Kylian Mbappé Is The Greatest World Cup Performer EVER | Hour 1

Summary

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Podcast Summary: "Kylian Mbappé Is The Greatest World Cup Performer EVER | Hour 1"

The Dan Le Batard Show
Date: July 10, 2026
Location: Live from the Elser Hotel, Downtown Miami

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Overview

This episode of The Dan Le Batard Show centers around two major themes: the ongoing dominance of Kylian Mbappé at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the tangled situation surrounding a potential Kawhi Leonard NBA trade. The crew also takes digressions into the Miami Marlins’ surprising success, sports technology nostalgia, and a viral basketball coaching video.

Throughout, the hosts (Dan, Mike, Jeremy, Dave, and guests) display their hallmark wit and irreverence, mixing deep sports analysis with pop culture commentary and playful banter.

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Key Discussion Points

1. Miami Marlins’ Hot Streak

Segment start: 01:52

• Jeremy is “upset” the Marlins aren’t discussed enough, emphasizing their historic 20-game stretch (16 wins / 20 games, a franchise best).
• Dan and Mike recall the 1997 Marlins’ World Series win but contextualize it against this season’s success.
• Notable stats:
  • Marlins: “Two world championships, zero division titles.” (Mike, 02:28)
  • Tied with Phillies, three and a half games back in division, Phillies 20+ games over .500 since managerial change.
• Shoutout to Don Mattingly, now managing the Phillies.
• MLB media is “catching up” to the Marlins’ national relevance, with Otto Lopez getting attention for his hitting.

Quotes:

• “You know, this is the best 20-game stretch they’ve had in franchise history. They’ve won 16 of their last 20. It’s unbelievable.” — Jeremy (02:03)

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2. Kylian Mbappé & The World Cup

Segment start: 03:34

• Dan shifts focus to the return of World Cup action, highlighting France’s dominant 1-0 win over Morocco and Mbappé’s crucial goal (60th minute).
• Mike toasts Mbappé as “the greatest World Cup performer of all time, and it’s not even close.” (04:26)
• Arguments for Mbappé’s supremacy:
  • Already a World Cup champion at just 27.
  • “He’s been scoring at this clip from the jump.” (Mike, 04:53)
  • Referenced 2022 final vs. Argentina: “the greatest single sporting match ever, any sport. It’s what we show the aliens…this is what sports is all about” (Mike, 05:08)
  • Even after a tough season at Real Madrid, Mbappé is “unstoppable” at international level.
  • Comparison with Messi, Pele; claim that other stars (Messi, Haaland) are finally living up to the hype this tournament.
• France’s versatility praised (can “fight you in any style,” 07:22); Dembele’s resurgence; historical pairing of teammates with multiple 5-goal scorers in a World Cup.
• Anticipation for a France-Spain matchup, with Spain yet to concede a goal.
• Other World Cup topics:
  • NFL should have a team in Mexico City, inspired by Mexican World Cup crowds.
  • World Cup has “deserved all the buzz”; even casual U.S. fans are swept up.

Quotes:

• “Kylian Mbappé is the greatest World Cup performer of all time, and it’s not even close.” — Mike (04:26)
• “[France and Argentina 2022 WC final] is what we show the aliens and say: this is what sports is all about.” — Mike (05:08)
• “Mbappé has been so brilliant. This French team has proven they can beat you in many, many ways.” — Mike (06:24)

Timestamps:

• 04:17: Dan transitions to World Cup coverage.
• 04:36: Mike raises toast to Mbappé.
• 06:09: Discussion of Mbappé’s penalty technique and broader skills.
• 07:55: Preview of France’s remaining World Cup challenge.

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3. Sports Technology & Nostalgia

Segment start: 10:11

• Dave argues most fans can’t really discern quality in certain roles, like offensive linemen or, in soccer, who’s actually dominating without graphics/commentary.
• Nostalgia for older broadcasts: No on-screen score, inning, or count; viewers kept track mentally or relied on play-by-play updates.
• Debate on how newer technology (instant replay, graphics) changes the fan experience (delayed euphoria, over-precision in soccer offside calls, etc.).
• Vin Scully’s method: using a timer to remind him when to update radio listeners on the score.
• Discussion of specific games altered by technology, e.g. the infamous “tuck rule,” and how history would look different if replay existed.
• Baseball and football anecdotes about weird tech, rules, and broadcast evolutions.

Quotes:

• “This obsession with the World Cup this time around…has deserved all the buzz...it has been fascinating to watch as a novice.” — Dave (11:07)
• “It has to be such a weird thing if you’re a young listener…the concept of watching sports and the score and the time not…always be on the screen…it blows my mind.” — Dan (21:04)

Timestamps:

• 10:41: Dave's "Ugly American" rant on football knowledge.
• 12:14–17:39: Extended reminiscing on sports before graphics and replay.

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4. Viral Basketball Coaching Video

Segment start: 25:41

• Dan introduces a viral clip of a youth coach teaching a defense technique (crossing feet over, running rather than sliding).
• The panel reacts with a mix of disbelief and humor, agreeing it’s “the worst defensive position you could be in.”
• NBA players have widely mocked the video.
• Dave uses this to muse on how received wisdom in sports evolves, citing old football "three-point stance" for receivers and various strange batting stances in baseball.

Quotes:

• “This is a Key & Peele sketch, is it not?” — Mike (27:47)
• “It’s the worst defensive position you could be in.” — Jeremy (28:26)

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5. Kawhi Leonard Trade Controversy

Segment start: 35:33

• Dan breaks down the NBA situation:
  • Kawhi Leonard’s trade to the Raptors (for Brandon Ingram, Grady Dick, picks) is on hold due to NBA investigation into violations involving the Clippers.
  • If penalties (such as a suspension) are imposed, the acquiring team assumes those obligations.
• Frustration over NBA's slow response (reporting dating back 10 months).
• Discussion on ramifications: Raptors will likely rework compensation based on the outcome, possibly pulling back draft picks if Kawhi is suspended.
• Mike points out the unusual nature: “if the compensation changes, the entire composition of the deal does, and that allows other teams to be like, well, we can top that” (41:39).
• Pablo Torre’s Pulitzer-winning reporting on the scandal is referenced, as well as the NBA’s credibility and Adam Silver’s lack of urgency.

Quotes:

• “How has it taken more than a day to figure out what we’re going to do about this situation?...What are we doing, Adam Silver?” — Dan (37:34)
• “This is a classic case of just hoping it goes away. Let’s just ignore it long enough, and then...it’ll just vanish.” — Dave (37:34)
• “It is very clear how this thing should end...with the NBA and the Hornets giving the Miami Heat their first-round pick back.” — Dan (44:08, tongue-in-cheek)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Mbappé’s legacy:
  “The greatest single sporting match ever, any sport. It’s what we show the aliens and say: this is what sports is all about.” — Mike (05:08)
• On sports tech nostalgia:
  “You kids don’t know how easy you have it.” — Dave (22:07)
• On Marlins:
  “Two world championships, zero division titles.” — Mike (02:28)
• On basketball viral video:
  “We don’t need the NBA players to chime in…we’ve watched the game enough to know, I don’t need to be Jalen Brown to know that’s not how you defend.” — Mike (28:58)
• On NBA investigation:
  “We figured out JFK in under 10 months. We closed that case. We’re still on Kawhi.” — Dan (38:42)

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Important Segment Timestamps

• Miami Marlins’ run: 01:52–03:16
• World Cup / Mbappé discussion: 03:34–09:00
• World Cup broader impact & NFL in Mexico City: 09:11–10:41
• Soccer, tech, score bugs, nostalgia: 10:41–21:51
• Basketball viral video: 25:41–29:15
• Kawhi Leonard NBA controversy: 35:33–44:08

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Tone & Feel

The show is fast-moving, self-aware, and full of inside jokes, with the hosts’ deep sports knowledge laced with irony and self-deprecation. High-level analysis is offset by genuine delight in the absurdities, quirks, and nostalgia of sports and its coverage.

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For New Listeners

This episode offers a blend of soccer at its peak (Mbappé’s World Cup legend in the making), local fandom (Marlins), sports journalism (the NBA-Kawhi investigation), and comedic, accessible commentary. The crew manages to mix serious sports takes with cultural riffs, making it both informative and entertaining—even if you’re catching up for the first time.

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End of Summary

Transcript

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[Mike]

You are listening to the Dan Lebatar show in partnership with the DraftKings Sports App. Now live in all 50 states,

[Dave]

This

[Jeremy]

episode of the Dan LeBatard show is presented by DraftKings Sports.

[Dan Le Batard]

DraftKings.

[Jeremy]

The crown is yours.

[Dan Le Batard]

Jeremy's upset because we didn't get to the Marlins. Yeah, dude, maybe. Maybe that's because even though we're done with the local hour, maybe the Marlins are national story.

[Jeremy]

They are national story.

[Dan Le Batard]

All right, so team in baseball. All right, so calm down.

[Jeremy]

You know, this is the best 20 game stretch they've had in franchise history. They've won 16 of their last 20. It's unbelievable. They won.

[Dan Le Batard]

They never did that in 97. No, I mean I know they. People think they were incredible in 97 when they won the World Series. They won 91 games. Not like they were 100 win team. And, and they were a wild card team. Like they were. Matter of fact, in 97. Going throughout most of that season and going into the postseason, they were considered an underachieving zaz.

[Jeremy]

They've never won a division.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah.

[Mike]

As a franchise, two world championships, zero division titles.

[Jeremy]

It's incredible. And, and right now they said I. I believe three and a half back of the division. They're tied with the Phillies.

[Mike]

Who?

[Jeremy]

God, the Phillies. I mean they're 20 games over since they fired Rob Thompson and hired Don Mattingly as their Manager. That series down here.

[Dan Le Batard]

I like Mattingly, man. I always like Mattingly.

[Jeremy]

Oh, man. The idea of. Of like the Marlins and Phillies squ off in a. In a wild card series where it's mattingly against Clayton McCullough.

[Dan Le Batard]

Like, look, this team has Favor.

[Jeremy]

This. This team has been spectacular. And it's fun watching the rest of the mlb, like, media catch up on it. And you're. What. You watch MLB Network, they're doing all these breakdowns, not just of Otto Lopez of. But of all the things that are going right. I know.

[Dan Le Batard]

I know you got a lot. Remind me to get back to it. Okay. Sweet.

[Mike]

Good.

[Dave]

You got a lot.

[Dan Le Batard]

I know you got a lot. Okay.

[Dave]

Yep.

[Dan Le Batard]

I watched you last night. I had the Marlins on my monitor while I was on ESPN last night. I'm watching the Marlins story, and I was. I was waiting for you. You were talking to Otto Lopez. I was waiting to see if you're going to dap him up. You did not.

[Jeremy]

What did I do?

[Dan Le Batard]

You shook his hand.

[Jeremy]

I did.

[Dan Le Batard]

You shook his hand. You did not dap him up. All right, remind me to get back to it. I know you got. You got a lot to say. All right, let's get to. What are you laughing at? Let's get to the World Cup. All right. Right. Let's get to the World cup already. So yesterday, finally, the World cup is back. I mean, we had to go Wednesday with no World Cup. What are we supposed to do to pass the time? Reconnect with our family. It was weird not having the World cup on Wednesday. So the World cup, they return yesterday, and we get France just. They really pummeled Morocco. Like, we get to the 60th minute, and Bape finally scores to make it one nothing. And at that point, it was like, yeah, it feel. It feels like the floodgates are about to open because they were. They were dominating the whole game. And then finally, Mbappe broke through.

[Mike]

You know what, Chris Cody, I think Kylian Mbappe is worth a toast.

[Jeremy]

Worth a toast is presented by Cuervo. Keep it fun. Keep it Cuervo.

[Mike]

Let me tell you why Kylian Mbappe is worth a toast. Gents, Kylian Mbappe is the greatest World cup performer of all time. And it's not even closer.

[Dan Le Batard]

Well, who would have been if you weren't making the statement right now? Like, who. Who was the greatest World cup performer?

[Mike]

Well, there's Pele, I think. I think a lot of people, especially with his World cup in Qatar, would say Leo Messi. But Messi has had some High profile slip ups. It took him a while to get going in the World Cup. There's only been one performer that has been scoring at this clip from the jump. Mind you, he's already a World cup champion. Kylian Mbappe is only 27 years old.

[Dan Le Batard]

Because they won eight years ago, right?

[Mike]

Yes, they won the World Cup. He was a part of that. He had a hat trick in the final where they just fell short. And for my money, the greatest single sporting match ever, any sport. It's what we show the aliens and say, this is what sports is all about. That France and Argentina final, which was

[Dan Le Batard]

won in penalties, right?

[Mike]

Yes. Mbappe had a hat trick in that. Messi was brilliant. And the two best players being the best players, it was just phenomenal. Mbappe is not stopping. And Mbappe had a disappointing season for Real Madrid injured. This guy, he. He's always questioned a little bit. Psg starts stacking up the elusive trophies when they get rid of him and he forces his way to Real Madrid and it doesn't go the right way. And he gets to the friendly confines of the World cup and he's scoring at an insane clip again. The absolute worldy that he scored yesterday. His motor is unbelievable. He gets really fiery in the World Cup. It's a different type of Killian Mbappe,

[Dan Le Batard]

he had stuffed on a weak penalty.

[Mike]

Yeah, he was very smart in what he did on that penalty. Everyone was saying it's a dive. No, it's, it's. You have the player exposed already who didn't hit the ball. You drag your feet a little bit and you force the penalty.

[Dan Le Batard]

No, but I'm saying his penalty attempt was.

[Mike]

Yeah, it was. And he kind of got frozen out. And there were already all the conspiracy theories with the Argentinian refs. But what. How he drew that penalty is a lot like a great shooter pump faking. Like D. Wade getting the defender to jump in the air. Dead to rights at that point. Mbappe has been so brilliant. This French team has proven they can beat you in many, many ways. They can blitz you with their attack. Dembele is a former player of the year in that sport and he hadn't gotten going until this World Cup. I believe France has the first pair teammates that have scored at least five goals in the same World cup since 02. Rivaldo Ronaldo Dembele is finding his form right now. France seems inevitable. Now we'll see what happens between Spain and Belgium. Spain have not conceded this entire tournament. Styles make fights, right? But the problem with France is they can fight you any style.

[Dan Le Batard]

I feel like France kind of because remember they were coming up the game against Paraguay where they only won one nothing. It was a penalty by Mbappe. And you know, let's not forget the US kicked the shit out of that Paraguay team. And I feel like yesterday France kind of announced to everyone, hey, like we're, we're, we're still France.

[Mike]

They've played in all sorts of weather so far this tournament. They, they have been all over the map. They, they are just a machine. They seem inevitable, but that is not what this sport is. You can get dragged in the mud, a call can go the other team's way. Right now they are heavy favorites on DraftKings sports. I think with good reason. Mbappe FL flatly seems unstoppable. And there's a reason for that. Because he is in the World cup, he's unstoppable. No one can stop him. Even in defeat, you cannot stop Kylian Mbappe. We are seeing in this World cup more than any than I can ever remember. The superstars living up to the billing and that is so great for the sport. Erling Haaland has become one of the most famous people in America. And it's not just how he looks. Yes, he's a curiosity, no doubt, but it's because he's awesome. There's a lot of fun stories in the World Cup, a lot of personalities that people are drawn to. They're also not just kicking ass left and right at the World Cup. And for Mbappe to do what he's doing, for Messi to do what he's doing, you look at the leading goal scorers in this tournament, they're all recognizable names to casual sports fans.

[Dan Le Batard]

So who are we rooting for this weekend?

[Mike]

I think we want to see Spain beat Belgium because Spain has not conceded this tournament. So if we're saying Kylian Mbappe is unstopp.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah. Can you score against these guys?

[Mike]

That's, you know, that's a full force,

[Dan Le Batard]

that's today movable object.

[Mike]

I want to see. And those are two big time brands. And then the last double match day of the tournament is on Saturday.

[Dave]

Yep.

[Mike]

Where unfortunately, Colombia didn't make the party. The Swiss versus Argentina, a lot less compelling than that would have been.

[Dan Le Batard]

I mean, you remember I poured one out for the Colombian fans, Dave. They got really good fans. Colombia, we're going to miss them.

[Mike]

I am fascinated by Norway. England. Dave, you and I spoke a little bit about a Mexico England match that while I don't think I completely hit it pitch perfect in terms of the theater and the drama, it was pretty damn close.

[Dave]

Oh, I think you did. Maybe. Maybe there was a. Maybe there was a hint of some hyperbole when you said the biggest event in the history of sport. But it definitely was hyped up and exceeded the expectations. By the way, that's my big takeaway above everything else about this World Cup. After seeing the atmosphere and how hyped it was and how it lived up to it. The NFL needs a team in Mexico City. Mexico City needs to be in the NFL. It's more plausible, too, than a team in London or somewhere in.

[Dan Le Batard]

Anywhere in Europe. It's so stupid.

[Dave]

I mean, you can kind of do the math on it, especially as they get back to supersonic jets or whatever you call it. What was that? The Concorde. Remember they had the Concorde? Maybe you guys are all too young to remember that. I don't know why it went away. Well, it was dangerous is why it went away. But why we can't update the technology to make it a little bit safer to get across the Atlantic in a couple hours either way, yes, Mexico City needs a team. And the thing that I have. Let me be Ugly American.

[Dan Le Batard]

Go on.

[Dave]

As a response to Mike Ryan I contend and I'm not somebody. I'm including myself in this group. I have no ability. I, as I've watched football my entire life, devoted my career to it and otherwise, I have no ability to divine who's a good offensive lineman and who isn't. Individually, I love when people weigh in on. Anthony Munoz is the greatest left tackle of all time.

[Dan Le Batard]

Good place to plug football. America, Go ahead.

[Dave]

Larry Allen is like, you have no idea. You've just heard a lot of experts say it a lot. And how do I know that it's. I feel comfy being in this group and is because ask NFL players who play on the outside, they don't know either. The only people who know are the offensive linemen, are the linemen themselves and the running backs. They can figure out who actually is doing their job. Well, I think this obsession with the World cup this time around and it has. It has deserved all the buzz that it has gotten because it has been fascinating to watch as a. As a novice taking a look at it. I think most people who watch soccer, I think they want to be a part of the community and I get it. And it's cool to watch Premier League early in the morning, to go to the bar and drink pints and pretend that you know something about Liverpool or otherwise. I think if you took the score bug off. I don't think people would be able to divine which team is good. I don't think people be like, oh, obviously France is obviously so much better than sw. You wouldn't know that. You need the announcers to tell you, oh, that's the best player right there. And that's how we track it. True or no?

[Dan Le Batard]

Well, okay, but the funny thing is, and the younger audience, like, you know, Chris, certainly Jeremy may not remember this. That's how we used to watch sports. There was.

[Dave]

Right.

[Dan Le Batard]

There were no graphics on the screen, but whatever sport we're watching in basketball, they're scoring. The score changes every 30 seconds in basketball, but it was never on the screen. You had to just like, really? You had to just like, know that the heat are up by 6 and when the other team scores, like, all right, I think leads down to four now. And every couple of minutes they would pop the graphic, the score graphic and the time, by the way, up on the screen.

[Dave]

I remain resentful of the imposed yellow line showing you where the first down is, because my eyes can pick up where the, where the yards, where the hash mark thing. But now I can't think of what those are called. The chains.

[Dan Le Batard]

Again, Dave hosts Football America. Continue.

[Dave]

Well, we've updated the technology. I've washed away the past, but yes, that yellow line and all that tache, believe it or not, it was non existent to us. This is, this is why Zaz and I are so deeply informed about this and have such a deep understanding of sport.

[Mike]

Tony, you know that moment at a party or at a tailgate where everything just sort of clicks?

[Dave]

I know it well.

[Jeremy]

It's usually when I show up, everybody goes crazy.

[Mike]

Yeah, you usually take all the credit for it, but it's because Tony usually walks in with Cuervo.

[Dave]

Walking like this.

[Mike]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Cuervo is a thing that turns hanging out into this is the night. It has that effect on people.

[Dave]

It does.

[Mike]

You usually take the credit for it, but again, it's the Cuervo effect. It's like that moment in a big game where everyone in the crowd just starts standing up, hooting and hollering. Keep it, Cuervo.

[Dave]

Keep it Cuervo, baby.

[Dan Le Batard]

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[Dan Le Batard]

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[Jeremy]

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[Mike]

Yeah.

[Dan Le Batard]

Jonathan Sasslo. You think you're big time? Are you gonna die big time? That is on my infamous scale of 1 to 10.

[Dave]

That's a.

[Dan Le Batard]

That's a 7.6 solid.

[Mike]

That's a suey nominee, right?

[Dan Le Batard]

This is the Dan Levatar show. How about baseball? In baseball, you had to know. Okay, I think the count's two and one now. You have to keep. Really? Yeah, man.

[Jeremy]

Graphic. I, I seriously like, I get. I remember in baseball, obviously they didn't have like the strike zone on the screen. That's a recent one. I, I think feel like I remember the first downline potentially becoming a thing. But the idea that you didn't have scoreboard. No, like that, dude. It blows my mind.

[Dave]

Dude.

[Mike]

Umpires used to as an aid hold up the count.

[Jeremy]

Oh yeah.

[Mike]

Watching at home and they had the little clicker where they would keep track of the count.

[Jeremy]

That's how you would know they still have that.

[Mike]

But it's weird that they have that as a. As a backup still. There's still like an analog fail safe.

[Jeremy]

Oh yeah. No, there's still the umpire over at first base, I believe still keeps track of pitches. Like I know coaches do that. They'll hold like the little clicker to

[Mike]

keep the pitch count.

[Jeremy]

Where's my click click.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah. In case everyone in the building has forgotten the count. The home plan. Hey, I got my thing here.

[Mike]

Yeah, I like the umpire holding up tune too. Yeah, that was great. Let's bring that back.

[Dave]

It's really a tough thing. I can really advocate for doing away with replay because of. Because it delays the euphoria, the instantaneous euphoria of a big moment. And that kind of sucks. Is like wait, no. No flags, right? No, we celebrate. All right. Touchdown kind of. Kind of effect is. Is weird. But go back and watch old football games that will be so jarring to your young eyes the way Dick Enberger otherwise goes. Like they'll show the replay like, like ah. Look like that ball hit the ground. Okay. Second down here. Like they just go on with the play. They go. I like it's maddening. Like he dropped the ball. How can you continue with the game? Clearly the ball hit the ground but they just move on with it. And that was just a matter of course. Back.

[Mike]

Back in the day football America does such a great job job with alternate timelines and what if this thing happened? You need an episode where technology changed or the lack thereof changed the course of history down here. Locally Natron Means stepped out of bounds.

[Dave]

Right.

[Mike]

That that was a game changing play that altered that Super Bowl. There are probably dynasties built on.

[Dave]

Yeah, they didn't have the technology.

[Mike]

I remember there was a Seahawks jets game that was impacted that if they merely had instant repay replay it would have changed the entire playoff picture that year.

[Dave]

There's no such thing as the Tom Brady all the Lombardi's and everything else. If not for the tuck rule the Raiders advance and go to Pittsburgh for the title game the next week and in. And although if you talk to the Patriots on that team, they will tell you. Everybody outside of Drew Bledsoe understood by the end of the season that Tom Brady was the better quarterback. But money plays. And it is plausible that over the course of the offseason they might have said, we better go back to Drew Bledsoe now. He's the one who's getting all the coin for us as opposed to the way it rolled.

[Mike]

Right, but the Tuck rule is obvious though, Dave. Everyone knows that. That's a, that's a top shelf example. I'm talking about the natron means types example where Marino could have made it to another super bowl if they just merely had instant replay.

[Dave]

Listen, I can go on and on with all these examples. Of course, playing, playing this game, you know, we just talked about, as a matter of fact, on the new Football America upcoming in a matter of minutes for your ears and for your heart. 1972, the Immaculate Reception. If they did reverse that somehow the Dolphins maybe are imperiled. Their undefeated season is imperiled by the fact that they. In a bizarre thing, a quirk from that era was they went to. The Dolphins did, undefeated though they were, went to Pittsburgh to play the title game because they rotated who had home field. And the Raiders would have gone, yes, Miami, right. And so, yeah, that game was in Three Rivers. Fortunately for the Dolphins, it wasn't chilly out. It wasn't what you would expect in January for Pittsburgh. So instead they go back to Miami to play the Raiders and they would have done that and it would have been a home field disadvantage probably because Snake Stabler and Cliff Branch and otherwise like to sling the ball all around on that Astroturf or the Orange bowl versus the Dolphins. Who wanted to ground and pound. You might be able to make a pretty good case that the Raiders win that game. I mean, the Steelers almost beat them and they had no business even playing in the Dolphins at that point.

[Dan Le Batard]

It has to be such a weird thing if you're a young listener. And when I say young, I'm talking, I don't know, 25, 30, if you're a young listener. And to just think of the concept of watching sports and the score and the time, not at the inning, not the count, not always be on the screen where you just have legitimately blows my mind.

[Jeremy]

I obviously this had to have happened. It makes sense. Graphics change. The way that TV works change.

[Dan Le Batard]

We.

[Jeremy]

We see so many different things now that we saw 10 years ago. But. But the concept of having to watch this game and simply rely on whether or not the play by play broadcaster was updating me frequently every couple minutes.

[Dan Le Batard]

Radio and every couple minutes. That's why score on the screen.

[Mike]

But this makes sense.

[Jeremy]

Vin Scully always talked about how he had like a. A little timer and he would flip it over and the moment that the sand ran out, he would update the score. That was just how he went about doing the game.

[Dave]

That's still kind of brain muscles. Our brain muscles were trained like, like building a bicep. We got good at keeping track of the score. You kids don't know how easy you have it. Yeah, right. But by the way, Mike, to your point, we can do recent history, the 2020, the critical play of last football season is the two point conversion up in Seattle. If they don't convert that, the whole playoffs in the NFC side arrange differently. I mean, you know, the Seahawks probably don't go to the Super Bowl.

[Mike]

Soccer is made so much worse though by the technology. Look, you have the hand of God.

[Dave]

I get that.

[Mike]

Again, like the play. Top shelf example of why you need review. But offside in particular, there is no discernible advantage that someone has by having, you know, a toe over should be

[Dan Le Batard]

your feet being behind. Right. Like if your shoulder or header over, who gives a right?

[Mike]

I. I don't like how precise it is, I think.

[Jeremy]

But where's the line there?

[Dan Le Batard]

Well, the line is the line. The last defender. That's the line that.

[Mike]

That is.

[Jeremy]

Where's the line on the body?

[Mike]

But like the, the.

[Dan Le Batard]

I think if your feet are behind it, that's all that should matter.

[Mike]

I'm sure if you go through history, you can cite egregious examples where a goal was allowed, where the player was offside and it was obvious.

[Dan Le Batard]

Definitely one.

[Dave]

But here's a good one for you, Mike. I'm going through them. I. I have dozens. I can sit here and do this for the next three days and do this. How about. As a longtime Browns fan, this probably is prior to you tuning in, but are you aware of the drive John Elway and all of that? They go to overtime and Rich Carless, barefoot as he was, which is one of the great chapters in sports history that for a decade at the start of the 80s, they go, let's. Let's make our white golf balls orange and let's have our place kickers take off their shoe and sock. Why? I have no idea. And okay, maybe it would work in Miami or la, but. But in January in Cleveland, Rich Carlos,

[Dan Le Batard]

is that definitely in the mud and cold?

[Dave]

In other words, that's your best Bet to have your stinking toes out there kicking the ball. And he kicked the ball. And if you watch the replay, it sure looks like it would have hit the upright, not gone through. But they say it's good. And the Broncos go on to the Super Bowl. The Browns could have been in the super bowl if we had replay. Looking at those, by the way, back to my, back to my fix for the goal posts. Let's just complete the rectangle. Let's put a crossbar at the top too. Then you got to make it through the rectangle. Now, no guesswork. And it raises the standard for place kickers. Now it's not just getting it through those things, but into the square, into the rectangle.

[Dan Le Batard]

The hardest was like baseball was the hardest without the graphics. Because not only did you have to know the score, not only did you have to know the inning, not only did you have to know the count, but the only way that you knew if there were baserunners is that the guy was on second. You could see the guy chilling on second. But like, I think there might be someone on third. I'm not sure. You know, like you didn't know how many base runners were on.

[Jeremy]

Marlins always have baserunners on.

[Dan Le Batard]

All right, give me, give me a little bit. Go ahead, give me a little bit more on the Marlins.

[Jeremy]

You know, they've got the most sweeps of anyone in the National League. Tied with the Dodgers. They've swept seven different teams, including back to back sweeps. They've won six in a row. It's unbelievable. Otto Lopez just set the record for the most hits before the All Star break in team history. In the bigger one, he's got 40 multi hit games in the first half. The last guy to do that before the All Star break was Jose Altuve in 2014.

[Dan Le Batard]

All right, let's. All right, I'll back to you on the marlin stuff. I know you got a lot. All right, I'll get back to you. I don't know if you guys saw this, right? A video went viral yesterday of. So it's this video from like, like a basketball, like a youth camp. All right, A basketball camp. And you have the basketball coach and the kids are all sitting on the court and they're watching and the coaches teach them how to defend one of the other one of the other Utes. All right. And you know, the kids dribbling and the coaches teaching them how to play defense. And this video went viral yesterday because NBA players, current and former, they're like all responding to it. And give this a watch and tell me what you think they're responding to. Watch my footwork.

[Dave]

Go, go.

[Dan Le Batard]

What did I do with my feet? I turned and foot over foot. I get here before he does. What do I want him to do? I want to change directions.

[Dave]

Can he keep going? Why not?

[Jeremy]

Because there's an out of bounds here.

[Dave]

That's my helper.

[Dan Le Batard]

That's another defender. So I gotta get to another defender

[Dave]

as fast as possible so he has to change.

[Dan Le Batard]

If I don't get there, watch what happens. Oh, oh, he's gonna be.

[Dave]

Guys, I know you guys have other

[Dan Le Batard]

coaches teach you this. Is this good? Yes, it is good. Is this efficient? That's been taught since, I don't know, 1897.

[Dave]

Does it work?

[Dan Le Batard]

It does work.

[Jeremy]

I actually, I hadn't watched this full thing. I didn't think. He's at least acknowledging the proper way.

[Dan Le Batard]

Right. Like, he's saying, everyone else is wrong. I'm right.

[Jeremy]

To me, that's better than. I'm teaching it the right.

[Dan Le Batard]

I thought it was going to be.

[Jeremy]

This is the right way to do it. At least he's acknowledging this is a little better than I was expecting. Because he's at least.

[Dan Le Batard]

I think it makes it worse.

[Jeremy]

No, he's at least acknowledging this is what people say. I thought he was just like, no, this is the right way and it's clearly not. I actually feel better about it at

[Dan Le Batard]

the end with the. I think it's worse. Like, that's terrible.

[Mike]

This is a key and Peele sketch is. Is it not for people who are

[Dan Le Batard]

listening, Mike, like, describe for people who don't see the video, he's turning his

[Mike]

entire hips and running like in a sprint.

[Dan Le Batard]

He's crossing one foot over the other.

[Mike]

Yeah. And he's saying, like, hey, he's not wrong. Use the. The out of bound defender. And he's saying the most insane part to me is he's saying, like, you want your def. You want the person you're defending to cross and go in the other direction. Well, that puts you at a severe disadvantage if your hips are turned to the other. All he has to do is cross and leaves you in the dust.

[Dan Le Batard]

You might actually break your ankle if the guy crosses you over.

[Jeremy]

The still shot we have right now is so perfect of like, it's the worst defensive position you could be in.

[Mike]

Like, all you have to do is cross the ball to your left hand there and you take it straight to the cup.

[Dan Le Batard]

And so, like, this isn't just a bunch of, you know, out of shape Dudes who are busting on this coach and his defensive, you know, lesson on the coach. NBA players are all responding and, and, and being, like, incredibly critical of what's going on here in this video.

[Mike]

That's awful. We don't need to do the thing where you and I haven't put our hand in the dirt. And we need the NBA players to chime in on this because we haven't played the game. We've played the game enough to know. We've watched the game enough to know. I don't. I don't need to be Jalen Brown to know that's not how you defend.

[Dan Le Batard]

It's. Yes, you defend by sliding your feet. And is it hard?

[Dave]

Yeah.

[Dan Le Batard]

Because defense is hard.

[Dave]

Yes.

[Dan Le Batard]

But the way to defend, you can't, like, run to the spot you think he's going to.

[Mike]

For 22 years on this show, we've debated the greatest athletes of all time. Who's the goat in football? Who's the goat in soccer? Who's the goat in hoops? One thing that we all know is Dan's the goat of finding the worst possible take. But there's another kind of MVP goat that doesn't get enough credit. The friend who knows to show up with enough Miller Lights plus extra ice because they just know. The one who already has seats at the bar when you walk up. That is a Miller Time nvp. I've been on this show long enough to know that Dan is going to make everything about his feelings and Jeremy is going to push back on whatever I just said. But here's something nobody on this show will argue with. Miller Light is the summer beer, the original light beer since 1975. This summer, recognize your MVPs. We all have that one friend who makes every game better. Now it's time to give them their moment. Head over to Miller Lite's social media pages to learn more about being a Miller Time mvp. You can pick up some Miller Lite pretty much anywhere they sell beer. It's Miller time. Celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Co. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 96 calories and 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces.

[Jeremy]

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[Dan Le Batard]

Chime is a fintech, not a bank. Banking services for MyPay and Chime card provided by Chime's bank partners. Optional products and services may have fees

[Jeremy]

or charges, stated annual percentage yield and

[Dan Le Batard]

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[Dave]

No, I don't.

[Dan Le Batard]

Okay. I figured this is the Dan Levatare show. Dave, have you ever seen anything like this?

[Dave]

Zaz, you know, help defense, you know how to.

[Mike]

You know what you're doing.

[Dan Le Batard]

I mean I. I played basketball in high school. Like I know how to play.

[Dave]

All right. All right. Yeah. No, I think it's crazy but what it is making me think just to devil's damage a little bit. What other things in sports were like, well that's how you do it. And then that was blown up. It's like, well now we do it this way instead. You mentioned Mike, put your hand in the dirt. Wide receivers, you can go back and watch old tape. The receivers would be in a three point stance. Coming off the line of script really are. Yeah. It's bizarre to look at. Yeah. In our. In our lives, there are guys. You'll see them lined up that way.

[Dan Le Batard]

It's.

[Dave]

I'm trying to think of. I mean, the imagine Tache. The first guy who. Brian Downing is a name that I could. That I summoned from my youth, who had that wide open, that ridiculous kind of state. Well, don't. Tony Fernandez was. You guys got to watch him. Right. Like, they basically look like they're just standing at the plate facing the pitcher.

[Dan Le Batard]

I miss those guys.

[Dave]

As he starts, winds up, he. He digs it. That's why. Why are you doing that to yourself, man? It's like Ricky Williams playing high. Isn't that. Isn't that making the sport harder for you to have to stand like this? And then when the pitch come now you lean into it.

[Mike]

Weird.

[Dan Le Batard]

I miss the guys who had the crazy stance. Like, who was it? Was it Euclid? They used to keep the. His one hand like on the top of the barrel.

[Jeremy]

I think it was like before the pitch, his hand would kind of just be like. Yeah, his hand would be like resting at the top of his other hand like this.

[Dan Le Batard]

He would stand here, right. And then he would hold the bat. Yeah, yeah, he'd hold his. His upper hand in the middle of the barrel.

[Dave]

We need better batting stances that way. We need. We need to return to the day when you had the. The cobra. Dave Parker was the cobra because. Because his bat made like a cobra. Made like. Made like a poisonous snake about to strike like this. It would go around and then if you were unfortunate enough to be out there on the hump, you got. Got bitten again by the cobra. Now a Hall of Famer.

[Dan Le Batard]

All right, give us a little bit more on the Marlin. It's a good opportunity on the Marlins here since we're mentioning baseball. Go ahead, Jeremy.

[Jeremy]

I mean, Joe Mack, they're 26 and 14 since he got called up and started as a catcher. Every game that he starts, they're better. They went from the bottom five in baseball in defensive metrics to right near the top, and that includes how good their pitching has been. But offensively, I mean, what they've been able to do. Owen Casey was on a hair before he got into the aisle.

[Dan Le Batard]

Okay, I know, I know you got a lot of the Marlins. All right, I'll get back to you.

[Jeremy]

You know, Ariberto, her name is 4th best op. Marlins are right.

[Dave]

Marlins are bad. For baseball. All right.

[Jeremy]

Marlins are bad for baseball.

[Dan Le Batard]

What is wrong with you? All right, Jeremy, remind me. I'll get back to you. Okay? I'll get back to you. All right. So big news yesterday with the NBA. The Kawhi Leonard trade is now officially on hold. Kawhi Leonard was traded for Brandon Ingram and Grady Dick and a first round pick swap and I think two other first round picks. And that trade is now on hold pending the findings of the NBA's investigation into the Clippers and Kawhi and Uncle Dennis and aspiration. The Raptors were warned that they would have to assume if they make this trade, that they would have to assume responsibility for what other whatever penalties are assessed. So you would assume that means, okay, if we decide to suspend Kawhi Leonard for 40 games, he's going to have to sit it out for you. Like, are you good with that? And so the Raptors said, okay, let's chill. We're going to wait until this investigation concludes. So my first question here is, Pablo broke this story ten months ago. Ten months ago, and the NBA still said this could take another few weeks. Another few weeks. This was. This was 10 months ago. I got to be honest, at that point, once Pablo started coming out with all the details, how has it taken more than a day to figure out what we're going to do about this situation? Put somebody in a room, give them all the documents that Pablo's uncovered, give him a few phone numbers of the. The parties who need to be spoken to. You got till cob. That's close of business. You got till cop come up with a resolution. We're 10 months later and we don't have an answer to this situation. The hell are we doing, Adam Silver? What are we doing?

[Dave]

I just was hoping there would be one more go round from Zaz to see if he could achieve an even higher octave. But yeah, you're absolutely right. This is a classic case of just hoping it goes away. Let's just ignore it long enough, and then. And then it'll just vanish. It's sort of my strategy. If I were on the cut line on an NFL team and they were like, hey, take your playbook and go see Coach. I would, I would just forget my playbook, conveniently. And they'd be like, we need that playbook before we let you out of the building. And then I would just never return the playbook. And then be like, mid September and be like, oh, he's still on the team. He never turned in his playbook. Yeah, this is crazy. Stuff. But that's just the tip of the iceberg with what's going to be with Kawhi. This ugliness is now staining the entire league, obviously. And the long and short of it is there's no way the Clippers can move Kawhi. Right. There's not a single team out there that would be desperate enough. I mean, would the Miami Heat take your team? Would the Heat be willing to take that risk with Giannis at his age? And you want. As ripe as they feel right now, is Kawhi a swing you would advocate for?

[Dan Le Batard]

We figured out JFK in under 10 months. We closed that case.

[Mike]

No, we didn't.

[Dan Le Batard]

We're still on Kawhi.

[Mike]

We didn't. It's cute though. Yeah. I think the headline here is that this trade could be totally undone. That that is undone.

[Dan Le Batard]

It could on hold.

[Mike]

It. It's on hold. And I still think many people would.

[Dan Le Batard]

Welcome back to the team, Brady Dick.

[Mike]

I think many people would handicap it that no, this trade will eventually get done. But from the statements now, it appears the Toronto Raptors reserve the right to walk away from this deal. Hey, man, that's really cool. I wish other teams in the NBA had something like that afforded to them. But okay, maybe we're in an unprecedented time here, but it's not a foregone conclusion that Kawhi is reuniting with the Toronto Raptors. This is a pretty big deal. And from what we've learned from Pablo's reporting is that a lot of the finger pointing was in the direction of Kawhi. That's the way that this investigation appears to be slanted in. Because as you know, in the NBA, this isn't an impartial investigation. The Clippers and Bulmer himself are paying for this investigation. They are incentivized to point the blame elsewhere.

[Dan Le Batard]

So here's, here's what's going to happen. Kawhi is definitely still going to be traded to the Toronto Raptors.

[Dave]

He is. Why?

[Dan Le Batard]

Well, I mean, do you think Kawhi's like, what could the punishment.

[Mike]

You think the compensation is going to look the same?

[Dan Le Batard]

No. Well, that's what's going to change.

[Mike]

That's. That's a slippery slope, my friend.

[Dan Le Batard]

That's what's going to change. And of course, what Mike is referring to here is it'd be nice if there was a precedent where like a team, I don't know, let's. Let's pick any random team, the Heater

[Mike]

close by, let's use him.

[Dave]

Let.

[Dan Le Batard]

Let's let's pick the Heat, okay. And if they made a trade with another team for a player, who that player's team. Let's pick another team.

[Mike]

They played the Hornets in the plan.

[Dan Le Batard]

Hornets. Fine. The Heat wanted to make a trade for a player on the Hornets, and the Hornets knew that the FBI and the league also knew that the FBI were investigating said player. It'd be nice if the Miami Heat in this made up instance were told, hey, something's happening here, so you can make this trade. Or do you want to wait until there's a resolution? Because otherwise you're going to have to assume responsibility for, you know, if the player is arrested by the Federal Borough of investigators.

[Jeremy]

Did that happen with Terry Rozier?

[Dan Le Batard]

Wow. Wow. Give yourself a hand. I mean, you're like, you're an effing detective. Look at you. Look at you. Sherlock Holmes over there. Good for you.

[Mike]

So, but that opens the door. If the compensation changes, the entire composition of the deal does. And that allows other teams to be like, well, we can top that.

[Dan Le Batard]

Well, that. Well, the deal has not been canceled. It's on hold. So I don't think other teams then would be able to jump.

[Mike]

But if the compensation changes, I do

[Dan Le Batard]

think the compensation will change.

[Mike]

Stands to reason. Maybe they come up with a deal where the Raptors reserve the right of first refusal. But this is, this is potentially seismic and it's the first open acknowledgment that, you know, Kawhi might be on the hook for some of this because we all thought, well, this is an awfully convenient landing spot for Kawhi. You get the feels, you get the nostalgia. That seems to be the good place for him to end up. And now this gives more credence. Not that the Pulitzer didn't, by the way, to the reporting of Pablo Torres.

[Dan Le Batard]

Here's what's going to wind up happening. Like if they wind up suspending Kawhi Leonard, maybe it's 30 games, maybe it's 40 games. The Raptors are not going to have a problem with that because Kawhi is going to miss those games anyway because of injury. So that's not an issue. Now the Raptors are now not going to have to pay Kawhi for those miss games when otherwise they would have to pay him if he missed the games for injury. So they're not going to care if Kawhi is suspended for a part of the season, but they're then going to go to the Clippers and say, yeah, those first round picks that we were going to give you we're pulling one back.

[Mike]

Also in the Clippers statement, they continue to play the role of victim. We were victimized. We were taking advantage of scam artists. Whereas Pablo Torre finds out reporting suggests that the Clipper developers had certainly knowledge of how they were trying to circumvent allegedly the NBA salary cap. And it still is curious to me, especially considering Pablo Torre finds out one a Pulitzer for their journalism on this matter, which kind of is a tough thing to buck up against. They're still maintaining that, no, we were. We were taken for a ride, just like all the other victims here in Aspiration.

[Dan Le Batard]

How in the world are we still doing this? I can't believe it. Although I kind of can believe it because we know the commissioner is on nothing. All right? This Adam Silver is on nothing, as evidenced by everything that has been in front of you these last few minutes.

[Mike]

And you've made this situation, which should have been a good way to get away from the controversy, post discipline. And you've made that a bigger mess because you didn't have any of this stuff resolved before the transaction. Think about what that did to the trade market guys. I'm sure there were a lot of teams that would have been curious to see how they could fit Kawhi into their plans, but many teams didn't even kick the tires on it because this thing was hanging over it.

[Dan Le Batard]

It is very clear how this thing should. I don't know if it will. It's very clear how this thing should end with Kawhi Leonard Aspiration. The Clippers, the Raptors, and that's the NBA and the Hornets, given the Miami Heat their first round pickback.