The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

Hour 1: The Gino Torretta Monologue

Date: January 14, 2026
Guests: Gino Torretta, Jessica Smetana
Location: Elser Hotel, Downtown Miami

Episode Overview

In this vibrant and comedic episode from The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz, the crew delivers a blend of sports analysis, Miami-centric nostalgia, and personality-driven banter. The centerpiece is a visit from Miami Hurricane legend and Heisman Trophy winner Gino Torretta, whose signature delivery is enlisted for a boisterous, tongue-in-cheek “threat” against Indiana ahead of a major college football showdown. The hour is rounded out with playful personal revelations from Jessica Smetana, deep Miami sports nostalgia, and timely NBA and NFL discussions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. NBA Drama: Giannis Antetokounmpo and The Bucks

(00:44 – 03:51)

• Stugotz highlights the Bucks’ ongoing struggles, listing losses and public player frustrations:
  • “Bucks lost to the Kings at home… two losses to the Wizards, a 39 point loss to the Nets… disintegrated there. Giannis is available. He’s booing his own fans.” (Stugotz, 01:57)
• Panel discusses Giannis booing his own fans after trailing the Timberwolves severely, questioning whether the fan reaction was warranted and parsing Giannis’ motives and approach.
  • “Does he think it’s inappropriate for the fan to boo the home team that’s down by 30?” (Jeremy Fowler, 03:13)
  • “Well, he reacted to it… it was a poor showing.” (Chris, 03:25)
• Light-hearted banter about misquoting teams and reflexive correction on air.

2. Nostalgia Break: Greg Cody's ‘Artifacts’

(04:07 – 08:15)

• Greg Cody is asked to bring in sports-related artifacts from his garage, prompting a comedic unwrapping of memorabilia.
  • “He has fished something out of his garage. I believe they are the Dead Sea Scrolls.” (Stugotz, 04:09)
• Artifacts include:
  • 1967 Dolphins media guide
  • First known photo of Greg as a teenage reporter
  • Ancient, coffee-stained “Certificate of Appreciation” for being commissioner of his childhood football league (PFPI)
• Panel playfully accuses Greg of self-congratulation:
  • “You made that for yourself?” (Stugotz, 07:22)
  • “I refer to it as the Magna Carta.” (Greg Cody, 06:16)
• Tales of the “rat phase” and nostalgia for lost South Florida sports traditions.

3. LeBron’s Leverage and Rich Paul’s Podcasting

(13:05 – 15:49)

• Discussion turns to Rich Paul (LeBron’s agent) and Max Kellerman’s new podcast, and the implication of agents publicizing potential trade targets:
  • “Rich Paul as the agent for LeBron has an uncommon amount of power and he’s just sitting there on a podcast pissing off Laker management.” (Dan Le Batard, 13:05)
• Jeremy Fowler highlights the problematic optic of agents discussing the fate of players who aren’t their clients, sparking side conversations about the blurred boundaries between player, agent, and team management in today’s NBA.

4. Gino Torretta Joins: Hurricanes Nostalgia & The Monologue

(17:30 – 28:38)

a. Meet Gino Torretta

• Gino reflects on being a Miami football legend, where his Heisman is kept (“On the bookcase at home.” – 18:04), and being sporadically pulled into show antics when Dan is out.

b. The “Threat to Indiana” Monologue

• The crew prompts Gino to dramatically read a thread originally written by Mike Ryan, meant to “intimidate Indiana” before a major college football game.
  • Gino delivers in full Hurricane passion:

    “You haven’t been tested. Our minds, bodies, and spirits have been in hell since Halloween. You’re walking into an asylum. The same folks picking you have been pouring dirt on our grave for two and a half months—or 20-some years. We’re still standing. We’re forged in and fire, been fighting for our lives longer than you’ve mattered. See you in a week. Spot the goddamn ball.” (Gino Torretta, 19:53 – 20:16)

  • Immediate panel reaction:
    • “That’s what I’m talking about.” (Zaslo, 20:16)
    • “It carries a lot more weight when it’s a Heisman Trophy winner saying it.” (Dan Le Batard, 20:20)

c. Ticket Mania & Inside College Football

• Gino recounts being inundated by ticket requests for the big game (“Calls from people I haven’t seen or heard from in 35 years.” – 20:42).
• Discusses the challenge of alumni ticket access, credentialing, and the alumni hierarchy—even among legends.

d. Game Analysis: Miami vs. Indiana

• Gino breaks down Miami’s team strengths, the unpredictability and improvement of Indiana quarterback Mendoza, and weighs in on the matchup’s “emotion vs. analysis.”
  • “I think there are some guys on Miami’s team that remind me of guys I played with. I think Fletcher is a guy—just give me the damn ball. I’m not going to let us lose. I think Malachi is the same way.” (Gino Torretta, 23:19)
  • “Indiana may not have the superstar power…but they play arguably the best team football of anybody in college football.” (23:38)
• On Indiana’s season: “If they win this game, they will have to be considered one of the best teams of all time.” (Stugotz, 24:09)

e. Miami’s Offensive Line & Leadership

• Gino marvels at Miami’s massive and effective offensive line, comparing player size to NFL legends, and discusses rule changes like the “push the pile.”
  • “If you walk next to [Markel Bell] it’s like a shadow.” (Gino Torretta, 27:40)

5. Jessica Smetana Segment: Steelers Exit, Personal Revelations, and CFB Preview

(32:26 – 41:56)

a. Personal (and Hilariously Embarrassing) Moment

• The crew plays an audio clip of Jessica snoring during a Bears game; she laughs it off, turning it to a self-deprecating bit about her “loud” sneezing and general disarray.
  • “He said, ‘are you in a good mood right now?’…he pulled up his voice recordings and played that for me. I still think it may have been the dog.” (Jessica Smetana, 34:32)

b. Steelers’ Coaching Transition: Mike Tomlin

• Jessica addresses the end of the Mike Tomlin Steelers era and her mixed feelings about the coach stepping down.
  • “I think it kind of feels like it was time. Like, 19 years is a really long time…in the big picture, I think Hall of Fame head coach that won a Super Bowl in Pittsburgh, that had a record of winning, not losing seasons, winning seasons that I don’t think anyone’s ever going to break.” (Jessica Smetana, 36:07, 38:06)
• Greg Cody posits on Tomlin’s Hall of Fame credentials. Jessica strongly advocates for Tomlin’s induction (“That’s a straw man argument. No one said every coach that wins a Super Bowl makes the Hall of Fame…We’re talking about one specific coach.” – 38:52).

c. Antonio Brown & Hall of Fame Debate

• The panel briefly debates Antonio Brown’s Hall credentials, separating stats from off-field reputation.

d. CFB Title Game Preview (Miami vs. Indiana)

• Jessica doesn’t have a strong rooting interest but predicts a closer contest than expected.
  • “I think it’s going to be a better game than people are giving it credit for. Mendoza has obviously been really excellent. I think if Indiana plays their A plus game they’re probably going to win the game, but I think it’s more of a game than maybe the spread is giving it credit for.” (Jessica Smetana, 41:24)

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• Bucks’ woes:
  “The Bucks lost to the Kings at home…two losses to the Wizards, a 39 point loss to the Nets…disintegrated there. Giannis is available. He’s booing his own fans.”

  • Stugotz, 01:57

• On bringing in old sports memorabilia:
  “He has fished something out of his garage…I believe they are the Dead Sea Scrolls.”

  • Stugotz, 04:09

• Gino Torretta’s monologue (spotlighting Miami’s fire):
  “You haven’t been tested. Our minds, bodies, and spirits have been in hell since Halloween. You’re walking into an asylum. The same folks picking you have been pouring dirt on our grave for two and a half months—or 20-some years. We’re still standing. We’re forged in and fire, been fighting for our lives longer than you’ve mattered. See you in a week. Spot the goddamn ball.”

  • Gino Torretta, 19:53 – 20:16

• Jessica on snoring audio betrayal:
  “He said, ‘are you in a good mood right now?’…he pulled up his voice recordings and played that for me. I still think it may have been the dog.”

  • Jessica, 34:32

• Tomlin’s legacy according to Jessica:
  “Hall of Fame head coach that won a Super Bowl in Pittsburgh, that had a record of winning, not losing seasons, winning seasons that I don’t think anyone’s ever going to break.”

  • Jessica, 38:06

Segment Timeline

• 00:44 – 03:51: Bucks’ struggles & NBA discussion
• 04:07 – 08:15: Greg Cody’s garage treasures
• 13:05 – 15:49: LeBron, Rich Paul, and NBA agent drama
• 17:30 – 28:38: Gino Torretta’s Miami monologue, college football analysis, and legendary anecdotes
• 32:26 – 38:52: Jessica Smetana on personal moments, Steelers and Tomlin legacy
• 41:11 – 41:56: Jessica’s CFB title game preview and closing banter

Tone & Style

• Fast-paced, energetic, and irreverent
• Signature Miami flavor and inside jokes
• Frequent comic detours, “roasting” among friends
• Genuine sports insights, but always filtered through humor and character

Summary Verdict

This episode is a quintessential blend of Le Batard show DNA: over-the-top Miami pride, playful sports debate, and comedic personality showcases. The hour pivots easily from bashing NBA dysfunction to reliving Hurricanes glory, taking college football seriously (until it doesn’t), and incorporating the panel’s personal quirks into the sports conversation. Gino Torretta’s mock-motivational monologue is a highlight, and Jessica Smetana’s honest, hilarious storytelling adds warmth and relatability to the CFB preview.