Episode Summary

Podcast: The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
Episode: Hour 1: Holding Your Take With Tongs (feat. Pablo Torre)
Date: February 19, 2026
Guests: Pablo Torre, Foster Kamer

Overview of the Episode’s Theme

Broadcasting from the Elser Hotel in downtown Miami, Dan Le Batard, Stugotz, and their team deliver their unique blend of sports discussion and pop culture commentary. The episode’s focal point is Pablo Torre’s in-depth reporting on the largely unknown story of former NBA player Rony Seikaly’s quiet act of friendship towards Magic Johnson during the height of HIV/AIDS panic in sports, and its broader implications for how sports can challenge social stigma. Other topics include the crisis in mainstream media, the state of the Washington Post and CBS, a poppy Celtics debate, and the ever-evolving inside jokes and dynamics among the show’s cast.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Behind-the-Scenes of the Ronnie Seikaly/Magic Johnson Story

(03:03–13:07)

• Pablo Torre's Podcast Investigation:
  Pablo previews his latest "Pablo Torre Finds Out" episode: the untold story of Miami Heat’s Rony Seikaly, whose discreet act of solidarity helped change the perception of HIV/AIDS in the NBA.
• Show’s Initial Skepticism:
  The crew jokes about their minor dread—when Pablo investigates, it’s often a “red flag” for the subject.
  • Dan Le Batard (03:44): "When I came in here yesterday and I told the group, 'Hey, Pablo's doing something on Ronnie Seikaly for tomorrow,' the entire group was like, 'oh, no.'"
• Pablo’s Intention:
  • The episode aims to be a "palate cleanser"—a story celebrating a genuinely good person rather than exposing another sports villain.
  • Pablo Torre (04:26): "I'm happy to report Ronnie Seikaly is a total mensch…in a fun, genuine, authentic, and ultimately, for the first time, public way."
• Revealing the Story:
  • Context of Magic Johnson’s HIV announcement defined an era of fear and ignorance in sports.
  • Seikaly’s private gesture: while other NBA players were shunning Magic, Seikaly asked to play Magic one-on-one backstage, “breaking the seal” of stigma.
  • The act had a profound impact on Magic Johnson, referenced only in passing once or twice, and never told in depth until now.
• Why the Story Was Almost Lost:
  • Pablo Torre (10:47): "It was pretty much unknown to everybody…This was not a thing for the public. This was a thing behind closed doors…"
• Ronny Seikaly’s Motivation:
  • The son of a culture attuned to the struggles of the LGBTQ community through his love for house music and personal lived experiences.

Notable Quote

Ronny Seikaly (in clip, 12:04):
"I just walked up to him. And I said, do you want to play one on one? ...I wanted him to feel human and not like an amoeba, you know, like everybody wants to be away from him. I wanted him to feel good about himself... And I take that to my grave, that I was able to put a smile on somebody's face that…he's done so much in his life. But in that moment, I put a smile on his face. And that's the most important thing for me."
— Ronny Seikaly (12:04-13:07)

2. Pablo’s Reporting Process & Podcast Team

(13:07–14:20)

• How the Story Was Assembled:
  • Foster Kamer, a music writer and house music expert, helped piece together Seikaly’s musical journey and its intersection with the HIV/AIDS crisis.
  • Magic Johnson himself was unavailable for the episode, possibly due to lingering irritation over a previous show segment about his tweet writers.
• Pablo humorously details efforts to contact Magic Johnson:
  • Dan Le Batard (18:18): "Did you try to sneak into his box at Dodger Stadium?"
  • Pablo Torre (18:18): "I did stand within a mid range jumper's distance behind Magic Johnson at Dodger Stadium. I was…about to ask him to participate in this episode when I was thrown out…"

3. The Power and Pitfalls of Independent Journalism

(21:10–28:57)

• Mainstream Media in Crisis:
  • Dan prompts Pablo to address the unraveling of institutions like CBS and the Washington Post due to corporate conflicts and political interference.
  • Pablo observes the vacuum left as legacy outlets become more compromised, arguing this creates a rare opening for independent journalism.
• Key Issues:
  • Networks’ growing transactional relationships with political power (FCC, corporate mergers).
  • Increasing public cynicism and demand for real accountability.
• Notable Observations:
  • Pablo Torre (22:07): "…such clarity around corruption, around billionaires, around Silicon Valley, around people at the very top."
  • References to viral moments (e.g., Pam Bondi/Jeffrey Epstein hearings) showing audience hunger for truth.
• Pablo’s North Star for Journalism:
  • Pablo Torre (27:07): "What do journalists have? We have vocabulary. We have to defend it. This is what a documentary is…You're using journalistic depictions to tell a story…”

4. The Lasting Social Influence of Sports

(29:46–32:23)

• Reassessing the Role of Sports:
  • Discussion on how sports can be a gateway to larger social understanding, e.g., how the Magic Johnson story educated millions on HIV.
  • Dan Le Batard (30:11): "The power of sports is that it has all of these people in the audience who are not looking for the thing...as vegetables...and then you realize, oh my God, these people in sports, they're these humans who have problems and glorious successes…”
• Commissioners and Courage:
  • David Stern’s leadership allowed the league to support Magic Johnson, seeing him as more than a pariah and changing social attitudes at a key moment.
  • Pablo Torre (30:11): "David Stern had many issues, but his top down power to enact change...he was on the right side of history. And that's how Ronnie Seikaly enters the story. That's how...we get from a place of total ignorance about what HIV is to now..."

5. Celtics Chemistry—Hot Take or Reasonable Concern?

(32:23–37:41)

• Debate on Jayson Tatum’s Impact:
  • The panel debates whether Jayson Tatum’s impending return could disrupt the Celtics’ chemistry—sparked by Jeremy, with Mike Ryan, Tony, and others joining in.
  • Mike Ryan (33:08): "They will 100%...have an acclimation point where they try to readjust to Jason Tatum's usage rate…"
  • John Zaslow draws parallels with past Heat teams re-integrating stars.
• Dan pushes back, suggesting it’s reverse psychology to jinx the Celtics.
• Personality Dynamics:
  • Jaylen Brown’s rise and possible tension, given his “wide receiver personality.”
• Meta-discussion on Take Ownership:
  • Dan accuses the crew of "holding your take with tongs like it's a diaper," i.e., not fully owning their opinions.
  • Mike Ryan (37:04): "Say it with my chest and say what I mean, I would like you to pipe down, fella."
  • Sarcastically, Mike goes all-in: "Jason Tatum sucks. I've never been a fan of his. …He is a Kobe, Stan. Just a worse version." (37:24)

6. Inside Jokes, Show Traditions, and “Custodians”

(38:07–42:00)

• Naming Debate:
  • The show debates whether the "shipping container" crew should rebrand as the "custodians," a supposed title promotion reflecting new show dynamics.
  • Bittersweet recollections of the old studio and changes since.
• High lie Team Updates:
  • Lighthearted update on their sponsored highlight team, the Cyclones, and banter about team performance.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Dan Le Batard on Sports Moments (07:27):
  "It's one of those moments, the rare ones, where you remember exactly where you were, because something just shifted at the center of sports and society where we all thought that Magic Johnson...was also announcing that he was about to die."
• Seikaly’s Empathy (12:04):
  "I wanted him to feel human and not like an amoeba, you know, like everybody wants to be away from him. I wanted him to feel good about himself. I wanted other players to see this." – Ronny Seikaly
• Pablo’s Mission Statement (25:28):
  "What if we use this money to create…a coalition of people who will use journalism to hold the most wealthy and therefore dangerous people in this country to account?"
• Dan on Journalistic Integrity (27:07):
  "I don’t think people can tell the difference…That’s what’s happening…with just the two words, fake news."
• Mike Ryan on Celtics Debate (37:24):
  "Jason Tatum sucks. I’ve never been a fan of his…He doesn’t have stands because he himself is a…Kobe stand. Just a worse version. There you go."

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 03:03 – Introduction & context for Pablo Torre’s Ronnie Seikaly investigation
• 07:27 – Reflections on Magic Johnson’s HIV announcement
• 10:47 – The significance and near-invisibility of the Seikaly story
• 12:04 – Seikaly speaks in his own words about the moment with Magic Johnson
• 18:18 – Pablo’s attempt to contact Magic at Dodger Stadium
• 21:10 – Mainstream media crisis; opportunity for independent journalism
• 25:28 – Meadowlark’s mission, Washington Post, and media corruption
• 29:46 – Importance of sports in catalyzing social change
• 32:23 – Celtics’ chemistry debate: Tatum vs. Brown
• 38:07 – “Shipping container” vs. “Custodians” running joke
• 40:00 – Lighthearted high lie team (Cyclones) recap

Conclusion

This hour of The Dan Le Batard Show blends signature banter, humor, and sharp cultural criticism, centering on Pablo Torre’s rare uplifting sports story about courage and solidarity—Rony Seikaly’s forgotten act of friendship towards Magic Johnson. The episode also covers the evolving terrain of independent journalism, the failings of mainstream media, and sports figures’ outsized influence on public perception, all while balancing serious insights with the show’s trademark irreverence and inside-joke-laden camaraderie.