Hour 2: The Aaron Rodgers Documentary

Summary

The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
Episode Title: Hour 2: The Aaron Rodgers Documentary
Release Date: December 18, 2024

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1. Tensions in the Studio: Sports Rivalries Escalate (01:05 - 05:58)

The episode kicks off with host Dan LeBatard addressing a heated confrontation that unfolded among panelists Mike Ryan, Amin Elhassan, and Greg Cody. The argument stemmed from Amin's assertion that hockey has overshadowed basketball in recent times, igniting a defensive response from Mike Ryan and Greg Cody.

• Dan LeBatard: "A real fight broke out. A real... how dare you say hockey has become more important than basketball?" (01:12)

Amin counters by highlighting what he perceives as straw man arguments against basketball, emphasizing the sport's intrinsic value beyond sensational headlines.

• Amin Elhassan: "I care deeply about basketball. It's being used as a political tool for its social commentary. If you go woke, you go broke." (04:10)

2. The NBA's Evolution: Social Justice and Marketing Challenges (02:18 - 08:04)

The discussion delves into the NBA's engagement with social justice issues and its subsequent impact on the league's ratings and style of play. Amin critiques the overemphasis on three-point shots, arguing that the game has lost its traditional mid-range flair due to strategic rule changes aimed at favoring superstar talents like Steph Curry and Kevin Durant.

• Amin Elhassan: "The NBA has a marketing problem. We don't know how to market our game in a way that's salient." (04:55)

He further elaborates on the necessity of balancing three-point attempts to preserve the sport's competitive integrity.

• Amin Elhassan: "Does Steph Curry shoot mid-range shots? Yes or no?" (03:18)

3. Roy Drive: Spreading Holiday Cheer (09:04 - 12:25)

Shifting gears, the hosts update listeners on their ongoing toy drive, affectionately dubbed the "Roy Drive." Roy Bellamy provides an encouraging report on the drive's progress, noting a significant increase in toy donations.

• Roy Bellamy: "We've gone from two toys to about 15 right now. So we have gained some traction on the toy drive." (10:18)

The segment is laced with humor, including playful banter about gift-wrapping skills and the festive atmosphere surrounding the drive.

• Dan LeBatard: "I forgot that we're still doing this today. Thank you. The Roy Drive." (10:21)

4. Analyzing the Aaron Rodgers Documentary (21:12 - 33:43)

The core of the episode focuses on the newly released three-part Aaron Rodgers documentary. Panelist Mike Ryan shares his cautious anticipation of the documentary's portrayal of Rodgers, wary of documentaries' tendency to humanize their subjects excessively.

• Mike Ryan: "I feel bad for him like watching it. He doesn't seem happy... he's just kind of seeking it out and searching." (22:12)

The hosts discuss Rodgers' journey from collegiate football to NFL stardom, highlighting his personal struggles despite professional success. Amin emphasizes the complexity of Rodgers' character and the challenges of maintaining happiness amidst fame.

• Dan LeBatard: "Once you get to the pinnacle of your profession at such an early age, what do you do when this is done?" (25:17)

Comparisons are drawn to other athletes like Tyson Fury, illustrating the often tumultuous relationship between personal fulfillment and public success.

• Dan LeBatard: "It's one hell of a midlife crisis, man." (28:03)

The panel contemplates whether Rodgers' pursuit of happiness through various means, such as spiritual retreats and personal relationships, is a universal quest or a unique struggle prompted by his unique circumstances.

• Mike Ryan: "I just kind of feel bad that he's going through it and he feels as though... Why does it have to look like this at the end?" (31:06)

5. Lighthearted Holiday Banter and Themes (33:43 - 39:02)

As the episode progresses, the conversation shifts to festive topics, including gift-wrapping anecdotes and humorous exchanges about holiday preparations. The hosts engage in playful teasing about each other's holiday efforts, maintaining a jovial atmosphere despite the earlier intense discussions.

• Chris Cote: "I like it. You get here." (38:33)
• Stugotz: "Get more with Geico." (39:02)

6. Final Reflections and Closing Remarks (39:02 - End)

Concluding the episode, Dan LeBatard reflects on the duality of celebrating professional achievements while grappling with personal contentment. He underscores the importance of self-love and meaningful connections as foundations for true happiness.

• Dan LeBatard: "Once you get out there with all of these political opinions and look for all of these fights, that's not a happy place." (28:47)

The podcast wraps up with well-wishes for the holiday season, encouraging listeners to participate in charitable acts and cherish moments with loved ones.

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Notable Quotes:

• Dan LeBatard: "It's a real fight broke out... can we get a mean Mike has left." (01:12)
• Amin Elhassan: "The NBA has a marketing problem. We don't know how to market our game in a way that's salient." (04:55)
• Mike Ryan: "I feel bad for him like watching it... he's just kind of seeking it out and searching." (22:12)
• Dan LeBatard: "Once you get to the pinnacle of your profession at such an early age, what do you do when this is done?" (25:17)
• Dan LeBatard: "It's one hell of a midlife crisis, man." (28:03)

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This episode of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz provides an engaging blend of sports analysis, personal reflections, and festive cheer. Listeners are treated to a thoughtful examination of the NBA's current landscape, the complexities of athletic fame through the lens of Aaron Rodgers' documentary, and the hosts' lively interactions surrounding their charitable endeavors.

Transcript

[Dan LeBatard]

You're listening to Giraffe Kings Network.

[Stugotz]

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[Greg Cody]

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[Stugotz]

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[Billy Corben]

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[Stugotz]

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[Billy Corben]

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[Stugotz]

For [e-mail] learn more this is the.

[Mike Ryan]

Dan Levator show with the Stugats podcast.

[Dan LeBatard]

So that was chaotic and we've had some tension in the room here because Mike, Ryan and Amin, a real fight broke out. A real I'm defensive about basketball. How dare you say hockey has become more important than basketball? And we all got, you know, uncomfortable around them, shouting at each other. It escalated to MFER for no reason whatsoever. Can we get a mean Mike has left. I don't know where he is. I hope this doesn't spoil the holiday party that it doesn't seem anyone wants to go to. And, and I mean, Amin is still here. He's flown in like he was in Vegas. And, and he cares deeply about his sport. His sport is under attack, man. Like it's it. I Adam Silver it wasn't that long ago that he was the leader of all leaders and he knew what how to be progressive in ways that would make the sport evolve. And since then, basketball has been used as a political tool for its social commentary. And if you go woke, you go broke. NBA, you did all the social justice stuff and now look at your ratings and look at how everyone says it's three pointers or something else. Amin is defensive about his sport for good reason. Like he cares deeply. Cares more than most of the people consuming it.

[Amin Elhassan]

Yeah, I mean, I would say I care deep. I don't want to compare. But I think the problem is many of the arguments are straw man arguments. They're, they're, they're red herrings that you guys are following.

[Dan LeBatard]

For instance, straw man.

[Amin Elhassan]

Forgot we had that sounder, for example. I'll give you an example, Dan, you mentioned it yesterday When I was on, on the show briefly, but the Bulls and the Hornets played a game where 75 missed three pointers and everybody was like, oh my God, this is why the NBA sucks. And I said, okay, so the, the headline is two horrible teams play against each other and play in a horrible game. And that's what we're judging the sport on. That's what we're doing. Why don't we judge it off? Raiders, Panthers and NFL. Like we, we could do this across the board. There are bad teams in every sport and bad teams play bad games. The reality is everyone who's crying about the lack of a mid range shot in the NBA or, or the, the demise of the mid range shot is you look around the league. Does Steph Curry shoot mid range shots? Yes or no?

[Chris Cote]

Occasionally.

[Amin Elhassan]

Not occasionally. He shoots quite a few.

[Chris Cote]

If you say so.

[Amin Elhassan]

Kevin Durant?

[Chris Cote]

Yes.

[Amin Elhassan]

Devin Booker?

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah.

[Amin Elhassan]

Jimmy Butler?

[Chris Cote]

Sure.

[Amin Elhassan]

Jayson Tatum? Jalen Brown?

[Chris Cote]

Yeah.

[Amin Elhassan]

Luka Doncic?

[Chris Cote]

Yeah.

[Amin Elhassan]

Kyrie Irving?

[Chris Cote]

Yes.

[Amin Elhassan]

Okay. So it seems to me the mid range shots we got rid of was from the Eric Snows of the world. That's what you guys are missing.

[Stugotz]

Carlos Boozer.

[Amin Elhassan]

Yeah. You're missing all these guys who I do miss.

[Chris Cote]

Eric Snow. I have to be honest with you. Yeah. You're not certain if it's gonna go in the guy.

[Dan LeBatard]

You're pretty certain it's not gonna go in.

[Amin Elhassan]

Stugats. You missed the.

[Chris Cote]

But I got you eight assists.

[Amin Elhassan]

I mean stugats. You missed the Tyrone Hill pick and pop 18 footer.

[Chris Cote]

Yeah, I do.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah.

[Amin Elhassan]

You missed Kurt on the baseline.

[Chris Cote]

I do actually. Yes. Money. Yep.

[Amin Elhassan]

You donis Haslam. Remember when he learned how to shoot?

[Chris Cote]

Yeah.

[Amin Elhassan]

See like Dan, that's the mid range shots that got legislated out of our game because basically what we told every role player is, hey, either you're going to make a 3 to spread the defense out so that Luka and Steph and Kevin Durant can do these amazing things that we all actually paid to see. We want to see those guys do amazing things. So you need to stand out there at the three point line so the defenders can't just sag and sit right there and help. Or you're going to be an amazing athlete who's going to catch lobs and dunks like Clint Capella and Rudy Gobert and all these guys that just exist for an alley oop in case someone tries to collapse. What we got out of the game was all the people we didn't want to see shoot shooting. That's what we Got now are you going to have nights where people shoot poorly? Yeah, that's the game. But like to base it all on one thing like that. To me, the NBA doesn't have a three point problem. It doesn't have a load management problem. Despite what you guys were ridiculous to talk about earlier, the NBA has, is a marketing problem. We don't know how to market our game in a way that's salient. I just came back from Vegas, the NBA Cup. You know who there was an abundance of with great access to everything? Influencers. And that's awesome. These people have millions of followers. They get millions of views on Instagram. You know what? The NBA has not yet learned how to monetize the Internet. Right? So if we say, hey, the way we make our money more than anything is people watching on tv, let's market to the number one audience that doesn't watch tv. That's what we're doing. And I'm like, that's the part where we're behind or maybe we're ahead. Maybe the NBA says look, in the future no one's going to watch TV and then we'll have the market cornered for sure. But right now our metrics for success are not measuring the things that we are going after. And that's your problem. It's not wokeness, it's not load management, it's not three pointers, it's not any of that.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yes. Still super defensive.

[Chris Cote]

Yep. More defensive.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah, yeah, he's put it on the poll, please. Juju. Juju. Do you miss the Tyrone Hill pick and pop 18 footer.

[Chris Cote]

How about the Kurt Thomas baseline? Jeff?

[Stugotz]

I mean I have a solution. I've seen a lot of people the last few weeks doing the topic of like how can we fix basketball And I'm going to play the game. But I have, I have one that I haven't heard.

[Chris Cote]

Let's do it.

[Stugotz]

You miss four straight three pointers. Power play for the other team.

[Chris Cote]

Wow.

[Stugotz]

One guy leaves the court for a full minute.

[Dan LeBatard]

I mean this is a dangerous area. When Billy, Chris and Stugot try to fix your sport, when they, when they try to fix your sport with rule changes, this is a terrible place for your sport to be.

[Chris Cote]

Well, I mean doesn't get to decide for me why basketball is no longer as popular for me as it used to be. Okay, you don't get to do that. I am telling you that when I go to games, I never go to games. But if I went to a game, I have questions as to who's going to be playing in that game. And then the style of play is not something I'm a fan of. I don't like 54 threes a game. I don't like it. In fact, you should be limited to 23 attempts per game and that's it.

[Amin Elhassan]

23.

[Chris Cote]

That would. No, 20.

[Dan LeBatard]

No.

[Chris Cote]

20.

[Mike Ryan]

23. 23.

[Stugotz]

I thought you said 23.

[Amin Elhassan]

I thought you're doing a Jordan homage now.

[Chris Cote]

We are trying to change the rules. Greg Cody came to me before the show and he said to me, should be twos and twos should be threes. I agree with that. I do. He wants a three point layup.

[Billy Corben]

Yeah.

[Amin Elhassan]

So. So Greg, let me pitch you this. Maybe it's too gimmicky for Greg Cody, but let me give it a try.

[Chris Cote]

I mean, two, three. Threes are two.

[Amin Elhassan]

So in base. Well, I got one better than that. Watch this. In baseball, what's the. What's. How far is a home run from home plate?

[Mike Ryan]

It depends on the part.

[Amin Elhassan]

Depends on the part.

[Dan LeBatard]

From 312ft to 412ft.

[Amin Elhassan]

Right. And we could say that some teams have players that benefit greatly from the way the park is designed. Right. What if the three point line was subjective by. By NBA Arena? So if I'm Milwaukee, Giannis gets a lot of stuff in the paint, I'm putting the three point line right there in the paint.

[Dan LeBatard]

Wow.

[Amin Elhassan]

If I'm Golden State, I'm like, no, no, I want it as far as possible. And now you. There's a little bit of strategy when you go from building to building. Hey, how many threes are we taking?

[Stugotz]

What about the power play thing?

[Amin Elhassan]

I like the power play. I'm not going to lie.

[Dan LeBatard]

How are you getting. How are you getting sucked into the fixed baske conversation with ridiculous rules?

[Stugotz]

The paint is a ball pit.

[Dan LeBatard]

How has a man gotten sucked into having the conversation about how to fix basketball when he doesn't agree that anything other than the marketing has to be fixed?

[Amin Elhassan]

Because then I don't mind rule changes. Like this is.

[Chris Cote]

Thank you.

[Amin Elhassan]

Our game has changed rules more than probably any of the other sports, maybe not football in the last 10 years. Those guys are going crazy.

[Chris Cote]

I mean, Dan thinks we're doing this wacky thing when we try to change the rules. He laughed at the golden at bat. Now they're seriously considering the golden bat. We're not doing anything wacky. We're trying to improve the sports that we love. That's all.

[Mike Ryan]

Save the sports Summer.

[Dan LeBatard]

All right, so let's.

[Mike Ryan]

Even though influencers were there, three point layup.

[Dan LeBatard]

Let's put a bookmark in it. Thank you.

[Chris Cote]

So good.

[Amin Elhassan]

He likes that.

[Dan LeBatard]

That's perfect. Show right there. Billy muttering influencers and then Greg Cody coming in over the top.

[Chris Cote]

Don't you think it would be great if points in the paint counted as three?

[Dan LeBatard]

I don't want to do this right now.

[Chris Cote]

A skyhook.

[Dan LeBatard]

All right, just hold on to it. We'll get back to it. I got to go out to stoic Roy. I've got to continue our toy drive. You gu. I forgot that we're still doing this today. Thank you. The Roy Drive. We want an assortment of new and unwrapped gifts. We will be out there tomorrow again. Dolphin Mall, 111401 Northwest 12th Street. Let's go out here to Roy. We're going to be here tomorrow as well, and we're telling you, we. We're taking gifts 7am to 2pm Monday through Friday. This week, corner coffee here at the elser and I will match whatever toys it is that we get. Let's check in again with Roy. Roy, give us an update there. I see that you are resplendent with more toys than you had before as people come from all over America to give you toys. How's it going out there? Well, it's much, much better now. We've gone from two toys to about what seems to be about 15 right now. So we have gained some traction on the toy drive or the Roy drive, as you like to call it. Is Rose there? Can it become a Rose drive? Is that Rose doing that in the background? It is Rose. Rose is. You want to bring her over? You want to help produce your own segment there, Roy? You want to help?

[Stugotz]

Come around back or something.

[Dan LeBatard]

You want to wait for a bunch of a team of enablers to come and help Santa Roy be better at producing here. Thank you. It was Rose doing the bell.

[Billy Corben]

Festive.

[Dan LeBatard]

Festive. Yes, the bell. Thank you, Rose. Roy, can you please ask Rose to give us an update on how things are going out here? If she can't hear me. How things are going out there at the toy drive. It's going great. We're cheering here. Roy, with. Can you get lower, Rose?

[Stugotz]

We can't see your head.

[Dan LeBatard]

We can't see you.

[Stugotz]

There we go.

[Dan LeBatard]

Thank you. You're too high. Yes, we can see you now. You're dressed like an elf. It's wonderful. Yes. Thank you. What? Give us. Give us a toy drive update, please. It's going great.

[Amin Elhassan]

We've seen a lot of people, so we need more people to come because we need more gifts, but it's going great. We're having fun.

[Dan LeBatard]

Right, Roy? Right. Sure. Yeah.

[Billy Corben]

I have a new nickname for Roy this week only. Can I unveil it? Roy Jingle Bellamy.

[Chris Cote]

I like it.

[Billy Corben]

Thank you.

[Mike Ryan]

I do, too. So does Roy.

[Dan LeBatard]

Thanks, Greg.

[Chris Cote]

You get it, Dan.

[Billy Corben]

You're welcome, Roy.

[Dan LeBatard]

No, it's too complicated. It's gone over my head. All right, Rose and Roy, any final words here from the Roy Drive as you go up here? 18 more minutes. A grueling day out in Dolphin Mall on the cusp of the Everglades. Well, please come tomorrow as we continue the toy drive. I heard that Billy might be the one in the Santa costume. That's Roy. Your mustache is falling off. And you haven't done a good job of producing this segment, and you heard wrong. Thank you for all your good work out there. Appreciate your effort. Yes, well, Billy's not showing up. All right. Thank you. I don't know. I don't know. We. We have to talk to Billy. Roy, an excellent job producing yourself and Rose there as if you've never done radio or tele television before. I. I appreciate all your hard work out there. Yes. Excellent broadcasting. Come back home for the holiday party. I'm sure you won't drink too much of the free liquor. Come on back. You never know. No, I'm pretty sure I do know. I'm pretty sure I do know that you will drink too much of the free liquor.

[Chris Cote]

Christmas tree Rollins.

[Billy Corben]

I like it.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah.

[Roy Bellamy]

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[Dan LeBatard]

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[Roy Bellamy]

See draftkings.com cheez it for full details.

[Chris Cote]

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[Dan LeBatard]

This year.

[Billy Corben]

Santa's bringing the power of Energizer into his workshop.

[Dan LeBatard]

Whoa. The Energizer bunny's got so much power. Wait, he's powered up all the toys. I think that means we're done for the year.

[Roy Bellamy]

I love this bunny.

[Billy Corben]

He's the hardest working helper the North Pole has ever seen. And he wants all your gifts to have the power of the number one longest lasting AA battery. So this holiday season, stock up on Santa and the elves favorite battery, Energizer ultimate lithium.

[Dan LeBatard]

Don LeBatard.

[Mike Ryan]

We didn't get to your guys against the spread.

[Chris Cote]

You're right, you're right, you're right.

[Dan LeBatard]

I don't have it against the spread because I wasn't prepared for this segment.

[Mike Ryan]

You need an Ian in your life.

[Dan LeBatard]

You have actively played defense against me today in a way that has rarely been this undercutting. Stugats.

[Mike Ryan]

Defense wins championships, baby. That's show business. This is the Dan Levatar show with the Stugats.

[Dan LeBatard]

I want to do a couple of things with you guys.

[Mike Ryan]

Frosty the Snowman.

[Dan LeBatard]

We need Jeremy to keep working on those. Yes, those. Those Christmas songs. Cody, your podcast, the Greg Cody show featuring Greg Cody with.

[Billy Corben]

Thank you.

[Chris Cote]

Fine.

[Dan LeBatard]

Has. I can call him Miami legend Alonzo Mourning.

[Billy Corben]

I think he is.

[Chris Cote]

Yes, of course he is.

[Billy Corben]

Yeah, he is.

[Chris Cote]

Yeah.

[Billy Corben]

And he's gone through a really rough year with health issues and he's been very forward and out front with talking about what he's gone through. And we talked to him about it at length on the podcast. It's actually a pretty serious interview. We get nutty and everything because Christopher's a part of it and he's asking a name questions that upset.

[Stugotz]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure Zoe hated me.

[Billy Corben]

Yeah, but. But still, it was a good interview.

[Dan LeBatard]

Well, I think you guys probably experienced when he says interviewed at length. There is no other kind of interview with Alonzo. He's a bit wordy.

[Billy Corben]

He can be. That's the beauty of editing.

[Stugotz]

We tighten it up.

[Mike Ryan]

Okay, what'd you ask him?

[Chris Cote]

Just.

[Mike Ryan]

Just give us one tease.

[Billy Corben]

What did you ask him that he didn't prefer?

[Dan LeBatard]

Because Greg. No, but Greg. This is the Greg setting his son up.

[Stugotz]

No, he's not setting me up.

[Dan LeBatard]

He has no clue. Greg, how do you not know how to prom? What's your. On your own podcast? And you have to go, son, what did we do? Like a doddering old man.

[Billy Corben]

Yeah, you'd think that he would have been prepared to answer that rather than make an issue of the fact that I had asked.

[Stugotz]

I am prepared.

[Mike Ryan]

I just.

[Stugotz]

We're making fun of you because you can't answer it.

[Dan LeBatard]

But, Greg, what was the best thing on your podcast? Please don't outsource that. Please answer the question as the host of your own podcast.

[Billy Corben]

The best thing on my podcast was Alonzo Morning talking very emotionally and about how terrified he was thinking he was dying and all that he went through and why he's coming forward now to alert people to do the same and to get checkups and to be aware of their health. He talked a lot about, you know, the Overtown Youth center that he founded 20 years ago and about his work in Miami to promote affordable housing in areas that need it. And it's a very good interview.

[Stugotz]

And then he was also going around his office showing pictures with Obama and just all these people. And I was like, oh, these are all great pictures. Where's the sad photo with you and Jason Capono?

[Billy Corben]

Yeah, he didn't like that.

[Stugotz]

He didn't like that. He was like, I don't. I don't associate with sad question, though.

[Billy Corben]

Well, very good.

[Dan LeBatard]

It's a very good question. You think so? You think it's a good question to ask Alonzo Morning to insult a teammate by saying, hey, that Jason Capono who stunk?

[Stugotz]

Well, I was just more like, hey, you have all these fun ones. What's the saddest one? I imagine it.

[Dan LeBatard]

It's Jason, not Alonzo Morning. Not really a laugher.

[Mike Ryan]

Well, he doesn't associate with sad, either. He was kind of in the middle there.

[Billy Corben]

We caught him in a good mood, I think. I think he's. He's in a good mood.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah.

[Chris Cote]

It's hard to tell where you stand with Zoe. I mean, I'm just saying.

[Dan LeBatard]

I don't think it is hard to tell.

[Chris Cote]

Really.

[Dan LeBatard]

You better be careful.

[Chris Cote]

Really?

[Dan LeBatard]

Yes, I think. Yes, I think. I think Alonzo Mourning over the years has earned the reputation as somebody who can be very stern and serious. And you be careful. Don't insult him by being too playful. He's like. Playful's not really his. Playful among teammates, maybe. Playful among journalists, not so much.

[Billy Corben]

Yeah, yeah, that's fair.

[Chris Cote]

Do you think Zoe would like the three point layup or.

[Mike Ryan]

Ooh, good question.

[Billy Corben]

Yeah, no. You know what? Damn it.

[Mike Ryan]

I didn't get him back on.

[Dan LeBatard]

Can I get some sound? Here to help Greg Cody promote podcasts in general, the comedian Andrew Santino is on this week's edition of South Beach Sessions. He is climbing very quickly up of comedy ranks. And he has gotten popular friends with famous people. The Kelsey's. He has become friends with Patrick Mahomes. And he is a Bears fan. And his fellow Bears fans are yelling at him for rooting for the Chiefs. They say he cannot root for the Chiefs. So he's got something to say to them on the recent edition of South Beach Sessions.

[Andrew Santino]

No, but he get. I get so much crap for cheering on Kansas City because everyone online. You're a Bears fan. You're a Bears fan. And let me say this to your audience, I am a Bear. I'm a die hard Chicago fan for the rest of my life. Okay? But you go get yourself two hall of Fame super bowl champion friends. Go get two of. Go get two of them. And then you tell me you're not gonna root for their team a little bit. Okay. Okay. It pisses me off when people are like, sell out. Sell out. Two of my friends are hall of Fame current players.

[Mike Ryan]

What are you. I'm not gonna root for them.

[Amin Elhassan]

What are you talking about?

[Dan LeBatard]

You need to not be friends with them so that you can only root for the Bears.

[Andrew Santino]

That's an insane. Like, this is an ideology that I think America still has where they're like.

[Chris Cote]

You can't do that.

[Mike Ryan]

You sell out.

[Andrew Santino]

You cross it over there. Really?

[Chris Cote]

Dude, the fans are right. I mean, they should be outraged. Not a Bears fan.

[Billy Corben]

Plus, his friends aren't technically in the hall of Fame yet. I mean, that's being a little presumptuous.

[Chris Cote]

Yes.

[Stugotz]

Which one of them do you know? Do you not See going to the hall of Fame.

[Billy Corben]

Either.

[Mike Ryan]

Either of them.

[Chris Cote]

What?

[Billy Corben]

They got a long way to go.

[Mike Ryan]

They are playing around.

[Billy Corben]

They're gonna win a couple of more rings.

[Dan LeBatard]

They don't have a long way to go. They'd both be in the hall of Fame if their careers ended today.

[Billy Corben]

We'll see about that a little.

[Mike Ryan]

If their careers ended today.

[Chris Cote]

Oh, I like that.

[Mike Ryan]

I like this spin on this.

[Chris Cote]

I'm with Dan on this one.

[Amin Elhassan]

Greg.

[Dan LeBatard]

They would be in the five years from the day. No, not five years from the day. If their career ended today, they should walk straight to the Hall. Not even take off their uniform. Just walk straight to the hall of Fame. Both of them.

[Mike Ryan]

How about Russell Wilson? If career ended today because he played his way in and then out, but now he's had another good season.

[Chris Cote]

What do you think, Dan?

[Dan LeBatard]

Billy, thank you for bringing that up. I do appreciate it. Let's talk about that Aaron Rodgers documentary.

[Mike Ryan]

You guys watch that yet or what?

[Chris Cote]

No, I see it every weekend.

[Mike Ryan]

I. Dan, you like documentaries. We know this. I find myself falling for the traps of the documentaries. So I texted two people. I saw that the Aaron Rodgers one came out yesterday. I was like, well, it's gonna be a talking point. I should probably watch this. But it's three parts and I started watching at 9:30 at night, which is usually when I fall asleep. So I knew it was gonna be a task to watch all three episodes last night. But I texted two different people when I started. I go, I'm mentally preparing myself to like Aaron Rodgers when this is done. Because that's how these documentaries always go. You always end up thinking like, oh, you know, Joe Exotic is really not that bad a guy. And it's like, well, he kind of is. So like all these documentaries make you sympathetic towards the person and then like somewhat liking them at the end. So I went in there saying, I'm probably gonna like Aaron Rodgers when this is done. Not that I dislike him now. I'm just like, I feel like. Like it's gonna be very pro Aaron Rodgers. I kind of feel bad for him like watching it.

[Stugotz]

Yeah, family stuff.

[Mike Ryan]

It just. And you guys can watch it and I'm not gonna give you too much information. It's incredible access. And I also realize no one is living life without a camera crew around them anymore in 2024 because this starts pre jet's injury. Like he already had the camera crew there. He was already doing stuff before he got injured. And then you're kind of are then following him as he got injured through his recovery, then you're kind of going back in time, learning about how he kind of came up through the ranks, had to play at a junior college, all that stuff.

[Chris Cote]

So the project started when he joined the Jets.

[Mike Ryan]

It started, like, right before he joined the Jets, I think. So I don't think this necessarily was supposed to be how it went, but it became this other thing. And then it's broken up into, like, three different episodes, and each episode is like a different story that they're telling about Aaron Rodgers. So far, two episodes in, like, two and a quarter in because I fell asleep in the third. I feel bad for him in. And it's not the way that you think. I feel bad for him in that. Like, he doesn't seem happy. Like, it seems like he spent his entire life wanting one thing and that was to, you know, get to the NF. It was to get to Division 1 school, then it was to get to the NFL, then it was to win the super bowl, and he did all of that. And then there just seemed to be, like, an emptiness in him. And now he's just spent the rest of his life trying to fill that feeling and chase, like, meaning, really. So it's kind of sad because he's accomplished all this stuff and seems to still think he's not enough, and he's not really doesn't have this meaning in his life, and he's just kind of seeking it out and searching it in all these different areas.

[Dan LeBatard]

I would assume just based on watching a public meltdown that doesn't have any precedent for me in terms of how a superstar has disintegrated for years into being one thing, then becoming something else. I have thought watching from afar as his family stuff has become uniquely public for an athlete, that part of the problem at every turn is that joy is only so joyous if it isn't shared with people. Like, if he's having trouble with his relationships with women and he's having trouble navigating fame and he doesn't have his family to share any of it with with. Like, who's Aaron Rodgers sharing love with. They're gonna be friends and stuff. But the journey he's taken over the last few years, I don't know how. I don't know who those friends are, what they look like, or how distorted his entire life has gotten because he's gotten sort of brain fried, Internet rot brain. And I don't know who's telling him much of anything about, like, hey, Aaron, are you, like, with the rest of us, are you just over there still on McAfee at 4 and 10 talking about show me your vax status when we're all looking at your season and the end of your care and saying, man, you were really one of the best to ever do this. Why does it have to look like this at the end?

[Chris Cote]

He was a four time mvp. From what Billy is saying though, it also seems like. And Dan, you have discussed, as we have discussed this a lot over 20 years is reaching the pinnacle of your profession at such an early age. And then what do I do when this is done?

[Dan LeBatard]

Oh, but he's still enjoying like you get. Nobody gets this long. I know we've made advancements with medicine and everything else else, but somebody's going to want him next year because the jets the last month, okay, he's looked like he can move around. He's been good and he's been really accurate and he's again playing for his job and that's not normal at that age. But I have seen what stugats jets have done over 40 years.

[Chris Cote]

Nothing.

[Dan LeBatard]

I thought Aaron Rodgers over the last four games would have been what they were getting all season. They have lost, lost seven one score games. Oh, and seven. I thought Aaron Rodgers was there so that would be seven zero.

[Chris Cote]

Yep.

[Dan LeBatard]

And so if they're seven and up, like I thought, well, if I replace Zach Wilson with Aaron Rogers and he thought that's how it would go. That's why he's doing that whole documentary. He thought he was going to be great in New York because he's one of the best to ever do it. Like that's not up for dispute. I'm not going to have that erased by the last three years.

[Mike Ryan]

It's not really like a football documentary though. Like his rehab is covered and you're kind of seeing how he's trying to get back. But like, like it tells his football story but it's really more like who Aaron Rodgers is and how he got here is kind of what it is. Like it goes back to like his very Christian upbringing and then the fact that he went to more of a liberal college and how it had him start questioning things because he kind of got out of the bubble that he was in and then he started really having more questions in life and then as he had more success and he wasn't finding happiness, he then started looking for happiness and reading books and finding happiness in different places that then take him down these different paths. Like, like it's kind of interesting but like you do feel bad for him. The One thing that I would say is that, like, some of this stuff, and it's not meant to be judgmental, but some of the stuff that he's like, well, I didn't really want any of this. And it's like, yes and no. Like, yes, you wanted to be a great football player. But, like, also, he said that he kind of lost, like, once he won the super bowl, everything changes. He became a public figure. He was never seeking that out or the fame or whatever. And it's like, maybe not, but, like, also decided to be the state farm guy. That kind of really elevated you into, like, a household name everywhere. So, like. Like, there's things like that that were decisions that were made. You know, he even alluded to some of the. The people that he's dated. He even talked about the family stuff to an extent. So, like, there's a lot in there, and you kind of see how he got to where he got to, whether you agree with what he's doing or not. But, like, at the end of the day, judgment aside, like, I just kind of. I. I kind of hope he just finds happiness. You know what I mean? And, like, find some sort of meaning and fulfillment in his life, because that's really what he seems to be searching for. Just. Just in places that are not necessarily where you and I would.

[Chris Cote]

The Jets.

[Dan LeBatard]

Well, yeah, that it has seemed over the last five years, once you're into Iowa, once you're getting to the Ayahuasca portion of your journey, you're really searching.

[Mike Ryan]

Well, that started earlier than we think, too, if you watch it, because I think he's. He's gone to, like, four or five retreats now, and I think it goes back deeper than the initial one that, like, we. The big one, like, a year and a half ago or whatever, he had already done that a couple of different times.

[Dan LeBatard]

It's one hell of a midlife crisis, man.

[Mike Ryan]

I don't know that I would. I don't know that I would call it a crisis. Like, watching it. Like, his behavior is not what I think most people would do, but, like, I see how and why he's doing it. I don't necessarily need to agree with it. I just kind of feel bad that he's going through it, and he. And he just feels as though seemingly as someone who's just watching a documentary that he produced, he's going through seemingly not, I guess, being truly happy and accepting of himself.

[Dan LeBatard]

I mean, isn't that the entirety of the journey, though? I don't want to go to self help on this. But once you get to some form of better self love that's forgiving for yourself, then you love others better and you allow them to love you better as well. He's probably wandering through life feeling a little alone and empty because of his absence of connections and looking for spiritual enlightenment through ways that kill the ego with ayahuasca because. Because it seems pretty obvious over the last five years that he's searching to be happier. But is that a path to be judged or is that a path to be celebrated? Once you get out there with all of these political opinions and look for all of these fights, that's not a happy place. Like, it's hard to be fighting the entirety of the Internet for five years pretending you don't care about anybody's opinion. When you're the guy who went to Mina Kimes is like, wherever she was, you wanted to so badly be understood by the public that you did a magazine story where you went to where Mena Kimes was her. Your home because you wanted so badly to be understood by the public. That's not the behavior of somebody who doesn't care to be understood. But I will tell you where it is that I have felt more loved by my wife than I have ever felt loved before. Wherever understanding and acceptance are, it's a craving. It's really strong. And you will find it around love. People who understand and accept you. Like, I don't know how much of that he's getting. That would feel like fulfillment, understanding and acceptance. Which is how you arrive at making a documentary that has access, where you're showing everybody everything or trying to.

[Mike Ryan]

It's crazy. Access too. Like, there was cameras with him when he had a conversation with rfk. They didn't show it, but spoiler alert, they didn't show it, but like, they showed him in the car driving back after going on a hike with rfk. He's like, yeah, he just asked me to be vice president. So, like, that wasn't a rumor. That was like, he asked him that day to be his vice president, which is kind of wild. Then they have the camera crew grow, go with him to Costa Rica to these ayahuasca retreat. Oh boy, he's high.

[Chris Cote]

Really?

[Mike Ryan]

He's. Oh, boy. He's. I mean, he's playing a little, little drum there and he's singing and dancing. Like. But he. I mean, that's his, that's his group. That group of people he finds to be. You know, it's giving him what he's searching for. Then he Goes to like this, this charity game day, days after this retreat, man, Josh Allen comes out so nice. He kind of, he's kind of what a nice loving guy. Just comes, he's like, hey, buddy, how's it going? Great to see you. What a happy guy that guy is.

[Chris Cote]

Josh Allen.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah, it's crazy.

[Chris Cote]

Funny.

[Mike Ryan]

I let you know. I let you know how episode three, Episode three, the tease was right. The whole vaccination situation fell asleep because.

[Chris Cote]

You go, I do that every Sunday.

[Mike Ryan]

Well, the thing is, is like they're each like an hour and six minutes long. I start watching it, I have to pause, let the dogs out, do this whole thing. And then like I come back, I'm dozing. Could have tightened it up slightly a little bit. A little bit. But you know, it's, you know, it's interesting. I would say if you really want to and you don't have to reserve judgment while you're watching it and then maybe it's. It's a more enjoyable experience or you can get something out of it. If in there. And you just want to hate Aaron Rodgers, you probably find things to hate him for.

[Stugotz]

If you're struggling to connect with family, friends, you know what you should do? Take him to a sporting event. Take him to a concert. And you know how you do that? You download the Game Time app. You create an account. You use code Dan. We'll get you $20 off your first purchase terms apply. Download the Game Time app today. Chris, what time is it?

[Chris Cote]

Game Time.

[Amin Elhassan]

Who?

[Chris Cote]

You asked yourself.

[Billy Corben]

People don't know that.

[Stugotz]

Peter. The mindsticks.

[Dan LeBatard]

I like a new campaign with Game Time that begin with some form of. Are you against sadness? Game Time.

[Stugotz]

I get happier when I go to sporting events with friends. When I go to concerts, I'm instantly happier.

[Dan LeBatard]

That's right. Are you lonely? Game Time will fix it.

[Chris Cote]

It will. I think you make a fair point about when. When Billy's talking about Aaron and his search for happiness and some of the stuff he's. He's thrown himself into over the last, I don't know, four or five years. He would find happiness. I would think if he disconnected. He's too connected. Like disconnect.

[Dan LeBatard]

I would say that I ever spend.

[Chris Cote]

The day without your phone? It's the greatest day of your life, I promise you.

[Stugotz]

Don't you, like always reach for your pocket? You're like this thing at.

[Chris Cote]

Yeah, I have a heater though.

[Billy Corben]

Are we over complicated this? So with. With Aaron Rodgers, if he's the king of New York right now, if his time with the jets has been a massive success, and they're headed to the playoffs and they're really good. Are we still talking about how unhappy he is?

[Dan LeBatard]

That's a good question. Because the harder the times are, the harder it is to celebrate joy with others. Like 4 and 10 is going to seep into every aspect of your life, no matter who you are playing for that team.

[Chris Cote]

And Torn Achilles.

[Mike Ryan]

Well, I mean, if you're. If you're to believe the documentary in the way that it sets it up, winning the super bowl is really kind of what set this all off, because he reached the pinnacle of what he thought would be happiness and realized. Realized, I'm not happy. Well, but this is like, I did absolutely everything that I wanted to do professionally, and I thought that would bring me the happiness. And then once I got there, is when things really started feeling like this is not what I wanted.

[Dan LeBatard]

So this is what I will tell you from there. And this one's super interesting, too. Tyson Fury family. Everyone in the family's a street fighter. You get to heavyweight champion, and he looks up and he's like, here it is, all my dreams. Gains a bunch of weight, cocaine addiction, drinks. Because all my dreams didn't look like I thought my dreams would look like. I will tell you, and you've heard me tell this story before as a journalist. When I got to the sports reporters in Times Square at the ESPN Zone and they were doing that show on Sundays, I'm like, this is the top of my profession. This is the highest place that there is. And I looked around and I was immediately made sad by, is this my dreams? The bar smells bad. They were throwing up and urine and chairs on the tables. Like, this was.

[Stugotz]

That was before the Cleveland.

[Dan LeBatard]

This was last night. This was last night in Times Square. What do you imagine? How much do you think New York humped the ESPN Zone in Times Square the night before? Like, what do you imagine that place was like in Times Square? A zoo. And the following morning, deeply unpleasant. And the coffee table that was there was from 30 years ago. And Bob Ryan's breath was morning breath.

[Stugotz]

Still caught up on Humphrey?

[Chris Cote]

Humped. Yeah. Haven't heard that in a while.

[Dan LeBatard]

Put it on the poll, please. Juju at Le Batard show. Do you ever use humped as a term for fornication?

[Chris Cote]

I had a similar experience, Dan. The first time that I finally got a chance to be one of the panelists on around the Horn. I thought that it was going to feel great, and it did. It's the best feeling I've ever had. I mean, seriously, I miss doing it. I miss Realy. I miss sedano. I miss the crib. True. It's exactly what I expected. But more. I mean, how about that?

[Dan LeBatard]

Well, that's why. That's why you're the industry titan that you are joyously swinging from vine to vine, enjoying whatever candy there is out there. You did a great job. Greg Cody with the. With the gifts. Stugots has said Izzy is out there trying to rival you. Stugotz has said that this book, this.

[Chris Cote]

Book, this man can rap.

[Dan LeBatard]

And. And the bigger gift, that's your unicorn. Okay, that was a challenge.

[Billy Corben]

That was a chall.

[Stugotz]

These do seem like very well wrapped gifts. I'll give him that.

[Billy Corben]

Thank you. I saw Izzy. Izzy's got rap game. I saw him.

[Chris Cote]

Yeah, I saw him.

[Billy Corben]

He was doing some good work out there.

[Stugotz]

He's just cutting paper.

[Billy Corben]

Little heavy on the tape, but that would be my only critique.

[Dan LeBatard]

I feel a little bit disappointed. I feel disappointed that. That Izzy, you know, immediately tried to wrap gifts to rival you, and you're just giving him a bit of a condescending. Yeah, you're pretty good too, kid.

[Billy Corben]

You know, I complimented his rap game.

[Dan LeBatard]

You know, you did, but you. But, but, but like Dave Hyde, he doesn't quite rise to the level of one. Greg Cody, right?

[Billy Corben]

You know, you said it.

[Dan LeBatard]

You're being polite during the holidays. How did you feel about Izzy's rapping game?

[Billy Corben]

I thought it was great. I would accept that gift, and I don't even know it was in there, but because he wrapped it, I would accept it.

[Chris Cote]

Wait, has there been a gift that's been poorly wrapped that you didn't accept?

[Billy Corben]

Oh, I look down on badly wrapped gifts. Yeah. I'm going to be very honest with you. My wife is a won. She sort of, you know, goes really quick with the gift wrap.

[Dan LeBatard]

Oh, no, no.

[Stugotz]

She probably buys seven times the amount.

[Dan LeBatard]

Of gifts that you wrap.

[Stugotz]

That's what I mean. She has a lot to wrap, but.

[Billy Corben]

They'Re all coming in cardboard boxes on the doorstep.

[Dan LeBatard]

Put it on the poll, please. At Lebatard show, do you look down on poorly wrapped gifts? Also from and by your wife.

[Greg Cody]

Hey, folks, it's Mike Ryan. The holiday season is upon us. Christmas is coming next week. So what are you doing for it? I imagine you're gonna have some family over. How do you entertain the family? How do you keep everybody happy? Well, I know one easy way. Make your holiday time, Miller time. Bring out a nice silver platter of that beautiful white can or bottle, whatever your preference. Heck, do it on draft. As long as it's got that beautiful amber color and was triple hops brewed, you know it's going to be a hit. Why? Cause Miller Lite has tastes you know you can depend on. No games, no gimmicks. Just Grapevine beer. For people who like beer, you'll take a sip, look around, see your family, and know you immediately made the best decision possible. Because Miller Lite is brewed for taste, it hits different than other light beers. Simple ingredients like malted barley for rich balanced toffee note flavors and the iconic golden color. The original light beer since 1975 and still the best one. Making memories at year end gatherings. Tastes like Miller time. Go to millerlight.com dan find delivery options near your you, or you can pick up some Miller Lite pretty much anywhere they sell beer. Celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Co. Milwaukee, Wisconsin 96 calories and 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces. Fewer calories and carbs than premium regular beer.

[Chris Cote]

How do you feel when you switch.

[Stugotz]

To Geico and save on your car insurance? It's like finishing your laundry, successfully matching.

[Chris Cote]

All your daughter's baby socks together on the first try.

[Dan LeBatard]

Let's see.

[Mike Ryan]

Panda socks, fire truck socks, socks with.

[Dan LeBatard]

Those cute little strawberries on them. You matched each and every one of those tiny socks.

[Stugotz]

I mean, has this ever happened in.

[Chris Cote]

The history of laundry, laundry and a.

[Mike Ryan]

Penguin wearing a cowboy hat?

[Dan LeBatard]

Socks done.

[Mike Ryan]

Enjoy the moment, dad.

[Dan LeBatard]

You've earned it.

[Chris Cote]

Yep, switching and saving with Geico feels just like that.

[Stugotz]

Get more with Geico.