Hour 2: 457 Unopened Text Messsages (feat. Nick Wright)

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz Episode: Hour 2: 457 Unopened Text Messages (feat. Nick Wright)
Release Date: May 28, 2025

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1. Introduction to Personal Animosities in Sports (01:04 - 02:37)

Dan Le Batard kicks off the episode by delving into the topic of unexplained animosities within the sports world. He references Keith Yandle's unexpected declaration of hatred towards Vijay Singh, expressing his surprise and pondering whether such feelings are baseless or stem from unrecognized reasons.

Dan Le Batard (01:04):
"Have you ever hated anyone inside or outside of sports and you simply cannot explain and don't have any introspective way to assess why you hate that person?"

Nick Wright responds by sharing his own childhood grudges, attributing them to team rivalries rather than personal vendettas.

Nick Wright (01:34):
"As a young child... I somewhat irrationally, but again because of the Knicks fandom, really didn't like Reggie Miller."

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2. Debating the Greatest Athlete in Sports (03:19 - 05:38)

The conversation shifts to a heated debate sparked by Keith Yandle's claim that Connor McDavid is the greatest athlete in all of sports. Nick Wright challenges this assertion, emphasizing the importance of accomplishments beyond sheer athleticism.

Nick Wright (03:19):
"Why is Connor McDavid the greatest athlete in all of sports?... At some point, accomplishment needs to at least be included in the equation."

Dan counters by highlighting McDavid's MVP achievements, while Nick remains skeptical about McDavid's championships.

Stugotz (04:22):
"A HARP trophy MVP."

Nick Wright (04:26):
"How many does he have? Three, I believe."

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3. Comparing Shohei Ohtani and Connor McDavid (06:34 - 07:14)

Dan introduces a comparison between Connor McDavid and Shohei Ohtani, advocating for Ohtani's versatility as both a pitcher and hitter as a metric for athletic greatness. Nick Wright counters by questioning Ohtani's current performance and championship status.

Dan Le Batard (06:34):
"Shohei Ohtani has to be the best athlete."

Nick Wright (06:43):
"Because he can pitch. He can hit."

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4. Predicting an OKC Thunder Dynasty (10:17 - 11:52)

Dan and Nick dive into the NBA landscape, predicting the Oklahoma City Thunder as the next dynasty. Nick elaborates on his confidence, citing the team's stellar record and strategic assets, while also cautioning against the trend of expecting continuous championships.

Nick Wright (11:07):
"I think a lot of the people... OKC could start a dynasty."

Dan Le Batard (11:04):
"OKC is going to win the championship."

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5. Proposed NBA Rule Changes (14:04 - 27:42)

A significant portion of the episode focuses on Nick Wright presenting his proposals to fix perceived issues within NBA rules. The suggestions include:

• Eliminating Binding Challenges: Nick proposes removing the ability for players to issue binding challenges, especially those based on non-obvious events like fouling.

  Nick Wright (16:41):
  "You won't see a player hit someone in the arm and then do this silliness."

• Adjusting Foul Penalties: He introduces a system inspired by football, allowing teams to decline fouls in certain scenarios to prevent intentional disruption.

  Nick Wright (23:02):
  "If you're leading by three or more and the shot clock is turned off..."

• Enhancing Game Entertainment: Emphasizing the entertainment value, Nick suggests modifications that reward teams for maintaining fluid play and reducing unnecessary stoppages.

  Nick Wright (24:13):
  "Anything that we can do to make the game more entertaining, that makes sense."

Dan engages critically, questioning the practicality and potential unintended consequences of these changes.

Dan Le Batard (27:16):
"That's why Nick Wright is the media giant that he is..."

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6. Media Rivalries and Professional Feuds (28:07 - 34:03)

The discussion transitions to Nick Wright's strained relationship with fellow journalist Pablo Torre. Dan probes into the nature of their dispute, leading Nick to clarify that misunderstandings and miscommunications have fueled public perceptions of a feud.

Dan Le Batard (28:07):
"Do you have any other media beefs going on right now at present?"

Nick Wright (29:27):
"I think Pablo is this... the Belichick's girlfriend."

Nick expresses frustration over Torre's reporting style and public interactions, while also addressing his own challenges with engaging media commitments.

Nick Wright (33:46):
"Hey, Nick, here's your bad takes of the last year. Defend them pod."

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7. Addressing WNBA Coverage and Concluding Remarks (38:21 - 40:59)

As the episode nears its end, the hosts briefly touch upon the inadequate coverage of the WNBA. Nick advocates for more focused discussions on the league's basketball aspects, emphasizing the need for star rivalries to elevate the sport's profile.

Nick Wright (38:55):
"There needs to be an ability to be like, hey, I would like to talk about the basketball portions of the WNBA..."

Dan and Nick exchange final remarks, with Nick expressing reluctance to return soon, hinting at future tensions.

Nick Wright (40:59):
"I'll come back on the pod in about two and a half years."

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Notable Quotes

• Dan Le Batard (01:04):
  "Have you ever hated anyone inside or outside of sports and you simply cannot explain and don't have any introspective way to assess why you hate that person?"

• Nick Wright (03:19):
  "Why is Connor McDavid the greatest athlete in all of sports?... At some point, accomplishment needs to at least be included in the equation."

• Nick Wright (24:13):
  "Anything that we can do to make the game more entertaining, that makes sense."

• Nick Wright (38:55):
  "There needs to be an ability to be like, hey, I would like to talk about the basketball portions of the WNBA..."

---

Conclusion

This episode of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz features a robust discussion on personal animosities in sports, the criteria for defining the greatest athlete, predictions for an NBA dynasty, and proposed changes to enhance NBA gameplay. Additionally, it touches upon media rivalries and the need for better WNBA coverage. Nick Wright provides candid insights, often sparking debates with host Dan Le Batard, ensuring an engaging and thought-provoking episode for listeners.

Transcript

[Dan LeBatard]

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[Nick Wright]

This episode is brought to you by State Farm. Knowing you could be saving money for the things you really want is a great feeling. Talk to a State Farm agent today to learn how you can choose to bundle and save with a personal price plan. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Prices are based on rating plans that vary by state. Coverage options are selected by the customer. Availability, amount of discounts and savings and eligibility vary by state. This is the Dan Levatar show with the Stugats podcast.

[Dan LeBatard]

Two conversations I want to include Nick Right on. Just based on the craziness of what just happened. Nick, have you ever hated anyone inside or outside of sports and you simply cannot explain and don't have any introspective way to access why you hate that person? Because Keith Yandel just said that he hated Vijay Singh and I don't know that I've ever been more shocked in my life. I'm not even certain Yandel knows why he doesn't. That's the point I'm making. He you should be certain he doesn't know. He doesn't know.

[Nick Wright]

No. My any sports hate I've had is long time coming. Like the Stu got so like this and people you know may or may not know this about me but I as a young child I was a Knicks fan because I was from Kansas City. We didn't have a team. My mom was from New York and when I was a little kid I went to a Knicks game at Madison Square Garden. So as a little kid I was kind of an adopted Knicks fan fan. So I hated P.J. brown. But that was because he picked up Charlie Ward body slammed reasons. Yes, right. And so I reasonable, totally reasonable. I somewhat irrationally, but again because of the Knicks fandom really didn't like Reggie Miller again. And that was only further validated by the fact that he's talked about as an all time great despite being 18, three and three, a couple third team, all NBAs. And you know look at those playoff numbers. They're not exactly what the NBC on NBA NBA on NBC will have you believe.

[Dan LeBatard]

And he's playing the he's playing the.

[Stugotz]

Game Nick, I want, I want to.

[Nick Wright]

Help you Nick, because I like you okay, what, what we're playing this stuff. What we're playing is say what Dan wants you to say, not what you think. Well, but I don't have that. I don't have the. I just don't like the cut of your jib. No, like, I, I'm. I'm a rat. That's who Dan's looking for. Okay, yes, also, then, all right, well, then let me, let me. Let's start over. Ask me and I'll tell you.

[Dan LeBatard]

No, I, I include you on the other conversation, which I am certain, by the way, I don't have to tell him what to tell me here. I am certain he will be. On this great subject. It's great. On this subject, without any warning, we just had Yandel say that Connor McDavid is the greatest athlete in all of sports right now. Why is he right or why is he wrong?

[Nick Wright]

Well, he's just obvious. I mean, the. Because Patrick Mahomes exists. Because if we're talking about guys who are still playing but not in their prime, LeBron exists. I mean, I hate to go full stugats with stugots on the show, but. But what's Connor McDavid done? Why is Connor McDavid the greatest athlete in all of sports? Like it? Listen, it is a rich tapestry. Any of these, you know, the qualifiers we give guys. But at some point, accomplishment needs to at least be included in the, in the equation. It can't. That's a first cousin of Justin Herbert's, a top five quarterback. Like, I don't know, maybe in practice. Like, at some point you need to actually add some pelts on the wall. Not that McDavid hasn't. But in comparison to the other actual people in contention for greatest living athlete, he's. Or greatest active athlete, he certainly hasn't. Like, come on. That's just foolishness. And I don't even know anything about hockey. So you're just saying rings at this point, not the fact that Connor McDavid's.

[Stugotz]

A HARP trophy MVP.

[Nick Wright]

Hold on, Roy. No, no, no. Roy. Tell me if I'm wrong. Roy. The. Because I know in hockey they get. Instead of just being like league mvp, they give it some silly name. The. The heart. Heart Trophy is the season long mvp, Correct?

[Stugotz]

Correct. Regular season.

[Nick Wright]

How many does he have? Three, I believe. Okay, so that. So, right. So it's not a Gretzky situation where Gretzky, what, won seven in a row to start his career, where. So he has. He has three, which is really good. But there's active athletes, right? Now with as many or more who. Who then also have the further accomplishments. I also assumed Conor McDavid had won at least one championship. Am I wrong? Has he not like he. He's never wanted. I assumed he was a one or two ring guy and I still thought it was bad.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yic a better athlete.

[Nick Wright]

Jokic is better at a better athlete. Like can he run faster? No. But yeah, I would say Jokic if I am ranking current athlete. How could you not have joker higher? How could you not?

[Dan LeBatard]

Well, I just think that the difficulty in how you're presenting the argument is when you say I don't know anything about hockey but where are the rings? It. It sort of.

[Nick Wright]

I didn't, I didn't say where are the rings. I said I assumed he had some. Right. I guess my point is this. I. I don't know. There's a lot of things it sports wise that I know you know a little bit about. And if somebody is superseding the sport, I then know a lot about them. Like I know a lot about IndyCar driver Alex Palo. I know a lot about Caitlin Clark. I there I knew a lot about Katie Ledecky a decade ago. The fact that I know so little about Connor McDavid to me is proof in and of itself he's a legendary hockey player who is not. He's not yet in the discussion for greatest living athlete. Like you didn't need to know much. You, you could be my level of hockey fan in the 80s and you knew a lot about Wayne Gretzky. And so again I the. I didn't think we were going to talk hockey, but we didn't talk hockey.

[Dan LeBatard]

Gandal just put him ahead of Shohei Ohtani.

[Nick Wright]

Okay, deal sold. Because again has a ring.

[Dan LeBatard]

What are you guys doing? I'm talking. I'm not talking about a pitch. Shohei Otani has to be the best athlete.

[Nick Wright]

Has to be what? Why?

[Dan LeBatard]

Because he can pitch. He can hit.

[Nick Wright]

Well then at the cat. Okay, so then I guess. So then I guess by. By Dan silly metric. Then I guess the silver medalist is already Travis Hunter. Right. Because it's just. And I like Travis, but it's just he can do an extra thing other people can't. Like I don't know about that. I think I, I think that there isn't there a strong argument and by the way, Shohei hasn't pitched in a year. There's a very strong argument that Shohei is not the best player in his sport right now. There's an argument. It's Aaron been Aaron Judge the last year and a half. Go ahead. Sorry. Where would you put Tebow on the list? Because he played baseball and football, right? Neither well, but he played Stuart back to the 90s Knicks.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yes.

[Nick Wright]

What about this Charlie Ward erasure guy won the Heisman. There was a point guard for in the NBA finals. I guess he's better than Joe Montana who all he could do was play one sport. The dumbest thing I've ever heard like this is. This is a second cousin Dan of the greatest athlete of in the world is whatever guy wins the decathlon every four years. Oh, I will jump over the water.

[Dan LeBatard]

I will say there was at one point that I made Alexander Karelan the undefeated Russian wrestler the greatest athlete on the globe. You did. He did that because no one could. No one could beat him. But when I think of great athletes, when you're talking like I can make the argument for Russell Westbrook as physically. Just physically.

[Nick Wright]

But sure.

[Dan LeBatard]

This is part of what we're talking about though. Being able to pitch and hit at that level would make somebody have a skill set of athleticism that no other athlete does.

[Nick Wright]

But Nick is saying you can't be considered the greatest current playing athlete in.

[Dan LeBatard]

The world and not have won anything.

[Nick Wright]

Let me, Nick, let me defend Keith a little. He's talking skill. The speed of Connor with the hand high. The hand eye puck.

[Dan LeBatard]

Nick is factoring in winning.

[Nick Wright]

I'm just saying that's what Keith was saying. Most skill. Again these. It. It does seem like and I enjoy this that we're having seven different arguments simultaneously. If we are asking like who who is the greatest raw physical specimen athlete alive then all like or and of our lifetimes like peak. Russell Westbrook is on the list. Obviously LeBron is on the list. It just is Travis Hunter because of the cardiovascular stuff. Those guys. Sure, I will listen to that argument. I do think that in a team sport even in a team sport construct when the goal is winning that the. The cost of admission is some level of winning. And then you. We can all. We can all be in the room together. It's why like again I'll try. I'll bring up, you know, even older sports but close to Miami and Tart. It's why you one cannot make the argument Dan Marino is the greatest quarterback of all time. Even if you watched him, you're like he's the best I've ever seen. Like I now I do not think it then goes so far in the other direction which is well, obviously Ben Roethlisberger is better than Brett Favre, because one's got two and one's got one. I think that's stupid. But I do think that if the goal is winning, you have to demonstrate a certain threshold of winning. I think that's obvious.

[Dan LeBatard]

Okay.

[Nick Wright]

And again, for all I know, Connor McDavid's won the last four Stanley Cups and you guys are playing a joke. But I don't think that happened.

[Dan LeBatard]

So that devalues your entire argument at the end. If you're saying I don't know anything about hockey.

[Nick Wright]

If anything, it makes it stronger. He thought he was overrated before with the championships, and now he's finding out he has not a champion. Zero. Nick, I hate to be the bearer of bad news. You're even more right than you thought.

[Dan LeBatard]

You were the bearer of bad news and you were the bearer of Tim Tebow information. Thank you for nothing there, Nick Wright. I want Wild Billy Wednesday. I understand there are no rules.

[Nick Wright]

There are no the best.

[Dan LeBatard]

There are a number of things that I want to talk to you about, but just on the television right now, we go to immediately okc, a dynasty. And I like what I mean just it's get to the finals. Okay, but a couple of weeks, that's all.

[Stugotz]

They're tonight away from the finals.

[Nick Wright]

Yeah, I know. Listen, they're going to win. So all I. I said yesterday that I thought they won the championship in game four. So I don't think it's too far to talk about them that they are this year's champion. And that's not trying to disrespect the Pacers or the Knicks if they can come back. But OKC is going to win the championship. The point that I would make, and this is something. It is amazing to me how many people want to just make the same mistake that everyone made year after year. Four of the last five NBA champions, we. Or certainly let me go three of the last four. We were certain, well, they're about to win a bunch. And none of them have even been to round three.

[Dan LeBatard]

Seven. Isn't it the last seven. Seven.

[Nick Wright]

Oh, yes. But I'm not. But yes, correct. But my point is when the, when the Raptors won, we didn't then think they were about to reel off a bunch because Kawhi was gonna leave when the warriors won in 22. I'm not sure we thought they were about to reel off a bunch. We thought that was kind of the end of what was an unbelievable era. However, when the bucks won in 21, we were all like, geez Louise, the honest goat conversation Maybe. How many is he gonna win? He hasn't seen round three. Certainly when the Nuggets won two years ago, it was, well, they're the huge favorites. They're going to win again. They were the dominant team all year. They. They get clipped also in round two. And the Celtics. This is my problem with the OKC conversation. A lot of the people who you are going to see arguing okc could start a dynasty. 12 days ago were arguing. The Celtics were starting their dynasty. They didn't even think they were going to win this championship. Now we're giving them four more. The other thing about OKC is. And they are brilliant, and they're gonna go 84 and 19, or 84 and 20 and have the rightful league MVP, all of that. But it is with that these people are like, man, can you imagine Sam Presti with this young talent this good, that many assets. Like, yeah, I saw it 13 years ago and they haven't been back to the final since. Because I don't know that that team, that ownership is gonna pay the requisite money. And I also think that it always feels like in the NBA the team that just won is going to keep winning. And the last decade has proven that's not the case. So I do think they're the best team. I do think they're going to be the champions. I. If people are asking me, I argued with Danny Parkins about this yesterday. If you set Shea's career titles, set the line at 2, the obvious smart bet is the under. And if you set it at one and a half, even after he wins this one, it's a debate what the smart side is.

[Dan LeBatard]

I mean, I wanted to see if you and Nick had any agreement or disagreement on fixing the NBA's rule issues. What happened, Nick? You're, you're.

[Nick Wright]

Well, I mean, there's, there's. I have them all fixed. And so, I mean, the only way we're going to agree is if Amin's got it right as well.

[Dan LeBatard]

Okay.

[Nick Wright]

Like, I just have it.

[Dan LeBatard]

All right, so you're all right. So I like this. Let's see whether Amin has any before four. Look, Nick Wright, I don't know. He's had some public issues before with Amin, who's accused him of stealing some things from him.

[Nick Wright]

Club Superstar, Volume 4. That's the initial thing. Guess when that comes out on. First things first. Today at four o' clock. One in, one out. Club Superstar. The fourth edition is today. It's great to talk to Amin on that day. How are you, sir? But you want to hear my fixes.

[Dan LeBatard]

No, no, no, no, no, no. Yes. I think Amin needs to give you his fixes and see if they match up with yours. And I got to set up. You've already fixed it, Nick. I've got to set up your feud with Pablo because you've. You feel like you vanqu already here. You stole his thing, made fun of him, and now you're moving on to feud with Pablo.

[Nick Wright]

Steal a means thing. We two smart people had similar ideas. And they exist, existed an ecosystem where they were unaware of each other's ideas. And that's all it was. There was no theft done. And the only beef came from the fact that Amin was spreading scurrilous rumors about me. That I was an idea thief. That I was. Who was that terrible comic?

[Dan LeBatard]

Carlos Mencia. You were.

[Nick Wright]

I'm thinking of the other. I'm thinking of the white guy who was very popular. Dane Cook. There we go. Absolutely. You think I'd come on this show and insult Carlos Mencia? Give me a break, Dan. And so the. But so I. That was the only beef. But I mean, go ahead.

[Amin Elhassan]

No, no. We're going to do this the right way. This time you're going to go first.

[Nick Wright]

What? Perfect. I love it. All right, so none of these address load management or the three point shot anything. It's just stuff people watching the games hate in the right now. First one is challenges. This is the simplest thing ever. You know how everyone on the court is allowed to do this? And the ref's like, okay, time out. You're allowed to do it, guys, guess what? This is binding. You can do it whenever you want, but that's binding. That's your challenge. And if you're out of challenges, then it's a technical foul. And by game five of next season, you'll never see it again. You will never see a player hit someone in the arm and then do this silliness or two, guys. The ball goes out of bounds. Everyone on the court is doing this.

[Dan LeBatard]

Good rule change. Good rule.

[Nick Wright]

This is binding. It is simple. And you can even be like, hey. Has the added benefit if there's a minute and a half left in a game. You're a brilliant player. You understand the situation. The guys on the assistant coaches on the sideline have dropped the tablet. They can't do it. You're like, oh, man, they're about to inbound the ball. We challenge, but that's binding. This motion is like this motion. It's binding. I mean, tell me why that's not great.

[Amin Elhassan]

Because it is I like where your head is at. We're identifying that we have a problem with people twirling their fingers.

[Nick Wright]

Yes.

[Dan LeBatard]

But the do this is he's just helicoptering his right finger around. I think we all agree with that. He's arrived at a consensus opinion. Yeah stop doing that. We don't need any of that anymore.

[Amin Elhassan]

But I don't think he goes far enough. Wow.

[Nick Wright]

Oh.

[Amin Elhassan]

I submit to you get rid of challenges altogether.

[Nick Wright]

Oh. I by the amin I agree. I 100% agree. He said it first.

[Dan LeBatard]

It's an agree off.

[Nick Wright]

Well I've been no the I've anti replay in the NFL. I'm anti replay across the board. I the only sport that has it right is tennis. And that's because they just make something up. They're like, hey, the robots told us it's here and we're all like okay, cool. We believe you. We move on.

[Amin Elhassan]

That's exactly my vision is the only thing that we that get reviewed are those black and white things. Was he inbounds or out of bounds? Was it a 2 or is it a 3? Was he inside the the restricted area or not that.

[Nick Wright]

No, not that. Not inside the restricted area or not. I don't like that.

[Amin Elhassan]

I mean it in the sense that when I watch tennis, was it in or out? It's instant. We see that animation of the ball.

[Dan LeBatard]

Go and there's suspense involved.

[Amin Elhassan]

I love that about tennis. It's not a whole lot of guys standing under a hood and watching and stuff. We just see the shadow of the.

[Dan LeBatard]

Ball figured it out.

[Amin Elhassan]

We that's what we need in basketball.

[Nick Wright]

We listen we I would love to remove all replay with replay. I would like to get if we're going to have it back to people don't remember this in the NFL they it used to have I think it was 45 seconds and they would in the stadium play the final Jeopardy music because it was yes it was. If they don't have an answer within 45 seconds, calling the field stands because it's not clear and obvious. We've gotten miles away from that. I've kind of lost hope that we're gonna change that. So I but I that would be better. But I think mine is more doable.

[Stugotz]

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[Dan LeBatard]

Don LeBatard. But it's just his titties are sitting on the shelf. That is his belly Stugats.

[Stugotz]

He said titties, like, shocked me a little bit. I wasn't quite prepared for titties.

[Nick Wright]

This is the Dan Levatar show with the stugats. All right, rule change.

[Dan LeBatard]

How many are there? How many rules? All right. Three of them. Okay, sorry.

[Nick Wright]

Rule change two. Again, I'm gonna borrow from football. You know how in football you can decline a penalty?

[Amin Elhassan]

Yes.

[Nick Wright]

Okay. To get rid of the hack. A strategy. If you are fouled outside of the final two minutes of the game, which are the quarter, which is the only time the hacker strategy exists, you are allowed to simply say, we appreciate the offer for free throws. We will take the ball sideline, out of bounds. Instead, we decline the.

[Dan LeBatard]

Another good rule. Another fine rule.

[Amin Elhassan]

There's a. There's a massive flaw in there. Tell me we can just infinitely foul you.

[Nick Wright]

So, but here's. But here's why that is, again, not realistic or accurate. You can't, though, because you have limited number of players. You're not going to be able to do it. You're not going to want to have the entirety of your team in foul trouble. And by the way, if you try to execute that strategy, then after eight fouls of my possession, when there's one second on the shot clock, I will then say, okay, we'll take these free throws. I hope it was worth it to you to do that. But that would end it. And now another fine rule.

[Dan LeBatard]

Another fine rule change.

[Nick Wright]

Now the best one.

[Amin Elhassan]

Okay.

[Nick Wright]

If a team is leading by three or more and the shot clock is turned off meaning we're in the final 24 seconds and they commit, they do the foul to prevent a three thing. But the way to make that very black and white is the circumstances are you are up three plus you, you are in the final 24 seconds. Teams in the bonus and you commit a foul outside of the three point line, it is a three shot foul. And now the fouling up three is gone. Absolutely not.

[Dan LeBatard]

What do you mean?

[Nick Wright]

Why not? Because guys should make their free throws because it's a strategy. This is the, the NBA is no more valuable than polar bear skating on ice. It's an entertainment product. It is. And anything that we can do to make the game more entertaining, that, that makes sense. There's already plenty of rules about when you can and can't foul. This is worth one free throw, this is worth two. This is worth three. Tweaking one of them to say this specific situation results in three free throws instead of two. It makes it better for the fans, rewards great plays at the end and is an easy fix. Why is that bad?

[Amin Elhassan]

It's bad for a couple reasons. Number one, this is all coming off the heels of what happened at the end of game four of Wolves versus Thunder. No one, and I mean it's funny, no one has ever talked about how the Wolves executed poor offense in that situation. You know when you're playing against a team that fouls up three that what you have to do is you've got to draw up your play so that when your guy catches catches facing the basket and in a position to shoot immediately, the Wolves are throwing up shit where you catch it on the sideline or throwing it into the back court. They ran bad offense. That's why that, that strategy worked.

[Nick Wright]

I fell asleep hearing about what. Oh, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

[Amin Elhassan]

I'm sorry for having touched you to.

[Nick Wright]

Your should have run a better slob inbounds play and then we could have gotten a clip.

[Amin Elhassan]

No, you're right. Shooting more free throws is the way. Yeah.

[Nick Wright]

No, they, no, they wouldn't shoot any free throws because teams wouldn't do it.

[Dan LeBatard]

We would get a natural ending. That's what we would get.

[Nick Wright]

That's what, what, what.

[Amin Elhassan]

How do you, how do you differentiate between a real foul and an intentional foul in that situation you.

[Nick Wright]

No, it's saying anything outside of the three point line, outside of the three point line in the final 24 seconds by a team up three plus is three free throws. It's very simple.

[Amin Elhassan]

So basically you're saying hey, let the offense do whatever the hell it wants to get a shot off.

[Dan LeBatard]

No, he's saying don't foul him.

[Nick Wright]

You're going to have a guy, though, start his dribble.

[Amin Elhassan]

This is what I'm going to tell you guys. You're going to do this rule and you know what's going to happen? Shay Gilgeous Alexander is going to get fouled 50ft away from the basket and everyone's going, oh, my God, this foul immersion. That's not offense. That's not basketball. That's not fun. You guys don't see the unintended consequences and all this stuff?

[Nick Wright]

By the way, I've thought of the un. I think unintended consequences are a very important thing. And I've thought about them quite a bit, which is why I properly manicured it exactly the way I did about inside the final 24 seconds. Have to be in the bonus and have to be leading by at least three. But if you're saying the unintended consequences is there's going to be more public shame for Shea Gilgis Alexander flopping about like a fish on a boat, that's a positive.

[Amin Elhassan]

Ain't no shame in winning, brother.

[Nick Wright]

That's. That's a positive.

[Dan LeBatard]

This is why Nick Wright is the media giant that he is. Because whatever your arguments, he's already considered them and dismissed them. He is a dragon. They're manicured. Because, yes, he's manicured his argument to make it. To make sure that whatever your fertilizer is, he's. He's already thought of it. I would make it four free throws, Nick. Okay. That way you were sure that no one will ever foul. How is that? I'm not. All right. I'm not. Nick, do not.

[Nick Wright]

But I supported you. I know.

[Dan LeBatard]

Don't take the.

[Nick Wright]

You know what, Stu. Guys, I'll take it under consideration. Thank you.

[Dan LeBatard]

The. The other things that I wanted to talk to you about here, before you get out of here, is the nature of your beef with Pablo Torre. I don't know what is happening with Pablo. He's getting a lot of award nominations, but people don't seem to be very happy for him. He didn't win, by the way. They were announced. Oh, were they announced?

[Amin Elhassan]

A big one.

[Dan LeBatard]

The Peabody's were now won the big. We won the big one today.

[Nick Wright]

He lost the big one and the big Peabody in this.

[Dan LeBatard]

He lost the Peabody today.

[Amin Elhassan]

Hold on. Do we think he lost the Peabody because of Billy's theory about the smut peddling?

[Dan LeBatard]

The Bill Belichick reporting that he's doing for clicks. Cheap and dirty. Cheap and dirty.

[Nick Wright]

I'm so glad you said that. Listen, I. I find it very fascinating and honestly, really, I don't know, maybe in a way that says a bad thing about me. Delightful. That Pablo is this. You know, I don't know if you guys have heard, he went to Harvard. He's this erudite guy. He shows up on msnbc. He's doing. He has done some really valuable and important reporting on that podcast. I don't say that sarcastically, I mean it. I think the stuff you did about trans athletes was like groundbreaking and really good.

[Amin Elhassan]

Haunted hotels.

[Nick Wright]

And the only thing anybody cares about is the Belichick's girlfriend.

[Dan LeBatard]

It's so great.

[Nick Wright]

And yesterday. So yesterday he said he was like, I'm willing to take them to court.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yes.

[Nick Wright]

If they don't pray, if they don't fulfill thing to say about Freedom of Information act requirements. And I'm like, you know what, Pablo? In this moment in America, at this very time, I can think of no better use of a state court's time. Then amen. What would. Who got copied on whose email? It's just the greatest. And I love that this is where everyone is paying attention because it is objectively a good podcast. But you brought up a beef. I did not think we had a beef, but then he sent a tweet that made it seem like we have a beef. So let me. Let you. So somebody asked if me and Wilds would come on again. He said, I've invited. Get Nick right back on the Pablo finds out. So my only available conclusion is that he's been ducking us. Would like to find out why the offer stands. And now. Okay, so now we have to do some awkward things that I. Listen, nobody wants to do this, but you're gonna publicly tweet that Pablo. Now Pablo might say, nick, I privately reached out, which may or may be true, but I'm gonna try to show this to the camera because I'm one of these guys that, that right there says, oh no. 457 unopened texts, 390 missed calls, and 12,000 emails. Power move. I'm, I'm. I'm not great at the like tech reading my text replying. I'm not good at that. And I actually think for those folks out there, the strategy behind that. Then I'll get back to Pablo is this. If you always instantly reply to texts, then when you are trying to duck or avoid someone or a tough conversation or something, and you don't Reply they know something's up. If you're just generally rude to everyone. Then when they, if you're trying to avoid something, it's like, oh, I didn't see that. And they're like, well, it might be true. Like, he also didn't reply when I said, hey, want to go to dinner? So like there is that. Here's the other thing.

[Amin Elhassan]

Cover story there.

[Nick Wright]

I, and I say this, I try to listen. There are three shows that I am a regular recurring guest on. They are three shows hosted by three of my professional idols. The Dan LeBatard show, thank you Cowherd show, and the Dan Patrick show. Those three shows, if they call, I am always available. There are then shows hosted by people I'm friendly with that if they call, I'm like, hey, I will try to make time as I did for the Chris and Greg Cody show. Just about to say that. Thank you. He was like, hey, you want to come on? It's like, no problem.

[Amin Elhassan]

Chris. How long did it take to get back in touch with him?

[Nick Wright]

I'd be on actually, if I remember, I didn't have the number saved. I didn't know who I was talking to. And so that's.

[Dan LeBatard]

However, if you have the time tier. Right.

[Nick Wright]

But, well, there's an important part of that. Those very often are grand opening, grand closing events. If Chris two weeks later had text me again, was like, hey buddy, everybody loved it. Let's run it back. And it, by the way, Chris's. All I had to do was open up my laptop. Pablo's. I gotta pay for a car, get to his studio, get pay for a car back. Like, buddy, this is costing me money and it's a lot of time. And I'll be honest, I, I mean I thought it was fine. I didn't think we were gonna win any Peabody's ourselves with that. Hey, Nick, here's your bad takes of the last year. Defend them pod. So I, I don't think it's a beef. I just, I, I didn't know that I was, you know, all of a sudden a recurring guest. Like you see certain people on TV shows. I, so I, that's all it was.

[Dan LeBatard]

Why, why wouldn't you want to work for free for Pablo's benefit?

[Nick Wright]

It's not even for free. It's at a cost. Right? Free would have been great. I gotta be honest. Free, I may, maybe I could have done, but I'm like, this cost me 140 bucks.

[Dan LeBatard]

It's, it's not, you know, it's not illegal. Labor. But he's. Yeah, he's asking you to come and do two hours of his program so he can benefit.

[Nick Wright]

Well, and again, I. So I don't. This is probably not the proper forum to address this. Probably I should have, just because it's. I think the last time I was on here. While I was on here, Pablo texted me. I have not. I. Again, part of that text thing is also a weird anxiety, which is I saw it and I was like. And then I was like, I'll. I'll read that later. And I've never read it, and I've never opened that text again. So I'm. I'm sure. Then his public, you know, I. I feel touched because in the same day, he was basically like, hey, can anyone. There's two people I need to get a hold of. I'm gonna go public. Nick Wright and Sir Mix a lot. And Sir Mix a lot responded. So, I mean, bully for him.

[Dan LeBatard]

Chris Cody has never identified with anyone more. Everything texting, like, everything Nick Wright has said about texting Chris Cody is just like, this is exactly how I play the game. This is. You have your soul mates when it comes to texting.

[Nick Wright]

I do it all the time. Of. I see this text. Oh, man, I don't know exactly. I'm gonna get back to this one in, like, an hour.

[Dan LeBatard]

He plays. Yeah, he plays that one with me. No, it's just. That's the game he plays with me. You're his boss. You can imagine my frustration when he plays that one with me. Yes.

[Nick Wright]

Yeah. No, I have a. Listen, you and I, Dan, one of the very first times I ever came on, I don't know, it was this show, but it was. You were really just doing, you know, what I call the Le Batard fastball, which is. Let's just try to really peel back the layers of this guy's soul and see what makes him. And you got into my fan family. But whether or not I was gonna burn my entire life to the ground gambling, all of it. The old number one, we were talking about LeBron, and so this is, you know, kind of a first cousin of that. I have weird. I have really weird. Like, it's a similar feeling that I think people get watching that Nathan Fielder show.

[Dan LeBatard]

Oh, it's.

[Nick Wright]

That's, like, secondhand embarrassment. But a cousin of that is like, ooh, I don't know that I want to just see this text and I'll just not open it. And it's. So. That happens to me sometimes. And so am I making excuses for Just being a generally rude person. Maybe, but it is true.

[Dan LeBatard]

And you've also buried Pablo yet again, publicly. Your rivalry, you seem to be undefeated so far as it comes to this. Do you have any other media beefs going on right now at present? You didn't want any part of the.

[Nick Wright]

Steve, Pablo, it's no media. You know what? Let me be gracious, because for the eighth straight year, First Things first was not nominated for best Studio show weekly at the sports Emmys. And that's fine. We need to do better. I'm. I get it. When I saw the list of nominations, PTI was on there, and I'm like, okay, that should probably just win every year. Or the best daily. I said weekly. Best daily studio show. Sorry. And that made me happy. And then there were a few other ones on there. I don't remember all of them, but one of them was NFL Live, hosted by one of my media rivals, Mina Kimes. And when I saw they won, I was very happy because I think that they do a really good job, and I think Mina's excellent. Obviously, I don't think she's as good as me at anything, but I do think she is excellent. Excellent. And I was happy she won.

[Dan LeBatard]

Chicken wing.

[Nick Wright]

Very nice. On the way out right here, take one of these to the boards. That's not true. I have to amend that. Don't put that on Social. She's better than me at being like, this is why the COVID 3 works in this spot Again, stuff that I, I, yeah, sure.

[Dan LeBatard]

Let's give them the big one. Yes. Information, nutrients. Nick's like, yeah, but show me the entertainment.

[Nick Wright]

What do we do? Like, are, Are we on TV or. Or are we in a dirty film room with tobacco in our mouth and being like, this is how we're gonna shut down Jaden Daniels this week? I don't know.

[Stugotz]

Kind of sounds exciting, though.

[Dan LeBatard]

Regardless. So did you finish your point, though? That's it. Like, that's the end of the.

[Nick Wright]

No, that's it. No, that was it. Congrats to NFL Live and Specific, all of them, but specifically my frenemy, Mina Kimes.

[Dan LeBatard]

All right, so two minutes or less before we let you go. I am, I, I. It's harder and harder for me to keep up with all of the sports and information that I need. My WNBA coverage tends to be pretty.

[Nick Wright]

Glancing and Nothing like, got 90 seconds. Let's dive into this WNBA topic. Thanks for that. We'll go ahead.

[Dan LeBatard]

It's down to 60. No, you know what? I'm gonna. I'm. You Know what? I'm gonna pull the parachute on it.

[Stugotz]

No. Oh, come on.

[Amin Elhassan]

This is why we don't get the coverage we need.

[Nick Wright]

You gotta cradle your neck back, by the way. Zero seconds.

[Dan LeBatard]

Go, Nick. Go Nick.

[Nick Wright]

Listen, I, I think that there, there needs to be an abil. We need to have an ability to be like, hey, I would like to talk about the basketball portions of the WNBA and rivalries and teams and all of that this and then also be like, hey, and we can also talk about all of the other things, but we don't have to try to always do them simultaneously. And the basketball portion of the WNBA story early this year was to me, a very simple one, which is there is nothing better for the league than if Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese have a decade long rivalry. And in order for that to happen, Angel Reese needs to do more mike and drills because for the time being, she is right now a wildly famous rebounder defender and the person that everyone wants her to have a rivalry with is, while injured, one of the five or six best players in the league. That's not going to gel. And so, or Caitlyn needs to, you know, graduate past that and have a rivalry with Collier or Asia Wilson or Paige or Juju when she gets up there. But in the meantime, it's got to be peers as far as quality of players. And right now that's not the case. That's the basketball.

[Dan LeBatard]

That's just the basketball. You ask a question, I didn't really answer. I didn't ask a question, but oh yeah, I didn't do much of anything there other than get out of the way. Nick, thank you for being on with us. Good seeing you and thank you for the kind, Cody.

[Nick Wright]

I'll come back on the pod in about two and a half years. Gotcha.

[Stugotz]

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