Hour 2: The Manager's Surprise

Summary

Summary of "The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz" — Episode: "Hour 2: The Manager's Surprise" (January 7, 2025)

In the second hour of "The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz," hosts Dan LeBatard, Stugotz, Billy Corben, and Mike Ryan navigate a blend of personal anecdotes, sports analysis, and lighthearted banter from the Elser Hotel in Downtown Miami. This episode, titled "The Manager's Surprise," delves into a variety of topics, including technical difficulties during the broadcast, Apple's privacy settlement, a memorable visit to the zoo, challenges with rental car surprises, and insightful commentary on the NFL draft. Below is a detailed breakdown of the key discussions and insights from the episode.

---

1. Broadcast Apology and Technical Hiccups

The episode begins with an unexpected apology from Billy Corben regarding the inability to extend the broadcast to four hours as anticipated. Due to "computers melting" and failing air conditioning in the Miami heat, the team could only deliver three hours of content. Billy humorously remarks:

“We did only get you some Ron McGill best of... we will give you your full ration of addiction today.”
(00:55)

This acknowledgment sets a candid and relatable tone for the episode, highlighting the challenges of broadcasting in extreme weather conditions.

2. Apple’s $95 Million Privacy Settlement

The hosts transition into a discussion about Apple's significant legal settlement concerning privacy breaches. Billy Corben addresses the audience's concerns:

“Apple pays $95 million in a lawsuit to just be like, yeah, we listen to you...”
(02:37)

Dan adds context about the company’s practices:

“We’re just so dependent on them... whenever there was a new update that came out, it would kind of ruin your phone because you had to buy the new iPhone.”
(03:03)

This segment underscores the ongoing tension between consumer privacy and corporate data practices, emphasizing the pervasive influence of tech giants like Apple.

3. Stugotz’s Uncomfortable Zoo Encounter with Ron McGill

Stugotz shares an anecdote about a visit to the zoo where he unexpectedly encountered Ron McGill, a significant figure associated with the zoo. The story reveals his awkwardness and subsequent regret:

“I felt very rude after the fact... I couldn't shake the feeling.”
(08:53)

Billy Corben humorously supports Stugotz:

“Ron McGill is a giant star. Like, Salvador Gigante is a show internationally.”
(07:20)

This personal story not only humanizes the hosts but also highlights the complexities of interacting with prominent personalities in public settings.

4. Challenges with the Rental Car 'Manager's Surprise'

A significant portion of the episode revolves around Stugotz’s frustrating experience with a rental car service’s "Manager's Surprise" program. Opting for the cheapest rental deal led him to receive an electric vehicle instead of his preferred choice, creating unforeseen complications:

“I need to return it with the same amount of gas... I need to figure out how to charge it.”
(21:55)

The hosts collectively express their dismay:

Billy: “Never go for the manager special.”
(10:38)

Stugotz elaborates on the inconvenience:

“It's more work. Now I would have rather just taken the car for $3 more that I could put gas.”
(22:48)

This segment humorously critiques the unpredictability of surprise rental car deals and the growing complexities associated with electric vehicles.

5. Banter About the 'Dan vs Dan' Segment

In a playful exchange, the hosts discuss the idea of renaming the "Dan interviews Dan" segment to "Dan versus Dan," tapping into audience interest in dynamic interactions:

Dan: “Dan interviews Dan is like, oh, you know what? Dan versus Dan.”
(15:24)

Billy Corben continues the jest:

“Let me play for you some witty sound... Jeremy Tashay has some of the best jobs locally in sports broadcasting.”
(27:14)

This lighthearted conversation showcases the camaraderie among the hosts and their ability to engage in self-referential humor.

6. Mike Ryan’s Breaking News on the NFL Draft

A highlight of the episode is Mike Ryan’s exclusive report on the NFL draft, announcing significant changes within the Tennessee Titans organization. Mike reveals that the Titans have parted ways with Ran Carthon and that Deion Sanders is publicly endorsing Lou Riddick for the General Manager position:

Mike: “The Titans have parted ways with Ran Carthon... Deion Sanders took to Twitter and responded, 'wow.'”
(32:07)

He further explains the potential impact of this endorsement:

“Deion Sanders is going to need our protection... he's getting into business with Lewis Riddick on protecting the career of his son.”
(35:56)

This exclusive news segment provides listeners with insider insights into the NFL's evolving landscape, highlighting the interplay between high-profile endorsements and organizational strategies.

7. Upcoming Segments and Sponsor Promotions

Throughout the episode, the hosts intersperse discussions with promotions for various sponsors, including DraftKings, Sleep Number, and BetterHelp. Notably, the "Against the Spread" segment, sponsored by DraftKings, offers sports betting insights:

Chris Whittingham: “Mine is one and a half against the Utah Hockey Club tomorrow night.”
(25:53)

Additionally, promotional segments for BetterHelp and Sleep Number are seamlessly integrated into the conversation, ensuring listeners are informed about these services without disrupting the content flow.

8. Concluding Remarks and Future Outlook

As the episode nears its end, the hosts reflect on the day's discussions and tease upcoming topics, such as the Fox Sports lawsuit and further NFL draft analysis. Dan LeBatard wraps up the show with enthusiasm for future episodes:

Dan: “Watch me...”
(25:56)

This forward-looking conclusion maintains listener engagement and anticipation for subsequent broadcasts.

---

Notable Quotes with Attribution and Timestamps:

• Billy Corben (00:55):

  “We did only get you some Ron McGill best of... we will give you your full ration of addiction today.”

• Dan LeBatard (02:37):

  “We’re just so dependent on them... whenever there was a new update that came out, it would kind of ruin your phone because you had to buy the new iPhone.”

• Stugotz (08:53):

  “I felt very rude after the fact... I couldn't shake the feeling.”

• Billy Corben (10:38):

  “Never go for the manager special.”

• Stugotz (21:55):

  “I need to return it with the same amount of gas... I need to figure out how to charge it.”

• Dan LeBatard (15:24):

  “Dan interviews Dan is like, oh, you know what? Dan versus Dan.”

• Mike Ryan (32:07):

  “The Titans have parted ways with Ran Carthon... Deion Sanders took to Twitter and responded, 'wow.'”

• Mike Ryan (35:56):

  “Deion Sanders is going to need our protection... he's getting into business with Lewis Riddick on protecting the career of his son.”

---

This episode of "The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz" masterfully blends personal stories with in-depth sports analysis, all while maintaining a humorous and engaging atmosphere. From candid apologies about technical issues to exclusive insights into the NFL draft, the hosts provide a comprehensive and entertaining experience for both regular listeners and newcomers alike.

Transcript

[Dan LeBatard]

You're listening to giraffkings Network.

[Stugotz]

You know that sound? It's the sound of money hitting your Venmo account. A friend paying you back. Or maybe it's getting cash back from your favorite business when you pay with the Venmo debit card. Or it's realizing you can pay with Venmo at checkout at thousands of brands now. There are so many more ways to answer the question, what's your Venmo? Download Venmo Today, the Venmo MasterCard is issued by the Bancorp Bank N.A. pursuant to license by MasterCard International Incorporated. DOSH cashback terms apply. This is the Dan Levator show with the ST podcast.

[Chris Whittingham]

This episode of the Dan Lerd show with Stugots is presented by DraftKings. DraftKings. The Crown is yours.

[Billy Corben]

I want to apologize to the audience yesterday because they want their hours and they want them every day and they have made us a beast. Stugance like, I am really proud and happy right now in a contract year that DraftKings has been the best sponsor we've ever had. We love DraftKings, got a great relationship with them. And also it's the content free agent spending spree time where everyone in streaming is trying to get into sports. It's just an aggressive business time. And so I have been wanting to feed the addiction to our audience and they continue to allow us to make a great business out of what all of this is. And Yesterday they expected 4 hours after 2 weeks off after football, headed into the playoffs. And we can only give them three because the computers are melting and it was very hot and the air conditioning wasn't working. And that's not winter problems that most media companies have. But they told me, don't do it in Miami, Dan, you're an idiot. Don't ever do it in Miami. You're a fool. And so the equipment was melting yesterday and we didn't get the fourth hour out, but we did get you some Ron McGill best of. And I just wanted to apologize to the audience for that. We will give you your full ration of addiction today. I didn't get to the Golden Globes yesterday. There were a thousand things I wanted to talk about that I never got the chance to talk about. Apple $95 million settlement because, yeah, we've been eavesdropping on people. Yeah, yeah. It's just the most common thing. We all know this now and accept it. Apple pays $95 million in a lawsuit to just be like, yeah, we listen to you, but we don't want to offend Apple because they're good business partners. Gotta be careful who we offend in this age of free agency.

[Stugotz]

In a contract, everyone's hiring.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah.

[Stugotz]

If you order merchandise, don't criticize the company. You order the merchandise for they have this company starting Dangerous Game.

[Dan LeBatard]

Also like the consequences for Apple doing things with our phone. Like, we're just so dependent on them. Remember when they had to essentially admit. Yeah. Whenever there was a new update that came out, it would kind of ruin your phone because you had to buy the new iPhone. We'd kind of make that happen. I got slapped on the wrist with a fine, and we kept buying the new iPhones anyways.

[Mike Ryan]

Too big to fail those chargers, though. I mean, you.

[Stugotz]

You mentioned Ron McGill. I saw Ron McGill over the break and had an uncomfortable moment, really, in part because of Ron McGill. And it was really a bad behavior on my part that I should apologize for to the people that I offended. But I. I don't know how to. Or if they're even going to remember it or experience it the same way. Like, do you guys ever have something and you played out differently in your head than you think that it was for other people? So, like, you feel guilt about something that other people like? I don't really care about that at all. I had that with Ron McGill. So I went to the zoo. So I'm a. I don't want to brag. Annual pass holder at the zoo. No big deal. Yeah.

[Billy Corben]

You're a regular.

[Stugotz]

Yeah. I can go whenever I damn well please. To have one of those family passes, right?

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah.

[Stugotz]

It's like $70. Honestly, I don't know why it's so cheap. I don't know why I'm saying this, because now they're going to raise the price, but it's, like, cheaper to get the annual pass than it is to take your family for a day to the zoo. So if you have interest in going to the zoo and you have a family, get the annual pass, you are.

[Billy Corben]

A zoo supporter, and it is a bargain.

[Stugotz]

I love the animals.

[Mike Ryan]

It's like the drink package on a cruise. It is.

[Stugotz]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. But that one seems more like a challenge. You get the drink package on a cruise, you're like, I'm going to make money here. Because, like, what you do is you start counting the drinks, you start adding it up, and then you convince yourself that you actually made money by drinking more.

[Billy Corben]

Billy, you're a man of the people, and I believe that your aggressive support me of the zoo is something that is Fun for the whole family. You are a McGill supporter. But what happened with you?

[Stugotz]

And you know what I saw before we get to that at the zoo? I saw they installed cameras where I believe the chimpanzees are. And I wanted to ask him about it whenever he comes back on, because before wasn't there. And I went to the zoo previously and one of the chimpanzees asked a man to throw him ice cream. So the man obliged and threw him ice cream. And then the chimpanzee ate said ice cream. After. After waving the man and saying, throw me the ice cream. He threw him the ice cream. And now there's cameras set up everywhere. And there's a recording in English and Spanish of Ron McGill telling people if they throw the chimpanzees anything, they will be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. And it's on an endless loop. And I wonder what's worse for the health of these chimpanzees eating the occasional ice cream or. Or having Ron McGill talk to them 24 hours a day, driving them crazy.

[Billy Corben]

You need to ask Ron McGill this. You don't understand, okay? I don't know what's coming the next four years. None of us know what's coming the next four years. But I assure you, it's not people who will be interested in protecting the zoo and Ron McGill.

[Stugotz]

I'm just doing my part.

[Billy Corben]

And so he. Ron McGill is going to need our protection. Because I don't know how many of you remember the scene from a million years ago of Indiana Jones waving a torch at a bunch of snakes, but whatever is coming for government funding is gonna make it hard for you to afford things like that precious, precious zoo that he cares about more than anybody. Cuz he cares about the animals more than anybody. But what was the awkward moment you had with our hero, Ron McGill?

[Stugotz]

Well, so, yeah, so as I mentioned, I have the annual pass so I can support Ron's vacations. And what happened was Ron was on a vacation to the Galapagos, which I think zoo people, I'm not exactly sure. So I go to the zoo. And when you. When you. The people here who have kids know sometimes you will see your kids classmates out in the wild. And the kids are very excited when they see each other out.

[Chris Whittingham]

Totally awkward for the parents.

[Stugotz]

Okay, so. So here we go. It's. It's fun for the kids to see each other out in the wild. But you know, the kids, you know, my eldest is three. These are three year olds. They see Each other, like, ah. They're screaming each other's names. They go. They're excited. They run up to each other. So then you go and you say, like, hi to the parents. Hey, how's it going? How's the break? You know, school's gonna start again next week. You start the small talk. And then one of the parents says, hey, look, it's Ron McGill. And I was excited because I. You know, you don't always see Ron McGill. Every time you go to the zoo, you know, I'm gonna see a giraffe. I'm gonna see a zebra. I'll see a rhino. But you don't know if you're gonna see Ron McGill.

[Billy Corben]

Billy. I don't. You know this. You know this. Ron McGill is a giant star. Like, Salvador Gigante is a show internationally. Ron McGill represents, like, the fascination of how exotic Miami is to the world. He's a big star. And when people see him at the zoo, he's the biggest attraction.

[Stugotz]

He is. He's. It's exciting to see him because you never know when you're going to see him or if you're going to see him, because he. You know, sometimes we see him. He's in his office, and you'll see pictures of him everywhere. You'll hear his voice telling people, don't throw things at the champion chimpanzees. But this person's. Oh, look, it's Ron McGill. And we're like, I just. I got excited, so I was like, I gotta go say hi to Ron McGill. So I kind of just take off in the middle of this conversation to go say hi to Ron McGill. Like, I jog over because he was on a golf cart, so I had to almost, like, jog over to the golf course. And I tap on, like, hey. Oh, hey, Billy. How's it going? You know how he talks. So he gets. He gets out of the thing, and I'm like, how are the Galapagos?

[Greg Cody]

Oh, it was amazing.

[Stugotz]

Does all that, you know, Ron McGill stuff. Signed me about the Galapagos. He gets out of the golf cart. We're talking about. So great to see you. Oh, I'm so sorry. There's so much construction going on right now at the zoo.

[Chris Whittingham]

Mickey Mouse.

[Stugotz]

I'm like, it's fine, Ron. Don't worry about it. We're here. We support you. We're here all the time. Anyways, it's not a big deal, right? So he gets out. I'm talking to him. He's talking to me. We're talking about the Galapagos, all that stuff.

[Chris Whittingham]

Time to look cool.

[Stugotz]

Yeah. Yeah. And the parents are there. And then I introduce. I'm like, oh, here's my wife and, you know, my daughters. I don't know if you met my daughters. And. And then I noticed that, like, at some point the friends and the parents of the friends have. Have, like, left. And I was like, oh, should I have introduced them to Ron McGill? And should I have bailed in the middle of a conversation with them to say hi to Ron? I felt. No, I felt very rude after the fact. And then they were gone and we didn't see them the rest of the day. And the whole day I was full of regret of leaving in the middle of this conversation and then not introducing them to Ron McGill. Talking to regret.

[Billy Corben]

Yeah.

[Stugotz]

Just the only way I know how.

[Mike Ryan]

Overthinking.

[Billy Corben]

Just feeling it all day. Feeling regret all day.

[Stugotz]

I was feeding the giraffes and I couldn't shake the feeling.

[Chris Whittingham]

Yeah, you should send your apology.

[Stugotz]

I thought about changing my daughter's schools. Honestly, I can't. I can't face these.

[Chris Whittingham]

Just tell your three year old the apology and she'll relay the message.

[Stugotz]

No. And then the whole day she's like, oh, I'm just asking where her friend is. And I'm like, I don't know. But also, like, I kind of. They probably hate me now because I left very rudely.

[Billy Corben]

A calamitous zoo visit that. Yeah. But I've been wonderful.

[Stugotz]

It was. It was a lovely day. Aside from that, let me ask you guys another question, awkwardness aside, and how you would deal with that situation. So the zoo has a split. We ended up going not in the same loop as them, I'm assuming, because we didn't see them, but you then have to have a fig. You figure it out. Right? Because if you go the same loop as. As your kids friends, then you're. You're in it all day with your kids, friends and, you know, their family, whatever. And it's not. You have to decide, do I want to ruin another family's day by including me in it?

[Chris Whittingham]

You know, that's how you look at it.

[Stugotz]

No, like, it's. That's a great way of putting it, but it is. It is the thing, right? It's like, so you want to ruin your day? No, it's their day. Like, they didn't come to the zoo wanting to spend the day with my child and me. Right. But I know how kids work. So do you go the way of the. The friend of the school or do you go the opposite way? We didn't have that situation. We ended up just going the opposite way. But it's something that goes through my head.

[Chris Whittingham]

Take a bathroom break really early on, so that.

[Stugotz]

That way, you know, then everyone, hey.

[Chris Whittingham]

We'Re going to stop for food. You guys go on ahead.

[Billy Corben]

If I. Look, Billy, I. I'm promising you here. I want to go wherever it is that the end of this takes us. And I also want to make a stop at whatever it is that happened to you at the rental car center this morning.

[Stugotz]

Never go for the manager special.

[Billy Corben]

But.

[Mike Ryan]

But I just want to always go for the manager.

[Billy Corben]

Hold on. Hold, please. Everyone settle down. Okay, Just get. Just for a second.

[Mike Ryan]

Rental car.

[Billy Corben]

I will follow Billy wherever he wishes to go here. Which is rare for me. Okay, But Mike Ryan's going crazy.

[Mike Ryan]

He is.

[Billy Corben]

Because for 10 minutes he's had Giant NFL News.

[Mike Ryan]

He just took a call.

[Billy Corben]

No, Mike Ryan, for 10 minutes, has had Giant NFL news.

[Stugotz]

Let's do that. I didn't know.

[Billy Corben]

No, no, no, no, no, no, no.

[Stugotz]

Well, break the news. If not, someone else is going to break it.

[Mike Ryan]

Just teasing it.

[Billy Corben]

Nope. I want to hear the rest of what you have to say here. Please take us on this joyride.

[Stugotz]

No, that was. It was just talking about the zoo. That's it. And then we're just having one of life's conundrums. If you run into one of your kids friends in the wild, do you follow them or do you go the opposite path? The road less traveled. A little fork in the road, if you will.

[Dan LeBatard]

I always go the opposite way.

[Mike Ryan]

Same.

[Stugotz]

But why?

[Dan LeBatard]

Because I don't like people.

[Stugotz]

Right.

[Mike Ryan]

Yep. Same here. What'd you choose?

[Stugotz]

Well, we did. I didn't get to that choice.

[Mike Ryan]

Because they never got to the fork in the road.

[Stugotz]

No, I get to the fork in the road. But they had left while I had rudely started talking to Ron McGill. So I didn't have the decision to make. But I was thinking, had I reached this decision, would we have made an opposite decision? And then they'd be mad at me anyway. You know, it's just one of those things. You'll get it, Dan.

[Dan LeBatard]

I almost don't want to have a positive interaction with a. Like a student's parents.

[Stugotz]

Because they're so young, though, Right?

[Mike Ryan]

But your kid wants to hang out with the other kids. That's the conundrum.

[Dan LeBatard]

I understand. But, like, I just hope this isn't, like, a positive experience for us, because this can't be a thing.

[Stugotz]

Well, here's the thing. Stugats. You're, you're, you know, you've been through. Your daughters are in college. One of, one of his daughters. I don't know if you guys heard on godless football yesterday. Studying abroad in Australia.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah, yeah.

[Chris Whittingham]

Down under.

[Mike Ryan]

Under, yeah.

[Stugotz]

So I already, I'm just somehow closer.

[Dan LeBatard]

Than her home would have been down.

[Stugotz]

For the, for the record. For the record, because he just casually dropped this in St. Got is planning a trip to Australia at some point where he'll just disappear and he'll tell us, I told you I was going to Australia. So I think he said it was for the open, but I'm not 100% sure. So Mark that on your calendar now. Just mark that on your calendar. What happened? He already dropped in. I'm going to be open in Australia.

[Mike Ryan]

Australia. Yeah, yeah. So just when in Rome.

[Stugotz]

Keep an eye on that one.

[Dan LeBatard]

They're playing the warm up tourney during.

[Billy Corben]

The playoffs of the NFL.

[Dan LeBatard]

Shout out to Riley Opelka, friend of the show. He's back.

[Chris Whittingham]

I had the same exact thing happen running into one of my daughter's friends at the mall over the holidays. But I did not go in for the shake hands and introduce. I kind of like kept the distance. I let the kids talk and I just like, I acknowledge the parents, but it was just kind of like a hello from a distance. I didn't want to do the thing of like, let's get into 10 minutes of small talk right now.

[Stugotz]

We did that. But I've been, I've been getting pep talk. And Stuart, this is where you come in because you've been through this. My dad's been giving me pep talks about this and he's like, you need to make friends with these people. You're going to be going to school with them like the entirety of their time in school. Unless one of you leaves. Like, he's like. And he keeps saying this. These are the families you're going to go to Disney World with. Like, you need to start making these relationships now. And it's a lot of pressure. Right?

[Mike Ryan]

I could tell you I never went to Disney World with a single family. Like, none of them. None of my kids friends. We never went together. I coached their lacrosse team. That's how I got out of everything and that's how I brought them all together. And that's how I spent time with the families, by not spending time with the family because I was on the sideline coaching the team. They were watching the games.

[Dan LeBatard]

The Australian Open is in five days.

[Mike Ryan]

You want to go?

[Billy Corben]

So are The NFL playoffs. We'll find out together. We'll find out. Contract year. It's an amazing time to be a company in the contract year.

[Mike Ryan]

I didn't schedule this. I don't schedule the Australian Open. I don't schedule, you know, studying abroad. I'm glad Emma's doing it. It's a big opportunity for her. She's having a blast. I want to go visit her. I mean, I'm not going to go, Dan. I'm going, you know, post March. I'm not going anytime soon. I mean, the Australian Open, it was.

[Stugotz]

A joke post March, though.

[Dan LeBatard]

But then it's. It's their winner, and that's no fun. You want to go when it's your winner and it's their summer.

[Mike Ryan]

I'm not doing winter. I might not see Emma. We'll see.

[Billy Corben]

Number of things that I need to get to. You guys can't let me get out of here without saying more on that Fox Sports lawsuit. You guys know that that is the click chum. Everyone. Everyone loves the garbage.

[Mike Ryan]

Five days.

[Dan LeBatard]

Watch me.

[Billy Corben]

I want to get to a witty call. And I want to get to Dylan Gabriel possibly being stoned. Okay?

[Stugotz]

If you want to talk rental cars, I'm still here.

[Billy Corben]

Well, no, I do.

[Mike Ryan]

And that's what we got all excited about.

[Stugotz]

I want to.

[Billy Corben]

I want to get to Mike took a phone call. Mike has breaking news. Okay. And.

[Mike Ryan]

And against the spread.

[Billy Corben]

Mike's got an I happen to know.

[Dan LeBatard]

And you should promote the Dan interviews Dan thing.

[Stugotz]

You should label it Dan versus Dan. Because people like fights.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah.

[Dan LeBatard]

Dan versus Dan.

[Stugotz]

Dan interviews Dan is like, oh, you know what? Dan versus Dan.

[Dan LeBatard]

No, we can't change it.

[Stugotz]

Oh, sorry.

[Dan LeBatard]

Posters have been printed.

[Billy Corben]

Let's change it.

[Dan LeBatard]

Stop coming up with good ideas after the fact.

[Mike Ryan]

We'll include him on the front end.

[Stugotz]

Duke it out.

[Dan LeBatard]

Dan. Like Dan interviews Dan.

[Billy Corben]

Dan versus. Well, it was two Dan's walk into a bar.

[Dan LeBatard]

Two Dan's cutting it up. But we went Dan interviews Dan.

[Chris Whittingham]

So many good ideas.

[Dan LeBatard]

The arrows go both ways, right? There's two. They're both named Dan.

[Billy Corben]

Cause all sorts of issues.

[Dan LeBatard]

Has anyone checked in with Dan? Which Dan?

[Stugotz]

How would you take out Dan Patrick in a fight?

[Billy Corben]

Ticketweb.com for versus Dan.

[Dan LeBatard]

Search Levitar one more time. Ticketweb.com. just search Dan Levitar. It's the first thing that comes up. We have a QR code right here on the screen right now. If you're watching us on Peacock or YouTube, that QR code you hold your iPhone up to, I'm just explaining this to Stu Gatz and Greg Cody.

[Mike Ryan]

Thank you.

[Dan LeBatard]

You open and Dan Patrick and Lebatard, you open up your camera, you wait till the link populates at the bottom and it'll take you straight to there. But if you don't want to do that, if you're just listening to us on our podcast, monitor our socials because the link's out there too. Or just go to TicketWeb.com and search Dan LeBatard and I promise you it's quick and easy.

[Mike Ryan]

So you're doing this super bowl week? You're doing it one night in New.

[Billy Corben]

Orleans while you're in Australia? Yes.

[Mike Ryan]

Wow.

[Dan LeBatard]

Hopefully an American.

[Billy Corben]

It'll be me and Billy on God Bless Football.

[Mike Ryan]

You expecting this trip or we will.

[Billy Corben]

Get you as a correspondent from the Australian Open.

[Dan LeBatard]

What percentage do you give an American winning that? It's been a while.

[Mike Ryan]

It has.

[Dan LeBatard]

American men's tennis is as good a position as it's been in a while.

[Mike Ryan]

Fritzi Folks, did you know that sleep.

[Chris Whittingham]

Is one of the most important parts of recovery? Whether you're a pro athlete or just looking to crush your day, getting that right kind of rest is key. And that's where Sleep Number Smart beds come in. Since 2018, Sleep Number has partnered with the NFL to help elite athletes get the quality sleep they need to perform at their best. In fact, 80% of NFL players sleep on a Sleep Number Smart Bed. Tough workout the Sleep Number Smart Bed can be adjusted to set your needs firmer one night, softer the next, giving you the ultimate recovery boost. And now let's talk about those sweaty, sleepless nights. The new Klymit Cool Smart Bed adjusts up to 15 degrees cooler on either side with significantly designed cooling programs to keep you comfortable and undisturbed. Sleep Number Smart beds don't just help you sleep, they learn how you sleep, providing personalized insights to help you get even better rest. Why choose a Sleep Number Smart Bed? So you can choose your ideal comfort on either side. And now it's the lowest price of the season on the top selling i8 smart bed your best savings plus special financing limited time shop at a Sleep Number store near you Sleep Number Official Sleep and Wellness partner of the NFL. See store or sleepnumber.com for details.

[Greg Cody]

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

[Stugotz]

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

[Chris Whittingham]

Yeah, sold it to Carvana.

[Stugotz]

Oh, I thought you were selling to that guy.

[Mike Ryan]

The guy who wanted to pay me.

[Chris Whittingham]

In foreign currency, no interest, over 36 months.

[Billy Corben]

Yeah, no.

[Chris Whittingham]

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

[Stugotz]

Just like that? Yeah. No hassle?

[Billy Corben]

None.

[Stugotz]

That is super convenient.

[Greg Cody]

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

[Stugotz]

Don LeBatard.

[Dan LeBatard]

It's not my favorite rejoin. Context needs to be applied for a joke. And thought the context was applied. We. We'd like to rip that out of context. I was going for a thing. And you're gonna have a family.

[Billy Corben]

You're gonna pretend here that you don't love Matthew Tkachuk more than you love anybody you've ever loved.

[Dan LeBatard]

I don't love Matthew Tkachuk more than my daughter.

[Billy Corben]

Stugats.

[Dan LeBatard]

Now. It's pretty damn close.

[Stugotz]

This is the Dan Levatar show with the Stuga. You guys know that hockey canceled their All Star game. They're just having four countries fight each other.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah.

[Mike Ryan]

That's awesome.

[Dan LeBatard]

Chris and I are going more on that.

[Stugotz]

Really?

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah.

[Billy Corben]

Wow, guys.

[Stugotz]

Oh, Roy's going to add.

[Billy Corben]

When it comes to. Oh, my God.

[Dan LeBatard]

The green text.

[Billy Corben]

When it comes to more on that in a second. I've got a lot that I have to get to. Okay. And I don't think there's going to be time in the last 15 minutes because Mike has what we believe to be Giant news.

[Dan LeBatard]

I can tell you right now wholeheartedly who the number one pick of the NFL draft is going to be.

[Stugotz]

Wow.

[Billy Corben]

But rental cars.

[Dan LeBatard]

Wow is a curious word to choose.

[Billy Corben]

But I can't get to it right now or against the spread? Because I have to know why it is that Billy tried to get a rental car today, chose the manager's surprise. Stu Gotz is sitting here saying, you have to choose the manager surprise. And I am led to believe that you regret, just from the look on your face and how you came in here today, that you regret choosing the manager's surprise.

[Stugotz]

Well, I got in a car accident. I'm fine. Thank you for asking. And anyway, so I rented a car for a couple of days, and. And I did the manager surprise because it was the cheapest thing available. It was like, well, it's only cost, you know, $29 a day or whatever. If you do the manager surprise, I'm like, I don't care what car you get. I'm just trying to get to work. And when I got the manager surprise, boy, was I surprised. It's an electric car, which is fine. I don't have a problem with an electric car. But, like, the way that you have to return the car with the same amount of gas, I need to return it with the same amount of, like, kilowatts or whatever.

[Mike Ryan]

Huh.

[Stugotz]

So now I need to find a place to charge it, a charging station. And I need to figure out how many kilowatts an hour this thing needs to get in there before it is that I take it back to Hertz. It's just. It's more work. Now. I would have rather just taken the car for $3 more that I could put gas, because I can control that. Again, not against the electric vehicle. It's kind of cool. But this is now a job. I need to figure out how to fill this thing up and now sit at a bench somewhere while it, like, charges itself up. And then I need to play the game where, I guess how long a kilowatt an hour goes, and what is a kilowatt an hour versus a minute an hour? And it's one of these things. Is it metric? I don't know. I don't know how these things work. I need to figure this out. Where's there a charging station? How much does it cost? How do I find one? What if I plug it in wrong? What if I get locked out of the car?

[Billy Corben]

You want cheapest? You went the cheapest, of course. And the cheapest resulted in an electric car, and you've never used one before, and it ended up being a disaster. Disaster.

[Stugotz]

Well, no, it's not a disaster.

[Dan LeBatard]

Using is that.

[Stugotz]

Break full, full disclosure. My wife has a hybrid, so I'm Somewhat familiar with the electric, but this is all electric. And again, it's cool, but I don't. The. The hours. Kilowatt hours. This. Where do I charge it? It's like it's a whole thing and.

[Billy Corben]

You don't know how to charge your car like a phone.

[Mike Ryan]

He doesn't know where to go to charge.

[Stugotz]

I don't know where to go to charge. Exactly. I could find a gas station on any corner. Now. I need to download apps, I need to look at maps, I need to figure out where to go. I need to know, is this a good price for kilowatts? I don't know, but I don't want to be overcharged for a kilowatt. Then they asked me, well, if you just pay a fee and then you'll be covered. I'm like, no, not a chance. You're gonna charge me $50 a kilowatt or something and I'm not gonna pay. I know a kilowatt. I don't know what it costs, but it's not $50 a kilowatt, so I'm not gonna pay that.

[Mike Ryan]

There are charging stations, I think, at most gas stations, aren't there?

[Stugotz]

Not most gas. I don't know. I don't know. But I need to figure it out. I need to figure out how to charge it. And like you were saying, electric cars are not cheap, but I'm assuming they no one is choosing to rent them, and that's why they're the manager. Surprise. I've been surprised twice out of the last three times that I rented a car. One time was with a Chevy Bolt ev, which is this one. A little tiny car that you plug in. The other time was a 15 passenger van in Kansas City, which was another. That one was a pleasant surprise, but I knew where to fill that thing up if I had to. It's just always a surprise. And I'm starting to learn you don't like the surprise every time.

[Mike Ryan]

That van was a beauty, man.

[Billy Corben]

Put it on the pole at Levitar show. It sounds like great fun to me. Just go. I'll go with the manager. Surprise. Put it on the pole at Levitar shows. Will you choose the manager Surprise every time. Are you expecting the manager's surprise at the rental car place to be the cheapest thing? Because I'm with Sue. Gods delight me. Surprise me with my purchase. But it sounds like a disaster. All right, listen to me. If we don't get to Mike's news, we're going to have a problem here because everybody needs the NFL News. Now, unfortunately, we're in a contract year and we've got a sponsored segment here. So to bring maximum attention to that, we got to tell people that we're doing against the spread here. But Mike's news is big. He's got an. I happen to know. That's bigger than most. I happen to know. So give me our. Our sponsored segment first, please.

[Chris Whittingham]

That's right. It's time for against the Spread, and It's presented by DraftKings. DraftKings. The Crown is yours. Jeremy, what do you got? Guys, I've never been allowed to give this advice until the Florida Panthers were no longer a part of my regional sports network. So now I can tell you to bet on the Panthers tomorrow night, stay up for a west Coast, East Coast, 10 o'clock start, west coast game. That was really.

[Stugotz]

It was terrible.

[Chris Whittingham]

I'm normally good at broadcasting, but I.

[Stugotz]

Got confused because they're not on our regional sports network anymore.

[Mike Ryan]

Thank you.

[Chris Whittingham]

I have two now.

[Stugotz]

Major problem.

[Dan LeBatard]

You guys know that. Four stumbling.

[Chris Whittingham]

I have two Emmys.

[Mike Ryan]

You have two minutes.

[Dan LeBatard]

Is it a personal one or an ensemble?

[Chris Whittingham]

Says my name is part of a cast.

[Stugotz]

Get out of here.

[Billy Corben]

Someone else will make the bet.

[Dan LeBatard]

What was his pick? I don't even know.

[Stugotz]

The Panthers.

[Chris Whittingham]

Mine is one and a half against the Utah Hockey Club tomorrow night.

[Mike Ryan]

Again, Just say that.

[Dan LeBatard]

That's a nationally televised champion.

[Billy Corben]

I used four words one time.

[Chris Whittingham]

Mike, what do you got?

[Dan LeBatard]

I'm gonna take Texas against the spread.

[Mike Ryan]

How you doing?

[Billy Corben]

Thank you. Thank you.

[Dan LeBatard]

Well, I would like to give some insight.

[Stugotz]

Could be.

[Dan LeBatard]

I just really like. Well, I have to give some gambling insight. Look, Ohio State's feeling themselves right now, but they should do this. They have all the talent in the world. They're the best team. I still don't think we've seen the best of Texas. I think Texas can hang inside that number, particularly because I really like that defensive line for Texas. And that's why I'm taking them again. So the spread.

[Billy Corben]

Thank you. I don't mind a lot of words if they're going to be informational, but him coming here, time zone was important. He just.

[Dan LeBatard]

But I think it's also at 9:00.

[Chris Whittingham]

It might just be Jeremy, too.

[Billy Corben]

Listen, listen, listen. I'm going to start doing employee reviews around here, and when I.

[Mike Ryan]

He's a good.

[Billy Corben]

When I sit. Yes. He's a good kid.

[Dan LeBatard]

And an Emmy winner.

[Billy Corben]

Yeah. And an Emmy winner two times. Okay. Yes.

[Dan LeBatard]

Part of the cast.

[Billy Corben]

Yes. Agreed.

[Stugotz]

His name's on the trophy, though.

[Billy Corben]

Agreed. He's a Broadcasting prodigy. But here, here, let me play for you some witty sound. Because the standard prodigy. Wait a minute.

[Dan LeBatard]

Was prodigious.

[Mike Ryan]

He's got two.

[Billy Corben]

Look, listen to me. Stugat Jeremy Tashay has some of the best jobs locally in sports broadcasting. And he's a child. Okay?

[Dan LeBatard]

There are times that I look at him, I'm like, why do you subject yourself to this? You're good at what you do.

[Billy Corben]

Yes, he is. Yes, he is. But he likes to do a little tap dance before getting in and giving the information in that shmarmy broadcasting way. That is the antithesis of everything we want to do.

[Dan LeBatard]

You don't have an Emmy.

[Stugotz]

The website for his event says he does. Well thought.

[Billy Corben]

What?

[Dan LeBatard]

You're not the Emmy winner. Maybe that's the other Dan. Because it's Dan interviews Dan.

[Stugotz]

Dan versus Dan.

[Billy Corben]

Dan versus Dan.

[Dan LeBatard]

Well, if the competition is winning Emmy, it ain't Lebitard.

[Billy Corben]

That is correct. I've never won any of the broadcasting awards.

[Chris Whittingham]

That's why you're so upset with none of.

[Dan LeBatard]

No, you won a. New Times.

[Mike Ryan]

New times. Best show. AM afternoon show.

[Dan LeBatard]

And your perennial winner for the best Olive Green.

[Billy Corben]

Listen to me. When it comes to prodigious talent birthed by our show, Chris Whittingham came onto the scene here when he was about 15 or 16 years old. And so, Mike, I'm asking you genuinely how you feel about this call, because Witty is living his dreams as a young broadcaster. He's no Noah Eagle, know that. But in terms of what we've had in South Florida, there's never been a broadcasting sports prodigy like Chris Whittingham. So let me play for the people. This call, which is Whittingham arriving at his dreams and getting to voice them.

[Stugotz]

And it's turned in. Tabby Abraham is the super cup hero. From 2 nil down Milan, a famous victory. And that'll be the.

[Billy Corben]

That's showing off.

[Stugotz]

Sergio Conte Sao his first trophy at the club after just two games.

[Billy Corben]

That's bullshit. Accent by winning him.

[Dan LeBatard]

He's so good though, just isolating it. He did great the entire match. It's the Italian super cup and it's Inter Milan versus AC Milan. Arguably the biggest rivalry in Italy. And the game was amazing. There were great chances end to end. Pulisic, you knew he would show up for January 6th. He absolutely killed it. And it was an amazing game. And for him to have that crescendo like an at the death winner and lay out for that moment after a huge, monumental 20 most dangerous lead in sports Monumental comeback and a huge moment for that club. He is so great at what he does. He's now the lead voice over at Paramount for Serie A. And playing that back literally warmed my heart. That was incredible by him. He's so good. So good.

[Billy Corben]

He's no Noah Eagle, but he'll keep trying. And Jeremy will keep trying. And hopefully, Jeremy will be playing a xylophone while calling Heat games in three years.

[Chris Whittingham]

He hoisted babies, if you remember.

[Dan LeBatard]

Right.

[Stugotz]

But he wants.

[Billy Corben]

But he wants to be up. He wants to be a theater kid.

[Dan LeBatard]

You very much don't like him. It's obvious. It's okay.

[Mike Ryan]

Just say it.

[Billy Corben]

It's okay.

[Mike Ryan]

You'll feel better. He'll feel better. I mean.

[Billy Corben]

What do you mean?

[Mike Ryan]

Everyone feels better.

[Billy Corben]

Wait a minute.

[Stugotz]

It'll be less tense. The audience agrees. Just.

[Mike Ryan]

Just say what you want to say.

[Stugotz]

The audience knows.

[Mike Ryan]

Prodigy.

[Billy Corben]

What I would like for Jeremy making.

[Chris Whittingham]

Up for some stuff there.

[Dan LeBatard]

I mean, come on.

[Billy Corben]

Is for Jeremy to realize in some instances that he doesn't know everything.

[Dan LeBatard]

Oh, well, I do.

[Billy Corben]

That's right.

[Chris Whittingham]

I've just learned from you guys what you need.

[Billy Corben]

That's right.

[Dan LeBatard]

Because I.

[Billy Corben]

That's correct. And because Dan does that, Jeremy, that's what we're learning in real time. Jeremy, what we're saying is you don't get to be the guy who knows everything, because I am.

[Chris Whittingham]

Even if I know, it doesn't matter.

[Dan LeBatard]

You don't know. Okay, guys, I think you know, but you have no idea.

[Stugotz]

So. Even if I know what don't you understand?

[Billy Corben]

No, I know. Now I know you understand.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah, I get it.

[Billy Corben]

The gig is you can't know everything. If I knew.

[Chris Whittingham]

So if I know, I just got.

[Stugotz]

To give it to you so that.

[Dan LeBatard]

You can know precisely.

[Stugotz]

I got it.

[Dan LeBatard]

All right.

[Chris Whittingham]

I mean, I wasn't hired as any specific role. I don't even think I've ever signed a piece of paper that says I work here, but I'll be a producer. Sure.

[Mike Ryan]

Make him look like the guy who knows, not yourself.

[Chris Whittingham]

Did the air just got off?

[Stugotz]

I think I know what's going on here. Sweating the whole Prodigy thing. Dan's trying to talk him up so someone comes in and scoops him away.

[Chris Whittingham]

He's doing the opposite of Riley. He's trying to build up my trade values.

[Stugotz]

Look what we developed. The next one's here. Just take them from us.

[Dan LeBatard]

Oh, okay. Now I understand.

[Billy Corben]

Passive aggressive that way. Been in all my relationships my entire life.

[Dan LeBatard]

Boston, Connor.

[Chris Whittingham]

I'm sure me and Barstool will get along great.

[Billy Corben]

Mike, what's the news. What's the news? Because you're locking this down. You are saying this is so. Because people are going to eat this up. They're going to eat this up.

[Mike Ryan]

This is his biggest report in his early reporting career.

[Dan LeBatard]

I wish I lived in a DraftKings save number one.

[Billy Corben]

No, this was no Messi is the biggest story he's ever broken. But this one in America, this one will create more.

[Dan LeBatard]

So we know the breaking news from today. The Titans have parted ways with Ran Carthon. Ran Carthon, I happen to know, like Cam Ward, the head of scouting was a former Miami Hurricane, A.J. highsmith, related to Alonzo Highsmith and Cam Ward as of right now even is still the favorite to go number one. However, the news of this broke and Deion Sanders took to Twitter and responded, quote, tweet, wow. Now, if you also go back into Deion Sanders Twitter, do you have it open? I know you were looking at it before. Who has Deion Sanders been publicly supporting to get a job for general manager this entire off season to the point that it's been a little odd? It's been Lou Riddick, very flattering tweets about him. So now there's this job opening. Early consensus is Lou Riddick is in the mix for this job. We know that Deion Sanders loves Lou Riddick, has been publicly endorsing him, has not been endorsing other GM candidates because why? Because he knows if Lou Riddick gets that job that is now open in Tennessee, his son Shador Sanders goes number one to Lou Riddick's team. That is what I would be banking on because I happen to know.

[Stugotz]

Wow.

[Dan LeBatard]

Now, wow, what does this mean for the number two spot that falls now to the Cleveland Browns? And if we go down this path where Lou Riddick goes to the Titans and we expect Shador Sanders to go to Tennessee as well, Cleveland is on the clock. Cam Ward is there.

[Stugotz]

Wow.

[Dan LeBatard]

I might be coming home.

[Mike Ryan]

Wow.

[Chris Whittingham]

Mike's coming home.

[Dan LeBatard]

Coming home.

[Billy Corben]

Deion Sanders is saying, wow, that's so good. All knowledge and class is what he's saying of Lewis Riddick. So what you're basically saying on top of who, who is going to be number one and number two, if Lewis Riddick gets that job, Deion Sanders is going to feel like he's everyone's boss in both sports.

[Dan LeBatard]

Well, they also have a head coach opening. Well, not yet. But what if the GM doesn't like the head coach? Like it could mean for Deion Sanders too? I'm not fantasy booking that, but we know that There is a GM candidate that Deion Sanders has publicly endorsed in strange ways. He's not doing this for other people. So scratch my back. Scratch yours, Tennessee. All of a sudden, I have faith in this place as a location for my son. And also, we know that the previous regime probably had Cam Ward, I happen to know, probably had Cam Ward rated ahead of Shador Sanders. But I can't say that for Lou Riddick, who'd bring an entirely different staff. A staff possibly devoid of Miami Hurricane's alumni.

[Billy Corben]

That one's super interesting. Well, but I think these the juiciest part of that. I don't know. You tell me if you think there's something juicier than this part of it. If Deion Sanders is wanting to run this sport the way that he ran that sport, Louis Riddick doesn't have any kind of pedigree. That wouldn't make it so that Deion Sanders is now in business with Louis Riddick on protecting the career of his son. Because Deion Sanders is going to run this thing with Lewis Riddick and can coach Colorado. Why he's doing it or not? Because never mind the coaching parts of it. He's just getting into business with Lewis Riddick at the top of pro football after, you know, doing everything he had to do to get there. That one's pretty demand that. What's better than that one?

[Mike Ryan]

He's becoming partners with Lewis Riddick to ensure what he thinks will give his son the best chance of success in the NFL. Which is. Which is a very cool thing. I do wonder if Dion wants to coach in the NFL.

[Dan LeBatard]

I. The mind certainly wanders over there, but let's keep our eye on the ball here, which is certainly Cam Ward to the Browns at number two.

[Billy Corben]

Mike's coming home. Look at him. Look at him.

[Greg Cody]

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

[Chris Whittingham]

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