LeBron Watch 2026: Is LeBron Currently In Miami? | Local Hour

Summary

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The Dan Le Batard Show: Local Hour

Episode: "LeBron Watch 2026: Is LeBron Currently In Miami?"
Date: July 9, 2026
Location: Live from the Elser Hotel in Downtown Miami

Episode Overview

In this bustling Local Hour, Dan Le Batard and crew dive into a mix of sports, culture, and the unique fever currently gripping Miami (and America): international soccer mania and the ever-dramatic LeBron James free agency saga. The hosts blend playful mockery and sharp analysis, shifting from debates about the athletic delusions of age to scrutinizing soccer stars’ media personas and lamenting missed iconic moments for American soccer. Add in their idiosyncratic humor and a running investigation into LeBron's whereabouts, and the result is quintessential Le Batard Show: irreverent, passionate, and plugged into Miami’s pulse.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Athletic Self-Delusion and Aging: Greg Cody vs. Reality

• [00:00–02:28] The show opens with Dan reflecting on how men often think they’re 20 years younger than they really are. Greg Cody, in his 70s, brags about his imagined on-field prowess, insisting he could score penalty kicks against a "legitimate" goalie.
• Key Quotes:
  • "His narcissism shines forever. It does not age. It's forever young."
    — Dan Le Batard (02:26)
• Debate: The crew is skeptical Cody could score even one out of ten attempts, with Chris worried about "a hairline fracture along the hip" (01:44) and Mike Ryan doubting Cody's ability to generate power with a real soccer ball (02:11).

2. Rock Stars Aging Not So Gracefully

• [02:26–05:26] Segueing from aging athletes to aging rock stars, Dan compares Greg Cody to David Lee Roth, who is still performing in his 70s but to sadder effect these days. The crew jokes about the spectacle of old legends still clinging to youth onstage.
• Memorable Moment: Discussion of David Lee Roth's anonymous visit to a bachelor party, met with confusion instead of adoration (03:16–03:40).
  • "He knocks on the door...and they have no idea who he is."
    — Dan Le Batard (03:26)

3. LeBron Watch 2026: Wild Speculation & Pseudo-Forensics

• [06:06–11:10]
  • The team comically reconstructs LeBron’s possible whereabouts, referencing grainy golf course photos, flight tracker data, and even tree species. Chris Whittingham highlights a Royal Poinciana in bloom as possible South Florida evidence.
  • Key Quotes:
    • "We are now a Pulitzer Prize winning media organization...Do we have investigative information about LeBron?"
      — Dan Le Batard (06:40)
    • "If you're from South Florida, you may recognize this tree. The Royal Poinciana...not a tree that grows in Tahoe."
      — Chris Whittingham (08:03)
    • "I'm like 75% sure LeBron James is in Florida."
      — Chris Whittingham (08:50)
  • Dan is amused by the abstraction of reporting with such uncertainty: "I think you have to report that with hundred percent certainty...if you want that to cross over and be something that gets people excited today in the news stream." (10:21)

4. Soccer Fever: The World Cup Takes Over Miami

• [11:10–30:47]
  • US Men's Soccer Meltdown: The crew discusses the 24-hour "withdrawal" after a day with no World Cup games, leading the media to "attack" the USMNT, especially Christian Pulisic, following a disappointing exit from the tournament (11:18–15:17).
  • Landon Donovan vs. Christian Pulisic: Landon Donovan criticizes Pulisic and, more importantly, his insular camp for lacking warmth with media and fans (12:59–13:59). The hosts contextualize this with their own awkward encounters, noting Pulisic's aversion to the press even when compared to silent global stars like Messi.
    • "This dude needs media training and has needed it for quite some time...When you fail to deliver and everyone has been working around your sensitivities, that is why you're seeing the hammer being dropped on Christian Pulisic."
      — Mike Ryan (20:12)
    • "He is decorated...but it was always load management, protect his ego...when he doesn't perform, when he asks out of a game, when he has a horrific quote...you’re seeing the hammer being dropped on Christian Pulisic."
      — Mike Ryan (19:48)
  • The Media's Role & Missed American Soccer Moments: Dan argues that being a reserved or difficult media figure is acceptable only if paired with extraordinary excellence, using Messi and Bill Belichick as examples. In Pulisic's case, it's leading to frustration and public backlash (21:40–24:59).
  • Soccer’s Communal Joy: The hosts celebrate the transforming effect of the World Cup on Miami’s social fabric, noting unprecedented public gatherings and emotional communal viewing experiences. Dan reflects on the city coming alive, reminiscent of more connected times:
    • "The sport has gotten a hold of people and made them feel something good. And it's just actually getting started because the playoffs start now..."
      — Dan Le Batard (28:17)

5. A Lament for US Soccer's Lost Moment

• [30:47–39:49]
  • The panel mourns the lack of a singular, iconic, World Cup moment from the US Men's team this cycle—nothing to measure up to Landon Donovan’s game-winning goal in 2010. They argue those moments are essential to fusing American identity with soccer fandom and building the sport’s lore.
    • "America, this century remembers a goal. It's been 25 years. That's the squandered opportunity."
      — Dan Le Batard (30:56)
    • "In terms of wins, this was the most successful men's World cup we've ever had. We've never won this much...but I'm talking about the moments that connect you..."
      — Chris Whittingham (38:35)

6. Cultural Perspective: Soccer Fandom and Stakes Abroad

• [42:23–45:08]
  • The crew puts America’s soccer culture in context: unlike South America and Europe, where the stakes of missed opportunities can be enormous and even dangerous (referencing the tragic "Two Escobars" incident in Colombia), US players do not experience this kind of pressure.
    • "A Colombian soccer player was shot for an own goal in a situation like this...Because this is what Colombia has. This is their national pride. This is their identity..."
      — Dan Le Batard (44:10)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "His narcissism shines forever. It does not age. It's forever young."
  — Dan Le Batard, on Greg Cody's athletic self-image (02:26)
• "I'm like 75% sure LeBron James is in Florida."
  — Chris Whittingham, on "LeBron Watch" (08:50)
• "This dude needs media training and has needed it for quite some time...When you fail to deliver and everyone has been working around your sensitivities, that is why you're seeing the hammer being dropped on Christian Pulisic."
  — Mike Ryan (20:12)
• "America, this century remembers a goal. It's been 25 years. That's the squandered opportunity."
  — Dan Le Batard (30:56)
• "The sport has gotten a hold of people and made them feel something good. And it's just actually getting started because the playoffs start now..."
  — Dan Le Batard (28:17)

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Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |------------|--------------------| | 00:00–02:28 | Aging and delusional athletic prowess – Greg Cody as example | | 02:26–05:26 | Rock star aging, David Lee Roth paralleled with Greg Cody | | 06:06–11:10 | "LeBron Watch": pseudo-forensic investigation of LeBron's location | | 11:10–15:17 | USMNT criticism: Landon Donovan confronts Pulisic’s media/attitude issues | | 19:48–24:59 | Pulisic’s relationship with press, expectations of American stars | | 28:17–30:47 | Miami’s World Cup fever and communal soccer experiences | | 30:47–39:49 | Lamenting the lack of iconic US soccer moments | | 42:23–45:08 | Cultural differences: stakes of soccer success/mistakes in America vs. abroad |

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Tone, Atmosphere, and Takeaways

• Equal parts playful and incisive, with the crew ribbing each other and sparking pop culture tangents while still dissecting meaningful issues—especially around cultural identity, sports stardom, and communal belonging.
• The episode captures the singular energy of Miami during an international tournament and the show’s unique blend of irreverence and genuine local passion.

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Summary:
This Local Hour is a vibrant tapestry of Miami sports culture—touching on perennial themes of aging and memory, the modern whirlwind of soccer fandom, the giddy uncertainty of LeBron’s next move, and the pitfalls of American sports fame. The hosts skillfully intertwine relatable nostalgia, pointed critique, and community celebration, making for insightful, highly entertaining listening—whether you caught the show or not.

Transcript

[Dan Le Batard]

Says, I have this theory that generally speaking, men tend to think they're about 20 years younger than they are at all times. And Greg Cody, athletically pretty, routinely believes himself to be 30 years old even though he's in his 70s, thinking he can make 50 yard field goals. How many penalty kicks do you think Greg Cody could make against a not. Not a world class goalie, but a legitimate goalie?

[Mike Ryan]

It's funny how you say this. While we're watching Colombia and Switzerland PKs the other day I turned to my son who is a soccer player. I said, do you think you could score this right now against that goalie? He said, yes, but how many do I think that Cody can score? I think he'd have a hard time scoring any.

[Dan Le Batard]

I think it's a lot harder than people think. They think it's easy because it's professional soccer players and they make about half. But I think that goal starts to look real small when the goalie spreads his arms.

[Chris Whittingham]

For reference, Messi is at 50% in the world cup for his career.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah, I think he'd have a hard time scoring any.

[Dan Le Batard]

Chris, what do you think? Text your father and ask him because we should do this. The last time we did this, we did it in the rain many years ago. But Greg Cody didn't participate. It was an assortment of others. I believe I should make a bet with stakes with Cody and I'm going to. I'm not brave enough to make the over under half a goal, but that would insult him the most. And he's really been insulted because Carl told Greg Cody, he said to him, we're thinking about using the Pat Riley cutout as the goalie and we still don't think you're going to score. We think you're not going to be able to. He did not like that idea.

[Chris Whittingham]

He's aged a lot. I'm worried about a hairline fracture along the hip.

[Dan Le Batard]

He's 70 years old.

[Chris Whittingham]

How many shots are we giving him?

[Dan Le Batard]

10.

[Mike Ryan]

Okay, 10.

[Chris Whittingham]

I mean, I think. No, he's not. He's not putting one pass a goalie. He's not.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah, I think he will. 10 shots.

[Chris Whittingham]

If it's not a world class goalie,

[Mike Ryan]

I think he gets one.

[Chris Whittingham]

I just don't think he can get the pace behind it. If it's a legit soccer ball and he's legit taking it from the spot against a goalie that knows what they're doing.

[Mike Ryan]

The real soccer ball is kind of heavy. Like I don't think he'd be able to kick it very hard.

[Chris Whittingham]

He's just not going to be able to get enough behind. I've seen that guy's gate. That guy's gate has gotten rusty over the last few years.

[Mike Ryan]

Why does he have such a hard time accepting that he's not like a prime athlete anymore?

[Dan Le Batard]

His narcissism shines forever. It does not age. It's forever young. It's not. I just sent some video to some friends. In fact, I'm gonna send it to the video crew of David Lee Roth prowling around on stage. David Lee Roth used to be. As the lead singer of Van Halen, I could have made an argument for a stretch. From 1984-86, he was the biggest rock star in the world. And he's still prowling around on a stage at about Cody's age. How old would David Lee Roth be? He'd be about 71 right now.

[Mike Ryan]

He's gotta be 70.

[Chris Whittingham]

It's been sad watching those videos and Rod Stewart too. You want to talk about forever young.

[Dan Le Batard]

Barry Manilow. Barry Manilow.

[Chris Whittingham]

He had a bad health issue. But, you know, they want to leave something for the estate. That's what's happening right now.

[Mike Ryan]

David Lee, 71, He's Greg Cody's age.

[Dan Le Batard]

Okay, get. I'm going to stand here.

[Chris Whittingham]

The video where David Lee Ross shows up at a bachelor party and he's like, hey, I heard you guys playing, like Panama or something. Well, and they're all confused. Like, who's this creepy old guy?

[Dan Le Batard]

It was a Las Vegas hotel room. He shows up and they're playing a Van Halen song. He hears it. He knocks on the door and he holds out his hands like, ta da. And they have no idea who he is.

[Chris Whittingham]

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

[Dan Le Batard]

I did not think I was gonna be starting the show with these wor words, but get the David Lee Roth video ready because Greg Cody is this man's age. This man, about 40 years ago was the biggest rock star in the world. He could kick his leg up so high. It was amazing. It was way over his head.

[Mike Ryan]

That's. That's a go to move back then. If you're gonna be like a big time frontman, you gotta be able to have that leg kick, right?

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah. But he. I feel like he invented it. And at the very least, he's the one I most associate with the giant leg kick in videos that I don't any of us can do.

[Mike Ryan]

I think Steven Tyler used to use that move too.

[Dan Le Batard]

No, the leg kick?

[Chris Whittingham]

No.

[Dan Le Batard]

You don't think so, David Lee Roth? Well, I don't want to talk about rock stars from 40 years old. 40 years ago. Too much. Just know that Greg Cody is this man's age.

[Chris Whittingham]

Typically we don't play music because of the commercial rights, but I'm not worried about getting pinged on this one because that's impossible to discern what that is.

[Dan Le Batard]

It. It doesn't sound anything like whatever it was 40 years ago. So let's turn that down, please, for a second. Mic on.

[Chris Whittingham]

It's not good.

[Dan Le Batard]

I urge you all to find on the Internet the video incredibly sad of him walking down a Las Vegas hotel hallway, hearing a Van Halen song in one of the rooms, knocking on the door and expecting the bachelor party inside to be excited. And they all just looked at him. Who the hell are you? What are you doing here?

[Mike Ryan]

How would you describe that outfit though for our listening audience?

[Dan Le Batard]

Black and red with flowers all over. And lean body, tight sleeveless.

[Chris Whittingham]

Yeah.

[Tom Boger]

Leather vest with stitched in roses, seemingly leather pants, giant belt buckle, rhinestones everywhere.

[Chris Whittingham]

Looks like Chavo Guerrero's ring attire.

[Dan Le Batard]

I want to get to what's happening with LeBron in a second because I felt the stale Faint Whiffs of 2010 Planes being tracked yesterday. Planes from Akron to West Palm. Photographs being taken. Grainy photographs being taken on a golf course. So he may or may not have been in Miami. Are we going to have exclusive investigation? We are now. We are now a Pulitzer Prize winning media organization. You. You have pushed us, Mike, as happened to know guy insider who has trafficked in the information business to become a Pulitzer Prize winning media company. Do we have investigative information about LeBron? That is going to be something the mainstream media wants.

[Chris Whittingham]

That's right. Pay no attention to what Dan said. I'm totally giving the game away. But yes, we have tracked flights from Akron to West Palm. And yes, we have grainy photo that put us as the only show to confirm the whereabouts of LeBron James. Now, there was someone on the periphery of the NBA, someone that is in the know, someone that is followed on social media by Matt Sullivan. That's all I know. But I ripped this from an IG story.

[Dan Le Batard]

Wait a minute. This is just a picture of a golf cart.

[Chris Whittingham]

Yes, but if you see that it's LeBron, please allow my investigation to play out before you start rudely interrupting and letting the air out of it. Let it happen, please. All right, so we know that LeBron was on a golf course. Because he put out a selfie video where he was doing the thing where he was, you know, singing along to hip hop and not a care in the world, graying his beard, having fun with the whole thing about his name

[Dan Le Batard]

in Akron, though, right?

[Chris Whittingham]

No, that in Akron. Look, the golf course that he was at, it was sunny, it looked nice, but he was very careful to not give us any context clues. But someone else spotted LeBron James. And we can tell from the outfit and the canopy on the. On the golf cart that. Oh, that. That is LeBron James. Now, I want you to pay attention to this tree. Yup, that tree.

[Dan Le Batard]

Mike, I can't tell that that's LeBron James. It's just.

[Chris Whittingham]

You're gonna have to frickin trust me on this, man. All right? LeBron was doing a selfie video from a golf course. We have tracked a plane. And by we, I mean panicky Cleveland Cavs fans have tracked a plane from Akron to West Palm. That happened yesterday. Now, now pay attention to this tree. If you're from South Florida, you may recognize this tree. The Royal Poinciana. Now, this is not a tree that grows in Tahoe. This is not a tree that grows anywhere else other than Florida and the Caribbean. All right, now for the third still, guess who has Arroyo Ponciana across the

[Mike Ryan]

street from not Akron?

[Chris Whittingham]

I do. And it is also in bloom, as you can see. We have deduced.

[Dan Le Batard]

That's yours.

[Chris Whittingham]

That's across the street in my neighborhood.

[Mike Ryan]

That shit's blooming.

[Chris Whittingham]

It's blooming up top. You see the same little red blossoms that are blooming up top that tree. Guys, do what you will with this information, but I'm like 75% sure LeBron James is in Florida.

[Dan Le Batard]

75% sure right now on my television, on Get Up, Brian Windhorse, Vinny Goodwill, they're talking. It says LeBron James is yet to announce decision on next team. Shams is saying money not the driving for behind James's decision. We are in the middle of what happens when there's no World cup soccer for a day.

[Chris Whittingham]

Oh, What a long 24 hours. Also, I can investigate. Shams put out just three teams at the top of of his list. He also removed Denver, which I actually thought would have been a cool spot for LeBron to go to, but if he was going to say in the Western Conference. But it was the Sixers, it was a Cavs, it was a Heat. And that's weird. No, Golden State Warriors. And Shams has reported that Draymond and LeBron plan to hang out at some point this week.

[Mike Ryan]

So he's reporting playdates?

[Chris Whittingham]

That's correct.

[Dan Le Batard]

Didn't Steph Curry say something at the.

[Chris Whittingham]

No, no, no. I have an investigation. I don't care what Steph Curry said in front of a microphone in Tahoe. I can tell you that Steph Curry feels like it's a 50, 50 shot that LeBron goes to the Golden State Warriors. So why were they not included in the sham's report? You're getting really good stuff here. You, you are. You're getting world class stuff, well informed.

[Mike Ryan]

It's definitely 50, 50. Either he's going to go to Golden State or he's not. That's 50 50.

[Dan Le Batard]

So I don't think the odds are 5050 when you do it with all of the other teams involved. I don't think that that's how we do odds making. I also don't understand what we're doing with. Steph says it's 5050 and Mike says it's 75% sure that he's in Florida. I think you have to report that with hundred percent certainty in order to make it. If you want that to cross over and be something that gets people excited today in the news stream, you're going to have to report that with 100% accuracy.

[Chris Whittingham]

I am 100% sure LeBron is either in Florida or the Caribbean. I am 75% sure that he is in Florida.

[Dan Le Batard]

Well, so you have him closer to Florida. You have him closer to Miami than he is to Akron. Wasn't he in a nightclub Akron like two days ago or three clubs?

[Chris Whittingham]

You know what's funny about two days ago? It's not yesterday. Yep, that's a thing about 48 hours ago. It's not 24 hours ago.

[Dan Le Batard]

Well, let's talk about yesterday for a second because I'm a little worried, Zaslo, about the addiction Mike has that yesterday represented withdrawal for him because there were no World cup games. Everyone breathed for a moment but. And I, I'm dead serious when I say this as I couldn't help but sort of smile watching my television yesterday because it took an off day. But World cup soccer fever absolutely has arrived in full force like I've been promised for four decades. And American soccer felt like the biggest thing yesterday because none of the news media had games to talk about. And so they attacked the United States soccer team full throated all day because there was nothing else to attack. Jaylen Brown's A week ago. There's not anything going on. You have only soccer on the, on the platform. And everyone turned on the United States soccer team as if it matters, as if it's a thing that matters, as if it's worthy of criticism. Here's Landon Donovan. Pulisic got all of it. And Landon Donovan. This is funny to watch, okay? Landon Donovan is the biggest name and face and voice still in American soccer. Pulisic, we've been told for years he's coming for Landon Donovan's crown. But if you ask Americans who gives you better feelings about American soccer, Christian Pulisic or Landon Donovan, it's Landon Donovan. And so he put on his fake hair and he went on and he went on, and he went on, on Pulisic.

[Jonathan Saslow]

People are fed up with it. They treat people poorly, they do things poorly. It's always a. Whenever you want to ask, can we do an interview? Can we? It's always a no. You can't get near him. He doesn't say hi to the commentators who do all the games all the time. When they walk by, all the other guys come over and shake hands and say hello. There's just this sense about him that, like, you can't get near him. It's too big. And I actually don't think it's from him. I think it's from the people around him. They need to stop and he needs to man up and have a conversation with them and say, look, guys, this is not helping me. He needs to get some training on media. I did, too. I said a lot of dumb shit and people are like, hey, Landon, you don't want to come off this way, do you? And I still make mistakes all the time. All of these things can be a positive. He has. I have to say, though, he has a big challenge ahead. Because, Tim, I'm thinking ahead to the next game. And J.R. like, if we happen to be at this game, the next U.S. game in this country, what do you think that's going to look like? Like, think about that. Is he going to get booed when they announce him? Maybe people are livid. So, anyway, it's a long winded way of saying this can be a good moment in your life. A lot of things need to change. And I actually think it's not him. I think it's the people around Zaz.

[Dan Le Batard]

I would make an argument that Mike Ryan, among American mainstream media members, has done an exceptional job covering soccer for many years now. Back when he doing a podcast for Chelsea that had a lot of interference in it because of how careful the rules are around everything Chelsea related and just Premier League and soccer Related in Europe. But today at the end of the show live, he will have Chris Whittingham and his friend Tom Boger, his last name Bogart.

[Mike Ryan]

Everyone knows who he is.

[Dan Le Batard]

Fantastic mustache. Yes. And they will do morally abhorrent as the live post game show to talk about some of this stuff. But you also know that Mike is a bit of a know it all. And Mike rarely asks for help of any kind. He had to interview Pulisic twice for that podcast and twice he requested some help because Pulisic was such a bad interview, just a terrible interview. And since then he's been protected. But the idea that we're now at the stage where it's not just turning on America's greatest hope and name in goal scoring because he played poorly, Donovan just put his name on and the people around him are assholes and he's soft with the people around him. That's a bad 48 hours.

[Mike Ryan]

I hated everything. I mean, I understand what land Donovan is saying and I believe what he's saying, and I hated all of it. Like, I hate that stuff where you're not treating people around you well, where you're rude to people, you're bigger than everyone. And realistically, at least in this country, I understand he's performed well in Premier League, but in this country, he hasn't accomplished anything. And I hate hearing that about that type of behavior. Excited for summer? Hosting a pool party, a barbecue, or just looking forward to some relaxing time at home? At Orken, they've been building their pest knowledge and expertise for 125 years. And they know that no matter what your summer plans are, most people don't want cockroaches involved. Shocking, right? Well, as supporters of summer plants, both big and small, Orkin is here to stay one step ahead of pests. So you can stay one step ahead of your schedule. Visit orkin.com today for a free estimate.

[Chris Whittingham]

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

[Mike Ryan]

I know it.

[Chris Whittingham]

Well, it's usually when I show up, everybody goes crazy. Yeah, you usually take all the credit for it, but it's because Tony usually walks in with Cuervo. Walk in like this. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Cuervo is a thing that turns hanging out into this is the night. It has that effect on people. It does. 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. Keep it Cuervo, baby.

[Tom Boger]

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[Dan Le Batard]

Dan Levitar.

[Chris Whittingham]

That's not my favorite rejoin. Context needs to be applied. Going for a joke and thought the context was applied. We'd like to rip that out of context. I was going for a thing and you're gonna. I have a family.

[Dan Le Batard]

You're gonna pretend here that you don't love Matthew Tkachuk more than you love anybody you've ever loved.

[Chris Whittingham]

I don't love Matthew Tkachuk more than my daughter. Mike Ryan. No, it's pretty dam.

[Mike Ryan]

This is the Dan Levatar show.

[Chris Whittingham]

He's been good for AC Milan in stretches. I mean, you can make an argument a couple times that on form he was the best player, best attacking player in that league. And then injuries and then the last half season.

[Mike Ryan]

Doesn't mean he's a dick.

[Chris Whittingham]

No, I think Landon kind of let him off the hook a little bit because at Chelsea, his family isn't around him. The same handlers aren't around him. I know people have had their opinions for years on Christian's dad, but you're letting Christian a little off the hook. Christian is just not a people person. Christian does hates doing media, which is going to be funny when he inevitably makes a turn as being one of the more recognizable names to all of a sudden being a media presence who's bad at media, who actually loathes the idea we do this often is where Bill Belichick can be an absolute dick to the media for 20 years and then because of his greatness all of a sudden turn and think he can have a media empire and we'll allow it because you got name recognition. Christian's let off the hook there a little bit by Landon because Christian himself is just not a people person. I don't know if there's like a social thing that goes on with him, but he hates the media. He hates doing interviews, he hates answering questions that you wouldn't even think to be invasive like just casual getting to know you questions. He's a challenge there.

[Dan Le Batard]

But I He's the captain of the team.

[Mike Ryan]

Grow up.

[Chris Whittingham]

He was the captain of the team and that cap was removed from him because on his watch he's a more lead by example type of guy. They displayed a lot of immaturity. There was breaking of curfews. He's look, he's not a vocal guy. Some people are like that. I think like I mentioned yesterday, Christian has lived this very charmed existence in US Soccer and with clubs because everyone knows when he is healthy and when he is in top form he's really good. He is a quality world class attacker. The best talent we've ever produced. I mean he is decorated. He's won a Champions League. Yeah, he wasn't starting but at times for Chelsea was really important and he's shown in Italy he can be a really good player but it was always load management protect his ego. We always want him to succeed. If we deal with all these weird idiosyncratic things that are around him, it puts him in the best possible spot for when he is in his prime of his career. He can put this nation on his back and win a game that they're not expected to. And when he doesn't perform, when he asks out of a game, when he has a horrific quote where Landon is 100% on the money, this dude needs media training and has needed it for quite some time. When you fail to deliver and everyone has been working around your sensitivities, that is why you're seeing the hammer being dropped on Christian Pulisic. It is years of frustration boiling over in this episode.

[Mike Ryan]

Landon Donovan also mentioned how Christian's not going to like hearing it from me. He already doesn't like me. So there's a history between the two.

[Chris Whittingham]

Christian doesn't like anybody but Jeff Cameron. Like, he. Christian doesn't have. Like, he's got some friends that are his teammates. But Christian does not have close relationships in the media at all. And with the older generation, they say these things. You can tell in their coverage. You can tell two things. They don't like the way that Christian Pulisic approaches the game. And dog, they hate Jesse Marsh, the Canadian manager. They hate him.

[Dan Le Batard]

Just to cover a couple of things here that we just did that I don't want to be doing. Okay, Tony Reali used to bust taping on around the Horn whenever any of the new people who were on there would get in the comfort of whatever sports radio standards are and do some form nationally of saying that person, bad person, bad guy, asshole, some version of that. That happens a lot in sports radio, but you don't see a lot on telev. Actually see a lot on television. Anyone say that person's a bad person, a dick. Like, it's just. It's not something you see very often. So I don't want to do this to Pulisic, but I do want to address a couple of the things that Mike said there. Because if you want to be an American star, you've got to make a choice between are you going to be excellent or are you going to be a little bit of a personality? Because you can't be the way Pulisic's being and not perform. Because this is what's going to happen to you, the stardom. When you don't participate, engage in the relationship, what ends up happening is. I think I can form a pretty decent argument that the most famous names in American soccer are still Landon Donovan and Alexi Lawless. Like, I think I can make that argument. And it's not because of excellence in Lawless case. And Pulisic might not want to play the media game, but he's not good enough to not play it. He doesn't perform enough to not play it. And so what he's getting today is that Zaslow is coming by the opinion because Landon Donovan is telling him bad dude. And I was just doing bad player yesterday.

[Chris Whittingham]

I think you're taking some liberties here. Neither Landon or I said Christian is a bad dude. I said he's idiosyncratic and has some, like, social stuff. And Landon put it a lot on his camp. And I said, you got to put some of this on Christian because at 27 years old, he's a grown ass.

[Dan Le Batard]

Man, I understand anybody who's got media discomforts and you have a number of ways that you can do this. I don't think I've ever heard Lionel Messi do a good interview ever, in any language. But he doesn't have much of a taste for the media, doesn't show much in the way of personality either. But everybody always wants to talk to him and you will not hear an assortment of unprofessional things about him or his handlers. To hear this about Pulisic to me yesterday, the reason I had the smile on my face is seeing with great wonder. Ok, so free agency fizzles out. Just waiting a little bit by LeBron. Nobody wants to talk about Justin Verlander or Aaron Boone being ejected even though they've lost 11 of 13, or Dylan cease going into the ninth inning with a no hitter. They don't want to talk about that.

[Chris Whittingham]

I do.

[Mike Ryan]

I do.

[Dan Le Batard]

The void in the addiction of no, we've got the attention span right now for the World cup for about two months and here's a day off. What do I do with myself and the day off? Mike, are you surprised? You've been waiting for this day, I dare say, more than a decade. You've been probably all your life in some form. You've been waiting for these games you're flying all over. These tickets are very expensive. Where has this ranked for you in terms of you mainlining a sport for two months and just feeling like a bit of a cocaine addict?

[Chris Whittingham]

I don't even know how to answer that question at all. Been a weird one. But when it comes to the last 24 hours and the fallout from their performance, I'm proud of us. I'm proud of us, dude. It's great. Christian deserves this. And it's so funny to me because the whole thing with Christian is he doesn't like talking to the media because he doesn't want to create headaches for himself and everyone's pouncing on him because he asked out of a game and he said it's time to rest that up. It's something that he said, which again goes to Landon's point about media training. I hope we keep this energy up. Don Garber did an interview where he commended Landon, who said going behind a paywall with MLS was a mistake. Very rare for a commissioner to say, yeah, we shouldn't have done that, which is why we altered that. You would love domestically the energy to continue, but I just don't think Nick Wright, who's been great Dan to your Credit. You've been doing as well as you can in learning and trying to talk about the main talking points Colin Coward has done. So ESPN is trying to inject as many soccer people as they can, knowing their limitations. But we're trying to get better. People are talking about this seriously. The biggest podcast. Bill Simmons, part of my take. They talk about soccer with reverence. And that's a seismic shift. I am proud of us. We are not going to keep that energy for Rapids Real Salt Lake. We are not. We were flatly not, which is a shame. But here's something that we can do because the television numbers are through the roof on English language alone. This is. And it's impossible to count because no one watches soccer by themselves in their home. When it's a World cup, we all go out and we watch this in scores by the hundreds. Right? But 40 million plus on English language, that's bigger than the national title game, which was a huge number. Number. Spanish language equals that. You have something that is approaching super bowl type numbers. That is happening here. So here's where we can keep the energy. We. We clearly like the international game. We don't like the club game. MLS is growing. Whatever. It's. It's on Apple tv. It's hard to keep that energy. Football's around the corner. This is a World cup finals. Which are. Witnessing the final isn't just like the last game. That's a. This is the World cup finals. The World cup actually goes on for about three and a half years with qualifying. We didn't experience that because as a host nation, we just qualified automatically and we had a series of friendlies that we didn't really take seriously. Let's keep this energy for the US Men's team and certainly next year when the women who've actually earned the right to be talked about seriously with reverence and respect when they are in the World cup in Brazil next year. Let's keep that going. I think we can get the storylines down when it comes to the national team crests over the heart. So let's keep that energy when we have a tough World cup qualifier in Curacao.

[Dan Le Batard]

Let's talk a little bit though, about the numbers. Okay. Because Mexico, England is one of the most watched televised things that there have been because it's just. It's pretty rare when the world gathers around the television.

[Chris Whittingham]

It's emotional.

[Dan Le Batard]

I like that Japan and the United States have made baseball so that the World Series feels more global.

[Chris Whittingham]

The Islamic Republic of Japan.

[Dan Le Batard]

That's correct. The idea, though, that I have seen all over our city televisions and screens, giant screens pop up in places where you would not see them. The restaurant burgeoning economy of. And we'll put tables in the street. This has come and ransacked Miami during a time that is very slow. Everyone leaves Miami this time of year. All of the money tends to leave in a lot of these homes where this is such a rich place are second homes for vacationing people from other places. This is a quieter place during the summer. But this thing has ransacked this community which is super ethnic. Okay. When I tell you big screens filling up with people who are not normally together in parks. Like, that's not. If you've seen what's happened in the disconnecting of the devices that make it so your children don't play in a yard anymore with other kids in the front of the street. Whatever that. Whatever happened to us. Over the last 20 years, it's been interesting to watch the streets fill with singing people and money spill everywhere in the drinking and consuming of this thing because the sport has gotten a hold of people and made them feel something good. And it's just actually getting started because the playoffs start now. Like, whatever you've been watching. That's been a lot of fun and it's been interesting. Yeah, okay. That's the regular season of whatever this is. Four years of season to get to this point. Now the games really begin because Argentina shouldn't be scared like that against the last two opponents. It shouldn't be that close. But now they have our attention. Unfortunately. This is the. This is the squander opportunity of the last 48 hours. The US almost got to the playoffs, the real playoffs, not the stuff that we've been doing. That is a nice little warmup. But the numbers says. When Mike says. You realize every television I see in public has 40 people around it. That's one television. But you ain't watching this alone. This. This stuff is best shared. And it's different from any other emotion in your life. You don't jump up and down screaming very often. When you're happy, you don't start screaming. People, inanimate things, you know, a referee a world away. You don't start doing that in your normal life with other things very often.

[Mike Ryan]

I've only done it once ever with the US Men's national team. And it's probably the same for a lot of people. And it was Landon Donovan against Algeria or.

[Dan Le Batard]

It's a goal. America, this. America, this century remembers a goal. It's been 25 years. That's the squandered opportunity. And aha. If they get to these next games, they could have gotten Landon Donovan. Still, Alexi Lalas and Landon Donovan have built media careers post retirement because they touched us there. However many years ago that was. I don't even know how many years ago.

[Mike Ryan]

Well, then Donovan was 2010, I think, right? Yeah. That's the only time I've been like, jumping up and down because of a moment in US Soccer. I wish there were more.

[Chris Whittingham]

I think in defeat. Everyone can point to Tim Howard's performance against Belgium. Belgium, where, where they played their hearts out against a really talented Belgian side. Not like this last time.

[Mike Ryan]

But a save elicits a different reaction than a goal. Like, you didn't jump up off the couch, jump up and down from one of those 16 saves. Like, like, it's amazing, every one of them.

[Chris Whittingham]

But Tim, I'm forever grateful on the media side. He leaves stuff to be desired and he's improving. But like, he made himself a media career and he's pretty recognizable even to the casual. He made himself a sex symbol. Like that performance is an all timer.

[Dan Le Batard]

But think about, think about what it is, is the missed opportunity here, as when I tell you, yes, 16 years ago, Landon Donovan and Alexi Lalas built media careers on a moment in time when America was paying attention to soccer. Like, that's the thing that we've been talking about for the better part of 40 years as we continue to have these conversations about, I don't get it. Our kids play soccer. Yeah, but you don't care about it the way the Brazilians do. The way you care about it is to have those moments that make you jump up and down with your K so that when they're burying you, they remember, remember that time. That's as happy as I've ever seen dad. The happiest I've ever seen my father is running around a living room because the ball went through Bill Buckner's legs in the 1986 World Series. Because they got here, went to Central Islip, my mother and him went to Shea Stadium and went to Mets games. And so they became Mets fans. And it was really becoming fans of America is what they were doing. Like, what do you mean? We can do all of this. And so the happiest I've ever seen my father is there. And I'm guessing that's as happy as your kids have ever, ever seen. I mean, it's in the realm, right? I guess the Panthers probably do some of this to you as well.

[Mike Ryan]

The Panthers. Yeah, the Panthers are the greatest experience I've ever had as a sports fan because I got to experience it with with my boys. Yeah. Boar's Head brings to the deli the taste of deep fried turkey. One bite and flavor takes over. Perfectly seasoned and deliciously golden fried. A backyard tradition available at the deli presentation. The Friar's Turkey Breast only from Boar's Head. Discover the craftsmanship behind every bite at your local Boar's Head deli or deli counter. Boar's Head committed to craft since 1905.

[Chris Whittingham]

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 team. 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 Lite 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 Millertime time. Celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Co. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 96 calories and 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces.

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[Mike Ryan]

audio down Levitar I've never stepped foot on that campus. I if you told me right now your life depends on it, go to Santa Fe University and just take a picture. Jonathan Saslow I would die. I don't know where it is.

[Chris Whittingham]

This is the Dan Levatar Show. Carson Beck with his legs. Well, I was still running, mother.

[Mike Ryan]

I was. I was on my own because I was on the road with espn, so I was watching Carson Beck with his legs in a hotel room by myself.

[Dan Le Batard]

Little sad.

[Mike Ryan]

But. But if I could also tell you, though, if I could also tell you because you say how everybody gathers around television and watches the World cup together. My wife is out of town right now. If she weren't out of town and I wasn't living the bachelor life, I'd be watching by myself on an iPad on my stomach.

[Chris Whittingham]

This was a wasted opportunity, and it's crazy. That one performance went so sideways that it burned up all the goodwill to where you can't even say, yeah, like on the macro level they reached expectations, but the way that it fizzled out was a nightmare, and now it leaves a bad taste in everybody's mouth. When can you imagine if we just did what we were supposed to do, we'd have a game against Spain tomorrow with a shot at the semifinals. To start your weekend, you would have had Spain USA in la.

[Mike Ryan]

That's a good start to the weekend.

[Dan Le Batard]

The thing that makes you lament the squandered opportunity, though, is as nice of a World cup run as it was because you got four games that you were paying attention to, or five and four, you know, I guess three of them felt good. The idea that you don't have from being the host country, a World cup moment of any kind, that makes, you know, think of Landon like Landon Donovan 16 years later. Whatever he says and does now, I'm associating him with that moment. Lexi Lalas. I'm associating him with that team that time and that he was near Landon Donovan's moment. Moment. We don't have any moments. We got everyone's yelling at the start of the team because he asked out of the game, and he doesn't like the media and doesn't want to talk to anybody about anything. So you don't have a moment, and you don't have a personality, and you don't have anything.

[Mike Ryan]

The Tillman and Freeman goals were really cool, but not good enough.

[Dan Le Batard]

I'm talking about one of these moments that echoes, like, where it feels like the country's shaking. The Landon Donovan goal was that I associate him with only one thing, and it's his hair.

[Chris Whittingham]

In terms of wins, this was the most successful men's World cup we've ever had. We've never won this much. I do think the overall performance against Pasaway is something that people that feel good to kick off this tournament where everyone looked at each other like, holy crap, do we have a shot? I think people will remember that. Feel good. And then probably Tillman's goal to secure the victory against Bosnian.

[Mike Ryan]

Too broad.

[Dan Le Batard]

You're asking too much of memory and history. Yeah, maybe they'll remember four one. They'll remember. But I'm talking about the moments that connect you because you're building up to something and the tensions in your heart. Man, I have not seen South Florida like this. It's. It's weird for me to see it because even during the championship runs, as of all of the teams down here, we have too many ethnicities down here. Not everybody's about it.

[Chris Whittingham]

Go on.

[Dan Le Batard]

Not. Not basketball, baseball, college football. Not everyone in town is about a thing. But here, this thing. I can honestly say I haven't seen television sprout up in parks when the. Even when the heat are making championship runs. Not all over in some places, but not all over.

[Mike Ryan]

I thought you were tired of all the singing.

[Dan Le Batard]

I am. But it went away, and now I miss it. It went away that those people were only here to drink for 13 days, and then they had to get back to whatever their jobs are in the country where they can go be pink and drink 20 beers a day and sing songs all night.

[Chris Whittingham]

They're not going back to their jobs. They're European. They had the entire summer off. That was another thing that I learned working with Chelsea. No one gets back to an email over the summer. They're just on a seasonal holiday.

[Dan Le Batard]

You haven't told us very much. I'm always the one volunteering that. You did that with Chelsea and you tried so very hard to bring out his personality. Like you were trying to help him. Not an adversary. You were doing something for a Chelsea podcast that was meant to celebrate him and American soccer and the Fact that America had a player good enough to play in the biggest league.

[Chris Whittingham]

Yeah, it was a, it was a propaganda arm. I love Chelsea. I got to work with the club and I, I tried to adhere to some principles, but yeah, like I, it was to grow the game and to grow Chelsea's brand in the States. We were successful. It was a very successful podcast and a large part of, of it came about because they signed Christian Pulisic and at the time that was probably the biggest move an American soccer player had ever made. Chelsea's a big club. Chelsea went on to win Champions League after signing Christian. So it was a big part of their strategy was let's grow our fan base here in America with the biggest American soccer player. And you'd like a personality that leans into that. We're not going to ask him pressing questions that, you know, put him in an uncomfortable spot. We're asking him personality driven questions and guy just didn't, I didn't have any time for it. Hated doing it. Hates media altogether. Thinks people, I guess are out to get them. Hard to get them to make eye contact. The only time I, I think I interviewed him three times and the only time I ever brought anything out of him was one time during COVID I guess when he was like totally isolated and just happy to see somebody because he was over in the uk. But yeah, he was a real challenge. And some people, that's all right. You can be tough in media and just do your obligations. You mentioned mess Messi, notoriously terrible media doesn't like doing it has a system in place that actively keeps the media away from him. But that's messy. The greatest of all time. Pulisic was just merely the most talented in American time on the men's side. And we were so desperate for success, we allowed that to happen. And that's why you're seeing the whole world crash in on him right now. Because everybody was biting their tongues.

[Mike Ryan]

But also with Messi, I understand, okay, he doesn't do media but you know, he's Messi and he's performing on the field. Field. We're not getting these stories about Messi, about, you know, him and his people not treating people nice. Right?

[Chris Whittingham]

Well, no, that's out there. Yeah, well, yeah, that's out there. But people don't care.

[Dan Le Batard]

He's the best when, when Mike is saying though now the hyenas have been let loose and when he's talking there about media tongue biting. I'm not used to that.

[Mike Ryan]

Right.

[Dan Le Batard]

The, the way the, the European press covers Soccer is like the last 24 hours have felt to the United States. It's angry, it's. It's poisoned, it's. It's mean.

[Chris Whittingham]

Have you watched what's going on with. Lamina is 18 years old. He's going to be 19 next week. And he is being crushed because he is not carrying his team, a team that has surrendered zero goals this tournament because he is not dominating the way that he did in the Euros and not dominating the way that he did for FC Barcelona. He is getting crushed at 18 years old.

[Mike Ryan]

I couldn't believe that when I was watching the game against Portugal the other day, and they said how Spain has not conceded a single goal yet this term. Like what? They haven't given a goal.

[Chris Whittingham]

But that's an 18 year old that's already won a major tournament for his national team that has been the best player in one of the biggest clubs in the world, and he is getting destroyed. And we don't do that with Christian Pulisic in this country.

[Mike Ryan]

Calm down, Spain. Sheesh.

[Dan Le Batard]

The thing, though, I wonder. I want to get into this with the group because I wonder if America has the history or understands what happened in that Columbia game at the end and how. How hard life is about to get for Campas, because he missed that goal in the second overtime and he just had. He had a breakaway. It's straight on goal. You can advance. You beat Switzerland. We've talked about the 30 for 30. The Escobar. Are they brothers? No.

[Chris Whittingham]

The two Escobars, you keep trying to make them brothers.

[Dan Le Batard]

I keep making them brothers. Forgive me for making that title the Escobar brothers. But a Colombian soccer player was shot for an own goal in a situation like this. Because this is what Colombia has. This is their national pride. This is their identity. This is the biggest thing. And they play a style of play. They play a style of play. Zsas that doesn't score very much. Like they drag the game into the mud, even though I'd like them to play more like Brazil. You miss a goal and people remember you forever. And his life just got really hard, like in that country, specifically because it was him. And the goalie, he's right on the goal. Everyone's exhausted. They don't want to take it to penalty kicks. And he just missed. It seems impossible the way that he missed. It's about the easiest chance anyone's had in the entire tournament.

[Mike Ryan]

Kind of feels not worth it to play. When you sum it up like that,

[Dan Le Batard]

I mean, it seems dangerous. Seems dangerous.

[Chris Whittingham]

The perks are pretty good. They haven't come to the US Born soccer player just yet. The perks but they're there is an incredible lifestyle. It's like Formula one all the time for these guys when they're playing for bigger clubs.

[Tom Boger]

So we're just not going to talk about the Marlins?

[Dan Le Batard]

It's a national topic, baby.