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Ann
I was never really a runner. The way I see running is a gift, especially when you have stage four cancer. I'm Ann. I'm running the Boston Marathon, presented by bank of America. I run for Dana Farber Cancer Institute to give people like me a chance to thrive in life, even with cancer. Join bank of America in helping Anne's cause. Give if you can@b of a.comSupportAnn what would you like the power to do? References to charitable organizations is not endorsement by bank of America Corporation. Copyright 2025.
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Ron McGill
So what are you working on?
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Ron McGill
Your yard with mulch that maintains its.
Home Depot Announcer
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Dan LeBatard
This is the Dan Levatar show with the Stugats podcast.
Stugotz
This is as angry as I have ever seen Ron McGill. His body language is infuriated. This is an everlastingly polite and charming man in public. He's very careful about how he represents the zoo when he's not embezzling money through his endowment that you guys contribute to in overwhelming fashion. What are you so mad about? Because you're over there with your arms crossed and you look a little like David Sampson. You look like, like, oh, they're not on time again.
Ron McGill
Just about five feet taller, though.
Stugotz
Why are you so angry? What's the matter?
Ron McGill
Not angry. I'm just tired. I was in Tallahassee all day yesterday and up and back in the same day. I didn't get home till, you know, 11:30 or so here at work at 6am so I'm just a little tired, you know, and then, you know, I got a call to be on the show at 10:20 and. What time is it now? Oh, it's 10:40. It's totally 20 minutes I've been sitting here.
Stugotz
So what are you. What are you fighting for in Tallahassee? You're not a politician. Tallahassee is exactly terrible, corrupt armpit that has been swallowed in Florida and swallows. Good people like you are trying to help the animals in the environment. What were you doing in Tallahassee? Were you politically grandstanding?
Ron McGill
Well, I was talking about animals. We had a couple of animals up there. We're also trying, I'm trying to drive this movement to get the flamingo named the state bird of Florida. You know, listen, I've got nothing against the mockingbird, but the mockingbird is the state bird of Mississippi, of Texas, of six other states. We have a potential here of having a bird that's iconic, that's always been associated with Florida. And it seems to be a no brainer to me to make that the national bird of Florida, especially now, since it's come back and it's staying here, which is a great reflection of great Everglades restoration, that the birds are coming back and they're staying. It's a win win. So I, you know, I'm just trying to convince the help, convince the legislators to pass a law to make that the national bird, the state bird.
Stugotz
Are you going to win? Is it an uphill fight?
Ron McGill
It's an uphill fight, I think for this session, but I think we got a really good chance next year for the next session. But I wanted to at least plant the seed. Help plant the seed. I was working with the Zoo Miami Foundation. I took the day off. I was not up there as Ron McGill from Zoo Miami. I was up there as Ron McGill from the Zoo Miami foundation and kind of wildlife expert and just kind of talking. We collaborated with the Tallahassee Museum. They brought some animals over. They brought an owl, they brought an alligator, they brought a snake. And you know, I talked about that as the legislatures went through. They were in a session yesterday and it was day days and I was on a plane with all the commissioners, the supervisor of elections, the supervisor tax collector, you know, the, the chairman of the, of the commission. They were all in the same plane. God, if that plane had gone down, that would have been a disaster. Well, maybe not. I don't know.
Chris Cody
Ron, is, Is there a big mock.
Stugotz
Oh, and what kind of insane.
Home Depot Announcer
You were on the plane.
Stugotz
Wait a minute. What kind of.
Ron McGill
On the plane I would be no great loss.
Chris Cody
Wow. What. What a movie.
Stugotz
Wait a minute, wait a minute. How angry is this person? I believe he just made a loud. Was it a political statement like what he did he just say it wouldn't be such a bad thing if a plane crashed?
Ron McGill
No, I just said if it went down. You know, I didn't say, I didn't say we could have probably all would have survived because, you know, we're resilient that way.
Stugotz
I trapped him. He was trying to do political commentary. And then he does that thing where he's like, I wasn't there for Zoo Miami. I was just there for the Zoo Miami Foundation. As if. Those two things aren't just. I was there with Ron McGill.
Ron McGill
I. That's true. As a county employee. As a county employee, I'm not really permitted to lobby for anything.
Stugotz
Oh, that's bullshit. But I mean, like, you, like. No, honestly, Ron McGill cares more about the animals than. I mean, you're just that. You would have to take two trips to Tallahassee to get the bird change from. From mockingbird to Flamingo, because you can't get it through this session. I trust you. Like, if you want it to be the flamingo, Ron McGill should decide.
Ron McGill
Well, I shouldn't decide, but I will say, you know, there are some representatives there. Representative Mooney, who represents us, lives in the Keys. He's a big proponent. He's the guy who's helping to drive this bill. We just got to get all the other people. But everybody's got an agenda, man. You know, one of the things I realize when I go up there is that, you know, what are you going to do for me? There's a lot of that going on. So. Listen, they're not bad people, but it's just part of the political agenda. That's why I could never run for political office. I would never survive.
Stugotz
Are you disgusted by it?
Ron McGill
I'm not disgusted by it. I guess I shouldn't even say I'm disappointed by it, because it's not shocking information. It's just. I wish there was a better way. I wish there was a different culture.
Jessica
When it comes to politics, Ron, to change the subject, because I don't want to keep pissing you off like Dan is trying to do. Although maybe this will piss you off. I'm not sure. There was a big story that the dire wolf.
Ron McGill
Is that what you're going to talk about?
Jessica
It is exactly what I was going to ask you about. So please clarify what these scientists actually did, because I read the story, and it sounds like they used dire wolf genes to breed gray wolves. So they're not technically un. Extincting the animals, but that was sort of what the headline said.
Ron McGill
So please explain this. Let me tell you what this is all about. This is all about kind of, you know, getting people's attention to drive money. I'm gonna be honest with you now that the company is gonna say, oh, no, we're de. Extincting this animal. First of all, they're not de. Extincting, because, as you mentioned, Jessica, they have just basically modified. This is a modified gray wolf. They've taken gene therapy. They've modified some of the genes, you know, Maybe I think 15 of the gene sequences they've modified out of 2,000, you know, thousands of gene sequences they've modified. And they modified it to get the color of the animal, the white that was known to be for the dire wolf and an increase in size. But really what it is, it's nothing more than a genetically modified gray wolf is not a dire wolf through and through. Now, having said that, people say, well, you know, even if it, if it is a dire, let's assume that it is a dire wolf. Isn't this really cool? Isn't this really good? In my opinion, no. No. And let me tell you why. The dire wolf went extinct naturally because of mother Nature, because of changes in the environment that evolved naturally as the planet started developing and changing. That's very different than an animal going extinct because man is shooting it or man is, you know, exterminating it for some man made reason, whether it be habitat destruction, whether it be pollution, whether it be hunting, whatever that is. You don't correct what mother Nature does. There's a reason extinction occurred for millions and millions of years before mankind ever set foot on this earth. And there was a good reason for it. It's animals adapting and environments adapting. An animal went extinct to make room for another animal. That helped create the balance that is necessary and delicate. So there's an old commercial, you're too young to remember it used to be a lady comes out, don't fool with Mother Nature. This is a classic example of don't fool with Mother Nature. So I'm going to give you my personal opinion of what this company is doing. And this is not to say they're not getting some very important information that could be applied to science in the future, but this whole theory about, oh, no, we're going to do dire wolves. We've got them in a secret location and we're taking care of the protected. And they're trying to build up all this fascination right with dire wolves.
Ann
Why?
Ron McGill
Because Game of Thrones, that was the animal in Game of Thrones. And what show had a bigger following than Game of Thrones? So now you got, oh, do you want to be part of Game of Thrones? Do you want to see real direwolves? Well, we've got them at the secret location and they're going to keep on doing this. The next thing they want to do is the woolly mammoth, right? So let's see what happens. You want to build that up? I'm telling you what they're going to do. They want to build a little Jurassic park, so to speak, and have a ton of money. They've already had a ton of people invest millions and millions of dollars in this company because people see the return. The return kind of like come see these animals. Like you used to see freaky animals in a circus, right? In a freak show. Or just like the movie Jurassic Park. How did that movie begin? The dinosaurs. Oh, this is beautiful. Going back in time. How did it end? Okay, this is what you're looking at. This is what you're looking at. Do not fool with Mother Nature. There's a reason why animals go extinct. As long as it's not some accelerated thing due to man's abuse and man's neglect. Leave it be. Do not try to change something that mother. Because Mother Nature doesn't make mistakes. We make mistakes, but Mother Nature doesn't make mistakes. And if we start thinking we're going to start bringing back these extinct animals just to pander to people's fat fascination for something that, you know, oh my God, I want to see it. I want to be the first. Because we have these fascination with these things that, you know, have so been been glorified over the years through mythology and stuff. All of a sudden you're gonna open Pandora's box.
Jessica
Well, I was right. I knew this was gonna piss you off. I did see that they were, like you said, in a secret location. So is the point to breed them to say they're unextincted? Unextinct or whatever it is in extinct, I guess. But then they were just keeping them in captivity because obviously you can't introduce these wolves to. So ethically, that's very dubious, I would assume.
Ron McGill
That's right. You can't introduce these wolves to the wild. But hey, what's gonna happen if one escapes? Oh, like the fencing in Jurassic park goes down, a dinosaur gets out. No longer control. Oh my God. What are we gonna do now? What if. What if what? Guys, do not fool with Mother Nature. Sorry, I'm banging the table, making things shake.
Chris Cody
Ron, what is an example of an animal that is gravely endangered, near extinction or threatened with extinction largely because of man's abuse? Where you would be in favor of bringing that animal back?
Ron McGill
Some of the species of tiger, the Sumatran tiger, you know, the Adax. I mean, there's approximately 300 of them left in the wild and we're killing them off or removing that habitat. I would bring those animals back if we could have the habitat that they need to survive. Because that Habitat is all part of this balance that we have as a planet. You know, people talk about countries and, you know, political boundaries and stuff. Animals don't have political boundaries when they migrate. They don't, you know, bring their passports and check in through immigration. All this stuff is a. Is a very important balance for the entire health of the planet. It's our own health by protecting these animals. So when we have some of these animals that are in grave danger of extinction because of things that we've done, yeah, I would support trying to protect them with this type of knowledge, this type of science.
Home Depot Announcer
Ron, going back to the colossal bioscience situation with the woolly mammoth, I think is a little bit more interesting too, than the direwolf, because they were basically extracting those genes from particles of teeth that they found in caves from 30,000 years ago. Obviously, we have more DNA. We have more stuff from woolly mammoths because they're much closer to the time that we live in now than those direwolf fragments or whatever that they found in some cave. Is that closer to being an actual woolly mammoth that they would recreate? Because obviously the dire wolf is a little bit further back. Would they actually be able to recreate a woolly mammoth?
Ron McGill
Well, you know, I don't know, Tony. You know, what. What specimens they have. I do know that they have found entire woolly mammoth halves frozen in ice as if they died yesterday. So obviously there's been some good tissue, some good DNA preserving going on there would. Which provide them with more material, I guess, to extract from. I'm not a geneticist. I can't tell you how that's done, but assuming they could, I still don't think it's a good idea, even though, you know, 99% of the people say, oh, my God, I just want to see one alive, moving, you know. Again, this is dangerous, guys. This is. This is dangerous. Go to a museum, look at the bones, look at things as they were, and realize there was a reason why they became extinct.
Stugotz
Chris Cody was whispering to me the entire time, distracting me from all of this historic knowledge and righteous indignation that you have, because he kept saying, I.
Ann
Always thought it was great danger, grave danger. The hell's that?
Ron McGill
It's. Look it up, Cody.
Ann
Okay?
Greg Cody
It's the way it's said.
Ann
But I think great danger works too.
Chris Cody
This is some.
Ron McGill
They both work. Words that could be substituted to mean the same thing, what we call synonyms.
Greg Cody
Some of you never saw Teenage mutant Ninja Turtles 2 the Secret of the.
Stugotz
Ooze, and It shows great and grave are not the same thing. I would imagine that Greg Cody is mortified by how little his son knows about words.
Chris Cody
I mean they're similar in context. They're often used interchangeably.
Ann
Thank you, dad.
Chris Cody
But a grave situation is a situation.
Ann
Where peril, where I might end up in a grave. Is that what we're doing there?
Chris Cody
No, no, it really is.
Ann
It's a grave danger.
Chris Cody
So you're looking at the wor literally a grave situation is a situation with danger with peril involved.
Ron McGill
The author has spoken.
Stugotz
Ron, can you forgive me for my ignorance here? I only have pieces of information but Valerie exclaimed yesterday that within the last couple of years I think was an old news story, an underwater T. Rex had been discovered. And I did not know that that was a thing. Like did you know that that was.
Ron McGill
A thing, I don't know of an underwater T. Rex in such that a T. Rex that lived underwater. I know they have found fossil records of T. Rexes that are now submerged, but that's because when the T. Rex died it was not necessarily land that was underwater. You know, as the ice age diminished sea level rise that rose and therefore you had bones that might have been on the coastline or something and all of a sudden now are underwater. It's like the state of Florida. You know, if you walk in the state of Florida, you dig down 6 inches down here you'll coral rock. Because this was originally all underwater.
Greg Cody
There's no underwater T. Rex, man. Now they swim. They could swim. That's a misnomer because, you know, the small arms.
Stugotz
But it would be hard to swim. Yeah, but I can't believe the T. Rex.
Ron McGill
I don't think they could swim. And there's no such thing as an underwater T. Rex. Only because there's no reptile that lives underwater.
Stugotz
Wait a minute. If a T. Rex can swim, then there is such a thing as an underwater reptile.
Greg Cody
No, it just makes a reptile.
Ron McGill
I don't think.
Greg Cody
Let me guess, it's presently submerged.
Ron McGill
Dan, listen, listen, Dan. I'm going to tell you just from the fossil record, let's look at the fossil record. Let's look at the bones of a T. Rex which we know exists. That's not something we have to make up. That animal could not swim. That animal could walk in deep water. You've probably seen the illustrations of dinosaurs in the water, grabbing things out of the water. I don't know why the T. Rex would go in the water because it was a carnivorous reptile unless it started feeding on you know, marine mammals of some sort that may have existed at the time, which I don't think they did. I don't know. I didn't live back then. But certainly a T. Rex could have waded into the water. It was a tall animal, it could go. It could have gone into deep water. Why is Cody laughing like that? Is it just. This whole conversation is going south very quickly.
Stugotz
Cody lived back then.
Chris Cody
Yeah, he made the usual reference about me being there prehistoric times, Dan.
Ann
If I'm swimming in the ocean, I'm not an underwater human.
Stugotz
You are underwater when you're swimming. There's no disputing that. None of you are not swimming.
Greg Cody
Yeah, but you're not making a ruling on an entire species based on him.
Stugotz
You know, I was half listening. I got a lot on my mind. I was half listening.
Ron McGill
A million years from now, a million years from now, there could be a race of a new species of intelligent beings after humans become extinct. And they could find human bones down under the water in the middle of the Atlantic and think, oh, look at this. There were underwater humans. It might have been the wreck of the Titan Titanic, who knows?
Stugotz
Forgive me, the segment got away from me. I've got a bunch of video here I didn't get to. But we do have a video that I wanted to show you to continue this uncomfortable thing of where we show you your son's work now. Your son. Yeah, your son Sean has been hired as a mercenary, a hired gun to make a couple of things for us. And I have not seen them before they air. I don't trust anybody with that. We trust your son here. He's making things. And he went out with the Cody's because Cody said the other day that he would be a great professional actor. All he would need was a couple of classes. So we said, all right, let's try this. And then Greg Cody went with Sean McGill and his son and they took an acting class. And later that day, Greg Cody got lost in the elser hotel because it doesn't have buttons on the elevators on the way to work. After sleeping in the hotel, he wasn't able to get to work. So your son didn't have much to work with here in terms of both intellect or self awareness. Are you ready for this video of Greg Cody and his son taking an acting class and to tell me what you think of your son's work?
Ron McGill
Probably not, but I'm gonna guess I'm gonna watch it anyway.
Stugotz
All right, put Ron in picture, in picture so we can see whether he is Proud or dismayed as we watch the Cody's together. Take an acting class. Where are we?
Chris Cody
Hey, I'm Greg.
Ann
Nice to meet you.
Dan LeBatard
You ready for a class?
Chris Cody
Why not?
Ann
This man said he could be an actor and we put him to the test. We were at an acting class.
Ron McGill
That's nice.
Ann
How are you feeling going into it?
Chris Cody
Obviously people know about my acting background.
Ann
Okay.
Chris Cody
The idea that I'm here for an acting class is a bit demeaning in the sense that we're doing the action. You go back to 1980, okay? I'm a Miami Herald writer for my whole career. A very, very popular film called Absence of Malice is being recorded at the Miami Herald building.
Ann
You were an extra. We don't need a whole long story.
Chris Cody
Sally Field, Paul Newman.
Ann
Not you.
Chris Cody
The late, great Sidney Pollock. I have a big scene in a near background shot and the rest is history. And so 40, 50, whatever. 50, 45 years later. I'm here to take an acting class just for fun.
Dan LeBatard
Today is going to be fantastic. We're going to do a little bit of breathing. Let's breathe and warm up a little.
Ron McGill
Bit of energy, guys, that we need.
Ann
For the class today.
Dan LeBatard
And then a little bit of impromptu.
Ron McGill
So, doctor, do you think my breast implants are good?
Dan LeBatard
We want to start with a little bit of breathing. As you know, breathe in.
Ann
Breathe out.
Dan LeBatard
Release. So we're gonna go to improv. Okay. So we're gonna do a couple exercises. Okay. Rule number one, guys. Let's say yes to everything. Okay. Greg is trying for the first time. I need two words.
Ron McGill
Breast implants.
Dan LeBatard
Breast implants. That's two words, but that's okay. And pineapple. I love that. Okay, let's go.
Ann
Oh, my.
Jeremy
Go.
Dan LeBatard
When I say three, two, one, improv. Whatever comes to mind.
Stugotz
Guys, tough spot. Three, two, one, Improv.
Ron McGill
So, doctor, do you think my breast implants are good or they need to be bigger?
Chris Cody
They look fantastic as is. How do you enjoy them?
Ron McGill
It's awesome.
Ann
My clients say it's awesome.
Chris Cody
I feel like you wanted bigger. I feel like you wanted pineapple size.
David Sampson
Pineapple size?
Chris Cody
Yes. Is that possible? Is that true? Because I heard that rumor.
Ann
You're the doctor.
Ron McGill
I don't know.
Ann
You told me.
Chris Cody
No, I think they look fine as they're like small pineapples.
Dan LeBatard
This is a classic one, but it's really fun. We are in an elevator right now. The elevator is just gonna get stuck. Action, you guys. Okay?
Ron McGill
Yeah.
Ann
Who's that?
Chris Cody
Feels like non movement.
Dan LeBatard
Try to call, try to, try to.
Chris Cody
What's going on?
Home Depot Announcer
Okay.
Dan LeBatard
You're way too skinny for that. Way too skinny for that.
Stugotz
Your baby.
Chris Cody
Oh, my go. I'm hungry.
Stugotz
I got a baby.
Chris Cody
I'm hungry. Anybody get a burger?
Dan LeBatard
You need to get the baby.
Chris Cody
Okay.
Dan LeBatard
You need to get the baby out.
Chris Cody
I'm gonna do that. Okay. I can't do it because I'm the father.
Ann
No, Walter.
Chris Cody
Yes, Walter.
Dan LeBatard
Wait, you know him?
Ann
Stewart.
Chris Cody
I am Walter Stewart. What? You're my biological father. Son.
Dan LeBatard
Great job, everybody. Great job. Follow the music and follow each other. Okay, guys, Give yourself a round of applause. Thank you so much. Thank you so much. Thank you. Part of the class. We're gonna do a little drama.
Chris Cody
Oh, I'm the bad guy now? Cute. You bring me in here, stare me down like I'm gonna break. Spoiler alert. I don't crack jack. I was home, cold pizza, listening to the Greg Cody show podcast. Hey, I'm being honest with you here, but yeah, sure, let's pretend this is all on me.
Dan LeBatard
You have to give that life to the character.
Chris Cody
Sure.
Dan LeBatard
So let's imagine how did you wake up this morning?
Chris Cody
I would think I'm either feeling guilty because I know I've done something to attract the police or I'm feeling apprehensive because I know someone who knows something that may involve me in this.
Dan LeBatard
Okay, so let's say that you. Let's choose the second one. You are worrying. Let's do it. Let's do it now. I'm making sandwiches.
Chris Cody
You're coming at me like I'm guilty of something. I'm not accused of anything. I mean, you come into my house. I could have come down to the station later today. You come into my house. You treat me like I'm gonna break and start sobbing. I don't break. Okay? I'm telling you the truth. When I say it was around 8pm I mean, I was home last night eating cold pizza, watching Law and Order by myself, alone, with my thoughts, doing nothing wrong. But you're pretending all this is on me.
Dan LeBatard
Okay. What did you think?
Chris Cody
I loved it. I thought it was great. I love some of the information you provided as far as bringing something into the scene, something more than just as what's written on the page.
Ann
I thought that was wonderful, I have to say. Yeah, you impressed me. You were funny.
Chris Cody
Okay.
Ann
You had some serious moments, some sexual topics that made me a little uncomfortable. Yeah, okay, but how'd you feel?
Chris Cody
It was amazing. It's more than I expected. Like, you know, I'm not a dancer, so the. The dancing beforehand was a little weird.
Ann
Why don't you throw a few more curveballs? I feel like you were just playing ball. I wanted to take it and.
Chris Cody
Okay, I threw in a Greg Cody show reference, podcast reference, so that's about all I could do.
Ron McGill
You're tired.
Ann
This guy's been acting for like, two hours.
Chris Cody
I'm telling you what I'm. I need, you know, need to uncork, you know.
Ann
Okay, all right.
Chris Cody
Okay.
Stugotz
Jessica, your head was in your hands the entire time because of why?
Jessica
Because he was just playing Greg Cody the whole time.
Stugotz
Well, that's why he loved it so much. He just got to be himself in front of people. It's a total narcissist affair with a mirror. Like, everything, like. And you did something vulnerable. You did something that's. That's hard to do. You forgot your line. I think you were supposed to make something rhyme with Jack.
Chris Cody
I forget what that line was. I don't. I don't crack Jack. There it is, the line.
Stugotz
Ron, how did you feel about your son's work?
Ron McGill
Well, whatever you're paying him, it's not enough. Number one. But as far as Cody's work goes, there it is.
Stugotz
What is that? What kind of.
Ron McGill
What a.
Stugotz
That's is it. What is that what that is? That's an Emmy. I've never won one.
Ron McGill
I proclaim that. That's for Greg because it was absolutely great.
Stugotz
I was trying to get to the joke.
Ann
I literally hopped up.
Jeremy
I'm like, Dan doesn't know what that.
Greg Cody
Is because he's never.
Stugotz
Ron, thank you. Good seeing you.
Ann
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Greg Cody
Today, folks, it's Mike Ryan. And do you know that Miller Lite has basically been a partner of this show for almost 20 years? And as we celebrate 50 years of Miller Lite, that means for a large chunk of it. And look, I didn't go to school for math, but I'm pretty sure that's like 80% of the time that Miller Lite's been existing. They've been with our show and I'm so grateful for it because we truly believe this. If you listen to us back in our radio days, throughout our times in national radio, to the pirate face to now, you know that Miller Lite has been a huge supporter of ours and I've always been a huge supporter of Miller Light. Why? Because it's got tastes. You know, you can depend on a great beer trusted by beer lovers for 50 years. Miller Lite Great Taste. 96 calories. Go to millerlight.com dan to find delivery options near you or you can pick up Miller Lite 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.
Ann
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Chris Cody
The elephant went into a 7, 11 and bought a pack of cigarettes. But my question to Ron is this.
Ron McGill
Stugats.
Stugotz
That joke didn't really land the way.
Ron McGill
You wanted it to, did it?
Stugotz
We all just stared at it.
Dan LeBatard
This is the Dan Levatar show with the Stugats.
Home Depot Announcer
Welcome to the Pitch Clock. Here's the Pitch, a two part baseball segment combining a nostalgic baseball trivia game and an interview with an expert. This is the Pitch Clock. The Pitch Clock. Wow.
Ann
Everybody, we're back. I love this segment, man.
Home Depot Announcer
Harry Carey. Chris Cody is back. You'll find out who our guest is coming up shortly. But first, we have to start with some trivia.
Jeremy
Today you guys are going to get a player's career path. You'll have to write down who you think the player is, and then we'll reveal. If you get the player right, you get a point, 10 rounds and a hint for you guys. Every player here has made an all star team. So I'm not just throwing, you know, bottom of the roster, guys.
Home Depot Announcer
That's great.
Jeremy
First player up, a Yankee in 1998, a Marlin from 99 to 2005, and then a Red Sox from 2006 to 2010.
Ann
Wow. On the O3 World Series team.
Dan LeBatard
Yeah.
Jeremy
That's started with a Marlin to try to help you guys.
Ann
Thank you.
Ron McGill
Yeah.
Home Depot Announcer
Which was helpful, except I. I don't know.
Ann
I like, have a couple guesses that were Marlins and then Red Sox, but the Yankee.
Home Depot Announcer
All right, I. I've got a player written down, but I'm not Jeremy.
Jeremy
Who was your guess?
Home Depot Announcer
I put Lenny Harris.
Ann
Go ahead. Is that right?
Jeremy
Was not Lenny Harris.
Ann
I put Beckett.
Home Depot Announcer
It's a reliever, right?
Jeremy
It's Mike Lowe.
Home Depot Announcer
Oh, I didn't know he was a Yankee in 98.
Ann
Yeah, that's.
Home Depot Announcer
Oh.
Ann
All right.
Jeremy
Second player coming to your guys way. Started with the Pirates from 96 to 2004, was an A in 2005, 2007, Cubs, 2007 Brewers, 2008, 2009, and then a Royal in 2010.
Ann
All right, you know what? I have a guess. I just thought of something like. I have no idea, but whatever. All right, I'm gonna guess Brian Giles.
Jeremy
Brian Giles.
Home Depot Announcer
My guess is a Ramis Ramirez.
Chris Cody
It's not a Ram.
Ron McGill
Okay.
Ann
Is it.
Jeremy
Is it Jason Kendall?
Ron McGill
It's.
Home Depot Announcer
Oh, it is Jason Kendall.
Jeremy
Player three coming your way was an Astro from 95 to 2003, was a Philly in 04.05, was a Met from 2006, 2009 Red Sox in 2009, and then Brave in 2010.
Ann
I don't even have a guess. I'll guess. Yeah, I'll guess Ty Wigginton.
Home Depot Announcer
I'm gonna guess he was never an.
Ann
All Star with four teams.
Home Depot Announcer
I know he's not Carlos. I was gonna guess Carlos Beltran because I have nobody else. And I know he went from the Astros to the Mets. I know that. I know he didn't play for the Phillies.
Jeremy
Now I'm starting to get a little worried because this was one of the easier.
Home Depot Announcer
Yeah, of course it was.
Jeremy
This is Billy Wagner.
Home Depot Announcer
Damn it. And now, David Sampson with us as our guest this week, our MLB expert here on the pitch clock. David, thank you very much for joining us here in the midst of what's going to be a very competitive game with me and Chris. But I want to talk to you about the competition happening on the field in Major League Baseball. And we have to start with a guy who's going to be competing for another decade plus in the same city in which he's been competing, which is Vladimir Guerrero Jr. In Toronto. He signs a 14 year, $500 million extension. David, were you surprised to see this contract extension happen? And, and how do you react seeing someone actually stay with, like, the franchise they were with and not just signing with the Dodgers or the Yankees?
David Sampson
So this has happened. The way that the Guerrero deal got done is it was a straight overpay by Toronto, and they knew it.
Ron McGill
Yeah.
David Sampson
They had nowhere to go. They had to hit the ask because Guerrero asked for.500. He was very clear. And Toronto is, no, no, no, no, no. And then all of a sudden, fans, their owner, people are losing their mind, like, oh, no, we're going to lose Guerrero. We can't lose him. We lost Ohtani and Judge, and no one loves me. And how do you get love in baseball? You try to buy it. And that's what the Blue Jays did.
Home Depot Announcer
Let's talk about Aaron Judge. Aaron Judge, somehow, after two of like, the greatest offensive seasons that we've ever seen, as you're watching, what the peak of this is for however long it continues, there's, there's, he's on the wrong.
David Sampson
Side of 30, right?
Home Depot Announcer
There's, there's almost no way that it continues much longer than a couple of years here maybe. So when you see this type of peak, in terms of this hitter, how great is that hitter?
David Sampson
For me, two things Aaron Judge has to do, he's got to do it for longer. And he needs a ring. And I know, believe me, it's ridiculous. I'm a Patrick Ewing, Knicks guy, no ring. And I Fight that he's the greatest ever. Because that's my heart. My reality is that Patrick Ewing cannot be known as one of the greatest because he didn't win at all.
Home Depot Announcer
Yeah.
David Sampson
For better or for worse, Aaron Judge has to get a ring or two.
Home Depot Announcer
With the Yankees, especially as a Yankee. Right. That's. That's such a part of the narrative when you're one of the great Yankees, when you're the captain, it's about ultimately winning championships, whether, you know, in baseball more than in other sports, an individual player can only influence that so much. Are we going to go.
Jeremy
Player four was a Minnesota Twin from 97 to 2007, was an angel from 2008 to 2012, was a Tiger in 2013 and 2014, and then closed out his career going back to Minnesota in 2015.
Home Depot Announcer
I think I have a guess, but I'm.
Ann
Give me a second.
Home Depot Announcer
Now I'm worried.
Ron McGill
Oh, this one's easy.
Ann
GQ in my ear. This one's easy.
Ron McGill
Jerk.
Ann
Very helpful.
Home Depot Announcer
Overthinking. I'm. I'm going with Tori Hunter.
Jeremy
It was Tory Hunter.
Ann
I had. Yes, I had the same thing.
Home Depot Announcer
That's not true. There was nothing on the paper.
Ann
I definitely wasn't gonna guess. Shown Figgins.
Home Depot Announcer
Woohoo. I got one. All right, Taylor.
Ron McGill
All right.
Ann
I'm gonna get one here. We're gonna tie it.
Home Depot Announcer
Whatever. Go to question number five.
Jeremy
Player five was a Blue Jay from 1993 to 2004.
Home Depot Announcer
I know.
Jeremy
It was a Marlin in 2005. And then was a Met in 2006. 2009.
Ann
This one's easy. Jeremy, you should get.
Home Depot Announcer
Oh, no, I should. I know. I know this one, too.
Ann
I get to say it first, though.
Jeremy
Yeah.
Home Depot Announcer
All right, but let me finish writing it down. Okay, go ahead.
Ann
Carlos Delgado.
Home Depot Announcer
Carlos Delgado.
Ann
Let me see. Did you write that down?
Jeremy
Carlos Delgado.
Home Depot Announcer
Carlos Delgado.
Ann
Damn it. Why'd you have to get that, Jeremy? Make the game interesting.
Home Depot Announcer
Two one.
Ann
You gotta. You gotta do.
Home Depot Announcer
We don't know how this is gonna.
Ann
Go for the content there.
Home Depot Announcer
All right. Jeremy leads to one.
Jeremy
Player six was loyal from 95 to 2000. Was an A in 2001. Was a Red Sox in 02.05. Was a Yankee in 06 to 09.
Home Depot Announcer
I know it.
Jeremy
Tiger in 2010. Ray in 2011. And with the Cleveland franchise.
Home Depot Announcer
I got it.
Ann
Hold on.
Home Depot Announcer
I got it.
Ann
Relax.
Home Depot Announcer
I'm gonna put all the pressure on. I'm Matt. Delusional, and you're gonna lose to me. You went with Keith Folk. I'll go Johnny Damon.
Ann
Oh, yeah.
Jeremy
It Was Johnny Damon.
Ann
Ha ha. Keith Folk though might. I think that's not bad. Royals A's.
Home Depot Announcer
He definitely played for the A's and the Red Sox. I don't know that he was ever a member of the Yankees. Yeah, but I could be wrong.
Jeremy
Player seven, Jeremy with the lead was a Blue Jay from 1999 to 2010, was an angel from 2011 to 2012 was a Yankee from.
Home Depot Announcer
I know this just in 2013. I know this player. I know this player. I've said this player's name on this show.
Ann
I have something in my eye. Definitely not thinking this is just me getting something out of my eye. Vernon Wells.
Home Depot Announcer
Done. Vernon Wells.
Ann
I literally pulled a name out of my ass. I was just mother bleep. I was just like, who played?
Home Depot Announcer
I can't believe it. No, I shouldn't have said what I said. It's a 4, 2 lead.
Ron McGill
We're on.
Home Depot Announcer
Player number eight.
Jeremy
Player eight was a Tampa Bay Ray from 2002 to 2009 was a Red Sox.
Ann
Oh, I got this.
Jeremy
2011.
Home Depot Announcer
Wait, do I know this player?
Jeremy
And was a Dodger 2013-26.
Ann
I started as a Dodger. Hold on, hold on a second.
Home Depot Announcer
Hold on a minute. Thinking of. I know the guy.
Ann
I'm thinking of first baseman.
Home Depot Announcer
I feel like. No, that's not who I'm thinking of.
Ann
Wait, do you have one written?
Home Depot Announcer
I have one written.
Ann
James Loney.
Home Depot Announcer
Oh, James.
Jeremy
James Loney. But I like that guy.
Ann
I never made an all star game like that.
Home Depot Announcer
Forgot about that mine that I'm not happy about. I went with B.J. upton. No, right.
Jeremy
It's the speedster in the outfield. Carl Crawford.
Home Depot Announcer
Oh, no, of course it's Carl Crawford.
Ann
So easy.
Home Depot Announcer
A moment I want to highlight with you, David. And there's some heart to this, which is a cool place to go with you on this first episode that you're on the pitch clock for this season. It's the Conines on opening weekend. Jeff Conine is. Is the first inductee into the Marlins hall of fame. And that same weekend, his son Griffin not only starts on opening day, but then on the day of of his induction. Rob's a homer. Hits a homer. He was spectacular. He's had a really fun start to the season, which is exciting for a player Who's I believe, 29 coming into this season. How. How special was this? And can you describe why moments like this one are so special for the game of baseball?
David Sampson
Individual Griffin was like a skateboard guy.
Home Depot Announcer
Yeah.
David Sampson
He was not like when his dad was in the height of winning world championships and being with us with the Marlins, he didn' hair. And then something switched, and he became all about baseball.
Home Depot Announcer
Yeah.
David Sampson
And he became an Adonis.
Ron McGill
He is.
David Sampson
He works his. Took us off. And what I really loved most about Griffin's start to the season was actually how Jeff experienced it.
Home Depot Announcer
Oh, I can only imagine watching and talking.
David Sampson
So I spoke to Niner the morning and then the night of the hall of Fame game. And knowing what he's accomplished as a professional athlete and him understanding that he doesn't care about any of that. What he focuses on is what Griffin's doing, and it's way more meaningful than anything he's ever done. And I've never felt that with my kids. And I. I want Griffin to have a long career. Yeah, he started. He's getting a late start, but, man, he's got a chance. But I want Griffin to feel the accomplishment of today but not be satisfied.
Stugotz
Yeah.
David Sampson
Because in baseball, if he's satisfied with the home run on the day that his dad got into the hall of Fame, he's going to quickly be out of the big leagues. I want him to want to keep achieving, and he's got that mindset.
Home Depot Announcer
Look, we. We all have been talking a lot. We always talk about the AL east, the NL east as sort of the powerhouse divisions. I'm looking across the country, and I'm seeing a great division in the NL West. It's partially because the Giants have been one of the great surprises this season. So. So, David, I guess what I want to get to here is, A, is the NL west the best division in baseball, and B, are the Giants the biggest surprise of the season thus far?
David Sampson
Well, let's start anywhere. The Dodgers are. They're going to be in a division that's good because they're going to be that good. The Padres are trying to keep up with the Dodgers. Same division that's going to make the division even deeper. The Diamondbacks are not taking this lane down. They signed Burns, they have Carol, who they're trying to get out of the sophomore slump, and all of a sudden you've got a team that is expected to make the playoffs with a deep run. They were in the World Series only two years ago. Add that to Buster Posey, who's trying to do his magic in San Francisco, and right now you've got four great teams in the Rockies that would make it a great division.
Home Depot Announcer
Another surprising team here is the Braves, on the opposite side of the coin. They've been awful to start the season.
David Sampson
They're not hitting but they're getting two amazing mid season acquisitions in Acuna and Strider.
Home Depot Announcer
Right.
David Sampson
And so it's a bad time for a seven game losing streak. Bottom line, it just stinks when you see the donut under the W column. You always worry about that in spring training when you're putting your team together. You just got to get the first win.
Home Depot Announcer
Yeah.
David Sampson
It's like a player will say I'll do anything to get my first hit because when I see 000 on the board I can't stand it.
Home Depot Announcer
We saw with the Marlins last year where it getting off to just a horrendous start can completely derail everything. And so you got some teams here that need to either turn it around or try to keep it up. But baseball these first couple of weeks have been about as good as it gets. And if you're a fan I hope that that we've provided you guys in these first few weeks of this show with enough analysis to get you in get if you have any questions, if you. If you live in a specific area and you want to know who should I root for? What team should I follow? Who are some players to follow? So reach out Jeremy Tashay on Twitter and Blue sky David P. Sampson across platform.
Ron McGill
I'm sure.
Home Depot Announcer
I'm sure you'd love to hear from them. Reach out to me. Reach out to me.
Ann
Hey.
Home Depot Announcer
Let's get back to our game with Chris.
Ron McGill
This.
Jeremy
This is a tough one. Oh, I'm looking at it now. Player 9 was a Yankee in 87 to 89, was a Blue Jay in 89 to 95, was a Marlin in 96 and 97. Was a Met in 98 to 2004. Was a Marlin in 05 and then was a Yankee to close out his career also in 2005.
Home Depot Announcer
That doesn't make me feel good. Oh, that doesn't help.
Ron McGill
Oh.
Home Depot Announcer
Oh, shoot. I don't think I know who this is. Hold on. Hold on. I got it.
Ann
Go for the theater.
Home Depot Announcer
I got it. I got it. I got it. I gotta get it out.
Ann
Later.
Jeremy
Chris Cody.
Ron McGill
It's outlier.
Home Depot Announcer
It is.
Jeremy
Jeremy.
Ron McGill
Nope.
Home Depot Announcer
Benito Santiago.
Ann
Let's go.
Jeremy
The last player was a Dodger in 97, 98, was a red in 1998 and then was a white sock from 1999 to 2014.
Home Depot Announcer
Move. This is a jerk move because this land on this path. This is so obviously a player that we're just gonna know is a white sock. But we. We have to just.
Ann
A multi time all star who played for The White Sox. I mean, I'm not gonna say the big hurt. Like, that's the. That's literally the only name that's, like, coming to my mind, like, because I'm an idiot right now. I'm gonna go with. Oh, I'll go with Paul Canerco.
Home Depot Announcer
You mother effort.
Ann
It just.
Jeremy
Jeremy, is that what you had?
Home Depot Announcer
I had Paul Canerco.
Jeremy
It was Paul Caner.
Ann
Oh, man.
Home Depot Announcer
All right. It wouldn't have mattered. Thank God. I guess. Either way, once you see the answer I had, it took away all the drama for me.
Ann
Thinking of long term. White socks.
Home Depot Announcer
Thank goodness. Hey, that's. That's a second victory. Somebody has two wins, somebody has none. Good game, Chris.
Ann
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Stugotz
Folks.
Greg Cody
It's Mike Ryan. And do you know that Miller Lite has basically been a partner of this show for almost 20 years? And as we celebrate 50 years of Miller Lite, that means for a large chunk of it. And look, I didn't go to school for math, but I'm pretty sure that's like 80% of the time that Miller Lite's been existing. They've been with our show. And I'm so grateful for it because we truly believe this. If you listen to us back in our radio days, throughout our times in national radio, to the pirate face to now. You know that Miller Light has been a huge supporter of ours. And I've always been a huge supporter of Miller Lite. Why? Because it's got tastes, you know, you can depend on a great beer trusted by beer lovers for 50 years. Miller Lite Great Taste 96 calories go to millerlight.com dan to find delivery options near you, or you can pick up Miller Lite 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.
Release Date: April 10, 2025
Hosts: Dan Le Batard, Stugotz, Ron McGill
Guests: Greg Cody, Chris Cody, David Sampson
Ron McGill, a dedicated environmental advocate from Zoo Miami, shares his recent efforts in Tallahassee aimed at designating the flamingo as Florida's state bird. He emphasizes the significance of the flamingo as an iconic symbol inherently associated with Florida's natural heritage. Ron expresses his frustration with the political landscape, highlighting the hurdles faced when attempting to pass environmental legislation.
Ron articulates his challenges with the political system, noting, "They have an agenda, man. You know, one of the things I realize when I go up there is that, you know, what are you going to do for me?" This underscores his battles against political corruption and the compromises often required in legislative processes.
A significant portion of the discussion revolves around the controversial topic of genetic engineering, specifically the attempt to resurrect extinct species like the dire wolf. Ron vehemently opposes such endeavors, arguing that nature's course of extinction should remain unaltered by human intervention.
Ron elaborates on the ethical implications, stating, "The dire wolf went extinct naturally because of Mother Nature, because of changes in the environment that evolved naturally as the planet started developing and changing." He warns against the unintended consequences of such genetic manipulations, comparing them to the fictional disasters in "Jurassic Park."
A humorous and entertaining segment features Greg Cody and his son Chris participating in an acting class hosted by the show. The class includes improvisational exercises where Greg and Chris engage in playful and exaggerated acting scenarios, showcasing their comedic rapport and willingness to embrace new experiences.
The acting class proceeds with various improv scenarios, including a mock elevator malfunction and a scene where Greg portrays a character named Walter Stewart. Participants and hosts provide playful feedback, praising Greg's performance despite occasional humorous shortcomings.
The segment culminates with Ron commending Greg's acting skills, awarding him an honorary "Emmy" in jest, and highlighting the enjoyable dynamics between the participants.
The "Pitch Clock" segment introduces a baseball trivia game led by Jeremy Tashay, accompanied by MLB expert David Sampson. Participants engage in identifying players based on their career trajectories, showcasing their knowledge and competitive spirit.
Notable Discussion Points:
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s Contract Extension:
Aaron Judge's Performance:
Griffin Conine's Milestone:
Notable Quotes:
Throughout the segment, host interactions add a layer of humor and camaraderie, as participants navigate challenging trivia questions and engage in light-hearted banter.
In this inaugural episode, "The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz" seamlessly blends serious discussions on environmental activism and ethical considerations in genetic engineering with light-hearted segments showcasing personal talents and sports trivia. Through engaging dialogues, humorous interactions, and insightful analysis, the hosts and guests provide a multifaceted listening experience that caters to a diverse audience.
Notable Quotes with Timestamps:
This structured summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and entertaining moments from the episode, providing a comprehensive overview for those who haven't listened to the podcast.