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Dan Le Batard
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Dan Le Batard
This is the Dan Levator show with the Stugats podcast.
Chris Cody
I am enjoying the Panthers and the time honored tradition of drinking so much over a couple of days that you agree to contract terms out loud while chanting at your fan base emotionally.
Greg Cody
Thank you.
Chris Cody
I think that portion of the proceedings is a lot of fun. Eight more years is the Panthers do have some interesting decisions to make about how they spend some of their money. But I do want to just go back to last week for a second and our show getting very close to the electric buzz that was the Panthers celebration. Let's play the highlight of all of last week's coverage which is going out to Roy with comedically perfect timing. I'm not confident in either our audio or our video. Roy, take it away.
Greg Cody
We are live here at the Elbow Room.
Mike Ryan
Why is everybody laughing?
Chris Cody
That was the highlight of our coverage from the Elbow Room. But lest you think that we are always over promising and under delivering, listen to how Chris Cody set up the begging to go to the Elbow Room and then listen to the only content that Chris Cody produced for our show from the Elbow Room. Chris and Roy both want to go to the Elbow Room. Roy, how do we settle this argument? Because what's the nature of the disagreement between you and Chris?
Roy
Well, I think Roy is like let's just both go. And I think Carl and I have had the thought of we want to have in this room today a good put this in perspective back to back championships and then let's go out to the chaos. I thought that that would be better. Roy Zaz Panther covering it forever. Talk serious hockey. Let's go out to Chris getting with the party rather than want to go.
Dan Le Batard
Get drunk is what I told us.
Roy
Do you think that what's better, like, what's actual better content for the show? Me and Zaz having a serious Panthers conversation and then going out to Roy for the chaos at the at the Elbow Room.
Dan Le Batard
No one having a serious Panthers conversation.
Greg Cody
Is best for the show.
Roy
How dare you.
Dan Le Batard
I'm just telling he's here to cover for you.
Mike Ryan
If you.
Roy
I thought that I, I both of them. I want to hear from Roy today. This is not. Honestly, I know it just looks like.
Dan Le Batard
You can ask him. And you spoke.
Roy
I have asked for zero. I really don't do this where I'm like, I want to go to do this. And I, I, this is an assignment made for me. Two hours later, Bennett slapped my hand. Point proven. I got out there at noon. If I'm out there at 8:30, I'm up there on that balcony for the shots. That shot of Roy.
Chris Cody
Right. Like.
Roy
But no, I got there at noon and I couldn't.
Chris Cody
You, you over promised and you underd delivered. Chris, why don't you.
Roy
I disagree.
Chris Cody
Why, why don't you just be accountable for that? What do you mean you disagree? You're in charge of when you get to where and you're sitting here saying I got there two hours late. You're. You're making those decisions.
Mike Ryan
Well, I wanted to get there at seven and then we had this argument and we showed up here.
Chris Cody
But okay.
Roy
Roy's like, I have a credential. I'm Like Roy, this isn't a credential thing.
Mike Ryan
It was. Reporters were there.
Chris Cody
Is it room? Is it elbow room or the elbow room?
Roy
I believe on their.
Billy
It's elbow room.
Dan Le Batard
It's just elbow room.
Chris Cody
So the. The is unnecessary.
Roy
There's no W in elbow.
Dan Le Batard
Yeah. Where did that go?
Roy
I don't know.
Chris Cody
That.
Roy
Panthers fell off the building.
Chris Cody
The Panthers took it. They took all the W's. Dazzlo, I know you have very important ESPN Radio things to do because you're a rising star. Your confidence is growing by the day. Every time you appear with us, you appear more and more.
Dan Le Batard
I feel it.
Chris Cody
Can we just play the sound, though, before we get to Ekblad learning the lesson that Sam Bennett taught him? Let's play the sound. This is from 11, right? Things. Things get loosened up at 11 in general. Is that your phone? Whose phone was that? Whose phone was that?
Greg Cody
Could have been mine.
Chris Cody
Is it $5? It is your phone again, Greg. Let's play the sound of Bennett giving up the goods in negotiations because it's a celebratory drinking time in South Florida. I ain't bleepin'.
Roy
I ain't bleeping leaving.
Chris Cody
That was the announcement. Greg Cody told him to clean up the language. Zaslo reported that last week.
Billy
I did. That's my dog right there, too.
Mike Ryan
Do you feel bad for him having to lug that Con Smythe trophy around everywhere? It's such an impractical trophy to take. It's so awkward, so heavy. It's got such a big, wide base, and at the very top, you have to essentially squat down to carry it.
Chris Cody
What?
Roy
Sharp point.
Mike Ryan
Very sharp.
Dan Le Batard
Look at your eyes. I saw a picture of it from the bottom. It's hollow on the inside, and there's no bottom. Not very impressive.
Roy
You could, like, wear it almost as, like a hat.
Dan Le Batard
Yeah, you could. You could put it over your head.
Roy
Probably be easier to carry that way.
Dan Le Batard
You should. Yeah.
Chris Cody
At the risk of Florida people and South Florida people do care about this one microscopic money management issue that the Panthers do have. It might not be interesting to the audience at large, but keeping together a champion usually is. I all over ESPN right now. They're saying, is it already time to say OKC is a historically great team? This team, one, two in a row. They're going to have trouble keeping everybody together, because the first thing that happens is everybody wants more. And Ekblad learned the lessons of Bennett. Do not negotiate at 11. It's funny, after 11, my agent called me.
Mike Ryan
He said, make sure you don't Say whatever Benny said. You got to hold on to that leverage.
Chris Cody
Benny.
Roy
What was that laugh? That was a drunk laugh.
Chris Cody
That's rich. That's. That's the sound of upcoming wealth is what that is.
Dan Le Batard
Why the Thunder. Why the Thunder look like they weren't happy to win the championship yesterday? Like, why can't they open champagne bottles? Why did they not really celebrate, like, what was going on?
Billy
Did you see hardly any of them were in, like the locker room and. Yeah, there was. There was nothing going on.
Roy
Are they old enough to drink there? We have a B roll of them attempting to open a champagne bottle. And they look like young 20 year olds.
Chris Cody
It's a very young team. Like, this is.
Mike Ryan
They were also overwhelming favorites in every series that they played. There were -700 in every series that they played. It was. Every basketball nerd would tell you this was a foregone conclusion.
Roy
Just like looking around like, we're supposed to be doing this right. This is what we're supposed to be doing right now.
Dan Le Batard
It looks like they're trying to figure out how you're supposed to celebrate winning. Like, is this. I don't. Greg, if you think this, but is this like a gotta want to earn, gotta want to learn situation? Like, they're too young to understand the struggle of how hard it is to win an NBA title.
Roy
This is why you need veterans.
Mike Ryan
Yeah.
Dan Le Batard
What would happen.
Billy
What would happen if one of like the 19 or 20 year old players obviously is just. Just chugging beers? Does anyone care?
Chris Cody
So you guys didn't want to have the Bennett neckblade conversation, huh? You guys just wanted. You guys. I wanted to get that. I wanted to get that in before Zaz, though.
Billy
I want to have it.
Roy
Yes.
Mike Ryan
It feels like Eckblood's not coming back.
Roy
Yeah, I don't.
Billy
I don't agree with that.
Mike Ryan
Well, he's the only person that hasn't said, I'm definitely coming back out of the two. Brad Moran was featured on a video I think just outside the Elbow room on Friday. Holding up four years. Like people were asking him for one more year. He's like, not one more. I'm coming back for four. There are reports out there that it's got to be more expensive than you'd probably like, given everybody's proclivity to take a discount for this team. Doesn't. From the early numbers that's been put out there, it doesn't seem like Brad's playing that game. Sam Bennett, 8 for 8. He's already guaranteed it every time he's a microphone that he's coming back. Ekblad's the only guy that's reserved. In fact, yesterday at the parade, he's like, I'm gonna do something that Sam Bennett didn't do, which is listen to his agent and not say that I'm gonna be back here for eight years. He said something to that effect while wearing a scarlet's hat, which I love Cody.
Greg Cody
Ekblad also said at 11, he made a point of thanking the fans for all the years of support. Seemed emotional, sounded like goodbye.
Mike Ryan
We were there and it kind of felt like. It kind of felt that way. And last year at the parade, I know we may sound silly for reading into this, but you kind of caught those vibes from Montour and Lomberg that they were gone because those deals are already discussed in advance of game seven. Really? Because the offseason for the champion is so short.
Greg Cody
Also, Ekblad, he's a little older and he's clearly not their number one defender. I mean, Forsling is. Has become the best. One of the best entirely.
Mike Ryan
You say older, I guess at sky comparatively, he's still not into his 30s, which is crazy because he's been here for over a decade.
Billy
The writing was kind of on the wall when they traded for Set Jones. It's like here we're bringing in a number two defenseman. And Seth Jones has owed a lot of money through the year 2029. But I don't know. Like, I don't think Ekblad listening to his agent to not negotiate in public and lose leverage means that he's not gonna stay. Because he's been saying, look, I want to be here, I plan on being here. These things come down to the wire. We'll figure it out. Like, that's literally what he said a couple of days ago. I think he stays.
Mike Ryan
Dan, I do happen to know. And he may decide to take a discount to see here. And I think that's what'll happen.
Chris Cody
To know. Wait a minute.
Mike Ryan
I happen to know the Carolina Hurricanes are going to put a big, juicy offer in front of Aaron Ekblatt. Wow. I happen to know this. They're also going to do that for Mitch Marner. And I don't think they're going to get Mitch Marner, but they're going to. They're going to spend a lot of money this offseason and they're going to throw a big offer. Aaron Eckblad's way. For Aaron Ekblad to stay in South Florida, it's going to have to be a pretty Big haircut, state tax. It's going to have to be a pretty big haircut.
Chris Cody
Zaslo, I have never seen you more confident. You really are radiant to this time in your career.
Billy
That's what happens when you win two Cups.
Chris Cody
It's been great to be around you during this winning time. Thank you for your work today. Go, go be with ESPN Radio. We will see you later this week.
Billy
God bless.
Chris Cody
The contract clause has kicked in. Zazzle is going to be around more because the Panthers won the championship.
Billy
That's just talking about.
Chris Cody
Just a joke. Giant bet. He won. Mike, how do you feel about this T shirt selling@lebatardaf.com because I saw it earlier and we are selling all is Forgiven was the ad. All is Forgiven. Marchie is part of the ad@lebatardaf.com when.
Mike Ryan
He sues us, you guys will come aboard and see all the things that I see about Brad Marchand. Look, if he extends, I'm not going to run this bit for four years. No, that's not what's going to happen. I'll have to. I have to just admit that I was wrong about everything about Brad Marchand, and he'll have to become one of my guys. But here's how I spin into a win. New take. Here's the pivot. Brad Marchand, forever remembered as a Florida Panther.
Dan Le Batard
Wow. Oh, wow.
Mike Ryan
There you go.
Chris Cody
No, that's not true.
Mike Ryan
Yes. When you close your eyes and you think of Brad Marchand, you think of him in that beautiful red sweater of the Florida Panthers. Absolutely. Provided he resigns.
Chris Cody
Wait a minute.
Mike Ryan
At a discount.
Chris Cody
He's going to go into the hall of Fame as a Bruin, as a.
Mike Ryan
Panther, as a Panther.
Roy
Do you do that in hockey?
Mike Ryan
No, you don't do that in hockey, but he's going to go into our hearts and minds as a Florida Panther already. Has Brad Marchand ever been more famous in his entire career? Even in his prime, when he won a cup with Boston, he wasn't this famous.
Chris Cody
I don't think you're allowed to do this.
Mike Ryan
No, he. Brad Marchand has never been more famous in his entire career, full stop. I mean, he did lick a guy's face. He has never been more famous than he is right now. He had infamy. And it's not like he loses all those things. He comes. He comes into Florida with all those things in his past, and he wins a cup as a piece, as a locker room guy. You kidding me? And he's dominating. He won this. In the age of social media, I do stories and everything going around. The last time he lifted the cup, the last time he was the main focus of the conversation. Let me tell you something. Bradmore Shan is a Florida Panther.
Greg Cody
Yep. I agree with that. He won his first cup when he was 23 years old. He had barely begun to establish himself. He wasn't the best player on that team. Now, you could have made an argument that he should have been the playoffs mp.
Mike Ryan
He finished second.
Greg Cody
Yeah, I'm not. I'm not against Bennett winning. But. But there was a strong argument for Marshawn. And I agree with you that to a lot of people in America outside of Boston, he's a Florida player. Right now.
Mike Ryan
Look at us. Look at us. Two guys that are respected for their hockey takes both. Agreeing that Brad Marchand will forever be remembered as a Florida Panthers.
Chris Cody
I want to ask you guys, based on what we were talking about before, because it's not just three Achilles tear, it's almost 10. I think there were eight this season. A recent draft prospect in workouts, the previous high was five. So we're basically at double the Achilles tears for a season. And if you go from strained calf to torn Achilles. And the obvious risk of that. Everyone listening to this says that Halliburton has to take that risk for that game. Correct. Like, there's no one listening to this who's saying that that's the one game that every player has to risk. Future earnings, future contracts, future athleticism, future body pain. Is there anyone listening to this now? It's easy to do in retrospect. Like, in retrospect, we could say, not worth it because they lost the game. Right.
Mike Ryan
Is anyone arguing that? I haven't heard a single person. Because what are you. You're saving him for next year so you can win the title next year. You're a game away.
Chris Cody
It's a young team and he's your superstar. And once you start messing with these parts of the bodies, you do run the risk of Kawhi Leonard never being the same. It doesn't mean he's not going to be good. But Halliburton's a young player. This is an injury you can come back from. But I'm asking. I guess what I'm asking, guys, is where is the risk? Not as obvious, like, what game do I have to put it at before you're like, no, that's not a risk I'm going to take.
Mike Ryan
I mean, let's. Let's just say the Indiana Pacers force the issue on Halliburton and he Just stays tight lipped about it. He doesn't end up playing because they, they want to save his body. Tyrese Halliburton becomes one of the bigger punchlines in the history of the sport. He becomes an avatar for being gutless. No, you, you have to play that game. Tyrese Halliburton probably wanted to play that game and it showed and certainly showed on his face when he's mouthing. It's heartbreaking. Like it happened. They were all fearful that this would happen. They all took that into account. But this is what you play for. You'd be holding him out for this game, for next season to have a shot to be in the same position that you are right there. I understand all the arguments, and with hindsight, they become a little bit more plausible. But it's a straw man argument. That's why you play the game to win a championship.
Greg Cody
And I think that's magnified when your club hasn't won anything since the basketball was red, white, straw man.
Chris Cody
It is the best Pacers team there has ever been. And that game last night was the biggest game the Pacers have ever played. The sadness of that moment, because obviously we are all sports fans have their own narcissisms. However much it bummed you out to have that be the ending, imagine how much it bummed him out as he's on the floor, climbing, crawling, trying to get to get me to the last shot of this basketball game, get me to the final. Just let me last. Let medicine carry me four more quarters. Let this team and the inspiration so that I may be Willis Reed forevermore, get me to the last shot of this basketball game. We're up one at the half. It's a team of like, just rabid dogs on the perimeter. Like, they really guard the perimeter. It's sort of the watching these two teams play. Basketball is the future of the league. And you're like, oh, wow, OKC really. Okay, they're gonna do it with the length of Pippen and Jordan. They're gonna steal the basketball from you and go on a run just taking it from you. Pacers wildly athletic, great from three, okc, better at everything. But four games in that series were played exactly the way Indiana wanted them to, and they lost the one that OKC made, three threes. And it's just crazy to have that be the difference between those two teams. And I can't believe that Halliburton's trying to climb, crawl to the finish line. And he knows what it was. The mouthing of. It happened like There it is. The thing I feared the like, how do you guys imagine these needles go? Like whenever it is that we talk about Toradol in NFL locker rooms or wherever it is that you don't know and people don't want you to know about the shady secrets of medicine that push from every angle. Halliburton has to play in that game, even if it costs him the next nine months of his career. Every thing in the machine pushes him out onto the court, including his own will. There aren't very many. There aren't very many people who would sit out that spot when that's what you do for a living.
Mike Ryan
It's not a winning position. It's a loss across the board. It's probably a loss in the game as you see what happens. They finally succumb to not having them out there for the second half, but to become a joke forever. Think about what Willis Reed has bought himself by toughing it out. Willis Reed has become. I mean his legacy is exponentially greater because of the thing that he but.
Chris Cody
He played a quarter right. If Halliburton had limped off in the first quarter, he's not out for the first nine months of last of next season. The thing.
Mike Ryan
No. But if he doesn't limp out at all, he becomes Ladanian Tomlinson, sitting on the bench as the New England Patriots beat Philip Rivers, who has a 20 ACL on the field.
Stugotz
What does Zyn give you? Not just smoke free nicotine satisfaction, but real freedom. Freedom to do what you love and choose your rewards. Zinn Rewards. You can redeem points for premium tech outdoor gear and gift cards to your favorite retailers. Find your Zen and keep finding rewards that fit your lifestyle@Zinn.com rewards warning. This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical.
Dan Le Batard
I'm just trying to live up to be the version of me my dogs think I am. Don't be an Izzy. They assume I've got it all together. Meanwhile, I'm googling can dogs eat watermelon? And realizing, hey, we're out of food and I forgot the flea meds. Total chaos. But Chewy had both delivered fast. Now they're well fed, itch free and still convinced I'm a responsible adult. Chewy makes it super easy to get everything your pets need. Food, treats, meds, even toys shipped right to your door in one to two days. They've got vet visits, pet insurance, and even in person clinics popping up. Oh, fleas. Yeah, summer's peak season even for indoor pets. Chewy's got vet Recommended treatments to help protect Dopey and Izzy or whoever's running your house. And here's my favorite feature, autoship. It keeps the essentials coming. And if you're running out of food faster this month than last month, just change the date of arrival. They got you covered. No days with no food. Plus 24. 7 customer support. And if something's not right, send it back, no questions asked. Chewy has everything you need to keep your pet happy and healthy. And right now you can save $20 on your first order and get free shipping by going to chewy.comDan that's chewy.comDan to save $20 on your first order with free shipping. Chewy.comDan minimum purchase required. New customers only. Terms and conditions apply. CSI for complete details.
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Greg Cody
Don Lebatard what do I got here? I got a Magnum condom. We won't get that out.
Chris Cody
That's shocking. Stugats.
Greg Cody
Here's a picture of Christopher when He was like 3 years old, right next to the condom. Yeah.
Dan Le Batard
Never forget it. This is the Dan Levatar show with the Stugach.
Chris Cody
Can we talk though about the pain of this? And I'm not talking about the physical pain. I'm talking about the franchise pain and how hard it is to get to these points and why it is that people are willing to do this to their body in order to get to the point that they get Indiana's best team ever. You know how much that city cares about basketball. They're a half away. A half away from one of the great upsets in the sport's history led by. They're not winning unless the the game is played the way he played it in the first quarter. Not turn the ball over. Halliburton goes on the road game seven and wins injured over OKC to produce that season for Indiana. It's an all time sports moment for that region, any sport.
Mike Ryan
Anytime he goes in there in the pantheon of toughness, that's how close they were to the.
Chris Cody
That's they could taste that at the half. Are they going to get the T.J. mcConnell inspiration game in the second half is because they missed eight threes in a fourth quarter. They're going to be haunted by I don't know the next time they're going to get that close because the trade they made just cost them the first half of next season and they started slow this season.
Mike Ryan
Probably punt on next season entirely. It's going to be really difficult to get to the same spot with Halliburton missing most if not all this season.
Chris Cody
The part that's crazy to me that when I talk about the pain of a fan base I let. Let's imagine what I'm about to give you here because it happened twice in this basketball postseason and it was a great basketball post season. But Boston and Indiana went from we're right there. This is the greatest thing I've ever known to gone wrap it up. It's gone for nine months. Can't lose that player that way. Who's in line next to get to the front of the line because you went from we're a half away to oh, there goes next season too. And I wasn't expecting this. I was expecting TJ McConnell and his mom were going to lead me to glory. They were going to. They were going to paint the most beautiful Indiana sports story that's ever been told.
Roy
But after that, do you not. It's like if, if I'm running a team, I'm not letting anyone play even in A game seven after a calf strain at that point. Like maybe some injuries you can play through, but we're learning a cap strain. We're not playing through that one because that leads to other injuries.
Mike Ryan
So I did some research on it. LeBron in 2021 had a calf strain. Clay Thompson in the. In the finals that Kevin Durant had his calf strain toughed it out, but he also was injured throughout that. That was a narrative there. Aaron Rodgers tried to play through calf strains. Yeah, it doesn't. It's usually a pretty good indicator. There are not a lot of examples of, man, this guy toughed it out through a calf strain and lived until another day.
Greg Cody
I don't think there should be second guessing on this unless you can quantify that the calf strain makes him more susceptible to an Achilles.
Mike Ryan
It does because. Yeah, because the tendon takes on more of the pressure. As your body naturally tries to stay away from the calf muscle, more stress gets put on the tendon.
Greg Cody
I think the hard magnifying the heartache. This for me is that Halliburton was off to a great start in that game. He had three threes and nine points in seven minutes. This was a guy on fire when he needed to be. And even without him, they lead by one at the half.
Chris Cody
Oh, but it's just. It is so crushing, right? I heard your son making fun of you before the show, saying you never called Marino overrated for not winning a title the way that you went after McDavid. But Marino is the standing example, and you've written this a number of times over the years. Dan Marino went at the very beginning of his career to the super bowl and went with a tuxedo in the rapping that Cody has written about. And the tuxedo never came out of the wrapping the rest of his career because he never got back to a Super Bowl. McDavid's been on the cusp here a couple of times. Halliburton was crawling to the finish line. I don't know if he'll ever get back here again. Like, maybe he's great and a great story, but he just helped drag Pascal Siakam to a more elite status than he had even with Kawhi Leonard.
Mike Ryan
Siakam did win the Eastern Conference final mvp.
Roy
If I make up the stat that when you have a strain, a strained calf, you're 25%. More like, like if, if, if. I told you going into that game, it's a 25% chance Halliburton's out all of next year. Even if it is a game seven. I'm still probably saying I'm going to protect my superstar from a 25.
Chris Cody
You guys, you and Mike Ryan. You and Mike Ryan injured Tkachuk on purpose halfway through the season to play in that. To play in that hockey tournament.
Mike Ryan
Did you see the nations. No, but did you see the report?
Chris Cody
Yeah, Tornad Duck.
Mike Ryan
Yeah, but did you see how he tore. It wasn't even during the game. It was reported that it was in the fight with Brendan Hagle. But that's a start.
Roy
But that's a good example, because if you would have said to me, what could. Chuck's going to do in this tournament, he's for sure out for an entire year, I would have then said, don't play in the four nations. I'm expecting to get banged up. You're out for a month. I believe at the time, we're like, if he's out for a month or two, that's worth it. But if you. If it's Halliburton out for a full year, I would have changed my tone.
Mike Ryan
I don't know. You play to get that close. That's what you do. What it. See, it's foolish.
Roy
It's foolish to play with a. He's gonna.
Mike Ryan
He's got a Risk injury all next season. Risk injury all throughout next season. And to get to the chance that you're a game of what you're. You're a half away.
Chris Cody
No, but Chris is. Chris is applying the normal, sane human perspective of you should not do anything to risk further injury. That's going to mean nine months of you enduring a terrible rehab. But the way this entire culture of sport is built, you must sacrifice the entirety of your body and your soul to play in that one basketball game last night. You can miss all the others, but the one last night, the entire. Our entire audience. Chris, you're right. I am speaking to a cult of people who are just sort of numb to the idea, yes, you do choose a wheelchair for about three months and terrible rehab, because this game will do that to your body. But that's the choice every football player and hockey player is making every time they step onto a field or ice.
Greg Cody
And as long as it's their choice, I don't have a problem with it.
Chris Cody
But the pressure of the machine, there is no one pulling in the other direction on this. There's no sane voice.
Roy
Maybe his mom also. Let's be family.
Mike Ryan
Let's stop making basketball players, football and hockey players. They go through a different thing. We've all played Basketball, all right. Like, they're not toughing it through the same amount of things. I understand the Achilles is a death nail, and that's devastating. But that's usually when they line up and they lace their shoes up on the court. They're not really risking serious injury the way that other sports are.
Chris Cody
Understood. But when I tell you three months of rehab, that's going to be really inconvenience. Not a whole lot of people are going to do things that push to the other side of that in pursuit of anything. If I say, hey, there's a 25 or 50% risk here that if you take this shot in order to play this game, you're going to end up with an Achilles tear. That might not just be the next six months, it might be your body doesn't work right the rest of the way because of the way things are connected in your body. I don't.
Mike Ryan
Now, all right, I'm getting attacked here from two of you. I think you guys are crazy. I'm not crazy. Attack.
Chris Cody
What?
Mike Ryan
You're crazy.
Chris Cody
I don't feel they were a game.
Mike Ryan
Away from a championship. That's why you play the games. And also you're disrespecting the ABA when you label this the greatest Pacers team of all time. They won three ABA Championships.
Greg Cody
No, I was thinking of that when he kept saying I was thinking of you. Yeah, I remember the aba. And it wasn't a bad league. Julius Irving played in the ABA.
Mike Ryan
It wasn't Dr. J.
Chris Cody
It wasn't. It wasn't the league. ABA doesn't count.
Greg Cody
They had what Rick Barry played in that league. They had a lot of star power.
Mike Ryan
The Iceman.
Greg Cody
That's right.
Chris Cody
The history of the NBA, not the aba.
Mike Ryan
No, you didn't say anything. You said the greatest team ever that they had.
Greg Cody
Yes, you did.
Mike Ryan
And you're older. You should know better because they were in the ABA and they were a blue blood program.
Chris Cody
No, you just said wasn't bad. It's not the NBA. The ABA was not the NBA. And I understand. I understand. I do know my history here. This is the best Pacers team there's ever been.
Mike Ryan
But the other one won three championships.
Chris Cody
But this one would drag all three of those. All three of those. They wouldn't even know what to do with Halliburton shooting from out there because they were throwing it into a peach basket. That's why they were shooting granny style and throwing chess passes and bounce passes and there were no T shirt cannons or anything else.
Greg Cody
Yeah, doctor.
Chris Cody
No music, no Overrated. Nope. No.
Mike Ryan
What?
Chris Cody
That's not what I'm saying there. You have such thing. I did not say that Dr. J was overrated. I would never. I did not say disparaging his league. I am disparaging the ABA as a lesser quality basketball to the NBA.
Mike Ryan
But when they. When those guys entered the league, when those teams entered the league, they performed admirably.
Chris Cody
That is correct. But the NBA is the best of the best, and the ABA was somehow of the best of the best.
Greg Cody
You know, Buffalo Bills fans still look pretty fondly at those AFL championships. Last ones they ever won.
Chris Cody
Find me somebody who was on that Indiana team who had a second job as a plumber. Find me, please. Find me the player on the. The Indiana championship ABA team that. Just find me a roster, a name of somebody who had a second job in the off season.
Roy
They'd have a job forever as a plumber.
Greg Cody
He foresaw AI coming.
Chris Cody
It is good life advice from the Godfather of AI. If you want to have a future career, become a plumber.
Roy
Give me like 10 options. Can you give me, like, 10 options?
Dan Le Batard
Who's the godfather of AI? That's a person.
Chris Cody
That is a person, yes.
Dan Le Batard
What is the godfather of AI?
Roy
We'll get them on.
Chris Cody
Billy, it's always great when you don't do any of the prep and ask me a question. I don't have the answer for you. I haven't spoken for 10 minutes and now you ask me something that I don't have the answer to.
Greg Cody
Thank you.
Roy
Bobby.
Dan Le Batard
Thank you. Jeffrey Hinton, it looks like. Might be his name. Does that ring a bell?
Roy
Thank you.
Mike Ryan
Roger Brown was employed at General Motors in Dayton.
Chris Cody
That's the guy right there. That's the Godfather of A.
Roy
No, it's not.
Chris Cody
Yes, that is the godfather of A right there.
Dan Le Batard
Looks like a kook.
Chris Cody
The first name that you said, though, what is his name?
Dan Le Batard
Jeffrey Hinton.
Chris Cody
Yeah, I think that's him.
Dan Le Batard
77.
Chris Cody
Yes.
Mike Ryan
Oh, I was. Roger Brown was a player on the Pacers that had a second job. Just to clarify.
Greg Cody
Thank you.
Dan Le Batard
He did not invent AI?
Mike Ryan
No, no, no. He worked for gm.
Chris Cody
Gm.
Dan Le Batard
Does the Godfather of AI mean that, like, Geoffrey Hinton's friends really created AI and they trusted him so much with caretaking AI that they named him the Godfather of AI because if you invented AI, you'd be the father of AI, would you not?
Mike Ryan
Their main broadcaster was a teacher.
Roy
Sometimes you're not that close with your godfather. It's like friends with your parents, and then it's just like, yeah, I Don't really. Yeah, don't see him a lot. Who's my godfather?
Mike Ryan
It's a very hyperbolic decision.
Roy
I don't even know who my godfather is.
Greg Cody
Do you have one?
Roy
Now you tell me.
Chris Cody
Oh, my God.
Dan Le Batard
You would know.
Roy
Is it like Uncle Dick or something?
Greg Cody
It could be. I don't know.
Roy
You don't know either? See what I'm saying about godfather?
Greg Cody
I'm the. I'm the godfather to two goddaughters.
Chris Cody
Roy's offended by everything that's happening right now.
Mike Ryan
Isn't Chris's godfather the guy that's sitting to your right?
Roy
I don't know if Dan's my godfather. I'm just learning.
Greg Cody
I don't know. I am my wife. Hang on.
Mike Ryan
Oh, my God.
Chris Cody
Oh, no. Wait, wait. I cannot go. Just Mike, please give me some more information. You're telling me that somebody, that Greg Cody and others are now making the argument that there's an Indiana basketball team that is better than this year's Pacers and one of their players also had a second job working for General Motors?
Mike Ryan
That's true.
Chris Cody
Like he would clock in, he would clock.
Mike Ryan
He would act like. It's that. That foolish Ron Artest had a second job when he was playing.
Greg Cody
There you go.
Mike Ryan
Circa City.
Chris Cody
He didn't have the second job. He applied for the discount. He never actually went to work there. What did he do?
Mike Ryan
Well, I wasn't super responsible.
Chris Cody
I know I'm doing the same thing I just accused Billy of doing by asking you follow up questions on this. But I would love to know what a job at General Motors looked like back then because I now have somebody in a basketball uniform showing up for work, a construction pail, checking in for work and doing something on the factory line.
Mike Ryan
Yeah, there's definitely like a clock in, clock out situation, which isn't all that antiquated. I remember when Murph was running 790, I had to do that.
Chris Cody
That was the beginning of our careers. Put that on the poll at LeBatard show. Did you ever have to clock in and clock out at work?
Dan Le Batard
Did you have a physical punch or you did it on a computer?
Mike Ryan
No, it was a physical punch. It was a puncher. It had a stamp on it. It.
Dan Le Batard
Yeah.
Mike Ryan
And you would get. You would get that card that Murph said we had to have because he was paying people too, too much overtime and he stopped taking people at their word. And then you would go to Steve White's desk and you would clock in and you would clock out.
Chris Cody
Would you stamp it and Then go outside and fool around for a while. Like, just check in to show that you were working, or would you immediately get to work?
Roy
I was all about the work I would want. Not surprising. I would take, like, a really long lunch. Not. I would be clocked in the whole time and then come back from lunch and then clock out for, like, 20 minutes.
Chris Cody
Greg, are we interrupting you?
Mike Ryan
You.
Greg Cody
I'm texting my wife.
Dan Le Batard
Who.
Greg Cody
Who are the godparents of our kids?
Dan Le Batard
It's important.
Roy
I'm gonna bet it's Aunt Bonnie and Uncle Dick. That's what I'm. I'm gonna bet those are my godparents.
Greg Cody
Don't you have one of each, though?
Roy
I just said.
Dan Le Batard
Yeah, that would be.
Greg Cody
No, like, I, I. But you and Michael. I mean, like, you each.
Roy
I'm different about me.
Greg Cody
Okay?
Roy
I'm saying mine would be Uncle Dick and Aunt Bonnie, and then Michael would have maybe the same.
Chris Cody
It means a lot to you spiritually, huh? As a family.
Dan Le Batard
Sometimes you split it up, right? Each parent gets to choose one sometimes. Yeah. Just in case, you know, heaven forbid, there's a horrible accident where your godmother and godfather together, then you lose both of them.
Mike Ryan
Just washed over me. I don't know my godfather or godmother.
Roy
See, I've never been asked to be a godfather.
Greg Cody
I'm not crazy.
Mike Ryan
I know I had them. Yeah, but, you know, I don't have them.
Roy
My godmother might come in handy at this point.
Mike Ryan
Would. And also, like, they exist to take care of you after your parents died. Whoever did this, drop the ball.
Greg Cody
Yeah.
Roy
Because his mom's dead, Billy.
Mike Ryan
That's why I said that.
Greg Cody
Thank you.
Chris Cody
I thought you were gonna look at me and say, padrino.
Mike Ryan
Mi padrino.
Dan Le Batard
Papa.
Chris Cody
The Godfather of AI Billy, just out of curiosity, because I am forever fascinated by how your mind works, was there any point to asking me what his name was? Other than I'm just curious?
Dan Le Batard
I don't know if this is a. No, you keep saying this nickname, the Godfather, like, if he's the Godfather of Soul. I don't know if this is a known thing. So I'm curious who the godfather of AI Is. Geoffrey Hinton.
Roy
Dad, what would you be the godfather of?
Chris Cody
Reptilian talon feet.
Roy
Oh, that's strong. Beer drinkers.
Chris Cody
He's got the feet of a bird of prey.
Greg Cody
Thank you.
Chris Cody
It's not really the best thing that's.
Greg Cody
Ever been said about me.
Chris Cody
They're not human feet. They're feet that you would disembowel like an ostrich with.
Greg Cody
You know the background of my feet.
Chris Cody
That you've not taken care of them and have walked around in boat shoes without socks for 20 years. And the same boat shoes.
Greg Cody
No, that I use it a foot model. But I have let my great toenails grow a little while.
Roy
I'm going to get you. We're going to go get a pedicure and make content of it and just get the reaction of the.
Greg Cody
I ain't getting no pedicure.
Chris Cody
Let's go.
Roy
Take them off.
Greg Cody
Roy, look.
Roy
Look up at the screen, Roy.
Greg Cody
Those are beautiful feet. Look.
Chris Cody
Oh, my God.
Roy
Come on, Roy, look at it.
Chris Cody
But those toenails. No, those toenails have gotten worse over the last few years. We have not had a bigger achievement in this show's history than have thousands of people lined up to see one of those cut toenails from Stugatz.
Greg Cody
Sexy feet.
Chris Cody
Stugatz has twice cut the feet of the toenails of Greg Cody.
Mike Ryan
I just asked Chatgpt who its godfather is.
Dan Le Batard
Wow.
Mike Ryan
And while it acknowledged that Jeffrey Hinton is part of a triumvirate of people, it also gave credit to Yann Lecun and Yoshua Benji.
Dan Le Batard
Wow.
Chris Cody
Look at these feet right here. And tell me that this are not Nosferatu's feet right here. These are Nosferatu's feet. If I told you right now that that's the Levit, the beginning of the levitation that the devil does as it comes, as it goes from demon to its most evil.
Roy
That's the raptor.
Chris Cody
Did you just snort at laughter? You snorted. People need to see these feet. Am I wrong? These feet are from another time. They're ancient fox.
Roy
Like a half man, half werewolf.
Chris Cody
Foot is more than a half werewolf.
Greg Cody
They do look like dinosaur feet.
Chris Cody
It's. It is half dinosaur, quarter werewolf.
Roy
No lotion.
Greg Cody
Lotion, please. Lotion.
Chris Cody
How?
Dan Le Batard
Werewolf with alopecia.
Chris Cody
How do you not know how to take care of yourself?
Greg Cody
Survive this long?
Chris Cody
Yeah, but you've survived. But you survived with the feet of.
Roy
The devil with no sunscreen in Florida. That's the wildest thing he admitted today in South Florida.
Chris Cody
It was a great Greg Cody shirt Tuesday.
Roy
I would imagine that he. Nobody's put on less sunscreen that lives in either Miami or Broward than you.
Greg Cody
Okay? And to make it clear, I'm not bragging people should use sunscreen.
Chris Cody
You are the Michael Jordan of not using sunscreen.
Greg Cody
Thanks. Thank you. That means a lot. And something else for my tombstone.
Chris Cody
Do you think that barkoff is ever going to get this cheer off the ground? Around. Is he? Is it ever?
Greg Cody
Thank you. I know. It just didn't fly. Thank you.
Mike Ryan
Howdy, folks, it's Mike Ryan. Now, if you've been listening to the show a lot lately, you've heard so much playoff talk. Playoff hoops. Down here in South Florida, we're especially enamored with playoff hockey. It's not just limited to the playoffs. Motorsports, tennis, golf. It's truly one of the best times in the sporting calendar. And with the weather outside warming up, it's just perfect to hop in a pool, maybe grill up some food, but most certainly crack open some Miller Lights. I just described a pretty perfect day, didn't I? And it culminates with Miller Time. There's something about a perfect grilling day. The sun's out, friends show up, and that first sip of Miller Lite just hits different. I've been stocking up the cooler with it for years. This year, Miller Lite turns 50. That is five decades of cookouts, laughs, and ice cold moments that never miss, miss. And if you've listened to the show for its 20 year existence, you know this to be true. Miller Lite great taste. 96 calories. Go to millerlight.com dan to find delivery options near you. Or you can pick up some Miller Lite pretty much anywhere they sell beer. Cheers to 50 years of Miller time. Celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Co. Milwaukee, Wisconsin 96 calories and 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces.
Podcast Summary: The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz – "Hour 2: The Michael Jordan of Not Wearing Sunscreen"
Release Date: June 23, 2025
Hosts: Dan Le Batard, Stugotz
In this episode, Dan Le Batard and Stugotz delve deep into the recent performances and strategic decisions of the Florida Panthers, while intertwining their unique humor and banter. The discussion touches upon player injuries, team dynamics, and the broader implications for the Panthers' future in the league.
[02:07 - 04:00]
The hosts reminisce about their coverage from the Elbow Room, highlighting the camaraderie and occasional chaos that accompanies live sports discussions.
Chris Cody: "I am enjoying the Panthers and the time-honored tradition of drinking so much over a couple of days that you agree to contract terms out loud while chanting at your fan base emotionally."
Greg Cody: "Thank you."
This segment underscores the informal and spirited environment in which sports talk thrives, blending professional analysis with personal anecdotes.
[04:00 - 07:22]
The conversation shifts to the Panthers' strategic decisions regarding player contracts and team composition.
Dan Le Batard: "No one having a serious Panthers conversation."
Greg Cody: Discusses the potential financial decisions the Panthers must make in the coming years, emphasizing the complexity of maintaining a competitive team balance.
The hosts analyze the financial and strategic challenges the Panthers face, particularly in retaining key players and managing team chemistry.
[07:22 - 12:38]
A significant portion of the discussion centers around player performances, with a particular focus on Aaron Ekblad and Tyrese Haliburton.
Chris Cody: "Ekblad also said at 11, he made a point of thanking the fans for all the years of support. Seemed emotional, sounded like goodbye."
Mike Ryan: "I happen to know the Carolina Hurricanes are going to put a big, juicy offer in front of Aaron Ekblad."
The hosts debate the likelihood of Ekblad's continued tenure with the Panthers, considering his performance and potential contract negotiations. They also touch upon Haliburton's injuries and the broader implications for the team's future.
[12:38 - 17:00]
The discussion transitions to comparing the current Panthers team with historical teams, including those from the ABA.
Greg Cody: "Yep. I agree with that. He won his first cup when he was 23 years old."
Mike Ryan: "Brad Marchand has never been more famous in his entire career, full stop."
The hosts compare the Panthers' current roster and dynamics to those of past championship teams, debating the legacy and future prospects based on historical performance metrics.
[14:07 - 30:34]
A heated debate unfolds regarding the Panthers' management of player injuries, particularly focusing on Tyrese Haliburton's decision to play despite a calf strain.
Chris Cody: "But the pressure of the machine, there is no one pulling in the other direction on this. There's no sane voice."
Mike Ryan: "It's a loss across the board. It's probably a loss in the game as you see what happens."
The hosts explore the ethical and practical considerations of playing injured players, weighing the immediate benefits against long-term health implications. They reference historical cases like Willis Reed and discuss the cultural pressures within professional sports that compel players to endure injuries for the sake of the game.
[33:01 - 40:54]
Shifting gears, the hosts engage in a playful segment about the "Godfather of AI," leading to humorous exchanges about foot care and personal anecdotes.
Greg Cody: "I have to just admit that I was wrong about everything about Brad Marchand, and he'll have to become one of my guys."
Chris Cody: "Look at these feet right here. And tell me that these are not Nosferatu's feet right here."
This segment highlights the show's signature humor, providing a break from intense sports analysis with jokes and light teasing among the hosts.
[41:04 - End]
The episode wraps up with final remarks, emphasizing the season's challenges and the Panthers' prospects moving forward.
Greg Cody: "Thank you."
Dan Le Batard: "Never forget it. This is the Dan Levatar show with the Stugach."
The hosts conclude by reflecting on the intense moments of the season, the emotional highs and lows, and the unwavering support of the fanbase. They reiterate the importance of strategic decisions and player well-being in shaping the team's future.
Dan Le Batard [00:00]: "I'm just trying to live up to be the version of me my dogs think I am."
Chris Cody [04:40]: "He said something to that effect while wearing a scarlet's hat, which I love Cody."
Mike Ryan [07:22]: "He said something to that effect while wearing a scarlet's hat, which I love Cody."
Greg Cody [33:03]: "Roger Brown was employed at General Motors in Dayton."
Chris Cody [32:12]: "It wasn't a bad league. Julius Irving played in the ABA."
This episode of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz offers a comprehensive look into the Florida Panthers' current state, blending in-depth sports analysis with the hosts' characteristic humor and camaraderie. From strategic team decisions and player injuries to lighthearted moments and playful debates, the show provides listeners with both insightful commentary and entertaining banter, making it a must-listen for Panthers fans and sports enthusiasts alike.