Hour 2: Mina Kimes and Greg’s Eyebrows

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
Episode: Hour 2: Mina Kimes and Greg’s Eyebrows
Release Date: January 9, 2025

---

Introduction

In this episode of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz, hosts Dan Le Batard and Stugotz delve into a variety of topics ranging from professional sports dynamics to personal experiences amidst natural disasters. Featuring insightful conversations and humorous anecdotes, the show provides listeners with a comprehensive look into the current sports landscape and the personal lives of those involved.

---

Devondre Campbell’s Public Exit from the 49ers

The discussion kicks off with a focus on Devondre Campbell, a former 49ers player known for his dramatic public departure from the team. Chris Cody expresses curiosity about Campbell’s motivations and the repercussions of his actions.

Notable Quote:
"I'd be curious what that person is thinking." — Chris Cody [01:12]

Mike Ryan reflects on the silence following Campbell’s exit, suggesting it might indicate either a lack of interest or a desire to move past the incident.

Notable Quote:
"I haven’t thought about that name since... we all moved on." — Mike Ryan [02:11]

Mina Kimes draws parallels with other athletes like Vonta Davis and Antonio Brown, questioning whether Campbell plans to return to football elsewhere and the lasting impact of public criticism.

---

Mina Kimes’ Experience with Wildfires in Los Angeles

Mina Kimes shares a deeply personal account of the recent wildfires in Los Angeles, detailing the immediate and emotional impact on her and her loved ones.

Notable Quote:
"It was just absolutely heartbreaking to see." — Mina Kimes [06:29]

She describes the surreal experience of watching neighborhoods burn and the realization of the uncontrollable nature of such disasters. Chris Cody adds to the conversation by discussing the broader implications of climate change and the unexpected severity of the recent fires.

Notable Quote:
"It was stunning. Because we can't put helicopters in the sky because of these winds..." — Mina Kimes [28:00]

---

JJ Redick and Charles Barkley Feud

The hosts transition to a heated discussion about the ongoing feud between JJ Redick and Charles Barkley, exploring the origins and misunderstandings that fueled their conflict.

Notable Quote:
"JJ Redick was asked... he clarified that he wasn't referring to Charles Barkley or the NBA insiders." — Mina Kimes [13:04]

Mina Kimes provides an in-depth analysis, suggesting that social media misinterpretations led to Barkley taking offense to Redick’s comments about the league’s style of play.

Notable Quote:
"He's talking about you and your negativity around NBA basketball." — Mina Kimes [13:37]

The conversation highlights the challenges of public discourse in sports, where miscommunications can escalate into significant conflicts.

---

Impact of Social Media on Sports Narratives

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to examining how social media has transformed the way sports narratives are shaped and consumed. Mina Kimes argues that the league should control its narrative rather than succumb to the often toxic nature of online discourse.

Notable Quote:
"We need the league to control the narrative. It starts with a meeting with the commissioner and broadcasters." — Mina Kimes [18:46]

Mike Ryan echoes these sentiments, emphasizing that the focus should shift back to the enjoyment of the game rather than constant criticism amplified by social media algorithms.

Notable Quote:
"People are saying this, let's follow that. Letting the cart lead the horse rather than the other way around." — Mina Kimes [16:45]

---

Sports Performance and Team Dynamics

The show delves into various sports topics, including player performances, team strategies, and upcoming games. Lucy Rodin and Chris Cody engage in spirited debates about NFL players like Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen, analyzing their MVP candidacies and team impacts.

Notable Quote:
"Josh Allen I would say is a better offensive line. The Ravens offensive line is pretty good." — Lucy Rodin [35:09]

They also discuss the Houston Texans’ prospects, the Philadelphia Eagles’ potential, and broader NFL dynamics, providing listeners with expert opinions and predictions.

---

Personal Anecdotes and Humor

Greg Cody’s humorous subplot involving his eyebrows adds a lighthearted element to the episode. The team’s playful banter about makeup mishaps provides comic relief amidst the more serious discussions.

Notable Quote:
"It looks exactly like someone put two, like sticky patches over his eyebrows and ripped them off." — Mina Kimes [33:55]

---

Closing Remarks

As the episode wraps up, the hosts express gratitude towards their listeners, sharing personal updates and reflections on recent events. Mina Kimes provides further insights into her career advancements and personal challenges, establishing a connection with the audience through her candid storytelling.

---

Conclusion

This episode of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz offers a balanced mix of serious analysis and entertaining anecdotes. From exploring the complexities of athlete behavior and the influence of social media on sports narratives to sharing personal experiences with natural disasters, Dan Le Batard and Stugotz provide a multifaceted perspective that keeps listeners both informed and engaged.

Key Takeaways:

• Devondre Campbell’s Departure: Insights into the personal and professional fallout of public exits in sports.
• Wildfires in LA: A firsthand account highlighting the devastating impact of climate-related disasters.
• Redick-Barkley Feud: Exploration of misunderstandings and the role of social media in escalating conflicts.
• Social Media’s Role: Critical analysis of how online platforms shape sports narratives and fan interactions.
• Sports Analysis: Expert discussions on NFL player performances and team strategies.
• Humor and Humanity: Balancing serious topics with lighthearted moments to engage the audience.

---

Listeners are encouraged to tune in for more in-depth discussions, expert opinions, and the unique blend of humor and insight that The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz consistently delivers.

Transcript

[Dan LeBatard]

You're listening to giraffkings Network.

[Stugotz]

You know that sound?

[Chris Cody]

It's the sound of money hitting your Venmo account. A friend paying you back. Or maybe it's getting cash back from your favorite business when you pay with the Venmo debit card. Or it's realizing you can pay with.

[Stugotz]

Venmo at checkout at thousands of brands.

[Chris Cody]

Now there are so many more ways to answer the question.

[Stugotz]

What's your Venmo? Download Venmo Today the Venmo MasterCard is.

[Chris Cody]

Issued by the Bancorp Bank N.A. pursuant to license by MasterCard International Incorporated. DOSH Cash Back Terms apply.

[Dan LeBatard]

You know what's smart? Enjoying a fresh gourmet meal at home that you didn't have to cook meat. Factor your loophole in the laws of mealtime. Chef crafted meals delivered with a tap, ready in just two minutes. You know what's even smarter? Treating yourself without cheating your goals. Factor is dietitian approved, Chef prepared, and you plated. Pretty smart, huh? Refresh your routine and eat smart with factor. Learn more@Factor Meals.com this is the Dan.

[Chris Cody]

Levator show with the Stugats podcast. Has anyone spoken to Devondre Campbell publicly? The quitting 49er who we shame, shame shamed. Even though a lot of us would kind of love, quit our job in public. Just tell our boss to go, go bleep himself. I'm leaving work right now. I have not seen him interviewed. I have wanted to hear from him. I have wondered what the toll would be of doing what he does for a living, getting to money that is substantive. And then one day on television quitting, and then the next day on television the easiest thing in the world appears, which is every quitter, every critic can come out and say, you' quitter. Every critic can come out and say, you are a quitter. You're a coward. It's the easiest thing. I'd be curious what that person is thinking. Like what?

[Mike Ryan]

I haven't thought about that name since, like the first 15 minutes of reaction in the morning when we found out about the story and we all moved on. I think the silence on that front either indicates a lack of interest from people wanting to find out or probably an admission where, you know, I don't need to get my set. Let me just hope this goes away.

[Chris Cody]

But if I but if I told you right now, if I said, coming up next, this person is talking and going to explain to you what happened that day, you wouldn't stick around to listen to why it is that all of that happened or what it is that it felt like to go through that the next day, watching a bunch of critics tell you that you're the quitter.

[Mike Ryan]

No, no. Like, do I have to sit through a commercial? I don't want to do that. I'm not that interested. Like, this guy's made a lot of money in his career. Even though he played well. Like, it's pretty clear what happened there. Was playing a lot, was upset that another guy was playing over him. Seems to be at the end of his career. And that's. That's just how he goes out. I. It'd be Antonio Brown. Fascinating, because for a lot of different things, different person, well known, the. The way that he did it, but also the notion that he still had plenty of football, good football left in front of him. I just. People learned his name through this story, so I don't think people care.

[Mina Kimes]

That's. Yeah, that's the tough part. The guy I remember did this before Antonio Brown was Vonta Davis. You guys remember he retired at halftime.

[Mike Ryan]

He was of repute.

[Mina Kimes]

Yes.

[Chris Cody]

But also, wasn't it halftime of the last game of the season where he was just out?

[Mina Kimes]

It was the second game of the season.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah, it was like earlier in the season.

[Mina Kimes]

It was the second game of the season. And that's what made it so shocking. But also for him, it wasn't. I'm upset about coaching decisions, whatever. It was like, you know what? I don't need this. And he walked away from football. My question for Campbell is, do you actually have plans to play football again somewhere else? Because you have to know that reaction in that sport is the death knell.

[Chris Cody]

I found it fascinating for a number of different reasons and still find it fascinating as we talk now, because I don't know how many of the people listening to this are unhappy at work. I do know that a lot of people come up to us over 20 years and say, thank you for making work some semblance of easier, because I'm with you for three or four hours and I don't love what I do for a living. And there are any number of times I've wanted to quit. And you make the day half as long. You're welcome if the audience is out there. One opinion I didn't hear from anybody after that happened is, man, a lot of people would kind of like to do that, would kind of like to be just one day at work very publicly, like, you know what? I am. I am done with all of this. However it is you imagine quitting a job that you're unhappy with what is the best and most spontaneous relieving kind of way to do that that you imagine in the scenarios that you've always wanted to tell your boss to bleep off. You've always wanted to do X, Y and Z. How many people listening to this are unhappy enough at work that they connected with him just being like, you know, I am, I am done. I don't, I do not work here anymore.

[Mike Ryan]

The Wall Street Journal published a story in, in December saying that the number of Americans wanting to switch jobs has hit a 10 year high.

[Stugotz]

I for one have never wanted to tell my boss to bleep off.

[Dan LeBatard]

It really depends on how much you talk about Jimmy Butler. And that's. That's my threshold.

[Lucy Rodin]

Same.

[Chris Cody]

Where is Lucy Rodean's off roading. I just saw an invoice from Ricky Williams. I just saw the invoice. He gave a deduction for what is usually his appearance fee because we got in trouble with so many people. Because you can't just go on the field and, and video things. Because, because Ricky said, hey, let's go on the field. We don't have any video. We can show anybody from what it is that you were doing at Texas.

[Dan LeBatard]

Wait, say that again. Someone was talking to me in a red jacket and I don't want to call their name out.

[Chris Cody]

Well, the last sentence is all you needed to hear, which is not even.

[Stugotz]

Sounds like we do have off roading. Yes, we do, Dan.

[Chris Cody]

Can we play it?

[Stugotz]

Let's do that. Hit it.

[Dan LeBatard]

How have Clemson fans been? Have you interacted with them at all?

[Mina Kimes]

I had one hold the door for me as I was at the porta potty, so I got a little respect for him. But I'm about to show my ass today.

[Mike Ryan]

I ain't gonna lie.

[Dan LeBatard]

Hi everybody, it's me, Lucy. Yeehaw. Hook em. We're here at the University of Texas for the first round of the College Football Playoff. A playoff game at a home school. It's so cool. I don't know how this is gonna go, but I'm grateful for the opportunity. What are the vibes? What's the energy of today?

[Chris Cody]

There's a lot of energy, a lot of orange going around. Texas will win, and not only will they win, they're gonna cover the spread against the spread. Bet the house on it. Put the town on alert. Go Tigers. Horns down always.

[Mina Kimes]

I'm about to go crazy. It's playoff time, baby. Let's go beat Clemson.

[Dan LeBatard]

Why do you think everyone hates Texas so much?

[Chris Cody]

We got better spirit A better fan base.

[Lucy Rodin]

They hate us because they ain't us.

[Dan LeBatard]

How much joy does it give you knowing that you guys are here competing for a national championship potentially, and South Carolina is not, even though they beat Yale.

[Stugotz]

We're just happy to be here.

[Chris Cody]

We're in the playoff. We have a shot at national championship. They don't, so that's their loss.

[Dan LeBatard]

Do you like Dabo Sweeney?

[Mina Kimes]

Dabbo who?

[Dan LeBatard]

Dabbo Sweeney.

[Chris Cody]

Who is that exactly? Oh, he's weird. He's like toast transfer portal. Dabo is the scariest thing in college football. Just getting a guy from Southeast Missouri State and now Purdue, I feel like it's slowly starting a domino effect where he's gonna get big names from bigger.

[Mina Kimes]

Schools, he's gonna be a Hall of.

[Stugotz]

Fame coach, and I believe in Dabo's ways.

[Chris Cody]

He's a little bitch.

[Dan LeBatard]

If you guys had to make a choice right now and you were the coach, would you pick Quinn or Arch?

[Lucy Rodin]

I'd pick Quinn.

[Chris Cody]

Start Quinn. When we go to the red zone, put Arch in. No, I stay with Quinn.

[Dan LeBatard]

Raise your left hand for Quinn or your right hand for Arch. Okay, I have to chat.

[Mina Kimes]

We just need somebody to play some ball. That's it. That's all I want.

[Dan LeBatard]

Mike Ryan on the Le Batard show says that the Upside Down U is one of the most offensive things a fan base can do. No, how do you deal with. Someone has the horns out, you know.

[Chris Cody]

They spend more time thinking about us. We live rent free in their head.

[Mina Kimes]

Breaking the U is better.

[Chris Cody]

Doing that is a lot better.

[Dan LeBatard]

I personally, every time someone does that.

[Chris Cody]

I'm like, yeah, do it right now.

[Dan LeBatard]

Where did you get your shoes?

[Chris Cody]

Lucy Rodin, the greatest artist, podcaster, everything in the world.

[Dan LeBatard]

I painted them. I painted the shoes. I did them, and they look so.

[Greg Cody]

Oh, God.

[Dan LeBatard]

Ah, that's so exciting. And what's the fit check today?

[Chris Cody]

This title belt, it's something I've carried around for a few years now. Got this custom cake ring shortly after winning our national championship in 2016.

[Dan LeBatard]

Did you guys ever get sick of Matthew McConaughey or no? Yes.

[Chris Cody]

Why?

[Lucy Rodin]

He bullied my aunt's brother in high school.

[Mina Kimes]

I would never get tired of seeing Matthew. I'm a Conor head. Goddammit, Matthew McConaughey, you the man, baby.

[Dan LeBatard]

What's the worst fan base you all have dealt with? Your least favorite Aggies might go A and M?

[Chris Cody]

Well, Aggies, of course. I mean, you know, it's been a.

[Dan LeBatard]

Very popular answer today.

[Mina Kimes]

Them Georgia fans be acting out of hands sometimes man, they don't know how to win with class. We had some cat that just didn't know how to hold his mother lick and almost got the mother right hook.

[Billy]

Miami.

[Dan LeBatard]

What makes Miami fans so bad?

[Chris Cody]

They talk a lot on Twitter and.

[Dan LeBatard]

Then they don't show up in any of the games. Last question. Anything you want to say to Dan and the Levittart show crew?

[Chris Cody]

I love you guys.

[Stugotz]

You saved my life.

[Chris Cody]

I've been listening to the levitard show since 790 back then. And yeah, I've grown up with him. I love him.

[Dan LeBatard]

So, like, have you watched an episode in the last two years?

[Chris Cody]

I've watched a few, yeah.

[Lucy Rodin]

Here and there.

[Dan LeBatard]

I don't believe you. If you had to guess what my name is. What do you think? My name is Emily.

[Mina Kimes]

Whoa.

[Dan LeBatard]

We had such a great time and the game ended up being, like, way more fun than we thought it would. There were a lot of points. A little too many points. Kind of alarming how many points, but nonetheless, great time. And Texas will. I'm not going to go to that game in Atlanta, but have fun. Hook em.

[Chris Cody]

A great season, Emily.

[Dan LeBatard]

That's disrespectful.

[Mike Ryan]

The worst name one can pull. By the way, that was $7 for not listening earlier to the Venmo Fine bucket.

[Dan LeBatard]

What is your fine for chattan when you were supposed to chat?

[Mike Ryan]

What's your fine for snitching that as pestering?

[Dan LeBatard]

I didn't say anyone's name. He just yap, yap, yap, yap, yap.

[Chris Cody]

Ever since he left the producer role, he sits in the back row and creates the general chaos with Billy back there. I miss it. I do miss it.

[Mike Ryan]

Pretty chill back here. Can't lie.

[Chris Cody]

I wanted to talk to Amin about what's going on with JJ Redick and Charles Barkley, because, I mean, if basketball has been about storylines and basketball is great at making players and personalities stars, right? Because it's so much better than the other sports. It's almost kind of weird to see what's happening with basketball, where basketball's biggest stars are bigger than football's biggest stars, even though football is the biggest sport. And at the height of all that, the Lakers are fascinating. They've got the oldest player in the league who defies science and gravity and picked his own coach, a podcaster who nobody likes. No JJ Redick since no. Look, I like. I. Let me. Just to be clear, I like someone who is publicly confident, says so and doesn't care what you think about it. He's been this since Duke, I like it. That doesn't tend to be likable, especially when it comes from. From Duke. A lot of people do appreciate that. Later in his career, J.J. redick was very good at the content game and explaining basketball, really knew his stuff, but then became a coach for the Lakers. And now Charles Barkley is going after him in a way that nobody wins fights with Charles Barkley. And Charles Barkley knows it. Which is why he keeps saying over and over, if you come for the King, you better not miss. I have a platform. It's bigger than yours. Even as Laker coach, I will bury you.

[Mina Kimes]

Yeah, no, look, I think it's all born out of a misunderstanding, to be honest with you. So if you don't know. J.J. redick made some comments about that he was asked about, hey, people were saying that the ratings are down and it's because they shoot too many threes. And J.J. redick kind of pushed back on the notion that the league is the style of play. Is there anything wrong with it? He says the players are more skilled than they've ever been or at least since when he came in the league.

[Chris Cody]

Certainly from three.

[Mina Kimes]

Yep. Well, he's skilled overall. The players are more skilled and more talented today than they were 20 years ago when he first came into the league. And he said he thinks a reason why this discourse is happening is because there are a lot of people who talk bad about the game right now. He said that without naming any names. Charles Barkley took that as, oh, he's talking about inside the NBA specifically. And that's why Chuck went off on him and leveled him with what can only be described as Operation Shock and Awe. JJ Redick was asked, hey, what did you think? And he gave. And we broke this down on Basketball Illuminati, a response that was, he clearly lost the battle there. Said, I don't care. I have some thoughts that I don't care. And I'm like, jj, you can't do that. But this is what happens when you're used to arguing people online versus arguing someone real life, and Charles Barkley takes that round. But I submit to you this was all a misunderstanding and that he wasn't talking about Charles Barkley or inside the NBA. You know who he's talking about? Dan, y'all. And specifically that red jacketed joker in the back over there. All that mess prior to Christmas break where I yelled at Mike and Mike got upset that I yelled at him. And when I patted him on the back to let him know, hey man, we're just Doing show. He's like. And he tried to pat me on my back. Like, he's talking about you, man. He's talking about you and your negativity around NBA basketball.

[Mike Ryan]

That's cool. I wasn't watching. Thank you for updating me on the situation.

[Chris Cody]

I will say, as it regards some of this stuff and the packaging, framing and I mean, you're pretty astute as a front office guy on marketing type of issues. I remember Scott Boris, the super agent of baseball, said a long time ago during all the work stoppages and all the fights over the money that gets fans really mad. Baseball is the only sport that takes a product off of the produce aisle. A can, throws it on the floor, kicks it all over the floor, then puts it back on the shelf and asks you to buy it. ESPN ran off Jeff Van Gundy and NBA ran off Jeff Van Gundy because that's too negative. Talking about the sport, we need a framing that's not quite. Don't criticize the officiating all the time. You're great at what you do, but get out. We need the voices to be a little more positive. A problem the NBA has is the people on its most popular show don't like today's form of basketball either. Shaq wants it in the post. Barkley plays down low. Kenny Smith will play along. Your biggest property doesn't always seem like it likes how they're playing today.

[Mike Ryan]

It's honestly something that College GameDay should monitor because what people love so much about college football is this tribalism, this fun that goes. That's associated with it. And it's veering off into Surly town where we're not having as much fun and we're just complaining about fans the entire time. And we're saying that the games are bad, even though we're the ones that air the games and hype the games up and have hour long specials telling you, hey, these might be the games in a couple of months. So it's something that everybody should monitor.

[Mina Kimes]

Mike, do you know why it's happening?

[Mike Ryan]

Social media?

[Mina Kimes]

Yes, that's exactly it. We went from whether it was the leagues themselves or the broadcasters crafting how we're going to talk about this product to checking online. What are people saying? Oh, people are saying this, let's follow that. Letting the cart lead the horse rather than the other way around. And I think it's a massive problem. Look, in the 90s and the 2000s, what was the league slogans for the NBA? I'll stick with NBA.

[Mike Ryan]

I love this game, I love this.

[Mina Kimes]

Game where amazing happens. And now it's like, what's trending? Too many threes. The number of people who said, oh, there was a game where 75 three pointers were missed combined. And I'm like, you're talking about the Charlotte Hornets.

[Chris Cody]

Who cares?

[Mina Kimes]

It would be like judging college football by what happened in Liberty versus Elon.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah, I mean, I get you. And social media is, look, it's toxic. And it seems as though the algo is just going to make it more and more toxic, but I'm not really. I'm at the level of disinterested where I didn't really start filing my complaints on social media about baseball. If I'm asked about it on this show, I'll tell you my stale take on that. Even though I credit them for making the changes that I was asking for basketball, I'll catch up if my team's good. That has a lot to do with it. I'll follow back up with basketball if the Heat ever become good again or they fix the things because I have no interest in watching these top level games.

[Mina Kimes]

I think my point about social media isn't that, oh, we should get rid of it. It's the people who control the product should stop following it, stop listening to it. Because ultimately, for the most part, people will believe what you tell them to believe. Like last time when Amici was here and I talked about the idea that I said, hey, what do you guys miss? What you really miss is the Kurt Thomas mid range jump baseline jumper and the Tyrone Hill pick and pop in the next week or so after that, the number of talking heads I saw on not referencing me, but just echoing that same exact, oh, you guys just missed mid range shots by role players. And I'm like, while you are bolstering my point, I'm like, this is also making my grander point, which is we need to just stop this echo chamber. Right? And again, that's fine for fans.

[Chris Cody]

This is not, not, not an echo chamber.

[Mina Kimes]

We need the league. You asked me, from a league perspective, they need to control the narrative. And that starts with, yes, a meeting with the commissioner and everybody who broadcasts league partners, TV and radio and elsewhere.

[Dan LeBatard]

Kirk Herbstreet has solved this problem. He came out and said, my son runs my social media accounts for me. Every tweet I've been sent in, it's actually been my son. Which is definitely the biggest lie of what? Yeah, no way. No shot. He literally did. He was like, I'm not on social media. My son Runs my. He said. Well, he said a buddy, Actually, my son runs my account. No shots. That feels like you're lying.

[Mike Ryan]

Did his son send out his own congratulations for committing?

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah, absolutely. His son has been really active online, offering prayer support to everybody. He's been tweeting like crazy. But not Kirk Herbstreet, who does love to, like, go on air and be like, you know, the Ohio State fan base is vile. They're so nasty online. But how would you know that? Because your son runs your account.

[Chris Cody]

Somebody please get in front of Kirk Herb street the following, let him know this is so. I have already alerted Chris Fowler. I had to alert him that this was so.

[Amin Elhassan]

Even though I'm a letter slide, I'm going to be a good teammate. I'm going to let it slide. Everybody's at espn because had you not taken the route you taken, I would have lit their ass up. But I'm gonna let it slide. You know what, guys? Congratulations, Ohio State. You won the game. But, hey, if we're gonna be on the same team, if we're gonna work for the same network, don't do that.

[Mina Kimes]

Kirk.

[Amin Elhassan]

Chris Fowler, I promise you, if you ever mention anything, any platform that I'm on again and talking about, I wonder what they gonna say in negativity. I promise you, ESPN ain't got enough bosses to keep me off y'all for what I'm gonna say. So I'm gonna let y'all slide today. I'm gonna turn it over to D O Dio before I get myself in trouble. But don't play with me. Go ahead, Dio.

[Chris Cody]

De. I gotta follow.

[Mina Kimes]

I gotta go ahead, man.

[Mike Ryan]

There gotta be more going on there.

[Billy]

Yeah, Dio.

[Stugotz]

What was that laugh by me?

[Chris Cody]

Dam. I would really like for Kirk Herb street to take that one syllable further so that we can all enjoy. For some reason, Shannon Sharpe dying on the hill of first take isn't negative.

[Billy]

Stu got here. I want to tell you a story. I'm serious here. My wife and my two daughters, they begged me to buy a peloton. So I bought a peloton. And then I watched that peloton sit in my office and stare at me. So you know what I did one day? I looked at it, and so I decided to get off my ass. And I jumped on the peloton because no one else was using it. And I paid for it. I mean, so why not? Then I realized eventually that they bought it for me. And I got to tell you, way more challenging than I could have ever imagined. Peloton Coaches are walking the walk. I love the coaches. I do the Grateful Dead one. It's fantastic. They have a sub three hour marathon runner, military trained athlete, a former college basketball player and so many other well rounded coaches on their team. All this experience really shows in their classes which are never short of challenging, especially for me. So I jumped on it that first time. It was challenging, more challenging than I thought. And then I wanted to beat the bike and so I kept jumping on it and I absolutely love it. I mean I'm the only one who uses it, but again they got it for me. I mean I had no idea. That's a little passive aggressive, don't you think? Find your push, Find your power with [e-mail] hey Happy New Year friends.

[Stugotz]

It's 2025 and a new year can mean new opportunities for a lot of you out there. I imagine you spent the last couple of weeks sitting and thinking how to make your 2025 special different and set yourself in the right direction. One way that you can do so is actually by following my boss Dan Lebatard's path and starting your own business. You might have a lot of questions. How do I get started? How do I come up with a brand? How do I sell stuff to people? What am I even going to sell? Just take a deep breath. Shopify has got you. Shopify makes it simple to create your brand, open for business and get your first sale. Get your store up running easily with thousands of customizable templates, no coding or design skills required. All you need to do is drag and drop. But I know you're thinking, what happens if I don't act now? Will I regret it? What if someone beats me to the idea? Don't kick yourself when you hear this again in the year because you didn't do anything. Now with Shopify, your first sale is closer than you think. Established in 2025. Has a nice ring to it, doesn't it? Sign up for your $1 per month trial period at shopify.com/batard all lowercase go to shopify.com batard to start selling with Shopify today. Shopify.com.

[Greg Cody]

The day on the Batard show with Stu Gotts is sponsored by BetterHelp. Every January feels like a fresh start. 365 blank pages just waiting for your story to be written. In 2025, maybe you're ready for a plot twist, ready to revise the parts of your story holding you back. Life isn't about New Year's resolutions that disappear by February. It's about picking up the pen and becoming the author of your life. Therapy can help you do just that. Therapy isn't just for the big traumas. It's for anyone who wants to grow, heal and thrive with BetterHelp. Therapy is convenient and affordable. It's fully online. You can access it anywhere, anytime, BetterHelp connects over 5 million people with a network of 30,000 licensed therapists, specialized, experienced, and ready to help. If it's not a right fit, you can switch therapists at any time at no extra cost. Write your story with BetterHelp. Visit betterhelp.com DLB today to get 10% off your first month. That's BetterHelp. H-E-L-P.com DLB Dan LeBatard, did you get.

[Lucy Rodin]

Lost on the way to Home Depot today?

[Dan LeBatard]

Dan, like, what.

[Lucy Rodin]

What's going on with the plaid stugats?

[Mike Ryan]

But do you look like you're about.

[Lucy Rodin]

To ask me to, like, check the oil on my car or, like, come over and, like, look around and point things in my house that need to be fixed?

[Amin Elhassan]

This is the Dan Levatar show with the stugats.

[Chris Cody]

Lucy has followed Greg Cody out of the room. She is doing some of the work to see what it would look like if Jared Goff is indeed named MVP and if Greg Cody then has to shave his eyebrows because he said there would be no circumstance under which Jared Goff would win mvp. Mina Kimes is appearing now to. She's had a real star turn here over the last month. Netflix and the Simpsons, like, some pretty cool stuff has happened for her.

[Mina Kimes]

Some uncool stuff like what's happening in LA is also happening. Maybe we should start there before we're like, oh, it's cool what's happening.

[Mike Ryan]

I'm happy that you mentioned that because while we make the content we are, we should eschew that our thoughts and prayers are with everybody affected, which seems to be everyone in my life right now that I know that lives out there has had their life impacted by this. So, Mina, we're very concerned and we hope that you're okay.

[Lucy Rodin]

Yeah, it's been an Absolutely wild 24 hours. I am in my friend's guest room right now. There's a travel crib behind me for the YouTube audience, if you're wondering what that is. And I don't know, it's just been absolutely surreal, guys. I was flying back from Newark two nights ago when the fires really started kicking off on Tuesday night. And we got in the plane and there were some News reports at the time. But I think everybody kind of assumed because we were being allowed to fly and land, it couldn't be that bad. And then you could see the plane sort of apprehend what was going on. And people were finding out on the plane that their houses, their friends houses were burning to the ground. And overnight my husband and my infant child came here because our house is pretty close to the second fire on the east side. And then last night another fire sprang up pretty close near here. But luckily they were able to put it out pretty quickly because the winds had sound so much here in Los Angeles. But it's just been an Absolutely surreal 36 hours or so. Fortunately, things seem to be turning around a little bit, largely because the winds have died down. But I just, I mean, my son's friend's house burned to the ground. Everybody in their neighborhood lost their houses. It's just friends, family, friends, people we know just up in flames. I've just never seen anything like this in my life.

[Chris Cody]

When we feel the effects that feel apocalyptic about the stuff that's happening in the world, climate related and otherwise, wherever fears reside in California on what this stuff looks like, it didn't actually look like this. Right. I don't know when we fear the climate change stuff, if we think 50 years down the road it's just going to be an explosion somewhere. But it seems like all of this is a bit of forecasting for what things look like at the end where you don't have a precedent for. What do you mean my home's just going to burn down? Not, not here. What do you mean hurricane winds during, during fire and drought?

[Lucy Rodin]

Yeah, it hasn't rained here in months. And so, you know, people in LA are obviously very acutely aware of the fire risk. It's not new, particularly in the Malibu Palisades area, but I think to just have that visually manifest itself so immediately, the dryness combined with the unusualness of the winds and that was, I mean, we always get these Santa Ana wins, but this is, I don't know if I could say like once in a decade or whatnot, but the strength of them, the erraticism of them, that was the craziest part, guys. Like on Tuesday, by the way, I flew by the fire and it literally looked like Mordor, like Lord of the Rings or something, but which was just surreal. But I think what the craziest part was on Tuesday, seeing the fires burning and growing at this amazing rate, watching the local news and hearing them say, we can't fight this, right? Now, because we can't put helicopters in the sky because of these winds was just stunning. Because I think with natural disasters or any kind of events like that, we're so used to authority figures just being able to fight them. But we were talking about something, these wins that nobody has any control over. And it was just absolutely heartbreaking to see.

[Chris Cody]

I wish, Mina, you would have gotten some dark comedy humor out of while you were talking. The sheer panic that swept over the face of Chris Cody as he made sure some of the details you were giving that the corner of the screen. The video team putting Greg Cody losing his eyebrows, which is. I saw it show up in the preview and I saw just a blanket of fear sweep over the face of Chris Cody because as you were talking about these horrors, Greg Cody was getting his eyebrow removed and video thought it would be a good time to put the photo of Mike Woodson up and Greg Cody losing his eyebrow.

[Stugotz]

Good judgment by me.

[Chris Cody]

Yes, it was good work by you. Hey, look at Chris. The panic on your face was. Was good work. But I was saying by way of introduction, Mina, that your. Your last month at work has seemed like some of your. The weirdest dreams in the world coming true in a way. In a way that have from over here. It has brought me great joy to watch what seems like would be a great deal of fun at the center of football.

[Lucy Rodin]

Yeah, it's been a really fun month, I guess until now for me both at ESPN and doing some project outside of espn. The Simpsons game that we got to call was one of the more fun experiences of my life as a longtime Simpsons fan. Working on Christmas was pretty surreal. And now we're in the playoffs. Like I said, I was in Newark. I was on the east coast doing NFL Live from Bristol earlier this week. And it's been a whirlwind, I suppose, and we're supposed to do, by the way, NFL live in L. A on Monday, but as you guys, I'm sure are aware, it's pretty touch and go right now. They're considering moving the game to Phoenix. And I think we won't find out for a second what happens there with the Rams game.

[Chris Cody]

What was the Netflix experience like? What did you expect? And just in terms of dizzying stuff that's happening with your career, finding yourself in some of these places, which is there one above all the others for you, that's like, oh, this is about the coolest thing I've known. I could have never imagined this when I was a business reporter.

[Lucy Rodin]

The coolest thing probably was Doing the Simpsons Game because as part of that experience, I got to know the Simpsons showrunner and one of their writers, and we were going back and forth all up to the game with just jokes and references. And that was just such a cool experience for me personally. But doing the Nexus games was a ton of fun. You know, it was really unusual in that you're working with a bunch of people you've never worked with before. And I think it was. It made me realize, oh, wow, doing NFL Live now for five years with the same crew, you don't get that many opportunities like that in television these days where there's so much. People always talk about the chemistry, but beyond that, just kind of that inbuilt trust and comfort and working with each other, knowing when people are going to talk and whatnot. So it was a novel experience with me to kind of be, I guess, you know, I feel bad comparing it to like an All Star game because that implies that I'm an All Star. I don't want to make that implication, but it was really like, oh, okay, we're teammates now. The other thing that was very wild about it, Dan, was again, on NFL Live and all my shows. I usually have a lot of time to talk, but I realize on these pre game halftime shows, you don't have as much room. Setting aside the fact that I was deeply aware of the fact that I had 45 seconds to give a take about CJ Stroud after Beyonce Day, so over 20 million Americans were just absolutely disappointed to see my face. And I tried not to let that trickle into my.

[Chris Cody]

Was it very pressurized or was it okay? Like, were you able to take some of the air out of all of it and make it less serious than Christmas Day NFL, you know, the game.

[Lucy Rodin]

I just got so wrapped up in the game so quickly that I kind of lost sight of the context because they were just quarterbacks I love watching and I was really interested in them and I got kind of locked into that. So, yeah, I think that. And that's the fun thing about working in before, during and after games is like there's that energy. That's what's different from doing the daily studio show. Right. Which I love doing. But when you're before and middle and after a game, it's more closer to the action and you're just sort of tied up in exactly what's happening on the field at that moment.

[Chris Cody]

Lucy, can you give us an update, please? Greg, Cody, can you give us an update? What's going on in the other room?

[Dan LeBatard]

Well, the concealer we have does not match Greg's skin tone at all.

[Chris Cody]

Okay, this isn't working. Yeah, none of this works.

[Stugotz]

I don't know.

[Chris Cody]

I kind of like it.

[Dan LeBatard]

We needed an orange concealer, a color corrector, which we do not have. And we need a foundation that matches Greg skin tone, which we do not have. And the glue sticks we got were scented, so I think we needed a different type of glue stick. But we're working on it.

[Mina Kimes]

Lucy, I'm gonna tell you right now, it looks exactly like someone put two, like sticky patches over his eyebrows and ripped them off. And so that the skin is so light now because it's tearing off.

[Lucy Rodin]

It looks like Lady Gaga at the beginning of the Star Is Born when she gently peels her eyebrow up and kind of falls in love with her in that moment.

[Chris Cody]

What a compliment. Lady Gaga would be mortified that you have just compared her to a 70 year old man having his eyebrows apparently bleached and his skin distended.

[Mina Kimes]

Lady Gregor.

[Chris Cody]

Thank you. I mean, that's nice.

[Stugotz]

Thank you.

[Chris Cody]

I mean, thank you. I mean, that's right. He's bringing it strong from the other room. Hopped up on pills and with no eyebrows. He's Greg Cody, ladies and gentlemen. Give me the fast music so I can ask Mina Kind some hard hitting questions.

[Lucy Rodin]

I can't hear the music.

[Chris Cody]

All right, Mina Times. Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson? Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson? Mvp, who do you got?

[Lucy Rodin]

I voted for Lamar Jackson. It was extremely close to me. It went down to the wire. I got into it on my podcast with Dominique Lamar Jackson. I just felt like this is really what he did this year was just too hard not to vote for him.

[Chris Cody]

Explain to me why Derrick Henry is bigger and stronger than all the people who have ever been human.

[Lucy Rodin]

I don't know, man. I mean, I don't think people appreciate what he's doing. Not just relative to obviously crazy, the yardage, but the fact he is a historical anomaly in that his age and the amount of carries he has gotten, the fact that he is still producing at his level. This just does not happen in the NFL.

[Mike Ryan]

Wait, wait. I have a question about the Lamar Jackson thing. Okay? Lamar's got plenty of MVPs. He may now have more MVPs in playoff wins, but that Ravens team offensively is loaded, loaded with first round talent. In the offseason, they add Derrick Henry, who's a unicorn of a talent. All Buffalo did their entire offseason was strip talent away from Josh Allen. And in the big moments, they won because of the plays that he made as a treat, they gave him an Amari Cooper at the trade deadline. For me it's Josh Allen. Maybe it might be Jordan rules Jordan MVP fatigue, but you got to give it to Josh.

[Lucy Rodin]

Josh Allen I would say is a better offensive line. The Ravens offensive line is pretty good. I think his group of pass catchers is underrated. People are acting like James Cook is some schlub. He's actually been one of the better backs in the NFL this year and rare Henry I would contend this is just statistically true benefits more from the presence of Lamar Jackson than the reverse. Lamar Jackson, by the way, statistically when Derek Den is not on the field is the best quarterback in football as well.

[Chris Cody]

The Dolphins please explain.

[Lucy Rodin]

Which part? The Tyreek Hill of it all or the constant? I mean the Dolphins please explain they have to take the run game seriously this off season or they're going to have a similar outcome next year.

[Chris Cody]

I thought that Mike McDaniel was supposed to bring run game just because he's Mike McDaniel. What happened?

[Lucy Rodin]

Turns out the human beings on the field matter. Offensive line matters.

[Chris Cody]

Aaron Rodgers what's going to happen?

[Lucy Rodin]

I don't care.

[Chris Cody]

Tennessee Titans what's going to happen?

[Lucy Rodin]

I do care. This one is hard because they're just their owner is just like steering the ship and like going in every direction and constantly pressing the red button to fire people. I mean they have a number one overall pick. Problem is cover yours. Mike's not a great quarterback draft so I do think they're probably going to.

[Chris Cody]

Take quarterback Is the single worst opponent to see first for Lamar Jackson the one that he's getting?

[Lucy Rodin]

No, I don't think so. I just think the Steelers offense has just been too bad as of late. Obviously the defense has given him trouble so. So I think it's going to be closer than that nine and a half point line.

[Chris Cody]

Explain George Pickens to me.

[Lucy Rodin]

The talent up there with the highest of the highs. The unpredictability is what makes it hard to project and I think to rank him amongst wide receivers like on any given play he could do the coolest thing you've ever seen or the dumbest.

[Mina Kimes]

Mina is what the Patriots saw out of Joe Milton. Discouraging, encouraging or just we're not.

[Lucy Rodin]

We're not doing this or just by the way, I'm hearing encouraging. Speaking of encouraging, I'm hearing the music and it's not phasing me at all. You might want to retire this bit because it's not. I, I literally it's in my ears and I don't care. It's not affecting me.

[Chris Cody]

You're going very fast. You're doing very well. Who is better? Who is better? Ravens are equal. Eagles.

[Lucy Rodin]

I think that the Eagles are better, but that the Ravens have a higher ceiling.

[Chris Cody]

Who is better, Lions or Bills?

[Lucy Rodin]

I'm gonna go Lions.

[Chris Cody]

There.

[Lucy Rodin]

Just because what they've shown on defense the last. I mean, it's just been unbelievable.

[Chris Cody]

Is that gonna be the way Sam Darnold's season ends, the way the last game did?

[Lucy Rodin]

I don't think so. I think he has to bounce back. He's very streaky quarterback, though.

[Chris Cody]

Packers, what are they?

[Lucy Rodin]

Very young team that looks like a young team that has a lot of talent. Great coach, good quarterback, but some flaws.

[Chris Cody]

Greg Cody, what do you got? Give me an update. I still look ridiculous, but we're getting there. Amina Kimes, the Houston Texans, what are they disappointing? Has CJ Stroud regressed or is it the pressure up the middle?

[Lucy Rodin]

It's both. And I think that the latter has led to the former. I think he'll bounce back.

[Chris Cody]

Better offensive line. Philadelphia, Detroit.

[Lucy Rodin]

Philadelphia. But it's close.

[Chris Cody]

The Chiefs, are you willing to say they're not going to make it to the Super Bowl?

[Lucy Rodin]

No, I am not.

[Chris Cody]

Do you believe that the Bills are better than the Chiefs?

[Lucy Rodin]

No.

[Chris Cody]

You did that very well. Mina. Congratulations. It's the first time you have ever done it correctly. You have finally graduated to doing this well.

[Mina Kimes]

And for the video audience who didn't see, she added an extra element of doing the mall Walker while doing the Answer.

[Chris Cody]

She was dancing around during it. She was not afraid of the music. Pressure no longer phases her. She is a conqueror. Mina, thank you for being on with us. We appreciate the the time. Always nice seeing you.

[Lucy Rodin]

It's great to see you guys.

[Chris Cody]

I'm disappointed that she is all of a sudden someone who can conquer music. I mean, she's still someone who walks in front of cameras on NFL Live when she doesn't know where she is.

[Mina Kimes]

Yeah, we ran out of time there, but we definitely should have asked about that, right? Like this is this is this was throwback Mina, right? Just the. Hey, where are the cameras? Hey, how does TV work?

[Chris Cody]

She was very confident during the music. It usually rattles her. Greg Cody, we think of this experiment. I still see eyebrows over there. I also see what I would call from here. And I don't know if this is the technical term or not, but caked death seems to be above his description. I just little, little, little bits of crumbs of death.

[Stugotz]

What is Rose doing?

[Chris Cody]

What is Rose doing? Nine people working on me right now.

[Billy]

I don't know what's going on.

[Mina Kimes]

That's how makeup works, folks. Folks got a team. They call it the Muah team. Muah. Makeup and hair.

[Chris Cody]

Wow. What is happening above your eyelids? It just looks like a different color and it looks a bit like something has been left under a heat lamp for too long. Perhaps a burger of some sort. What is happening? I have no eyebrows. What happened?

[Billy]

The hell happened to my eyebrows?

[Chris Cody]

Ridiculous looking.

[Greg Cody]

The day on the Batard show with Stu Gotts is sponsored by Better Help. Every January feels like a fresh start. 365 blank pages just waiting for your story to be written. In 2025, maybe you're ready for a plot twist, ready to revise the parts of your story holding you back. Life isn't about New Year's resolutions that disappear by February. It's about paying, picking up the pen, and becoming the author of your life. Therapy can help you do just that. Therapy isn't just for the big traumas. It's for anyone who wants to grow, heal and thrive with BetterHelp. Therapy is convenient and affordable. It's fully online. You can access it anywhere, anytime, BetterHelp connects over 5 million people with a network of 30,000 licensed therapists, specialized, experienced and ready to help. If it's not a right fit, you can switch therapists at any time at no extra cost. Write your story with BetterHelp. Visit betterhelp.com DLB today to get 10% off your first month. That's BetterHelp. H-E-L-P.com DLB.

[Stugotz]

Okay guys, it says here I'm supposed to tell you about the refreshing tropical lime flavor of Mountain Dew Baja Blast. But what does refreshing tropical lime mean exactly? Allow me to describe it in a way that my fellow DraftKings players will understand. Mountain Dew Baja Blast tastes like a buzzer beating three pointer to cover the spread. Nailing a multi leg parlay setting the perfect daily fantasy lineup. It's like hitting an underdog money line. And I want you to know that feeling too. So make your picks and then grab some tropical lime flavored Mountain Dew Baja Blast for you and your buds. Available wherever refreshing beverages are sold.