Hour 1: Greg Gives Chris an Ultimatum (feat. John Isner)

Summary

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The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

Hour 1: Greg Gives Chris an Ultimatum (feat. John Isner)

Date: August 26, 2025
Hosts: Dan Le Batard, Stugotz, Greg Cody, Christopher Cody, Mike Ryan
Special Guest: John Isner
Location: Elser Hotel, Downtown Miami

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Overview

This episode is a quintessential stew of the show’s trademark chaos: family drama, playful threats, rankings secrecy, and sports insights—punctuated by a passionate, if comic, standoff between Greg Cody and his son Chris over the sanctity of Greg’s NFL team rankings for the Miami Herald. The second half features a revealing conversation with tennis great John Isner, exploring both the physical toll and emotional aftermath of elite tennis stardom. The show blends tense and hilarious conflict, with introspection and admiration for the sports world’s mental and physical demands.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Greg Cody’s NFL Rankings Meltdown (01:33–15:16)

• The Setup:
  Greg is furiously completing his NFL team rankings, while the rest of the crew jokes about his habitual over-ranking of the Dolphins. Chris and the crew needle Greg about where the Dolphins will land this year.

• Escalation and Family Comedy:

  • Greg makes it clear his rankings are “top secret” (01:53), as the others speculate openly about the Dolphins’ place.
  • Chris teases: “I assure you… there’s no way he puts the Dolphins in the bottom half.” (02:28)
  • Tensions rise when Chris threatens to reveal the rankings, resulting in Greg issuing a now-infamous ultimatum.

• The Ultimatum:
  Greg tells Chris (and the group), “If you reveal on the air where the Dolphins rank, I am going to be genuinely pissed at you… If I don’t have that computer here in three minutes, I am not hosting the draft party Thursday night. Take that to the bank. I’m saying it on my life.” (03:14–07:02)

  • Notable Quote:

    “On my life, on my granddaughter’s life, I am not hosting this draft party unless I have that computer.”
    — Greg Cody (09:01)

• Intensity & Comic Discomfort:
  The team attempts to defuse Greg with humor and a penalty box threat, but Greg “stands on business,” refusing to budge without his laptop and escalating the drama for several minutes.

  • Chris jokes about taking “Greg Cody’s threat” to an actual bank to see if they care (03:59, 05:59).
  • Dan narrates the tension, “We are now on the clock, and it’s very dramatic.” (08:09)
  • Greg asserts over and over that this is serious—his emotions run high, and the ritual of the draft party is clearly deeply meaningful to him.

• Reflective Moments:
  Post-standoff, Chris and the group rib Greg over the “threat” itself, arguing that losing the draft party would hurt Greg more than anyone—a recurring comic motif about performative threats in families (19:39).

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2. Family Banter: Respect, Foolishness, and Paywall Thunder (15:16–20:55)

• Sarcasm and Insults:
  The group lightly insults each other over who deserves credit for extending careers and whose emotions are out of control.

  • Greg to Dan: “Then you’re a giant infant, okay? You have no control over your emotions.” (15:19)
  • Greg and Chris volley insults: “You’re a fool,” “You can’t call me, you’re an idiot.” (24:57–25:05)

• Paywall Drama:
  The crew debates whether revealing Greg’s rankings actually affects his “livelihood” or is paywall “thunder.” The consensus: probably not, but the sacredness of the list is real for Greg.

• Comic Analysis:
  Chris: “You will not tell me this is not good… What he has just done is old man strength… This is the single most impressive thing I have seen Greg Cody do since he had a funeral for his 30-year-old deck shoes.” (09:46)

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3. Interview: John Isner’s Unique Tennis Career & Perspective (25:20–43:42)

Isner’s Serve and Identity (25:30–27:54)

• Discussion of his Massive Serve:

  • John explains how his height lets him “create angles…most of my opponents aren’t able to pull off…When you’re almost 7ft tall… if [the serve is] not your best weapon, you shouldn’t be playing tennis.” (26:24)

• Career Path:

  • Isner didn’t plan to turn pro until late in college: “I didn’t have pro aspirations… For me, it wasn’t tough at all. I had to go to college. I just wasn’t good enough [earlier].” (27:04)

The ‘Serve Bot’ Reputation & Player Psychology (27:54–28:50)

• On irritating fellow players:
  • “Players do, and that’s a good thing. That’s what I wanted…when they can’t get a racket on my serve…that’s when I was playing my best ball.”
    — John Isner (27:54)
  • Fans joke about “serve bots”: “What do you want us to do, kick a serve and rally 30 balls with Carlos Alcaraz?” (28:20)

US Open and Medvedev’s Meltdown (28:50–32:14)

• Photographer Incident:

  • John defends the photographer whose mistake set off Medvedev, calling the reaction “a bit harsh.” (29:15)
  • On Medvedev’s mental state: “He’s just losing his marbles…mentally exhausted…That chase has just worn him down.” (30:31)

• Boris Becker Says Medvedev Needs Help:

  • Isner disagrees with the need for “professional help,” instead emphasizing rest and time with family:

    “…that dude’s made a crap ton of money…Life is all good. Take a break…he should be alright.” (31:43)

Djokovic’s Longevity and Obsession (32:14–35:15)

• Physical Toll and Novak’s Dedication:
  • Isner calls tennis “brutal” on the body:

    “What Novak is still doing is otherworldly. He’s 38…he’s sort of obsessive about his recovery, and that’s a big reason why he’s still doing what he’s doing.” (32:28-33:50)

  • Comparison to Tom Brady’s discipline and diet/fitness regimen.

Post-Career Reflections: Missing the Grind (35:15–39:54)

• Missing the Stress:

  • Isner admits he misses the “stress of waking up and having a match,” and the “pinnacle” feeling of Grand Slams.
  • He talks about staying connected through sports chats (“highlight chat,” “pickle chat”) and guest commentary.
  • On adapting post-retirement:

    “You wake up and ask yourself…the question: how am I going to get better today?…That’s what you don’t have when you retire.” (38:44)

• Venus Williams’ Longevity:

  • Greg and Isner share “mad respect” for Venus playing at 45, discussing the difficulty of leaving the sport and the desire to “gear up” for the big stage. (36:34)

• Tennis & Unfinished Business:

  • Isner empathizes with players who couldn’t win slams due to being in the “wrong” era (Federer, Nadal, Djokovic domination).

Relationship with Tennis After Retirement (39:29–41:32)

• Contrast With Other Pros:
  • Isner explains his own continuing love for tennis is unusual, estimating “40%…don’t have the healthiest relationship with this game” due to its demanding, isolating nature. (41:06)

Generational Greatness Raising the Bar (41:44–43:05)

• Isner highlights how “generational talents…hung onto the sport at unprecedented ages,” making it nearly impossible for many gifted players to ever break through.

Hypothetical Matchups (43:05–43:29)

• On serving to legends like McEnroe or Borg:

  “I could definitely hold serve against those two and make them sweat a lot.” (43:05)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “If you reveal on the air where the Dolphins rank, I am going to be genuinely pissed at you… The draft party will not be at my house Thursday night.”
  — Greg Cody issues his iconic draft-party ultimatum (03:14)

• “On my life, on my granddaughter’s life, I am not hosting this draft party unless I have that computer.”
  — Greg Cody (09:01)

• Chris Cody: “What [Greg] just did is old man strength… This is the single most impressive thing I have seen Greg Cody do since he had a funeral for his 30 year old deck shoes.” (09:46)

• John Isner on big-serve criticism: “Fans like to poke fun of us as, like, being serve bots, but, like, what do you want us to do, right? Like kick a serve in and rally 30 balls with Carlos Alcaraz?” (28:20)

• Isner on Novak Djokovic: “He’s sort of obsessive about his recovery, and that’s a big reason why he’s still doing what he’s doing at 38…He’s remarkable.” (33:50)

• Isner estimating pro relationships with tennis: “I’d give it 40% that don’t have the healthiest relationship with this game…” (41:06)

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Timestamps for Major Segments

• Greg Cody’s Rankings Meltdown & Ultimatum: 01:33–15:16, and 19:39–20:55
• John Isner Interview: 25:20–43:42
  • Physical advantages/serve: 25:30–27:54
  • Career beginnings & fan reaction: 27:54–28:50
  • Medvedev incident & mental fatigue: 28:50–32:14
  • Djokovic’s longevity: 32:14–35:15
  • Retirement/reflections: 35:15–39:54
  • Tennis love/hate split: 39:54–41:32
  • Era of dominance/legacy: 41:44–43:05
  • Matchup hypotheticals: 43:05–43:29

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Episode Tone & Language

• The episode is a blend of mock-seriousness, authentic frustration, heartfelt sports admiration, and the show’s signature family-sparring banter.
• Greg’s anger is both very real and very performative, much to the amusement (and occasional discomfort) of his cohosts.
• The Isner interview is candid, technical, and warm, with the player’s openness contrasting with the earlier farce.

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For Listeners Who Missed It

• This episode is a near-perfect encapsulation of the Le Batard show’s unique blend: family absurdity, personal stakes over the silliest things, and authentic sports insight. Greg Cody’s passionate protection of his “paywall thunder” and the ensuing standoff is as laugh-out-loud as it is telling about the show’s family dynamic. Isner’s presence adds depth and humility, with rare insight into the human cost of enduring greatness and the struggle to love one’s profession after the bright lights fade.

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Transcript

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[Dan LeBatard]

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[Christopher Cody]

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[Stugats]

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[Dan LeBatard]

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[Christopher Cody]

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[Stugats]

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[Greg Cody]

This is the Dan Levator show with the ST podcast.

[Christopher Cody]

I've been asking. Go ahead and keep typing. Don't let us away.

[Greg Cody]

I didn't know you were starting.

[Christopher Cody]

You ended this last segment, so the.

[Stugats]

Countdown usually is where. Oh, you didn't have your headphones on.

[Greg Cody]

Okay.

[Dan LeBatard]

Okay.

[Stugats]

His team rankings are due today, guys.

[Greg Cody]

He has a deadline. You could clue me in that we're starting.

[Stugats]

How high do you have the Dolphins?

[Greg Cody]

I'm not telling you.

[Stugats]

You're gonna be top.

[Greg Cody]

Like, oh my God. I happen to have my rankings open in front of me, but it's top secret information.

[Stugats]

I bet you I'm at 14.

[Dan LeBatard]

That's too high.

[Mike Ryan]

Like 17.

[Christopher Cody]

No, it'll be in the top 15. He would never go against his team.

[Mike Ryan]

That you don't think 17 Dan like throw people off.

[Christopher Cody]

Like, there's just no way he's going under the midway point. I guess it would be 16. There's no way.

[Greg Cody]

Okay, first of all, the, the rankings that I have now, which Christopher probably purloined and and illegally looked at are not the official final rankings. So I'm going to come in there and help you with something.

[Stugats]

I'm not going to look at your screen.

[Greg Cody]

No, this is not happening.

[Christopher Cody]

No, I assure you, Tone, I assure you, I promise you that there's no way that he puts the Dolphins in the bottom half.

[Greg Cody]

You're not doing anything.

[Mike Ryan]

17 is just enough to throw the people off the scent, right?

[Greg Cody]

Oh, there we go.

[Stugats]

We got a second.

[Greg Cody]

Oh, no.

[Christopher Cody]

They're going to be elbows grabbed. They're going to be elbows grabbed. He's furious.

[Greg Cody]

Okay, I'm going to tell Christopher right now. If he. If you reveal on the air where the Dolphins rank, I am going to be genuinely pissed at you. You do not do that. You're getting into my business now. Seriously. He better not do that. Okay? He steals my computer, breaks the whole screen. There it is. Charge. There it is.

[Christopher Cody]

He's left you with just a keyboard, Christopher. He took your dignity.

[Greg Cody]

Just looking. Don't say anything about it. I'm serious. Okay? I'm going to tell you this right now. Are you hearing me? If you say that on the air, I am not hosting the draft party Thursday night. Wow. Period. Do you understand me? Do you understand me? The draft party will not be at my house Thursday night.

[Christopher Cody]

We got an average.

[Greg Cody]

If anybody on this show reveals where I have the Dolphins ranked or anything else about my rankings, I am not hosting the draft party Thursday night. Take that to the bank. I'm saying it all my life.

[Stugats]

So many tabs open.

[Greg Cody]

I'm saying it all my life. I will not host the draft party Thursday night. If anybody says anything about my rankings on the air.

[Mike Ryan]

Greg, standing on business right now, talking to you.

[Christopher Cody]

And now I want to push this because, among other things, I want Chris to actually take that to a bank. I want him to go to a bank and say, listen, my father. See what the teller's reaction is when you say, my father has threatened that if I take that back.

[Greg Cody]

Give me back my computer.

[Stugats]

Jack.

[Dan LeBatard]

Jack.

[Stugats]

Avery Johnson's father thinks this is aggressive. I may have exited out. I hope you have it saved.

[Greg Cody]

Oh, no.

[Christopher Cody]

1440 is the password.

[Greg Cody]

Oh, no.

[Stugats]

All right, I'm gonna bring it back in.

[Greg Cody]

I'm scared.

[Christopher Cody]

No, no, just hold on to it for a second. I'll stay here.

[Stugats]

And you can't see our van.

[Christopher Cody]

Yeah.

[Stugats]

Look, this is not. Listen, this is a bad idea.

[Christopher Cody]

I have seen him yell at Christopher this way since Christopher was 4. When he starts throwing around the Christophers, I don't need to see the front of his face to know that he's serious. And the greatest of all the threats, when he threatens not to host a draft party when it's the center of his life, he doesn't want to take away that draft party. That's what he wants to be.

[Greg Cody]

But he will.

[Christopher Cody]

But he will if you reveal that the dolphins are 14 instead of 17. If you reveal that and take away his paywall thunder. Really?

[Greg Cody]

You're just spoke to me in sign language.

[Christopher Cody]

He. No, it wasn't even sign language. He did not waste words. He just did Keanu Reeves the Matrix and summoned you over with a finger because he didn't want to waste the breath of having you test his rage anymore. He's just sitting here with nothing but a keyboard, and I gotta tell you, it looks pathetic.

[Greg Cody]

I want my laptop back. I'm not the least bit amused by this. I'm not kidding in how angry I am.

[Christopher Cody]

I know you're not. Okay? And this is what I'm gonna do.

[Dan LeBatard]

Give it back, please.

[Christopher Cody]

Okay.

[Dan LeBatard]

And Dan stopping us from giving it back.

[Stugats]

Please.

[Christopher Cody]

I am gonna. No. I'm gonna send them both to the penalty box.

[Greg Cody]

I'm not going to the penalty box.

[Stugats]

Put together. I'll bring this.

[Greg Cody]

I want my computer right here before I do anything. It'll be in the penalty box. No, I'm not going to the penalty box. I get my computer right here.

[Christopher Cody]

You can bring it to me. This is fine. This is good.

[Greg Cody]

No, you can bring it to me.

[Christopher Cody]

Craig, you're going to stop that now. Yes.

[Greg Cody]

No, I'm not.

[Christopher Cody]

You're. You're going to stop that now.

[Greg Cody]

No. No, I'm not. I'll leave. I'll go home if you want me to with my laptop, but I am not going in the penalty box until my laptop is connected to my computer. My son is. This is not your fault. My son has gone over the line here. I am genuinely upset.

[Christopher Cody]

We know.

[Greg Cody]

Okay, so how about make it right?

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah, you're.

[Greg Cody]

Instead of continuing the joke.

[Dan LeBatard]

It's partly Dan's fault.

[Greg Cody]

It's ridiculous.

[Christopher Cody]

It's partly my fault.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yes.

[Christopher Cody]

That we're not able to have fun with Greg Cody's rankings of 14 or 17.

[Greg Cody]

That's right. Because they're serious to me.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah.

[Greg Cody]

Okay, Christopher, if I don't have that computer here in three minutes, I am not hosting the draft party Thursday night.

[Christopher Cody]

Put the clock on the screen, please.

[Greg Cody]

Do. Do it, Louis.

[Christopher Cody]

Put up a clock on the screen.

[Greg Cody]

That gives us our three minutes, and please do that. And, Christopher, you send out a notice to the rest of the league saying that the draft is going to be at your house because of what you did.

[Christopher Cody]

Give us a second to gather ourselves here for the nature of this threat.

[Greg Cody]

Okay, where's my three minute?

[Christopher Cody]

Hold on a second. All right, you're going to start.

[Dan LeBatard]

Don't wait till 30 seconds.

[Greg Cody]

Just go in there.

[Christopher Cody]

No, no, no. I need the. The dramatic tension of the three minutes.

[Stugats]

I think we have.

[Christopher Cody]

Of course.

[Stugats]

Gamble. Tension. Yeah, I got.

[Dan LeBatard]

I'm good on tension.

[Christopher Cody]

No, I want it a little more.

[Greg Cody]

I'll guess who Mike Fuentes is.

[Dan LeBatard]

Okay, again. Listen to what's happening.

[Greg Cody]

Greg.

[Christopher Cody]

Let's play now. Billy. That's a good idea. Let's play the game right now. Does Greg know the name of everyone in this office? Let's. Let's.

[Stugats]

This is how you make things, Chris.

[Christopher Cody]

And. And his computer.

[Greg Cody]

It's on the screen 245. Oh, boy.

[Christopher Cody]

I don't. Do you guys understand what this threat is? I don't totally understand.

[Mike Ryan]

It's a big draft party that's happening Thursday. Greg has been gracious enough to open.

[Greg Cody]

His home to the FBI draft. If Christopher thinks I'm kidding, I am not.

[Christopher Cody]

He doesn't think you're kidding.

[Greg Cody]

No, I think he does.

[Christopher Cody]

No, he does not. We are in a tense situation, though, and we're stuck in it. Like, the discomfort is real. It is awkward, and we are now on the clock, and it's very dramatic.

[Greg Cody]

It's down to almost two minutes.

[Christopher Cody]

I know. It's 2:15, which means he's still got a little bit of time. Now, I.

[Greg Cody]

I cannot express you how serious I am.

[Stugats]

All right.

[Greg Cody]

Yeah. No, no. On my life, Greg. I am not hosting this draft party Thursday night. Have we.

[Stugats]

Have we revealed anything?

[Greg Cody]

I don't care. I'm giving you an ultimatum. You now have a minute and 50 seconds.

[Christopher Cody]

It's. Yeah, it's a minute 49 now. This is been.

[Greg Cody]

I've never been more angry, connected with this show, ever. A minute and 38.

[Stugats]

We put up the LSU photo, please.

[Greg Cody]

Oh, I don't care. That doesn't make me nearly as mad as what's happening right now. Anybody who thinks that's me is an idiot. A minute 20, minute 15. It has to be in my hand before it goes to all zeros. In my hand. A minute eight. See, Christopher thinks I'm kidding about not hosting this draft party. Okay? On my life, on my granddaughter's life, on my granddaughter's life, I am not hosting this draft party unless I have that computer.

[Christopher Cody]

Why does this keep escalating? Who else's life is he going to take before the end of this? Again, I remind people, as a discomfort sweeps over the room dramatically, that this is the difference between the Dolphins being ranked 17th and 14th. And I'm guaranteeing you it's not going to be in the bottom Half of the league. And the only way it's going to be in the bottom half of the league is if he changes it the way that he just alpha ed. This room is the single most impressive thing I have seen Greg Cody do since he had a funeral for his 30 year old deck shoes. Look at the tension in the other room there, Greg.

[Greg Cody]

Good. There's tension in this room too, emanating entirely from me.

[Christopher Cody]

I'm fanning it a bit. I'm participating. Well, but you would never. Well, wait a minute though. First of all, you will not tell me that this is not good. You will not tell me that. And I'm watching Mike's hiding behind a plant and the rest of you, I can see your faces. But what he has just done is old man strength. What you just saw was him telling you as he's told you for a little while, I got stamina. And what you could do is you can go to an old fashioned bank and you can tell them that he's not hosting that draft party. If you. I still want you to do that. I want you to go to a bank and find a teller and see what they're. I just want to see an assortment of tellers, what their reaction is. And I wonder if there's some sort of crime that you could be committing that they will make you like a bank robber or something because you're just weirding out people and you're going to be escorted out by security. Do you care at all that you look at, look at what that room looks like right now? Do you do all of them have been reduced to nine year olds fearing a father and a grandfather's wrath? You have, you have reopened the scars here on. Oh, come on. We were just playing with somebody that we respect and like, why are we arguing this way about the fact that he was waving a keyboard at us?

[Greg Cody]

I didn't hear a lot of respect and like in what just happened. I certainly didn't feel any respect for my son.

[Christopher Cody]

The respect that you did not feel, that is accurate for you not to feel is a respect for a top 20 list of rankings.

[Greg Cody]

It's a top 32. It's.

[Stugats]

Any hack could do 20. Who.

[Greg Cody]

Does a top 20 ranking?

[Stugats]

It's insane. Before the season starts.

[Greg Cody]

Ridiculous.

[Mike Ryan]

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[Stugats]

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[Dan LeBatard]

Hey Tony.

[Mike Ryan]

Hey Mike.

[Dan LeBatard]

Hey man. Summer's almost ending, man. I don't like that. There's no way. There's no way I am excited about cooler temperatures. But down here in South Florida, that just means slightly less boiling hot. It's been a pretty incredible summer. We've had a parade down here. We've grown our family down here at Meadowlark Media. A lot of exciting things, a lot of memorable benchmarks. And along the way, at almost every step, I've been tailed by that beautiful white can of Miller Lite. Oh, that beautiful white can or the brown bottle. You can do it on draft.

[Stugats]

Draft is crisp.

[Dan LeBatard]

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[Stugats]

Don LeBatard.

[Dan LeBatard]

I'm not going to apologize.

[Greg Cody]

I wouldn't expect you to apologize. Then you're a giant infant, okay? You have no control over your emotions. You have no control over your emotions when you're calling someone. Someone you know, an idiot. I don't deserve it.

[Dan LeBatard]

Okay?

[Greg Cody]

I don't deserve it.

[Stugats]

All right?

[Greg Cody]

And you're a fool for saying it.

[Stugats]

Okay? Stugats.

[Greg Cody]

You're a fool.

[Stugats]

I was kind of following. Oh, you're locking in right now.

[Dan LeBatard]

You're locking in on us.

[Greg Cody]

Yeah. All right.

[Christopher Cody]

Let's drop the gloves, pal.

[Greg Cody]

Let's rock.

[Dan LeBatard]

You should be thanking me.

[Greg Cody]

For what?

[Christopher Cody]

Every day.

[Greg Cody]

For what?

[Dan LeBatard]

For what I've done around this character. And the second gets real for you. You want to come at me and.

[Christopher Cody]

Call me a fool?

[Greg Cody]

Huh?

[Christopher Cody]

No, no. Seriously, Jeremy.

[Stugats]

Seriously, pal. I've added 10 years to your career.

[Greg Cody]

This is the Dan Levatar show with the stugats.

[Christopher Cody]

So in football, we've got Kenny Pickett going to the Raiders. We have Amari Cooper going to the Raiders.

[Dan LeBatard]

Can't do that shit. My parents divorced.

[Greg Cody]

What do you show?

[Christopher Cody]

You put something in the middle of it here. That is a bit hostile.

[Greg Cody]

Oh, I put it in the middle of it. That started with me. You're acting like we revealed it when someone stole my laptop. That's me.

[Stugats]

You're acting like it was revealed. We did it like it was revealed.

[Greg Cody]

It was revealed.

[Christopher Cody]

What was revealed?

[Greg Cody]

You said a number that is much too close to the number.

[Stugats]

Well, that's just us guessing.

[Christopher Cody]

I don't remember what it was.

[Greg Cody]

Anything.

[Christopher Cody]

You won $12,000 yesterday.

[Stugats]

Damn it.

[Christopher Cody]

You revealed the number. I didn't hear it. And he's pointing it out. I didn't hear the number. What is the number he said?

[Stugats]

Now he's mad again.

[Greg Cody]

I'm not gonna say.

[Christopher Cody]

Did any of you hear the number that Chris said?

[Mike Ryan]

It's 17. Dan, I told you already.

[Greg Cody]

Whatever number he said will not be where the Dolphins are.

[Christopher Cody]

Wait a minute.

[Stugats]

Oh, wait. Now the number's changing.

[Greg Cody]

Maybe. Oh, no. Depending on how accurate he was. You know, it's ridiculous. You're messing with my. My livelihood when you do stuff like that. Yes. Yes. Okay. And, you know, you're. You're. You're thinking of the show first, which. In that seat. I get it. But I almost wish you hadn't brought it back so you would have seen how serious I am about not hosting the. You should cancel it anyway.

[Christopher Cody]

You want to take it again? You want to take it seriously? Seriously.

[Greg Cody]

You want to something else to piss me off. And you'll be sending out a group text and you'll be hosting that draft.

[Stugats]

Put up the hospital photo. No, I'm kidding. Don't do.

[Dan LeBatard]

I like the Kenny picket topic. Let's do. That was a good transition. The Mark Cooper thing. That's how like Jacoby Myers you do.

[Stugats]

What?

[Dan LeBatard]

Now we're going to get a mark.

[Christopher Cody]

The hospital photo is as mad as I've ever seen him before this. But the hospital photo is something that we showed only because he had already shown it on social, like he provided it for us, so.

[Greg Cody]

No, no, no. I provided it to my social media followers.

[Christopher Cody]

Yeah, you made it out public, though.

[Greg Cody]

That's putting it out public. Okay.

[Dan LeBatard]

What does a pick a trade mean for Shadow?

[Stugats]

If you tweet out a photo, you can't be upset, Gabriel.

[Greg Cody]

That's fair.

[Dan LeBatard]

Who's QB2?

[Christopher Cody]

But this is an anger that I don't know that I've seen from him before. He says you're messing with his livelihood. I don't believe that that's true. I. I don't believe that his livelihood would be impacted in any way whatsoever if you reveal that number. I don't believe that there will be more subscriptions to the Miami Herald to get to that paywall, but. Okay. He's entitled to feel that it escalating from. He was willing to give his life and then he just gave up your daughter's life as well.

[Stugats]

That's where the game ended for me.

[Greg Cody]

Yeah. Because I needed to inform you how serious I was. I was aware. No, you weren't.

[Christopher Cody]

I don't think you were. I feel like we all were, Greg. No, Mike was hiding behind a plant.

[Greg Cody]

I don't think Christopher honestly thought that I would stand firm and not host that draft Thursday night.

[Stugats]

You don't think I can tell when you're really upset?

[Christopher Cody]

Can I?

[Greg Cody]

You didn't come back very soon with the left.

[Christopher Cody]

Okay, that was. That was my fault. I just want to examine for a second before we move off of this.

[Greg Cody]

Please just.

[Christopher Cody]

Well, I don't want to move off this part, though. It's such a funny threat to get to the height of rage and say, you're going to have to host your own party. I'm going to pull the Party. I don't think Chris particularly cares. I don't know. I know you care about made it work. I know you care about that as a threat. That threat was something meaningful to you. But it wasn't. It clearly wasn't working as a threat.

[Greg Cody]

It's like one text.

[Stugats]

Hey, we're having it at John's house now.

[Greg Cody]

Well, great.

[Stugats]

Like this.

[Greg Cody]

Okay.

[Stugats]

What does that draft party mean to you, Greg? Just so we have an understanding. Because it seems as though they're not taking this seriously. Like it would just be a text to change.

[Greg Cody]

I mean, I. I enjoy the league. It's a keeper league, which is itself a pain in the ass, but I enjoy the league.

[Christopher Cody]

I feel like you're punishing yourself with that threat though, that you want to host that party. And if you don't get to host that party, it's. The punishment is greatest for. For you.

[Greg Cody]

No, no, that's not true. Christopher asks me to host the party every year. You have a bigger house than I do. Okay? And. And I'm happy to do it, but in the buildup to me hosting the draft, you don't want to piss me off. You know what?

[Stugats]

I feel bad for what's happened here. Let me set you up for to.

[Greg Cody]

Talk about this more.

[Dan LeBatard]

It is time now for a weekly update on our favorite team, Rex Lobos.

[Stugats]

O.

[Christopher Cody]

Look at that. They're trying to cheer you up.

[Greg Cody]

I don't have their ho up.

[Christopher Cody]

This is makeup sex right here.

[Stugats]

Just did your draft on Saturday. You had a good draft.

[Greg Cody]

I haven't memorized my lineup yet.

[Christopher Cody]

He's not ready for a lobozoma.

[Greg Cody]

I'm not ready for a lobozoma. You stick ready. Scott, you're springing on me.

[Christopher Cody]

All right, so hold on a second there, will you? Now Honor.

[Stugats]

Minor penalty.

[Christopher Cody]

Two minutes.

[Stugats]

Murdering the show with your bare hands and a dismemberment kit in cold blood.

[Christopher Cody]

Murdering the show with a dismemberment kit with your bare hands in cold blood. That's a two minute penalty.

[Greg Cody]

Yeah, for Greg. Well, because he was a victim of a crime. Thank you, Billy.

[Christopher Cody]

That's okay. We're victim blaming. And now that he's shown everybody who's boss because he. He. Look, it's only happened one other time where Dominique just refused the penalty. You have to respect the system here. Even though we've disrespected you, your rage has subsided. And perhaps you can respect the delayed.

[Stugats]

You can leave the laptop. Just leave the laptop.

[Greg Cody]

But the way, you know. But the way to make up for what just happened is to send me to your ridiculous penalty books. That's a good way to make me happy.

[Christopher Cody]

Well, I'm sorry we're not making you happy, but he's gonna go to the kitchen.

[Stugats]

What are we talking about here?

[Christopher Cody]

Rage fueled. Rage fueled. 20 minutes where I can see everybody's scorched eyebrows in the other room because I felt like he was yelling at you the way that he yelled at you when you were five. Like it was just a completely unreasonable escalation of things.

[Greg Cody]

That's right.

[Stugats]

I've seen that yell many a time.

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[Stugats]

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[Mike Ryan]

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[Stugats]

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[Stugats]

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[Christopher Cody]

You say you'll never join the Navy.

[Stugats]

That you'd never track storms brewing in.

[Christopher Cody]

The Atlantic and skydiving could never be.

[Stugats]

Part of your commute. You'd never climb Mount Fuji on a.

[Greg Cody]

Port visit or fly so fast you.

[Stugats]

Break the sound barrier. Joining the Navy sounds crazy. Saying never actually is. Start your [e-mail], america's Navy, forged by the sea. Don LeBatard, you owe me everything.

[Christopher Cody]

You owe me everything.

[Greg Cody]

You have added 10 years to my career. Yes, I have. This man has. You have it.

[Christopher Cody]

That man.

[Greg Cody]

Who the hell are you?

[Stugats]

Who are you, Stugats? I am.

[Greg Cody]

Who the hell are you? Bullshit. You're a rude young man.

[Christopher Cody]

You're a fool. You're a fool.

[Greg Cody]

I already called you a fool.

[Christopher Cody]

Right.

[Greg Cody]

You can't call me. You're an idiot.

[Christopher Cody]

Again, it's a fool.

[Stugats]

You're an idiot for dismissing how much I've helped you.

[Greg Cody]

This is the Dan Levatar show with the Stugats.

[Stugats]

Dan, we have John Isner here. This is very exciting. This segment is brought to you by Comcast Business Powering the engine of modern business with advanced networking and security solutions.

[Christopher Cody]

Introduction. Is that for John Isner? We've been wanting to talk to John Isner forever. John Isner's a hero of ours.

[Dan LeBatard]

Usually he's the guy taking part in something that's dragging on too long.

[Stugats]

Big highlight fan.

[Christopher Cody]

That is correct. John Isner. This is very exciting. I. We have not gotten to speak to you before, but we have spoken of you for a long time because your. Your serve is the most majestic thing that any of us have ever seen in tennis. So thank you for joining us. We appreciate it. It feels like. I don't know if we've talked to you about this or if I've read about this, because. Thank you for joining us. As I said.

[Stugats]

Yeah, thanks for having me.

[Dan LeBatard]

How long is this question? Longer than your matches.

[Stugats]

Yeah. This is a long one. Spit it out.

[Christopher Cody]

Your physical advantages. Is there a way that physics allows you to serve better than anyone else in the sport?

[Stugats]

Well, yeah, absolutely. I'm able to create angles when I was playing that most of my opponents aren't. Aren't able to pull off. You saw that a little bit last night with Riley Opelka, although he lost, of course, to Carlos Alcaraz last night. He's about my height, and he can create some serious angles when he's serving. So when you're almost 7ft tall playing tennis, the serve is 100% going to be your best weapon. And if it's not, you shouldn't be playing tennis at all.

[Christopher Cody]

I should mention that he's won 16 ATP Tour singles titles. He's the tallest top 10 player in history. Your history. When did you know you were going to do this? As a career?

[Stugats]

Oh, that was. That wasn't until my junior year of college, I didn't have pro aspirations. And typically in tennis, like bigger players take much longer to develop. It just takes a lot longer time to grow into your body. So that was definitely the case for me in my junior year in college. I got pretty good and decided that, you know, I didn't want to work a regular job. So I pursued professional tennis after my senior year. I mean, I still. I went to all four years of school at the University of Georgia and had a long pro career after that. So going to college was. Was critical for me. But it actually, like some players, when they leave high school, they face a tough decision whether to turn pro or go to college. For me, it wasn't tough at all. I had to go to college. I just wasn't good enough.

[Christopher Cody]

Do players or fans get mad at how you play tennis because you're so singularly excellent at aces?

[Stugats]

Yeah, players do, and that's a good thing. That's what I wanted. I wanted them to get mad and get frustrated because that's. That's basically when I knew I was doing my absolute best out there. Has been frustrating my opponents when they can't get a racket on my serve and they don't have much rhythm. That's typically when I was playing my best ball. Sometimes I would even feel uncomfortable out on the court. But at the same time, I needed to realize that my opponents were feeling more uncomfortable than I was. Fans alike, big servers. We're affectionately known as serve bots, as Mike Ryan definitely knows about that term. And yeah, like, fans like to poke fun of us as, like, being serve bots, but, like, what do you want us to do, right? Like kick a serve in and rally 30 balls with Carlos Alcaraz. It's not going to happen, so. Yeah, but really, I mean, most of that rage comes from, you know, the Twitter spaces and stuff like that. So it's really not in real life. I think at tournaments, fans are much nicer.

[Christopher Cody]

I should tell the folks that we're in the middle of the US Open here, the first round, and it's been interesting so far, isn't there? Joining us from the US Open and have you seen what happened with Medvedev? I know we have hotheads throughout the sport, but where you've got a match point and the photographer seemed to feel really bad about what happened there. Your thoughts on what happened there where Medvedev is just going crazy?

[Stugats]

Yes. So I have a bit of a different take for. For first of all, I don't think that photographer's credential should have been revoked. He clearly made a mistake. He clearly felt awful about it. Kicking him out of the tournament, I think that's a bit harsh. If I was the umpire. I think the letter of the law, he made the right call. But in that situation when Medvedev was already losing his mind, that's much easier said than done. When you're watching this match, you know, from tv, he should not have awarded Bonzi a first serve just knowing that Medvedev would lose his shit if, you know, had he got a, had he got a first serve. So I think you should just let it be. You know, it's just a four or five second delay. No one would have complained if they just, if he just let it go and just said second serve.

[Dan LeBatard]

John Medvedev, since blowing it against Sinner at the Aussie, is a totally different player. This is a guy that was thought to at once be challenging the kings of the sport. And I believe this is his third first round exit in a major in his last four attempts. It's manifesting. I mean, he's always been a hothead, but, but he's breaking rackets, he's doing BJ signs to, to opposing players. Is this, is he long for this sport? It feels like that was. That might have been it.

[Stugats]

Yeah, he's losing his mind. I mean, three first round losses in a row for a guy like Daniil Medvedev, who's made lots of slam finals, has won a Grand Slam, this one, the US Open, it's been number one in the world. He's just losing his marbles. I think truthfully he's just mentally exhausted. Trying to chase perhaps at the front end of his career, Djokovic and Rafa, and maybe even fed a little bit. And towards the mid to late part of his career, center and Alcaraz come along and just the prospect of him winning a big tournament has just become a lot more challenging. And I think that chase has just worn him down. But also, you know, he's a big guy and he plays, as y' all know, he plays 13, 14ft behind the baseline. He's big and he's skinny and maybe his body's just wearing out on him a little bit because he plays such a physical game out there. Moves so well for his size, but he's very wiry and just maybe his body's taking a little bit of toll. It definitely does seem like he should take a break, put the rackets away, mentally Refresh and, you know, try to come back strong next year.

[Greg Cody]

Boris Becker said Medvedev needs professional help. If you're a friend of Medvedev or a family member, would you tend to agree?

[Stugats]

I don't know about professional help. I think he would need to. In my mind, he would need to just, you know, sit down and talk with those closest to him, his wife, his coach, his trainer. I think, just putting the rackets away and. And not focusing on the next tournament and having to practice. And he's got two kids, I believe. Just spend time with your family and don't focus on tennis and realize, in my mind, like, that dude's made a crap ton of money. He's been very successful. Life is all good. Take a break from it, and then come back, and he should be all right.

[Christopher Cody]

You played 17 years. So can you explain to us physically what it is that Djokovic is doing, having had a career longer than 17 years? What does. Do people even understand what this sport does to the body?

[Stugats]

Yeah, it's. It's brutal. I mean, especially when you. For the most part, we're playing on hard courts, which is very, very tough on your body. So what Novak is still doing is otherworldly. I mean, he's 38 years old right now. Of course, he's playing a limited schedule, but, like, for his ridiculous standards, he's been, like, the fourth, the fifth or sixth best player in the world, like, to date, having not played many tournaments this year.

[Mike Ryan]

Year.

[Stugats]

It's just crazy. But for him, as you get older, you certainly have to pick and choose your spots. And obviously, he's just focused on the Grand Slams. He wants to get to number 25, but he's, in my mind, the most dedicated and professional player I think our sports ever seen. Like, everyone works hard on the court and off the court. You know, Rafa is a great example that I think what Novak does off the court with his diet and his sleep and his habits, he's a bit like Tom Brady in that regard, and that's why he's the greatest of all times. Just like someone like Thomas. I hate to confess can, you know, compare two goats like that, but they take care of themselves so well. He's so strict on his diet, his hydration. He sleeps in a hyperbaric chamber. I mean, he's sort of obsessive about his recovery, and that's a big reason why he's still doing what he's doing at 38 right now, having played all these matches in his career. It's. It's very remarkable. In my mind. He's one of the greatest athletes of all time. Not just tennis players, we know that, but I think greatest athletes of all time. He's. He's remarkable.

[Christopher Cody]

How was he different from you in terms of being obsessive compulsive about taking care of himself? Because I would assume that you were similar. You're all. You're. You're all looking for edges, wherever it is that you can get them. And you spent 10 years in the top 20.

[Stugats]

Yeah, I was. I was very dedicated to my body. I mean, I just did a lot of things. I took care of myself. Being so big, I have to spend a lot of time in. In the gym to keep myself healthy and keep myself feeling strong. I. I don't know. I mean, he knows his body, like, better than anyone knows their body. He knows exactly what to put into it. Early on in his career, he figured out that gluten was not for him. He's a vegan. He has his own supplement company that. That he promotes and drinks. And just like everything he does, like, he just knows exactly what fuels him perfectly. I was very good in that regard. I'd like to think I was. I was one of the best. But Novak just takes it to another level. What do you love being able to do now, John, that you couldn't do while you were an active player? Oh, well, I like. I like being on the other side of tennis. I'm doing some work for ESPN during. During the first week of this, so it's certainly less stressful. But truthfully, like, I miss it a lot. Like, I would prefer the stress of waking up and having a match and having those butterflies and having to warm up and stretch and get your body ready. The feeling of winning a match at a Grand Slam and then knowing you have the next day off to just totally chill and try to recharge is something like, I seriously miss, because these are the. These tournaments are obviously the. The pinnacle of. Of our sport. And, you know, you don't get that anymore when. When you're retired. I get my. My fun out of sports with a hockey chat that I'm in with. With Mike Ryan, and I'm even in a tennis chat as well that. That he's the commissioner. Don't forget about highlight.

[Christopher Cody]

Highlight chat.

[Stugats]

There's a highlight chat. Yeah, that's an unbelievable chat. There's a chat about pickles.

[Christopher Cody]

Yeah, that's a good one.

[Stugats]

Yo, my movie, the South. Pickles. Yeah. So anyway, I think the pickle chat's my Favorite one anyway. So, you know, I'm always going to stay tethered to the sport of tennis and just tethered to just sports in general. I'm a sports nut. I like to talk about it. But it's very fortunate. I mean, I had a. I had a good career and I was an American. I've got a lot of, you know, cool opportunities because of that. And one of those is this week at the U.S. open. Being able to. To talk about this tournament.

[Christopher Cody]

But just to be clear, when you say that you miss it a lot. The chats about pickles and high lie, they have not replaced what it is to play the longest match in w. Wimbledon history. Like you haven't been able to recreate it with the text chats.

[Stugats]

Williams. Not quite. The highlight chat is. Is closing that gap, though.

[Christopher Cody]

Okay.

[Stugats]

That's a special chat. I'm a Cyclones. I'm a Cyclones guy for life now.

[Christopher Cody]

Okay. Yes. The owner is Chris Cody. This is his father, Greg. You walked in on him.

[Stugats]

Yeah. Is that Greg?

[Christopher Cody]

Yes.

[Stugats]

Is that Greg of the mc? Overrated take.

[Greg Cody]

There we go. Thank you.

[Stugats]

Yeah.

[Greg Cody]

Gotta be famous for something.

[Christopher Cody]

Venus Williams is playing at 45. Greg Cody has had some opinions on that. She's playing in the US Open or she was, yes.

[Greg Cody]

I mean, and she apparently looked. I didn't see the match, but she drew raves for her match even though she lost. I give her all the credit in the world. You know, one of the hardest things to do and maybe you can relate to this, John. When you age as an athlete, it's tough to know when to retire and how to retire because it's so much of, of who you are. And for her to still be doing it at 45. Mad, mad respect and love for what.

[Christopher Cody]

She'S mad, mad respect.

[Stugats]

Mad respect.

[Christopher Cody]

You were mad before because of the disrespect.

[Greg Cody]

Well, it's too easy to say. Has been, you know, know when to retire, get, you know, get out and let the younger people do it. If she still wants to play at 45 and can be competitive of I give her all the credit in the world.

[Stugats]

No, I'm with you there. I think, I think for me, with, with Venus, it's, it's easy to gear up for Washington D.C. where she played a few weeks ago in Cincinnati where she played two weeks ago and in the US Open. But her rankings, nothing right now. She's like, I don't know what she's ranked. It's super, super low 7, 800 in the world. So what is she going to do from this point forward. Does she want to, like, go down and play challengers or she want to go to Asia and play the Asian swing? Like, so that. That's tough to do at 45, especially when you've been so accomplished. Like, like she has been ob. Get to play on Arthur Ashe Stadium in a night match. Like, I'll come back for one match for that for sure, because you can't replicate that feeling of playing in that court under the light. But it's not all glitz and glamour on the tour. It certainly is at the US Open. So it's a lot more difficult once this tournament ends and you look at what the rest of your tournament schedule looks like.

[Christopher Cody]

I would think that tennis, though, might be something. And I don't know whether you're missing the routine here as well, just the form of what your life used to be. But tennis is so lonely and eats up so many of your childhoods that I would imagine that after 17 years. Years, there would be some relief on finally, like, I. I get to rest a little bit. This has been a really lonely pursuit.

[Stugats]

Yeah, no, like, for. For me for sure. Like that. That rest period is. Was. Has been nice, but like, I, I still miss it. I get to recreate my childhood, a sense like through my children now, which is, which is very special. And maybe they'll go on that. The tennis journey that I went on as well, which I would love for them to do. But definitely, like, rest is, is nice. My body isn't beat up as, as much anymore. And you know, it's. Life's all good after tennis, but, but when you play for 17 years, as you mentioned, Dan, it's like you become so routine and just so ingrained. You wake up and you ask yourself the question, like, how am I going to get better today? Even if you're not practicing on that day, you're still trying to get better, get your body better, and that's what you don't have when you retire. So it becomes difficult. It was a difficult adjustment for me. I think a lot of athletes, not just in tennis, face that, of course, when, when, when they retire.

[Dan LeBatard]

John, you have one of the healthier relationships with tennis out of all the former pros. You're hosting the Nothing Major, co hosting the Nothing Major podcast. You're constantly covering the sport. Is that because you were a sort of late bloomer in the sport, you kind of got really good at it later? Because there are other tennis players, Marty, that hate tennis now, and that seems to be the norm.

[Stugats]

Yeah. You know what I always said, like, midway through my career and towards the end of my career that you wouldn't really see me on the tennis tour after I, after I retired. Clearly I didn't hold myself to that. I just quickly realized that this sport for me, it gave so much to me and there's still a lot of opportunities I can gain from in the sport of tennis after I retired. And our podcast has been a great way for us to stay relevant because unless you're an all time great, very quickly forgotten on the tennis scene. So our podcast has been great to keep us relevant in that regard and again, like, be able to talk tennis and New York City for espn. Like, that's really cool. So these great opportunities that have come my way, I've jumped at the opportunity to do them and hopefully I can continue to do this for quite some time. I really do enjoy it. You work with some great people and it's a lot of fun. You get treated great. And so I think a lot of people would trade positions with me right now to be able to, I guess, wear a suit and talk about a sport which I should know a lot about.

[Christopher Cody]

Again, the podcast is called Nothing major. The U.S. open continues today. First round, men's and women singles on espn. Do you agree with Mike Ryan's assessment? If I said to you I'm polling all former players now, what's the percentage that hate tennis?

[Stugats]

I don't think it's as severe as Mike maybe said. I would say I'd give it 40% that, like, don't have the healthiest relationship with this game because it just, it, this game can torment you. I mean, you have, you know, so many tough losses and so many horrible nights of sleep after a tough loss. But I think overall the good definitely outweighs the bad. So, yeah, there's, there's some, here's some good friends of mine.

[Christopher Cody]

That's a high number, though, John. You're. I mean, that's a high number.

[Stugats]

It's a very high number. This game, this game can be, this game can be tough. And Mike and I, Mike and I have some friends in the tennis world that don't love the sport. I like it and I still very happy to be a part of it.

[Dan LeBatard]

Jon, how much of that is this generation, both on the women's side and in the men's side, they went up against generational talents that hung onto the sport at unprecedented ages. And how much of that was not just the sport and the loneliness of the sport breaking them, but the fact that they're trying to conquer the unconquerable.

[Stugats]

Yeah, I think for top of my head, like you name some European players, like if you guys would know, like a Thomas Burdick is an unbelievable Czech player who's never able to win a Grand Slam because of those three. I mean, like, for me, like, I consider myself lucky to play in the same era of, of those guys, but it's not like I was getting like thwarted by one of those three guys at every single Grand Slam in the quarters or the semifinal. So I don't have like, I don't have that, that feeling, but certainly a lot of players do. There are a lot of incredible players. David Ferrer of Spain, with that, Rafa probably has a Grand Slam on his resume and might be in the hall of Fame, but he doesn't now. There's a heck of a player ridiculous career, but those players were very selfish. In the top two players in our game right now, Corson center and Alcaraz are also selfish. They're going for eight straight Grand Slam wins between the two of them here at the US Open.

[Christopher Cody]

We've got less than 30 seconds left here, but I just want you to entertain a hypothetical with me. If I put you in your prime time serving to John McEnroe, beyond Borg, Boris Becker, all of these people, what would happen?

[Stugats]

I can, I could hold my own with my, with, with my serve. I actually saw some highlights of Rod Laver playing on grass years and years ago. He was an absurd athlete. So I think even a guy like labor would do well in today's modern game. But yeah, you gotta favor of course the greats like Johnny Mack and no, you know, Bjorn Borg over someone like myself. Although I haven't said that I, I could definitely hold serve against those two and make them, make them sweat a lot.

[Christopher Cody]

Isner you would embed tennis balls in their forehead. Thank you for being on with us. We appreciate the time. The name of the podcast is nothing major. U.S. open ESPN men's and women's singles first round on ESPN. Thank you, sir.

[Stugats]

All right, thank you, guys. See you. Go Clones.

[Dan LeBatard]

Go Clones.

[Stugats]

Go clones. Let's go.

[Christopher Cody]

Greg Cody is still rabidly enraged.

[Mike Ryan]

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