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Dan Le Batard
This is the Dan Levatar show with the Stugats Podcast.
Mike Ryan
This episode of the dan lebatard show is presented by draftkings. DraftKings. The crown is yours.
Dan Le Batard
Incredible.
Dave Zaslow
He really did it.
Dan Le Batard
Great performance. I am very excited for this weekend, guys. Very, very excited. We are hopping in the Zazlow Mobile this afternoon. Me and my. I got my son and a couple of his. My older son and a couple of his teenage friends throwing them in the back seat. And me and my younger son were in the front seat. I'm driving, Dave. I'm not.
Dave Zaslow
What a dad he is. Pat yourself on the back. Let no modesty here.
Dan Le Batard
This is a dad.
Dave Zaslow
Now, if the Heat and or Panthers were playing on Saturday night, I don't know if you'd still be making this trip, but either way, he's to be hailed. What a dad you are. Taking that day driving these.
Dan Le Batard
I'm taking the older ones all over Florida. And his friends were going to Orlando today. I'm dropping them at Rolling Loud. That's like the world's biggest hip hop festival. All right. I don't know who's performing, you know, but they're. They're into it. My son loves rap, so they're going to Rolling Loud the whole weekend, and then tomorrow they're staying in Orlando. And me and my younger one, we're making the trek a little bit west. We're going to Tampa. WWE Backlash.
Dave Zaslow
Backlash.
Jeremy Stugats
Very.
Dan Le Batard
We're going to be sitting ringside. We'll be right there for ringside. Hell yeah, dog.
Jeremy Stugats
You got that kind of juice?
Dan Le Batard
Come on, son.
Roy
Did you catch those bonds?
Dan Le Batard
It's funny that you say that. I have not cashed them yet. I have my wife. Every other week, my wife's like, when are you going to cash these? When are you going to cash these?
Jeremy Stugats
Wasn't the plan to have that cover your John Cena trip?
Dan Le Batard
Yes, yes. Somehow I still managed to cover it. But I have those bonds, the stocks and bonds. They're right there on the counter. I have not. I just haven't gone to the bank. You got to go to the bank. When's the last time you walked into a bank? Hmm. That's the problem, right?
Mike Ryan
Just for an atm. Just for an atm.
Dan Le Batard
No, but I got to go in and I got to give them the stuff. Like, that's the problem.
Jeremy Stugats
What a big week. Today, tomorrow, Saturday, so.
Dan Le Batard
That's right. Very big week today. Tomorrow, going to WWE Backlash tomorrow.
Dave Zaslow
You're going to get in the car. You could just put your feet up in the mansion. But instead you're going to drive what, three hours.
Dan Le Batard
Yeah, three hours today.
Dave Zaslow
And Orlando.
Dan Le Batard
Yeah. And it's like 90 minutes from Orlando, Tampa tomorrow, by the way.
Dave Zaslow
To the people in Orlando who hit me up on social media and otherwise, I was not attempting to offend you. I was just asking questions as an outsider to your lovely state. Now, Orlando, and then you. You will continue your journey to Tampa, which is another two hours from Orlando.
Dan Le Batard
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Dave Zaslow
90 minutes driving here, there, and everywhere. And it's. It makes you a great dad to do that with. The, The. The key detail is it's not just your boys, it's their pals.
Dan Le Batard
Yeah.
Dave Zaslow
Which is a handful. I also think that these are things you enjoy, right? I mean, you said you don't care about the hip hop, and notably, you're not going to be at the hip hop. But you do care about the WWE very much. So there's. There's something in it for you. There's a character.
Dan Le Batard
Absolutely. My younger, when he comes to all the wwe, shows me he loves it too. Yeah. So it's. It's not a completely selfless act. No, I love it. I'm going to a thing that I love, and I love going and experiencing it with my son.
Dave Zaslow
You have. No, but you have Zaslo, because you're a very guy sort of guy.
Dan Le Batard
I guess they thank you to that. No, I don't have any girls. I don't know. Like, I've never thought about it if I had a girl.
Jeremy Stugats
You don't get to be a girl, dad.
Dan Le Batard
Yeah, all right, whatever. Like, I'm all right.
Jeremy Stugats
It's very special thing.
Mike Ryan (alternate or guest)
It's an honor, actually.
Jeremy Stugats
Or so we're told.
Mike Ryan
I'm one of them.
Jeremy Stugats
Repeatedly.
Dave Zaslow
Oh, my God. I hope we all have the T. We should have all worn our T shirts, right? And our caps and everything to let the world know that in a 50. 50 proposition.
Mike Ryan
Damn. Why'd they cut to Roy?
Dave Zaslow
In which you were relatively. In which you were a relatively passive participant in the creation of. You probably didn't do that.
Jeremy Stugats
Well, you didn't.
Dave Zaslow
You.
Jeremy Stugats
You didn't do.
Dave Zaslow
Oh, well, my, My. My participation was quite powerful, as usual, but we provide the surprisingly so.
Dan Le Batard
Vigorous.
Dave Zaslow
Vigorous lovemaker. But that's not what we're talking about.
Mike Ryan
That.
Dave Zaslow
Yeah. Okay, so coin flip. It went one way and now you're a hero for that. Or is it. Are you the.
Dan Le Batard
Everyone here is a girl, dad. Except me.
Dave Zaslow
Because you care about. Because. Because you. Because you go the extra mile.
Mike Ryan
You didn't get bitter because you have more boys.
Jeremy Stugats
No, no, no, no. Not everybody here is a girl dead. Dave. He has a daughter, but he's not a girl dad.
Dave Zaslow
I have no. Well, I have two boys and I have two girls. I am a girl dad.
Jeremy Stugats
No, no, you're not a girl dad. Vigorous lover. You're just a dad.
Dan Le Batard
You object the idea of it being like something that's to be celebrated?
Dave Zaslow
Well, it's a little like Chris Rock described something else, like a pretty low expectation, having mother effort. If that's the big achievement in your life. Is that you? That biology came up heads or tails.
Mike Ryan
However, you were the best thing I've ever done, Dave,
Dave Zaslow
when he died. Really? I don't know.
Dan Le Batard
There is something to what you're saying. Where. All right, like girl, girl dad just means that you're being a good dad, right? You're being a dad.
Jeremy Stugats
No, no, no, no. You're being a dad exclusively to a girl, which is, you know, ever since Kobe, extra special.
Dave Zaslow
No, no, no. You can carve that out, Mike. If you're just doing one on one and you're going to your daughter, as I do, like, you know, I'll take her to ballet.
Jeremy Stugats
You're awesome.
Dave Zaslow
You're almost grading material.
Roy
What a hero.
Dave Zaslow
I hate to pat myself on the back like this, but a couple of Saturdays ago, there was a relatively early morning performance. She plays. She plays violin in her. In her school band. And they had a performance in downtown la. So I took her. No mother, just me, my little girl, my angel. We went down there and I watched her play the violin. And then afterwards we got some food together. Hero. Proud girl dad.
Roy
Where'd you go? The pantry, I think.
Jeremy Stugats
Were you able to emotionally connect with
Dave Zaslow
the girl we talked about? I mean, I'm sitting there and I'm like, can you imagine 20 year old Dave talking dogging to this girl about the thing she was interested in? I mean, I was. I love being a girl dad.
Jeremy Stugats
Might be a girl dad.
Dan Le Batard
Can I tell you, like, so I don't have any daughters. I have two boys, which the Zaslow is like, that's. That's not a surprise because the Zaslos have not produced a female in over a hundred years.
Roy
That sounds.
Dan Le Batard
That's true.
Dave Zaslow
Explain what you mean by this, because what you just said cannot be.
Jeremy Stugats
Not a cousin.
Mike Ryan
In fact.
Dave Zaslow
True.
Jeremy Stugats
Not an uncle.
Dan Le Batard
It's a weird. Well, nope, not an uncle, because that would be an aunt. It is a. It's. It's a weird thing. We don't produce females. There has not been a female Zaslow in over 100 years.
Dave Zaslow
Impossible.
Dan Le Batard
On our family tree, this. We don't have females. We don't produce females. Yeah, like my. I have an. I have an aunt. My Aunt Blanche. We don't make blanches anymore.
Dave Zaslow
104 years of age.
Dan Le Batard
Well, no, she died a while ago, but she was born.
Mike Ryan
Feel good, Dave?
Dan Le Batard
She was born early. Last. Like, in the 19. Maybe like 1915.
Mike Ryan (alternate or guest)
Oh, like Nellie Doogie.
Dan Le Batard
So she was the last female Zazler. It's been over. So it's been like around 110 years. It's been over 100 years since we produced a female. Why is that hard to believe?
Mike Ryan
Did that make you. Did that make you want to have another kid just to give another crack at it?
Dan Le Batard
No. I don't care.
Dave Zaslow
No.
Dan Le Batard
Like, I kind of prefer it this way because my cousins are an age where they're having kids. I kind of hope one of them has a girl. But right now we've struck out because one of my cousins, he's already had two boys. Like, again, we only do boys.
Roy
It's like flipping a coin and coming up heads every single time.
Dave Zaslow
That's exactly right. And I legitimately think that I would were I you or someone in your family. I might go to a doctor, to an ob, GYN or whoever studies such things and say, is something wrong with my sperm, with my family sperm.
Mike Ryan
I figured it out. The Zazlows are missionary men.
Dan Le Batard
That's not true. Because there is a specific way to make. To assure that you have males. And it's not that way.
Dave Zaslow
Oh, wow.
Mike Ryan
You've looked this up.
Dan Le Batard
Yeah, yeah. We know this.
Roy
It's not like that family secret handed down through the generation.
Dan Le Batard
Whatever.
Roy
I don't want to be Jonathan. One day, when you are ready to sire, make sure you do it doggy style.
Jeremy Stugats
Give us the tools of the trade.
Dan Le Batard
I don't want to be crude, but there is a way to get it.
Mike Ryan
Doggy style was the way we'd have all boys.
Dan Le Batard
Well, in my family, that's the way
Dave Zaslow
that somehow, amidst this entire conversation, you
Jeremy Stugats
don't want to look yourself.
Dave Zaslow
Chris Cody,
Mike Ryan (alternate or guest)
that's somehow worse than anything you've said.
Dave Zaslow
I had a girl, I switch it up.
Jeremy Stugats
All right.
Roy
Zaslo style.
Dan Le Batard
It's been over 100 years.
Dave Zaslow
What is. But okay, what are. How many at bats have there been? That have. That is yielded a batting average of zero.
Dan Le Batard
Okay.
Dave Zaslow
For a century.
Dan Le Batard
Okay. I told you, my. My aunt. This is over 100 years ago. 1915, something like that. Her brother is my grandfather. He had two boys. My father and my uncle. My uncle had two boys. My father had two boys. One of them me. I had two boys. My cousin, my uncle's son had two boys. And here we are. It's been over 100.
Dave Zaslow
Those bar mitzvahs must be the worst. The worst sausage parties in of all time. I mean, geez Louise.
Dan Le Batard
Well, like, like the family members.
Mike Ryan
We.
Dan Le Batard
We marry women and so there are women there. It's not an entire party.
Mike Ryan
You ever seen the SNL of the Sandler party? That's how I imagine the Zaslow party.
Dave Zaslow
Yeah. All with backwards hats.
Jeremy Stugats
Awesome. Awesome to see you.
Dave Zaslow
Awesome.
Jeremy Stugats
Yeah.
Roy
We haven't had at girl in over 100 years.
Jeremy Stugats
You know about that.
Dave Zaslow
Missionary. I don't.
Dan Le Batard
I don't even know how to grow. That's how it's done.
Jeremy Stugats
What's the spread?
Dave Zaslow
Thai food.
Jeremy Stugats
In unison this point.
Dave Zaslow
Thai food. This is bizarre. And I think there may be a sneaky medical problem that you're having. I don't know if there's no problem. Oh, so you don't like girls. So I guess he. Good thing he isn't a girl. Dad. He isn't equipped to handle it.
Mike Ryan
Two things we know. They're all boys and they're all cucks.
Mike Ryan (alternate or guest)
Yep, that's right.
Dan Le Batard
Dare I told you the entire bloodline.
Dave Zaslow
There's something weird about, like, the Zaslow clan needs to get with Chris Cody's wife's all right.
Mike Ryan
We can just move on.
Dave Zaslow
Bunch of clone girls to go along with the Zazzle men.
Jeremy Stugats
Go clones.
Dave Zaslow
Look at this.
Dan Le Batard
It'll be quite a day when that streak is broken. Like I said, Over 100 years.
Dave Zaslow
I just, I, I, I just. I feel sad for you, ultimately. Zaz. Whatever. You don't. Well, you just. You don't know what it is. You don't know the joy.
Dan Le Batard
But I'm doing okay.
Dave Zaslow
I know, but you don't know what it is to be a hero.
Mike Ryan (alternate or guest)
I'm actually awesome to be a hero. Really?
Dave Zaslow
You know, to look in the mirror sometimes and go, like, what?
Mike Ryan (alternate or guest)
To be able to connect with one of those.
Dave Zaslow
This, this life. I never saw being a girl dad as a part of it, but here we are.
Roy
I mean, Gordon Recitals.
Dave Zaslow
Can you believe I. The thing is. Yeah, I have a couple of girls. You know what else? I care about them. Can I say it again? Hero.
Roy
Oh, my God.
Dave Zaslow
I wish them well. And I enjoy. I enjoy their activities.
Jeremy Stugats
The other night, I was staying in. At least that was a plan. Then the text from my buddy Eagle Eye comes in. Mike, we've got the games on. I say, yeah. I grab a pack of Miller Lite and immediately my plan's gone. Now it's playoff basketball. Every possession feels huge. Baseball's on another screen, and I somehow care about that, too. Everybody's got takes flying. Nobody's watching. Just one thing, and we're all way more into it than we ever expected. It was one of those nights that you take a sip, you look around and you think, yeah, this was the right move. That's why I reached for Miller Lite. It's clean, refreshing, easy to drink, brewed for taste, with simple ingredients, just 96 calories and 3.2 carbs. The original light beer since 1975. And it still hits different cheers to legendary moments with Miller Lite. Great taste. 96 calories. Go to millerlight.com dan to find delivery options near you. Or you can pick up some Miller Lite pretty much anywhere they sell beer. It's Miller time. Celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Co. Milwaukee, Wisconsin 96 calories, 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces.
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Jeremy Stugats
Hey, Roy, buddy. Yo. You know that energy shift when the game gets good and everybody all together in unison knows to stand up on their feet? Oh, absolutely, Mike.
Roy
Yeah.
Jeremy Stugats
You've been at many big time sporting events. You know that moment quite well. That's what it's like when you take your first sip of Cuervo. Oh, delicious. It's the signal that says, we're not checking the time anymore, pal. It's when small talk turns into stories. Cuervo, man. It's that high five. A random stranger effect. That's right. The game is popping. You're hugging people you never met before. That's the kind of energy that Cuervo brings. It's so smooth, so delicious. That's the Cuervo effect. Keep it Cuervo.
Dan Le Batard
Don LeBatard.
Dave Zaslow
Doesn't matter anywhere.
Roy
We could do it in Buffalo or Baltimore either. He said you could do it.
Mike Ryan
Where?
Dave Zaslow
Anywhere.
Roy
Oh, whoa. Oh.
Dave Zaslow
That's crazy.
Roy
That's crazy.
Dave Zaslow
That's crazy.
Roy
He said he could do it anywhere. That's crazy.
Dave Zaslow
Murder. Murder.
Roy
Tell him st.
Jeremy Stugats
I had no idea. Mean. Had that in his locker.
Dave Zaslow
That might be his death.
Jeremy Stugats
That's crazy.
Roy
I'm not kidding.
Dave Zaslow
That's. That's crazy. Killer.
Roy
It's two America's dead. You don't get it.
Dan Le Batard
This is the Dan lebatar show with the Stugats. So last night. So Last night, James Harden 3 of 13 over 4 from 3. 10 points, 3 assists, 4 turnovers. Another playoff performance with more turnovers than field goals made and assists in this case. And the Cavaliers, they go down 02, losing 107. 97 to Detroit. I like. It's obviously a pathetic performance from James Harden. The turnovers are really weird. And it's a lot of dribbling. It's a lot of dribbling in front of the defender. The defender just swipes the ball away. Brutal turnover. What was it, a two possession game, five or six points with like 50 seconds left, and he just essentially hands the ball to a Sar Thompson and the game ends in that spot. He's like, he's awful in the playoffs and. And I almost, you know, there. He's had his playoff struggles throughout his career. But correct me if I'm wrong, I almost feel like because we know the regular season is one kind of game and the postseason is another kind of game. And it's almost as if the current age that he's at the playoff style and playing against, not only playing against teams that are good defensively every single night, but also officials officiate the game differently in the postseason. This is not a style of play that he could succeed in anymore.
Mike Ryan (alternate or guest)
This reminds me a little bit of Clayton Kershaw, where there's almost like the self fulfilling prophecy of everyone had this reputation for you, whether it was right or not in your prime. And then as you age, you only have less and less success come the postseason. And so in turn, people are reinforcing the idea they have about you. But James Harden is a historic playoff dropper. Like we talk about playoff risers and playoff droppers. His stats in the postseason. I mean, he's constantly setting records for the worst postseason performances. There are stats all, all over the Internet last night about all of these things that he has continued to do to be terrible. Namely, he's being outplayed by Duncan Robinson in this playoff series.
Dave Zaslow
I can't help but think about the Zaslow family reunion looking like a Minions scene from the Minion somehow.
Dan Le Batard
Overalls,
Dave Zaslow
you know, I feel like it's. At least we were talking about the optimism of a sports fan, that it's nice to have a young draft pick and you might be willing to give up a note entity in order to get it because of the promise of the future unseen. That's more defensible in my book than going out and getting James Harden. And we talked about this isn't 2020 hindsight. We talked about it when James Harden got. When the Cavs got him. What do you think? Well, what do you think this is exactly right. Clayton Kershaw, Aaron Rodgers, these guys want to control their legacy. You know how big time athletes love to talk about. Um, I don't care. Legacy talk is for you media people. We don't care about that.
Roy
We're.
Dave Zaslow
We're in the battles. No, no, you care about your legacy. You just want to control it and write it no matter what the actual facts are. It must be vexing to be James Harden, Aaron Rodgers, Clayton Kershaw, all time greats. But also you don't get it done when it counts. And they wish that that weren't true and they get angry when you mention it and they get a chip on the shoulder. But facts are facts. Why did you think James Harden. I remember I could swear a mean you were defending this move that. Oh no, James Harden, Darius Garland, everybody was James. I.
Jeremy Stugats
Maybe I'm.
Dave Zaslow
I don't want to put that on you, but people were defending I like people were arguing with me in this studio when that happened. Oh, no. This is an upgrade. This puts him in a better spot for the play. Based on what? Based on I. I've seen James Harden's playoff performances his whole career based on
Roy
Darius Garland's hurt all the time. And we saw what Darius Garland was towards the end of the year. He was good. He wasn't as good as James Harden. The reality is they are where they are in part because of how Harden has played. And also there is an end of the road to this where you played against a better team. And I think what Jeremy did as far as that comp to Clayton Kershaw, I 100% agree. Because I think Harden is a guy who has had big games. So we talked about this when the Celtics just blew that 31 lead, right? The last time the Celtics and the Sixers played was a couple years ago. Harden was still a Sixer. That was a seven game series. Embiid missed a bunch of time in that series. Harden had like a 40 point game in either game 5 or game 6. Like he had a big game in that series. They lose and everyone's like, it's Harden's fault because he's a choker. I'm like, wait a second. All the excuses about Tatum being hurt and all that. Where were those same people, same voices a couple years ago?
Dave Zaslow
Fair. Not when you're the common factor in flame outs in the postseason, AKA when the games really matter and people want to talk their way around that. That is what we're watching the games for. If you don't come through in the big spots, that is how you are going to be remembered.
Roy
No, look, he had a, like, look, these two games have been really bad games. Really, really bad games. Right? But again, the idea that, like, I knew we should have kept Garland like that doesn't make sense either.
Dan Le Batard
I, I liked the trade when it happened. But here's the thing. He has a player option next season at $42 million. If he decides to opt out and leaves for nothing or he pulls the move where he opts in. Okay, you're not going to give me the new contract then I'm demanding a trade. Which is exactly how it ended in Philadelphia. Like if you're Cleveland and you don't keep him. Now again, Garland is never healthy. All right, I liked the trade, but if you wind up losing him, now that's a dis. Like that. Because. Because, because how can you pay him based on what's happening? If they flame out in this series and Harden's absolutely awful, you're. You're giving him three years, $120 million.
Dave Zaslow
Like now we gotta keep, now we gotta keep Hormuz closed. That's basically that. What choice do we have now?
Dan Le Batard
We gotta do it right. Like it's a total disaster.
Mike Ryan (alternate or guest)
I mean, look, they traded Garland, who they wanted to get off of in a second round pick to get Harden. It was a dart throw. If, if he leaves in free agency. Maybe that's something that they wanted from the beginning. Maybe. Or maybe it was. Hey, if it works, we'll have him for the one year and we'll figure it out. The idea was this. This would help alleviate some Pressure on Donovan Mitchell, who hasn't been spectacular in the playoffs. He struggled in Game 1.
Dan Le Batard
He's better still finding a way. Like he didn't shoot well last night, but he's still finding a way.
Mike Ryan (alternate or guest)
There's a huge difference between the playoff performances of those two guys. I'm not trying to to say that they're even anywh same. What Harden has done has been really, really bad. And the reason they acquired him was to open things up for Mitchell. It was worth the dart throw. Everything we were all saying from the jump was realistic. The, the problem was is they rattled off a few wins in those first few games. And so people started to go, oh my God, can they win the East? Are they going to be this great dominant team?
Dan Le Batard
Are they the best five in their last six? It's going up to, oh, they really struggled.
Mike Ryan (alternate or guest)
They've really struggled. And, and, and what Harden is doing is, is historically bad because it only adds to continued historic struggles in the playoffs. You compare it to Rogers and Kershaw. At least Rogers won a Super Bowl. Kershaw's won a World Series. He was a huge part of, of making runs earlier. Harden has been nowhere near it.
Dave Zaslow
Well, it's also based on expectation. You know, we talked to Michelle Beetle, die hard spurs fan, and asked her a couple of days ago, how many titles will be satiating for you as a Spurs fan in the Wemby era? And she said, and I think that's fair. And if you're Aaron Rodgers or Clayton Kershaw or James Harden, you have to win more than what they have respectively won. Who are the hall of Fame level losers? Who are the. Who what is the highest rated among the hall of Famer, future hall of Famers, or even the ones that are already in the Hall Singular athletes?
Jeremy Stugats
Because everyone always mentions the Buffalo Bills. You don't want to become the Buffalo Bills singular athlete?
Mike Ryan
Barkley, Marino, Mike Trout.
Dan Le Batard
No, but hold on a second. Like, are you asking here who, like who is. Who is the worst playoff performer relative to their overall stats?
Dave Zaslow
Well, how about. Yeah, how about, in fact, who is in line to replace Charles Barkley? Is the answer. Dan Marino is the answer.
Roy
No, he's not. Because both of those guys were incredible in their postseason careers. They just didn't win one. That's a different conversation we're having. So that's a different conversation. If you say who's the.
Dave Zaslow
You're trying to have a different.
Roy
No, you're trying to have it. You're not.
Dan Le Batard
You say it.
Jeremy Stugats
You say it back and Say, Dave.
Dave Zaslow
Wait, I. I fell asleep.
Jeremy Stugats
Well, if you say it back, we can replicate first take in a couple of minutes.
Dan Le Batard
Chris Paul's the guy, right?
Roy
I mean, Chris Paul would be the name.
Jeremy Stugats
What about Lamar Jackson?
Roy
Lamar Jackson, Yeah. Like, I think that's right. I think the big thing for me is, like, we're talking. We're talking about. This is a Harden inspired conversation.
Dave Zaslow
Yeah.
Roy
We're talking about people, not the. And they've never won. It's. Oh, you play bad when the. When nut cutting time occurs.
Dan Le Batard
Right. Barkley was never playing badly, was amazing in the playoffs.
Roy
He was amazing in the playoffs.
Dave Zaslow
I will listen for the. The Draymond conversation. And we had it yesterday and everybody else has had it. Charles Barkley versus Draymond Green. I mean. I mean, you would remember this. I don't know that anybody else would. 93. That Phoenix Suns team was one of the single best teams I've seen. Somehow they didn't win the title. Well, because they met Michael Jordan. And you could really make a. That if Paxton doesn't hit that shot in game six, that maybe goes to
Roy
seven and maybe they lose. Yeah, right.
Dave Zaslow
That doesn't change the fact that whether you think it's fair or not, these. These smaller moments, the smaller sample size is everything. And when we look back and evaluate the. When you're. You're not talking about hall of Famer, you're talking about the best of all time. Charles Barkley doesn't make that list because he never won a title. Dan Marino, it falls away in any conversation of best quarterback ever, because ultimately you have to get to the point of like, well, he never did win a Super bowl and he didn't perform very well in the playoffs, to your point. So Marino is that. I think Mike Ryan, though, that's what fascinates me about the NFL conversation. Aaron Rodgers is one of the great losers for top five quarterback of all time. I mean, he hasn't been to a Super bowl in 15 years. Which is why it's pretty funny that the Steelers are like, you know what our path to the super bowl is? A guy who hasn't been to a Super bowl since we have a decade and a half ago.
Roy
Correct me if I'm wrong, I'm old enough to remember prior to Elway winning in the 90s, that the conversation of greatest quarterback of all time was Joe Montana. And then it's like, number two on that list is Dan Marino. That's how people were talking in the 90s, like, Dan Marino, despite not having been back to The super bowl after that one time in the 80s. Oh, he's still, like, the best. The only reason why Montana's better is because he's won the Super Bowls.
Dave Zaslow
But it gets asterisked. That is the ultimate sports radio. Sports radio conversation. Of course it matters if you win the title.
Roy
But my. My point is these conversations have shifted and changed over time. Right? Where to where you're like, damn, Reno's not even the conversation anymore, but like 30 years ago, the conversation. In the same way that 30 years ago in the 90s, you walked around and you ask anybody who is the greatest power forward to play in the
Dan Le Batard
NBA, in NBA history in the 90s.
Roy
If you ask in the 90s, it was Karl Malone. It was. It was a split camp. Half the people said Karl Malone, half the people said Barkley.
Dan Le Batard
That's right.
Roy
And the fact that neither of them won a title was not. It was totally irrelevant because their careers
Dave Zaslow
were still active and there was still the possibility. Same as Lamar Jackson. People will tell you because they like to express some faux level of empathy. They'll say, oh, at the end of every Bill season or Raven season, no reason to hang your head. Lamar is going to get his. Josh Allen's going to get his. Don't worry, they'll eventually win. Will they? They're now both 30 years old. I don't think either one. I think there's a decent chance. I think it's more likely that neither guy ever wins a Lombardi at this point.
Roy
It's always more likely that they're not going to win. Because it's hard to win. It's hard to win. And that's why we're able to accept and appreciate greatness despite the lack of certain accolades. When people were having that conversation about Malone versus Barkley, they were 13, 14 years into their careers. It wasn't like, oh, they might still do it. It was like, yeah, like, it's probably not gonna happen. And then, you know. But it didn't change the conversation. Malone finally goes to the finals, 97 and 98. That's again, 13, 14, 15 years into his career. But at no point in that conversation was there someone who said, well, it's not Barkley and it's not Malone. It's this other guy. Cause he won a ring. We didn't have that conversation. It wasn't in the lexicon. It wasn't in the lexicon. Damachek.
Dave Zaslow
The idea that it's Jimmy Olsen's fault at the end of the climactic third act is a Crazy. Hey, Jimmy Olsen and Lois Lane saved the day. Like, hey, no, no, no, Superman. You're supposed to do it in the big spot. You didn't do it, man.
Mike Ryan (alternate or guest)
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Dan Le Batard
Don LeBatard Can I tell you something? I don't know, maybe like a month ago and I decided to watch Pitch Clock and I told Jeremy Stugats, this is a good show you're doing. This is the Dan Levatar show with the Stugats.
Roy
Dave, you're playing Hot tub Hot Take Time Machine right now and you're applying modern day conversation tactics to things that were happening back then. You're saying, oh, this idea that is Jimmy Olsen's fault. No, no one was ever even saying it was so and so's fault. It was just, hey, these guys are great, but they never won. So what?
Dave Zaslow
They're so great because we're in it now. Lamar Jackson. It's starting to happen, though. It has happened over the last couple of years and it's going to intensify on Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen with each passing postseason ending without a Lombardi. It gets a little bit hotter. But there is still sort of the is this going to be the year? Okay, now they have, they, they, they finally got rid of McDermott and new this should be Josh Allen's year. If they don't do it this year, it's going to get even worse. And when the only when it ends, is it like, wow, Dan Marino really never won a Lombardi. The guy who was in the conversation for best quarterback ever didn't win a Super Bowl. Well, now he's out of that conversation. That's how it goes.
Roy
Because the way it we talk about things have. That's my whole point.
Dave Zaslow
Titles always.
Roy
No, it didn't. What are you talking about?
Dave Zaslow
You know, it.
Roy
No, it didn't. No, it didn't. In 1998, if you ask someone who's the greatest player in basketball history, what would the answer be in 1998? Who? Michael Jordan.
Dave Zaslow
Right.
Roy
What about 1993?
Dave Zaslow
Magic?
Roy
No, 93. People were still saying Michael people Were saying Michael Jordan 93.
Dan Le Batard
Yeah.
Roy
After the three peat.
Dave Zaslow
Okay.
Dan Le Batard
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Dave Zaslow
Okay. So he's been winning title, but Magic
Roy
had five and Bill Russell had 11. This idea that the ring counter, that's where it is. That's where the end all be all of every conversation. This is a modern invention. This is a modern invention, Dave.
Dave Zaslow
No, that's a rhetorical argument you're making. No, but the jive is that once you get into being, it's not a fluke that you won one title. This guy's been the best player on the championship winning team more than once. And all of that, that becomes. Everybody's going crazy back there.
Dan Le Batard
Well, Mike is so happy, right?
Dave Zaslow
I know.
Dan Le Batard
Let me explain what's going on.
Dave Zaslow
I don't know why he's going.
Dan Le Batard
Mike is so happy.
Roy
The curtain.
Dan Le Batard
Today's the day. All right. Skip Bayless is back. Skip Bayless. After being away, I believe 10 years, Skip Bayless is back on ESPN television split screening, debating on First Take with Stephen A. Smith and Mike. Mike Ryan just told me now it's not as if they have the volume on in there. It's just on the screen on mute, like it isn't here for us, Dave. But Mike whispers in my ear, still got it.
Jeremy Stugats
Do you know what? He came out the gates with Skip Colon. Lakers are better without Luka.
Roy
I'm telling you guys, the moment he knew he would be on, he's like, he said, let me start scripting top tier S class type stuff. I can't come with some lukewarm, oh, is Dan Marino the biggest loser of all time? What? I'm like, no, I gotta come with some heat, take some notes. Damage. That's how you do it.
Mike Ryan (alternate or guest)
He's called Luca, the most inefficient player in the NBA.
Dave Zaslow
Do you have to back that up?
Jeremy Stugats
That, that's, that's not right.
Dave Zaslow
What does the majority think? Oh, then what? Then I'm gonna defend the minority. I'm gonna come up with Takamami reason to dig in and defend the minority opinion on everything. And as a result, I'll get credit
Dan Le Batard
for making you think Dave hates it.
Jeremy Stugats
You got to understand what he's doing
Dan Le Batard
here by saying a master class.
Jeremy Stugats
This is incredible because you know already what his angle is. So I'm not going to let you let LeBron off the hook if he loses this series because they are better without Luca. I am raising the expectations and the bar for the Luca Les La Lakers. Therefore, I can really give it to Bron.
Roy
You see how he's Doing it. This is the. The tactic, right? It's like, how do I make it? So it's LeBron's fault, right? If we allow that Luka's great and the Lakers are better with Luka, then it's not LeBron's fault if they lose. But if we say that Luka's overrated, inefficient, and they're actually better without him, now when they lose to the Thunder handily, it is LeBron's fault. It's like when he said Bronny more clutch than his father.
Dave Zaslow
All right, he's way wealthier than I am, so I'm not going to argue about his approach versus my approach. But it's cockamamie jive that he's slinging. I mean, LeBron is to do the cross sports comp is John Elway. He is admirable for getting those bum rosters with the Cavs that he was on early in his career to the finals. They had no business playing for titles. And except that LeBron dragged them there. Same way with John Elway. It's not winning. Those two Lombardi's at the tail end of his career owed more to Terrell Davis, obviously, than John Elway's play. It was Elway dragging three Broncos teams and at least the first two that you look at in the 80s. Those rosters are garbage or at best, hot mediocrity. And he took them to Super Bowls in the age of Marino and otherwise. Those are their greatest deeds. And it doesn't change the fact. Talk about living in the world in which as it exists versus the one you want. Everybody reacts to the titles. The enduring legends are the ones who win the titles. That's how it goes. You can argue with me about that, but that's. You're digging in on nonsense. Then of course, the guys who win all the titles are the ones who we celebrate most 25 years after the fact.
Roy
You're changing. You're changing.
Jeremy Stugats
No, I'm not.
Roy
You're changing the point. You're changing the basic conversation.
Mike Ryan
You guys are losing the plot here.
Dan Le Batard
Skip, still got it.
Dave Zaslow
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Jeremy Stugats
They're asking right now, would Luca on the floor make a difference difference in this series? And I have the captions now. Thank you, Tech team. No, because I have just laid out the argument that Luka's the most inefficient player in the NBA and the Lakers are playing much better.
Mike Ryan
I never thought I would do this, but guys, go on. We need to give Skip Bayless a toast.
Dave Zaslow
Oh, wow.
Jeremy Stugats
Yeah.
Mike Ryan
Presented by Cuervo. Just. I didn't know you still had it, sir.
Dan Le Batard
Still got it.
Mike Ryan
It's on me, not on you. You're fantastic. Worth a toast.
Dan Le Batard
Keep it.
Mike Ryan
Keep it, Cuervo. Thank you. Skip Bayless, I mean, just.
Roy
I still do.
Mike Ryan
He's still doing the thing where he, like, points. He's, like, poking the desk.
Dan Le Batard
Oh, yeah.
Mike Ryan
Like, moving forward.
Dan Le Batard
Never lost a debate. Oh, never.
Mike Ryan
I didn't think I missed him, but I miss him. Here's to you.
Dan Le Batard
I'll tell you this. I would imagine that this show, first take today, will do a pretty big number compared to what they been getting. I mean, how do you not then have a conversation about bringing Skip Bayless back, like, regularly? Right?
Dave Zaslow
Amen. Amen.
Jeremy Stugats
Yes.
Dan Le Batard
Right.
Jeremy Stugats
You're. You're 100%.
Mike Ryan
You calling this a tryout today? Essentially.
Jeremy Stugats
Oh, he knows what's on the line.
Dan Le Batard
I think Skip Bayless probably views it as a tryout.
Dave Zaslow
Yeah.
Jeremy Stugats
And he's got his good stuff. They. They showed him walking in and preparing. He knows what's he's playing, the hits.
Dave Zaslow
Does he get the football or, you know.
Dan Le Batard
You know, it's g. It's go time.
Dave Zaslow
When Stephen A. Does his shoulder shrug. To move his. To move his shirt, his suit.
Dan Le Batard
Jack, show me.
Dave Zaslow
He does. He does this a lot.
Commercial Announcer
The question.
Dave Zaslow
Yeah, he does a lot of this thing to.
Dan Le Batard
I don't.
Dave Zaslow
I don't know what the move is exactly.
Dan Le Batard
I like the eye roll saying the little jolt forward.
Roy
I like the eye roll.
Mike Ryan
I am.
Mike Ryan (alternate or guest)
Let me tell you something.
Mike Ryan
I'm curious how Stephen A. Will play this, though, as we can't really hear what he's saying. Do you think he'll throw at him at any point? Okay, we get it. You're trying to make a splash. Like. Or will he just stick to the topic?
Mike Ryan (alternate or guest)
Stephen A.
Dan Le Batard
You want to like, will he call
Mike Ryan
him out for being like. I get what you're. You get one day here. You're trying to do a thing. Cause that's what I would call.
Jeremy Stugats
No, no. This was very much his idea. Skip Bayless is not get on without Stephen A. Wanting him to have this opportunity to show the execs that he still got it.
Dan Le Batard
I like it.
Jeremy Stugats
I don't know if you read the trades, but there's a little management shakeup happening over at espn. So let me show you what this man is capable of.
Dan Le Batard
I like it.
Dave Zaslow
How jealous.
Mike Ryan
How jealous Think Mad Dog is right now watching this?
Roy
Oh, he's got Wednesdays.
Mike Ryan
Yeah, but.
Dave Zaslow
But he's just.
Mike Ryan
He sees what could Happen from this Mike.
Dave Zaslow
I'd like to see you, I could see you elevating to a role like this. You've got that kind of gravitas. The only concern I have is can you make the serious sports gravitas face? That's required. Because you see, when they're in their listening phase, it's very serious business. Let's see if you can affect.
Jeremy Stugats
Well, here's the hack to it. Let me be very, very clear.
Roy
Very, very clear.
Mike Ryan
Goosebumps.
Roy
Very, very clear. Let me be there.
Dave Zaslow
Very clear listening. Faces like this, I think like most important thing in the world.
Roy
Got to have a little nod to it too. Like a little bit of. Cuz you, you, you're, you're still kind of acknowledging.
Mike Ryan
Yeah, not that face. Unless, Unless you got to work on this.
Dave Zaslow
I can't do it now. I, I ain't got it. That's it.
Jeremy Stugats
And occasionally, and this is from mainly watching Shannon Sharpe is you have to go. Someone else makes a point, does it more on his.
Roy
On Club Shay Shay than he did on Undisputed.
Dave Zaslow
I think Zaslow's backwards hat would bring an element of excitement.
Dan Le Batard
Yeah. Can you imagine that? Look, I, I, I work at espn and if maybe they call me in one day over the summer and do first take, I wear the hat and everything.
Roy
Would you wear the hat?
Dan Le Batard
I try.
Roy
Would you wear a suit?
Dan Le Batard
I don't know.
Jeremy Stugats
They don't fit. We established this.
Dan Le Batard
Yeah, I mean, I saw, I saw the kid Miro on Yesterday or today's Go. You're not wearing a suit. He's in there with a hat and everything. Why can't I.
Roy
That's, this is my look. That's his brand.
Dan Le Batard
This is my brand.
Mike Ryan
I'm, I'm telling you, Mad Dog is rooting for today to go poorly.
Dan Le Batard
Mad Dog, you don't want it to go well. Today would be amazing.
Mike Ryan
I'm just saying, though, he wants to be the old guy on that show.
Roy
Guys, guys, let me take you inside the mind of Stephen A. Smith. The whole idea is to populate different days of the week with his, with his rogue gallery of rogues, right. It's like Wednesdays are Mad Dog, his rogue White Fridays, or Skip Bayless. Right? He'll get some other people throughout the week. And now he's the one calling the shots. Because ultimately first take is about Stephen A.
Dan Le Batard
It's an executive producer of the show.
Dave Zaslow
Yeah.
Roy
I mean, that Mad Dog is on because of Stephen A. Zaz.
Dave Zaslow
Here's another important element. If you're Skip or most of These guys ask me A or B.
Roy
A. No, ask him.
Dan Le Batard
You want me to ask?
Mike Ryan
Trying to help.
Dan Le Batard
Do you?
Dave Zaslow
What?
Dan Le Batard
What are you asking me?
Roy
A or B?
Dan Le Batard
Oh,
Dave Zaslow
you need to proceed it with that. Yeah, I'm real. You just hit me. You just hit me with something I've never thought about before. And that's heavy, bro.
Mike Ryan
What other rogue whites could he fill in the rest of the week with? If he has Wednesdays with Mad Dogs?
Roy
Will Kane.
Mike Ryan
Oh, that's a good one. Will Kane.
Dan Le Batard
Oh, Will Kane.
Roy
Who else? We need someone who's like a real Dan.
Mike Ryan
Would be terrible.
Roy
No, you can't have anyone.
Jeremy Stugats
I got one that I'm surprised. Hasn't happened yet.
Roy
Who's that?
Jeremy Stugats
Roy. You're getting warm. Yeah. Hannity, Tucker Carlson. I think Tucker should make his way there.
Mike Ryan (alternate or guest)
What about. What about Daddy Trump?
Jeremy Stugats
What's going on?
Dan Le Batard
But let's talk about sports.
Dave Zaslow
Doing. What are we. What are we doing?
Mike Ryan
Huh?
Dave Zaslow
The great move that he uses, that Pete Hegseth uses is to start to laugh. And there's something intimidating about people laughing while you're attempting a serious point. Bullies understand that. What you think? You think that that's what you think.
Roy
God, I think I do that. I don't know.
Jeremy Stugats
The Lakers are better without Luca, and that should scare you.
Dave Zaslow
Am I saying that Luca isn't a great player? Of course not. A lot of self interviewing happens.
Jeremy Stugats
Why would I? That would be wrong.
Mike Ryan
Dave Portnoy.
Jeremy Stugats
The other night, I was staying in. At least that was a plan. Then the text from my buddy Eagle Eye comes in. Mike, we've got the games on. I say, yeah. I grab a pack of Miller Lite and immediately my plan's gone. Now it's playoff basketball. Every possession feels huge. Baseball's on another screen, and I. I somehow care about that too. Everybody's got takes flying. Nobody's watching. Just one thing, and we're all way more into it than we ever expected. It was one of those nights that you take a sip, you look around and you think, yeah, this was the right move. That's why I reached for Miller Lite. It's clean, refreshing, easy, and easy to drink. Brewed for taste with simple ingredients, just 96 calories and 3.2 carbs. The original light beer since 1975. And it still hits different cheers to legendary moments with Miller Lite. Great taste. 96 calories. Go to millerlight.com dan to find delivery options near you. Or you can pick up some Miller Lite pretty much anywhere they sell beer. It's Miller time celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Co. Milwaukee, Wisconsin 96 calories, 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
Date: May 8, 2026
From the Elser Hotel, Downtown Miami
This hour of the Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz finds the crew in typical form, riffing on parenting, South Florida excursions, and the quirks of sports discourse. The core theme is the return of Skip Bayless to ESPN’s First Take, which inspires the group to examine the art of sports debate, legacy-obsessed commentary, and which athletes truly shoulder the “loser” label. Woven throughout are familiar tangents: parental pride, family oddities, and affectionate ribbing among friends.
Dan’s Excitement for Father/Son Adventures
Longstanding Zaslow Family Tradition: No Daughters
[15:05–26:52]
Dan and the team break down James Harden’s latest poor playoff performance:
Debate: Playoff Losers, Legacy & Rings Culture
[33:13–38:36]
Skip’s Appearances on First Take:
Debating the Future of Sports TV Debates:
On Parenting and Tradition:
On Harden's Legacy:
On Debate Show Tactics:
On the Evolution of Titles in Sports Debates:
The episode blends affectionate teasing, thoughtful sports insight, and comedic deconstruction of sports media. The banter is sharp, irreverent, and always self-aware — a balancing act between earnest analysis and parody of sports radio clichés.
Summary by [your assistant], distilled directly from the hosts’ unique dynamic.