Hour 1: The Hall of Nine Seconds

Summary

Podcast Title: The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
Episode: Hour 1: The Hall of Nine Seconds
Release Date: May 19, 2025

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1. Introduction to Playoff Dynamics

Timestamp: [01:18] – [02:56]

Dan Le Batard kicks off the episode by reflecting on the challenges of maintaining pacing during the intense hockey playoffs. He humorously admits, “I will try to do a better job of pacing myself during these hockey playoffs” ([01:18]). The discussion quickly transitions to the emotional investment of the hosts and guests in the playoffs, highlighting the unpredictability and passion surrounding the games.

2. NBA Playoffs and the New York Knicks

Timestamp: [02:56] – [07:58]

The conversation shifts to the NBA playoffs, with a particular focus on the New York Knicks' unexpected performance. Stugotz criticizes Nikola Jokić’s performance in the crucial Game 7, stating, “That's a terrible job by Jokic, is it not? I mean, you can't get nine shots off at a game seven” ([02:56]). The hosts debate whether Jokić’s exhaustion and the Pacers' superior defense were decisive factors in the Knicks’ advancement.

Dan Le Batard emphasizes the Knicks' transformation under coach Leon Rose, praising significant trades and signings that have bolstered the team’s performance. He muses, “Are you kidding me? Lovable underdog. And it's gonna be the Pacers who are hated...” ([04:19]). The discussion underscores the Knicks' resurgence as a compelling underdog story in the NBA.

3. Reggie Miller’s Influence and Broadcasting Critique

Timestamp: [07:58] – [14:54]

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to critiquing Reggie Miller’s role as a broadcaster for the Knicks-Pacers series. Stugotz passionately requests, “Stay out of the series” ([12:31]), arguing that Miller’s legacy as a player should not overshadow his current role as a commentator. Dan Le Batard concurs, highlighting Miller’s tendency to bring past narratives into current games: “You can't dispute. You can't say that the Knicks aren't a lovable story” ([04:32]).

The hosts express concern that Miller’s commentary detracts from the present narrative, insisting that the focus should remain on the current teams rather than historical moments. Stugotz passionately admonishes, “Reggie Miller is not a great player. He's a Hall of Fame player because of those nine seconds” ([14:54]).

4. Hosting Challenges and On-Air Antics

Timestamp: [14:54] – [37:02]

The episode takes a lighter turn as the hosts engage in playful banter about potential broadcasting roles. Stugotz humorously discusses his attempts at play-by-play commentary, sharing a comical account of calling a baseball game: “Logan Morrison with a big base hit up the right side and Martinez slides into first” ([34:43]). This segment showcases the camaraderie and humorous dynamics among the hosts, providing a break from the intense sports analysis.

5. WNBA Spotlight: Angel Reese vs. Caitlin Clark

Timestamp: [37:05] – [41:40]

Dan Le Batard introduces a discussion on the WNBA, focusing on the rivalry between Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark. He draws parallels to the historic Magic Johnson and Larry Bird rivalry, noting, “Angel Reese doesn't do it the way Magic Johnson's gonna do it” ([37:55]). The conversation delves into the cultural and racial dynamics influencing these athletes, emphasizing the impact of their personalities and interactions on the sport’s popularity.

Stugotz and Greg Cody contribute by highlighting the intensity and competitiveness of these emerging stars, questioning whether their rivalry is being framed as a “race war” or simply a fierce competition: “I just think these are two competitors” ([40:38]).

6. Reflections on NBA Evolution and Player Health

Timestamp: [42:44] – [29:13]

The hosts reflect on the evolution of the NBA, particularly the shift towards three-point shooting and its implications for the game’s future. Dan Le Batard discusses the physical toll on players, citing Aaron Gordon’s hamstring strain as an example: “Aaron Gordon is showing you we play too much” ([26:35]). The conversation emphasizes the need for better player management to sustain high-level performance throughout the grueling playoff schedules.

Stugotz agrees, pointing out the importance of maintaining player health: “The Timberwolves are 30 and 6 in the last 36 games that Julius Randle has played” ([28:27]). This segment underscores concerns about the longevity and durability of players amidst the NBA’s increasing demands.

7. Concluding Remarks on Playoff Storylines

Timestamp: [29:13] – [41:40]

In the closing segments, the hosts speculate on potential playoff outcomes, emphasizing the unpredictability and excitement of the current season. Tony highlights the promising futures of teams like the Knicks and Pacers, suggesting that these franchises could shape the next five to seven years of the NBA: “These are teams that you can set up for the next five, seven years if they all stay together” ([24:31]).

Dan Le Batard concludes by reflecting on the necessity of fresh storylines in the NBA, moving beyond the long-dominant figures like Stephen Curry and LeBron James: “We've been talking about just Stephen Lebron for 15 years. Dugouts, like, we need some new stories” ([23:54]).

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Notable Quotes:

• Dan Le Batard [01:18]: “I will try to do a better job of pacing myself during these hockey playoffs.”
• Stugotz [02:56]: “That's a terrible job by Jokic, is it not? I mean, you can't get nine shots off at a game seven.”
• Dan Le Batard [04:19]: “Are you kidding me? Lovable underdog. And it's gonna be the Pacers who are hated...”
• Stugotz [12:31]: “Stay out of the series.”
• Dan Le Batard [14:54]: “Reggie Miller is not a great player. He's a Hall of Fame player because of those nine seconds.”
• Dan Le Batard [37:55]: “Angel Reese doesn't do it the way Magic Johnson's gonna do it.”
• Tony [24:31]: “These are teams that you can set up for the next five, seven years if they all stay together.”

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Insights and Conclusions:

• Playoff Intensity: The hosts discuss the heightened emotions and unpredictable outcomes of both the hockey and NBA playoffs, emphasizing the passion and dedication of fans and players alike.

• New York Knicks Resurgence: Under new management and strategic trades, the Knicks have transformed into a formidable underdog, capturing the attention and support of a passionate New York fanbase.

• Broadcasting Critique: Reggie Miller’s role as a broadcaster is a point of contention, with hosts arguing that his presence may detract from the current narrative and overshadow the present teams.

• WNBA Rivalry: The emerging rivalry between Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark is highlighted as a modern parallel to historic NBA rivalries, bringing fresh dynamics and cultural dimensions to the sport.

• Player Health Concerns: The discussion underscores the physical demands of the NBA playoffs, advocating for better player management to ensure longevity and peak performance.

• Future of the NBA: There is a call for new storylines and emerging franchises to reinvigorate the NBA, moving beyond the long-standing dominance of established superstars.

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This episode of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz offers a comprehensive and engaging analysis of the current sports landscape, blending in-depth discussions with humor and lively interactions among the hosts. Whether you're a seasoned sports enthusiast or a casual fan, the episode provides valuable insights into the dynamics shaping the playoffs and the future of professional sports.

Transcript

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[Dan LeBatard]

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[Mike Ryan]

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[Dan LeBatard]

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[Dan LeBatard]

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[Dan LeBatard]

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[Mike Ryan]

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[Dan LeBatard]

Cuervo. This is the Dan Levatar show with.

[Stugotz]

The Stu Guts Podcast.

[Mike Ryan]

This episode is presented by Smirnoff.

[Dan LeBatard]

We do game days.

[Mike Ryan]

Please drink responsibly.

[Dan LeBatard]

The Smirnoff Company New York, NY I will try to do a better job of pacing myself during these hockey playoffs. You think we'd be better at it after a couple of years of practice? We are not. It was a lot of hockey. Too much hockey. I understand your rage. Roy is still beaming. Zaslow has been smiling since one nothing last night. Since one nothing last night. You can't get the smile off his face. And Tony's so involved he gets excited to name a backup goalie from a couple of years.

[Stugotz]

Nice.

[Dan LeBatard]

It has taken over South Florida, but the basketball. And I don't know if you guys had it going this particular way because basketball can be pretty predictable this time of year, but now it's all of a sudden not because 6 and 4 or 6 and a 5, like that's not usually how all of that happens. Last year, Dallas is there when OKC was better all year. But you have the storyline that is the following stugats and I can't believe I'm saying any of this. You're either going to have a champion who's winning the championship for the first time as the league evolves past Steph and LeBron, or it'll be the Knicks and those are good choices if you're trying to resell the league as like, oh, Tatum is out, but Anthony Edwards, would you like to be the guy? And also, how are we going to make it interesting if defense is what wins the championship? Because OKC watching what they just did to the MVP was like watching a pack of dogs chase down an elephant. Like just how, how, how young people will ravenously eat even the mvp. One shot in the second half. Want to go be with Horse?

[Stugotz]

That's a terrible job by Jokic, is it not? I mean, you can't get nine shots off at a game seven. Best offensive player ever. Get out of here.

[Dan LeBatard]

Okay, he's tired and four years.

[Stugotz]

So is Jordan. He had the flu.

[Dan LeBatard]

I mean, okay, it took a couple years off as well. Took a couple of years off.

[Stugotz]

He had a flu.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah, but he won a bunch of them and then took. And then came back with a flu. Yes, but again, play baseball, Jokic. Wonderful. This is how, man, I don't think people totally understand how competitive these human beings are. Like, you're fighting the world for money. No one saw Jokic coming. Stugot says he's a bum. Get more than nine shots. Or he just got eaten up by youth because that team plays defense better than anyone in the sport and also can score. And you just saw him get tired. Like he was done in the second half. He was done. Duran quit Golden State. LeBron went to Cleveland. Like after four years, it's hard. It's hell. The Celtics have been at this for four years and Tatum just blew a wheel. Like, it's hard to keep this pace for four years because of how competitive the people are. But now you've got New York and this is the part that's the great storyline. Are you kidding me? Lovable underdog. And it's gonna be the Pacers who are hated, cuz they're gonna get in the way of the story. Because that you can't dispute. You can't say that the Knicks aren't a lovable story. And this to gods, is the best feeling you've had in 25 years. And now Bandwag Witty is joining because he's not even a Floridian anymore. He's an asshole.

[Stugotz]

Let's be clear. The NBA needs the Knicks in the NBA Finals. A Pacer Thunder final would be an absolute disaster for the NBA. So good luck to the Pacers with that. Here is my thoughts on the Knicks. It's amazing because, you know, they had a good team last year. Everyone felt New York fell in love with that team. Dante DiVincenzo, guys like Hartenstein and now he's in Oklahoma City. And Diva Chenzo. I have no idea where that guy.

[Tony]

What do you think he is?

[Dan LeBatard]

Stu, where do you think he is?

[Stugotz]

Milwaukee maybe.

[Tony]

I mean, they would love him in Milwaukee.

[Stugotz]

Where is he? I have no idea where he is.

[Tony]

He's. He's on the other side of.

[Greg Cody]

Think about the guy you traded for playing.

[Stugotz]

So here is like what an amazing job for Leon Rose to say. You know what? I know New York fell in love with this team, but this team is not good enough. We are not good enough. And he goes out and makes a couple of big time trades, makes a big time signing, gets rid of the guys that New York fell in love with and he was right and they are better. And now they're taking on the Pacers. And I have. This is a message to Reggie Miller. Stay out of the series.

[Dan LeBatard]

Wait a minute, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on. You might not know where the foreigner is playing DiVincenzo. Even though I from Ohio, from Delaware or somewhere. But I called him the Foreigner because I thought he was Italian, right? You may not know where he is playing right now, but if you're going to call out Reggie, if you're going to call out Reggie Miller, look at a camera and do it. From the old sparks of. Look, last week, can you get me the sound? Stugots wasn't here, but we have. We've created a couple of new call letters here to celebrate New York. He celebrated this with us last year when we did this, when we did wfat.

[Greg Cody]

Wfat.

[Dan LeBatard]

And now Boston is gone. We haven't enjoyed that nearly enough today. Boston is gone. But last week we created this. These call letters.

[Stugotz]

W T E. I like that.

[Dan LeBatard]

Tony, your speed is still off on that.

[Tony]

I have to wait for the actual thing to happen.

[Dan LeBatard]

Let's try again. Let's do WDEI again to celebrate. Boston radio real quick.

[Stugotz]

Wdei.

[Dan LeBatard]

But if you're gonna talk to Reggie Miller, look at that camera and give him.

[Stugotz]

Is that from Batman and Robin?

[Dan LeBatard]

It sounds like it, right? It sounds, it's, it's, it's public domain. Yes, that is, that's what it's. It's not the highest end of entertainment.

[Chris Whittingham]

W T E I.

[Greg Cody]

Our focus was on the accent. Maybe we could have focused more on imaging.

[Jeremy]

I'm pretty entertained.

[Dan LeBatard]

That's the standard.

[Jeremy]

I mean, I think whoever made that sounder is probably really smart and handsome.

[Dan LeBatard]

Just hold on a second. Just.

[Stugotz]

Major Penalty five minutes. Grooming Comedy.

[Dan LeBatard]

Whittingham. The. The Knicks are lovable.

[Tony]

They are four guys in the ice now.

[Dan LeBatard]

It hurts. It hurts me. It hurts me to say it, but.

[Stugotz]

I have like them.

[Dan LeBatard]

I mean, it's. It's hard not to. Right? Like, I mean, they've got the smallest player on the court and. And man it.

[Stugotz]

But he's got the biggest balls.

[Dan LeBatard]

Thank you.

[Tony]

I know Halliburton's got some big balls too.

[Dan LeBatard]

Okay, a ball off.

[Stugotz]

His huge balls off.

[Dan LeBatard]

Okay, we're going to do a huge balls off. Jalen. Jalen Brunson is the smallest player on the court. And New York gets to feel like an underd. And it's just. It's all crazy. It's all upside down. New York never gets to feel like an underdog. And as I was saying last week, nothing matters in that city like this sport. Like, not when you say msg and playing in the heart of the city. Not even the Rangers do what the Knicks do.

[Chris Whittingham]

Everyone says that. I still have a hard time. Like it's. It's bigger than the Yankees.

[Stugotz]

No, Zaz. Bigger than the Yankees as it is this simple. In New York, with every other sport, you have a. You have a choice. With baseball, Yankees, Mets. With hockey, Islanders, Rangers. With football, you have the jets and the Giants. We have one basketball team.

[Dan LeBatard]

What?

[Stugotz]

That's it. It's the only that team played in New Jersey. And no one cares about the Brooklyn Nets. Nobody. Woody lives in New York. He's a Knicks fan. He'll tell you. Nobody cares about the Nets. Nobody.

[Zaslow]

No.

[Stugotz]

So this is your one team. We all get behind that's.

[Zaslow]

And there is that level of caring and that level of like, we've suffered for this. We have gone through 25 years of having awful, awful basketball teams, awful executives, awful players. And. And I was on a flight during game six. Every single person to a man had on the JetBlue screens the Knicks game on. And there was applause when big threes are made. There was an applause when the clocks hit triple zero. This is.

[Greg Cody]

That happens on all flights. I've been on flights coming back to Florida.

[Zaslow]

I guarantee you, I guarantee you if There was a JetBlue flight from wherever to Fort Lauderdale last night, there were not people that were watching the Panthers.

[Greg Cody]

Game and applauded when goals went on flights. Watching Panthers games.

[Zaslow]

I'm not having that. I'm not having that. The. The Knicks have a level.

[Chris Whittingham]

You're here pining about your New York Knicks. What do you mean you're not having that? This is a vomit. The words coming out of your mouth.

[Stugotz]

We.

[Chris Whittingham]

My New York Knicks. Us. Get out of here. New York Knicks. Are you talking.

[Zaslow]

I was on the flight. I was on the flight. I was there with the fans. I was there in New York City on a day after the Knicks won a big playoff game. And you feel it's something completely different. It's all anyone talks about in my work office, on the trains. The New York Knicks are completely dominating this city. And there's a real feeling they can go on and win this thing, isn't it? And I think, like, that's. That is the biggest thing.

[Dan LeBatard]

They cannot beat okc. Are you out of your mind? Are you out of your mind?

[Stugotz]

Can OKC beat Minnesota?

[Zaslow]

I mean, okay, but Dan, would you have said before the series? I mean, The Knicks are plus 500 underdogs going into the series against Boston and pretty soundly dominated them before Tatum got injured. They were about to go three one up.

[Chris Whittingham]

They were down for, like, 90% of the minutes. That's not dominating at all.

[Stugotz]

Down 20, down 20 in game one and two.

[Chris Whittingham]

Dominating.

[Zaslow]

There were three one. They're about to go three one up.

[Dan LeBatard]

Boston was up 20 points in two.

[Zaslow]

Of the games, but they lost the game.

[Chris Whittingham]

Let's not dominate.

[Dan LeBatard]

Let's not dominate. Dominating.

[Stugotz]

Well, the second half, you're up 3:1 in this series.

[Zaslow]

You're feeling good.

[Stugotz]

Scoreboard.

[Greg Cody]

Witty.

[Stugotz]

She's changed.

[Dan LeBatard]

Witty.

[Stugotz]

He's right.

[Dan LeBatard]

All right, Witty, get out of here.

[Stugotz]

Boston's gone. You can still play.

[Greg Cody]

Is anybody else worried for New York? The fact that there are two bigger celebrations that they could have than what they did when they won that last series.

[Zaslow]

I mean, not two eight.

[Greg Cody]

The fleet.

[Zaslow]

They still have, in theory, eight more games to win.

[Greg Cody]

The fact that the streets were flooded like that. The one guy said, sitting up on that screen, is that guy okay? Did you see that guy?

[Dan LeBatard]

All right, I need. I need Witty to get out of here now. Okay? He is.

[Greg Cody]

Get out of here.

[Dan LeBatard]

Witty. He has been. He has been insufferable. Zaslow, you didn't go after him strongly enough. He's offensive. He's offensive. Yes. Zazlo is disgusted. Zazzle, you came up with Whittingham. You're a South Floridian at your court. Look at. Look at Whittingham. Look at Smuggler.

[Chris Whittingham]

I don't even want to look at him. It's a vomit.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah, I mean, he's. He's offensive.

[Zaslow]

How could you not feel good for these guys, man?

[Dan LeBatard]

They don't care.

[Chris Whittingham]

How do I not Feel good about them because they're the team that tormented me throughout my teenage years. Why do I have to feel good about the New York.

[Zaslow]

That actually is. That is the difference between Zaslo and I. He's that tiny bit older than me. Where I actually kind of, as a Heat fan, felt a bit of pity for them because I never experienced like I was seven when the Alan Houston shot went in. So I actually, for the most part, I have no antipathy towards the Knicks because they've never done anything to me.

[Chris Whittingham]

I was 18 and when it was one of the worst nights of my life. And I'm supposed to sit here and hear you talk about we are what we're going to do. When you grew up here and you were a Heat fan.

[Greg Cody]

Get out of here.

[Chris Whittingham]

You make me sick.

[Dan LeBatard]

You have no sense of history. None. You have no sense of history. You have no sense of grace. You have no sense of decorum or decency. You're a foul, foul fraud.

[Stugotz]

That's a bit strong.

[Dan LeBatard]

What do you think?

[Zaslow]

I gave an hour and thank you.

[Dan LeBatard]

For being on this morning. Thank you for being on with us. Good talking. Good talking to you. Nice seeing you, Reggie Miller. Stugotz, here's your chance. All right.

[Stugotz]

Stay out of the series.

[Dan LeBatard]

Hold on a second. I'm going to set you up. Hold on a second.

[Stugotz]

All right, I was going.

[Dan LeBatard]

I know. Hold on. I want to set the platform for you. The Knicks before Jalen Brunson. Eight playoff wins in 20 years. The Knicks with Jalen Brunson. 21 playoff wins in three years. What is happening now is escalating your parents and grandparents to remember when the Pacers and the Knicks played once upon a time. And it was tremendous. Larry Johnson's shot still echoes across 25 years of failure because there hasn't been shit since then. And so Larry Johnson made a four point play one time against Indiana and Reggie Miller got all his fame off the Knicks, all of it. So this is what Reggie Miller said after calling last year's Knicks Pacers series. The longtime Pacer will call every game of this year's series for tnt.

[Stugotz]

It's a terrible job. Seriously. That is a job. I don't care. Why take him off of it?

[Tony]

I mean, I mean, Stu, to be honest, though, he's been very pro Knicks. It's almost like a little crush on the Knicks as he's been calling these games. So there may be a little bit.

[Dan LeBatard]

Of like, quote, this is why I can't stand the Knicks. They're front runners. They think they're God's gift to basketball. End quote. That's Reggie Miller, who will be broadcasting the games.

[Stugotz]

Yeah. Stay out of my series. I mean, I'm serious. You had your moment. You had your nine seconds. You had your hall of Fame moment. That's why you're in the hall of Fame, because of those moments, those final seconds against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. You are a decent player. You were not a great player. You're not a Hall of Fame player. You were in the series when you were playing. But as a broadcaster, do me a favor. Do not insert yourself into this series like you're some sort of factor into this. You're not. Call the game. Do it objectively. I don't want to hear about Reggie Miller and what he did when he was playing for the Pacers back in the 90s. I don't want to see the 3.3 shown by TNT every 15 seconds. I need Reggie Miller and Rick Smith, for that matter, to stay away from this Knicks Pacer series. Okay? It is not about Reggie. It's not about the 90s. It's not about those teams. It is about this Knick team against this Pacer team. And by the way, Reggie Miller, please. Because what you're doing is stealing Halliburton's thunder when you keep inserting. Halliburton is a better player than Reggie Miller will ever be. Come on.

[Dan LeBatard]

He.

[Zaslow]

All right.

[Stugotz]

What better player? Reggie Miller was a good player. He was not a great player. He's a Hall of Famer because of those nine seconds. He had a Hall of Fame moment, Dan. I mean, he is in the hall of nine seconds. That's what he is.

[Dan LeBatard]

Put it on the poll. Should Reggie Miller be in the hall of nine seconds? Yes, I. I think. Thank you, Patino as well. I think that I have given me nine.

[Stugotz]

Huh?

[Dan LeBatard]

Sound.

[Greg Cody]

My wife would put me in it.

[Stugotz]

Died. It's like three times for me.

[Chris Whittingham]

Good one.

[Dan LeBatard]

Like a rabbit. Yes.

[Tony]

Bounce back is great, though.

[Dan LeBatard]

Like a little rabbit. And I'm sorry, I'm still trying to get the sting out of my eyes after a thrusting Chris threw himself in the middle of the conversation. Well, it wasn't my fault. I wasn't expecting it. And it disoriented me because it was. And enthused.

[Greg Cody]

Oh, also how she would describe me.

[Tony]

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[Mike Ryan]

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[Producer]

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[Stugotz]

Month.

[Producer]

That's BetterHelp. H-E-L-P.com DLB Don Levitard our Panther group chat.

[Greg Cody]

We're confident against the lighting. This is a different team. You're a Panther. Group chat no, no, I think.

[Dan LeBatard]

No.

[Greg Cody]

But dude, you're. You're so wrong on that. We've been terrified of this team forever, and I think there's a different energy where the Panthers, they want the Lightning stugats.

[Dan LeBatard]

I want T shirts made for this Panther run. What could be this Panther run? Our Panther group chat. We're not afraid of the lightning.

[Mike Ryan]

That's a Tagline for World RAWR3.

[Dan LeBatard]

This is the Dan Lebatar show with the Stugats. Reggie Miller is a Hall of Famer. But Zazlo, do you know the story of the spot that Boog put in with Reggie Miller?

[Chris Whittingham]

I already told you. I remember everything from 790. Great memory.

[Dan LeBatard]

So what I remember is Boog squeezing my knee.

[Stugotz]

Yeah.

[Dan LeBatard]

Squeezing my knee before asking Reggie Miller after I had said for months that he didn't deserve to be a Hall of Famer.

[Stugotz]

Yeah.

[Dan LeBatard]

In front of Reggie Miller. He asked me whether I thought Reggie Miller was a Hall of Famer. We'd done like two months worth of shows on it.

[Chris Whittingham]

This was outside Versace.

[Dan LeBatard]

Maybe it was outside Versace.

[Stugotz]

It was outside the pre game show. Yeah, we were there early. Eli was there.

[Dan LeBatard]

Eli Manning showed up too early. Matt Leiner drank too much and was in the hot tub too early as well.

[Jeremy]

When wasn't he?

[Stugotz]

Boog wrote down on a piece of paper as Reggie was approaching the table. Watch what I do to Dan.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah. Oh, Roy, you don't remember? Yeah, no, it was. And he squeezed my knee. And Boog Scott, people don't understand this. Like, one of the things about Kawhi Leonard that's so amazing is his Hands are stronger than anybody else's in the NBA. Boog's hands.

[Stugotz]

Yeah. Mitts.

[Dan LeBatard]

It's not.

[Greg Cody]

Not surprising, but it's.

[Dan LeBatard]

But it's catcher's mitts. And if he squeezes your knee, your knee is going to be much smaller than his hand. Okay. Because it's like being squeezed. Squeezed by a frying pan. Like just very hard. And so he squeezes my knee as he does this to me. As Reggie Miller's got. I'm sitting down and Reggie Miller's got his hand on my shoulder. And this is what happened. Are you a Hall of Famer?

[Stugotz]

No. There's too many other guys that are more deserving than I. Lebatar.

[Dan LeBatard]

Do you think he's going in?

[Mike Ryan]

No, I think you are.

[Stugotz]

Yeah. You're going in.

[Greg Cody]

Classics.

[Stugotz]

Two guys.

[Chris Whittingham]

So not only did Boog put you in that spot, but he came over the top. Off the top rope with. I believe.

[Greg Cody]

And then Stugatso was helpful, of course.

[Dan LeBatard]

Just alone with a syllable.

[Stugotz]

Levitar.

[Dan LeBatard]

Do you think he's going in? No.

[Greg Cody]

You gotta lie there, Dan. Just lie to him.

[Dan LeBatard]

After months of being on the radio.

[Greg Cody]

It's funny, I'm afraid to say it now.

[Dan LeBatard]

No.

[Stugotz]

First ballot.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah. That would be who I am. That's who you know me to be. No.

[Greg Cody]

He's so meek.

[Dan LeBatard]

Because. Because. Because he. Because my friend knew that's how I was going to answer.

[Stugotz]

And his hand was on your knee.

[Dan LeBatard]

And he was squeezing my knee. And yeah, it was a death grip. But you've got Minnesota Stugots playing OKC. And generally speaking, when a team wins 68 games and has that point differential, they are not going to be beaten by anybody. Basketball people who are watching are saying if they're top five offense, top five defense, they're going to beat you any one of the ways. No one else can do that. And they just did the Jokic. What no one can do to Jokic. And if he's not quitting at the end, you understand how the wheels are just falling off of whatever that was in Denver for three years. That has been what Boston has been competing with for three years. And the pieces start falling apart. Stugatz. Because look at what. When you talk about the cost of some of this stuff. Kevin Durant and his Achilles. When three or four years of this competitive a basketball. Aaron Gordon is saying today or yesterday, I would really, really appreciate it if there were a couple of days in between games in the playoffs instead of every other day, the product of the game would be a lot better. You'll see a higher level of basketball, probably less blowouts. Aaron Gordon could. He's important to them, and he's playing injured. And the bodies aren't going to hold up after three or four years of this. And you can rip Jokic, but good God, that defense Dugats like it's young and hungry and has had the heartbreak of last year because that team really wanted it last year and wasn't ready. It was beaten by a Minnesota team that is immature and doesn't win as a favorite. Like, does not win as a favorite. OKC is the favorite now. They won 68 games. They're a lot better than everyone else. If they don't have injuries, that team should skate to the title. But random threes, young team. Brunson, you can talk yourself into some fun maybes because it's less predictable than it's been. And it's why the NBA is back, because this has been really predictable for a long time. And it should be fun to see the transition of power almost Boston getting knocked out. I know it's not great because you like the history of Boston and Boston's a big market, but open.

[Stugotz]

Yeah, but you get the Knicks.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah, but opening it up to New York, just this is how you scrub. We've been talking about just Stephen Lebron for 15 years. Dugouts, like, we need some new stories.

[Tony]

And if you look across all of those storylines and all those narratives with the four teams remaining, you've got Shea, who's most likely more than not going to be the mvp. You've got Anthony Edwards on the other side, Julius Randle, who's having an incredible season. You look at the East, Jalen Brunson, the Knicks. You look at Halliburton and the Pacers, like, these are teams that you can set up for the next five, seven years if they all stay together. Where it's like, oh, wow, we don't know who's going to be here. And we just have a replication of what happened in the early 2000s and early teens.

[Stugotz]

The Knicks and the Timberwolves would be fun, right? Those are two that would be incredible to keep it to the playoffs last year and still said, hey, our teams are not good enough, and they improved their rosters and they traded with each other. And so that would be a fun little series to watch.

[Tony]

Now you know where Dante DiVincenzo is.

[Stugotz]

Yeah. Thank you.

[Chris Whittingham]

I think we kind of glossed over, you know, the point which Tony made there is, you know, these could be teams for the next five to seven years. No, like that's not the way the league works.

[Stugotz]

No.

[Dan LeBatard]

It's seven different champs in seven years. It's the first time that's ever happened. Ever. A reigning champion hasn't made it past the second round since 2019.

[Jeremy]

That's crazy.

[Dan LeBatard]

But that's. The sport has changed. The threes has changed everything. And it's either going to ruin the sport or bring it back, because the games are going to be what matter. And Aaron Gordon is not wrong when he says, man, you saw how good that basketball was in the bubble, right? If we're rested, if it's not us, like, guys, listen, pal. The human body's limits make it so the best athletes in the world can't play all of the minutes in a basketball game. They need rest. The jumping and running and hitting your hands on the rim and landing create joint stuff with the flights, their giant bodies. The luxury hotels are sometimes great, and often they're too big to sleep comfortably because they're 7 7. And it's not a normal thing to be in the world. Like what I understand we make fun of the load management, but Aaron Gordon is simply telling you, in the bubble, we hated it. Couldn't go anywhere. But you saw how good the basketball was because the best athletes in the world weren't broken from trying to get to the next game the next night in the next city.

[Stugotz]

But I also saw something that wasn't the NBA. I saw guys playing in front of no fans. Like, I don't care about the quality of basketball. Part of the NBA, part of climbing that mountain is going on the road and beating a team on the road in a big game. Seven in front of their fans on more.

[Chris Whittingham]

So part of the NBA is. Look at the four teams remaining now. Minnesota, Indiana, New York, Oklahoma City. They're healthy. Like, this is part of the NBA. You avoid. There's a little bit of luck involved there. You avoid the injury, you're healthy, you move on.

[Tony]

Funny invoking the name of Aaron Gordon, who we got a report from. Sean had a grade 2 hamstring strain who was going to be out several weeks and if not more. And then you see him in the starting lineup the next day, and you're like, how is this happening? Grabbed 11 boards in the first, like, 10 minutes of the game. So, like, he's a guy that's showing you we play too much. I say we play too much. But look at me go do it and actually talk the talk and walk the walk.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yes, but at what cost? Because Durant hasn't been the same since tearing his Achilles. Because there is a short sightedness in having to get out there. Because the stakes get ratcheted up to such a place that Julius Randle might not get this shot the rest of his life. There are no promises here. The league is changing all of the time. Julius Randle, if he wants to be all the things that he's dreamt about being, here's a chance. Here's the chance as the underdog. And you only have to ride number two. You don't even have to be the best number two. There's been Giannis. You could just be number two to Anthony Edwards. And if you knock off that team, which I do not believe they can, I believe they will get smothered and they will shoot tons and tons of threes. You like their size, Tony?

[Tony]

I like their size, Dan. I like that. Minnesota has been the biggest problem for, for OKC this season. And it's like if you start looking at some of the matchups there, there's something there.

[Jeremy]

Do we owe Rudy Gobert a little bit of an apology?

[Tony]

No.

[Jeremy]

Or rather Minnesota an apology for criticizing that move we mocked them did. Because look, they gave up a ton of picks. It might ultimately end up leading to nothing. And having all of those picks maybe could have been useful in the long run with Anthony Edwards, but in the short term, they have an opportunity here. They're back in their second straight conference finals. They have an anchor of their defense that they're able to build the rest of this around. And he hasn't been played off the floor.

[Greg Cody]

I'll say it. I'm sorry, Minnesota. I feel like I wasn't the loudest of the criticizers, but I'll say it. You were part of it.

[Stugotz]

Not to Minnesota, to Rudy Gobert.

[Greg Cody]

He's right. It was more the team. We were doing it.

[Jeremy]

We can still, you know, Rudy Gobert.

[Dan LeBatard]

This is an interesting one, though, because when as Aslo is saying, we always overlook this one. Health is so important. The timberwolf Timberwolves are 30 and 6 in the last 36 games that Julius Randle has played. 30 and 6. And the Pacers haven't. They've lost five times in two months. That. That includes the playoffs. The Pacers. So, so that's good, right? That's pretty good. Yeah.

[Tony]

Since January, they're like 46 and 14.

[Dan LeBatard]

The Pacers are so. The Knicks are favored in that series and I understand that they should be that New York is feeling itself, but.

[Stugotz]

Because, well, the three seed, they have home court advantage, they should be A slight favorite, of course, be Boston.

[Dan LeBatard]

The only reason I'm bringing it up is because if we're doing the slate sliding scale of randomness in the three point age, and I'm throwing health into the mix because of course Minnesota advances because Steph got hurt. I don't know if Minnesota should have or would have advanced. Steph and Jimmy Butler were hurt. So, okay, they're healthier. But I'm. I'm saying when Julius Randle is healthy, Minnesota is 30 and 6. And the Pacers have lost five times in two months. And some of those games are against Cleveland in the postseason. Like they were going to Cleveland and winning at Cleveland. Like the Pacers, I understand that they only had 50 wins this season, but they all came when they were healthy toward the end. And so, like, whatever the Knicks are favored by, it shouldn't be very much. And a feel good story will collapse in a heap if it becomes the Pacers. Like when Stugatz is saying, good luck with that. Pacers on the refereeing in these games. Like, you thought Halliburton's dad was bad last round. Wait till the. Wait till the Garden gets a load of him. And his son's not getting any calls.

[Jeremy]

That's where the ratings thing is interesting, right? Because everybody in America pretty much is rooting for the Knicks outside of maybe Boston and down here, everyone's rooting for the Knicks. The Pacers, if they're able to pull off an upset, becomes such an unbelievable villain going into the NBA final, Particularly if you get the Oklahoma City matchup where it's the young team that's supposed to get the title, that's supposed to be there. And it would be Indiana messing all of that up. This team with Tyrese Halliburton, that would be a really cool villain story for them, right?

[Stugotz]

But a story that no one watches.

[Dan LeBatard]

I mean, there's no other villain.

[Greg Cody]

Just basketball nerds.

[Dan LeBatard]

There's no other villain, right? No, I. I love the Halliburton story. Like that.

[Greg Cody]

You're a bird.

[Jeremy]

Anthony Edwards could be a villain, maybe. Especially if they play the Knicks. Like, he has that type of aura going into the Garden.

[Dan LeBatard]

Hold on, guys, guys, guys, guys. 25 years of Knicks basketball has been dreadful where it's only Larry Johnson a million years ago and Jeremy Lin and nothing else.

[Stugotz]

We had a month of Stoudemire, okay?

[Dan LeBatard]

There's nothing else for a quarter century, but what do I drop in the middle of that? And it didn't have these stakes that felt pretty damn good. Oh, there's Trey Young for a minute going into Madison Square Garden. Not afraid. Halliburton going in to New York unafraid with Reggie Miller calling the guns in. How? Like I know New York is feeling itself.

[Stugotz]

Reggie Miller is not going into Madison Square. Halliburton is. Reggie is not.

[Dan LeBatard]

He is. He's going to be.

[Stugotz]

He's watching the game like me and.

[Dan LeBatard]

You, but he's also calling the game.

[Stugotz]

Good for him.

[Dan LeBatard]

No.

[Chris Whittingham]

Do you think they'll show Reggie in the opening montage walking into the arena?

[Dan LeBatard]

100% so nuts. It's not going to be just like you and me. He's calling the game in the big moments. He's his voice.

[Stugotz]

I call the game at home.

[Dan LeBatard]

Do you want. You should do a simulcast opposite Reggie Miller by yourself calling the game at home.

[Stugotz]

More work.

[Dan LeBatard]

I've got the Heat working on something. Sources deep within the Heat organization have told me that they have found your audition tape for their postgame pregame.

[Stugotz]

Oh, it's the worst thing ever. I mean, I don't care. You could play it. It's. It's probably. And I've had many embarrassing moments in my life. This is probably the most embarrassed I've ever been. I mean, I gotta tell you, studio host, hard job. Very hard job. Difficult.

[Dan LeBatard]

But you just said you could do it as well as Reggie Miller.

[Stugotz]

Well, I could do play by play. I do it in my house. That's color.

[Zaslow]

That's color.

[Stugotz]

That's different. I mean, you've heard me do play by play before, Dan. I mean, I told you Glenn Geffner said if you spend a little time just working on the craft, you would be an all time great.

[Dan LeBatard]

Zaslow also auditioned for that.

[Stugotz]

I did.

[Chris Whittingham]

I auditioned for that role. Also. The studio host for Pre Halftime Post.

[Stugotz]

Yep.

[Dan LeBatard]

How'd you do? That's the job that went to Will Manto.

[Chris Whittingham]

That's it.

[Stugotz]

Yeah.

[Dan LeBatard]

His name should be Will Handsome.

[Stugotz]

Will Hanso.

[Dan LeBatard]

Will Hanso is even better. That's a good television name.

[Chris Whittingham]

I wanted that job.

[Stugotz]

Will Handsome.

[Dan LeBatard]

So were you any good though?

[Chris Whittingham]

I had no experience, so for someone with no experience, I thought I was pretty good. But I didn't get it.

[Stugotz]

I was terrible. And I knew I was terrible while I was in it. I was sweating. Oh, well.

[Dan LeBatard]

But I think you went in there with the same bravado. You go into all situations.

[Greg Cody]

Well, I love the visual that they've created though, of like an audition room where you walk in. It's like Zazzle's over there, Will Mansa's over here. It was who Else was in that room. Like, come on, throw other names.

[Stugotz]

I think Sedano was in that room, wasn't it? No, no, no, no.

[Chris Whittingham]

Sedano. The gig opened up because Sedano left.

[Stugotz]

Okay.

[Mike Ryan]

Too big time.

[Stugotz]

Yeah, he was good at it for sure.

[Greg Cody]

Witty. Probably at that time tried out for it too.

[Dan LeBatard]

Let's listen. Just so that you know, I've. I've. Again, I. I'm not a doctor. Zaslow is.

[Chris Whittingham]

But I am a doctor.

[Dan LeBatard]

I have diagnosed stugats with Dunning Kruger, which is the sort of inane, inexplicable belief that you can do anything and be better at anything than you actually are capable of being.

[Stugotz]

Thank you.

[Dan LeBatard]

And Greg Cody is also afflicted with this, but this is Stugac after saying on the air he could be a play by play man for Major League Baseball. This is Stugac's first foray at a Marlins game. So this is a pretty big at bat, Stu.

[Stugotz]

Does that include the shot he took in the face when he was standing in the on base?

[Dan LeBatard]

Still, you got to stop talking when there's a hit.

[Stugotz]

Logan Morrison with a big base hit up the right side. And Martinez slides into first.

[Dan LeBatard]

First and third.

[Stugotz]

No, out here in the bottom of the third inning. Nailed it.

[Mike Ryan]

Slides into first.

[Stugotz]

Thank you. I got that wrong.

[Chris Whittingham]

The rare hit down the right field line where you have to slide into first.

[Stugotz]

Right. Once I get into it, though, I'm pretty good. I mean, you can hear it. You can hear the potential.

[Tony]

I can hear the gin and tonic.

[Dan LeBatard]

Again, this is radio, so there are no visuals. I want you to IM that you are betting heavily on the Marlins in this game and you're trying to figure out what just happened because this guy is making jokes till 10 seconds after the crack of the bat, which everyone knows is blasphemy to talk through. So this is a pretty big at bat stuff.

[Stugotz]

Does that include the shot he took in the face when he was standing in the on base?

[Dan LeBatard]

Still, you got to stop talking when there's a hit.

[Stugotz]

Logan Morrison with a big base hit up the right side and Martinez slides into first.

[Dan LeBatard]

First and third.

[Stugotz]

No, out here in the bottom of the third inning. So pretty good.

[Mike Ryan]

It's the third inning.

[Dan LeBatard]

Wait a minute.

[Tony]

Is he going back?

[Dan LeBatard]

Logan Morrison was on first and Martinez was sliding back into first. Correct. That's what was happening.

[Chris Whittingham]

Very rare play.

[Stugotz]

You know, that's on Samson for asking me a question right before I'm doing the.

[Dan LeBatard]

Wait a minute. Was there a third? Was there anyone in third or was it wasn't run. Was it runners on first and third or were there two runners on first?

[Stugotz]

I think there was a runner on first and it ended up that it was first and third because Martinez slid into first. First.

[Dan LeBatard]

Okay, one more time. Let me hear this. So this is a pretty big at bat, Stu.

[Stugotz]

Does that include the shot he took in the face when he was standing in the at bay on base still.

[Dan LeBatard]

You gotta stop talking when there's a hit.

[Stugotz]

Logan Morrison with a big base hit up the right side. And Martinez slides into first.

[Dan LeBatard]

First and third.

[Stugotz]

No, out here in the bottom of the third inning. So I think Martinez was on first. He slid into third, not first. Logan Morrison got the hit and then it was first and third.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yes, I think that's what happened, too. But what you just.

[Greg Cody]

The picture you painted.

[Dan LeBatard]

So we're clear. Just so we're clear.

[Chris Whittingham]

It can't be whatever.

[Dan LeBatard]

It's not whatever. Thank you.

[Stugotz]

Paint your own pictures, Zaslo.

[Dan LeBatard]

It can't be whatever is exactly right.

[Chris Whittingham]

It's like the last thing it is.

[Stugotz]

Whatever it is for me, call the game your way and I'll call mine.

[Dan LeBatard]

And the way that he called it is I'm in my car and I only have the audio experience. So at the end of that, I just want you to know I've got Logan Morrison at first base standing there. I've got Martinez sliding back head first into first base, but also Martinez is at third as well. So just so we're clear, I don't.

[Stugotz]

Think he ever slotted anywhere into any base.

[Mike Ryan]

Oh, Jen Scully over here.

[Jeremy]

Osvaldo Martinez is who we're talking about.

[Stugotz]

Jen Scully.

[Dan LeBatard]

That's a good nickname.

[Greg Cody]

So jealous of your confidence. Just your confidence in that. It's just.

[Tony]

It had to be the gin, though, because you can hear the first 10 seconds of him trying to, like, rattle around.

[Stugotz]

It's Samson ask. But once I got into the mechanics of calling a baseball game pretty good.

[Dan LeBatard]

It was the third inning, Tony. It was the third inning of a day game. And it wasn't gin. It was just stug. It was. It was thought. It's how thought came out because he had his jokes set up and there's the crack of the bat, and I'm not going to add. Let me get my joke off. Now Martinez is at both third and first and sliding into one of them. So this is a pretty big at bat, Stu.

[Stugotz]

Does that include the shot he took in the face when he was standing in the basement?

[Dan LeBatard]

Still, you got to stop talking when there's a hit.

[Stugotz]

Logan Morrison with a big base Hit up the right side and Martinez slides into first.

[Dan LeBatard]

First and third.

[Stugotz]

No, out here in the bottom of the third inning. We have another clip.

[Dan LeBatard]

I want to talk about something else in basketball today. Stugats as we talk about stories and narratives and how things become popular and how you sit and watch history as it unfolds. Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark have started something that I haven't quite seen since Magic and Bird. And Magic and Bird didn't seem to.

[Stugotz]

Hate each other, respected each other. Yes.

[Dan LeBatard]

But what is interesting about what's happening there, you guys give me the other two athletes that have come in at the same time and are sort of elbowing each other for space at the start of something personality wise. And you can know they don't like each other. And on top of that, are doing the race dynamics of the day different than Magic and Bird did them. Because Magic and Bird, everybody was very lucky that Magic was as graceful as he was during the entirety of that time as the league exploded. Because Magic smile and all the things Larry Bird was and is is why Indiana cares about basketball the way that it, it does. And it's happening again. Except Angel Reese doesn't do it the way Magic Johnson's gonna do it. And now there's a sharpened edge on all of it that's even more interesting, I think, than. Than Magic and Bird palling around in the sneaker commercials now it's like, oh, everyone here is cutthroat and they really don't like each other. And there's some. And Angel Reese is carrying with her some of the, hey, white basketball player. Black basketball players built this and now you're profiting off it. Which is the same thing that was happening with Magic and Bird.

[Stugotz]

Yes.

[Dan LeBatard]

Like, basketball became an American story. Basketball became America's sport, at least in part because of how all of it was intertwined. Race and history and sports and hip hop and style and culture. All of it. Because culturally, white people don't tend to dominate the sport loved by black people the way that Americans dominate the sport that's loved by Canadians or Florida dominates the sport that's loved by Canadians. But you have, you have something happening right now in the WNBA that is exactly the kind of sparks you need.

[Greg Cody]

It's fever, actually, not the sparks.

[Stugotz]

Right. It's a fine.

[Greg Cody]

Oh, wow, WNBA joke.

[Tony]

It was a good one.

[Mike Ryan]

It was a good one.

[Dan LeBatard]

Do you guys have any other comments?

[Greg Cody]

I feel like, could it also just be compared to competitive basketball? Players had a competitive moment on the court, like, and we're just like well.

[Stugotz]

They always have those.

[Greg Cody]

We're taking it and we're running with a history.

[Jeremy]

Right. Like they've played against each other in huge moments over and over and over again. They're being pushed as this thing together as rookies. I don't know that this is like a race war. I just think these are two competitors. You know what I mean?

[Stugotz]

One of the important things with magic and with bird is Bird went to the celtics. Magic went to the Lakers. They were marquee franchises. I'm not even certain the sky are any good.

[Dan LeBatard]

Jeremy, here's the thing, though. Fair enough. All of it. But you don't get to decide what the race war is.

[Jeremy]

Well, don't they?

[Dan LeBatard]

Well, no. Everything that happens around them is what.

[Jeremy]

Okay, so you do.

[Dan LeBatard]

No, not me either. Not me. Every. Everything that happens.

[Stugotz]

I think. You think it's you.

[Dan LeBatard]

I mean, I think it's me.

[Stugotz]

Yes.

[Dan LeBatard]

I think I get to decide whether it's a race war.

[Greg Cody]

If anyone.

[Jeremy]

20 years or so.

[Greg Cody]

Anyone can declare a race war around here. I trust you.

[Jeremy]

Doing it for like 20 years. Yeah.

[Dan LeBatard]

That's your whole. Whole thing.

[Stugotz]

I mean, we're agreeing with you. It shouldn't be. Jeremy. I mean, you are the most qualified.

[Dan LeBatard]

I don't think so.

[Chris Whittingham]

I'm a race war expert.

[Mike Ryan]

Howdy, listeners, it's Mike. This is one of the best times of the year. You're caught up in the emotion of the playoffs, Big time, crucial games, going to games, hanging with your boys, hanging with your ladies, hanging with your family and having a good old fashioned time. Well, I can speak from experience. I've been doing old all those things, but I've been doing so with a Miller lite by my side. Because having good times is great. Making those good times a Miller time makes it an unbelievable time. A time of your life with Miller Lite, a brand and a beverage that has been around for 50 glorious years. That's hard to do. Remain popular and delivering on great flavor for 50 years. Brewed with simple ingredients, none of the fluff, just real flavor. Malted barley gives it the that rich balanced coffee note taste and the iconic golden color that just hits right every time. Miller Lite great taste. 96 calories. Go to millerlite.com dan to find delivery options near you or you can pick up some 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.

[Producer]

The Dan LeBatard show with Stu Gotz. Is sponsored by BetterHelp. Mental health awareness is growing, and that's a good thing. But there's still work to do. In a recent survey, 26% of Americans said they've avoided seeking support out of fear of being judged. And that hesitation, it doesn't just affect the individual. It ripples out to families, workplaces, entire communities. This is Mental Health Awareness Month. Let's break the stigma together, because when people are healthy and happy, we all thrive. Therapy isn't just for major trauma. It can help with setting boundaries, learning positive coping skills, and simply becoming the best version of you. BetterHelp has over a decade of experience connecting people with licensed therapists who fit their needs. With over 30,000 professionals and 5 million users worldwide, it's therapy that fits your life. It's completely online, flexible, and you can switch therapists at any time at no extra cost. We're all better with help. Visit betterhelp.com DLB to get 10% off your first month. Month that's BetterHelp help. DLB.