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Dan Le Batard
You're listening to DraftKings Network.
Stugotz
Ryan Reynolds here for, I guess my 100th mint commercial. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. I mean, honestly, when I started this, I thought I'd only have to do like four of these. I mean, it's unlimited to Premium Wireless for $15 a month. How are there still people paying two or three times that much? I'm sorry, I shouldn't be victim blaming. Here, give it a try at Mintmobile. Do save whenever you're ready.
Dan Le Batard
$45 upfront payment equivalent to $15 per month.
Mike Ryan
New customers on first three month plan only. Taxes and fees, extra Speed slower above 40 gigabytes.
Dan Le Batard
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Greg Cody
This is the Dan Levator show with the Stugats podcast.
Stugotz
This episode of the Dan Levitard show with Stugotts is presented by Smirnoff. We do game days. Please drink responsibly. The Smirnoff Co. New York, N.Y. stugott.
Mike Ryan
I feel uncomfortable whenever one of our heroes and mentors, Dan Patrick, shows up with his, you know, team, his army of professionals to request something of us and our people start pinballing against each other to make everything right for the other Dan, the serious Dan. Right? And I don't like what happens around here in terms of a whole lot of frenetic planning for a segment. And I don't know how to do that segment with Dan Patrick because I'd kind of like Jeremy, Jessica and Mike to just spill all over his show instead of us just gas bagging about college sports. But I'm also afraid that they'll get so serious that they'll do a very serious sports segment for Dan Patrick today. And I don't really want to do that either. As we look, we're teaming up and partnering with Dan Patrick and Pete on a number of things. Mike, I don't want to announce anything.
Chris Cody
Ben, don't.
Mike Ryan
Beforehand. No, thank you.
Dan Le Batard
I'd like to know.
Billy Gill
There you go.
Chris Cody
That's the right judgment. Don't announce.
Dan Le Batard
There you go.
Chris Cody
In fact, don't even allude to it.
Dan Le Batard
Thank you.
Mike Ryan
We're making. We're making a lot of things that we want to do with Dan Patrick and his team because we're big admirers. But I don't want to take sports talk so seriously that we have to do sports talk the way that pillar of professionalism, Dan Patrick does it. But our messiness soils his integrity and his show's name when we appear. We can't physically keep the lights on around here because he's doing it differently than we are.
Chris Cody
Dan, he asked for you. In terms of media personalities that are so closely associated with the University of Miami, you're probably number two behind me.
Mike Ryan
I want to throw the show to you guys characters. We'll figure out how to do it. I don't know when we're gonna do it. During the break, though, Stu Gotz was making a lot of Ward Manuel jokes, a lot of jokes about the name Ward Manuel. A big surprise to me. His first name and his last name, both first names and last names. Like Anderson Cooper. We were obsessed with this a couple of weeks ago. I didn't even notice it when it made its way past us here. You guys want these power brokers in college sports to continue being power brokers in college sports. These wards and these like literal wards.
Dan Le Batard
What Greg and I want, we want to discuss the golden about as well. But what we want out of the committee is for whoever the head of the committee is every year to be named Ward Manuel. Whether their name is Ward Manuel or not. That's really the job title. You're the Ward Manual of College Football of the committee. Because it's a perfect name. We're not going to do better than that.
Mike Ryan
It's literally means caretaker. Right. Award some somebody. The word means you're a caretaker for college sports. He also looks like that physically like a bodyguard for college sports. Who is aged. You saying he's like the Dread Pirate Roberts?
Matthew Berry
Like, you assume the title when you get the job.
Dan Le Batard
There's multiple of them, right? Yes.
Mike Ryan
You get the Ward manual. That's the job. The most powerful man in sport.
Dan Le Batard
I want Reese Davis to introduce, if it's a guy named Tom Davis, to introduce him as the Ward Manual of the College Football committee.
Billy Gill
Exactly. And the surname works as well. Because a manual is your guide for how to do things. Right. You're opening up the manual.
Dan Le Batard
Look at him.
Mike Ryan
Wow, look at that. Words coming together.
Billy Gill
Yes.
Mike Ryan
Ward manual, but it's actually Ward Manuel.
Chris Cody
It's also the old, rare silent E at the end of Ward I don't like that.
Billy Gill
No, I don't either.
Chris Cody
I don't like this guy.
Mike Ryan
Don't trust it.
Billy Gill
Warty.
Mike Ryan
Don't trust it. It should be warty. It becomes wordy. But Stugott is too wordy.
Billy Gill
Yeah, A little too wordy.
Dan Le Batard
Yeah.
Billy Gill
On that name.
Dan Le Batard
See what he did there?
Billy Gill
Yeah.
Mike Ryan
You know what? That's perfect. That joke is perfect.
Billy Gill
Thank you.
Mike Ryan
Stugotts, the golden at bat stolen from you by the commissioner of baseball.
Dan Le Batard
Outrage.
Mike Ryan
How do we. Well, we've got to tell Dan Patrick about that. Right? Like we've got. We've got to tell Dan. Somebody needs to make this a national controversy because we just proved it to you. Like baseball has stolen Stugotts his idea. After laughing his idea out of the room along with me, by the way.
Dan Le Batard
Yeah. Thanks for your support.
Billy Gill
Yeah, really.
Dan Le Batard
But we are glossing over. This is a really interesting topic and a really interesting rule change. And we're glossing over it. The first question I have is if you are the guy that gets the gold in a bat, do you go up to home plate with a gold bat? Because I think you should. If we're going to do it, let's do it. The second thing is, Dan, you have scenarios here where you can start questioning managers decisions. They suddenly become more important. Like why didn't he go to the golden event in that spot? Why do you give it to that guy and not that guy? You could have a scenario in a best of seven series where a guy like back in our day with the Royals buddy Bianca Lana was having a hell of a series. Do you use the golden at bat on a guy who's having a hot series or your actual best hitter? In the case of the Royals, back then it would have been George Brett. What a fascinating rule that I came up with for Major League baseball.
Stugotz
If you're in the seventh inning and it's a big spot, do I use it now? Do I save it for the 9th?
Dan Le Batard
Right.
Mike Ryan
Yes.
Stugotz
So many decisions.
Dan Le Batard
I mean, managers are subtly important.
Stugotz
Again, can I just say, there's no shot that this actually happens, right?
Dan Le Batard
Oh, I think it's happening.
Stugotz
I think he's doing this looking for a little off season. He wants to get the sport in the news.
Dan Le Batard
I got to tell you, the feedback from what I listened to and what I listened to was the morning show on ESPN Radio. And thank. Thank you to them for giving me the credit that I deserve. They actually did. They said this is an idea that was floated about by Stu Gotz. Okay, thank you. But the Reception. The reception to this rule has been positive.
Mike Ryan
It's great.
Dan Le Batard
It's great.
Mike Ryan
Now all of a sudden, baseball embraces change. It's always been terrible at that. They wanted to put Spider man logo on the bases for millions and millions of dollars to sell a movie. And baseball said, no, no, too precious for that.
Dan Le Batard
Do you think the guy should have a golden battle?
Mike Ryan
Not only that, Stugotts. Not only do I not Stugotts. O. I would say you can't do what you're doing here.
Matthew Berry
More.
Mike Ryan
Enough. Not just smoke golden balls too. Throughout the at bat like I. Absolutely. And those who's on board now, this is the final. No.
Billy Gill
If you're.
Mike Ryan
No, look. If you're going to look, baseball. If you're going to embrace change. Okay. If you're. If you're going to make. Stugots a visionary pioneer on accepting all change. I would go ball pits in the outfield. I would go, yes. Landmines in the outfield as well. If you want to make. If you want to really be violent.
Matthew Berry
Exactly.
Mike Ryan
If you want to make. Make it more. If you really want to pass football, you're going to have to do it that way. Because look, this is in our DNA. Conquering of land and stuff. This is in our DNA. It's why we love football so much. Let's put landmines in the outfield, make it more violent. Now you got more football. Baseball doesn't have enough concussions. I believe we can agree on that.
Billy Gill
Yeah, we do. Yeah, they need more.
Mike Ryan
You two have to help me make this a national controversy with Dan Patrick because Stu Gotch right now is ruling sports. Like, he's offering rule changes. And baseball's like, yep, okay, we'll take your idea. And it's a good idea. And it's a good idea for all the reasons you mentioned. It creates more conversation around. We can question the manager.
Dan Le Batard
Yes.
Mike Ryan
You want to put as many of those in the game as possible.
Dan Le Batard
Wow.
Billy Gill
I mean, the potential for controversy here. Imagine you're in a Dodgers World Series game. It's the eighth inning. Ohtani's coming up, but he's having a bad series and he's over four today with three strikeouts. You got Gavin Lux, the second baseman. He is hitting.438 in this series. He's four for four today. You gotta sit Ohtani.
Stugotz
And this is why they're not gonna do this or let anyone criticize. That is a hilarious.
Dan Le Batard
Can you imagine if that played out, though?
Stugotz
That is hilarious. And it begs the question. You kind of brought up before. Do you go with the hot, like the random guy? That's three for three. There's a threshold. Ohtani's not the threshold.
Mike Ryan
That's correct. But the owners are in favor of this. I thought. Or Manfred was quoted as saying this. This has a lot of support from owners. Why are you guys dismissing the possibility that baseball would do this?
Stugotz
I'm dismissing it because of what he said in that original clip. We don't make rule changes that are going to just affect the numbers in the history of the game. Now all the best players are going to get like a hundred extra at bats.
Dan Le Batard
Yeah, but the numbers don't mean anything anyway. He knows that. I'm telling you what. What happened during that interview is he heard a good idea, he stashed it away, created some distance from me, and then, you know, I'm certain several people in Major league baseball circles were calling him, saying, rob, that's actually a good idea.
Matthew Berry
Right.
Dan Le Batard
He said, hey, we need to create distance from Stugott. I'll unleash it in about seven years. And here we are today with my role, the magic of Batman.
Mike Ryan
But what can we do other than just make noise about it? We don't have any.
Dan Le Batard
Not all we can do.
Mike Ryan
Well, why don't we get Drake's attorneys and embarrass ourselves by just filing lawsuits? How do we make a big public mess of this? Do we sue? Do we call our attorney and sue Major League Baseball for stealing. For the. For the. The intellectual property of Stugotts, which is like that.
Dan Le Batard
Like, not a bad idea.
Mike Ryan
Owning intellectual property. Something called intellectual property. I mean, he wrote a book. Please help me.
Stugotz
I wrote a book.
Mike Ryan
Please help me make this a national controversy on Dan Patrick and please help me establish who your characters are going to be. I'm not going to introduce you as Mike Ryan, Jessica and Jeremy. Give me characters that I'm introducing.
Matthew Berry
Fool them.
Stugotz
I was going to say, this is kind of to have Dan connected like this.
Mike Ryan
They want you.
Chris Cody
They want you. They know when they ask for you. We assorted cast of characters.
Dan Le Batard
The test given to Fritzie was to get Levitar.
Mike Ryan
Can you mic everybody? Can we get.
Stugotz
We have.
Chris Cody
We're in control of what goes through our board, and we've always done that.
Stugotz
Now there is some pushback here. We. I have the original sound of our show. The first time we ever talked about the magic at bat. Now, yesterday, we were giving credit to Stu Gotz and Billy in this clip. You know, there's other people that seem to have come up with this idea first, let's listen.
Dan Le Batard
You're wrong. What I was saying, what Mike and Mike Ryan and I were discussing is I think one of the problems with baseball, Dan, and no one's really talking about it, is everyone sitting here trying to fix something that I think is probably. Probably unfixable, but everyone's trying to fix it. The real problem with baseball is when you go to a basketball game, you go to a Cavs game, you're going to see LeBron James for 90% of the game, and he's going to give you 27, 8 and 8, and you're probably going to see a dunk or a pass that you've never seen before, and you'll leave happy. When you go to a baseball game, an Anaheim angel game, you're going to see Mike Trout. Every third inning, he has a better chance of going over four than he does going 4 for 4 with a home run and four RBIs. And you're going to see Howie Kendrick just as much as you're going to see Mike Trout. I go to a Cavs game, I'm not going to see John Lucas III. I'm only going to see LeBron James. John Lucas III is a backup guard. I know you're having Mike check it right now on the Cleveland Cavaliers. I'm not going to see him. I'm going to see LeBron. So what I'm trying to figure out, Mike and I are trying to figure out is I want to go in an angel game, and I want to see Mike trying to re.
Mike Ryan
Inning, if possible. What are the Magic at bats? How are you doing the Magic at bat?
Dan Le Batard
Like, each manager has, like, four or five Magic at bats in his back pocket. All right, so let's say it's like, second. Let's. Mike Trout gets out in the first inning, but in the second inning, it's second and third, and there's one out. He has the option in that spot of putting Mike Trout back in the game. You see Mike Trout two innings in a row. Genius.
Chris Cody
That's his idea. And his idea allows for a certain amount of theatrics. Like, you could, like, throw like a. Like something. Like a smoke bomb or something. Magic at bad time. Like you throw out the smoke bomb on the field. Yeah, yeah.
Mike Ryan
Okay. A smoke bomb.
Dan Le Batard
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Chris Cody
Just like a. Like a little firework, like a little cherry bomb.
Dan Le Batard
Magic.
Mike Ryan
Yeah. All right, time for a Magic. Oh, Mike. So she has thrown the smoke bomb. Time for a Magic.
Chris Cody
It's a lot cooler, aesthetically, than like, a Red challenge flag.
Dan Le Batard
And they're trying to appeal to a younger audience. Imagine how much a younger audience would love the smoke bomb. And then there's Mike Trout coming out, emerging from the smoke bomb.
Mike Ryan
That's proof. What's the date stamp on that?
Stugotz
2014.
Billy Gill
Oh, wow.
Stugotz
August 2014.
Dan Le Batard
Amazing. I mean, I got to sue, right?
Mike Ryan
I mean, well, you have to sue. One of the other problems we have, though, is now David Sampson is claiming it was his idea that you stole it from him. David Samson.
Dan Le Batard
I've never stolen a single thing from David. He has nothing that I would want. I mean, get out of here, Samson, please. I stole it from him. Eyes and stole it from me. I mean, that's the only thief in this game is Eisen and Rob Manfred. I didn't steal anything from David Sampson. Not a single thing have I ever stolen from David Samson. David Sampson calling me a thief? That is rich.
Mike Ryan
I mean, God, you both.
Dan Le Batard
I would like that sofa. That's a baseball glove, though. I would love that thing. I mean, it's awesome. I don't know where he got that.
Jessica
You.
Dan Le Batard
You steal it from.
Mike Ryan
Some great sentences there, you thieves, the two of you. Calling anyone else rich when you've gotten. Both of you have gotten so rich off your thievery.
Dan Le Batard
Right? But I have proof. Samson has no proof.
Billy Gill
No proof.
Mike Ryan
I don't know what he's claiming. I just beyond saying that that's. That. That he is mad at you taking credit for something he thinks.
Dan Le Batard
Was he doing a show in 2014? Just out of curiosity, was he? Because I was. Was he?
Mike Ryan
Why?
Chris Cody
He was still stealing money from taxpayers.
Mike Ryan
Right.
Dan Le Batard
Calling me a thief. Ha.
Mike Ryan
Rich.
Chris Cody
He's gonna take so much exception to that.
Jessica
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Matthew Berry
Don LeBatard Baker Mayfield tearing up Tampa.
Billy Gill
Bay 38 for 45 Stugats Shredom this.
Greg Cody
Is the Dan Levatar show with the Stugats.
Mike Ryan
I need some help from an expert here, Stugatz. Because there is something happening in America's most popular sports that I believe is being underreported is not getting nearly enough attention. And it's that the defensive backs with the highest grades in the sport are all white. So I brought in a white man, Matthew Berry, to come on here and on behalf of Peacock, join us and explain to us what the hell is going on, that this can happen quietly in the NFL, where the defensive back position has been overtaken by Riley Moss and Harrison Smith and that fast dolphin that's faster than Tyreek Hill, Ethan Bonner and who the hell. How is this happening? Weren't we talking last year about I was. Cooper DeJean, we were talking about that guy was going to dominate. Those are the four highest grades going into Sunday. Matthew, good to see you. What the hell's happening?
Matthew Berry
You know what? It's been a weird year, Stu. Dan, it's been an unbelievably weird year, top to bottom. So just add this one to the list for sure.
Mike Ryan
What is weirdest? Tell me why you're seeing weird everywhere you look.
Matthew Berry
I just say, you know what I mean? Listen, at the end of the day, we're talking about a sport that is played with a leather ball in a oblong shape. Weird stuff is going to happen and you've got 22 men trying to fight over that ball in some way, shame, form or fashion. And it's a game that's not officiated consistently. And so something that's legal in one game isn't legal in the next. And it's all over the place. And so I think just all those things combined, plus the schedule is weird, right? You've got Friday games and Monday games and Thursday games and Saturday day games and it just, it's all over the place. So. But it's fun. It's why we love the sport and it's why we follow it, and it keeps you entertained.
Mike Ryan
It is so good what he's saying, because you do realize, right, given that There are only 11 minutes of action and most of it is going for it from first to second to third and goal, like three inches at a time. It's as random as us dropping a football from a helicopter and just having 11 guys on each side just run at each other and try and fight over it.
Matthew Berry
Hey, I mean, I will tell you, I have had in my career, and I know you guys have sources as well. I have literally had coaches that are sources from mine that will text me and saying, this guy is going to have a huge game. This guy is. We have found something in the defense, and we think this guy is somebody that we're going to. We're going to really target, and he's going to have a great game. And I don't want to give up my source. So I go on TV and I'm like, you got to start this guy. This guy's going to have a huge game, and blah, blah, blah for whatever stats that I have. But I know secretly the coach has told me, oh, yeah, we're targeting this guy. And then, you know, first play, he drops one, next time, you know, and then he has some dumb penalty, and next thing, you look up at the end of the game, he's 2 for 16 on three targets. I've had NFL coaches tell me, like, we planned on this. This is what we practiced all week. And then it doesn't go anywhere near what they expect.
Mike Ryan
This seems like insider trading. I don't know this guy. How are you supposed to win against this guy in his damn leagues?
Chris Cody
Like, working the sources.
Mike Ryan
Daniel, if he's going out, you want.
Chris Cody
To ask him who his sources are.
Dan Le Batard
I do. Who are they?
Mike Ryan
Matt, how does this work with you? Are you somebody who's actually soliciting fantasy advice? Like, are you. Is it another. Is it. Are they. You're not going to answer Stugatz's question of who it is, but are they people who are. Who, like, fantasy?
Matthew Berry
They are. They are not. I mean, it depends on, you know, I mean, I have sources all over, right? And so listen, I'm not claiming that I'm like a Mike Florio or a chef or anyone like this, where I have the kind of sources that they do, but I have enough. And I don't ask a specific fantasy question. I ask a football question. But they know who I am. And they know what I do and they understand why I'm asking. And so, you know, I might say something like, you know, pick a player. You guys are Miami. I might say something like, again, I'm not claiming I have Dolphins, horses, but just like, I might say something, hey, love what you guys are doing with Achan. Do you think he continues to get the majority of the workload, or are you going to see some Mostert and Jalen Wright mixed in? You know, I mean, like, I'll ask it. I'll ask sort of a football question that I will then interpret for fantasy, that kind of stuff.
Dan Le Batard
It's a leading question. It is.
Mike Ryan
The whole thing's a bogus sham. He's out here cheating, and it's insider trading. And the man got all access to all the good things you want in this world.
Dan Le Batard
I wish I had it.
Matthew Berry
I'll tell you a story. I remember when I first got to espn, I joined this league that was what's called the famed War Room League, which is all the NFL experts and reporters and insiders, everything like that. I remember one time, and Trent Dilfer. This is when Trent was at the, at the team and at espn and Trent was in the league. And I remember texting. Trent and I were trying to do a running back for wide receiver trade, and I was trying to get a running back for him for a wide receiver. And he's just like, yeah, that sounds good. That sounds fair. Let's, let's. Let's finalize it this afternoon. I'm like, okay, got it. And so that afternoon I texted him, said, hey, Trent, are we good for this trade? I'll send it through. And he goes, no, no deals off. And I go, why is the deal off? And he goes, well, I talked to his quarterback. He hates him. You know, he hates the wide receiver. And so I'm just like, oh, great, there you go. And it just sort of let me know that I was kind of in a different world there as well. And I'll tell you guys off air who the. Who the quarterback and wide receiver were. But, yeah, and that that wide receiver didn't last on that team very long. So it is, you know, things like that happen.
Mike Ryan
This should be illegal. All of this should be illegal. I don't think Matthew Barry should be allowed to do any of this.
Matthew Berry
But what I'm trying. This is what I'm trying to tell you, Dan, is that, like, you. You'd think. You'd think it would be illegal and that I have the answers to the test. But it doesn't often happen. It doesn't always happen that way. You know, it sometimes goes awry. I'll quickly tell you my favorite fantasy football story of all time. I've told this before, I've written about it, and it's not even my story, but this will go to exactly what we're talking about. So my friend Matt Hasselbeck, who I worked with for many years at ESPN as well, Matt played fantasy when he was with the Seattle seahawks and in 2009. Hang on though. This is, but it's, this is worth it for the story. All right, look. And so Hasselbeck in 2009 drafts himself and his former Green Bay Packer teammate Brett Favre as his quarterbacks that year. That was the first year Favre was in Minnesota. And if you remember, Favre was awesome his first year in Minnesota. NFL and fantasy wise Week 5 of that 2009 season, Hasselbeck has a decision. Favre is playing the Rams, who are one of the worst teams the NFL that year, and he's playing the Jaguars. Hasselbeck's playing the Jaguars, who have won two straight. Hasselbeck has missed the previous two games with a back injury. And so he decides to bench himself in fantasy and start Brett Favre in that, that season, that, that particular game. Favre throws just one touchdown pass against the Vikings. He throws an interception. Adrian Peterson has a huge game. Favre finishes the 18th best quarterback in fantasy that week. Meanwhile, Matt Hasselbeck throws four touchdown passes like 250 yards, finishes the week as the number one quarterback in Fantasies. The Seahawks waxed the Jaguars sitting on his own bench. And Hasselbeck. Think about that. When you think about that for a second. Hasselbeck had watched all the film. He knew the game plan. He was touching the ball on every offensive play he could audible at any moment. Matt Hasselbeck had as much control over a fantasy football game as any fantasy manager in the history of the game and still got it wrong. Hey, Matt told me that story and I said I love that story. He's given me the permission to tell it. And so I've written about and I've told that one before, but like, I mean, that's, that's the ultimate story. Like again, you think you know what's going to happen and then it just doesn't.
Stugotz
So this week we had a weird play in just the NFL and in fantasy, the hook and ladder play where Josh Allen both gets a passing touchdown and a receiving touchdown on the same play, which I'm sure had fantasy Implications.
Dan Le Batard
For a lot of people.
Stugotz
Now, coming towards the end of the season, can you think of a play just from personal experience or stories that you're like, how did. How did they do that in this play? How do they get so many points? Worst case scenario, no one could have seen this coming.
Matthew Berry
I don't know that. Any one specific play. I mean, there's. There's definitely been like, you know, nutty plays over the years. I don't know if there's any one specific play that I can think of that is like, you know, how'd they get the most points? I mean, that was sort of crazy, right? Is that Josh Allen becomes, I think, like only the third player in history.
Mike Ryan
Hold on a second, hold on a second. Matthew, just give me a second. I'm gonna have to kick him out of the show.
Stugotz
Wait, what? Minor penalty.
Dan Le Batard
Two minutes.
Matthew Berry
Asshole.
Jessica
What?
Dan Le Batard
I mean, not for being an asshole.
Matthew Berry
Not you, Matthew.
Chris Cody
The way that he framed it, too, was like, you had to cite a specific example when there's been plenty of weird plays that affected. Like the Brian Westbrook play where he. He takes a knee before crossing the goal line. That had huge fantasy implications.
Dan Le Batard
Yes, but give Matthew credit because he was trying to play along. I mean, he was. You knew it was a ridiculous question, right?
Mike Ryan
Not just ridiculous, though. He didn't have a good answer. And I guess he's just asking you sort of for a legendary bad beat story after you just gave one that is the most legendary one. So it becomes a bit hard to come up with whatever second place is to that particular story.
Matthew Berry
I will say, though, you know, you mentioned that Brian Westbrook play. I wrote about this one in my book, which is there's a big league of casino owners where the buy in this was, whatever this is like 20 years ago, but the buy in that league, at least for that year, the Brian Westbrook year, was $100,000 and whatever, 12 team league. And so I met one of the guys in that league and he was telling me about that and that play, if you guys remember, it was in the fantasy playoffs and Brian Westbrook is. It's going against the Cowboys and he's on his way down and he's got a touchdown right there. And at the very last second, he takes a knee to preserve the win for the Eagles, but doesn't score the touchdown. And so I talked to him and this guy tells me, he's like, what was your reaction? And he was like, down 5, and he had Westbrook and it was his last player. So if Westbrook Scores the touchdown, he wins his semifinal matchup. And he just turns to me, goes, yeah, that knee cost me $600,000.
Mike Ryan
Ouch. Ouch.
Matthew Berry
I later met Ryan Westbrook and I told him that story and he just laughed. He says, that guy should have called me. He goes, we could have figured if I know it was going to cost that much, we could have figured something out. I asked him, I said, brian, how often does that play come up in your life? And he goes, every single day. Every single day somebody mentions that play.
Mike Ryan
All of that sounds illegal. Pete Rose was denied the hall of Fame for less than all these crimes. Matthew Perry is out here just admitting to freely and openly.
Matthew Berry
Dan, do I need a lawyer?
Mike Ryan
Yeah, you've boxed this up and down. You mentioned Westbrook. It made me think of Westbrook, Akin and the idea that a Titans receiver has been. He's only got 20 catches this year, but eight are touchdowns. Can you give me a name in the history of fantasy that you most associate with sort of that kind of ridiculousness I'm talking about here?
Matthew Berry
Yeah, I mean like, I mean, I mean honestly it sort of happened. Marquez Valdez scantly going through the same thing right now. He's actually getting less target share than Nick Westbrook. Akin nwi but yeah, just he's been an unbelievable run.
Dan Le Batard
Matthew, before we let you go, who's the guy that disappointed you the most this year on your fantasy team? Every year I walk around I'm muttering some guy's name under my breath for the second consecutive year for me it's Christian Watson. How about you?
Matthew Berry
Look, Tank Dell's been a bummer for me. I love Tank Dell. Last year he was one of the guys that came through for me. I liked him Again this year it hasn't worked out. He's had two games this year with 15 or more fantasy points. He's wide receiver 54 on a points per game basis. Single digit fantasy points in almost 60% of his games. Like just for whatever reason, like we thought the Texans offense would regress. We didn't think it would regress this much and just Tank Dell just hasn't been a thing this year the way he was last year when the injury to Diggs happened you thought oh well maybe finally now it'll be Tank Dell time. And it just, it just hasn't worked out that way. So still love Tank Dell as a player but fantasy wise it's been a massive disappointment.
Dan Le Batard
All right, check out the Fantasy Football Hour with Matthew Berry. It is on Peacock. Matthew, we appreciate the time as Always. Yes, sir.
Matthew Berry
Of course. I have one last question for you, Stu. Got. And it's really a question for Dan. I have a question for Dan.
Dan Le Batard
All right, he's in the penalty box.
Matthew Berry
Is. When does Dan get out of the penalty box? Can we bring him out of the.
Dan Le Batard
Yeah, we can. We can get him out early. Yes.
Matthew Berry
Because. Yeah, I have an important question for him. Specific.
Dan Le Batard
Okay, so hold on a second, because Chris just walked into the penalty box. Look at that. Look how quick it was. Dan is back now. All right, so it wasn't two minutes. Dan still owes 35 seconds. I have an important question for you. Before you ask your important question of Dan, can you write a chapter in my next book? I know you're a New York Times bestselling author. What do you think?
Matthew Berry
Sure, I'd be happy to. To be honest with you, I'm going to phone that one in. Yeah, but. Because I assume that'll be the how. The rest of the book is gone as well. But yeah, sure. Yeah. Put me down for a chapter. I'm in.
Dan Le Batard
All right, Join the club. The phone club. And go ahead, ask your question of Dan.
Matthew Berry
All right, Dan, here's my question. Earlier in the year, though, and my last appearance on the Dan Levittard show with Two Gods, I pitched the idea of a fantasy football league that I would play with Stu Gotz and the rest of the guys on the show. And so on air, Stu Gotz said, I love the idea. I'm in. And so Stu Gotts and I were texting back and forth. Took him, like, a couple days to get back to me. And eventually he says, like, I'm sorry, I'm gonna be bad at setting this up. I'm gonna. Can I. Can I connect you with Chris Cody, and he'll set it up? And I said, you bet. So then Stu Gotz puts me on a text chain with Chris and the three of us, and I'm like, hey, Chris, let me know a good time to talk. We'll figure this out. I get blown off. Then I text again, completely ghosted. So I'm just curious. Is it me or they are Chris and Stugotts is terrible on text generally.
Mike Ryan
Well, I would say there are a couple of things here. Yes. Two of those people are two of the least reliable finishers we have around here in a company that prides itself on not finishing much of anything. But also, we have partnership conflicts that I believe make that impossible. And instead of doing that in your face and telling you directly, our guys just hid under their desks Well, I.
Dan Le Batard
Passed it along to Chris.
Matthew Berry
I mean, yeah, so, yeah, you punted. But what's weird, he hid. Yeah.
Mike Ryan
We should do it, though. We should do it in the shadows since you're doing so many illegal things during this segment anyway, we should do it. We should both risk getting in trouble with our sugar daddies because we've gone into cahoots on playing dirty fantasy in the corner.
Dan Le Batard
Well, the reason I went to Chris is Matthew wanted to do the draft on air, and Dan would love that.
Mike Ryan
Okay, so again, all of this could have been communicated to you so that you wouldn't just have to ask me these questions in a way that embarrass all of us publicly. Because I'm looking at you.
Matthew Berry
This is mostly about embarrassing Chris and Stu got, not you.
Dan Le Batard
I can't be embarrassed.
Mike Ryan
You know what? I applaud all such efforts. Thank you. Well done as always, Matthew Berry. We appreciate your time. You are in all of our fantasies.
Matthew Berry
I love you guys. Talk soon.
Dan Le Batard
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Greg Cody
Don LeBatard I heard that as a.
Billy Gill
Woman faking pain, I didn't think that sounded real. I really didn't.
Mike Ryan
You know, it was not fake. It was in no way fake. You can spot a woman faking it. Stuts.
Billy Gill
Yes, I can.
Dan Le Batard
Jess Expert.
Billy Gill
I've been married 40 years.
Greg Cody
This is the Don Levatar show with the Stugats. Dan Levitard, popular host of the Dan Levitard show on Peacock with his good buddy Stu Gods and the voice of Miami sports, Dan Lebatard joins us on the program. How are you, Dan?
Mike Ryan
Oh, it is lovely to see you as always. I have said through tears a number of different times here how much I love and admire you, but keeping me waiting so that seaton can talk. Who the hell lets their producers talk so much that you would keep me waiting after they call me during our show to say, hey, Dan needs you immediately. And I'm like, yeah, but I'm doing my show. And you know, I admire him and we're partners, but I'm doing my show. And then they say this, this was the killer. He's got five minutes for you. Five minutes. And I'm like, does he know how many people I have who want to talk about the thing that he wants to ask me about right here? Because all of my producers want to yell about what just happened yesterday with Alabama getting into this and Miami being left out. And I got Stugott's next to me and all he's saying is make sure to tell him stugottsbook.com thank you. Stugottsbook.com he's very happy that you're having him on to promote his book that is a national bestseller right now that he didn't write or read himself.
Dan Le Batard
Well, he's actually having you on to promote it. He's not having me on. He didn't ask me to come on. He asked you to come on. And you're doing a great job so far. Keep promoting it, Dano. I mean, I like it.
Greg Cody
We're. We're down to two and a half minutes now.
Dan Le Batard
Still got book dot com.
Greg Cody
Yeah. How's Miami football? How's morale down there, South Beach?
Mike Ryan
You want to see Miami? Didn't you want to see Cam Ward and the best offense in the country in a shootout? Or did you just want a grandfather in Alabama on this made for.
Greg Cody
No, no, no. I got to see Miami against Syracuse, so I already got to see them.
Mike Ryan
Okay, but how about Alabama against Oklahoma? Six and six. Did you see that one? Oklahoma that lost by 20 to LSU. That lost just recently to Oklahoma. Oklahoma, 24 to three.
Greg Cody
Dan, I'm with you. I'm with you. But if Miami beats Syracuse, Miami beats Georgia Tech, then we don't have this discussion. Then we don't have to bring in Alabama. Dan, that is just beat Syracuse. Beat Syracuse.
Mike Ryan
That is right. I can't argue that.
Greg Cody
I would love to see Miami against Notre Dame and South Bend. Dan.
Mike Ryan
Dan Patrick, you are astute as always. If Miami were undefeated, they would be in. That is correct.
Greg Cody
Or no, I'm saying beat Georgia Tech.
Mike Ryan
That's right. Or beat Syracuse. Agreed. Two fewer losses and they're in. That is absolutely correct.
Greg Cody
You can put your snark to the side, just like Miami put him to the side out of the playoffs, and then. I'm just trying to have a rational discussion. That's it. That's all I'm trying to do.
Mike Ryan
Greg Cody wants to get in here, and he wants to get in here with sports conversation, and I want to get him in here reading 50 Shades of Greg. So which would.
Dan Le Batard
He also has a book to promote.
Mike Ryan
What would you prefer? Would you have.
Billy Gill
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. I'm not reading an obscene passage from a book. No, I'm not doing that. I gotta draw the line somewhere.
Mike Ryan
Well, okay. Oh, here it is. Fifty Shades of Grey.
Billy Gill
No, it's not happening.
Mike Ryan
Okay, I'm sorry, Dan, go ahead.
Greg Cody
I already did. I mean, you should be confused.
Dan Le Batard
Dan, you should.
Mike Ryan
Well, this is.
Greg Cody
Dan, here's all I was looking for was Miami talk. You call yourself the Pope of. That's all I was trying to do is let you pontificate and tell me about Miami. I told you, if you beat Syracuse, you're probably in. That's all I Didn't say you had to go undefeated.
Mike Ryan
Then I have to make the argument. What I would say to you, Dan, if I'm making the argument, okay, I know that people don't believe that Syracuse is any good. It's the best offensive, the best passing offense, most prolific one in the sport. And nobody regards Syracuse as anything because they're busy regarding all the and three teams in the SEC as something greater than that. The argument I make on behalf of Miami, beyond, you know, that they can put their record up against Alabama, is that you keep telling me how soft that schedule is for Miami, but it would have three other top 25 teams in it if Miami hadn't beaten those teams. This is about SEC reputation and it's about Alabama reputation.
Greg Cody
I didn't say that their schedule was soft. I said beat Georgia Tech and beat Syracuse. At what point did I say they're soft?
Mike Ryan
I didn't say they were.
Greg Cody
You just said that. I said that they had a soft schedule. Okay, look, I did not.
Mike Ryan
What you're doing here with Georgia Tech and beat Syracuse, okay, And Notre Dame beat Northern Illinois. Like, of course we can make that argument on any team. I would tell Alabama beat Oklahoma, okay?
Greg Cody
But Notre Dame recovered from Northern Illinois and became a really, really consistent good team. Take them out of the equation. These losses just happened to Miami. It just happened last week. Timing is everything.
Mike Ryan
Oh, but you say, Dan, I think.
Greg Cody
Miami should be in. Dan.
Mike Ryan
Dan, timing isn't everything. Merit should be everything. Timing, you can't tell me it doesn't matter to me whether the games were at the end of the season or at the beginning of the season. It's a body of work. It's an entire schedule of work. Why play the games early at all if you're going to only make the ones late are the ones that count.
Greg Cody
So should Notre Dame be kept out because they had one of the worst losses in all of college football with these top 12 teams? Is that what you're saying, Dan?
Mike Ryan
Alabama lost.
Greg Cody
Dan, Just answer the question. Northern Illinois.
Mike Ryan
Hold on. I will answer it in a second. Oklahoma, 11 days ago beat Alabama. Does everyone listening to this know how bad Oklahoma Was this year? 243 is the most inexplicable result I have in the sport outside of Northern Illinois going and winning at Notre Dame and people forget about it. And you're talking to me about timing when I'm like, timing was 11 days ago. 11 days ago, Miami was beating Wake Forest.
Greg Cody
Dan, I don't think Alabama should be in. I think, like you keep arguing the Same thing. I'm agreeing with you that Miami should be in. I'm saying this is why they were probably kept out. Alabama's a brand. If this was 01, Miami would be in. They were a brand. They're not a brand anymore. That's part of this. It's a TV show. It's about entertainment. They want it. Alabama still has a fan base. A big fan base. A big draw. We're agreeing with the same thing. I'm saying you lost to Syracuse. That probably hurts you with the recency bias.
Mike Ryan
That's all.
Greg Cody
That's it.
Mike Ryan
Well, I.
Greg Cody
From the same page.
Mike Ryan
I think we all agree that we all got into sports not for the scoreboard, but for timing and brand. I agree with you. Timing and brand. That's right. That's how we should measure bodies colliding and killing themselves for money.
Dan Le Batard
Dan, the real problem here is Boise State. Get them the hell out of my college football playoff. That is the. I want brands. I'm with you, Dan. Patrick. Okay. I want Alabama. I want Miami. I want nothing to do with Boise State or unlv. Get them out.
Greg Cody
You want to get a plug in for your book, too?
Dan Le Batard
Stugottsbook.com. thank you.
Greg Cody
Okay.
Dan Le Batard
Appreciate your help with the.
Mike Ryan
Are you sure you don't want the 50 shades of gray? I know it's awkward, Dan, but we've been.
Greg Cody
It is.
Mike Ryan
You are, but you're interrupting what we were doing.
Billy Gill
Look, please say no.
Mike Ryan
Dan, I have told.
Greg Cody
No.
Dan Le Batard
Thank you, no.
Chris Cody
But this one's safe for middle America.
Greg Cody
No, man, I'd love to, but I'm up against a commercial.
Matthew Berry
Thank you.
Dan Le Batard
And he's confused, and he should be all right.
Greg Cody
Dan Lerd is the Jake Paul of sports host. You know, that's what you are. You're the Jake Paul of sports host. You should be ashamed.
Mike Ryan
Okay.
Dan Le Batard
I mean, I agree with you.
Mike Ryan
Okay. Stugottsbook.com you gave me five minutes. Greg wanted to talk, and then you.
Greg Cody
Took two and a half. You took two and a half. I gave you even more than that.
Dan Le Batard
You did.
Greg Cody
Why did we book him in the first place? Good God. All right, we move on. That's Dan Levitar. No, no, we're done. Stugottsbook.com. go, Hurricane.
Chris Cody
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Episode Summary: Hour 1: Five Good Minutes With Dan (feat. Dan Patrick and Matthew Berry)
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
Release Date: December 4, 2024
In this dynamic episode, Dan Le Batard and Stugotz dive deep into the intricacies of sports, blending humor with insightful commentary. Featuring notable guests Dan Patrick and fantasy football guru Matthew Berry, the conversation spans from innovative (and fictional) rule changes in baseball to the unpredictable nature of fantasy football. The episode is peppered with sharp wit, engaging debates, and memorable quotes, making it a must-listen for sports enthusiasts and casual fans alike.
The episode opens with Mike Ryan expressing his discomfort about collaborating with sports legend Dan Patrick. He highlights the challenge of maintaining the show’s casual and messy style when working with Patrick’s professional and structured approach.
Dan Le Batard and Chris Cody interject to navigate this tension, emphasizing the importance of subtle collaboration without overshadowing the show's unique vibe.
A significant portion of the episode revolves around brainstorming a playful, fictional rule change in baseball termed the "Magic at Bat." This concept aims to inject unpredictability and excitement into the game, akin to strategic plays in other sports.
The discussion humorously critiques Major League Baseball's (MLB) resistance to change, suggesting over-the-top modifications like "landmines in the outfield" to make the game more thrilling.
The hosts humorously accuse MLB of appropriating their "Magic at Bat" idea, framing it as intellectual property theft. This leads to a playful debate on the legitimacy and originality of the concept.
Mike Ryan [10:12]:
"Why not sue? Do we call our attorney and sue Major League Baseball for stealing the intellectual property of Stugotts?"
Stugotz [13:37]:
"2014."
(Indicating that MLB had introduced a similar concept previously.)
This segment underscores the show's satirical take on sports administration while highlighting the ever-evolving nature of sports rules.
Matthew Berry, a renowned fantasy football analyst, joins the show to discuss the underreported phenomenon of top-graded defensive backs being predominantly white in the NFL. This sparks a satirical conversation about racial dynamics and performance unpredictability in sports.
Mike Ryan interprets Berry’s insights as akin to insider trading, expressing frustration over the unpredictability and perceived unfair advantages within fantasy football.
Berry shares anecdotal evidence about the unreliable nature of predicting player performances, including a compelling story about Matt Hasselbeck misjudging a quarterback trade, leading to significant fantasy losses.
As the interview progresses, Mike Ryan grows increasingly frustrated with Berry's inability to provide specific examples, culminating in a humorous exit.
Stugotz [25:07]:
"Wait, what? Minor penalty."
Dan Le Batard [25:10]:
"Two minutes."
This departure serves as comedic relief, highlighting the show's chaotic and unfiltered nature.
The episode concludes with spirited debates about college football rankings, particularly focusing on Miami's performance and discussing the influence of brand reputation and timing in playoff selections.
Greg Cody [37:03]:
"But you lost to Syracuse. That probably hurts you with the recency bias."
Dan Le Batard [41:26]:
"The real problem here is Boise State. Get them the hell out of my college football playoff."
This segment encapsulates the show's blend of humor, passionate sports debate, and playful jabs among hosts.
Mike Ryan:
"This seems like insider trading. I don't know this guy. How are you supposed to win against this guy in his damn leagues?" ([19:30])
Matthew Berry:
"Matt Hasselbeck had as much control over a fantasy football game as any fantasy manager in the history of the game and still got it wrong." ([20:51])
Dan Le Batard:
"The real problem here is Boise State. Get them the hell out of my college football playoff." ([41:26])
Mike Ryan:
"If you're going to embrace change... let’s put landmines in the outfield, make it more violent." ([05:37])
This episode of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz masterfully combines humor, satire, and genuine sports insight. From fictional rule changes in baseball to the unpredictable realm of fantasy football, the hosts and guests deliver engaging content that both entertains and provokes thoughtful discussion. The interplay between hosts, coupled with the candid and humorous interviews, showcases the show's unique ability to blend lighthearted banter with substantive sports commentary.
Note: Advertisements and non-content sections have been excluded to focus solely on the episode's substantive discussions and interactions.