The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

Local Hour: 305 Day (feat. Paula Lavigne & Dan Arruda)

Date: March 5, 2026
Location: Elser Hotel, Downtown Miami

Overview

In this episode of the Local Hour, Dan Le Batard, Stugotz, and the crew celebrate the uniquely Miami holiday, "305 Day," with trademark banter and irreverence, reflecting on South Florida culture, sports, and the week's hot topics. The episode also features an in-depth segment with reporters Paula Lavigne and Dan Arruda about their investigation into the decades-old murder of former University of Miami football player Bryan Pata, tying true crime intrigue to local Miami life and the national sports landscape.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. 305 Day Celebration and Miami Identity

• The episode kicks off with playful confusion as Dan and the crew debate the significance of "305 Day," a celebration of Miami's iconic area code and its local culture.
• The conversation is marked by inside jokes about regional distinctions ("This isn't America, Jack. This is Miami, Jack." - Stugotz, 02:19) and mock competitions to determine who is authentically "305.”

Notable Segment:

• What is "305 Day"?

  • [02:01] Mike Ryan: "March 5th. 305. Our same area code. 305. So it's 305 day, Dan, you heard of 305 day, isn't it?"
  • [02:22] Stugotz: “This is Miami, Jack... This is a fucking a couple year standing long tradition where Miamians make a big deal out of this day to celebrate all things Miami.”

• The group jokes about area codes, generational changes, and what actually constitutes being a "true" Miamian:

  • [10:19] Mike Ryan: “These are 954. So are these guys up front. 954 is all of them.”
  • [10:26] Jeremy: “Yo, my cell phone is 305. And everybody knows whatever your cell phone is, that’s what you’re about. I’m 305.”

• Trista wonders if moving to Broward disqualifies you from repping 305, sparking further Miami/Broward banter.

2. Miami Sports Round-Up

Charlotte Hornets’ Historic Run

• Conversation flips quickly to an NBA update, highlighting the surprising dominance of the Charlotte Hornets:
  • [04:00] Dan notes: “The most fun team in the league. They beat the last three defending champions by 20 plus points. It’s the first team to do that in 60 years.”

University of Miami Basketball

• The University of Miami men's basketball team's historic season is dissected:
  • [12:46] Stugotz: “No, this is one of the best records in Miami history.”
  • [13:06] Dan references the team's depth and new talent, including European players and surprising contributions from the bench.
  • Praise for coach Jay Lucas and his recruiting:
    • [22:23] Stugotz: “It’s an amazing job by Jay Lucas. He’s brought in a bunch of Florida guys… and it’s mixed in with a healthy dose of Europeans.”

College Basketball NIL Payments

• The crew expresses astonishment at reports of BYU’s star freshman earning $7 million per year from NIL (name, image, likeness) deals:

  • [24:05] Trista: “$7 million at BYU per year. Well, just this year. This year might even get more if he stays.”
  • Dan is skeptical and demands a Poll: "Are you surprised that a college basketball player at BYU is making $7 million a year?" [26:00]

• Discussion on how NIL could reduce the NBA “tanking” problem by incentivizing elite players to stay in college longer:

  • [27:30] Trista: “If you’re a team like Utah, you are shitting your pants. …We’ve been tanking for three years for this kid who says he might not come into the draft.”
  • [27:52] Jeremy: “You know what? That right there might be the solution to tanking—NIL is going to stop tanking.”

3. Murder at the U: Reporting on the Bryan Pata Case

Transition Into True Crime

• Dan previews a serious turn in the hour: "The Murder at the U podcast has become very popular... an unsolved murder for 20 years... That's caught the country's attention.” [09:21]

Interview with Paula Lavigne & Dan Arruda

• Major police failings in the investigation:

  • [33:55] Paula Levine: “They didn’t interview witnesses they should have interviewed. They lost documents, they lost track of people. ... They said [a key eyewitness] was dead. ESPN found that he was not dead.”

• Impact on the Pata family:

  • [35:18] Dan Arruda: “They came in 18 strong on day one, and ... showing her support. And it just breaks your heart to know that they’re going to have to do this all over again.”

• Lack of closure and police accountability:

  • [36:25] Paula Levine: “One thing that the Miami Dade Police Department and the state attorney’s office should offer ... is an apology. An apology for what they didn’t do for so many years.”

• Reporters' investigative work:

  • [39:04] Dan Arruda: “To date, we’ve interviewed well over 100 people. We’ve gathered more than 5,000 documents and pieces of evidence to go along with our reporting.”

• On Rashaun Jones, former teammate and suspect:

  • [40:02] Paula Levine: “Our investigation prompted them to actually look at this case again. ... ESPN ended up having to sue the Miami Dade Police Department for access to the records."
  • [43:42] Dan Arruda: “I’ve seen every piece of evidence that the police has allowed us to see. ... and I still have no idea whether Rashawn Jones was there and he pulled that trigger.”

• Final thoughts on justice:

  • [45:20] Paula Levine: “I think, and some of the jurors said this as well... I don’t know if Rashaun did it or didn’t do it, but I know that either way, the state didn’t prove it.”

Meta Moment

• Dan, in classic Le Batard show fashion, can’t resist a playful aside about the reporters’ Zoom backgrounds even during a heavy topic:
  • [45:42] Dan Le Batard: “The YouTubers have begun an investigation, Paula, into your background, and they’re saying that it is totally fake...”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [02:19] Stugotz: “Now this isn’t America, Jack. This is Miami, Jack.”
• [09:21] Dan Le Batard: "The Murder at the U podcast has become very popular… I believe America has a mental illness when it comes to being addicted to these murder podcasts."
• [10:19] Mike Ryan: “954 over there trying to cosplay as my…as my culture.”
• [13:06] Dan Le Batard: "The University of Miami is bad at threes... But they have a guy who I was introduced to last night. Who’s 41 years old and he’s shooting threes like a professional."
• [24:05] Trista: "$7 million at BYU per year. Well, just this year. This year might even get more if he stays."
• [33:55] Paula Levine: “They said, ‘he’s dead. He can’t come in, he’s dead.’ ESPN found that he was not dead…we went to his house…and he’s very much alive.”
• [36:25] Paula Levine: “One thing that the Miami Dade Police Department and the state attorney’s office should offer … is an apology. An apology for what they didn’t do for so many years…”

Key Timestamps

• 01:58: Miami/Broward/305 day banter kicks off
• 04:00: Charlotte Hornets’ historic NBA run
• 09:21: Introduction of “Murder at the U” discussion and murder podcasts
• 12:46: UM basketball’s record and analysis
• 24:05: Surprising NIL news: BYU’s $7M freshman
• 33:55: Paula Levine details Miami PD failures in Bryan Pata case
• 35:18: Emotional impact on Pata family
• 39:04: Reporting vs. police work, volume of investigative effort
• 43:42: Reporters admit uncertainty on who the killer is

Conclusion

This episode deftly balances local Miami flavor with probing sports analysis and serious journalistic inquiry—demonstrating why The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz remains a one-of-a-kind force in sports media. By weaving the irreverent 305 Day festivities with a potent, sobering look at unsolved tragedy and the complexities of seeking justice, the show underscores both the rich texture of South Florida life and the enduring need for accountable investigative journalism.