tomorrow night. You can guarantee that whether Quinn Hughes is in the lineup or not. But if he is in the lineup, wow, what an addition that's going to be. That does change the look of the game for sure.
Roy
USA and Canada face off. That is tomorrow night four nations final. The rivals will play in the championship game at TD Garden on ESPN and ESPN plus. Thank you, pk. Good talking to you. Good seeing you. I will not respect black history. That's not fair. What you've done to me is not fair. Listen to me, it's not fair.
Mike
The next time I come on, you better have your top ten, Dan.
Roy
Ok?
Mike
Top ten. I want to know your top.
Roy
All right, Number five, Reggie Theus. Number four, Michael B. Jordan. Number three, Rick Fox.
Billy
You have a type.
Mike
Yes.
Roy
Number two, Lenny Kravitz.
Billy
Yeah, that's a good one.
Roy
And number one, Jordan Suban. Yeah.
Mike
That'S good.
Roy
See you later. Thank you for being with us.
Mike
Thanks guys.
Roy
Appreciate it.
Unknown
All right, I know I gotta do this ad read, but hold on, let me reapply.
Dan Le Batard
Did you hear that?
Billy
Yep.
Unknown
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PK Subban
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Roy
Yeah, we can get mine.
PK Subban
Love it. It does.
Unknown
I mean, nah, I. I think it's an overrated fry.
PK Subban
You guys go ketchup or Chick Fil? A sauce when you have the Chick Fil?
Jessica
A Polynesian sauce.
Mike
Polynesian. That's my brother right there.
PK Subban
Good call.
Jessica
You're my brother.
Mike
ST. Oh my God.
PK Subban
What a weird interaction. Wow.
Billy
This is the Dan Levatar show with the st.
Roy
I want to get to this Terence Shannon story because I don't know what happened here, but I'm enjoying that. Illinois is leaning into the embarrassment and the incompetence. Usually in the Internet age we will just mock something mercilessly and nobody embraces it. But they are promoting a T shirt for charity because of this ceremony. What happened here? Do we have details on how it is that this happens?
Dan Le Batard
Yes. They were raising this banner before An Illinois basketball game this weekend, and when they unveiled it, realized, oopsies, we hung it upside down, and everyone was really sad. And now, like you said, they've leaned into it. So happy ending, I suppose, but genuinely very funny to see.
Roy
Do we have how much video. How much audio do we have on embarrassed parties? Tomorrow?
Dan Le Batard
We have the athletic director from Illinois talking about it here.
Roy
Regrettable situation at halftime with the jersey around Terrence's celebration. I just wanted to address that briefly before Brad came up and talked about the game, obviously. Really regrettable moment. It's a shame that it happened that way. Of course, I didn't hang the jersey, but I'm ultimately responsible for everything that happens in this building, and ultimately, that means that was on me tonight. We need to make sure that we understand that in life, mistakes happen, but there are also certain moments where mistakes can't happen. And tonight, we stole that moment from Terrence, and that's on us. And something that we have apologized to him for, apologized to his mom. Want to make sure that we apologize to our fans and everybody who was excited to be a part of this experience tonight. That's not leaning into it. That's not yet.
Dan Le Batard
No. This was before they leaned into it. But I was gonna ask you, Dan, is it an apology if you say, obviously, I didn't raise the banner, but it's my fault? Like, he's throwing someone under the bus there, and they know who they are.
PK Subban
That someone's been fired?
Billy
It's a good apology. It's a terrible apology, Jessica.
PK Subban
It's terrible.
Billy
It's the mo. It's the fakest leadership that I've ever seen. It's in that category. It's. You know, I. I. A leader takes responsibility for all, even if you're not responsible at all. So just want everyone to know that it was not my fault, but I am the leader.
Dan Le Batard
As if anyone thought the athletic director.
Billy
Come on. Like, we thought you hung it up.
Dan Le Batard
Yeah.
Billy
Come on. Is it? Some things don't need to be said. Mike. Come on. You can't.
Jessica
Dan, asking, how did this happen? Well, hooks to hang it up. Wrong side.
Billy
Yeah. Yeah.
Dan Le Batard
I wasn't sure how to answer that. Thank you for having me behind.
Billy
It all looks the same.
PK Subban
I feel like we're glossing over the really funny part of this story. Terrence Shannon was on that team last March.
Mike
Like, why are you retiring?
Dan Le Batard
His jersey already played in Illinois for two seasons because he transferred from Texas Tech. I even saw an interview where he was like, I'm surprised they're like, that's cool.
Unknown
I mean, what are they doing?
Billy
Maybe this is all a marketing ploy. Maybe it is the whole. Any. Any publicity is. There's no other way we would have talked about this story unless they hung it upside.
Dan Le Batard
No, we talk about Illinois basketball all the time on this show. It was like one of our main beats. I don't. You're not here.
Jessica
We get complaints all the time. Too much fighting. Align night.
Dan Le Batard
Not even just the align men's college hoops. I mean, we spend a lot of time on it.
Billy
Yeah. I mean, it's. I. I had to Google the years he was there.
Roy
Oh, you're so right about this. This is good for business. In fact, I would. I would do this as aggress, except for the part that we have to take sports so seriously that the athletic director has to be profoundly ashamed of a stupid ceremony because of how sacred we are about sports. Like, that guy's apology was terrible, but also profuse. Like he was sorry. He was sorry that he was embarrassed. He might not have been sorry that he was responsible for or at fault. The distinction being made there to me, though, is an interesting one. When you talk about leadership, I feel that all the time around here here, that things are all my responsibility. But wherever people are dissatisfied, I don't often find myself feeling at fault. But I'm responsible for it. So it puts me at fault.
Billy
It does put you at fault. And that is the, you know, heavy as the crown. Right.
Roy
But that athletic director having to apologize. They just raised a bunch of money for charity because a ceremony silly in sports today. Let's celebrate someone who's been here as a transfer for two years. And let's do the jersey back backward. That is something that would make great sketch comedy.
Billy
It would. It would make a funnier thing if that intern did it on purpose because they're like, this is stupid that we're hanging his jersey up. We should hang it up upside down to really show that athletic direction.
Dan Le Batard
Like a protest.
Billy
Yeah.
PK Subban
I mean, imagine you're.
Billy
Watch this.
PK Subban
Imagine your Luther head and you're sitting at home watching the game. You're thinking to yourself, how did that guy get his number retired?
Roy
I mean, you picked the perfect name.
Jessica
That is the perfect history is he has to be retired.
Billy
I don't know.
Roy
One would assume. Let's go through it now. Since we like talking fighting Illini basketball so much, let's go ahead of. Of Illinois basketball.
PK Subban
Kenny Battle.
Billy
I'm going to wink when I recognize Brown.
Jessica
Right.
Roy
We probably. We probably would not. We. We have failed at March Madness. Billy. March Madness is again sneaking up on us. Even though March is in the calendar every year, we have March Madness. Sadness approaching and.
Jessica
Which means the sadness is also approaching. Our tournament is presently embargoed. So don't ask Billy any questions.
Roy
I don't know anything about what we're.
Jessica
Doing, but we're doing effective embargo.
Roy
We're doing it soon. We're doing it.
PK Subban
Some may say March is coming up. Yeah.
Billy
Yeah.
Dan Le Batard
And if people don't like it, I'll just get blamed for it again.
Roy
The reason I asked the question is I'm also wondering where Bet the House went. I'm also wondering where gas bag of the week when I'm also wondering where Boost Mobile line went on hot takes. I'm just sort of asking since I don't know. Roy's in the EP chair and Roy has told me that we have Boost and we have a hot take machine, but it's the first I'm hearing of it and there are a lot of plate spinning. So where are we in this?
Billy
Yes. The Boost Mobile boaters take from the weekend is presented by Boost Mobile.
Roy
Let's start that. Let's start that again. Okay, hold on.
Billy
Hold on.
PK Subban
I wasn't expecting it.
Roy
I know, but I know I was.
Billy
Looking up Illinois from not being on PK's top five.
PK Subban
Kendall.
Roy
Kendall Gill. Dreamy. Dreamy to look at. Should have been in my top five. Don't even know what you're talking about.
Billy
All right. The Boost Mobile boldest take from the weekend is presented by Boost Mobile, the newest 5G network in the country. 305, 486G.
Roy
O T Z is the number, Dan. Thank you, Roy. But the reason that I went to it and you weren't prepared for it is because you told me to go to it. You asked me to go to the Boost and I was the first time hearing that we were doing that today. Yes, sir.
Billy
Yes, sir.
Stugotz
It doesn't disappoint, Dan. It's great.
Roy
All right. Disappoint me.
Billy
Hi, this is Alex from South Dakota. And I'm just here to say that.
Mike
Bono would not be anybody without his sunglasses.
Billy
Okay. At best, I think he would be.
Mike
Huey Lewis in the news. Yeah. I think Roger Goodell should have to tackle Derrick Henry to get his full salary. He doesn't. Then he should only get 25%. Charlie Bucket was the wrong pick to run the chocolate factory. Charlie Bucket was this poor little.
Jessica
He was.
Mike
He was like this pure of heart little child, and he was picked because he was the most pure and and decent and kind and whatever. That's not what it takes to run a chocolate factory. The right kid to run that chocolate factory was Augustus Gloop. He was not pure of heart. He was clogged of heart. And he would have started putting. He would have made the great chocolate you ever had in your entire friggin life. Omega Monopoly. Can't refuse. Today on the day of my daughter's wedding.
Billy
Hey buddy, it's Rob on the mobile. My hottest, oldest take that I got is best of seven series. I got John Wick over Ethan Hunt. I actually got John Wick in six.
Mike
Hey, this is Nolan from Louisiana. Long time, first time.
Billy
My hottest take is that a good hot dog is better than a good hamburger, but a bad hamburger is better.
Mike
Than a bad hot dog.
Roy
I'll hang up.
Billy
Hey, this is Rich from Chicago.
Roy
Long time, first time, first time, long time.
Billy
Just want to say my take is this. If you're in a sauna and you're.
Mike
Exercising or doing calisthenics while in the.
Billy
Sauna, pretty much a giant douche.
Mike
Here's my elimination fake of coach Mike Gundy. Come after my I'm a man.
Billy
I'm 40.
Mike
The Cowboys are going to take on the big three, huh?
Billy
Scratch that. Scratch that.
Stugotz
Hey there wellness warriors. If you're like me, you've given a lot of thought to how to improve your health and wellness routine. This year I've started stretching.
Roy
More.
Stugotz
More. Do a little mindfulness and meditation every day. Try to clear my mind, make my body feel right. Take your health routine to the next level with the magic of contrast therapy. Meet our new amazing sponsor, Redwood Outdoors. They're making it easy to bring the benefits of saunas and cold plunges right to your backyard. A Redwood Outdoors backyard sauna seats two to eight people where you can relax, unwind and enjoy all the benefits like reduced muscle tension, improved slightly sleep and glowing skin. And it doesn't stop there. Redwood Outdoors Invigorating cold plunge helps to boost circulation, sharpen your focus and leave you feeling absolutely revitalized. Whether it's detoxing deeper, reducing inflammation or connecting with loved ones in moments of peace, Redwood Outdoors has you covered. Enhance your physical and mental wellness routines with Redwood Outdoors. Take advantage of special Savings today. Visit RedWoodOutdoors.com use code DAN to save 1 75. That's RedWoodOutdoors.com code D A N to save $175 on your order. RedWoodOutdoors.com code Dan.
Podcast Summary: The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
Episode: Hour 1: Dan Will Not Respect Black History Month
Release Date: February 19, 2025
In this compelling episode of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz, hosts Dan Le Batard and Stugotz delve into a variety of topics spanning sports, pop culture, and social issues. Notably, the episode confronts sensitive themes surrounding Black History Month, triggering intense discussions and revealing underlying tensions among the hosts.
A significant portion of the conversation revolves around the beloved sketch comedy show, Saturday Night Live (SNL). The hosts express mixed feelings about the show's enduring legacy and its adaptability in the modern entertainment landscape.
Challenges Faced by SNL:
Notable SNL Sketches Discussed:
Quotes:
In an attempt to inject humor and camaraderie, the hosts engage in a lighthearted yet contentious segment titled "Top Five Good Looking Brothers." This activity, intended to showcase admiration for attractive siblings, inadvertently sparks friction, particularly around the inclusion of Dan in the list.
Highlights:
Quotes:
A pivotal moment in the episode centers on an incident involving the Illinois basketball team’s ceremonial jersey display, which was mistakenly hung upside down. This faux pas becomes a focal point for discussions on leadership, responsibility, and cultural sensitivity.
Incident Details:
Host Reactions:
Quotes:
Shifting gears, the hosts engage in an in-depth analysis of the current state and future of hockey, highlighting the sport's expansion and the pivotal roles of key players.
Key Points:
Quotes:
The episode concludes with unresolved tensions stemming from the earlier Black History Month discussions and the mishandled apology incident. Despite these conflicts, the hosts briefly touch upon upcoming events and tease future topics, leaving listeners anticipating the next episode's developments.
Final Highlights:
Quotes:
This episode of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz serves as a microcosm of the broader tensions and dialogues present in today's sports and cultural arenas. Through candid conversations and confrontations, the hosts navigate complex issues with a blend of humor, criticism, and passionate debate, offering listeners a thought-provoking and engaging experience.