The Big Suey: Billy Apologizes to Australia

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Big Suey: Billy Apologizes to Australia

Podcast Information:

• Title: The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
• Hosts: Dan Le Batard, Stugotz
• Episode: The Big Suey: Billy Apologizes to Australia
• Release Date: February 25, 2025
• Description: Hosted from the Elser Hotel in Downtown Miami, Dan Le Batard and Stugotz delve into sports, pop culture, and more, featuring unique perspectives and engaging discussions.

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1. Operation Boomerang and Australia's Mention

Timestamp: [01:47] – [03:56]

The episode kicks off with a discussion centered around Stugotz's unexpected trip to Australia, humorously dubbed "Operation Boomerang" or "Operation Blooming Onion." Greg Cody and Chris Cody engage in a playful banter, questioning whether Stugotz is genuinely in Australia or merely pretending for comedic effect.

Notable Quotes:

• Greg Cody: "Billy, do you know anything about Operation Blooming Onion or Operation Boomerang or when Stugotz is going to be back? We were warned that he was going to be in Australia."
• Billy Corben: "I literally don't know where in the world he is at this moment."

2. Billy Corben's Apology to Australia

Timestamp: [15:29] – [17:36]

Billy Corben takes center stage to address a previous comment insinuating that Australia was founded solely by criminals. He formally apologizes to Australia, clarifying that while 162,000 convicts were sent there, the population now exceeds that number, acknowledging Australia’s growth beyond its penal colony origins.

Notable Quotes:

• Billy Corben: "Hello, Australia. It's me, Billy. Yesterday or tomorrow, I said something on the show where I insinuated that Australia was founded by criminals. And I, for that, apologize."
• Billy Corben: "And I'm sorry, Australia, for stating the fact that criminals were sent there by the hundreds of thousands."

3. Miami Heat and Media Critique

Timestamp: [06:22] – [17:36]

The hosts delve into their critiques of Miami Heat's media presence, particularly focusing on Matt Coogler, the producer of South Beach Sessions. They express mixed feelings about the recent analytical approaches of the Heat's media team, discussing the balance between entertainment and insightful sports analysis.

Notable Quotes:

• Greg Cody: "I'm really happy to see that this has finally happened. [...] they need to sell the regular season. Season really matters."
• Dan LeBatard: "When I think of that analysis being the perspective from Miami that reaches a national audience. You can tell them this on air or off."

4. Matthew Tkachuk's Appearance on Jimmy Fallon

Timestamp: [21:36] – [29:44]

A significant portion of the episode focuses on Matthew Tkachuk, a star player for the Florida Panthers. The hosts discuss his recent appearance on Jimmy Fallon, critiquing the interview's depth and Fallon's handling of Tkachuk's insights into hockey. They debate the impact of such appearances on Tkachuk’s reputation and the Panthers' season.

Notable Quotes:

• Greg Cody: "Matthew Tkachuk, who's been a star down here for a long time, is now also a champion, an American champion, and a personality."
• Mike Ryan: "It was just like, yeah. [...] I almost felt bad for Jimmy Fallon because it was just like, oh, your dad played hockey."

5. Infrastructure Concerns in Miami

Timestamp: [30:33] – [35:44]

The conversation shifts to Miami's infrastructure challenges, particularly focusing on construction near airports and the potential issues associated with new stadiums. Greg Cody expresses skepticism about the city's ability to handle large-scale events without causing significant disruptions.

Notable Quotes:

• Greg Cody: "You are out of your mind if you think that's going to be a thing that's well orchestrated so that it's not. It's gonna be the super bowl the moment he plays in a new stadium down here."
• Tony: "I've been at SOFI Stadium. [...] That's crazy."

6. Messi & Inter Miami and MLS's Success

Timestamp: [35:42] – [40:34]

The hosts discuss Lionel Messi's impact on Major League Soccer (MLS) through his tenure with Inter Miami. They debate the pressure on Messi to win championships, his contributions to the league's financial success, and the legitimacy of the trophies Inter Miami has secured under his leadership.

Notable Quotes:

• Jessica: "What I'm saying is if you came here to play for an MLS club, be sort of nice to win an MLS championship."
• Greg Cody: "Cristian [Ronaldo] is actually what Chris Cody thought his name was."
• Tony: "He has, he has won two major trophies."

7. Final Thoughts and Wrap-Up

Timestamp: [40:34] – [42:16]

As the episode nears its conclusion, the hosts reflect on the multifaceted discussions, from international apologies to the intricacies of sports media and infrastructure. They emphasize the importance of authenticity and engagement in both personal and professional arenas.

Notable Quotes:

• Greg Cody: "Don't you guys enjoy the idea if it's all made up, if it's all made up for our televised entertainment spectacle, don't you enjoy the idea that Messi doesn't have to win anything to have already won?"
• Tony: "They've won things of significance here. And if you think he needs to win the MLS cup, he probably feels the exact same way."

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Conclusion: In this episode of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz, the hosts navigate a diverse range of topics, from international apologies and media critiques to the intricacies of sports stardom and urban infrastructure. Billy Corben's heartfelt apology to Australia sets the tone for a candid and engaging conversation, while discussions on Matthew Tkachuk and Lionel Messi highlight the dynamic nature of sports personalities and their impact on both local and international stages. Through humor and insightful debate, Dan, Stugotz, and the team offer listeners a comprehensive look into the intersection of sports, culture, and society.

Transcript

[Dan LeBatard]

You're listening to giraffkings Network.

[Stugatz]

You know that sound? It's the sound of money hitting your Venmo account. A friend paying you back. Or maybe it's getting cash back from your favorite business when you pay with the Venmo debit card. Or it's realizing you can pay with Venmo at checkout at thousands of brands. Now there are so many more ways to answer the question, what's your Venmo? Download Venmo today. The Venmo MasterCard is issued by the Bancorp Bank N.A. pursuant to license by MasterCard International Incorporated. DOSH cashback terms apply.

[Billy Corben]

You know that sound?

[Stugatz]

It's the sound of money hitting your Venmo account. A friend paying you back. Or maybe it's getting cash back from your favorite business when you pay with the Venmo debit card. Or it's realizing you can pay with Venmo at checkout at thousands of brands. Now there are so many more ways to answer the question, what's your Venmo? Download Venmo today.

[Dan LeBatard]

Thanks.

[Stugatz]

The Venmo MasterCard is issued by the Bancorp Bank N.A. pursuant to license by MasterCard International Incorporated. DOSH cashback terms apply.

[Greg Cody]

Welcome to the Big Sui presented by DraftKings. Why are you listening to this show?

[Chris Cody]

The podcast that seems very similar to the other Dan LeBatard podcast. I'm sorry. I'm not going to apologize for that.

[Greg Cody]

In fact, the only difference seems to be this imaging. I have been tempted in restaurants just walking past tables to grab somebody's fries that if they're just there. That hasn't happened to you guys.

[Chris Cody]

I've done it.

[Greg Cody]

And now here's the marching man to.

[Chris Cody]

Nowhere, Fat Face and the Habitual Liar.

[Mike Ryan]

This episode of the Dan Levittart show with Stugatz is presented by DraftKings. DraftKings. The Crown is yours.

[Greg Cody]

Billy, do you know anything about Operation Blooming Onion or Operation Boomerang or when Stugatz is going to be back? We were warned that he was going to be in Australia. Right.

[Billy Corben]

Well, that was nice of someone to tell you because I had no idea that this was happening. I was told that he was leaving after Monday's show. And then Monday comes and I woke up to an email at 10:30 saying, Never mind, he's not going to be in today. So I literally don't know where in the world he is at this moment. And we recorded Gavos football last Thursday and I thought had planned out this week's episode and at no point was it mentioned that Australia was in place.

[Jessica]

So down under.

[Greg Cody]

Good use of all you know about Australia. Excellent work.

[Jessica]

I love Australia. Never been. I love a blooming onion.

[Dan LeBatard]

He's a thespian, Dan.

[Jessica]

Why is he there?

[Greg Cody]

That's how you'd star in a movie, right there. That. With that kind of alertness. You would be Daniel Day Lewis. You would be.

[Tony]

He's not actually there either.

[Jessica]

He's a pretty good actor.

[Tony]

No, you know how stugats is like. I think I'm going to Australia. Okay, cool. You want to. You want to tell us when? I don't know. Probably going to Syracuse first.

[Billy Corben]

Wait, what?

[Tony]

Yeah, you know, the. Your traditional Miami to Syracuse.

[Billy Corben]

What's he going to sync?

[Dan LeBatard]

You gotta go north to go south.

[Billy Corben]

Wait, what?

[Tony]

Lax.

[Billy Corben]

Wait, lax?

[Tony]

He's going up there for lax, so.

[Jessica]

Oh, yeah.

[Billy Corben]

He has a daughter that goes to Syracuse.

[Tony]

Yes, but that daughter's in Australia.

[Billy Corben]

I know that. That's why I was wondering why he's going there. He's going to Syracuse to watch his other daughter that doesn't go to Syracuse for lax.

[Greg Cody]

I love this as Operation Lacks, because I imagine he's just going to be doing lacrosse champions and relaxing. Right? Operation Lacks.

[Mike Ryan]

So high.

[Greg Cody]

Putting the lacks in. Not working very hard. But we don't know where he is. And Greg Cody sits in the seat, but he's afflicted with some of the same poisons on thinking he can do everything.

[Billy Corben]

What if Stugot's, like, accidentally found himself in like, a Brittney Griner Russia situation in Australia, where, like, he didn't realize he couldn't just do whatever the hell he wanted in Australia and then like, we. He gets arrested or detained.

[Greg Cody]

Didn't that happen to Stallone and Johnny Depp? But didn't it happen to Stallone? Johnny Depp for bringing an animal into the country and Stallone for, like, throwing steroids off of a balcony in Australia while the authorities closed in on it.

[Tony]

Yeah, but Stallone, his plan was effective in that they could not catch him with the performance enhancing drugs because he.

[Greg Cody]

Was just throwing them off the balcony.

[Tony]

Yes, allegedly.

[Billy Corben]

Australia, chill. Respectfully, to the people of Australia and Morgan and all of those. It's a country of criminals.

[Stugatz]

That's factually true.

[Billy Corben]

Whoa.

[Greg Cody]

That's a fact. Well, if every colony, then every country is.

[Billy Corben]

No, this. No, this colony was created with. Didn't we just send a bunch of criminals. Australia, we don't know them over there. You just found this giant island over here and you guys figure it out. Is that not what happened?

[Tony]

Yeah, but it Also happened down here. Miami. Mariel boatlift.

[Billy Corben]

What?

[Jessica]

Sure.

[Dan LeBatard]

There were people that.

[Billy Corben]

Those were criminals. A Mariel boatlift. Those are people.

[Greg Cody]

There were many.

[Billy Corben]

There were some, but they weren't. They weren't. They weren't all criminals.

[Tony]

Okay.

[Billy Corben]

There was.

[Tony]

Let's not paint with a broad brush, Billy.

[Billy Corben]

There's. There's, you know, people that came here.

[Tony]

The Mariel boat wiped out an entire continent.

[Billy Corben]

Yeah, but they're not going to hear this until tomorrow or yesterday.

[Greg Cody]

I don't know how that works, Billy. Yes, Fidel Castro emptied his prisons.

[Billy Corben]

He did. Yes. But other people came along with it. It wasn't like criminals that were.

[Tony]

You see the issues with painting with a broad brush?

[Greg Cody]

Yes.

[Billy Corben]

I didn't.

[Greg Cody]

You did. You very much did.

[Stugatz]

I did.

[Greg Cody]

Yes. You said all of Australia was criminals. That's the broadest brush.

[Billy Corben]

I said respectfully.

[Dan LeBatard]

You offended, like, a few million people. That's all.

[Billy Corben]

But they're not going to hear this.

[Tony]

They're going to hear this yesterday, and they're going to be pissed in the future.

[Greg Cody]

All right.

[Dan LeBatard]

No, they already heard it.

[Billy Corben]

Oh, well, I haven't heard anything, so I'm fine. If they heard it and I haven't heard pushback, we're good.

[Dan LeBatard]

You know, that's actually a good point.

[Greg Cody]

Thank you. It is not a good point before we go any further here, because there are a number of things I have to get to. I have to get to. Boldest take. And I also. I'm really happy to see that this has finally happened. I know it didn't work at the All Star Game. Adam Silver's like, hey, can you guys try? Can you guys show some enthusiasm? And then LeBron's like, I don't even want to dress for the team picture. But he's finally reached a coach when he's trying to sell. Hey, guys, we need to tell everybody our league, it's got a lot of pizzazz. Everything's very important. We got to sell the regular season. Season really matters. And finally, he reached the champion coach of the Celtics who sells Adam Silver's sport the way that Adam Silver with the enthusiasm that you want to sell your sport in these troubled times.

[Dan LeBatard]

30 against the Knicks this season, all by double digits. Does that tell you anything?

[Mike Ryan]

Especially when you look at the standings?

[Tony]

It means absolutely nothing.

[Mike Ryan]

All right. Thank you, Joe Missoula. Just absolutely nothing. This guy's becoming one of my favorite coaches. He was, like, annoying at the beginning, but I like what he does with the media. Just means nothing.

[Greg Cody]

He doesn't have any patience for Us. And can you imagine that amount of sex and. Sorry, what? That amount of success in your early 30s.

[Mike Ryan]

I can't imagine all of that.

[Billy Corben]

Turns out, more than just criminals lived in Australia. So I'm sorry.

[Greg Cody]

Okay. Now we're going to. You know what? Go back.

[Billy Corben]

Going to be the brave, strong.

[Greg Cody]

No, no, no, wait a minute.

[Billy Corben]

Apologize.

[Dan LeBatard]

I know. I hope they aggregate it first.

[Billy Corben]

162,000 convicts were sent there. But it was more than just that in the population.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah. Already people there.

[Billy Corben]

Yeah. I didn't know that.

[Jessica]

Like a lot nowadays they send all their convicts to New Zealand.

[Billy Corben]

Really?

[Jessica]

Yeah.

[Stugatz]

Kiwis.

[Mike Ryan]

Also not true.

[Dan LeBatard]

I hope you both get in trouble now.

[Greg Cody]

Two minutes right here in the shipping container for trying to leave. I didn't understand what that penalty was. I pressed the wrong button. I didn't like my choices.

[Billy Corben]

You go, I'll just stay here.

[Greg Cody]

No, I want you to go to the penalty box and I want you to apologize to Australia. I want you to organize. No, more formally. I want you to go and with. I know, but I want you to be actually sorry while doing a public apology in the other room, surrounded by Australian things. I also want to go into the other room because Matt Coogler, the unassuming Matt Coogler, producer of South Beach Sessions, I'm going to say he bounded into work today, bounded in, seemed happy, giant smile on his face. And, you know, it was at the end of the last segment and he's like, now that's the Heat talk. I like you guys finally showing everybody where it hurts, that it's all over. Mike, you underestimate how you've shielded these tears from the audience that desperately wants. If you guys are going to be that annoying for five years getting near the finals, you're going to eat it now as you long for other players, and Jessica is going to sit in the middle of it and enjoy Heat Talk for the first time in a couple of years.

[Dan LeBatard]

I may be the only person that was enjoying it other than Coogler, because Jeremy texted me. I'm genuinely embarrassed by them. When I think of that analysis being the perspective from Miami that reaches a national audience. You can tell them this on air or off. Lmao.

[Greg Cody]

Okay. I'd like to hear from Jeremy. I rarely say that.

[Tony]

Why would you like to hear from someone that has been wrong for two and a half years? Every single thing he has said in rebuttal to things that have been said on this show have been wrong. Why would you platform him? Moreover, why are we now talking about the Heat for going on 40 minutes when they are as culturally. Bring it back to movies.

[Greg Cody]

Let's bring it back to movies as.

[Tony]

They have ever been.

[Greg Cody]

It's not 40 minutes and it's been 20 minutes and 20 minutes too many.

[Tony]

They don't deserve it.

[Greg Cody]

I wanted to talk about the Panthers and I wanted to talk about Tkachuk being on Jimmy Fallon. But before I do that near Coogler, I just saw Taylor and Taylor. I don't know what you guys experience of Taylor, but I'm telling you that my experience of Taylor is he feels like because so many people around here who work around here listen to our show for a long time that he's walking in the middle of the Disney characters, that his daily life is living inside of this thing that's strange to him. And so he's walking around yesterday and all he's doing is giggling to himself, listening to Stugats talk about Al Troutwitz. Al Troutwig passed away. He's a legend in New York. Al Troutwig. Many sports broadcasters will tell you that this is a loss that hurts because we remember how great Al Troutweg was. But out of nowhere, Stugatz had opinions on Al Troutweg. And this is what Taylor was listening to. Walking around the office out there after Al Troutwig died. I see Stugots this morning. I'm not kidding you. These are his first words to me. This is good morning to me. Before he says good morning to me, this is what he says. This bleeping guy. Because he's talking about Phil Jackson.

[Chris Cody]

So annoying, man.

[Greg Cody]

This bleeping guy.

[Tony]

Yeah.

[Chris Cody]

I mean, Dan, he's just an embarrassment. Like he really is. It's just like if you watch the. The interview last night that he did with Al Troutwig, I believe it was a fossil, by the way. Anyway, if you.

[Greg Cody]

Why did you take out Al Trout?

[Chris Cody]

I mean, Troutwick, please. Seriously, well polished Al Troutwick. I got issues with Al Troutwick that go way, way back. Way back, Way back.

[Tony]

Go on.

[Chris Cody]

I just don't like the guy, man. I like him. Never been a fan of his, you know, growing up in New York.

[Tony]

Issues. You said you had issues, not personal issues.

[Chris Cody]

I just, I've never been a fan of Al Troutwick for some reason. Like growing up New York media, I had a list of like the. The guys that I least liked in the New York media and he was always at the top of the list. Al Tratwick put that on for next year's lie detector question. But Phil Jackson is a complete embarrassment.

[Greg Cody]

Hold on a second. What's the rest of that list look like? Like, who are the list that you have of media members. No. Now you're in.

[Tony]

No, no. Give them 10 seconds to make up names on this fake list.

[Greg Cody]

Now you're. Now you're in. What do you mean? Well, you. What? You're the one who decided to just sideswipe for no reason. Al Trout Wiggle.

[Chris Cody]

Yeah.

[Greg Cody]

Al Troutweg. What a great name.

[Jessica]

It is.

[Chris Cody]

It's a funny name. I mean, just polished pukey broadcaster and just a guy whose work I've. I don't know why. I just don't enjoy it that much.

[Greg Cody]

Guillermo, put this on the poll. When I say the name Al Trout wig, do you imagine him wearing a wig made out of trout?

[Billy Corben]

RIP Rest in peace.

[Greg Cody]

That's not.

[Dan LeBatard]

What a joke by Dan.

[Greg Cody]

Seriously, isn't that what you like? A wig made of trout?

[Jessica]

It's a fish wearing a wig.

[Billy Corben]

Yeah, right.

[Dan LeBatard]

The trout has the wig on it.

[Tony]

It's not a wig made of trout. It's a trout wearing a wig.

[Mike Ryan]

I thought it was a wig made out of trout.

[Billy Corben]

No, no one's hair is made out of trout. It wouldn't look like a real wig.

[Greg Cody]

But that's what's funny about it. A broadcaster with a wig that doesn't look like it's a real wig because it's made out of trout.

[Mike Ryan]

How about my dad always wins. The trout wearing a wig is.

[Tony]

Yeah, because now I got the trout holding a microphone, too.

[Jessica]

Right?

[Greg Cody]

Your dad always wins. I want you guys, because Greg Cody was talking for some reason, I don't know why, earlier. Billy, why did you come back here? Weren't you going to give us an apology? A publican apology surrounded by Australia?

[Billy Corben]

Yeah. There was a. Yeah, kangaroo. I pet the kangaroo. I said sorry to the kangaroo.

[Greg Cody]

Okay. So I thought we were going to get, like a press conference.

[Billy Corben]

Oh, there's no microphone over there. I'll go over there again.

[Greg Cody]

Yeah, well, I just think you have to. I think you have to apologize to Australia because you all. You called the company, you called the country. A bunch of criminals.

[Mike Ryan]

There we go.

[Dan LeBatard]

Old timey insult.

[Mike Ryan]

We got a trout wig up on the screen right now.

[Jessica]

Yeah, I apologize to New Zealand as well.

[Greg Cody]

Again, that doesn't seem like it's sincere.

[Jessica]

It is.

[Greg Cody]

You were very eager to take out New Zealand. But before the show, Greg Cody was talking about the SAG Awards and something else that he did. And he's not the only one who does this, but he was yelling about Jane Fonda and how he didn't understand how Jane Fonda, who's 20 years older than him, looks 10 years younger than him, at least. And so you were confounded by how healthy she is. Is she 90 yet?

[Jessica]

She's not 87. She looks great. She acts great. She dresses.

[Greg Cody]

But you'd be better as an actor. You'd be just as good. Right, because it takes no talent.

[Jessica]

It's hard to compare a male actor with a female actor to a certain degree.

[Greg Cody]

Is it?

[Jessica]

Yeah. I'm not saying I would be.

[Dan LeBatard]

Well, men are allowed to age and women aren't.

[Jessica]

That's exactly right. I. I'm not saying I would be a great actor. I would be, you know, a journeyman. I would be a working.

[Greg Cody]

Again, we were talking about Jane Fond.

[Jessica]

You know, very political. What she. Her speech was what you expected it to be, but I thought she looked fantastic. And Jess was telling me that she's had work done. Okay. But I didn't think it was obvious.

[Dan LeBatard]

That is a mischaracterization of the conversation that we had.

[Billy Corben]

What do you mean?

[Dan LeBatard]

I mean, I'm sure she has had work done, but I wasn't like, yeah, Greg, she's had work done.

[Jessica]

Well, you reported it to me.

[Tony]

Hanoi Jane.

[Jessica]

I think she looks great for 87. I'm not afraid to say it.

[Greg Cody]

You know, hanoi is a funny word.

[Dan LeBatard]

No one is afraid to say she looks great. She does look great.

[Jessica]

She looks great.

[Greg Cody]

You're not afraid to say it? What I was afraid of, and it was unpleasant, was it felt like you were ogling her. The whole thing felt uncomfortable to me.

[Jessica]

Yeah, ogle with a hard O.

[Greg Cody]

Well, you seem like you had a hard O. Can we see if Billy is ready to do his.

[Jessica]

That's pretty good.

[Greg Cody]

Is Billy ready to do his apology here?

[Billy Corben]

Yes.

[Greg Cody]

Okay, Billy, thank you. We are not exactly having you surrounded by all things Australia, but can you apologize? Can you. Would you do me the favor of apologizing, please?

[Billy Corben]

To the kangaroos.

[Mike Ryan]

Kangaroos. Happy to see you.

[Greg Cody]

Just to all of Australia for just being reckless.

[Billy Corben]

Hello, Australia. It's me, Billy. Yesterday or tomorrow, I said something on the show where I insinuated that Australia was founded by criminals. And I, for that, apologize. Only 164,000 of your residents were criminals that were sent there from Ireland and England. And while that number seems immense, I've learned that there are more than 164,000 people that are in Australia, so.

[Stugatz]

Also a lot of scary creatures and.

[Billy Corben]

Animals and insects and things that generally you want to avoid. But I'm sure Australia is very Pleasant. And hopefully one day I'll be able to visit your great continent, even though it's unlikely because it's like a very long plane ride. And what am I going there to do? See spiders? I doubt it. So, anyways, again, yes. And I'm sorry, Australia, for saying that there's a lot of criminals there, even though, you know, Dems the facts.

[Greg Cody]

All right, good apology. Well, good apology until the very end.

[Billy Corben]

Well, I mean, we're not going to just pretend that it's not a thing. It's a thing. Whatever. Like, I'll apologize. I'm sorry that me stating facts hurt your feelings, Australia. I'm sorry that you are in denial about your history. I apologize to you, Australia, for stating the fact that criminals were sent there by the hundreds of thousands. Well, not hundred, like 164 of the thousands. All right, thank you very much. Of, you know, 15 years or whatever in the 1700s. I'm sorry, Australia.

[Greg Cody]

All right.

[Billy Corben]

You've made a great opera house and. And Finding Nemo was cool. And Morgan, she's fine. I'm sorry, Australia.

[Greg Cody]

Thank you, Billy.

[Billy Corben]

I appreciate you Shout out to Jimmy.

[Greg Cody]

Doing yes, and I appreciate it.

[Jerbear]

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[Billy Corben]

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[Jessica]

I invented it. It's going fantastic. My wife and I are staying home tonight. We're watching the debate on tv. We're going to do something special for baby. It's a it's a nice day for me so far.

[Greg Cody]

Stugats.

[Dan LeBatard]

That sounds like a not a super nice night. The debate.

[Billy Corben]

Old people love that shit.

[Greg Cody]

Yeah.

[Jessica]

That'S exactly right. Yeah, that's exactly right. Old people do love that shit. And I'm old now. I can't deny it anymore.

[Billy Corben]

Now this is the Dan Levatar show with the Stugach.

[Greg Cody]

Can you get for me please? I don't know if we have the sound of this, but I heard Chris Cody talking about something that is happening right now in both hockey and America that allows the Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk, who's been a star down here for a long time, has been a star in the sport For a long time, but is now also a champion, an American champion, and a personality. Hockey doesn't do this great in crossing over the language barriers. So many guys fighting through their second language on stardom, when someone's telegenic, when someone can sell the sport, the spirit of the sport and be a champion and descends from hockey royalty lineage. So he has the respect of Canada and America. We are seeing something with Tkachuk that is a pretty rare hockey stardom. He was plenty good at hockey before they traded for him. He is now at the center of what represents one of the greatest trades in sports history, and he's on the ascent. So Jimmy Fallon reaches out and is like, explain to me this whole Canada and the United States thing. And now you're crossing over and you're doing the things locally that become national, that become international, so you can be more famous than your family's ever been at this sport because you're now winning in real time. We see how hard it is and you're at the center of everything. But they told me that Tkachuk was great and Fallon was not that the questions were very basic. It's sort of like, hey, famous hockey guy, here's America. Want to talk to him? And that Fallon didn't bring out Tkachuk at all.

[Mike Ryan]

It was just like, yeah. I mean, I don't even know what I expect there because I think he is doing it to a more broad audience. But if you're a Panthers fan tuning into that interview, it was just, hey, Kachuk, say the five things you're most known for.

[Billy Corben]

Hey, you did it.

[Mike Ryan]

Thanks for joining us. That was great. Chuck was fine there. He was. He had good energy. He wasn't nervous, but it was just. I almost felt bad for Jimmy Fallon because it was just like, oh, your dad played hockey. Oh, America. You guys fought. Oh, man, that is so hilarious. Oh, and you scored a goal. Sick man. Thanks for joining us.

[Tony]

That's pretty much the show.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah, but it was just. It's just kind of awkward. If you're a die hard Panthers fan and you were looking for anything there.

[Tony]

Obviously ask about his groin.

[Billy Corben]

Did they sing?

[Mike Ryan]

He got. He said, you're currently injured, but you'll be back soon. He's like, yeah, I'll be back soon.

[Tony]

I think he said soon.

[Greg Cody]

I think it's not soon.

[Mike Ryan]

He's like, I'm working to get back, but I love playing for my country. He, like, turned it to America really quick.

[Greg Cody]

He's gonna be out for a while, is he not?

[Tony]

Yeah, he's gonna be out for a while.

[Jessica]

He'll be back for the playoffs.

[Mike Ryan]

And he, he, he mentioned multiple times about just the honor it was to wear the USA on his chest. So there were opportunities there for like the serious follow up. But that's not really.

[Tony]

There's a lot, there's a lot of casual hockey fans, people that are just hockey fans of the Florida Panthers and they're I guess rightfully upset that their star players now hurt for what was an exhibition tournament. Turned out to be a lot more than an exhibition tournament. It was the first opportunity to play best on best internationally for these players in 11 years. In soccer country before club, it's always such an honor to represent your country and it's cool to see that after 11 years that the lure of the crest is not lost, that playing for his country was a huge honor for him. And as a Panther fan, you have to kind of accept that they're going to be playing with high level intensity and some players can get hurt. Not the only American that got hurt.

[Greg Cody]

Do I have to accept that though? Because I can espouse that sentiment?

[Billy Corben]

No, I do have to accept it.

[Greg Cody]

I do.

[Mike Ryan]

I don't know if it's because we were there. I'm good with it as a. Obviously if he was out for the year, I'd probably think differently. But being there, seeing the emotion of it, you tell me he's out for a couple weeks, like worth it. This was that important.

[Billy Corben]

You also come off winning the Stanley cup. So it's house money, right? Like if you fell short in the Stanley cup, you blow a 30 series lead and now one of your stars is out because of an exhibition game. You're like, what are we doing here?

[Tony]

Perhaps, perhaps that frames it. Although Florida is still very much a franchise that is competing for another Stanley cup to go to their third straight Stanley Cup Final. But I understand why people are upset about it. I think my perspective on it because I follow soccer so much and understanding international breaks happen in the middle of the season and often top tier players pull muscle and aren't available on the club side that it's just kind of next man up country before club.

[Greg Cody]

You have said that a couple of times. And I have seen Kevin Durant weep recently when talking about how basketball moved him playing for the United States overseas. And I think that sentiment is anything that can be understood by our, by our audience. However, I thought that the selfishness of the local regional sports fan was such that if my player is injured and that's a random thing you're doing half a year. I'm okay. A full year now. I'd have a problem. That's where my patriotism stops. It's. If you're going to go all out in hockey and play that intense a game and get all of our attention because you're playing that intensely, you're risking the regular season, the postseason. You're risking the thing that I thought was supposed to be the most important to your team.

[Tony]

Here's where I think there's an understandable frustration. The Boston Bruins came out with a team statement really chastising the training staff. I believe it's a Minnesota Wild training staff that was assigned to take care of Team usa. Chucky was injured. He missed the game against Sweden and the staff and Chucky all came to an agreement. I am sure there was communication back to the Florida Panthers. He's got to give it a go and you could seize on that decision. He was hurt enough to miss a game. We rushed him back. Other players were held out of the tournament. Quinn Hughes wasn't deemed healthy enough by the Vancouver Canucks to go play in this four nations competition.

[Mike Ryan]

The Sweden game was not important, though that is a factor.

[Tony]

What happened to Charlie McAvoy is interesting. Charlie McAvoy suffers a hit, then gets some sort of complication that sees him going to Mass General when he was supposed to be in the care of this training staff. They botch it to the point that he has to get admitted to the hospital. So you can have your questions about Team USA's training staff, I guess.

[Greg Cody]

Well. But I'd like to broaden this out for a second without getting too stuck in the mud on this. I understand that you and Chris are Giant hockey fans. I understand the moment that I just witnessed where hockey made friendly exhibitions matter in a way that now you guys come home and I'm. And are like, good. Yeah, I'm good. With my star missing the next half of the season when there are 10 good teams in hockey and it's going to matter a little bit and. And it's hard to remain champions and these guys come back from an event that was all exhibition. I understand the patriotism and the move, but as practicality. Holy shit. If I'm running the Panthers, I don't love this. Tkachuk's always playing hurt. Kachuk. I need that torso in the playoffs. That torso was not as good in the playoffs when it was hurt. But he plays through everything. For that guy to care that much about exhibition games. I get it. We just witnessed it. It was Nice. But my God, is it prisoner of the moment. That's an. It's a. It's a contrivance. They made that whole thing up for our entertainment.

[Tony]

Yes, but it meant something.

[Jessica]

It was a big tournament. I don't care if it's the first one ever.

[Dan LeBatard]

All of it's technically.

[Billy Corben]

How would we have felt.

[Mike Ryan]

How would we have felt if, before the tournament, Kachuk's like, I'm sitting out four nations. Don't want to get hurt. I would have been like, oh, that sucks.

[Jessica]

Yeah, that would have been terrible.

[Dan LeBatard]

No, you guys would have pretended it was less cool.

[Tony]

Yeah, I. I don't. I don't. If Kachuk wasn't playing in the. In the. In the championship game against Canada, I would have been disappointed. Like, tough it out. This is a really huge game for hockey in this country. It would be a huge honor to beat Canada in that sport and secure a championship against him on the international level. Best on best. So I'm glad he gave it a go. Unfortunate that he's going to be out a couple of weeks. Thankfully, the Florida Panthers are good enough to withstand this absence. Maybe they make a move before the deadline, but it comes with the territory.

[Billy Corben]

It was a great moment for hockey the past couple weekends. It was a great tournament. It was made up. But, like, honestly, what isn't made up? There's a time Australia was just a landmass, and then all of a sudden.

[Tony]

Boom, he just did the Tonight showers. A Florida Panther. A Florida panther went on.

[Mike Ryan]

Or a USA hockey player. Yeah, that's kind of where he went.

[Tony]

He went on the Cadillac of late night talk show properties in the Tonight Show.

[Greg Cody]

Is it still.

[Tony]

In terms of fame, the Tonight show means something.

[Billy Corben]

Do we still make Cadillacs?

[Mike Ryan]

I think we did this on my dad's podcast.

[Billy Corben]

Really?

[Mike Ryan]

Our Cadillac still the Cadillac, like, beyond just an Escalade?

[Billy Corben]

What? What cars? I'm looking it up.

[Jessica]

Yeah.

[Mike Ryan]

What's the Cadillac of cars these days?

[Dan LeBatard]

The most common reason for transportation was theft. This included pickpocketing, shoplifting, stealing horses and sheep, highway robbery, housebreaking, and receiving stolen goods.

[Billy Corben]

Billy, what are we talking about? That's Australia.

[Greg Cody]

What do you mean, what are we talking about? That's your wheelhouse. She was supporting your. She was.

[Dan LeBatard]

No, I was saying that, like, these are very pickpocketing. You get sent to Australia and then, like. Like, 300 years later, Billy calls you a criminal.

[Greg Cody]

Yeah.

[Tony]

Oh, come on.

[Stugatz]

They don't hear me.

[Tony]

He apologized.

[Billy Corben]

Think twice. I apologize twice. I mean, what am I supposed to do? Go there in person to apologize like. Yes.

[Dan LeBatard]

God bless football from Australia. What you got?

[Billy Corben]

Well, from what I hear, I might.

[Tony]

You might have to.

[Jessica]

God bless Australia.

[Mike Ryan]

Super sincere apologies.

[Greg Cody]

Ass on Operation Boomerang or Operation Blooming Onion. He is in Australia or on his way to Australia.

[Tony]

You know, a crazy thing. I went to Hailai last Friday. An Outback Steakhouse was constructed in two weeks.

[Billy Corben]

Really?

[Tony]

In two weeks? Prefab.

[Billy Corben]

Must have been, because.

[Tony]

I guess because I was there two weeks ago, there was no Outback Steakhouse. I pull in, there's an Outback Steakhouse now. Two weeks.

[Dan LeBatard]

Where?

[Tony]

Right in front of the Magic City. Fronton. Incredible. Two weeks it took for an Outback Steakhouse.

[Jessica]

That's crazy.

[Billy Corben]

Yeah.

[Greg Cody]

Why are you so surprised by this? Are you?

[Tony]

Because it's taken me a decade to build Freedom Park.

[Greg Cody]

Yeah, well. But you knew.

[Billy Corben]

We're starting to see bones finally.

[Jessica]

You personally.

[Greg Cody]

We've gotten to the bones.

[Billy Corben]

Yeah.

[Greg Cody]

We all knew this was a bad idea, right? Messi coming down here and us promising him, hey, we'll develop that land for you in a year or two. Like, we all knew what that was.

[Billy Corben]

Why is that a bad idea? It worked. He fell for the trick.

[Greg Cody]

I know, but Messi knows that he's never going to play in a stadium by a highway near the airport.

[Tony]

No, if he's here next year, he'll play.

[Jessica]

Yeah, he could be.

[Tony]

Have you driven past it?

[Billy Corben]

We didn't say which Messi. Also, I mean, his son saving soccer. I may watch soccer.

[Jessica]

Here you go.

[Billy Corben]

If Messi and all the kids that Messi's playing against all rise to the level of mls and that's the competition we're seeing. I may watch. Kid scored 11 goals the other day in a 12 nothing blowout. I will watch soccer. If one person is scoring 11 goals against the other team. Now we have to elevate all of the Inter Miami children's and all of the Atlanta FC children. They work hard to make sure that these games continue this way.

[Stugatz]

But 11 goals?

[Billy Corben]

Come on.

[Tony]

When you see that at the youth level, nine times out of 10, that person is a bona fide superstar. That is just not something that you can fake every time. Eleven goals, that's not. He's not nepoing his way to 11 goals in a game.

[Billy Corben]

I mean, soccer, you know, you've asked.

[Greg Cody]

Me if I drove past that, when is that going to be built? When did they promise him that?

[Billy Corben]

In like two weeks. That thing's going up quick.

[Tony]

It's starting to go up fast. It'll be ready by Next season.

[Greg Cody]

Yeah, like an Outback Steakhouse.

[Billy Corben]

I would, I would give it a year or two before I actually stepped foot in that thing. Make sure everything's on the up and up. But it's going up quickly next year.

[Greg Cody]

It's in Miami. You know, it's not going to be on the up and up, but you know it's going to be sinking into land. You know that they're going to be airport problems, that they're going to be traffic problems.

[Tony]

Well, so overstated. There's a lot of stadiums near airports. I've been at SOFI Stadium. Like, whoa. That. It's that close. That's crazy.

[Billy Corben]

We got an alert last week that just like one of our expressways was shut down for an emergency check of an overpass.

[Dan LeBatard]

And then the expressway right next to the studio.

[Billy Corben]

Yeah, the one that we take to get here. And then it's just open again. And there was no update on what they were checking for. What, the results of said emergency? Yeah, it's just like, you know what, we're good. We're gonna open this thing up again. I have no idea what they were checking, what bridge they were checking. I don't know how to avoid these bridges moving forward because they didn't give me all of the information I wanted on a quote unquote emergency check in which they shut down an expressway. Cuz they're not sure if the overpass that they're building is structurally sound.

[Greg Cody]

Look, I know that we've lived in Miami for a long time and I know that you guys are used to all of the ways and things that we are a banana republic about, but if you think we have a committee somewhere that is competently planning to have Lionel Messi play Giant games near the airport in a new stadium without it being a massive clusterfuck that swallows all of South Florida with people trying to get in there. You are out of your mind if you think that's going to be a thing that's well orchestrated so that. That it's not. It's gonna be the super bowl the moment he plays in a new stadium down here. You can't put that near the airport in a thing you've. In a building you've just built that surrounded by construction.

[Tony]

Put him 10 minutes away from Boca. Way more offensive.

[Greg Cody]

They're hiding him in Boca where you can get. There's giant parcels of land over there near the airport. Have you guys seen how hard it is?

[Tony]

You're listening. Billy Corbin.

[Billy Corben]

Yeah. This is five seconds away from Doral. Like this Is home.

[Dan LeBatard]

There was reporting in the Rolling Stone last week that one of some of the cut positions in the FAA were quote, lawyers who help keep drunk or reckless pilots out of the skies, employees who track potential new flying hazards like cranes, and staffers in charge of medically clearing pilots. And the, the flying hazards like cranes did sort of my ears perked up because this is right next to the airport. And that was one of the reasons that people in, you know, the, at the airport and officials were concerned about the location because there's going to be all this tall construction material right next to the Runway. But, you know, luckily all of those people may have been laid off now so they can continue construction.

[Greg Cody]

You guys don't trust our infrastructure in South Florida, do you?

[Jessica]

No less now.

[Tony]

I mean, of course not. They've been working on the highways my entire life. Yeah, my entire life. The 836 and the 826 have been under construction. So I gotta think they're working on it. They work on it so long that by the time they complete something, they.

[Dan LeBatard]

Need to work on it.

[Tony]

They have to work on a new thing again.

[Dan LeBatard]

Mike, there's reports like every month that's like a new building has sunk in 4 inches into the ground on Miami Beach. I'm more worried about that every month there's a new. Like this building has sunken so far into the earth, engineers are shocked. And then there's just never a follow up.

[Greg Cody]

We have talked about this before. Contractually it was understood when the Panthers, the champion Florida Panthers, moved into where it is, they play in the Everglades, that there would be a sinking into the earth because it's on swamp land.

[Tony]

They accounted for it.

[Greg Cody]

They accounted for the sinking into the earth. You guys realize what we have in this town with Messi and the Panthers sinking into the earth because Messi plays a game the other day in negative 7 degrees. Greg Cody has been telling you here, and we haven't talked with our soccer expert. Greg Cody has been covering soccer in this market since Fort Lauderdale Strikers. Since before, like Pele was playing for the Cosmos. Greg Cody has been covering soccer in this market. The biggest thing in soccer is in this market. And you and Mike Ryan have placed pressure on Messi to win this season as if it means something. As if the business of Messi isn't just being the business of Messi and cashing in on whatever the end of this is. It doesn't matter whether he wins a championship or not.

[Jessica]

Well, it does.

[Billy Corben]

You have to win financially.

[Mike Ryan]

It doesn't have you the tweets are already out there of like the difference he's made.

[Jessica]

Look, not just for Inter Miami, but for the league and for American soccer in general. His signing with Inter Miami, still flabbergasting to me that they got him and it's a monumental success. Just from a financial standpoint. Unequivocally. What I'm saying is if you came here to play for an MLS club, be sort of nice to win an MLS championship. Last year they had the best regular season in history and they took a big dump in the first round.

[Greg Cody]

That's not much. That's not much. It's not much of a take, though, to say it'd be sort of nice. You said that there's enormous pressure on Messi and I'm like, no, there's not.

[Billy Corben]

There should be. If Ronaldo came here, he'd win a cup, that's for sure.

[Tony]

I don't. It took a while for Beckham to win the mls. Respectfully, we all agree that the MLS playoffs, winning that championship is the one that he's going to be judged against because that's the one that most casual fans understand. But he's been here for a season and a half and he's won two major trophies.

[Jessica]

Yeah.

[Tony]

As a member. Yes.

[Jessica]

Leagues cup, major trophy.

[Tony]

I mean, it was the first year, but yes, it was against LIGA and Mekis and they won that knockout tournament.

[Jessica]

Debatable, but.

[Tony]

Well, it's not debatable that they won.

[Greg Cody]

What's debatable? What's debatable?

[Jessica]

It's a made up tournament.

[Tony]

It is between us.

[Mike Ryan]

It's like the four nations.

[Tony]

All the tournaments are made up.

[Mike Ryan]

It's a similar tournament.

[Greg Cody]

Right.

[Tony]

All the tournaments are made up. They were wire to wire. The best regular season team, which in soccer, that's how you judge who wins a league historically. Then here in the United States and in Canada, we need to have playoffs because that's how North America gets down.

[Dan LeBatard]

Christian O. Ronaldo is actually what Chris Cody thought his name was.

[Billy Corben]

Cristian. Overrated.

[Greg Cody]

Can you guys explain to me when I ask you the questions of does it matter whether or not there are fans in the building in some future replica of sports that is just all about the streaming. Does it matter if Messi wins anything? If they've won the game of getting the stadium built like Messi's legacy is secure? Even if he finishes in last place.

[Tony]

They'Ve won two trophies. This is a disconnect that I will. I kind of understand because he needs to win the league And I try to argue that he has won the league, but no, he needs to win the playoffs. Okay, so like, he'll win that too. He'll get to that. He's won two other trophies. They're in the Club World Cup. They're in the kickoff game against that where they test their mettle against top clubs from all over the world. And that's something that they earn their way in because they won things to, to get in there. So they've won things of significance here. And if you think he needs to win the MLS cup, he probably feels the exact same way. And he'll try to win that damn thing.

[Jessica]

Right? Well, the Club World cup, their, their first matches is designed that they're going to win easily. I mean, they play a club from Egypt, which is not a renownation.

[Tony]

Do not sleep on those.

[Mike Ryan]

Weren't they essentially put in that World cup because they have Messi?

[Tony]

Yes, you could argue that. You had, you had Infantino at a game and said because they've won this and because they have Messi, they're in. That's not a direct quote, but it was pretty much.

[Greg Cody]

Don't you guys enjoy the idea if it's all made up, if it's all made up for our televised entertainment spectacle, don't you enjoy the idea that Messi doesn't have to win anything to have already won?

[Tony]

He doesn't have to.

[Billy Corben]

That's what you guys are missing.

[Tony]

What everybody is missing is that he has.

[Billy Corben]

What you guys are missing is he hasn't.

[Tony]

Actually, there have been two times where at the end of something, there's a huge ceremony.

[Billy Corben]

No, in the middle of something. But it's in the middle of the middle of a season, he lifts up a trophy. Yeah, he did do one.

[Stugatz]

At the end of the regular season.

[Tony]

Okay?

[Billy Corben]

And LeBron won the in season tournament, so he's one closer to Michael Jordan. No one thinks that.

[Jessica]

Nobody thinks INTERTER Miami won MLS last season. They didn't. They had a great regular season. Then they went.

[Tony]

Howdy, folks, it's Mike. And look, it's been an exhausting couple of weeks. Even on the show, there's all sorts of debate which sport takes it seriously enough. Where's the effort? Let me tell you something. As long as I'm sitting down on the couch and I have a beautiful white can of Miller Lite in my hand, I'm good. I make any sports time of Miller time. And it's the perfect supplement because Miller Lite makes all the moments better. With great tasting light beer for people like you and me who loves beer. It's always the perfect time for friends, family and a great tasting light beer. Tastes like Miller Time. Miller Light is brewed for taste. It hits different than other light beers. The taste that you know you can depend on. No games, no gimmicks, just great beer for people who like beer. It has simple ingredients like malted barley for rich balanced toffee note flavors and the iconic golden color that we all know and love. The original light beer since 1975 and still the very best one. 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. Tastes like Miller Time. Celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Co. Milwaukee, Wisconsin 96 calories and 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces.

[Jerbear]

Hey friends, it's Jerbear here and I'm here to tell you all about Boost Mobile, which is now a legit nationwide 5G network. So I must take a break from the jokes here for a second and put on my serious voice because I would never, ever joke about a 5G network that has invested billions building 5G towers across the country. Not even once. Not even if Mr. Boost Mobile himself asked me to. There is nothing funny about it. Boost Mobile is now a legit nationwide 5G network and also provides coverage across 99% of America. Seriously? Visit boostmobile.com or your nearest Boost Mobile store location to learn more. The Boost Mobile network, together with our roaming partners, covers 99% of the US population. 5G speeds not available in all areas.