Local Hour: Dan's Great Analogy

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

Episode: Local Hour: Dan's Great Analogy
Release Date: March 27, 2025

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1. Opening Discussion: Russell Wilson's Career Moves

The episode kicks off with a deep dive into quarterback Russell Wilson's recent signing with the New York Giants. The hosts analyze the implications of this move for both Wilson and the Pittsburgh Steelers, particularly focusing on the loss of Wilson's dynamic play style and its impact on the Steelers' future prospects.

• Billy Gill remarks at [07:25]:
  "Russell Wilson going to the Giants just paired up leaving them no options."

• Dan LeBatard responds at [07:00]:
  "I think this is just sort of how sports work towards the end."

2. Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers' Quarterback Dilemma

The conversation shifts to Aaron Rodgers' uncertain situation with the Steelers. The hosts discuss the Steelers' draft successes and whether Rodgers is the right fit, considering the team's recent performance and front office decisions.

• Stugotz at [08:00]:
  "The Vikings also haven't completely closed the door in the Aaron Rodgers situation."

• Dan LeBatard provides insight at [08:49]:
  "He wants to keep playing. They were the one team that needed a quarterback."

3. Ezra Edelman's Unreleased Documentary: A Metaphor for Pain and Creativity

A significant portion of the episode explores filmmaker Ezra Edelman's struggle to release his latest documentary. The hosts draw parallels between Edelman's creative challenges and Russell Wilson's career decisions, highlighting the complexities of passion versus external constraints.

• Billy Gill at [15:41]:
  "Ezra Edelman... he could say, hey, come watch my movie at my house."

• Stugotz at [17:38]:
  "Ezra made the craziest documentary about Prince. It was incredible, but no one ever saw it."

4. The Influence of Media Personalities on Sports

The hosts critique the evolving relationship between sports personalities and media figures like Stephen A. Smith and LeBron James. They express concern over the dramatization and sensationalism in sports reporting, arguing that it detracts from the authenticity and integrity of the game.

• Billy Gill at [25:33]:
  "As we continue to push the boundaries on these relationships... you get LeBron saying, yeah, sure..."

• Stugotz at [28:42]:
  "LeBron has a responsibility... but the problem is when you're at that place, you can't do that because your words hold more credibility."

5. Responsibilities of Influential Figures in Sports

The discussion intensifies around the responsibility that prominent figures like LeBron James and Stephen A. Smith hold in shaping public perception and maintaining the sport's reputation. The hosts debate whether these individuals should be more accountable for their statements and actions to preserve the sport's integrity.

• Stugotz at [35:08]:
  "He has a responsibility to report that Adam Silver has called him and tried to mute the conflict."

• Billy Gill at [36:28]:
  "ESPN is doing that for sure. Adam Silver should not be doing that."

6. The Role of Corporate Partnerships in Sports Media

The conversation touches on how corporate partnerships influence sports media content. The hosts discuss the tension between creating engaging content for ratings and maintaining the sport's authenticity, suggesting that corporate interests may sometimes prioritize viewership over genuine sports discourse.

• Billy Gill at [41:30]:
  "This is bad for the sport and the commissioner should step in... because storylines and highlights instead of games."

• Stugotz at [42:00]:
  "Adam Silver should be like, no."

7. Light-Hearted Banter and Closing Remarks

As the episode wraps up, the hosts engage in some playful banter, touching upon lighter topics like smoothies and lip gloss, showcasing their camaraderie and ability to blend serious discussions with humor.

• Billy Gill at [22:12]:
  "Play Stephen A. Again with the haunting, haunting threat."

• Chris Cote at [30:08]:
  "Get out of here."

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Notable Quotes:

• Billy Gill at [15:41]:
  "Ezra Edelman... do a grand stunt and say that it's for the art and get sued or get arrested."

• Stugotz at [28:42]:
  "LeBron has a responsibility... But when you're at that place, you can't do that because your words hold more credibility."

• Chris Cote at [35:37]:
  "There's language in there where it's like, hey, man, you want us to take you to court on this?"

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Conclusion:

In "Local Hour: Dan's Great Analogy," Dan Le Batard and Stugotz delve into the intricate dynamics of sports careers, media influence, and the delicate balance between passion and external pressures. Through incisive analysis and spirited discussions, the episode sheds light on the challenges faced by athletes and creators in maintaining authenticity amidst evolving media landscapes.

Transcript

[Dan LeBatard]

You're listening to Giraffe Kings Network.

[Stugotz]

What is Dax?

[Billy Gill]

Are you tracking all our cars on.

[Stugotz]

Carvana Value Tracker on all our devices? Yes, Kristen.

[Billy Gill]

Yes, I am.

[Dan LeBatard]

Well, I've been looking for my phone for.

[Stugotz]

In Dax's domain, we see all. So we always know what our cars are worth.

[Amin Elhassan]

All of them?

[Stugotz]

All of them. Value surge trucks up 3.9%.

[Amin Elhassan]

That's a great offer.

[Billy Gill]

I know.

[Stugotz]

Sell. Sell. Track your car's value with Carvana value tracker today.

[Jessica]

Now's a good time to remember where tequila's story truly began. In 1795, Cuervo invented tequila. Cuervo, what are you doing here?

[Billy Gill]

Cuervo. Anytime someone says Cuervo, I show up.

[Jessica]

Well, I do know that to be true. But even during ad reads like Cuervo, I think he could lay out especially for one of our great partners.

[Billy Gill]

Sweet, delicious Cuervo.

[Jessica]

Since then, Cuervo has stayed true to its roots. The same family, the same land, the same passion.

[Billy Gill]

Cuervo.

[Jessica]

So enjoy the tequila that started it all. Cuervo. Cuervo, the tequila that invented tequila.

[Billy Gill]

Proximo.

[Jessica]

Cuervo.com, please drink responsibly.

[Billy Gill]

Cuervo. Shadow Show.

[Stugotz]

Shadow Show.

[Billy Gill]

Shadow Show.

[Stugotz]

Shadow Show.

[Billy Gill]

Shadow Show.

[Stugotz]

Shadow Show.

[Billy Gill]

Shadow Show. Shadowing it. Shadow in it. Amin just hit me with a voice that was kind of between on the spectrum, lecherous and seductive. And he said to me by way of good morning. And I'd be curious what you guys would guess he was talking about. He's like, dan, are you going to be able to resist the sirens call? Are you going to be able today to resist it? Do you guys have any guesses on what the sirens call is?

[Dan LeBatard]

Opening day.

[Billy Gill]

That's what Jeremy whispered to me. That was a different conversation. I can't wait. It's gonna be a fast opening day. It's gonna all take an hour and a half. What'd you say, Billy? I didn't hear.

[Chris Cote]

You said I might earn my bonus tonight.

[Billy Gill]

Would have been a funny joke.

[Chris Cote]

Yeah, you know, it's fine. Move on.

[Billy Gill]

What do you think the siren's call is?

[Chris Cote]

Hmm. There's a number of options, Riley. Could it be? Oh, I know what it is. I absolutely know what it is. I think.

[Stugotz]

I think LeBron McAfee, that's what that's my guess is going to be.

[Billy Gill]

LeBron McAfee. Well, it's adjacent. I love the confidence. I love the confidence of. I absolutely know what it is. I think that should be a life principle for you like to peter out at the end with, I think I absolutely knows something. I don't absolutely.

[Chris Cote]

Well, I thought we were talking about Jimmy or something, but there's a bet going on, so I don't know if that's what was in play. But then I remembered, you know, there's. I mean, there's a number of LeBron things. LeBron started up his podcast again. Sands JJ Redick, he was doing with Steve Nash. Then LeBron was on with McAfee for like an hour and a half or something. There's a number of things there. I mean, let me check the. The trade, see if anyone signed a media deal. Hold on a second.

[Stugotz]

That's the sirens call for Dan.

[Billy Gill]

Check the trades.

[Stugotz]

Var. Hollywood Reporter.

[Billy Gill]

Where do you get your media news these days? Where do you get the trades? What are the trades?

[Greg Cote]

Awful announcing.

[Stugotz]

Ryan Glassfiegel. Right?

[Chris Cote]

Awful announcing. Has someone on staff just to write about this show, Right? Like that seems to be the case.

[Billy Gill]

Several people. I think it's Ryan. I don't think it's Brian.

[Stugotz]

I said Ryan.

[Billy Gill]

Oh, did you? Okay, I'm sorry.

[Dan LeBatard]

Ryan. He also said Obama yesterday.

[Stugotz]

Now, that one you missed.

[Chris Cote]

Yeah, you missed that.

[Stugotz]

That was a $600 million fine.

[Billy Gill]

It should have been crazy, man.

[Stugotz]

Venmo can just retire. They're like, hey, Amin, pay that one fine that one time we're good for life.

[Chris Cote]

He called Osama bin Laden Obama.

[Stugotz]

I've never felt more like, oh, this is what happens when you live in a red state for too long and Seal Team Six killed Obama.

[Chris Cote]

This is the Don Levatar show with the Stugats podcast.

[Billy Gill]

I don't know when Russell Wilson's professional career began, but if you had told me in 2010, if you had come up to me and said, you're not going to believe this, but in 2025, you're not just going to be talking about what LeBron James said. You're going to be talking about what he did in 2025, 15 years ago. While a Russell Wilson signing makes you profoundly sad, I would not have had the ability to understand what you were talking about, because Russell Wilson going to the G. I saw that happen. I'm like, oh, two lonely people met and are not gonna find love. That's not gonna end in the way that anyone thinks it's going to end. And it just made me sad.

[Stugotz]

But, Dan, isn't it on some level? Two lonely people who know there's nothing going on tonight. So it's 3am the lights are coming on. Like, I don't have you lock Eyes. Yeah. And it's like, hey, were you my dream partner? The person who spend the rest of my life with. Not really, but maybe tonight.

[Greg Cote]

Almost like one of those pacts that people make on TV shows where they're like, hey, if we're not married by the time we're 40, you want to just go ahead and get married. It feels like one of those where both of them have just kind of reached a space in life where it's like, all right, we could settle for this.

[Stugotz]

Are they getting married? It's a one year deal or like a two year. Whatever it is. It's not like seven years. Russell Wilson's a quarterback. No, it's like, all right, damn. And we need. We need somebody. Like, I'm dating. I'm kind of. I've kind of just met this person named Jamis. But like, say it's three lonely people, not two. It's not really serious with me and James either. Like, hey, maybe. Like, maybe, maybe.

[Billy Gill]

But I think. I think it's a fling that you regret, though, at the beginning. You don't regret the fling before you. Before you partake in the fling. You don't regret the fling. Like, I think it's something that you're in your house afterward and you're a little bit of. You don't like how all of that in the mirror.

[Stugotz]

Like, I shouldn't have done that.

[Dan LeBatard]

I don't think this is sad. I think this is someone who's towards the end of their career finding a place to play and continue their career because he doesn't want to retire. I don't think that anyone believes the Giants are going to be super bowl contenders. Their wins total, I think is like three and a half next year, if you were to bet on that. They have one really good rookie wide receiver. They have a good. A couple good defensive players, but a good player on defense if you're Zaz or Witty or Mike. But like decades of like, not a great O line and just kind of not making great front office decisions. And so he wants to keep playing. They were the one team that needed a quarterback. Still. I don't think it's sad. Like, this is just sort of how sports work towards the end.

[Billy Gill]

Okay. Except for he's not old like, we. He's not an old person like I. Russell Wilson, to me, if you give me word association, that's a vibrant, spry, athletic personality that plays the position differently than a lot of people do. How old is he?

[Dan LeBatard]

He's 36. I mean, for a quarterback like that's young. I mean, young for a popular 10.

[Billy Gill]

Years, but it's, it's not young. But you know, the Giants just took Russell Wilson over the 42 year old guy who might be your quarterback in Pittsburgh. That's the only remaining door that's open there. How do you feel as a Steeler fan about what just happened there where you lose Russell Wil Wilson, who gave you a winning season, and it would appear that the only option left, the only musical chairs left for Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers are the loneliest of lonely meetups because they, Russell Wilson and the Giants just paired up, leaving them no options.

[Dan LeBatard]

How do I feel about Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers? I feels like it's been inevitable for like three weeks now. So I've just accepted it. I don't like him as a person, but I do think the Steelers have done a lot of good stuff in the draft. In the middle to later rounds that make their O line pretty good. Their receivers have gotten better over this offseason. Signing DK Metcalf. I don't know. The defense should still be really good. This is not the best option. But again, as we've talked about for the last like three months, really bad year to need a quarterback. And Giants still also could draft a quarterback, I think even though they, they signed Russell Wilson. So I wouldn't rule that out either. They could just cut Tommy DeVito and say sorry. And by the way, three lonely people. Tommy DeVito is not lonely. He has his agent. That man has family all around him.

[Stugotz]

Look at me. You'll never be lonely as long as I'm around.

[Greg Cote]

The Vikings also haven't completely closed the.

[Stugotz]

Door in the Aaron Rodgers situation.

[Greg Cote]

There was a report yesterday, said, hey, we're still interested possibly maybe in Aaron Rodgers.

[Billy Gill]

Yes, Roy, that was an Italian impersonation. But he only did it with his fingers. You couldn't tell from his. You couldn't tell from his voice.

[Dan LeBatard]

My culture is not your costume.

[Billy Gill]

Put it on the poll at Lebatard show. Is my culture your costume?

[Chris Cote]

And also I think, Jess, you need to make a Sudanese accent now and then. That'll.

[Billy Gill]

That's a good idea, Billy. You're always helpful that way. Excellent work by you. Always helpful, Ally.

[Dan LeBatard]

I'll work on it.

[Billy Gill]

Yes.

[Stugotz]

Luckily there's a lot of source material you could go off of.

[Billy Gill]

Exceptional. You want to try that one, Billy, since you're so helpful.

[Chris Cote]

I mean, I didn't make fun of Italians.

[Billy Gill]

No, it's not okay.

[Greg Cote]

He was celebrating them.

[Stugotz]

I was.

[Billy Gill]

Taylor was in the kitchen And I know I said Les Taylor, but Taylor had an opinion that I wanted to put on the poll as well. Because he's like, smoothies are fruit. He didn't like that there were green smoothies over there. So just put it on the poll at LeBatard show. Smoothies are fruit, yes or no? Because the greens are still out there. Like, I saw that all the smoothies, whatever the colored smoothies were.

[Chris Cote]

Whoa. Smoothies are for everyone.

[Greg Cote]

Dan, you already accused me of segregation yesterday.

[Billy Gill]

Now I don't even want to say fruits. I don't know.

[Dan LeBatard]

Maybe Russell Wilson is sad. I'm telling you, I can't decide. I don't think it's sad, though.

[Stugotz]

Like, here's the thing. What's the sadness?

[Dan LeBatard]

I know he's married to Sierra. Like, I will never feel sad for you.

[Stugotz]

Hey, here's many more millions of dollars to do this thing that you enjoy.

[Greg Cote]

21 million.

[Stugotz]

Yeah. Just do it again, man.

[Billy Gill]

So you guys do this one all the time. I want to ask you about this because I understand when people have a lot of money or are married to someone that you think is wonderful, how it is that we arrive, that person can't be sad because they have things.

[Stugotz]

Hold on, Dan. Let's break this down. This guy, you say, oh, he's getting a lot more money. Like, well, it's not always about money. He's married to this beautiful woman, and I have a great family. Well, it's not just only about love. It's about professional fulfillment. He gets to do the job one more year. This job he loves. Well, it's not that. What is it?

[Dan LeBatard]

Also, he won a Super Bowl. Like, he was very successful in his career.

[Stugotz]

I'm saying to you, should have won two. I'm saying to you, as he sits on his couch, he knows the year he had last year. He's not sitting there like, okay, here we go. The Chiefs are going to bring me in to replace Mahomes. He knows who he is at this point of his career. So he's got a job, a starting job. Right. Most likely. And they're paying him $21 million. And his family life is great. Yeah. I'm going to say it's not sad. It's pretty happy. And if you're the Giants again, like Jess said, they're going to be one of the worst teams in football next year. So it's not like, oh, my God, okay, I could put Patrick Mahomes on the Giants. It's still not good enough. It's still, as I said, Eight wins. Maybe nine wins. Maybe nine wins.

[Billy Gill]

You guys are assuming that I'm sad for Russell Wilson here. Just the whole thing made me sad. What are you sad for? The whole thing made me sad. That something has to exist in the sport to feed at the bottom of the standings in that division that is only existing to lose to everyone else. That a champion's career ends with that, as the punctuation bums me out. But not for him, just for everybody involved.

[Chris Cote]

I mean, but his career could have ended two seasons ago, right? Like, his career could have ended after the Broncos, but he got another chance with the Steelers, and he was fine.

[Dan LeBatard]

Like, he was okay. Like, I really think it was not. It's overstated how bad he was at the end of the season. Like, I think the whole team fell apart at the end of the season. I think he was part of it. But I don't think you 100% put it on.

[Chris Cote]

This is good for him. Like, this is a good time. Like, pad your stats. Like, ensure that you're going to make it into the hall of Fame. Because people said that you've played your way out of the hall of Fame. Now it's time to start compiling. Like, go out there, take starting job and start racking up TDs, yards, whatever you need to do.

[Dan LeBatard]

Dan, you would say Russell Wilson had a well above average NFL career as a starting quarterback. Yes.

[Billy Gill]

Yes. And I think he still wants to be great, and it's not possible. And I think that part, when anyone is afflicted with it, is something that, when you're a champion and have had that kind of confidence, is a hard thing to overcome. But the reason that I wanted. I wanted to tie it back into a conversation that we were having yesterday that we just sort of skipped past because you guys are like, well, gets his money, gets his things. What difference does it make? We were talking about what I thought was the very particular awful pain of Ezra Edelman going from making the OJ Documentary to having to meet the expectations after the OJ Documentary, spending years with the Prince documentary and then not being able to show it to anybody. Probably got a sum of money. Do you think that money makes him feel okay about what happened there? Like, do you think. Do you think there. I'm guessing that if I talked to Ezra Edelman, he would say there was no amount of money that would keep him from releasing that to the world. And you guys were all, like, shrugging your shoulder. That seemed like a particular kind of imprisonment for a creative person to spend years obsessively compulsively working on something to know that it is great and to not be able to show it to anybody.

[Chris Cote]

Release it then.

[Stugotz]

Can I?

[Billy Gill]

Well, he can.

[Chris Cote]

Why can't he?

[Billy Gill]

Because it'll be a lawsuit.

[Chris Cote]

Okay, well, if you believe in your work and what you put out there is not litigious and put it out.

[Stugotz]

There, then there is a sum of money that would stop him from doing it. It's the lawsuit. It's whatever they would sue him for. This is the $50,000 hedge fund.

[Billy Gill]

I'm saying there's not an amount of money he could get to not release that that he could get. There's an amount of money you can take away from him.

[Stugotz]

Let me. Can I say. Can I date the unpopular opinion here? The unpopular opinion is Ezra. You knew what a state you were dealing with before we even started. How did you not get like, hey, man, if I'm going to do this, you guys can't say shit to me.

[Chris Cote]

Dot your I's and cross your T's before you waste all the time doing it. You're not going to have it. See the light. What do you think you're going to do? And like, you know what?

[Stugotz]

They're.

[Chris Cote]

They're really going to like what I did with OJ So they're going to say, okay after I actually finish the project.

[Dan LeBatard]

I mean, also, like, it is not a great analogy because Russell Wilson is someone who's getting older and can't continue to do the job because of his age. Ezra Edelman's 50. He can still make other doll. It's not quite. It's not a great analogy.

[Billy Gill]

I'm not. I'm not trying to make a great analogy compared to Russell Wilson. I'm tying it to an incomplete conversation that we had yesterday about the ways that you guys dismiss pain because someone gets something in return for the pain. As if the pain is not pain just because you get a few dollars.

[Chris Cote]

But what is Russell's pain? I don't understand.

[Billy Gill]

I'm not doing that anymore. As a conversation. I transitioned already.

[Chris Cote]

The pain is. Jamis James is the one with a gripe. I mean, that guy was never into thinking he was going start.

[Stugotz]

No, James, look, that dude is the most positive dude in the world. He came up with like three rhyming sayings in the time between he found out that Russell Wilson was signing. And like, James Winston also is a.

[Dan LeBatard]

Player who probably would have loved to have Russell Wilson's success in career. In his career. He did not have any of that. Russell Wilson Hat he, Russell Wilson won a Super Bowl. Russell Wilson had a very long and successful career before things went sour with the Seahawks. I would venture to guess that when all is said and done, Russell Wilson retires from the NFL and he's probably like, I made a lot of money. I won a Super Bowl. I'm good, I'm, I'm fulfilled, I'm happy.

[Chris Cote]

You know what I don't understand?

[Dan LeBatard]

I have a great family. I have a hot wife.

[Chris Cote]

You know what I don't get about Ezra Edelman? So he's not allowed to show the movie, but he's showing it to all his friends. So like he still is. Like, why didn't he just do a series of one on one screenings? Like, if you want to come watch my movie, like come over to my house, I'll show you the movie. And then you get the fulfillment of people watching the movie that want to see the movie.

[Dan LeBatard]

Charge like a million dollars per view.

[Stugotz]

No, not even, let's be honest, right? Like real artists, they don't care what the masses think. These people are stupid cattle is what they think is like. But their friends, their peers, that's who they care. So like Billy said, just invite your friends over, they'll all tell you it was awesome. And then you still got your money. Who cares? And then. And you know what's the best part? Here's the best part. All we're gonna do for the rest of time is whisper about yo. Ezra made the craziest documentary about Prince. It was incredible. It was the best documentary ever made, but no one ever saw it. Oh, wow. And now there's like this urban legend that goes around. The lore grows. He becomes even greater as a result of this, right? Like you know, years. And I'm like, ezra Edelman. Grandpa, tell me about Ezra Edelman. Oh, let me tell you about the one work that he never got to release. Like what? And then we're gonna make a movie about this 30 years from now. The Hunt for the Ezra cut. And then they're gonna go and they're gonna break into like Fort Knox where it's hidden in the thing and lasers come on. And Prince's family. And the lasers are purple because Prince.

[Chris Cote]

Yeah.

[Stugotz]

And the Prince's family, like, haha, we knew you were coming. And then.

[Billy Gill]

Falls down.

[Stugotz]

Yeah, you got to run away from it.

[Chris Cote]

He needs like an artist cage, you know, like he needs to pull some sort of grand stunt and say that it's for the art and get sued or get arrested or whatever, right? Like, I think that you have to have like a blimp that you projected on that's just flying around town. So you have to be following it around if you want to watch the whole thing. Or you just have like a water machine. And then like what Amin was saying, you light it up purple and then you're just projecting the movie on the screen. Like, you just do stuff like that. You need a big artist, like, to do. That's what's missing here is the passion from Ezra, I think.

[Stugotz]

Billy, let me ask you a question, though. Would you be worried that that would reduce from. Because whatever, the imagination of what it is is always better than what it actually is, right?

[Chris Cote]

The movie probably sucks. I mean, we're just setting the expectations up to this level.

[Stugotz]

Hold on.

[Greg Cote]

Pablo said it was the greatest thing he's ever seen.

[Chris Cote]

Pablo smoke up his friend' like, get out of here. Like, Pablo just likes to be friends with famous people and talk about how he's friends with famous people. And that's my famous friends. Like, we get it. You're friends with childish lover. We get it. Exactly right. Like, enough of that. The expectations are so high. And if we're going to be honest about the OJ one, let's be honest. We all thought we did it. Oh, wait, like an editor. Editor. Edelman is what we needed there. Eight episodes. Way too long. Could have been six at best.

[Greg Cote]

I don't agree with you anymore. Hey, friends, it's Jerbear here and I'm here to tell you all about Boost Mobile, which is now a legit nationwide 5G network. So I must take a break from the jokes here for a second and put on my serious voice, because I would never, ever joke about a 5G network that has invested billions building 5G towers across the country. Not even once. Not even if Mr. Boost Mobile himself asked me to. There is nothing funny about it. Boost Mobile is now a legit nationwide 5G network and also provides coverage across 99% of America. Seriously? Visit boostmobile.com or your nearest Boost Mobile store location to learn more. The Boost Mobile network, together with our roaming partners, covers 99% of the US population. 5G speeds not available in all areas.

[Jessica]

Weather is starting to warm up. Regular season starting to wind down. Games of consequence in sports starting to ramp up. I know what you're gonna need by your side. It's by my side already.

[Stugotz]

Miller Lite.

[Jessica]

Yeah, that's right. I'm making my springtime a Miller time. I'm making my sports time Miller Time. Going to a car race Miller Time Gonna see some tennis. Miller Time. Gonna chill in the backyard with some friends and make some memories. Miller Time. I love Miller Lite because it's got tastes that I know I can depend on. No games, no gimmicks. It's that simple, folks. It's just a great beer. For people who like beer, Miller Lite is brewed for taste. It hits different than the other Lite beers. It's got simple ingredients, and at just 96 calories, 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces, Miller Time is always a good time. The original light beer since 1975, and still the very best one. Miller Lite. Great taste. 96 calories. Go to millerlight.com dan to find delivery options near you. Or you can pick up some Miller Lite pretty much anywhere they sell beer. Tastes like Miller Time. Celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 96 calories, 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces.

[Stugotz]

What is DAX, are you tracking all.

[Billy Gill]

Our cars on Carvana Value Tracker on all our devices?

[Stugotz]

Yes, Kristen.

[Billy Gill]

Yes, I am.

[Dan LeBatard]

Well, I've been looking for my phone for.

[Stugotz]

In dax's domain, we see all. So we always know what our cars are worth.

[Amin Elhassan]

All of them?

[Stugotz]

All of them. Value surge trucks up 3.9%.

[Amin Elhassan]

That's a great offer.

[Billy Gill]

I know.

[Stugotz]

Sell. Sell. Track your car's value with Carvana Value Tracker today.

[Billy Gill]

Don Lebatard. You don't remember the idea?

[Greg Cote]

I was probably, like, that kind of thing.

[Billy Gill]

Something. Okay.

[Chris Cote]

No, the home run call was that kind of sw. That kind of thing.

[Billy Gill]

Stugats.

[Chris Cote]

Oh, it's a good call. Thank you. And plus, it doesn't matter who's hitting it. Like, you're not tailoring it to a particular name.

[Stugotz]

You know, all that jazz.

[Billy Gill]

You know, you don't got to do that.

[Chris Cote]

Oh, that would be a great call.

[Stugotz]

Swing. That kind of thing.

[Chris Cote]

This is the Dan Levatar show with the stugats.

[Billy Gill]

So Amin said in the middle of that, Amin said, who cares? And my answer to that would be, he does. I would not.

[Stugotz]

He cares about the cattle.

[Billy Gill]

He cares about working on something for many, many years and not being able to show it to people. While people journal. I will tell you that when I write, I don't write to put it in a drawer, but I want a small. I want to stop for a second and just ask, as I often do, too much, way too much about origins. Why is there smoke blown up an ass? Like, what is happening there?

[Stugotz]

Good. Dan does it does.

[Billy Gill]

I don't.

[Stugotz]

I had smoke blown up your ass.

[Chris Cote]

I Don't yuck someone's young man.

[Billy Gill]

I don't. I don't know whether that is yuck or yuckles. I am. I'm unfamiliar.

[Dan LeBatard]

You are the king of yucking other people's yum, Billy Gill.

[Chris Cote]

I'm very pro yum.

[Billy Gill]

I would say that that is exactly the kingdom that he rules over. Yucks and yum yum.

[Chris Cote]

That's me.

[Billy Gill]

And he just makes them collide together. So yesterday, and this was interesting to me because we have seen over the years sort of the morphing of sports reporting and sports entertainment and big stars merging so that whatever the entity is, in this case, it's ESPN and Stephen A. Smith and LeBron James. And I cannot resist the sirens call. This is all great content for the machine. It is funny to me that everyone here is being more childish than Bronnie because Stephen A. Is calling LeBron a liar, which I have not seen him do a lot of. Like, that seems like an escalation. Stephen A. Calling anybody a liar on television, I don't think that's something he does all of the time. I think that is very strong. As we continue to push the boundaries on these relationships. And as Stephen A. Gets rewarded for all the things that he is. And as LeBron goes on McAfee and they create content between all of the shows and try to get integration between all of the shows, you get LeBron saying, yeah, sure, Stephen A. Wants to sit this house. He says he didn't want to talk about it. Sure. And then he puts him in tighty. Whitey's eating ice cream, enjoying that LeBron confronted him during a game, but the childishness in it beyond. I would have swung at him and he would have kicked my ass. And all the nonsense that men do when they're being silly around the soap opera. The idea that LeBron is mad and that Stephen A. Thinks he's mad and keeps coming at him with, you're not my goat. You're not the best, you're the second best. Shannon Sharpe thinks you're the best. It's seven year olds. That's how seven year olds would do all of this. And it is passing for content. I cannot resist. You can't resist it.

[Stugotz]

I can. I was ashamed yesterday. All of it. All of it. Both of them. Everybody. And then the things and seeing the reactions, man, this is quite possibly the biggest journalist who covers the sport and the biggest name player who plays the sport. And if I'm Adam Silver, you get him on the phone, it's enough. Enough for this is embarrassing. This does not represent our sport. And by the way, LeBron said a lot of stuff yesterday that I was just like, what are you talking about? Giannis has scored 200 in a game. He said, oh, Brian Whenhurst says he's my friend. I'm like, that I didn't like. I've known Brian Whenhurst for at least 10 years personally, and I read his work for 10 years before that. I have never heard him say, insinuate, like, hint, try to act like, not even close. Damn. I've never heard Brian say that about people who he's actually friends with. So for LeBron to say that matter of factly, to tee up a McAfee lame ass photoshop, oh, here's your teammate. Ho, ho, ho. There he was. Ho, ho. And they Photoshopped him. Like, it was so. Because LeBron had a problem that Brian said the reason why he signed with Nike, whatever. And my thing was like, okay, so say he was wrong. He's never said he was your friend, never acted like he was your friend. It was all of it was just so odd. He called him weird. I'm like, that's weird, dude. Thinking that someone's your friend or whatever. So the thing, Dan, I say to all of that is like, LeBron has a responsibility. Just like Stephen A. Has a responsibility that when they say things, yes, they're human, yes, their feelings get hurt, yes, they react and lash out. But the problem is when you're at that place, you can't do that because your words hold more credibility than a regular person just lashing out or saying, oh, man, that dude thinks he's my friend. Whatever. In the same way, Dan, that a week ago, two weeks ago, whatever you said, why aren't people asking about LeBron using PEDs? And I said to you, dan, you can't say that. You can't say that. And you're like, why not? I'm just. I'm not saying he is. I'm saying, why aren't more people asking? I said, dan, because when you say that, there is a credibility behind that that leads millions of people to be like, oh, see the number of people I have friends in my life, finally someone saying the quiet part out loud.

[Billy Gill]

No, I had a lot of NBA players texting me and I couldn't like.

[Stugotz]

But, Dan, because I saw it. I saw you thought you were just doing this intellectual exercise. And I'm telling you, no, when you say that, people take it as gospel because Dan LeBatard is someone whose opinion is held up here. Stephen A. Smith is someone whose opinion is held up here. LeBron James is someone whose opinion is held up here. And when these guys talk flippantly in that way, it hurts our sport. It's embarrassing.

[Billy Gill]

You're interesting in this respect because two things are in play that have been interesting. Watching you in this world over the last several years make a career. The career that you have, as you, like all of us, have aged. You're not wrong in saying that this is shameful, but you are protecting your beloved sport and asking the commissioner to step in on famous people doing what is the natural evolution of everything we've been doing over the last 15 years in media, with and around LeBron. This is all part of the game for the last 15 years on what these two human beings have wrought near and around this sport. And when you say it's bad for the sport and the commissioner should step in, I think you're wrong. Now, it could be bad for the sport in that you're tired of storylines that we're talking about drama instead of that. As the oldest player in the league, he makes the last shot against Indiana on the road last night at the buzzer, and we're going to talk about all the other garbage instead of that, instead of the game. You'd be right there. But you sound like you're collect. You're clutching rosary beads in protection of your sport as. As the media and game evolve around it and as those two aging superstars, Stephen A and Le, try to keep up in the modern game of attention is currency.

[Chris Cote]

Stephen A is insane. Stephen A. Has never been younger than he is today.

[Jessica]

Fine wine.

[Chris Cote]

Get out of here.

[Jessica]

So I don't crack.

[Stugotz]

The commissioner, first of all, is a steward of the game. The steward of the game. And. And that is part and parcel of making sure that it doesn't cross a line. Is the attention currency all? Yes. But now you're crossing lines, both of them, where it threatens the very structure upon which this whole business is built, which is that people believe that it is all real and all based on fact. LeBron also said, yeah, you know, the NBA made sure I went to Cleveland, just like they made sure Patrick Ewing went to. Like, he's just, look, I can do dumb shit like that on basketball, Illuminati, me and Tom and Anthony Mays, because we're not the biggest player who ever played the sport, or we're not the biggest journalists who ever covered the sport. It's a niche. Yes. Sometimes there are things that I see people doing elsewhere, like I wish I could do that. I can't because that stuff that, you know, for instance, the kind of humor that some comedians on podcasts do, I wish we could do that here all the time. I can't because I understand I'm not in that space. And if I make that joke, it doesn't land the same way as when a professional comedian does.

[Billy Gill]

Billy wanted you to make it. Billy wanted Jess to make it earlier in the show.

[Stugotz]

Trust me, that's not the joke that anyone wanted. But the point is, Dan, there has to be like, you can't just say, well, this is how it goes. Because that, first of all, it assumes a falsehood of which is this is the only way to get that kind of attention. This is the only way to get everyone talking. And I don't believe that it's the easiest way. Okay, why do we have to do it the easiest way? Like as far as a sport, right? Again, I don't see Pedro Martinez fighting. Well, I guess not. Pedro Martinez wouldn't be the guy who's a Boog Shambi having an argument with Jazz Chisholm about, hey man, you should just man up. Who cares if they cut up your cleats or whatever.

[Billy Gill]

You really. On opening day you showed your baseball ignorance there. Jessica thought I had a bad analogy. Boog Shambi against Jazz Chisholm is not Stephen a. Smith against LeBron James.

[Greg Cote]

You know, if you're ignorant about baseball, you might want to, to go to a game, you know, today, Sandy Alcantara, Paul Skeens at Lone Depot park. And if you want to go to that game.

[Stugotz]

How would I get to that game?

[Greg Cote]

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[Stugotz]

Game time. So Dan, I don't see this happen in any other sport where like, yeah, there's always going to be the, the curmudgeons, the old guys, like, man, these young guys didn't do it like us. Yeah, they're going to be young guys who like, oh man, I wish I could pitch to Babe Ruth. I would. You know, I'd strike him out in two pitches or whatever. Right? Like, there's always going to be those. But you don't hear it at the pinnacle. At the pinnacle, we don't do that. And again, this is tied into every conversation we've had about the NBA ratings, NBA pr, whatever. Like, man, at some point, the commissioner's office. You can't control everybody. You can't control Gill's arena. You can't control Oddball. You can't control those fringe places.

[Billy Gill]

You can't control Stephen A. Smith.

[Stugotz]

Yes, you can. Yes, you can, because that network broadcasts your stuff. I can't call in everybody. I can call in everyone from ESPN doing their NBA stuff. I can call in the best player in the game. I can call in Steph. I can call in LeBron.

[Billy Gill]

He can.

[Stugotz]

You know how I know he can, Dan? Because David Stern did that all the time.

[Billy Gill]

Yes, but it's a different age, and the two people.

[Stugotz]

Is it still money? Is it still money?

[Billy Gill]

It is still money. But I will tell you, having run into these clashes at ESPN with Rob Manfred, who was trying to control what I was saying, that ESPN could not do that to me. And while Stephen A. Is the only person at that company who has told me on the phone after a conflict with that company, hey, Daniel, you can't go against the company. I would say that Stephen A's present power is such that he could absolutely buck the people involved. And if Adam Silver calls him, I'd say he's got a responsibility to report that. That he's got a responsibility to tell people that Adam Silver has called him and tried to mute the conflict.

[Stugotz]

As a journalist, I'm curious, by the way. Let him. Let. Let it. Let it be out. Let it be out. Who cares? Like, yes. Yeah, I said it. I told him. This is shameful. I told LeBron. This is shameful.

[Billy Gill]

Yeah.

[Stugotz]

If I'm Adam Silver. Yeah, I called them. That's my job. That's my job. I'm curious. I'm curious. Maybe we should call Skipper and ask him. I wonder what kind of language is in the broadcast deal. Because it's not just, here's money. You guys do our stuff. Have at it. Say whatever the hell you want.

[Billy Gill]

No, Stephen A.

[Stugotz]

There's language in there where it's like, hey, man, you want us to take you to court on this?

[Billy Gill]

ESPN is a good corporate partner. Stephen A. Is a good corporate partner, but we disagree on what's good and bad for business here, and we disagree on what it is. Adam Silver should do because you think this is bad for the game and you're not actually wrong, but it's good for their television partner. It's great for their television partner. In fact, I'm gonna say that LeBron James went to McAfee, like, that's Indiana. LeBron James doesn't do that. LeBron James. LeBron James play the paces. I know, but I'm saying LeBron James doesn't get into a car and go somewhere into a warehouse away from where it is that the arena is in order to do an interview for an hour. Unless you're trying to please a corporate partner that's not doing a favor.

[Stugotz]

Corporate partner? Dan, you're so naive sometimes, man. Yo, you think he went there? Cuz he's like, I need to do a solid for espn. Do you think he did that or did he do I want to take a shot at Esphen A on his ground, right? He went to McAfee show, remember? The same show that when he was like, f this Adrian Wojnowski guy. What am I gonna do? I'm gonna be sham Charani who doesn't work here every week, right? It's not an accident. It's not an accident. Like, Pat McAfee is the space that if you want to take a shot at someone at ESPN, this is the safe space on ESPN's airwaves where they're gonna let you say whatever you want. So. Because people ask me, man, LeBron, why didn't he go to Gil's arena? Gil's his guy. He trained his son. Why didn't he go there to say those things? Why didn't he go to all the smoke, Steven Jackson, Matt Barnes, those guys, they got a great relationship. Why didn't he go to uninterrupted? Why didn't he go to Knuckleheads with.

[Billy Gill]

Q Ridge and Shannon Sharpe?

[Stugotz]

Why didn't he go Shannon Sharpe? Why did he go to the white guy, Pat McAfee? And I said, guys, it's not about white or black. It's not about who's his boy. Who's is not. He wanted to do the nuclear strike from inside the building, not from miles and miles away.

[Billy Gill]

I recognize that.

[Stugotz]

I like doing that. So that's why he went there, right? And I know they'll say Amin doesn't know what he's talking about, but, man, like, some of these things are pretty obvious.

[Billy Gill]

You say it's obvious and you say that I'm naive. But what I did assume, because that's what happened when we got LeBron in that time slot is they give you, like, There is the 10 to 1. They give you some things to play with so that you could create a bigger entity that becomes the thing after first take that. You need it to be like. You cannot say that. That is not all good for espn. All of it.

[Stugotz]

It's good for ESPN in the short term. Right. Other than whatever internal politics now that they have to traverse based on however Stephen A. Might feel about friendly fire and all those things. Right. But it's not good if your corporate partner, whose rights you are making money off of, comes to you and says, what the f. What are you guys doing? That's when it ceases to be good. In the same way that everything is great as long as nobody complains about it. Right? Sure. Oh, yeah. No, I cheat on my wife all the time. How does she feel about it? Well, she doesn't know, but she's fine. But then when she finds out, you're like, oh, man, that was a bad move. Yeah, of course it was a bad move. So that's the thing. It's like. Like that it's incumbent on Adam Silver to be the spouse who does not allow Tom Foolery in the house. Does not allow. Make an enemy out of me. Yeah, and there's that. Sure. I mean, look, it's. I don't want. As this is an exciting end to our season. We're going in the playoffs legitimately. Nobody knows who's going to win the championship. There are a lot of, like, real contenders. I actually booked my hotels. We did a bit on the show. Ooh, which one? I booked them all. I do this every year. I book my hotels for the Finals, guessing where the finals might be. And this year, for the first time, I had, like, nine different cities. And because I don't know who's going to be the number one overall seed or who's going to have home court advantage, I had to do multiple permutations. It's really. That's what's great for the sport. That's what's great for the sport. And all of our big players are in play. Steph Curry is back in play. LeBron James is in play. Nikola Jokic is in play. All of these things, the Celtics, everybody. Instead, we're gonna do this. And I know what people are gonna say, Amin. Well, you guys could just talk about that right now. Why are you talking about this? Because I know all of the talk today is gonna be about, man, I can't believe Stephen said he would have swung My man, I can't believe. It's not about what they said. It's the fact that they're saying it. Like, hey, group chat. Go do that behind the scenes.

[Billy Gill]

You understand, though, what I'm saying to you, you're saying.

[Stugotz]

What you're saying is, to me is if it bleeds, it leads. Like you're doing. You're doing trash. Kind of like most common denominator stuff. When you say it's good.

[Billy Gill]

I'm. I am doing what ESPN is doing, which is, what do the people want? What do the people want? Not what's good for the sport. Like, this is the conflict is your television partners with somebody, but this is dream scenario. On a Wednesday when there's not a lot going on, your big guy is fighting the league's big guy in a way that makes for good media. That I guarantee you the ratings go up on when McAfee is interviewing LeBron and he is saying those things. And also. But this is the conflict in the partnership. It's the conflict and it's the conflict in the world happening around the partnership as the sport feels like it deteriorates a little bit because it's storylines and highlights instead of games.

[Stugotz]

Like.

[Billy Gill]

Like, you're not wrong, but that it can be a poison.

[Stugotz]

You're not wrong in that. Yes. ESPN is like, I'm in the money. I got a lot of what it takes to get. They're doing that for sure. I'm telling you, Adam Silver should not be doing that. Adam Silver should be like, no. In the same way that someone who cheats on their spouse could be like. Like, yo, I'm having sex everywhere. Why are you so mad? This is great for me. It's not great for me. The spouse is getting cheated on.

[Billy Gill]

It's not a good analogy because there's a lot of money being made by your corporate partner while you're having sex with other people.

[Stugotz]

What do you mean?

[Chris Cote]

Depends on the industry.

[Stugotz]

The sex is the money here, Dan. The sex is the currency. Right? I'm getting more of this currency of sex.

[Billy Gill]

Your corporate partners with some somebody. And what is bad for your game is good for you. That's the conflict.

[Stugotz]

And my point is the person it's bad for can open their mouth and say, hey, this is bad for me. Stop doing it. That's the point.

[Billy Gill]

I don't know. What was that voice? There's been so many voices. There was a German accent before.

[Greg Cote]

The grandfather was German.

[Stugotz]

When you grandfather, he asked about the story about grandpa, Grandpapa, where do we.

[Chris Cote]

Land on the shakes situation. Can it be shakes if it's green or no?

[Billy Gill]

We made it a poll question. This is a democracy. The people decide. Which one are you having? You're having your peanut butter, which I.

[Chris Cote]

Also think is not a smoothie because it's not fruit nor garlic. Yeah, that's a milky peanut butter.

[Stugotz]

It's got banana in it, though. Now it's a smoothie. That's the rule.

[Billy Gill]

Play Stephen A. Again with the haunting, haunting threat.

[Stugotz]

You don't want to make an enemy out of me.

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