Hour 2: Jonathan Yaslow & Jeremy Forplé

Summary

The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz – Hour 2: Jonathan Yaslow & Jeremy Forplé

Release Date: March 20, 2025

In this engaging episode of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz, hosts Dan LeBatard, Stugotz, and guests Jonathan Zaslow and Jeremy Forplé delve into a variety of topics spanning sports, pop culture, and beyond. Hosted from the Elser Hotel in Downtown Miami, the conversation is both lively and insightful, offering listeners a comprehensive look into current events and personal anecdotes. Below is a detailed summary of the episode's key discussions, complete with notable quotes and timestamps.

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1. Introduction and Polls

Jonathan Zaslow kicks off the episode by introducing a couple of interactive polls to engage the audience.

• Jai Alai Awareness: Zaslow asks, “Do you know what jai alai is at Lebatard Show?” ([01:15]).

• Endangerment of Sports Anchors: He follows up with, “Is the sports anchor endangered, yes or no?” ([01:15]).

These polls set the stage for the evening's discussions, touching on both niche sports and the evolving landscape of sports journalism.

2. Jonathan Zaslow’s Role at ESPN

The conversation shifts to Jonathan Zaslow’s position at ESPN, highlighting his creation of "ESPN on ESPN Crime" amidst workplace tensions.

• Zaslow remarks, “I'm creating ESPN on ESPN Crime because a coworker is mad at Jonathan.” ([01:15]).

Mike Ryan Ruiz questions the classification of picks as "celebrity picks," leading to a playful debate about expertise versus celebrity status in sports commentary.

• Ruiz asserts, “These are just expert picks. They're not celebrity picks.” ([02:22]).

The hosts navigate workplace dynamics and perceptions of credibility, emphasizing the importance of expertise in sports analysis.

3. Critique of the TV Show "White Lotus"

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to dissecting the latest season of "White Lotus."

• Mike Ryan Ruiz shares his frustration: “I watch every single week, and nothing happens. Nothing happens every single week.” ([07:07]).

• Zaslow reacts strongly to a controversial plot point: “Brothers kissing on the lips in a way that's not French kissing made me recoil.” ([08:27]).

The hosts debate the show's pacing and narrative choices, with Zaslow expressing discomfort over certain character dynamics. They discuss spoiler alerts and the impact of shocking twists on audience reception.

4. The Rise and Longevity of Comedian Shane Gillis

Jonathan Zaslow brings attention to comedian Shane Gillis, questioning his potential longevity in the comedy world.

• Zaslow asks, “Is Shane Gillis gonna go down with Richard Pryor and all of these all-time greats?” ([12:10]).

Tony emphasizes the need for sustained performance: “He needs the longevity of what Richard Pryor would do, what Eddie Murphy would do.” ([15:08]).

The discussion explores what it takes for a comedian to achieve lasting success, comparing Gillis’s rapid rise to legends like Pryor and Murphy.

5. Elon Musk’s Popularity and Business Moves

The hosts transition to a critical analysis of Elon Musk, examining his public perception and business strategies.

• Zaslow questions Musk’s likability: “It seems like Elon Musk isn't polling well with anybody because it's almost impossible to be likable when you're that rich.” ([16:32]).

• Ruiz adds, “Why do you want to change everything about this country when it kind of worked out?” ([16:53]).

They discuss Musk's ventures, including his acquisition of Twitter, and the backlash resulting from his business decisions. The conversation touches on the complexities of wealth and public image, particularly for high-profile billionaires.

6. Battle Court: Reviving Jai Alai in Miami

A dedicated segment explores Battle Court, a unique take on the traditional sport of jai alai, highlighting its revival efforts in Miami.

• Tony introduces the significance: “A big piece of Miami history is highlight and understanding what that means in its context of the sport and what it means to Miami and the Hispanic culture.” ([24:44]).

• Jon Weiner explains the sport's nuances: “Battle Court is a very unique version of the sport that is played nowhere else.” ([25:25]).

The hosts discuss the challenges of making jai alai accessible to new players and the cultural importance of preserving traditional sports. They emphasize the passion and dedication of those involved in keeping Battle Court vibrant in the Miami sports scene.

7. Boston Celtics’ Record-Breaking Sale

The conversation shifts to The Boston Celtics and their unprecedented franchise sale.

• Zaslow remarks on the financial milestone: “The Boston Celtics have sold for a record amount of money for a North American franchise.” ([33:05]).

• Ruiz humorously suggests, “I hope the new owner relocates them. F them to Seattle or something.” ([33:33]).

The hosts analyze the implications of such a significant sale, speculating on potential relocations and the impact on the team's legacy. They compare the Celtics' sale to other major sports franchise transactions, highlighting its uniqueness in the sports business landscape.

8. Recap on Mookie Betts Trade

A retrospective look at the infamous Mookie Betts trade between the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers unfolds.

• Dan LeBatard summarizes the trade: “On February 10, 2020, the Red Sox traded Mookie Betts and David Price to the Dodgers for Alex Verdugo, Jeter Downs, and Connor Wong.” ([38:27]).

• Zaslow criticizes the decision: “That's one of the most overwhelmingly terrible trades I can think of maybe in baseball history.” ([39:36]).

The discussion underscores the long-term ramifications of trading a star player like Betts, evaluating the Dodgers' success post-trade and the Red Sox's strategy. They debate the financial and competitive outcomes, reinforcing the trade as a pivotal moment in baseball history.

9. Final Thoughts and Highlights

In the concluding segments, the hosts promote upcoming events and reflect on the topics discussed.

• Jon Weiner invites listeners to attend a Cyclones game: “Fridays are open to the public. It is free to attend.” ([23:56]).

• Tony wraps up with a love letter to Miami, celebrating the city's sports culture: “This is part of the Tony tonight series where we uncover... places that we go.” ([24:24]).

The episode closes with a blend of promotion for future events and a recap of the night's vibrant discussions, leaving listeners informed and entertained.

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Notable Quotes:

• “I watch every single week, and nothing happens.” – Mike Ryan Ruiz ([07:07])

• “Brothers kissing on the lips in a way that's not French kissing made me recoil.” – Jonathan Zaslow ([08:27])

• “Shane Gillis gonna go down with Richard Pryor and all of these all-time greats?” – Jonathan Zaslow ([12:10])

• “It seems like Elon Musk isn't polling well with anybody because it's almost impossible to be likable when you're that rich.” – Jonathan Zaslow ([16:32])

• “That's one of the most overwhelmingly terrible trades I can think of maybe in baseball history.” – Jonathan Zaslow ([39:36])

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This episode of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz offers a rich tapestry of discussions, blending critical analysis with personal insights. From the intricacies of traditional sports to the dynamics of modern pop culture, the hosts and guests provide a multifaceted perspective that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. Whether you're a sports enthusiast or a pop culture aficionado, this episode delivers content that is both comprehensive and engaging.

Transcript

[Dan LeBatard]

You're listening to DraftKings Network. The 2025 NCAA March Madness Men's Tournament is back and this time it is bringing all the feels. The biggest event in Connor sports tips off March 18th and you don't want.

[Jon Weiner]

To miss a second of the heart pumping action.

[Dan LeBatard]

Catch all the clutch shots, big time plays, upsets, Cinderellas, Blue Bloods and more. Tune in to the N Men's Division 1 Basketball Championship March 18 through April 7 on TBS, CBS, TNT, TruTV and Stream on Max.

[Clinton Yates]

Some people just know they could save hundreds on car insurance by checking Allstate First. Like you know to check the Jumbotron first before attempting to eat a stack of Supreme Nachos in one bite. Now you're just a meme that everyone shares on game day. Checking first is smart, so check Allstate first for a quote that could save you hundreds. You're in good hands with Allstate. Savings vary, subject to terms, conditions and availability. Allstate Fire and Casualty Insurance Company and Affiliates Northbrook, Illinois this is the Dan.

[Jon Weiner]

Levator show with the Stugats podcast.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

I want to put this on the poll, even though I know the answer to this question here amid our audience just because we talk so much too much about Chris Cody owning a Sesta Cyclones highlight team. But I just want to put on the poll at Lebatard show. The question do you know what jai Alai is at Lebatard Show? And I also want to put on there Is the sports anchor endangered, yes or no? Jonathan Zaslow, who's in with us today. We'll have a segment on Highlight here with Tony and Mike toward the end of this hour. But Jonathan Zaslow's in here today. He's a rising star at espn and he's a rising star at ESPN who's creating ESPN on ESPN Crime because a co worker is mad at Jonathan. Heard about that and Jonathan Zaslow's placement in a strange place that I wasn't expecting to find him. It is a strange thing. Jonathan Zaslow was under the banner headline.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

Celebrity Picks College Basketball. Celebrity Picks.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

I don't understand how you're a celebrity. I didn't understand entirely how Jay Bilis would be considered a celebrity at espn. These are just expert picks. They're not celebrity picks. And somebody's mad that Jonathan Zaslow gets to make picks and that they don't get to make.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

My name's right up top there. You got Dick Vital and it's a picture of him and it's who he selects and it's Seth Greenberg and It's Jay Bilis, and it's me. I'm right next to those guys. And there's my pick. Obviously, I picked the Florida Gators. That's my alma mater, but I'm right there. I'm right there on the tournament challenge apple, where you can compete against celebrities like myself. I'm right there. And from what I understand, not everybody is pleased with me being. Because apparently my picture, my name is one of the first ones there. Clinton Yates, ESPN radio. I heard today he is not pleased that my name is right, that. That my picture, my name is front and center. And he's not there. He's not happy about it. Hang with him, Clinton.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Put it on the poll. Hang with him, Clinton. Yes or no? Roy, I saw a look across your face. I didn't know what it is that the thought was. So if you would like to share it with us, I'm here for it.

[Jon Weiner]

Yeah. Probably not a good idea for me to share that right now, but yeah, Clinton Yates, good guy. I'm gonna defend him in most aspects of.

[Dan LeBatard]

Did you just.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

No. Comment me?

[Jon Weiner]

Yes, I did. I did. I'm with him on that. You're putting me in a bad spot here. Roy. You were producing the day that he slept, the day that he was supposed to fill in, right? Yes, Yes, I was. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

I don't know what the look was on your face. I was confused by the look on your face. Clinton Yates is complaining about something.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

Celebrity picker. That's not my fault. Come on.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

I don't feel like any of those people should be classified as celebrity pickers if all they're doing is being experts picking games on that website. Like, might be celebrities outside of espn. But I think if they're.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

I think because you're competing against us, where you're competing against the celebrities. That's the point. In.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

In the.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

In the app, in the tournament challenge.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Have you risen to the point that you should be somewhere on the marquee with first?

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

Sure. Everybody knows, especially when it comes to college football, because I host college football tailgate on ESPN Radio. College football experts, you got Paul Finebaum, you got Heather Dennis. You got me. Everybody knows. Those are your college football experts. College basketball. I'm not going to say that I'm exactly a college basketball expert, but certainly there are people out there who would like to compete against me, and that's why I'm up there with Seth Greenberg and Jay Billis and Dick Vital.

[Tony]

Zazzle. Why did. Why was it that you didn't know, like, half the People on my list.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

You don't worry about that. All right? All you need to know is that you can compete against me in the tournament app challenge. That's it. That's all you know. No one's interested in how many players I can name. Nobody's ever thought about that.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

He was going to ask Tony what that look was on his face when I called Zaslow a celebrity and why it is that he looked like he had walked into a bathroom that had left a lingering bad smell. But now I have have my answer, which is, he doesn't think you're a celebrity or an expert. He thinks you're just somebody whose faces enraged Clinton Yates on the website because it doesn't belong next to Dick Vitals.

[Tony]

We're trying to figure out, like, is it alphabetical?

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

Maybe.

[Tony]

But there was like, Jonathan, it's like, no, Zaslow.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

Nobody ever starts Z at the beginning. So it's certainly not alphabetical. It's. You're trying to get people to sign up on the app. And the way you do that is you put some of your biggest celebrities in the front, and that's why you have my face right there with my pick. Everybody wants to know who I pick. The Gators. Everybody sees my face right there, and they're like, I would love to compete against this celebrity.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

I can't believe Roy no commented me.

[Jon Weiner]

Talking about Clinton Yates here, man.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

I don't know what your relationship. Jesus. Like, I don't know why.

[Jon Weiner]

Next to me, as I was calling, where is Clinton? Yes, I was. I was there. The show has started. Where is Clinton? You always left. That's what happens sometimes. You could have said that. I could have.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

Most celebrities don't oversleep. That's why I'm up there.

[Jon Weiner]

That's right.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Clinton Yates came after you. And I heard.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

I heard.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

I believe that Clinton Yates has a. I believe that Clinton Yates justifiable. I do that with Y's and J's all the time.

[Jon Weiner]

It's a Cuban thing.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

I can't help it. I called him Ya Morant.

[Jon Weiner]

That was hilarious.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

I believe Clinton Yates has a reasonable gripe because he's been at ESPN a lot longer than our beloved Jonathan Yaslow. How do you feel, Zas, about White Lotus? We have been.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

Oh, my God. This White Lotus. Go on. I'm sorry.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

No, that's all right.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

Okay. All I'm saying is I've been watching this White Lotus now for three seasons, and I'm watching this one. I watch every single week, and I really enjoy the show. Let's not, you know, brush that under the rug. I like the show, but I sit there and I watch this show every single week and nothing happens. Nothing happens every single week. I sit there waiting for. Now, something kind of happened this past week, you know, a little incest. Something kind of happened this week, but for the most part, every single week. Is there such thing as a little incest? Every single week I'm waiting for something to happen. And the only thing that ever happens in the show is in the final episode. Nothing happens the entire season. I'm just sitting there with nothing.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

I think that's a fair criticism. I think White I've said before, some version of White Lotus has had four episodes so far this season and produced about an episode and a half of material. But when he says a little incest, spoiler alert. Because I've gotten in trouble for that this week. I did have a visceral reaction. It was a strangely visceral reaction. Again, spoiler alert here. So that he's left it vague enough that you don't know who the incest is between. And I'm not actually sure cuz I don't know how this particular definition works. But brothers kissing on the lips in a way that's not French kissing made me recoil. Even though they're actors and not actually brothers, that's the right response. They tricked me into thinking that they're brothers. And I did have a recoil on that that was instantaneous on. Wait a minute. Adult brothers kissing? That feels an uncommon kind of wrong for me in a way that I haven't seen on television before.

[Tony]

Unless you betray your brother. And Michael had to kiss Fred on the lips in Cuba to let him know it was you.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

That was okay.

[Dan LeBatard]

It was you.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

No one recoiled it like that was like, yeah, I get it. I get what he's doing there. What we saw in the White Lotus. Like, I don't get what he's doing there. And part of the weirdness, I guess, was that one of them seemingly really enjoyed it and the other one did not like it at all.

[Dan LeBatard]

I was like, well, he was questioning whether or not he liked it, I think is really what's.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Well, they were on X.

[Dan LeBatard]

They were on several things. And a boat.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Again, I should have said a bunch of different spoiler alerts and I did not because of the implication every time. But I thought I was okay because it was last Sunday and now it's Thursday. You guys told me, well, we're supposed.

[Dan LeBatard]

To do spoiler Wednesday, Dan, not spoiler Thursday.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

But that didn't make you like that. Didn't shock you as much as Sam Rockwell's monologue, Right?

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Well, that's another spoiler.

[Dan LeBatard]

How did they put an episode.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

Same episode. A show that gives you nothing every single week. Nothing every year. Nothing happens in this show. They gave you both of those in the same.

[Dan LeBatard]

Nothing happens in white. Nothing happen is being you're someone who doesn't like foreplay. That's what White Lotus is. White Lotus is just hours and hours of foreplay.

[Jon Weiner]

Jeremy.

[Tony]

Foreplay expert.

[Dan LeBatard]

Well, I mean, quite the visual we've.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

I mean, yeah.

[Jon Weiner]

Did you see that?

[Jonathan Zaslow]

I mean, we don't need to be doing foreplay after incest. Like, we don't need to be. They did. They literally. Not talking about the incident, but they literally gave you that last week. They gave you. What is the promise of whatever that party is going to become between brothers and others? What are you guys smirking about back there?

[Jon Weiner]

My God, Jeremy.

[Dan LeBatard]

Just picture Jeremy.

[Jon Weiner]

Let me see. Let me. Let me look at your tongue.

[Dan LeBatard]

I don't see that thing.

[Jon Weiner]

Let's see it. Say cc.

[Dan LeBatard]

I'm not gonna do that.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

You did create, Jeremy, for everybody. The discomfort of. Really, Jeremy, you're gonna be confident foreplay guy.

[Jon Weiner]

I like it. Do you do that fist bump every.

[Dan LeBatard]

Everywhere else? I am a confident person. Just not this studio.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Well, but that one.

[Dan LeBatard]

Hell, yeah, brother.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Look, a lot of people.

[Jon Weiner]

I like it too.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Can be confident about their abilities with foreplay. Very few would say so out loud among their friends.

[Jon Weiner]

Real ones, though.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

The number. The number of people who would say, put it on the poll at Lebatard show. Are you good at foreplay at Lebatard show? And do you want to hear your friend talk about how he's good at foreplay? Because there are two things I don't want to imagine among any of my friends. Any of them. I don't want to imagine any of them embarking upon foreplay. I don't want to imagine any of you wiping your ass either. Those are the two things I'd like to keep out of my life forevermore.

[Jon Weiner]

A little secret. Just say Ryan Linger Hans over and over again with your tongue.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

I thought it was Sid Separatist. I thought that's what you were doing.

[Jon Weiner]

You know, Depends.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

I don't want to talk about this anymore. I find myself to be deeply, deeply disturbed by everything we're talking about.

[Jon Weiner]

But I did get you thinking about Ryan Lingerhans.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

I didn't need that in my life.

[Jon Weiner]

Think about him the next time.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

I really don't want to think about any of this anymore. The thing that I did want to ask you guys because I'm watching something happening here that I haven't seen a lot of. And I would ask you in my entire life, I haven't seen a lot of it. And I would ask you if you guys believe that what is presently happening is going to be enduring for Shane Gillis. Shane Gillis is the most popular comic in the world right now. After. What are you guys laughing about back there?

[Dan LeBatard]

I'm just saying. Ryan Langerhans. I'm just taking this thing for a walk.

[Jon Weiner]

See how it works.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Taking what a walk, aren't you?

[Jon Weiner]

See who salutes.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

And you, please. I don't want to I. One of magic.

[Jon Weiner]

Oh, no. What are we doing? You got. I'm bleeping that way too far on that one.

[Dan LeBatard]

Audio audiences are gonna know if you ain't.

[Jon Weiner]

You're doing it wrong. Bones. I'll fist you.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

The thing that I wanted to ask you guys about Shane Gillis is he is presently selling out arenas in less than a day where he puts the tickets on sale and they sell out right away. And that's not something I've ever seen in my life of any comedian. But whatever it is that you imagine to be the most enduring comedians because I remember Kevin Hart famously sold out a football stadium and was the first comedian to do that, not just in Philadelphia, but that any of us had seen. And the question I'm asking you guys, is Shane Gillis gonna go down with Richard Pryor and all of these all time greats as he's done Saturday Night twice in the last 11 months. And he is helping Saturday Night Live more than Saturday Night Live is helping him. And he's done it twice in 11 months after being let go by Saturday night Live without ever appearing on Saturday Night Live. So there aren't a lot of stories like this.

[Jon Weiner]

I mean, first things first, he's got to get out of the west.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Shane Gillis Alexander is the joke he's making there. Oh, that's what it was. It's never good when I have to.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

Explain it to the co host because he's still just.

[Dan LeBatard]

Alexander might not be able to say.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Get out of the west in what sport?

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

You just.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

You went.

[Jon Weiner]

Yeah, in hockey.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

I knew the sport. I knew the sport. I didn't get the reference though. Then when you got it, I like it.

[Jon Weiner]

You were smiling. Like I said, Ryan linger.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

I like it.

[Tony]

Dan. To be honest though, I think he needs the longevity. Right? Like he's come onto the scene so quickly, from the time that he was working in Philly and doing his own thing to now getting to Austin, doing stuff with Rogan and like really exploding in that scene. He needs the longevity of what a Richard Pryor would do, what an Eddie Murphy would do, what a Dave Chappelle would do. Where you have these year in, year out, he's putting out great specials, he's selling out these arenas, but he continues to evolve his act as he, as he matures.

[Jon Weiner]

That's an excellent point for Richard Pryor as an example, and Kevin Hart, who's shown that he has longevity. There's also Andrew Dice Clay and Dane Cook, guys that were like the biggest acts at the time, but other time.

[Tony]

Dice is back, by the way.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Joe Rogan's numbers as he continues to help an era of comedy that looks different than most before it, his numbers have dropped. He's no longer the number one podcast in America. Midas Touch has almost doubled his numbers recently. And part of the reason for it is a lot of his listeners are really upset about the Elon Musk, Joe Rogan, that class of richness, talking to them them about the sacrifices that they need to make on behalf of America. They're upset about Elon Musk. Elon Musk. You guys been watching what's been happening with Tesla and the Tesla stock and how it is he is just getting obliterated because we were talking earlier about likability. It seems like Elon Musk isn't polling well with anybody because it's almost impossible to be likable when you're that rich. When so many of the people absorbing you have the issues that they have with and around money, they just. I don't know who gets to be the rich person who's hugely likable when.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

There'S the billionaire who people like famous.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

For being rich, right?

[Jon Weiner]

And Bill Burr kind of nailed this one on the head. They also don't like being told what to do by a guy that the system kind of worked out for you. Like under Joe Biden, you became the richest man on the planet. Like, what is your problem as a billionaire? Like, how are you so mad with this country? Why do you want to change everything about this country when it kind of worked out?

[Dan LeBatard]

Because it's not just white people.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

The place that Elon Musk finds himself in at the moment, I'm curious whether he knew what he was in for, whether he could have had any idea. Because anyone can get around and get behind the idea of, yes, please, slash government inefficiency that seems like a great idea to. To just slash that. But the intended and unintended consequences of that. When you're doing something like paying $44 billion to be the popular high school kid who has bought Twitter, my guess is that he had not accounted for the backlash on we don't like you. Like I thought that was what he was trying to buy. It wasn't just power and influence that he was trying to buy. I thought he was trying to buy.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

You think he thought this was gonna make him popular?

[Jonathan Zaslow]

I thought he didn't think it was going to make him this unpopular.

[Jon Weiner]

Yeah. Because usually if he. Politicians that climb aboard the Trump train, it's worked out, won the popular vote and they do see, at least within their own party, their star ascend. It hasn't been the case for Elon Musk. That could also be because part of the campaign, even though he was adjacent to the campaign, the size and scope of his job, it wasn't really a campaign issue. So there is a bait and switch aspect to all the power that he's getting. But yeah, this is billionaires. He's. It's a type of super villain. It's like a Bond villain type of guy. No one's like Bond villain is a path to likability.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

No, he's Lex Luthor is what it feels like. Right.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

I don't know how it is that you get to likable when what people associate with you is you're the richest person in the world and he's not anymore. Right. Like the amount of. If you can give me some of the numbers on how much money he has cost to Tesla recently and himself. It is a bit breathless, breathtaking and I don't even understand it how it is that you can lose these sums or make these sums of money. Even if you are on the cusp of innovation and the future and a gasless society that runs on electric cars.

[Dan LeBatard]

Elon Musk is still the number one richest person in the world. And that'll only get better because the commerce Secretary was on Fox yesterday telling everyone to buy Teslas but super legal.

[Tony]

But imagine you have somebody who is the richest person in the world, has gone through all these things and is still the richest person in the world even though he lost all this money on stock. So how far ahead was he to then tumble to then still be there?

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Bezos gave away. I'm sorry, lost half of his wealth in the divorce and then quickly made it right back immediately after being divorced because of the separation between the wealthiest people. In the world now. And the people who don't have money.

[Jon Weiner]

Yeah, percentages on interest. Like you can make that back very, very easily. The Tesla thing, though, like there's a subtext to why he did that thing at the White House too, is because when he purchased X, he borrowed money to purchase X and as collateral, he put up shares of Tesla. So if it dips below a certain price, that puts the X thing in jeopardy.

[Tony]

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[Dan LeBatard]

Hey, friends, it's Jerbear here and I'm here to tell you all about Boost Mobile, which is now a legit nationwide 5G network. So I must take a break from the jokes here for a second and put on my serious voice because I would never, ever joke about a 5G network that has invested billions building 5G towers across the country. Not even once. Not even if Mr. Boost Mobile himself asked me to. There is nothing funny about it. Boost Mobile is now a legit nationwide 5G network and also provides coverage across 99% of America. Seriously? Visit boostmobile.com or your nearest Boost Mobile store location to learn more. The Boost Mobile network, together with our roaming partners, covers 99% of the US population. 5G speeds not available in all areas.

[Jeremy]

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[Jonathan Zaslow]

Don LeBatard. No one else here is willing to do a trump or a biden.

[Tony]

That's not true, Dan.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Okay, Tony, you can catch up. Dan.

[Tony]

Of a thousand impersonations.

[Dan LeBatard]

That's not bad, man.

[Jon Weiner]

Finally.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Pretty good Stugach.

[Tony]

Yours is terrible.

[Dan LeBatard]

You just gotta get a little redder, a little pinker. You're right there, man.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Yours is not that you're biting.

[Dan LeBatard]

What do you mean?

[Tony]

Oh, his is good.

[Dan LeBatard]

That's actually not bad. Not terrible. That's not terrible. We gotta come together. A little George Bush in that one.

[Jon Weiner]

This is the Dan Levatar show with the Stugach.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Let's go now here to this highlight thing that Mike and Tony did. I'd like to watch this together because what. What would you guys tell people by way of tease on what this is?

[Jon Weiner]

Well, I would love for people to come out on Friday night. The Cyclones are playing. Fridays are open to the public. It's the only day that battle court is open to the public. It is free to attend. We are going to have a big crew out there. A lot of people from the show are going to be rudin our sessions Cyclones. Even though they're just the cyclones now, it's hard cessa Cyclones is so close to my heart. But we're going to be out there causing a ruckus, causing a scene, cheap drinks. Come on out. Have a good time with us, Dan.

[Tony]

This is part of the Tony tonight series where we uncover it's my love letter to Miami and the things that we do and places that we go. A big piece of Miami history is highlight and understanding what that means in its context of the sport and what it means to Miami and the Hispanic culture that comes from Spain down to Miami. I talked to Mike, who's obviously a co owner of one of the teams.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Good get?

[Tony]

Yeah, great get.

[Jon Weiner]

Well, this was also several months ago, so I'm going to be made very uncomfortable with how I look fat.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Were you fat?

[Jon Weiner]

Yes, you could say that.

[Tony]

You know, whatever. And then we got players, we got coaches, we got a whole bunch of people. So this is Tony. Tonight invades highlight. All right, we're here with the king of the battle court. We're here with the mayor of the magic city, Fronton, Mike Ryan Ruiz, owner of the Cyclones.

[Jon Weiner]

Co owner.

[Tony]

Co owner of the Cyclones. Where's your other co owner?

[Jon Weiner]

I think Baja Mar.

[Tony]

That's a nice spot.

[Jon Weiner]

Yeah, he's already in Cancun. Depending on how you look at it this season, going our way, how does.

[Tony]

It feel to be an owner of a highlight?

[Jon Weiner]

Team Battlecourt? Team Battle Court. There is a difference. For the uninitiated, there is the great sport of Hylai, which originated in the Basque region. And what Battle Court has done is applied a team concept to it. It works kind of like team racquetball, in a sense. Florida is the only place where this sport is played in this country, and Battle Court is a very unique version of the sport that is played nowhere else. So it's Battle Court.

[Tony]

I feel like growing up, highlight used to be a big deal. Right back in the 80s, you would have this place packed, thousands of people watching jai alai. The transition from then to now. Like, what's happened with Hailai as a sport?

[Jon Weiner]

Well, I think the sport is right now at an exciting inflection point, and it's accessible nationwide via YouTube, the Hilai app. Watch ESPN and ESPN3. I wasn't quite at the age where it was peaking and it was a place to see and be seen, but I'm of the age where these places started closing down. Dany Ally is still kind of cooking, keeping the sport alive, but. But there used to be plenty of other places nearby where you can watch jai alai and it kind of got said. And our show has a very proud history of trying to do its best to revive it.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Come on, Stugups.

[Clinton Yates]

Hey.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Hi.

[Jon Weiner]

Ryan Pelota. A real natural fit that the Levitard show and cast members adjacent to it are linking up with the board and trying to revive it. I think you've been out here for a game before.

[Tony]

Multiple times I've been out here.

[Jon Weiner]

It's a fun atmosphere. We get people into it. Our side in particular starts chanting and acting all sorts of ridiculous. It's a real fun way to spend a Friday night and all I want is people to give it a chance.

[Tony]

Did you know how much was gonna go into being a highlight owner?

[Jon Weiner]

I can't lie. When I was first approached by the fine folks at Battle Court, I thought it would be largely ceremonial and just an opportunity to cosplay Chris Cody as this ridiculous sports team owner that would parody some really outrageous sports owners. But a funny thing happened when we first got involved. We really liked it and they really empowered us to really manage the roster. We built relationships. I watch so much jai alai. I'm not gambling again. I honor the code. I don't take action in the sport, but I like scouting. I like pretending like I know what I'm talking about. Like I said, we have a proud track record. If you follow the sport closely enough, you can kind of GM it.

[Tony]

Do you think that High li is a sport that is accessible enough for kids to start growing up and playing it right now?

[Jon Weiner]

We were talking about that before. It's a hard sport to get invested in because anybody can pick up a pickleball paddle. Anybody can pick up a racket or soccer ball or pigskin and toss it around. This is. It's. There's not many places down here where you can pick up a cessa number one. They're very hard to find. They're all handmade. And find a wall where you can fire off a pelota at 100 mph without doing some serious damage is a very dangerous sport. So I know it's really difficult to play.

[Tony]

Have you. Have you put on a sesta?

[Jon Weiner]

I have.

[Tony]

Have you thrown the pelota against the wall?

[Jon Weiner]

Not well. Yeah. It's very hard. It feels unnatural. You want to turn your wrist, you want to turn your elbow. You want to do all sorts of things that'll actually injure your arm. I have the ultimate amount of respect for people that do this. Maybe you'll have the opportunity to a cesso on your arm. It'll feel very unnatural. I always have to remind myself of that. Anytime there's like an unforced error and I get frustrated with the player. What they're doing out there is insane.

[Tony]

It's like, how about you do it?

[Jon Weiner]

I would literally die. Not joking. If you put me out there in an intense regulation game of Battle Court, I would die. There's a million decisions that they have to make in a given three set match that their life Literally depends on.

[Tony]

What I like about Battle Court is it almost has the idea of a live where you get teams together and you can start for some. What's your favorite thing about battlecourt?

[Jon Weiner]

Well, it's gonna sound corny, but in getting to know the sport and getting to know the players and knowing people's backgrounds, it's. This is a passion play. These people are deeply passionate about this sport. There's no other way that they would find themselves here on the one place on the planet that plays this brand of highlights. The least I can do is take the time with you, speak in front of cameras and afford our platform platform on the Levit show to really let people to pound to pound the table for something that is really cool and gnarly. Like is it people shouldn't really be doing this is so dangerous and cool to look at. Especially when someone's diving after a robote off this one huge piece of glass I think two players have broken. That's how hard this bulletproof glass that two players have broken with just a serve. And they dive into this net full speed and find a way to acrobatically not injure themselves. I mean, how can you not love it?

[Tony]

Can you explain to me some of the intricacies of the words in highlight? Because there's a lot of great words in highlight.

[Jon Weiner]

Chula kicks to the inside perfectly to score. Chick check.

[Dan LeBatard]

Reina backhand to the outside. That's saved by Julian. Passes Bote, saved by Julian.

[Jon Weiner]

Something very specific to Battle Court here. The Magic City Bounce. I'm not exactly sure what the Magic City Bounce is. Anytime the ball does something you don't expect, you just say, ah, Magic City Bounce.

[Tony]

That's classic.

[Jon Weiner]

Yeah, there are a couple players here that have like, signature tosses. Lopez on. On the Cyclones has this crazy backhand shot.

[Dan LeBatard]

What a catch by Lopez. Here's the backhand lowrunner.

[Jon Weiner]

He's new to the game of Battle Court. He's been playing over in the Basque region on courts that are three times the size of this. So you can imagine on this Battle Court fronton with that bulletproof class. A player that's known for his backhand shot. It is a gnarly shot.

[Dan LeBatard]

Robote rifled to the outside and tipped beautifully played by Lopez.

[Tony]

Do you have a favorite player?

[Jon Weiner]

Our team captain, Manufacturer?

[Tony]

Not Ginobili for those?

[Jon Weiner]

No. But in terms of stature in the sport, he's better than Manu Ginobili. Wow. He's the best backcourter in the world. And he has been on the Cyclone since Battle Court's inception. There are a lot of great people here in the sport. I struck up a friendship with Mike Carballo and I have the ultimate respect for Manu. So those two guys, they're lifelong Cyclones. No matter what happens, even if there are other incarnations of this beautiful jacket, anybody that's ever won a championship with the Cyclones or plays for the Cyclones this year has this beautiful bomber jacket that cost me way too much money that I'm not telling my wife about.

[Tony]

She's not gonna see this. Cynthia, do not watch Mike. Ryan Reeves. Thank you. The mayor of the magic city Fronton, the king of Battle Court himself. The owner, co owner of the Cyclones. We dropped the cesta. Just a Cyclone.

[Jon Weiner]

Just a Cyclone. Oh, it's a. It's an honor.

[Tony]

Thank you for watching Tony tonight.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Did not have Mike being more pear shaped than Manu. Was surprised by that. Got caught off guard.

[Dan LeBatard]

Mike looks good, man. And he looked good.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Then there was more of him. Then there's less of.

[Dan LeBatard]

Just more to love.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Less of him to love these days. The Boston Celtics have just sold for a record amount of money for a North American franchise. Topping the commanders that went for about $6 billion. The Boston Celtics have sold. A good time to sell. Coming off of a championship, I'm a little surprised that it's more than the most expensive football team.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

I hope the new owner relocates them.

[Dan LeBatard]

That would be hilarious.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

Whatever, man. F them to Seattle or something.

[Tony]

See you Boston, Little Rock, Arkansas.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

Whatever. I hope they lose the team.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Did I just hear you mutter or whisper? Was it mutter? Whisper, F them.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

Yeah. Any, anyone, Anyone want to step to that statement about the Boston Celtics? No.

[Jon Weiner]

Cosign, anyone? Nope. I'm over here. Wholeheartedly agree. Thank you. F Boston.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

Thank you.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

That's a lot of winning that's being done in Boston, though, with their basketball team, where they win the championship and then sell for more than a footprint football team. It's like that. Or sell. Sell more. Sell for more than any football team ever.

[Jon Weiner]

Do they get a banner for that?

[Jonathan Zaslow]

They should.

[Dan LeBatard]

David, want to come back on and tell us what a bad business investment it is to buy a sports team because you're going to lose money.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

New guy got ripped off.

[Dan LeBatard]

They made $6 billion in three years.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

Classic overpay.

[Dan LeBatard]

Speaking of Boston, what do you think of Marshan?

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

I'm excited for Marshan. I am. I'm excited.

[Jon Weiner]

I look at you different now.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

Look, I'm trying to win another Stanley cup here, all right? You're talking about.

[Tony]

I'm.

[Jon Weiner]

Why did you bring this loser aboard?

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

He's one of the great postseason players, all right? He's a rat. But he's now our guy, all right?

[Jon Weiner]

Last two postseasons. I haven't been impressed with him.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

I was very. Well, we. We knocked him the last postseason, but now he's on our team. And if the guys in that dressing room are okay with it, then you kind of need to be okay with it, all right?

[Jon Weiner]

You're not about the team is a pretty good point.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

If the guys. If Sam Bennett is okay with it, Mike Ryan, you better be okay with it.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

We were talking about Shane Gillis Alexander earlier, and for those of you who do not remember, this is something that happened. The Oklahoma City Thunder traded Paul George for Shane Gillis Alexander and five first round picks.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

You leave a little bit of context out when you say it like that.

[Jon Weiner]

No. Danilo Gallinari.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

No.

[Jon Weiner]

That's what you were getting at.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

That's not the context. All right. It's a little bit unfair. I'm not trying to defend the Clippers, all right, it was a great trade by Oklahoma City, but you kind of need to add the Kawhi Leonard.

[Jon Weiner]

The Ar. Kawhi.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

Come on.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Well, I will talk about Kawhi Leonard for a second here because I find his story to be hugely interesting. In the shadows, in that it would appear that his body broke down during and with the watch and care of the San Antonio spurs and that whatever his gripes are that have never been made public in his voice, that he left San Antonio, at least in part, because of everything done to his body that has subsequently harmed his career in a way that is obvious because we do not talk about Kawhi Leonard anymore. And when it's The Clippers getting 50 from somebody, they're getting it from James Harden.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

But I think we don't talk about him anymore because there's nothing to talk about. Like, there's nothing new. We've been doing this with Kawhi Leonard. He left in 2019, left Toronto in 2019. So we're going on six years.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Oh, no.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

But.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

No, but my. My point on that is it is in the middle of the Super Team era, Kawhi Leonard won a championship by himself, and whatever that cost his body is something. We haven't seen that dude since. Like, it's been that six years of what should be his prime or something close to his prime, when he was at the height of his powers and at the top of the sport. His body has clearly betrayed him. Him to that point.

[Tony]

It's like, you have James Harden and Kawhi Leonard on the same team. And like, we don't talk about the Clippers ever. And they're, they're not even the best team in their city.

[Dan LeBatard]

They're really good, though. Like, that's the crazy part is they've been good without him. And when he's there, they can beat just about anybody in the West. That's what's really wild right now is there are all these teams right around the play in. You have the Timberwolves who made a run last year. The Clippers, they have the, the same, not the same winning percentage, but they're both 18 games back, so they're sitting at 7 and 8. And then you have Golden State right there is the six season seed just a game ahead of them. So all those teams are vying to square up against whoever the three seed is. But man, when you're thinking about being Oklahoma City or Houston or the lakers as these 1, 2 and 3 seeds, the Clippers, to me, of all those teams might actually be the team I want the least. They're deep, they're big.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

They could have won the.

[Dan LeBatard]

Man, they're good.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

They could have won the championship last year if they'd been healthy.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

Yeah, but we've. I think part of the reason that I'm shaking my head is we've seen this movie before. We're going to get to the playoffs and he's not going to play.

[Dan LeBatard]

No, that's totally fair. And for that matter, when you're looking at one of the other teams there, it's Golden State. Jimmy is going to be there for the playoffs because he hasn't played for a year. So he's going to be available going.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Back to Boston and trades for a second. Can we look back at the Mookie Bets trade? Can we examine the Mookie Betts trade that has to have Boston Red Sox fans still upset?

[Dan LeBatard]

Well, it's really crazy because when you look back at it five years ago, obviously Mookie Betts now just won a World Series with the Dodgers. They're one of the greatest teams you've ever seen. And the Red Sox were on a path when they had Mookie Betts and a whole bunch of these other guys coming up, Xander Bogarts, who's no longer there as well. The reason this came up recently is because Alex Verdugo was an outfielder for the Yankees last year. Not the best season. Still a free agent, kind of surprisingly. He's been a big league player for several years, but he was the headliner in the Mookie Bets trade. So when you look back on February 10, 2020, the Red Sox traded Mookie Betts and David Price to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for Alex Verdugo, Jeter Downs and Connor Wong. Woof. That was the trade that they made. And it's the fact that the Red Sox are even a competitive franchise when they made a trade that bad shows you that they've actually done a pretty good job otherwise. That is one of the most overwhelmingly terrible trades I can think of maybe in baseball history. Mookie Betts is one of the best players of this era by a long shot.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

We were talking with David Sampson earlier this week and he objected to what was a prisoner of the moment contention. He alleged that I was saying that this Dodger roster, you can make the argument that's the best roster that's ever been assembled and the over under on wins for them this season is 104 and a half. And he mentioned the Mariners team, team of Randy Johnson Griffey that won. Was it 111 games or 100 and 116, I believe 116 games. But that team wasn't over under 100 four and a half before the season. I've never seen a team that is expected to win 104 games. That's not something that I've seen in my life.

[Mike Ryan Ruiz]

And taking the over I've been to the Dodgers over the season a104.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

I mean, I mean what is that like you can, you can assemble the argument that Betts, Freeman and Ohtani, you put those three together, that whatever you thought Babe Ruth's murderers row was in 1927, 100 years ago, that it's not as it's not the Dodger lineup of today. Cuz they got Ruth and they got Bets and they got Friedman, they got Freeman like they've got Babe Ruth.

[Dan LeBatard]

Maybe the closest that you have in terms of an era of free agencies, the 98 Yankees. But I don't, don't think there's anything close to what you're seeing. They have a player better than Babe Ruth and he might not even be their best hitter on their team.