The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
Episode: Hour 1 – "Mike & Dave Got Everything Wrong"
Date: September 12, 2025
Featured Guests: Dave Dameshek, Matthew Berry
Location: The Elser Hotel, Downtown Miami
Episode Overview
This lively, comedic episode sways between NFL hot takes, fantasy football fever, and the oddities of being a sports fan or, better yet, a sports podcaster whose picks inexplicably flop. Dan and Stugotz welcome Dave Dameshek to defend himself after a week of “getting every game wrong,” take potshots at NFL uniforms and kickers, and ropes in fantasy guru Matthew Berry for a rapid fantasy rundown. From NFL nostalgia to the quirks of restaurant tipping, Hour 1 is a freewheeling canvas of sports banter, cultural references, and signature Le Batard absurdity.
Key Discussion Points
1. Dave Dameshek and the "All Wrong" Week
Timestamps: [02:30]–[04:55]
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Callout for Bad Picks:
Stugotz opens with a roast of Dameshek and Mike Ryan’s perfect record... of being wrong on "Football America."“Every single game you picked went wrong that week.... Your information was good, your analysis was good, but you got every single game wrong. The two of you.” — Stugotz [02:58]
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Lighthearted Defense:
Dave shrugs it off, joking about the sheer number of teams and the randomness of football, flipping into an impression bit gone awry.“Look, Dan, there are a lot of football teams out there. We picked the wrong ones on this day.” — Dave Dameshek [03:17]
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Impression Mix-ups:
The hosts dissect Mike Ryan’s attempt at impersonating Chris Berman and RFK, mostly to roast each other.
2. NFL Narratives: Packers, Steelers, Ravens, and QB Legacies
Timestamps: [05:16]–[13:00]
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Packers' QB Transition and Legacy:
Dan notes Green Bay’s enviable 35 years of QB prowess (Farve, Rodgers, now Love) but points out the limited payoff:“That’s the exact same number of Lombardi trophies that they’ve delivered to Green Bay as Trent Dilfer and Joe Flacco gave to Charm City.” — Dan Le Batard [05:35]
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Rodgers, Underachievement, and Steelers:
Stugotz tags Aaron Rodgers as "the greatest quarterback I've ever seen and an underachiever." [06:12] -
Game Analysis:
Detailed frame-by-frame of Steelers-Jets and Packers: Kicking performances changed game outcomes; Chris Boswell’s heroics vs. Nick Folk’s miscues.
Dameshek notes a decade-long streak of calling the Steelers’ record “within one game.” [07:50] -
Rodgers’ Diminished Mobility:
Dameshek argues the QB looked less nimble than his legend presumes – a warning sign for the Jets.“He did not look as nimble as he did, let’s say five years ago...” — Dave Dameshek [08:07]
3. Uniform Disasters and "Football America: Fashion Corner"
Timestamps: [09:23]–[11:23]
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Packers’ Bold New Look Receives Lukewarm Reviews:
Mike Ryan nearly swoons over gold piping and sleeve stripes, but condemns the helmet:“A simple gold stripe down the middle would make this a great alternate uniform… did they want to save money on helmet stripes?” — Mike Ryan [09:50]
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Dan proposes they scrap the gold entirely—"go more Spartan"—to which Mike retorts, “you’d be the New York Jets at that point.”
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Consensus: The uniform looks “unfinished.” [11:23]
4. NFL Kickers: Solutions for the Impossible Position
Timestamps: [11:31]–[13:39], [17:54]–[18:57]
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Kickers Too Good?
Dameshek goes on a rant against hyper-skilled kickers:“It’s become a plague that they’re too good… I find it unsatisfying that games all come down to a guy who has nothing to do with the entire rest of the game. It is our funniest position in major sports.” — Dave Dameshek [12:39]
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Proposed Solutions:
- Return to "head-on" style, ban sidewinders.
- Only allow a kicker on the field if they play regular snaps.
“Let’s get rid of the kickers… the more you can do. Swiss Army knife. Who’s the best kicker on the defensive line? Indomican Suh, you’re in.” — Dave Dameshek [14:25]
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Comparing "Weird Positions”:
Is the long-snapper a worse fate than kicker? Polls ensue. [17:54]
5. Career Choices in Pro Sports: What’s the Sweet Spot?
Timestamps: [18:57]–[21:03]
- The Ideal Role?
Stugotz: Backup QB. Dan: Long reliever/mop-up bullpen guy."To be out in the bullpen, away from the boss man where you can do your own thing and talk to the fans...maybe being a platoon corner outfielder would be pretty cool too..." — Dan Le Batard [19:40]
6. Number 7 Quarterbacks: Elway vs. Roethlisberger Debate
Timestamps: [21:03]–[23:03]
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Is John Elway the greatest #7 ever? Does Roethlisberger compare?
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Playoff wins as QB stat. Dameshek: “He needs to take care of business in January or else he does not make the short list... and the same fate awaits Josh Allen.” [23:03]
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Spicy Take: Dan Marino wasn’t failed by his talent, but by his coach:
“I say for all of his rightly legendary status... Don Shula failed Dan Marino. Dan Marino would have won a title if his head coach hadn’t been outmoded.” — Dave Dameshek [23:03]
7. College Football: Florida Gators’ Downfall and the Burden of Expectations
Timestamps: [27:07]–[33:17]
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Billy Napier’s Job Security:
Stugotz and Mike dissect the Gators’ embarrassing loss and the sky-high expectations at Florida.“He only has a $20 million buyout. It sounds crazy to say ‘only’, but it’s not like 85 million…” — Chris Cote [30:11]
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SEC Pressure Cookers:
Even competent coaches (Muschamp, McIlwain, Mullen) get canned; expectations driven by Spurrier and Urban Meyer’s ghosts. -
Whither Lane Kiffin?
Would he even want the Florida job if he’s a “conquering hero” winning 10 at Ole Miss? [31:44]
8. Baker Mayfield Resurgence and NFL Parity
Timestamps: [33:17]–[35:54]
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Late Game Heroics & Baker Discourse:
Mike Ryan says the “Baker Mayfield is he good?” conversation is finally over:“He’s going to get a third [offensive coordinator] hired. We got to stop doing this with the underestimating of Baker Mayfield.” — Mike Ryan [34:19]
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Close games, coaching philosophy, and analyzing Harbaugh’s controversial 4th-down decisions.
9. Restaurant Tipping and the Anxiety of Being Recognized
Timestamps: [36:37]–[41:13]
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How Much to Tip the AC Guy?
Chris Cote’s “generosity” triggers a group ethics/etiquette debate about service industry tipping.“You gave him a $200 tip? 200 total. It was 150, gave him 200...” — Chris Cote [37:19]
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Dan’s Over-Tipping-for-Fame Complex:
Dan admits he over-tips if he’s recognized, for fear of being judged.“I can’t leave a shitty tip in that spot.” — Dan Le Batard [39:29]
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Best Position for “No Pressure?”
Mop-up reliever wins over “platoon outfielder,” with backup QB as honorable mention (low risk, good money).
10. Fantasy Football Rapid Fire with Matthew Berry
Timestamps: [44:50]–[48:35]
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Matthew Berry’s Pledge:
Matthew Berry vows to share his best fantasy intel every week, and even Stugotz softens toward fantasy football:“If Matthew Berry commits to what it is he’s presently doing for us today and our listeners... I will be the ambassador for fantasy that Matthew Berry has always been.” — Stugotz [44:50]
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Key Week 2 Fantasy Tips (Berry’s Segment):
- Start Dak Prescott:
“Dak... top 10 play for me this week.” [46:19] - Justin Herbert a Must Start Against Raiders:
“You can throw on the Raiders.” - Chase Brown Breakout?
“Literally no other Bengals RB got a carry last week... due for a big game.” - James Conner and Trey Benson juicy matchups vs. Panthers.
- Quentin Judkins vs. Samson split for Browns (pass-catching game script).
- Cedric Tillman undervalued:
“Averaging 18.1 fantasy points per game… Would have been better than CeeDee Lamb last year.” [47:36] - Jacoby Myers Top 20 Option.
- Colts' Tyler Warren a high-volume target, likely to benefit.
- Start Dak Prescott:
Notable Quotes & Funny Moments
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On NFL Uniforms:
“It feels like it was 4:59pm on a Friday and they’re like, ah, close enough. Let’s go.” — Dan Le Batard [11:23] -
On NFL Specialization:
“We’ve transcended specialization now. So let’s get rid of the kickers and the more you can do. Swiss Army knife.” — Dave Dameshek [14:25] -
On Over-tipping:
“I probably do over tip because I just – is it always the same AC person for you? That’s a great question…” — Chris Cote [38:02] -
Dan’s Restaurant Order Antics:
“I went to dinner with Dan once and he didn’t order food or a drink to be a fly on the table. And we didn’t know that was happening…” — Chris Cote [39:40] -
On Back-Up QB as Best Job:
“Oh, backup quarterback.” — Stugotz [19:06] -
On Baker Mayfield:
“Baker Mayfield’s already gotten two of his offensive coordinators head coaching jobs. He’s going to get a third one hired.” — Mike Ryan [34:19] -
On Kicker/Long Snapper Existential Anxiety:
“There’s no name you associate with kicking more than that [Grammatica]. Not Vinatieri as a family, correct?” — Stugotz [26:19]
Key Timestamps for Reference
- [02:30]–[04:55]: Roast of Dave Dameshek/Mike Ryan for their bad picks and session on RFK/Berman impressions
- [05:16]–[13:00]: Packers/Steelers/Rodgers discussion, and kicker performances
- [17:54]: Is kicker or long snapper weirder?
- [18:57]: Dream sports jobs debate
- [21:03]–[23:03]: Elway, Roethlisberger, Marino and legacy assessments
- [27:07]: Florida Gators program in crisis
- [33:17]: Mayfield’s status and division debate
- [36:37]: Tipping the AC guy and server stories
- [44:50]: Matthew Berry’s fantasy football stats rapid fire
Closing Summary
This episode encapsulates what makes the Le Batard Show a fan favorite: rambunctious chemistry, deeply “inside” sports banter, recurring running jokes (polls for everything), and the ability to juxtapose serious football insight with irreverent tangents about tipping culture or 1980s movies. While the group roasts each other for bad picks, they also deliver sharp NFL analysis, debate sports cultural oddities, and give listeners a blueprint for Week 2 fantasy glory—if they dare to trust the show’s track record.
Listen if you want:
- A wild ride through NFL minutiae and oddball sports debates
- Practical and off-the-wall fantasy football nuggets
- Vivid personality clashes and nostalgia-fueled takes
- Real talk about sports jobs, fandom, and why the kicker still might be the weirdest gig in sports.
