Hour 2: Rick Barnes Would Rather Be At Practice (feat. Rick Barnes)

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
Episode: Hour 2: Rick Barnes Would Rather Be At Practice (feat. Rick Barnes)
Release Date: February 24, 2025

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Introduction

In this episode of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz, recorded at the Elser Hotel in Downtown Miami, hosts Dan LeBatard and Stugotz welcome NBA coach Rick Barnes as a special guest. The conversation delves deep into Barnes's extensive coaching career, his personal interests, and his perspectives on current trends in sports and media.

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Balancing Media Responsibilities and Coaching

[12:49] Billy Corben:
"Rick Barnes. Barnes has been doing this for about 40 years, kicking ass. His team is in the top 10 again, as it almost always is. And thank you, Rick, for joining us."

[13:30] Greg Cody:
"You're right on it. I'd rather be in practice. You really are. I would much rather do that."

Rick Barnes candidly discusses his preference for dedicating time to practice over engaging with the media. He emphasizes the importance of focusing on team performance and preparation, stating, "We owe it to the program and we owe it to our fans."

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Coaching Philosophy and Influences

Barnes delves into his coaching philosophy, highlighting the influences of legendary coaches like Vince Lombardi, John Wooden, Dean Smith, and Bob Knight. He shares personal anecdotes that illustrate how these figures shaped his approach to coaching.

[16:00] Greg Cody:
"Well, you know, I haven't kept up with anything other than when I talk about the Yankees. I'm talking about 1963, 64, good old days."

Barnes reflects on continuous learning and adaptation in coaching, mentioning, "I'm always looking. And Bob McKillop has been a major influence on my career."

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Interests Beyond Basketball: NASCAR Enthusiasm

Rick Barnes reveals his passion for NASCAR, drawing parallels between the strategic elements of racing and basketball coaching. His enthusiasm for the sport is palpable as he shares memories from his youth and current thoughts on the NASCAR scene.

[14:50] Greg Cody:
"Well, since you're talking about fuel efficiency, we can talk about NASCAR. I love NASCAR. I'm a big NASCAR fan."

Barnes discusses his favorite drivers and the competitive nature of the sport, tying it back to his coaching ethos.

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Anecdotes: Meeting Legends and Personal Stories

Barnes recounts memorable experiences, including meeting Billy Graham and Richard Petty, showcasing his diverse interests and the impact of these interactions on his life.

[25:07] Greg Cody:
"I grew up really loving this guy. So I walk over there, he's eating an apple, and I'm telling him the story about red or green."

These stories highlight Barnes's appreciation for leadership and mentorship, both on and off the court.

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"Shot for Your Life" Segment: Player Choices

One of the episode's highlights is the interactive segment "Shot for Your Life," where Rick Barnes is challenged to choose between players he has coached. This segment not only entertains but also offers insights into Barnes's relationships with his players.

[23:08] Roy Bellamy:
"Grant Williams or Avery Bradley? Shot for your life."

[29:46] Greg Cody:
"I'm going to pick KD."

Barnes navigates these choices thoughtfully, reflecting on each player's impact and legacy. For instance, when choosing between T.J. Ford and Kevin Durant, Barnes shares a heartfelt story about T.J. Ford's influence on his coaching style:

[28:00] Greg Cody:
"T.J. Ford taught me a lot about college basketball and coaching a great player."

Eventually, Barnes opts for Kevin Durant, acknowledging his exceptional talent and dedication:
[29:48] Billy Corben:
"There it is."

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Coaching Challenges and Triumphs

Barnes discusses the challenges of maintaining team morale and performance, especially when dealing with high-pressure situations and star players. His anecdotes about pivotal games and player interactions illustrate his strategic mindset and emotional intelligence.

[23:25] Greg Cody:
"I think we're getting our butt kicked. And he said, do you want to win?"

This moment underscores Barnes's ability to motivate and make crucial decisions under pressure.

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Closing Remarks and Takeaways

As the episode winds down, hosts and Rick Barnes reflect on the discussions, highlighting the importance of dedication, continuous learning, and balancing personal interests with professional responsibilities. The episode offers listeners a comprehensive look into the life and philosophy of one of basketball's esteemed coaches.

Notable Quote:

[34:39] Greg Cody:
"He's a heck of a coach. I wanted to hit him because he hit me so hard."

This quote encapsulates the camaraderie and mutual respect shared between Barnes and the hosts.

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Conclusion

Hour 2 featuring Rick Barnes offers an engaging blend of professional insights, personal anecdotes, and interactive segments that paint a vivid picture of Barnes's illustrious career and multifaceted interests. Whether discussing coaching philosophies, personal passions like NASCAR, or navigating the complexities of player relationships, Barnes provides listeners with valuable lessons and entertaining stories.

Key Takeaways:

• The importance of prioritizing team practice and preparation over media engagements.
• Continuous learning and adaptation are crucial in a long-term coaching career.
• Balancing personal interests can enrich professional life.
• Building strong, respectful relationships with players leads to lasting success.

For fans of sports, coaching, and insightful discussions, this episode is a must-listen, offering both depth and entertainment.

Transcript

[Dan LeBatard]

You're listening to Giraffkings Network.

[Stugots]

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[Greg Cody]

Wow.

[Billy Corben]

What's up? I just bought and financed a car through Carvana in minutes.

[Dan LeBatard]

You, the person who agonized four weeks.

[Billy Corben]

Over whether to paint your walls eggshell or off white bought and financed a car in minutes. They made it easy. Transparent terms, customizable, down and monthly. Didn't even have to do any paperwork.

[Greg Cody]

Wow.

[Billy Corben]

Hey, have you checked out that spreadsheet I sent?

[Chris Cody]

Dinner options.

[Greg Cody]

Finance your car with Carvana and experience.

[Dan LeBatard]

Total control financing subject to credit approval.

[Stugots]

This is the Dan Levator show with the Stu Guts Podcast.

[Chris Cody]

This episode of the Dan LeBatard show with Stugots is presented by Venmo.

[Billy Corben]

Roy has a stat of the day to get to in a moment. Please put it on the poll. Have you ever called someone a slap dick at LeBatard show? Have the rest of you seen or heard this video of a Buffalo Sabres broadcaster being hit by a puck? I'm always in hockey floored. When anyone gets hit in the face with a puck, I would be very scared of the puck. The puck is. I don't know whether it's underestimated in hockey because hockey players are so tough, but to get in the way of a slap shot is an act of bravery. Every last time. And this announcer is hit by a puck that's just ending up in the crowd. Let's hear what that sounds like. When that happens. The puck has dropped and it's for the opening period and Razor just took another one. And that was a rocket. Doctors checking Razor out very quickly. That was close to the eye. Kevin James got hit right in the forehead. And when that happened, you can all understand whether you're broadcasting or not. The reflex, like a doctor hitting you on the knee and making it kick out is going to be to say the F word. It's not even another word. The opening period, even if you're not a cursor, even if you're someone who never curses. If a Hockey punk hits you in the face. That's how that's going to go. The opening jury, I love on the broadcast. Yes. If you're, if you're at a funeral, any, any place that that happens, it doesn't matter whether you're supposed to be appropriate or not. The opening period.

[Mike Ryan]

It's Rob Ray that got hit in the face, not Kevin James.

[Billy Corben]

It wasn't Kevin James.

[Mike Ryan]

Rob Ray.

[Billy Corben]

The opening period.

[Mike Ryan]

Tough son of a gun when he was playing sixth all time in penalty minutes.

[Billy Corben]

All that from fighting majors. But that you guys, all you guys all understand. Forgetting that you're on the broadcast and just cursing. In fact, we'll all allow it. No.

[Tony]

Yeah, you have to.

[Billy Corben]

The opening period. Thank you, Billy, for the support. I appreciate the no there.

[Stugots]

As an in game broadcaster, I can tell you there's a certain level of professional professionalism that you have to compose yourself with in said position. You know what I mean? I would never say the F word during a live broadcast, but you know, here rules are a little loosey goosey and we're on the DKN and the podcast and we just throw around some curses on the Mac, et cetera, et cetera.

[Billy Corben]

All right, since the rules are a.

[Mike Ryan]

Little bit loose today.

[Stugots]

Not on a broadcast though.

[Chris Cody]

Didn't you.

[Stugots]

Sporting event.

[Chris Cody]

Didn't you get dumped during one of our Marlins broadcasts? Didn't you say something?

[Stugots]

I said, hell, yeah. That was a curse. Like, come on. Hell. Get the hell out of here with that. Hell was a curse. They dubbed me. That was crazy behavior. I try when I get in broadcaster mode to change my entire lifestyle and not curse at any aspect of my life.

[Billy Corben]

I understand, but if you get hit in the face with a hockey puck. My entire point is that whatever your rules are, whatever your plan is, the hockey puck to the face is gonna alter that plan.

[Stugots]

Good one's, Duck.

[Chris Cody]

I actually have here Billy cursing on the broadcast.

[Stugots]

We should get through the Trevor Rogers stuff early though because he's probably go four, right? Well, last time he went four. It would be really good if he went maybe five. That damn Jordan Walker wasn't fouling off so many pitches. You know, the Judas swear on the air. How can I not say that? No, let's refrain.

[Roy Bellamy]

Might have to hit the dump button.

[Stugots]

Back in the station.

[Billy Corben]

He's damn the swing. But they didn't catch him because Billy's an unruly loose cannon. You can catch him on FIU baseball. Espn, Saturday, Friday.

[Mike Ryan]

That was a star making broadcast. Billy is now on the FIU baseball broadcast and Kyle Selaf is now the television voice.

[Stugots]

I think that about sports banks sometimes, to be honest with you around. And who was on sports bank with us back in the day? Stug Amber. We had a who's who. Bryant McFadden was on there. Joy was on there. Like we had everybody on the show. Local. Oh yeah, Bri Beauty was on there performing. She was obviously one of Brian McKinney's artists, but they had a falling out and I don't think he represented her anymore in the musical front. She performed our only performance.

[Billy Corben]

Can you guys please. Do you guys have any. Do you guys have any sound? When string outs on Saturday morning television. When StuGarts on Saturday 11 little later when StuGart on Saturday morning television Sports Bang commercial content had Bryant McKinney, the famed left tackle who had a music production team and decided that Bri Beauty was going to play on Saturday morning. All of a sudden, Stugz and Billy got bullied by the musical act. And next thing you know, Sports Bang has a musical act out of nowhere because Billy couldn't say no to Brian McKinney.

[Stugots]

Second, what am I supposed to do in a situation? Because I was in a control room and by the time I'm called over to come in from said control room to have a conversation, this conversation has clearly been had multiple times. The decision was made like, so Billy Bree's gonna perform for us at the end of the show. I think it's gonna be awesome. And I was like, okay, yeah, Billy, we have an extra chair.

[Billy Corben]

Billy, the control room would seem to be a place where you would be able to exhibit control.

[Greg Cody]

No.

[Stugots]

Because they had these conversations off mic studio. So I wasn't there to kind of. You're the producer handle the situation. Yeah. But I was in the control room. Imagine it's like saying Lewis can control we're doing here.

[Tony]

I mean, you've stood next to Bryant McKinney.

[Billy Corben]

Exactly.

[Stugots]

Thank you.

[Tony]

How do you say no to that guy?

[Stugots]

That wasn't even my favorite Bryant McKinney story from sports Bang off air. My favorite one was during Bullygate. We had him in studio and was like, we're like, so Bryant, they found your guys journal and they've released photos of the journal. He's like, they found that and then just started laughing. And I was like, okay, guess we're not gonna cover this. Seriously. Moving on.

[Billy Corben]

Not journalism. Its highest standard with.

[Stugots]

Well, I mean it was come on Saturday morning. We were the lead into. I don't even exactly right our demo, by the way, when I would look at the ratings, dude. We killed it in women's 60 plus. Like, killed it. That was our demo.

[Billy Corben]

Can you explain to me? Because I really do want to relive this entire time with you. Do you believe we can do an oral history on Sports Bang? That's as long as too traumatic.

[Tony]

Can someone tell me whether or not I was ever on Sports Bang?

[Greg Cody]

You were.

[Tony]

I don't remember.

[Stugots]

I think at least twice.

[Mike Ryan]

Maybe we have you down as a three.

[Stugots]

Yeah, okay. You were a three. Mike was on, and Mike posted a couple times. I think twice, maybe.

[Billy Corben]

When I came in here today, can you guys explain to me? Because I hate the lack of respect that there is around here, and I sort of careened in here with the meat sweats off of food and Wine festival, and everyone was laughing at something involving me, but I don't know exactly what it was. Chris, can you give me some. Some background on what it is that you guys were mocking when I came in here today?

[Chris Cody]

It was you at the event with Belkies. Just you have your glasses on, and you're kind of talking to the crowd, and you're kind of hitting some sponsors and your way of doing it. You're used to us. You wanted to get a chant going, and you got help from about one guy. It's a nice crowd here. Big turnout, but not everyone bought into the cheer. So let's relive this video.

[Billy Corben]

Coca Cola. Can I get a Coca Cola? So, like Belichick, huh?

[Tony]

Wow.

[Chris Cody]

No days off.

[Stugots]

Why are you wearing sunglasses?

[Tony]

Seriously?

[Billy Corben]

It's a good question, Billy. Thank you.

[Mike Ryan]

Bilkis Naray of Deco Drive.

[Stugots]

I felt bad for Dan because I heard her intro him as he's the sports guy. And I was like, oh, Belgium can.

[Chris Cody]

Hear Dan sweat in that video.

[Billy Corben]

So thank you for asking the question, because it's funny. I'm driving there and my wife says, and, you know, it's rare for me to feel quite this old. It did happen one time at a stoplight when there was an accident near me, and a guy tried to hit and run, and Valerie's like, step on and get him. And I just, like, go through the traffic light at 14 miles an hour. I'm not going fast enough. I just. I'm like, oh, my God, I'm my grandfather. This particular thing Valerie says to me as we're going in. Did you bring your glasses? Because the only instruction that I got was to bring my glasses. And I had not brought my glasses. And as soon as they hand me the copy as to what the only Thing I have to do there is, which is just be there to say Coca Cola and get off the stage like it's when you did it. Yeah, but I. Yes, but I'm putting on sunglasses. I look like a jackass. And I tried to get a chant going.

[Chris Cody]

I can't tell you're reading the glasses. Did a lot of work there.

[Billy Corben]

But I felt like an asshole for. For wearing sunglasses while doing this in like an airplane hangar at 7 o'clock at night.

[Chris Cody]

Let's relive it.

[Billy Corben]

Coca Cola. Can I get a Coca Cola chant? Didn't feel like a sellout. Just going up there greeting Dorothy Boyd.

[Tony]

How is that to feel that a chant you tried to start?

[Billy Corben]

Well, I think I tried. Right after that, I think I went to another spot. You guys didn't even air the part that was the most embarrassing there, which is I to another sponsor after that. That was more syllables than that. And then I got the chant like the wrong cadence on it because I needed it to just be Coca Cola. But the next one had more. Too many syllables in it.

[Chris Cody]

How about that one guy, though? Good on that one guy.

[Billy Corben]

Thank you for the support.

[Stugots]

But you did that twice.

[Mike Ryan]

Food and spices.

[Billy Corben]

I. Well, go. Yeah, I. I did.

[Chris Cody]

When I say goy, was it Aquafini? You screwed up or something?

[Roy Bellamy]

I say Goya, you say foods.

[Greg Cody]

Goya.

[Billy Corben]

See, that would have been great. I could add a whole team of people there. I'm here for you, Dan.

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[Tony]

Back in my day, there is actually.

[Stugots]

What were you not gonna tell anyone.

[Mike Ryan]

Wait a minute, you guys. Guys, it's a Tuesday.

[Billy Corben]

Stugats.

[Stugots]

Here's your guy, Greg Cody with back in.

[Tony]

Okay, here it is. Sorry, adultery.

[Mike Ryan]

For this one.

[Stugots]

This is the D. Levitar show with the Stugats.

[Billy Corben]

Is that Rick Barnes? Nobody told me Rick Barnes was coming on. It's delightful to see Rick Barnes. Let me talk to Rick Barnes here for a second. Rick Barnes. Barnes has been doing this for about 40 years, kicking ass. His team is in the top 10 again, as it almost always is. And thank you, Rick, for joining us. Tennessee is 22 and 5 on the season, is coming off a victory at Texas A and M. And I'm just curious, before we get started here, coach, what kind of appetite do you have for this particular give and take where you have to come on here and sell your basketball team after 38 years and say all the things about that maybe are boring to you, that you'd rather be at practice and not talking to media members about.

[Greg Cody]

Well, you're right on it. I'd rather be in practice. You really are. I would much rather do that. But, you know, we, as you know, we owe it to the program and we owe it to our fans. Get out there and talk about our program and we're proud of what we've been able to do here the last 10 years. But this time of year, you do get so focused in on your team and you know from game to game how hard this league is. I mean, it's ridiculous what this league has become this year, but it is what it is, you know, and you got to be ready to play. Our preparation, we. As soon as I get done with you, we'll go in and start our film session for today and then get ready for lsu. Then we got a late game there tomorrow night, which is tough when you play those 9 o'clock games on the road, but it is what it is. And then we come back and we were supposed to play Alabama at 12 o'clock on Saturday, but they moved that back four. So whatever comes your way this time of year, you just have to do it.

[Billy Corben]

Is there a correct way for me to do this in order to make this more fun for you than the average interview? What is the thing. What are the. What are the topics that I need to bring up? That would be in the Barnes wheelhouse? Because he doesn't want to talk about that much about Tennessee basketball. He wants to talk about the delicious yogurt that he was having right before he came on here because he's all about fuel efficiencies when it comes to making juggernauts.

[Greg Cody]

Well, since you're talking about fuel efficiency, we can talk about nascar. I love nascar. I'm a big NASCAR fan.

[Mike Ryan]

What'd you think about that caution finish? That was, that was terrible. We had.

[Greg Cody]

Yeah, I'm not, I'm not into that rule. I'm not into that one. I think they ought to have to race it all the way to the finish line. And you know, the last week, the Daytona race, it must be a big sport because they stayed on the air from about 12 o'clock till 10 o'clock that night because of rain delays and all this and all that. But yeah, I grew up in Hickory, North Carolina, where, you know, NASCAR started over in that area. And at a young age, my brothers and I, we'd find a way to get to Hickory Speedway or Lenore Burke Antioch Speedway and we'd go to a race on Friday or Saturday night. And my first love was nascar, but then I fell in love with the New York Yankees and baseball, probably my second love. And, but I don't mind talking about basketball because it's changed so much in my 40 years in over 40 years in the business and.

[Billy Corben]

No, you open the NASCAR door now, my friend. Now, now we're, now we're talking nascar.

[Mike Ryan]

You did. But also you mentioned that you're a Yankee fan. So I would love your op on the, on the policy reversal from the New York Yankees that well groomed beards are now allowed.

[Greg Cody]

Well, you know, I haven't kept up with anything other than when I talk about the Yankees. I'm talking about 1963, 64, good old days. That's, that's because, you know what, be honest with you. You know, there's only three, three TV stations on TV at the time and for whatever reason the Yankees roan every Saturday and playing somebody. But I was. Coach Knight gave me a book one time because he was an avid, avid reader. And one of the books he gave me he thought is one of the greatest sport books he said ever read was the summer of 49, you know, talking about the rivalry with the Red Sox and the Yankees. And I would recommend anybody that loves sports and want to get a history of, you know, announcers and everybody in the game. That is a incredible book to read by David Habersam. The summer of 49.

[Billy Corben]

It is Halberstam, a great author. What would you regard as the greatest of the sports things that you have read? I am assuming that you're always looking for whether it's leadership help or self help on how it is to get better at this. I imagine you're always searching.

[Greg Cody]

Well, you know, I go back when I first got into coaching. You know, I knew at a really, when I was in college, college, I wanted to be a coach. And I played for a really good basketball coach by the name of Bob Hodges, who still is East Carolina's all time leading scorer. And he made us put together a coaching book. And so back then, the coaches, I really first one I really, really, really dove into trying to learn everything about was Vince Lombardi. And then from there obviously Coach Wooden was in his prime at that point in time. Dean Smith, Bob Knight, those were the guys that I really, anything and everything I could get my hands on. I wanted to learn about them and study them. And I really, and I'll be very honest with you, every game that I have coached, I have used something from Coach Knight and Coach Smith. Every game we went, when we went to A and M, we actually did some things that we hadn't done all year that Coach Knight would have been very proud of because when he, when he retired, he called me one time and he said, you know, you need to come out here to Lubbock and let me teach you how to play, how to coach basketball. That's what he said to me and he said offensive basketball. And so I went out, spent a day with him and we had a wonderful time. And you know, he's just so passionate about what he believed in and that's what made it work, obviously. And it was hard, as hard to guard as anything. We'd go into every game against him thinking that we were this great man to man team. And after two minutes we'd end up going zone because we couldn't guard him. And to be honest, we had better players at every position, but he made every game so competitive. And then Coach Smith. When I was in college, I had to do a coaching book and, and everything I did in that book was based on what I could find about what Coach Smith. You know, being from North Carolina, going to school in North Carolina, we have some special situations that we used. And then when I got into coach and you know, I learned so much from going around with the best high school coaches. Morgan Wooten, Joe Gallagher, Stu Vetter, some coaches that were just great high school coaches that you could learn from. And, and to be honest with you, I really think if I stop even today trying to go back and doing some of the things and trying to continue to learn how to play Coach this game, I think I'd quit because that excites me that I know that even as long as I've been in this game I can still learn it, learn some things about it and learn from everybody. I've learned something from everybody I've coached against. But that's what's exciting about it because you can coach this game, play this game a lot of different ways, but I don't ever want to get stale and mundane. And so that's what I do to keep myself going. I'm always looking. And Bob McKillop has been a major influence on my career. You know, we were together my first year in coach when I was a volunteer and he was a full time coach at Davidson. He and I would go running every day and I'd pick his brain about everything and he's had a tremendous influence on my, on my life.

[Billy Corben]

Rick, we are going to get some more NASCAR out of you whether you want it or not. And we also have shot for your life with one of your players that we're going to play where we're going to pin you down and we're going to make you pick one player. You're not going to be able to do this coach wiggle dance where you can't. We're going to force you to pick one player. But Mike, what do you got for him on nascar?

[Mike Ryan]

Well, who's your driver? Are you loyal to a team? Are you loyal to a number or a specific driver?

[Greg Cody]

You know, I was growing up, I was a Woods brother guy back in the day, you know, Kelly Arborough, David Pearson, those kind of guys. And obviously I became a big Dale Earnhardt senior and when he passed, you know, I obviously would love to see his son do well, then became a Martin Truax guy. But also knowing Joe Gibbs, I pull for his because he was the head coach of the Washington Redskins when I was assistant at George Mason back in the day. And I got to spend a lot of time at Redskin park out there with a friend that knew Coach Gibbs and so I do pull for those guys. But for some reason I caught myself yesterday pulling for Kyle Busch. I don't know if it's because last year is the first time he hadn't won in 20 years and but as he's getting older and I love to see him have a great run. Like last year I was pulling hard for Martin Truax to finish it up on a great note. But yeah, so this year I think my guy is going to be Kyle Busch and hope that he can get back where he wants to be one more time.

[Mike Ryan]

Were you mad at Hosavar? Because Kyle Busch certainly was. You watch that radio transmission?

[Greg Cody]

Yeah, yeah. You know. You know, I get the guys being competitive. And I will say this to you, I've become very impressed with Michael Jordan's team, you know, with Denny Hamlin and Bubba Wallace's mother, I think, ran track here at the University of Tennessee. So I've met Bubba, and he tries to bring his dad over to a game every year. And so I will be pulling for him obviously, too. But, yeah, some of those guys I wish I could be back in the day. Like when Richard Petty, you know, they were the first King family. I think they had multiple cars, and one of them went out was a blocker. I'd like to be a blocker. I don't think I'm good enough to win, but I could definitely wreck somebody.

[Billy Corben]

Well, wait a minute.

[Roy Bellamy]

So.

[Billy Corben]

So could you have been a driver? Like, how close were you to being a driver? Was it just something you were dreaming about or did you actually do anything to start down that path before basketball?

[Greg Cody]

No, I dreamed about it. I used to. I can remember sitting in the third and fourth grade getting in trouble because I'd always draw race cars. My teacher would come by and I'm not doing the schoolwork, and I'd be trying to draw different race cars and love trying to put these creative numbers on them and all this and all that. But you failed.

[Billy Corben]

You failed at your dreams. You failed at your dreams. You did not succeed.

[Greg Cody]

I did get a chance to drive the pace car over at Bristol when I first got here. And I'd ask somebody, I said, what's the fastest this car's ever gone around this track? And they said, carl Edwards took it around the track at 97 miles an hour over there. It's a small track. I said, well, I'm going to beat that. I got it to 75, and I had enough.

[Billy Corben]

Before we get you out of here, Coach Tony's got a game for you. How many? Shot for your life. One shot for your life. Picking only from among the 38 years of players Rick Barnes has coached.

[Roy Bellamy]

That's right. And I've. I've narrowed it down to the guys that he's put in the NBA, too, because sometimes there's people that you haven't heard of that coach would bring back from, like, 1991. So this is going to be coach. NBA players that you've coached in college shop for your life. So you can only pick one when I give you these sets of players. You ready?

[Greg Cody]

Okay.

[Stugots]

All right.

[Roy Bellamy]

Grant Williams or Avery Bradley? Shop for your life.

[Greg Cody]

Grant Williams.

[Stugots]

Good.

[Greg Cody]

Dad.

[Roy Bellamy]

P.J.

[Stugots]

Tucker.

[Roy Bellamy]

P.J. tucker or Lamarcus Aldridge?

[Greg Cody]

Oh, man. Are you saying when you say, shot for my life.

[Roy Bellamy]

Shot for your life, Coach.

[Stugots]

Yeah.

[Mike Ryan]

They got the ball, they're gonna shoot it.

[Stugots]

And life's on the line.

[Chris Cody]

Is it in the corner?

[Billy Corben]

Coach, the clarification's unnecessary. It's for your life.

[Stugots]

Get it wrong, you're joining dlc.

[Greg Cody]

Hey, I love lamarcus Aldridge, but PJ Tucker. Second best score I've ever. The second best college score I've ever coached.

[Tony]

Wow.

[Billy Corben]

Wow. Okay, first and first.

[Roy Bellamy]

Real Hoopers. No, first is kd, obviously. Dan, come on. What are we doing here? All right, this one's gonna be tough because neither were known. Well, one's known for shooting, but one wasn't Dexter Pittman, Miami Heat legend. Or Miles Turner.

[Greg Cody]

Miles Turner.

[Billy Corben]

That was quick. That was quick.

[Roy Bellamy]

All right, we're going back to the old school. Dan, Greg, you'll remember some of these names. Austin Crozier or Chris Mim.

[Billy Corben]

Mim.

[Greg Cody]

Austin Crosier.

[Roy Bellamy]

Stretch four for his time.

[Stugots]

Right.

[Billy Corben]

Coach college player.

[Roy Bellamy]

D.J. augustine or Booby Gibson?

[Greg Cody]

D.J. augustine.

[Roy Bellamy]

Did you call him booby coach or no?

[Greg Cody]

Yeah, I did. He was a great player. But DJ Augustine play with KD and had a big influence on Katie, too. I can't remember could tell you how many times DJ Would go over to Kevin, say, man, we need you to take this game over. And I'd say, I agree with him.

[Billy Corben]

It's good coaching. That's. That's why. That's why you're the genius that you are.

[Mike Ryan]

Denny Hamlin or Kyle Larson.

[Stugots]

Yeah. Race for your life.

[Greg Cody]

Danny Hamlin. Wow.

[Mike Ryan]

Really? Oh, it's a Gibbs thing.

[Stugots]

The intimidator.

[Greg Cody]

Think I'm crazy. I know you think I'm crazy when I say that. It's just then he's been around a long time, and when you get to my age, you kind of like those older guys.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah, better. Speedway racer. Do you think the speedways are too random?

[Billy Corben]

I'm sorry.

[Mike Ryan]

It's your turn.

[Roy Bellamy]

Thank you.

[Mike Ryan]

I see my time.

[Stugots]

Earnhardt or Petty, Coach?

[Greg Cody]

Well, you know what? I have to tell you this story. I was at Providence. Do we have time for me to tell you a story?

[Mike Ryan]

For a NASCAR story? Absolutely.

[Greg Cody]

Here's what happens. I'm at Providence College and I've taken the Clemson job, and I get a call one day from the guy from the Providence Journal. He says, I'm Going to give you. Ask you a quick question, kind of what you did right there, and say, you can't think about it. You got to be spontaneous. He said, if you could have dinner with any two people, who would it be? And I said, billy Graham, Richard Petty. Because when I was growing up in the state of North Carolina, Billy Graham, the great evangelist, I mean, everybody knew him around the world, telling everybody about Jesus Christ. And then Richard Petty was the king, right.

[Billy Corben]

So there was Christ.

[Greg Cody]

And I was. I get a call from a guy and he says, would you really like to meet Billy Graham? And I said, yeah. So he's going to be in Boston at a. At a function up there. You and your wife can come up. So we drove up there and went to a ballroom, and I didn't know how many people was going to be there, just happened to be about 5,000 people, but they took me over to meet him. And he was in his 70s and wanting as healthy as, you know, he was getting older. But when he went up on the stage, I mean, I've never seen a guy transform himself and start talking about Jesus. And then two years later, I get a chance. I met a speedway, and the year we went to the Final Four, and Dale Jarrett, who I grew up with, and Dale's racing on nascar, his family. And Dale invites me to the race up in Texas, and I go up there, and as we're getting ready to leave, Dale's brother is hustling us out so we can get on a helicopter and get over to the airport to get out. And I see Richard Petty standing by himself. And I go over and I say, I gotta meet the King. I said, I grew up really loving this guy. So I walk over there, he's eating an apple, and I'm telling him the story about red or green.

[Stugots]

Yeah.

[Greg Cody]

You know, I'm telling Richard about it, and he looked at me and he said, richard Petty, Billy Graham. He said, we're a long way apart, man. But he said, I appreciate that. And. But I did get a chance to meet him. And obviously, growing up, I don't know why I wasn't a big Richard Petty fan growing up. But. But. And for. For some reason, I love Del Earnhardt and. And obviously, like everyone involved with nascar, it was a sad day when. And he lost his life. But I admire watching Richard Petty still doing what he's doing, going to the track and doing what he does.

[Billy Corben]

Rick, we're going to. He was wearing the cowboy hat, obviously, when you saw him. We're going to get you on to recap, Talladega. But ask him one last question before we get out of here.

[Roy Bellamy]

Toughest for last, Coach TJ Ford or Kevin Durant.

[Greg Cody]

Wow.

[Billy Corben]

No, come on.

[Greg Cody]

I tell you what, you have to. You're going to have to hang, because I'm not going to pick between those. Oh, you.

[Mike Ryan]

Well, you got to pick one, Coach.

[Greg Cody]

You got to pick one shot for your life, Coach.

[Mike Ryan]

Forget how bad TJ Was.

[Chris Cody]

Why would we hang you?

[Greg Cody]

Well, because you know what? T.J. ford taught me a lot about college basketball and coaching a great player. And then Kevin Durant, because of what TJ taught me. When KD came in, I said, hey, man, you're going to be who you are. Do what you do. Because T.J. ford won 77 straight games. And. And one of the greatest stories of my coaching career, we're playing Oklahoma, the year that Kansas, US and Oklahoma, 1, 2, 3, we all get a number one seed, and we're at Senior Night up at Norman, and Kel Kelvin's the coach, and we'd have some epic battles. And I get mad at Brian Bodker. He gave up three straight offensive rebounds, and I called time out. And this is when I was really emotional, and I rained Brian Boddicker and say, man, you are done. I'm not going to play any more the rest of tonight. And he goes over, I put him on the bench, and they're up 11 points. And I'm walking to the bench, and TJ walks up behind me, puts his arm around me, said, coach, what are you thinking right now? And I said, I think we're getting our butt kicked. And he said, do you want to win? I said, I want to win. He said, well, we. For us to win, you had to put Brian Boddicker back in the game. I said, tj, you heard what I just told Brian. I told him I'm not going to play him anymore tonight. And he looked me dead in the eye, and he said, coach, you don't want to win then. So I walked right down to the bench and I said, brian, I'm going to give you one more chance. Whoa. And he goes in the game, and this is a true story. In 45 seconds, he hit three straight threes, and we ended up coming back winning the game. And when I'm walking off the court, TJ came up and he hit me so hard on the butt and looked at me and he said, you're a heck of a coach. I wanted to hit him because he hit me so hard. I didn't know it was. And so I learned right then and there more than ever when you got a guy like him. And then when Kevin came in, all I ever told Kevin Durant, we're going to help you get better at what you do, but you got to be who you are. And obviously if he told me Kevin's going to be a Hall of Famer, I wish TJ's career could have gone different for him, but he had that neck problem. But those two guys taught me a lot about how to deal with great, great players. And in some ways it's been a curse because those two guys love basketball.

[Billy Corben]

Pick one Barn.

[Greg Cody]

Work harder than anybody I've ever touched. When you get guys that work that hard, you expect that from everybody.

[Billy Corben]

Pick one. You got to pick one. Barnes. You're not going to be a coward.

[Greg Cody]

About this, but I'm going to pick kd.

[Billy Corben]

There it.

[Greg Cody]

Lift.

[Roy Bellamy]

We badgered him in to get a body on somebody.

[Chris Cody]

We will not hang you.

[Mike Ryan]

What do you think about the 12 cars ability to come back to the field?

[Billy Corben]

Well, after Talladeg, I'll talk to Rick Barnes. Thank you, Rick.

[Tony]

Good Maris or Joe Pepaton.

[Billy Corben]

Okay, get raise hell.

[Stugots]

Praise Dale. Right, Coach.

[Billy Corben]

Get out of here. Goodbye.

[Greg Cody]

Thank you guys.

[Billy Corben]

Thank you.

[Mike Ryan]

Robin is. That's right, racing.

[Billy Corben]

All right, stop it. All of you stop it.

[Jessica]

All right, I know I got to do this ad read, but hold on, let me reapply. Did you hear that?

[Mike Ryan]

Yep.

[Jessica]

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[Billy Corben]

Yeah, sure thing. Hey, you sold that car yet?

[Chris Cody]

Yeah, sold it to Carvana.

[Dan LeBatard]

Oh, I thought you were selling to that guy.

[Tony]

The guy who wanted to pay me in foreign currency.

[Chris Cody]

No interest over 36 months.

[Billy Corben]

Yeah, no.

[Chris Cody]

Carvana gave me an offer in minutes, picked it up and paid me on the spot. It was so convenient.

[Billy Corben]

Just like that.

[Stugots]

Yeah.

[Billy Corben]

No hassle? None.

[Stugots]

That is super convenient.

[Greg Cody]

Sell your car to Carvana and swap Hassle for convenience. Pick up fees may apply.

[Billy Corben]

Don LeBatard.

[Greg Cody]

Yeah, very good.

[Chris Cody]

Imagine if someone told you you couldn't have a Corvette.

[Billy Corben]

Stugats.

[Tony]

I'm a grown ass man who's not. Who's not. Not filthy rich. I can't afford a Lamborghini. Well, I probably can, but that's.

[Mike Ryan]

Hey.

[Stugots]

This is the Dan Levatar show with the stugats.

[Billy Corben]

I lost Greg Cody in the middle of that. Greg Cody drifted off. He drifted off to another place.

[Tony]

I asked the best question.

[Billy Corben]

Serene.

[Tony]

He refused to answer.

[Mike Ryan]

All those legacy fans are Wood Brothers. Guys, it's crazy.

[Billy Corben]

I want to play some video for you guys here and this. I wonder if you guys, I don't know if you do this. I don't know if you care about these things. Almost every time that I see one of these videos where someone's getting into the hall of fame and they're surprising a hall of famer and you get to see the genuine emotion of somebody that you may not have seen before. Let's play this Patrick Willis video of Patrick Willis is a very feared man. He was also not somebody you're breathing during the Rick Barnes. Your nostrils, like I've heard your breathing all show today. And your nostrils are substantive in the amount of air that they're.

[Tony]

I lead the league in nostrils.

[Chris Cody]

This is kind of on Roy and I because my dad, for weeks now, he's had his mic way too far away. So today we gave him a big, big speech of like, please adjust the mic so you don't have to lean your head down. So I think the mic is just closer today. But it is so annoying.

[Billy Corben]

Have you not noticed? I saw Chris was telling you. Chris was making hand signals toward his nostrils. Trying to get your nostrils away from the microphone. It really made me feel like I was at the height of entertainment. Like that I was really doing something important. Important in show business. You lead the league in nostrils, huh?

[Tony]

Yes, ma'am.

[Chris Cody]

The Cody man, ma'am. I got my mom's nose, but yeah, my dad and Wild Bill, he's run.

[Tony]

You do have your mom?

[Chris Cody]

I do.

[Billy Corben]

All right, listen, he's running out of gas because I'm going to. Just be honest, okay? Rick Barnes took it out of Cody.

[Stugots]

Come on. What is electric?

[Tony]

I thought Rick Barnes was good.

[Billy Corben]

Yeah, I'm not saying he wasn't good. I'm saying that you got tired listening to him. I'm not saying.

[Roy Bellamy]

He's saying you weren't.

[Stugots]

I ordered the summer 49.

[Mike Ryan]

It was incredible.

[Tony]

No, it was really good.

[Mike Ryan]

It was a little learning tree with Rick Barnes. PJ Tucker, the second best performer.

[Billy Corben]

That was pretty good.

[Chris Cody]

I mean, you put him in the corner.

[Billy Corben]

That was pretty good. A little flip shot over Lamarcus Aldridge, P.J.

[Greg Cody]

Tucker.

[Billy Corben]

Marcus Aldridge was a gifted star. You really lured him out there, Tony.

[Tony]

Come on.

[Roy Bellamy]

Real Hoopers know that, Dan.

[Stugots]

You knew.

[Roy Bellamy]

You knew what was going to happen.

[Billy Corben]

We will play the lamarcus Aldridge sound. That's classic from Stugats.

[Mike Ryan]

He didn't mince words when it came to Carson Hosavar.

[Stugots]

Yeah.

[Billy Corben]

But before we do that, let's play this Patrick Willis video because this is not a demonstrative, man. He's one of the best linebackers ever. You don't see a lot of emotion out of him. This is the most I've seen. No way.

[Chris Cody]

There's kids at the door.

[Greg Cody]

Go get your dad.

[Billy Corben]

He said, good pro dog. That's a family running out of the house. That's children running around. Mom sent the kids out.

[Chris Cody]

I'm sure he has no idea anything's happening right now. She's covering his eyes.

[Stugots]

Walking to the front door.

[Chris Cody]

Could be dinner.

[Billy Corben]

Nope.

[Stugots]

That's great.

[Greg Cody]

Oh, man. P. Willie.

[Roy Bellamy]

Oh, man.

[Billy Corben]

The fountain of youth. That. That is for players who are probably in a great deal of pain in retirement to be able to go and revisit what was five years ago. Those are always emotional in ways that show a gratitude post career for something that they might not have felt or could have articulated during their career because they were so busy being competitive. There's no. There's no time to sort of slow down and realize how much great. How great it actually was. Until you have the appreciation of being five years removed from it. You guys get. Will you stop on one of those every time or not? Will you?

[Chris Cody]

I become a cynic with those. I'm always like, the producers probably showed up an hour before and they're like, he'll be here soon.

[Stugots]

That would seem like no one planned that happening. Which seemed like you kind of should have, maybe.

[Tony]

Yeah. That was great.

[Stugots]

Need a little David Baker if we're gonna be honest with you.

[Tony]

A big.

[Stugots]

David Baker. Yeah. Big guy.

[Billy Corben]

Yes. David Baker. For those of you who do not know the hall of Fame man is in size. He is ogre ish. Ogre ish. Well, I don't know how else to say. You guys say David Baker and nobody knows what you're talking about. I'm talking about a substantive man. A man who fills out the jacket. A man that, when he arrives to welcome you into the hall of Fame, is the size that that human being should be.

[Stugots]

I just found a photo of him where a construction helmet doesn't fit his head, which I'm gonna send over to there.

[Billy Corben]

He is a big guy like John Taffer. If you just, like, inflated him a great deal. That's a good call, Dan. But all. He has the face of John. Yes.

[Chris Cody]

He also sounds like he looks.

[Stugots]

That helmet looks. That's protecting a beam or whatever falls.

[Chris Cody]

His head is protecting the helmet.

[Tony]

Yeah.

[Billy Corben]

That helmet is so small on his head. That is a construction helmet.

[Chris Cody]

His ear is the size of the helmet.

[Billy Corben]

Now, wait a minute. I know that I'm not being fair. Right. Just honorable in any way when I call him the consistency of an ogre, but how else would you say it?

[Chris Cody]

Like if Shrek and Richard Kind had a baby.

[Greg Cody]

Yeah.

[Billy Corben]

What I told him is he's welcome right up until the last moment. He does sound like.

[Mike Ryan]

He doesn't sound like Richard Kind.

[Billy Corben]

That's. No, no. That is such a great call by you. If they can get a picture of Richard Kind. Can you get for me before you do that, though, the famous Stugard sound of lamarcus Aldridge? Because at some point, I hope to have top 100 show moments at some point in our.

[Chris Cody]

Like the Great Cody show.

[Tony]

Stealing my material.

[Billy Corben]

At some point in our history, I would like to have the show moments that are most memorable, given the Rick Barnes interview.

[Mike Ryan]

A five.

[Stugots]

Yeah. I had a three.

[Tony]

I had a one.

[Billy Corben]

I believe. I believe that Stugatz taking out lamarcus Aldridge for being a choker in a game that lamarcus Aldridge won is one of the best sounds Stugatz has ever produced. Lamarcus Aldridge, awful.

[J]

I mean, no, he's an embarrassment, man. I'm telling you, Greg Popovich is going to get rid of that guy in the off season. He was an embarrassment last night. He is so out of shape. There are so many times where the Rockets were playing 5 on 4 on offense because Lamarcus Aldridge was sit was walking back on defense. He's bad. He's not a good player. I don't know what happened to him because when he was in Portland, he was fantastic sick. He is not good, Dan. He cost them the game last night, although they won the game. But had they lost, I'm telling you, it would have been on lamarcus Aldridge. And the only reason it's not is because they won the game. Otherwise San Antonio would be crushing it today. I'm still going to crush him even though they won.

[Billy Corben]

Let's do Stat of the day, Start of the day, Start of the day.

[Stugots]

It is the start of the day.

[Billy Corben]

Start of the day, Start of the.

[Stugots]

Day it is the start of the day Start of the day, Start of the day it is the start of the day Start of the day Start of the day it is the start.

[Billy Corben]

Of the day.

[Greg Cody]

Stat of the day.

[Chris Cody]

Is presented by Miller Lite.

[Stugots]

Alexander Ovechkin is the first player in.

[Billy Corben]

NHL history to score 200 or more goals in three different decades, respectively. He scored 245 in the 2000s, 437 in the 2010s, and 200 in the 2020s. How are we going to revisit this particular time of science and sports when an Ovechkin can have three goals the last time he played and be, what is he, 12 away now from what was supposed to be an unreasonable, unbreakable record?

[Mike Ryan]

I'm usually with you there. We can have that discussion with LeBron. Have you seen what Alexander Ovechkin looks like? Like, this is like the first offseason that I've actually seen him, like, try to get in shape. This is not a guy that's aged in terms of, like, physically with grace.

[Chris Cody]

Looks like the Cookie Monster.

[Billy Corben]

I'm not saying he's ever looked like anything other than somebody who's Jaramere Yagur light, able to do amazing things even though he parties his face off. The Ovechkin sound that I have that's most memorable to me is him at a parade, slurring his words through the speech. I think of him as an epic partier. What I don't understand is how you can be an epic partier 39 years old and challenge a record that I did not think was challengeable. Like, I don't get how Jagr and Ovechkin Jagr can do. Jagger does these workouts at 50 at midnight in the rink, wearing all sorts of ankle weights and stuff after partying all day. I don't get how people like this are able to do this. That sports too hard to do that at 39 the way of Etchkin's doing.

[Mike Ryan]

I couldn't explain this other than saying in terms of goal scoring, he's as gifted as they've ever come.

[Stugots]

I know the record. Tony knows the record. But what record are we talking about?

[Mike Ryan]

Wayne Gretzky's goal scoring record.

[Roy Bellamy]

Ah, gotcha.

[Billy Corben]

Such a good call by Chris Cody. There, it's yours. Boys and girls and Braves, let's go.

[Mike Ryan]

Howdy, folks. It's Mike. And look, it's been an exhausting couple of weeks. Even on the show, there's all sorts of debate which sport takes it seriously enough. Where's the effort? Let me tell you something. As long as I'm sitting down on the couch and I have a beautiful white can of Miller Lite in my hand, I'm good. I make any sports time of Miller Time. And it's the perfect supplement because Miller Lite makes all the moments better with great tasting light beer. For people like you and me who love beer beer, it's always the perfect time for friends, family and a great tasting light beer tastes like Miller Time. Miller Light is brewed for taste. It hits different than other light beers. The taste that you know you can depend on. No games, no gimmicks. Just great beer. For people who like beer, it has simple ingredients like malted barley for rich balanced toffee note flavors and the iconic golden color that we all know and love. The original light beer since 1975 and still the very best one. Miller Light. Great taste. 96 calories. Go to millerlight.com dan to find delivery options near you. Or you can pick up some Miller Lite pretty much anywhere they sell. Beer tastes like Miller Time. Celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Co. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 96 calories and 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces.

[Stugots]

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