The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

Episode: Hour 1: Denzel Washington State University (feat. Taylor Twellman)
Date: August 19, 2025

Overview

Broadcasting from the Elser Hotel in Downtown Miami, Dan Le Batard, Stugotz, and the crew are joined by Taylor Twellman, Apple TV's lead MLS analyst and former USMNT star. This hour is an engaging blend of sports talk, lighthearted banter, and signature absurdity, with deep dives into US Men's Soccer Team drama, MLS’s evolution, Messi’s impact, and assorted pop-culture detours—including an extended riff on renaming Washington after Denzel Washington.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. US Men's National Team Drama and Identity Crisis

• Generational Sniping and Public Feuds:
  Dan asks Twellman (02:13) about current and former USMNT players feuding publicly, likening it to NBA generational wars. Twellman sees increased visibility (social media, podcasts) amplifying typical generational divides, but criticizes the current docuseries for exposing vulnerabilities, especially with family members speaking out:

  "Anytime when you're an adult and you bring your parents into a rock fight... that's never going to be in good sight." — Taylor Twellman (03:27)

• Loss of 'American Edge':
  Mike Ryan laments the perceived softening of the USMNT’s "dogged" identity (04:33). Twellman agrees, saying the team can no longer rely on outworking opponents—recent results show the team is adrift and sensitive to criticism:

  "We're questioning whether or not you have that [edge]... and you have the audacity to complain about criticism... You can miss me with that." — Taylor Twellman (06:37)

• Can Home-Turf World Cup Galvanize Them?
  Mike asks if hosting the World Cup can bring the team together, despite the drama (07:57). Twellman is cautiously optimistic, noting that struggles could unite the group, but more negative attention equals more pressure:

  "They can use that as motivation and absolutely have the World Cup of their dreams. But they've brought more attention to them for negative reasons than they needed to." — Taylor Twellman (09:55)

2. Messi's Impact on MLS and Inter Miami

• Messi’s Brilliance vs. League Quality:
  Dan asks how much of Messi’s 19 goals in 19 matches is about his greatness versus the competition (10:19). Twellman is emphatic:

  "It's Messi being awesome... He is the unicorn." — Taylor Twellman (10:32)
  Messi’s continued dominance, even at 38, is lauded as exceptional, though MLS's rising level is acknowledged.

• Will Messi Lead Miami to a Title and Stay for New Stadium?
  Twellman is confident Messi will open the new Inter Miami stadium (11:52) but notes that the unpredictable MLS playoffs hinge on health.
• New Big Names in MLS:
  • Sonny (Heung-Min Son) at LAFC: Brings global attention; Twellman predicts on-field success. (13:10)
  • Thomas Muller (Vancouver): Twellman is uncertain about his fit, noting contract flexibility and questions about his motivations.

3. MLS, Inter Miami, and League Structure

• All-Star Game Controversy:
  Suspension of Messi and Jordi Alba for missing the All-Star game sparks debate. Twellman sides with MLS, saying a simple phone call could have resolved the issue (15:30).

  "Just make a phone call, have a conversation... Don Garber 100% made the right decision." — Taylor Twellman (16:24)

• Inter Miami Challenging the System:
  Mike Ryan highlights Miami’s habit of "pushing the boundaries" (17:11). Twellman lauds the club’s ambition and sees their questions about schedule/salary cap as a healthy evolution:

  "I love people that challenge it... Inter Miami has raised some good concerns about that." — Taylor Twellman (19:07)

• Jealousy from Other Clubs:
  Greg Cody asks if other execs resent Miami's tactics. Twellman affirms but frames it positively:

  "You hear complaints and arguments... I just sit there with a smirk... I think we need more villains in MLS." — Taylor Twellman (19:57)

4. Signature Banter, Games, and Absurdity

• Time Travel Movies & Denzel Jokes:
  The episode opens with a playful time travel movie debate, landing on "Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure" after some ribbing (01:39–02:10).
• Renaming Geography After Denzel Washington:
  Freewheeling banter imagines renaming Washington State as "Denzel Washington State" and much more, escalating into a string of lifted, intentionally nonsensical proposals (33:00–34:19).
• "Real or Fake Podcast" Game (34:28):
  The crew plays a game guessing whether bizarrely-titled podcasts are real, riffing on names like "Caramel and Cheddar with Eddie Curry" and "Levels to This with Cheryl Swoops", with plenty of jokes about podcast oversaturation.
• Robot Olympics and More:
  Greg Cody’s run-down of the Chinese "robot Olympics" leads to the group mocking malfunctioning robots, showing off (bad) robot boxing moves, and discussing robot prosthetics (37:57–41:30).
• Weekend Observations (25:05):
  Stugotz’s signature segment covers everything from fantasy football, sportswashing, and NFL male cheerleaders, to Denzel Washington, Crocs, and performative outrage—a rapid-fire parade of punchlines:

  "Crocs striking an NFL licensing deal, meaning now my favorite NFL players can dress like they're wards at a mental institution. I'm going to hell for that last one." — Dan Le Batard (30:08) "Denzel Washington going on the Sports Illustrated podcast talking about how he only wants to hear about sports from people who did it and not from people with opinions behind microphones. Funny how he said none of this when he was on First Take. There's a little Stugatz in everyone." — Dan Le Batard (30:28)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On USMNT family drama:

  "Anytime when you're an adult and you bring your parents into a rock fight or a cat fight or however you want to describe this, that's never going to be in good sight." — Taylor Twellman (03:27)

• On Messi’s MLS success:

  "Messi's assist this past weekend, there's about two players in the history of the game that even saw that, let alone being able to pull that off. And Lionel Messi is one of them." — Taylor Twellman (11:23)

• On Inter Miami's "villain" status:

  "We need more villains in Major League Soccer... you hear complaints and arguments and I just sit there with a smirk on my face because I love it." — Taylor Twellman (19:57)

• On performative outrage:

  "When an athlete kneels for the national anthem, you don't care. You didn't even notice until you said something about it." — Dan Le Batard (29:45)

• Robot Olympics:

  "You watch these robots and you're going, these robots suck. Who made these robots?" — Billy Gil (40:51)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 02:13 — USMNT generational feuds and social media drama
• 04:33 — Discussion on lost USMNT "edge" and team identity
• 06:37 — Pressure and scrutiny in U.S. Soccer vs global soccer
• 07:57 — World Cup on home soil: chance for unity?
• 10:19 — Messi’s goal-scoring, MLS level, and unicorn status
• 13:10 — New star signings: Sonny (Son Heung-min) and Thomas Müller
• 15:30 — Messi/Alba All-Star Game suspensions; league vs. club obligations
• 17:51 — Inter Miami’s disruptive influence and pushing league boundaries
• 19:57 — Other MLS teams' “jealousy” of Inter Miami
• 25:05 — Stugotz’s Weekend Observations: sports culture rants and jokes
• 33:00 — “Denzel Washington State” silly name segment
• 34:28 — "Real or Fake Podcast" game
• 37:57 — Chinese Robot Olympics segment

Tone and Style

The banter is casual, irreverent, and sharp, with Twellman delivering frank soccer takes and the crew interjecting humor and personal quirks. Trademark segments like “Weekend Observations” maintain the show’s blend of zany commentary and genuine insight.

Summary Takeaway

This episode offers a quintessential mix of Le Batard Show staples: authoritative sports analysis, comedic digressions, and inventive group play. Taylor Twellman shines as both a straight-shooter on soccer issues and a willing participant in the show’s offbeat spirit. Listeners get a full-throttle dose of U.S. soccer dish, MLS insider talk, and creative, sometimes absurd sports-adjacent fun.