The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
Hour 2: Too Many Dogs (feat. Jessica Smetana)
Date: February 12, 2026
Overview
Broadcasting from downtown Miami’s Elser Hotel, this episode features Dan Le Batard, Stugotz, Jessica Smetana, and the usual crew as they explore their uniquely irreverent takes on sports and pop culture. The discussion navigates a running debate about dogs in the workplace, Jessica’s passionate defense of the Winter Olympics, notable Olympic controversies, Super Bowl halftime show reviews, mascot hijinks, and a mini deep dive into NBA and NFL storylines. The tone is casual, sardonic, fast-paced, and full of in-jokes—classic Le Batard Show energy.
Main Discussion Topics & Key Insights
1. Dogs in the Workplace: When is Enough, Enough?
(00:30–07:37)
- Dan wants Jessica’s take after a visible “office tension” over Ethan bringing his dog, Percy, repeatedly to the studio. The crew debates whether dogs belong at work at all, escalating into how many is “too many.”
- Tony expresses discomfort, especially given the “exposed asshole” of dogs in the office:
“I'm not down with the dogs. With the exposed asshole. There, I said it.” (05:24)
- Jessica feels “in a bad spot” defending her own past dog-bringing, explaining she only did so due to late schedules and says, “Willow can’t stay home for nine hours.” (08:10)
- The underlying dynamic: nostalgia for Jessica’s better-behaved canine “Willow,” compared with complaints about Percy’s unruliness.
Notable Quote:
“Dogs are dumb. You can go anywhere near their name, and they'll respond.”
— Dan Le Batard, (04:41)
Poll Prompt:
“How many dogs is too many dogs in the workplace? 1, 2, 3, or over 4?” (06:08)
2. Winter Olympics: Coverage and Controversy
(07:20–24:40)
- Jessica’s Crusade: Jessica decries the Miami crew’s lack of Olympics interest, watching “non-stop” and pushing for more attention:
“I thought this was a sports show…wall-to-wall sports from the minute you wake up.” (08:30)
- The group explores whether spoilers ruin Olympic events. Jessica argues replays can enhance enjoyment, not diminish it:
“Sometimes you see a result and then, when they replay in primetime…you know what's gonna happen, which I kinda like.” (10:24)
- Olympic Drama: Jessica offers a Top 5 Worst/Most Controversial Olympic Stories (16:27–23:40), including:
- Lindsey Vonn’s brutal crash—described as “the worst thing I’ve ever seen” (23:27), with Jessica watching live at 5 a.m.
- US ice dancers denied gold after French team ‘effed up their twizzles’ but still won (21:57).
- Public post-race breakup/cheating drama (20:22–20:46).
- French biathlete’s credit card fraud scandal (19:02).
- DQ of U.S. skeleton athlete for a helmet with images of deceased Ukrainians (16:39).
- Winter vs. Summer Olympics:
- Dan muses that the Winter Games feel like Norway’s answer to not winning summer medals, then asks for the chronology:
“How much older are the Summer Olympics than the Winter Olympics?” (11:53)
- Crew finds Summer is 28 years older (15:31), with Jessica noting the Mandela Effect with her mom mistakenly doubting Winter Games’ existence in her childhood.
- Dan muses that the Winter Games feel like Norway’s answer to not winning summer medals, then asks for the chronology:
Notable Quotes:
“It was one of the most brutal things I’ve ever watched.”
— Jessica, on Lindsey Vonn’s crash (23:27)
“Did the French team f up its twizzles?”
— Dan Le Batard (22:08)
3. Super Bowl Halftime Show Dissection
(23:59–26:51)
- Jessica admits letdown over Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl show:
“I've been a fan of Bad Bunny…he came out on stage at the Super Bowl, full long sleeves, pants…us straight women are coming off the most feral January of our lives…I thought maybe we get to see a little bit of thigh.” (24:05)
- The crew riffs on an alternate “Turning Point USA All-American halftime show,” joking about the culture war over entertainment choices.
- Jessica calls media coverage of the conservative "alternative" halftime show “embarrassing”:
“Everyone should have said from the jump, this is full diaper-baby conservatives having a temper tantrum about Bad Bunny...” (26:28)
4. NBA & NFL Storylines
(29:31–39:24)
James Harden to Cleveland – Hope or Another Playoff Mirage?
(29:31–39:24)
- Dan, Bo, and Tony debate whether adding Harden for the injured Darius Garland actually makes Cleveland a contender:
“No matter what your criticisms are…not having Darius Garland…if I eliminate that and add James Harden, I am better. Hard stop.” (31:10)
- Skepticism over Harden’s playoff history persists. Bo notes, “Cavs were almost a 65-win team last season and got smoked in the playoffs with basically the same team.” (32:36)
- Detroit and New York Knicks come up as rising threats; Orlando Magic’s progress questioned.
NHL/NFL/Other Briefs
- Quick hit on court storming fines at UM (“the most peaceful, slowest, kind of indifferent court malingering,” 09:48).
- Quick mascot update: Otto the Orange scolded at Syracuse (27:29), with Jessica sharing her mascot love.
- Micah Parsons vs. Myles Garrett: sound montage of their back-and-forth about who’s the better defender (40:35–42:17).
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (by Timestamp)
- “The dog is also a beggar. Same way Willow was. More than Willow was, actually.”
— Dan Le Batard (03:21) - “I'm not down with the dogs. With the exposed asshole. There, I said it.”
— Tony (05:24) - “You’re putting me in a bad spot with the dog thing, Dan. I got nothing on the dog.”
— Jessica (05:27) - “Apparently there have been Winter Olympics since 1924, and they actually…went back in time to the 20s and like came all the way forward to the 2000s.”
— Jessica (15:37) - “You guys should watch the Olympics.”
— Jessica (28:31) - “She's had three surgeries and she's probably gonna need more. And it looks really nasty and I feel awful for her…It was one of the most brutal things I’ve ever watched.”
— Jessica, on Vonn’s crash (23:27) - “I thought maybe we get to see a little bit of thigh.”
— Jessica, regarding Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl outfit (24:40) - “Everyone should have said from the jump, this is full diaper-baby conservatives having a temper tantrum about Bad Bunny…”
— Jessica (26:28) - “No matter what your criticisms are…not having Darius Garland…if I eliminate that and add James Harden, I am better. Hard stop.”
— Dan Le Batard (31:10)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 00:30–07:37: Dog debate and office pet etiquette
- 07:20–24:40: Winter Olympics discussions – apathy, drama, Jessica’s Top 5 controversies
- 24:00–26:51: Super Bowl halftime show and the alternate “culture war” performance
- 29:31–39:24: NBA playoff picture, Harden-to-Cavs analysis, Detroit/Knicks/Orlando evals
- 40:35–42:17: Micah Parsons vs. Myles Garrett NFL “who’s better” debate
Tone & Language
Direct, sardonic, self-aware, often irreverent, and full of humor and inside jokes. Jessica brings sports passion and a lived-in perspective; the rest of the panel is quick to mock, needle, and ask offbeat poll questions.
Final Impression
This episode typifies the Le Batard Show’s free-flowing blend of pop culture, hyperlocal Miami vibes, and sports talk. It’s as much about personality and running gags as it is about the issues, with memorable riffs on dogs at work, Olympic obsessions, and high-profile sports drama. Jessica’s presence, in particular, brings energy, millennial references, and a much-needed Olympics fix.