The Dan Le Batard Show With Stugotz

Episode: Hour 1: That's Hard Time's Daddy
Date: September 8, 2025
Location: Elser Hotel, Downtown Miami
Hosts: Dan Le Batard, Stugotz (plus Mike Ryan, Greg Cody, Billy, Zas, Chris, Roy)

Episode Overview

In this episode, the crew delivers their signature blend of sports talk, cultural commentary, and humor, broadcasting from the Elser Hotel in Miami. The central themes revolve around the continuing influence of sports media legends (with an extended discussion on Howard Stern's contract extension), generational shifts in pop culture relevance (highlighted by the VMAs' attempts to win back an aging audience), and a lively football roundup spotlighting NFL and college storylines, with particular focus on notable player performances and local teams.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Howard Stern’s Enduring Influence and Media Legacy

[02:44 – 08:53]

• The panel dives deep into Howard Stern’s surprising return and five-year contract extension with Sirius XM, dissecting the longevity and reinvention necessary for such a career milestone.
• Zas points out the media circus and erroneous speculation about Stern’s job security during his extended absence, noting, “People were reporting that he's being fired. He just synced a five year extension.” (04:18)
• The group debates whether Stern continues to be relevant in a rapidly shifting media world dominated by podcasts and younger voices.
• Dan Le Batard: “Even in your 70s, you could be this kind of valuable in a medium you helped change… an icon who's reinvented himself over four decades.” (04:46)
• They also discuss Sirius XM’s effort to maintain relevance in a paywall era, stacking their lineup with modern voices like Stephen A. Smith and Katie Nolan to chase a younger demographic.

Notable Quotes

• Mike Ryan: “The five year extension kind of thumbs its nose [at] 'he went woke and now he's going broke.'” (07:01)
• Dan Le Batard: "His value is not up for dispute." (07:13)

2. The VMAs and Pop Culture Generational Shifts

[09:02 – 15:22]

• The team discusses how the MTV VMAs, for the first time simulcast on CBS, aimed to recapture the MTV generation by showcasing older artists and legacy acts.
• Mike Ryan accuses the others of pretending ignorance, playfully: "You're just a liar. The VMAs were simulcast on CBS.” (10:09)
• Discussion: The crew acknowledges the overt effort to appeal to older viewers, from bringing back LL Cool J to honoring artists like Ricky Martin and Busta Rhymes.
• Critique of Mariah Carey's performance becomes a comedic lightning rod, with jokes about her “dainty” style and inability to confidently cross the stage.
• The attempt by MTV (and other media, like Power 96) to refocus on nostalgic content is compared to what Howard Stern and Sirius XM are doing – chasing and retaining a loyal but aging audience.

Memorable Moments

• Billy: “She should be standing still when she sings.” (11:27)
• Mike Ryan: “They created new awards just to give more old people awards.” (11:06)
• Mike Ryan on MTV’s strategy: “The CBS simulcast in itself was an admission. We're done trying to get teenagers. We're trying to get their parents.” (15:11)

3. NFL & College Football Roundup: Rapid-Fire Analysis

[18:11 – 30:46]

• Dan races through a list of football storylines he claims not to have time for, such as standout plays by Penix and Landman, and then pivots to larger narratives.
• The “who felt best” after NFL Week 1 debate centers on Aaron Rodgers’ successful debut in Pittsburgh and Daniel Jones’ resurgence, with extended talk about the Steelers’ revived prospects, the shifting power balance, and the emotional impact on these players.
• They further discuss the implications of Rodgers moving into a “set culture,” no longer controlling the offensive staff (“You're not going to be raising up the Joe Philbins of the world…” – Mike Ryan, 26:45), and the symbolic importance for the Steelers and their fans.
• The group briefly hits on notable college performances, scandals, and micro stories: Oklahoma State’s collapse, Miami’s win, and Florida’s struggles, often illustrated with inside jokes and digressions.

Notable Quotes

• Dan Le Batard (on Rodgers): “To eat the humbling of your ego is great... What you just saw is offense Pittsburgh hasn't had in a decade.” (27:35–28:20)
• Greg Cody: “He (Rodgers) goes for being a guy that Steelers fans think they can win with... he can be Brady 2.0.” (29:14)

4. College Football, Fan Culture, and Unique Tailgate Stories

[37:39 – 44:29]

• Hampton Farms Peanuts segment ("nuttiest fan" contest): Features a fan who brought a lemur to a game versus a fan ready to use lottery winnings to fire Alabama’s coach.
• The crew riffs on how ridiculous college fandom can get, with Dan calling bringing a lemur to a stadium “animal cruelty.” (39:09)
• Football soundbites and regional radio nostalgia blend in, as they discuss how Power 96 has shifted to full-time throwbacks, paralleling MTV’s approach.

Memorable Moments

• Billy: “What do you think is nuttier, Dan? Bringing a lemur into a stadium or spending your lottery winnings getting a coach out of town?” (39:03)
• Dan: “You can’t bring a lemur into your stadium. That seems bad for the lemur.” (39:53)
• Mike Ryan: “Do you ever hear anything about football and you're like, I don't trust you? … you get some good nugget and you're like, damn it, I don't trust this person.” (40:50)

5. Rapid Sports Miscellany and Running Jokes

[41:27 – 46:45]

• Quick hit reactions to ongoing baseball, more college football surprises, and Inter Miami's Luis Suarez suspension for a spitting incident. The Suarez ban's logistical weirdness is ridiculed (“He can't play in the league's cup anymore!” – Mike Ryan, 44:31).
• Lively banter ensues with Greg Cody and others inventing car names (“Plymouth Troy”, “Dodge Crystal Ball”) from college coach names.
• The hour closes with playful debate and a callback to the show's signature quirky humor.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Exchanges

| Time | Quote | Speaker | |--------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------| | 04:46 | "Even in your 70s, you could be this kind of valuable in a medium you helped change..." | Dan | | 07:13 | "His value is not up for dispute." | Dan | | 11:27 | "She should be standing still when she sings." | Billy | | 15:11 | “The CBS simulcast in itself was an admission. We're done trying to get teenagers. We're... parents.” | Mike Ryan | | 26:45 | "You're not going to be raising up the Joe Philbins of the world." | Mike Ryan | | 27:35 | "To eat the humbling of your ego is great... What you just saw is offense Pittsburgh hasn't had..." | Dan | | 29:14 | “He goes for being a guy that Steelers fans think they can win with... he can be Brady 2.0.” | Greg Cody | | 39:09 | "You can’t bring a lemur into your stadium. That seems bad for the lemur." | Dan | | 44:31 | “He can't play in the league's cup anymore!” | Mike Ryan |

Key Timestamps

| Segment/Topic | Start | |----------------------------------------------------|---------| | Howard Stern contract and media evolution | 02:44 | | VMAs, MTV, and generational pop culture nostalgia | 09:02 | | NFL rapid-fire, Aaron Rodgers/Steelers breakdown | 18:11 | | Football "who felt best" discussion | 23:11 | | Fantasy car names and nuttiest college fans | 37:39 | | Final college football, soccer, and baseball hits | 41:27 |

Summary Tone & Style

• The conversation retains the irreverent, rapid-fire, and self-aware style fans expect.
• Banter, sarcasm, and inside references are frequent, as is self-deprecation and playful ribbing.
• The hosts move fluidly between cultural critique, sports analysis, and jokes, blurring lines for comedic effect.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

This hour is a quintessential Le Batard Show blend—industry-savvy sports media commentary (Howard Stern), pop nostalgia (MTV VMAs), sharp but unserious football talk, and just enough absurdity (lemurs, fantasy car names). If you like your sports talk mixed with satire, social insight, and Miami flavor, this episode delivers.