The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

Local Hour: The Name Game

Date: April 22, 2026
Location: Elser Hotel, Downtown Miami

Episode Overview

In this lively “Local Hour,” Dan Le Batard, Stugotz, and the cast blend classic show chaos with sharp perspectives on basketball—particularly Dwyane Wade’s legacy—broadcasting careers after sports, podcast culture, and offbeat memories tied to pop culture and Miami nostalgia. The episode is rich with playful banter, cultural cross-talk, South Florida flavor, and several nautical detours around sports media, name debates, and 1960s musical references.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Debating NBA First Round and Greg Cote’s Basketball Takes

Timestamps: 01:29–03:47

• Dan Le Batard questions Greg Cote’s regret over declaring the NBA first round boring and whether he owes the league and its fans an apology after good recent games.
  • Greg, unrepentant but reflective, admits:
    “The first couple days were a dud. The last couple days have been good.” (03:23)
• A segue erupts into Lone Ranger jokes and generational pop-culture gaps, as Stugotz and Chris Cote admit they’re lost on the "Hi-Yo Silver" reference.
  • Chris Cote explains:
    “Silver was his horse... he could communicate with his horse. That’s the way it worked back then.” (03:17)

2. Media Identity, Internet Misinformation & “Playing on My Name”

Timestamps: 05:18–06:43

• A conversation about pop-culture misrepresentation segues into fears over internet misinformation and the difficulty of verifying facts today, even about TV history (e.g., Lone Ranger’s Tonto).
  • Dan voices generational anxiety:
    “I am afraid of the internet. I don’t trust the internet. ... What’s real and what’s not real?” (05:40)
• The cast confirms Tonto was actually played by an Indigenous Canadian, but the famous "crying Indian" from the litter commercial was played by an Italian-American, Iron Eyes Cody, which stuns the group.

3. Dwyane Wade’s Legacy, Respect, and the ‘Wade vs. Harden’ Debate

Timestamps: 07:16–13:25, 25:53–29:15

• Dan introduces a passionate soundbite from Dwyane Wade, asserting his Hall of Fame credentials and irritation at having his name diminished:
  • Dwyane Wade (08:28):
    “I’m tired of people playing on my name... Stop playing on my name, man. Cause I worked hard to build it ... I know I’m an outsider that came in out of nowhere.”
• The crew breaks down this rare show of bravado, debating why Wade’s reputation is frequently questioned—especially in comparison to James Harden.
  • Greg Cote:
    “There is this comfort in not acknowledging how great this player was ... it’s odd to me how he keeps getting thrown into these conversations that are disrespectful to him.” (09:29)
  • Eric:
    “You look at what Dwyane Wade has done in the playoffs, the clutch moments ... the absolute killer he was versus Harden.” (10:34)
• Discussion pinpoints Patrick Beverley as the main provocateur of the “Wade vs. Harden” debate, with the group unified that Beverley’s critiques are spurious.
  • Chris Cote:
    “The only criticism I’ve heard of Dwayne Wade’s career—which I think is ridiculous—is that he needed Shaq to win the first ring and LeBron to win the next two.” (13:01)
• Dan clarifies:
  “That’s not ridiculous. He did need that help ... everybody needs help, though.” (13:17)
• They further discuss how even superstars require teammates—Ron Harper’s recent quote about Jordan needing Pippen is cited.

4. Navigating the Sports Podcast Landscape & Crossover with “It Is What It Is”

Timestamps: 13:32–17:17

• The crew recaps a recent, headline-making fight on "It Is What It Is," Cam’ron and Mase’s sports podcast, where a wrestling guest (Jay Uso) got physical on set; Trista, a guest co-host, narrates the situation (15:53).
• Dan’s own influence on Cam’ron’s sports media emergence is revealed:
  • Dan Mace:
    “He was on Highly Questionable ... you were the catalyst. You were the LeBron James to the Bronny James.” (15:03)
• General praise for media innovation and performance art stunts from sports podcasts.

5. Athlete Post-Career Identity and Competition

Timestamps: 21:53–25:58

• Dan and the crew examine how stars like Dwyane Wade search to replace the addictive thrill of athletic competition after retirement.
  • Dan:
    “There is nothing that replaces that in retirement, nothing that will ever come close ... Many of these guys are addicted to competition.” (22:55)
• Broadcasting is cast as a new arena of competition—but one that is awkward for many ex-players without the intrinsic confidence they had on the court.
• Stugotz and Greg Cote debate the quality of Wade’s broadcasting career, with general agreement that chemistry with co-hosts is key.

6. Name Game, Nostalgia, and the Miami Dead Cat Mystery

Timestamps: 36:24–42:25

• The crew’s conversation devolves into a bizarre, charming Miami memory lane when Chris Cote references “The Name Game'' (Shirley Ellis, 1964) and its tie-in to his childhood:
  • Chris:
    “I remember driving ... The Name Game came on the radio ... I’m singing along ... and my dad was distracted and he ran into another car ... there were dozens of dead cats ... that’s the thing I remember.” (39:02–40:35)
• The story spirals through Miami geography, eccentric relatives (Uncle Buddy, Aunt Arlene, Ruth Doogie), and the mysterious river of dead cats—a classic Local Hour detour.

7. MLB Pain & Dan’s Shaky Little League Memories

Timestamps: 42:28–46:46

• Dan recounts the trauma of being plunked in little league—twice in a row on the elbow—inspired by a recent MLB incident (Kyle Stowers hit by a 102-mph pitch).
  • Dan:
    “I go, he’s wild, but he throws harder than anybody ... hits me on the elbow ... and then tries to pick me off and hits me again.” (43:13–44:24)
• The others poke holes in his story for comic effect (“If you had a small lead, why’d you dive back?”), leading to further admissions about his lack of athletic spatial awareness.
• Closing acknowledgments of pain and fear in sports, with humorous references to Don Baylor, catchers with fractured testicles, and the everyday violence of baseball and football.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On generational references:

• Dan (to Chris):
  “What you just said to that room might as well have been said in Mandarin for the way that they understood what you were asking.” (37:59)

On Dwyane Wade’s rare hubris:

• Dwyane Wade:
  “I’m the most coolest, calmest, humblest, quietest dude about what I’ve done. But if we want to talk, then I can ... stop playing on my name, man.” (08:28 / 25:08)

Greg Cote on disrespect toward Wade:

• “There is this comfort in not acknowledging how great this player was ... it's odd to me how he keeps getting thrown into these conversations that are disrespectful to him.” (09:29)

Chris Cote on classic Miami weirdness:

• “My mother walking ... in the river were dozens of dead cats. And that’s the thing I remember.” (40:35)

Stugotz, keeping the mood light:

• “Should have been [called] Bud. Uncle Buddy is my mother’s brother.” (41:21)

On MLB Pain:

• Dan:
  “In baseball, 102 miles an hour hitting you on the hand. I would think that would leave the kind of pain that you feel later in life ...” (44:13)

Segment Timestamps

• NBA First Round Slander & Lone Ranger: 01:29–04:43
• Internet Misinformation & Pop Culture: 05:18–06:43
• Dwyane Wade ‘Stop Playing on My Name’ & Legacy: 07:16–13:25, reprise at 25:53–29:15
• “It Is What It Is” Podcast & Media Crossover: 13:32–17:17
• Athlete Post-Retirement Identity: 21:53–25:58
• The Name Game & Miami Dead Cat Story: 36:24–42:25
• MLB Pain & Dan’s Little League Woes: 42:28–46:46

Overall Tone & Feel

The episode is quintessential Local Hour—equal parts sharp sports talk and unhinged comedic tangents, with a flavorful, nostalgic, and self-effacing Miami vibe. The tone is witty, occasionally irreverent, but always affectionate toward both local lore and the current sports landscape.

Useful For...

• NBA fans interested in how legends like Wade perceive their own legacies and the shifting culture of respect in sports media.
• Listeners who enjoy sports talk interlaced with pop-culture nostalgia and unpredictable, personal Miami anecdotes.
• Anyone seeking a snapshot of how sports shows balance playful banter, honest self-reflection, and deeper discussions about athlete identity in the media age.