Local Hour: The Good Bagels

Summary

The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

Episode: Local Hour: The Good Bagels
Date: January 26, 2026
Location: Elser Hotel, Downtown Miami

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Episode Overview

This episode, “The Good Bagels,” blends classic Le Batard banter with sharp sports takes, food opinions, South Florida color, and some uniquely Miami-side discussions. The crew—Dan Le Batard, Stugotz, and company—riff on the state of the show breakfast, South Florida’s bagel reputation, NFL playoff chaos, the ongoing measurement of greatness in football, and local pop culture (including a heated debate about the Netflix portrayal of Hialeah). The tone flips between humor, sports fanaticism, and city pride.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Good Bagels and Miami Breakfast Culture (00:00–02:25)

• The episode kicks off with concern over the missing breakfast spread, specifically the lack of quality bagels—a recurring theme reflecting both personal preferences and regional pride/mocking.
  • "[Miami doesn't] make great bagels. The Miami bagel can be inconsistent." – Dan (00:54)
  • New Yorkers' reputed snobbery about Miami bagels is ridiculed, leading to a humorous exchange about climate tradeoffs:
    • "We will take a lesser bagel in exchange for having weather better than anywhere in the United States." – Dan (01:34)

2. Sports Talk: NFL Playoff Outcomes and Measurement Systems (02:25–14:00)

• Stats of the Day Segment: Le Batard marvels at Matthew Stafford’s statistical anomalies (great games but still losing), and the Patriots' staggering Super Bowl tally compared to the Dolphins’ drought.

  • “Second time in five weeks [Stafford’s] gone 350+, three touchdowns, no turnovers and lost. That happened to Brady twice in 23 years.” – Dan (03:18)
  • "The Patriots have 10 Super Bowl appearances since the Dolphins last won a playoff game." – Dan (04:23)

• Best Team Debates: The show debates the value of playoff outcomes as hard proof of "who’s better" in football; arguments jump between analytics, sample sizes, and luck (see especially the Rams/Seahawks discussion).

  • “The normalization of one-game samples as the measurement system...” – Dan (17:02)

• Reliving Key Plays: Discussion of aggressive play-calling, particularly fourth-down decisions, with Romo and Nance as humor targets. Brady’s surprising broadcasting performance also emerges; the crew admits a "double turn," liking Brady more than Romo in the booth.

  • “Tom Brady did have a good call on a play...he just shouted, ‘Oh my God.’” – Dan (11:03)

3. The Evolution and Redemption of Sam Darnold (19:44–27:15; 32:18–34:50)

• The panel marvels at Sam Darnold reaching the Super Bowl, especially as the first from his hyped draft class (“Darnold, Mayfield, Rosen, Allen, Lamar Jackson”) and after playing for five different teams.

  • “One of the great reclamation stories in sports...Sam Darnold’s time. This is Seattle’s time.” – Moderator (19:27)
  • “Has there ever been a starting quarterback in the Super Bowl who’s been on five teams like this?” – Stugotz (32:18)

• Darnold's grit is lauded, especially his performance through injury, and the trust shown by the Seahawks’ coaching staff.

  • “He needed painkillers to play...He couldn’t throw the ball deep all week, then first, second pass of the game, he throws it for 40 yards.” – Dan (26:25)

4. Coaching, Work-Life Balance, and Football Obsession (24:10–25:15)

• Mike McDonald’s (Seahawks Coach) prioritization of work over family time is debated with a mix of praise and incredulity, poking fun at the personal sacrifices demanded by NFL success.
  • "30 minutes of family time a week keeps you fresh." – Dan (24:57)
  • "If you want to be a champion, can you see your family?" – Dan (Poll suggestion) (25:07)

5. Hialeah vs. Miami Lakes: Place, Pride, and Pop Culture (38:02–43:11)

• The squad pivots to a deep dive on Miami pop culture, especially the reaction to the Netflix movie "The Rip" and its depiction of Hialeah.
  • Ben Affleck’s mispronunciation (“Hylia”) and reductive portrayal spark local pride, criticism, and affectionate jokes about the region’s quirks.
  • "It actually painted Hialeah in a better light than what reality is...I didn’t see any chickens, I didn’t see any people selling water or coconuts on the street.” – Tony (39:05)
• Miami street navigation and city lore get play, with stories about wild local addresses and “El Raton de Hialeah” scoring a $10 spare tire in a legendary negotiation.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Bagels + Weather

• “We will take a lesser bagel in exchange for having weather better than anywhere in the United States.” – Dan (01:34)

Staff Stats and Dolphins Lament

• "The Patriots have 10 Super bowl appearances since the Dolphins last won a playoff game." – Dan (04:23)

The Brady-Romo On-Air Shift

• "This playoff championship weekend was the crescendo of a weeks-long double turn in which people decided they actually like Tom Brady on the broadcast more than Tony Romo." – Mike (09:54)

• “Tom Brady did have a good call on a play. So on fourth and one...he just shouted, ‘Oh my God.’ And I gasped too.” – Dan (11:03)

Football's Luck and Chaos

• “I've been having this argument since high school with friends of mine about the way that we decide games, where after those games are played everyone just says, ‘Yeah, Seattle and the Patriots are better.’ And I'm like, I don't know that.” – Dan (19:44)

Obsessive Coaching

• “The way that you do that, the only way to be as successful as Mike McDonald is to ignore your family.” – Dan (24:10)
• “30 minutes of family time a week keeps you fresh.” – Dan (24:57)

Miami Urban Comedy

• “The weird part about Hialeah is that there’s different streets that are different directions, right? So there’s West 84th street, but Northwest 37th Street. And you’re like, wait, how is this the same street…” – Tony (42:17)

Netflix’s “The Rip” and Authenticity

• "Ben Affleck…doesn't know yet how to say Hialeah. Despite all the research that he has done, it is not yet something that he knows how to say." – Dan (39:49)
• "Fun movie. Ben and Matt Damel were great. It actually painted Hialeah in a better light than what reality is." – Tony (39:05)

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Important Segment Timestamps

• 00:00–02:25: Bagel debate, Miami vs. New York food and weather.
• 02:25–08:00: NFL playoff stats, Rams vs Seahawks, Patriots Super Bowl domination, Belichick legacy.
• 08:00–11:32: Play-by-play calls, Tom Brady's debut, Romo critiques, and broadcasting “double turn.”
• 16:48–27:15: Rams-Seahawks head-to-head, measurement of greatness, Darnold as a redemption arc, third-down heroics.
• 24:10–25:15: Mike McDonald’s work-life/family time quote.
• 38:02–43:11: Hialeah vs. Miami Lakes, local pride, movie authenticity, Miami navigation.

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Summary Flow & Tone

The tone is lively, irreverent, and informal, reflecting the show's trademark blend of sports acumen and comic Miami boosterism. They take pride in local quirks, skewer perceived snobbery (bagels, TV analysts, coaches), and fiercely defend their city’s character, all while rooting their sports takes in both data and cultural memory. This “Local Hour” is a prime snapshot of how the Le Batard Show evolves sports talk into something broader—about identity, place, and community.

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For listeners seeking Miami flavor, quirky authenticity, and nuanced sports arguments—this episode delivers it all.

Transcript

[A]

So little bit worried this morning, Dan. When I got here, I'm not gonna lie, a little bit worried. There was no breakfast.

[B]

I saw that. I saw. I came in and I didn't see any trays out there. I didn't see any bagels out there. I've seen in general that the breakfast has gotten a bit flimsier. It's not. The lunch is still strong, but the breakfast has gotten a little weaker. What happened?

[C]

So I have some inside information via our ladies at the desk over there that were telling me that the delivery driver came in with the stuff, and then as he was delivering said stuff, it exploded and fell on the ground, and they had to go get more. Well, so that's why I was late.

[A]

I was. I was worried. But then the breakfast came through in a very big way. You got the good bagels this morning. You got the good cream cheese. You know, I don't play around with that whipped cream cheese. I like the block cream cheese. And you got the good bagels.

[C]

You like government cream cheese.

[A]

I'm in a great mood today, Dan.

[B]

Miami doesn't make great bagels. Correct. The Miami bagel can be inconsistent.

[A]

These are good ones.

[B]

I've heard people from New York come in and complain about our bagels because New York has some bagel snobs, and evidently, we don't always make good bagels. What makes these bagels better than the other bagels?

[A]

They're just. They're fat. These are fat bagels.

[D]

They're allowed to have that. You ever have a New York croqueta?

[C]

Icks.

[D]

It ain't the same.

[B]

I wasn't saying that they're not allowed.

[D]

To have, but there's no shame in not having as good a bagel as New York.

[B]

They just come down here and they complain that the bagels aren't well.

[C]

They complain. They complain.

[D]

They complain. They complain.

[C]

You can put bagels, you put any other thing you want out there. They complain.

[B]

New Yorkers do come down here and just complain. Miami. About how Miami's not as good. While New York right at present is shoveling ice off of the driveway all over the northeast, while we have weather unlike any in the United States. We will take a lesser bagel in exchange for having weather better than anywhere in the United States. The entire United States is like Denver today. Right. It's like the second half in Denver yesterday. Yeah. Except for Miami, where it's 78 degrees.

[A]

We're the best.

[C]

Very foggy, though. I did wake up very foggy this morning. I was like Driving, I was like, whoa.

[B]

It was. It was hard to see even three feet in front of you. But then when you drew. When you drove one mile, perfect sunshine.

[C]

I'm looking at the Weather Channel right now in St. Louis, Missouri. It's zero degrees.

[A]

Yes. Suckers.

[B]

This is the Dan Levatar show with the Stugats podcast. Put it on the poll, Juju. Would you prefer that the Rams and Seahawks just play again at LeBatard show? And would you also prefer, because the measurement system is so imperfect in this sport that the Rams and Seahawks just play best of three starting right now, to actually determine who's best, as opposed to the slop we did yesterday where two fourth down calls go a different way and you've got two different teams playing and you don't have a measurement system that actually helps you understand who's the best team. I've got a couple of stats of the day for you guys that are totally crazy. All right, play the stat of the day music. You guys, tell me which of these stats is the best. 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. So I've got three of them for you. Okay, Stafford yesterday goes 350, plus three touchdowns, no turnovers. Second time in five weeks he does that and loses. That happened to Brady twice in 23 years. That's one of the stats of the day. There have been four times, Zaslow, since 1970 that a quarterback goes for 370 plus three passing touchdowns and zero interceptions against the NFL's number one scoring defense. Four times it's happened that that quarterback has lost. Twice it's Stafford in the last five weeks where it's happened, where he's playing, you know, perfect football. Yesterday he had 13 completions at one point for 260 something yards. And he's losing to Sam Darnold. But here's my favorite of the stats, and when I say favorite, the most haunting is someone who has lived in Miami for the last quarter century. The Patriots have 10 Super bowl appearances since the Dolphins were last in the playoffs. Last winning a playoff game. The Patriots have 10 Super bowl appearances since the Dolphins last won a playoff game. That's crazy. In a league where you're rewarded for being bad and the salary cap makes.

[D]

Things equal, well, the Patriots were rewarded for being bad. They somehow built themselves up from losing the best coach of all time, the best quarterback of all time, missing on their initial replacement for the best quarterback of all time, having to rebuild that. And now we're here with Mike Rabel and Drake May. That's the process working. Just don't know why it never works for Miami.

[B]

Lamar Jackson defenses have forced three turnovers in eight playoff games. Drake May's defenses have forced eight turnovers in three playoff games.

[D]

Yeah, he didn't necessarily have to be super great to get to a Super bowl, which is blessing in year two because it's invaluable experience. Now. He was big and big moments against a big time defense in terrible conditions. So I think a lot of the stats people are cherry picking, like this guy didn't have to score more than 17 points to get to the Super Bowl. I think contextually people understand that that Denver game was a little bit more difficult. But yeah, it's a credit to Robert Kraft. I'm sure he's really enjoying this one right now.

[C]

And then you look at his advanced stats regarding Drake May and it's like 17 touchdowns, zero picks against the blitz and it's like these different things that show you he's actually a really good quarterback. The problem is they haven't really played anybody and like that there's nothing the Patriots can do. That's the schedule you got to play.

[A]

I mean, these defenses are awesome that they're beating in the playoffs and if they wind up winning the super bowl, it's like the final boss of defense. Hey, you're gonna have to give him some credit for sure.

[C]

For sure.

[B]

I want to though, talk about a couple of things as it relates to the Patriots. I want you guys to go back to right before the pandemic and whatever it is Bill Belichick threw thought of himself and how he regarded how integral he was to the Patriot success. If I go to Bill Belichick, let's say six or seven years ago, okay, and I say to him, here's what's gonna happen over the next seven years. Your greatness. There's gonna be a 10 part series on Apple where Robert Kraft just destroys how important you were to everything that was happening there. Your quarterback is going to leave and immediately win in Tampa. And here's the kicker. One of your linebackers is going to get to the super bowl with your team. One, you're just a guy you coached, that was your linebacker is going to go nine and oh on the road, not lose a road game and end up in the playoffs at the end of that game. And I want to talk about that game because I got to think this isn't a empirical stat, but I got to think that that for a championship weekend was the most opposite two games could be like in the history of games being played for a right to the Super Bowl. New England. At the end of that game, Romo would not shut up about how aggressive the call was to bootleg a running quarterback. Who's your safest option running the football? Romo would not shut up. I can't believe how aggressive a call that was. While in the next game, Sam Darnold is still throwing with less than four minutes left because that's what real aggressive looks like.

[E]

The best part about that is it wasn't even the call. Apparently Drake may called his own number there and didn't even tell his teammates. There's a quote here from Garrett Bradbury that said I hit my block and all the defenders started running the other way. I'm like, what? Oh, my God. After the game, Drake's like, I debated telling you guys if I was going to keep it or not, but I just decided not to. He did that on his own.

[A]

I unironically. Because we talked about this last week, right, About Romo and he stinks and how I don't really care about that. Like, it doesn't bother me. I was annoyed with Nance and Romo in the game yesterday because they thought it was so cute and so funny that as viewers, we couldn't see where they were on the field because of the snow. Like, it was a big joke to them. Hey, buddy, it's your job to figure it out and let me know as the viewer. I need to know where they are in the field. They thought it was so funny that no one knows where the football is.

[B]

Figure it out, man. I'll tell you something that was funny, though. Like, in a game, like, we all know this is violent real estate acquisition. We all know that both of those games are decided last night by. By inches. Like, fourth down and inches is deciding both of the games. The part I did find funny is that referee totally making up when the punts went out of bounds where to spot the ball. Like, he was just. He was totally. He was having, like, he could have gone anywhere. He could have walked 40 yards and we would have said, that's fine. Like, you're talking about these people killing themselves in order to let someone get three yards. And then there's just a slob on the sidelines walking down, strolling strolling down the sideline, giving you nine extra yards and you're like, yeah, I guess that's where the ball is. No, I don't really know. Zaz.

[D]

You know about that? WrestleMania 13.

[A]

Yeah, of course you know about Bret.

[D]

Hart versus Stone Cold Steve Austin happened in that match.

[A]

Double turn, double turn.

[D]

This playoff championship weekend was the crescendo of a weeks long double turn in which people decided they actually like Tom Brady on the broadcast more than Tony Romo.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Good call.

[B]

I have for you a funny story from yesterday in that regard because Tom Brady did have a good call.

[A]

He might be the best.

[C]

Wow.

[B]

Tom Brady did have a good call on a play. So on fourth and one, okay, on fourth and one, Matthew Stafford breaks Lawrence's tackle and gets an extra half yard to prolong a very tense moment at the end of that game. And Brady. And the key part to that job is enthusiasm, right? It's what John Madden had and it's what Brady exhibited yesterday when he just shouted, oh my God. And I gasped too. And I'm not kidding you when I say that I would have been less surprised if my coffee table had gotten up and run out of the room to see Stafford run a yard and a half. So I gasped, right? And Valerie's walking past and she hears me gasp and she hears Tom Brady yell, oh my God. But she's got no context for everything. So all she's seeing is Stafford fall a yard and a half. And she's like, why are you and him reacting that way? And I looked at her and I'm like, you don't understand. This guy is old. And she's like, how old is he? And he's younger than her. And I'm like, no, but he doesn't. He's played 17 years in this league. So he's like, he's 97. His body is broken.

[D]

He almost missed the start of the season with a back injury and we never actually saw a hit. It just. He woke up, his back hurt. Tom Brady was excellent on that broadcast. And man, I capitulated on my Brady stock at the worst possible time. I kept telling myself for a couple seasons, he's just, he's Tom Brady. He's the goat. Put adversity in his way, he'll conquer it. It's just a matter of time. And then I felt like we reached a breaking point where I'm like, yo, this guy's just never going to get better. And I regret that because he found the secret sauce that team.

[A]

He's a good broadcaster.

[D]

That team found its rhythm by being, hey, we love a good game. Yeah. And they set the table when you're like, hey, partner, you feel that juice A little bit. I'm starting to feel that juice. And they get more excited and they meet every moment, in fact, down to the production elements on the bump ins. They show them, like fist pumping each other because they're just super psyched to watch football. And that's the key. That's how Tom Brady is connecting to us. We don't have any connection points to Tom Brady. We like his story, but that guy's just lived in a different world for 30 years.

[E]

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[C]

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[B]

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[C]

This product contains nicotine.

[B]

Nicotine is an addictive chemical Don Levitard.

[C]

And then Matt Stafford threw him 25 and two oh there's a brand new.

[B]

Kid in town out of BYU stugats They call him Puka Puka Nakua.

[C]

His quarterback is not named Tua.

[B]

Yeah he is. Puka Puka Nakua. This is the Avatar show with the St Gods. The guy who gets to live in a different world over the next two weeks than what his two weeks would have been like if the result had been different. Yesterday is woolen for the for the Seahawks. The fifth round defensive back who had. Well so on one drive this, this felt to me honestly like when, when I see in the animal kingdom I have to turn away because I don't like watching when the big predators, you know, chase down an antelope. But this felt cruel to me. What happened in this game where he drops an interception on that drive and then on 4th and 12 after Seattle's made the stop it needs to make, he gets a penalty for taunting the Rams sideline. And on the very next play, the next play, they target him with Puka. And not only target him, target him so precisely that you saw while the ball was in the air, Rams running down the field with their arms up in the air knowing it's a touchdown. Because Puka and Stafford are so precise.

[A]

He doesn't drop anything. Nakua.

[B]

It's crazy but neither does Smith and Jigba. They're.

[C]

Oh my God, they're both unreal like and both guys that were JSN obviously came so open. Well they scheme him baby.

[B]

No, it's not just scheming him because they, they know what's coming when he's in the backfield and he had 10 catches for 100 plus yards at the half. And his route running. I thought Brady did an excellent job of describing this. He's so compact and his body stays in the same place, the shoulder height and everything else that when he swivels his hips, it's always defensive backs are turning. He runs perfect routes and the precision. Look, Mike McDonald should. And Sam Darnold should take the victory lap today on shutting up everybody, including me, because that game, Darnold just beat Stafford at his best. But I want to present to you guys, all of you, the. The normalization of one game samples as the measurement system. I'm driving in today. And I hear Rex Ryan calling all the analytics guys nerds again. These nerd dudes. Because Rex Ryan is so cool and everybody knows it. The normalization that, that we have in this sport. Zaslo of this is the way we measure it. And so today everyone's saying Seattle's the better team. I don't know that. I don't know that. The Rams lost six games by a total of 21 points. Like the Rams, that offense is better at offense than Seattle is a defense. The Rams. This is a, this is a real stat I'm about to give you. The Rams defense fell apart last nine games of the season. They allowed scores on 40% of their drives like that. That Rams defense fell apart and betrayed them yesterday. Stafford should not lose that game. Rarely, if ever, does a quarterback who plays that game lose that game. He did it against the number one defense. Darnold did it against a defense that's been met, that's been bad for nine weeks.

[A]

I get what you're saying. You know that you don't know if they're better, but they played yesterday and Seahawks beat them.

[B]

Like, yeah, but it's a drop punt and fourth down. Like, if, if, if Stafford had gotten. Yeah, you'd see. No, I don't do that. No. But it's an imperfect measurement system. I. You don't leave games ever saying to yourself, I don't believe that the team that lost was the better team. Like, that's not proof that the Seahawks are better. They just won that game.

[D]

But you started the show clamoring for a best of three, and they've had a best of three this season and the Seahawks have won two of them. And yeah, I understand they're close, but I think I have enough representative sample to suggest that Seattle's better.

[B]

I'm giving you 50 years of Stafford, of quarterback stats against number one defenses, and Stafford's lost the two of the four, four quarterbacks that have played in that game. Like that's. That's an obvious statistical outlier quarterback.

[D]

Better team though is the discussion. And I think we have enough to say Seattle I after what we saw from Sam Darnold. One of the great reclamation stories in sports. Like I get it, it was super impressive. Incredible moment by Stafford gutting that play out. But this is Sam Darnold's time. This is Seattle's time.

[B]

I've been having this argument since high school with friends of mine about the way that we decide games where after those games are played everyone just says, yeah, Seattle and the Patriots are better. And I'm like, I don't know that. I don't. Because. Because a guy who was on the practice squad the night before tips a 46 yard kick in the snow and Sean Payton doesn't go for it or doesn't kick a field goal that on fourth and short. Like I don't. I. And every time I do it, the normalization of the one game sample as a measurement is so normal that it's always a losing argument for me anytime I do it. Because you guys want that to be proof that someone's better. That was not proof that someone's better. To me.

[D]

They played a game and a team won. I hear you. You could, you could probably feel pretty good about your opinion that LA Rams are better than Seattle, but that's not what the sport is. The sport is played between the lines and you have to execute in the time that that SP&A team comes out on top. That's the business.

[B]

I'm not actually arguing that the Rams are better. I'm saying there's not a difference between those two teams. One of them has to win and one of them has to lose. And that's the way we do it.

[D]

Yeah, by playing the game head to head.

[E]

That's all that matters is head to head. These two teams just played and the Seahawks have lost a total of three games by nine points. You keep doing this with the Rams and all of the games that they've lost. They also have six one score wins, including both of their playoff wins. Like they could have easily been a team that missed the playoffs. We've talked all year long with the Chiefs about how it's not really a skill to win those one score games. Some. Some go your way, some don't. And the Rams defense is abysmal. They have a great offense, but they don't have a good defense. The Seahawks are clearly the better football team. And it would have been a shame if that number one defense didn't get an opportunity.

[B]

Anything like get out.

[E]

They have the best defense. They've won two out of three against the Rams. Even with Sam Darnold as their quarterback. They're the better football team. They've won more games and they've won two out of three.

[C]

Head to heads.

[E]

What matters.

[B]

Turner dropped a punt.

[D]

This is provocative. I'm not sure what you're doing on this day.

[B]

No, I'm doing.

[C]

No.

[D]

This is a strange place to take.

[C]

It To Dan's point though, it took. It took a ball bouncing off a helmet and then going into the end zone and somebody picking it up for the Seahawks to win the game on Thursday night. And then it drops a drop punt here on a guy who almost must muff the punt earlier in the game. He dropping that and then going. You know them going in for a score.

[B]

Rams against the number one defense in football. Two games, six in Seattle. Two games in Seattle. 64 points, 1060 yards head to head, one turnover, 02 record. And it's fine. Like, I'm not actually bothered by this in any way. I'm just saying that the super bowl was played yesterday by the two best teams in football.

[A]

I think Seattle's gonna smoke them.

[B]

I really do. Well, but Mike McDonald is good against young quarterback. Young quarterbacks don't do anything. Hell, what he did, what he did with seven defensive linemen to Stafford on. On that last play that ended Stafford season, where he put seven defensive linemen on the line and then has only two of them rush and drops everyone else back into coverage.

[A]

Can I tell you the most shocking part of the game yesterday for me, for Mike McDonald, Seattle Seahawks head coach. I can't be the only one who did not know this. But yesterday, seeing realizing for the very first time that Mike McDonald, when you spell his name, the D in MacDonald is lowercase. It's not the capital D. It's not Mac Donald, it's the M is capitalized and the rest of the name is lowercase.

[C]

McDonald like Normac Donald.

[A]

Did you know that?

[C]

No.

[B]

Put it on the poll. What an interesting thing from yesterday to be shocked by. Put it on the poll at LeBatard show. Did you know that McDonald spelled his name with a lowercase?

[C]

So you have one of the most incredible calls in the most clutch situation of all time where you have seven guys at the line of scrimmage.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

You drop five of them, you rush two. On a quarterback who's expecting to have some sort of open man because he sees seven guys on the line and then everybody's double covered for basically the game. And what you took away was a.

[A]

Little D. I want to know who decided this guy needs to have a.

[B]

Little D. I'm with you. That's little D energy.

[C]

What are we doing?

[B]

For sure.

[C]

Come on, baby.

[B]

Here. The way that you do that, the only way to be as successful as Mike McDonald is to ignore your family. Here he is. On the subject of, I simply don't have time to see my kids.

[C]

I actually think I'm here less, which is, I hope. I wish some of us, our coaches took that as well. But, you know, on Thursdays, you know, I don't get to see Jack throughout the week as much. So Thursdays I try to get. Which is today, I try to get home pretty quick, like to be with him for maybe a half hour, hour before he goes to bed. And then I got a setup at my house where I can go and then I work on the game plan. But it's able to spend some more time at home and be with Jack. And also it kind of lets you. It lets you kind of get away from everything and kind of see things from a different perspective. And it keeps you fresh, you know, so it's been helpful.

[B]

30 minutes of family time a week keeps you fresh. You have to be sort of lopsided and crazy.

[C]

You want to be 14 and three, Dan, you want to win good playoff games, Dan, you got to survive.

[B]

What do you do? Yeah, you can't see your family. Put it on the poll at LeBatard show. If you want to be a champion, can you see your family?

[C]

You got 30 minutes, an hour maybe. Then you got to work on the game plan again.

[B]

The. The Seahawks, Sam Darnold obviously did make everyone eat it yesterday, because as much as I'm saying it's a punt return and a punt fumble, that was the difference in that game. The actual difference in that game is that Sam Darnold was really good in third and long and fourth down, and Stafford was not. And so I've said now for years, you guys have heard me say for about 10 years, the thing I want most from the quarterback position is if the defense fears me on 3rd and 10, the fear that the defense does not feel comfortable even if it is third and 12. And Sam Darnold has become that. The Seattle Seahawks are great at explosive plays. Like, they've been great at explosive plays all year. And it has been wild to watch Sam Darnold turn into this and go blow for blow with Stafford against a defense that is the only one in the league that has bothered him like he Sam Darnold is the winningest quarterback in the sport by game over the last two years and the Rams had him solved. And for him to make the evolutions where he needs painkillers in order to play in that game. He got needles because he's got an oblique problem. He couldn't throw deep during practice all week. He couldn't throw the ball. He didn't. And couldn't throw the ball downfield all week. And then first, second pass of the game, he throws it for 40 yards. The reason they won that game is what they did on third down and long because he crushed them on third and long and made a whole lot of people, including me, eat it because I was doubting that Sam Darnold would show up and be better than Stafford. Never mind Stafford at his best, better than Stafford at all. And he was better than Stafford at his best. That was Stafford's best, best game of the playoffs. He was okay in the previous two games. He with a hurt finger. He was great in that game and it didn't matter.

[D]

That for me is a story. Sam Darnold played his best game ever in the NFC Championship game with an oblique injury for a thrower of the football. I understand marveling at what Matthew Stafford does, probably likely MVP if you're to believe the odds on DraftKings sportsbook. But this was Sam Darnold's moment and I still think that there is a certain air of skepticism around him and how can you not love his story and how he plays too. Because in an era where everyone's so afraid to turn the ball over, Sam Darnold does gun it dude. Like he turns like he'll throw in receptions. But I do think that it's healthy with him, especially if he's going to stretch the field with that receiver. I was really impressed with Sam Darnold. We'll see what happens in the super bowl because that ends it forever. Quick break to talk to you about Miller Lite, a partner of ours, basically. Since our show's inception, Miller Lite has been there for so many great memories. Especially recently this wintertime. Lots of trips to Texas one Arizona, surrounded by friends, welcoming in a new year and toasting that beautiful white can of Miller Lite. My favorite beer and an incredible partner. For almost half of its 50 year existence, Miller Lite has been partnered up with the Dan LeBatard show and we could not be more grateful. Some of My most legendary moments have started with let's get some Miller Lights. Whether it be a buddy's house, a watch party at the game or post game, you crack open a Miller Light, you take a sip, you look around at your friends and you think, yeah, this was the right call. You're locked into the game, the conversation, the moment, not thinking about what you're drinking. Miller Lite just fits. Legendary moments start with 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. It's Miller time. Celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Co. Milwaukee, Wisconsin 96 calories and 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces.

[A]

So everyone's deploying AI agents now. They're automating tasks, running workflows, making decisions, basically moving faster than anyone can keep up with with. And when they work, it's great, but when they don't, they delete the wrong files, make changes you didn't authorize or just go completely rogue. That's the scary part of AI. It lets you move fast and break way more things in way less time. Rubric Agent Cloud is the only platform that allows you to monitor, govern and rewind AI agent actions. One platform to help you unleash more agents faster without the risk it's running in the background the whole time, giving you full visibility, enforcing guardrails and making sure agents don't go off script. This is why hospitals banks are turning to Rubric Agent Cloud. It's real AI resilience that doesn't slow innovation. If your business relies on AI agents, you need the ability to modern govern and rewind their actions right now. Le B Show listener get exclusive early access to Rubrik Agent cloud head to rubrik.com that's R U B R-I K.com rubric.com Don LeBatard football.

[B]

Football, football. Stugats football.

[A]

This is the Dan Levatar show with the stuff.

[C]

I think it's an also a master class from Kubiak too, who is incredible as a play caller. You, you have a lot of these times where they want to run the ball at the end of games. Kubiak's running out play action. He's throwing the ball with four minutes left. He's putting JSN in different positions to win. Outside, inside, in the backfield. There was a play where JSN catches that touchdown completely wide open where he runs a scissor route from the from the running back Position where Cooper cup is running a whip route to the other side and he's basically, basically wide open and the defender has to choose between two guys and JS is wide open.

[D]

Good organizations. I'm sorry, Zaz, but that's, that's my takeaway from seeing what Seattle had to close the book on. Pete Carroll, Russell Wilson had to build itself back, had to find itself. Carol was there for like them trying to tread water with Gino, but they hit the reset button and they got right back to the Super Bowl. Same thing with New England. They hit one of the hardest resets ever and they're back at the Super Bowl. And I think that's a testament to good franchises and the ones like the Browns and the Dolphins and the jets that just struggle with, with way more chances than these franchises have had to reshape themselves and get back in the game. It's a testament to good ownership and good front offices.

[A]

Couple thoughts on Darnold he's the first quarterback from that famous draft class to get to a Super bowl, right? It was Darnold Mayfield, Rosen Allen and Lamar Jackson. Right. So Darnold's the first one to get to the super bowl of that group. And also, has there ever been a starting quarterback in the super bowl who's been on five teams like this is his fifth team and he's starting in the Super Bowl.

[B]

That's.

[A]

That feels really unheard of for a QB to bounce around like this and to be a starting quarterback.

[B]

Let's think about that for a second because a couple of points I wanted to make off what you guys said. It's forgotten now that the Seahawks wanted Geno Smith back. He didn't want to go back. He wanted to start over somewhere else. So that wasn't even that. They got rid of Geno Smith because they wanted to get rid of Geno Smith. They wanted to stay with Geno Smith. What happened yesterday, though, that was interesting to me at the quarterback position is obviously we've all gotten used to the Rams trusting Stafford implicitly, the Seahawks trusting Darnold so implicitly with, with five minutes left to you're not going to turn the ball over. We know you've got this. We know that we're going to keep throwing on second and 10 and third and 10. When all other teams in the league would be running the ball here, they wouldn't be doing play action here. That part was earned. Sam Darnold has earned that from the Seahawks staff. But it was crazy to watch given what it is that you just said going back to what I was saying earlier, though, because I understand why you guys today, after that game would say, come on, Dan, the Seahawks are better. You're sure the Patriots are better than the Broncos because Stidham, that that mistake is the one mistake, that mistake that he made that cost them their season is a mistake of such intergalactic stupidity that it was shocking to see a professional quarterback throw the ball backward when the whole game plan is, Jared, just don't do that, do anything but that. Don't give them the ball at the 12 yard line because our defense is going to make sure that the Patriots don't go anywhere. The Patriots offense in the last two games is as incompetent and this isn't their fault. It's because the defenses they faced, as mentioned, were so good, but that's as incompetent as an offense can be. And get to the Super Bowl. And Jared Stidham handed them the game by throwing the ball backward on a pump fake when all he's got to do is throw the ball at the feet of his running back because his only job in that game is don't do that.

[A]

I feel like when I say we're not talking about it, I mean everyone who's talked about the game so far, not this show that's not getting enough attention because all the attention is going toward the Sean Payton, let's go for fourth down instead of kick the field goal up seven. Nothing like that's getting all the attention. Not even the Stidham play.

[C]

To be fair, though, there's no way that Sean Payne would have known there was a massive blizzard.

[A]

Why wouldn't he know?

[B]

Wait a minute, wait a minute.

[C]

Wait.

[B]

There's a couple of things. Wait a minute, Tony, your coach has to know that. Nevermind, no way of knowing.

[A]

Has to know.

[B]

Your coach has to know that. On the broadcast they said something and I wondered about this, too. I don't know how it is that the Patriots come about wearing white uniforms, but when Romo is saying the orange uniforms are easier to see in the snow, the Patriots are simply not going to be able to see where their receivers are. I, if I'm a coach, have to prepare for the idea that the second half is going to have terrible weather. What do you mean there's no way to know that? There is a way to know that.

[C]

You figure you're going to be able to get one more, you know, drive one more score before things go to hell. And they weren't able to.

[D]

Chris Chandler is the name that came up most stops.

[A]

Really?

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

The Atlanta Super Bowl.

[D]

Yeah. Because he played for, I think, for like, six teams. Gannon is also rich. Gannon was like a starter at different places. I think that he finally made the super bowl with his fourth team over there.

[B]

Okay. It's a good question, though, that you ask. And Chandler ended up losing that Super bowl by 50 points. And the only thing. And had a great season. That season was exceptional. That season. But the only thing I remember from that super bowl is man of the Year Eugene Robinson getting caught on the streets of Biscayne Bay. Can you guys look for me what it is that he was paid in cash back when we took cash in this country. What he paid in cash, allegedly, as the man of the Year the night before the super bowl to pick up a sex worker? Because it is one of the most amazing super bowl stories any of us have ever seen. Well, yes, before the Internet. Understand, it's. It's before a lot of things, but it's still Biscayne Boulevard. And anyone who knows what Biscayne Boulevard just generally is, it's not where you find a sex worker at midnight. That's going to cost you a lot of money. And so I'm still looking for the.

[C]

Dollar figure, by the way.

[B]

Thank you. You'll find it. I remember it was a. It was a paltry sum for those particular services that he was looking for. And he was the man of the Year. And it's the only thing I remember.

[A]

It doesn't take away from him being man of the Year.

[D]

Speaking one bad night.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Before the Super Bowl. It doesn't.

[C]

Among us then.

[B]

It doesn't. Wait a minute. It doesn't take away from him being. All right, put it on the poll at LeBatard show. Does propositioning a sex worker the night before the super bowl take away from being NFL man of the year?

[A]

Victimless crime.

[E]

$40.

[B]

Does that change your opinion?

[C]

No, that's the inflation rate that enhances.

[A]

My opinion in the economy.

[B]

40.

[C]

That's inflation. It could be 100 bucks. I don't know. Things are more expensive.

[A]

No deal. You couldn't pass up.

[B]

No, no. 40. $40.

[C]

I'm going to look it up.

[B]

Negotiations. For those of you who do not know the different parts of Miami. I want to talk about a different part of Miami. The city of Hialeah is offended by the new Netflix movie the Rip with Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. They are cops who happen upon a home this. They happen upon a home that' million cash in it. And Then the dilemma follows of whether they're going to be ethical or not. And the city of Hialeah doesn't like how it's being portrayed in this movie. And so the city of Hialeah has sent out a statement about the movie the rip. And I have not seen. Tony, I don't know if you've seen this. Have you seen the city of Hialeah Send out a statement, does not like how it's being portrayed to the country in this movie. And I kind. I haven't seen the movie yet, but I feel like any movie that portrays Hialeah anyway is going to be accurate because I'm going to find any of what's being portrayed in any movie in some part of Hialeah, to be fair.

[C]

Okay, so I saw the movie last night. Fun movie. Ben and Matt Damel were great. It actually painted Hialeah in a better light than what reality is. If you want me to be really honest.

[D]

It was on a cul de sac.

[C]

It was on a cul de sac. I'm like, those houses are not in Hialeah. There's no two story houses like that in a cul de sac in Hialeah history. Those don't exist. Those are actually people's different houses that are stacked on top of each other that they built and that are renting out. So it looks better on TV than it is in real life. I didn't see any chickens. I didn't see any people selling water or coconuts on the street. I didn't see any of that.

[A]

Not an accurate portrayal.

[D]

It looks like Miami Lakes, which is where the story actually happened.

[C]

Right?

[D]

The one that inspired the script. And Miami Lakes is close enough to Hialeah. You could still tell it's right there.

[C]

It's on the borderline.

[D]

Why did we change it to Hialeah?

[B]

Well, let's hear from Ben Affleck on this. Evidently he doesn't know yet how to say Hialeah. Despite all of the research that he has done, it is not yet something that he knows how to say. We had a crime stopper tip come in after closing. We ran it. Now I'm out here in Hylia, stuck in the shit.

[C]

I mean, yeah.

[D]

You mean.

[B]

Yeah, Hylia.

[C]

There's. There's times where I'm watching Heat games and I'm not gonna say the. The dealership, but they paid somebody that does a voiceover and they say something, something in Hialeah and I'm like, I.

[D]

Don'T like that Hialeah quality Control, man, you got. You need.

[C]

You need Guanito in there telling you, oh, yeah, Leah. Hi, Leah.

[B]

Hylia. That's why you need DEI right there. Hi, Leia. So Ben Affleck doesn't do that when he researches the town. He goes to prison to talk to people who have robbed banks. And he grabs the stories.

[C]

Oh, you heard that podcast?

[B]

Yeah. And when he grabs the stories, one of the stories that he grabs from somebody who was robbing a bank is that the cop just looked the other way when he saw that he was going to be in an incident where three getting out of a van with shotgun.

[A]

That's a good scene.

[B]

It is a good scene. But if he's willing to do that kind of research, shouldn't he do the research that allows him? Shouldn't somebody Hispanic tell him this isn't how you say Hialeah? Hylia.

[A]

They were dressed as nuns. Dan.

[B]

Hialeah. Hialeah. Hialeah pointed out we're not Miami Lakes in the statement. And you're right. I've never thought of Hialeah as being as wonderful as Miami Lakes. It's more colorful, it's more cultural, it's more Hispanic. It's got more dirty businesses and corners. But I didn't think that Hialeah would be offended by being compared to Miami Lakes.

[C]

Hylia, also, you get put on the big screen, you're talking about millions and millions and hundreds of millions of people knowing about your city. Brian Calvill. Sir, please wake up.

[B]

Hylia. There is nothing that has happened to the economy more shocking to me than Hialeah. Hilea being the fifth least affordable housing market in America.

[C]

Welcome to Miami.

[D]

Dan.

[B]

I understand that Miami's the worst, that Miami is the worst here, but Hialeah be it. Come on, you guys. Come on.

[D]

There is this one house in Hialeah that looks like a Leon Medical Center, I think. I think the lore around it is like the person, like, won some sort of lottery and decided, no Hialeah through and through. And I'm to just going to soup up a compound in the middle of this Hialeah neighborhood.

[B]

Hylia.

[C]

The weird part about Hialeah is that there's different streets that are different directions, right? So there's West 84th street, but Northwest 37th Street. And you're like, wait, how is this the same street you have with different numbers?

[B]

You have to go out here and do a Tony. You have to go tomorrow. Tony's top five.

[C]

Do my top five tomorrow.

[B]

I want you to show people that the addresses don't make sense. Waze is not going to help you. Satellite systems. And there's streets that are literal 90.

[C]

Degree angles that you have to do a 90 degree angle. And you're like, I can't turn my car this way.

[B]

I told you. One of the most impressive things I've ever seen my dad do, and he called himself El Raton de Hialeah, is that he found me a spare tire for my car for $10. Yeah, $10. By going down a side alley and just a door opened and somebody threw a tire at him. $10 cash. And that. That's what happened. Tony, did Ben Affleck also screw up in the movie Dali?

[C]

A little bit.

[B]

And I laugh.