Local Hour: The Most Cuban Thing In the History of Sports

Summary

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The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz: "Local Hour: The Most Cuban Thing In the History of Sports"

Episode Date: January 12, 2026
Hosts: Dan Le Batard, Stugotz, Mike Ryan, Zaslow, Jeremy, Tony

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Episode Overview

Live from the Elser Hotel in Downtown Miami, Dan Le Batard and crew dive into the uniquely Cuban, larger-than-life spectacle surrounding Miami’s massive college football showdown. The guys examine the cultural and sporting significance of an all-Cuban quarterback National Championship, lament Miami sports media's complex relationship with hometown teams, revel in a triumphant Hurricanes run, and debate what might be the most shocking Miami Heat opinion ever aired on the show.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Most Cuban Thing in Sports History – Hurricanes vs. Indiana

• Cuban Pride on Display:
  The hosts repeatedly note the rarity and significance of a national football championship defined by Cuban star power on both sides:

  "We've got... the most Cuban thing in the history of sports coming to our town... In Miami, we've got Fernando Mendoza, Heismeng, coming to town to play Cristobal in the Columbus Cuban. Most Cuban super bowl in the history of Cuban sports." — Dan Le Batard [02:22]

• Cuban-American Football Culture:
  The game between Miami and Indiana not only highlights star Cuban players, but also features Miami (Cristobal) and key Cuban boosters on both teams—a historic moment for the community.

• Exaggerated Hypothesis:
  The hosts facetiously stress that this is as important for Cuban-Americans as the generations of baseball shortstops and relievers who preceded them, joking about Miami often being an afterthought in football “because Cubans never get to matter in this sport.” [02:22]

• Local School Pride & Tensions:
  Tony and Mike Ryan debate whether the show's progressive politics are welcome at Columbus High School, the spiritual root of Cuban Miami football, highlighting old tensions between the insular local scene and the show’s irreverent reputation.

  “People were saying that my politics don't fit with Columbus's reserved style and that Columbus might not be a fan of our show.” — Mike Ryan [13:24]

2. Miami vs. Indiana: X’s and O’s, and “Everybody Is Wrong About The Canes"

• National Perception vs. Local Faith:
  The show bristles at the consistent national doubt directed at Miami, blasting media “doubters” and the betting public’s faith in Indiana despite clear match-up advantages for Miami.

  "Y'all have been saying the same thing for three weeks. It's the exact same thing... Let's talk about this team." — Dan Le Batard [08:24–09:14]

• Miami's Offensive Line Advantage:

  “My favorite part, the Canes average weight on the offensive line is 50 pounds heavier than the average weight on Indiana's D line. Not a small thing.” — Zaslow [09:14]

• Recent History & Odds:
  Discussion about the Vegas line ballooning to Indiana -7.5 and the logic behind national skepticism; comparison with preseason expectations and narratives.

• A Generational Miami Moment

  “This national title appearance... is for everyone that sat in those stands before they had a roof on it...the last 20 years in particular, you have an entire adult generation that have no connective tissue to the University of Miami's success. They've been a national punchline. They've been laughed at by this show. And it doesn't just stop with this season.” — Dan Le Batard [30:54]

3. Miami Sports: Bandwagoning, Apologies, and Long-Awaited Payoff

• Confessions of Bandwagon Fandom & Apologies:
  Dan admits to playing the Miami bandwagon, doubting the team after midseason losses before being “guilty as charged” when Miami proved championship caliber.

  “I doubted my own eyes...Absolutely bandwagon. Guilty as charged.” — Dan Le Batard [28:47–29:05]

• Media’s Relationship with Miami & Columbus:
  Reflecting a long-standing South Florida theme, Dan insists the show has a “reputation locally...as an anti Miami show,” with Mike Ryan being the lone “vocal” Canes supporter pre-success. [24:46–25:33]

• Billy Corben’s Place in Miami History:
  The crew acknowledges that documentary filmmaker Billy Corben represents UM's best sports historian, pointing to the massive impact of The U 30 for 30 films.

• Closing the Book on the Past:
  Dan pushes back against endlessly rehashing the Hurricanes’ glory days:

  "I'm done talking about the ghost of the Orange Bowl. It's a new era... Stop talking about this has nothing to do with Dennis Erickson, Howard Schnellenberger. Yes, there are ghosts. They're echoes... This is a whole new world." — Dan Le Batard [21:55]

4. Cuban Miami, On-Location and On-Brand

• La Carreta Energies:
  Tony does a live, on-location hit at La Carreta on Bird Road, dishing out cafecitos to patrons and illustrating Miami’s sports-and-culture intersection:

  “I'm gonna have Sean McGill turn around the camera. So anytime you've ever seen anybody banging pots and pans, it's on this little side street where all these cars are parked, and that's obviously famous Bird Road right there." — Tony [23:49]

• Searching for Fans:
  The segment turns comic as Tony struggles to stir up Cuban football fever (“one guy gave me a thumbs up”), prompting further jokes about Cuban reserve and Miami’s sometimes awkward relationship to sports media visibility.

5. NFL Week: Surreal Highs and Lows

• Craziest NFL Week Ever:
  Brief summary of a “crazy” week in the NFL—from surprise firings (John Harbaugh), to improbable playoff comebacks, to catastrophic Packers losses.

  “It begins with John Harbaugh being fired in a game a week. When you look at what the...crazy week has been…” — Mike Ryan [33:51]

• Caleb Williams’ Legend Grows:

  “Caleb Williams. Seven fourth quarter comebacks, including the playoffs.” — Zaslow [36:26]

6. Heat Shock: “It’s Time to Trade Bam Adebayo”

The Segment's Bombshell:

• Stunning Heat Take:
  Near the hour’s end, Zaslow shocks the crew by declaring:

  “It’s time to trade Bam Adebayo. The Heat stink... There is no world where Bam Adebayo making $50 million against your salary gap is going to be a championship team. There’s no world where that’s possible.” — Zaslow [41:56–43:09]

• Reactions:
  Mike Ryan, “blown away,” calls it “unpleasant” and seeks help from others to even process the moment. Dan acknowledges Bam as “one of the best Heat players of all time,” but recognizes the argument.

  “It's crazy to think of the last five years birthing this, where you're saying what you just said... That guy is now a disposable piece when he's one of the best heat players of all time. He is an all star perennially. He brings it and gives every effort to be great. And Zaslo, it's shocking to me to hear you say it's done if you keep him on your team.” — Dan Le Batard [44:08–end]

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Dan on Miami’s Cuban Football Super Bowl:

  “Most Cuban super bowl in the history of Cuban sports. Never get to matter like this for the Cubans in Miami or anywhere else, it’s always just the shortstops… Cubans never get to matter in this sport." [02:22]

• Mike Ryan on Miami’s Physical Dominance:

  “Miami should not be a touchdown underdog to anybody who plays college football. That’s asinine.” [07:47]

• Zaslow’s Pure Ecstasy Over the Beck TD:

  "Anytime I'm just sitting around, I'm not doing anything. Go, let's watch the Beck touchdown videos... I love it so much. And my favorite part... it's like he's just running into this sea of fans who are so happy. Come to us. Come to us. And it was so perfect." [06:45-07:20]

• Dan’s Apology for Bandwagon Doubting:

  "I doubted my own eyes...Absolutely bandwagon. Guilty as charged." [28:47–29:05]

• Zaslow’s Call to Trade Bam Adebayo:

  “It’s time to trade Bam Adebayo... There is no world where Bam Adebayo making $50 million against your salary cap is going to be a championship team.” [41:56–43:09]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:22] – The “Most Cuban Thing in the History of Sports” explainer and cultural reflection
• [06:45–07:20] – Zaslow emotionally relives the Miami Beck touchdown
• [09:14] – Miami O-Line advantage and match-up talk
• [13:24] – Columbus-Miami relationship, politics, and local school pride
• [21:54–22:16] – Dan pushes to move on from UM’s past and define a new era
• [23:49] – Tony’s live check-in from La Carreta; the Cuban Miami energy
• [30:54] – Dan on what this national title appearance means to a generation
• [33:51] – NFL week craziness and playoff madness
• [41:56–43:09] – Zaslow's “Trade Bam” bombshell

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Tone & Takeaways

• Style: Lively, irreverent, and steeped in local color. The crew is both celebratory and self-deprecating, toggling between Miami pride and Miami cynicism.
• Energy: There’s a sense of happy chaos—the city buzzing with anticipation and cultural pride, the sports landscape in upheaval, and the show’s personalities in full, unfettered voice.
• Theme: Miami’s long wait for football relevance is finally over, and its Cuban community is front and center—a generational moment commemorated by skepticism, joy, and a rare moment of consensus, even as old feuds (with schools, with Billy Corben, with Heat philosophy) bubble back up.

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For New Listeners

You’ll get an immersive portrait of contemporary Miami sports and its Cuban-American heartbeat; the swirling energy around the Canes championship run; and the kind of shocking, “only here” sports takes (seriously, trade Bam?) that make The Dan Le Batard Show a staple for both locals and national fans of sports culture.

Transcript

[Dan Le Batard]

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[Mike Ryan]

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[Dan Le Batard]

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[Mike Ryan]

Zaz, you look great. You look like a tio. You really do. I can't believe how Cuban you look right now. And if you were watching on Calle Ocho and no one was talking to you, you absolutely look Cuban simply by putting on a guayabera. I didn't see it last week, but.

[Zaslow]

Now that I got.

[Mike Ryan]

I see it now. It's so good. He looks like every Cuban deal that has been by a barbecue. 12 beers in at the end of the night, can't speak because he's. 12 beers in and just. He doesn't have to speak. You could absolutely. Zaz, I'm telling you, right, that as a prank, we could take you to a Cuban party, and as long as you just didn't say anything, you would fit right in at a Cuban cajachina.

[Dan Le Batard]

My culture is not your costume.

[Mike Ryan]

It is. We're gonna do a lot of cultural appropriation this week. Nice. I'm mortified, though, Mike, by you and how selfish you are. Zaslow, did you take in what was happening in that meeting this morning where we've got.

[Zaslow]

He's nervous. Like, he. He's. He's nervous. This is a very important week.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah. This is a total misread by you. No, I'm not nervous. I'm very happy to be here. I like how Miami's matched up with this game. I. We're a week away. It's an eternity. I'll work my way up to nervous.

[Mike Ryan]

No.

[Zaslow]

It's like you want this to be perfect.

[Dan Le Batard]

No, no, no, no. I'm just standing by aghast at the nerve of people. The nerve of Dan Lebatard for one. Yeah. The nerve of Billy Corbin for a second.

[Zaslow]

What'd he do?

[Dan Le Batard]

The nerve for the rest of the people on this show that took turns laughing at me, telling me that I didn't belong here, touting James Madison.

[Jeremy]

He scored a lot of points.

[Dan Le Batard]

It's just funny.

[Mike Ryan]

That's true.

[Jeremy]

We all agree now. Playoff team.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I actually don't think more than a lot of others. I actually don't think there's been a proper reckoning because Everything's been moving so fast. Y' all should be embarrassed.

[Mike Ryan]

Well, so Mike's got takes for days because he hasn't been able to speak since the last victory. The greatest of his life, probably. I'm gonna say that might have felt better to Mike than any of the championships in South Florida, as I imagine it. Panthers, Heat, and that game. Because he gets to be right. Like, no matter what happens against Indiana, he gets to be right. And he also gets the hope of, oh, Indiana's still kind of small. And those games at Iowa and Penn State are tough. And why is everybody in the street asking me, is Miam blown out? Are you crazy? Miami's not getting blown out by anybody. Miami's not getting blown out by anybody. Like, they're more. They're physically superior. And the last two games have fooled America. And God bless. We've got the most Cuban thing in the history of sports coming to our town. Me, we've got in Miami. In Miami, we've got Fernando Mendoza, Heismeng, coming to town to play crystal ball in the Columbus Cuban. Most Cuban super bowl in the history of Cuban sports. Never get to matter like this for the Cubans in Miami or anywhere else, it's always just the shortstops. Shortstops and pitchers. It's baseball. Cubans never get to matter in this sport. And Mike's in the meeting mad because Billy Corbin is sniffing around and he wants to make some stuff for us.

[Dan Le Batard]

Go somewhere else. Plenty of media companies around. Find someone else to run your scam by.

[Mike Ryan]

Mike Ryan came in today and started the morning with Billy Corbin.

[Zaslow]

Wow.

[Dan Le Batard]

Depo, you there? Oh, yeah, Pablito. What's good, bro?

[Zaslow]

I want to give all the glory to God.

[Dan Le Batard]

It's a guy who is a blank prick. Portumadre.

[Mike Ryan]

I imagine it would be like your mama. Porto madre.

[Dan Le Batard]

Hey, that's great to hear it.

[Mike Ryan]

Then.

[Jeremy]

What's up?

[Mike Ryan]

I'm going to. How'd I do? I love you, Miami. Is that the shortstops?

[Dan Le Batard]

Is that Levan?

[Mike Ryan]

That was a dated reference by me. It started with the pitchers and the shortstops, and it hasn't been a shortstop in a while. It's relievers.

[Jeremy]

It's all relievers.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yuniel Escobar, all those Y names. Soviet influence.

[Zaslow]

Haz, you look great.

[Dan Le Batard]

I know.

[Mike Ryan]

He does look great, but you can't speak. What you can't. What you can't do is you. Well, you can speak, but you can't speak in character because that's offensive. So be careful. You're going to walk the line. All show Tony is trying to get into Columbus. It's the Columbus Super Bowl. It's the Cuban Super Bowl. I was yelled at in the meeting because I'm like, tony, just go out there, do some live hits. Let's celebrate Columbus. And he's like, yeah, they don't rock with us. Dan doesn't know how schools work. Well, no, Dan's like, tony, go into Columbus today. No, no, no, no. What I got is an explanation, man.

[Zaslow]

Walk into this school.

[Mike Ryan]

No, no, no, wait a minute. We're a little big, you know, we're a little big swaggering media thing. It's a nice time to be Columbus. You would think. Celebrate Columbus. The Columbus people made all of this come together. Fernando Mendoza. It comes from Columbus. He's the best player in the sport. The stats he's putting up are totally ridiculous. Totally absurd. 85% completion rates, three touchdowns. He's got six of those games this season. In the history of football this century, college or pro, no one has four such games in a season. He's got more touchdowns in the playoffs. 8 than incompletions 5. It's nuts what that guy has done from Columbus. And he's got a bigger, stronger Cuban here to eat his face. Coming to the fight with Reuben Bain and Macedor. And people are asking me, no lies as because this is broken perfectly. They're asking me a lot as I'm walking around Dan, is the you going to get killed? And I'm like, what are you people talking about idiots at home? What are you, what are you talking about? In what world do you have? Is it just the last two games that you believe that that Alabama thing wasn't a fraud? It's a fraud. Miami played its second worst game of the season and beat a one loss Mississippi State team. That's the second worst game of the season. Their worst game was Louisville because he threw four interceptions and he wouldn't stop throwing deep. That quarterback looked like this quarterback to you. Because Zaz can't stop watching that Dorsey run into the end zone.

[Dan Le Batard]

Back, back, back. I understand why you did that though.

[Mike Ryan]

He can't stop watching it.

[Zaslow]

I can't. Everyone who texts me, all of my friends who text me over the weekend, you know, just about the game.

[Jeremy]

I, I, I.

[Zaslow]

The first thing I say, I'm goes, how many times you watch that Beck touchdown? Like I, I. And everyone responds with a hundred times. I can't. Anytime I'm just sitting around, I'm not doing anything. Go, let's watch the Beck touchdown videos. Let's Watch this angle and this angle. And just I love it so much. And my favorite part of it is that it happened to be him running into the end zone, in the corner of the end zone where is all Miami fans. And it's like he's just running into this sea of fans who are so happy. Come to us. Come to us. And it was so perfect. I love it so much. And it's my favorite Miami Hurricane zone in my lifetime. It really is.

[Dan Le Batard]

I've been walking around the house occasionally, just saying to myself, still running the way that Fowler was on that Malachi Toney touchdown call.

[Zaslow]

Great call by Fowler on the back. Touchdown to Carson. Back with his legs.

[Mike Ryan]

He also had, though, in that game. Didn't he shout? What's that crazy thing he shouted with, like six minutes left? Miami is completely unraveling.

[Zaslow]

That wasn't fun. That was not so.

[Mike Ryan]

So Zaz is sitting here saying, most fun win of my lifetime. I'm going to say it again. It's the second worst game Miami's played this season. They were. They. I understand they were that dominant. They had a bad half against Stanford and they had four turnovers against Louisville. But blow this team out. Miami should not be a touchdown underdog to anybody who plays college football. That's asinine. But it's just because of the last. The way the last two games have went, gone. And I give Indiana all the blessed credit in the world, but when they played at Penn State against Penn State's athletes, that was when they went to Iowa, and that was a close game, and it was with the same Mendoza.

[Dan Le Batard]

People have got no shame, though, the way that Miami's played the last two games. You mean against a 13.1sec team, national champions. Okay, I listen to all these podcasts and they're already doing a fair amount of previewing. Take a lesson from very recent history. Y' all have been saying the same thing for three weeks. It's the exact same thing. I've heard about the four picks against Louisville and the SMU game going into College Station. I heard the exact same thing going into the Cotton Bowl. They better score them more than 10 points against a team like Ohio State. Well, they better score more points than 24 against a team like Ole Miss.

[Zaslow]

Urban Meyer telling everybody they're not going to score two touchdowns.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah, they.

[Dan Le Batard]

They better. Hey, they better clean it up if they want to play Indiana.

[Mike Ryan]

Okay.

[Dan Le Batard]

All right. Anybody at all in media want to say, hey, I'm done doubting this team. Spot the ball. Let's see what's going to happen.

[Zaslow]

My favorite part, the Canes average weight on the offensive line is 50 pounds heavier than the average weight on Indiana's D line. Not a small thing.

[Mike Ryan]

I understand all the respect in the world to Indiana for going undefeated. You beat Ohio State. We saw you beat Ohio State 13 to 10 with your Heisman offensive weapon quarterback. Because Ohio State is physically something that not. He even stands up physically to Miami. There is not a thing in the sport that stands up to what they have on the offensive and defensive line.

[Zaslow]

I think they're going to maul them on the lines. I really do.

[Mike Ryan]

I mean, £50 is a ton. But regardless, Miami. Look, I don't want to bore people doing this all week because this is going to be a really fun week in this city. I'm trying to get Tony to go over to Columbus High School to celebrate the greatness that is Columbus High School, the epicenter of Cuban soul in this city that has now birthed the biggest game in in Cuba America sports history. This is not up for dispute, is it? Does anyone have. I understand that El Duque pitched in a World Series and I know that we loved Levan in Miami. I'm not. You got both teams. The best player in the sport is the Cuban. On the other sideline, he's undefeated and the stats are nuts. And on this side, you've got a Cristobal who came through the program and FIU and has been doubted all along the path while his team has done nothing but improve four years straight.

[Dan Le Batard]

Dan. The biggest boosters on Miami side Cuban. The biggest booster on Indiana side Cuban.

[Mike Ryan]

What is the second biggest Cuban sports thing that we have? Because to have this game played in Miami to. To have the University of Miami program indeed back in a way that's not nauseating, but throws them into a game where I saw this on Rich Eisen show the other day. He says Miami is America's team. I'm like, what world am I living in? What world am I living in? Where Miami at home is a touchdown under dog against Indiana. Like what? I don't care about your nil money. It's still Indiana. Indiana's never been here. How'd that go for Jacksonville yesterday? Indiana hasn't played in this game and it certainly hasn't played in this game in Miami.

[Zaslow]

I. First of all, Mike, the line on the game seven and a half. Do they take into account at all that it's a home game for Miami or does it not matter? Because it's not.

[Dan Le Batard]

Technically it's not. And Indiana is Going to travel well. And I don't think it's going to be the 9010 discrepancy that they had as an advantage in the.

[Mike Ryan]

That peach ball.

[Zaslow]

I was there. I was there for that. I was there on Friday night. It was a disgrace. The Oregon alum, a disgrace. It was 95% Indiana. There was one little section, the low level. That was Oregon, people.

[Dan Le Batard]

I mean, Indiana looked outstanding in that game. They were all over Oregon from the jump. Oregon had some sloppy turnovers as well, but the advance line on that game was five and a half. And then Indiana did what it did to Oregon and it ballooned up to seven and a half. And right now, 80. Last, last I checked, 87% of the betting public is on Indiana minus seven and a half.

[Zaslow]

Bunch of suckers.

[Jeremy]

Well, it's probably because the average margin of victory for Indiana in the College football playoff is 34 and a half points and the average margin for Miami is seven.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah, well aware. Well aware of the teams that they've played, too. Alabama and Oregon. Not teams that I have a lot of respect for. Josh Pate did something on his show where he said that he talked to some sportsbook people. What would have been the line on a neutral field week one between these teams, week one, and it would have been Miami minus six and a half. We're talking about a 15 and a half point discrepancy. And Miami's just run through three tops.

[Zaslow]

Well, you know what? Indiana was to win the national championship before the season started, plus 15,000.

[Mike Ryan]

All of it fascinating. All of it will be an epicenter for vibrant stuff this week. But I was told when Tony, when I said Tony goes to Columbus, it wasn't about schools and kids. And you just can't just walk onto a school where there are kids. I got that part. People were saying that my politics don't fit with Columbus's reserved style and that Columbus might not be a fan of our show.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yes, People were saying that I have.

[Mike Ryan]

No knowledge of this. No one has ever said this to me before today.

[Dan Le Batard]

I know. No one's doubting that you have no knowledge of this.

[Mike Ryan]

Why do I have no knowledge of this?

[Dan Le Batard]

Dog? That's a you thing. Your echo chamber, I think.

[Jeremy]

Yeah, it's a you thing.

[Mike Ryan]

So Columbus is mad at me. Columbus does not like our show.

[Dan Le Batard]

If you think your whole bit flies.

[Mike Ryan]

With Columbus, the bit of Mario's playing in the. I heard Tony laughing at Lacretta. So wait a minute. So wait a minute.

[Dan Le Batard]

If you think you. Your whole act flies over There.

[Mike Ryan]

So this is what I was saying the other day, you know, about that act not flying. I don't, actually. Obviously, I'm asking you to help me understand my act not flying, because I was explaining, or began to explain last week as Mike comes in with gritted teeth saying, Billy Corbyn. I was trying to explain last week why the Cuban that is Cristobal, specifically the kind of Cuban that he is, why he would not respect before the biggest game of his life that I'm in a local park on my hands and knees, smearing ketchup on my forehead to be near the bit of, hey, tough guy, look at me, I'm shaking my hands over here. That Cristobal wouldn't respect, that a fellow Cuban would forever be a jester around where the University of Miami actually built its sports greatness. Yes, I understand. They understand that I'm a parasite. I'm a parasite at their side. And I'm guessing that they believe in me the way that you believe in Billy Corbin, where it's. You say Billy Corbyn. And I think that we can get Billy Corbyn to give us some content this week that, um, fans would really like.

[Dan Le Batard]

Billy Corbyn would laugh in my face. This is not a figure of speech. This is not me passively saying this expression. Like, he would laugh in my face when I would try to explain to him the thing that we were building down here. Many of you listening to my voice or watching on YouTube would laugh, would hop in my mentions, would make fun of me. And we told you, four years into this project, we're here now. We got there, and I don't think people have eaten a fair amount of crow. I really don't. I was a joke headed into the cfp. I was a joke. As of two months ago, I could. I couldn't win a game outside of the state of Florida. I just think, like, maybe a mode. An apology by everyone. You, you.

[Jeremy]

I've been here from the beginning, man.

[Mike Ryan]

Pointing at Jeremy and Mike and Dan.

[Dan Le Batard]

You over there in Twitter world and YouTube comments.

[Mike Ryan]

You think I think I would apologize.

[Dan Le Batard]

I think I'm entitled to one.

[Mike Ryan]

You think I owe you an apology?

[Dan Le Batard]

Yes.

[Mike Ryan]

All right, you know, put this off to the side for a second, okay, because we got a lot going on this week, and we're a vibrant epicenter for tension, because Mike Ryan's attitude coming in this week with I told you so. Look at him now. Well, I don't. And I'm going to tell you why I don't. It can't start with Billy Corbin, who we can agree has made the best University of Miami things that there are. The U, I believe, is still the biggest 30 for 30 documentary ESPN has ever had because of what this program has been.

[Zaslow]

Can I tell you something? That's something I'm so excited about this week because my older son is way into the canes right now as a result, and I told him, you and I this week, we're going to sit down and watch the U30 for 30.

[Dan Le Batard]

Okay, so this incredible disrespect for the Cane's inside preseason high video, that was prophetic in retrospect.

[Jeremy]

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[Tony]

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[Zaslow]

Smirnoff.

[Tony]

Wow, you're on the money with Smirnoff smeared off. Chris, you know what goes great with Smirnoff? Yes, but I'm really talking about game day fit. The style's gotta match the vibe. All right, here's the deal. Game day is everything. And that's exactly why your fit has to match the occasion. Starting this December, Smirnoff is giving fans 21 and over the chance to score limited edition Smirnoff commission merchandise from some of today's top creators, including Kayla Jones, Gavin, Matthew and Alelene May.

[Mike Ryan]

Smear Enough?

[Tony]

Here's the kicker. One lucky fan will take home the grand prize, a trip to the biggest game of the offseason. Plus, one fan will win a Laylee Mays one of one game day jacket. Wow. The merch will be dropped on select dates from December to January 21st. And it's all courtesy of what brand? That's right, Chris. Fans 21 and over can head to Smirnoff Socials to learn how to sign up. And don't forget to grab a bottle of Smirno vodka number 21 at your local retail. Please drink responsibly. Smirnoff number 21, vodka distilled from grain 40 alcohol by volume. The Smirnoff Company, New York, New York. Please do not share with anybody under legal drinking aid. No purchase necessary. Must be legal. US resident, 21 or older. Sweepstake starts 12 15, 2025 at 12:00am Eastern and ends 1232026 at 11:59:59pm Eastern. See official rules at program website.

[Dan Le Batard]

Don LeBatard to US residents.

[Mike Ryan]

Oh, wow.

[Dan Le Batard]

Think I haven't been practicing Stugats?

[Mike Ryan]

I didn't realize we had a substitute. Complicated legacy brought to you by Headquarters.

[Tony]

441 Power Line Road.

[Zaslow]

Second down to this is the Dan Levatar show with the Stugats.

[Mike Ryan]

This. This University of Miami history can be downloaded. All the history of it, the 50 years of it, can be downloaded. Bite Size with Billy Corbin, who we can agree is um's best sports historian. He has made two films about the University of Miami's history because the first one was so popular.

[Dan Le Batard]

Also, I listened to Friday's show hoping for more souls, hoping for us to rally around it, and we couldn't talk about this team without constantly putting them in historical perspective and talking about teams that were around 30 years ago. Can we stop? I'm pretty sure the sports fan, the casual person just coming to our show understands what the U was, how they fell down twice, and how they're picking themselves up off the mat. Let's talk about this team.

[Mike Ryan]

What was that?

[Dan Le Batard]

I'm done talking about the ghost of the Orange Bowl. It's a new era. We had to. We had to tear that whole thing down. Do you know how much mediocrity was in that Heck building? Like, stop talking about this has nothing to do with Dennis Erickson, Howard Schnellenberger. Yes, there are ghosts. They're echoes. They have formed Mario Crisoball and who he is. This is a whole new world.

[Zaslow]

You know about that Heck billing. Mediocre.

[Mike Ryan]

So, Zaslo, this is the problem that I have with Mike, and it's gonna be hard to rein him in. I have before 10 minutes out of this local hour, I have what I believe to be Zaslow's biggest sort of breaking news, where when he said it to me, and it's not news news, like he's had Giant stories. It's just he said something. I'm like, man, in the history of this market, there are two or three people who could say that. And I'd be like, mm, that.

[Zaslow]

That.

[Mike Ryan]

That hurt. Zaslow has, I believe, Giant Heat news that I was stunned to hear from him.

[Zaslow]

Well, it's Giant Heat opinion.

[Mike Ryan]

Well, it is. It's Heat opinion. But hearing it from you felt like news to me. And since you look like a Cuban old timey news guy right now. Tony's right now at La Carreta. We'll go to him in a second. Tony, I want you to buy Cafecito there for everybody who's in line. I want you to. Yeah, Everyone who's there. Tell him it's all on you.

[Dan Le Batard]

That'll be $3.17.

[Mike Ryan]

That's right. Don't tell anybody that, Mike. There's just. Tony, just keep buying cafes for anyone who comes through there.

[Tony]

There's 50 people here.

[Dan Le Batard]

That'll be $3. 17.

[Mike Ryan]

We only see, like, four people, Tony. Just keep buying. What I'm telling you, Tony, what I'm telling you is I need you before I get to this Zaslo news, I need you to give those people some enthusiasm about what's happening here in Miami this week, how Cuban the sports scene is. And you're at La Carreta on Cayo, right?

[Tony]

No, on Bird Road.

[Dan Le Batard]

Dano.

[Tony]

We are here on hollowed ground. I'm gonna have Sean McGill turn around the camera. So anytime you've ever seen anybody banging pots and pans, it's on this little side street where all these cars are parked, and that's obviously famous Bird Road right there. So anytime you've ever seen anybody banging pots and pans has been on this street right here in front of one of the most iconic buildings on Bird Road right here on. And Bird Road. I can see our betters in the distance. I can see Christopher Columbus High School probably like seven. Seven minutes down that way. And the fact you were asking, why doesn't the reserved, probably biggest donors, the Republican Party, don't mesh with your liberal, progressive politics? Is that. Is that the question you were asking earlier? That. That can't be it. Right?

[Mike Ryan]

I just thought sports united, all that stuff. Columbus is good at sports.

[Tony]

We're a big.

[Mike Ryan]

We're a big sports show. I've been here all my life. We all know each other, right? We're all. For sure. And a lot of damage.

[Tony]

Absolutely.

[Mike Ryan]

We're all. But we're like, hey, Columbus, Trying to repair the relationship. Columbus, I knew you in the 80s. Come on. It's a private Cuban school. I know all those kids. Come on.

[Dan Le Batard]

Our show's reputation locally is that of an anti Miami show.

[Mike Ryan]

I understand, but that is my allegiance to trying to play it down the middle while loving my school, obviously, but also doing journalism in it like I'm. Man, you don't want to talk about 30 years ago, I literally physically have the scars from a beer bottle thrown across a room hitting me across the chin because I dared to report journalism about the University of Miami program.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah, you also have that. So it's an uphill battle. But if the last 20 years of South Florida radio and national radio have shown the listener or anything, it's like you're ready to overcorrect on the natural Miami homerism and pride that comes with this show. Locally, this is not viewed as a pro Miami hurricane show. It's got one guy that is vocal about his passion for the show.

[Jeremy]

Who's that?

[Dan Le Batard]

And an entire show that has undercut him, made fun of him. And by the way, you guys teed off the scorecard. It's bad. But now we've come up and you all want to come to the party and you all want to be like pro Miami people thinking that people just have short memories. And it's not. It's not going to be the case.

[Mike Ryan]

All right, so this I. Despite your stubborn general obnoxiousness, which I knew would be here today, I'm going to offer you something in the way of an apology. But first, Tony, I need you to buy shots for everybody there. Can you get that going for me, please?

[Tony]

Yeah, I'll get Rose on it so she can. So she can start getting people in.

[Mike Ryan]

There court like cortaditos for everybody. I like this Rose yelling shots for everyone. What's so hard about just going over there and making it a deal? Am I producing this segment poorly when I say just go over there and just buy some? Like what? Why won't you do this for me?

[Zaslow]

I don't know what Tony's problem is.

[Mike Ryan]

Can we not move the wires? Why will you not go to Columbus for me?

[Tony]

Well, no, here's the thing. I need to actually talk to people. I can make a couple calls and get us at Columbus. That's not the issue. The issue is when you tell me at 8:47, hey, can you be at the Columbus field? That's kind of an issue. So I gotta. I gotta work through my sources. I gotta work through my people at Columbus. I've already got a couple asks in. We may be able to do it at the gym. We may be able to do it on the field at Columbus. Again, I gotta work it out, but I can't do it right this second.

[Mike Ryan]

So you can build the bridge. You can send Jeremy over there.

[Jeremy]

Yeah, yeah. Maybe he's not Cuban enough. I'll make it happen.

[Mike Ryan]

He's not understanding the assignment. Simon, I guess, right? He's just. Okay, we'll come back to you. Do you have anything else for us?

[Tony]

I have my top 5 later on if you want to get to it again. Rose is in line right now to buy two colas, two coloss. She's gonna buy. Everybody's gonna get a little bit of a shot here. But you know what? I would actually love for Jeremy to come down to Columbus High School. I don't even know if he can find that on a map. But if he can come over there, he can talk to Brother Kevin. He could talk to the people over at Columbus and see if they can get him out of. I would love that, actually.

[Mike Ryan]

All right, so we're going to do that this week. Who's more Cuban?

[Tony]

That was terrible.

[Jeremy]

That's tomorrow.

[Dan Le Batard]

Well, we know the answer to that, Tony. We know the answer to that, Tony. If we have no luck going to Columbus, you could just do what I did and go to your backup school, Florida Christian.

[Tony]

I got. You know what? They didn't let me get into Florida Christian. I failed the math portion of the exam.

[Dan Le Batard]

We also didn't let Frank.

[Tony]

I was this close, though.

[Dan Le Batard]

That's a story for another day.

[Mike Ryan]

The place that I will offer Mike Ryan an apology before we get to Chris. Do not let the show get away from me. Do not let me not get to Zaslo. I was just. I really was genuinely shocked by something that Zaslo said. Just shocked. And it would only have been more shocking to me. I think there was only one other person that would have shocked me more if Eric Reid had said it. I don't. Even if you said this person is having this opinion, who do you least expect it from? Eric Reid, the broadcaster for the Miami Heat since its inception. Second Zaslow. Let me get to that, because I know Mike's enthusiasm here are going to run wild. They're going to be hard to contain all week. The place I will offer you an apology is that I have absolutely been the easiest kind of bandwagon this season. When they dragged Florida State and when they dragged Florida, I thought and said that that's, you know, as physically good as any team in the country. There's no one better than that. And then when they lost Louisville in an embarrassing fashion with expectations at home and then lost to smu, I doubted my own eyes on what I thought was a championship team four games earlier with the talent of Notre Dame being able to beat Notre Dame. So absolutely bandwagon. Guilty as charged.

[Dan Le Batard]

That was good. That was solid. That's just centrally focused to this season. But I'll take it.

[Jeremy]

Step in the right direction.

[Mike Ryan]

Okay. But when you say this season, I'm not offering any apologies of any of my work around this program or for that matter, Billy Corbyn's work around the program when he has sold better to anyone to the nation. The story of the University of Miami.

[Zaslow]

I think Mike's mad that Billy Corgan laughed. Billy Corbin laughed at him.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah, he laughed at me.

[Zaslow]

That's what he's mad about.

[Dan Le Batard]

And look, you joined in on the John Ruiz stuff. I think we owe John Ruiz a little bit of a thank you for templating this thing. Whatever you want to say about what's become of John Ruiz, it's irrefutable.

[Mike Ryan]

That's shocking. It's a shocking thing to say though. It really is. Because they were delisted. Correct. So the whole life wallet thing. But he was also run. He's the pioneer atop who lose money. The whole thing started and then all of a sudden, at a time when no one thought Miami could afford to get Mario Cristobal for $90 million. That's not. That's not a price that anyone thought. Ten years of guarantee to a coach that a program that had churned up some coaches and athletic directors because the Miami football thing was a fluky miracle once upon a time. And it sustained Miami all of these years later. It's one of the most excellent kinds of business we've ever had in this town of any kind. We don't have around here. Burger King is around here. But like Miami is not a place where great things get birthed. And this program has been that now for 40 years, but for the last 20 has been quiet. And something else. I am guilty of this. There is no refute because of where they placed the standard before that they lost my interest over the last 20 years. I can only get so excited about Derek King.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah.

[Jeremy]

Yeah.

[Dan Le Batard]

And I guess this national title appearance in particular is for everyone that sat in those stands before they had a roof on it. Watching Robert Marv talking themselves into Jacori.

[Zaslow]

Harris Heisman, watching that start the season was pretty impressive.

[Dan Le Batard]

Come on. Posting on a message boards, hey, Jaren Williams outperformed Trevor Lawrence at the Manning passing academy. This one's for them. Because the last 20 years in particular, you have an entire adult generation that have no connective tissue to the University of Miami's success. They've been a national punchline. They've been laughed at by this show. And it doesn't just stop with this season. It's quote, I know this brand of Miami guy. These people around this program, it's all show, it's all flash paper. Can they actually turn things around? Or is it just gonna be another one of these cycles of Al golden winning the press conference of Manny Diaz, the new Miami? What's going to separate these guys in Mario crystal ball from actually turning it around. Fair skepticism. Skepticism was a little different than what had played out over the course of the Internet and our show. They did turn it around. Miami is here now. I don't think Miami's going anywhere either because this arrow is pointing up. This is the new reality for Miami. This was the blueprint. Happy new year, everybody. 2026 is already getting off to an incredible start. Because you want to know how I rang in the new year? It was with a bunch of friends in a Dallas hotel lobby bar ordering a bunch of Miller Lites. Because that's how you do it. That's how you make special memories. Miller Lite has been by my side at many special football memories this year and hopefully we get to write a few more memories with Miller Lite. Some of my most legendary moments have started that exact same way. A buddy's house, a lobby bar, a game, no big plan. And then you crack open a Miller Lite, you take a sip and you look around and you immediately recognize that you made the right call. 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.

[Zaslow]

Dan Levatard Football.

[Dan Le Batard]

Football. Stugats.

[Zaslow]

This is the Dan Levatar show with the st.

[Mike Ryan]

I'm going to need your help this week governing all of this because the Mike victory lap has started long before the game itself and because of the way the show's working right now. I haven't talked about what might have been the craziest NFL week in the history of NFL weeks. It begins with John Harbaugh being fired in a game a week. When you look at what the what the last crazy week has been. It begins with John Harbaugh getting fired in a game that would have resulted maybe in Mike Tomlins firing getting started as everyone plays nothing but close games.

[Zaslow]

That's how losers leave town.

[Mike Ryan]

Match goes and. And the week ends with Mike Vrabel thrilled with a bloody mouth, laughing at his brother because the Chargers are going to get Justin Herbert killed. They're asking Justin Herbert and Mike Vrabel is laughing with blood in his mouth. And all of the games in the between are crazy and close. Three of them yesterday. The first three. The first three NFL games go to the two minute warning. Fourth quarter with the team down that team wins and then the fourth that doesn't do it is Philadelphia. Because the defending champions go down to a knee. What an amazing week of professional football. I don't think it's knee jerk for everything that's happened over the course of the last week. Just in games. Those packers, that's the worst loss in playoff history. That's the worst loss there's ever been in the history of the NFL playoffs. To lose that game in that situation.

[Dan Le Batard]

They melted down, Dan. And it wasn't just the missed kicks. Everybody wants to go after McManus. There were so many procedural things. It looked like LaFleur had never been in that situation before that Speaker 3.

[Zaslow]

Been the Bears entire season though.

[Dan Le Batard]

It has been.

[Zaslow]

But like Caleb Williams will play like shit for three quarters and then he's just awesome in the fourth quarter.

[Mike Ryan]

No, that's not a style. That's not sustainable. That's asinine. Look, the last one they won against the Packers. It was like 16 to 6, late with three minutes left. And somehow the Bears won. And this one was credible. Crazier. This one was. This one was more insane. When you're going, you're down 11 and it's 4th and 9 and there's no way you can win that football game.

[Dan Le Batard]

Is it, Is it hyperbolic to say Caleb Williams rolling to his left, off balance, slipping, slipping on the turf, finding Roma dunes. He's awesome on the. On the sideline. That's one of the great clutch playoff throws ever, right? Because the game's over.

[Zaslow]

He's so good. Caleb Williams. Seven fourth quarter comebacks, including the playoffs.

[Mike Ryan]

And Ben Johnson running off the field, the packers, that. Yeah, it's a new order.

[Dan Le Batard]

Cheese grater. I love that.

[Mike Ryan]

Dan. I'm being told that Tony is afraid, almost too shy to hand out cafesito. Tony. No.

[Tony]

That'S. That's. That's asinine. That's not the point. The point is you guys are talking about the NFL and I'm getting ready to do my top five at some point. But they're going to hand out coffee that we just bought. We just poured it all beautiful stuff. How do you want me to handle out one. One coffee at a time like this.

[Mike Ryan]

Here goes.

[Tony]

Shout behind you.

[Mike Ryan]

Be like, hey, free coffee. Come on over. Tony, my apologies for not making this clearer to you. I wanted you to throw a little party on that corner where you gathered everyone around and bought them all cortaditos. What's so hard about televising that? There we go. So.

[Tony]

So. Rose Colada, right?

[Dan Le Batard]

Everybody did just turn their head.

[Tony]

Really quick. Really quick. Cortadito is basically a small cafecon leche. It's una colada cut with milk, which is why it's called cortadito una colada. Aytamo, aytamo.

[Zaslow]

Why did that guy.

[Dan Le Batard]

Why?

[Zaslow]

He's soft.

[Tony]

Salud.

[Mike Ryan]

Can you interview them about the canes? Can you ask those guys how they feel about the hurricanes and what a local regional?

[Tony]

No. Okay.

[Dan Le Batard]

No.

[Tony]

Oh, thumbs up right here.

[Mike Ryan]

There it is. The most sports moment in the history of Miami. Way to go, Tony. We'll check. Tony. Tony, we'll check in with you all week. One guy gave me a thumbs up if we can.

[Dan Le Batard]

It's not exactly the rat skiller.

[Mike Ryan]

Okay. No, wait a minute. I want Tony to find somebody who doesn't speak english who believes in the hurricane.

[Zaslow]

Those two guys walked away.

[Mike Ryan]

I need some. I'm not gonna believe that my people are gonna represent me this poorly to the world. That guy gave me a. Oh, that.

[Dan Le Batard]

Guy gave me a thumbs up.

[Jeremy]

There you go.

[Tony]

Give me a thumbs up.

[Dan Le Batard]

Also pick up a picture.

[Tony]

He walked inside, though.

[Dan Le Batard]

People aren't so inclined to just speak to someone coming up to them asking questions these days.

[Mike Ryan]

Well, okay. That's my bubble.

[Tony]

The paper. What's that?

[Jeremy]

Maybe we talk politics.

[Mike Ryan]

What do you think? That's my. That's my bubble right there. All right, Tony, we'll check back in with you. Thank you. Keep buying shots for those people. Bring back the expense report. It'll be $83 even if you buy them for the next three hours.

[Dan Le Batard]

You see how those two guys just turned around and left real quick? It's the second they saw a camera. History is being written.

[Mike Ryan]

We panned away and we go back and those guys were gone. They probably gone. Well, so now it's. Now we're full on dangerous. We're weaponized in the streets. He's not wrong. When. When I'm sitting there talking to you guys before the show and you guys are arguing about whether that Mike mcdaniel photo is even real. About him on some sort of merry go round wearing full gucci over the weekend because he's going to get a great job.

[Zaslow]

Definitely real.

[Jeremy]

It's real. Can confirm.

[Mike Ryan]

Everybody was saying it wasn't real. They said it couldn't be real.

[Jeremy]

No. I found a second photo of him taking a photo with a family. Not just on that coaching carousel. I mean, wearing the all gucci on a carousel at Disney world is a wild choice, but I respect it.

[Mike Ryan]

So I have a small bit of morsel of dolphin thing that isn't quite news, but I think you'll find interesting. This is how it happened with McDaniel. He was in an exit meeting with one of his players. So he's going forward as if he's coaching in the next season. He's in an exit meeting, and Steven Ross bursts into the room in the middle of an exit meeting. And then they. Everybody looks at each other because Steven Ross can come in whenever he wants, I guess. And the players exit meeting was over, and that was Mike McDaniel's exit. Like, that's how it happened. I don't know if there's a right way to do that, but Harbaugh became available, and Steven Ross is bursting into an exit meeting that becomes Mike McDaniels x. Roy's Laughing because it's crazy that that's how it happened. Right?

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah. Probably not the best way to fire.

[Mike Ryan]

Mike McDaniel is planning. Mike McDaniel is planning the next season because five minutes before or whatever, right? I mean, no one had told him, don't plan for next season. There's no. There's no reason to have an exit meeting with players anymore. You're not going to be around them unless you want to leave the files for the next guy. File up that. But that meeting ended right there. Steven Ross just sort of walks in with. Without explaining. Everyone just looked at each other. It's like, oh, okay, this meeting's over.

[Zaslow]

Doesn't it feel like, though, that Mike McDaniel last week was trying to put into the universe that he's still the coach? Like at the beginning of the week, he said he's going to be part of GM meetings now. Not really. And then he's doing the exit interviews. It's like, yeah, this is not like he was putting into the universe that he's still the coach.

[Mike Ryan]

Tony, we'll come back to you. Keep looking for places to get into and things to buy for people. Find me people who want to be on camera, not people who are avoiding cameras. Zaslo, you said to me this morning and I couldn't believe it. It's time to trade Bam out of bio.

[Zaslow]

It is. It's time to trade Bam out of bio. The mic smiling. Hold on a second. You got to let me give my reasoning here. All right? Right now, the heats stink. They do. They absolutely stink.

[Mike Ryan]

It's a good week for Mike Ryan being right.

[Zaslow]

Oh, boy. They stink.

[Jeremy]

Maybe the worst week of my life.

[Zaslow]

Life. They've lost four out of five. They're losing. They got Smoked by the Pacers. All right. And then last night, predictably, I mean, they got killed by the Thunder in the second half. Bam Adebayo this month is averaging 10 points. He's shooting 35%. He's going through the worst stretch of.

[Mike Ryan]

His career shooting threes. Just, please, dear God, stop shooting threes.

[Zaslow]

He's. He's been really, really bad offensively. But here's the thing. I don't feel good about saying that the Heat should trade Bam at a bottle bile in theory. I don't want them to trade Bam in a bio. It's not like where I sit here and I tell you for 50 consecutive days that the dolphins should fire Mike McDaniel. I'm doing that because I don't think he's a good head coach. I think Bam is a good player. I would like Bam to remain on the team. But here's the thing. His salary goes up to $50 million next season. There is no world where bam Adebayo making $50 million against your salary gap is going to be a championship team. There's no world where that's possible.

[Mike Ryan]

So Mike Ryan has been blown away and is just. This is unpleasant. Chris Roy, help me here, Jeremy. What are we going to be able to do with this this week, Mike? Is it just going to be a victory lap all week on all things?

[Jeremy]

He was speaking in the third person back here earlier.

[Dan Le Batard]

Sure was.

[Zaslow]

I mean, Mike is so happy. I'm glad you're happy, but, like, our rationale is different. You want Bam out because.

[Dan Le Batard]

Because you.

[Zaslow]

You don't like him. I like Bam.

[Dan Le Batard]

I want Bam out because. No, no, no, no. He's a fantastic player within this team. He does things that are special on defense. I just know what his ceiling is if he's your best player. And since this franchise is incapable of.

[Mike Ryan]

He's been saying that for three years. It's why he checked out on the team.

[Dan Le Batard]

Look, I got kind of sick of being lumped in with the Hawks and Bulls in the playing zone.

[Zaslow]

They're still there.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah. Yeah, they are.

[Zaslow]

How can anyone make a case that Bam's salary going up to $50 million next year is a way that you can win?

[Mike Ryan]

I'm not going to put Jeremy. I'm not going to put Jeremy in that position right now.

[Jeremy]

Not yet.

[Mike Ryan]

But the place that I'd like to stay right, is what you guys are describing. And it's crazy to think of the last five years birthing this, where you're saying what you just said. When the game spreads out so much that Bam who can guard all of your guys still somehow and is trying his very hardest on defense because he makes them a good defensive team by himself. He makes them a good defensive team. That that guy hasn't expanded his game enough to the three point line so that you trust him because he doesn't want to be shooting from out there. His game was mid range that that guy has been evolved past in the sport. You can't win with Bam on a bio who when I first saw him dribbling behind his legs. I'm not kidding to you, I'm like a person who looks like that generally doesn't handle the ball that way. Oh look, here come the Joel Embiid's of the world. You guys are telling me that that guy is now a disposable piece when he's one of the best heat players of all time. He is an all star perennially. He brings it and gives every effort to be great. And Zaslo, it's shocking to me to hear you say it's done if you keep him on your team.