Local Hour: I AIN'T F***IN' LEAVIN'

Summary

The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
Episode Summary: Local Hour: I AIN'T F*IN' LEAVIN'**
Release Date: June 20, 2025

In this vibrant episode of "Local Hour," hosts Dan Le Batard and Stugotz, alongside panelists Jonathan Zaslow, Mike Ryan, Billy Corben, Chris Cody, and Tony, delve into the exhilarating world of sports with a particular focus on the NBA Finals and the Florida Panthers. Their candid discussions, peppered with humor and insightful analysis, offer listeners a comprehensive look into the current sports landscape.

---

NBA Finals Showdown: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Indiana Pacers

The episode kicks off with an intense discussion about the standout seven-game NBA Finals series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers—the first such extended series since 2016. Dan Le Batard sets the stage with his frustrations, saying:

"At what point do we shove it completely up the ass of all these basketball nerds that told me OKC was just going to run away with this... this isn't the same type of suffering NBA teams used to do when they won an NBA Finals. They're playing with their food."
([01:13] Dan Le Batard)

Critique of Oklahoma City Thunder

Le Batard and the panelists express skepticism about OKC's championship credentials. He highlights the team's struggles with turnovers and shooting:

"They have 21 turnovers. They don't know how to shoot from outside... they just flatly have not lived up."
([03:44] Dan Le Batard)

Jonathan Zaslow chimes in, emphasizing OKC's inconsistencies:

"This seems like a very unserious championship team. They, they might win in seven and they'll do their bit of suffering."
([01:23] Jonathan Zaslow)

Indiana Pacers: The Unexpected Contenders

In contrast, the Pacers receive high praise for their defensive prowess and team cohesion. Mike Ryan introduces the "Stat of the Day," spotlighting T.J. McConnell's exceptional performance:

"TJ McConnell is literally having the most impactful series off the bench in NBA Finals history. He's the first bench player in NBA history with 60 plus points, 25 plus assists and 15 plus rebounds in an NBA Finals."
([06:12] Mike Ryan)

Billy Corben adds to the admiration for McConnell:

"I've said on the alley oop a couple times... It's amazing to watch him operate."
([07:04] Billy Corben)

Le Batard underscores the Pacers' strategic depth:

"They don't have a single player averaging 20 points this series, and they're a win away from winning."
([12:31] Jonathan Zaslow)

Game 7: Pressure and Expectations

As the series advances to a decisive Game 7, the discussion turns to the immense pressure both teams face. Zaslow expresses concern for OKC's readiness:

"It was such a pathetic, unserious, immature effort from Oklahoma City. I'm really worried about them going into game seven."
([10:57] Jonathan Zaslow)

Conversely, there's optimism about Indiana's resilience:

"Indiana has actually done suffering. Low key Indiana has suffered plenty. They lost in the Eastern Conference finals last year... So if we're doing big suffering, Indiana's got the suffering edge."
([05:29] Jonathan Zaslow)

ESPN Expert Picks: Jonathan Zaslow's Experience

Jonathan Zaslow shares his unique experience being featured on ESPN's expert picks:

"For the very first time, I was allowed to be on the expert picks for the finals. I was one of the idiots."
([03:33] Jonathan Zaslow)

This segment adds a personal touch, highlighting the camaraderie and light-hearted banter among the panelists.

Florida Panthers: Championship Celebrations and Future Prospects

Shifting gears, the conversation transitions to the Florida Panthers' recent championship celebrations and the evolving fanbase. Tony discusses fan fatigue and expectations:

"The fourth year, I was basically a season ticket holder for the Miami Heat because Dan never wanted to go to those games... Now they're following a similar script with the Panthers."
([21:55] Tony)

Dan Le Batard reflects on his lifelong support for the Panthers:

"They were my first job after high school. They were my first love. I love the Florida Panthers. It's not a bandwagon thing with me."
([26:13] Dan Le Batard)

Generational Fandom and Market Growth

Chris Cody highlights the team's influence on younger fans:

"I ask my 7-year-old, any sport, she's like Panthers, Bobrovsky, Reinhardt... like my 7-year-old can name, like 10 Panthers."
([26:22] Chris Cody)

Jonathan Zaslow addresses rumors about key players potentially leaving:

"We were bad... Now they're on the come up again and the Florida Panthers seem to be on the forefront of this... this is a growing market."
([25:08] Jonathan Zaslow)

Le Batard emphasizes the importance of maintaining a strong roster:

"You got to pick two out of the three... Marshawn, Aaron Ekblad, and Sam Bennett. That's who I would take."
([31:54] Dan Le Batard)

Player Movements and Team Dynamics

The panel discusses the possible exits of players like Aaron Ekblad and Sam Bennett, who have been central to the team's success. There’s a consensus that these players are vital for the Panthers' continued growth and potential dynastic status.

Wrap-Up: Insights and Takeaways

Throughout the episode, Dan Le Batard and his panel offer a mix of critical analysis and unwavering support for their teams. Their discussions provide listeners with a nuanced understanding of the NBA Finals' dynamics and the Florida Panthers' promising trajectory. The episode concludes on an optimistic note, celebrating the passion and dedication that drives both franchises.

Notable Quotes:

• Dan Le Batard ([01:13]): "This isn't the same type of suffering NBA teams used to do when they won an NBA Finals."
• Jonathan Zaslow ([06:12]): "TJ McConnell is literally having the most impactful series off the bench in NBA Finals history."
• Tony ([21:55]): "We were basically a season ticket holder for the Miami Heat because Dan never wanted to go to those games."
• Chris Cody ([26:22]): "Like my 7-year-old can name, like 10 Panthers."
• Dan Le Batard ([31:54]): "You got to pick two out of the three... Marshawn, Aaron Ekblad, and Sam Bennett. That's who I would take."

This episode of "Local Hour" encapsulates the fervor and strategic intricacies of professional sports, offering listeners both entertainment and deep insights into their favorite teams.

Transcript

[Zyn Marketing Representative]

What does Zyn give you? Not just smoke free nicotine satisfaction, but real freedom. Freedom to do what you love and choose your rewards. With Zinn Rewards, you can redeem points for premium tech, outdoor gear and gift cards to your favorite retailers. Find your Zen and keep finding rewards that fit your [e-mail] rewards. This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical.

[Dan Le Batard]

Now's a good time to remember where Tequila's story truly began. In 1795, Cuervo invented tequila. Cuervo, what are you doing here? Cuervo Anytime someone says Cuervo, I show up. 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.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Sweet, delicious Cuervo.

[Dan Le Batard]

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

[Mike Ryan]

Cuervo.

[Dan Le Batard]

So enjoy the tequila that started it all. Cuervo. Cuervo the tequila that invented tequila. Proximo Cuervo.com, please drink responsibly.

[Stugotz]

Cuervo this is the Dan Levatar show with the Stu Guts Podcast.

[Dan Le Batard]

Happy Friday, Billy, Tony, Jeremy Roy, Chris, Jonathan Zaslow, Mike Ryan here We have a seven game series in the NBA Finals. First time since 2016. At what point do we shove it completely up the ass of all these basketball nerds that told me OKC was just going to run away with this because, oh, I'm a basketball casual. I don't know how OKC is just so much more dominant. Yeah, but I jumped in in the playoffs and Indiana looked good to me and okc, everybody hyped them up. And now OKC doesn't know what to do against this Indiana defense. Back in my day, Rick Carlisle ran his own. Now he's just sending multiple defenders trapping everybody. And OKC has 21 turnovers. They don't know how to shoot from outside. Let me tell you something about okc. This seems like a very unserious championship team. They, they might win in seven and they'll do their their bit of suffering. But this isn't the same type of suffering NBA teams used to do with when they won an NBA Finals. They're playing with their food. I don't understand what's happening. But all these nerds that told me that this was a foregone conclusion and they were just going to roll here. They got egg on their face and hopefully this is a sign of things to come because very clearly Indiana is bothering the OKC Thunder.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Well, if you're saying that it's not the same type of suffering as other teams in the past who have lost and suffered. If they lose game seven at home, it's going to be. It'll be so much suffering for them.

[Dan Le Batard]

Then they can win next year.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Well, okay, we can say about every team that suffered. You know, I mean, it would be a total. It'd be one of the greatest upsets of all time.

[Dan Le Batard]

All right.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

If they wind up losing game seven. So I think there will be some suffering. And by the way, look, for the first time ever, ESPN allowed me to go on ESPN.com I love the expert picks. Every time. Every time there's a big series. Hockey, baseball, basketball. I. I love when the expert picks come out. I got to see who's sus. Who's picking against my team. All right. I love counting them up, you know? And so for the very first time, I was allowed to be on the expert picks. Yeah, I was on the expert picks for the finals. I was one of the idiots.

[Chris Cody]

Who's that? Who's Sam Bontemps picking in this line?

[Jonathan Zaslow]

I was allowed to be an expert.

[Billy Corben]

Somebody's saying, like, who the hell is Jonathan Zaslow?

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Right? That's right. But that's okay.

[Dan Le Batard]

We did that when we were Heat fans.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

You'll learn.

[Dan Le Batard]

When we were Heat fans, we'd find any B writer.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Yeah.

[Dan Le Batard]

Any single one.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Who's Sus.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yes. Who's doubting us?

[Billy Corben]

Tim McMahon.

[Chris Cody]

It's Sam Amick. That's where I got Sam from.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

So for the very first time ever, I was allowed on ESPN.com. i'm an expert. I had thunder and four. I was the only one who picked.

[Dan Le Batard]

Thunder and everybody was insufferable. Everybody that. That plotted through this meaningless NBA regular season. They, they, they, they. They arrived at the NBA finals and they told me, like, you don't even need to watch this stuff. It's going to be okc.

[Mike Ryan]

They're going to roll.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Well, Vegas told you that, too.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah, well, guess what. Nope. Nope. Indiana is legit, and TJ is an awesome basketball player. Obi Toppin, incredible contributions. Halliburton was setting people up left and right. What I liked about Game 5 from OKC was SGA was kind of making hockey assist. He wasn't doing the direct assists. He was moving the ball around, and they were crisp. They. I know game six. You're going up against a team that's fighting for their lives. It's a different situation, especially for a team like OKC that hasn't quite gotten over that hump. And hopefully for their fan base, they do that in Game 7. But here's a team that has actually done suffering. Low key Indiana has suffered plenty. They lost in the Eastern Conference finals last year and if you remember how they lost in that Eastern Conference final, it was win probabilities that were well above 75. They choke games away. Rick Carlisle barfed all over the front of his quarter zip against the boss in Celtics last year. And don't forget the IST final runner up. So that's two finals, two trophies that they had the opportunity in very recent years to win. They didn't do it. So if we're doing big suffering, not big suffering, Indiana's got the suffering edge.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

I thought we were doing that today. I'm glad you brought it up. Big suffering, not big suffering.

[Mike Ryan]

Chris, I actually have a stat about Mike bringing up T.J. mcConnell.

[Chris Cody]

Oh, let's do it.

[Stugotz]

Start of the day, start of the day it is the start of the day Start of the day, Start of the day it is the start of the day Start of the day Start of the day it is the start of the day Start of the day Start of the day it is the start of the day.

[Dan Le Batard]

Hey.

[Chris Cody]

Stat of the Day presented by Miller Light.

[Mike Ryan]

TJ McConnell is literally having the most impactful series off the bench in NBA Finals history. He's the first bench player in NBA history with 60 plus points, 25 plus assists and 15 plus rebounds in an NBA Finals.

[Dan Le Batard]

Not surprising it feels that way.

[Mike Ryan]

It's perfect for Indiana, I mean Tony, their offense, he's being able to go well that on its own. But the ability to go From Halliburton to McConnell offensively running your offense and to be able to put both of them out there, it's like two Tasmanian Devils running around and they also still somehow don't turn the ball over.

[Billy Corben]

I've said on the alley oop a couple times during the post shows where the offense looks better when T.J. mcConnell's running it. And like in like a weird way for big stretches of the game it's like, oh wow. This is what happens when you can get somebody that gets into the paint like that. I could just shoot turnaround jumpers three feet in the air and he's six feet tall.

[Mike Ryan]

It's crazy that he wants to do this. Just wouldn't put a hand up. There was a stretch there where nobody.

[Billy Corben]

Put the people put a hand up and he goes up like he goes higher than that.

[Mike Ryan]

But it blew my mind like given what McConnell's been doing all year There was a stretch there with three straight possessions where he was on the left side, drove to the same exact spot right to the right of the paint, and does the turnover jumper. But as he's doing that, case in Wallace is just understandably because he doesn't want to get, you know, pump faked. And then, you know, he's throwing an OOP to Obi Toppin, who's right in the dunker spot. But the idea that you're not even putting a hand up TJ McConnell is like five foot two. It's. It's amazing to watch him operate.

[Billy Corben]

Mike, to your earlier point, right. The way you started the show.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah.

[Billy Corben]

How nerds were saying that Oklahoma City was going to roll. How they're the more superior nerds were saying that. So I think what we're seeing here from the Indiana Pacers is an unprecedented run that we've seen maybe ever really 100%.

[Dan Le Batard]

I mean, they, they're. They're playing.

[Billy Corben]

They're playing excellent.

[Dan Le Batard]

They've been playing this way since January, though. Jeremy's always quick to point out that the. The numbers over the majority of the season have been tilting this way. And this is a team that's growing up in front of our eyes. I don't think that this is like a shocking turn of events now. Tj him continually getting better year over year. This is a guy that's been in the league for a very long time, and you're Halliburton and TJ playing together. As good of a playmaker as Halliburton has been, he's also a pretty nifty catch and shoot dude for TJ to find. And TJ just doesn't miss. If he's got the shooter's touch, it'll roll around the rim, it'll bounce in. If it bounces out, it'll just lip out. And Obi toppins there to pick it up. A really gifted player.

[Chris Cody]

If we have one rule around here, it's don't give Jeremy credit for anything. But I have to give him credit. He's been on this Pacers team before anyone. Early in the season, he's like, Ernie.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Johnson came on here.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yes, well. Yeah, well, defend your take. You're saying that this is an unprecedented run. I've been listening, Jeremy, and I don't think it's so unprecedented.

[Billy Corben]

I've been expecting this regular season is mundane is what you called it.

[Dan Le Batard]

Right?

[Billy Corben]

Nobody cares. Plotting doesn't matter. So you're going to give me. The stats of the pace has been really good in the regular season, you say, okay, they're a really good regular season team that gets bounced in the playoffs by Cleveland, by Boston, by New York, by somebody else. They get to the playoffs and then all of a sudden they're dusting all of your favorite teams on the way there and you finally get to the, to the finals. You're like, finally somebody is going to stop them. Oklahoma City, who's been running a mug through the entire league.

[Chris Cody]

Right.

[Billy Corben]

You talk about regular season not mattering. They went 68 and 14. Like they're one of the best teams historically in NBA history on defense and from a regular season. Exactly.

[Dan Le Batard]

The nerds love them. Any team that blows teams out at this clip, they always win the title.

[Billy Corben]

I think they had more double digit wins than they had losses.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yes.

[Mike Ryan]

Oh yeah, yeah.

[Billy Corben]

Like think about that for a second.

[Dan Le Batard]

So nerds fancied him.

[Billy Corben]

And then you get to the point of the NBA Finals. You're like, finally, OKC Thunder are going to put the stop to everything that's going on in Indiana. Great story, but OKC is better. And now game seven, you're staring at maybe losing in your own building the best home court advantage in the NBA and you may lose. Like that's a big deal. It's unprecedented what the Patriots are doing.

[Mike Ryan]

If unprecedented. Oh, sorry, Zaz. You go ahead.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

If I'm Oklahoma City, like, I've obviously been on Oklahoma City's tip. All right, I told you, I'm an expert. I had the Thunder in four. But if I'm Oklahoma City, if I'm Oklahoma City fan, right now, I am really, really scared going into game seven. Really scared this Pacer team. Look, there's obviously it's pressure on both teams going to game seven. It's do or die. Obviously there's pressure on both teams. But Oklahoma City, after that performance last night, like that looked. That looked like a team that's not ready to win a championship. No, it was such a pathetic, pathetic, unserious, immature effort from Oklahoma City. How is, how were they not ready to win the championship last night? It was such a pathetic effort. I'm really worried about them going into game seven.

[Billy Corben]

If I'm a Thunder fan, Oklahoma City is called Bricktown. More like a Bricktown.

[Dan Le Batard]

Look, I would works one of the.

[Chris Cody]

Aren't they one of the youngest teams ever?

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Second youngest ever.

[Chris Cody]

So I mean, that's. We're saying immature, not ready. Maybe they aren't, but man, they were.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Up three games to two and they had won the previous two games. Like game four on the Road went down by double figures late in the third quarter. And then they win game five rather easily. Like, all right, this is a team that's ready to win. Nope, they were clearly not.

[Mike Ryan]

This felt like the rest of the team saw what Shea and Jalen did in the final eight minutes or so of the previous game and went, they got us like, we're good and didn't really show up. And if anything, there are sort of two arguments to make here. A, this Indiana run going up against OKC is only an argument for the regular season because if you would have seen what they were doing from January through April, you would have known, hey, the Indiana Pacers, while the five seed, are one of not only the best teams in the Eastern Conference, one of the best teams in the NBA since this calendar year started. And so it would have shown you some of the things they were doing. But really what this goes back to is what we were talking about at the very beginning of the playoffs, which is that weakest link theory, showing that depth and having no weaknesses is almost more that's the new NBA now than your strengths. Given the way that the contracts are working, the new CBA is going to kick into effect and that's only going to be more of what's going on. You look at the Pacers, their bench shows up every single night.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

They don't have a single player averaging 20 points this series, and they're a win away from winning.

[Mike Ryan]

That's exactly right. And there's, and there's not a player who plays poorly when they're out there. And if you look at Oklahoma City last night, Shay and Jalen, while their numbers obviously don't reflect it, they weren't bad last night. Shea was getting doubled on every single possession.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

No, they both were well into double figures.

[Mike Ryan]

There's no assist across their rotation players because there was no ball movement and no body movement. So this is an example of an Indiana Pacers team that is just built perfectly around their best players and shows you, hey, you might not have to have a whole bunch of 1A superstars to be able to compete if the rest of your roster is the right level of complimentary.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

I'll tell you who I'm down on at this point. Chad Holmgren.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah, wake up, buddy.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Look, Chad Holmgren came into this league that, that's supposed to be a guy you could build your franchise around. And he doesn't need to be that guy in Oklahoma City. He's the third guy on the Thunder. I mean, you have a chance to win the championship last night, two for nine, four points. He's shooting 36% in the series. In the. It's the lowest ever since the merger. It's the lowest field goal percentage a center. Center's a big.

[Dan Le Batard]

I don't know that they shoot close to the basket.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

The rim is 10ft. And centers, they're like 7ft. All right.

[Dan Le Batard]

He's like 17ft tall.

[Chris Cody]

If you punctuate a stat with since the merger. I'm listening.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

The lowest percentage ever shot by a center since the merger. It now belongs to Chet Holmgren. I'm embarrassing Chet. Not good enough.

[Dan Le Batard]

I guess I got to give credit to Indiana in that. Outside of a gut check fourth quarter last Friday, I don't think I've seen OKC's best. They just flatly have not lived up.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

To the bill Connor McDavid Leandro said. I was still saying that.

[Chris Cody]

Well, it's coming.

[Dan Le Batard]

They haven't lived up to the billing, and I guess everyone expects them with a home crowd. Game 7 finally get over that hump. But I don't know.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

I almost think they'd have a better chance if. Then. If Game seven was in Indiana.

[Dan Le Batard]

You do.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

I think there's so much pressure on them now in front of the home crowd.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah. Game five's performance was pretty amazing by both Shea and. And Jalen Williams. So we have to give them credit for that. But to your point, Zaz, I can make the argument that this game. Game 7.

[Chris Cody]

Are you making it or are you making it?

[Mike Ryan]

I'm making this argument.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

You got a different.

[Mike Ryan]

I'm making this argument. I'm making the argument.

[Dan Le Batard]

You heard his Chet Holmgren t. Take. That was conviction right there.

[Mike Ryan]

I made that.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

I. I didn't. Maybe I could. No, I made the argument.

[Mike Ryan]

I am making the argument.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Yeah.

[Dan Le Batard]

Okay.

[Mike Ryan]

That this game. Game 7 for Oklahoma City in their home building is the most pressure on a team since the big three heats. Game six in Boston.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

You should have said that you could make.

[Dan Le Batard]

Don't make that.

[Mike Ryan]

Because as you mentioned, Chet has not shown up in the way that you would expect. This might be a blueprint game for what it is that Oklahoma City is. Because they could decide, hey, let's get out ahead on these contracts the way that they did the last time around and they moved James Harden proactively. This is.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Well, that's also because Harden. It was a contract situation.

[Mike Ryan]

Understand?

[Dan Le Batard]

I don't think they're going to. I don't think it's a blueprint game, but I'm scanning my brain for. For NBA finals since 2016, we've had so many random. 16.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

16 is the one.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah. That you're. You're dead on.

[Mike Ryan]

I think that that was also different because they'd already won a title. Like, that's the one thing I would say is.

[Chris Cody]

So you're saying none of the warriors series had not the same type of.

[Mike Ryan]

Pressure that this individual thing is.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

You think this is more pressure on the Thunder on Sunday than the warriors had in 2016 in Game 7? Because I. I disagree.

[Mike Ryan]

I mean, maybe. Look, I am certainly being a prisoner of the moment, but the reason. You could make that argument. But I won't make it.

[Chris Cody]

Are you making it.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

No, no. He was taking it back to.

[Mike Ryan]

I was. I was taking it back to 2012. And the reason I would argue it is because the warriors had already won a championship when they were going into that game seven. Yes. It was blowing a 31 lead, 73 wins. And you don't want to be in that space. And you were the best team ever. But this team was the best in terms of point differential, I believe, of all time. Like, this was a truly, truly dominant regular season team with the MVP with an incredible second best player who had 40 points in game five for this team. If they don't show up at home against. Yes, we've, we've talked about how good the Pacers have been. But a five seed out of the Eastern Conference, who's not the reigning champs in the Boston Celtics. This would be a different conversation if they were playing at home against Boston. The fact that this is Indiana going into their, their home court, if they lose this game, it feels like a giant deal in the NBA.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

So taking all of that into account at the start of Game 7 on Sunday, you're telling me Oklahoma City is not tighter than Indiana is? Because I think they are.

[Chris Cody]

I think Indiana's losing. I don't think there's any pressure on Indiana.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

I think so too. Well, there's pressure. It's game seven.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah. Game seven, it's a different thing.

[Mike Ryan]

But you're.

[Chris Cody]

You're like, what? To his point, you're just happy to be here at some point.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

I think they think they can win. I think they're going in there saying, we're going to win.

[Chris Cody]

No, I know they think they're going to win, but if they lose, stars hurt. We're a five seed. Like, this was an awesome year.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Halliburton may have been faking, let's be honest. Wow. You saw last night. It may have been a bit of.

[Chris Cody]

A faker it's important conversation.

[Zyn Marketing Representative]

What does Zyn give you? Not just smoke free nicotine satisfaction, but real freedom. Freedom to do what you love and choose your rewards. With Zinn Rewards, you can redeem points for premium tech, outdoor gear and gift cards to your favorite retailers. Find your Zinn and keep finding rewards that fit your [e-mail] rewards warning this product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical.

[Mike Ryan]

I've mentioned it before on the show, but guys, I don't really get enough sleep generally and so when I do get sleep I want to make sure I'm getting great sleep. And do you ever like me, wake up tired and think maybe it's not me, maybe it's the bed? Yeah, it probably is the bed. That's why there's the Sleep Number Smart Bed. The bed that learns you. It adjusts to your movements, supports your body and lets you pick the firmness on each side. No arguments, no flipping a coin. No sleeping on the edge of the bed like you lost a challenge on survivor. Sleep number's been working with the NFL since 2018. 80% of NFL players sleep on one of these beds. If it's good enough for a 300 pound lineman trying to recover from Sunday, it's probably good enough for your weird shoulder cramp from scrolling in bed for three hours. Why choose a Sleep Number Smart Bed so you can choose your ideal comfort on either side. The only bed that lets you make each side firmer or softer whenever you like your Sleep Number setting and now it's the Sleep Number 4th of July Sale. Save over $600 on the Sleep Number P5 King Smart Bed the lowest price of the season. Limited time. Exclusively at a Sleep number store near you. See store or sleepnumber.com for details.

[Dan Le Batard]

Look As a small business, we don't get to clock out. Ever. We're always on nights, weekends, holidays. So when it came time to hire someone, we couldn't waste time. We needed help. Real help. Not Stugot's nose. A guy help. We used LinkedIn jobs. And we'll be honest, we didn't expect it to be that easy. We posted the job for free. LinkedIn basically held our hand and wrote the description for us. Next thing you know. Candidates. Qualified ones. Not resumes written in crayon. Real people who want to work. Imagine that. LinkedIn gives you all the tools, deep insights, easy filtering, one place to manage everything. We even threw the little hashtag hiring frame on our profile picture. Doubled the number of applicants. Now we're part of that 72% of small businesses that say LinkedIn helps them find high quality candidates. Post your job for [e-mail] dls that's LinkedIn.com dls to post your job for free. Terms and conditions apply. Don LeBatard that's not my favorite rejoin.

[Billy Corben]

Context needs to be applied for a.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Joke and thought the context was applied.

[Dan Le Batard]

We. We'd like to rip that out of context. I was going for a thing and you're gonna. I have a family. You're gonna pretend here that you don't love Matthew Tkachuk more than you love anybody you've ever loved. I. I don't love Matthew Tkachuk more than my daughter. Stugats Now. It's pretty damn close.

[Stugotz]

This is the Dan Levatar show with the stug.

[Dan Le Batard]

All right, let's turn our attention to what happened in the wee hours. In the morning over at 11. It looks like Sam Bennett is sticking around.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Oh, interesting.

[Chris Cody]

I thought we knew that.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah. You reported that a lot of people have been floating 8 and 8 and Billy, this is the second straight year it seems as though the Panthers are just doing the same exact thing. I mean, down to the jersey itinerary. Just down to the jersey that Barkov was wearing. 11. The same exact thing that they were doing last year. Are you sick of it, Billy?

[Tony]

Am I sick of the Panthers?

[Dan Le Batard]

Are you sick of this Panther championship celebration?

[Tony]

No. Why would I be sick of the championship celebration of the Panthers?

[Dan Le Batard]

I heard. I overheard you saying you were fatigued.

[Tony]

I'm fatigued. No, no. We were talking about the other day. I was asking Zazzle if there would be Panther fatigue towards the end of the. The run of the big three in Miami Heat, that there was somewhat of a feeling of fan fatigue. The tickets were easier to get that fourth year. And the Panthers now are following a similar script. They lose in the. In the Stanley Cup Final. Then they come. They win back to back then the fourth year, you're there and what happens here? Is there an expectation? And Zaz said, no, that hockey is totally different than basketball.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Regular season hockey is different.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah.

[Tony]

Basketball, you start and you knew that the Heat were going to be in the NBA Finals every single year. Look, I'll be honest with you. That fourth year, I was basically a season ticket holder for the Miami Heat because Dan never wanted to go to those games. Like the first. The first he had. He still has, I think, the same seats, great seats. And it would be like a lottery is to, you know, if he didn't go to the game, he Couldn't go for whatever. Who would go? Mike would get the ticket sometimes. Roy would get the ticket sometimes, right? Sometimes there's one ticket. You had to go and sit with his mom, which was kind of like, nice that you're at the game.

[Dan Le Batard]

I never, I never took his tickets. Never. Never did.

[Tony]

You never sign. Well, you had season tickets too, right?

[Dan Le Batard]

Or no, no. Oh, wait, no, I did have season.

[Tony]

Tickets one of the years, but after.

[Dan Le Batard]

The pick three, so I really, I really botched that one. Gordon Dragic, though, really, really delivered well.

[Tony]

That fourth year tickets were easy. Easy pickings. You know what I mean? Before you'd go maybe one game that year. I went probably 10 games at least that season. So I was wondering if there was going to be a similar fatigue with the Panthers. Zazzle says, no, no, no.

[Dan Le Batard]

I think it's pretty strong. No, just from. I mean, we're down in Dade County, Billy, and just looking at, you know, banners, looking at bars, hearing people talk, looking at the line across around the block at 11, when last year, you can just kind of stroll right in. It seems as though there's an uptick in this market. The whole back to back thing, it feels like more people are paying attention. I know people are isolating ratings and.

[Tony]

Well, I mean, it's hard not to.

[Dan Le Batard]

Right?

[Tony]

Like they were putting up 2.8.

[Dan Le Batard]

Oh, that's just cable versus broadcast. This was on TNT as opposed to ABC last year.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Okay. There's a part of that that's true, Roy, certainly.

[Tony]

I mean, but.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

But the numbers are a little bit fugazi when we're talking about what the Panther ratings are during these, during this run here. Miami Dade and Broward is one market. Palm beach county is another market. All right? And the Panthers are very much a Broward and Palm beach team. So when you're comparing Miami Dade and Broward Heat ratings to Panther ratings, that's apples to oranges. Like, combine the Broward ratings with the Palm beach ratings. That's a more accurate depiction of who's paying attention.

[Dan Le Batard]

The need to defend the ratings in Miami. It's not like they're going to take the cup away from us and Miami.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

No, but I saw some of this. He's right. I saw some of it.

[Dan Le Batard]

I see it. It's a loser's lament. It's the same.

[Tony]

They were also saying that more people were watching the NBA Finals down here in Miami than they were watching the Panthers when they're the hometown team.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Okay. In my.

[Tony]

I haven't said. I haven't brought it up. I didn't want to be the guy to poo poo the situation.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Miami is not the. It's not the right comp. Miami. It's Palm Beach.

[Tony]

Talk to me. Talk to the Giant.

[Dan Le Batard]

Not scientific. Doesn't feel that way to me. I mean, just not, not, not super scientific as a poll. But it, it feels like people were watching this.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

You don't trust ratings.

[Dan Le Batard]

It looks like people were watching this team in mass and going to places and being around other people.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Excited.

[Dan Le Batard]

Everyone is puck fever. Yeah, look, we're a growing market. This franchise betrayed the market. They were flirting with leaving for a long time. It was a horribly run organization. Mini viola comes in, stems the tide and starts turning things around. And I think you got to look at Florida as essentially an expansion team that's still trying to find its footing. This is a weird sport in a weird market in Miami Dade county anyways. And I'm kind of proud of the strides that they're making. And I don't need to make excuses or anything like that. Yeah, the ratings are still growing year over year. You may look at a difference because one was network over cable, and it may look like there's a downturn, but that's not the case here in this market. There is certainly more of an appetite, I think, for Florida Panthers hockey. And it's still a growing market. And I think we'll see more people at the parade, just like we saw more people at 11. Just like we saw more people in the bars filling it up. Just like we saw the ticket prices in the secondary market. Boom. I just think that we should kind of lean into the fact that this is new and exciting for this market.

[Chris Cody]

And the coolest part for me is you ask my 7 year old, any sport, she's like Panthers, Bobrovsky, Reinhardt, like my 7 year old can name, like 10 panthers.

[Dan Le Batard]

Here's what fortified my Florida Panthers fandom. Cause growing up, I had 1996 and they were my favorite team. There was nothing like that Scott Mellenby rat thing. And they get swept by the Colorado Avalanche. And I was a fan for life. And I saw a lot of David Booth, all right? I saw a lot of bad hockey in my day and I stuck with them. They were my first job after high school. They were my first love. I love the Florida Panthers. It's not a bandwagon thing with me. If you want to say, well, you're talking more hockey now. Yeah, man. I mean, it was a cliche. They were five points out of the final playoff spot with two Games in hand, like perpetually. That was, that was their thing and they finally turned that thing around and they have a really well run organization and right now you're seeing the seeds of generational fandom building. This is, I can't even imagine for your kids as I know my daughter knows the Panthers knows certain players. This is a really exciting time down here and this is the stuff that will make this franchise sticky. It's what happened in Tampa. Remember before the lockout. They, they made their cup run and the lockout really took a lot of the wind out of the sales of that sport. They went on versus it was, it was a series of bad decisions that hurt hockey. But they're on the come up again and the Florida Panthers seem to be on the forefront of this and I don't think we should apologize for the lack of the ratings or whatever. Like they're, they're, they're on the, the precipice of being dynastic. So I don't, I don't need to explain our fandom that we're a weird ass market and we should lean in.

[Chris Cody]

I love learning about the future and sorry, that's the elbow room you're hearing there. That's actually wasn't at 11 last night upset. You're, you're hearing. We're learning of the news of whether they're going to resign or not at clubs like last night like zazzle 2.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Days ago with me sitting right here in this chair.

[Chris Cody]

Well now it's coming straight from the source.

[Dan Le Batard]

Right? Let's sort of that sound because yes, Sam Bennett was there. And by the way, Sam Reinhart loved the microphone. I know he had a wedding last year. He missed the parade. He had to leave early. Sam Reinhart made up for it. Well over last night. The guy just could not put the microphone down. But there was a moment where they're talking to Sam Bennett, crowd's going crazy chanting eight more years. And here's what Sam Bennett said in front of a whole bunch of people at 11.

[Mike Ryan]

I ain't leaving.

[Chris Cody]

I ain't bleeping leaving.

[Dan Le Batard]

Other side of the coin though. Erin Eck bled kind of felt like he's leaving.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Really what happened?

[Dan Le Batard]

Not the same vibe. So like they were going around and everybody was speaking.

[Chris Cody]

Too much talking.

[Dan Le Batard]

I heard from someone probably a little too much. It was.

[Tony]

That was that video. You courtesied yourself.

[Chris Cody]

You know that video? I put it in our slack. That was from our group chat. I don't know.

[Dan Le Batard]

Chris Cody wasn't there this year.

[Chris Cody]

I didn't go this year.

[Tony]

How does this work? They the Panthers tell you we're going to 11 tonight and you guys all just show up.

[Dan Le Batard]

That's kind of how it happened. 11 Put it on social media.

[Tony]

Yeah. And they said the Panthers will be here tonight. And then everybody just went to see the Panthers.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Can I have something real quick too? Like 11, I've never been there. I mean, whatever. And I see a lot of people in the shot, like they're wearing Panther jerseys, Panther sweaters. If the Panthers weren't there, would you be allowed in the club just wearing a Panther sweater?

[Chris Cody]

I don't know.

[Dan Le Batard]

11'S pretty chill. You can wear. Club wear is a lot different.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Okay.

[Dan Le Batard]

You don't have to wear C. Madden's anymore. And button downs. Like you can wear hats. I mean, the 11 hat is iconic locally there. It's pretty chill. Yeah. You can walk into the club in a hockey sweater. Although eleven did encourage people to wear their Panther gear this time out. Everybody did their speeches. Some people doing too many speeches. But one thing that really stuck with me was Aaron Eckblad speaking to the crowd. It kind of felt like a little bit of a goodbye.

[Mike Ryan]

Why?

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Because didn't he a couple of weeks ago, didn't he, like he was asked about at the start of the series or something and he gave some whole deal about, I bleed for the Panthers. I love this organization. I don't ever want to play anywhere else.

[Chris Cody]

I don't know if there's been conversations since then. The vibes changed.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah.

[Chris Cody]

It felt like, I love you guys. Thanks for everything.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

So you think that within the end of the Stanley cup and last night at 11, there's been conversations already?

[Dan Le Batard]

It felt like it, yes. I mean, if you remember, like, there's a lot of moves being made in the NHL right now. The Panthers don't have that luxury. And remember when they went seven games with the Oilers, the Reinhardt extension was like essentially done at the parade. Lombard knew he was on his way out.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Like I told you a few days ago, the Bennett extension was done.

[Chris Cody]

Lombard got announced the day after the parade that he was going to California.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah. And it was pretty clear around the parade that that was a swan song for him. And the think, I hope I'm wrong about Ekblad who came back from that steroid suspension.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

I think you are wrong.

[Dan Le Batard]

I hope so. Came back from that steroid suspension and kind of played the best hockey of his career.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Awesome.

[Dan Le Batard]

Last year in the Stanley cup final, it was very clear who was shutting down McDavid it was, if McDavid's on the ice, we send 16 out there, and if he somehow gets past 16, Forsling is there. This year. It was an entire village that was just pushing Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl to the boards. It was Ekblad and Forsling. If you were able to crack Reinhardt, Lundell, Barkov, we weren't even doing that thing anymore where McDavid was rushing onto the ice to avoid Barkov because everybody that he played against was a problem for him. And Ekblad was a huge piece of that. We'll say the crowd tried to get a, you know, four more years type of thing going with him, and he wasn't really biting. So I hope I'm wrong there, but it kind of does feel like you got to pick two out of the three when it comes to Marshawn, Aaron Ekblad and Sam Bennett. We know Sam Bennett's done the eight.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Eight by eight, because I told you.

[Dan Le Batard]

A couple days ago, you guys want.

[Chris Cody]

To play two out of three. The number I'd go Ekblad and Bennett. Is that obvious because of the age. But that's. If you made me choose two out of those three, that's who I would take.

[Dan Le Batard]

Everyone knows my bias when it comes to Marshawn, but one of the numbers that's been floated out there by reputable reporters is 5 million a year for a Brown.

[Chris Cody]

Three or four years. For three or four years.

[Dan Le Batard]

That's a lot of money for a dude that's 37 years old. And what did he did? He finished second in the con Smythe voting.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Yeah. 11 to 7 was first.

[Dan Le Batard]

He was phenomenal. He was one of the great trade deadline acquisitions ever. You could look at what Bill Zito did at the deadline and say that's one of the more effective trade deadlines.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

How important is it for the continued growth Loystering and Lundell?

[Dan Le Batard]

I see. Like, I think it's the other way. I think Lucerina and Lundell breathed life into Brad Marchand. And I know he got off to a slow start and he arrived injured. Right. He had to take several weeks off. And that's probably why I was out here in front of a microphone saying, not a good play, not good. He turned it around and he played on what I happen to think will go down in history as one of the greatest third lines in the history of the game. And we've seen that line time and time again spark whoever is on that line.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

So why not keep it as one of the greatest third lines?

[Chris Cody]

In the McDavid had a thing where he's just like the third line plus 20. It's like just one of those, like.

[Mike Ryan]

What do you expect?

[Dan Le Batard]

No, the bottom six is. Was unreal. And I want to talk about Edmonton a little bit because before this series I was. And a lot of people had this take. Both teams are better than they were last year. Both teams are better.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Edmonton wasn't though. Edmonton wrong.

[Dan Le Batard]

Edmonton was better. But they made moves that made them worse than specific to this matchup.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Yeah.

[Dan Le Batard]

And they got rid of young guys like Broberg and Holloway and McLeod. Guys that were good. Locker, Vogel. I mean he was probably price out. You have to make tough decisions.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Not having Hyman was definitely a big thing.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yes. Because everyone wants is quick with saying like Corey Perry played so well. They didn't really miss Hyman. No, no, no, no. Corey Perry did play well. Imagine having Corey Perry playing well. And Zach Hyman.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Hyman, Panther draft pick.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah. And we know Bob has like a couple of weaknesses in his game. You go up high, that's one of them. And also if you screen him where Toronto got a lot of early success in the series against us, they were screening Bob like a madman. And Hyman, that's his game. And they didn't have that there. They were only relying on Corey Perry and they barely bothered Bob. Barely bothered him. So I think while in retrospect, this was a six game series and it's a rare six game series as a. That was a blowout.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Oh, totally. History will look back at. Oh, that must be a good series. Six games. You know, Connor McDavid, Leon Trice. I was like, no ass kicking. It was a beat down. Like Rod Brindmore would tell you, it felt like a sweet.

[Chris Cody]

Can someone explain to me why nick nurse makes 8mil a year?

[Dan Le Batard]

It's not Nick Nurse. I've made that mistake before. Nick Nurse is a former Darnell Raptors. He's the six.

[Chris Cody]

Wow. That's twice I've done that.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah. Champion Darnell Nurse. He makes a lot of money.

[Chris Cody]

Nick Nurse and you need to make a lot of money.

[Dan Le Batard]

They got rid of those guys. Broberg, Holloway, McLeod, Fogel. They brought in guys that like guys like Arvidson and Skinner, guys that were getting scratched. Healthy scratch. And it's not like these guys came over and took a discount to play over at Edmonton. And let me tell you something about the state tax BS that everybody wants to do. And I really did enjoy the F U Biz chant that erupted over at 11 last night. First off, state Taxes only apply to the home games.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Yes.

[Dan Le Batard]

All right. You get taxed wherever you play.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Well, games in Florida. So add two more for Tampa.

[Dan Le Batard]

Right. You'll play some road games in Tennessee, I think is a non state tax state. Texas, non state tax.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Arizona. Oh, but they don't have team anymore.

[Dan Le Batard]

They don't Washington anymore. You'll run into certain states, but you get taxed based on where you're playing the games, where you're working. Right. So if the Miami Dolphins travel to the LA Chargers, they get taxed in that tax bracket over there. What people don't tell you is that Canadian teams, they don't get paid in Canadian money, they get paid in American money, so that makes up for it. And also teams like Winnipeg, several teams actually in Canada, their arenas get tax safe harbors, so they actually get kickbacks. And the local markets, not the NHL, but the local markets, legislate equality that way. And don't even get me started on the cost of living. If Biz does not want to get rid of this, by all means, Biz, come over here and try to get a 1,700 square foot townhome. Pay 1.2 million for that. Now take that money and try to buy a home in Edmonton. I guarantee you your money will go a hell of a lot longer. The cost of living here is insane. So it all evens out in the end. And also, what are you going to do to markets like LA and Chicago? Do you give them subsidies? It's a horrible thing to try to legislate. And also, we were crap for 25 years.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

This team went 26 years without winning a playoff series.

[Dan Le Batard]

We were bad.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

We were bad.

[Dan Le Batard]

Sprinkle this state tax magic over the Miami Dolphins, please. Dear God. And nobody said this about the Lightning when they were winning?

[Chris Cody]

Nah.

[Dan Le Batard]

No, it started kicking up with the Lightning, especially when they made it to like their third straight final. This is, this is a thing. It's the losers lament and it always comes from Canada. But they also refuse to acknowledge the fact that they get carve outs. Just the same, they find ways to level the playing field. It's an impossible thing to legislate in this league. Gary Bettman dismisses it out of hand immediately. Every time you know someone's a loser if they go to the state tax thing.

[Chris Cody]

So you think five out of six, it's just random. Like it's just. Yeah, no, the argument is that five out of six years, no, it's great team building.

[Dan Le Batard]

Those are, those are great teams.

[Chris Cody]

I'm with you I think that's.

[Dan Le Batard]

Edmonton made it to two straight. They. They were. They. They have a tax.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Dallas. It's been a three straight conference. Four straight. Three straight conference finals. Give me the player who. The Panthers. The big player that the Panthers sign in free agency. I'll wait forever. Who is the big player?

[Chris Cody]

Well, no, they just. They have nobody making more than 10. So it's like the argument is that everybody can take a couple million. That's what they're saying. I'm not making the argument that everybody's.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Taking a couple million less on this team. Barky, that's a standard price. Makes $10 million.

[Dan Le Batard]

Reinhard and for Sling. Those were sweetheart deals. Those were sweetheart deals. People are taking less. But you guess what?

[Jonathan Zaslow]

They originally signed Porcelain because he was waived.

[Dan Le Batard]

Right? But they're. But they're. People think that, yeah, maybe the state tax does help make up some of that Delta, but people are taking less because they want to keep this team together, because they're winning.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Because things like that never happens in sports, right?

[Dan Le Batard]

Because things like last night were frigging awesome. And guy, these guys genuinely love each other. And I think that that's. That's a larger play than any state tax thing. The state tax thing drives me up a wall because you're trying to diminish the accomplishments of what is a really, truly great team. Well built. Incredible stuff by Will Wheido, incredible stuff by Paul Maurice.

[Mike Ryan]

Even if you want to give that even an ounce of credit, which, look, you could say players are happier to make more money.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

Could say.

[Mike Ryan]

But the reality is, is the only way it helps this team is in the longevity. They built this team without that even being a factor. That had nothing to do with what building this team was. That turned them into the champion that they are. It might help them become dynastic in an even greater way than they already are. Because all of these guys want to keep this team together and might have already taken pay cuts, but there's an extra incentive to in being here or an extra bonus to doing so here in Florida.

[Dan Le Batard]

The bonus is winning Stanley Cups.

[Mike Ryan]

When you're winning Stanley Cups, that's gonna happen anyway.

[Chris Cody]

And there's also a pressure now. If you're Bennett and you see Reinhardt took a good deal, Barky took a good deal. You're like, okay, I'll take eight.

[Jonathan Zaslow]

All I hear from hockey players, especially this time of year, is how winning the Stanley cup is the only thing that matters. And now we're making a case that players are signing here because of money.

[Dan Le Batard]

What Are we talking about Miami Marlins? State tax? Why isn't it working for them? It's not a thing. It's just a loser's lament. And tell you something, Florida Panthers are built for the long haul.

[Chris Cody]

I mean, going nowhere.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah, no, they're. But these guys are in their 20s still. Look, as a small business, we don't get to clock out ever. We're always on nights, weekends, holidays. So when it came time to hire someone, we couldn't waste time. We needed help. Real help. Not Stugot's nose, a guy help. We used LinkedIn jobs. And we'll be honest, we didn't expect it to be that easy. We posted the job for free. LinkedIn basically held our hand and wrote the description for us. Next thing you know, candidates, qualified ones. Not resumes written in crayon. Real people who want to work. Imagine that LinkedIn gives you all the tools, deep insights, easy filtering, one place to manage everything. We even threw the little hashtag hiring frame on our profile picture. Doubled the number of applicants. Now we're part of that 72% of small businesses that say LinkedIn helps them find high quality candidates. Post your job for [e-mail] dls that's LinkedIn.com dls to post your job for free. Terms and conditions apply.

[Mike Ryan]

I've mentioned it before on the show, but guys, I don't really get enough sleep generally. And so when I do get sleep, I want to make sure I'm getting great sleep. And do you ever like me, wake up tired and think maybe it's not me, maybe it's the bed? Yeah, it probably is the bed. That's why there's the sleep number. Smart bed. The bed that learns you. It adjusts your movements, supports your body and lets you pick the firmness on each side. No arguments, no flipping a coin. No sleeping on the edge of the bed like you lost a challenge on Survivor. Sleep number's been working with the NFL since 2018. 80% of NFL players sleep on one of these beds. If it's good enough for a 300 pound lineman trying to recover from Sunday, it's probably good enough for your weird shoulder cramp from scrolling in bed for three hours. Why choose a sleep number Smart bed so you can choose your ideal comfort on either side. The only bed that lets you make each side firmer or softer whenever you like your sleep number setting. And now it's the Sleep Number 4th of July Sale. Save over $600 on the Sleep Number P5 King Smart Bed. The lowest price of the season. Limited time. Exclusively at a sleep number store near you. See store or sleepnumber.com for details.