The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
Hour 2: Who's This? (feat. Micky Arison, Matthew Berry, and JuJu Gotti)
Date: September 4, 2025
Location: Elser Hotel, Downtown Miami
Overview
This episode delivers the show’s signature blend of irreverence, sports commentary, and chaos, featuring three major segments:
- An improvisational, clock-watching live interview with Miami Heat owner Micky Arison about his Hall of Fame induction.
- A debate-packed, comedic discussion with fantasy football guru Matthew Berry, delving into the benefits and culture of fantasy football, culminating in high-velocity advice for the coming NFL weekend.
- Juju Gotti provides crowd-sourced feedback on the show’s content, blending internet chatter with playful takes on Le Batard’s opinions.
As always, the episode is filled with interruptions, off-topic banter, and meta-commentary on the show’s own structure.
Segment One: The Micky Arison “Five Minute” Interview
[01:33–10:55]
Setup and Tone
- Dan bemoans the awkward constraints imposed by Arison’s PR:
“I really do feel like you guys have put me in an impossible position here where I have to do this five minute interview, agreeing to terms. I didn’t want somebody on a cell phone…We have five minutes available to us.” – Dan Le Batard [01:33]
- Billy Gil and Dan joke about whether Micky is a "Hello? This is Micky" kind of guy, how to maximize the ‘five minutes’, and the perils of wasting precious seconds.
Notable Moments & Quotes
- The Call-In Gag:
Billy Gil and Dan debate when the clock starts, with Billy lightening the mood:
“I’m quick. Ask my wife. You should start with that.” – Billy Gil [03:36]
“How would you do that?” – Dan Le Batard [03:41]
- Micky Arison Joins:
Arison jokes as he picks up, garners immediate praise:
“Congratulations. You’re the greatest owner in the history of South Florida sports. We’re very happy for you.” – Dan Le Batard [04:43]
“Who’s this? Hi, Dad. What a jokester.” – Billy Gil [04:55]
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Discussion Points (Rapid-Fire Q&A):
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Hall of Fame Induction:
“True or false. You are looking forward to making your Hall of Fame speech – False.” – Dan Le Batard to Micky Arison [07:01] “Excited? No, I’m not. Excited is not the word.” – Micky Arison [07:37] “I’m appreciative. It is an honor...But it’s not something—was never a goal.” – Micky Arison [07:45]
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Proudest Accomplishment:
“Building the largest and greatest cruise company in the world.” – Micky Arison [08:30] “Basketball wise, being competitive. Most years winning more games than most franchises...coming from an expansion team.” – Micky Arison [08:34]
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Unfair Criticism, LeBron, Franchise Questions:
“I have the unfortunate, unfortunate ability of reading social media, which is a horrible thing.” – Micky Arison [09:04] “I think you have to ask LeBron James why LeBron James left...he made a great decision.” – Micky Arison [09:33]
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LeBron’s Effort:
“I don’t believe a player like LeBron James ever quits. Come on.” – Micky Arison [09:50]
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Playful Trolling:
- Billy asks about the Dwyane Wade statue. Micky denies sculpting it.
- Show staff argue about who got to ask the first clock-starting question.
- Billy: “Mike, ask him if he knows Zaslo...” [07:26] (He doesn’t.)
Memorable Close
“Weekly spot. Anytime, Dan. You know that.” – Micky Arison [10:43]
The segment closes with the gang ribbing each other for missed hardball questions and general “softness.”
“Matthew Berry next. Thank you, Mickey.” – Dan Le Batard [10:55]
Segment Two: Matthew Berry and The Great Fantasy Football Debate
[15:23–31:08]
The Fantasy Divide
- Dan bluntly restates his indifference—bordering on disdain—for fantasy football.
“The thing that I don't like is that if I am betting on someone to get 80-plus yards in a game, rushing, and that person ends up getting hurt. I don't like losing my money...it’s so much guesswork...” – Dan Le Batard [17:13]
- Billy and Matthew Berry, ever the true believers, counter:
“You don’t have to play for money. You can just play with your friends...it does give you a rooting interest in games you might not normally care about. And it is a way to, you know, bond...” – Matthew Berry [18:00]
Notable Quotes & Banter
- Billy jests at Dan’s curmudgeon mood:
“This guy doesn't love ball.” – Billy Gil [18:00]
“I realized you don’t like community. You don’t like ball.” – Billy Gil [22:53]
- On Alleged Dehumanization:
“He’s only worth whatever his 60 yards.” – Dan Le Batard [19:17]
- Berry’s rebuttal:
“I want him [Kyle Pitts] to succeed. I want him to have 100 yards and a touchdown. They already elected a pope, Dan, it's fine. I'm pretty sure you don't know what fantasy football is.” – Billy Gil [19:52]
“War Stories” and “Look At Me, Louie” Mode
- Matthew Berry recounts his infamous Alfred Morris “one point” meltdown:
“He literally got only one play. He earns a first down...They call it back due to penalty and I lose by like 0.7...I lost it on my podcast, and so I just did an epic rant…” – Matthew Berry [21:43]
- Dan's incredulous response:
“I would like to play that sound for the people and what it does to people.” – Dan Le Batard [22:29]
Celebrity Leagues, Name-Drops, and Fantasy Analyst Mt. Rushmore
- Berry talks about Avengers stars in his fantasy league:
“Chris Pratt and Chris Evans. All the Chris’s, actually. Hemsworth, Robert Downey Jr., Paul Rudd’s a crazy fantasy football player. So all of them. Yeah.” – Matthew Berry [24:05]
- The crew accuses Berry of “Look at me, Louie” name-dropping:
“Did he not?” – Dan Le Batard [24:23]
- Berry gives his fantasy analyst Mount Rushmore:
“Eric Carabelle is a legend...Joe Bryant...Ron Chandler of baseball HQ...he’s on the Mount Rushmore of fantasy...” – Matthew Berry [26:08–27:13]
Rapid-Fire Week 1 Fantasy Advice (Machine-Gun Segment)
[28:24–30:19]
“For this weekend I think Xavier Worthy...against a Chargers defense...James Connor...Drake May has a great game this week...Jacksonville and Carolina is going to be a sneaky shootout...Jerome Ford is that guy.” – Matthew Berry [28:59–30:10]
Berry concludes with a stack of names and hot takes for managers scrambling ahead of Sunday.
Segment Three: JuJu Gotti Roasts & Chat Feedback
[33:41–35:55]
Mob Land v. The Sopranos
- JuJu brings in chat reactions after Dan claims Mob Land is better than The Sopranos:
“Well, Cafecito Crew Gaming says you are a prisoner of the moment. And Jeremiah W. says you have gone too far.” – JuJu Gotti [34:39]
- Dan doubles down:
“The actors in...Mobland are so much better than the ones in the Soprano. So much better. Not a little bit better. A lot better.” – Dan Le Batard [34:49]
Other Feedback
- Some listeners want more football, less off-topic banter.
- JuJu highlights the fans' restless energy about non-football topics, their love for football lists, and the show’s chaotic structure.
Other Highlights & Signature Show Bits
Poll Results & Running Gags [38:26–40:10]
- The crew shares poll results on important issues ("Does a donut need to be sweet?", "Does a donut need to be round?").
- 85% say donuts must be sweet; only 56% say donuts must be round.
- “Nutty fan of the week” and “Gasbag of the Week” sponsored segments inject silliness into the closing stretch.
“Gasbag of the Week” [40:10–41:34]
- Compilation and mockery of the show’s and others' most bloviating sports commentary.
- Mike Ryan dubbed "gasbag of the week" for grand proclamations about football.
Self-flagellation and Season-long Fantasy Football Plan
- Dan pledges, as penance for perceived disrespect towards fantasy football, to offer a weekly three-minute Matthew Berry “fantasy football machine gun secrets” segment.
“I’m gonna make a deal with Metal Arc Media and Matthew Berry that he gives us his best three minutes of fantasy football secrets every single week...as a season-long apology” – Dan Le Batard [37:38]
Episode Structure
Key Segments & Timestamps
| Segment | Timestamps | |---------------------------------------- |----------------| | Micky Arison Interview | 01:33–10:55 | | Fantasy Football Debate with Berry | 15:23–31:08 | | JuJu Gotti Listener Feedback | 33:41–35:55 | | Poll Results, Nutty Fan, Gasbag Segment | 38:26–41:34 |
Tone & Language
- The episode is packed with sarcastic, self-aware humor, and inside jokes.
- Dan often adopts the voice of the exasperated, unconvinced curmudgeon, while the rest of the crew energetically pushes for positivity and inclusion, especially about fantasy football and community.
- Berry is an enthusiastic advocate for fantasy sports without sounding remotely objective, which further draws the Le Batard crew’s teasing.
Summary: For Those Who Missed It
You’ll hear Dan’s bemusement with the PR hoops required to snag a five-minute chat with Micky Arison, jokes about when the “official” interview clock starts, and both genuine and sardonic affection for Arison. The fantasy football segment is a collision of Dan’s skepticism and Matthew Berry’s evangelism, rounded by a firehose of actionable Week 1 picks for fantasy players. JuJu Gotti wraps up with chat room gossip, serving as the voice of the listeners, before the show spirals out to polls, “gasbag” awards, and meta-commentary on itself.
Select Quotes — “Don’t Miss”
- Dan on the pressure of a five-minute interview:
“These are a set of terms we’ve never agreed to...Five minutes is a set of terms that we’ve never agreed to. No video. We're a video company now...” [01:33]
- Micky Arison on Hall of Fame speeches:
“Excited? No, I’m not. Excited is not the word...I’m appreciative. It is an honor, but it’s not what I love doing.” [07:37]
- Berry drops Fantasy League celebrity names:
“Chris Pratt and Chris Evans. All the Chris’s, actually. Hemsworth, Robert Downey Jr., Paul Rudd’s a crazy fantasy football player...” [24:05]
- Dan’s fantasy football curmudgeonry:
“I realized you don’t like community. You don’t like ball.” – Billy Gil [22:53]
“He’s only worth whatever his 60 yards.” – Dan Le Batard [19:17]
- Berry’s Week 1 fantasy lightning round:
“Xavier Worthy...James Connor...Drake May...Jacksonville and Carolina is going to be a sneaky shootout...Jerome Ford is that guy.” [28:59–30:10]
For listeners: If you missed this hour, you missed a deft mixture of sports celebration, self-skewering, meta-comedy, and some hard-earned fantasy football advice—all delivered with the Le Batard Show’s trademark chaos and affection.
