The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
Episode: Hour 1: Not The Best Judgement
Date: November 24, 2025
Location: Elser Hotel, Downtown Miami
Episode Overview
This episode kicks off with Dan Le Batard, Stugotz, and their regular crew engaging in their signature, freewheeling banter covering football storylines, pop culture, and Miami-centric quirks. The hour is heavy on NFL talk (especially Matthew Stafford, the Rams, and the Lions), the ongoing Lionel Messi spectacle in Miami, gripes about soccer broadcasting on Apple TV, and the show’s staple—chaotic segments and rapid-fire comedic exchanges, especially “Funniest Thing from the Sports Weekend.” Notably, Tony presents his “Top 5” list live from a Miami Metro Mover, adding extra unpredictability to the hour.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Matthew Stafford, the Rams, and Detroit's Legacy (02:15–06:50)
- Dan and company reflect on the Rams’ resurgence, emphasizing Matthew Stafford’s late-career excellence and the organization’s savvy.
- Dan admits he’s often swept up in national storylines (Eagles, Chiefs) but wants to spotlight Stafford’s under-discussed greatness.
- Greg Cody reminds the group Stafford was nearly counted out due to a bad back before the season, highlighting his durability and toughness.
- Chris Cote and the group discuss how Detroit’s dysfunction (citing Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson's early retirements) colored Stafford’s reputation—he became the scapegoat for organizational shortcomings.
- Debate about Stafford vs. Detroit legends:
- Greg Cody: “Barry Sanders ultimately is going to be revered more than Stafford in Detroit.” (06:28)
- Jonathan Zaslow: “It depends how far you’re going to go back. They did win NFL championships in the league...” (06:33)
- Underlying insight: Stafford’s “loser” label was unfair—in reality, he may have been Detroit’s greatest bright spot.
2. Lionel Messi, Apple TV, and Soccer Accessibility (07:14–10:24)
- Greg Cody talks about being banished to a corner of the house to watch Messi play, prompting a discussion on how American fans underappreciate Messi compared to icons like LeBron or Brady.
- Jonathan Zaslow: “It’s an honor to watch that guy play. I probably don’t think that way about any other athlete.” (07:32)
- On American sports culture’s disconnect:
- “There’s still such a gulf… We don’t appreciate what we have in Messi. Whereas we do with Tom Brady or LeBron James.” – Zaslow (08:10)
- Chris Cote and Mike Ryan bemoan the exclusivity and cost of watching Messi through Apple TV+’s paywall, arguing it alienates parts of the Miami fanbase:
- Mike Ryan: “They don’t even put out the numbers. Can you imagine numbers so bad not releasing them? That should scare you and your family.” (09:49)
- Theme: Access and greed in sports broadcasting are pricing out passionate fans from historically significant moments.
3. Tony’s “Top 5” — Metro Mover Mayhem (12:23–16:54)
- Tony delivers his “Top 5” takes live from a moving Miami Metro Mover, nervously dodging police and public confusion. The segment is chaotic, self-deprecating, and emblematic of the show’s blend of sports and absurdity.
- #5: “J.J. McCarthy sucks.” (12:52)
- #4: “Nice story, but the Bucs are cooked.” (13:31)
- #3: “Is Jameer Gibbs better than Barry Sanders?” (14:07) – Sparking outrage and laughter at the room’s blasphemy towards Sanders.
- #2: “We need a new wing in the Pro Football Hall of Fame—just Gunslingers—Jameis Winston is first ballot.” (14:52)
- #1: “Give Matthew Stafford the MVP and close up shop.” (16:34)
- Notable moment: Tony freaks out as police approach, adding real-time drama and humor to the segment.
4. Funniest Thing from the Sports Weekend (20:10–28:25)
- Jeremy recounts Jerry Jeudy’s fumble: “He was holding the ball away from his body… and before you could get that thought out, here comes the punch, so far away it didn’t even matter.” (21:10)
- Greg Cody’s ongoing battle with football “punching”: He’s bombarded online about Landman’s punch-out plays—insists his gripe is about missed punches hitting players, not forced fumbles.
- The group mocks college football quirks (the “tush push”, big play derivations, and unusual scoring trends).
- Jonathan Zaslow brags about his 13–1 picks weekend—a running joke for dodging real analysis.
- Oblique, running gags: Mike Ryan repeatedly (and absurdly) insists injustices in football polls and traditions are “woke and gay.”
- Example: “Notre Dame’s success is Miami’s success. It’s a tiebreaker and it’s woke.” (25:17)
- Jeremy highlights a bizarre senior night moment with Brian Kelly’s son and an awkward t-shirt (“Free My Boy BK”). (25:37)
5. Show Insiders: Hacked Accounts, Office Politics, and In-Jokes (33:38–39:07)
- Greg Cody revels in fellow Miami journalist Barry Jackson being hacked, having suffered it himself:
- “There’s a comfort in knowing it’s not just me… it happened to me, it could happen to you.” (34:53)
- Tony dubs it “one sucker to another.”
- Light office ribbing: Zaslow receives the nickname “JZ,” Jeremy’s Beatles costume sparks discussions about show stunts, and inside references pile on (walk-in vs. walk-on confusion, supporting someone’s “daddy” for lawsuit-money reasons).
- Meta humor: The team jokes about their minimal actual equity in the show and the faux-hierarchy among hosts.
6. Random NFL and College Football Points (39:41–44:13)
- Language evolution in football:
- Discussion turns to “laundry” (penalty flags): Why do announcers say it? Is it now too much of a cliché/xenism?
- Zaslow humorously tries to chart the “evolution” from “penalty flag” to “marker” to “laundry.” (41:12)
- Discussion turns to “laundry” (penalty flags): Why do announcers say it? Is it now too much of a cliché/xenism?
- Show erupts over Miami bias as Mike Ryan goes into overdrive (“Miami is a national champion!”):
- “You’ve infected today’s show with your University of Miami biases.” – Chris Cote (41:57)
- Miscellaneous sports injustices: Player contract drama (e.g., the 49ers “doing Iuk dirty”) and quick gripes about playoff systems and poll logic.
Notable Quotes
- “Stafford’s the only reason Detroit was even relevant. He’s the best thing that ever happened to Detroit. Am I wrong?”
– Chris Cote (05:27) - “There’s still such a gulf… American sports fans don’t appreciate Messi. Whereas we do with Brady or LeBron.”
– Jonathan Zaslow (08:10) - “Numbers so bad, not releasing them? That should scare you and your family.”
– Mike Ryan, on Apple TV/Messi viewership secrecy (09:49) - “Is Jameer Gibbs better than Barry Sanders? I’ll let you guys chew on that for a second.”
– Tony, deadpan (14:07) - “We need a new wing—just Gunslingers—Jameis Winston is first ballot. Gunslinger Hall of Fame.”
– Tony (14:52) - “Can you imagine the narrative if the pollsters had to release the numbers? That’s woke… and gay!”
– Mike Ryan (25:17) - “There’s a comfort knowing it’s not just me. If it happened to me, it could happen to you.”
– Greg Cody, on being hacked (34:53) - “During good stuff, we all have equity. During bad stuff? That’s all on you.”
– Tony, on show ownership (37:37) - “Why is there no hetero sapien?”
– Mike Ryan, offhandedly (41:37) - “You’ve infected today’s show with your University of Miami biases!”
– Chris Cote (41:57) - “Miami looks like a national champion!”
– Mike Ryan (43:12) - “The biggest statement [BK’s son] made at LSU is supporting his daddy for getting fired and wanting his buyout money.”
– Chris Cote (28:25)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- Rams & Stafford / Detroit football history: 02:15–06:50
- Lionel Messi in Miami, Apple TV debate: 07:14–10:24
- Tony’s Top 5 (Metro Mover edition): 12:23–16:54
- Funniest Thing from the Sports Weekend segment: 20:10–28:25
- Brian Kelly’s son, LSU senior night bit: 25:37–28:25
- Twitter hacks and show meta-humor: 33:38–39:07
- Football “laundry” terminology: 39:41–41:39
- Miami bias rant: 41:50–44:13
Memorable Moments
- Tony’s “Top 5” from the Metro Mover: Real-time suspense and hilarity as Tony nervously executes his segment, dodges cops, and blurts out wild takes.
- The whole crew roasting the concept of “Jameer Gibbs is better than Barry Sanders”—collective outrage and mockery.
- Recurring, deliberately absurd claims that various sports injustices are “woke and gay” by Mike Ryan—an inside joke stretching through multiple topics.
- Cody relishing another journalist also being hacked—darkly comic acknowledgment of communal suffering.
- Brian Kelly’s son celebrating his father’s buyout drama on senior night—awkward yet deeply on-brand for the show’s affection for sports family absurdities.
Tone & Style
The episode is tightly packed with the show’s characteristic blend of high-energy sports discourse, local flavor, improvisational humor, and inside jokes. The crew frequently interrupts, riffs on one another, and wields self-deprecation liberally. There’s an undercurrent of satire regarding sports media, the commodification of events, and the insularity and oddities of Miami sports culture.
Summary prepared for listeners as a comprehensive breakdown of all meaningful sports talk, recurring motifs, and comedic highpoints—leaving out ad reads and non-content sections per instructions.