Hour 1: The Southern Hockey Coach From Toronto (feat. Adnan Virk and The Kid Mero)

Summary

Summary of "The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz" - Hour 1: The Southern Hockey Coach From Toronto (feat. Adnan Virk and The Kid Mero)

Release Date: May 8, 2025

In this engaging episode of "The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz," recorded live from the Elser Hotel in Downtown Miami, hosts Dan LeBatard and Stugotz delve into a variety of sports-related topics, blending insightful analysis with their signature humor. Featuring guests Adnan Virk and The Kid Mero, the conversation spans hockey coaching dynamics, NBA draft surprises, the evolving popularity of New York Knicks players, standout performances in baseball, and playful segments on pop culture phenomena like Star Wars.

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1. The Southern Hockey Coach: Roy Bellamy's Impact

The episode kicks off with an in-depth discussion about Roy Bellamy, a Southern hockey coach from Toronto, and his influence on the local sports scene.

• Stugotz [01:07]: "We don't have very much to complain about. However, our people can't get to work. We're oversaturated with cars and people and greed and."

  Stugotz highlights the challenges facing local communities while praising Roy's dedication to hockey.

• Stugotz [02:24]: "Roy doesn't talk very much on this show because he's a man of few words. And also, he cares desperately about sound."

  The hosts emphasize Roy's reserved nature and his commitment to maintaining the show's quality without disrupting the flow.

• Stugotz [03:22]: "Roy is really, really happy as a sports fan right now. Happier than I have ever seen him. Happier than in 30 years."

  This marks a significant shift in Roy's demeanor, indicating the Panthers' recent successes.

---

2. Navigating Accusations and Misunderstandings

A humorous yet tense segment unfolds as accusations of racism surface, stemming from misunderstandings about Roy's character and intentions.

• Stugotz [14:20]: "What kind of racist thing is that that you're doing that you think that Don Kang is the Southern hockey coach?"

  The conversation takes a sharp turn as Stugotz questions Adnan Virk's remarks, leading to playful accusations and defenses.

• Roy Bellamy [15:23]: "I'm accusing Dan LeBatard of racism. I don't see race. How do you know I'm a white coach or a black coach?"

  Roy clarifies his stance, maintaining that his actions are driven by passion for the sport rather than racial biases.

---

3. NHL Draft Lottery Shock: Islanders Secure the Top Pick

Adnan Virk brings attention to a surprising outcome in the NHL draft lottery, where the New York Islanders secure the number one pick.

• Adnan Virk [07:37]: "They got the number one pick overall. Unbelievable store."

  The hosts discuss the potential implications for the Islanders and the broader NHL landscape.

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4. Jalen Brunson vs. Carmelo Anthony: The Knicks' Popularity Wars

A heated debate ensues around the popularity and beloved status of Knicks players Jalen Brunson and Carmelo Anthony.

• Stugotz [38:02]: "Jalen Brunson is more popular and beloved than Carmelo Anthony."

• Dan LeBatard [25:52]: "Moments matter almost more than a chip because... Aaron Judge is on a historic pace right now."

  The conversation explores fan sentiments, player performances, and the evolving dynamics within the New York Knicks' fanbase.

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5. Aaron Judge's Stellar Baseball Season

Shifting focus to baseball, the discussion highlights Aaron Judge's exceptional performance and his impact on the sport.

• Adnan Virk [19:01]: "Aaron Judge is on a historic pace right now. He's a two-time MVP. He's never been better."

  The hosts analyze Judge's statistics, comparing his achievements to baseball legends and contemplating his future trajectory.

---

6. Lighthearted Banter: Star Wars and Fandom Culture

Injecting humor into the episode, the hosts engage in a playful discussion about Star Wars, costumes, and the quirks of sports fandom.

• Dan LeBatard [34:36]: "Like if you go to work with like a lightsaber, right? Come on, gang."

  This segment adds a layer of levity, showcasing the hosts' ability to blend pop culture references seamlessly into their sports conversations.

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7. Final Debates and Closing Remarks

As the episode winds down, the debate over player popularity intensifies, blending personal anecdotes with statistical analysis.

• Stugotz [38:19]: "He's the smallest dude on the court who's making you believe it."

  The hosts challenge each other's viewpoints, culminating in a spirited exchange that underscores the passionate nature of sports discussions.

• Dan LeBatard [46:33]: "So, yes, in terms of popularity, because of the way the world is structured today, Jalen Brunson is more popular than Carmelo Anthony."

  This statement encapsulates the episode's central debate, leaving listeners to ponder the nuances of player popularity versus traditional metrics like championships.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Stugotz [03:22]: "Roy is really, really happy as a sports fan right now. Happier than I have ever seen him. Happier than in 30 years."

• Roy Bellamy [15:23]: "I'm accusing Dan LeBatard of racism. I don't see race. How do you know I'm a white coach or a black coach?"

• Adnan Virk [07:37]: "They got the number one pick overall. Unbelievable store."

• Stugotz [38:02]: "Jalen Brunson is more popular and beloved than Carmelo Anthony."

• Adnan Virk [19:01]: "Aaron Judge is on a historic pace right now. He's a two-time MVP. He's never been better."

---

Conclusion

This episode of "The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz" masterfully intertwines serious sports analysis with moments of levity and humor. From dissecting the strategic moves of a Southern hockey coach to debating the cultural impact of key basketball and baseball figures, the hosts and guests provide a comprehensive and entertaining exploration of the current sports landscape. Their dynamic interactions and candid discussions offer listeners both depth and enjoyment, making it a standout episode for sports enthusiasts and casual fans alike.

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Note: Advertisements, intros, outros, and non-content sections have been intentionally excluded from this summary to focus solely on the core discussions and insights presented during the episode.

Transcript

[Dan LeBatard]

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[Mero]

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[Dan LeBatard]

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[Mero]

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[Dan LeBatard]

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[Mero]

Subject to terms and conditions.

[Dan LeBatard]

Applies to orders over $35. This is the Dan Levator show with the Stugats podcast.

[Stugatz]

Stugats. I know, I know. Okay. We talk sports for a living. It's a. Yeah, sort of. It's kind of. It's a nice life to have. We don't have very much to complain about. However, our people can't get to work. We're oversaturated with cars and people and greed and. And it's. And Roy has been dying to get in. Roy has been waiting 30 years to have the Panthers feel like this. Roy is a fandom that is super rare in South Florida. When I'm not kidding that I say that Roy is a hockey media legend.

[Adnan Virk]

Dejected.

[Stugatz]

No, I mean, this is because he. I know he wants to. Roy doesn't actually want to talk that much ever, but he wants to talk about this team.

[Amin Elhassan]

Roy was going to these games when this team was lousy. Roy and Walter Katz are the only two people in South Florida who have a right to be happy for this team.

[Stugatz]

Okay, look, look, I know this has been. Let me explain something. Because Roy gets angry, black man, just from the way that he looks. And it's so unfair to Roy because. Well, he is angry.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah.

[Roy Bellamy]

And he is black. And he is a man.

[Stugatz]

But Roy doesn't talk very much on this show because he's a man of few words. And also, he cares desperately about sound. How things sound. And he never wants to be the reason that whatever it is that we're singing, all of us with chemistry is the one that gets in the way of tripping that up. So all those things conspire so that Roy has Not climbed to the place in this business that I've always wished for him to be because he's got to be very careful about when he talks so that he doesn't interrupt the song of whatever it is that we're doing. And he respects that more than anyone in the history of our show. Basically, I'd say him and Juju. And all I do every day is thank Tony for being somebody who's trying to learn that, because Tony doesn't want to interrupt anybody. Roy is really, really happy as a sports fan right now. Happier than I have ever seen him. Happier than in 30 years.

[Amin Elhassan]

Well, they won the cup last.

[Stugatz]

But Brooke, they didn't just win the cup.

[Roy Bellamy]

They took that ass.

[Stugatz]

Yeah, I think we need to remove that. I don't. I don't think that we can have a room full of dudes and do any more what Zaslo is doing about taking ass. In fact, you know what? I'm going to be too woke and I'm going to get old. Old. Let me see here.

[Dan LeBatard]

Look at me, Leroy.

[Stugatz]

I'm going to penalize Amin with a look at me, Leroy. And I'm going to. I got to get to this other one here. Just.

[Amin Elhassan]

You have to get to admin.

[Adnan Virk]

Minor penalty.

[Amin Elhassan]

Two minutes, asshole.

[Stugatz]

You out. Okay, I'll to Adnan, and you're breaking up the negroes. I'll get to black knuckleballers in a second. That's the good way to introduce Adnan, actually, now that I think about it. But my point was Roy's pissed off now because his team's down oh two and it took three hours of traffic to get in here. And now there's no time for you to talk even with that buildup, Roy. So I'm sorry. We'll get back to. We'll get back to you in a little bit. Adnan wants to talk hockey. Adnan wants to talk the movies. Adnan wants to talk baseball. But it seems to me that it should just be Nick's Celtics all day today. It doesn't seem to me like anything else should be involved, but we begin in the obvious place. Adnan, name a black knuckleballer.

[Adnan Virk]

Unfortunately, I cannot think of one. Dan. I've been racking my brain. I teched a kirchen. There's not one. As you said on the show previously, a black man is not going to rely on deception. He's throwing a fastball as hard as he can every goddamn time.

[Stugatz]

We grew up on Bob Gibson. We grew up on Bob Gibson.

[Dan LeBatard]

Right now with your knuckles.

[Stugatz]

With your knuckles is how you're going to beat us. First it the Negro leagues and then you made it the Negro leagues.

[Tony]

Now let me tell you guys a story. Let me tell you guys a story because I may have an answer here. Now there was a left handed pitcher in the 80s named Danny Boone. Danny Boone just had a cup of coffee in the bigs. But after his cup of coffee he went away. He disappeared from baseball for five years. In 1990 after joining a league called the Senior Professor Professional Baseball Association. A league that only lasted for two years. He came back as a left handed knuckle.

[Dan LeBatard]

Wow.

[Tony]

And ultimately got signed by the Orioles, traded to Cleveland. And in September 30th of 1990 he made the one start that he ever made in the major leagues as a left handed knuckleballer. He was a lefty. He was a white guy. But in the early 80s he was traded for infielder Joe Pittman. A black man. So a transitive property.

[Stugatz]

No, Black knuckleballer. If you're white, you're white.

[Dan LeBatard]

Nope.

[Tony]

Transitive property, black knuckleballer. That's the best we got.

[Stugatz]

No, if.

[Dan LeBatard]

Danny Boone, if.

[Stugatz]

If you're white, you're white. You're Anthony Mason and your brother's Jay Fiedler. And transit property.

[Adnan Virk]

By the way. By the way, Dan, I haven't been able to sleep after Stegots had the image of David Samps having sex with Paul Pierce. I don't know who's Roger Clemens or Johnny Bench in that relationship.

[Stugatz]

That's enough out of you. Can we get Chris, please? Can we get to Paul Pierce in the sound? I just want to play the sound real quick because Paul Pierce is. He's in the middle of this series. And now that Adnan has brought him up, what is the bet that Paul Pierce has made? How confident are you if the Celtics lose game two at home? I promise you I'm walking here tomorrow. I'm walking here.

[Adnan Virk]

Why you gotta do that?

[Stugatz]

Wait a minute.

[Roy Bellamy]

I'm walking here.

[Stugatz]

15 miles.

[Roy Bellamy]

I'm walking here.

[Adnan Virk]

I don't know.

[Dan LeBatard]

Keith.

[Roy Bellamy]

This is your friend in my roll.

[Mero]

Get your friends.

[Dan LeBatard]

No shoes on.

[Stugatz]

Somebody saving bare feet. If.

[Dan LeBatard]

What if the Celtics lose to me.

[Stugatz]

That was. He's going to regret that one. He's going to regret that one at the end. He escalated it too much.

[Amin Elhassan]

Was that Rick Bucher?

[Stugatz]

It was Rick Buer. Rick Bull put it on the pole at Levitar show. Was that Rick Bucher? Adnan, what a golden time in Heat basketball. That Was many, many years ago near Y2K. Adnan, you want talk though? I'm going to give you your choice because it's Nick Celtics day. What's most important to you sinners, baseball or hockey? Panthers down 02.

[Adnan Virk]

I'm going to go off the board and plug my book. It's coming out August 12th from Mango Publishing which is in Miami. They publish Greg Cody's books. I need blurbs from all of you. It's called Cinephile Essays and Interviews on Performance, Ambition and Art. Dan, I texted you Sunday looking for a blurb. You haven't responded. Stu, you're a best selling author. I'll take a blurb from you and most importantly from Amin Alhassan AKA Don Kang. I'll take a blurb right now. Cinephile, the book coming out August 12.

[Roy Bellamy]

Strictly in the United States.

[Amin Elhassan]

Get on that blurb, Dan.

[Adnan Virk]

I mean now back to the panthers being down oh 2. I'm concerned about Sergey Bobrovsky, Dan, and I feel for my buddy Roy bellamy. Only had 16 saves in game two. The Leaf says we all love not one of Stanley Cups since 1967. This is a nation that has never been, you know, prone to these kinds of moments. They haven't been up to oh in series back to back years since 1963, but they've been clicking. Joseph Wolf came in last night and replacing Anthony Stallard. So it was out after game one at that collision with Sam Bennett. Mitch Martin, who just became a dad, killed him.

[Stugatz]

He killed him. You can't, you can't. You can't beat the defending champions with your backup goalie when they're empirically the best third period team in the league. You can't tie the game and then give it back seconds later. That is a crusher for the champions.

[Adnan Virk]

I'm with you, Dan. It's one thing to say, well, Toronto held serve at home but again your backup goaltending Joseph Wool comes in there with Stolarts out and martyrs their star. He ends with scoring the game winning goal. Just became a dad for the first time. The Leaf stars have stepped up and they're supporting cast. Max Ready has been great. The Panthers have had no answer for him.

[Stugatz]

It's terrifying. Roy has been swaggering around here with bravado and for two years I keep telling him I'm afraid of all these teams in hockey. The very best ones are really great and you can tell me all you want about Toronto's history, but I just took, I just saw them take out what I know to be A champion and deserves and is good enough to be a champion this year knows how to do it better in the third period than any of the other teams. And you cannot give a city that kind of feeling and a country that kind of feeling at this time in America without me fearing that going back in Game 7 in Toronto is terrifying.

[Adnan Virk]

Not to mention the tariffs. I mean there's a lot going on right now between our two countries, let's be honest. But yeah, I mean for Toronto, absolutely. Listen, for Florida, they're going to say a series doesn't begin until you're at home ice. They're going to have that big boost. Roy Bellamy will be there, Bill Lindsay will be there. But no one was expecting this. Dan. I thought Panthers would win this series in six. Toronto has wrestle control impressively so so far.

[Dan LeBatard]

Well, yeah. Keep in, keep in mind here that the Edmonton Oil is versus the Los Angeles Kings. They were down 02 and came back to win that series, so it is possible. So I am, I'm pretty common collector right now.

[Stugatz]

Okay, you're still calm and collected.

[Amin Elhassan]

We're making a big deal about a series that hasn't started yet. I mean, okay, so got a point.

[Stugatz]

But Adnan, you tell me, shouldn't he be a little scared? Are the Panthers that much better than Toronto that you can feel like, well, I don't have anything to worry about here. They just beat me with my backup goalie at home.

[Adnan Virk]

There should be palpable concern. I love I'm pulling for the Panthers, but here's why, to Dan's point, the Leafs, if ever there was a time they were going to break through, this is their year. In the past they've had this amazing collection of offensive talent. Those guys have not been able to perform come playoff time. Auston Matthews still has yet to get going so far. Marner Nylanders scored yesterday, John Tavares and yet this year Craig Berubi, who's a Stanley cup winning coach, won it with the blues back in 2019. He's instilled a more hard nosed approach. They've improved defensively. Tanner has been a great shutdown guy for them and they've been able to use this balance of goaltending to much success. So for Toronto, you feel like if it's not going to be this year, then whenever. The last five, six years they've expected to be a stud team. They haven't made the conference finals since 1993. So Roy knows the Leafs in terms of talent wise are right there with Florida. Do they have the Moxie, the grit, et cetera. That's the question.

[Roy Bellamy]

Now, I got a question for you. How much did the coach for the Maple Leafs had to tell him? Boys, hey, they try to rough up our goalie. We gotta. We gotta strike back. How much of a motivation you think that was in that game two victory for them boys?

[Stugatz]

Is that that Southern hockey coach?

[Roy Bellamy]

Yes, sir. Hey, we're not gonna let them kick us around.

[Adnan Virk]

Don. You're absolutely right. You know what happens, Don, when you're getting cuffed like that, right?

[Stugatz]

No, that's not Don. That's not Don.

[Roy Bellamy]

It's not Don with an M. With an M. Don.

[Adnan Virk]

I beg your pardon?

[Roy Bellamy]

I'm the hockey coach with a little bit of a Southern swag to him.

[Stugatz]

He thought that was Don King.

[Roy Bellamy]

Well, you know, I don't know if that's the big difference between Dom King and the head coach of a hockey team is for two things. Number one, Dom King used much more flowery language. I don't. My boys can't understand it. They've been hitting on the head. Too many violent blows to the brain, if you know what I mean. And I'm Colton Rocket 5. Check out Cinepo wherever you get podcast.

[Stugatz]

What kind of racist thing. Adnan, what kind of racist thing is that that you're doing that you think that Don Kang is the Southern. The Southern hockey coach?

[Adnan Virk]

Dan, if you will. I was a little flummoxed by that. I was a little thrown off by it. I'm a little out of sorts. But I. I appreciate anybody with flowery language, with ornate language. I think Don King or Don King have a certain ineffable.

[Stugatz]

It's not power through at me. It is not Don King. It's Don Kang.

[Roy Bellamy]

You get a little too big for your braces over there. Bless your heart. I know you're trying, but you need to relax. My name is not Dom King, who is a very fine gentleman, I might add. I know him very well from his boxing exploits and how about them? Timberwolves and warriors. But that's not who I am. I'm the head coach of a hockey team up in Toronto. Toronto, Ontario. And we like to. Toronto is what we call it where I'm from. We're in our parts. And I'm just asking the hockey expert at NAN VR, how much do you think factored in when I told my boys, hey, man, we gonna let them push our boy around like that?

[Adnan Virk]

I love the histrionics and excellent pronunciation of Toronto. It's the second T is silent. Excellent Work.

[Stugatz]

I'm still confused.

[Amin Elhassan]

What a weird character.

[Stugatz]

Well, I'm gonna try and catch Stugatz up here. Don King. King is the famous boxing promoter.

[Dan LeBatard]

Thank you.

[Stugatz]

He was Dana White before Dana White. And that hair that he had on his head. Elected.

[Adnan Virk]

I think he put his finger into a light socket.

[Stugatz]

That's correct. But that hair did that because it was trying to get away from him. He was awful. A criminal.

[Amin Elhassan]

Literally so bad the hair was trying to get away from him.

[Stugatz]

That's correct. No, but. So that's not. That's not Don King that I thought was Don Kang. Now I'm being told that's Dom Kang. That's the first time I was learning that I didn't know it was Dom Kang.

[Roy Bellamy]

Two different people all along, Dan. No one had nothing to do with the other.

[Stugatz]

I understand that part. I just did not know that Don King was dead. Dom Kang. But I also thought that the hockey coach that is Southern that you're playing, that Adnan thought that that was Dom Kang when it was clearly a white. It was clearly a white man. It's a. It's a hockey coach. You were clearly a white man. And he thought it was Dom Kang. And I'm accusing publicly, Adnan of racism.

[Roy Bellamy]

I'm accusing you, Dan.

[Adnan Virk]

Unbelievable. What the hell kind of attorney this day. It was Adnan, if you will.

[Roy Bellamy]

Adnan, if you will. I'm accusing Dan lebatal of racism. I don't see race. How do you know I'm a white coach or a black coach? I just happen to have a little Southern twang. And you just assume. Cause it's hockey.

[Amin Elhassan]

Tell them, man.

[Roy Bellamy]

I'm gonna tell you right now. The first family of baseball is the Negroes, and they love hockey, too. Adding that. As you were. How much did I factor in when I told them boys, hey, man, they're not gonna push our boy around like that?

[Adnan Virk]

It was a huge part of it. There's no question about it. When a team gets pushed like that, you know what it's like in the ring. You know, you take their punch, you got a counter punch. Come back strong. You're absolutely right, Dom. Dom, whatever the hell your name is.

[Dan LeBatard]

That's not my name.

[Roy Bellamy]

What are y' all doing?

[Amin Elhassan]

That's it.

[Stugatz]

Yes. Call him Coach.

[Adnan Virk]

I mean, coach. Yes, exactly. When in trouble, Stu's right. Just go ahead and coach. Excellent advice there, Coach. By the way, I also want to mention the NHL draft lottery. Stu, this is for you. This took place this week. I mean, everyone's been talking to the NFL Draft. I want to mention the NHL draft. The lottery took place. John Buchegras in the studio in Secaucus, New Jersey. Your New York Islanders a 3.5% chance to get the number one pick. 3.5% chance they were number 10 and they got the number one pick overall. Unbelievable store. They're going wild in Long island. But I got to tell you, there are no Robert De Niro's in this draft nor are there any Al Pacinos. But congratulations to the Islanders.

[Roy Bellamy]

My name is Craig Berube, by the way. I'm the coach of the Maple Leafs, Barube.

[Stugatz]

They tell me it's Cajun, he was a white man. And Adnan hat was racist there. And I'm gonna, I'm gonna stay entrenched on this. I don't like calling my friends racist. Certainly not privately, not publicly.

[Tony]

Santa Claus's hat Hat hall of Fame.

[Roy Bellamy]

Oh, that's a good.

[Dan LeBatard]

Oh, that's good one.

[Amin Elhassan]

Yeah. That's a great one actually. Yes.

[Greg Cody]

John Olarud's helmet.

[Dan LeBatard]

Oh, that's a good one.

[Amin Elhassan]

Yes.

[Stugatz]

Yeah.

[Amin Elhassan]

Yes.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah.

[Amin Elhassan]

Just the helmet. Yes.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yes.

[Amin Elhassan]

That he wore at first base.

[Stugatz]

I am open mouthed with awe. Holy grudge. Because I just realized. Taught by you guys. Put it on the poll. Juju is Santa's hat the greatest of all the hats?

[Roy Bellamy]

It's either that or Yankee Bear Bryant.

[Stugatz]

Come on, whose hat is better, Santa's or Bear Bryant? Is an excellent poll question. It's going to be Bear Bryant.

[Dan LeBatard]

Dan.

[Adnan Virk]

I trust those southern boys. Come on, Craig Baruby, talk to me, man.

[Roy Bellamy]

Let me tell you something, man. I wish they let us wear hats and hockey. They'd be telling us you can't wear that. Am I confused? The customer. I said why come? Why come Bear Bryant could wear that hat. Why come Vince Lombardi can wear one, but I can't wear no hat and doors, huh? My name is Craig Berube and I'm the coach of the Maple Leaf.

[Stugatz]

It's Baby Billy. There's some Baby Billy in there. I can hear him. He's trying to get out. Berube. Roy, you're scared and you're full of shit.

[Dan LeBatard]

Bullshit. I'm not scared. I don't know you talking about Chichi Rodriguez. Oh, wow.

[Amin Elhassan]

Wow. It's a hell of a hat.

[Stugatz]

I thought he was doing serial killers.

[Amin Elhassan]

Chi Chi too.

[Dan LeBatard]

Nice.

[Stugatz]

It is, you're right. But I just hear three syllables now and I think serial killer. You guys fell into something I wasn't expecting yesterday.

[Adnan Virk]

By the way, do you think Don Baylor Sounds like a serial killer. I know it's not three names, but I think Don Baylor is pretty intimidating.

[Roy Bellamy]

Donald Baylor.

[Amin Elhassan]

Ooh, Donald Baylor. Yes. Is better. Yes.

[Greg Cody]

John David Booty.

[Dan LeBatard]

You got a winner right there.

[Roy Bellamy]

That's the guy that shot the president. John David Booty shot the president.

[Adnan Virk]

Boof Bonser. Come on. Oh, that's a great one.

[Stugatz]

Isn't today a day that we should be only talking about Celtics, Knicks? Adnan comes here with his baseball. He wants to talk about Aaron Judge.

[Dan LeBatard]

Aaron Judge?

[Stugatz]

Yeah.

[Adnan Virk]

Well.

[Stugatz]

What? Why did you just shout that at me?

[Adnan Virk]

Look, I want to tell you, Dan real quick.

[Stugatz]

I was saying baseball and I was introducing the idea of it. Why did you shout Aaron excited? Aaron Judge before I said Aaron Judge?

[Adnan Virk]

Because what he's doing right now, Dan is incredible. He's hitting.400, a.491 on base percentage and a.750 slug. Nice easy round numbers for everyone to understand. 1241 OPS. He's been the best player in baseball. He's got the most home runs with 12. He's got the most RBI with 34. I understand the Celtics and the Knicks rivalry, I get it. Maybe Brunson, the biggest, biggest star in New York. I heard a means point. I'm with you. But I'm telling you, Aaron Judge is on a historic pace right now. He's a two time mvp. He's never been better.

[Roy Bellamy]

Now I have a question to you. You're admitted by your own words there that the Jalen Brunson is more popular. I don't know much about basketball, hockey or baseball. I'm a hockey man myself. But you're saying that Jalen Brunson is more popular than Aaron Judge and you are the baseball man. So if you said it goes well.

[Adnan Virk]

I'll tell you this, Craig, in New York, not everyone is a Yankees fan. Of course we have Mets fans. So you know, there's Juan Soto supporters, there's Francisco Lindor. Pete Alonso right now is on a revenge tour like Taylor Swift. He's been incredible. He's got the second best OPS in all baseball. But the Knicks, I mean that that kind of unites the city. And this team has been so trash for so long. Let's be honest, I think that Brunson right now is the biggest star in the city.

[Amin Elhassan]

This is the only team that brings New York together. The jets and the Giants, people are split there. Mets and Yankees, Islanders and Rang Rangers. This is the team that makes New York the happiest. This is the team that brings all New York sports fans together.

[Stugatz]

I know, but what's crazy about watching it, if you understand the history of this, like it's. It's truly nuts if you understand that New York hasn't actually felt like winners very often. They feel like winners for a reason. It's the Yankees. It's always been the Yankees. It's only the Yankees.

[Amin Elhassan]

It's been the Yankees occasionally, the Giants, once in a while, the Mets, and that's about it. Yeah, the islanders in the 80s.

[Stugatz]

But when I associate a region with its excellence and the obnoxious, it thinks it's earned from that excellence, the loudest of the New Yorkers is loud because of the Yankees. And I'm. What Stugas is telling you is true from this angle and obvious, I might add. Aaron Judge is Barry Bonds. And Brunson dwarfs him. And I can't believe I'm saying that. In that town, baseball has always been what's mattered. Aaron Judge can't become the star that Brunson can become because he's playing the wrong sport.

[Tony]

Latrell going on a killing spree. Well.

[Roy Bellamy]

Well, he just killed it right there, folks. It was good while it lasted.

[Adnan Virk]

What about Goose Gossage? Mordecai Three Finger Brown?

[Tony]

That sounds like a mobster.

[Adnan Virk]

Yeah, Cocoa Crisp. Come on.

[Amin Elhassan]

What cereal.

[Roy Bellamy]

Hey, Adnan, while we have you here, you're a big Star wars fan. I'm a big Star wars fan. Merrill's in here.

[Amin Elhassan]

He's not wrong. He's not wrong.

[Dan LeBatard]

He's not wrong. He's not wrong, but he's not right entirely. You know what I'm saying? Like, Aaron Judge is him. Yes. He's putting up his story this stupid. It's like when I play MLB, the show 2021 on easy, you know, I'm saying on rookie mode. That's what he's doing out there. It's spectacular. It's insane. It's crazy. But this baseball season is so long and it's so early in the season that maybe, you know, he's not getting attention he deserves. But he's out here doing robot shit, bro. It is insane. It is like, AI baseball. Like, yo, Chat, GPT. Can you make the best baseball player ever in the world and make him biracial? You know what I'm saying? With broad appeal.

[Adnan Virk]

I love the backup, the kid Mero, Preach. I love it.

[Stugatz]

No, but. No, but it's crazy. It's crazy to watch this Giant be Barry Bonds in that uniform and sort of say, oh, we're really fighting America and Japan and Dodgers, Yankees over who got the biggest payroll. Aaron Judge drops a fly ball and he says, ohtani, you pitch too, okay? It's me and you at the top of the sport. You know what I'm gonna do? I'm gonna get better.

[Amin Elhassan]

Do it in the playoffs, Dan. Because right now, Jalen Brunson is doing it in the playoffs and he's doing it in Boston. Not even at home. He's doing it in Boston, man.

[Dan LeBatard]

That is what gives him a slight edge, bro. It's in Boston. We all hate Boston. I think everybody in the Zoom can be like, enjoy hands and shake hands and be like, yo, we all hate Boston. Nobody likes Boston, bro. Two people like Boston, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. That's it.

[Adnan Virk]

It.

[Dan LeBatard]

You know what I'm saying? And Candy, shout out to Katie Nolan. She likes Boston, too. But that's it. You know what I'm saying? Nobody else likes Boston. Look, I mean, got a jerk. He got a Knicks jersey on. You know what I mean? Notorious hater. I mean, got a Knicks jersey on, bro. He's out here supporting, showing love, you know, saying Jayla Brunson is him. You know, Jayla Brunson is him. Like, he's like, y' all said he's doing it in the playoffs. He's doing it in Boston in the most hated place, the Fake Garden, bro. He's over there torching everybody. And he's. And he's with the same height. He's six two. You know what I'm saying? He shouldn't be doing this, bro. He's embarrassing Jason Tatum, dog. Come on, stop it. Stop it. He's the king of New York right now. That's it.

[Roy Bellamy]

So there we have it.

[Dan LeBatard]

He's not paying for food, any of that.

[Roy Bellamy]

So he just said it. It's Jalen Brunson won.

[Amin Elhassan]

Yes. Aaron judges too easily.

[Stugatz]

Oh, but no, but I went a step further. I said that Brunson's already the most beloved Nick there's ever been.

[Adnan Virk]

No.

[Dan LeBatard]

Oh, no, no, no, no, no. That's wild.

[Amin Elhassan]

Mero is up there, man. Come on.

[Roy Bellamy]

He's definitely up there to say.

[Dan LeBatard]

He's definitely up there. Yo, y' all seen Pat walking into the arena yesterday looking like a Jamaican uncle? That is the number one most beloved Nick of all time, hands down, no matter what. You know what I'm saying?

[Adnan Virk]

Truly.

[Dan LeBatard]

And like, lies like, yo, yo, listen, those things that we. The mix, yo. I mean, the mixers that we are talking to right now, I'm not Talking about the 11 year olds in the game with their dad, Jalen Brunson is their guy. Okay? But for me, 40 year old man, Nick's like fan forever has been suffering silently just watching Jamal Crawford cross people up in 2006, hoping, you know what I'm saying, that maybe we cover. You know what I'm saying? Like those guys are Pat Ewing guys.

[Roy Bellamy]

I'm gonna say this, I'll say this right now, you a Pat Ewing guy now, and you were in 2006, because you, you realize, oh shit, we had it good and we didn't, we didn't enjoy when Pat was playing. What's the Joe Budden line? Can't be like Pat, you ain't looking back at that layup. They were booing Pat, they were giving Pat. It's the reason why Pat didn't sign autographs. It's why he didn't sign autographs, it's why he didn't take pictures, because he remembered every single thing all the shit tall people said at the time. So if we're talking about in the moment, active Knicks, Jalen Brunson is more beloved than Patrick Ewing was in the.

[Dan LeBatard]

Moment, in the moment when they played. Because, because now it's a different generation. I mean, back in the day, you know, you couldn't, you couldn't just tweet at Patrick Bueller, you know, I'm saying, I'm sure if there was social media back then, the, the hate versus love will be more balanced. You know, I'm saying there would definitely be a lot of Pat, you and Glazers. Yeah. Hell yeah. If they had Twitter back then in the 90s, they'll be like, hashtag Pat you and is the greatest. You know what I'm saying? Like hashtag Hoyas, New York legend, you know?

[Roy Bellamy]

Yeah, eight points, nine seconds. That's. Look, Twitter would not have made things more positive. We know that for a fact. There is no era in time in history where it's like, you know what we needed to make things more positive? Twitter.

[Dan LeBatard]

Twitter.

[Stugatz]

Adnan, you got an opinion? Adnan? Patrick Ewing, Jalen Brunson, most beloved Nick ever settled the debate between these two people who don't know what they're talking about.

[Dan LeBatard]

Oh boy.

[Roy Bellamy]

I beg your pardon.

[Adnan Virk]

Listen, I think it means rights revisionist history. The Knicks didn't know how good they had it back in 1994 with Ewing and Starks and didn't realize that that was the hated. They didn't realize now clamoring for this Knicks Pacers potential Eastern Conference finals for the first time in 25 years. They didn't realize hey, this is going to be our moment. So yeah, when you're looking through the rose colored glasses, Ewing's the most beloved. But I'm telling you, Brunson is like Mercury right now. Nothing is hotter than this guy. I think he's the most beloved.

[Mero]

The Dan LeBatard show with Stu Gotts is sponsored by Better Help. 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. That's BetterHelp. H-E-L-P.com.

[Tony]

Game time is the official ticketing partner of the Dan Lebbetard show with Stu Gotz and guys, as you know, over the last few years I've had the opportunity to be at some pretty incredible playoff games with the Miami Heat. I've had friends who have really wanted to be there and unfortunately they couldn't get in the door. So as the NBA playoffs continue to evolve throughout this season and we get into the second round with teams all over the country playing in huge games, gametime is where you want to be. Game Time makes getting tickets faster and easier even for hard to get playoff seats. Prices on the gametime app actually go down the closer it gets to tip off for me as I'm trying to get tickets and I might travel out to either the Eastern Conference Finals or the Western Conference Finals to just go watch some incredible basketball with killer last minute deals all in prices, views from your seat and their lowest price guarantee. GameTime takes the guesswork out of buying NBA playoff Tickets. Download the GameTime app app, create an account and use code DAN for $20 off your first purchase terms. Apply. Again, create an account and redeem Code D A N for $20 off. Download the Gametime app today. Last minute tickets, lowest price guaranteed.

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[Stugatz]

Don lebatard.

[Dan LeBatard]

And he was doing all kind of wild stuff when he threw the ball off the glass to himself and yammed it. I was like, wow, that's crazy. You're on perks, stugats. You know what I mean? That. Allegedly. Allegedly. Allegedly. Allegedly. Allegedly. This is the Dan Levitar show with the Stugach.

[Amin Elhassan]

You guys don't get it. Meryl, hear me out here, okay? Because with Patrick Ewing came. With Patrick Ewing came expectations, right? And if I told you the second they drafted Ewing, we would never win a title with Ewing, you would have been upset, okay? And it turned out that we never won a title with you. Jalen Brunson was that. Jalen Brunson was an Jordan's fault. Jalen Brunson was an afterthought. He was. He was a guy that Dallas didn't want, and he's exceeded every expectation.

[Stugatz]

You guys are missing.

[Amin Elhassan]

That you've had for Jalen.

[Stugatz]

You guys are all missing. Yes, that part. No, I agree with. No, but you guys are.

[Dan LeBatard]

This is the underdog, and New York loves an underdog.

[Stugatz]

No, it has no mero.

[Adnan Virk]

But everyone said that was a miss. Everyone said they should have signed Donovan Mitchell. And everyone said, oh, Brunson, he's not going to be good. People are crushing the move. All the Knicks overpaid. And he's been unbelievable. He's been underpaid.

[Stugatz]

Stugats is so right about this, though. The part you guys are missing. And Mero sounding like unk is out here, old man saying, I know what Ewing limp through. I know how close they were. I know how he was betrayed by management. I see them, and I know how he fought the Heat, and I know that it wasn't really his fault. It's just what Stugat said. It was Jordan. It was Jordan. He was doing it to everybody. But. But here's the thing, though. Here's the thing you're missing. Nobody loves the Giant. Ewing was physically bigger than everyone else. This is the smallest dude on the court.

[Roy Bellamy]

New York.

[Stugatz]

New York so badly wants to be an underdog, and you can't be, and you're not, but you stink. With Ewing, you didn't stink. Everyone thought you should win. Nobody thinks you can win. And it's the smallest guy on the court who's making you believe it.

[Dan LeBatard]

And it's delicious. It's delicious. It's like my capacito in the morning, bro. It hits like crack, bro. Put it in my veins. You like what I'm saying? Every time. Every time the ball. They tip the ball off. Everybody's like, oh, Carl Anthony Towns, he's so soft. He's so zesty. Look at him. Oh, Jalen Brunson is so small. He's not the best player in the. On the court, in the. In the series. And then 48 hours later, those takes are ice cold, bro.

[Roy Bellamy]

Miro, if I had to. I asked Samuro this the other day. I'm asking you the same question. Rank these shots for me. Me, Alan Houston against the Heat. Larry Johnson, four point play, Jalen Brunson to send the Pistons home. Rank them for me.

[Dan LeBatard]

Oh, wow.

[Amin Elhassan]

Oh, oh, wow.

[Dan LeBatard]

L.J. jalen Houston.

[Amin Elhassan]

Yeah, it'd be wonderful. Yeah, yeah.

[Dan LeBatard]

Listen, it was in the moment, right? But, like, in my mind, I was like, we're not winning all. All of this. We're not going all the way. Like, even then, as a kid in 99, I knew. I was like, yo, we're gonna run, but we're not going all the way because the spurs are unstoppable. You know what I'm saying? And, like, we weren't ready for them. We didn't have pat. Like, all this stuff was going on. It was a short season, yada, yada, yada. So it was kind of weird. It was kind of like how people argue about the bubble championships versus. You know what I mean? So it was. It was like a weird thing. LJ 4 point play on like, like crazy. I mean, like, still. Still, like, even though it was like the same situation, it was a. It was just the. The. The energy and it was in the garden. It wasn't supposed to happen. LJ not have known for shooting threes, you know what I mean? Like, it's not. None of this was supposed to happen. And then it happened. And the. The way the arena erupted, the. The. I think like I had. Maybe I had just like had like a different type of sexual experience with a girl for the first time. So I don't know if that, like, if I'm like conflating these two things, but it was. It was a special time in my life, you know what I'm saying? So, yeah, it matters a lot.

[Roy Bellamy]

Hey, Adnan, you're a Star wars fan.

[Amin Elhassan]

He has a book out as well.

[Roy Bellamy]

You got a book coming out? Cinephile soon. Wherever you get books, Adnan. Stugats and I have dueling people in sports with names that can know Star Wars. We wanted you to kind of help us, you know, judge it.

[Adnan Virk]

I mean, I can't. I can't wait. We just had May 4th be with you. I'm all in. Let's talk Star Wars.

[Amin Elhassan]

Okay, so you celebrate that lame holiday. You dress up like a Star wars.

[Adnan Virk]

Dress up in an Ewok stick wants to.

[Dan LeBatard]

Oh, that's wild. You can't do that. That's not allowed.

[Adnan Virk]

I'm not walking around like C3PO. It's a little strange.

[Dan LeBatard]

Thank you.

[Amin Elhassan]

You can't do it. It's strange, right?

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah. See, it's not allowed, bro. You could do like something like. You could buy like some Star wars branded thing, like an iced tea, something like.

[Adnan Virk]

And be like all day.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah, that's wild. That's od. Like if you go to work with like a lightsaber, right? Come on, gang.

[Adnan Virk]

Likes Pocket. You're just happy to see me. Come on.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah, exactly. You know what I mean? You empty. You got to wear a clear bag to wear because you got all kinds of accoutrement. Like weird wrinkly skin to be like, I'm Yoda. Like, bro, cut it out. We're all going to Burger King for lunch.

[Tony]

David berkowitz, general manager, St. Louis Cardinals.

[Dan LeBatard]

Jesus.

[Amin Elhassan]

You are a person who dresses up as Roger Federer when Federer plays tennis.

[Dan LeBatard]

That's true.

[Roy Bellamy]

He's got you there.

[Stugatz]

Copies too.

[Adnan Virk]

Guilty.

[Stugatz]

Charged.

[Adnan Virk]

Nike headband mimicking pictures of a chat antiming.

[Stugatz]

It's pathetic. It's pathetic. I need the pictures. Send us the pictures. It's the most pathetic thing I've ever seen an adult sports fan do.

[Roy Bellamy]

Stugat. Do you have any olives?

[Amin Elhassan]

I do. I have two.

[Roy Bellamy]

Okay, I've got two as well. Go ahead. We're alternate. You and me.

[Amin Elhassan]

Okay. First olive, Brett Lightsaberhagen.

[Dan LeBatard]

Great.

[Roy Bellamy]

Darth Maul Pierce.

[Amin Elhassan]

Oh.

[Dan LeBatard]

Very good.

[Amin Elhassan]

Tyrone Arloo.

[Roy Bellamy]

D2og wan anu Kenobi.

[Amin Elhassan]

Oh, that's a good.

[Roy Bellamy]

Oh, that's. Yeah. All right. Number five, Stugats.

[Amin Elhassan]

Anakin Sorenstan.

[Dan LeBatard]

Gareth.

[Roy Bellamy]

Bill Organa.

[Amin Elhassan]

Number four, Vita Blubaca.

[Roy Bellamy]

Number four, Kylo Renteria.

[Amin Elhassan]

Number three, Michelle Weepy. 3o.

[Roy Bellamy]

Number three, Grevious Vasquez.

[Dan LeBatard]

Just his name. Just his name.

[Amin Elhassan]

Number two, Leon Bobillette.

[Roy Bellamy]

Number two, Jabba Chamberlain.

[Adnan Virk]

That great one.

[Amin Elhassan]

Number one, Lando Cal Ripkean Jr.

[Stugatz]

That one was tough to say.

[Roy Bellamy]

Number one, Glenn Yoda. He's in. He's the NBA editor for the Athletic.

[Stugatz]

That doesn't work. That's pathetic. Get out of here.

[Tony]

I mean, what major penalty?

[Amin Elhassan]

Five minutes.

[Adnan Virk]

Grooming, comedy.

[Stugatz]

It's a person only, you know, someone named.

[Roy Bellamy]

Lots of NBA writers know who he is.

[Amin Elhassan]

He's got a penalty.

[Stugatz]

Five minutes.

[Adnan Virk]

Minutes.

[Dan LeBatard]

I wouldn't be. I wouldn't be a Mero Pierce on the show if I didn't somehow shoehorn some Dominican ness into this whole shit. And I want to let y' all know that right now in the NBA playoffs, there are two Dominicans battling it out.

[Stugatz]

That's right.

[Dan LeBatard]

As big men.

[Stugatz]

That's right.

[Dan LeBatard]

And that's Al Horford and Carl Anthony Towns. They are going at it and they are performing, baby. All right, so we are represented in the NBA right now.

[Stugatz]

So I've got a couple of difficult. Okay, I heard you the first time. Adnan, thank you for being on with us. We appreciate your time, sir.

[Adnan Virk]

Thank you, guys. By the book, Cinephile, August 12th. And Pay the Construction Workers.

[Stugatz]

I've got two questions for you here, Marrow. They are difficult questions to answer. They're going to be escalating in nature and tension. Are you ready?

[Dan LeBatard]

Yes, sir.

[Stugatz]

Jalen Brunson is already more popular and beloved than my Dominican brother, Carl Anthony Towns, which makes me choose Jalen Brunson over my Dominican community.

[Dan LeBatard]

No, no, no. Because we have not yet seen the heights that Carl Anthony Towns can. Can get to. You know what I'm saying? Like, we know what we got. We got a closer in Jalen Brunson. And like you said, you can't be the underdog and be a giant. And this Guy wears size 21 shoes, which is very large. You know what I'm saying? So. But my Dominican is.

[Stugatz]

What are you saying?

[Dan LeBatard]

Prevents me.

[Stugatz]

What are you saying? What are you saying about the shoe size? What are you saying about.

[Dan LeBatard]

He's this large. Carl. He's a big dude.

[Stugatz]

Yeah, that. What a big dude. What are you saying about Carl Anthony Towns when you. Why do you know his shoe size?

[Dan LeBatard]

Because he has the largest heat in the NBA, that's why. That's what I heard.

[Stugatz]

Why do you know that?

[Dan LeBatard]

Why?

[Stugatz]

Why? Why do you care about that? Because you're proudly Dominican. Because you're proudly.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yes.

[Stugatz]

Dominican.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yes. So anytime you could be number one in anything, in any category as a Dominican, I'm going to highlight that. So he has the biggest feet in the NBA. So he's number one in footside. You know what I mean? Probably also number one in shooter percentage for everybody, anybody over seven feet.

[Stugatz]

That's crazy. Like that. So that's nice, right? You've got a. You've got a. Basically an extraterrestrial playing for you, and he's your second best player. But I'm going to ask the question again. You're telling me that Jalen Brunson is not more popular and beloved than your Dominican brother? Yes. He obviously.

[Dan LeBatard]

It depends. It depends where in New York you are.

[Stugatz]

Oh, okay.

[Dan LeBatard]

In New York you are. If you're a Dykeman, forget it. That guy is super. No, no, no. So.

[Stugatz]

So.

[Dan LeBatard]

So you're telling me this. You got Dominicano on one side, but you have your OG Dominican on the other side.

[Tony]

I know that there's a little piece of your heart with.

[Dan LeBatard]

Without a passing the torch. It's passing the torch.

[Stugatz]

You know what I'm saying?

[Dan LeBatard]

He's still getting.

[Stugatz]

No, he's the OG, but he's 0 for 8 with people 6ft from him.

[Amin Elhassan]

Like, take it easy.

[Dan LeBatard]

What are you doing?

[Stugatz]

That's just numbers.

[Dan LeBatard]

Who cares about.

[Stugatz]

Guys, Come on. Come on, guys. Look, the Celtics do not. I know. I'm going to blaspheme against dugouts here. Al Horford is his favorite player, and I know Mero loves him.

[Amin Elhassan]

I'm okay this time.

[Stugatz]

A lot of different reasons, but I'm just here to tell you, if Porzingis is out for this series and what they need is old man Al Horford to give him too many minutes. El Viejo is going to put them in trouble, and Stugats is going to be in trouble. Trouble on what his allegiances are because Al Horford has no bigger or better public national supporter than Stugat. It's More than you, Mero. It's. If you guys want to do. Who's more Dominican, Stu Gotz or Mero in their love for Al Horford? I choose Stugot.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yes.

[Stugatz]

I choose what you got. All right, you want to do a Dominican off? All right, let's do a Dominican off with. With Mero.

[Dan LeBatard]

Listen to me. If you take Carl Anthony Towns, uptown, Washington Heights, Dykeman area, he is more popular than Jayla Brunson. Just for the simple fact that he is a star for the Knicks, like you said, the second best player on the team, well known. You know what I'm saying? I. I would. I would say, like, let's look at the jersey sales. You know what I'm saying? Because I know you know what I'm saying. If there was like a temperature map of jersey sales, I thought that it is lava red. You know what?

[Stugatz]

I. I made a mistake. I underestimated your Dominican and I underestimated your people. But now I'm going to put you in a more difficult spot because I know you love your Dominicans, but I also know you love your money. I know you love your money.

[Amin Elhassan]

Oh, boy.

[Stugatz]

All right. Yes. So here's the question for you. Yes, 7:00pm in Brooklyn is the show he does with Carmelo Anthony. It's very popular. It is very good. And Carmelo Anthony, you may have heard, Once Upon a Time was a very beloved and popular Nick. But I believe there's. Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.

[Amin Elhassan]

Hold on a sec.

[Stugatz]

I believe there is a Nick right now playing in town who has already surpassed Carmelo Anthony, your business partner. He is more beloved than Carmelo Anthony. So I would like for you to say publicly in front of all to hear. And I would like to you to choose between Dominicans and dollars when you tell me. I believe that Jalen Brunson is right now more beloved and more popular than Carmelo Anthony. And I believe he did it in the last three games. I want you to make it. I want you to make it official. I want you. It's the last three games combined with how much you loved him last year. You changed the whole team. You're ready for them to betray you because you're not good at home. Nobody trusts Carl Anthony Towns. Even fewer people trust Bridges. But you got Brunson. You got Brunson. You do. But nobody else trusts Bridges.

[Amin Elhassan]

We trust Bridges.

[Dan LeBatard]

We trust Bridges. And I don't care. I'll say it here. I know we're not supposed to curse. Y' all gonna edit this out them picks, bro. I Do not care. I do not care if there's a, if there's the. I don't care if there's the best sixth grader in the world out there right now that they made in a lab and he's a combination of Shaq and kd and it's Steph Curry. I don't care. F them picks. Mikhail Bridges won us those last two games with clutch defense in crunch time, bro. When is the last time you heard the Knicks won the game in crunch time with defense? When's the last time you heard that, bro? Patrick Ealing days, bro, the 90s, you know what I'm saying? And now we're back.

[Roy Bellamy]

Let me ask question.

[Stugatz]

He didn't answer the question before.

[Dan LeBatard]

Answer the question.

[Stugatz]

Hold on, hold on. Means got some context.

[Roy Bellamy]

Okay, I, I, I want. Just because he said, I don't care about them picks. What if we go in the future and it's like Milwaukee was like, we would have traded Giannis to the Knicks, but they didn't have those picks anymore and we even needed picks.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yo, run and dunk can stay there. Running. Dunk can stay.

[Roy Bellamy]

Run and Dunk.

[Dan LeBatard]

Running duck the same Milwaukee, you could go to the Lakers. You could do whatever you want, champ. I don't care. The Knicks are solid. We are good. We are good. And plus, tips don't play more than six guys anyway. So even if he did sign them, it don't matter, you know what I'm saying? Because somebody else is gonna sit on the bench. We got Mitch, we got Josh, we got jb, we got Cat, we got Mikhail, we got a whole bunch of other dudes. We are good. We are good. We got OG at Anovi. Come on, dog. Like, he is like, emotionless. He is the, he's hip hop, you know what I'm saying? Like, that guy is dunking everything. It's like the opposite of pat, you know what I'm saying? Like, instead of doing a layup, this guy's dunking everything. I thought he was gonna hurt himself, dog, in that, in that Sistine Chapel dunk where he just was like this.

[Stugatz]

Please don't, please don't do that again. Please don't do that. Don't do that again.

[Amin Elhassan]

Let me try it this way. Okay? You host a podcast, 7pm in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony. If I told you right now, you could switch out Carmelo and insert Jalen Brunson, it, would you do it?

[Dan LeBatard]

Listen, different guys. There's two different guys.

[Amin Elhassan]

Two different guys.

[Dan LeBatard]

Two different styles of play. Two, two, two different Styles of play.

[Stugatz]

My dad. My dad has a counter for you on that. You sound like my father there. What was that. What was that sound you made? What? How is.

[Dan LeBatard]

Oh, let's go.

[Stugatz]

You're very good at this. He just trapped you and you had no rebuttal. You're very careful spotted, but you're very good at talking. You got out of the bo.

[Dan LeBatard]

I did not expect this from a fellow Dominican. I did not expect to be caught it. You know what I'm saying? I have to fight a flight my way out of this interview. You know what I'm saying? Like, I did not expect that.

[Stugatz]

Who's more. Answer the question. Who's more beloved, Jalen Brunson or Carmelo Anthony?

[Dan LeBatard]

Not right now.

[Stugatz]

No, right.

[Amin Elhassan]

Right now.

[Stugatz]

No, not right now.

[Roy Bellamy]

At their peaks. At their peaks.

[Stugatz]

At their peaks.

[Dan LeBatard]

At their. Okay, okay. At their peaks. We have. We see each other. Brunson. Speak. We're not even in Eastern Conference titles yet. Right.

[Stugatz]

So he's already. So he's already passed Carmelo because Carmelo lost all these games.

[Amin Elhassan]

I think Carmelo would tell you in terms of popularity. Yeah, he's passed me.

[Stugatz]

Let him answer the question.

[Amin Elhassan]

Sorry.

[Dan LeBatard]

Well, that's not the bigger brother. He can speak for me, you know, help you out.

[Amin Elhassan]

I put you in a bad spot. Yeah.

[Dan LeBatard]

Listen. So, yes, in terms of popularity, because of the way the world is structured today, Jayla Brunson is more popular than Carmelo Anthony. I said that qualifier in front of it to confuse y' all so that it doesn't look like I'm saying anything slanderous or you don't want to be aggravated.

[Stugatz]

This is what's happened. He's made this such a mess that he can't be aggregated. So I'm going to ask the question again. Are you willing.

[Dan LeBatard]

I'm trying to clip it out.

[Stugatz]

Are you? Yes, but you know this and you're playing kung fu with me. So the question again. New episodes every Week on their YouTube channel. It's at 7pm in Brooklyn, and it's delightful. He's created something out of nothing next to a hero of his. And it's just great to watch the interactions where fan and cultures meet. But his business partner is less beloved in New York than Jalen Brunson. Yes.

[Dan LeBatard]

I think. You know what's crazy? I think Jalen's popularity has actually helped Melo's popularity because, you know, Knicks fans, once the Nick, always a Nick. And Melo came here when. No, when it was just like, all right, bro, what are we Doing like we're. And we had a very. Listen, 2012, 2013. Don't forget. You know what I'm saying? Scoring champ, defense, player of the year. Jared Smith, sixth man of the year. New episode coming soon. You know what I'm saying? But right now, it's Jillian brother. And. And I agree, yes, he may have surpassed Melo now in terms of popularity because of what he's been doing on the court and because again, we in New York, and New York loves the underdog. You know what I'm saying? Like, the guys, we are the same height. You know what I'm saying? I'm six two. And I'm like. I'm. I'm like the tall guy when I walk in the room, but not one in the NBA locker room. You know, he's in there in the post. Shit. Footwork, bro. He's playing under the rim. He's just step back. Three, bro. That again, like, I, I. The shot. The shot to send Detroit home is. Well, this.

[Stugatz]

But this is the thing. No, but this is what I'm saying. He's already.

[Dan LeBatard]

These are moments.

[Stugatz]

He's already got the moment Tatum doesn't have. He got it in the last spirit.

[Amin Elhassan]

Tatum has a ring, dude.

[Stugatz]

Yeah, but he's got no but Stasi. This part's important. The ring is important, I will grant you. But a ring without moments, man, that's marrying somebody with no scrapbook book.

[Dan LeBatard]

That's true. But this is the thing. Moments matter almost more than a chip because. Did the Yankees win the World Series last year? No, they did not. But everybody remembers Juan Soto sending them there in that AT B and AT B against Cleveland. You know what I'm saying? Everybody remembers that. That's a moment.

[Stugatz]

Put it, Put it on the poll. What's remembered? More championships or moments?

[Tony]

Willy Wonka's hat had hall of Fame strong.

[Roy Bellamy]

Yeah, that's a good one, huh?

[Amin Elhassan]

Let's go, Willy Wonka.

[Dan LeBatard]

That's crazy.

[Stugatz]

Let's go. Down on.

[Dan LeBatard]

Game is untouchable, though.

[Stugatz]

Do you have Merrill? Do you have 10 more minutes, or do you have to go? Because Tony was trying to get in with something that would have been fun for you, Hispanic. I didn't have room for it.

[Dan LeBatard]

Let's do it.

[Tony]

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