Oral History of the Dan Le Batard Show: Episode 8

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Oral History of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz – Episode 8

Introduction

In Episode 8 of "The Oral History of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz," hosts Dan Le Batard, Stugotz, and Mike Ryan delve deep into the evolution, challenges, and triumphs of their iconic show. Released on December 27, 2024, this episode offers listeners an intimate look back at the show's journey from its early days at ESPN to its transformation into a podcasting powerhouse. Through candid conversations, notable anecdotes, and reflective insights, the trio paints a vivid picture of what it took to build and sustain a successful media venture in the competitive world of sports broadcasting.

Early Beginnings and Growth Pain

The conversation kicks off with Mike Ryan reflecting on the initial phases of the show, highlighting a period marked by "far more misery than there should be for something that's having success." Despite growing pains, the hosts emphasize the importance of the supportive dynamic, particularly Mike's role in shielding Dan from external pressures.

Mike Ryan [02:52]: "It was a happy time because, okay, you're gonna actually give me freedom. There aren't going to be problems."

Dan acknowledges Mike's protective efforts, underscoring the foundational trust that allowed the show to flourish creatively.

Dan LeBatard [02:52]: "That Mike did a good job."

Transition to Digital Audio and Podcasting Success

A significant turning point discussed is the strategic shift to prioritize digital audio, a move that proved to be the show's "single biggest bet." Stugotz elaborates on the decision to lead with podcast releases, anticipating the growing trend of digital consumption.

Stugotz [03:15]: "We were really pushing ourselves creatively and we had this whole new sandbox with the video element."

This foresight paid off as the podcast became a sensation, outpacing ESPN's own understanding of podcast monetization. Mike Ryan highlights the advantages of releasing episodes early, capturing a vast audience that preferred on-demand content over traditional radio schedules.

Mike Ryan [04:11]: "We're an audio sensation... They didn't know what to do with this thing."

Creative Processes and Production Challenges

The hosts delve into the intricacies of producing content that resonates both audiophiles and a broader listenership. Stugotz discusses balancing video supplements without alienating the core audio audience, a delicate act that required constant innovation.

Stugotz [04:24]: "We were a podcast sensation. We were the biggest thing in sports podcasting."

Challenges such as managing long episode lengths and the absence of a supportive digital video infrastructure at ESPN are candidly addressed. Stugotz expresses regret over not fully leveraging digital video, a missed opportunity that strained their resources once they transitioned away from ESPN.

Stugotz [07:12]: "But I'm curious, did you also miscalculate having to do this before Highly Questionable as opposed to after?"

Navigating Political Waters: The Colin Kaepernick Debate

A pivotal segment of the episode revolves around the controversial figure Colin Kaepernick. The hosts dissect how Kaepernick's actions and symbolism intersected with their show's themes of sports and activism. Mike Ryan reflects on the naivety of early discussions and the unforeseen complexities that emerged post-2016.

Mike Ryan [32:01]: "Colin Kaepernick, regret that it's pretty amazing to think back on just how naive it was."

Stugotz and Dan offer contrasting approaches to handling sensitive topics, with Dan emphasizing measured and educated responses rooted in journalistic integrity, while Mike focuses on maintaining a light-hearted and diverting stance to keep discussions entertaining.

Dan LeBatard [33:04]: "He has the experience, right? He's been waiting for this show his entire life."

Internal Dynamics and Protection Mechanisms

The episode delves into the internal dynamics among the hosts, particularly Mike Ryan's role in producing and protecting the show. Mike candidly discusses his unawareness of certain protective measures Stugotz implemented, which Dan acknowledges as intentional to maintain a comfortable creative environment.

Mike Ryan [43:56]: "You have to understand my perspective on this. I didn't understand that I was in need of protection."

Stugotz explains his primary responsibility: ensuring Dan's comfort to foster creativity, often navigating challenges without Dan's direct awareness.

Stugotz [16:01]: "The job is Dan."

Reflections on ESPN and Industry Shifts

As the conversation progresses, the hosts reflect on ESPN's evolving relationship with podcasting and digital media. They express frustration over ESPN's inability to capitalize on their podcast success, lamenting missed opportunities to integrate digital audio seamlessly into the network's offerings.

Stugotz [07:12]: "It was really cool to see that be a successful bet."

The departure of ESPN leadership, particularly John Skipper, marks a significant shift where the protection and support they once enjoyed dissipate, exposing the vulnerabilities of their independent endeavors.

Mike Ryan [44:25]: "The relationship that gets built in the intimacy of people are able to consume you on their own time."

Humorous Interludes and Ad-Like Segments

Interwoven throughout the episode are humorous exchanges, such as playful banter about fictitious interactions with Donald Trump and satirical advertisements for fictional broadcasting schools. These segments showcase the hosts' chemistry and ability to blend humor with serious discussions seamlessly.

Dan LeBatard [81:17]: "It's a perfect example of the type of talent that he is."

Conclusion and Future Directions

As the episode draws to a close, the hosts hint at future episodes focusing on the voices and influences that shaped their show's success. They emphasize the importance of acknowledging and spotlighting contributions from co-hosts and additional voices that played pivotal roles behind the scenes.

Stugotz [47:30]: "In the next episode, we're going to hit pause on the narrative storytelling and really focus on all the voices that helped us get the show to where it is."

Notable Quotes

• Dan LeBatard [02:52]: "That Mike did a good job."
• Mike Ryan [04:11]: "We're an audio sensation... They didn't know what to do with this thing."
• Stugotz [03:15]: "We were really pushing ourselves creatively and we had this whole new sandbox with the video element."
• Dan LeBatard [33:04]: "He has the experience, right? He's been waiting for this show his entire life."

Final Thoughts

Episode 8 offers a comprehensive retrospective on "The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz," highlighting the resilience, creativity, and strategic decisions that propelled it from a traditional sports radio show to a pioneering podcast. The candid discussions reveal the complexities of navigating media landscapes, internal team dynamics, and the intersection of sports with broader societal issues. For fans and newcomers alike, this episode serves as both a nostalgic journey and an insightful analysis of what it takes to sustain a beloved media enterprise.

Transcript

[Dan LeBatard]

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[Stugatz]

Or your money back.

[Dan LeBatard]

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[Mike Ryan]

One point you had gone public saying you had a sex addiction, right?

[Dan LeBatard]

No st he cost them the game last night. Although they won the game. But had they lost, I'm telling you, it would have been on Lamarcus Aldridge 20 mediocre years.

[Stugatz]

I'm doing a thing, Stu.

[Dan LeBatard]

I'm doing a thing.

[Mike Ryan]

We were gonna play this is the oral history of the Dan LeBatard show with Stugatz. In both rummaging around in our past over some things with Stugatz and Mike Ryan that we haven't talked about or covered before until we did this oral history. And also revisiting listening to some of the OR history and enjoying that, I realized that up to now in the story, there's been far more misery than there should be for a thing that is having success and feeling like it is growing and getting bigger. There are a lot of growing pains in this, but this episode is gonna concentrate on what comes closest, I would say for me to feeling like a blissfully confident time. I don't think I can say the same thing for Mike Ryan because he was running interference between me and other people in a that he had learned to be not just protective, but also Stugats. One of the interesting things about it is for me to not know when and how he was being protective so that I didn't actually feel the unrest from our bosses at all. Like Mike was dealing with stuff.

[Dan LeBatard]

That Mike did a good job.

[Mike Ryan]

I remember this as a happy time because, okay, you're gonna actually give me freedom. There aren't going to be problems. I'm going to get what my people want as a time slot and a work experience and we're more comfortable. And now we start soaring, we start growing. We the power of Disney and a big time slot. And we are invigorated by it creatively.

[Stugatz]

Super invigorated by it. We were really pushing ourselves creatively and we had this whole new sandbox with the video element, which we were growing in confidence with, that allowed us to do not necessarily video first executions, but video supplement. We were always keenly aware that we didn't want to alienate the audio audience, which was, at this point, we really growing. We made the move in middays for a lot of reasons. Number one for me with a bullet was life balance. But number two was I think the show can get much bigger, not just because it's getting more clearance, but because our podcast, we're digital first property. That's how most of our audience consumes us. If we get to market earlier. I know, I just know we're going to see that bear out over the podcast numbers. And it did. We were a podcast sensation. We were the biggest thing in sports podcasting. All while ESPN really knew very little about podcasting and how to monetize it, but we were crushing it.

[Dan LeBatard]

But Mike, explain that to the audience, because we used to put the podcast out after we were done with the afternoon show. So they were getting it at 7:00, 7:30, 8:00 at night. You're saying putting that episode out, the podcast episode at 1:30 was a big advantage for us.

[Mike Ryan]

It's a couple of things here that make for wonderful timing and a cool part of the story. This becomes a podcast property of significance without us having any support around us that's real from any of the people who are running anything. I'm not talking about espn. I'm talking about in our entire history. They don't know what to do with this thing. They don't know how to value the changing marketplace that makes us an audio sensation. And they don't know how to measure either. The relationship that gets built in the intimacy of people are able to consume you on their own time in lonely jobs, when they're jogging, their exercise, when they want to get away from errands or whatever. You're following them around in their life now in a way that's not just in the car.

[Stugatz]

It was the single biggest bet that we made as a show the decision to prioritize digital audio. When you made your money not driving people away from the commercials, you made your money having people sit in their cars through those commercials. Single biggest bet that we ever made. It was what we were best positioned for because we always had a keen understanding of where the industry was going. And to have this move coincide with this huge podcast boom that we were at the forefront of, it immediately paid dividends on a huge bet because it didn't come without risk.

[Mike Ryan]

At the forefront, accidentally, I would say you were protecting things.

[Stugatz]

I think that short sells. Like how strategic we were.

[Mike Ryan]

When I say accidentally stumble into this. No, but wait, what I say accidentally. It's because when you don't have support of any of the people who are paying you espn and. And you're undercutting the main ways they make money with the decisions you're making. We are fighting for something that matters to us and mattered to Mike specifically more than it did to me and Stugots, who grew up in a different time. So that's why I say accidentally. I'm fight for what Mike Ryan believes in just because he believes in it. It's not because I'm a lot better than all these other executives and seeing what the future looks like.

[Dan LeBatard]

But we've always followed Mike Ryan because he's younger, because he cares about us, because he knows the industry. Like, you're right. You and I just wanted to speak into a microphone and do radio. I had no idea that people wanted to listen on their own time.

[Mike Ryan]

Espn, though, what had already happened is Bill Simmons had come and gone as somebody who pioneered this particular space, and they didn't know how to interact with that either, which they had before they had.

[Stugatz]

Yeah, they accidentally stepped into a lot of digital audio success because of our hard work, our decisions, our occasional fighting to keep this RSS feed alive. The RSS feed that you're listening to right now is the one that we created back in 790 in the bowels of Miami Gardens. It came with us through espn.

[Dan LeBatard]

I saved it seven times.

[Stugatz]

You never actually did. And it followed us. And yeah, we were very strategic with this, and we were constantly trying to get podcast exclusive content.

[Mike Ryan]

Well, you were very strategic with this.

[Stugatz]

I was strategic with it. But me and my production team, the shipping container, you know, editing the podcast was a massive chore because I didn't want to have this huge Runway of getting my podcast to market as soon as the show ends and then work on post production for two hours. So you would occasionally lose a producer because we Would post hours as it would finish. And that was a huge advantage for us. And we never really got that much pushback from ESPN as to how we were releasing it. There was one guy, espn, whose whole job was digital, Giancini, and he was just, just marveling. And he gave me a lot of great advice on cadence and how to release things. I know it was a bit controversial, especially with some of our contemporaries. Our strategy to break it up, thinking that we were gaming a system, I would say, no, we're not gaming a system. We're actually getting the rewards for the work that we're doing. Other podcasts do maybe three hours of content a week. You know, we do four hours a day. Our episode lengths are just as long as your episode lengths. It was really how ESPN wanted to do it. I actually followed there because I was kind of old school Rogan model. Let's just pump out three hours at one time. It really helped shape and inform how I would go forward. I wish we did a little bit more with digital video because those were the very early days. But I wasn't getting leadership there from espn. I was kind of leading the way when it came to digital audio. It was really cool to see that be a successful bet. And it was a little frustrating too, in that we found even the worldwide leader couldn't sell it, couldn't monetize the podcast. Matter of fact, they never figured it out. They just outsourced it. They don't actually sell their own podcast inventory. It's a shame because they've had properties like Bill and us in house and they kind of wasted that opportunity in ways that I kind of wasted the opportunity to leverage their digital video assets.

[Mike Ryan]

When you say we didn't build out the video stuff, there it was when we left espn and I see it in the numbers now when it is that I have to do the excruciating task of looking at our accounting. The making of the video product, of the growth of Meadowlark's support of this thing is really expensive and really hard. And we weren't even able to do it while we kept the RSS feed, which was hugely important from one day to the next. Leaving ESPN and then landing somewhere else without changing your listening habits. The video thing you guys have felt over the last four years, the rattling that that has done to our cage, just trying to build all that stuff while we're doing the three and four hours a day.

[Stugatz]

I wish I was smarter back then. I wish I was smarter and more capable.

[Dan LeBatard]

Well, Mike, it was hard to See, though, I mean.

[Stugatz]

I mean, I saw the podcast thing coming. I should have seen the digital video thing coming. It's not like I didn't see it coming, but it just felt like it was too difficult to do all those things simultaneously at once.

[Mike Ryan]

It is. We've been doing it for four years.

[Dan LeBatard]

You don't say.

[Mike Ryan]

And it is. It is.

[Stugatz]

My main regret. My main regret there, if you will, on the digital video front is we didn't have to do that part particularly well. That actually didn't have to meet our standard. We just had to be doing it more actively. I wish I had a grandfathered RSS feed for video like I did with audio. That wasn't the case. So that's the one misstep I made. While I made very good, bold moves on the audio front, digital video, I think you can certainly nitpick and say I made some mistakes.

[Mike Ryan]

You say that, though. But I would argue, and I'd be curious what you guys think of this. Philosophically, I would argue that the most charming versions of our show, even though we did this part well creatively during this time period, is when it seemed like we didn't know we were being watched.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yes.

[Mike Ryan]

And so once you add the video component to what it is we're doing and you let people know through social media, you're applauding their behavior, all of a sudden, everybody in here who knows that they're being watched, it makes it just slightly less authent in a way that I didn't love that change.

[Dan LeBatard]

Are you saying that I'm faking it?

[Mike Ryan]

I mean, not you. I'm not even talking about you. But in making the transaction, you guys know we've covered all the ways that I wanted to be careful about selling out because I really valued the chemicals that we had that kept it not only comfortable, but also so much more relaxed when you don't have directors yelling in your ear, when you don't have to worry about what something looks like visually and then can just tell private jokes with, you know, Internet camera that are amusing your audience.

[Stugatz]

I'm glad you mentioned that too, because another thing that I kept away from you was the actual directing on site in Miami. Charlie had left to dc, was gonna start climbing in his career. We had Lorenzo, who's very green. We had a very small team in D.C. i was also kind of producing the video product as well, giving camera cues, making sure that it was relayed sometimes through a.

[Dan LeBatard]

So you're producing us and you're talking to them at the same time?

[Stugatz]

Yeah.

[Mike Ryan]

I'm remembering only director and Lorenzo. I'm not remembering a third person involved with whatever it was our Washington television.

[Stugatz]

Product that was our Washington product. But we had stage directors in Miami. We also had camera operators here in Miami. And sometimes, look, I'm not gonna relay a message to DC when this is a show that is so heavily reliant on comedic timing. So sometimes I just go direct to our camera operator, and DC kind of falls in line. But all that's to say, like, you needed to feel like that wasn't actually an operation that was going on.

[Dan LeBatard]

And you did a great job by not showing your hand, because I knew it was. I'm not certain Dan did, but I knew what you were dealing with. You weren't just a radio producer anymore. You were dealing with a TV stat.

[Stugatz]

I learned how to produce TV right. And I learned right then and there that production is production to a large degree. Like a lot of the skill sets that I was leaning on when it came to the sonic experience of the show translated, whether it be communication, leadership, foresight, all that stuff, intuition. I knew where to put the cameras better than the camera operators just because I knew the show better. And by knowing the show better than anybody else, it also made me the most qualified person to produce. And not to take anything away from people in D.C. but they were kind of following my lead there.

[Mike Ryan]

That was such a fun playground that I do remember very casually mentioning to one of the very high higher ups at Pablo's wedding at a table, hey, you know, it would be really easy to just throw our show on ESPN2 for three hours, and you guys would have an amazing amount of cheap programming there that you're already paying for. And I thought to myself, what an enormous evolution for me to be even and offering that to this person when I was super enjoying the creative space of, Ah, nobody's watching this. We just got two people in Washington. Eric Ridholm, the producer of Highly Business.

[Dan LeBatard]

At a Wedding for you too, I.

[Mike Ryan]

Would say that that's where I also realized while in that conversation, oh, we are too hot for everything happening here. Connor Schnell has no interest in what it is.

[Stugatz]

I'm saying this is a fascinating story if you've been following. Yeah, they don't actually watch any of this stuff. They'd never watch any of this st.

[Dan LeBatard]

I was gonna ask you to name names, but you did. Thank you.

[Stugatz]

You know what's fascinating about that story? And believe it or not, it's not that the fact that the ESPN suit doesn't listen or Watch what's on espn. That job is pretty all consuming and I can understand how someone doesn't actually get around to watching what they're putting out. The most unbelievable part about that story is look at your growth and your relationship with tv. Just over the last few episodes, hating your Fusion experience. Going to espn, moving to middays, being out on the main set to the point that we have to take a sabbatical from tv. A two week departure, no cameras into our womb. It was that instantaneous and it was that seamless. The move to D.C. had you growing in confidence. Me working in concert with the TV team had you come around so hard that about a year later you're saying, put us on ESPN too.

[Dan LeBatard]

Full press.

[Mike Ryan]

I mean, it wasn't even an opportunistic thing. I just was trying to be helpful on. We're already doing this. You're already doing a bunch of stuff with ESPN radio that is just throwaway video stuff. It was more offering him an opportunity I was only casually interested in. It was just like, here's three hours of programming that, as you can tell.

[Dan LeBatard]

You were doing it for him. Huh?

[Mike Ryan]

Is now very valuable. It wasn't just him. Those two guys, I mean, the president of the company asked us to do a job for them. And now I was growing in the kind of comfort that I needed to. To actually want to do the job because there wasn't interference, or I thought there was an interference because all of that interference was landing on Mike. Throughout this entire oral history, one of the things that's going to make an appearance is some form of. I didn't know exactly the job that m. He was doing it so well and protecting me from so many things that I have since Tears in my eyes. Subsequently apologized to Mike Ryan for not understanding and appreciating the job that he was doing.

[Dan LeBatard]

That was done by design though, right, Mike? I mean.

[Stugatz]

Yeah, well, my job was to keep Dan comfortable because a comfortable Dan gave us the best possible concept.

[Dan LeBatard]

The job is Dan.

[Stugatz]

The job is Dan. I am talent producing first and foremost. And the best way to produce my talent is to make sure that the grounds are most fertile around him for creativity and simple execution. Because I know that one simple mistake, especially on the TV side, can really undo a good show. So making sure that we're clean or a good career or.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah. Yes.

[Mike Ryan]

You realize the comfort I got from. Not that many people are watching at espn. The comfort, the security in. Oh, they're not watching what we're doing so we can push the lines more and I won't have to make changes until the complaints come. But the complaints aren't getting to me. They're only stopping at Mike.

[Stugatz]

Well, complaints did come because keep in mind, we replaced calling cowherd. And when you move to middays. In our afternoon experience with espn, we'd hear from affiliates, we'd get feedback. But now when you're in a spot at the radio day part where you get way more clearance, you get a lot more opinions from program directors, of course. And Dan wasn't really on these affiliate calls. We'd only bring him into the more important ones. But quarterly, I'd get briefed on how our radio show is doing terrestrially. There were a lot of good stories there, like, wow, our show randomly is huge in the Carolinas. And there were unfortunate stories like, look, while we were middays here and struggled enough with how do we establish a zig? We're not running counterculture to a full day's worth of coverage. We were the morning show out in la and LA was a huge affiliate for espn. And you would have thought because Miami is similar to LA in a lot of ways, our show would have taken off there. It didn't. They hated us, the station hated us, the fans hated us because they wanted to hear their Lakers talk. They wanted to hear their USC Trojan talk. Colin was always very good about forcing the issue.

[Dan LeBatard]

He was great.

[Stugatz]

When it came to the Los Angeles market, yes, we were just kind of doing our own thing and it really blew up in our face when it came to la.

[Dan LeBatard]

So it's interesting because I remember for the first time, we really had to change our approach to programming, to content, to how we were going to do the show. Because even when we were on an afternoon to ESPN and ESPN Radio, they told us, miami, focus on Miami. Do Miami. It's the biggest market you're on. Go Miami. And that was easy for us. That was an easy transition. This was a difficult transition because I remember you and I having discussions saying, how are we gonna cater to New York and la?

[Mike Ryan]

I never gave that a thought. I know, not one thought.

[Dan LeBatard]

But we had to.

[Mike Ryan]

I had a conversation with Colin Cowherd and he is a Navy SEAL of strategic radio knowledge on how it is he can fake caring about something in Los Angeles just because he wants to.

[Stugatz]

Talk to Los Angeles Sometimes, occasionally he gets caught on some of that shit.

[Dan LeBatard]

Walking around with a bowl of soup.

[Mike Ryan]

I would say it can be a bumbling Navy seal, but strateg for what executives want. Can you plan your show so you're satiating Los Angeles is not something I ever thought about. You say we've got a program to Los Angeles in New York. We were huge in New York, our leaving digitally.

[Stugatz]

Yes. And there were really good stories when it came to the radio ratings in New York, but you're always going to be compared to Mike Francesa there.

[Dan LeBatard]

But the last book before they took us off ESPN Radio in New York, Dan and I, we had cracked the top 10.

[Stugatz]

Yeah.

[Dan LeBatard]

And then they yanked us off that station.

[Mike Ryan]

That was Steve A. Smith and WFAN play that they made as a radio strategy team. You guys say you guys were talking about it and it was challenging for you. I don't remember a single conversation where you guys came to me on, we have to do this for Los Angeles because we're the morning show there.

[Stugatz]

No. And that's why we were off, because we didn't do the stuff that Colin was so good at, being able to kind of ham it up.

[Mike Ryan]

I mean, I didn't care though.

[Dan LeBatard]

You didn't care. But Mike and I had discussions which.

[Stugatz]

We could done with you giving more of a shit.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah. But I wanted Dan to focus on what Dan wanted to focus on and not be thinking about, you know, any market in particular.

[Stugatz]

Dan's an artist. The only market he's ever cared about catering to is Miami. And at that point it had been pretty successful. Going about his work that way, it proved to be a winner. So I don't blame him. He would have made my life a little bit easier. And sometimes it's pride swallowing knowing that. Ah, man, I thought for sure we'd work in la, but we did. And another aspect of Dan's workflow that we probably took for granted was right before we went to middays, Dan was as locked in on sports as he's ever been in his life. Super sharp because why he's taping Highly questionable before the show. So he's coming out, he's already testing takes and he's fully informed. He's getting research packets. Back then, I also used to write for highly questionable. So he came in super sharp. Now his work day is totally flipped and he's doing the radio show and he's not getting that prep. He's not getting the research. He hasn't been able to see how other people dissect stories. So I'm curious, did you also miscalculate having to do this before Highly questionable as opposed to after?

[Mike Ryan]

The way that we did this philosophically starts with because you mentioned sports. And that is not the thread that I need. The Thread that I need is I really need to not respect the thing that I'm doing so I could blaspheme against it. I need to not respect television.

[Dan LeBatard]

Sure.

[Mike Ryan]

I need to not respect radio. And what allows that zig is the fact that everyone else is in sports coats respecting what it is that they're doing. So you're noticing that more informed with the sports stuff. And that is absolutely so. Because what we were doing, not just on television, highly questionable, was a really smart show done with really smart people.

[Stugatz]

That show is booming simultaneously.

[Mike Ryan]

So I'm not merely in meetings with sports takes, I'm meeting with sports takes where I'm learning what everybody is saying it around the horn, Pardon the interruption, and everybody behind the scenes.

[Dan LeBatard]

What a meeting.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah, but I didn't want to be in it.

[Dan LeBatard]

I did.

[Mike Ryan]

I didn't want to be doing much of that. One of the interesting things that happened throughout all of this, Right. My maximum comfort when our show started to go national was in the fact that I always had in reserve, no matter where we stalled out, Miami Sports. Miami Sports. Miami Sports. Now what I had is sports. When I talk to people and they don't totally understand because they're not built in this world what the personality type is that can talk for three and a half hours and have it be some semblance of entertaining for three and a half straight hours. There's not a lot of that. We could do a lot of that in all of the places where I didn't have respect for stuff. And at any given point, if I've wandered 12 minutes too far on the Masked Singer, I could just swing back to Sports story of the day and everyone would have something on that.

[Dan LeBatard]

It was such a great time for our show was such a big playground, a wide playground. I remember that because we're not doing afternoons now. We are in the middle of ESPN's day, both on radio and on television. We're dictating conversations that are happening on other shows that are airing after hours. And I was so thrilled because to be the show that is anti establishment and be firmly entrenched deep inside the establishment was such a cool playground for us.

[Stugatz]

We found a way to rage against the machine while inside the machine. And for no one on the outside to pick apart that hypocrisy.

[Dan LeBatard]

Right?

[Stugatz]

Because everybody knew the dynamic. We didn't fit. The salespeople certainly knew it. Dan still is not doing reads. Dan will occasionally be the talent that'll say the worst possible thing ever.

[Mike Ryan]

That's also a learning moment that Meeting was fun.

[Stugatz]

Yeah, that was. That was one of the few times that Dan was out.

[Dan LeBatard]

I love a good radio sales meeting.

[Mike Ryan]

I had to go to that because I said such bad things about.

[Stugatz]

Again, I was trying to protect you, and you didn't even see it.

[Mike Ryan]

Predators.

[Dan LeBatard]

Hey, Dan.

[Mike Ryan]

I'm like, what are you doing, man?

[Stugatz]

What are you doing, dude? I'm trying to protect you from even naming it. And you're over there calling them predators.

[Dan LeBatard]

I'm trying to get him on the air.

[Stugatz]

I mean, bleep all of it.

[Mike Ryan]

Just bleep it all.

[Dan LeBatard]

Stop it. We doing lives for.

[Stugatz]

This is a perfect example of the type of talent that he is.

[Mike Ryan]

You're right, Mike.

[Stugatz]

I'm literally trying to push him away from it.

[Mike Ryan]

This is it.

[Stugatz]

And he says the worst fucking thing possible. It's a goddamn headache every time. There were plenty of things that I miss about this era though, too, which is number one. We moved to a different day part. Our commercials got longer. And while that was frustrating, man, do I miss being able to create content within the breaks.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yes.

[Stugatz]

I really miss something organically happening in the back during the break that we're just laughing through Dan picking up on it and starting a segment with that stuff. Something that's kind of been missing from the show ever since.

[Mike Ryan]

I don't think there's anything I miss more than that from our.

[Dan LeBatard]

The eight minute commercial break, our present incarnation.

[Mike Ryan]

I'm not talking about the eight minute commercial break itself. I'm talking about the gathering, where I get to just observe you guys wandering around in the wild. And Stugatz is doing Stugatz stuff. So when he's shooting sausage fingers over the break, oftentimes the stuff that's happening is funnier than anything that we could conjure on live.

[Dan LeBatard]

There was some great content during the breaks. Dad would never participate. He wouldn't say a word.

[Stugatz]

He would just often watch.

[Dan LeBatard]

But he would sit there and he would write things down. And so sometimes I was doing it so Dan could hear me. So he knew to bring it on the air because he knows, for the most part, I don't really care what we talk about here on the air. We were doing a show for Dan. We were trying to bring our topics, you and I, Mike, to life by talking about them in a weird way during the break, but also in a loud way. And Dan was writing him down, and I knew he would come back from commercial break with what it was.

[Stugatz]

You and I were just discussing workshopping. That's also how, like, we would play really well received Rejoin. We had our rejoins and then song. And I would be very thoughtful with how I do it, often sending subliminal messages with the set list for the day. But I would play a song and then play with playing a sound in the BPMs in between show within the show, making remixes. And I would use that time to see, like if this would work. And we'd go live and we'd do that because it worked with our bullpen, essentially. I really miss that stuff. It really brought a lot of creativity.

[Mike Ryan]

I don't know how interested in the weeds and the minutia people would be on how it is that we do this show, but I would argue that in the history of ESPN television and radio, from the perspective of the hosts, there's been never as little planning from the hosts on what it is they're going to do when the microphones go on. They wanted rundowns from us. They wanted organization. We didn't know what they were talking about because we were doing three and a half hours of improv. That then became a structured thing, or what felt like a structured thing, at least in part because the producers had learned how to plan around us without making it look like we were doing too much planning. Because planning, in our case, I feel like, can be the enemy of natural stuff. It can lead to acting. It could lead to moments that aren't organic.

[Stugatz]

And I guess we're bad actors.

[Mike Ryan]

I prided myself on the organic nature of what we're doing. And not only are we bad actors, we do not have a good, good actor here. Except for maybe Mike. Maybe, maybe Mike. I've seen Chris Cody freeze and have to read something 16 times. Once you tell him this requires you to plan something and then say it, he'll fall apart. But if you just ask him to be him, that one he can do.

[Stugatz]

One of my proudest things is that you guys would just stroll into the studio, we'd turn the mics on and we'd go. Anytime we brought in a different guest host, their head would be spinning at the pace that we'd operate. But we prepared a lot because our show could go anywhere. And I would often tell people, how do you prepare for a show that can go anywhere? You got to be prepared for anything and everything. And that's loads of pre production. That's loads of production in show. And production can mean many things. It can mean a bit of imaging or it can mean, hey, let's talk about this process right here. Why did that go wrong? How do we make it better? The Communication is constant, ever evolving. 24. 7. Everything is feedback, everything is production.

[Dan LeBatard]

Just to give the audience an idea and take them really deep inside. I mean, there are times I'm certain Dan walked into in there and he had a list of things that he was thinking of talking about or had a list in his head and was going to start the show a certain way. And I can't tell you the amount of times until this day, even where I will say something to Dan right before the microphones go on, and whatever he had planned, he changes it. And that's where he starts. He starts right there. And he hopes it's going to turn out great. And most of the times it did. And sometimes it did it.

[Mike Ryan]

One of the places where I have felt my aging over the years is I'm going to go ahead and guess that on our first 10 years doing the show, I never had notes of any kind. Most of it was just rolling with whatever was in my head. But I will say, during this period and during the last 10 years, the very best shows are the ones where I have notes and never get to them.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yes.

[Mike Ryan]

Like, I'm just leaving everything in the notebook because a bunch of stuff has happened that is better than whatever it is I thought I was going to do.

[Stugatz]

Shout out to the show sheet, a huge, massive booklet that the baton was passed throughout the years. I took a lot of pride in the show sheet. Roy did the show sheet.

[Dan LeBatard]

You would get mad at us at times because we wouldn't look at it right.

[Stugatz]

We wouldn't read it. We killed so many trees. I'm telling you, it was thick. It was much thicker than Sagots personal record book. And you guys insisted. I remember there was one time that I'm like, all right, we're gonna go largely digital with this to save some paper. And you guys hated it. And my resentment was such that I'm like, you guys don't read the hard copies, but you insist on this. But again, talent comes first, talents come first.

[Dan LeBatard]

Dan and I were still using at that time, Instant messenger on aol.

[Mike Ryan]

That's how we were communicating his computer to mine.

[Stugatz]

You, your creature comforts. And you were married to that, and that's fine. And good producers fall in line.

[Dan LeBatard]

Do you agree with Dan? If we didn't get to most of the stuff on the show sheet or in his head, we had a good show. Right.

[Stugatz]

Show that's always a great show. Mark of a good show. Like, oh, damn, we didn't get around to that. Oh, damn, we didn't do this produce bit. Oh, Dan, we didn't cover that. We had good stuff there. It's always the hallmark of a good show. So we're humming, we're doing good, we're clicking on all cylinders. We're navigating Dan's amazing proclivity to step into it with, especially with sponsors. But it's all fine, in large part due to. And this part can't be ignored. John Skipper is president at espn. And I want the listener to keep all this in mind, and I want Dan and Sue to keep this in mind because things start happening, the world starts changing around this era. It creeps in with the Colin Kaepernick stuff. The lines between politics and sports become really blurred. Probably the greatest example of that over the course of our time at espn, there were constant landmines around that. And then Trump's candidacy. Keep in mind, we had Donald Trump on the show several times.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yes, many times.

[Stugatz]

Oftentimes very close with his assistant. Was begging for him to run for president.

[Dan LeBatard]

Donald, do me a favor. Break news right here on this show on ESPN Radio. Don't wait till June. Are you running? Are you running for office? Are you running for president?

[Donald Trump]

So I'm looking at it very seriously, fellas. And by the way, you guys have a great show. That's why I'm doing it. But I think you have a great show. I watch it a lot, but I am thinking about it very, very seriously. And the country is in trouble. We're being laughed at by everybody. China is taking our jobs. They're taking our manufacturing. They're loaning us the money. They're taking our money and then they loan it back to us. We owe China now $1.3 trillion. Can you believe? Trillion. $1.3 trillion. Mexico is not our friend. Mexico is doing a number on us. Not only at the border, but they're doing a number economically. They're taking our jobs like crazy. Ford just announced a $2.5 billion plant in Mexico. I am looking at it very seriously and I'll be announcing in June. And I think a lot of people are going to be very, very will tell you if I decide to do it, and if I win, I will make this country great again. Because our country is run by people that don't have a clue. And our country really. I mean, it's run by politicians and a politician. And I've said it for a long time, nobody knows him better than me. They're all talk. There are no action. And this country's in trouble. Our country is in trouble.

[Stugatz]

But we have no idea how the GOP is going to evolve, how Trump becomes this massive cult of personality. But the seeds are there. Initially, Dan's rooting for all the chaos. But I'm curious.

[Mike Ryan]

Colin Kaepernick, regret that it's pretty amazing to think back on just how naive it was to welcome an anarchist to political debates and think it'd be a harmless clown show. As you say that I'm just like going over everything that happened after 2016. I'm like, my God, that is as wrong as I've ever been.

[Stugatz]

In 2015, there was like an exchange like, oh, please, you have to run, Donald, please run. I love you guys. I listen to your show all the time. You guys are the best. You're the best. Best. Like, that's like, it's a real.

[Dan LeBatard]

That's all I wanted to hear.

[Stugatz]

Less than 10 years ago, less than 10 years ago, Dan and Donald Trump were showering each other with praise. But I'm curious. Colin Kaepernick for me, goes LeBron.

[Dan LeBatard]

That's an amazing sentence.

[Mike Ryan]

I mean, Pablo Torre started his podcast just exploring the tapes and didn't even get to the one where it sounds like I'm begging Donald Trump to run for president to.

[Stugatz]

We probably should have kept going with that. We'd be in the cabinet for sure. The Scots would definitely have a cabinet position.

[Dan LeBatard]

You're the vice president.

[Stugatz]

Honestly, I think we could get you approved right now. Lisa, their problems, Damn it. I got to stick to sports real quick. Colin Kaepernick, for me is a top five story in the history of this show. LeBron, all the patriot stuff with Tom Brady being the football player of his generation, with the coach of his generation. And also on top of that, you dash scandal on top of it. That was a great story. But Colin Kaepernick, this was a story that probably challenged you guys in ways that you'd never been challenged before in front of microphones. And I'm very curious your approach to this, how our show probably talked about it more than any other show because it was dangerous. It was almost self governed over at espn. It wasn't so much people telling us not to do this. There was a lot of talent that just tried to punt on it altogether.

[Dan LeBatard]

I remember how great it felt because I knew, and I've always known that I'm sitting next to this pillar of journalism who's going to handle topics like this better than anyone in our industry. So my strategy and the way I prepared for that topic was probably way different than How Dan was preparing for that topic. I was confident I knew the guy who drove the show. He's got it. He's got it. He's got good opinions. They're going to be great. You're not going to hear this from anyone else. My job has always been in those situations to think about how am I going to get us out of whatever it is he's going to start and make it fun and make it funny.

[Stugatz]

Which for you, your process pivots a little bit. Because the start of the show was you were a traditional sports guy. You had different takes on Colin Kaepernick. You and Dan were pretty much aligned from the get go. So it wasn't a push and pull type of thing. You might have spoken for Joe Sports Sports fan occasionally.

[Dan LeBatard]

Right.

[Stugatz]

But you were really there to get us out.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yes.

[Stugatz]

And we learned this new character comedically, how we inject you into these segments. And I often use it as a device. Dan, more often than not, probably saw it coming. Whether it's Breaking NFL News, we use you often to get us out of places where we kept getting too entrenched that were a little dicey for us professionally.

[Mike Ryan]

So this is interesting for a lot of different reasons, because you say this story was unlike other challenges and we might not have been prepared for that particular story I'd been preparing for all my life, like that one. There have been any number since then where I have fallen behind because SportsCenter is calling and they want me to talk about transgender North Carolina bathrooms. And I'm like, okay, wait a minute. What's the controversy here? Because there are any number of things like that that have made an appearance since where I'm not prepared. But I will say that something I learned that was both an illumination and I say this with no ego. It was just a real blessing to be a part of it. I remember listening to Bill Simmons and Chuck Klosterman on a podcast, and they were as smart as anyone going and smart. And it seemed clear to me in what they were talking about that they were dissecting a sports issue for the first time, that they had not considered that me and Boogshambi had been talking about 10 years earlier. And Boog Schambi, particularly, the way that he thought about sports and would then birth all of the people that I ended up gravitating toward at ESPN and were brought to us by Mike and because they just wanted to be around the fun thing, the Minas, the Bomanis, the Dominiques, all of these people who thought about sports A lot differently. All of that stuff Boog and I were doing at the very beginning of what we were doing in sports radio down here. So that particular story wasn't one that I shied away from, that particular story because I'm Cuban exile and all that stuff. And we're talking about free them and black causes. I'm like, you've got to be shitting me that this is going to land in the middle of sport.

[Dan LeBatard]

The entire industry is sprinting away from microphones and Dan is running into the studio.

[Stugatz]

You know, he was preparing for it, though, because Dan was actually for the first time talking about one of these crazy scenarios that are actually playing out. Dan did several shows on what if Peyton Manning were a Klansman?

[Dan LeBatard]

Yes.

[Mike Ryan]

For fun.

[Dan LeBatard]

Like I remember those hypothetical.

[Stugatz]

Just because he liked the challenge.

[Dan LeBatard]

He would have started so good.

[Mike Ryan]

We did like a week. We did a week of shows. I was in PTI's offices when I was doing that. I remember the way that they would look at me because I was saying, he's the MVP of the league. Who in the locker room is going to say, you can't be the wizard of the clan?

[Dan LeBatard]

I remember that feeling. So dangerous. But I would just say, hey, I'm just following Dan's lead. I mean, he asked me a question hypothetical.

[Mike Ryan]

I never dared to write something like that because the rules were different in print.

[Stugatz]

Remember the ESPN the Magazine? What if Michael Vick were white? And how poorly that went too. That was probably the second craziest Colts hypothetical that we had behind. How much do you think a shopping cart with an arm attached to it. How many yards do you think it would get in a season?

[Mike Ryan]

We just give you a push that it would be Dallas Clark. We said if Peyton Manning had a shopping cart, it wasn't even an army. Just. You saw what Eli Manning did in a recent show of his where he's hitting bowling pins from 50 yards away. We were saying just a shopping cart pushed into the secondary. How many yard would have a fumbling problem? But how many yards would it get?

[Stugatz]

Maybe not if Peyton got it right in the basket. Look, we'll do the show again. I think it would have Mo Ali Cox like production really's. Instead of screaming, Mo Ali Cox would be shopping cart with a mannequin arm.

[Dan LeBatard]

Does that shopping cart make it to the hall of Fame?

[Stugatz]

It would be plus 800 every day versus score touchdown. We take it every Sunday.

[Mike Ryan]

Mo Ali Cox is now over nine and a half yards for per game on. On betting props. He would not be a Hall of Famer, the shopping cart. But it would be Dallas Clark.

[Stugatz]

Do you guys remember how we started talking about Kaepernick and this whole story around him? Because many people might forget the Miami ties to how this whole thing blew up. Kaepernick started doing this. He initially wasn't even kneeling. He was just sitting down. Then he famously consulted the teammate who had served, said, go ahead and take a knee. That's a little bit more respectful. No one really picked up on it. There were whispers of this. Then he came down to Miami and on the heels of the pig socks, the police officers depicted as the Fidel Castro shirt. Yes. And now you have this messenger trying to have a take that you support a player's right to speak their mind and speak out against injustice. But also, Dan, you mentioned Cuban exile. Now, it appears. I know Armando Salguero had a huge, very passionate piece at that time. You have the message coming from a player that is wearing a Fidel Castro shirt, almost co signing on the entire Castro experience. How did you handle that?

[Mike Ryan]

Before you go down that path, I want to start with some different Miami ties, because I. I will tell you when I say that I've been preparing for this all my life. White bread, Hispanic childhood, high school experience, very few black people. I get to the University of Miami as a journalist, and immediately, the way I'm writing about the team and befriending players on the team, I am getting a crash course in the black experience. Just very rapid, you know, walking across campus with Bernard Clark and hearing for the first time, you know, Dan, there is justice in prison. Right. Just us. And he would hit that note in various forms for a long time. And so I'm learning all of this stuff as we go along. So once we get to police brutality and Colin Kaepernick, someone kneeling before the flag, to me, the most important thing there as a symbol, if you're going to take a snapshot of it, isn't the flag. It's the freedom in the kneeling. And that is something that Cubans don't necessarily agree with me on in Miami, because they're like, respect the flag. It represents freedom. And I'm like, no, the ability to protest it is what represents the freedom. That it still protects you, even though you disagree with it.

[Stugatz]

Community stops listening the second he puts on the Castro shirt.

[Dan LeBatard]

Correct?

[Mike Ryan]

Yes, correct. Not just.

[Dan LeBatard]

Well, he starts getting criticized a bit.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah, yeah. Of course not. Yes.

[Stugatz]

Initially, we also criticized him because it was a misstep. Of course, he was free to do it.

[Mike Ryan]

You can. But you can be right on one opinion and wrong on thousands of others. I've been doing it all my life. You've never done it. I've been doing it all my life.

[Dan LeBatard]

But I think this is perfect in terms of how different me and Dan are because his approach was measured. It was from experience. It was from talking to people. I just got on the air that day because I was upset, and I'm like, who cares? So Dan is measured, educated. He's giving it to you. Nuanced, all this stuff. He has the experience, right? He's been waiting for this show his entire life. And all I was doing was blasting everyone who has ever stood for a national anthem or not stood. And they've been farting, burping, putting in beds, talking to their kids, not paying attention to the actual national anthem, which you find at every stadium every Sunday in the NFL.

[Stugatz]

It took you a while, but you.

[Dan LeBatard]

Kind of got beers during it.

[Stugatz]

You found yourself your angle there. Me, I'm constantly getting feedback from espn, from Liam or Babysitter. What are the talking points? How do I know I've gone too far? What do I say? That it's not necessarily an opposition, but have you considered. I didn't like my allies at that time, but I'm like, you know, damn, the flag means a lot to a lot of different people. And, you know, like, I was just trying to be devil's ass, put you.

[Mike Ryan]

In a bad spot. I thought where usually put you in a spot where people I think might have been misidentifying your politics just because you were doing your job and not just doing your job. I need to articulate this very clearly, clearly to the audience when I say that sometimes I did not know what Mike Ryan was doing, that is less so. Now I know when Mike Ryan is now trying to push me off a topic. But because I am neither aware of the executive discomfort or care about the executive discomfort combined with Mike's not actually relaying the discomfort to me. What he's doing is when I start talking and he wants to run me off of something, he's trying to produce me by simply forming the argument or the show lane that will take me somewhere else. It's kind of like putting a shiny thing in front of a toddler's crib to distract it or something. Because Mike is producing the show, but he's not telling me how he's producing the show. He's just doing the kinds of things that run me into different directions.

[Stugatz]

Sometimes it would be with a different opinion. Have you considered Oftentimes though, it would be with imaging or feeding Sugat's aqua.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yes.

[Stugatz]

Like just giving him something that would slightly distract you. Having Rick Springfield bombing out on nowhere and deliver his favorite colors or, you know, doing something that was pre produced. We had all sorts. We had layers, magic, created content was kind of born out of this stuff. Like it was all creative ways.

[Mike Ryan]

That one, I knew when you were doing it, that one was a little more obvious.

[Stugatz]

Well, it eventually became canon that it was his sole reason for existing was just. Just to get Dan off of political.

[Mike Ryan]

It's so interesting that you guys remember some of this this way though, because I'm telling you that I did not feel either a hiccup of hesitancy or any great communal outrage from the power at espn. I really felt on that subject matter. This is why you guys hired me, right? This is the reason I'm here.

[Stugatz]

Cut to John Skipper and his own boy, Sandy. That's exactly right.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah.

[Stugatz]

I think there out all of this part of the reason why you're not feeling it. And we got to a point later on at ESPN where that level of protection, it would just go over my head and they would go direct to you. And the reason why they weren't really going direct to you wasn't because I was particularly effective in keeping them away as I was the only person that they could talk to because John Skipper had handpicked you. And with that came a lot of protection. Protection that we would later find out we would sorely miss.

[Mike Ryan]

You talk though, about protection, I wasn't fully aware of that either. You have to understand that because I'm always negotiating freedom and because I really just want to be left alone in a way that's probably, in retrospect, not the most ambitious way to handle all of this. I was really working in the comfort of Many people in Bristol told me, you don't know how good it is that you have it in Miami because you're outside of the bubble. Eric Ridholm had that in Washington as well, where you've got more freedom because you're not playing in the hallways there. And they're not just reacting to everything that you are hearing. But when you say the protection that I had, it's almost the opposite of how it is that I experienced all of that. Imagine how different this is Stugat for me and Mike Ryan, where he's getting the daily fearful calls about whatever and I'm like, this is why I was hired, not to avoid this, to talk about it. The reason that you employ me is because you in some form at least know who I am. The place where I lost protection the most in retrospect was John Skipper leaving the power position. But the place where I felt least protected is, oh, these people don't actually know why I was hired, why, why I'm here, or who I am. Like, they haven't listened to the show enough to know that this is who I am. You're not going to push me off of this.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah, but Skipper knew all that, right? Like, you didn't feel that protection at all.

[Stugatz]

In your defense, I don't think you were aware of it either, because if you were, you would have used it more.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah, that's fair. But I felt it. I knew. I saw their relationship. I mean, we went up to Bristol. I could tell how much John liked it.

[Mike Ryan]

No, but that was.

[Stugatz]

They would have abused it. But I think he would have pushed it a little bit more if he knew, like, the levels of security that John's cosign on our show had.

[Mike Ryan]

Mike, you have to understand my perspective on this. I didn't understand that I was in need of protection. I negotiated being left alone. And Mike Ryan's not bringing any of what he's dealing with to me. So I'm blissfully unaware of all of it. And it's how I prefer it.

[Stugatz]

Well, I guess, citing your encouragement, Donald Trump runs for president, and then the lines between sports and politics get more blurred. Donald Trump weighs in on Colin Kaepernick, uses a cuss word to describe Colin Kaepernick, and the volume gets turned up on all of this, and you see extremism find its way into sports because they're using sports as a pathway to further that agenda. So fun times ahead for the radio show. And we lose Skipper in the process and we lose all the protection. And then Dan realizes what he had when it's gone. So all that's coming up. But in the next episode, we're going to hit pause on the narrative storytelling of our show and do something that we haven't been able to do yet, which is really focus on all the voices that helped us get the show to where it is. We haven't really had Greg Cody's voice bless us on this show yet. And I want to be able to pick apart each and every individual voice, what our motivation was. So the next next episode is going to be a pause on the narrative and we really hit a spotlight on all the co hosts and additional voices that we brought in.

[Mike Ryan]

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[Dan LeBatard]

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[Stugatz]

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[Mike Ryan]

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[Stugatz]

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[Dan LeBatard]

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[Stugatz]

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[Dan LeBatard]

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[Mike Ryan]

Joined now by a return visitor. Donald Trump with us on ESPN Radio. That birth certificate fiasco with the president, that was just a nightmare, right? We'd do that differently if we had to go back and do that over.

[Donald Trump]

No, I don't think so. I mean, I think it would, you know, there's a large group of people out there that would like to see what's going on. And look, right now I will say this, this country has bigger problems. Well, we have a health care thing that's in total shambles and you can't get a website after spending a billion dollars. I mean, we have some very big problems. But no, I don't consider that at all. There's so many people, I walk down the street and people are screaming, keep it going, keep it going. They love it. Now maybe they like it for entertainment and maybe they like it because they believe it. But that is a, you know, it was a very, very serious subject and there of people out there that agree. So, you know, I don't, again, no regrets whatsoever. I just think that I'm on to other things and the other things are trying to help this country to do something. You know, if you look at Russia, if you look at China, if you look at India, if you look at so many places that are just doing so well and then you look at what's happening in this country, we've got some very, very big problems and they're problems that can be straightened out because the country has such tremendous potential.

[Mike Ryan]

Donald Trump with us here on E. ESPN Radio. Who is your best famous friend, like among your famous friends? I'm giving you the opportunity you've waited for all your life here, Trump, to just name drop all of your friends. And so I'm wondering who is your best of your famous friends?

[Donald Trump]

You know what people don't know about me? I have a lot of friends. I have a lot of good friends, and that's not my image, but I actually have people that do like me, which is a little hard to believe. Well, I have a lot of people in the sports world. Bob Kraft is a friend. Coach Bell Check is a friend. Tom Brady is a friend. And by the way, Tom Brady is a great guy. And I hope that all works out and I hope it works out well and soon. But Tom Brady is a great guy.

[Mike Ryan]

Well, hold on. So how have you experienced. If these are your best friends, how did you experience the flight gate? Like if Brady.

[Donald Trump]

I did experience it and I go along with Tom and, you know, a lot of people are questioning whether or not they were actually measured properly. And there's a lot of different things can go on. But I can only tell you this. Tom Brady is an honorable guy. He's an honest guy, and he's a real good guy. I play golf with Tom Brady, and if he played, because I've won a lot of club championships over the years, I can tell you if he played, he would be a phenomenal. If he played more, he would be. He's got tremendous golf talent. I'm sure you're not surprised to hear that because, you know he's great athlete.

[Mike Ryan]

But every time you come on here, you tell us someone's a great golfer. I don't care whether he's a great golfer.

[Dan LeBatard]

I. I do. Donald. I do. Is Goodell a friend?

[Donald Trump]

I know him well. I like him a lot. He's had a rough year, there's no question about it. But I think he's a terrific person. He's a very good man.

[Dan LeBatard]

Good golfer.

[Donald Trump]

I don't know him as a golfer.

[Mike Ryan]

Donald Trump. Finally, we we've cornered Donald Trump, but I'm just curious, as you've seen deflate gate play out in the press, I'm curious if you're friends with Belichick and Bob Craft, like Bob Kraft. That was a hugely humbling thing that he had to experience. Where he goes from the NFL is going to owe me an apology soon to. Never mind. I'm going to run away with my tails between my legs.

[Donald Trump]

Well, I was surprised that he did it, and personally, I would have never done it in a million years. I would not have done what he did. I was very surprised that he took the punishment without an appeal. I think you're always better off appealing because if you appeal, you're going to get something out of it. Even if it's not much, you're going to get something. So there must have been Tremendous pressure. I mean, I know Bob well, and he's a terrific person, and he's done. He's been a great team owner, if you think about it, with, you know, not too much drama. He's just taken that team and they've done a great job for many years now. It helps when you have Belichick, and it helps when you have Brady, but he's been a very good team. On. I was very surprised when he didn't take an appeal, actually.

[Mike Ryan]

Trump, you mean not much drama outside of the giant cheating scandals?

[Donald Trump]

Well, no, there's a scandal going now, but I'm saying up until this point, certainly there hasn't been. For somebody that's been at the top of the heap for so long, I think there's been very little drama. Now, this has, you know, caused a little bit of drama, and they've had a couple of things where there's been been some drama. But if you think about it, they've done really well. They've had, you know, lots of Super Bowls, lots of everything else. They've been in lots of Super Bowls. They had two Super Bowls. That could have been one. They could add five. But, you know, I think there's been a lack of drama for. For somebody that's been in that position, which I give him a lot of credit for. I think Bob Kraft has been a great owner.

[Mike Ryan]

I think the last time that you were on with us, you told us that your biggest business. Regret the transaction. I think I have this right. Was your yacht. Was that. Do I have this right that your yacht was the biggest purchase you made that you regret the most?

[Donald Trump]

Well, that could be. I had a yacht, a very big one. It was Adnan Khashoggi's yacht. It was called the Nabila. And I was never a yacht person, but I. And I'm a golfer, and golf and yachts don't work. So I buy this yacht, unbelievably expensive, 72 people and crew, and I never used it. And I said, what am I doing? And I'd have this yacht all over, over the place. And because I wanted to play golf. And at that time, this was before I had, you know, all these clubs, and I play at Wingfoot because Wingfoot is a great place where I'm still a member. It's a great course, and I love playing golf. So I'd play golf. And by the time you play golf, you say, I don't want to go on a yacht. So I'd have the yacht sitting all over the world and I'd never go see it. And it was a good day when I sold the yacht, so I consider that to be a stupid purchase. Absolutely.

[Dan LeBatard]

Give us the coolest person you played golf with.

[Donald Trump]

I played golf with so many. I play golf with sort of. They're all cool in their own way. But I play with Michael Jordan. He's a great guy.

[Mike Ryan]

Oh, is it gambling? Gambling, Gambling, Gambling, Trump?

[Donald Trump]

No, not so much. I mean, and let me tell you, Michael's a good golfer. You know, a lot of people say, oh, he's overrated. He's over. Michael can play.

[Mike Ryan]

What were the stakes? Trump.

[Donald Trump]

He's a great chipper, and he's a great putter.

[Mike Ryan]

Trump, stakes on the golf, gambling. I know Jordan. Jordan's not playing out there for free. If he's got Trump on the hook.

[Dan LeBatard]

What were the stakes?

[Donald Trump]

He wants to gamble a little bit, but you got to ask Michael about that.

[Mike Ryan]

No, I'm not. I don't have Michael. If you want to call him and conference him in, we'll ask him. But right now, I'm asking you, what were the stakes?

[Donald Trump]

He'll be happy when I say he was a who won.

[Mike Ryan]

I know, but I'm not asking.

[Donald Trump]

We were partners and we won.

[Dan LeBatard]

Okay.

[Donald Trump]

We were partners and we won.

[Dan LeBatard]

Whoa.

[Mike Ryan]

Who were you playing against?

[Donald Trump]

We were playing well, actually, we had Annika Sorenstam in the group, and we had somebody else on your side. No, no. Anika was on somebody else's side. And when we realized how good she was, we immediately all fought over.

[Dan LeBatard]

What do you mean?

[Mike Ryan]

You realize how good she was?

[Dan LeBatard]

She's like, forever.

[Donald Trump]

Hey, Annika was seriously good, and she is seriously good. She's terrific.

[Mike Ryan]

You're not going to give us the stakes if we badge one more time?

[Donald Trump]

No, I don't want to do that. I don't want to embarrass you.

[Mike Ryan]

All right, let me do it another way. The highest stakes that Donald Trump has ever played for on the golf course.

[Donald Trump]

Well, actually, the highest stakes are, you know, I've made some of my best deals on the golf course, and I've gotten to know people, and I bought Trump Dealers Tower on, you know, fifth Air. And I built it, but I bought the site because of golf, because the people that I played golf with really liked me a lot. And I made the deal because of them. I mean, because of golf. And I've made many great deals, and these are billion dollar deals because of golf. So golf. And, you know, I tell the people at the Wharton School of Finance, which is considered the best Business school. I say, you know, you should teach golf at the school because I've made many great, great deals on the golf course. One of the reasons I got turnberry was because of golf. I was playing something else. And the folks that had Turnberry for many years got to know me on the golf course and I was able to get Turnberry in Scotland, which is one of the great places, one of the great iconic places in the world, not just in the world of golf. So I've made many great deals on the golf course. Big ones.

[Mike Ryan]

Stugaats. Did you see what Trump just did to me?

[Dan LeBatard]

Of course I saw it.

[Mike Ryan]

Trump, do you know what you just did to me?

[Dan LeBatard]

I asked. You turned it around. You did.

[Mike Ryan]

Okay. At least you did it aware. At least I, no, no, no.

[Donald Trump]

I turned your question around. I sort of, I answered it like a politician. Rather than talking about the most I ever played for, I gave you an extra little spin. Maybe that spin was more interesting.

[Mike Ryan]

But no, no, Trump, answer that question the biggest.

[Donald Trump]

I, I, I flipped it around. I liked my answer better. I think it's fine.

[Mike Ryan]

Trump, the audience doesn't like that answer. They want personal.

[Donald Trump]

Maybe they, maybe they like it. No, I like to gamble a little bit, but you know, I keep it down to a minimum. Number one, you know, I've won a lot of club championships. I play well, but it's still not my business.

[Stugatz]

It is time to wake and take with Stugats.

[Dan LeBatard]

7, 864-564-837. That's 7, 864-564,837. Estuke wants to hear from you. 7, 864-56-4837.

[Mike Ryan]

What's on your mind?

[Dan LeBatard]

7, 864-564:837. Have a question for Stu. 786-45-64837. He's taking notes. 7, 864-5-64-8837. But it is up to you to get them out of him. 786-45-64837.

[Stugatz]

Call now.

[Dan LeBatard]

786-45-648 37. That's 786-45-64837,. It is wake and take here on 790 the tickets. I have thoughts. I have opinions. I have notes. It is your job to get them out of me. I could open up the microphone. I could share those thoughts, opinions, notes with you. But that's not how we do it here on wake. It takes, you do the work. If I did that, I'd be lazy and by extension I'd make you lazy because then you Wouldn't have to do any work. So you do the work, you ask the right questions, and perhaps you will get those thoughts, those opinions, those notes out of me. But first, we interview Greg Cody. All right. I'm a bad quote. I gotta tell you. You were clicks for Cody. I retweeted your column. Yes, yesterday from the Herald. Thank you. You were at a Dolphin training camp. And Mike, Ryan, Roy, Guillermo, Chris, they were all out there as well. What are you seeing out there that maybe excites you? Maybe gives some Dolphin fans some excitement headed into the season here? I think they're going to be much better than people think. The. The betting over under of six, six and a half wins.

[Mike Ryan]

Cody thinks that every year.

[Dan LeBatard]

By the.

[Mike Ryan]

No, Cody, you think that every year you are a Dolphin homer. It's the only team that you've been a sports fan of.

[Dan LeBatard]

This is wake and Take. I am interviewing Greg Cody.

[Mike Ryan]

I'm sorry.

[Dan LeBatard]

Allow the man to speak.

[Stugatz]

You're fitting out.

[Dan LeBatard]

As a matter of fact, the Dolphins are the most bet over team in terms of exceeding the win. Project Levitar, two minutes penalty. Buff.

[Stugatz]

Hello.

[Dan LeBatard]

Wow. Geez. I mean, you're lucky I didn't find you $2. I mean, let the mints. I mean, get out of my zone, will you?

[Stugatz]

That's a good point. Wake and take is a judgment free place.

[Dan LeBatard]

Oh, you're right, Dan, you're good.

[Stugatz]

Yeah, because remember, we established wake and take's all about vibes.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah, it's all about vibes. We nullify the two minute. Okay, so anyway, more positive news.

[Mike Ryan]

I sincerely apologize.

[Dan LeBatard]

Okay, well, it's very nice of you. Very nice of you. That works.

[Stugatz]

You waking, take your apology, fit in. Please have the respect for us and we showed for you by accepting your apology right now.

[Dan LeBatard]

You know, listen, we start waking, take, I interview someone. And today it could have been you, but I decided to interview Greg Cody. So when I'm doing that, just let the man make his points. Let's go to Ken online. To Ken. You are on wake and take here on 7 90, the ticket. Okay.

[Mike Ryan]

If you could permanently inhale, enhance your.

[Donald Trump]

Life by 4 inches, would you go.

[Dan LeBatard]

Height or would you go baby. That's a great question. Rash them. Can I do two of each? Oh, that's very yes. You want to spread out 4 inches?

[Mike Ryan]

No, no is the answer.

[Dan LeBatard]

I want to be. I want to be 5 11.

[Mike Ryan]

And the answer is no.

[Dan LeBatard]

That's a very good question. You can only choose one though. What are you doing there? I wouldn't choose either, to be honest.

[Mike Ryan]

It's not a very good question. It's a very good question for short people with small penises.

[Dan LeBatard]

Well, I'm one of them.

[Mike Ryan]

I don't mean 4 inches height.

[Dan LeBatard]

I could use 4 of each. So you don't need 4 inches of height.

[Mike Ryan]

Correct.

[Dan LeBatard]

I mean, so I mean, by process of elimination, right, we know where you're putting your for.

[Mike Ryan]

That's why it's not a good question. And you revealed your hand, by the way.

[Dan LeBatard]

Oh, I don't care. We reveal these sausage hands every day. I mean, everyone knows anyway. Do we have other callers, Mike?

[Stugatz]

No.

[Dan LeBatard]

Oh, they don't. Trust me. They don't. I'm going to take their phone call. Your bluff.

[Stugatz]

You've been saying it for four months.

[Dan LeBatard]

That is amazing. Wow.

[Mike Ryan]

We have reached the end of the Internet when Stu Guts looks up on sports radio and pathetically says, we have no call.

[Dan LeBatard]

I cannot believe that. No. Well, they don't think I'm going to take their calls because I never do.

[Stugatz]

I don't trust you.

[Dan LeBatard]

We had.

[Stugatz]

We had a full board of calls for people just waiting to silently wait for an entire segment to pass just so they could clap at the end of it.

[Dan LeBatard]

Right.

[Stugatz]

So the people want to call. They just don't trust you.

[Mike Ryan]

Lamarcus Aldridge.

[Dan LeBatard]

Awful. I mean, no, he's an embarrassment, man. I'm telling you, Greg Popovich is going to get rid of that guy in the off season. He was an embarrassment last night. He is so out of shape. There are so many times where the Rockets were playing 5 on 4 on offense because Lamarcus Aldridge was sit. Was walking back on defense. He's bad. He's not a good player. I don't know what happened to him, because when he was in Portland, he was fantastic. He is not good, Dan. He cost him the game last night, although they won the game. But had they lost, I'm telling you, it would have been on lamarcus Aldridge. And the only reason it's not is because they won the game. Otherwise, San Antonio would be crushing it today, and I'm still going to crush him, even though they won. So we're in the semifinals of this tournament, and we're playing a team called Orange. Orange Crush. And listen, congratulations on the victory, but I'm telling you, we're better than you. All right, Orange Crush. So next time we play, you be prepared because we're going to beat you by 10 goals. And it's a very close game. Back and forth, one goal differential, and the referee is just making bad call after bad Call. It's a running clock, Dan. They're 22 minute halves. She had to go to her rule book while the clock was running in a one goal game to make sure a call that she, she made was the correct call. And that set me off. I start getting mad at her, I start yelling at her a little bit. But in my defense, Dan, game was over. I accepted defeat. Hands have been shook and we are going our separate ways. And the referee, who is just tiny and she drags me back into it, I am going to talk to my team. She's walking off to referee her next game. She calls me back over to her and she says, what's your overall problem with me? And I said, I don't have an overall problem with you. My overall problem is with the officiating down here in general. You are paid to know the rules and you don't know the rules. And she goes, well, what makes you think I don't know the rules? I said, you went to look at a rule book during a running clock game to see if the call you made was correct or incorrect. To me, that's not knowing the rules. Do a better job. She said, you have this problem with all the refs. I said, listen, do me a favor. I'm upset. My team just lost. Why are we, we still talking? Why are you talking to me? I was walking my way. You were walking your way. She said, as long as we're standing on this grass, on this field, in this park, you're in my domain. I said, really? I'm in your domain? It's a public park. I have every right to be here. I'm not in your domain. If anything, I live around here and I'm paying property taxes. You're in my domain. That's what I said to her. And then I said, that Napoleon thing you got going on is not a good look. Get out of here. And not just out of here, out of my park. I have profound respect for the late Johnny Cochran, God rest his soul. But if it's. It might be the cockiest thing that I've ever said.

[Mike Ryan]

Christopher Daughton and Marsha Clark did an.

[Dan LeBatard]

Absolutely horrendous job as prosecutors, because if it were me, there's no way in hell Johnnie Cochran would have beaten me with that evidence that I. That they had. I'm telling you right now, I'm not even a lawyer. There is no way that you would have put 12 jurors in front of me with that evidence and I would have lost to even the Johnny Cochran.

[Mike Ryan]

I'd have won that trial.

[Dan LeBatard]

I've often said that.

[Mike Ryan]

I can't believe LeBron this quickly has been a league afterthought.

[Stugatz]

You made your own bed, sleep in it, jerk.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yep, jerk.

[Mike Ryan]

They're showing you you can believe in.

[Dan LeBatard]

Them, but you can't depend on them. See, that's the problem. Champions, it's both. You believe in them and you depend on them.

[Mike Ryan]

Wannabe champions.

[Dan LeBatard]

You can believe in them, but you can't depend on them.

[Mike Ryan]

This is a diminished LeBron James.

[Dan LeBatard]

They're also better when Kyrie Irving is.

[Mike Ryan]

Off the the floor than they are.

[Dan LeBatard]

When he is on the floor. LeBron James ain't bringing a title back to Cleveland.

[Mike Ryan]

He's going to be another one in a long line of Cleveland losers. You can go back home, but the trophies stay here. Who on Cleveland Hates to lose? LeBron hates to lose. But even you have lamented he may not hate it enough. Golden State may not have lost, but they've tasted the champagne.

[Dan LeBatard]

And because they've tasted the champagne, you sort of like hate losing in reverse.

[Mike Ryan]

You love the champagne so much you don't want to know what life feels like without drinking it.

[Dan LeBatard]

His career ultimately is going to be seen as a disappointment as, as somebody who was so great individually but ultimately underachieved.

[Mike Ryan]

Cleveland's going to hate him again. It's going to end with Cleveland hating him whether he leaves or not. I'd have won that trial. I've often said that this is as far as they've ever been, right from what it is that he went back there to do.

[Dan LeBatard]

Sure.

[Stugatz]

We just got D. Granger and everything is great.

[Dan LeBatard]

I question the mental makeup. Are they going to be mentally tough enough when they're in somebody else's barn?

[Mike Ryan]

What about the coach who I've renamed Toodaloo cuz he is going bye bye after this series.

[Dan LeBatard]

Did you chances of winning this series is zero. As far as I'm concerned. The only reason the 8% is up there is because you're giving human beings a chance. After all, Steph Curry could have food.

[Mike Ryan]

Poisoning or, you know, might get kidnapped.

[Dan LeBatard]

Or Klay Thompson might get injured or, you know, somebody.

[Mike Ryan]

Somebody might have diarrhea. So I don't know.

[Dan LeBatard]

This is the first time I can ever remember in the NBA Finals where I'm talking about why one team is going to win and everything I said is right. They can't play that stuff side.

[Mike Ryan]

They can't keep up with them, they're not smart enough, they don't shoot well enough. I feel like the window closed.

[Dan LeBatard]

Maybe we're overreacting. Maybe not. Oh, crap. Not only am I not going to.

[Mike Ryan]

Win the title this year, it's never happening again.

[Dan LeBatard]

He's not going to win in a championship.

[Mike Ryan]

I look like I want the finals for LeBron James more than LeBron James one.

[Donald Trump]

You do.

[Dan LeBatard]

I agree with that. Based on. Based on.

[Mike Ryan]

Based on what we saw particularly last night.

[Dan LeBatard]

Deep and true. That is correct. That is that.

[Mike Ryan]

I don't. I don't get it.

[Dan LeBatard]

I understand it.

[Mike Ryan]

What has he done?

[Dan LeBatard]

Can you tell me, Big Magic Johnson.

[Donald Trump]

What has he done?

[Dan LeBatard]

Well, yes, he's a business person. He.

[Mike Ryan]

He's got aids.

[Dan LeBatard]

Did he do any business I like? Did he help anybody in south la? I think he has hiv. He doesn't actually have full blown aids. Welcome back to the Right Time. My name is Bomani Jones. Thanks for listening on ESPN Radio and the ESPN app.

[Mike Ryan]

Excuse me. Help me out.

[Dan LeBatard]

Welcome back to the Right Time with Bomani Jones here. We're going to be joined by Brian Winhorst, our insider at ESPN here very shortly.

[Mike Ryan]

I'm good.

[Dan LeBatard]

Some got caught down my throat. Sorry about that, Brian. In the meantime, how did the Cavs not have a general manager right now? Hello, no one is available to take your call. Please leave a message after the tone. Hey, David, it's Phyllis. We're all set for the Patino interview. He didn't ask for any conditions on topics. I can ask anything I want and I can go into any area I want. He did have a couple of requests, you know, logistical stuff, so shouldn't be a big deal. He'd like to do the interview at midnight and he's going to be in the Carpathian Mountains, so I guess we'll have to have a local camera crew. Really. Can't blame him for wanting to get out of town with all the media attention. He did ask about our blood types and he expressed some concern over garlic being used. So you might want to let catering know that he may have some dietary restrictions. He said bottled water would be fine and asked that we make sure there was no holy water. He asked about the appropriate attire, which frankly hadn't thought about. So I just told him business casual, you know, open collar. That seemed to make him happy. He asked if I was going to wear a turtleneck, but I told him I'm not Steve Jobs or Mike Bray and he got a kick out of that one. So. Okay, that's it. So I'll just see at the venue.

[Donald Trump]

And let's not let this out to.

[Dan LeBatard]

Anyone until the interview's. Done. Like, don't tell Levitard because he'll just make a big joke out of everything on the air. No offense, but that guy's stupid. All right, later.

[Mike Ryan]

And I'll tell you who else wants to fight. Dwayne wants to fight.

[Dan LeBatard]

All right, Dwayne. Well, then let's fight, man. Let's go. Kill me. I'll be up it if Wayne wants it. Kill me now. We want it.

[Mike Ryan]

Do it.

[Dan LeBatard]

I'm here. Let's go. Kill me. They ain't scurred.

[Stugatz]

Do it.

[Mike Ryan]

I'm right here.

[Dan LeBatard]

Kill me. It's a man. Will you shut up?

[Mike Ryan]

St. Gods, my. I'm doing a thing.

[Stugatz]

St. I'm doing a thing.

[Mike Ryan]

We were to play Predator, but I just talked on SportsCenter. We just talked about Colin Kaepernick. I didn't say anything inflammatory. Nothing inflammatory.

[Dan LeBatard]

It just said his name.

[Mike Ryan]

Well, they asked me a question about him, and so I said nothing inflammatory. And a guy writes here on Twitter, Trey Tanner. Trey Levitar. Show gets a mic, blabs about Colin, but won't allow talk about the Castro incident or the fact that Colin Kaepernick was silent until he didn't have work. How do you not see that? This is 101 camouflage. 101 on way to dismiss the messenger. Way to dismiss the message by making it about something else. Colin Kaepernick is talking about black people being killed unjustly by police officers. Lebatard won't talk about the Castro incident or the fact that Colin Kaepernick was silent until he didn't have work. How do you not realize how obvious what you're doing is, which is not wanting to talk about the thing Colin. Colin Kaepernick is getting you to talk about and just you talking about Colin Kaepernick instead.

[Dan LeBatard]

And it couldn't be further from the truth to say that he was silent until he was out of work all last season. He was not silent.

[Mike Ryan]

I think he means as a starter, right? I think he was until he was no longer a starter. And I wasn't silent about the Castro stuff. The Castro stuff was stupid. And so was him wearing pigs on his socks. Yeah, that was stupid, too.

[Dan LeBatard]

You've said that a number of times. So anytime you discuss Kaepernick moving forward, you have to address that, even though that's not the thing being discussed.

[Mike Ryan]

It's just camouflage. It's camouflage because you don't want to have the uncomfortable conversation, which is fine. I mean, I don't blame you. You're probably tired of it in general, but you never wanted to have it.

[Dan LeBatard]

Greg, to your point, I would say he did it during an even more difficult time. He was trying to get a starting job back. Yeah, absolutely right. No doubt. Yeah. The trouble with this whole. Is he being blackballed? Is he being ostracized? Of course he's being ostracized, but the blackball argument is just important, impossible to prove, especially with a quarterback who's in that gray area of is he good enough? He's pretty good. He must be good.

[Mike Ryan]

But, Greg, the one, the one that's most damning is Josh McCown. Cannot be your answer if you're the New York jets and not Colin Cow. That's the one that's most damning. When your owner's politics are also something that would lend you.

[Dan LeBatard]

That's the proof you would offer up. Right?

[Mike Ryan]

I mean, that. That's. I don't know whether that's proof, but it's the, it's the place that that's most suspicious. A brittle quarterback who's never been as good as Colin Kaepernick.

[Dan LeBatard]

I agree with that. And I would. I would like Roger Goodell to step out front and say, I wish a team would give Colin Kaepernick a chance. Just that.

[Mike Ryan]

Well, he doesn't have to say publicly. He could do it privately, but to.

[Dan LeBatard]

Say it publicly would be important. I think. I think it would, but privately would be. I understand what you're saying. Say publicly support Colin Kaepernick privately. Getting him a job is really what matters. Right. So if he tells the owners, hey, guys, what's going on here? Are you guys telling me he's not one of the 32 best quarterbacks in the world?

[Mike Ryan]

I disagree with Cody on this, though. I don't think that Roger Goodell should be telling anybody what to do with their roster. Nobody. Not Michael Sam, not Colin Kaepernick. I think he should stay out of it. But if he's going to do it, do it privately. Exert your pressure privately. Why would you do it publicly?

[Dan LeBatard]

Well, because he's saying publicly that he doesn't think there's anything wrong going on here. Does he really believe that? Because it's hard to think that he really believes that when he sees some of the other quarterbacks being signed, you know, 64 more than that. Because some teams keep three quarterback positions, three quarterbacks on the roster. Let's say there's 75 quarterback jets jobs in the NFL. Colin Kaepernick, who just a couple of years ago was seen as one of the great rising young multidimensional quarterbacks in the league. Now he's out of work. It just. It stretches credibility, you know, it just doesn't make sense.

[Mike Ryan]

Seattle was a weird one, too. Austin Davis. It shows you that all things being equal, they think that Colin Kaepernick and Austin Davis are about equal, and they'll take the one that doesn't come with a headache. That one surprised me because I thought Seattle could absorb it. I would love to have a. I thought that locker room could absorb it. And I would love to have an honest conversation with someone in Seattle about what happened there. Do they think he simply can't play anymore?

[Dan LeBatard]

Does the backup role matter to you? Meaning they don't want to. You'll deal with it as a. You know, if the guy could be a starter for you, but as a backup, maybe you just don't want to deal with the headaches that come with it.

[Mike Ryan]

I just happen to think that Kaepernick is a good deal better than Austin Davis. On top of that, I don't think it's all things being equal.

[Dan LeBatard]

Right. Well, then if. Because you could say the same thing about the Buccaneers who signed Ryan Fitzpatrick. Patrick to be their backup. It's absurd.

[Stugatz]

Yeah. And there are some political ties with the Buccaneers like there are with. With the Jets. Might allow you to read through some. Some tea leaves. The Seattle one really angered me, too, because Pete Carroll sort of got preachy and took the opportunity to make it look like he was, you know, being nice to Colin Kaepernick. No, he's too good to be a backup here. He.

[Dan LeBatard]

Absolutely.

[Stugatz]

He's a starter in this league, and then he signs a guy who hasn't thrown an NFL pass in three years. And if you can speculate by reading into what Colin Kaepernick retweets, because he's not actually talking about football, then you can see Colin Kaepernick was kind of bothered by it, too.

[Dan LeBatard]

The weird thing is it's going to take the team most likely to need. Kaepernick is the dysfunctional team, the really bad franchise. But I think the team most likely to sign him is going to be the franchise with a backbone in its ownership, with a strong coach like a Mike Tomlin.

[Mike Ryan]

And that's why I was surprised at Seattle.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yes, Seattle would have been a perfect landing spot for him, I think. How about the Cowboys? Because Romo's gone. Prescott, you have no idea how good he is. And one of Prescott's not good. Yeah. Yeah.

[Mike Ryan]

Why not in Texas.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yes, in Texas. Yep. Jerry Jones, man, show some guts. Seriously, stand up and say, what's going on here is not right. And I have no idea if Dak Prescott's gonna be any good. He was good last year. I have no idea if that's gonna carry over. And in the event that he gets hurt, I don't have to go to Kellen Moore. I can go to Colin Kaepernick. How about that? Be a leader.

[Mike Ryan]

Introducing Fat Man Fighting Crime with his political erectness. You guys get so mad anytime I mention anything about someone being black.

[Dan LeBatard]

A figure who publicly looks down on citizens while on his high horse, a true atop a soapbox by day.

[Mike Ryan]

Oh, young people, you just peacock preen with your ignorance.

[Dan LeBatard]

And a vulnerable, blubbering mess.

[Mike Ryan]

By night, I'm at a stoplight in my car, shirtless, tears streaming down my face.

[Dan LeBatard]

And who's that riding Fat Man's coattails to the scene of the crime? Hello?

[Stugatz]

Hello?

[Dan LeBatard]

Hello. It's none other than his lovable sidekick, Robbing, who is constantly revealing his secret identity for a chance to get into exclusive locales. You sound like a big sports radio fan, so I must tell you that I host one of the biggest radio shows in the country. It's on ESPN radio. I do the show with Dan LeBatard. We're on TV as well, so I have the ability to promote you guys out for free, for nothing, just for the reservation to millions of people. Millions. While Fat man fights crimes, Robbing fights the truth. You just say stuff. You let it fly. That's it. I don't care. I'll take stuff from August of last year.

[Mike Ryan]

You did take it from August of last year.

[Dan LeBatard]

I'll take it from August five years ago. Doesn't matter. Gonna get a rise from the audience.

[Mike Ryan]

That's really how you do it.

[Dan LeBatard]

No, I'm teasing. On this week's episode, Fat man and Robbing Battle with the Bad Joker.

[Mike Ryan]

What's the celebrity that has webbed feet?

[Dan LeBatard]

I know Donald Duck has web feet. Will Fat man and Robbing triumph? Or will the Bad Joker finally succeed in killing the show? I'm curious. Where were you when you first heard that you'd won? And what did that mean to you exactly? To be honest, I don't know nothing about.

[Mike Ryan]

About fantasy. Look, I just found out about fantasy football this year.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah, that explains why he didn't attend.

[Mike Ryan]

Shut up. I think we've talked to you before. Briefly. I don't know how.

[Dan LeBatard]

At.

[Mike Ryan]

At one point, you had gone public saying you had a sex addiction. Right. No, that wasn't me.

[Dan LeBatard]

That was another guy. Ain't no sex addiction.

[Donald Trump]

I love sex just as much you love sex.

[Dan LeBatard]

You know, addiction.

[Donald Trump]

You like I'm a sexaholic or something. You want you try to get a.

[Dan LeBatard]

Confession out of me. I feel like I've talked to you about that before. That wasn't me. That was a other Sanders. That was me. That wasn't me.

[Mike Ryan]

I don't know. I'm gonna have to look this up again.

[Stugatz]

Who told you that?

[Dan LeBatard]

War. Deion.

[Stugatz]

War told you that?

[Donald Trump]

Dion Sanders ain't tell you that.

[Mike Ryan]

Dion is with sex addiction.

[Donald Trump]

Let's spell that rumor right now.

[Mike Ryan]

That's a vicious rumor and it's a lie.

[Dan LeBatard]

I like sex just as much as.

[Stugatz]

The next man or woman.

[Mike Ryan]

Bob Saget has announced that he is here and he is horny. It's the horniest morning of his life.

[Dan LeBatard]

We were three comedians doing this gig, the strip club and Kevin Nealman and I went to go look at Mount McKinley. Like two guys would do like two bros. And the other guy, the other comic was just in the trailer with the strippers all weekend. So. And so they're going to introduce me. And there's a stripper on stage and she had pie pans over her chest. Two pie pans and then another one lower in her lower region with matches. Literally just matches paper, matches Scotch tape to the pie pans. And then she lights them. Not even sparklers, just matches.

[Donald Trump]

She lights the top pie pans and.

[Dan LeBatard]

She lights the bottom pie pans. And then she blows. Blows herself out and then literally blows herself out and goes. Ladies and gentlemen, Bob Saget.

[Mike Ryan]

Does Kalea's Campbell sound like a friendly cartoon monster? Go ahead and put it up on the pole because he does. I love talking to you simply because your voice is so great.

[Dan LeBatard]

Well, thank you.

[Mike Ryan]

But thank you. Yes.

[Dan LeBatard]

I think that's a compliment.

[Mike Ryan]

Yes.

[Dan LeBatard]

Kyle Lowry is an old friend of the show. Demar DeRozan a new friend and they join us together here. Who idea was it to walk to McDonald's and organ McFlurry in the morning? Wichita reminds of yours. That's what I was sad though. Okay, there you go.

[Stugatz]

I'm glad.

[Dan LeBatard]

I'm glad you helped me out.

[Stugatz]

It was.

[Dan LeBatard]

It was 3:30 in the morning. We walked to McDonald's to get a McFlurry.

[Stugatz]

It was closed, so we had to go walk through the drive thru window.

[Dan LeBatard]

And knock on the window to order the McLurry. They wouldn't service because we didn't have a car. So we Just asked the guy on a motorcycle to order for us.

[Mike Ryan]

Wait a minute. How much money again?

[Dan LeBatard]

We pay for his meal, though. We pay for his meal.

[Mike Ryan]

Wait a minute.

[Dan LeBatard]

Nice.

[Mike Ryan]

Wait a minute. So two Toronto raptors, all stars, 3 o'clock in the morning, are just sidling up to a guy on a motorcycle by foot and saying, order us some McFlurries.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah, can you please order. You know, can we get some McFlurry?

[Stugatz]

Colonel Jessup, did you order the code wet? You know, listen, I'm the judge here. You don't have to answer a question.

[Dan LeBatard]

I'll answer the question. I answer 78% of all queries put to me. You want answers?

[Stugatz]

I think I'm entitled to them, Eric.

[Dan LeBatard]

You want answers?

[Stugatz]

I want the truth.

[Dan LeBatard]

You can't handle the truth any better than Joel Anthony could handle a basketball. Son, we live in a world that has walls. And those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Kaboom. Who's gonna do it? You? You? Lieutenant Weinberg? I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. I have 17 responsibilities in my life, 11 of which are onerous. You weep for Santiago and you curse the Marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know. That Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives, possibly between 40 and 45 lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives. You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall, you need me on that wall. We use words like honor, code and loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defense, defending something like Hassan Whiteside defends the Rim. You use them as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather that you just said, thank you and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon and stand the post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you're entitled to. Kaboom.

[Stugatz]

Did you order the Code Red, Eric?

[Dan LeBatard]

I did the job.

[Stugatz]

Did you order the Code Red, Eric?

[Dan LeBatard]

You're right. I did. When's the last time you used a machete?

[Stugatz]

Have you ever used a machete? No chance.

[Mike Ryan]

I did. Yeah. When I was. When I was younger.

[Dan LeBatard]

You know something by the Life for the national audience dismembering. Hold on.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah.

[Dan LeBatard]

When did.

[Stugatz]

No, you know, One of my favorite.

[Dan LeBatard]

Miami things is Dan. Are you familiar with afiladors?

[Mike Ryan]

You're gonna just run over that joke? Well, that's where you are today. That's where you are today, just trampling everybody. Continue, please.

[Dan LeBatard]

Are you familiar with afila dors?

[Mike Ryan]

No.

[Dan LeBatard]

Affiliate ords are like ice cream trucks, and they play, like, a sound.

[Stugatz]

And there's a guy that screams, afilador.

[Dan LeBatard]

Affilador, and he goes around your neighborhood sharpening knives and tools.

[Stugatz]

Hate those things.

[Dan LeBatard]

It's amazing. There's no chance that exists anywhere else but here.

[Mike Ryan]

Guillermo is the most Latin among us. That right there is Guillermo. That right there is deep Miami. That is where, like, goats are sacrificed on behalf of God, blood is drunk on, you know, drips down the chins. Like, that is deep, deep hispanic Miami.

[Dan LeBatard]

The frustrating thing about the affilador is that he doesn't have a schedule. So it's not like I know he'll be here once a week at this time. So, like, you hear, like, it's like, an ice cream truck for real, and.

[Stugatz]

It'S, like, off in the distance, and.

[Dan LeBatard]

It'S like, ah, get the machetes. We need to have them sharpened, but I can't get them in time, and then I can't find the guy. It's awful. So what?

[Mike Ryan]

That. That is. So wait a minute. That guy is called the filer. A Is the. The filer?

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah. He'll probably file anything. Kitchen knives, whatever you need.

[Mike Ryan]

I can't. I did not know that this existed, and I've lived here all my life. I did not know that this was a thing.

[Stugatz]

You didn't? I had one in my neighborhood when I was growing up. I lived in Westchester.

[Mike Ryan]

I had all sorts of strange things in my grandmother's neighborhood, all sorts of strange things. But I didn't have one of those.

[Dan LeBatard]

How much is this coconut milk? How much is it? Because I can get a machete right now online. Gerber machete for $12.88.

[Mike Ryan]

Coconut water is not the expensive, like, it's, you know, it's 6.99 if it's a giant one. If it's a giant one.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah, but look, you buy a $12 machete, you can have, you know, endless supplies of coconut.

[Mike Ryan]

Hold on. I want to talk about el filador. Hold on. Ask the audience. I'd like to know the audience. How much of the audience knows this? Because I think part of what you're doing there, Guillermo, is I've never lived in really broke Miami. My grandparents have, and so I'M wondering if a guy who comes around the neighborhood filing knives, if that is something that happens, like that's not going to happen in. Is that going to happen in a middle class neighborhood? A guy coming around filing knives, that sounds like something out of Cuba. That sounds like something they would do in Cuba.

[Stugatz]

I lived in a middle class neighborhood and I had that guy show up at 10am which wasn't great when I was in college.

[Mike Ryan]

Do you guys dispute what it is that I'm saying? Because I think a guy who comes around the neighborhood filing knives, I don't assume associate that with middle class. I associate that with like real working class and not making money. Working class.

[Stugatz]

That sounds like you're, I don't know.

[Dan LeBatard]

Being a little judgy of the.

[Stugatz]

Wait a minute.

[Mike Ryan]

I don't mean it like that. I don't mean it like that. I'm asking. I'm not. How am I judging? Who am I judging?

[Stugatz]

Only poor people use knives. Oh, I have people.

[Mike Ryan]

People are not going to have a knife filer any anywhere around them. Like they're not going to have a guy wandering around the neighborhood sharpening knives where there's a lot of money.

[Dan LeBatard]

But the middle class uses knives. I mean, I don't understand.

[Mike Ryan]

I know. I'm not saying knives. I'm talking about the sharpening of knives to do that kind of work. Work with machete. Work with machetes.

[Dan LeBatard]

My knife set comes with a knife sharpener.

[Stugatz]

Oh, that's cool.

[Mike Ryan]

Do you guys think I'm wrong about this? I'm, I'm asking out of curiosity. I didn't mean to.

[Stugatz]

Like, I, I, I lived through it. I lived in a middle class neighborhood. There had to have been a reason why he kept coming back, right? You know, when you wouldn't think that he'd make it a part of his route if he got no business there.

[Mike Ryan]

That's true.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yep. Good point. I didn't have one in my neighborhood growing up.

[Mike Ryan]

Is this a Latin thing?

[Stugatz]

I mean, I've only heard someone screaming into a bad sound system. I feel that. Oh, and it was the most. Oh God. When you did that, a chill went down.

[Dan LeBatard]

So exciting though.

[Stugatz]

You're always woken up because that horrible sound system and the guy just screaming.

[Mike Ryan]

I'm just fascinated by this because I've lived in Miami all my life and you are showing me a part of Miami that I had no idea existed. Even though I was in. I lived in neighborhoods like that growing up with my grandparents and I didn't see any of that. I saw you Know the snow cone ice guy for 10 cents? Yeah, like, all that stuff. The people cooking a pig on their front porch.

[Stugatz]

Yeah. Did you have the fruit truck guy?

[Mike Ryan]

Yes.

[Stugatz]

Yeah, because that was a. That's a Hispanic thing, too, instead of an ice cream truck.

[Mike Ryan]

I don't think there's anything else, you guys. Like, I've even seen some of the Santeria stuff. Like, I have seen some of the religious stuff that happens in some of these neighborhoods. And the thing that you're talking about right now is something that I have. Like, I don't know that there's anything else in Miami that you could surprise me quite as much with as what you just did there, which is that there is something in Latin Miami that is ingrained and known. And I'm sitting here saying, that sounds foreign to me, as I'm sure many of the Americans in the audience are saying, that sounds foreign to me. You gotta think about what we're talking about. You got a knife sharpening. Ice cream man coming through the neighborhood.

[Dan LeBatard]

He really is an ice cream man.

[Mike Ryan]

It's a horror movie.

[Dan LeBatard]

No, no, it's great.

[Stugatz]

There's music playing. No, no, no, no, no.

[Dan LeBatard]

I gotta tell you, I'm on the site right now. It looks fantastic. It looks fun.

[Stugatz]

What site?

[Dan LeBatard]

What? Oh, there's a guy who's got a site down here, the newtropic dot com. I mean, he goes around, he shows, sharpens things for you. It's amazing. Look at the truck. It's beautiful. I was ahead of his time.

[Stugatz]

There is no way the person that was in my neighborhood growing up has a website.

[Dan LeBatard]

They do now.

[Mike Ryan]

These people don't have website. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. What just happened? I said, this is a broke area, and you're saying, why are you so judgy? And now you just hit the alfilador. You just hit him with.

[Dan LeBatard]

No way.

[Mike Ryan]

He has a website.

[Dan LeBatard]

Doesn't have a website. He doesn't have, like, an at me on Instagram on the side of his truck. Get out of here. That's ridiculous. Judgy.

[Stugatz]

How is it judgy? The dude is 88 years old now.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah, it's a dying business. It is also.

[Mike Ryan]

I'm sure it's both ways, right? Because some people use it to sharpen their massage machetes to profit from the dying business. Like, because who the hell buys machetes nowadays?

[Stugatz]

Some dude in my neighborhood. Definitely machetes.

[Dan LeBatard]

Machete sales have to be way up. People use machetes here, Daniel, with yards.

[Mike Ryan]

Put it on the pole. Are machete Sales up.

[Dan LeBatard]

I think they are.

[Mike Ryan]

Put it on the pole.

[Dan LeBatard]

I'm pretty sure they are you.

[Mike Ryan]

If you think the machete business is booming.

[Dan LeBatard]

The only thing that can be hurting it is people like me that think they can make their own machete.

[Mike Ryan]

Is from watching the show again. And also put this on the poll. Is it pronounced? Do you pronounce it machete? Go ahead and do it in your obnoxious, insulting white guy voice, Guillermo. Go ahead.

[Dan LeBatard]

You're throwing like S's and H's in there. That's not how you say it. And these people give me crap about the way I say Juan.

[Mike Ryan]

Also follow one instruction this morning.

[Stugatz]

One he does say Juan.

[Dan LeBatard]

He does this with Juan too. Hello, Juan. Hello, Juan.

[Stugatz]

Cool Whip Juan.

[Dan LeBatard]

The guy's name is Juan Diaz. That's Juan.

[Stugatz]

Juan.

[Dan LeBatard]

They're making a Juan with a W. Juan. Hello, Juan. Hello.

[Stugatz]

Hello, Juan. You're showing off.

[Dan LeBatard]

What if I told you that I could save you hours of your life that you'll never get back? That O.J. simpson was a great college athlete. That he got married young to his first wife Marguerite. That he had an affair with a white woman named Nicole. That he divorced his wife and married said white woman. That there were lots of racial issues at the time. That white people embraced OJ That OJ Played some football then retired. That Nicole filed for divorce. That OJ Killed. Killed Nicole and a waiter. Allegedly. Why am I saying allegedly? He absolutely killed both of them. Anyways, moving on. That he hired a bunch of fancy lawyers who used the racial issues of the time to his advantage. That Chris Darden and Marcia Clark were dopes. That OJ got off. ESPN Films presents a 30 for 30. The exact same OJ story, just eight hours shorter. Three, two, one. Stugat's here for the. That's perfect. Three, two, one. Stugat's here for the. Stugat School of Brad. Take nine. Stugout's here for the SCOO. Take ten. Stugat's here for the Stugout School of Broadcasting. There's no chance I'd be working for ESPN right now without having attended the Stugout School of Broadcasting. And take it from me, there's no shot you could ever work for ESPN without attending the Stugot School of Broadcasting too. We have daily online courses for men and women of all ages that'll teach you a hands on approach to learning the tricks of the trade over the computer. All classes are taught via Skype by the finest Costa Rican communication instructors willing to do this for next to nothing with master's courses in hot takes, mispronunciation and not listening. You'll surely find a course that fits your specific need. At the Stugot School of Broadcasting, you can kickstart your media career in just a few short weeks, months or years, depending on how long it takes to receive your full, preferably cash only payment. Check payments are also accepted, but strongly discouraged for those choosing to pay via check. Checks can be sent to our Panamanian headquarters and should be made out to my wife who is the President and CEO of the school. For legal reasons, which may sound strange, but don't worry about it. This is the way all the big schools do it. Select financial need based scholarship. Scholarships are also available to students who recruit five additional students. However, those five additional students recruited must pay in full or they too will have to recruit five more students each. Upon course completion, you should receive your unaccredited degree within 8,000 business days. Trust me buddy, we're good for it. So don't delay. Be like me and call the Stugot School of Broadcasting the Stugot School of Frog Casting. We'll teach you everything you ever knew.

[Stugatz]

Whilst the Stugat School of Broadcasting makes every effort to ensure the information provided in this advertisement is accurate at the time of posting, you will never update this disclaimer and what you just heard. Main Fact Already completely inaccurate. Any opinions, hot takes or lessons learned while attending the Stugot School of Broadcasting.

[Dan LeBatard]

May or may not actually be industry standard. Corrupt all legal codes in any or all states.

[Stugatz]

The Stugat School of Broadcasting is not in any way accredited and is in fact the loosest use of the word school in the history of education. It's highly likely that attending this school will benefit your pursuit of broadcasting career at all. Stugats never attended this school. Any and all testimonials and endorsements are strictly fictional and written in the shipping container. To this date there haven't been any.

[Dan LeBatard]

Notable alumni and in all likelihood there will never be any notable alumni.

[Stugatz]

The best maybe we can call a personal favorite and future introduction, but that will set you back. By and large, if you opt for an internship, you're on your own after that.

[Dan LeBatard]

Thank you for calling Roster reservations at the Edition. This is Jessica speaking. Can I help you? Jessica? Yes, can I help you? Hey, how are you? I'm well. How are you? I'm doing well, thanks for asking. I need to make a reservation at the Matador Room. It's a very important place to my parents. To my mom and dad. My dad actually asked my mom to get married.

[Stugatz]

There so that's really nice.

[Dan LeBatard]

So I figured with Mother's Day coming up, I'd like to try to get them, you know, table for six? I'm thinking me, my brother, his wife, my wife, my mom and dad. So six people at noon on Sunday, prime time. Maybe if you could do it. We're, I'm sorry, we're fully committed on Sunday for brunch, but we do have availability for dinner. I can do give you like an early dinner, like at 6:00? Yeah, well, no, my parents are usually sleeping by four, so that's not gonna work. What if I make it four and just. I, you know, I don't invite my brother and his wife. We just don't have the tables. I'm so sorry. We're fully committed. I just don't wanna. I can't promise tables we don't have. Can you find a table? Like, can you add an additional table? Like. I'll bring my own table. How's that, Byote? We don't have it. I'm sorry. You sound like a big sports radio fan. Which, which. So I must tell you that I host. I don't know if you know who I am, but I host one of the biggest radio shows in the country. It's on ESPN radio. I do the show with Dan LeBatard. We're on TV as well. I also, I also host a show in New York City. So I have the ability, unlike anyone else who's eating there that day, I have the ability to promote you guys out for free for nothing, just for the reservation to millions of people. Millions. Millions. I mean, if I were you, I'd be looking at that, that reservation list and I'm thinking to myself, all right, well, who are the six people I'm kicking out to let Stu Gotz in, you know? Yeah, I can certainly understand that. That sounds like awesome. What I can do is I can give you my manager's email. He'd probably be more than happy to do that for you. I'm sorry, I don't really know much about sports. Well, is your manager there? Oh, you don't know anything about sports? Because. No, I'm sorry. Wow. I don't listen to radio. I mean, you sound like most of our listeners, to be honest with you. Is your manager there? Or do I have to email him? Or how do we do this? Can I speak to him? Because I'm not good with email. I'm not good with email. I'm much better talking to people. Yeah, yeah, I'm pretty sure you can convince them. Let's see if he's okay. Let's try this. Hold on. What was your name again? I'm sorry. Jessica. Jessica, try this. Okay. Is there anyone else there in the room right now? Anyone else? Anyone, like, any guys? Any guys? It's just me. How about this? How would I get my name? There's no one else in the entire room. Because what I want you to do is just yell out the name Stugach. Yell it out as loud as you can, and I guarantee you that someone will hear you. And someone knows me. Yeah, you're probably a big fan. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, yeah, it's just me. I'm sorry. But what I can do is I can write down your name and I'll give it to my manager so they can get starstruck and book you. What's your manager's name? I have a few. I have one named Dara. That's our general manager. That's not gonna work. Yeah, let's go on to the next one. Oh, okay. Well, I'm assuming Dara is a she, right? Dara is a man. All right, so now we're back to Dara. Let's stay with Dara for a second. Dara's a man, huh? Yeah, he's a man. How do you pronounce that name again? It's Dara.

[Stugatz]

So, like, with a d. Cousin.

[Dan LeBatard]

Dog. So Dara. Yeah. I don't know how to tell you this, but that's a chick's name, man. I mean.

[Stugatz]

Yeah.

[Dan LeBatard]

It's not the first time I've heard that. Oh, it's not, right. Okay. Everyone makes fun of this guy. Okay. Yeah, Dora. Okay, well, I advise you to D, O, R a H. Yeah, I probably shouldn't do that. It's good advice from you, Jessica. I probably should make fun of him, right? It's D, O, R A H. Oh, no, it's D A A R, a G, H. Friend. Dari Nokowa. I'm sorry? I have a friend named Dari Nokowa. Just the name reminded me of. Oh, sure. Okay. So do you want to. Is he a big sports fan? Because what we need to hone in on. Jess. You're gonna help me out here, and I'm gonna take very good care of you, I promise. You are gonna be there Sunday? Yes, but I am upstairs, so. Upstairs. Well, I will make a point. When Dari calls me back with six people at noon, I will. I will make a point to come upstairs and I'll slide you a couple twenties if you Know what I'm saying? Maybe even a hundy. Okay. Okay, so take down my number. It's 954. I don't want their email addresses. It's fine. They can call me. Okay. Because I've done enough work here and I'm trying to promote them for nothing. What's your name? My name is Stugotz. S, T, U, G, O, T, Z. Okay. G, O, T, Z. Yep. Okay. I will have him call you back. Okay. You're an angel, I must tell you. All right, thank you. Bye.

[Mike Ryan]

Good afternoon.

[Dan LeBatard]

Thank you for calling the Rainbow Room. This is Ryan seacon. How may I help you? Hey, Ryan, how you doing? I'm good. How are you? I'm doing well, thanks for asking. I'd like to make a reservation with you guys. Dinner and dancing? No, I'm actually looking. I'm flying up. Your place is very important. It's a very important and historical place in my mom's life. She was engaged there, and I'd like to take her there for Mother's Day. I'm thinking like, noon, prime time, baby. Okay, so for Mother and how many people? It would be six people, if possible.

[Mike Ryan]

Okay, so for six. I know we did have some cancellation. I'm not sure if we'll have any available for six. I could definitely put your name down on a list.

[Dan LeBatard]

Waiting list. Do we have. Yeah, you know, I was hoping that perhaps we wouldn't go the waiting list route. It's really important again. My mom got engaged there. They eat there all the time. They love it there. My family loves it there. We've been there a million. So I'm hoping that you can help me out. You don't have six. Is that the problem?

[Mike Ryan]

I don't think we really have anything. We've been pretty much booked up.

[Dan LeBatard]

We actually opened up our gallery as well. Right.

[Mike Ryan]

So I'm not sure if we're gonna have any availability for six. Let me see what we have.

[Dan LeBatard]

Well, let me tell you. I mean, there's no comfortable way for me to do this, Ryan. So I'll just do it. I'm a host at espn. I host a national show.

[Mike Ryan]

Your voice sounds familiar.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah. And I also host a show in New York, ESPN Radio in New York, Saturdays with Stugat. So if you could take care of me, I'll take care of you. And by taking care of you, I'll promote you out to, like, you know, 20 million people. I think you guys probably, you know.

[Mike Ryan]

What is your name, sir?

[Dan LeBatard]

My name is Stugots. S T U G O T Z?

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah, I know. Your voice sounded familiar.

[Dan LeBatard]

Oh, you listen to the show?

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah, I've heard you guys. I listen to ESPN radio a lot, so.

[Dan LeBatard]

Oh, that's awesome. Yeah, I do the show with. With LeBatard, man.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah. But how about taking care of Mama Gotts here? What can we do for Mama Gotts?

[Mike Ryan]

Let's see.

[Dan LeBatard]

I'm telling you, man, I'm gonna promote you guys out everywhere, okay? On Twitter. I got hundreds of thousands of people following me on Twitter. We got millions of listeners. And I'm shameless. And I have no issue, no issue promoting you guys out. In fact, if you want to give me a free meal, I mean, that'd be even better.

[Mike Ryan]

Let me just take down your phone number, and I'm just gonna try to see if we can move some things around and see what we can do for you.

[Dan LeBatard]

You got a pen handy? Yeah. Okay. It is. It's 1, 800, okay. Get me in that damn building. You need the numbers on that? I think I got it.

[Stugatz]

Here.

[Dan LeBatard]

You got it? Yeah. What's your best contact number? I just gave it to you. 1-800-confirmed is my number okay. All right. So six people. I might have to make it eight. I'm just telling you now. I'm not certain yet. I will let you know, but it feels like we're onto something here. It feels, Ryan, it feels like I'm gonna see you at noon at the Rainbow Room this Sunday for Mother's Day. What are you doing with mom this Mother's day?

[Mike Ryan]

I'm not 100% sure yet.

[Dan LeBatard]

Definitely gonna give her some flowers, but.

[Mike Ryan]

I'm not sure where we're gonna go.

[Dan LeBatard]

Out to eat yet. Yeah, well, 1-800-Flowers. Use the promo code, Dan. You'll get a great deal. I'll help you out. Okay? I'll help you out with 1-800-Flowers. You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours. How's that set? Yeah, definitely. All right, so I'll see you Sunday at noon at. Right.

[Donald Trump]

Hold on, let me get your number.

[Mike Ryan]

Stu, so I can contact.

[Dan LeBatard]

Oh, I thought we did that. 1, 800, confirmed. All right, I'll give you my number. It's 954.

[Mike Ryan]

Okay.

[Dan LeBatard]

Okay.

[Mike Ryan]

I will definitely be in contact soon. I'm gonna do my best to squeeze you in here.

[Dan LeBatard]

Do me a favor, okay? And I appreciate it. Don't use that number. Like, don't give it to anyone, okay? I'm a big time celebrity. I don't want your friends getting excited. You gotta listen, man, I give that Number out. I got to trust that you're not going to give it to anyone.

[Mike Ryan]

I'm not giving it to nobody.

[Dan LeBatard]

You promise?

[Mike Ryan]

They're coming to the grave with me, Sue.

[Dan LeBatard]

All right, so we appreciate you're going to call me back.

[Mike Ryan]

I will definitely be in contact with you. I think we should be able to squeeze you in. I just got to move some things around, but I'll definitely be in contact with you.

[Dan LeBatard]

For sure. Ryan, you are awesome, dude. I appreciate it. You got it. Eating house. Yeah. How you doing? Hi. How are you? I'm doing well, thanks. I was hoping I could make a reservation with you guys.

[Donald Trump]

Sure.

[Dan LeBatard]

For which day? And just give me a party size. I'm looking at April 20th. A table of eight at 8:00. Prime time, man. Okay, so unfortunately for 420, we already sold out the dinner. Well, it's an annual dinner we do every year, celebrating the holiday, and unfortunately, it's been booked out for about a week now. Really? Yeah. We are taking a waiting list. We gladly put you on a waiting list. I don't want to do. I don't want to do a waiting list. I mean, listen, I don't know, like, there's no comfortable way for me to do this, so I'll just do it like, you know, I don't know. Do you listen to sports radio at all? Of course. Of course. Yeah, we're lots of. We're lots of sports radio fans here. Big Heat fans. This is Stugots, man. What's up, Stugot? How are you, buddy? Good, bro. I mean, I don't know. Listen, I appreciate you listening. I'm glad you knew who I was. I don't know if you could help me out in this regard, though. I'll promote you guys all I can, but I just. If I can get this table for eight at eight, that'd be awesome. On 420, man. As much as I would love to help you out, we absolutely have. We have no room. I mean, I just feel like, I don't know, like, the people who have the reservations right now, can they promote you out to a national audience, to millions of people? Because I don't think they can. I know I can. No, no, no. They definitely can't. They definitely. Maybe they can. But, you know, the thing is those are. Who the hell are these people? That's what I want to know. Who are these? Their guests, man. We got repeat guests that have been waiting for a year for this dinner to come back and go. We got to stay loyal to the People waiting for a year. We have some. I'm sorry, I wish I could help you out a little more, but do I think I'm gonna need to speak to the owner, man. I am the owner, actually. Oh, you're the owner. I am, I am. You're shutting me out and you're the owner. I'm sorry, man, I can't do that to my people. Well, what about this person? I know, man, but we're booked up. We're fully. What if Lepatar called? What if Lepitar called? I bet you if Lebatard called, you would let Lepatar in, right? You would let. I'd have to let Levitard know that. That he needed to reserve. Levitard's been to the restaurant, man. We're big fans of his as well. I'm guessing we're booked. I'm guessing if Levitard called right now. I don't think you've been to Eating House. I know Levitar's been to Eating House. I know Mike's been to Eating House. I don't think you've been to Eating House. Well, it just so happens that Mike got a reservation on 420 and I can't. I know, but Mike reserved a week and a half ago. Maybe you should kick Mike out and replace him with me. How do you feel about that? I mean that if he's willing to do that, I mean, we can make that happen. I'll deal with Mike. Just put me down. Okay, I'll deal with Mike. Now, what size party was Mike's? Mike was a two top. What's a two top? So we have two people. Yeah. It's going to be difficult to get six more, man. How about this? What if we can make a lot little picnic setting up outside? We can bring a couple extra tables and a couple extra chairs. You guys would be willing to do that? Maybe we can work something out. I think that sounds great for the people that you're going to kick out of the restaurant to accommodate completely. That makes perfect sense, right? So I think you should offer that. Like, I think you should go back in the reservations and maybe call some people and say, hey, listen, all right. No, I wouldn't even say stugaches. Want to come? This is how you do it. Okay. I would say that. Listen, man, we were overbooked. I apologize. We're overbooked. We will make it up to you. We will guarantee you next year for 20. We will guarantee you a table for whatever at 8 o'clock. This year though, I Have to put you outside, picnic, you know, the whole deal. I think that's the way you do it. Don't tell them it's for me. Just say you're over. That makes sense. I have to talk to my business partner about this though. All right, well, if my business partner agrees, man, we're fair game. All right, well, sounds good. So I'll see you 4:20, 8:00?

[Mike Ryan]

Sure.

[Dan LeBatard]

What we're have to do is we're obviously going to have to confirm with you beforehand. We're going to let you know if it did work out or not. But as of right now, we'll just put that reservation on hold. If we do manage to get some room, I'll see you at 8:00. Definitely. All right, well, this is the confirmation. I'm telling you, it's 8:00. Eight people. 4:20 confirmed. Good. See you. Hi, this is Bob Saget calling.

[Mike Ryan]

Who's this?

[Dan LeBatard]

This is George Rapicavaldi. Hi, how are you, sir? Good, good. How about yourself? I'm good, I'm good.

[Mike Ryan]

I didn't mean to drop my name like that, but I'm at the Dan.

[Dan LeBatard]

Libertard show and I, and I know that Stugats had called to try to get a reservation on 420 and you guys were sold out and full up, fully booked, man. You're booked. I was wondering if there's any way.

[Mike Ryan]

That I could get a reservation myself.

[Dan LeBatard]

I mean, I don't really care about him. Clearly. I'd heard something about a table for.

[Mike Ryan]

Two that could be available.

[Dan LeBatard]

Which would it be possible for. For me to get one and.

[Mike Ryan]

But not him.

[Dan LeBatard]

We, we do have a two, a two person table that was recently just given up. But we all are also offering an 1145 seating. So we're doing like a late night munchies. I don't know if you're interested in that. Maybe Stugas would want that. Maybe. I mean he.

[Mike Ryan]

It's late at night.

[Dan LeBatard]

I have a feeling. I know, I know, I know. He's. He wants prime time, as he says.

[Mike Ryan]

I don't know how happy but I could have. At 8 o'clock I could have it.

[Dan LeBatard]

8 o'clock for two. 8 o'clock's impossible, man. We're fully booked and we may have something around 6:00 if we do get a cancellation. But we are.

[Mike Ryan]

What if I'm able to hire a.

[Dan LeBatard]

Really gorgeous escort for the evening to make me look like I've still got it? I mean, that would make a little bit more sense. You Know, then we just got to make a little tables we can send through. Is there anything in the kitchen?

[Mike Ryan]

You could set up a table for two or in the restroom?

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah, I mean, if you're into something like that, we can definitely make something like that happen, man. You're down to just sit anywhere. Well, we can set up a random table somewhere in this restroom. You got a roof? We got a roof. Yeah, for sure.

[Mike Ryan]

Is there a main office?

[Dan LeBatard]

I mean, I just want to bring.

[Mike Ryan]

A woman in there and let Stu Guts know that I got a table.

[Dan LeBatard]

At 8 o'clock and he didn't. That makes 100% sense and I think that's completely respectable.

[Mike Ryan]

Okay, so we're gonna. We're gonna make this happen.

[Dan LeBatard]

We're gonna make. We'll make. You know what? I think we can make this happen if you're willing to sit in the office or in the kitchen, man. I mean, any. Anywhere.

[Mike Ryan]

I'll sit anywhere.

[Dan LeBatard]

Well, thank you.

[Mike Ryan]

You're incredibly courteous.

[Dan LeBatard]

All the best, man. Hey, such a pleasure. You too.

[Mike Ryan]

Take it easy, fellas.

[Stugatz]

Navidad, everybody. Merry Christmas. Christmas week is upon us and many of you are hosting family gatherings, having friends over for the holidays. And you're wondering, how do I make this holiday time a special time? Well, you make the holiday time a special time by making it Miller time. That's right. A beer with taste that you know you can depend on. No games, no gimmicks, just great beer for people who. Who like beer. You put out the Miller Lite, you set it, you forget it, and everybody is all happy. During the holiday season. You'll take that first sip and you'll know right away you made the right call. Whether it's around the fire pit or around the Cajachina, you know that Miller Lite is going to hit the spot. Because Miller Lite is brewed for taste. It hits different than other life beers with simple ingredients like malted barley for rich, balanced toffee note flavors and that iconic golden color. The original, original light beer since 1975 and still the best one. Making memories at year end gatherings taste like Miller time. Go to millerlight.com dan find delivery options near you. Or you can pick up some Miller Lite pretty much anywhere they sell beer. Celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Co. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 96 calories and 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces. Fewer calories and carbs than premium regular beer.

[Mike Ryan]

Over the last 75 years, over 10,000.

[Dan LeBatard]

Chemicals have been introduced to our food supply. Yet the EU only allows 300 food additives.

[Mike Ryan]

But at Thrive Market, we bring our.

[Dan LeBatard]

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[Mike Ryan]

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[Dan LeBatard]

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[Stugatz]

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[Mike Ryan]

Plus, it's all delivered straight to your door. So if you're looking to shop at.

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A grocery store that actually carries about your health, go to thrivemarket.com podcast and you'll get 30% off your first order and a free gift.