Local Hour: The Origins of WFAT

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz Episode: Local Hour: The Origins of WFAT
Release Date: May 26, 2025

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Introduction

In this episode of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz, hosts Dan Le Batard and Stugotz delve into the passionate and often tumultuous relationship between New York Knicks fans and their beloved team. Titled "Local Hour: The Origins of WFAT," the discussion centers around a pivotal playoff game, the origins of the WFAT brand, and the emotional rollercoaster experienced by fans.

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The Evolution of WFAT (03:03 - 05:18)

The episode kicks off with Mike Ryan introducing the concept of WFAT, a rebranding effort aimed at capturing the essence of the Knicks' fervent fan base.

Mike Ryan:
"WFAT is what we're doing. And Stu Gotz is a little bit broken today. And this one hurts for a number of reasons..." (03:53)

Stugotz adds humor to the conversation by recounting failed attempts to secure a more influential position within WFAN, ultimately leading to the creation of WFAT as a space that resonates more authentically with the team's supporters.

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Analyzing the Critical Playoff Game (05:18 - 14:42)

The core of the episode focuses on a recent high-stakes playoff game between the New York Knicks and the Philadelphia 76ers. The hosts dissect pivotal moments, particularly Jalen Brunson's clutch performance.

Mike Ryan:
"Maxi dominated for the Philadelphia 76ers. To play in that building and do that to that crowd..." (04:32)

Stugotz laments the emotional toll of the loss, emphasizing the deep investment fans have in the team's success.

Stugotz:
"Mitchell Robinson, listen to me clearly. You owe Nick fans one. You owe us a game, you owe us a series." (08:16)

The discussion highlights the frustration with Mitchell Robinson's performance and the overarching narrative of hope being repeatedly dashed.

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Celebrity Reactions and Fan Culture (05:54 - 18:53)

The hosts explore how celebrities seated courtside reacted to the game's outcome, adding a layer of public spectacle to the intense emotions of the fans.

Stugotz:
"A celebration broke out at Madison Square Garden because everyone thought we were going to win the game..." (05:54)

They humorously critique the exaggerated reactions from figures like Jon Stewart and Ben Stiller, drawing parallels to pop culture references such as the movie Mystery Men.

Mike Ryan:
"Ben Stiller's superpower was he was Mr. Furious. All he would do is get, like, enraged..." (07:07)

The segment underscores the communal aspects of Knicks fandom, where collective joy and despair are deeply intertwined.

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The Emotional Investment of Knicks Fans (18:53 - 37:09)

A significant portion of the conversation delves into the psyche of Knicks fans, exploring their resilience and undying hope despite decades of underperformance.

Mike Ryan:
"But when you care like that. When you get into hope and then it gets betrayed. Your hope gets betrayed..." (14:42)

Stugotz and Mike Ryan discuss the historical context of the team's struggles, drawing comparisons to legendary moments like Willis Reed's performances in the 1970s.

Stugotz:
"We have two football teams to choose from. We have two hockey teams we could choose from. We are saddled with one basketball team, and it's the Knicks." (33:16)

This segment highlights the unique position of the Knicks within New York City's diverse sports landscape, emphasizing the singular emotional outlet the team provides to its fans.

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Personal Anecdotes and Team Loyalty (37:09 - 43:38)

The hosts share personal stories that illustrate the deep-rooted loyalty and emotional connections fans have with the Knicks. Mike Ryan recounts a conversation with his Cuban exile grandfather, showcasing how generational ties reinforce fandom.

Mike Ryan:
"My grandfather... he was amazed. He knows what's going to happen off in the future before. Do you understand that?" (40:10)

Stugotz humorously discusses his personal struggles and how the team's performance impacts his everyday life, further humanizing the fan experience.

Stugotz:
"I needed someone to talk to. I said, Abby, you don't know this team. We're gonna lose the game." (40:08)

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Community and Identity (43:38 - 37:09)

In the closing segments, the discussion shifts to the broader implications of team performance on community identity. The hosts emphasize how the Knicks serve as a unifying force in New York City, transcending other sports affiliations.

Stugotz:
"Basketball, it's the Knicks. That's it. Period. We all come together for this one thing and that one thing continues to disappoint us." (34:28)

Mike Ryan:
"This team you can get to through public transportation. This is our team. This isn't the Jets out there. This isn't something in New Jersey..." (34:40)

They elaborate on the cultural significance of the Knicks, portraying them as more than just a basketball team but as a central pillar of New York City's identity.

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Conclusion

The episode "Local Hour: The Origins of WFAT" offers an in-depth exploration of the New York Knicks' impact on their fans and the broader community. Through passionate discussions, personal anecdotes, and cultural analysis, Dan Le Batard and Stugotz illuminate the enduring bond between a team and its supporters, capturing the highs and lows that define the Knicks' legacy.

Notable Quotes:

• Dan Le Batard (03:03):
  "WFAT is wfat."

• Stugotz (08:16):
  "Mitchell Robinson, listen to me clearly. You owe Nick fans one."

• Mike Ryan (14:42):
  "When you care like that... your hope gets betrayed."

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This episode serves as both a celebration and a lamentation of Knicks fandom, highlighting the unwavering dedication that keeps the spirit of the team alive in the hearts of New Yorkers.

Transcript

[Dan LeBatard]

This Memorial Day.

[Stugotz]

Turn up the heat with the Home Depot.

[Dan LeBatard]

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[Mike Ryan]

Next level all summer long with the Home Depot. See homedepot.com delivery for more details.

[Dan LeBatard]

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

[Mike Ryan]

Cuervo Anytime someone says Cuervo, I show up.

[Dan LeBatard]

Well, I do know that to be true, but even during ad reads like Cuervo, I think you could lay out especially for one of our great partners.

[Mike Ryan]

Sweet, delicious Cuervo.

[Dan LeBatard]

Since then, Cuervo has stayed true to its roots. The same family, the same land, the same passion. Cuervo so enjoy the tequila that started it all. Cuervo Cuervo the tequila that invented tequila. Roximo Cuervo.com Please drink responsibly.

[Mike Ryan]

Cuervo Shadow Show Shadow Show Shadow Show.

[Stugotz]

Shadow Show Shadow Show Shadow Show Shadow.

[Mike Ryan]

Show Shadow Show Shadow Show Shadowing it.

[Chris Cote]

Shadowing it Just because today is an off day for most folks around the country from their workplace doesn't mean we took the day off. And here at the Dan LeBatard show with Stu Gats, we are always there for you, particularly on Mondays. And we've got a full show coming at you that's full of New York Knicks content. Why they had me Jeremy do this intro Considering this is Knicks content, I have no idea where Stu Gotz I don't know, but we have a full day of shows coming at you that we've specially curated because it's been over a year since we started WFAT and the Knicks have dominated our show and in a way that is overwhelming and to be quite frank, very surprising. When I was hired here, I didn't expect this much Knicks talk, but this local hour is actually the very first time that we ever reference WFAT as St GTS was flirting with WFAN. This is coming off a game 6 loss in the first round of last year's playoffs for the Knicks. Tyrese Maxey dominated for the Philadelphia 76ers. You're going to hear some really funny Raiders responses to that considering the context here a year later. I really enjoyed listening back to this episode. I Hope you do too. And I will explain what the big Sui Hour 1 and Hour 2 are for you as you get to them. But for now, enjoy the origin story of wfat.

[Jessica]

This is the Dan Levatar show with the Stugats podcast.

[Dan LeBatard]

Today's episode is sponsored by DraftKings. Stay tuned because you'll hear more about DraftKings and all it has to offer throughout the show. DraftKings, the Crown is yours.

[Mike Ryan]

Stugot is a star, and he has put his imprint on everything we do around here. And a lot of people Stugots have noticed Billy yesterday yelling from the back row saying, did we become a New York show? When and how did we become a New York show? And a lot of you have noticed. And because there's so many conspiracy theories out there. You are right, conspiracy theorists on this one. Stugots did try to get that job at WFAN as program director so he could have all the power and control and fire everybody and run the world. But they weren't paying enough and they didn't have enough to lure him there. So he's decided to make us something that feels like wfan. Wdan. Wfat. WFAT is wfat.

[Stugotz]

I like that.

[Mike Ryan]

What we're gonna go with is WFAT is what we're doing. And Stu Gotz is a little bit broken today. And this one hurts for number of reasons, but because he just started caring again. Yeah, he just. He. Last night, he just gave them his heart moments ago this season because he doesn't trust them for understandable reasons. And if you did not see the end of that game, the big game of basketball last night, even his Milwaukee wins without two guys, that Orlando Cleveland.

[Stugotz]

Series, you could tell me anything, and I will believe you. In terms of what happened in last night's game. Tell me anything. I'll believe it. Go ahead.

[Mike Ryan]

In the Orlando Cleveland game.

[Stugotz]

Yeah, tell me anything.

[Mike Ryan]

Cleveland won by one point.

[Stugotz]

I believe you.

[Mike Ryan]

Yes, but I could say anything. Nobody's watching that series because at the same time, and I think we can say this, the. The. The Sixers and the Knicks are basically equal in this condition. If I make him beat healthier, the Sixers would be better. But the Knicks got one game at the end that they stole. Now, the Sixers steal this game in a weird fashion at the end. But what Maxi did to bail and beat out, what Maxi did to save the season of the Philadelphia 76ers, that is what basketball players live for. To play in that building and do that to that crowd where you're feeling so Confident that you're pulling up from the logo in front of Mitchell Robinson. You're. You're 35ft from the basket to tie the game.

[Stugotz]

I mean, Brunson just had that same exact feeling at Philadelphia. Like, players live for that. They love that. Doing it on the road, shutting the crowd up.

[Mike Ryan]

I have never been so confident at anything as Matt Maxi was taking that last shot in regulation, saying, my season's on the line. I don't care who else is out here. I don't care how far I am from the basket. I'm going to steal New York's heart from in here. And then let's check in here with the celebrity reaction, because this was undisputably funny, where you've got a number of celebrities who are courtside and they are.

[Stugotz]

Just broken with about 90 seconds to go, and for good reason. A celebration broke out at Madison Square Garden because everyone thought we were going to win the game and advance on to the playoffs, you know, advance onto the second round. And so I understand that some people are embarrassed today because they were over celebrating, but I was doing the same thing. I was celebrating as well.

[Mike Ryan]

Look, we've been talking about Nick Sands celebrating. There's Jon Stewart. That is the face right there of. You would think that America, over the last 10 years, just the things happening in America, did that to Jon Stewart's face, but only the Knicks can do that.

[Chris Cote]

It's just what Bill Simmons looked like last year. It's exactly the same face. It's uncanny.

[Mike Ryan]

There is another picture that is great that I noticed one thing and not the other in it. Tracy Morgan. It's not a great picture, and it's. It's got a lot of crud in it. But Tracy Morgan is shooting a middle finger at Maxi as he walks off the court. But what I noticed there is Ben Stiller next to Tracy Morgan. The amount of rage on Ben Stiller's face, I don't know. I don't know if you guys. Did any of you guys see Mystery Men?

[Roy]

Oh, it's a classic.

[Mike Ryan]

Yes, sure. Okay. Mystery Men. I should tell the group that doesn't know what this movie is. It's a movie about superheroes that were kind of useless and incredibly human, but they had superpowers that were useless. And Ben Stiller's superpower was he was Mr. Furious. All he would do is get, like, enraged, but he couldn't do anything with the rage other than get mad.

[Stugotz]

Would he grind his teeth?

[Mike Ryan]

He looked like that. He looked like Mr. Furious there. And a superhero with no powers.

[Jessica]

Is Tracy Morgan wearing like official uniform shorts in this picture? Like I'm 95% sure that he is.

[Jeremy]

Definitely is.

[Stugotz]

I think he is.

[Mike Ryan]

Those are old school Knicks basketball shorts, right? Those are 90s Knicks basketball shorts, those.

[Jessica]

Issued uniform shorts that he got to.

[Jeremy]

Wear to the game just in case they need him to check into the game.

[Mike Ryan]

The middle, no, the middle finger. How good, how good did Maxi have to feel? You walk past those celebrities and you've enraged them. Look at Ben Stiller's face.

[Stugotz]

He's still down. Three, two, Maxi.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah, yeah, but, but that felt good.

[Stugotz]

For him last night. It did. It had to feel good for Maxi to do it in that building. It's not in beat. It's Maxi winning and beat a game. It's Maxi keeping their season alive at Madison Square Garden. That had to feel good. Mitchell Robinson is the problem though. Before we start celebrating, Therese Maxey. Mitchell Robinson, if you're listening, if you're watching, you owe me a game. You owe me a game. You owe me a series. You better come through in game six or game seven. You change the math. The Knicks are up six. Maxi hits that three. Let him hit the three. Why are we fouling? Why are we letting Philly make it a two point game? Then Hart come down, he comes down, he makes one of two, it's a three point game. Maxi hits the three from half court. If there's no foul by Mitchell Robinson, it's a four point game, Dan and Maxi's three doesn't matter and he doesn't have that moment. Mitchell Robinson, listen to me and listen to me clearly. You owe me one, you owe Nick fans one. You owe us a game, you owe us a series. Make up for it in game six.

[Taylor]

I thought he was pretty good last night.

[Stugotz]

He was great right up until that moment.

[Taylor]

They did. I mean they were. Both teams were just so sloppy turning the ball over all night. The Knicks started the game. I texted Taylor when the Knicks, I think they started out like, oh, for eight shooting. And I texted Taylor and I was like, this is your fault, buddy. This is your fault. They looked so bad to start that game.

[Mike Ryan]

Didn't they have like zero or two points six minutes into the first quarter or something? Wasn't the game like four nothing, seven minutes in?

[Taylor]

Pretty much.

[Roy]

Were we all heckling Taylor because I was texting him, just laughing face emojis?

[Taylor]

Yeah, I think we were actually. Who else was heckling? I felt the need to back away last night.

[Chris Cote]

Not my place anymore.

[Taylor]

Fans certainly were.

[Roy]

How much do you Think all the Knicks celebrities sitting courtside, if we would have pooled together some money that they would have all just been willing to pay for a different result. They're all rich people.

[Chris Cote]

We could have probably got.

[Jeremy]

There's. There's no amount of money they wouldn't pay, Chris.

[Roy]

Like, Ben Stiller would have paid $3 million for more.

[Jeremy]

Ben Stiller would have paid $5 million. Ben Stiller would have said, I will never be in a movie again as long as we win.

[Taylor]

I think he goes six. Who's saying seven? Anyone say seven?

[Jeremy]

Seven.

[Taylor]

We got a seven. We got a seven. No, we got $8 million.

[Mike Ryan]

I'll say eight.

[Chris Cote]

I'll say eight.

[Mike Ryan]

Eight.

[Taylor]

We got an $8 million back here, Jeremy. Anyone got nine? Got $9 million for Ben Stiller. Knicks win. Nick's win.

[Jessica]

Tracy Morgan got super rich by getting hit by a truck, huh?

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah, well, he was super rich before.

[Jessica]

Well, no, not. No, no, no. When he jokes about wanting to go out and he puts a lawn chair next to the expressway because he wants an Amazon truck to hit him next because he got so paid by a Walmart truck.

[Roy]

90 million he got from Walmart.

[Chris Cote]

Wow, he did get pretty rich.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah.

[Jessica]

That's a lot of money.

[Taylor]

10 million Jersey Morgan.

[Jessica]

Makes you wonder.

[Mike Ryan]

He hasn't had to do a lot of work since then.

[Jessica]

Well, no, when you got $90 million, you can kind of just do things on your own. And he had a show like on TBS or something, right? Called the Last OG Is that what the show is called?

[Dan LeBatard]

That was it.

[Jessica]

Pretty good show. And I think that was post truck.

[Stugotz]

But what are you wondering if you should get hit by a truck?

[Jessica]

I have. I mean, that's a little dangerous to get from our parking to the building now. And I have thought, you know, one false step here, and I could be set for life.

[Jeremy]

Stu, when you say Mitchell Robinson owes you a game, it sounds like you're saying you want to play him one on one.

[Mike Ryan]

Well, it also sounded like you were calling him Minstrel Robinson.

[Jeremy]

I wasn't, though. I was just. I wasn't, though, Dan. I was trying to get to Mitchell. I said stumbled at the. Mitch.

[Chris Cote]

John Cooper over here.

[Stugotz]

Go.

[Mike Ryan]

I'm just saying that's what it sounded like. Mitchell Robinson at the end, Maxey made that shot over him. Stugatz. And as I'm watching two of the games in this series, I have seen heartbreaking endings on both sides that scar fan bases ten years later.

[Stugotz]

This.

[Mike Ryan]

This series has had two now two endings. So disorienting and. And Crazed in terms of how it makes you feel the balance of the series is going. Yeah, to have the cruelty. Stugot. Because you know how much I love the history that gets baked into fan bases this century. The New York Knicks have been irrelevant. That fan base generations now are starved for winning basketball. So they can go back to telling you that last night in the Garden, those kinds of night, those are the best in basketball when that stuff happens in the Garden. This is the reverse of many years ago, Larry Johnson having a four point play where he was fouled against the Pacers. And it's the loudest sound I've ever seen or heard around Madison Square Garden. People remember Larry Johnson in the street now for just giving them that moment. This is the reverse of that last night. This is this punching you in the face. You're on the wrong end of. Wait a minute. We were going to have our first important playoff series. Did you see how we celebrated when we won one against LeBron? One game down, three nothing. Confetti from the ceilings. Did you see how our fan base celebrated outside of Madison Square Garden last year when they were fighting it out with Trey Young and winning a game here and there? Did you see the lunacy where these New York fans have been waiting 25 years to get this kind of loud stugato? And they were ready to pour into the streets last night and Maxi took it from them.

[Stugotz]

Dan, for the first time since, I think the 90s, I looked at the Pacers roster just to see how we match up against them. I mean, that's the part about it that's cruel.

[Mike Ryan]

It can happen in game two, it can happen in game three, can happen in game four. But when it happens, when they're this close to feeling like this is over, we no longer have to fear Maxey. Oh, no. Now we have to fear him more.

[Jeremy]

It's also the kind of pain that I think Knicks fans weren't expecting as much from this team. Like Knicks fans are so conditioned to expect the worst and pain and horror at any given moment. And this team with Brunson, where Brunson actually comes through, they feel like there's some sense of, okay, like, we're up six even, even with four more points, like, we're still up two. And then it just disintegrates. And it was like, it like sucked the air out of that entire place.

[Chris Cote]

I don't know if Nick's fans are as superstitious as I am, but I have reason to believe that Taylor, not just by being in the building Cursed this because I have inside info that he was requesting a prop cigar before the game to be able to celebrate.

[Jessica]

When the Knicks won last night. What does that mean? What is a prop cigar?

[Chris Cote]

Not to have an actual cigar to smoke in the arena, but to have a prop cigar.

[Jessica]

He also explained to security, like, no, no, no, this is a prop cigar.

[Roy]

Because gave me something.

[Chris Cote]

I don't know what to sell you.

[Stugotz]

He wanted a cigar so he could celebrate inside the Madison Square Garden. I can't get mad at my worst. Came in at 8pm we were all celebrating. I looked up the Pacers roster. I mean, we were all celebrating.

[Jessica]

How'd that stack up against. Did you look up your roster?

[Stugotz]

Dale Davis, no longer a Pacer. I mean, the last time I looked. Still.

[Jeremy]

What did you see on there?

[Stugotz]

Yeah, I saw Halliburton.

[Jeremy]

Nice.

[Dan LeBatard]

No, Rick Smith.

[Stugotz]

No, I didn't see the dunking. Dutchman.

[Roy]

Taylor told me he's 05 career at Knicks playoff games. If you're 04, stay away. Why did he request to go to this game? This is on him a little bit.

[Stugotz]

Yeah.

[Jessica]

I mean, because he went for free. All you had to do is sit down.

[Roy]

Yeah, if I'm owing four, I'm just like, I don't want to do this to my team.

[Stugotz]

If you're a Nick fan, you're conditioned to think this is going to end badly, that the Sixers are going to blow them out in Game six and then they'll go to Madison Square Garden for a Game seven. It will be a close game and Embiid or Maxi or someone will limp through the entire game. Then all of a sudden, they'll be healthy in the fourth quarter and hit a big shot. We'll lose. That's how it's gonna end. If you're a Knick fan, that's how you're conditioned to think this series is over.

[Mike Ryan]

But you are.

[Stugotz]

I'm all over the place.

[Mike Ryan]

You're furious and you're already bobbing emotionally. I don't believe, though, that that's how Knicks fans feel. I have never heard this kind of confidence from the Knicks fans in the last 15 years that they have going into the love of this team, going into how they feel about the things that Brunson is. Stugots, you know, he's great. No, but Stugots. This part, the part I'm about to tell you, where people get their regional sports identity and are made to feel like losers by their franchise who get furious at James Dolan. It's one thing to have a Team that you kind of like because they win. But this team whose roster does not merit a two seed in the east. The roster, this team that is viewed as gritty and underdog. And how can you not love these guys? Look at what they're doing to the stars, Embiid and Maxi. They're doing it with grit. Cause Thibodeau's tough and Jalen Brunson's undersized. When you feel like a team represents you personality wise as an underdog and you latch onto. I like the way this team represents me and my city. It hurts when you care like that. When you get into hope and then it gets betrayed. Your hope gets betrayed. And the Knicks fan base has been broken over the years by this. And they're daring to hope again because Hartenstein has lured them in with his offensive rebounds and Brunson's too small. And my God, Josh Hart has no business being that physical at 210 pounds. I love my little team.

[Roy]

I'm kind of understanding now why everyone's hated the Heat for so long. Because Heat fans have always been overly confident. And I've gotten a taste the last week of Knicks fans being that way.

[Stugotz]

Yeah.

[Roy]

And it's fun to watch that lose.

[Jessica]

This is fun, right?

[Roy]

I'm enjoying this.

[Stugotz]

But Dan is saying they're going to be confident. Just as confident headed into Game 6 at Philadelphia. Is that what you're thinking?

[Mike Ryan]

I think that Knicks fans believe in what this team represents more than they have in the past because of how they're identifying with this little team can do it against anybody. We're against the odds. It's us against the world. Nobody believes in us. And they're just forgetting all of the previous heartbreak to give. This is the person who keeps getting cheated on by a partner and keeps going into the relationship, trusting, daring to hope again that this is the one. This is the team they could give their heart to.

[Taylor]

Lehman just texted me and said, Dan spitting. He was really sad last night.

[Mike Ryan]

It was. Oh, it's crushing.

[Taylor]

It was brutal.

[Mike Ryan]

I cannot tell you how much it hurts to give your heart over to a team. But worse still, when you know better than to do it.

[Taylor]

I'm a Notre Dame fan. I do actually know what that's like.

[Mike Ryan]

St GTS is ch I mimed stug for so much good shit. The first five years of this show of him loving the Knicks and being able to make fun of him and he shut up for 15 years on him.

[Dan LeBatard]

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[Stugotz]

Don lebatard It's a three.

[Dan LeBatard]

The crowd goes into a delusion. Winning in the playoffs, not an illusion. It's a heat check. He's on fire.

[Mike Ryan]

Stugats Karrios.

[Dan LeBatard]

Jalen Brunson comes up clutch. That's why we won't. New York knows you are the best. Not the joke no more.

[Jessica]

This is the Dan Levatar show with the Stugats.

[Jeremy]

Knicks Fansville like it is such a broken. It is such a broken existence. You're saying, Dan, that you think that they're still confident going in to game six. I feel like. I feel like last night shook right.

[Stugotz]

Sue like the second maxi hit that shot. Even though the Knicks scored the first five points at overtime. Unbelievable.

[Mike Ryan]

Video. Can you guys just sign me chances.

[Stugotz]

To win that game you got?

[Mike Ryan]

You guys tell me video. There's plenty of this all over the Internet. Find me some good stuff and be careful because some things get said that shouldn't be said. Knicks fans in the street how they behave outside of Madison Square Garden after a single playoff victory. Never mind what championship hopes to guys because nobody in the country thinks the Knicks have any championship hopes, right? Nobody in the only New York thinks that. There is no one else. I told you the betting odds before the playoffs started. You could have gotten a better bet on the warriors. On the Heat, the bottom of the play ins had better odds to win the championship than the Knicks But Knicks fans are loud and dying to be hopeful, dying to remember that feeling from 1999 when you did it to other teams and you made Pat Riley. Pat Riley, the guy who betrayed you. Pat Riley that took all that stuff to Miami. You made him cry at his desk, and Alonzo Mourning had to come in the room and tell him to go talk to his broken team. Go do your bleeping job. Patience. Yeah, you did that to him with a bounce. And it's the last time the team mattered like that. They've been dying for that in New York for 25 years.

[Jeremy]

I can't help but admire Knicks fans in some sick way. It might be because I'm married to one, but, like, the. The ability to still believe, to brush it off, to not even brush it off. Just, like, to care so much. Like, my husband can't even talk about these games. Like, before the games. He's like, I can't talk about what could happen here, actually. Like, when they were going to be the two seat, I was like, oh, my God. Like, they might. They might be the 2 seat. And he was like, I actually can't talk about it.

[Stugotz]

I was like, oh, not allowed to.

[Jeremy]

It's like, that bad. But I also. There's something really admirable to me about erupting when your team wins one game. Like, caring so much, like going so hard. Even in Philly. Philly Philly fans didn't show up like Knicks fans showed up.

[Stugotz]

And.

[Jeremy]

And to be that broken and still care and still give it your all and celebrate when you've almost won.

[Stugotz]

Almost.

[Mike Ryan]

Let me explain this to everybody. Knicks fans are the best. And Nick fans are the worst.

[Stugotz]

Yep.

[Mike Ryan]

They're what you want. A fan base to care. Like, if you're someone who wants to steal their money, as a business person, it's what you want them to be. In the streets, this city gives itself over to that team. They call it the world's most famous arena. They say all the free agents want to play there, even though none of them do ever. They think it's the biggest sound that can be made. Because they're still talking about Willis reed in the 70s. Yeah, they're still talking about what that franchise was. You remember what Granddaddy said about it? The Knicks. And since then, they've been a punchline. They had the Pat Riley years. They had the years where the most relevant thing about them was playing against Pat Riley, beating Pat Riley. And then for 20 years, it's been quiet until they win a playoff game, and then they Roll right into the street, and they are the best and they are the worst.

[Stugotz]

That's why the phones keep ringing at wfa. And that's correct?

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah, that is correct. Have we gotten the imaging that we need to become wfat? I'm stunned that you chose that over wdan wfat we are w S t.

[Jeremy]

U.

[Mike Ryan]

Go sit in the penalty box. What?

[Taylor]

Me?

[Jessica]

Wow.

[Mike Ryan]

Who else would it be? Who else would I be?

[Jessica]

There's always a chance.

[Chris Cote]

Justice for Charlotte.

[Stugotz]

Wow.

[Mike Ryan]

There is always.

[Jessica]

It's good to check because there's always a chance that it's me or Jeremy.

[Mike Ryan]

It's you.

[Jessica]

Yeah.

[Stugotz]

Listen, she's been penalized enough. This morning, she saw me shirtless.

[Jessica]

Jeremy did breathe, though. Yeah, that's true.

[Taylor]

Why were you shirtless?

[Mike Ryan]

It's a good question, Jessica. I appreciate you asking it, even though we addressed it earlier in the show.

[Stugotz]

Yeah.

[Mike Ryan]

He was in the garage. This is weird. Who were you saying hello to, shirtless? That Charlotte overheard your gravelly voice from nearby.

[Stugotz]

I was changing my shirt. It had some stains on it. It smelled, and so I had a. I had a second shirt. I can't remember who came before Charlotte, to be quite honest with you, but I did belch out, hey, shirtless.

[Jessica]

So did you have a clean shirt on when you left your house, and then it got dirty, or you just.

[Roy]

I'm smelling this from a mile away. This is a daily thing. You bring a shirt, you wear a shirt in the car, smoke on the way, and then you're like, let me get rid of the smoking shirt.

[Jessica]

Is it the same shirt every day?

[Stugotz]

No, it's not the same shirt, to be honest. This morning, I put on the shirt that's in my car right now. It felt a little snug. And so I said, you know what? I'm gonna grab a comfortable sweatshirt. I know this one fits. I know it fits well. Doesn't matter how much weight I gain. The thing always fit.

[Jessica]

So you're not wearing a shirt?

[Stugotz]

Well, no, I'm wearing a sweatshirt. And I started off the day with a. With a black hoodie, and I changed it to the green hoodie.

[Jessica]

Do you never wear shirts under your hoodies?

[Stugotz]

Never.

[Mike Ryan]

Really?

[Dan LeBatard]

So now you're shirtless in the garage. Now you're smoking, so now your skin smells nice.

[Stugotz]

I did not have a cigarette while I was shirtless. Really? It was before and after.

[Taylor]

We're doing a Costanza thing where you have to take the shirt off before you go to the bathroom, but you're having a smoke.

[Stugotz]

It was snug. I Had a couple of heaters on the way in. I had the green sweatshirt, which is very comfortable on me. Feels nice on my skin. Very soft on my skin. I'm so confused. That's how I changed.

[Jessica]

You don't wear shirts under your hoodies ever?

[Stugotz]

No, it's a sweat.

[Jessica]

My theory was, is that he accidentally was still wearing the same clothes as yesterday and then thought someone would notice, so he put a different shirt on.

[Taylor]

But we've all noticed, but we don't even have to say anything anymore.

[Jessica]

Am I the only one that wears shirts under. Under hoodie?

[Roy]

Of course.

[Stugotz]

Why would you do that?

[Mike Ryan]

No, I think everybody does. I'm wearing one right now. I think. I think you're 84 degrees outside. Put it on.

[Jessica]

So why wear a hoodie?

[Stugotz]

Well, because it's cold in here.

[Mike Ryan]

Put it on. The poll, please, at LeBatard show WFAT, where you get all your calories and information. Put on the poll, please. At Levitage show. Do you wear a shirt under your hoodie? I thought everyone did that.

[Stugotz]

Less layers, man.

[Mike Ryan]

I have. But I do have a lot of questions. I really do, because I'm here for you. I mean, you're a professional broadcaster who's had some success. I mean, rummaging around in your car like someone who doesn't have a home to get dressed for work, like.

[Roy]

Folks, listen up. The time has come to get some new golf clubs. And that means one thing. Heading over to my local PXG store for a fitting. They make the best golf clubs, period. Roy, I know you need new clubs, right? You're in that.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah, I need new clubs, man. My clubs are way too short. I need to get longer clubs.

[Mike Ryan]

I need new.

[Roy]

The grips.

[Jeremy]

Grips.

[Roy]

I'm telling you, Roy, you go over to pxg, within an hour, you will be out the door with their good staff. They're going to get you fitted. You're going to take multiple shots. They're going to get you set up with their woods, hoods, with your irons. They're going to get you the right grips, the perfect length clubs. I'm telling you, nothing fixes your golf game like getting fitted.

[Mike Ryan]

Oh, absolutely.

[Dan LeBatard]

I need to work on my short game. So these clubs are definitely.

[Roy]

I think you got to work on the whole game, not just the short.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah, well, you know, I. I got a long drive.

[Mike Ryan]

So.

[Roy]

PXG fitters are highly trained, incredibly experienced, and have a deep understanding of how to optimize your clubs to get the most out of your swing. PXG fittings are educational and Fun. Schedule your fitting today and for a limited time you can save up to 20% on your entire order. Head over to pxg.com dan that's pxg.com dan to save up to 20% on your entire Order. Pxg.com dan restrictions apply. See site for details.

[Dan LeBatard]

Hey everybody, it's Mike Ryan. Now the weather is warming up. That means summer concert season is right around the corner. And so many great acts are releasing albums and touring those albums over the summer. We got stadium shows, amphitheaters, people that want to wear shorts and party all night long. But guess what? Some tickets are hard to find. Sometimes tickets are sold out and you have hard to get into events and you have nowhere to turn other than the secondary market. Well, why don't you turn to game time? Because from my experience, that's where I always turn to find the best deal. You may be asking yourself, mike, what does last minute deals even mean? It means you can save up to 60% off buying last minute tickets for sports, comedy and theater. But most importantly, this summer, if you're a music lover like me, check out gametime for concert tickets. I already have. Take the guesswork out of buying concert tickets and shows with GameTime. Download the GameTime app, create an account and use code DAN for $20 off. Your first purchase terms. Apply again, create an account and redeem code DAN for $20 off. Download the Gametime app today. Last minute tickets, lowest price guaranteed.

[Stugotz]

Don LeBatard sub 500 seasons it's been.

[Dan LeBatard]

Lonely now the best players on our.

[Mike Ryan]

Side.

[Dan LeBatard]

Been losing and losing for much too long. But now we're back with New York Pride.

[Mike Ryan]

Stugats.

[Dan LeBatard]

Jaylen, you've got us on our feet.

[Mike Ryan]

Jaylen.

[Dan LeBatard]

We're gonna win the east, Jaylen. Without Randall, we're still doing fine.

[Jessica]

This is the Dan Levatar show with the Stugats.

[Mike Ryan]

Guys, I don't know what to do with this. You guys really need to help me because I've got stugats in a state of disrepair. You're married to somebody for 20 years. You can feel sort of the daily rhythms of life, of how you do things. I haven't seen this particular thing on my friend in a long time. And I mean, he's. He's muttering under his breath. Okay? And the last three years have been hard for a number of different reasons, but I hear him muttering under his breath. They're going to be getting calls all day today. Oh yeah, Sal's going to do a.

[Stugotz]

12 share at least.

[Mike Ryan]

Nobody in New York he should be.

[Stugotz]

Embarrassed if he does a 12 share today.

[Mike Ryan]

Nobody, nobody in New York has to do their job today. You just open the phone lines and let the acid spill into your lives. And he rubs that sports radio on his nipples and he misses it.

[Stugotz]

The opening monologue today, do away with it. Just give out the phone number. Take calls for the entire show. Mail it in, mail it in and get a 25 share in new York City.

[Mike Ryan]

This is.

[Stugotz]

I haven't felt this alive since Joe Maurer made it to the hall of Fame.

[Mike Ryan]

I mean, I would love for Stu Gotz behind me to show you what the program director meeting would have looked like when he started his sports lineups day and just kept hitting the board. Just hit the numbers. Just bring me numbers because. Because this is absolutely. I don't know what could have happened last night to make sports radio easier than making Stephen A. Smith give you commentary from his bed yelling and snorting because he's so mad at the New York Knicks. And just people, I don't think totally understand how much this city cares about this team. Because to Gods, there's been a generation of people who don't know what it's like for the Knicks to be relevant. And so they don't remember what the fan base, what, your daddy's fan base or your granddaddy's fan base. They don't remember what it was back before the Knicks were a laughingstock.

[Stugotz]

Here's the thing with New York. You could talk about the jets and the Giants, you could talk about the Rangers and the Mets, you could talk about the Islanders, you could talk about some of these other teams. At its core, New York is a basketball town. It's a Knicks town, it's a Rangers town because those two teams play right in the middle of Manhattan. And the fans love those two teams, but especially the Knicks. We have two football teams to choose from. We have two hockey teams we could choose from. We are saddled with one basketball team, and it's the Knicks. And they haven't been good in a long, long time. And now they're decent.

[Mike Ryan]

It is very hard for me to explain to the audience how much this fan base cares about this team. You'd have no reason to understand that if you were 20 years old. You just, you just would not understand what got grandfathered in in that city because of exactly what Stugats is saying. No, this team plays in the middle of the city. This team you can get to through public transportation. This is our team. This isn't the jets out there. This Isn't something in New Jersey, right? This isn't something. I have to go outside. No, this is the city. This is in the heart of the.

[Stugotz]

Yes.

[Mike Ryan]

And this is why they get so mad at James Dolan for ruining this sacred thing for them. The celebrities don't go to all the other games. They don't go to all the other teams. This is the game they go to.

[Stugotz]

Football, you have a choice. Hockey, you have a choice. Baseball, you have a choice. In New York, you have no choice. With basketball, it's the Knicks. That's it. Period. We all come together for this one thing and that one thing continues to disappoint us.

[Dan LeBatard]

So the Nets are.

[Stugotz]

No one cares. No one cares.

[Roy]

They literally have a choice though.

[Mike Ryan]

But it's Brooklyn.

[Stugotz]

No one's choosing.

[Mike Ryan]

It's Brooklyn.

[Stugotz]

Except Kevin Durant.

[Mike Ryan]

Nobody said that about the Dodgers.

[Jeremy]

They don't really have a choice.

[Stugotz]

You don't have a choice. Kevin Durant. Wrong choice. I mean the knits.

[Mike Ryan]

The Nets have been in that town. The Nets. The Nets have been in that town. The Clippers. What The Clippers are to the Lakers. Even though there have been times that they have had the better team.

[Stugotz]

They made back to back NBA Finals.

[Mike Ryan]

That's correct.

[Stugotz]

With Jason Kidd and Carrie Kittle.

[Mike Ryan]

No, it's this. I'm not sure how much there is quite like this dude, honestly. Where you've got the loudest and the biggest city and you've got their biggest affection with a sports team and it's cross cultural and it's a lot of people from a melting pot city who care about this thing. And I would say they've had plenty of heartbreak over the years, but this was a top five loss for them of all time. And they've had some on there on that list. Before we go.

[Stugotz]

I'm putting together a list. Dan. There are so many losses to sift through. I will get to it at some point today. Okay.

[Mike Ryan]

Yes. Good. Top five most heartbreaking losses. Taylor did ruin everything and that was perfect as his Knicks fandom went by train for 28 hours to be at one of the great heartbreak losses in franchise history.

[Stugotz]

It was.

[Jeremy]

I do think though like the Knicks are still in it. Like they haven't. Like.

[Stugotz]

No. They're up three two. Put it doesn't feel like that.

[Mike Ryan]

Put it on the poll. Put it on the poll.

[Stugotz]

Feels like we lost everything.

[Mike Ryan]

Put it on the poll. Are The Knicks down 32.

[Taylor]

If they win the series, I think the sting of this loss wears away a little bit. Of course you're Saying it's like one of the worst of all time. I think it will depend on of contact.

[Stugotz]

You're a moment right now. It feels terrible.

[Mike Ryan]

You're absolutely right. It's today. There is no disputing what you're saying. Check with me in a couple of games and it can be forgotten. But today this is as bad. What I'm saying is that right now this is what I'm saying.

[Jessica]

What are you saying?

[Mike Ryan]

It's the first time in the history of doing this that the feeling I have had while doing something live live visited by a top five worst New York moment. I've never. I've never been given that gift.

[Stugotz]

I've never felt being up 3:2 in a series like I'm down 3:2. Thank you, Charlotte.

[Jeremy]

Yeah, well. Well, Dan said it.

[Stugotz]

But you know, I don't think we're still in it.

[Mike Ryan]

All right. Well put. Appreciate.

[Stugotz]

I mean I'd rather win the series in Philadelphia, to be honest with you. That. That would be great because I'm tired of them, their fan base, the whole team, the organization. I can't stand them. I can't stand any of them. Nick Nurse enough complains about every single call. Those guys limping around complaining. I've got a headache. I've got this. My leg hurts. Maxi faking injuries. Then going out fourth quarter having the greatest fourth quarter that the Mecca has ever seen.

[Taylor]

Foul on Brunson by Embiid. I mean that's why he's public enemy number one in New York.

[Stugotz]

It's just Embiid's got a headache. You know what I mean? My back hurt yesterday I came to work. I mean give me paralyzed. I don't want to hear about it.

[Mike Ryan]

Jessica, you made a bit of a rookie mistake and I understand how it gets made because you haven't seen this particular Stu guys half his face. I mean this particular. He had the riff going where he was like Sixers. I'm tired of giving you. Get your leg out of here.

[Taylor]

He had sounded like he was petering out.

[Mike Ryan]

No, he had the music. And the music work. I understand. Yes. Your history with him suggests three years of those. Three years of heaters. But this Stu got my partner enlivened by a sports.

[Stugotz]

We're having sex baby.

[Mike Ryan]

And Joe Maurer. Yes. Like this is the best version of him. What.

[Roy]

Now you are?

[Stugotz]

Yeah.

[Mike Ryan]

The. The feels good. Stu got on a heater instead of ravaged by sickness because of his heaters. We want to stand back in awe and have him HAMMER the Philadelphia 76ers again. And again for being fakers who limp around until the fourth quarter when it's time to make all the shots.

[Stugotz]

Did you finish?

[Mike Ryan]

I'm made deeply uncomfortable by everything that happened.

[Roy]

He's still going.

[Mike Ryan]

You still smell like cigarettes. You always bring the cigarette smell into the bedroom.

[Stugotz]

Mid sex cigarette.

[Mike Ryan]

You were shirtless.

[Jeremy]

Yeah. I found Stu wandering. I'm gonna change the story. He was wandering throughout the parking lot muttering, the Knicks, the Knicks, the Knicks without a shirt.

[Mike Ryan]

Well, I'm telling you, this is the thing, right? Because Stugatz is that self aware. There are more heaters this morning and a general slovenly shirt situation because of the stress of that loss last night. It's tough to sleep. You sleep with your fists closed. I called Taylor. You called him?

[Stugotz]

Yes.

[Mike Ryan]

To like just wallow.

[Stugotz]

I needed someone to talk to.

[Mike Ryan]

So you called him in New York.

[Stugotz]

At 11pm I was crazed last night, midway through the third quarter. I'm telling Abby, maxi problem, maxi, big problem. He's getting hot. Big problem when he gets this hot. And then he missed a shot. And I'm like, oh, he missed a shot. We needed that miss. But then he made the next seven after that. And I was going, maxi problem, maxi problem. My wife said, relax, you're gonna win the game. I said, abby, you don't know this team. We're gonna lose the game. I think in all the time we've been married, they'd never been this relevant. They've never been this good. They're going to lose this game. She said, you're jinxing that. I said, I'm not jinxing them. Then they lost the game. And Abby goes, you know, you're Knicks. She was impressed with me.

[Mike Ryan]

That is impressive.

[Stugotz]

No sex.

[Mike Ryan]

That right there, that is really showing off. The only time I've ever felt like that I've told you this story. It's a great story. It's a great story. My grandfather, at that point, technology eluded him some. And there was a time where I asked him to answer a cell phone and I walked in on him answering the television remote control. So he was much older in life, but as a Cuban exile, he had no capacity to understand how it is that I could make money having sports opinions. He's from Cuba. He doesn't speak English. And he's like, how does my grandson have sports opinions that they pay him for? How is that a thing that exists in this country? And. And he's got a game on at night and it's ESPN Classic, but he doesn't know it's ESPN Classic. This is a famous game. And Mark Wohlers is throwing against Jim Lehritz. And I walk past the television, I'm like, grandpa, the way he's been pitched here. Lehritz is going to pull the ball. It's going to be a home run. He doesn't normally hit home runs in this spot, but this is going to be an enormous home run the next pitch, because I saw it 20 years ago and he just like, was dizzy, like, oh, that's why they pay him. He's amazing. He knows what's going to happen off in the future before. Do you understand that? On WFA T, Stu got knew exactly what was going to happen last night. Stu got on the call, would have said, maxi is going to run up here and break my heart. He's going to take the A shot from half court.

[Stugotz]

Yep. I told Abby I do that with.

[Roy]

My daughter at a red light sometimes.

[Jessica]

I'll be like, it's going to turn green.

[Roy]

I'm going to use my magic powers here. No, but not just that it's going to turn green. When it's going to turn green, cuz, hey, I keep track of the little flashing stop thing. I see it's yellow over here, like, all right, Daddy's going to get his magic hand ready. And now and then it turns green. Man, is she impressed every time.

[Mike Ryan]

The first time, I'm sure you got it wrong. It was just like there's that slight delay sometimes.

[Dan LeBatard]

Forgot about the Turner signal.

[Mike Ryan]

Such a good memory. I mean, my grandfather was talking about that for years afterward. He would tell people that I knew when that was gonna happen.

[Stugotz]

Really? He was bragging?

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah, I made him proud.

[Stugotz]

By Dan.

[Mike Ryan]

Called away by lying to an old man.

[Roy]

Old people and toddlers, you can get them.

[Mike Ryan]

Put it on the pole, please. Juju. Who's easier to get, old people or toddlers? We disgrace the rock. Next.

[Dan LeBatard]

Dan wouldn't understand this. He's busy running a content circus. But if you're actually running a business, then, you know, hiring the right people isn't just important, it's everything. And that's why LinkedIn jobs is an absolute game changer for small business owners. You're juggling payroll logistics, maybe even mopping the floors before you open. You don't have time for flaky resumes, ghosted interviews, or job boards that feel like a black hole. When it's time to hire, you need a partner who grinds just like you. LinkedIn, they don't sleep. You clock out. They clock in. They'll help you write the job post quickly and clearly promote it, you'll get three times more qualified applicants. Not a guess. Real data. And Once it's live, LinkedIn helps you amplify it by sharing it with your network. You can even add that hiring frame to your profile, which doubles the number of qualified candidates you're likely to see. This is built for business owners who care about getting it right. Post your job for [e-mail] dls that's LinkedIn.com dls to post your job for free. Terms and conditions apply.

[Chris Cote]

Hey listeners, listen up because I know that approaching the summer, you're probably as busy as I am, but also as desperate as I am to find some healthy meals that you can fit into those busy windows. Well, it's time to make this the best summer yet with nutritious 2 minute meals from Factor. Eating well has never been this easy. Just heat up and enjoy, giving you more time to do what you want. Get outside Instead of prepping and cooking indoors, factory meals arrives fresh and ready to eat. It's perfect for any active lifestyle because with 45 weekly menu options, you can pick gourmet meals that fit your goals. Choose from Calorie, Smart Protein plus Keto and more. In my most recent meals I had the Honey Mustard Chicken. I had that Garlic Herb salmon and every side, every part of this meal was delicious. Honestly, at the end of it, I was just left wanting more because Factor's meals are that fresh, that delicious and that that nutritious. So get [e-mail] Dan50OFF and use code Dan50OFF to get 50% off plus free shipping on your first box. That's code [e-mail] Dan 50 OFF for 50% off plus free shipping.