Hour 1: Dan's Strange First Question (feat. Nick Wright and Earleen Cote)

Summary

The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

Episode: Hour 1: Dan's Strange First Question
Date: October 8, 2025
Guests: Nick Wright, Earleen Cote

---

Episode Overview

Live from the Elser Hotel in Downtown Miami, Dan Le Batard and Stugotz are joined by Nick Wright (sports commentator) and Earleen Cote (Greg Cody’s wife) for a characteristically chaotic and entertaining hour. The conversation takes unexpected turns—from examining gift etiquette and marital dynamics to dissecting LeBron James’s media strategy and the Kansas City Chiefs’ woes. The episode is loaded with sports insights, self-deprecating humor, and lively arguments about greatness in sports and broadcasting.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Dan’s Awkward Introduction & Gift Drama

(00:08 – 03:34)

• Dan opens by asking Nick an oddly philosophical question:
  “Nick Wright, what are you more than anything?” (00:08)
  This prompts Nick to joke about being parachuted into multiple interviews with minimal notice.
• Earleen Cote joins to discuss gift etiquette:
  Greg Cody complains he didn’t like the color of a white Corvette his wife gifted him for his birthday.
  • Greg: “When somebody gifts you a car, but you don’t prefer the color, how do you handle that?” (02:34)
  • Nick lightly roasts Greg for not simply repainting the car.
• Dan teases Greg about not showering after hockey before coming into the studio.
  • Dan: "Your husband is forever disappointing. Also, he came in here today without having showered after being in a hockey locker room.” (02:22)

Notable Quote:
Nick Wright: “I’m more nervous about being on with Greg Cody’s wife than United States Senator Cory Booker.” (01:42)

---

2. Gift-Giving Philosophy & Stand-Up Comedy Admiration

(03:35 – 05:35)

• Nick shares a story about gifting his father a 1956 Chevy Bel Air for his 75th birthday.
  • Nick: “What a good gift giver. ... I try to overcompensate by grand gestures.” (03:54)
• On media and entertainment, Nick says becoming a great stand-up comic would be "the single coolest feeling.”
  • Nick: "Standup comedian in a theater with just a microphone... I think would be the single... most impressive." (04:41)

---

3. LeBron James’s “Retirement” Fake-Out & Commercialization

(05:35 – 14:34)

• Dan asks Nick about being proudest of standing by his assertion that LeBron is greater than MJ.
• LeBron’s viral tweet about a potential “decision” turns out to be a commercial, not a retirement announcement.
  • Nick criticizes the media and fans for falling for LeBron’s tease:
    • “Anybody with a pulse should have known that was going to be an ad.” (07:17)
  • Dan admits to falling for it:
    “I do feel like a moron and you’re calling me on it. But I also thought it was grotesquely commercial.” (08:41)
• Nick mocks how Jordan “retired” multiple times:
  • “The proper way to retire... is to do it three separate times. Which makes the first two fraudulent retirements.” (09:12)
• Debate on LeBron’s longevity:
  • Nick boldly asserts:
    “I think LeBron could play at an All-Star level... till he’s close to 50.” (14:34)
  • Other hosts react with disbelief.
    • Mike Ryan: “I can buy 45. 50?” (15:47)

Notable Quotes:

• Nick Wright: “Anybody that thought he was announcing his retirement... is a moron.” (07:22)
• Dan Le Batard: “For 15 years, this dude was the economy here... still the story in basketball, even on a football Monday and Tuesday.” (13:55)

---

4. LeBron at 50? Spirited Debate Ensues

(14:34 – 20:09)

• Nick doubles down on LeBron's possible extended dominance:
  • “Why can Steph [Curry] hang out till 60? LeBron’s still better than him!” (17:20)
  • “I don’t see any reason LeBron in five years wouldn’t be just a much, much better version of Jason Kidd on the Mavericks.” (18:24)
• Hosts challenge Nick’s claim, raising issues of age, position, and prior player arcs.
• Nick calls out sporting revisionism and defends LeBron’s basketball IQ and adaptability.
• Greg brings the conversation back to car color, bantering about whether he could repaint his wife’s gift. (20:57)

---

5. Jonathan Gannon, Sideline Outbursts, and Leadership Under Pressure

(21:24 – 35:23)

• Hosts dissect Arizona Cardinals HC Jonathan Gannon physically striking a player after a monumental loss.
  • Nick: “You can’t hit people that can’t hit you back.” (21:24)
  • Nick believes the real concern is “Has the job gotten too big for him?”
• Nick draws a parallel to Ken Dorsey’s (Bills OC) infamous sideline meltdown:
  • “In that moment, I was like, okay, that guy’s... the job’s too big for him.” (24:53)
• They discuss how leadership and composure in crisis distinguish effective coaches/managers.
  • Nick references “The Departed”: “My hand doesn’t shake.” (29:17)
  • Mike Ryan: “There are guys that are good at their jobs that are bad leaders.” (33:50)

---

6. Kansas City Chiefs & Jacksonville Jaguars Deep Dive

(35:33 – 39:36)

• Nick gives a comprehensive, impassioned analysis of KC’s recent loss and future prospects:
  • “That loss was the most frustrating regular season loss this team has had in at least three years." (38:09)
  • Calls for a better running game and more disciplined play; expresses concern about the AFC playoff caliber.
  • Contrasts Trevor Lawrence’s flaws and the broader narrative around young QBs like Justin Herbert.
• Dan and Nick close with a playful, escalating bet on the upcoming Chiefs vs. Lions game, culminating in a $5,000 wager.
  • Nick: “I get the Chiefs even. We’re just doing straight winners.”
  • Dan: “Yes.”
  • Mike Ryan: “Why would… You’re just such a bad negotiator.”

Notable Quote:
Nick Wright: “Winning football games is a skill. ... They need to trade for a running back again. ... That’s a bad loss and I’m not going to make excuses and act like it wasn’t.” (36:30 – 39:28)

---

Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• “I want all his Chiefs information here because I’m genuinely curious for football knowledge from him.” — Dan Le Batard (00:32)
• “What a secret sentimentalist Nick Wright is.” — Dan Le Batard (03:55)
• “I think being a great stand-up comic… would give me a sense of fulfillment more than anything else in media.” — Nick Wright (04:41)
• “The proper way to retire in the NBA… is to do it three separate times. ... He's going his own way and selling cognac. That’s fine with me.” — Nick Wright (09:12)
• “I think LeBron could play at an All-Star level for close to another till he’s close to 50.” — Nick Wright (14:34)
• “You can’t hit people who can’t hit you back.” — Nick Wright (21:24)
• “There are guys that are good at their jobs that are bad leaders.” — Mike Ryan (33:50)
• “Winning football games is a skill. ... The offense is going to be good. ... That’s a bad loss and I’m not going to make excuses.” — Nick Wright (38:20)

---

Important Segment Timestamps

00:08 – Dan’s odd opening question to Nick Wright
01:42 – Nick’s nerves about being with Greg Cody’s wife on air
02:34 – Greg Cody’s white Corvette gripe
03:47 – Nick’s gift to his dad and discussion of gift-giving
04:41 – Admiration for stand-up comedians
05:35 – Dan on Nick’s LeBron advocacy
07:17 – Nick rips media for LeBron tweet fake-out
09:12 – Nick lampoons MJ retirements vs. LeBron
14:34 – Bold claim: LeBron could be All-Star at 50
21:24 – Jonathan Gannon player incident
24:53 – Ken Dorsey meltdown as a leadership red flag
29:17 – “My hand doesn’t shake” life philosophy
35:33 – KC/Jacksonville breakdown with playoff implications
39:36 – Chiefs-Lions $5,000 wager

---

Tone & Takeaways

• The episode is classic Le Batard Show—irreverent, smart, and full of layered personalities.
• Nick Wright blends genuine sports intellect with needle-sharp wit and playful provocation, especially around LeBron James discourse.
• There’s a consistent theme of performance, pressure, and how sports personalities (on the field and in media) handle expectations.
• The mix of personal stories and sports analysis gives the episode warmth and depth beyond surface-level debate.

---

This episode is essential for anyone who enjoys banter that swings between the personal and the profound, with bold sports takes, strong opinions, and Le Batard’s signature sense of theatrical chaos.

Transcript

[Nick Wright]

This is the Dan Levatar show with the Stugats podcast.

[Dan Le Batard]

Nick Wright, what are you More than anything because I look at you and I think that your proudest source of entertainment is like old timey radio guy who respects the most performative aspects of whatever audio is and that that would be the thing that you respect most as an entertainer. What is the answer? I'm sorry to introduce you this way.

[Nick Wright]

Hi Odd first question.

[Dan Le Batard]

I want, I want all his Chiefs information here because I'm genuinely curious for football knowledge from him on what happened with Jacksonville when the margins in these games are so small and whether you know what he thinks of what happens with the Chiefs. And I'm also interested in what he has to say about LeBron James.

[Mike Ryan]

Smoother intro.

[Nick Wright]

Yeah, all of that. Plus also I want the shipping container to know. Dan, text me I think two minutes before your guys show started. Hey, make sure Dan, am I, I guess I'm okay to say this. I'm saying it. Make sure you have a question ready for United States Senator Cory Booker. I then respond with I think a legitimate response which is okay, is he on with me? I have not heard from Dan until this introduction since then. So I stepped in thinking like all did we double am I am all am being parachuted in?

[Dan Le Batard]

No. So the re the reason I introduced you so clumsily is because I've got Earlene Cody, Greg Cody's wife is on the line with a hygiene question and I don't want to waste your time but I really do want to get to your opinions on some things.

[Nick Wright]

No, that's fine. I'd rather I, I have a chance to be on this. I, I, I'm more nervous about being on with Greg Cody's wife than United States Senator Cory Booker. Hi, Ms. Cody, how are you? She's speaking on behalf of Cory Booker.

[Dan Le Batard]

Well and Chris Cody has just said her Internet is not great. I'm worried about this, the entirety of.

[Nick Wright]

Doing this to a great start, but I have a lot of answers for so let's go to Ms. Cody first and then I will thank you for.

[Dan Le Batard]

Taking the risk with us. I was gonna ask your opinion and assume that you would have told us to take that risk, but we've got here's what the conversation is that we're having. Greg Cody was complaining when I came in here today that his wife had gotten him a white Corvette as a, as a birthday gift and he was complaining about it. He was saying that he had to drive it around for two years. He didn't like it as a gift. And I thought it was a great gift. And so that's why we're having his wife on Greg's now saying he's being misrepresented.

[Greg Cody]

Yes. Thank you. What do you mean, Earlene? It came up that, you know, I was so appreciative to get a surprise car as a birthday gift, but that white is not my favorite color for a car. That's all. And, and so hypothetically, I was having a conversation. When somebody gifts you a car, but you don't prefer the color, how do you handle that? That's all.

[Nick Wright]

Well, I think, I think that you should have left out. Not left out the facts of. It's been 20 years since then and you've had four other Corvettes, including being offered to get a brand new one.

[Greg Cody]

With none of them white. Right.

[Nick Wright]

None of them have been white since then. I'm sorry. Those two years of a lease was just so painful for you after you got rid of your minivan for that.

[Greg Cody]

The minivan. Yeah, that's true.

[Dan Le Batard]

Thank you, Arlene. Your husband is forever disappointing. Also, he came in here today without having showered after being in a hockey locker room.

[Greg Cody]

That's true. Thanks, dear.

[Dan Le Batard]

Real.

[Nick Wright]

Welcome to my world.

[Dan Le Batard]

Real prize. Real prize you got.

[Nick Wright]

All right, goodbye.

[Dan Le Batard]

Goodbye, Earlene. Sorry, Nick. I, I sorry I did all of that. I'm sorry.

[Nick Wright]

I'm not sorry about it at all. I got, I just, I just recently I got my dad a car for his 75th birthday. 56 Chevy Bel Air.

[Greg Cody]

Nice.

[Nick Wright]

The first car he ever drove.

[Dan Le Batard]

Oh, that's a wonderful gift. What a. What an emotional one. What a great gift.

[Nick Wright]

What a good gift giver.

[Dan Le Batard]

What a secret row. What a secret sentimentalist Nick Wright is.

[Nick Wright]

I'm a no. So again, I don't know if this is a look at me Louie or humble brag. You guys have that sound effect.

[Dan Le Batard]

I don't know.

[Nick Wright]

I'm a very good gift giver. Um, I'm a very, I don't know what love languages are and such, but I'm not the best at keeping in touch. I'm not the best at like daily check ins. In fact, I might be the worst at that. But I try to overcompensate by grand gestures. Now to answer, I think you, your initial question, which was what thing in media is most impressive to me, I think was the question and my answer to that is standup comic. Because I, and I think being a great standup comic would, at least for the way my brain works, give, give me a sense of fulfillment more than anything else in media, including or entertainment, including Rockstar or. Or movie star. Because if you're a movie star, yes, you're the star. But there's so much that goes into the production, even if you're a rock star, unless you're really like Adele standing alone on stage. And I don't even know enough about Adele. Like, is there accompaniment with her there? It's a whole production. Standup comedian in a theater with just a microphone with live real time reaction to am I doing this well or not? I think would be the single. It's the most impressive to me when people are great at it. And it's the, like, it would be the single coolest feeling. That's the, that's my thoughts there. Do you just want me to go straight into the Chiefs or do you want to ask more questions? What do you want to do?

[Dan Le Batard]

The thing that I wanted to ask you after that as a sports media performer is what are you proudest of that you do, given that you're actually respecting the craft of how to entertain within this space. So you have for 10 years you've ridden this ridiculous LeBron James take that he's better than. Than Michael Jordan and everyone yells at you and it's just ridiculous how funny it is. And then yesterday your boy, now that you are the most public of LeBron supporters, he does a grotesque commercialization.

[Nick Wright]

Oh my God, I'm so glad we're talking about this because this, that tweet, you know, how. Gosh, and I hate to bring him up this quickly, I don't mean to, but you know how your guy Pablo's been saying this story is an IQ test. And about the Kawhi Leonard thing, I truly thought that LeBron's tweet two days ago, the decision part two, or whatever it was, was an IQ test. And I am shocked at how many people in the media failed it. And here's why. And to give you full disclosure on this. So I, you know, I can't like just hit up LeBron and ask him a question, but I can hit up Rich. I could hit up Mav. I did neither. And my, my pod, what's Right with Nick Wright is Every Tuesday around 10:30am Eastern, the producers asked me, do you think we should push it a bit until after whatever LeBron does, he does. And I said, with no recon and no research, absolutely not. There is no chance that is anything but a commercial. How did I know that? The same reason every single person should have known that Tuesday at noon that was the whole thing. Anybody that has been following LeBron James for a quarter century that thought he was going to announce his retirement or retirement tour on a Tuesday at noon is a moron. That was not like, oh, he made us think he was retiring. And it's a Hennessy ad. Anybody with a pulse should have known that was going to be an ad. You, you don't have to be a Lebronologist to know that he's not announcing his retirement on a non descript Tuesday at noon. So I think everybody, that why I saw a lot of people I like saying, you know, oh, he's selling in, trading in his credibility. Give me a break. Anybody that thought he was announcing his retirement.

[Dan Le Batard]

You've mentioned that. You've mentioned that.

[Jeremy]

What day and time should we expect it?

[Nick Wright]

Prime time on a Monday, I would imagine some pomp and circumstances. If that Tweet said Monday, 7pm I'd be like, oh, we'll look out, hold on, maybe something's here. But yeah, I mean, that's the thing. I don't think anybody actually thought he was announcing his time.

[Dan Le Batard]

No, no, I didn't think. I will tell you this though, and you're saying this to my face and I do feel like a fool. I was not doing any of that time stuff. I did think that he was teasing with people's feelings because he does that. Like it's been a move for 15 years and it's worked. He's like, he is the Internet ages athlete and he's being a troll as a dad at the end. And I do feel like a moron and you're calling me on it. But I also thought, I thought it was also grotesquely commercial.

[Nick Wright]

No, I think obviously the proper way to announce a retirement or to retire in the NBA, if you really want to be the goat, is to do it three separate times. Which makes the first two fraudulent retirements. That's the way to do it. The way to do it is to quit the sport multiple times, then come back, then quit again, then come back, then quit again and then joke about coming back at 45. We all know the blueprint's been laid out on how to properly retire from this league, which is to not actually retire, just to quit and come back a bunch of times and then have people pretend that anything that happened really post retirement two or during retirement, one didn't actually count. That's the blueprint. He's going his own way and selling cognac. That's fine with me.

[Mike Ryan]

Who is he talking about?

[Jeremy]

Hey, friends, it feels like everywhere that you turn these days, there's just another fee. We were talking about it on the show earlier this week. Buy a ticket, there's a fee, pay a bill fee. Even your bank piles them on. That's why Chime is such a game changer. Check it [e-mail] Dan With Chime, banking's done right. When direct deposit is set up, there are no monthly fees, no maintenance fees, and you can even get paid up to two days early. And here's the part that really stands out to me. With qualifying direct deposits, Chime gives you free free overdraft coverage up to $200 on debit card purchases and withdrawals. To date, members have been spotted over $30 billion. That's billion with a B plus access to 47,000 free ATMs, more than the top three national banks combined. Someone I know uses Chime and it's made managing money so much easier for them. Work on your financial goals through Chime today. Open an account in 2 [e-mail] dance that's chime.com Dan Chime feels like progress.

[Nick Wright]

Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services and debit card provided by the Bancor Bank NA or Stride Bank. NA members, FDIC spot and eligibility requirements and overdraft limits apply. Timing depends on submission of payment file.

[Mike Ryan]

Fees apply at out of network ATMs. Bank ranking and number of ATMs according.

[Nick Wright]

To U.S. news and World Report 2023 Chime checking account required.

[Dan Le Batard (Ad Voice)]

You ever try to name all your financial accounts and their balances? 401ks investments, properties? I can barely remember what I had for lunch, let alone all that stuff. That's why I started using Monarch Money Bank. It's an all in one finance tool that pulls everything together, your accounts, budgets, goals into one clean dashboard on your phone or laptop. And let me tell you, it was.

[Nick Wright]

A wake up call.

[Dan Le Batard (Ad Voice)]

I found a 401k from some job I forgot existed and it wasn't some small change. Ended up being a nice little chunk of change there for the boy. I realized that I had cash just sitting there doing nothing in my investments. Not as smart as I thought it was. Monarch makes all that obvious and actually feels doable. No spreadsheets, no hopping between apps. Just a real clear view of my money. You can even share with your partner or financial advisor. No more. Wait, let's see how much we spent on that coffee or that takeout. Monarch puts everything on the table. Literally. Don't let financial opportunities slip through the cracks. Use code [e-mail] in your browser for half off your first year. That's 50% off your first year. @monimalmoney.com with code. Dan.

[Nick Wright]

Thursday Night Football is on and it's only on prime Video. This week, it's a rivalry renewed as the Philadelphia Eagles take on the New York Giants. It's the champs and the new look G Men. Coverage begins at 7pm Eastern with football's best party, TNF tonight. Not a prime member. Not a problem. Simply sign up for a 30 day free trial. It's the Eagles and the giants Thursday at 7pm Eastern only on Prime Video. Restrictions apply. See Amazon.com amazonprime for details. Don LeBatard, Quiet Man.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yes.

[Greg Cody]

You know, I'm a married man. I don't cheat on my wife. Despite that gratuitous line in back in my stugats, I wish you were here. My wife, I really miss her. No, I don't. That's the thing about being married, you know, you're not allowed to say, I don't miss my wife. I've been gone two days. I haven't been gone long enough to miss my wife. I'm sorry. I call her. I'm on the phone with her for 30 seconds. You know, what am I. Hello?

[Dan Le Batard]

All right.

[Greg Cody]

All right, we'll see you.

[Nick Wright]

All right.

[Greg Cody]

And then, you know, I'm going to.

[Jeremy]

See her in two days.

[Greg Cody]

How's jumping, Charlie?

[Dan Le Batard]

Good.

[Nick Wright]

This is the Dan Levatar show with the stugats.

[Dan Le Batard]

I don't like that. My reaction was to recoil there on all of it, to that he was playing again with people's feelings. Fifteen years later was a funny reminder and I do feel like a fool for falling for it again.

[Nick Wright]

Well, I must apologize, Dan. I didn't know, to be honest with you, that one of the people I was calling out was you. I maybe would have softened that.

[Dan Le Batard]

No, I don't. I just feel like such a fool and you're laughing in my face at something. No, but for 15. Well, but for 15 years, this dude was the economy here and he's played for the Lakers longer than that. The idea that he's still the story in basketball, even on a football Monday and Tuesday, is pretty funny. When you look at a career unlike any other, like a career that has no precedent in the sport. The fact that he's still playing and still playing with our feelings as a top 10 player in the league is. It's asinine that you get to be controversial for supporting that for 20 years.

[Nick Wright]

Well, yeah. And here's listen, I'll add to a take and then we can get to the football stuff, I'm sure. I think LeBron could play at an all star level. Right now he's at an all NBA level. I think he could play at an all star level for close to another till he's close to 50. I see no reason like when he quits, it's going to be because that either his family wants him to or it's just there's nothing left to do. But the, the. We were, we were expecting the age curve 10 years ago and instead what we have gotten is a slight 1 or 2% a year deterioration to where he goes into this year. What the seventh best player in the sport. Like the cliff isn't coming barring a catastrophic injury. And so he'll play as long as he wants to and he'll probably play with folks feelings.

[Dan Le Batard]

You guys, you guys can't let him do this.

[Mike Ryan]

All Star at 50 years. Can't let him serving All Star at 50 years old. Come on.

[Nick Wright]

Well, hold on.

[Mike Ryan]

Come on.

[Greg Cody]

I'll buy 45. I'll buy 45.

[Mike Ryan]

I can buy 45. 50.

[Nick Wright]

Wait a second, wait a second. But he didn't age after 30. Naturally he can play till 50. Duh. When he left Miami. Okay, that first year in Cleveland when Dan and others were saying, hey, I mean we've all heard the audio that the best of LeBron is over. He quit. If I had come on this show, I mean, if I had come on. What? Hold on. You said that.

[Mike Ryan]

I don't think he was wrong. LeBron hasn't been okay, I don't know.

[Nick Wright]

20, 2018 Braun was pretty good. 2016 Braun with the greatest three game stretch in the history sport is pretty good. Shout out to 2020 Braun pretty good. But regardless, if I had come on this show and said 10 years from now he is going to be top six in MVP voting, that would have been con. More laughable at age 40 in year 22 gonna be a legitimate MVP candidate. That would have been laughable and ridiculous. But it just happened. So the. My point is his, because of his iq, his size and his body.

[Dan Le Batard]

Don't let him guys, don't let him do.

[Mike Ryan]

There's one guy that can play till 50 and Steph Curry, because he can just hang out. LeBron, he is so dependent on his athleticism. I understand he's got a brilliant mind, but there's already diminishing returns on there. Like it's only gonna get, it's only gonna slow down.

[Nick Wright]

Why Could. Why can Step. Look, Steph's younger than LeBron and LeBron's still better than him. Well, chaos.

[Mike Ryan]

But Steph can just camp out and just. He can shoot till he's 60.

[Nick Wright]

And, and, and LeBron could play late stage post the. The 30 game all star at 50.

[Mike Ryan]

I can't believe he sucked me into this. It is asinine. All asinine.

[Nick Wright]

Nick, is it honorary All Star like commissioner appointed All Star or All Star based on merit? No, what I'm. What I'm saying is that as long as like LeBron is 40, right? No, that the. I'm 40. I turn. No, he turned. He's 40. He turns 41 in December. Hold on, let's make sure we get this exactly right. No, he's. He. And when's your bird of the same birthday? He and Tiger woods are both December 30th. Not same year. The. I just turned 41 a couple days ago. Thank you.

[Greg Cody]

Happy birthday.

[Nick Wright]

I. Happy birthday to him.

[Mike Ryan]

I don't care.

[Dan Le Batard]

Good luck.

[Nick Wright]

I don't see any reason that LeBron in five years would not be just a much, much better version of Jason Kidd on the Mavericks. A great passer who can shoot and knock down spot up threes and just.

[Dan Le Batard]

You made him an All Star.

[Mike Ryan]

You didn't make Jason Kid on the Mavericks was not close to it.

[Dan Le Batard]

You didn't make him 11 points a game from three because he can get.

[Nick Wright]

Much, much better version. My. I again, I don't. I can't believe this. 50 talking about Nick.

[Mike Ryan]

I guess same here.

[Dan Le Batard]

Dude.

[Nick Wright]

Jason Kid on the Mavericks was an.

[Mike Ryan]

All Star sucked into this.

[Nick Wright]

Thank you. Hey, hold on.

[Jeremy]

Who just said that he was an All Star.

[Nick Wright]

That would be exactly for the Dallas and I just set up a much, much better version. Exactly. Know your sports, Dan. Instead of, instead of reading Twitter and seeing a Raven stat. He was 36 years old.

[Mike Ryan]

He was.

[Nick Wright]

Know yours. Know your stats, buddy.

[Mike Ryan]

He was 36 then 14 years.

[Nick Wright]

Guys, guys, this is. I can't believe we're arguing about this. Let's go ahead and argue. 50 year old LeBron will be 36 year old Jason Kidd, which is like 933 in 1991. Yeah, exactly. What do you say?

[Dan Le Batard]

All right.

[Nick Wright]

Can I just just be like I disagree.

[Mike Ryan]

I disagree. I disagree.

[Nick Wright]

That's fine.

[Mike Ryan]

Strongly.

[Nick Wright]

So here is. Here is the qu. Because we're not going to get to see it. So the question I would ask you is this, Mike. Will we ever see LeBron play a season in the NBA at a less than. Forget All Star. All NBA caliber.

[Mike Ryan]

I don't know if he'll allow that.

[Nick Wright]

But I guess we'll never know who's going to be right about the argument.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah, well, I think. I think we can assume.

[Greg Cody]

Yeah.

[Nick Wright]

How History now hit that. He's already shattered all the history. And you're a tennis guy, Mike. Like, the guys are all Djokovic, shattering all the history.

[Mike Ryan]

There's a difference. Okay, again, what was your take on Jonathan Gannon? What was your take on Jonathan Gannon?

[Dan Le Batard]

I should have credited that Raven stat. I'm ashamed. I'm ashamed.

[Nick Wright]

You're covered in a lot of shame today. Yeah, if I'm being honest.

[Greg Cody]

Hey, Nick.

[Nick Wright]

We're arguing about LeBron.

[Greg Cody]

Nick, was the 56 Bel Air gifted to your dad a white car?

[Nick Wright]

No, it was like the seafoam green with a white swoosh on it.

[Dan Le Batard]

Where are we on this?

[Nick Wright]

It's a proper color.

[Greg Cody]

Thank you.

[Dan Le Batard]

Do you have to eat it if your wife gives you a gift that you didn't want to be white for two years? Is that what we're arguing?

[Nick Wright]

Why don't you just have it? Why didn't you just. Cody, this is. It sounds like this is back when newspaper salaries were real fat and happy.

[Greg Cody]

Yeah.

[Nick Wright]

Why didn't you just have it painted, bro?

[Greg Cody]

You know what? I didn't think of it.

[Nick Wright]

I mean, I think that's the answer.

[Greg Cody]

I think that would have insulted my wife. That would have insulted.

[Dan Le Batard]

That would have been good to ask her when she was on here.

[Greg Cody]

Yeah.

[Nick Wright]

Yeah. Well, she didn't have great Internet. Jonathan, you can't. You can't punch your players. Like, the. The rule in life is very simple. You're not allowed to. Well, this isn't the only rule, but one of the rules is you can't hit people that can't hit you back. And so that's like, I. I didn't love that. I didn't love him hitting the guy.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah, but what does this mean? Bad optics. I didn't love it. A hundred thousand dollars. What's right here, Nick? Right? Like, what?

[Nick Wright]

I think I. No, I think what they did. I mean, I don't. I don't think. I don't think you fire him. And I'm not interested at all in the. In another workplace. It's not another workplace, bro. It's the NFL. And there's, like, there is a level of violence associated with the game that I understand how it can spill over in those regards on the sidelines, but that was too much. And so, like, Yeah, I think 100 grand is a real amount of money. I think the shame of it, and I think that the real punishment is, like, how do his players respond? And does he have to kind of win them back over? That's like. That to me is. I don't know. Am I. Do you think I'm being too lenient there?

[Dan Le Batard]

Oh, I just think that locker room dynamics, like, that's a. It's a fascinating case study here to just really dissect in that locker room what's happening when a coach puts his hand on a player and all those players know in that room, hey, dad, you know how much he cares? We watch him every day like, he either cares this amount or he doesn't. But you putting your hands on him in front of everybody when we just saw the most epic collapse in the sports you'll ever see. They play that game a thousand times, Nick. They play that game a thousand times. The. Nick, the Titans don't cover a thousand times, Never mind win the game. They don't cover a thousand times. He threw away a football game and his coach hit him.

[Nick Wright]

Yeah, I agree. I. But I also. I mean, I don't think you fire the guy. I don't think that I. I think that this is. It was. Here is my. I guess, bigger Jonathan Gannon takeaway. I am less. I shouldn't say less bothered, but if I were a Cardinals fan and not, you know, a member of D. Mercado's family or friends, but I root for the Cardinals, I am more like long term concerned about, oh, coach probably in a touch over his head. Huh? Like, anybody that loses their ass like that, it usually means the job's a touch too big for them.

[Dan Le Batard]

I thought that person two weeks ago was the most stoic coach on any sideline.

[Nick Wright]

Really?

[Dan Le Batard]

Yes. I didn't think he was an emotional. I thought that he was. I've got this wrong.

[Mike Ryan]

I mean, defensive guys are usually a little bit more intense. There were videos when he was in Philadelphia of, like, screaming at people in their car, like, good energy. Not like, move your frigging car. More like, let's effing go.

[Nick Wright]

But, yeah, well, to me, I put this in the same bucket, except he wasn't the head coach at the time, and everyone got so mad at me for this take. But as is often the case, it aged perfectly. Much like LeBron. The. Do you remember when the offensive coordinator for the Bills, I think he's a Miami guy, right? Was it Dorsey throwing all the papers.

[Dan Le Batard]

All over the room? The computer?

[Nick Wright]

Doubt. In that moment, I was like, okay, that guy's. The job's too big for him. Like, sorry, job's too big for him. And the, you know, the bills kind of took off once they separated from him. Like the, the job was too big for him. And I, I think that, that, I don't think those are unfair snap judgments on these things. What does Zyn give you? Not just smoke free nicotine satisfaction, but real freedom. Freedom to do what you love and choose your rewards. With Zinn Rewards, you can redeem points for premium tech outdoor gear and gift cards to your favorite retailers. Find your zin and keep finding rewards that fit your [e-mail] rewards warning. This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical.

[Mike Ryan]

Hey, Jeremy, old buddy, old pal.

[Jeremy]

Hey, Mike.

[Mike Ryan]

I want to talk to you about Miller Lite. You and I have bonded over these last few weeks talking about our shared love of Miller Lite.

[Dan Le Batard]

That's right.

[Mike Ryan]

A great partner of our show for practically its entire existence.

[Jeremy]

It's been a partner of this show since I was 10 years old and.

[Mike Ryan]

It'S been around for 50 years and they've been a part of our show for almost 20. We're approaching incredible partner status with Miller Lite.

[Jeremy]

I mean, to think that people were celebrating at my bar mitzvah with Miller Lite as they were a partner of this show is pretty incredible.

[Mike Ryan]

You're talking about the moments that are made better by making those times, those special times. Miller Time. Jeremy, there's nothing like cracking open Miller Lite with your crew this football season. It's especially true whether it's a touchdown you didn't see coming or just arguing about fantasy lineups you already know you're gonna lose. Miller Lite has been the taste you can depend on for 50 years. Brewed for flavor with simple ingredients, rich toffee notes that iconic golden color. And here's a kicker. Jeremy.

[Dan Le Batard]

What's that?

[Mike Ryan]

It's just 96 calories.

[Jeremy]

I still can't believe that we say it every week. I can't believe it.

[Mike Ryan]

It's just 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces. It's the original light beer since 1975 and still hitting different five decades later. Miller Lite, great taste. 96 calories. Go to millerlight.com dan to find delivery options near you. Or you can pick up some Miller Light 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.

[Nick Wright]

NFL fans, what's your favorite touchdown for me, it's the next one. With DraftKings Sportsbook, an official sports betting partner of the NFL, every TD can put cash in your hands. First score anytime TDs, live bets. Every snap is an opportunity your team hitting paydirt pays out to you. Download the DraftKings sportsbook app and use Code Dan. That's Code dan to turn five bucks into $200 in bonus bets. If your bet wins in partnership with DraftKings, the Crown is yours.

[Dan Le Batard]

Gambling problem, call 1-800-Gambler in New York.

[Nick Wright]

Call 877-8-Hopeny or text hopeny 467-369 In Connecticut, help is available for problem gambling. Call 888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org Please play responsibly on behalf of Boothill Casino and Resort in Kansas. Fees may apply. 21 and over. Age and eligibility varies by jurisdiction. Boyd in Ontario, bet must win to receive reward minimum minus 500 odds. Required bonus bets expire seven days after issuance.

[Dan Le Batard]

For additional terms and responsible gaming resources.

[Nick Wright]

See DKNG co audio.

[Dan Le Batard]

Don LeBatard Surely every time you're watching this, you recognize that your wife is laughing, that she married. She married Larry David.

[Greg Cody]

I do, yeah. One of the great characters in the history of television. In my humble opinion and. And to my credit, my personality.

[Dan Le Batard]

In my humble opinion, followed by to my credit, to my credit, amazing.

[Greg Cody]

My personality, just amazing. Predate Curb youb Enthusiasm Stugats.

[Dan Le Batard]

Oh, wow.

[Greg Cody]

I'm not going to say Larry David.

[Dan Le Batard]

Okay.

[Greg Cody]

Patterned himself.

[Dan Le Batard]

You copy? All right, Put it on the poll, please. Juju did Greg Cody copyright being an asshole long before Larry David.

[Nick Wright]

This is the Dan Levatar show with these two gods. Foreign.

[Dan Le Batard]

Can you guys get me that video please? Because it's. Yeah, it's an interesting thing. Someone who cannot control themselves. Ken Dorsey was viewed as a player, as a stoic, and then all of a sudden he's your offensive coordinator and he's in charge of Josh Allen and it's too much.

[Nick Wright]

Yeah, that's what I think. I. Yeah, the pressure of the moment, I'm. I really. And this gets me in trouble with a lot of hell. The last time I came on here, I, you know, the Lamar conversation. And all of a sudden I've got. I've got folks like pff Moo in my mentions being like, actually, here's how football works, buddy. And I'm like, okay, thanks. I'm a big believer in pressure, revealing. You know a lot about high achievers or athletes or people in big time jobs and And I think that there are certain people that are great in the interview, great on the whiteboard, great in all these circumstances. And then as the pressure ratchets up, they can't keep their cool. Like again, this is going to be corny and Michael probably make fun of me, but like the, because it's a fictional movie. But the DiCaprio line in the Departed where he's like, my hand doesn't shake, like, that's a. I believe that, I believe in that, that there are certain people who I knew Mike was gonna make fun of.

[Mike Ryan]

No, I'm not making fun of you. That is a life motto.

[Nick Wright]

My hand. Okay.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah, I quote that all the time.

[Nick Wright]

Does not shake. Yeah, like I, I'm a big, I, I'm, I'm a big believer in that. So I, to me, for Gannon, that's the bigger thing is because here's the other piece of it. He did not know when the kid fumbled the ball that they were going to then have a cartoonish collapse. He, he knew that the game could have been over and now they have to keep fighting. But that wasn't, it was not as if he was. They were down four as the clock is ticking to zero and the kid fumbles and now it's, we're gonna win, we lose. There was a lot of fighting left to do and they, you know, that to me precipitated the full on collapse.

[Dan Le Batard]

I want to ask you before we go about Kansas City and Jacksonville, but one last note, just to be clear. Ken Dorsey was strong enough to be the guy whose hand doesn't shake. I got the game wrong just yesterday. I said his first game was at Washington and he wet himself. And he said he was wetting himself running on the field. It wasn't Washington, it was Virginia Tech. But he was playing high stakes football. And Ken Dorsey is at the center of Miami taking college football back from FSU because his hand didn't shake. Because late in that game he could throw the ball to Jeremy Shockey and they could overtake fsu. Where do the levels of pressure this rise that Ken Dorsey's hand doesn't shake enough to win a national championship when he's got Willis McGahey and Clinton Portis and those people behind him and Frank Gore.

[Nick Wright]

It's not, it's that the job changed. I think normally it's whether like I think he might maybe was a full on confident, you know, guy in, in the role he had there quarterback for the Miami Hurricanes football team and then not as confident in the role of offensive coordinator for NFL team with championship aspirations like there are. I think there are plenty of people who. I'm going to mix metaphors here a bit, but can Trent do billion dollar business negotiations and never blink and feel totally confident. But if they sat down in a poker game for five grand would be a nervous wreck because in one setting they're, they feel in their element comfortable. It's what they've, you know, they trained their whole life for. And in another setting they, they feel over their skis a bit. Now some guys I, I assume are just, you know, nervous Nellies. I don't know why I said under all circumstances.

[Dan Le Batard]

I just thought that that video was that game where Josh Allen threw his arm out on 4th and short. He had all one more pass to his running back in the flat and. And they ran out of gas in the heat in Miami because Josh Allen just threw his arm out 6 yards at a time.

[Mike Ryan]

I think the point that Nick is trying to make is there are plenty of good great coordinators and make for bad head coaches. Nick's a fan of a team that has one of those examples on the defensive side of the ball. Every offensive coordinator or defensive coordinator at one time was considered a great position coach the way that Ken Dorsey was. He was behind getting Cam Newton to MVP levels and helping get Josh Allen to that next tier. But the job was too big for him when he got closer to.

[Dan Le Batard]

We said this of Belichick once upon a time that he was only a coordinator. I don't know what you guys are talking about. Like, I understand how we can do the revisionist history on Ken Dorsey now because he flipped out in a moment and didn't improve. Josh Allen.

[Mike Ryan]

There are guys that are good at their jobs that are bad leaders. This happens in every, every possible workplace in America. There are guys that are great workers that maybe shouldn't be, that aren't necessarily management material.

[Greg Cody]

Yeah. I mean, when Ken Dorsey's at the University of Miami, his hand doesn't shake, partly because he has a couple of future NFL running backs behind him that was a loaded team, including on defense.

[Nick Wright]

It also that that to me. I don't mean to interrupt you, Greg. I apologize. Might be that. But it also might be that he felt that, no, I'm that dude. I'm a great quarterback. And maybe some people, maybe you feel more comfortable when it's. I'm the one in charge of all the decisions and. And you feel a little helpless when it's all I can do is call the play. You have to Execute it. I don't know the man and I don't know, you know, the full story of his evolution as a player and a coach. What I know is, like, my snap judgment of that scene you guys showed was this job's too big for him right now. Maybe it won't be down the road, but in this moment, the inability to keep your cool, to me is very instructive. Like, I value that. I really value folks who in crisis can be. Can be the steady hand. And I think in sports, that is super, super important. And that's the Gannon thing. That would, if I were a Cardinal fan, bother me almost as much, if not more long term than the fact that he hit the player.

[Dan Le Batard]

He's got two great shows. He's doing the podcast. What's Right with Nick Wright is not daily, but it is, what, three, four times a week with some emergencies based on the three.

[Nick Wright]

And then sometimes we add another one. Yeah.

[Dan Le Batard]

And you should support it because it's fun and he does it with his son. And a lot of people know that. First Things first is hugely popular now and one of the great things in sports television because he's at the center of it. Can you, before you get out of here, give me as many thoughts as you can on just Jacksonville and Kansas City, because I think Trevor Lawrence will absolutely blow that game in the playoffs with four turnovers and Jacksonville can't actually turn the ball over at the rate that they're doing. But you got the offense that you think is back, Correct.

[Nick Wright]

Okay, so a number of things, yes, of course, you know, Trevor Lawrence, my guy who I love. And it was kind of sad for me that this moment I couldn't really enjoy, even though I've supported him for five years, because it came to the expense of my team. And I understand the healthy skepticism of Trevor Lawrence, particularly come postseason. He has not at all earned the benefit of the doubt. Like the great Justin Herbert, who once upon a time played Trevor Lawrence in a playoff game and blew a 27 point lead.

[Jeremy]

Like, we.

[Nick Wright]

We get it, it. We understand certain guys have earned the benefit of the doubt. Trevor Lawrence isn't one of them. The guy who he beat in a playoff game, of course, is one of them. For reasons I don't know. Gonna be hard to blame the coach this year in. In Los Angeles, but I'm sure we'll find a way. Now to the Chiefs. This is where I'm fair sometimes. Like, this is so weird because I now find myself a little bit on the other side because a lot of these numbers that I railed against last year when people were like the Chiefs are the worst 50 team ever and they made me mad. Those now same numbers are like the Chiefs one of the best two and three teams ever. I still don't like them. Winning football games is a skill. And the Chiefs, while yes, the offense looks awesome again and will only look better with Rice, that didn't really make me feel better because I knew the offense would look awesome. I because Patrick Mahomes is the quarterback and he has a competent offensive line this year and the receiving core is getting better. Losing that game the way they did is so unchiefs. Like it's the first time in five years they've lost a game. They won the turnover battle. They, they had a 14 point lead and they blew it. They never do that. They, the, the penalties and the special teams errors cost them the game. I hated that loss. That was the most frustrating regular season loss this team has had in honestly it for me in at least three years. And so yes I feel good about the fact that the, the offense is going to be great, but I always believed the offense could be great. They need to trade for a running back again. I mentioned a Chan to you guys before. Maybe Breeze hall, maybe Kamara. I don't know if they will. And they have to figure out a way to get pressure without having to send these huge blitzes. With all that said, it is a very unique situation when for years it has been the AFC is the varsity and the NFC is the junior varsity. When it comes to quarterbacks. You got to go through this postseason is going to come around. Dan and Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen are gonna look around the AFC playoff field and see Bo Nix and 42 year old Aaron Rodgers and Drake May and Daniel Jones. And in the NFC it's gonna be playoff stud. Baker Mayfield champion Matthew Stafford, Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts, super bowl starter Jared Goff, Conference championship starter, Jaden Daniels, whomever else I'm forgetting or leaving out. And so the Chiefs need to win football games but the offense is going to be good. I think they're going to beat Detroit. They can't shoot themselves in the foot. But that, that's a bad loss and I'm not going to make excuses and act like it wasn't. That's a bad loss that they shouldn't have had.

[Dan Le Batard]

Think I'm going to beat Detroit. Got to go on that note. You think a lot of people think that right now. You think that a lot.

[Nick Wright]

Two and a Half point favorites, Dan. They're at home. They have the best player in the league. I. You Right now, Dano. Right now, Dano. How about this? Just Chiefs, Lions, straight up set. The amount I can do in a little arbitrage with your friends at DraftKings all. I'll bet it on the other side plus the two and a half. Look for a little juicy middle.

[Dan Le Batard]

All right, let's.

[Nick Wright]

What do you want to do?

[Dan Le Batard]

Let's do it right now. Tell me what the stakes are on this. Make the bet right now. Let's do it. Let's team up right here. We're going to tell me how I have to do that so that I can make the stakes something that's worth it to you. I believe that Detroit is going to beat Kansas City.

[Mike Ryan]

I have an idea. Host swap. That's right. If Dan loses, he's got a. He's got to join your show for full recording if you want that from your house. Yeah, well, maybe from your house. Either one of your two shows. What's right or what you got going on. Speak for yourself. I. I literally mean speak for yourself because I don't know.

[Nick Wright]

First things first.

[Dan Le Batard]

What you got going on? Speak for yourself. You just called nickname for yourself was.

[Nick Wright]

Literally a different show on the network.

[Jeremy]

Speak.

[Mike Ryan]

No, I told. I told you to speak for yourself because I forgot the name of the show.

[Nick Wright]

I thought we were just doing cash money. I say five grand, tell me what.

[Mike Ryan]

It should be or you fly down here and you host one of the. The Dan Levitar shows with Sue.

[Nick Wright]

Guys, they're all putting up five, so five grand.

[Mike Ryan]

Okay.

[Dan Le Batard]

All right.

[Mike Ryan]

Okay.

[Nick Wright]

Really?

[Dan Le Batard]

Yes. Five thousand.

[Nick Wright]

I get the Jeeps even. It just. It just went straight winner.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yes.

[Nick Wright]

Chiefs Lions.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yes. I'll give you the points.

[Nick Wright]

No.

[Mike Ryan]

Why would. You're just such a bad negotiator.

[Greg Cody]

What's going on?

[Nick Wright]

I don't get points. They're the favorites. We're just doing straight winners.

[Greg Cody]

Straight winners. 5K.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yes.

[Nick Wright]

Done.

[Dan Le Batard]

You want to throw in a white Corvette?

[Mike Ryan]

Good luck on cold pizza, folks. Whenever I tell you about game time, I am telling you about game time from my heart because I use game time all the time to find tickets. I am so excited to talk about the official ticketing partner of the Dan LeBatard Show. The GameTime app gives the advantage back to fans. It's a hack for unlocking amazing tickets and experiences in just a few taps. It's incredibly easy to use. And the game time guarantee means you can Trust you'll get 100% authentic tickets on time and at the best price. Plus, fees are always included, so what you see is what you pay. Zone Deals Favorites Panoramic Seat View is my favorite feature. The low price guarantee and the unparalleled gametime ticket coverage. Your purchase is covered with the most flexible customer service policy in the ticketing industry. Take the guesswork out of buying NFL tickets with GameTime. Download the GameTime app, create an account and use code DAN for $20 off your first purchase terms apply. Again, create an account and redeem code dan for $20 off. Swipe tap ticket. Go download the Gametime app today.