Hour 2: Welcomed Distraction Or... (feat. Amin Elhassan)

Summary

The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

Hour 2: Welcomed Distraction Or... (feat. Amin Elhassan)

Date: January 12, 2026
Co-hosts: Dan Le Batard, Stugotz, Chris Cote, Tony
Guest: Amin Elhassan
Recorded at: The Elser Hotel, Downtown Miami

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Episode Overview

This episode takes listeners behind the scenes of the sports and entertainment world with trademark irreverence and humor. Key themes include the evolution of sports television, the surprising comfort of Nick Saban on TV, wild ideas for football tactics, comically bad NBA defense stats, the absurdity of award shows, and a chaotic youth hockey fight. Amidst it all, the team offers both biting and self-deprecating commentary, using their dynamic chemistry and guest insight.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Nick Saban’s TV Turn & Behind-the-Scenes College GameDay

(00:38–08:47)

• The crew discusses Nick Saban's transition to TV and how he’s winning over some longtime critics, including Amin.
  • Amin Elhassan:

    "Certainly at first I was not comfortable with how much I enjoy Saban on television...he is excellent." (02:17)

  • Saban described as likable and compelling, which surprises those who disliked him during his coaching years.
• Praise for the ESPN College GameDay production: longevity, chemistry, and reinvention.
  • Dan Le Batard:

    "The college game day Saturday experience...is the second greatest thing in the history of sports television not named the inside the NBA show for chemistry and reinvention." (02:45)

• Amin relays a story from Rhys Davis about GameDay travel on Saban’s private jet:
  • Quirk: Saban’s plane has no Wi-Fi, so they couldn't watch live games during flights (04:03–06:30). Saban just downloads coaching film instead.
  • Dan Le Batard:

    "You think Nick Saban watches games for fun?...He's working like he's still a head coach." (06:53)

  • Crew debates whether high-earning, competitive personalities like Saban and Jimmy Johnson really care about cost or just their routine and access to games.

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2. Absurd Football Tactics & NFL Weekend Observations

(13:24–18:51)

• Transitioning into Amin’s “Weekend Observations,” the cast jokes about football innovation:
  • Recalls Mike Leach suggesting a little person (specifically comedian Brad Williams) being thrown for a first down.
    • Dan Le Batard:

      "You guys didn’t like that tush push by the Bills. But when the late Mike Leach suggested having Brad Williams in for short yarded situations and tossing them over the line...you all cheered." (14:23)

  • The crew runs with the absurdity:
    • "If you get like a jockey, he's like a javelin shape. So you can just toss… like a spiral." – Dan (15:24)
    • "What kind of bully do you have to be to fat shame a little person?" – Stugotz (15:09)

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3. Historic NBA Futility: The Utah Jazz’s Defensive Dynasty

(16:02–18:27)

• Amin delivers the “Stat of the Day” about the Utah Jazz breaking the record for worst defensive rating in NBA history—three straight years.
  • Dan Le Batard:

    "For three consecutive years, the Utah Jazz have not only had the worst defensive rating in NBA history, they've improved on that by setting the record even further." (18:07)

  • Chris Cote calls it “historically the worst defensive basketball team there has ever been. By miles.” (18:21)
• The show riffs on the statistical misery, calling it a “dynasty” of futility.

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4. Pop Culture, Award Shows, and Comedic Commentary

(24:51–28:31, 36:13–38:15)

• Brief detour to the Golden Globes and the lack of recognition for “Cinephobe,” Amin’s podcast.

  • Dan Le Batard:

    "Speaking of the Golden Globes, they gave away an award for best podcast. Cinephobe wasn't nominated." (24:51)

• Praise for Nikki Glaser as a standout awards show host, handling pressure and comedy for mainstream America.

  • Tony:

    "She seems to be the perfect person to host these events. Everybody likes her." (37:19)

  • The difficulty of live, large-scale productions (like GameDay and the Globes) is compared, praising the unseen coordination and talent.

• Mark Ruffalo’s appeal and self-image as a “leading man” are debated, with the crew poking fun at both him and themselves.

  • "You're Ruffalo. You're not supposed to think of yourself as the leading man." – Dan Le Batard (27:55)
  • The group riffs on actors' humility (or lack thereof), with Cote self-deprecatingly comparing himself to Ruffalo in “the schlubbiest ways.” (29:26)

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5. Chaotic Youth Hockey Fight: Violence and Humor

(32:31–35:21)

• The group hilariously analyzes a viral video of 10-year-olds brawling during an intermission youth hockey game.
  • Tony: "They just started fighting and it became like...a melee." (32:47)
  • Amin points out two kids fighting on the same team (33:40), while Tony notes the crowd and coaches did little to stop it.
  • Cote observes:

    "That goalie is hell bent on destruction...The goalie is a menace who is being raised poorly, as all of those kids are by parents who are feeding a culture of violence that is stupid." (34:25, 35:10)

• The irresponsible hilarity of kids’ sports, the complicity of parents and coaches, and the sport’s normalization of chaos are all mocked.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Saban on TV:
  • "He is excellent...I find he comes off very likable. I like him now."
    – Amin Elhassan [02:17]
• On College GameDay’s Greatness:
  • "It's the second greatest thing in the history of sports television not named the Inside the NBA show for chemistry and reinvention."
    – Dan Le Batard [02:45]
• Saban's Jet & Film Obsession:
  • "Saban doesn’t spring for the wi-fi on his private jets...He never has to watch any live game because he watches film." – Amin & Dan [06:04, 06:53]
• Useless Football Innovation:
  • "If you get like a jockey, he's like a javelin shape. Toss it really like a spiral."
    – Dan Le Batard [15:24]
• Utah Jazz Defensive Futility:
  • "For three consecutive years, the Utah Jazz have...the worst defensive rating in NBA history...setting the record even further."
    – Dan Le Batard [18:07]
• Golden Globes & Comedy Hosting:
  • "She has like the perfect ability not only to deliver those jokes...but then throwing in the self-deprecating joke within it."
    – Tony [36:56]
• Children’s Hockey Brawl:
  • "He took out three people by just skating from one end of the rink to the other and then hitting them with all his pass....the goalie is a menace who is being raised poorly, as all of those kids are by parents who are feeding a culture of violence that is stupid."
    – Chris Cote [34:25, 35:10]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Nick Saban’s TV transformation & GameDay praise: 02:17–03:45
• Flying with Saban, no Wi-Fi story: 03:45–06:30
• Debate: Coaches watching games for fun or work: 06:53–08:47
• Insane football tactic: throw a little person for a first down: 14:23–15:32
• Utah Jazz’s historic defensive ineptitude ("Stat of the Day"): 17:11–18:27
• Nikki Glaser's Golden Globes hosting & TV production difficulty: 36:13–38:09
• Kid Hockey Brawl play-by-play and analysis: 32:31–35:21

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Tone & Language

The tone is playful, irreverent, and self-deprecating—with hosts frequently riffing and pushing boundaries on sports, culture, and each other. The language stays sharp and rooted in the show's signature blend of humor and insight.

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Summary for New Listeners

This episode highlights why the Dan Le Batard Show is both a unique window into sports entertainment and a relentless machine for absurd, laugh-out-loud banter. From lauding Nick Saban’s TV pivot and the magic of ESPN’s GameDay to lampooning ridiculous football ideas and award show hosts, the crew weaves insightful commentary with jokes that only their chemistry allows. The viral youth hockey fight discussion captures this perfectly—moving from mock-serious telestrator breakdowns to satirical scolding of sport parenting culture. Listeners leave entertained, informed, and probably still chuckling about the idea of a "dynasty" in defensive futility.

Transcript

[Dan Le Batard]

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[Stugats]

The Dan Levator show with the Stu Guts Podcast.

[Chris Cote]

We've got some sound to play that was pretty amusing between Cristobal and Saban. Saban questioned Cristobal at the end of that first half against Ole Miss. Crispo had a good response, had a good response while Saban saying two minute spot like that, you got to make sure that you get points but don't put yourself in a position where you're giving up points. And crystal ball came right back at him with no coach. Actually after a minute in the game, you do try to go aggressive there with a minute left in the half. Let's play that sound for the people.

[Stugats]

Two scores by the half, no question about it.

[Chris Cote]

The two minute before the half where they stole three points, where if you don't have field position, it's not like.

[Dan Le Batard]

Two minute at the end of the day.

[Chris Cote]

What the hell are you talking about?

[Dan Le Batard]

We should have never let him get the ball back.

[Chris Cote]

All right, so I hate to stop you, but let me correct you as by your standards and I'll show you.

[Dan Le Batard]

A notebook if you want to.

[Chris Cote]

If you were under 45 seconds and at your 35, you try to pop a runner or screen and if you do, you go. But with over a minute, especially over.

[Stugats]

A minute ten, your philosophy was be.

[Chris Cote]

Aggressive and try to get points. And that's what we did. So I need to see that I.

[Stugats]

May have changed my philosophy.

[Chris Cote]

Hey, TVs changed them, coach. It used to be about physicality. Now you like trick dick reverses and.

[Stugats]

You know.

[Chris Cote]

I saw a flea flip down to some kind of he also told told Nick Saban to go trim his eyebrows because Mario Cristobal wants to win at football. Punching you in the face.

[Stugats]

That was a good punch counterpunch session there. Got his ass with a flea flicker though.

[Amin Elhassan]

I got to tell you, I I think I've gotten past it, but certainly at first I Was not comfortable with how much I enjoy Sabin on television. He is excellent. He is excellent.

[Chris Cote]

What do you mean you're not comfortable with it?

[Amin Elhassan]

Because I haven't liked him. You know, everything that happened with the Dolphins and certainly not gonna root for big bad Alabama. And I have not liked Saban. But he's tremendous on television and I find he comes off very likable. I like him now.

[Chris Cote]

ESPN has done an amazing job with everything that that show is. It's hard to be a vibrant Saturday thing that's better than all the other things because you figure it out with chemistry among big egos. It's one of. With a lot of different personalities. It's one. It might be main in the history of sports television, our lifetimes it's inside the NBA in this is it not at the top of the food chain. If I give you everything in sports content, nevermind even just studio shows, I could just give you the best things that sports television does of all kinds. Make it HBO Real Sports and, and, and anything else you want to throw in there. The college game day Saturday experience to be that relevant, reinvent itself over 20 years, be a lovable Saturday Americana thing is the second greatest thing in the history of sports television not named the inside the NBA show for chemistry and reinvention.

[Amin Elhassan]

I had Rhys Davis on my college football campus tour show this weekend for ESPN Radio. We were in Atlanta for Peachbowl and I love hearing about the, the travel because like they did the game Thursday, that crew at Fiesta bowl and then Friday, I know they were already in Atlanta. So I was talking to Reese Friday morning and so I said to him, my first question was I got to hear about the travel. I love the travel and how you get from one place to the next. So he's like, you know, listen, I probably shouldn't be saying this but it was a handful of us. We took Saban's jet, we took Nick Saban's jet Thursday right after the broadcast. So they're not staying for the game. Right as the game is starting, Saban's jet, they're taken off. But he tell but Reese Davis tells me they couldn't watch the game. They couldn't watch the Fiesta Bowl. They had to keep getting updates from the tower because Saban doesn't spring for the wi fi on his private jets. So they couldn't watch the game. They're literally getting updates from the tower.

[Chris Cote]

Who's in there? Who are you accusing of not watching the Fiesta Bowl?

[Amin Elhassan]

Well, not accusing. Rhys Davis told us on the Air. This is not a private story. But he came on our show.

[Chris Cote]

But who are the people? Who are the people on this plane?

[Amin Elhassan]

It's Rhys and it's Nick Saban and it's Desmond Howard and it's Stanford, Steve and like a couple other.

[Chris Cote]

So they couldn't watch the game. They were not able to watch the University of Miami.

[Amin Elhassan]

They thought they were going to be able to watch the game, but they get on. And Saban doesn't have the wife, but.

[Tony]

So that's what I'm stuck on.

[Chris Cote]

Well, I will tell you this story. I think I told you guys this the other day. I was surprised to see back when Jimmy Johnson wasn't tired of travel and going back and forth, he would fly to the west coast every week. And he flew. He didn't fly privately. He flew in first class. And when I asked him why he didn't fly privately, his response was, the WI fi is too expensive when you're going across the country like that. I can't watch the games. I can't watch the college football games while I'm flying if I also have to pay for the WI fi on my private plane.

[Tony]

What's the point of making all these millions of dollars if you aren't going to shell out a little bit extra to pay for?

[Chris Cote]

Oh, but it must be prohibitive, though. I got to think. But I got to think, though, if Nick Saban is making commercials and everything else, that we're not understanding something about what WI fi costs on an airplane.

[Amin Elhassan]

Here's. Here was Saban's explanation. And by the way, Reese Davis said they go like 700 miles an hour. They got to Atlanta really quick. Like, they got to watch at least the fourth quarter live by the time they landed. But here is Saban's explanation. He never has to watch any live game on his plane because he watches film. So he has these games, like, downloaded to his computer. So he's never had to use WI Fi.

[Chris Cote]

But that's not a fun way to experience the game, to be watching it later on tape without already knowing the result. Like, that's not what fun is that? You don't think Rhys Davis still loves sports enough that he wants to be watching it? They wouldn't be calling up to the cockpit asking for scores if they were okay just watching it by film. Amin joins us now. He's going to do his weekend observations in a second. What are your thoughts here, Amin?

[Dan Le Batard]

You think Nick Saban watches games for fun? You like, you have, like, oh, give me my popcorn. I want to watch the Fiesta Bowl. Notice.

[Chris Cote]

Dude is working.

[Dan Le Batard]

He's working like he's still a head coach. He's breaking down film. He's watching all 22s. He is in locked in mode. The surprise of who wins or not. I think that's the thing that a lot of non working for sports organizations people don't get is that the film that we watch is not for the surprise. I wonder who's going to win. It is literally just an exercise that you go through and you watch things and you break it down and you rewind and you pause and you. And you draw up plays. That's what it's there for. No one's actually. I wonder if Miami's going to pull it off. They don't care like that.

[Chris Cote]

But one of the things that I think is funny about Zaslow, seeing Saban reinvented in this form in the afterlife of his career as he's going to become a powerful voice on lobbying. It's funny to me that anyone thinks that someone who's that competitive would get into this field and then not be competitive about being the very best at this field. Like he's not going there to have a platform. Nick Saban cares deeply about being better at this than other people. And so he's gonna put in the grind of work that he misses to study the film. So he is saying the most interesting things. There is no way he's taking that job casually when I tell you that that's the hardest thing to keep up in the air the daily, the weekly of that live show. Chris Fowler's done everything on television. He says very little is as hard as that show. People have no idea the difficulty of the mechanics of pulling off everything that they're doing live and the number of people that that requires to swap out your mascot and replace him with the greatest college coach they've ever been. To allow someone to age with grace and get rid of Lee Corso so that he sat in a parking lot. Because everyone knows this is the best thing. Everyone knows that to work at this thing is to be at the center of America every Saturday. What are you smiling about?

[Dan Le Batard]

I mean, you think Lee Corso knows he's not on the show?

[Tony]

Starlink Aviation says that you can get WI FI installed on most business jets for $145,000. But that doesn't include the monthly fees or the potential installation costs. That's just for the equipment.

[Chris Cote]

I don't see Jimmy Johnson as a cheap man. There was something about this WI Fi he couldn't get it on his plane to watch games. I'm sure he look, he didn't want to be talking to me in first class about asking him why are you not flying private? That's not what he wants. But because he gets to watch the football game, the cost may be too much. It must be. It's Jimmy ain't cheap.

[Dan Le Batard]

Guys, flying private is not good. It's not good for the environment. It's, it leaves a huge carbon footprint. I applaud Jimmie Johnson for riding first class because he doesn't need to flaunt his wealth to the world like oh look at me, I only fly private. He there's plenty of flights, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Spirit you could take that are non stop. That'll get you where you need to go safely and on time. Shout out to you Coach Johnson.

[Stugats]

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[Tony]

One.

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[Chris Cote]

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[Stugats]

Code Dan Don Levatard Amino Acid Stugats.

[Chris Cote]

Amino Acid this is the Don Levatar show with the Stugats.

[Amin Elhassan]

It is time for, I mean, to.

[Chris Cote]

Share his game notes.

[Stugats]

No one in the media will tell.

[Chris Cote]

You what happened better than my boy.

[Stugats]

I mean.

[Dan Le Batard]

Weekend Observations is brought to you by Miller Light Legendary Moments. Start with the Light. Then we had so much fun with Miami winning Last Thursday, we gave Mike Ryan his flowers. We showed Michael Irvin doing the belt to ass celebration. But Friday night, the Indiana Hoosiers showed us and the rest of the country what belt to ass really looks like. Holy shit. What an ass whooping. Last week I was told the Jags were going to the super bowl and that Dylan McDermott or whatever the hell his name is, is gonna get fired because the Bills are cooked. Yeah, it's almost like you guys don't know what the blazes you're talking about.

[Chris Cote]

I am so mad at myself for trusting the Jags. I feel really stupid the whole show.

[Dan Le Batard]

Everybody on the show.

[Chris Cote]

Stupid.

[Dan Le Batard]

You guys didn't like that tush push by the Bills. But when the late Mike Leach suggested having Brad Williams in for short yarded situations and tossing them over the line of scrimmage, you all cheered.

[Chris Cote]

That's a great idea. That's a great idea.

[Dan Le Batard]

Mike Leach, one of a kind.

[Chris Cote]

Put it on the poll, please. Juju at lebatard show. Will somebody hire a little person next season and throw them seven yards over the line of scrimmage with the football on fourth downs?

[Dan Le Batard]

Not any little person. Brad Williams.

[Chris Cote]

Okay. Make it Brad Williams. Fine. He's heavier than some of them. I want a lighter. I want a lighter. Yes. I want somebody lighter that can be thrown further.

[Dan Le Batard]

He needs to be able to withstand the impact though, to break through. If he's too light, bounce off.

[Stugats]

What kind of bully do you have to be to fat shame? A little person. You want a lighter little person, huh?

[Chris Cote]

Yes. In these situations. If I need a first down on fourth and seven, I can get one because my right tackle can throw a little person seven and a half yards further. Because he's lighter. Yes.

[Dan Le Batard]

Wait, if the guy. If you get like a jockey, he could like, he's like a javelin shape. So you can just toss it really like. Like a spiral.

[Chris Cote]

Him or her.

[Tony]

I'm picturing the way passes get deflected. Like Brad getting deflected by a D line.

[Dan Le Batard]

CTE incoming.

[Chris Cote]

It. It's so great though. Can you imagine if somebody broke that out next season in key spot? We were just hiding someone on the practice squad.

[Dan Le Batard]

Brad will play for the Broncos for free.

[Chris Cote]

The Broncos are gonna need it. The Broncos are gonna need some yardage.

[Dan Le Batard]

Zero dollar cap hit the Packers. Now that's a choke job. I turned the game off. I sent my condolences. Text all my Chicago people. I turned on Jazz versus Hornets.

[Chris Cote]

Somebody had a minus. Somebody had a plus. Mine as a minus. Six sixty in that game.

[Dan Le Batard]

Not Somebody. It's Cody Williams of the Utah Jazz. Minus 60. Hornet scored a hundred plus minus ever.

[Chris Cote]

How is that possible? Put it on the poll at Lebatard show. Is it possible to have a minus 60 plus minus in an NBA game against Charlotte at home?

[Dan Le Batard]

Yes, Dan, I could do you one better. Do you know who Cody Williams older brother is?

[Chris Cote]

I do not.

[Dan Le Batard]

Jalen Williams. Yes, the good one for Oklahoma City. That's his. That's his older brother.

[Chris Cote]

How is that doing me one better on somebody had minus 60 in an NBA.

[Dan Le Batard]

I do you. I'll do you one better. Then I'll do even one better than that. Utah Jazz this year have the worst defensive rating in NBA history. That's pretty obvious because they give.

[Chris Cote]

Oh, wait a minute. I mean, this is a good stat. This is a good stat. I think you should get the stat of day music. I think we should stop. This is an amazing stat that you're about to give here.

[Dan Le Batard]

Let's talk about time out on weekend observations. I'll give you a great Saturday because I wasn't even done with the. The stat. It wasn't even done. Hit the music. Not the long one.

[Stugats]

Start of the day. Start of the day.

[Chris Cote]

It is the start of the day.

[Stugats]

Start of the day.

[Chris Cote]

Start of the day. It is the start of the day.

[Stugats]

Start of the day.

[Chris Cote]

Start of the day. It is here.

[Stugats]

Start of the day, Start of the day.

[Chris Cote]

Start of the day. It is the start of the day.

[Tony]

Stat of the day is presented by Miller Light.

[Dan Le Batard]

Oh, wow. That's nice. A little synergy with the sponsor. The Utah Jazz. The worst defensive rating in NBA history this season. They broke the previous record, which was set by the Utah jazz of the 2425 season who broke the previous record.

[Tony]

No way.

[Dan Le Batard]

Which was set by the Utah jazz of the 2324 season. That's right. Ladies and gentlemen, for three consecutive years, the Utah Jazz have not only had the worst defensive rating in NBA history, they've improved on that by setting the record even further.

[Chris Cote]

It is. It is historically the worst defensive basketball team there has ever been. By miles.

[Dan Le Batard]

Correct. I just told you how many miles. Three years in a row. They've broken their own record. There's nobody close. That'll never happen again in the history of sports unless they do it again next year for four straight years. We're living in a dynasty. All right, Back to observations. 3, 2, 1. And give it to me. There it is. Oh, don't worry. Just hit it. Don't worry about it.

[Stugats]

I mean.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah. Okay. All right. Minus 60. Lowest plus minus ever. I woke up the next day to do morning radio. And while shooting the with my board off, I learned the Bears won. True story. Mike Ryan, clapping back at IU defensive coordinator Bryant Haynes with may you continue to catapult your team to new heights. I love it.

[Amin Elhassan]

Get it?

[Dan Le Batard]

I love it. Good. Mike, what do you think he means by that? Does every. Does anyone know? Am I the only one who doesn't know? Show of hands.

[Chris Cote]

I don't know. I honestly don't know. Mike Ryan is being clever. He's amused with himself. I don't get the reference.

[Dan Le Batard]

Okay. No, it's that. That doesn't make it a bad reference, Mike. It just means nobody here got it. But I'm sure someone got it. I live for those jokes. That's why I laughed hard.

[Stugats]

I can guarantee you he got it.

[Dan Le Batard]

Genesis is here. Yeah, talk your Mike. Dan not being able to count bowling pins and blaming it on camera work never change. Tony going to the sex shop to deliver NFL takes journalism. Dan getting excited to see a garland that he thought was a thong. Dan Levitard repurposed garland collision course. Except for Dan, the garland would have to have Matthew Stone Stafford on it with a speech bubble saying, let's go snatch these guys hearts. Be honest, Dan, clean up on aisle three.

[Chris Cote]

I was scared. I was scared that the Carolina Panthers were going to make me look idiotic again somehow by winning a game. I couldn't possibly explain how they won.

[Dan Le Batard]

But I'm saying, like, when you heard that Stafford said that before the game winning drive clean up on aisle three. Right?

[Chris Cote]

Let's hear devonte Adams saying what it is that Amin is talking about there. Yeah, I think he said, let's go snatch these guys hearts. And that was. That was pretty cold just to hear that. And I actually, like, literally smiled in the moment because I thought that that was like one of the most gangster things you could say in that moment, honestly. And to hear him say that and look in his. On his face and then throw the touchdown and then the look on his face after that was just like MVP stuff.

[Dan Le Batard]

Zaz, behind the Mattel, clean up on aisle three right now.

[Chris Cote]

Why do you have me masturbating in a grocery store?

[Dan Le Batard]

It's gross. I mean, I'm not having you masturbating heavy handed. That is involuntary, my friend. An expulsion.

[Chris Cote]

Why is it in a grocery store? Why does it need to be cleaned up? Why am I around like a bunch of crackers and the chips and you've got me in aisle three.

[Dan Le Batard]

Like, what Aisle three is not the chip aisle, sir. Aisle three is pasta sauce and pasta.

[Stugats]

That was the spice owl and the.

[Dan Le Batard]

Spices are at the end of the aisle.

[Chris Cote]

Put it on the poll at levitard show. Aisle 3. What does it have, spices or pastas?

[Dan Le Batard]

No, chips is what you suggest.

[Chris Cote]

All right, Chips, crackers, spices. All right.

[Dan Le Batard]

Ridiculous. Respect yourself. Respect yourself.

[Chris Cote]

I just didn't understand why it is that you were having a cleanup in aisle three. Why is someone. Why is someone ejaculating in aisle three of a grocery store not better.

[Dan Le Batard]

You know why. Dennis Schroeder suspended for three games for confronting and attempting to strike an opposing player, then commenting, quote, attempting eyes emoji, rolling, laughing emoji underneath the shams post announcing the suspension. It's pretty cool considering the attempt was successful. Then you know about that.

[Chris Cote]

I don't.

[Dan Le Batard]

So Dennis Schroeder and Luka Doncic got into it in a Lakers Kings game in late December. Allegedly. Lucas said something about you should have taken that contract or whatever. He made some sort of contract.

[Amin Elhassan]

They called him the B word.

[Dan Le Batard]

Well, I feel like the contract part was probably the worst part. Dennis Schroeder confronted in. In the hallway after the game, but he didn't attempt to strike him. He slapped him. Yeah, misconnection.

[Chris Cote]

You love your end. You. Why do you love your silly NBA dramas? Like why. Why is it that you can't get enough of. Of these beefs that are silly and not very adult?

[Dan Le Batard]

I, to me, I don't. It's. I. When the story was just he slapped Luka Donchi, I was like, oh, okay. But when the suspension is for an attempt to strike and he's like, attempt. That's where I, I enjoyed that.

[Amin Elhassan]

Well, why did they describe it as attempt? Like wouldn't it made more sense for striking Luka Dunchic?

[Dan Le Batard]

I don't know.

[Chris Cote]

Maybe.

[Dan Le Batard]

Maybe it's in question whether he actually made contact. Although Dennis Schroeder would attempt to kind of confirm that, yes, he did in fact make contact. Okay, this connection. You were the hilarious stand up comedian who shouted me out in the middle of your set. I was the drunk who had. You had security toss out back to Oregon getting smacked. Prayers to Trista Crick, who had quite possibly the greatest live vlogging of a fan experience I've ever seen. It was hilarious to see the ups.

[Amin Elhassan]

And the downs girls down bad.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah. Prayers to Ian Carmel as well. But he bounced back from that ass whooping to do tremendous work writing for Nikki Glaser, who hosted the Golden Globe. I Have no idea which jokes were yours, Ian. But I laughed. It's kind of like milk, right? I have no idea which specific cow it came from. I just know it gives me the shits afterward. Except in Ian's case, instead of the shits, it's laughter. I promise. That was supposed to be a compliment. Speaking of the. Speaking of the Golden Globes, they gave away an award for best podcast. Cinephobe wasn't nominated.

[Chris Cote]

Who won?

[Dan Le Batard]

I don't know. But I know that Cinefo episode 295 was def jams how to be a Player.

[Tony]

Amy Poe.

[Dan Le Batard]

Starring. Starring Bill Bellamy, Bernie Mac, Mari Morrow and Lark Voorhees.

[Amin Elhassan]

Lark?

[Dan Le Batard]

Yep. They had to reshoot the ending after the original ending tested poorly with female audiences. Women, am I right? Back me up, Zaz.

[Amin Elhassan]

We know what they love, okay? Wives in particular.

[Dan Le Batard]

Is there anyone who hates the sight of a hospital more than Anthony Davis? Christ almighty. His latest, a left hand injury that will either take six weeks to heal if they opt for the non surgical route, or months if he goes under the knife. I mean, that won't help the trade value.

[Amin Elhassan]

I mean, how did their front office not trade Anthony Davis the day they fired Nico Harrison?

[Dan Le Batard]

Because there were people inside the organization who are saying, wait, we can still do this. All we need is fight for Kyrie Irving to get back. Shout out to Nico Harrison. There's a basketball hell. He's in it. Speaking of hell, Art Briles. Those are the weekend observations.

[Chris Cote]

I mean, you're welcome to stick around if you want. We've got a hockey fight that we want to dissect in a second, but I wanted to ask the audience at Lebatard show, Golden Globes, welcome distraction or especially ridiculous during these particular times, you have to choose one or the other. I could not find enthusiasm for the Golden Globes last night. You know, I'm not much for the awards show. What are you shaking your head about, Amin?

[Dan Le Batard]

Oh, is it a welcome distraction or like these times, it's not appropriate to have this kind of programming on at these times. Now, let's watch some football. Let's watch some football. That's some stuff I can get behind. Football.

[Chris Cote]

That's correct. Thank you for being on with us. I mean, I appreciate it.

[Tony]

We sent Tony to a sex shop.

[Stugats]

So, you know, you can always count on Mark Ruffalo making you feel better about your choices.

[Chris Cote]

I saw Ruffalo quoted. I've always liked Ruffalo, but I saw him after that tracks after I have. Am I the only one I'VE liked Ruffalo, but. Okay, put it on the poll at Lebatard. Is Dan the only one who's liked Ruffalo?

[Stugats]

But after I have a Ruffalo governor, whenever I start getting too blowhardy about politics, I'm like, just don't cross the Ruffalo threshold.

[Chris Cote]

I don't like him because. Or I didn't like him because of his politics. Though I understand why you would make that accusation. I just liked him for being sort of a schlubby guy who made it in acting and seemed to make some pretty decent, ambitious choices. But then he starred in Task. He was not the star of the vehicle, and as soon as he was left alone with it, it fell apart and was not worth watching. But one of the things. One of the things that he said after that is, I don't know. You know, I woke up a leading man, or I went to bed a leading man. I get up in the morning, and now I'm this schlubby guy and I'm like, rough. You think of yourself as a leading man. Like, I know he is. I know he's the Hulk and he is. But part of your appeal is that you're not supposed to think of yourself as the leading man. You're Ruffalo. You're Ruffalo.

[Tony]

This is coming from someone that clearly hasn't seen 13 going on 30.

[Amin Elhassan]

Love that movie.

[Stugats]

I like the slick back look. Collateral Ruffalo. He looked handsome in Collateral.

[Chris Cote]

So, Ruffalo, you're okay with Ruffalo calling himself a leading man? As if. He's beautiful. You got.

[Tony]

You don't have to be beautiful to be.

[Stugats]

I don't know.

[Chris Cote]

I don't.

[Stugats]

Handsome and sweet.

[Chris Cote]

No. His point in task was that he gained some weight and was drinking vodka out of a Styrofoam cup in the morning, and he went 30 pounds heavier. And so I've always thought of him as a bit schlubby. And if you identify as a leading man, you're not exactly Clooney. They're a handful of leading men. I don't expect Matt Damon to say it, even though he is. Like, it's. There's not. You guys aren't with me on the idea of, like, there's a. Even if it's a feigned humility. If you're Giamatti, you don't call yourself a leading man. If you're Buscemi, you don't call. You know your place.

[Tony]

But those guys aren't leading men, and neither are leads in shows. But Ruffalo has been able to toe that line of he could be the romantic interest.

[Stugats]

It's all right. I think we're certainly well within our rights to take shots at Mark Ruffalo's appearance.

[Chris Cote]

Let's I look like him. The lesser, lesser version of him. Even in you think.

[Stugats]

Who told you you look like him? Even have some feigned humility here.

[Tony]

Dan Levitar.

[Chris Cote]

I mean, in the schlubbiest ways. No, no, I don't mean in the leading man ways. I mean in the ways he's describing in task that he's embarrassed by.

[Stugats]

That's the part you also drink vodka out of a styrofoam cup or tequila?

[Chris Cote]

Yeah, of course. Tequila.

[Sponsor Announcer]

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[Stugats]

Sm.

[Sponsor Announcer]

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[Chris Cote]

Smear off.

[Stugats]

Chris, you know what goes great with Smirnoff?

[Amin Elhassan]

Smear off.

[Sponsor Announcer]

Yes, but I'm really talking about game day fit. The style's got to match the vibe. All right, here's the deal.

[Stugats]

Game day is everything.

[Sponsor Announcer]

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[Chris Cote]

Smear.

[Sponsor Announcer]

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[Stugats]

Wow.

[Sponsor Announcer]

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[Tony]

Hello, listeners. You know that I live in Miami, which means my idea of quote unquote, Winter is just putting on a hoodie or a cardigan and acting like I've suffered. But every time that I travel somewhere that's actually cold, I'm reminded that my wardrobe is completely and utterly unprepared. But that right there is where Quince comes in. I also realize that if I'm going to be on camera for broadcast gigs, I probably shouldn't look like I just grabbed whatever was closest to the door. Quince makes clothes that deliver premium materials, thoughtful design, and pieces that hold up season after season after season after season. And particularly with quints. Their outerwear has been the thing that's especially impressed me. Those down jackets, wool coats, Italian leather. And folks, that cashmere sweater, ridiculously soft, looks great and somehow doesn't cost what you'd expect. Trust me, I am the only one on this show who actually dresses to impress. And Quince is what's now helping me do it. Refresh your winter wardrobe with quince. Go to quince.com dan for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns. Now available in Canada too. That's q u I n c e.com c sl dan free shipping and 365 day returns.

[Amin Elhassan]

Quince.com dan dan le my algorithm on Instagram. It's Dan. It's all boobs.

[Stugats]

Stugats.

[Amin Elhassan]

It's a good algorithm.

[Stugats]

This is the Dan Levatar show with the stug.

[Chris Cote]

Let's get to that hockey fight involving 10 year olds. Because it's taken us too long to get to this hockey fight involving 10 years old 10 year olds. Chris, do you want to give me some of the play by play on this so that I can follow it because I have not seen it. You guys were telling me it was the. The best video from the week.

[Tony]

It's my favorite video of the weekend. It's an AHL A. Oh my God. AHL game. And it's one during the intermission. They do this a lot where they bring out a bunch of kids. Hey, you get seven minutes. Go play hockey. And these kids did not play hockey. They just started fighting and it became like, I think a 90 second. We can maybe get our chart out to see what this actually was.

[Dan Le Batard]

Was it a melee?

[Amin Elhassan]

Was it a.

[Tony]

What the hell are the other things that we had a scrum. This is.

[Amin Elhassan]

Just keep an eye on right here. Keep an eye on him.

[Tony]

Okay, look, we could maybe Zaz, you could do your.

[Chris Cote]

Well, he was trying to do the telestrator, but he missed the goalie.

[Tony]

You can do the rostine roll it.

[Chris Cote]

He tried well, but he's not keeping up with anything that's happening here. He's not using the. He's not using the telestrator very well at all.

[Tony]

Where are the parents?

[Dan Le Batard]

Look at this.

[Chris Cote]

Boom.

[Amin Elhassan]

And you saw he gave a fist pump, too. He's, like, proud of him.

[Tony]

And then he got out of there. This is just like, where are the parents?

[Amin Elhassan]

I also want you to keep an eye here, Dan. Watch this kid right here. And this one. They start fighting each other. The same team. They start fighting each other.

[Chris Cote]

Watch.

[Stugats]

See?

[Amin Elhassan]

Watch these kids.

[Tony]

Two blue kids. Yeah.

[Amin Elhassan]

They start punching each other.

[Chris Cote]

Blue kid. They're on the same circ. Circle it. Circle. It says, like, you're not helping anybody by red dotting these kids.

[Amin Elhassan]

These guys.

[Chris Cote]

Yeah. That you're using the telestrator very poorly.

[Amin Elhassan]

Well, you know, I just love this.

[Tony]

Like, what? The crowd was going nuts to it. It was just way better.

[Chris Cote]

So what do you want?

[Stugats]

You want to step in?

[Chris Cote]

You want the parents involved?

[Tony]

I mean, the coaches, adults, like, maybe the announcer to be like, stop, kids. Like, no one was doing that. The crowd was going wild.

[Amin Elhassan]

Goalie.

[Tony]

And then he gets out of there.

[Chris Cote]

That goalie is hell bent on destruction. He took out three people by just skating from one end of the ring to the other and then hitting them with all his pass.

[Tony]

And let's just go back. Let's not forget they're flying into this pile with skates.

[Chris Cote]

Yeah.

[Tony]

Like, this is not safe.

[Chris Cote]

No, it's not in any way safe.

[Tony]

I'm really surprised the guy seriously punching his teammate. We're sure of that.

[Amin Elhassan]

And by the way, how about this goalie right here? Can he do something?

[Tony]

I know the blue team goalie is just watching.

[Amin Elhassan]

Grow a pair. Get in there.

[Stugats]

Somebody cross check somebody.

[Chris Cote]

Yeah. 10 years old. Grow a pair. Like, that's what literally now while happen.

[Tony]

Now while this is out of control. You know, they have the respect here. No one's like, taking their stick in. Like, wait, like, they have, like.

[Stugats]

No, no, there's a cross check.

[Tony]

Yeah. But there's a level of respect even in this.

[Chris Cote]

The goalie was hell bent on destruction. The goalie is a menace who is being raised poorly, as all of those kids are by parents who are feeding a culture of violence that is stupid.

[Tony]

I just love that in this sport.

[Chris Cote]

That'S not that crazy welcome distraction or ridiculous excess in these difficult times. Welcome to trasher the Golden Globes last night. Nikki Glaser is now the the host of the moment. She's been great. Rising above comedy to do These things exceptionally well. They're not that easy to do. We don't have a lot of beloved by America. Oh, she's going to be funny and edgy and those things require some personality so that you can soften it for America who is put off by the Ruffalos of the world going there and making their political speeches as the Hollywood elite. Nikki Glazer is filling a role in comedy right now that only goes to some of the comedy greats and is crushing it doing so. Because those monologues are hard to do. You have to have an assortment of writers, they are pressurized and only the best of the comedy greats are always invited to do those things.

[Stugats]

But you didn't watch this award show.

[Chris Cote]

Nope.

[Tony]

She was great. Shout out Ian Carmel, as I mean said.

[Chris Cote]

But. But when you watch I get these things condensed for me. I don't know of it. I. No, no. I don't know how you guys consume your late nights or I don't know how. Like all I'm watching is 10 second 10 minute monologue clips.

[Stugats]

So from the social clips together from.

[Chris Cote]

Cut it. Yeah, it cut together. I don't care who wins anything.

[Stugats]

I enjoyed her Sean Penn jokes and her Leo DiCaprio jokes. She took the easy bait when it came to Leo DiCaprio.

[Amin Elhassan]

Slow hanging fruit.

[Tony]

Come on.

[Stugats]

Yeah. But then she explained the joke. She. I'm sorry, Leo, but that's literally all we know about you. The last interview that you've given now that's funny was the team beat in which your answer to your favorite food was pasta, pasta, pasta.

[Tony]

She has like the perfect ability not only to deliver those jokes without them coming across as corny, but then throwing in the self deprecating joke within it. Like there's a moment where you think she's going to go after Jennifer Lawrence and then all she does is make fun of herself by saying she went in and asked a makeup person to make her look like Jennifer Lawrence and they said that they couldn't in some sort of way. And it was just like it's a really perfectly crafted monologue and coming in and out of commercial breaks. Like she seems to be the perfect person to host these events. Everybody likes her.

[Chris Cote]

These things are hard to do. As we go back to college game day, people have gotten used to these things, right? Things don't go wrong. And so therefore people have just been spoiled by the idea that every Saturday on live television you have three or four hours of programming that all of America is watching and they fly across the country and they are giant productions and they've reinvented themselves as a show with McAfee and Saban to ward off the threat of the other group. That doesn't have quite the same chemistry like that's become obvious over the last two years, has it? Not that even as Fox attracts audience for a variety of reasons that doesn't have anything to do with sports, they can't televise the same thing. It's not as good.

[Amin Elhassan]

I mean, look, obviously I work for espn. I haven't heard. I don't hear people talk about what happened on Big News.

[Chris Cote]

They're watching it. They are watching it. Clearly not as good. It's an inferior product.