Hour 2: Balls Live Forever (feat. Amin Elhassan)

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

Episode: Hour 2: Balls Live Forever (feat. Amin Elhassan)
Date: September 29, 2025
Location: The Elser Hotel, Downtown Miami
Guests: Amin Elhassan

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Overview

This episode is a lively, often hilarious, deep dive into current NFL storylines, fan experiences, memorable sports injuries, and unique pop culture moments. Featuring guest Amin Elhassan, the crew unpacks the hazards of MetLife Stadium’s turf, the culture of “having balls” in sports decision-making, weekend sports oddities, and the ins and outs of European NBA expansion rumors. The conversation is peppered with Amin’s trademark “Weekend Observations,” playful arguments, and the group’s signature absurd tangents.

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Major Discussion Points & Insights

NFL Injury Crisis at MetLife Stadium

Timestamps: 02:20–07:38

• Focus: The alarming frequency of major injuries—especially season-ending ones—at MetLife Stadium, home of the New York Giants and Jets, stirs debate about NFL player safety and the league’s inaction.
• Key Stats:
  • Giants have drafted six early-round receivers/tight ends since 2014; five have suffered season-ending injuries at MetLife.
    • “Five of those six have suffered season ending injuries at MetLife Stadium. This turf remains a problem.” (04:25, Dan Le Batard)
• Notable Player Injuries: Malik Nabers (ACL), Odell Beckham Jr., Aaron Rodgers, Jalen Phillips.
• Guests weigh in:
  • Odell Beckham Jr.’s tweet condemning the turf gets attention.
    • “Dear NFL... please, please, please get rid of the turf.” (05:46, paraphrased by Mike)
  • The group wonders about the economics and neglect behind not changing the field, comparing to Arizona’s rolling grass.
• Humor/Absurdity:
  • Mike jokes if football just became MMA—“What if you have to punch the guy to get him down?” (06:55, Mike)

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NFL Weekend Recap & Sports Fan Experience

Timestamps: 08:17–12:55

• Clock Management Mishaps:
  • Laughter at Carson Wentz’s “delay of game” in a hurry-up drive (09:12, Jonathan Zaslow).
• Strange Headlines:
  • Steelers backup Skylar Thompson gets mugged in Dublin; the crew weighs what “minor injuries” mean and paints vivid pictures of Irish “hooligans.”
• NFL Family Dynamics:
  • Joe Flacco’s kids wearing rival jerseys, compared to Zaslow’s irreverent home life.
    • “Joe Flacco's got disrespectful kids, man. They wear St. Brown jerseys...actively trying to bother their old man.” (11:05, Jonathan Zaslow)

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College Football: Playing for the Tie vs. Going for Two

Timestamps: 12:57–15:40

• Georgia Tech vs. Wake Forest Reflections:
  • Wake’s last-minute two-point try stirs classic “balls or brains” debate.
  • Historical context: Tom Osborne’s costly decision to go for two in 1983.
    • “What I don't have is a championship.” (14:40, Jonathan Zaslow)
• Stubborn Sports Masculinity:
  • “Balls live forever”—choosing gutsy risks over safe glory is mythologized and mocked.
    • “Usually I'm not a fan of this kind of banter, but this one's fair. He would.” (14:35, Dan Le Batard)

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Amin Elhassan’s Weekend Observations

Timestamps: 18:03–29:02

Amin brings his signature recap, full of jokes, hot takes, and sharp asides:

• Super Bowl Halftime Show Tease:
  • “White people complaining about the Super Bowl halftime show is back.” (18:51, Amin)
• Must-Win Games and NFL Parity:
  • “Chiefs versus Ravens. The rare must win game between two championship contenders who are both under .500.“ (20:02, Amin)
• Jackson Dart’s Grit:
  • “Jackson Dart. A star is born.” (20:22, Amin)
• Top 5 Disappointments in Sports:
  1. Games not televised due to blackout.
  2. Watching next to a casual fan (“inquisitive casual”).
  3. No Wi-Fi on flights for game viewing.
  4. Not being recognized for method acting.
  5. Missed betting parlays due to a “jackass” fumbling before the line.
     • “Just cross the goddamn finish line. Just hold on to it.” (24:16, Amin)
• Best Rushing QB Debate:
  • Haynes King labeled “funnest” and most “guts and guile,” not strictly the most effective (24:23, 24:28).
• Pop Culture & Audience Banter:
  • Viral video comparisons, Muppets, contentious pronunciations (“Poka Nakua”), and the etiquette of rushing courts and fields.
    • “Virginia fans rushing the field, making the jamokes on the Lebatard show, concerned.” (29:34, Amin)

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WNBA Controversy: Cheryl Reeve Suspension

Timestamps: 25:49–26:53

• Incident: Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve suspended during the playoffs for berating referees.
  • Debate: Too harsh? Amin and Stugotz decry the precedent, calling for fines, not suspensions.
    • “You cannot suspend her for that. No. Not in the playoffs.” (26:33, Stugotz)
    • “Yeah, you can. Her behavior was ridiculous.” (26:29, Mike)

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NBA European Expansion & Clipper Shenanigans

Timestamps: 34:44–42:27

• Clippers' Pick Strategy Amid Scandal:
  • Amin discusses Tom Haberstroh’s idea: trade picks fast before potential league forfeitures.
    • “If I'm the Clippers, full throttle, go ahead, go get somebody.” (35:20, Amin)
• NBA in Europe:
  • Financial logic: NBA Europe would add new “pizza pies,” not shrink current owners’ slices.
    • “We keep our same slices. And now we're adding a new pie that we're dividing up 30 ways.” (39:17, Amin)
  • Target: established football (soccer) brands (Real Madrid, Barcelona, etc.).
• LeBron’s Europe League?
  • Clarified as Maverick Carter’s pursuit, seeking Saudi investment. Compared to niche leagues in other regions, not a real threat to NBA’s dominance.
    • “Will it rival the NBA? Absolutely not...” (41:22, Amin)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Balls live forever. You go, that guy had balls...Doesn't matter. Balls.” (15:17, Roy)
• “What I don't have is a championship.” (14:40, Jonathan Zaslow)
• “Why are there so many songs about rainbows? What's on the other side?” (20:22, Amin, surreal Kermit energy)
• “Jackson Dart has it. That and balls.” (21:11, Amin)
• “Watching the game with an inquisitive casual…You reached the room on that one. They all made faces.” (22:34–22:59)
• “I've never seen that in the history of basketball...because she said mean things to the refs.” (26:33, Amin/Stugotz)
• “Who are the mimes for? What's the demo?” (38:31, Roy)

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Pop Culture, Running Gags & Show Highlights

• Weekend Observations Game and Contest: Listeners are encouraged to participate for prizes and interact.
• Miller Lite Watch Party Announcement: October 30th, Dolphins-Ravens, at Flanagan’s, Kendall, Miami.
• Poka Nakua Song: Group riff on weird athlete names and polka music (29:41, 34:17–34:26).
• New Segment Tease: “20 CB Hall of Fame,” assessing cultural artifacts like mimes (38:09–39:03).
• Absurd Home Life Anecdotes: Zaslow describes being called “sugar tits” by his kid via text (11:03).

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Important Timestamps

• MetLife Stadium injury discussion: 02:20–07:38
• Weekend NFL recap/fan stories: 08:17–12:55
• Georgia Tech, “balls” debate: 12:57–15:40
• Amin’s Weekend Observations: 18:03–29:02
• WNBA Reeve suspension argument: 25:49–26:53
• NBA Europe & Clippers talk with Amin: 34:44–42:27

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Tone & Style

The episode is a raucous, irreverent mix of passionate debate, pointed sarcasm, pop culture references, and the authentic camaraderie that has defined the show. The humor ranges from sly sports jabs to outright silliness, but is punctuated with deceptively smart analysis.

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For Listeners Who Missed the Show

Whether you love inside-baseball NFL talk, are invested in the quirks of sports fan life, or enjoy Amin Elhassan’s unique lens on the NBA, this episode delivers signature chaos and insight. The MetLife Stadium turf crisis, “balls live forever” as sports creed, the weird lives of athletes’ kids, the economics behind NBA euro-expansion, and a heap of jokes about mimes, polka, and “Puka Nakua” make this feel like a greatest-hits hour of the Le Batard universe.

Transcript

[Dan Le Batard]

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[Jonathan Zaslow]

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[Dan Le Batard]

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[Jonathan Zaslow]

Cuervo? Anytime someone says Cuervo, I show up.

[Dan Le Batard]

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[Jonathan Zaslow]

Sweet, delicious Cuervo.

[Dan Le Batard]

Since then, Cuervo has stayed true to its roots. The same family, the same land, the same passion.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Cuervo.

[Dan Le Batard]

So enjoy the tequila that started it all. Cuervo.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Cuervo.

[Dan Le Batard]

The tequila that invented tequila. Proximo Cuervo.com Please drink responsibly.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Cuervo.

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[Stu Guts]

Race the rudders.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

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[Roy]

Captain, an unidentified ship is approaching.

[Dan Le Batard]

Over.

[Stu Guts]

Roger, wait.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

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[Mike]

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[Stu Guts]

Get started [e-mail] Castle Campaign terms and conditions apply. This is the Dan Levator show with the Stu Guts Podcast.

[Dan Le Batard]

Another amazing weekend in the NFL. How does this sport routinely do this? Looking ahead at next week's schedule, it might be an end to the streak. I mean, I don't know if you guys want tickets to Panthers Dolphins, but if you do, I'm sure you can get a great deal on the gametime app. Take the guesswork out of buying NFL tickets with GameTime. Download the GameTime app, create an account and use code DAN. Get $20 off your first purchase. Be great if your first purchase is Panthers Dolphins terms apply. Swipe, tap, ticket.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Go. What is the big game next week? Is it Jacksonville at home against the Chiefs?

[Dan Le Batard]

Mnf. Yeah, Monday night.

[Mike]

Dano, we're not even done with this week.

[Dan Le Batard]

We're done with this week.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Not. Not quite yet. There is one story I believe in the NFL that is being wildly undercovered and I think the audience might be surprised by this story because you have a home stadium that is actively injuring its most important players. And I don't think enough people are talking about what is happening with and to the New York Giants. So yesterday the Giants pull off the biggest upset in the sport because Jim Harbaugh, who Zaslow has credited with being the greatest coach ever and Colin Cowherd has stolen that take, was wildly unprepared for the quarterback draw. He had no answers for Jackson Dart. Just scrambling right up the middle. Jackson Dart scores on his opening drive. Does the funky chicken in the end zone to dance. Jackson Dart also punched people with a stiff arm as he was running down the field. He got the full rookie experience. He also entered the concussion protocol as well during the game. Jackson Dart was serviceable although just throw for 100 yards kid and don't turn the ball over and allow Justin Herbert to make mistakes against our defense and allow Dexter Carter or Dexter Lawrence, excuse me. To produce a fat guy running with the football moment that was only usurped by the Alabama player being thrown a screen pass. What was his name again? I'm sorry. 350. Thank you. It was a delight. And the Giants though I don't think enough people are talking about this. What is that stadium? How is it that this stadium gets away with hurting all of the important Giants players including Malik Neighbors, the most exciting wide receiver, young wide receiver in the league being knocked out for the season with an ACL tear that you knew immediately was horrible just from the way he was writhing around on the ground.

[Dan Le Batard]

So we have a stat. Keep in mind this will just count. Giants. We've seen plenty of injuries to opposing players and famously Aaron Rodgers on that same turf. But the Giants have drafted six wide receivers and tight ends in the first two rounds since 2014. Odell Beckham Jr. Sterling Shepard, Evan Ingram, Kadarius, Tony Wondale Robinson, Malik neighbors. Five of those six have suffered season ending injuries at MetLife Stadium. This turf remains a problem. The NFL just kind of keeps pushing along but their season is done. Done after an infusion of hope with a new quarterback in there and you saw their offensive production. Jackson Dart likes to air it out. That would have been a great connection to get excited about. Might have even saved Brian Daboll's job. Who knows. Another season is totally crushed yet again by an injury sustained by the turf monster at MetLife.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Why aren't more people talking about and making the link between that state? How many more players do I have to injure for the Giants before that becomes a national story? On that field is unsafe. This isn't a coincidence that this keeps Happening to the team that plays the most.

[Roy]

You figure after the second or third one, you're like, you know what? Somebody should look into that. Right after the first one, okay, it's a fluke. Second, third, fourth. It's like, all right, we're hurting our guys that we're paying by not just how much is to change the turf in a stadium. Arizona wheels it in and out every two days.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

What are we doing?

[Mike]

Odell Beckham tweeted out about it last night after the game. You see this? Danny tweeted, dear NFL, I mean this with the most, with the utmost respect and love. We take all the precautions in the world with everything else, when it comes to players health and safety, please, please, please get rid of the turf. Thank you in advance. And then he's followed that with respect. And, you know, I love the Giants, but Death Life, that's a play on the. On the name of the stadium, because it's MetLife. He calls it. Death Life has taken too many talented players away from the game. I know it's not all the turf's fault, but at least maybe to where we've gotten all research done, the turf has to stay. It's at the highest of quality possible. At least we could start the discussion.

[Dan Le Batard]

Look, injuries happen everywhere. Every stadium, violent game. That may or may not be for Jonathan Zaslow, but I'm just.

[Mike]

I tackle a guy normal. You can't just run around punching dudes.

[Dan Le Batard]

It is. It is a narrative around this stadium more than ever. And it doesn't just happen to New York Giants players. We saw Jalen Phillips have a huge injury on that same turf. Aaron Rodgers, famously, as we mentioned previously, it's a thing, and it hasn't stopped being a thing.

[Mike]

You know what I'm actually thinking now? What if instead of I may be in on this. What if instead of actual tackling, the only way that the plans.

[Stu Guts]

You.

[Mike]

You have to punch the guy. That's how you get him down.

[Roy]

Have you seen that video? It's MMA basketball, where dudes are playing basketball, but it's MMA too. So you grab a rebound and then you sock a guy.

[Mike]

I might be down.

[Dan Le Batard]

That sport is for me.

[Mike]

I might be in on that.

[Dan Le Batard]

That sport is for me. But look, yet another brilliant talent. Who knows if he'll ever be the same, because people heal from these injuries differently. And at what point do you bake this into how you construct a team? Let's stop getting guys, skilled guys on the outside that can help us. Let's just be a trench and running game team because the the MetLife turf comes for us all.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

That is a disaster injury for the Giants. That is a disaster injury for the development of a young quarterback that did show some promise yesterday. That's a tough spot to put Jackson Dart in. I haven't seen a quarterback look good against that defense and what he did with his athleticism was something that Harbo was clearly unprepared for the entirety of the game. They never adjusted to the way that Jackson Dart moves and he evidently moves better than Russell Wilson because when Russell Wilson was in the game because Jackson Dart was in the concussion protocol, Russell Wilson did not look like Jackson Dart did.

[Dan Le Batard]

Also another argument for the Lord's time zone. Yeah, you got a team from LA playing in that one o' clock window. It's a great equalizer sometimes, often against the spread.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

What happened in the morning game and I don't know if this happened to you guys again. It happens to me every year. I forget at 9:30am that there is a game being played. And so it was Aaron Rodgers. God Almighty. DK Metcalf is a physical specimen. Good player unlike so many in the NFL where he's running 80 yards beyond your secondary and then also at the three yard line looking for conduct. When your one guy does show up and does catch up, you're one smaller guy. He goes looking for him in order to make the contact because he's such a beast.

[Dan Le Batard]

Can you imagine trying to tackle him? Not unlike Kaden Proctor. DK Metcalf with 80 yards steam behind him looking to put a shoulder into somebody.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

I burst out laughing at the end of that game at Carson Wentz trying to bring them back in the hurry up offense and getting a delay of game. Like what are you doing?

[Roy]

It's been a while Dan. Come on, when's the last time he.

[Dan Le Batard]

Did a two minute drill? Good news, their body clocks, they adjust next week.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Put it on the poll please. At lebatard show did you learn that Skyler Thompson was a Steeler after hearing he got mugged in Dublin?

[Dan Le Batard]

So?

[Roy]

So? So he gets mugged. He has minor injuries. Obviously he's not playing because of another injury. But imagine the injuries sustained at the mugging.

[Mike]

I mean doesn't minor injuries mean he got punched in the face a bunch?

[Roy]

Maybe, maybe we don't know what they are. They're still investigating it. But imagine the minor injuries. They had enough to say it. If he was playing that week they wouldn't have said minor injuries. They just would have said nothing. And that's football versus Being mugged.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

I would like to know some details about what happened there because getting mugged in Dublin seems like it'd be pretty awful. And I think football says minor injuries. That I wouldn't consider minor exactly. If they were injuries on me, I don't think that I would describe them as minor. But I'd like more details.

[Dan Le Batard]

Were you saying getting mugged in Dublin as a matter of fact as a newsy tidbit or out of all the towns that I possibly get mugged in Dublin just seems bad because of caricatures and stereotypes that I applied to the general region.

[Mike]

Such hooligans.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

It's hooligans is what I'm thinking of. I'm thinking Dublin just feels unsafe.

[Mike]

Just a bunch of guys that look like Seamus.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

I thought of you Zaslo this weekend because there is a football player that I believe has the same relationship with his kids that you have with your kids where you're clearly not in, you know, in control of the Zaslow man.

[Mike]

How dare you.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Well I mean your kid called you sugar tits. Like what do you mean?

[Mike]

How well was it to my face was via text.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Okay, but he called you sugar tits and your kids, you know, don't mind fighting you and you don't mind fighting them. Do you guys know who I'm talking about when I say there's an NFL player who appears to have the same relationship with his kids that says does? I've seen this in the NBA. Some Carlos Boozers kids when they were little, they are no longer little. They're going to make Duke very good next year. But when they were little they would come to NBA games wearing the jerseys of Carlos Boozers sworn enemies. Joe Flacco's got disrespectful kids, man. Like they, they. They wear st. Brown jerseys. Yesterday they're. They're drawing pictures of Gib like they're actively trying to bother their old man. They don't respect their old man. They. They respect the old man's opponents too much.

[Mike]

That's garbage. That'd be like in my kids. They decided to walk around in like Colin Coward shirts. What about me?

[Dan Le Batard]

Did you watch the two quarterback sneaks from Joe Flacco at the goal line? Bless him God. God bless him father. Time. 10, 8 round Last game for Joe Flacco.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Amino Hassan is going to join us here and we've got an announcement to make with our beloved friends. Flanagan's in a second. But first I'd like to revisit how Tony tried to say legally, illegally and Allegedly. Last segment.

[Roy]

And Liam Cohen has been known to maybe steal illegal, legally. Excuse me, Allegedly legally stealing signs. I think I covered myself there pretty well.

[Dan Le Batard]

I think illegally.

[Roy]

Allegedly.

[Dan Le Batard]

It's a live program.

[Roy]

Legal, legally. And Liam Cohen has been known to maybe steal illegal legally. Excuse me, Allegedly legally stealing signs.

[Dan Le Batard]

People can misunderstand.

[Roy]

Speak to play on.

[Dan Le Batard]

We're live. Well, what do people want?

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Amin El Hassan is got his weekend observations. I was happy for Amin this weekend because Georgia Tech remains in the game, remains relevant. I would worry that Brent Key does very well against the teams he's overmatched with, but against unranked, five unranked teams in the ACC, he's got a 500 record because he plays down to Wake Forest. Wake Forest gets a chance at the end of that game. And I wish more people did this in both college and the pros, but that's why they don't. Wake Forest went for two at the end of the game to win instead of tying the game.

[Dan Le Batard]

What a crap play too. After like a 10 minute delay.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Well, I don't think that most of the people listening to this realize that the University of Miami's first championship was won because Tom Osborne, with an overwhelming Nebraska team, went for two at the end of a game and season when if he had tied, he would have remained number one.

[Mike]

All time balls move.

[Stu Guts]

Oh.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

But all time loss as well, because. Because, okay, congratulations, Tom Osborne forever. You have balls, but you don't have a championship because at the end you did some basic math that was wrong. You have to play for the tie. If what it gets you at the end is you're the number one team automatically with a tie. That's crazy. What are you. What are you doing? I mean, why is it that you're holding your. Your face in your hands?

[Stu Guts]

You just gave Mario Cristobal a new idea now. Hey, coach, if we go for the tie, we'll win. We'll be national champs. Not ballsy enough. We gotta go for two.

[Dan Le Batard]

Usually I'm not a fan of this kind of banter, but this one's fair. He would.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Tom Osborne is remembered for going for two in that spot. And it was absolutely the wrong move. But. But stupidly and stubbornly male. Because you want to point out to everyone I have balls, but what I don't have is a championship.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah, for that Georgia Tech.

[Mike]

I think it was the right move.

[Dan Le Batard]

For that Georgia Tech Wake Forest game. And look, I'm a savvy veteran of the ACC and its Coastal Division that is no longer around with us. You can kill the Coastal, but you cannot kill its spirit or the idea. And the Coastal comes for us all. The second an ACC team without top end talent starts feeling himself. That's when you fade him.

[Roy]

Also, Dan Championships, yes, they live forever. But you know what else lives forever? Balls. You go, that guy had balls. He might be dead. Might have a champion, may not. Doesn't matter. Balls.

[Event Promoter]

Well, Lance Armstrong and Ball.

[Stu Guts]

Ball. Yeah.

[Roy]

You know Ball, dude, I do know.

[Stu Guts]

His this episode is supported by FX's the Lowdown, starring Ethan Hawke. Allow us to introduce you to Lee Raybon, a quirky journalist, rare bookstore owner, unofficial truth seeker who's always on the tail of his latest conspiracy. This time, his most recent expose puts him head to head with a powerful family that rules Tulsa. Meaning only one he must be onto something big. FX is the Lowdown.

[Roy]

All new Tuesdays on FX stream on Hulu.

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[Stu Guts]

When did making plans get this complicated? It's time to streamline with WhatsApp, the secure messaging app that brings the whole group together. Use polls to settle dinner plans, send event invites and pin messages so no one forgets mom. 60th and never miss a meme or milestone. All protected with end to end encryption. It's time for WhatsApp message privately with everyone. Learn [e-mail] Don LeBatard Everybody was wondering. They was wondering, hawk, when was your era? It was 2003. That's when I. That's when I came into myself.

[Dan Le Batard]

Stugats.

[Stu Guts]

Hey, yo, that's crazy. Lamar Jackson.

[Event Promoter]

That's wild.

[Stu Guts]

This is the Dan Levatar show with the Stugats.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Amin, are you ready to do the weekend observations?

[Stu Guts]

I am.

[Event Promoter]

Hey, remember that we have our Miller Light weekend observations prediction pool. Pay attention to the beeps and more for your chance to win. A trip for two to hang out with us.

[Dan Le Batard]

This is like me on a Super Bowl.

[Mike]

It is time for.

[Stu Guts]

I mean, to share his game notes. No one in the media will tell.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

You what happened better than my boy.

[Dan Le Batard]

I mean, you know how the draftkings pool works. Like, this is basically if you're playing along right now, like a Super bowl with props. Basically, anytime someone steps on a blade of grass, there's something riding on it. That's what Amin is bringing today. Amin.

[Stu Guts]

Thanks, Amin. Weekend Observations is presented by Miller Lite. Dan. This weekend, a familiar sound boomed across the landscape. Can you hear it? That unmistakable wine, that uncontrollable sob. Because just like that, make no mistake, white people complaining about the super bowl halftime show is back.

[Dan Le Batard]

I had Patrick Mahomes.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Yes, Benito.

[Stu Guts]

How many people are gonna be like, I don't understand what he's saying. Look. Why doesn't he sing in English? This is America. Go back to Puerto Rico. Oh, I can't wait for it. I can't wait. You know, the worst part is we have to wait months for that wine to finally come to a crescendo of absolute terror. Undefeated NFL teams. And then there were two. Should have been three. It's all your fault. Ad And I. Mitchell. Adonai Mitchell dropped what would have been the touchdown catch of the year, then had a hold on would have been the touchdown run of the year. Afterwards, he said, it stings. No, Sherlock. Chiefs versus Ravens. The rare must win game between two championship contenders who are both under.500.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

That is rare.

[Stu Guts]

How many people found out Cooper Rush was the backup in Baltimore yesterday? Yep. Well, I learned that real time, baby.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Me too.

[Stu Guts]

Jackson Dart. A star is born. Why are there so many songs about rainbows? What's on the other side? Georgia Tech winning in clutch fashion and somehow dropping in the rankings. GT Football. Brought to you by the haters Team of Destiny. Hey. Previously undefeated LA Chargers. You got a door in your neck? They just took one in the jugular. Dan.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

He punched someone. He punched someone. On a stiff arm. The quarterback punched someone.

[Roy]

Zazzle clutched his pearls.

[Dan Le Batard]

You were right.

[Mike]

It's enough with it. Stop boxing. Make a tackle.

[Stu Guts]

Hey, Tony. Hey. I mean, thank you. You know what? Jackson Dart has it. That and balls. Mark Cuban praising Pablo's acting skills when I did the entire episode in wardrobe and character. Disappointing. Micah Parsons, only one sack in his revenge game. Disappointing. Cowboys, packers ending in a tie on Sunday night. Disappointing. Top five disappointing things in sports. Whoa. Oli games that end in ties. Oli revenge games that don't deliver. Oli sitting next to an especially obnoxious fan. No. You get to your seat and you're like, oh, I gotta sit next to this guy?

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Yeah. That's brutal. It's always a guy. Always a guy, too. Always a guy.

[Stu Guts]

Always a guy.

[Roy]

Well, wait till a little baseball lady too, right? She took the ball from the kid.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

I remember that.

[Stu Guts]

Yep. Obnoxious fan. Number five games that are not available due to blackout rules. Sit down. You're ready. You're like, all right, let's watch this. And like, no, not available in your area. Disappointing. Number four, watching the game with an inquisitive casual. You guys know what I'm talking about?

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Yes.

[Dan Le Batard]

Bad.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

You reached the room on that one. They all made faces.

[Roy]

So the yellow line. You have to go past it, but they don't see it.

[Dan Le Batard]

Hey, son, any upsets in the league? Shut up, dad. Happy birthday to him. Damn, 71st birthday. I can't. I'm just like. I'm not doing this upset thing with you.

[Event Promoter]

Happy birthday.

[Stu Guts]

Birthday to him.

[Dan Le Batard]

I don't care.

[Stu Guts]

Good luck. Number three, most disappointing things in sports. No WI fi on your cross country flight to watch the game.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Two. Better than that.

[Stu Guts]

Sit there. Just sit there in the proverbial dark wondering what happened. Number two, not being recognized for your method acting during an investigative report on capture convention. And the number one most disappointing thing in sports, your parlay not covering because the jackass couldn't hold on to the ball. Just cross the goddamn finish line. Just hold on to it. Why you gotta hold it out? Jags took that ass, Matt. Typical. Haynes King, 13th game with the passing and a rushing score.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

He's fun man.

[Stu Guts]

Best. Best rushing QB in the nation, Dan.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

I don't think that's accurate.

[Dan Le Batard]

Funnest though. Most. Most guts and guile from a rushing quarterback. No doubt.

[Stu Guts]

Hey, Mike, you know what Haynes King has it? That and balls Balls Haynes King nil. Deal with Hanes underwear collision course. Look who we got our Hanes on now. His balls finders fee for me. Wake Forest. You take a shot at the king, you best not miss. That one goes out to Tom Haberster, who had the gall to have a video edited and ready to drop as soon as he thought the upset would happen.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Wake Forest proud. Haberstro. Wake Forest proud.

[Stu Guts]

Yeah. He had to slink back into his little hole.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

They haven't been any good since Riley Skinner. Since my beloved Riley Skinner.

[Stu Guts]

Not since Rusty LaRue threw like 400 yards in football and then dropped 40 on Georgia Tech. And basketball. One of the greatest 1 seasons of college sports I've ever seen in my life. Minnesota Links head coach Cheryl Reeve suspended for quote, aggressively pursuing and verbally abusing a game official on the court and then failure to leave the court in a timely manner upon her rejection.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Not the quotes afterward. Not the quotes afterward. The quotes afterward were almost as bad as that.

[Stu Guts]

Shame on the wnba. Dan. Suspension. Playoffs. Come on, man.

[Mike]

It was insane behavior. It really was.

[Stu Guts]

What? What's insane behavior?

[Mike]

Did you see her getting in fans face and telling them to f off after the game?

[Stu Guts]

Zaz, should she be fined? Absolutely. Reprimanded? Absolutely. Community service. Whatever. Her. You can't suspend her for a playoff game.

[Mike]

Yeah, you can.

[Stu Guts]

An elimination game.

[Mike]

Yeah, you can. Her behavior was ridiculous.

[Stu Guts]

I've never seen that in the history of basketball. On the pro level. I don't. I can't speak to the other sports. Maybe you guys know her playoff game because. Because she said mean things to the refs.

[Mike]

I mean, she called for a change in leadership after the game.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

That's what she did. I thought that's what she was suspended for. I thought that's why she was suspended for.

[Stu Guts]

Find her into a ground, dig a hole and put fine money. Make her work for free for the rest of her life. You cannot suspend her for that. No. Not in the playoffs. Here's a fun Venn diagram. People who saw the latest episode of Peacemaker and thought to themselves what a wonderful world that would be. And people were complaining about a Super bowl halftime show. Show. The people who watch Peacemaker will know what I'm talking about. Gino Smith. 7 ints in 4 games.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

He's been terrible.

[Stu Guts]

Look what they did to my boy Dan. My boy Gino, man. I don't think he has it anymore. Half. Well, he had to to throw 7 ints. Definitely not playing scared. Have you been half asleep and have you heard voices? I've heard them calling my name. Sean Little of MSG Networks, unabashed Bears fan in the building for Bears Raiders dressed like a doofus while heckling what can only be described as Janice from the Muppets. Can we roll that video, please, of Sean dressed like a doofus heckling what can only be described as Janice from the Muppets. We get a five, four, three, two. I'm moving on.

[Dan Le Batard]

Raiders, you know what a mean has tossing a video during a weekend observations balls?

[Stu Guts]

Yeah, I do. You know what else? I had a text message message saying, hey, can we have this uploaded? I'm going to do this in weekend observations with a thumbs up. There. There it is. Hey, there it is. There's Sean dressed like a doofus. He's staring down and you're like, who's he staring down? And then we get a look at who he's talking to. He said, it's getting spooky in here is what he's saying, I believe. And then there you go. Janice from the Muppets.

[Mike]

That is perfect.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Wow. That is. That is a lot of head.

[Dan Le Batard]

Is unreal. I didn't know who exactly he was talking about until I saw the video and I'm like, surely I know the Muppet now.

[Stu Guts]

Yeah, there you go. Audio audience, you know Genesis Raiders worst home field advantage in the NFL. Dan calling Puka Nakua. Poka Nakua. And nobody on the show catching him on it. Allegedly.

[Dan Le Batard]

We can misspeak. Although you did just give Greg Cody a new song idea. The Poka Nakua.

[Stu Guts]

Well, Mike Pukinakua is an La Ram. Poka Nakua is Weird Al's favorite La Ram.

[Dan Le Batard]

We need to get in the lab. All right. Hee Haw 3, you have been tasked with making the polka nakua.

[Stu Guts]

Virginia fans rushing the field, making the jamokes on the Lebatard show, concerned.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Please, not all of us.

[Roy]

Only one of them.

[Dan Le Batard]

We've established.

[Mike]

I'm not gonna apologize.

[Roy]

No balls.

[Stu Guts]

Hey, Zaz. Celtics fans rushing the court in the 80s would like a word.

[Mike]

I'd like a word with each and every one of them too. You let them know.

[Stu Guts]

As scary as it might must have been for Florida State players being swarmed instantly by drunk college fans, it doesn't hold a candle to Laker players being swarmed instantly by drunk adult Boston fans moments after being serenaded with the N word for over two hours. Dan, a few weeks ago, I asked you a question. What do you reply to a GT alum who's asked Asked you, what's the good word?

[Jonathan Zaslow]

I don't remember. Remember?

[Stu Guts]

No. It's pretty easy, Dan. To hell with Georgia. Speaking of hell, Art Briles and the rest of them dogs. Send them all down there. Those are the weekend observations.

[Event Promoter]

We are throwing a Miller Light watch party for Thursday night football Dolphins versus Ravens October 30th at Flanagan's in Kindle. That's Kindle Drive and Southwest 127th Avenue. They are holding a Halloween block party. They also have a costume contest where you can win $1,000. So that will make Dan have you as a costume Kink goodbyes and playing a mill of light. Don't miss it. Lowe's knows how to help make your home holiday ready for less. Get select style selections vinyl flooring for just $1.99 per square foot and have it installed before the festivities begin. Our team can help you every step, step of the way. See a Lowe's red vest associate or visit lowe's.comholidayinstall to get started. Lowe's we help you save basic install only date restrictions applied, subject to availability. Install by independent contractors. See Associate for details. Contiguous us only.

[Commercial Announcer 1]

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[Jonathan Zaslow]

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[Jonathan Zaslow]

Limu Emu and Doug, here we have the Limu Emu in its natural habitat, helping people customize their car insurance and save hundreds with Liberty Mutual. Fascinating. It's accompanied by his natural ally, Doug. Uh, Limu is that guy with the binoculars watching us?

[Dan Le Batard]

Cut the camera.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

They see us.

[Stu Guts]

Only pay for what you [e-mail] Liberty Liberty Liberty Liberty Savings Fairy Unwritten by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and affiliates excludes Massachusetts.

[Dan Le Batard]

Don LeBatard, you getting started on the breakfast flan?

[Stu Guts]

Oh, man, I've been singing a song to myself all morning while I'm breakfast flan. Duh nuh, nuh, nuh.

[Dan Le Batard]

Stugats.

[Stu Guts]

Have you never heard the breakfast flan, son? No.

[Dan Le Batard]

Hit me with it.

[Stu Guts]

Okay. I wish I had some breakfast fun. Breakfast fun? Where can I find a breakfast like that? This is the Dan Levatar show with the Stugats.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

It is a official block party. We are going to take a block of South Florida and we are going to make it our own with our friends from Flanagan's. We have not done one of these in a while. It may not be a good Monday night game, but it will be a good party because we enjoy those and Flanagan's and our friends at Flanagan's always do well by us.

[Dan Le Batard]

I can guarantee you it won't be a good Monday night. Terrible Monday night game because it's on a Thursday. Tiana.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Okay, my fault. Regardless, it's going to be bad football like tonight's Monday night football game. Can you play the Poka Nakua song or the inspiration for what will be the Poka Nakua song?

[Stu Guts]

Please call him Puka. His quarterback is not named Tua.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

That's a really bad lyric. I mean, I've got some basketball questions for you. As basketball opens, what do you think's gonna happen with the Clippers today now that, now that Pablo has dropped another Pablo on them, Tom Haberstrough has some good ideas here, doesn't he?

[Stu Guts]

So Tom Hammerstro has the most brilliant idea the Clippers should do. Obviously it would look very, very much like a, an admission of guilt, right? But what Tom suggested was, you know, you're probably going to lose picks over this, so why don't you just trade those picks right now? Now they've got two first round picks that they can trade plus a pick swap. If they do it right now, go all in on someone like Zion or whatever, then the league can't dock them for those picks yet. Like you just gotta have to keep waiting. So this is the time. Their picks have value for a limited amount of time and obviously once they get traded, the team that acquires them can't be like, hey NBA, that's messed up. You can't take the picks away from us. We're the ones we, we gave up a player for that. If I'm the Clippers, full throttle, go ahead, go, go get somebody.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

What do you want to hear today? What do you think that media day is going to be like?

[Stu Guts]

A lot of no comments, a lot of boring answers. They look they've learned their lesson because over the course of this, and you noticed this earlier in the, in the show, Dan, they used to be real bold with their responses. Provably false was the first thing they ever said when these allegations were presented to them them. And as time goes by, they get Meeker and now it's like this whole victimhood we got scammed. Even though he donated $1.8 million to the Scammers charity like in December of 2020, they've they have completely curled up into a ball into the fetal position and trying to protect themselves by any means necessary. I'd be shocked if the marching orders for everybody in Clippers media day today wasn't either no comment or the NBA is investigating this. So we're going to have comment when that investigation is complete.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Right now on my screen, Cam Newton, in an absurd hat with his tie tied poorly, is arguing whether he's more concerned about A.J. brown or Saquon. Right now. They've won 20 of 21. Like, how could you possibly find concern for the Eagles? Like, they're on a run that's dynastic. That hasn't been in the sport in 20 years since the Patriots were out there. Goodbye, Flanagan's Cup. It was a pleasure seeing you. We are a big fan of all things Flanagan's around here. And Roy, I'd like you to also please give out that information again on what that watch party is, what that block party is, because I want people to have correct information on what it is that Flanagan's is going to be able to provide for people to be a part of, because we are going to pay for somebody to be at this party with us.

[Event Promoter]

Yeah, it's a Halloween block party. It's going to be at the Flanagans on Kendall Drive and Southwest 127th Avenue on October 30th. That's Thursday Night Football, Dolphins versus Ravens. You can win $1,000 and Flanagan's costume contest as well. So we will all be there deep.

[Dan Le Batard]

In the heart of what a rod called the hood.

[Roy]

That's an absolute home game for me and Mike.

[Dan Le Batard]

Home game, by the way.

[Roy]

I mean, I wanted to bring something to your attention. I want to start something with you. Every time you come on the show. I want to call it 20 CB hall of Fame, huh? So I'm gonna bring you a idea, a concept, something from the 20s, from the 20th century. And I want you to say hall of Fame or not hall of Fame. And I'll get some imaging for this down. I'm gonna spice this up. It just had the. The, the idea just occurred to me right now. I mean, 20 CB hall of Fame mimes.

[Stu Guts]

Ooh, okay. Here in America, hall of Famer for sure in Europe. Alive and well, baby. Still, they are still active.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Really.

[Stu Guts]

You know, you got to retire to be in the hall of Fame. And they still out there, man. They still playing home games in Paris and London and Rome, and they're. They're putting up numbers.

[Roy]

European tour for the mimes are still Around. So who. Who are the mimes for?

[Stu Guts]

What's the. What's the demo?

[Roy]

Who's like, you know what?

[Stu Guts]

I like this.

[Dan Le Batard]

It's cultural. It's for tourists. Like, if you're. Especially in France, where we can all agree this is the mime hub. Put it on the poll. Is France the mime hub? But you know how this green cup from Flanagans is cultural to Miami. That's what mimes are for. France.

[Stu Guts]

Mike, you know this. They like to do. Instead of the regular mimes that are just in black and white and doing the I'm in a box thing, the Paris ones like to spray paint themselves, like in metallic paint, and then act like robots. And then you put up. Give them money and they go. And that's. And then they'll hold this pose until someone gives them more money.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Adam Silver's talking European expansion, ostensibly so that they can have more mimes in their life because they're kind of endangered here. What do you make of that, Amin? Are you pro basketball, NBA? European expansion?

[Stu Guts]

Well, then a lot of people have been complaining. Why is Adam Silver talking about you? No one wants European expansion. We want expansion here in North America. We want 32 teams. And the reason why we're probably. If we're going to get expansion, it's a long time from now is because when you talk about expansion here, you're telling 30 NBA owners, hey, you guys want to take this pizza pie and divide it up into 32 slices now, to which most of them say, hell, no, I like my slicer. I don't. A smaller slice. But when you talk about NBA Europe, we keep our same slices. And now we're adding a new pie that we're dividing up 30 ways or 40 ways, however many ways it's extra money versus reliving up the money we already have. Which is why Adam Silver is always beating that drum. It's a drum that he inherited from David Stern. David Stern was very big on European expansion. They love to point out, hey, it's the same from London to New York as it is from New York to la. All that stuff is just because they want to get a foothold on the continent and be the Premier League there, as well as the one that they're running here.

[Dan Le Batard]

What do you make about early conjecture and reports about what that might look like? A handful of franchises that are basically made out of thin air, which may look like a traditional NBA model, but then also leaving room for some of the established brands out there in Europe to play their way into this Mike.

[Stu Guts]

The plan is to have those established brands. They want Real Madrid, they want Barcelona, they want Fenerbahce, they want Olympiacos and Panathenikos. They want those tentpole organizations that right now are in a multi year deal with IMG that handles all the marketing and business for the Euroleague. But make no mistake, the NBA wants those blue bloods involved. And then they can fill in with either smaller existing clubs, maybe some of the ones in Germany and Italy, or like you said, ones from thin air. But again, the league is more about expanding the brand than it is literally adding more teams.

[Mike]

I mean, what do you hear about LeBron trying to start a league out in Europe?

[Stu Guts]

Yeah, that. So it's not LeBron. I've talked about this with Dan before. It's Maverick Carter. And we have to, as like adults, be able to. To separate between when one friend does another thing. It's like Zazlo Show 2.0 being on the podcast on the Metal Arc Network and people saying to me, hey, I mean, or Dan, hey, great job with the Zazzle shows. Like, no, no, that's not me. That's Jonathan Zaslow who's doing it. So having said that, the Maverick Carter and the people he's involved with have some interest from deep pockets in the Middle east that we know. Those pockets are endless. They have lots of money to spend and they don't know what to do with it. And so this is a nice idea as far as starting a new professional league. I believe there's room for. But, Zaz, will it rival the NBA? Absolutely not, because you just have a 70 year head. 70 year plus head start, plus all the money and all the sponsorships and all the talent, and no one wants to grow up here thinking about, oh, one day I'll be playing for the Riyadh Red dragons or whatever.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

30 seconds or less. What's going on with Cinephobe? What are you doing this week?

[Stu Guts]

Oh, Dan, we're doing a fan favorite this week. We're doing Pootie Tang. Right, The Chris Rock show segment that expanded into a full movie, which was, by the way, written and directed by Dan. Do you know who wrote and directed Pootie Tang?

[Jonathan Zaslow]

I do not. I know that Bob Costas was in it, but Zaslow knows Louis CK Louis.

[Stu Guts]

CK Wrote and directed Pootie Tang.

[Mike]

I saw that movie in the theaters.

[Stu Guts]

Me too.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Your movie theater sells. Pick. See you later. I mean, good talking to you.

[Stu Guts]

How much do they cost?

[Mike]

Yo, it's $2.99, dawg. That's a good deal.

[Dan Le Batard]

That's a good deal. Now's a good time to remember where tequila's story truly began. In 1795, Cuervo invented tequila.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Cuervo.

[Dan Le Batard]

What are you doing here?

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Cuervo. Anytime someone says Cuervo, I show up.

[Dan Le Batard]

Well, I do know that to be true. But even during ad reads like Cuervo, I think he could lay out, especially for one of our great partners.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Sweet, delicious Cuervo.

[Dan Le Batard]

Since then, Cuervo has stayed true to its roots. The same family, the same land, the same passion.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Cuervo.

[Dan Le Batard]

So enjoy the tequila that started it all. Cuervo.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Cuervo.

[Dan Le Batard]

The tequila that invented tequila. Roximo. Cuervo.com, please drink responsibly.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Cuervo.