Hour 2: John Ortiz Loves The Boost Mobile Hotline

Summary

Episode Summary: "Hour 2: John Ortiz Loves The Boost Mobile Hotline"

Podcast Information:

• Title: The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
• Hosts: Dan Le Batard, Stugotz
• Guest: John Ortiz
• Release Date: April 22, 2025

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1. Aaron Rodgers’ Free Agency Frenzy

The episode kicks off with a deep dive into the tumultuous free agency of NFL star Aaron Rodgers. Stugotz initiates the discussion, highlighting Rodgers' persistent presence in the media despite his declining performance and waning demand in the league.

• Stugotz ([01:44]): "Aaron Rodgers exists basically to make news, even though there's no new ground to cover here."

Billy chimes in, predicting Rodgers' imminent retirement and critiquing his drawn-out public statements about leaving football.

• Billy ([03:03]): "I think he's going to retire... stringing it out like this works in his favor where he can make it sound like he decided I don't want to play football anymore."

Mike Ryan and others analyze Rodgers' interactions with the New York Jets, emphasizing the quarterback's perceived lack of self-awareness and the franchise's efficiency in handling trades.

• Mike Ryan ([04:48]): "He could draw this out however long you want. They didn't waste any of your time. This is how a breakup happens."

Mina Kimes expresses frustration over the constant media focus on Rodgers, indicating her desire to move past his ongoing saga.

• Mina Kimes ([07:11]): "I'm at the point where my eyes just gloss over when I see any bit of text written about Aaron Rodgers."

The hosts collectively critique Rodgers' legacy, debating his treatment by both the media and his former team.

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2. Listener Hot Takes via Boost Mobile Hotline

A recurring segment features listener calls through the Boost Mobile Hotline, where fans share their "hot takes" on various sports and pop culture topics. The hosts engage humorously with callers, showcasing a blend of lighthearted banter and sharp commentary.

• Chris Cody ([10:27]): "If in the NBA playoffs a team beats another team by 45 plus points, series over. Series over."

• Mina Kimes ([33:16]): "There's a lot of memes going around because J.D. Vance met with the Pope, obviously, a few hours before he died."

These interactions add an interactive and dynamic layer to the show, allowing listeners to partake in the conversation and present unconventional viewpoints.

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3. Special Guest: John Ortiz

John Ortiz takes center stage as the episode's featured guest, sharing insights from his acting career and current projects. Ortiz discusses his experiences filming iconic scenes and his latest documentary endeavors.

a. Reflections on Acting Careers

Ortiz reminisces about his debut in "Carlito's Way," recounting the challenges and memorable moments while working alongside Al Pacino.

• John Ortiz ([21:12]): "First of all, that was my first movie ever. I was nervous as hell being next to the legend Al Pacino."

He narrates a particularly intense scene where his co-star's unexpected behavior added both pressure and humor to the filming process.

• Ortiz ([27:04]): "I was looking at him from afar, still on the floor, covered in fake blood. And he turns around... 'If I win them both, I ain't coming back.'"

b. Documentary Highlight: "The Diamond King"

Ortiz introduces his documentary project, "The Diamond King," a heartfelt exploration of a Puerto Rican baseball artist named Dick Perez. He connects personally to the subject, drawing parallels between Perez's life and his own experiences.

• Ortiz ([30:28]): "It's a beautiful film that combines my love for documentaries, sports, and baseball."

He delves into the cultural and personal significance of the project, emphasizing its impact and the stories it aims to tell.

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4. Sports and Pop Culture Discussions

The hosts extend their conversation to encompass a broad spectrum of sports and entertainment topics, including critiques of recent movies and reflections on iconic sports moments.

• Stugotz ([34:29]): "Is Conclave a movie? I thought it was a series. I didn't know it was just one movie."

• Mina Kimes ([34:17]): "It's like a mystery thriller about electing a pope, and it's great."

The discussion veers into humorous territory as the hosts debate their favorite movie characters and memorable scenes, blending their sports commentary with pop culture references seamlessly.

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5. Closing Remarks and Final Thoughts

As the episode draws to a close, the hosts reflect on the myriad topics covered, from Aaron Rodgers' career and listener hot takes to John Ortiz's compelling documentary work. They express gratitude towards their listeners and sponsors, maintaining the show's signature blend of humor, insight, and engaging dialogue.

• Dan LeBatard ([31:44]): "Most of all, thanks so much. It was a pleasure being here."

The episode encapsulates the dynamic energy of "The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz," delivering a rich tapestry of sports analysis, celebrity insights, and interactive listener engagement.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Stugotz ([01:44]): "Aaron Rodgers exists basically to make news, even though there's no new ground to cover here."
• Billy ([03:03]): "I think he's going to retire... stringing it out like this works in his favor..."
• Mina Kimes ([07:11]): "I'm at the point where my eyes just gloss over when I see any bit of text written about Aaron Rodgers."
• John Ortiz ([21:12]): "First of all, that was my first movie ever. I was nervous as hell being next to the legend Al Pacino."
• Ortiz ([27:04]): "If I win them both, I ain't coming back."
• Stugotz ([34:29]): "Is Conclave a movie? I thought it was a series."
• Mina Kimes ([34:17]): "It's like a mystery thriller about electing a pope, and it's great."

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This comprehensive summary captures the essence of the episode, highlighting critical discussions, memorable moments, and guest contributions, all while providing a clear and engaging overview for listeners.

Transcript

[Mike Ryan]

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[Stugotz]

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[Mike Ryan]

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[Stugotz]

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[Stugotz]

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[Dan LeBatard]

This is the Dan Levatar show with the Stugats podcast.

[Stugotz]

I want to talk for a second about something Aaron Rodgers related here, that I was laughing because the other day Mina Kimes was sort of dragged away from. Aaron Rodgers has spoken on Pat McAfee and retired quarterback who's not retired, who is not that wanted and not that good anymore. Trying to make a decision on a lot of bad offers and maybe one in Pittsburgh, but not one in Minnesota. The free agency of Aaron Rodgers, who would play if somebody appeared with a job offer that made him feel like a good quarterback. But instead he is only in the news to continually make news. Mena Kimes was pulled away from the conversation we were having to React to the breaking news of Aaron Rodgers speaking and has done it so many times that she is made weary by. There is no new ground to be covered here. He was bad at playing quarterback last year and now he's not terribly wanted. But he's famous and he's infamous and this ending is gonna be intriguing if unwanted. And so now Aaron Rodgers exists. Basically says to just be something that is the last embers of what kind of conversation can we make around old famous, tired quarterback.

[Billy]

I think he's going to retire. I don't think he's playing anymore. I think he's going to retire and I think stringing it out like this works in his favor where he can make it sound like I decided I don't want to play football anymore. Like you said with the Jets. The jets asked, do you want to play football? He said, I'm interested. And now he doesn't know because he's got things going on in his personal life. That's why there's no timetable with the Pittsburgh Steelers. I think he's going to eventually make it sound like not that he was pushed out, but he ultimately decided head's not in anymore. I think he's a retire.

[Mike Ryan]

I found his quotes on his ending with the New York jets to be pretty fascinating. And like is usually the case when he joins Pat McAfee. Totally lacking in self awareness. He took exception to being flown in across the country on his own dime to meet with Aaron Glenn and have Aaron Glenn not waste his time. Like Aaron Glenn just said, hang on one second, let me go bring the GM in here.

[Billy]

Well, he made it sound like they were mid conversation and Aaron Glenn ran.

[Mike Ryan]

Out and he's like, let me get to our gm. Look, Aaron, our plan here is to not bring you back now. It's weird that Aaron Rodgers of all people takes exception to this. Could have been an email. Considering how much he likes to draw things out. I imagine he was stunned that not everybody else operates that way. And I would get it, Aaron, if this were Green Bay. But to Aaron Glenn, you're Tim Boyle. You're not. You're very clearly not a part of their plans. If anything, they did you a great service. So you can draw this out however long you want. They didn't waste any of your time. I found it to be very weird to have it to like it sounded like he was taking a shot at Aaron Glenn for how Aaron Glenn treated him. Aaron Glenn owes you nothing.

[Billy]

He was very disrespectful to me. Was the attack that he Took. The jets owe him nothing. Aaron Glenn owes him less than nothing. And by the way, if this took place over a phone call, you know, Aaron Rodgers would have said, you didn't even have the guts to tell me face to face.

[Stugotz]

Let me take up the other position though, here, because I do understand how it is that Aaron Rodgers would receive all of that coldly. And you guys saying he owes them nothing. They owe him nothing. He gave two years at the end of his career to that franchise and thought he did so with all of the power in the world that he would not be disabused in those two years. You don't have that power anymore. You deserve the respect of this meeting to be more human. I understand why he would crave a two hour conversation, a human connection. But you guys are saying, nope, at the end, this is how cold employment gets. We just sever our ties. And in this instance, it's interesting for to hear Aaron Rodgers plead for humanity and respect. He's asking, he's feeling, that's all. Disrespectful in its coldness.

[Mike Ryan]

It sounds like he was craving a preamble, like he didn't like what he was being told and then took exception to how quick it was. Zaz is on the money. He would have been insulted if they didn't bring him in for this meeting. And he would have made a whole deal of it. He just didn't like the breakup. But it's a weird. It's a weird fixation that he has with drawing things out. Like they, they know that about you. They actually made this super efficient. So you can take all the time that you want. And also a little awareness that this didn't work out the way that anybody wanted. Not you, not them in New York. And this is how a breakup happens.

[Stugotz]

You guys don't find it funny though, that basically all that's actually happening here at the end is that Giant legend Aaron Rodgers or Packers legend Aaron Rodgers just wanted a hug at the end.

[Mike Ryan]

It wouldn't have just been about a hug. He would have found something else to complain about. It's just he. I understand why he feels like his time is wasted, but it's just a weird messenger from a guy that's been wasting our time now for he's doing the Favre thing over and over again. Will he or won't he? Only he doesn't have the suitors.

[Mina Kimes]

I'm at the point where my eyes just gloss over when I see any bit of text written about Aaron Rodgers. I just like, I don't care. I don't want to cover everything he says. Like it's news anymore and my eyes just gloss over it and I'm like, I just play, don't play, I don't care. Let me know in September what team he's.

[Stugotz]

I think you speak for everybody there. And, and, and it was just weird that I've seen the career arc of Mina Kimes. Once upon a time, Aaron Rodgers showed up at her apartment to do a magazine profile because he wanted to be seen by the world. To Mina Kimes is now on Celebrity Jeopardy. Saying scared money don't make money and saying I don't want to talk about Aaron Rodgers anymore. That became boring two years ago. Like let's, let's, let's talk about the quarterbacks who were good last year. Let's talk about the quarterbacks who weren't all in the 20s and what the advanced metrics are.

[Billy]

For me it's the respect part that I think stands out the most. Like wouldn't you quantify the way his relationship at least publicly with Robert Salawas was pretty disrespectful?

[Mike Ryan]

That, that to me is what I'm seizing on here. It's a weird message coming from Aaron Rodgers. Like often he exposes his own hypocrisies and that's fine, we can be hypocritical people but at least have the self awareness here that they very clearly starting a new chapter.

[Stugotz]

Okay, but just, can you just allow this one thing? Right. I don't know how people become egomaniacs. I don't know what it is to be as great at anything as Aaron Rodgers was at quarterback. But if he still thinks that he is a talent to be respected throughout that sport for having a mastery of that position that very few have ever had, my guess is I understand why he would have blind spots where his arrogance is about I'm the greatest, treat me like I'm the greatest.

[Mike Ryan]

Well, the markets not treating him like that.

[Stugotz]

Understood. But do you understand how he arrives at the blind spot?

[Mike Ryan]

Well, I know how he became an egomaniac and kept finding out algorithms that just fortified his own beliefs. I read a book on the guy with my ears. I understand how this came to be, but I don't like it. And I really take exception to it when you start taking shots at people because on his way out the door he wanted to make one more mess for the jets and say the guy that you hired, he's not a good people person. This is how he treated me. Dude, it didn't Work out. They did you a great service by telling you directly to your face. Your future is not with us anymore. For you to still be taking potshots out of what will history will reflect on your time over there with the New York jets as one of the biggest sporting disasters of all time.

[Stugotz]

That is a hot, hot take from Mike Ryan. And the Boost Mobile line is filled with hot takes.

[Mina Kimes]

May I just add, it will not go down as one of the biggest sporting disasters of all time because of how boring and uninteresting it was. We will not remember it because it basically never happened.

[Stugotz]

The Boost Mobile hot take line, I am told by Chris Cody and others.

[Mina Kimes]

Just kidding. I forgot about the flag thing.

[Stugotz]

We're going to remember.

[Mina Kimes]

We will remember that.

[Stugotz]

We will remember.

[Billy]

That was fun.

[Stugotz]

It has gotten more and more popular. Despite the fact that I don't believe the callers are very good. I believe many of them are lazy. And I believe that this sponsor, Boost, which has done a great job supporting us, deserves a better effort from our audience. But let's see if this batch is any better.

[Chris Cody]

If in the NBA playoffs a team.

[Stugotz]

Beats another team by 45 plus points.

[Chris Cody]

Series over. Series over.

[Mike Ryan]

Congratulations.

[Chris Cody]

You move on.

[Stugotz]

Hey guys, it's Scott in North Carolina. My hottest, craziest take is that I liked Mike's shirt. It wasn't that bad. Hey, this is Ben on a walking phone. What is the chit in a chit chat? I'll hang up and listen.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah, this is Chris from the Ann El Paso restroom. I want to get my figure limited. Tony Soprano. Yeah, honey, that's the jets coach. Why you go say hi.

[Chris Cody]

Colton here. Hot take, super market checkout lines. You have to go in. Take a test to determine if you can go in the self checkout line. Got to give them like 10 items. Maybe a bakery item, fruit, vegetable, a couple easy ones. You have to get it done under a minute. If not, you have to go grocery bag, checkout line.

[Stugotz]

This is 80 on a mobile. First time, long time. My hot take is Lou Dort needs.

[Dan LeBatard]

To be a hall of famer.

[Stugotz]

Just by overcoming the name Lou Dort.

[Dan LeBatard]

I'll hang up and listen.

[John Ortiz]

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[Scott]

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[Roy]

The Dan Lebatard show with Stu Gotz is sponsored by BetterHelp. Life gets busy. Boy do I know that. And your mind carries it all. But just like your body needs care, so does your mental health. Therapy is an investment in clarity, in peace, in You. Let's talk numbers really quick. Traditional in person therapy can cost anywhere from $100 to $250 per session, which adds up fast. With BetterHelp online therapy, you can save an average of up to 50% per session. With BetterHelp, you pay a flat fee for weekly sessions, saving you big on cost and time. Therapy should feel accessible, not like a luxury. With online therapy, you get quality care at a price that makes sense and can help you with anything from anxiety to everyday stress. Your mental health is worth it, and now it's within reach. With over 30,000 therapists, BetterHelp is the world's largest online therapy platform, having served over 5 million people globally. And it's super convenient. You can join a session with the click of a button, helping you fit therapy into your busy life, plus switch therapists at any time. Your well being is worth it. Visit betterhelp.com DLB today to get 10% off your first month. That's better help. H E L P.com/DLB Dan LeBatard Ahoy.

[Stugotz]

Is captain Sloppy Stugats is this Chum bucket.

[Dan LeBatard]

This is the Dan Levatar show with the stugats.

[Stugotz]

Billy. It's Fast and Furious. Billy. It's Carlito's Way. Billy. It's. He's Andy loves baseball. And it's Bad Monkey. Billy. It's John Ortiz. Are you excited? Fast and the Furious. I figured you'd be sniffing around this one.

[Chris Cody]

I'm so excited. It's great to see you, John Ortiz. How are you?

[Dan LeBatard]

It is great to see you guys. This is amazing. I'm like completely like a kid in a candy shop in here watching you guys and hearing you guys.

[John Ortiz]

What piece of candy am I?

[Dan LeBatard]

You are a Jolly Rancher.

[Stugotz]

Wow. Good guess. I would have gone candy corn. I would have gone.

[Mina Kimes]

It'S not nice, Dan.

[Stugotz]

Yeah, Dan, what do you mean it's not nice?

[Mike Ryan]

It's terrible candy. It's a color thing.

[Stugotz]

I like candy corn.

[Mike Ryan]

Why don't you do Roy next?

[Mina Kimes]

But a lot of people hate candy corn.

[Chris Cody]

Please don't.

[Stugotz]

But I love candy corn.

[Mina Kimes]

But you know what you're doing.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah, I'm just trying to. I'm just collecting data here. Do Roy next, please. Don't do Roy.

[Stugotz]

John, how do you feel about candy corn?

[Dan LeBatard]

Candy corn on a scale of 1 to 10, is about a 1.8.

[Scott]

Wow.

[Stugotz]

Jon, when you did Bad Monkey. And thank you for joining us. I want to talk about this dream project that you're presently doing because I did not know that you were a baseball fan. But I enjoyed Bad Monkey for a number of reasons. One of them, because you guys really honored Carl Hiaasen and because you really honored Miami and Key west. And I've rarely seen anything on television that had that kind of touch on things. So thank, thank you for making it. But what was your experience with making it?

[Dan LeBatard]

I loved making that show. It's so great. It really was an experience that's right up there with all the best ones I've had. And I've had a few. You know, I think it's challenging to shoot in Miami in the middle of the summer.

[Stugotz]

That is correct.

[Dan LeBatard]

It's challenging to do just about anything outdoors in, in Miami in the middle of the summer. But shooting a series, you know, when you work in the 12, 16 hours a day, it gets on you, you know, so. But we shot the entire series, including the interiors there. We did. You know, Carl's stories and books are also very challenging to capture. So I honestly didn't know how it was gonna all come together because of the tone that's kind of nuanced and just tricky. You know, it's funny, but there's serious undertones in there. And it's so geographic heavy. And when it all came together, I was really pleasantly surprised. And then that audiences loved it as much as they did was just the cherry on top.

[Stugotz]

You've done so much work, so much award winning work. When I present you with American Fiction, Silver Linings Playbook, when I put your history in front of you, is there something that you thought while you were making it that was going to stink and then you couldn't believe how it came together because you doubted it throughout?

[Dan LeBatard]

I, not necessarily I doubted it, but I just didn't know kind of like Bad Monkey how it was going to come out because we were doing so many different takes. We were just going for stuff without too much thought. We just trusted whatever was put in front of us. So Bad Monkey and the second one that's right up there and they're similar in the way we attacked it was Silver Linings Playbook. We just, I had no idea. I knew we had a great time doing it. We believed in everything that we were doing. But in terms of what the hell is this gonna feel like or look like? I had no idea. We had David O. Russell just behind a camera, just throwing lines out at us. And we would just say them and then fast and furious. I like actually, you know, the first time I, I was offered the role, I, I turned it down. Well, if you Recall, that's the first time in four was when Vin Diesel and. And Paul Walker were going to come back. So Tokyo Drift, they weren't in and it wasn't that much of a hit. And I had just done Miami Vice, another 305 plug, and the roles were similar, so I said nah. And I was convinced to do it. And I. That was a shocker that it was that big of a hit.

[Stugotz]

Billy, what are you shaking your head about?

[Chris Cody]

Tokyo Drift was not that important. Some would argue. Tokyo Drift holds the entire framework of the franchise together. There are so many plot points that go through Tokyo Drift and then you look at the different timelines.

[Stugotz]

You sound like a fool.

[Chris Cody]

Respectfully, I don't think you know. What the hell, Jon?

[Stugotz]

You sound like a fool. You don't understand what you're talking about. You disrespect.

[Dan LeBatard]

Well, I tell you, I didn't say it wasn't important. I just said it wasn't that big of a hit.

[Chris Cody]

Yeah. Who do you side with, the Rock or Vin Diesel on this feud that was going on? You were there. You probably got to know both of them. Whose side were you on?

[Dan LeBatard]

Thankfully, I wasn't there. So I. Thankfully, I, I plead the fifth on that one.

[Stugotz]

All right. That stinks. Because we needed, we needed to know what the truth was there, John.

[Chris Cody]

Something up?

[Billy]

John, you're. You're in the opening scene of Carlito's Way, which is really one of my all time favorite movie scenes in the billiard room with the drug dealers. What do you remember about filming that scene?

[Dan LeBatard]

Oh, my God. You know, first of all, that was my first movie ever. So as you can probably imagine, I was nervous as hell. And right before the very first take of that scene, we were shooting it in a suit in a studio. So we were outside the door, you know, the entrance, which wasn't real. You know, it was built. And so we're like halfway in a club and halfway in just a makeshift space. And I'm trying to be serious actor because I'm right next to the legend Al Pacino. And lo and behold, he's chit chatting me. And I'm like this guy, I can't believe it. I was just like so surprised that he would just be talking about whatever as we're preparing to get in. Yeah, I stole it from the earlier segment.

[Stugotz]

You stole the chit chat from. You were listening to the Boost mobile hotline.

[Dan LeBatard]

I love the Boost mobile hotline. That thing was just so entertaining. I was just like, give me more. And now I'm Just obsessed with chit. Anyway, so we're hanging out, which seems like forever, but it's really like three minutes right before they get the cameras going and waiting for action. Very first action. I hear ever professionally from Brian De Palma. I'm just waiting, but I can't because Al Pacino is chit chatting and he's like, so, what'd you do this weekend? And I'm like, I took my girlfriend out for her birthday. We went to the movies and had dinner. He's like, how old did she turn? And I'm like, 23. And there's a slight pause, and then he says, good age. Action.

[Stugotz]

This project that you're now doing, John the Diamond King, your love of baseball, before we get to it, how much could we badger you right now on the Knicks and have you run scared because your confidence is shaken after last night?

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah, I'm kind of pissed of buddy of mine who's a Clippers fan, just texted me at seven in the morning out here and. And I just responded by saying, I hate basketball, which is of course not true, but I'm really down. But I'm not nervous at all. We're definitely going to take the series. So what I'm loving about it is that it's a real throwback to when I first fell in love with the Knicks, which was when Bernard king was dropping 50 every night.

[Stugotz]

I don't think you can feel like you definitely anything, like definitely going to take the series from the Pistons. You have not earned that confidence. Why would you have that confidence?

[Dan LeBatard]

Because the Pistons are talented, but they're a young team, and I think they're just going to fold.

[Billy]

John, can you rate my Al Pacino from that billiard scene in Carlito's Way? If I do it for you, I think it's pretty good.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah. Okay. Do you need any help? Do you want me to throw you or something?

[Billy]

No, you're already dead at this point. Your character's already dead.

[Dan LeBatard]

Oh, okay. Yeah, yeah.

[Billy]

He's in the bathroom. You know, he's hiding out. He's gonna go out. All right, ready?

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah.

[Billy]

You think you're big time when you're.

[Stugotz]

Gonna die big time?

[Dan LeBatard]

That is on my infamous scale of 1 to 10, that's a. That's a 7.6 solid.

[Mike Ryan]

That's a SUI nominee right there.

[Dan LeBatard]

Good.

[Chris Cody]

Zaz asking what he did this weekend.

[Dan LeBatard]

Now, the next time I come on the show, if I'm fortunate enough to ever be invited, I gotta tell you one of the best stories of that scene of that Moment, actually.

[Stugotz]

All right, we need it right now. And we'll wait, because I want to have you on again, but I want that story right now.

[Dan LeBatard]

I'll give you the very short version. But I couldn't. I was. I. I was on very little sleep because we shot that over the course of two days. And it took way over the 12 hours to complete the first day. And they called me in, like, a six to seven hour break the next day because I had to put on the prosthetic for my neck, and that took a long time. So I had very little sleep, maybe like an hour. So I was on caffeine the whole day. And when we finally got to that scene, which was at the very, very end of the night, Pacino needed to fly to LA for the Oscars. He was nominated for two that year. And for anyone who can answer the two movies that he was nominated for, I'll send you a prize, and I'll give you a couple of minutes.

[Stugotz]

Roy, go ahead and take your guess.

[Mike Ryan]

A Sin of a Woman.

[Stugotz]

Scent of a Woman is what he has guessed.

[Dan LeBatard]

And. But there's two, Roy.

[Stugotz]

He's trapped you. Because the difficult one was not the first one. You jumped into the breach. You're like, I got it, Dan. And then you had no number two.

[Mike Ryan]

Glenn Gary, Glen Ross.

[Stugotz]

Ah, okay, you're stuck out there now, Roy. Now what do you do?

[Dan LeBatard]

I lost. Yeah, yeah, yeah, you lost because it was a really nice prize that was coming at you, and I was afraid to. To depart with it. So thank. Thank you for what is. You're welcome.

[Stugotz]

But what is the second movie? Are you gonna tell us?

[Dan LeBatard]

Dick Tracy?

[Stugotz]

Oh, yeah, that's right. Well, that's why he was doing that to us. Your Pacino. Your Pacino was great. I'm sorry we interrupted you.

[Dan LeBatard]

No, no, no, no, that was nice. That was a nice little break. So. So, you know, there's a lot of pressure to get him on the plane. And right after he does that speech, he bangs open the door and there's a beautiful long crane shot that goes through the bathroom, through the doorway, and lands on me and then pans to him, lands on me dead. Pans to him and he says, there are no friends in this business, primo. And he takes the money and leaves. Well, when the camera got to me, my eyes were blinking because I was so jittery on caffeine that De Palma would yell, cut. And it happened four or five times, and by the fifth time, it was like De Palma decided to take Pacino aside, and I Could hear the conversation because I was stuck in a pool of fake blood. And he says, I'm just. I'm sorry about this. I know you got a plane to catch, but I'm just gonna, like, not go to the kid, and I'm going to just stay on you. And I was devastated. I thought for sure my acting career was going to be over. I'm playing dead. I can't even do that.

[Stugotz]

You're disappointing Pacino while just laying on your side, trying, not. Trying not to get in the way. Trying to hide under the.

[Billy]

Under the floor, a pool of blood.

[Dan LeBatard]

Dude. So embarrassed. So embarrassed, Barrett. Shame, Shame. And Pacino says, give me a minute. Clears the entire room. Everyone leaves. So I'm like, guess I got to get out of this sticky fake blood. And I'm starting to move. And he's like, no, no, stay, stay. I'm going to have. I just needed everyone to get out of here. I'm going to have a. I'm going to have an espresso. Do you want one? That's the last thing I should be drinking, but I'm not going to say no to an espresso from Al Pacino. Like, yeah, sure. And we have an espresso. I don't know what we talked about, but it lasted maybe, you know, 45 seconds. And he's like, all right, let's do this. And we go back in. And it gets to that moment where I was hearing cut over and over again, and I don't hear cut. And it continues. And I hear his line, and I feel his, you know, his fingers taking the money. And he leaves. I hear his footsteps. And then I hear a cut. And Brian saying, we got it. That's it. It's a wrap. And then Pacino, as everyone is wishing him good luck and surrounding him, I'm just looking at him from afar, still on the floor, covered in fake blood. And he turns around, and this is like an iconic moment for me. But he turns around just as he's leaving the room, and he. And. And he shouts out to the room, if I win them both, I ain't coming back. And he leaves. And I was like, that's my man.

[Billy]

You think you're big time.

[Dan LeBatard]

You're going to die big time.

[Stugotz]

The Diamond King is available Friday, April 25. Why does the project mean something to you? Because I'm being told it's a dream project for you.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah, I love documentaries, man. I'm a documentary nerd. I love sports documentaries, and I love baseball, and I always, you know, Wanted to be Morgan Freeman and narrate a movie. So all those three things came together, and then they told me what the project was about, the subject, and it's a baseball artist named Dick Perez, who's Puerto Rican. He grew up in New York City, and I didn't know who he was, and I used to collect baseball cards. So when I found out who he was, there were parallels to my life, and I jumped right in and did it. And I'm so glad because I think it's a beautiful film.

[Mina Kimes]

Is it true that your son is named Clemente after Roberto Clemente?

[Dan LeBatard]

He is named Clemente.

[Mina Kimes]

My cousin's name is Roberto, after Roberto Clemente.

[Dan LeBatard]

Really?

[Mina Kimes]

Yeah. If you combine them, you'd have Roberto Clemente.

[Billy]

Wow.

[Dan LeBatard]

There you go. We got to get them together.

[Mina Kimes]

But his middle name is Fenway for some reason. But we don't talk about that.

[Stugotz]

It's fine. The Diamond King on Video, On Demand, on Apple tv, Prime Video, Google tv, and more. Thank you, John. Appreciate your work. Bad Monkey and elsewhere, Carlito's Way.

[Dan LeBatard]

Most of all, thanks so much. It was a pleasure being here.

[Stugotz]

Thank you, sir. Appreciate your time. Yeah, big time.

[Mike Ryan]

That was great.

[Billy]

Big time.

[Stugotz]

Pleasure. It's an excellent Pacino that you did. I meant to ask him whether a legacy game can be inconclusive because I don't feel like we have said, yes, that subject enough, I don't think. Also, we talked enough about the Knicks and the Pistons and the NBA players have voted Tyrese Halliburton the most overrated player in the league.

[Billy]

Really.

[Stugotz]

Which seems unfair. He's a really good player.

[Billy]

That just means they don't like him.

[Stugotz]

But it's so strange. Like, he's. He's an excellent player.

[Mike Ryan]

Like, it's a hallmark of a good show when you have so many things he wanted to get to and can. We didn't even dive deep at all in the new dangerous alliance between Seth Frickin Rollins and Bron Breakker and also.

[Chris Cody]

JD Vance and the Pope and the Cavender twins video.

[Mike Ryan]

Also, Kanye used to suck his cousin's.

[Stugotz]

No, let's not do that. Oh, let's not do that.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah.

[Stugotz]

The cavender twins and J.D. vance. J.D. vance killed the Pope.

[Mina Kimes]

Well, there's a lot of memes going around because J.D. vance met with the Pope, obviously, a few hours before he died. And the memes are things like, what is JD Vance's full name? And it's just Killed DA Pope Vance and things of that nature. So he's getting a lot of flack for it. I've seen a lot of people also saying he didn't kill the Pope. The Pope met him and then killed him himself, which is very dark. But that's not what happened. A lot of people actually wasn't able.

[Mike Ryan]

To meet with him.

[Mina Kimes]

That if this were a Veep episode, it would have. It would have crushed, which. That I do agree with.

[Mike Ryan]

And how about the timing for our partners over at Peacock, with Conclave premiering soon.

[Billy]

I was going to say, have you seen Conclave? That movie's awesome, dude.

[Mike Ryan]

I've never been so enraptured with a bunch of old dudes voting.

[Billy]

Movie's awesome.

[Mina Kimes]

I would vote for Ralph Fiennes to be the new Pope.

[Stugotz]

Is. Is Conclave a movie? I thought it was a series. I didn't know it was just one movie.

[Mike Ryan]

It's a movie.

[Stugotz]

Okay.

[Mike Ryan]

And it's actually for Best Picture. Yeah. Yeah. No, it's. It's you.

[Dan LeBatard]

You're.

[Mike Ryan]

You'll be totally gripped by this movie about voting.

[Billy]

Yeah.

[Stugotz]

Zazzle. I'm surprised that Zazlow got ensnared.

[Billy]

Yeah. I don't know anything about that process.

[Mike Ryan]

I just.

[Billy]

This is incredible.

[Mike Ryan]

I couldn't believe how many times I went during a movie about old guys voting.

[Mina Kimes]

It's a. It's like a mystery thriller about electing a pope, and it's great. It was not. I think it won best adapted screenplay. Right. Because it was based off of a book and the ending is. There's a twist at the end. The twist in the end of the book apparently, is different than the movie. I haven't read the book.

[Dan LeBatard]

Now.

[Mina Kimes]

I don't think I am gonna read the book because I've seen the movie. But anyways, I digress. Ray. Fine. Stanley Tucci. Which one would you vote for? Dan or mystery third pope? Italian guy who vapes or John Lithgow?

[Stugotz]

I'm a big fan of.

[Mina Kimes]

Who would you vote for? Pick one.

[Stugotz]

I'm gonna. I'm gonna try and watch Conclave.

[Mina Kimes]

Pick one. Italian guy who? Vapes.

[Chris Cody]

Yeah.

[Mina Kimes]

Stanley Tucci. Ray finds John.

[Stugotz]

I thought it wasn't Ray finds. I thought it was Ralph. I thought it was Ray.

[Mike Ryan]

I thought it was his friends call him Ray.

[Stugotz]

No, I think it's Rally.

[Mina Kimes]

Just pick one.

[Stugotz]

I'm picking fines.

[Chris Cody]

Wow.

[Mina Kimes]

Oh, I wanted you to say the Italian guy, because then I would have said, you're a fascist.

[Chris Cody]

Wow.

[Mike Ryan]

Because he's.

[Stugotz]

Why don't you just tell me?

[Chris Cody]

Okay.

[Dan LeBatard]

Say this.

[Chris Cody]

Say the Italian guys.

[Stugotz]

It's still Ray. Fine. Though I thought it's still Ralph.

[Mike Ryan]

It's neither.

[Stugotz]

All right, The Italian, he stinks.

[Mina Kimes]

Don't vote for him.

[Mike Ryan]

Fascist.

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[Roy]

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