The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
Hour 1: The Internal Sneeze (feat. Dr. Bless You)
Date: April 14, 2026
Location: The Elser Hotel, Downtown Miami
Hosts: Dan Le Batard, Stugotz, Mike Ryan, Roy, Tony
Episode Theme: Exploring everyday rituals (notably sneezing), the history and etiquette around expressions like "bless you" and "gesundheit," sports journalism drama (Shams vs. Doc Rivers), and the quirks of sports and pop culture.
Episode Overview
This episode blends the show’s trademark blend of humor, irreverence, and digressions as the crew discusses cultural rituals around sneezing, the etymology and etiquette of "bless you" and "gesundheit," personal sneezing habits, and memorable sneezing moments in sports. The crew also dives into the conflict between NBA insider Shams Charania and coach Doc Rivers while debating media ethics and sports reporting. Finally, they touch on soccer’s World Cup intrigue and quirky moments from baseball (with a bat dog incident).
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Greg Cody's Countdown and The Power of the Bit
- Timestamps: [00:44]–[03:13]
- The episode kicks off mid-"bit"—Stugotz counts down a list with Dan riffing oddball comments for each number.
- The panel reveals Greg Cody's podcast hosts "an etymology of the background on all these" catchphrases, essentially an oral history, giving the show's inside jokes extra lore.
- Quote: “On the Greg Cody show podcast is a full extended etymology of the background on all these and what they mean, the origin, all that stuff.” — Dan Le Batard [02:48]
2. Rituals of Saying "Bless You" and "Gesundheit"
- Timestamps: [03:27]–[07:17]
- The group debates what they say when someone sneezes: "bless you", "gesundheit", or nothing at all.
- Greg Cody prefers not to tie his response to God, jokingly adopting the moniker "Dr. Bless You."
- Quote: "But I don't say God bless you because I don't want to be presumptuous, Doctor, Bless you. You know, I'm not God." — Dan Le Batard [04:00]
- Mike and Roy explore the origins: blessing was thought to protect the soul, possibly tied to Pope Gregory (590 CE).
- Poll idea emerges: what do you say when someone sneezes?
3. Sneezing Etiquette and the Science/Myths of Sneezing
- Timestamps: [05:39]–[12:00]
- The crew gets technical: Is sneezing deserving of a blessing? Does your heart actually skip a beat?
- Dan unveils his "internal sneeze": always keeps his mouth closed, calling it "a closed mouth sneeze."
- Quote: “I have a closed mouth sneeze.” — Dan Le Batard [10:35]
- The panel jokes about bodily functions pausing during a sneeze, with Stugotz insisting, “I don't think this is an urban myth. It's not possible to urinate while sneezing—correct?”
- Jokes about never seeing NBA players sneeze during games; Roy searches for rare pro athlete sneezing clips.
4. Origin and Spelling of "Gesundheit"
- Timestamps: [07:17]–[09:20]
- Dan attempts to spell "gesundheit" and muses on why Americans use the German word rather than just "bless you."
- Mike explains "gesundheit" literally means "health" in German, also a traditional toast—like "salud" in Spanish.
- Quote: "The reason is gesundheit is like a funny word. You know, it's like a cartoon word ... I got to say something." — Dan Le Batard [08:46]
5. Bit: The First Sneeze, Lightning, and the Birth of Comedy
- Timestamps: [09:34]–[10:14]
- Stugotz hypothesizes what it must have been like to witness the first sneeze ever: “Can you guys imagine the horror of the first person and surrounding people to witness a sneeze?”
- The group equates the first sneeze’s confusion to the first lightning storm and the “birthplace of comedy: the original fart.”
6. Sneezing in Sports: Bits and Injuries
- Timestamps: [17:21]–[21:26]
- “Goose Gossage threw out his back as a reliever sneezing.” Who in sports is most likely to suffer a sneeze-induced injury? — Draymond Green and Jokic are named.
- Quinnen Williams’ now-iconic "self-bless": sneezes, blesses himself, then thanks himself. Audio is played for laughs because the sneeze is so delicate for such a big man.
- Quote: “He sneezes, blesses himself and then thanks himself.” — Roy [17:21]
- Followed by: “That's not a sneeze that matches the size in any way ... of a mouse.” — Stugotz [21:01]
7. Meta-Discussion: Do Self-Given Blessings Count?
- Timestamps: [21:26]–[22:11]
- Debate erupts: does blessing yourself even count? Tony: "If you're dying, you can't just start blessing yourself. You need someone else to give you the blessings and the prayers."
- Dan: “What am I, a clergyman all of a sudden? What authority do I have to bless?” [22:07]
8. Shams Charania vs. Doc Rivers: NBA Insider Drama
- Timestamps: [22:18]–[32:06]
- The crew unpacks NBA insider Shams' rare public clapback at Doc Rivers, who accused Shams of misreporting the Bucks’ internal problems at Giannis’ urging.
- Dan and Stugotz debate journalist-source dynamics, pointing out that sources have their own agendas.
- Mike Ryan recounts a previous case where Shams stood firm against Miami Heat/Jimmy Butler pushback and was ultimately vindicated.
- Quote: “Sources aren’t working for the reporter. Sources are working for their vested interest for their client ... there’s always an interest.” — Dan Le Batard [24:09]
- The group questions the timing—was Shams seeking “revenge” or just reporting justified news? Is there ever true impartiality for NBA insiders? Woj is cited as “doing some vengeance shit.”
9. Bizarre Baseball: The Bat Dog Incident
- Timestamps: [34:18]–[36:31]
- Roy premieres “video of the day”: a bat dog defecates near second base in a baseball game, triggering debate: Is a bat dog a mascot, or just a working dog?
- Lots of puns about “bat dog” and even playful use of “bat bitch.”
- Memorable moment: “Are you suggesting it might be a bat bitch?” — Mike Ryan [35:37]
10. World Cup Intrigue: Italy, Iran, and Memory Lane
- Timestamps: [36:31]–[41:18]
- Dan and co. reflect on a past World Cup experience, staying in a sketchy hotel in LA.
- Discussion of Italy possibly returning to the World Cup via a four-team playoff due to global events with Iran.
- Mike marvels how Italy—historically a soccer powerhouse—recently keeps missing World Cups, yet remains a draw.
- Quote: “Italy is one of the international powers of soccer, and it's good for the World cup if they're in the tournament.” — Dan Le Batard [38:28]
- Lighthearted memories of Baggio’s famous missed penalty kick and jokes about Italy’s history.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
| Quote | Speaker | Timestamp |
|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| “But I don't say God bless you because I don't want to be presumptuous, Doctor, Bless you. You know, I'm not God.” | Dan Le Batard | 04:00 |
| “I want a sneeze to sound like the word achoo. Okay? Give me a good classic achoo. I'm more likely to say bless you...” | Dan Le Batard | 05:56 |
| "I have a closed mouth sneeze.” | Dan Le Batard | 10:35 |
| "I don't think this is an urban myth. It's not possible to urinate while sneezing." | Stugotz | 11:04 |
| “Can you guys imagine the horror of the first person and surrounding people to witness a sneeze?” | Stugotz | 09:34 |
| “He sneezes, blesses himself and then thanks himself.” | Roy (on Quinnen Williams) | 17:21 |
| "What am I, a clergyman all of a sudden? What authority do I have to bless?" | Dan Le Batard | 22:07 |
| “Sources aren’t working for the reporter. Sources are working for their vested interest...” | Dan Le Batard | 24:09 |
| "Are you suggesting it might be a bat bitch?" | Mike Ryan | 35:37 |
| “Italy is one of the international powers of soccer, and it's good for the World Cup if they're in the tournament.” | Dan Le Batard | 38:28 |
Segment Timestamps
- Greg Cody’s Bit Countdown: [00:44]–[03:13]
- Bless You & Sneezing Origins: [03:27]–[07:17]
- Gesundheit & Spelling: [07:17]–[09:20]
- The First Sneeze/Lightning/Fart Bit: [09:34]–[10:14]
- Closed-Mouth Sneezing and Physiology: [10:35]–[12:00]
- Athlete Sneezing Injuries: [17:21]–[19:09]
- Quinnen Williams Sneezing Bit: [21:17]–[21:23]
- Self-Given Blessings Debate: [21:26]–[22:11]
- Shams/Doc Rivers Discussion: [22:18]–[32:06]
- Bat Dog on the Field/Bat Dog vs Mascot: [34:18]–[36:31]
- World Cup/Italy Backstory: [36:31]–[41:18]
Tone & Style
- The crew’s tone is playful, irreverent, and steeped in self-aware banter.
- They swerve quickly from deep(ish) cultural analysis to juvenile jokes, always with a wink and an inside-joke feel.
- Arguments and bits are performed with comic exaggeration; even sports journalism controversies are fodder for punchlines.
For Listeners Who Missed It
This hour is classic Le Batard Show: rapid-fire segments, in-jokes, cultural observations, and left-field humor, all delivered with a breezy, knowing irreverence. You’ll come away thinking more about why we bless sneezes, why some athletes never seem to sneeze, and why even the quirks of sports reporting can be hilarious in the right light.