Hour 1: The Crater Transaction

Summary

The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

Episode: Hour 1 – "The Crater Transaction"

Date: November 12, 2025
Location: Elser Hotel, Downtown Miami

Overview

This episode dives into one of the most seismic NBA trades in recent history: the Dallas Mavericks’ stunning, universally condemned decision to trade away Luka Dončić for Anthony Davis. Dan, Stugotz, Amin Elhassan, Chris Cote, and the crew explore not only the disastrous immediate aftermath for the Mavericks, but how such “crater transactions” devastate fanbases and franchises—sometimes permanently. The show also dissects other sports debacles, fan relationships to star players, the emotional business of sports, and management missteps. There’s a blend of heavy sports breakdown, personal stories, and plenty of trademark Dan Le Batard Show humor along the way.

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Main Discussion Topics & Insights

1. The Mavericks’ Catastrophic Luka Trade ("The Crater Transaction")

• Segment Start: [07:05]

• Chris Cote introduces the Mavericks’ trade of Luka as a rare moment where “everyone on the Internet immediately felt the move was disastrous—and they were right.”
  Dan Le Batard: "...social media, international fandom rises up and says, that move that was just made in sports is so shocking that I know the executive to be a fool." [06:45]

• Amin Elhassan explains the trade’s infamy—most trades are debated or reappraised, but here, “there were literally executives texting insiders to ask if Woj had been hacked.”
  Amin: "People literally were texting and calling sham, saying, yo, you got hacked. Think about how outrageous it has to be. ... That's how ridiculous it was in the moment." [09:00]

• The group compares this to historic bad NBA trades (James Worthy, Robert Parish/Kevin McHale, etc.), agreeing this is “Mount Rushmore of worst transactions in NBA history.”
  Amin: "...dare I say it? It's on the Mount Rushmore of worst transactions in NBA history." [08:35]

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2. Emotional Bonds & “Crater Transactions” in Sports

• Amin explains “crater transactions”: deals so devastating that the fanbase never recovers, using the Hawks’ Dominique Wilkins trade as the prime example.
  Amin: “They killed NBA basketball in that city for three decades because they made a deal that did not take into account what these people...” [13:43]

• Stugotz references his own “crater moment” as a Marlins fan, and the crew points out it’s not just about wins or losses, but the shattering of trust and emotional investment.

• Dan notes it's “bad business” for ownership to ignore the emotional core of sports.
  Dan: "Of all the people that you mentioned there, the one with the greatest promise ... for 10 years, we get to have a guy ... This is the best of the players you're talking about. This kind of trade is the modern day trading of Babe Ruth." [19:30]

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3. Management, Culture, and the Echo Chamber

• Amin reads from a former Mavericks staffer’s letter warning that GM Nico Harrison had insulated himself from dissent, surrounded by “yes men,” and trusted those with little basketball knowledge.
  Amin: “...he did not have a good grasp of who he should trust... Instead of being willing to hear critical input, Nico had empowered people who had little basketball knowledge... These people stroked Nico’s ego at every turn. So he surrounded himself with yes men.” [21:43]

• The Mavericks’ new ownership group is depicted as “disconnected” from the city’s sports culture, compounding the crisis.

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4. Iconic Rants, Humor, & Mad Dog Russo Meltdown

• Memorable Mad Dog Russo rant on the failures of air travel, politicians, and American infrastructure.
  Mad Dog: “All of you should be ashamed. Every single elected official on both sides of the aisle should look themselves in the mirror... you all go to hell. Every single one of you." [27:04]

• The group joyfully relives Mad Dog’s theatrical outrage over delayed flights and government dysfunction, likening it to the universal sports frustration in Dallas.

• Usual show banter and callbacks (e.g., impromptu impersonations, the bartender “Joseph” running joke).

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5. NBA and Sports Miscellany: “You Know About That?”

• Segment Start: [38:49]

• Amin is quizzed on recent NBA happenings in a quiz show-style segment about player drama and NBA news:

  • Draymond Green’s recent comments hinting about young teammates’ agendas ([39:24])
  • The new NBA All-Star format: “USA vs the World,” with concerns about uneven talent distribution ([40:17])
  • The Mavericks blaming their home fans for poor home performance after recent trades ([41:21])
  • Celtics' early struggles under coach Joe Mazzulla ([42:03])
  • Ja Morant’s shooting woes, trade calls from Timberwolves and Kings ([43:02])
  • Cade Cunningham’s wild but inefficient night for the Pistons ([44:44])
  • Doug Christie’s motivational (and a bit bewildering) press conference as Kings’ interim head coach ([45:36])

  Doug Christie Press Conference Quote:
  "We about to work at it like crazy... And while you do that, eventually we gonna be coming the King show sack proud.” [46:08]

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6. Relationship & Lifestyle Detour: Date Nights and Wardrobe Choices

• A lighthearted segment about host John Middlekauff’s weekly date nights—
  • His wife vetoes his wrestling T-shirts for date night,
  • Banter about sports apparel, spouse influence, and their long-standing marriage ([34:43]–[38:49])

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Crater Trade:
  “How is it good business to literally do something that your entire customer base is going to hate?” — John Middlekauff [20:31]

• On Mavs Trading Luka:
  “He was so ingrained there, that’s the shocking thing… this fan base had gotten used to, ‘our stars don’t leave’.” — Dan Le Batard (main host) [20:41]

• On Yes Men & Mismanagement:
  “Instead of being willing to hear critical input, Nico had empowered people who had little basketball knowledge... yes men.” — Amin Elhassan (reading Jeremias Engelman) [21:43]

• Mad Dog Russo’s Aviation Rant:
  “...I got the President sitting there with freaking Vilma breaking down the 2003 Saints. ... chest bumping Vilma when ... they got a 75 year old who has been sitting in Miami International for three days... Oh my God, it’s sickening! I should move.” — Mad Dog Russo [28:00]

• On Lack of Trade Logic:
  “It would be like saying, yo, I got to trade in my Suburban because it doesn’t get good gas mileage. ... It’s a Hummer.” — Dan Le Batard (main host) [25:09]

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Key Timestamps

• 07:05 — Start of the Luka trade/“Crater Transaction” discussion
• 08:35 — Amin puts this trade on the “Mount Rushmore” of terrible NBA deals
• 13:43 — Amin explains “crater transactions,” citing Dominique Wilkins and Atlanta
• 19:30 — Dan on the emotional toll of trading beloved stars (“It’s the emotion business.”)
• 21:43 — Amin reads the memo about the Mavs’ echo chamber of yes men
• 27:04 & 28:00 — Mad Dog Russo’s epic airport/flight/political rant
• 38:49 — NBA “You Know About That” quickfire trivia/analysis
• 46:08–46:53 — Doug Christie’s “Sack Proud” press conference audio

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Overall Tone & Style

The hour blends passionate sports analysis, personal storytelling, and improvisational comedy—the show’s signature mix. Heated rants (both sincere and parody), inside jokes, and callbacks intertwine as the crew processes sports heartbreak with irreverence and wit. There’s a running commentary on sports’ emotional impact, corporate missteps by teams, and the silly yet sacred rituals of fandom. The hosts maintain their distinct styles: Dan’s intellectual curiosity, Stugotz’s love of the absurd, Amin’s candid expertise, Chris’s affable sidekicking, and guest zingers.

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Summary for Listeners Who Missed It

This hour is an essential listen for NBA fans reeling from the fallout of disastrous trades and for anyone interested in how front office decisions can torpedo decades of goodwill. If you care about the emotional DNA of sports, the psychology of fan investment, and love hearing some of the sharpest and silliest sports radio minds at work, this episode delivers. The “crater transaction” concept gives fans a cathartic frame through which to process sports heartbreak, while the show’s jokes and rants keep things buoyant and engaging.

Not to be missed: The Mad Dog Russo rant, Amin’s “Mount Rushmore” of trades, and the Doug Christie “Sack Proud” coach-speak masterclass.

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Transcript

[Dan Le Batard]

All right, Smirnoff. Official vodka of the NFL. World's number one vodka. Chris, Cody, you're with me here.

[John Middlekauff]

Smirnoff.

[Dan Le Batard]

Wow, you're on the money with Smirnoff.

[Chris Cote]

Smirnoff.

[Dan Le Batard]

I'm gonna ask you, Chris, what's your favorite game day food?

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Smirnoff.

[Dan Le Batard]

That's your favorite game day drink. What's your favorite game day food?

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Smirnoff.

[Dan Le Batard]

All right, here's the deal. Game day is everything. The noise, the rituals, the passion, the dip, the wings, the dip again.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Smirnoff.

[Dan Le Batard]

Smirnoff belongs in that mix. Because if you're tailgating or hosting or just sitting there checking your fantasy lineup every 30 seconds, you need Smirnoff. Otherwise, it's not a real game day. They've been doing it since 1864, which is. I don't even want to do the math. It's a long time. It's like when Greg Cody was born. They're award winning, they make cocktails super easy, and they're all about bringing fans together. So, yeah, we do game days. That's their thing. And if you're over 21, you. You should too. Why, Chris?

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Smirnoff.

[Dan Le Batard]

Grab a bottle of Smirnoff at your local retailer and head to smirnoff.com to find recipes of delicious cocktails perfect for game day.

[Mad Dog Russo]

Smirnoff.

[Dan Le Batard]

Please drink responsibly. Smirnoff, number 21 vodka distilled from grain, 40% alcohol by volume. The Smirnoff Company, New York, New York. Please do not share with anyone under legal drinking age.

[Mad Dog Russo]

Hello, friends.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Guess who?

[John Middlekauff]

That's right.

[Mad Dog Russo]

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[John Middlekauff]

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[Mad Dog Russo]

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[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Available November 14, pre order Call of Duty Black Ops 7 now. Rated M for mature.

[Chris Cote]

Some people think nature is like this.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

But actually it's like this. That's why Columbia engineers everything we make for anything nature can throw at you. Columbia engineered for whatever.

[Amin Elhassan]

This is the Dan Levator show with the Stugats podcast.

[Stugotz]

If I were the type of NFL fan that would just try to travel around the nation to go to games at Spiro Dedes Calling, I would have opened up the game time map and been firmly entrenched in conviction that Tennessee, Houston. That's definitely the Spiro game. Did some research. It's on Fox. What are we doing?

[Mad Dog Russo]

What?

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Come on.

[Stugotz]

Can Fox rent Spiro for this game. Any hoodles if you want to watch that game or any NFL game, why don't you take the guesswork out of buying NFL tickets with Gametime, download the Gametime app, create an account and use code DAN that is DAN for $20 off your first purchase terms of PL Swipe Tap Ticket Go.

[Chris Cote]

It's been fun basketball to watch and last night's Philadelphia Boston game was fun to watch. But before I get into some basketball topics with Amin here that I've been wanting to get to the telephone number if you want to contribute to the call to the show with calls and with hot takes is 305486, Gotts. We have an old fashioned fashioned answering machine where you could just whisper your funny sweet nothings if you think you could be funny as an anonymous person. 305486, Gotts I've got very little data so far to support that you can be funny as an anonymous person. The best call we've gotten here is as an impersonation of Steve from Sex and the City. Miranda this, this, this segment has produced only that oh no.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Oh no.

[Stugotz]

Damn it. I had finally gotten it out of my head for a couple of weeks.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

No, this segment gives us a lot of funny callers. Man, these people are excellent. Including my bartender at the American Airlines Lounge yesterday in Phoenix. Joseph shout out to you bro.

[Stugotz]

He was one of them.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

He wants to be one of them. He said he's working on his bit. He, he, he soft launched it with me.

[Chris Cote]

What did you just shout out?

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Shout out to the bartender, man.

[Chris Cote]

No, but you, you shout out a bartender who has nothing to do with.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

This because he's working on his bit. He soft wants to be.

[John Middlekauff]

I appreciate that.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

It's good. I gave him some tweaks and stuff.

[Stugotz]

We'll hear from name drop you that would help his cause.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

The Boost boldest take is presented by Boost Mobile, the newest 5G network in the country.

[Stugotz]

The Miami Dolphins should name their team the Miami Ass and change their logo to an ass. Not a nice ass like an old man's ass. If all of mankind had to agree.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

On one haircut, it would be the Billy Ray Cyrus.

[Stugotz]

Dan's overuse of the word apocalyptic really ticks me off. My dog just took an apocalyptic goose. I feel like everybody who grew up in middle America has an aunt that looks like Lions rookie right guard Tate Radledge. Greg Cody faked his knee injury so he wouldn't have to walk to Seattle. There is no coach in college football that looks more like their team's mascot than Dan Laney. Whenever the color commentator draws two yellow circles around the two deep safeties, I'm always hoping that they'll accidentally draw a penis.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Do you ever notice how when you look at the words I'm sane, the.

[John Middlekauff]

M kind of looks like two little.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

N's, so it still just looks, like, insane.

[Stugotz]

So you have fingertips but no toe tips yet. You can tippy toe, but nobody tippy fingers. Is an orange called an orange because it's orange, or is an orange called an orange because it's an orange?

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

My dad says Jonathan Zaslow is a ducker. Come on, Dan. That was a good battle.

[Dan Le Batard]

That might be the best one ever.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Let me tell you something, Miami ass. Do you know what Tate Ratledge looks like?

[Stugotz]

Throw it up, video team.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

That's somebody's aunt. That's somebody's aunt right there with a mustache.

[Chris Cote]

Put it on the poll, please. At Lebitard show, should the Dolphins helmet logo be an old man's ass?

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Hear that?

[Dan Le Batard]

Zad said you're a sucker.

[John Middlekauff]

Yo. I'm trying to forget that. All right.

[Chris Cote]

The telephone numbers 305486 got. But, I mean, I'm wondering for all the people having opinions, okay? And I don't see this particular thing happen very often where the Internet rises up, social media, international fandom rises up and says, that move that was just made in sports is so shocking that I know the executive to be a fool. And then a few months later, the organization, after trading away Luca says, you're right. That executive is to blame. He needs to be fired. This sports story compares to what, in terms of the Internet getting to be right and feeling like Greg Cody singing Ethel Merman songs. Because everybody was right.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Yeah.

[Chris Cote]

Dallas Mavericks. You didn't actually know what you were doing.

[Amin Elhassan]

Hello, Dan.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

I think Zach Harper said it best. Me and him did live radio on series six MBA radio yesterday, and he said, the irony is, on January 31, 2025, if you polled NBA media, NBA personnel, NBA fans, how good of a job has Nico Harrison done as general manager of the Mavericks? Overwhelmingly, people say, this guy's done a great job. Great job. He's really, you know, he drafted. Drafted Derek Lively.

[John Middlekauff]

Great trades in the final draft.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

T.J. washington and Daniel Gafford and. And the Kyrie Irving trade, which was a little bit, like, risque at the time, but totally paid off.

[Chris Cote]

Not a little bit. That wasn't a little bit risky at the time. That was a home run.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Yeah. Yes, a home run. In terms of the amount of Risk and the payoff. It's the awesome thing. And it's like, yeah, this guy's done a great job. And 48 hours later, you're the worst general manager of all time. Dan, I used to do this thing where I explained to people what front office work really is. It's like I say, look, anyone could say, yeah, I'll take LeBron. That's easy. It's a no brainer. Real front office work is all the minutiae and the details and finding these weird players and pieces from all over the world. Front office work isn't Duke versus North Carolina. It's Iona versus Marist.

[John Middlekauff]

Front office work, finding Davion Mitchell, right?

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Like, it's stuff like that, right? That's what I always just say, that's front office work. And now Nico ruined that completely because apparently the no brainer stuff is pretty important too. It's just ridiculous. Dan, dare I say it? It's on the Mount Rushmore of worst transactions in NBA history.

[Chris Cote]

We can have said that when it happened.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Yes, you're absolutely right. So one of the things that is pretty shocking is sometimes things in hindsight are bad. So I'll give you a great example. The Clippers trading all that stuff for Paul George in order to sign Kwai Leonard. At the time, we're like, steep price, but wow, what a gutsy move. Wow, they've really moved their names into the, the echelons of like, championship contention, right? And now we look back like, oh, my God, they're still paying off the picks and the guy that they traded is the MVP and the Finals MVP and all that.

[John Middlekauff]

I mean, in hindsight, right now, essentially, the Clippers trading Norman Powell for Bradley Beal and John Collins, bad move, bad move, right?

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

But the reality is, Luka Doncic, the moment it happened, then it was so outrageous that people literally were texting and calling sham, saying, yo, you got hacked. Think about how outrageous it has to be. For not even people say, oh, this is NBA Santel. They called the source and told him, yo, there's something wrong with your social media. Someone's having fun with your account. That's how ridiculous it was in the moment. Dan. I went to All Star Weekend and I had presidents of basketball operations and GMs come up to me and say, what are they doing? Not on a, oh, I can't believe they do.

[Chris Cote]

What are they doing?

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

But, like, serious curiosity. No, tell me. Because as a front office person, your usual inclination is if something happened that is unexplainable on the surface, that Means there's some shit happening behind closed doors that nobody knows about. And so clearly, there must be something more to the story. Nine months later, Dan, we realize there was nothing more to the story. He just thought that was a good deal.

[Chris Cote]

But that's not new. Amin. The thing that I'm sort of blown back by on the mushroom cloud of this is it happens. It's seismic. We all back away from it dumbfounded. Everyone has the same opinion. There are no dissent. There are no dissenters on a sports opinion. This is something you do not do. And then eight months later, they're like, yes, something happened in the last eight months that makes this fireball. Even though that wasn't fireball while we were all calling it fireball. Things like this don't happen. I mean.

[Stugotz]

I mean, people aren't ever this unpopular. They put emergency stairs next to his seats so he gets out of there quicker. Like on. When they travel on the road, people are drowning the lower bowl out with fire. Nico.

[John Middlekauff]

Their own fans hate their team.

[Stugotz]

They're struggling. He is so unpopular.

[Chris Cote]

Things that I think has to be marveled at here is how badly ownership miscalculated the importance of the emotional relationship that a region has with this player, so that the betrayal is so seismic that you're firing somebody eight months late for what they did eight months ago because you underestimated what the reaction would be.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

So, Dan, this is. I've talked about this also, like the idea of crater transactions. And what I mean by that is it is so deeply hurtful to the. To the fan base that it never comes back. A great example of this is Dominique Wilkins. In 1994, the Hawks had the number one record in the Eastern Conference. They were a couple of games back for the best record in the league, and they traded Dominique Wilkins for Danny Manning. For Danny Manning, who was going to be a free agent at the end of the year, ends up leaving at the end of the year. Spoiler alert, right?

[John Middlekauff]

So, by the way, the Heat almost traded Glenn Rice before that for Danny Manning. Yeah, hot tip.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Danny Manning was. Was. Was the guy. But. So, Dan. Useless information, I know.

[John Middlekauff]

Not to me. I love.

[Stugotz]

I remember you were on that beat in the Herald.

[John Middlekauff]

Not to me.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Dominique Wilkins, homegrown, went to UGA like Atlanta loved him. And Atlanta loved Hawks basketball, right? And Dominique Wilkins was this guy, and he went up against Bird, toe to toe in a game seven and had the incredible scoring back, back. And then he had the dunk contest, Michael Jordan, and held his own and beat him and all that stuff. So Dominique was like Atlanta's identity.

[Chris Cote]

And then they traded him across sports and generations. Right? Like maybe the most famous athlete in Atlanta not named Hank Aaron.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

No. Deion Sanders. Like, there's a lot of names, but Dominique was first. At that moment, at that moment in time, Dominique was everything, right? You know, Hank Aaron, obviously for, you know, societal, cultural reasons. But, like, Dominique was like, yeah, because he's ours. They traded him and the team was still good. Like, it's not like they fell off a cliff, but the fan base resented it. And to this day they have problems with attendance because that, that was a crater inducing transaction. They killed NBA basketball in that city for three decades because they made a deal that did not take into account what these people.

[Stugotz]

You could argue that Marlins have had several crater transactions, but the one that did me in was the one with the Blue Jays. And then they won that trade, but it didn't even matter. And the Deshaun Watson thing totally create cratered my fandom.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Right, But. But it didn't crater.

[Stugotz]

Well, it cratered the team. And the NFL's a different animal.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Like, I'm talking about a transaction that is so outrageous. You have fans leaving in droves, like, and never coming back. It's 20, 25. He got traded in 1994. They still haven't come back. Not. Not to the levels. It was at the Omni. Right. Another example. This a little different. I talked about it a couple weeks ago. I think George Shinn was the owner of the Hornets and he was just an awful person. And the fans in Charlotte with Dan, you remember this? Charlotte used to be a model NBA market. Look at how fervent these people are.

[John Middlekauff]

Those games were so fun.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

I love NBA basketball. The hive sitting on the top of that hill, right with the parking lot. I went to the last game, went out there. 20,000 people in that parking lot went inside. Maybe 5,000 people. They hated. They hated what they had done to the Hornets. And this man in particular, he moves the Hornets to New Orleans. They bring the team back as the Bobcats. Bobcats changed their name to the Hornets. Guess what? It still has never come back. They've never gotten to the levels that they had back in the 90s and the early 2000s.

[John Middlekauff]

Is that what's going to happen to the Mavericks?

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Well, given that they fired him this quickly, I'm wondering if they got out in time. But if this thing had continued, if you let this guy continue to do these things, who knows, Maybe it would have been created because, remember, new ownership group. No. One's fond of them. They're not locals. No one feels an affinity to them. And then this guy comes in and he does. Like I said, a Mount Rushmore worst deal of all time. Dan if I give you two other transactions, you tell me what's worse than this one, right? So we got Luka for Anthony Davis. In a first round pick, you have James Worthy or the number one overall pick, basically that became James Worthy for Don Ford and a first round pick. Or you have Joe Barry Carroll for Robert parish and a first round pick that was Kevin McHale. What's the worst trade of all time? I need a fourth. I'm still looking for a fourth.

[Stugotz]

Miguel Capertry When I think about the holidays, I think about the little moments with my dog Roma. The ones that make the season feel special. Put a little elf ears on her. You know the deal. Take some selfies, post it for people that probably seen it too much. I love my dog. That's what I'm trying to get at. That's why I'm joining Chewy Claws, who's out here making pets wishes come true. From November 4th through December 24th, you can share your pet's [e-mail] chewyclaus. It might come true, and it helps others, too. Every wish triggers a donation of five meals to shelters and rescues across the country. And if you share your pet's wish through the Chewy app, they'll double that donation. That's 10 meals for pets in need just for participating. I've been using Chewy for years. Legitimately. They've made my life easier for me and my dog, Roma. Food, toys, meds, all of it shows up fast. No stress. And being part of something like Chewy Claws, where a small thing like a wish can make a real impact. That's the kind of stuff I care about. Every pet deserves a wish come true. Send your pet's wish to chewy.com chewyclaus it might become a reality. Plus, your wish means Chewy will donate five meals to pets in need.

[Amin Elhassan]

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[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

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[Chris Cote]

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[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

For premium tech outdoor gear and gift cards to your favorite retailers. Find your Zinn and keep finding rewards that fit your [e-mail] rewards. This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical. Don lebatar.

[Chris Cote]

No one else here is willing to do a trump or a biden.

[John Middlekauff]

That's not true, Dan.

[Chris Cote]

Okay, Tony, you can catch a thousand impersonations.

[Mad Dog Russo]

That's not bad, man.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Finally.

[Stugotz]

Pretty good Stugach.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Yours is terrible.

[Mad Dog Russo]

You just gotta get a little redder, a little pinker.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

You're right there, man.

[Chris Cote]

Yours is not that you're biting me.

[Mad Dog Russo]

What do you mean?

[Stugotz]

Oh, his is good.

[John Middlekauff]

That's actually not bad.

[Dan Le Batard]

That's not terrible.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

We gotta come together. A little George Bush in that one.

[John Middlekauff]

This is the Dan Levatar show with the stugats.

[Chris Cote]

The part about this that is truly really something that is stupefying to me as somebody who's watched sports all his life is to have an ownership so disconnected from whatever the emotion of sports is their business. It's the emotion business. So that of all of the people that you mentioned there, the one with the greatest promise that gives you, Wait a minute. For 10 years, we get to have a guy, we get to have a guy who might be an old timer. We get to watch him grow up. This is the beginning of our relationship with him. We are going to only grow this over 10 years because when he hurts, we will hurt with him. And if he finally wins, he's ours. We saw it from the beginning. This is the Best of the players you're talking about. Like, this kind of trade is the modern day. It's the modern day trading of Babe Ruth that haunted the. You talk about crater trades that haunted the Red Sox for 100 years.

[John Middlekauff]

How is it good business to literally do something that your entire customer base is going to hate?

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

So, but like. So here's the thing. Luka came into a situation where this franchise had grown to love Dirk Nowitzki 8 billion years playing for the same team. They saw him when he was a skinny teenager, and then the champion and everything in between. And they had the really rare thing that doesn't always happen in sports where the passing of the torch. There is no dead period in between. Oh, what are we going to do? Larry Bird retired. Oh, like, oh, finally, here comes Paul Pierce ten years later. No, no, no. It was real time. We're teammates. My name's Dirk Nowitzki. His name is Luka. Boom. Luka loved Dallas. He embraced Dallas. Right there was. If there was any sort of rumbling that this guy's looking somewhere else, he's not happy. I think it might have been different. But the fact that he was so ingrained there, that's the shocking thing. For this, again, this fan base had gotten used to, hey, our stars don't leave. So I think those are the things. But then, in order to move this story forward, because I know everyone has pretty much said all these things, I'd like to quote something from the substack of a guy I worked with in Phoenix. His name is Jeremias Engelman.

[John Middlekauff]

What do you say?

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

He used to work for the Mavericks, he said. The day after the Mavericks lost their final game to golden state in the 2022 conference finals, I met with Nico to formally quit my position and to have an exit interview there. I warned Nico about some of the developments I had witnessed during his first year in office. In particular, that he did not have a good grasp of who he should trust and who among those under him were simply kissing ass. Nico had drowned out many of the voices who could provide perspective, including those at the department where I was an analyst. Instead of being willing to hear critical input, Nico had empowered people who had little basketball knowledge. And those tend to be people, such as attorneys who had worked their way up this ladder thanks to Nico himself. These people stroked Nico's ego at every turn. So he surrounded himself with yes men. So you say, how could they what bad business? If everyone around you say, yeah, good idea, boss. And you literally worked to shield all the people who say opposing Opinions. Then all you're going to hear is like, yeah, this is a great idea. Yeah, he is fat and out of shape. Yeah. No, we should be. Defense does win championships and all those ridiculous reasonings to do that deal.

[Stugotz]

Cutting a little close to the bone.

[John Middlekauff]

And so this was in 2022. You said that.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Yeah, well, Jeremiah. Jeremiah wrote that today or yesterday. But yes, he left in 2022.

[John Middlekauff]

I mean, like, Cuban hired him. And Cuban was still the owner of the team and super involved when. For several years. When Nico Harrison is running the team that year, like, just slips under the cracks.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Yeah. I mean, I think, again, he's talking about a point in time at the beginning of this. Right. And so Mark Cuban's probably saying, oh, he's good. He's got a great relationship with people, et cetera, et cetera. He's not coming to Mark with. Let's trade Luca in 2022.

[Chris Cote]

I'm trying to think of most unpopular executives ever. I'm trying of. Yeah.

[John Middlekauff]

Jerry Krause, executive betrayed Agretzky in Edmonton.

[Chris Cote]

Jerry Krause. Yeah. That's a good one.

[Stugotz]

Here's for them to climb back out of transactions.

[John Middlekauff]

I forget his name.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

There you go. He ain't on the list.

[John Middlekauff]

Can't win this game.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Yeah, you got it. Yeah. We got to know your name.

[Stugotz]

Don't do the name. Three songs. It was a good point.

[John Middlekauff]

Thanks, Mike.

[Chris Cote]

Nico. Nico Harrison will go down after. And I understand how it is. You get lightheaded with the success of. We were praising those Mavs trades when they got to the finals. And we're thinking, oh, look, Luka got there a little faster than I thought. What's his suffering curve going to look like? How soon before he wins a championship the way Dirk does? Because that city, that town, had invested emotionally in a player. Like, I really think that even everyone listening to this, I think we all underestimated what that relationship was. I don't think any of us would have said at the time of the trade, you know, Nico's going to need secret stairs to get out of the arena faster eight months from now because there are going to be death threats and the hostility is going to be such that the entire customer base is going to turn on the franchise. Anthony Davis isn't going to play in any of the games. They're not going to have any success whatsoever. It's obviously going to be a disaster of a trade right from the beginning. And he's going to need secret scare. He's going to need secret stairs as an escape hatch.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

But, Dan, like, here's the thing. Part of it is, how could you trade our prodigal son, right? But part of it is, how could you trade him for that? If you come back with Anthony Edwards, they'd be upset, but they'd be like, all right, I kind of see your logic. I think Luka's better. But whatever. They didn't trade him for someone of equal status or equal age. They traded him for someone who's older. And also, your whole thing is, I'm worried about Luka's durability. You can't then go out and get someone who is known for the lack of durability. It would be like saying, yo, I got to trade in my Suburban because it doesn't get good gas mileage. And you trade it in. So what'd you get? What's the new car? It's a Hummer. Like, no, you got an older car that is worth worse of a gas guzzler. It doesn't make sense, Dan.

[John Middlekauff]

Anthony Davis has been a Dallas Maverick for 48 games now. You want to take a guess at how many games he's played?

[Chris Cote]

2014.

[John Middlekauff]

That's the guy not playing the game, right? That Nico Harrison identified as the. That's why they only negotiate with the Lakers. That's the guy that he identified. This is the guy that's going to help me win a championship right now.

[Dan Le Batard]

Well, and when you're talking about loyalty, like, when you have someone you've grown attached to that you've seen year after year. Like, imagine you're a fan of All My Children, and you've watched your favorite actress get nominated 18 times for an Emmy, and then they would have decided to cut her from the staff just before winning her 19th Emmy.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Susan Lucci.

[Mad Dog Russo]

Susan Lucci.

[Stugotz]

Who moved. You are such a theater kid.

[Chris Cote]

All My Children. Is that still on? Is the soap opera All My Children still on? What is the go to soap opera that people go to now when.

[Dan Le Batard]

General Hospital.

[Chris Cote]

It's still General Hospital. Can I just get all of the sound of Mad Dog? Cause we didn't do nearly enough of this yesterday, and I'd like to just tickle Mike with it because it is a rant that no one disagrees with. Mad Dog Russo is a man of the people. He is speaking nothing but drooling truth here when he yells at the federal government because everyone's flights are delayed, airports are terrible, and he chooses all the right words and almost breaks character entirely when he starts talking about, why is Donald Trump talking to Jonathan vilma about the 2005 Saints flights are delayed.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

And shout out to Joseph the bartender.

[Mad Dog Russo]

All of you should be ashamed. Every single elected official on both sides of the aisle should look themselves in the mirror. How they let down the American public and made us a laughingstock around the world.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Around.

[Mad Dog Russo]

This is not about winners and losers, who is right and who is wrong. This is about doing something good for the American people and say, you know what? All right, they're wrong. But I got to step up here and make sure that the air traffic controllers are there with aircraft in towers, not saying, your turn, LaGuardia, your turn, Kennedy, Newark. It's better. 40 minutes. Send a plane out that's been sitting there for 15 hours. That's not the way this works. If you're the President, United States or you're a Republican who controls everything, you do what's right for the American person. And they didn't do that. And the Democrats, you're dead wrong, dude. They're both of you. You all go to hell. Every single one of you.

[Chris Cote]

That's the first part.

[Mad Dog Russo]

I mean, it's ridiculous what they put us through. I mean, who knows how dangerous it was to fly with nobody in the freaking towers. I mean, my God Almighty. And I got the President sitting there with freaking Vilma breaking down the 2003 saints. I mean, you can't make this stuff up. And chest bumping Vilma. When America. When they got a 75 year old who has been sitting in Miami International for three days. He's got hearing aids. He can't hear the announcements of when his JetBlue flight takes off for Bozeman. Oh my God, it's sickening. I can't stand it. It like I should move. The hell I should be. Well, who. The one who. Susan Lucci.

[Stugotz]

Who moved?

[Mad Dog Russo]

No, Longoria moved. I should do the same thing. I'll do the show from Madrid. I'll do it live at six, nine o' clock at night.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Jesus.

[Mad Dog Russo]

Oh my God. Eleven in front of the hour, returning on manual donation.

[Chris Cote]

The Towers put it on the poll. Are there any direct flights from Miami to Bosman? Because I don't believe there are. I don't.

[Stugotz]

I don't even think we have JetBlue at MIA Fort Lauderdale, right?

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

You're not mine, guys. You what?

[John Middlekauff]

That 75 year old man with the hearing aids was stuck in Miami International for three days. I'll bet he wasn't lying on the floor. That shit's disgusting.

[Chris Cote]

People are so mad at what's happening right now in the airports and that general Frustration that he just articulated is happening inside of everyone who's wandering around airports right now with 7, 8 hour, 10 hour delays.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

That's why I was in the lounge yesterday chatting it up with Joseph, listening to him give his boost mobile hot take.

[Chris Cote]

Okay, enough. Look your bartender crafting a boost. Thank you Chris, for you know what, hold on a second.

[Mad Dog Russo]

Me?

[Chris Cote]

Yeah, you. Yes, you. Because you're explaining to me that it's a callback. Like.

[Stugotz]

Minor penalty, two minutes for explaining the show.

[Dan Le Batard]

Wow.

[Chris Cote]

You think I didn't get that?

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

He was trying to annoy me for.

[Chris Cote]

The third time with the bartender. Gave him a joke that we didn't use on the air.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Out to Joseph.

[Dan Le Batard]

Run out of here like Jim Fix Chris.

[John Middlekauff]

Yo, stop trying to make Joseph a thing. Nobody cares.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Hey man, I look after my people. I'm not like you, a user.

[John Middlekauff]

I look after my people.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Who have you looked after?

[John Middlekauff]

Anyone who's my person has been looked after.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Name one.

[John Middlekauff]

It's too many to name.

[Stugotz]

You threw trash at me.

[Chris Cote]

Okay, that's a callback that I, I, I deny that.

[John Middlekauff]

There's no way that was true.

[Stugotz]

Ask Tommy. Ty, quick time out here. Talk to you about the official ticketing partner of the Dan LeBatard Show. Speaking, of course about game time. The GameTime app gives the advantage back to you fans. It's the hack for unlocking amazing tickets and experiences in just a few taps. It's incredibly easy to use. And the gametime guarantee means you'll trust that you'll get 100% authentic tickets on time and at the best price. Plus fees are always included. So what you see is what you pay. They got favorites, they got zone deals, they get panoramic CPUs. My favorite features, the low price guarantee and GameTime's unparalleled ticket coverage, which means your purchase is covered with the most flexible customer service policy in the ticketing industry. Take the guesswork out of buying NFL tickets with GameTime. Download the GameTime app, create an account and use code DAN for $20 off your first purchase Terms apply again. Create an account and redeem code dan for $20 off. Swipe, tap, ticket. Go download the Gametime app today. Day, folks. The leaves are turning, the weather's getting a little chillier. That means the football games are more important. That means football time should be Miller time. Game day hits different with a Miller Light in your hand. From jaw dropping touchdowns to fantasy heartbreaks. My fantasy season's over already. But you know what makes that better? Miller time. It's the beer that's Been there for every moment. 50 years of great taste, simple ingredients, and that iconic golden color you can spot from across the room. And here's the kicker. It's just 96 calories, 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces. The original light beer since 1975 and still hitting different five decades later. So whatever your game day looks like, remember, Miller Time is always a good time. Miller Lite Great Taste, 96 calories. Go to millerlight.com dan to find delivery options near you. Or you can pick up Miller Lite pretty much anywhere they sell beer. It's Miller Time. Celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Co. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 96 calories and 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces.

[Dan Le Batard]

The holidays really stress me out. I try to be a really good gift giver. And when you get toward this time of year, you keep thinking, oh, I have enough time. And overall, really, the holidays are stressful. But especially if you run a business. I see what you guys go through. It's like one minute you're planning a sale, next minute your website's crashing, your inventory's off, and someone's dming you a discount code that expired in 2022. It's total chaos. That's why you need Shopify. It takes that holiday madness and turns it into. Shopify powers millions of businesses. We're talking everyone from Mattel and Gymshark to the folks just getting started this Black Friday. You don't have to be a tech genius either. Shopify's got thousands of ready made templates, AI tools that write your product descriptions, even polish your photos. And built in marketing tools to cut through the holiday noise. And that purple shop pay button, that's the secret sauce. This Black Friday. Join the thousands of new entrepreneurs hearing for the first time with Shopify. Sign up for your free trial [e-mail] BATARD that's shopify.com BATARD B, a T, a R D. Go to shopify.com BATARD and make this Black Friday one to remember.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Don Lebatard.

[John Middlekauff]

John, can you rate my Al Pacino from that billiard scene in Carlito's way if I do it for you? I think it's pretty good.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah.

[Stugotz]

Okay. Stugats.

[Mad Dog Russo]

You think you're big time or you're gonna die big time?

[Dan Le Batard]

That is on my infamous scale of 1 to 10.

[Chris Cote]

That's a.

[John Middlekauff]

That's a 7.6 solid.

[Stugotz]

Good job, dad.

[John Middlekauff]

This is the Dan Levatar show with the stugats.

[Chris Cote]

For those of you who do not know Zaslow Show 2.0 is Jonathan Zaslow's solo adventure. He is a toddler and his wife. How many times a week or month do you guys have date night?

[John Middlekauff]

We try. We try to go one night a week. You know, I travel on the weekends now during football season. So, yeah, one night a week.

[Chris Cote]

Okay, so one night a week you're going on date night. And what is the. How long have you been doing this? And what is the philosophy behind the importance of date night? Because you're very hard worker. So I imagine your wife is like, at least one night a week, we're not going to be watching the Panthers.

[John Middlekauff]

Yeah, I mean, I think I said the philosophy. I travel on the weekends during football season, so one night a week we try and go out.

[Chris Cote]

You did say the philosophy. I wasn't listening to you. I was just thinking of thoughts in my own head. Regardless. The leaving yesterday on an important night. Yeah, that is.

[John Middlekauff]

She was into it, too.

[Chris Cote]

You were going to be present and available and as sexy as you've ever been.

[John Middlekauff]

Panthers weren't playing last night. Heat weren't playing last night. Perfect night.

[Dan Le Batard]

What does you sexy look like?

[Mad Dog Russo]

Taste. The taste of wetness.

[John Middlekauff]

I mean, I.

[Stugotz]

It's.

[John Middlekauff]

This is that.

[Chris Cote]

This. This is.

[Stugotz]

I could style you if, you know. You know, I could do that for you.

[John Middlekauff]

I don't need that.

[Chris Cote]

Well, do you?

[John Middlekauff]

No, I don't need that.

[Chris Cote]

Well, but what happened? Well, you do need that.

[John Middlekauff]

I don't know what was wrong with what? God. I mean, you.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Were you dressed like that on the day?

[John Middlekauff]

Well, yeah, I was just like what I was wearing yesterday on the show. All right. Because it was yesterday.

[Stugotz]

The Fetterman, you hated that.

[John Middlekauff]

And she. She wanted me to change. I was wearing a Roman Reigns shirts. All right, that's trouble chief right there. And I was like, you're wearing that? I go, yeah, this is what I'm wearing. And I was like, yeah, let's go. And she. She wouldn't let me keep my Roman Reigns shirt. So she can I. I'm gonna dress you. I'm like, no, I don't need to be dressed. It's a great shirt. Roman Reigns. And she wouldn't let me wear it.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Does she buy clothes for you or no?

[John Middlekauff]

No, I bought my own clothes, dog. Come on.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

So all she's picking them. Picking from his different shirts.

[Stugotz]

Like, I think that was implied with the whole Roman Reigns shirt. I think it was implied that she.

[Chris Cote]

What a great question from Amin. So you think that his wife put together today's outfit?

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Do you know when she says you're not wearing that. You got to wear something else. It implies, like, she bought him regular clothes. If he's taking the Roman Reigns shirt and putting on a John Cena shirt instead. Hardly an upgrade, you know?

[John Middlekauff]

Yeah, it's a lot of panther shirts, some heat shirts, lot of WWE shirts. That's my style, man.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Well, that's what she fell in love with, to be fair.

[Stugotz]

That's.

[John Middlekauff]

That's what I'm saying, man. Don't try and change me.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

What'd you wear to your wedding?

[Stugotz]

Tuxedo shirt and jorts.

[Chris Cote]

How does this go over? How often does this happen? Like this? Certainly. How long have you been married? Like, this is not the first time you've gone out on a date dressed as Zaz.

[John Middlekauff]

Our wedding was. Our wedding. Our anniversary was last month, and that was 18 years ago.

[Stugotz]

You were at my wedding, and, yes, I do.

[Chris Cote]

I remember going to your wedding, and now that I think about it, you were wearing a tuxedo. But your wardrobe since then has just been 18 years of collecting sports shirts and wrestling shirts. How often does she tell you to change the attire? How often do you comply in the changing of a tie?

[John Middlekauff]

She really doesn't tell me that often.

[Mad Dog Russo]

Look, we got a good thing going.

[John Middlekauff]

Here, the two of us. You know? I don't tell her what to wear. She doesn't tell me what to wear.

[Chris Cote]

But last night was a bridge too far.

[John Middlekauff]

Last night. You know what? You know what I think it was? We were going to a restaurant. We're going to a bar where there was going to be a bunch of people from her work there.

[Dan Le Batard]

So that's not a date night. So I got news for you.

[John Middlekauff]

No, no, we sat. We sat, the two of us, at the bar. We did not sit with the work people. All right? We sat in the same place, though. No, they were at tables. We were at the bar doing our own thing. It was a date, all right? You don't know what a date is. I know what a date is. So last night, she. Yeah, I guess she didn't want me wearing my. My Roman Reign shirt.

[Stugotz]

It's a conversation piece.

[John Middlekauff]

That's what I'm saying. It says, acknowledge me.

[Stugotz]

You know about that? Tribal chief.

[John Middlekauff]

I know. I know you know about that. Ula fala.

[Chris Cote]

Do you guys want to play? Do you know about that? Are you ready to play?

[John Middlekauff]

Always ready.

[Chris Cote]

You're always ready to play. You know about that. Born.

[Amin Elhassan]

Born ready.

[Chris Cote]

Really? Always ready. I want you to imagine Zazzle right now in a Roman Reigns shirt. The confidence of a man who can tell whoever it is in his life that is telling him how to dress. No, you will not dress me. And then go to the closet and get dressed the way that he's supposed to. Who are you directing? Do you know about that?

[Amin Elhassan]

At.

[John Middlekauff]

I'm mean, not do you know about that, Dan, it's you know about that. That's right. Another edition of you know about that. Amin is here with us in studio, so it's a good opportunity for us to go over some of the big stories. The NBA. Welcome to another edition of you know about that. You ready, Amin?

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

I'm always ready.

[Chris Cote]

What is that? Was that your game show?

[John Middlekauff]

Yeah.

[Chris Cote]

Was that. That was you applying for the job of Jeremy Tache, Mario Lopez, game show host. The fake laugh.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Yeah.

[Chris Cote]

Gonna have to work on this.

[John Middlekauff]

That all right.

[Stugotz]

Amin is always ready.

[Dan Le Batard]

Not so easy, huh?

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Unless you ask me about Michelle Beo Amin.

[John Middlekauff]

Draymond Green, very upset last night talking about players agendas. I don't know who you think he was talking about. Maybe Steph Curry. You know about that agenda?

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

I know about that agenda. The speculation is that he's talking about Jonathan Kaminga, who is young and up and coming, and sometimes the follies of youth demand greater than what the team is requiring. And so I think him and Jimmy were probably both talking about him. I can't think of anyone else.

[John Middlekauff]

Not Steph Curry.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

No, it's not about Steph Curry.

[John Middlekauff]

All right. Sounds like you know about that player agenda. All right. I mean, the NBA announced yesterday the new All Star format. It's the us versus the world. Bunch of cockamamie ideas for how they're gonna pick the teams and play in this many quarters. You know about that new cockamamie All Star format?

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Yes. First of all, shout out to the cocktail because they'll be airing all the All Star festivities this year. The format basically is you're still gonna vote for 24 all stars. They'll split them up into three different teams of eight. Two of them are world. Excuse me, USA teams. One of them is a world team. Here's the thing, though, guys. This year, there are no positions. So, you know, in years past, you get two guards and three front. None of that. It's just 24 all stars. Now, the part that I don't get is what happens if we have nine foreign players are really good? Or what if we have six foreign players are really good and, like, two guys are just kind of like, all.

[John Middlekauff]

Right, you know about those uneven players.

[Stugotz]

I'm honestly a little bit more worried about the Americans at this point, can.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

We not get 16American players?

[John Middlekauff]

All right, sounds like you know about that new All Star format. I mean, the Dallas Mavericks lost again two nights ago at home. They're terrible at home. The Mavericks. They were blaming the fans behavior that they're chanting for the GM to be fired. It's not a home court event. They're blaming the fans. Their lack of wins. You know about that.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

I didn't know about them blaming the fans.

[Chris Cote]

It is. You know about that. He just said, you know about that.

[Stugotz]

It's. You know about that.

[Chris Cote]

It is you know about that. Why'd you correct me?

[John Middlekauff]

You know about that.

[Chris Cote]

It is you know about that.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

You said, do you know about that?

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah, the.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Did.

[John Middlekauff]

Do you say it like a dork?

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Like an undercover cop? Did they. Did they blame the fans?

[John Middlekauff]

I don't.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Yeah, I didn't see that. I saw the part where a fan.

[John Middlekauff]

Cooper Flag's mom, retweeted it.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Well, Cooper Flag's mom is not the Mavs, respectfully.

[John Middlekauff]

All right, Respectfully.

[Chris Cote]

Okay. So he did know about that or he didn't know?

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

I didn't know about that.

[John Middlekauff]

Yeah, no, I mean, he didn't know about that.

[Stugotz]

All right.

[John Middlekauff]

I mean, the Celtics dropped a 5 and 7.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Yeah.

[John Middlekauff]

After last night's loss to the Sixers. You know about those two under.500 Celtics.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

I do know about that. And this is the part that I've been. I can't lie. I've been waiting for. For years.

[Dan Le Batard]

Oh, yeah.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

This is the Mike McDanielization.

[John Middlekauff]

Love it.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Of Joe Missoula because all that cute stuff.

[John Middlekauff]

Not so cute anymore.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Not so cute anymore. The media game. That was fun.

[Chris Cote]

Oh, yeah.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

We're going to beat them. All right. How about you beat the Sixers? How about you do that?

[Stugotz]

God, Cooper, get a nickname. Hurry.

[John Middlekauff]

Sounds like you know about that. I mean, Amin Ja morant is shooting just 35% on the season after going 4 for 14 in last night's loss at the Knicks. You know about that? John Moran, who can't shoot anymore.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

I know all about that. And last night is cementing in my head. He wants out because. Cause it felt like at times, like, this is a guy on strike. This isn't a guy who's. I'm trying my best and I can't fit. It's like, you know what? To hell with this system. To hell with this team. I'm gonna do whatever. I'm good.

[John Middlekauff]

Eight turnovers.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Eight turnovers. You know what? I know all about that. I also know about who are the Teams that have been picking up the phone and making a little call.

[Chris Cote]

Well, give it to us.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

I happen to know.

[Chris Cote]

Give it. Wait a minute.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

I happen to know.

[Chris Cote]

Wait a minute. You can't. Barry, you happen to know on John Morant this late in the show, inside.

[Stugotz]

Of a sinks to your nose.

[Chris Cote]

Do you know about that?

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Happens to know.

[Mad Dog Russo]

Great Scott. He happens to know. He happens to know. Gather, everyone. Get the children. He happens to know.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

So wise Dan. Both the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Sacramento Kings are monitoring the situation and making calls with the Memphis Grizzlies.

[John Middlekauff]

Monitoring.

[Stugotz]

Oh, my God.

[John Middlekauff]

He knows.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

He happens to know. Come, everybody.

[Mad Dog Russo]

Everyone come and listen. He happens to know.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Well informed. Talk to John Krasinski of the Associated Press the other day. Yeah, not that junk.

[John Middlekauff]

And the office.

[Stugotz]

He was great on the office.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Not that one.

[Chris Cote]

You're giving up your sources. Happen to know. Protects the sources.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Oh, he said it on air. It wasn't.

[Chris Cote]

It was. So it's a happen to know that you're borrowing from someone who already happened to know. Happened to say.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Well, no, he didn't happen to say. I asked him on air because he did on my show.

[Stugotz]

His question.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

I question. I got the answer ipso facto. And unlike some scared journalists out here, I do my question asking.

[Chris Cote]

Out in the air.

[Dan Le Batard]

Wow.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

In public. Out in the air.

[Chris Cote]

Are we done with do you happen.

[John Middlekauff]

Nope. Got one more. Amin. I'm not done yet, Dan. The Detroit Pistons are 9 2. They host the 6 and 4 Chicago Bulls tonight. You know about m Pistons?

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

I know about the Pistons and I've been dying to talk about this because everyone was swooning about Cade Cunningham's gutsy performance. 46 points in an overtime win over the Washington. Took a lot of shots. He missed 31 shots. He didn't take 31 shots. If he took 31 shots, we'd be like, wow, you shot a lot. He missed 31 field goals against one of the top five or bottom five worst defenses in the entire NBA. How. How do you miss. Miss 31 shots.

[Amin Elhassan]

Off night.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

You know how that goes. That's that off.

[Chris Cote]

31 shots missed. He sounds like he knows about that.

[Stugotz]

Amin.

[John Middlekauff]

I'mma tell you something.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Yes.

[John Middlekauff]

You know about that.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Oh, yeah.

[Chris Cote]

Do you know about that Doug Christie press conference? Amin.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Sorry, could you repeat the question?

[Chris Cote]

Do you know about. Do you know about that Doug Christie press conference?

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Oh, my God. This one was last night. Now they got their heads caved in by the Denver Nuggets. Expected. Right. The Kings are not off to a great start Again. I would have thought expected. This is how Doug Christie literally started his press conference.

[Doug Christie]

Good evening. Good evening, some of you guys. I think everybody in here knows me. If you don't. My name is Douglas Dale Christie. I'm head coach of the Sacramento Kings. Okay, Change is hard, y'.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

All.

[Doug Christie]

We about to work at it like crazy. We totally get that. And it'll be bumpy. It will, because change is like that. But buckle up for the real ones. Buckle up. And for all the rest of you, you know who you are, you know how I feel about that when I see the hate, the haters, the fakers, all you guys, you keep that energy. That's good. You keep that. And you know who you are. Because why you doing that? We gonna be working. And while you doing that, we're gonna be growing. And while you do that, eventually we gonna be coming the King show sack proud.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Know that 10 games into the season, Dan. 10 games into the season. The context is they got their ass beat. Again.

[Stugotz]

The context is they suck.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

They suck. They're the Sacramento Kings.

[Stugotz]

How many times did he practice that?

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Oh, my God. Mike turned to me and said, is he beefing with Stephen A. Smith also.

[Stugotz]

Sounds like he's beefing with Stephen A.

[Chris Cote]

But the segment that is. Do you know that ends with Doug Christie saying, no, that and threatening us. Like, threatening us us?

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Yes, but by the way, it's not Doug Christie. It's Douglas Dale Christie.

[Doug Christie]

How dare you?

[Stugotz]

And when he workshop that, he's like, pound the table at the end.

[Dan Le Batard]

Oh, yeah.

[Dan Le Batard (main host)]

Sack proud.

[Stugotz]

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