The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

Episode: Hour 2: Dan's Tobacco Story
Date: April 6, 2026
Summary by Section with Timestamps

Episode Overview

The second hour of this episode, broadcasting from Miami's Elser Hotel, delivers the classic Le Batard blend of sports insight, irreverent humor, personal anecdotes, and pop-culture discussion. The crew, including Dan Le Batard, Stugotz, Mike Ryan, Tony Reali, and others, debates the NCAA men’s basketball championship, LeBron’s Memphis comments, the legacy of the “Jailblazers,” the new “Untold” sports documentaries, and provides wild Talladega tales. Dan’s infamous chewing tobacco story makes a hilarious comeback, while the group’s banter keeps listeners entertained and informed.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Against the Spread – Picks and Banter

[01:02 - 02:13]

• Picks for NHL and NCAA basketball are discussed.
  • Sharks vs. Blackhawks puck line trends (home team covering).
  • Michigan vs. UConn – Zach suggests taking Michigan -6.5.
• The crew roasts Tony’s energy and Zach’s delivery, setting the tone for chaotic, comedic sports talk.

Notable Quote:
"Tony, Jesus, get your shit together today, please." – Mike Ryan [01:31]

2. Dan's Chewing Tobacco Story

[02:13 - 04:22]

• Dan shares a vivid, embarrassing childhood memory: pestering his dad (who had a habit of opening groceries pre-purchase) to let him try chewing tobacco.
• His father, frustrated, gives in and hands Dan tobacco in a Winn Dixie, then returns the pouch to the shelf, with no instructions on using it properly—leading Dan to accidentally swallow it.
• The group erupts in laughter as Dan claims, “You can imagine how weird it was for him because I was 46 years old.” [04:18]

Notable Quote:
“…the swallowing of tobacco is something that is very unpleasant.” – Mike Ryan [02:13]
“You can imagine how weird it was for him because I was 46 years old. Yeah.” – Dan Le Batard [04:18]

3. NCAA Tournament & “Looks Like” Game

[04:22 - 07:57]

• UConn’s dynasty run and how rare it is for a team to reach three finals in four years.
• Speculation on whether Arizona’s old-school style (few threes) could be viable today.
• The crew plays their trademark “looks like” game, likening NBA and sports personalities to everyday characters in a comedic round-robin.

Notable Quotes:
“It’s just John Wooden territory.” – Stugotz [05:23]
“Adam Silver looks like a newly opened chapstick.” – Stugotz [06:31]

4. LeBron’s Memphis-to-Nashville Comments

[08:25 - 18:49]

• LeBron’s flippant suggestion to move the Grizzlies from Memphis to Nashville triggered social media backlash, especially from Black Memphis fans.
• The group plays the original LeBron audio and discusses issues of racial optics, NBA player privilege, city loyalty, and how stars like LeBron sometimes lack awareness of fan culture.

Key Points:

• LeBron equated Memphis with inconvenience for players, failing to acknowledge cultural and racial implications.
• Rich Paul and LeBron later try to backtrack, but as Tony Reali says, “There’s zero self-awareness…about why black people would be upset…” [17:12]
• Draymond Green, Anthony Edwards, and other NBA players have complained about Memphis hotels, but didn’t call for relocating the team.

Notable Quotes:
“For LeBron to get out there and try and stump…for Memphis fans to lose their team…he looks awful saying that. I’m sorry.” – Tony Reali [11:04]
“…he’s allowed to say that the team should move out of Memphis…and I'm allowed to say he’s a dick.” – Tony Reali [12:25]

5. The Value of Scoring in the NBA

[20:00 - 21:22]

• Discussion about Joe League’s 50-point game: is 50 still a sacred number in the NBA, or is 60 now more impressive?
• The crew debates which statistical milestones remain significant as high-scoring performances become more common.

Notable Quote:
“60, the new 50.” – Zach Lowe [20:09]

6. “Untold” Sports Documentaries & the Jailblazers

[21:34 - 28:48]

• The crew critiques recent “Untold” sports documentaries. The Lamar Odom episode gets praise for its unfiltered look at addiction, while the Florida Gators episode is slammed for being sanitized.
• The “Jailblazers” (early 2000s Portland Trail Blazers) documentary prompts reflection on past media portrayals of Black athletes and how cultural biases colored narratives.
• The panel debates whether the Jailblazers were as wild as legend claims or just victims of stereotypes.

Notable Quotes:
“No matter your god, whether it's Yahweh, Jehovah, Christ or Kobe.” – Dan Le Batard quoting Lamar Odom [24:44]
“Having an honest subject is a big part of it, folks.” – Stugotz [28:48]

7. Talladega Road Trip Antics

[36:44 - 39:47]

• Stugotz shares gleeful plans for a group RV trip to Talladega with crew members and Miami friends.
• Wild descriptions of Talladega infield party: music stages, barter-system bars, and an open-air gentleman’s club.
• Tony Reali, a Miami native with no NASCAR background, is dubbed “Talladega Tony” as they prepare for the adventure.

Notable Quotes:
"It’s the best party in NASCAR. And I cannot wait to go with Eagle Eye, NASCAR Nate..." – Stugotz [38:56]
"You can fit like 17 magic kingdoms inside the infield at Talladega." – Stugotz [39:28]

8. Viral Baseball Mishap: The Homer Off the Center Fielder’s Forehead

[39:57 - 41:51]

• The crew marvels at a bizarre video: a ball bounces off a center fielder’s forehead and goes over a massive fence for a home run.
• Laughter and amazement at the physics involved, and concern that no one's checking if the player is okay.

Notable Quotes:
“Do you think it’s possible for a human being…to have a fly ball hit his forehead…at an angle that makes it go over the center field fence?” – Dan Le Batard [40:03]
“Is he okay?” – Mike Ryan [41:43]

Memorable & Representative Quotes

• “You can imagine how weird it was for him because I was 46 years old.” – Dan Le Batard, on his childhood chewing tobacco story [04:18]
• “LeBron is saying they should lose their team.” – Tony Reali [12:25]
• “60, the new 50.” – Zach Lowe [20:09]
• “You can fit like 17 magic kingdoms inside the infield at Talladega.” – Stugotz [39:28]

Episode Highlights by Timestamp

• 01:02 – Picks segment, jokes about Tony’s energy.
• 02:13 – Dan’s chewing tobacco story.
• 04:22 – NCAA men’s basketball contextualized, “looks like” game.
• 08:25 – LeBron’s Memphis/Nashville controversy and panel reaction.
• 20:00 – Is 50 still an iconic NBA number?
• 21:34 – Review and critique of “Untold” sports documentaries.
• 36:44 – Plans and antics for Talladega NASCAR trip.
• 39:57 – Center fielder forehead home run video.

Tone & Takeaways

The show flows with its trademark blend of intelligent sports breakdown, exaggerated characters, affectionate ridicule, and Miami flavor. Dan’s self-deprecating humor and the team’s playful roasting keep things light, even as they address deeper issues—especially around race, media narratives, and athlete privilege. The episode is rich with inside jokes but accessible for new listeners, especially with stories like the tobacco mishap, LeBron’s Memphis gaffe, and the surreal baseball home run.

Final Thought

For listeners who missed the episode, this hour delivers not only sharp sports analysis but also the show’s unique ability to turn personal humiliation, pop-culture events, and oddball viral clips into something revealing and hilarious.