Episode Overview

Title: Hour 2: Dan Pays For Everything
Podcast: The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
Date: January 27, 2026

This episode, recorded at the Elser Hotel in Downtown Miami, dives into the blurred lines between sports media, journalism, and entertainment. It features a robust discussion on Max Kellerman’s recent partnership with Dana White’s boxing promotion—and Ariel Helwani’s staunch criticism of it, raising greater questions about credibility, objectivity, and the current state of journalism. The hosts also touch on sportswashing, sports business, and some lighter moments about NFL coaching hires, the Royal Rumble, and NHL news.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The State of Sports Media and Credibility

• Dan Le Batard laments the broader erosion of journalistic credibility in the age of billionaire- and corporate-owned media. He notes that even established news brands and sports journalism are now deeply compromised ([01:08]).

• Ariel Helwani and Max Kellerman’s Dispute:

  • Context: Ariel Helwani, a respected MMA journalist, accuses Max Kellerman—long revered in boxing media—of selling out by excessively praising Dana White’s new boxing promotion on air ([04:22], [05:41]).
  • Dan sees Helwani as a rare ethical beacon in a “gutter” industry and frames his criticism of Kellerman as profoundly disappointing.
  • Quote:
    • “Ariel Helwani gave none of his integrity over to what was a circus event of nonsense without anyone impugning Ariel Helwani on the job.” — Greg Cody ([05:41])
    • “He’s unbelievably qualified to say what he’s saying. I did not see what happened with Max Kellerman, but when he makes the accusation, I simply believe it.” — Greg Cody ([05:41])

• Standards and Objectivity in Sports Media:

  • The group debates whether a journalist (or analyst) can be objective if financially tied to a promotion.
  • Mike makes the point: “If Dana White in any way is paying Max Kellerman, then Max Kellerman has probably an obligation to put the best possible slant on whatever he’s talking about.” ([07:22])
  • Greg Cody counters: “But…he’s not allowed to think that Dana White is going to come and save boxing. That’s not a credible opinion coming to his life…That’s not credible.” ([08:45])

• Ariel's Complaint Against Kellerman:

  • Ariel’s criticism is viewed as particularly noteworthy because it comes with clear reluctance and respect:
    • “He is being appalled watching somebody do infomercial on behalf of sports. And I’m asking you, as people in this room who know I care about journalism, there are a lot of silly conflicts, right? Greg Olson shouldn’t be calling a Carolina playoff game, but I don’t mind…In this sport, which is the dirtiest…To see Ariel Hawani come after Max Kellerman surprised me…” — Dan Le Batard ([05:41])

2. Are All Media Now Just Entertainers?

• Stugotz sees Kellerman's role as a TV personality, not a traditional journalist:
  • “I think Max is a journalist in this scenario. I think he’s an analyst who's a television personality and approaches his job differently than Ariel.” ([07:39])
• Multiple hosts grapple with whether objectivity is even possible or expected, using team-employed broadcasters as local analogies.

3. The “Infomercial” Problem in Sports Broadcasting

• The show plays a clip of Max Kellerman’s enthusiastic praise for Dana White’s promotion:
  • “I have literally been waiting for this for right now my entire life. Since I was a little kid. There’s never been a major league of boxing. It just hasn’t existed.” — Max Kellerman ([22:47])
• This hyperbolic endorsement is mocked, and the group points out how such salesmanship can erode public trust.
• Dan highlights this as symptomatic:
  • “Ariel Helwani brought that to our attention. And I’m asking the rest of the audience, do you care at all? Or is it just Max is a television entertainer who cares whether he’s bought and paid for… I just want to enjoy my sport with the very credible Max Kellerman lending his name to it.” ([10:47])

4. Sportswashing & Morality in Modern Sports

• The hosts discuss the normalization of “sportswashing”—powerful nations using sports to launder their reputations.

• Quote:

  • “It used to be an outrage, and five years later, it’s not…We have enough problems in this country where our moral high ground is not nearly as high as it used to be or should be.” — Mike Ryan ([33:39], [33:59])
  • “But it’s not really condemnation, though…It’s been successfully. Sports washed. The blood money over the last five years. We yelled a lot about Liv and Mickelson and then just stopped doing it because the money, the oil.” — Greg Cody ([34:50])

• They point to both Saudi investments in WWE/golf and American complicity or silence.

5. How Can Investigative Sports Journalism Matter?

• The panel laments the difficulty of getting readers and viewers to care about issues like team owners’ war profiteering or political ties, as with the Memphis Grizzlies owner.
• Dan:
  • “When I ask Pablo and us, how do we get that Hunter Brooks story in front of people in a way that isn’t as easy as, oh, look Kawhi and the Clippers might have done this, or sports gambling might have this. Things that everyone can understand. When I make it war against foreigners, that is literally life and death.” ([35:58])
• Greg Cody:
  • “Journalism’s not supposed to. Not supposed to be ideally governed by. How do I get the clicks? It’s supposed to be governed by how do you follow truth in the name of facts? Pointing out to people injustices. It’s how it dies. You do realize.” ([37:43])
• There’s mutual frustration over editorial decisions, with the group agreeing serious reporting too often gets buried for lighter, clickier topics.

6. NFL Coaching, Wrestling Banter & Lighter Sports Moments

• Stephen A. Smith’s take: Suggesting Ryan Clark (the former NFL safety, now broadcaster) should be considered as a head coach by the Steelers prompts incredulity:
  • “He’s never been a coach. He’s never coached. I don’t understand.” — Greg ([25:17])
• Royal Rumble & WWE Saudi Partnership: The crew debates the “bone sawing” controversy, WWE’s Saudi events, and their own complicity in enjoying these shows while simultaneously recognizing the ethical quandary ([32:13]-[35:42]).
• Brief Local Sports Update: News about the Florida Panthers' players' rehab status ([41:52]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Greg Cody on Ariel Helwani’s integrity:
  “He just called the Jake Paul fight and added a credibility to it without impacting any of his own, without undermining a production. That was an actual scam.” ([05:41])

• On sportswashing and public outrage:
  “It used to be an outrage, and five years later, it’s not...And part of it, I think, is what Mike just said. He’s not wrong. I mean, we have enough problems in this country where our moral high ground is not nearly as high as it used to be or should be.” — Mike Ryan ([33:59])

• Dan on click-driven journalism:
  “Journalism’s not supposed to...be ideally governed by, ‘How do I get the clicks?’ It’s supposed to be governed by, ‘How do you follow truth in the name of facts?’...It’s how it dies.” ([37:43])

• Greg Cody, summarizing the effect of sports on public morality:
  “Sports makes money for all of us...It’s not really condemnation, though, the way that’s not what’s happening anymore. It’s been successfully sports washed.” ([34:50])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Ariel Helwani’s Critique of Max Kellerman: [04:22] – [05:41]
• Roundtable Debates Objectivity & Ethical Standards: [07:06] – [10:47]
• Max Kellerman’s Shilling—Audio Example: [22:45] – [23:31]
• Sportswashing, WWE & Saudi Money: [32:13] – [35:42]
• Discussion on Investigative Sports Reporting Importance: [35:58] – [39:31]
• NFL Coaching Speculation and Stephen A. Smith’s Comments: [24:32] – [26:14]
• Local Panthers Update/Light Banter: [41:52] – [42:37]

Tone & Takeaways

The episode is candid, sometimes exasperated, and leans into the show's trademark blend of irreverence and serious journalism talk. The hosts oscillate between deep concern for the state of modern media (“the media is dead”) and the realities of what audiences, and even themselves as sports consumers, care about—never shying from self-critique or humor.

Ultimately, the episode urges listeners to question their own standards for truth in sports coverage and confronts the uncomfortable trade-offs between entertainment, business, and ethical journalism in today's media landscape.