The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

Episode: Postgame Show — F*** Billy Corben (feat. JuJu Gotti)

Date: January 12, 2026
Location: Elser Hotel, Downtown Miami
Guests: JuJu Gotti

Episode Overview

This episode digs into the ongoing debate within the show over filmmaker Billy Corben, his role as a voice of University of Miami sports, and the emotional stakes of local sports fandom. With JuJu Gotti joining the fray, the crew tackles sports allegiances, media authenticity, fan gatekeeping, and the paradoxes of balancing journalism and fandom. The second half pivots to NFL playoff observations, Josh Allen's heroics, quirky sports analogies, and comedic audience polls.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Billy Corben/UM Content Dilemma (01:02–09:56)

• Why Not Take Corben’s Content?

  • Dan asks Mike Ryan to explain his resistance to collaborating with Billy Corben, creator of seminal UM documentaries ("The U", etc.).
  • Dan: “Why is it you’re saying bleep Billy Corben, who’s offering to make good fresh things for us?” (01:08)
  • Mike Ryan: Suggests Corben hasn’t been supportive, acting as a “saboteur” and mocking their efforts, creating division rather than solidarity.
    • “He just hasn’t been on our side…every opportunity to poke holes in what we were trying to build, he’s taking them.” (01:45)
  • Mike claims he “rocks with the people that are emotional” and who don't emotionally hedge their fandom, saying Corben "hasn’t exactly been an ally.” (02:45)

• Dan Pushes Back

  • Dan values Corben’s journalistic critique and perspective, seeing it as healthy skepticism rather than sabotage.
  • Dan: “He put sports in its proper perspective and so he is bemused by some of these things.” (02:13)
  • Both agree that UM content is good for business, especially during big wins.

• Fandom vs Journalism

  • Mike contrasts true fandom (“foxhole people”) with emotional distance; Dan claims his journalistic distance is necessary and bred out of loyalty to truth, not just the team.
  • Mike: “I rock with the people that are emotional, that don’t have the perspective…he’s not one of the people in the foxhole.” (02:45)
  • Dan: “I’m a journalist, not an ally.” (08:01)
  • JuJu compares Billy Corben’s online behavior to a social media “hater who follows you but never pushes the heart.” (08:46)

• Resolving the Irony

  • Even as the crew jokes "Bleep Billy Corben," they admit his content is too good to ignore.
    • Dan: “I’m going to take his content…there’s no circumstance under which I’m not taking his. Pretty good.” (09:38)
    • Mike: “I watched it the other day…yeah, it’s also a long time ago.” (09:44)

2. Emotional Investment in Sports & Superstitions (05:47–09:29)

• The crew teases Mike’s superstitions (not wanting billboards for the Panthers to “jinx” outcomes).
• Mike and Dan argue over “caring more” — Dan dismisses superstition, Mike claims it’s part of deep passionate fan culture.
• Dan: “That’s not just caring more. That’s caring so seriously that you think that I can affect the result with some crappy superstition.” (06:03)
• Mike jabs Dan for emotionally hedging — joking to dull outcomes.
• Juju: “Nah brother, you wasn’t with us shooting in the gym…stay over there with your hating ass and let us be.” (08:46)

3. NFL Playoff Recap — Josh Allen & Justin Herbert Talk (10:44–16:23)

• JuJu’s “Stat of the Day”:

  • “In the career of 49ers wide receiver Juwan Jennings…he has two touchdown passes; over the career of one QB of LA Chargers, Justin Herbert, he has two touchdown passes. Back to back.” (10:44)

• Dissecting Herbert’s Play

  • The conversation pivots to Justin Herbert’s struggles with blame placed on the O-line, not the QB himself.
  • Juju: “I think that Justin Herbert is just a victim of that old line.” (11:34)

• Bills vs. Jaguars & Josh Allen’s Heroics

  • Heavy praise for Josh Allen’s performance despite injuries.
  • Dan: “There were three times that Josh Allen left that game yesterday that I thought he was injured like Matthew Stafford…He made every important play in that game.” (12:26)
  • JuJu dubs Allen’s effort as “heroicism” and details his physical struggles through the game.
    • “Excuses be damn. Put Buffalo on his back once again. And we’re on to Denver.” (13:17)

• Questioning the Tush Push & NFL Safety

  • Brief interlude about the legitimacy of Allen’s short-yardage “tush push.”
  • JuJu calls out NFL concussion protocols after Parker Washington appears concussed yet returns to the game.
    • “I don’t know what we’re doing no more.” (13:41)

4. JuJu’s Top Five Herbert Analogies (14:45–16:12)

• JuJu delivers a rapid-fire list of who Justin Herbert reminded him of after a tough game:
  • Martin Lawrence vs. Tommy Hearns (boxing mishap)
  • The SNL football fall skit
  • “Don't Be a Menace…” cheeseburger scene
  • Hockey hallway brawl meme
  • Joker being thrown off a motorcycle meme
• Dan: “Excellent video supplements. I encourage the audio audience to see all of that on video. It is made funnier by the video.” (16:12)

5. College Football: NCAA Critique (16:23–16:59)

• JuJu complains about coaches juggling recruiting and championship prep, calling the NCAA “goofy as hell.”
  • “Recruiting starts from now on January 1st. Like it seems like an easy fix. Why do we recruit and start the same week?” (16:23)
  • Leads Dan to joke: “I did not have your football thoughts…being the NCAA is goofy as hell.” (16:59)

6. Polls and Audience Interaction (17:11–18:52)

• JuJu runs through poll results, mixing sports trivia with show references and playful banter.
• Discussed topics include: Buffalo Bills, NFL 4th-and-inches “Brad Williams” joke, Heat game canceled due to condensation, and more.
• On poll difficulty: “On the Instagram polls you only get a certain amount of characters…But the audience says it’s troubling for these times.” (18:37)
• Dan promotes JuJu’s podcast Alley Oop.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Mike Ryan:
  • “This company shouldn’t be called Raconteur, it should be called Saboteur.” (01:45)
  • “He just hasn’t been on our side…he hasn’t exactly been an ally.” (01:45; 02:45)
• Dan Le Batard:
  • “I’m not a fan. I’m a journalist, not an ally.” (08:01)
  • “I’m going to take his content…there’s no circumstance under which I’m not taking his. Pretty good.” (09:38)
• Juju Gotti:
  • “Nah, brother, you wasn’t with us shooting in the gym. Matter of fact, you wasn’t with Mike shooting in the gym…Now that we doing good, stay over there with your hating ass and let us be.” (08:46)
  • “I think that Justin Herbert is just a victim of that old line.” (11:34)
  • “The NCAA need to step in, man. Recruiting starts from now on January 1st…NCAA goofy as hell, man.” (16:23)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:02 — Intro to Billy Corben content debate
• 01:45 — Mike Ryan’s anti-Corben perspective
• 02:13 — Dan pushes for nuance and journalistic value
• 05:47 — Discussion of sports superstitions
• 08:46 — JuJu’s “you wasn’t with us shooting in the gym” rant
• 09:38 — Dan and Mike admit Corben’s content is gold
• 10:44 — JuJu’s Stat of the Day, NFL transition
• 12:26 — Breakdown of Josh Allen’s playoff performance
• 13:41 — JuJu critiques NFL concussion procedures
• 14:45 — JuJu’s Top 5 Herbert analogies
• 16:23 — NCAA recruiting process is “goofy as hell”
• 17:11–18:52 — JuJu’s poll recap and show outro

Tone & Style

The episode is frank, irreverent, and infused with inside jokes, Miami-centric sports passion, and playful bickering. JuJu Gotti’s energetic input and colorful metaphors spark lively banter, while Dan and Mike’s contrasting philosophies about fandom, media, and loyalty animate the main debate.

Summary for the Uninitiated

If you’re new to the Le Batard universe, this episode captures the messy intersection of local sports loyalty, personal grudges, and media authenticity. Come for the UM drama, stay for the NFL hot takes, spicy polls, and group therapy disguised as sports talk — all with plenty of laughter and Miami attitude.