Local Hour: The Jimmy Butler Saga Continues

Summary

Summary of "Local Hour: The Jimmy Butler Saga Continues"

Episode Release Date: January 7, 2025
Hosts: Dan Le Batard, Stugotz, Chris Cody, Mike Ryan, Billy Gill, Greg Cody

---

1. Re-engaging the Miami Heat Community

Timestamp [02:29] - [05:26]

The episode kicks off with Stugotz expressing concerns about the lost connection with the Miami Heat fanbase due to decreased audience interactions over the past few years. To address this, he proposes an innovative fan engagement initiative aimed at revitalizing community involvement.

Stugotz outlines the idea:

“...fans can vote on who they think is most worthy of that honor... a bracket style. So we're gonna have people competing against each other...”
[02:50]

The plan involves fans submitting short videos explaining why they should watch the national championship alongside Dan or another member of the show. These submissions would then be voted on in a tournament-style bracket, with the ultimate winner potentially attending the game in person. The initiative aims to foster a renewed sense of community and excitement among Heat supporters.

2. Personal Anecdotes and Lighthearted Banter

Timestamp [06:26] - [12:26]

The conversation shifts to personal stories, with Billy Gill recounting an embarrassing moment involving a misplaced Christmas-presented hat intended for Dan. This segment provides a humorous interlude, showcasing the camaraderie and playful interactions among the hosts.

Additionally, the hosts delve into a discussion about the decline of traditional practices like sending physical holiday cards. Billy Gill criticizes the evolution towards digital greetings, lamenting the loss of personal touch:

“...this needs a stamp. Like, this is not an act of thoughtfulness unless it has a stamp on it.”
[12:26]

3. In-Depth Analysis of the Miami Heat's Performance and Management

Timestamp [16:01] - [40:44]

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to dissecting the ongoing "Jimmy Butler Saga" and the broader performance of the Miami Heat. The hosts engage in a robust discussion about Jimmy Butler's impact on the team, the management strategies of Pat Riley, and the franchise's future direction.

Key Points Discussed:

• Jimmy Butler's Role:
  Dan Le Batard emphasizes Butler's maximization within the team, noting his effectiveness both offensively and defensively:

  “They've maximized him. They've used him in his most effective way...”
  [18:02]

• Pat Riley's Management:
  The hosts critique Riley's handling of player acquisitions and team building, questioning his prideful approach and its repercussions on the team's success:

  “...the Heat have rolled with those changes. I mean, they've put together rosters recently that have won NBA championships.”
  [22:06]
  “He deserves it and he also deserves to leave this franchise however he wants it.”
  [30:16]

• Trade Strategies and Player Acquisitions:
  There's a thorough analysis of past trade decisions, such as the acquisition attempts of players like Damian Lillard and Chris Paul, and how these moves have shaped the current team dynamics. The discussion highlights missed opportunities and questions the franchise's ability to adapt to the evolving NBA landscape.

• Comparison with Other Franchises:
  The Miami Heat's strategies are contrasted with those of the Boston Celtics, particularly regarding team building around star players and adapting to modern basketball trends like the emphasis on three-point shooting.

Notable Quotes:

• Greg Cody on Pat Riley's legacy:

  “He deserves it and he also deserves to leave this franchise however he wants it...”
  [30:16]

• Billy Gill on team standards:

  “The Miami Heat will be interesting at the trade deadline and I'm guessing beyond it because... the Miami Heat's expectations are no, you got to be better than Boston.”
  [33:02]

4. Fan Sentiment and Merchandise Insights

Timestamp [40:00] - [44:50]

The hosts touch upon the current sentiment among Miami Heat fans, evidenced by a significant drop in sales of Jimmy Butler merchandise:

“...Jimmy Butler merchandise is 50% off at every mall that I've seen walking around, every store said 50% off...”
[40:43]

This discount trend is interpreted as a reflection of waning fan enthusiasm and suggests a potential brewing discontent within the fanbase regarding the team's performance and management decisions.

5. Listener Interactions and Additional Topics

Timestamp [44:43] - [46:22]

Towards the end of the episode, the hosts engage in light-hearted discussions about listener experiences, such as difficulties in ordering gifts and the absence of Miami Panthers merchandise in local stores. Stugotz shares a personal story about a lost gift order, highlighting the challenges of modern consumer experiences.

“...Jimmy Butler gear is on sale everywhere. 50% off.”
[44:50]

This segment underscores the interplay between personal anecdotes and broader team-related topics, maintaining an engaging and relatable atmosphere for listeners.

---

Conclusion

In "Local Hour: The Jimmy Butler Saga Continues," the hosts of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz provide a comprehensive and critical examination of the Miami Heat's current trajectory, focusing on Jimmy Butler's role and Pat Riley's management strategies. Through a blend of in-depth analysis, personal stories, and fan engagement initiatives, the episode offers valuable insights for listeners interested in the intersection of sports performance and organizational leadership.

Notable Quotes Highlighted:

• Stugotz:

  “...fans can vote on who they think is most worthy of that honor...”
  [02:50]

• Dan Le Batard:

  “They've maximized him. They've used him in his most effective way...”
  [18:02]

• Billy Gill:

  “The Miami Heat will be interesting at the trade deadline and I'm guessing beyond it...”
  [33:02]

---

This summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the episode, providing a detailed overview for those who haven't had the chance to listen.

Transcript

[Dan Le Batard]

You're listening to giraffkings Network.

[Stugotz]

You know that sound? It's the sound of money hitting your Venmo account. A friend paying you back. Or maybe it's getting cash back from your favorite business when you pay with the Venmo debit card. Or it's realizing you can pay with Venmo at checkout at thousands of brands now there are so many more ways to answer the question. What's your Venmo? Download Venmo today. The Venmo MasterCard is issued by the Bancorp Bank N.A. pursuant to license by MasterCard International Incorporated. DOSH Cash Back Terms apply.

[Chris Cody]

You know what's smart? Enjoying a fresh gourmet meal at home.

[Dan Le Batard]

That you didn't have to cook. Meat.

[Chris Cody]

Factor your loophole in the laws of mealtime. Chef crafted meals delivered with a tap, ready in just two minutes. You know what's even smarter?

[Dan Le Batard]

Treating yourself without cheating. Your goals.

[Chris Cody]

Factor is dietitian approved, chef prepared, and you plated. Pretty smart, huh? Refresh your routine and eat smart with factor.

[Dan Le Batard]

Learn more@Factor Meals.com Shadow Show.

[Mike Ryan]

Shadow Show.

[Billy Gill]

Shadow Show.

[Mike Ryan]

Shadow Show.

[Billy Gill]

Shadow Show.

[Dan Le Batard]

Shadow Show.

[Billy Gill]

Shadow Show.

[Stugotz]

Shadowing it.

[Billy Gill]

Shadowing it. Chris, where's your father?

[Stugotz]

He's sick.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah.

[Dan Le Batard]

Got a text this morning that he's hoping to be in Thursday. He's got a cold.

[Mike Ryan]

Something going around. Dano, I mean, put it on the pole, please.

[Billy Gill]

Juju, is something going around? Stu got seems a little sick, but also said to me some of it might just be old age because I'm like, you know, there's that norovirus that's new, and. And I'm like, what are you feeling? And he's like, well, my body hurts, but it always hurts.

[Mike Ryan]

I have no idea if I'm sick or not.

[Greg Cody]

Like, something's been going around for at least five years.

[Billy Gill]

Put it on the poll. Has something been going around for five or six years? Yes or no. One of the things that's been going around here for 20 years is Billy trying to annoy me. So you guys should have heard him. Him explaining to me what our March Madness tournament is this year.

[Stugotz]

Private. We're waiting for your approval also, but I guess it's been approved if we're just gonna go.

[Greg Cody]

Yeah, if you're running with it, that's a green light.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah.

[Stugotz]

And approved.

[Billy Gill]

I don't.

[Stugotz]

Stop emailing me now.

[Greg Cody]

Approved.

[Billy Gill]

I don't want it approved. And I'm hearing about it for the first time, but it seems constructed just to bother me.

[Stugotz]

No falsehoods?

[Mike Ryan]

Nope.

[Stugotz]

Listener engagement. Do you want me to reveal it to the audience what the plan is?

[Billy Gill]

Sure.

[Stugotz]

All right, so this is what I was thinking.

[Greg Cody]

Just so you know, now it's deproved.

[Stugotz]

Now it's happening. And now sales. This is the green light. Go sell this.

[Mike Ryan]

If it's revealed, Dan, it's happening.

[Stugotz]

Yeah. This is binding.

[Billy Gill]

Are you sure? Okay, don't reveal it. Then what?

[Stugotz]

All right, so this is how it works.

[Mike Ryan]

He already started.

[Stugotz]

It's too late.

[Greg Cody]

We kind of need to get off the pot at this point. So it's. Yeah, it's going to be this.

[Stugotz]

All right, so this is. This is what we were thinking. You know, we lost our phone lines over the, you know, past couple years. And I personally. And I know I don't. I know Dan feels the same way. I want to speak for Dan. I know Dan has missed the interactions with the audience, the callers, etc. Just this feeling of, you know, community that we had with our audience base. We've lost that over the past couple years. So I said to myself, billy, how do we get this back? So I thought, what would the fans like more than anything watching the national championship one on one with Dan? But how do we do that? Wow. Or someone else from the show. There's the asterisk. Someone else from the show, potentially. And if we get.

[Billy Gill]

I really like the asterisk.

[Stugotz]

And if we get. And if we get the right spots, I think you approve. Maybe, maybe, possibly we could do this in person.

[Billy Gill]

Game time.

[Stugotz]

The asterisk is officially fine print.

[Greg Cody]

Part subject to. Taylor.

[Stugotz]

We'll have to figure it out. Yeah. Someone from the universe, hopefully. Dan. But how do we.

[Billy Gill]

You know, the worst part of that is that you're making me watch the national championship basketball.

[Stugotz]

That's not the worst part. Let me reveal potentially the worst part for you. So what I was thinking was instead of attaching, you know, like sounds or looks like or whatever to all the schools, why don't we put the power in the audience's hands? But what power are we gonna give them? Let's have them choose who Dan watches with. How? This is what we do. We. We send out a bat signal. We say, fans, send us videos to an address to be determined. Because again, this wasn't supposed to come out on air. Send this videos to an address to be determined. You know, 15 to 20 seconds in length, saying, this is why I should be the fan to watch the game with Dan or asterisk someone else from the Dan Le Batard show universe. And then the fans can vote on who they think is most worthy of that honor. Now, it's not just gonna be a one time thing. No, it's a bracket style. Right. So we're gonna have people competing against each other. So a number 68 will go up against the number one. And hopefully my hope. And this again wasn't supposed to be revealed in there. We have someone go on a Sanjaya like run and we have the fans get behind a David from Toronto, for example. And then David from Toronto or Arash or someone like that ends up going on a run and winning the whole thing. Then every round will just give you a new prompt. Hey, this is the question that we need you to answer today. Who's on the hot seat? Who's on this? Who's on the that whatever it is. Right. Every round we'll get a new question. And then as it's going, you, the fans, just keep voting for fellow fans that you think should watch this game with Dan.

[Mike Ryan]

Wow.

[Stugotz]

And then the winner goes to wherever this game is. If the right sponsor comes in and pays for the expenses, goes maybe in person, possibly asterisk with Dan Levitar to watch the national championship.

[Greg Cody]

Inspired.

[Dan Le Batard]

You could argue this is a chance for someone to build a career.

[Stugotz]

Maybe you could turn this into a.

[Dan Le Batard]

Career in sports broadcast.

[Stugotz]

You know that question, would you pay $250,000 rather? $250,000 or a dinner with Jay Z in different times. That's kind of this situation. A three hour sit down with a media mogul, Dan LeBatard while watching a basketball game. Which granted, basketball games aren't the best for conversation. Really? Sporting events aren't the best for conversation because you're sitting next to each other awkwardly. I feel like the seats. We're not reinventing arenas, but maybe moving forward, the seats face each other at arenas. And then the game's off to the side swivel chairs.

[Greg Cody]

Oh, that'd be an option.

[Stugotz]

We're solving it all. But one thing's first. That's March sadness. And it seems like we got the green light on this one.

[Billy Gill]

Approved.

[Stugotz]

This is the Don Levatar show with the Stugats podcast.

[Billy Gill]

Obviously it's still early in the year, but I already have what I will describe as my most embarrassing personal moment of this year.

[Mike Ryan]

Wow.

[Billy Gill]

I don't believe there will be another one this year, but give me time. I just walked out of the room and because we get a lot of stuff sent to us, like Demar derozan socks. I am very. I'm very grateful for people are always sending us Gifts. Very thoughtful gifts, But I don't always know where it is that things come from. So I get in today, and on my desk is the baseball cap I am presently wearing, and I did not recognize it. And so I walked out into the other room, and I just asked, does anybody want this? And I'm standing right next to Izzy. And with a nice comedic pause, Izzy says, that was my Christmas gift to you.

[Dan Le Batard]

The best part was you didn't just.

[Stugotz]

Say, what is this?

[Dan Le Batard]

You said, who wants this?

[Mike Ryan]

Right.

[Stugotz]

It was.

[Dan Le Batard]

Not only were you curious about it, very quick, I need to get this out of.

[Stugotz]

Give this away.

[Mike Ryan]

And now he's overcompensating by wearing the hat that he was trying to give away before the show.

[Stugotz]

I mean, classic guilt hat. How is that going to stay on.

[Mike Ryan]

And aware for a month now? I mean.

[Stugotz]

Looks great on you. Limming?

[Greg Cody]

Not so much.

[Billy Gill]

No, that. Well, I'm. I'm giving it away because my. My face is round, and I have to have a particular kind of hat. And it's got to be at about 7 and 5, 8. It's got to be fitted and these things in the back. Like, I don't want to look a gift, a Christmas gift in the mouth. But what happened here is this hat. My face is fat, and this hat makes it fatter. And so I can't wait. Thank you, Mike.

[Mike Ryan]

You can adjust it, by the way.

[Greg Cody]

No, your gut is right. You look fab and mad.

[Billy Gill]

Not only did I give you a.

[Dan Le Batard]

Christmas present, I told you exactly why I got it for you.

[Billy Gill]

Because it's the Monopoly man, and you're the Mr. Money man, and he's got a white mustache, and your mustache is turning white.

[Mike Ryan]

You remember that?

[Billy Gill]

I do.

[Mike Ryan]

No, you don't.

[Billy Gill]

You don't know. I do, because he is. He's often talking to me when I'm going through an assortment of things. And now I remember it was in here that he brought all of that up. But I was standing like, if you had a scene in the office, the camera would have panned to Izzy right next to me as I'm coming out and just saying, does anybody want this? For a split second, I was considering just saying, I'll take it because I have the receipt at home.

[Dan Le Batard]

I love the gift of the. It makes it more special, even to Dan.

[Greg Cody]

Then Taylor did the gym. Face to the hard cam. I've never. This is, like, throwing me because never has the term, like, do I look fat in this? Ever, in my mind, applied to a hat. It's always, like, pants or A shirt. But it has totally made you look like 20 pounds heavier. A single hat.

[Billy Gill]

I have to be careful with the hats that I wear. I've told you before that Barkley makes the very good joke that when I say some version of, yeah, television adds 10 pounds. How many televisions did you eat?

[Dan Le Batard]

Now I just feel bad because I said the other day yesterday I was.

[Stugotz]

Like, wow, holidays are treating Dan really well.

[Billy Gill]

And now I got you a hat.

[Dan Le Batard]

That makes you look fat.

[Mike Ryan]

It was a shitty gift.

[Billy Gill]

I mean, it isn't really what I want to look fatter. Like, that's not. That's not gift giving. But I'm. Look, there are any number of things this time of year. It was.

[Greg Cody]

He saw a white mustache and he's like, oh, this will make Dan feel great.

[Billy Gill]

The number of things that I have gotten recently that during the holidays that I can be confused by is pretty long. And one of them, you guys tell me if this has happened for you. I have gotten via text an assortment of family holiday cards where people are sending you that picture they take with the kids and the dog, and they wish you a happy holidays. And I thought to myself every time I got one, this is the laziest way this could be done. This needs a stamp. Like, this is not an act of thoughtfulness unless it has a stamp on it.

[Mike Ryan]

You're right. I get one every year from Mike Ryan and his beautiful family. And yes, a physical card that comes in the mail envelope stamped. It's beautiful. It's great. You're right, Dan. They're mailing it in. They are lazy. They're not right. But they should be mailing it in.

[Dan Le Batard]

But that's at least a car. They went out and took a picture. Wouldn't it be lazier to just say merry Christmas? No, I don't. Just a text merry Christmas? No, because then you have to individually text everybody, where I'm sure this system, you can just kind of put it all in at once, and then it'll mass text that out to everybody as opposed to an individual Merry Christmas text.

[Greg Cody]

It's unfortunate because there is thought that goes into it, but it feels somehow more thoughtless than not receiving a happy holiday card whatsoever.

[Billy Gill]

I disagree on a number of counts. I disagree. I think Chris Cody is right when he says the laziest thing. The laziest thing is to send someone a Merry Christmas text. But this is the laziest way to upscale to a card. And I'm saying that the Christmas card requires a stamp that technology and advancement cannot get. So Far ahead of us that you are sending me the AI equivalent of a Christmas card that at some point you're not even going to have to do anything in order for me to get it.

[Greg Cody]

It's funny how that cliche doesn't work anymore. I think mailing it in now is harder than texting it in is much harder.

[Mike Ryan]

Yes, yes.

[Greg Cody]

Open my eyes.

[Mike Ryan]

A new phrase should be scanning it in.

[Billy Gill]

It is more expensive. Do any of you know what a stamp costs these days? Because somebody buy the book.

[Greg Cody]

So I got individually, I think it comes down to a couple like 60 something cents. I don't know.

[Mike Ryan]

Buying bulk.

[Dan Le Batard]

Whenever I need a stamp, I go to my parents. Mom and dad need a stamp. He's got your dad always never bought a stamp in my life. I have no idea.

[Greg Cody]

Can't imagine how toxic the chemicals are on those stamps cost money prior to any kind of regulation. Those stamps.

[Billy Gill]

It is actually, if you think about it, if you just consider it for a moment, one of the great values in the history of America is the fact that you could send something like that far away for cents for pennies. It is. Put it on the poll, please. Juju at LeBatard show. Is the stamp one of the great values in the history of America.

[Mike Ryan]

But Mike is right about the stamp. That is a class action lawsuit written all over it. Years from now people are going to say, oh man, I got cancer from licking the stamps.

[Greg Cody]

Here's a forever chemical in your stamp. Here's this lead stamp.

[Dan Le Batard]

It's such a good bargain that people will just put a second one on there just in case this paper is too heavy.

[Billy Gill]

No, you don't want it sent back to you. Like you gotta put the second one on in the event. Yes, you're right.

[Greg Cody]

I mean, you are living a wealthy life if you can splurge on it. Sometimes I google it, I'm like, what is the weight? Sometimes I get the lesson taught to me. It gets sent back. And that's why mailing it in no longer applies because you gotta work to mail something in.

[Billy Gill]

Now I would like for you guys to help me find all of the things that are like this. Where the generation gap is. So cash is obviously like this. I've learned this much to my bitter dismay while railing against America over the fact that people will not take my cash.

[Mike Ryan]

All you have is cash and stamps, right?

[Billy Gill]

That is. I imagine that that is what is in the Greg. I would love to look through the Greg Cody drawer that Chris Cody goes to when he goes looking for the stamp. It is by the way, the least adult thing that you do. And it's a long list of things that you do that are not quite adulthood. Going to your parents house when you need a stamp.

[Dan Le Batard]

Done it one time, I think. I don't need. I can send an email.

[Greg Cody]

Wait, has this cliche evolved with the times and then we just forgot. This generation forgot to evolve it. Because mailing it in and there's also phoning it in. Yeah, I assume phoning it in came after mailing it in. Why haven't we come to the table with texting it in?

[Mike Ryan]

You're right.

[Billy Gill]

It's too early in the game yet. Things are evolving. We will get to that at some point in the future. I want you guys to get me a list though, of some of these things where I am perpetually shocked. Tony, Jessica, Jeremy. When there is something I am talking about and they have no idea what it is that it is. And I thought it was just a common knowledge thing.

[Greg Cody]

You ever sent a fax, Jeremy?

[Dan Le Batard]

Never in my life.

[Greg Cody]

Never.

[Dan Le Batard]

I mean, I remember fax machines.

[Greg Cody]

Do you remember, like, the wax paper that came in the roll?

[Dan Le Batard]

What do you. What is that?

[Greg Cody]

He used to fax them on these, like, waxy rolls of paper.

[Mike Ryan]

Mm.

[Greg Cody]

And it was impossible to draw on with crayons.

[Dan Le Batard]

I don't really understand what that even could possibly mean because, like, what I've realized, I don't really know what a fax machine does.

[Billy Gill]

Okay, very good. Jeremy is a little tired today. The Heat lose in double overtime yesterday. The stuff going on around the Heat doesn't have any precedent. Stugot. It is amazing to watch the Miami Heat suffer. What it is they've done to everybody in acquiring the best talent that they've acquired over the last 15 years. It goes back to when it is that I watched Goran Dragic do this to the Suns. And I'm like, somebody had to tell that guy who's a koala bear how to do that. Like, that is not his instinct to go out there and say, hey, son's management, get out of here. And. And that's where some of that stuff started. And now the Miami Heat is a victim of having a guy whose trade value diminishes by the day because, well.

[Mike Ryan]

They'Re not a victim. I mean, they didn't get Jimmy Butler the help that Jimmy Butler asked for.

[Billy Gill]

I mean, they got Jimmy Butler a lot.

[Greg Cody]

Jay Crowder, as Jeremy pointed out.

[Billy Gill]

Right. They. They, look, you guys can do this. But I think the part that's unfair is you got the best Jimmy Butler that there's been. And that was at least in part because everything that was built was built around him. It was built to make sure that he was the one with the usage rate and bam was the All Star doing the dirty things. And Tyler, you sit over there for a while.

[Greg Cody]

But was that the intention or was that a byproduct of failing to get somebody better than Jimmy? Because that was always hanging over this franchise as soon as they acquired Jimmy is he can't be your number one. And then he almost proved us wrong numerous times. Like he can be your number one, just not on a title team. But I think ever since his acquisition, we were all saying they got to pair him with somebody that's a little bit more talented.

[Mike Ryan]

You can question Pat Riley in the Heat about a number of things and how they've handled Jimmy Butler and surrounding him with the right amount of talent. But they have gotten the best Jimmy Butler. No one has gotten a better Jimmy Butler. Not a single other organization has gotten this Jimmy Butler.

[Dan Le Batard]

They've maximized him. They've used him in his most effective way, both offensively and defensively. They built offensive and defensive game plans around him. They let him be the guy which for the majority of his career was part of the issue. He is such an alpha. He wants to be the man. That for that matter was the complaint that he had about the present offense and why he kind of went after SPO in that last presser before being suspended. He has always wanted to be the guy. And they were a bama to bio and gorandragogic injury away from winning in NBA finals in his very first year.

[Greg Cody]

So they have possibly winning.

[Dan Le Batard]

They have sure competing in a more legitimate way. They lost. They lost by sure. They lost in six to the Lakers without their healthy number two and three players. And when you look at maximizing it, this guy went to three conference finals and two NBA finals with this franchise while not doing anything near that otherwise. So when you say they didn't build the right things around them, they didn't give them enough help. They had as as much success in five years as almost anyone in the league. This is a message from sponsor Intuit TurboTax guys. Taxes was waiting and wondering and worrying if you're going to get any money back whatsoever and then waiting, wondering and worrying some more. Now taxes is matching with a TurboTax expert who can do your taxes as soon as today. An expert who gives your taxes their undivided attention as they work on your return while you get real time updates on their progress so you can focus on your day. An expert will find your every deduction possible and file every form, every investment, Every, everything with 100% accuracy. All so you can get the most money back guaranteed. No waiting, no wondering, no worries. Now this is taxes. Get an Expert now on TurboTax.com only available with TurboTax Live full service real time updates only on iOS mobile app. See guarantee [e-mail] guarantees Don LeBatard teammates.

[Billy Gill]

Can'T shoot from three now they're gonna see a different Jimm now he's just.

[Dan Le Batard]

Just playing nickel back in the locker room and ST.

[Billy Gill]

And show threes as they chase the nets for the six seed. These five words in his head scream are we winning games yet?

[Stugotz]

This is the Dan Levatar show with the st.

[Dan Le Batard]

Anyone have an address book still Rolodex?

[Billy Gill]

A Rolodex in your phone?

[Stugotz]

Everything's in your phone.

[Mike Ryan]

Your dad has a Rolodex, does he not? Your D has a.

[Billy Gill]

You know what a Rolodex is, Jeremy?

[Dan Le Batard]

I only do because my mom still has a Rolodex handwritten and that's the place where she keeps all of the like passwords to the different streaming sites that she has. So every time I, I need to use her streaming password, she's rolling through.

[Greg Cody]

Are they very sophisticated or.

[Billy Gill]

No, no, no, no, no.

[Greg Cody]

It's like password 1, 2, 312 3.

[Dan Le Batard]

It's like all the same password. Just like one has an exclamation point. Oh yeah, that's honestly, if you're trying to hack my parents accounts, my name and some number and you're probably good.

[Greg Cody]

Your name, your birthday, probably.

[Billy Gill]

All right. So some things that have happened here that I think are interesting are the following because I understand that the job of Pat Riley is to anticipate what the future looks like. But I do think we are all allowed to be surprised by a couple of things here. One of which is how much the game has changed. Okay. I don't know that we all could have anticipated that given that Pat Riley spent the majority of his career throwing the ball to Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Patrick Ewing, Alonzo Morning in the post and taking the contested least valuable shot in the sport. Also more most inefficient. Like that's how we were playing football. Just like we were playing football once upon a time by just running the ball all the time.

[Mike Ryan]

Right.

[Billy Gill]

Some things changed here that I understand where it is that the Miami Heat fall behind to how Boston is presently playing.

[Mike Ryan]

But the Heat have rolled with those changes. I mean, they've put together rosters recently that have won NBA championships.

[Billy Gill]

Agreed. But since they were even with Boston at the rim in the bubble, what has happened since then is the sport has changed enough that the Celtics are great at threes and crush everybody at threes because they got five guys and a 7:3 guy who can do things Bam cannot do because he does not have the range that Chris Bosh might have developed over his career. So understood on the criticism. I'm just telling you, okay, that that can be one that's hard to see the next step on this, though, when you look at, yes, they missed on Damian Lillard, they missed on Kevin Durant, they missed on DeRozan. They haven't gotten any of the players that they needed to allow Jimmy Butler to age with grace by having him become the second best player on the team. But the thing that I think you can forgive the Heat for not seeing is that I always thought Jimmy Butler was supposed to be the help, not need the help. Like, I always thought that he's Philadelphia's third guy like that. That's what you need him to be if you want to beat Boston. And so I understand where it is if your leadership there. You get caught off guard and you hesitate on Bradley Beal because you don't think he's worth the 50 million because he's not. And everyone wants the pressure. If you got to make a move, you got to get Jimmy Moore. And you're not wrong to do that. You're especially not wrong because of how Boston did it. And rewarded got rewarded for doing it because they made the moves. And the Heat fan is sitting here still hurting from Kyle Lowry as the move.

[Greg Cody]

No doubt, the Kyle Lowry thing, I don't think we pay enough attention to that, even with time. That was just such a disastrous move for this franchise. I think it's fair. Like, if you want to armchair quarterback and say they've actually been on the right side of not acquiring some of these talents, it actually ended up working out. The Damian Lillard contract's not that attractive, even though I still think that it would have been a better fit here. I think people tend to look over their multiple pursuits of Kevin Durant, a new owner Waltz is into the league and just alphas them and they've always been trying to get him, and that would have been huge. Chris Paul, that one is kind of debatable. Kyrie Irving, in retrospect, we understand why everybody was standoffish, but they should have.

[Billy Gill]

Pursued him so Whoa, that's easy to say now. God, nobody wanted. That's so easy to say now, 110%.

[Greg Cody]

But I also think it's awfully convenient when people bring up Bradley Beal and they bring up, you know, Damian Lillard. They omit the other ones where, like, taking this chance might have worked out there. Putting all that other stuff to aside. And just for a guy who coined the phrase disease of me, he couldn't get this wrong with Jimmy, because Jimmy, at the very least, he helps you compete this year, and it's a contract that comes off the books. We understand he took his approach in the summer. It was dicey. Jimmy Butler and him started doing some posturing publicly, and it looked like they handled that. Then all these trade rumors start up where Shams is totally right. You don't go up against Shams in these situations. And Jimmy Butler's representation and the Miami Heat got cocky, had bravado. I'm not really sure what Jimmy Butler's agent was doing that seems a little nefarious in retrospect, but the guy that coined the phrase disease of me did something that you don't really see executives do all that much. Put out like an old, old school press release saying he's not going to move. And in retrospect, he really minimized the possible return for Jimmy Butler by doing that, because you back a guy who knows how to get out of these situations into a corner. And now every team that's checking in on Jimmy Butler understands you are out of move moves and is lowballing you. And that is a byproduct of your initial approach, which was a bit prideful.

[Dan Le Batard]

I think it's. It's fair to say that that statement ended up backfiring because Jimmy turned it into a total mess from there. And who knows if that was actually the thing that sent it over the line or if they already knew Jimmy was about to make some sort of mess and were trying to publicly get ahead of that. We don't know behind the scenes specifically.

[Billy Gill]

Was already making one order. He was already. The mess has been here for a while, people.

[Dan Le Batard]

But there's a difference between.

[Greg Cody]

He gets suspended for seven games.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah, there's a difference between kind of dogging it on the court and getting suspended from rumors leaking through the media that you're okay with being traded. There's a difference between that and the press conference that comes after the Indiana Pacers game where he's throwing his coaches, his roster under the bus. That's a different thing.

[Billy Gill]

All right, I Want to talk about something? Because you guys mentioned SPO here and this season SPO has blown an 8 point lead in overtime, a 22 point 4th quarter lead in Orlando. There are a lot of blown leads. There's the timeout at the end of a game when they didn't have a timeout. A decision that will haunt him for the remainder of his days and a few after he's gone.

[Greg Cody]

But we chalked that one up to just the acquisition of Terry Rose here, which is also a stain on Pat Riley's legacy.

[Billy Gill]

That timeout will chase Eric Spoelstra into the beyond. His spirit will be chased by that timeout that was called at the end of a game that he did not.

[Mike Ryan]

Have doing to poor Pat Riley. I mean, seriously, you guys sound so entitled. The Heat fan base. Get over yourselves and get over it. You're going through a bad season. Since 2006, you have won three NBA championships and been to the finals seven times. Seven times since 2006. Every organization would take that type of run.

[Greg Cody]

What are you guys doing at us for questioning whether Pat Riley has failed the town, failed the city, failed the franchise player? Is that what you're doing?

[Mike Ryan]

Yes, I am.

[Greg Cody]

Are doing.

[Mike Ryan]

Yes, yes. Chris Cody deserves better from you guys.

[Billy Gill]

Chris Cody, please get that sound. And I agree with Stugat. Thank you on this. There were some people yesterday and this is a tricky one because where do you draw the line in the lack of nuanced debate culture of today, of firmly backing someone and also being critical of them? Because it should go without saying. Stugatz. This part should go without saying that the reason Mike Ryan is accusing Pat Riley. A bit prideful. No, it's more than a bit prideful. It's arrogance. And it's earned one every single place he's ever been. He's entitled to think he's the reason that happens. Cuz it was in New York and it was in Los Angeles and it was in Miami. And I saw what he inherited when he got to Miami. This was a spring break dump of a basketball franchise playing next to a hospital gym. He left Madison Square Garden and one of the greatest jobs there are in sports where he was the head of fashion in Los Angeles and New York for creating the model of executive leadership that looks good and is in charge. And he reinvented a nowhere franchise down here. So yeah, he's prideful. He's Belichick. And when you tell Belichick Brady's the reason you're winning, he's like, I made Brady. Who do you think made LeBron? He didn't win shit before he got here. Like, what? That's what. That's what you're going to get from. You think he's being a bit prideful? Being prideful when he's in Vegas and they've got him waiting outside the door of the hotel with his trophies because they're watching the World cup and he can't get to LeBron James to recruit him. Like. Like that's losing for 10 years and he's gonna pridefully hold on to that because he got to 70, having all the power and winning for how many years? Like, in what world do you have Pat Riley not being prideful?

[Greg Cody]

He deserves it and he also deserves to leave this franchise however he wants it. I don't think it's hard to explain that every time you want to criticize something. In the moment, we understand what he means to this franchise. We understand why we're here. But in this specific moment, in a vacuum, he has really botched this Jimmy Butler situation in terms of maximizing a return to the point that Jeremy and I are workshopping. Like, what's his move now? Just say, hey, we're going to shelve you for the rest of the year because just losing your.

[Mike Ryan]

He has no moves off our books, Mike. He got this wrong.

[Greg Cody]

Then acquiring anything else.

[Mike Ryan]

He has no moves. He got this one wrong, but for the most part he's gotten it right.

[Greg Cody]

Terry Rosier, Kyle Lowry thing, you do.

[Dan Le Batard]

Still have a month to kind of materialize all of this where there might be teams that, whether it's injuries or otherwise, that think that they're close, that acquiring Jimmy Butler as a rental is going to get you what it is that you want. The way that the Heat played this was, we're going to go into the season and if you decide to opt out at the end of it, then we will just have cap space to be able to maneuver with the roster moving forward. And that's essentially what they're going to try to create in this trade, is acquire expiring contracts and picks. More likely than not, they're taking a guy. They traded Hassan Whiteside, Josh Richardson in a protected first round pick. They maximize the value. Went to two finals, went to three conference finals, and on the back end, if they get that type of value back in expiring contracts, it was a success.

[Chris Cody]

The Day on the Batard show with Stu Gotz is sponsored by BetterHelp. Every January feels like a fresh start. 365 blank pages just waiting for your story. To be written in 2025. Maybe you're ready for a plot twist, ready to revise the parts of your story holding holding you back. Life isn't about New Year's resolutions that disappear by February. It's about picking up the pen and becoming the author of your life. Therapy can help you do just that. Therapy isn't just for the big traumas. It's for anyone who wants to grow, heal and thrive with BetterHelp. Therapy is convenient and affordable. It's fully online. You can access it anywhere, anytime, BetterHelp connects over 5 million people with a network of 30,000 licensed therapists, specialized, experienced, and ready to help. If it's not a right fit, you can switch therapists at any time at no extra cost. Write your story with better help. Visit betterhelp.com DLB today to get 10% off your first month. That's BetterHelp. H-E-L-P.com DLB.

[Greg Cody]

What is DAX Are you.

[Billy Gill]

Tracking all our cars on Carvana Value Tracker on all our devices? Yes, Kristen, yes, I am.

[Chris Cody]

Well, I've been looking for my phone.

[Stugotz]

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

[Chris Cody]

All of them?

[Stugotz]

All of them.

[Billy Gill]

Value surge trucks up 3.9%.

[Chris Cody]

That's a great offer.

[Billy Gill]

I know.

[Stugotz]

Sell.

[Mike Ryan]

Sell.

[Stugotz]

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

[Dan Le Batard]

Don LeBatard it sounds to me like everybody could use a hug, because a hug is always the right size. Stu All I have put in my body today is three cups of coffee in an entire cup of honey.

[Stugotz]

Don't let him fool you.

[Dan Le Batard]

He said in the break that he's jittery.

[Stugotz]

This is the Dan Levatar show with the Stugats.

[Billy Gill]

Let me talk for a moment about standards, because I do think the micro of the moment does tend to engulf the macro, even if the macro is half a century in the making. Okay, the Miami Heat will be interesting at the trade deadline and I'm guessing beyond it because, my God, in my history covering sports in this market, there has never been anybody who makes seasons interesting more than the person who's always win. Now, that team has a standard that is much different than what the Miami Dolphins have because the Miami Dolphins don't make the playoffs. And you're like, yeah, they never do. The Heat's expectations are no, you got to be better than Boston. Like, that's where. That's where Riley put the standard. Third place ain't good enough. They weren't close against Denver, but second Place is as close as you can be, and it's a failure. And no, it's not a failure. Like, I'm not going to do that. Over the last five years, this ending a failure, I don't think that can be disputed. I don't think Pat Riley would dispute that.

[Mike Ryan]

Second place twice with Jimmy Butler is not a failure.

[Billy Gill]

I'm not going to. I'm not going to do that. But how do you also. How do you say everything I'm saying and also point out, yeah, the game is player acquisition. You taught us that. The game is player acquisition, star acquisition, to win a championship. You're the one who taught us that there's winning and there's misery and that's it. And none of the seasons have ended where you expect them to end every season under Jimmy Butler.

[Greg Cody]

And it's just not a sudden development. The writing was on the wall last offseason when we saw everybody in the east get better, and we were just hanging our hat on the development of this franchise. And maybe they have a puncher's chance, and then they manage Jimmy Butler's workload the entire season against their will because it's count. It runs counterculture to them. And he gets hurt against Philadelphia, and you realize, wow, wasted year. Wasted year for Pat Riley, who's getting up there. Wasted year for Jimmy Butler. And this entire thing is flawed. You cannot go through another off season the same way they did.

[Dan Le Batard]

Part of the reason that this has gone on so long is because of what Dan mentioned, which is that Pat Riley in this franchise refused to ever be bad. And so there might have been a time where they could have traded Jimmy Butler to acquire picks and young players, but that was even earlier in Bama Tobias development, earlier in Tyler Heroes development. And they weren't willing to be a bad team that tanks for multiple years. You talk about Orlando, you know, in the con conversation you guys were having yesterday, it's like, well, during the Jimmy Butler era, they were winning 25 or 30 games a year for five years. That's why they're good now. It was miserable every single year. The Heater trying to contend and trying to be in it, even if it's somewhat delusional. That's. That's part of what makes them the competitors. That. That they culture.

[Billy Gill]

Okay, you know what? You know what? But stop with somewhat delusional, because you know what's delusional? Gabe Vincent and Max Strust carrying me to the Finals. That's delusional. Like, they did it. The thing about the arrogance yeah, why wouldn't he believe that? He's going to be right. They haven't been good at Boston, and bam. On a bio takes Tatum down at the rim. They weren't as good as that team. Like, that Boston team has all the top five picks. That Boston team had to be tested like that to get to where it's gotten.

[Greg Cody]

But even the plan with the outliers. I'm sorry, Dan, but even the outlier, like that incredible majestic run. I thought the season was over against Chicago in the play in, like. Like it was that flimsy. Like the entire thing is built on. Let's get in the play in and hopefully we advance through that.

[Billy Gill]

I know, but Mike. But, Mike, here's the thing, though. Yes, it absolutely flimsy that they made that run, but they made that run. Beating Giannis in the first round with Jimmy playing that way proved to all of us. What do you mean? Jimmy can be better than Giannis in a series. What do you mean? That Giannis can be the favorite who just won the championship, and Jimmy's going to take him down. That changed Jimmy's reputation forever. But let's play because we can get up and caught up in prisoner of the moment. Stugatz has now changed his tune in defensive. Pat Riley.

[Mike Ryan]

Yep.

[Billy Gill]

This is stug talking about Pat Riley and Dwyane Wade before Pat Riley got LeBron James and Chris Bosh for Dwayne Wade.

[Mike Ryan]

Has Pat Riley failed? Dwyane Wade seriously has Riley and the organization. Because then all these other teams, all the other contenders went out and made moves, and they haven't done a single day. What have they done for Dwyane Wade? They got him. Jermaine O'Neal. A broken Jermaine O'Neal. He's going to leave here, and he should leave here.

[Billy Gill]

They got him, Shaq.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah. And a championship since then. Let's sell them on this notion of all these guys we're going to get next year. None of these guys want to come here, Senior. None of them. He's failed Dwyane Wade, failed the fans, failed the city. That was then. This is now, Dano.

[Billy Gill]

Well, this is. This is where I caution you. Right? Because I expected at the trade deadline. Look, I. I told you guys a while ago, everybody was laughing at me. You need to keep an eye on that Minnesota situation, the Minnesota ownership situation. I told you, watch out for Valentine's Day. If you got. Like, I may be wrong here, because this is the last time that I heard this kind of noise around this man. I do not Expect the second half of this Heat season to be a quiet thing. Mike Ryan says getting up there, Pat Riley, 78, man, he's talking about mortality, not career mortality, actual mortality. He still wants to win. Now he's not convinced. Boston has been tested in the playoffs like they got tested by Miami in the playoffs and won. So you can believe that he's not going to pull off some three, three team deal. And I haven't heard any of the experts be able to explain to me how it that can happen. But I also didn't think they were going to be able to get out from under Whiteside and Dion Waiter contracts. And they did that because they got Jimmy Butler when they didn't have anything to get Jimmy Butler with. So you underestimate this person at your own risk, because I actually believe always that he will fix it eventually. Eventually I'm going to be wrong, but I've just been doing nothing but watching him fix it since I've been here.

[Mike Ryan]

I stand with you and Pat Riley.

[Stugotz]

But what leverage do they have, right? Because normally they're able to get the disgruntled superstar because someone's just looking to get rid of him. Now you think that you're somehow going to get rid of the disgruntled superstar and improve your team, but who wants to come?

[Billy Gill]

But because the stars run the league, wherever Anthony Edwards wants to go next is where Anthony Edwards is going to end up next.

[Stugotz]

But I'm saying in this trade, you're not going to improve in a trade with Jimmy Butler. You're just getting him out of town. By the way, sad day at Heat Nation. I, I, obviously things are going on here. Things are not good with Jimmy. It's been put out there. Jimmy Butler merchandise is 50% off at every mall that I've seen walking around, every store said 50% off. Jimmy Butler jersey, Jimmy Butler T shirts. Everybody's preparing. They don't think that this is gonna get resolved.

[Greg Cody]

Dan, what, what Dan said there, though, is kind of the problem. And it's the parts of the Heat media that I don't like and the Heat fandom that I don't like. What recent history do you have of the disgruntled superstar putting Miami in a his destination list, which is routine? Miami not winning that pursuit either, not having the type of trade capital that the other teams have, or in the event that a superstar says, I only want to go to Miami, they still found a way to fail. So why do you think it's going to be different with Anthony Edwards and The only way it could possibly be different with Anthony Edwards in this pie in the sky scenario is you still need capital. And Pat Riley just went out of his way to ruin that possible scenario and not maximizing the return by putting out that statement that put Jimmy in a corner.

[Dan Le Batard]

I think the capital part of it over the last several years has been fair. It's the reason why Boston has been able to do everything they've done. The team that they built around the stars that they have was built off the backs of a trade of Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to Brooklyn that stacked them with all this capital to be able to continue to make moves and continue to make moves, including later on Drew Holiday, who they get from Portland that was never going to happen for Miami. And Chris Stack Porzingis, who spent the entire postseason injured and would have been a disaster for Miami individually but works because Boston's so good. The thing about Anthony Edwards or De'Aaron Fox, who's another example of someone who has an incredible relationship with Bama to bio or any of these things that you float out there in the sky. The difference between that and what happened with Damian Lillard individually is Damian Lillard was not willing to make a mess. Right. Brett Cody, major penalty, five minutes. Me maximum.

[Billy Gill]

Just tired of hearing you talk. You've been on vacation. You came back to a microphone after two weeks without talking. You've been on Jimmy Butler too long and I was just tired of listening to you.

[Mike Ryan]

Did you guys hear what Billy Gill said? The folks over at Lids and Sports Authority, they think this is not getting done. I mean 50% off.

[Billy Gill]

Billy, you seem bored during the last 30 minutes.

[Stugotz]

I don't think sports of 30 exists anymore.

[Greg Cody]

Hasn't been a thing for like I have no idea.

[Mike Ryan]

Dicks really.

[Billy Gill]

So what are you looking?

[Stugotz]

It's hard to find by the way I've learned and you guys are telling me and I'm just look, I'm a man of the people, but I'm a man of the streets. So I got a lot of my information from the streets and just from observing life. You guys tell me how this is a Panther town. This, that and the third and everybody loves the Panthers. If my. If my brother in law is listening. I had a situation here, Dan recently where I ordered him a birthday present. Christmas slash birthday present. He was out of town for his birthday two birthday and that. That that present has gotten lost. And I've called the fulfillment center and they've told us flat out we don't know where it is. You're never gonna get this. You need to call the company that sold this to you. So I called that company, and they said, well, it's not. It's. It's not scheduled to be delivered yet. We can't give a refund. And I'm not gonna name the company because we live in a dangerous time here where I literally can't criticize anyone because every company now has, like, a streaming media service. So whoever it is that has done me wrong could be my future employer one day. So I need to be very careful. And I can't mention an apparel company that may now have a streaming service that may hire me at some point down the road. So I need to be careful. So I'm not going to take them out. But it was. It was a Panthers championship hoodie. So I said, you know what? This is never going to get here. I just need to get a replacement gift. So that's why I was walking around the lids and the dicks of the world yesterday. And you know what I found? Not a Panther. Anything in sight. No one has Panthers gear down here in Miami. Like, Dolphin Mall doesn't have any Panthers gear. The dicks over there in that new area doesn't have any Panthers gear. So there was two travesties. One, I can't rip anyone anymore because anyone could be a future employer now because everyone's starting their own media companies, which is crazy. Or streaming channels. Fast channels, they call them. Everything's a fast channel now. Let's just slow it down. Back in my day, four channels, we just moved slowly, you know what I mean?

[Billy Gill]

Put it on the pole.

[Stugotz]

Watch what was on television.

[Billy Gill]

Slow it down.

[Stugotz]

Slow it down.

[Dan Le Batard]

Fast.

[Billy Gill]

Let's slow it down. Fast channel.

[Stugotz]

Exactly right. Yeah. And I can't find any. Any Panthers gear anywhere. And the third thing I learned, Jimmy Butler gear is on sale everywhere. 50% off.

[Billy Gill]

Billy, while you're cooking. And thank you. I appreciate you cooking like that. I. When I was watching a Dick's. Because you guys have been enjoying just saying that word over and over again. Yes, you've done it. Don't pretend like you haven't. Dick's Sporting Goods. I saw a commercial for Dick's the other day, and it said that their website was Dick's dot com. And I'm like, that can't be. There's no way that that can be. But it is.

[Mike Ryan]

Had to be taken, huh?

[Billy Gill]

You would think I'm on it. You would. You would think I'm saying, not don't get on it.

[Mike Ryan]

I'm On Dick's.

[Billy Gill]

Do not get on. No, don't get on. Don't go get on Dicks.

[Stugotz]

Billy wants to.

[Greg Cody]

I don't think you can anymore. There's, like, this weird message from this lady.

[Billy Gill]

Billy, since you're cooking, tell us about the Listener League.

[Stugotz]

Please tell us the Listener League. Dan. Thanks. You were participating this week, correct? No.

[Billy Gill]

No.

[Stugotz]

All right, well, next week. Don't worry. Every week. Fresh start. You can join next week if you want to. Just go to dkng co Smirnoff. I had a strategy last week. Week. I thought it was foolproof. I thought I was going to be the only one with this strategy.

[Greg Cody]

Incentive guys.

[Stugotz]

I said incentive guys.

[Greg Cody]

Mike Evans.

[Stugotz]

Yeah, it did not work. I finished probably like five from the back last week, but New Year, New me, New team. New me. New Year, New me, New team. New DKNG co Smirnoff. Because every week, a new fancy contest. Go to DKNG co Smirnoff. Presented by Smirnoff, the world's number one vodka. Please drink responsibly. Possibly.

[Chris Cody]

The Dan Libertard show with Stu Gotz is sponsored by BetterHelp. Every January feels like a fresh start. 365 blank pages just waiting for your story to be written. In 2025, maybe you're ready for a plot twist, ready to revise the parts of your story holding you back. Life isn't about New Year's resolutions that disappear by February. It's about picking up the pen and becoming the author of your life. Therapy can help you do just that. But therapy isn't just for the big traumas. It's for anyone who wants to grow, heal and thrive with BetterHelp. Therapy is convenient and affordable. It's fully online. You can access it anywhere, anytime, BetterHelp connects over 5 million people with a network of 30,000 licensed therapists, specialized, experienced and ready to help. If it's not a right fit, you can switch therapists at any time at no extra cost. Write your story with BetterHelp Help. Visit betterhelp.com DLB today to get 10 off your first month. That's BetterHelp. H-E-L-P.com DLB.