The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
Episode: The Big Suey: Billy Pulls Off Some Wednesday S***
Release Date: August 21, 2025
Location: Elser Hotel, Downtown Miami
Overview
In this lively edition of “The Big Suey,” the Dan Le Batard crew gathers in Miami to riff on the absurdities and beauty of sports culture, pop culture, and their own inside jokes. This episode zigs and zags through topics like the evolution of baseball coverage, the outsized expectations on Arch Manning, changing athlete names, local sports celebrity, legendary SportsCenter anchors, and even a nostalgic detour into Miami radio. The episode maintains its familiar blend of high-level sports talk and self-aware nonsense, with Billy’s unpredictable antics as a running theme.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Segregating Baseball on the Show
[01:46–04:48]
- The crew jokes about their tendency to dump baseball content onto “pitch clock Jeremy,” with Dan exasperated at how baseball gets shunted off to a corner.
- Dan: “I don't like how again and again we segregate baseball on this show ... we just tell Jeremy, go out there and do pitch clock off there by yourself and yourself.” [01:46]
- The crew debates Kyle Schwarber's accomplishments and how to project his success.
- Discussion on Schwarber’s “keg softball player” build and whether it’s an insult.
- Comedic confusion on home run stats and playoff numbers.
- Quirky trivia: First “Bob” in the majors in 15 years (Bob Seymour for the Rays), and the first “Seymour” since 1913.
2. College Football: The Arch Manning Hype
[05:57–12:03, 14:28–15:26, 27:39–33:17]
- Dan introduces the unprecedented pressure on Arch Manning—Heisman favorite with “no resume.”
- Dan: “We've been waiting two years to see this quarterback ... I can't remember another scenario off the top of my head where the expectation was so grand.” [05:57]
- Zaslow, Billy, Chris: Debate if Arch's hype is fair, the AP poll snubbing Texas' showdown with Ohio State by not making it 1 vs 2, and Penn State’s legitimacy as a #2 team.
- “Is Penn State ever really the number two team?” is floated for a poll.
- Lee Corso nostalgia: The team contemplates making tribute videos, with Billy remarking, “Lee Corso is as iconic to your Saturday mornings as Bugs Bunny was. He is an adult Saturday morning cartoon.” [11:28]
- Conversation dips back into expectations for Arch, pressure of the Manning legacy, and prospect analysis.
3. Cam Ward, Name Changes, and Branding
[14:28–16:29, 33:17–37:17]
- The show dissects QB Cameron Ward’s switch from “Cam” to “Cameron.” Billy explains it was a family decision tied to branding and awards.
- Billy: “Can we make it Cameron? It was important to the family and Cam Rin at that time that he was recognized as Cameron Ward.” [15:03]
- Debate: Is it fair to expect media and fans to instantly adopt new player monikers?
- Zaslow delivers a legal “ruling” on whether Dan must immediately switch to “Cameron Ward”:
- Zaslow: “There will be no penalty for continuing to call him Cam Ward. Forgivable, with prejudice. Forgiven.” [34:50]
- Comparison to name changes in pro sports—Ochocinco, Giancarlo Stanton, Henry/Bill Walker. Zaslow insists star players “have to earn it.”
4. Quarterback Fights and Grit
[16:29–18:05, 27:33–28:11]
- Cam Ward fighting his own DT Jeffrey Simmons at practice: Is this a red flag or a sign of leadership?
- Billy: “They asked him the very next day at practice, any lessons ... he said, yeah, Jeff is strong as shit.” [17:35]
- Chris and Billy argue they “want a quarterback that's going to get out there and fight ... like our men and women in uniform running towards the battle.” [27:50]
5. Miami Sports Nostalgia and Local Sports Celebrity
[22:29–23:33, 39:16–43:12]
- The group playfully roasts Billy’s Marlins fandom, suggesting he’s more invested in the Marlins than his own kids.
- Tangent on local radio legends, media figures, and the fading relevance of terrestrial radio in a streaming world:
- Dan: “What does that mean, that Y100 still has evenings in the middle of the night?” [41:09]
- Local personality name-drops and the “highlight owner” bits.
6. SportsCenter’s Evolution and Rich Eisen’s Return
[38:56–41:05]
- Reflection on Rich Eisen returning to SportsCenter after 22 years, and how the show now needs individual anchors more than anchors need “The Brand.”
- Dan: “It's really cool to see SportsCenter morph into something that needs individuals more than the individuals need SportsCenter.” [40:00]
- The “viewer-to-anchor” bond exemplified by Eisen and Scott Van Pelt is contrasted with the plug-and-play days of old ESPN.
7. Inside References, Impromptu Polls & Running Gags
Scattered Throughout
- Multiple references to “put it on the poll” for outlandish or deadpan questions.
- Highlighting quirks, e.g., Zaslow’s hair piece mishap:
- Dan: “His hair's just gone ... What a tragedy. Zaslow was confusing Nick Wright and others into thinking that his look was hair. But no, there's his box of hair right there.” [23:46]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Dan Le Batard [01:13]: “Welcome to the Big Suey ... I have been tempted in restaurants just walking past tables to grab somebody's fries if they're just there. That hasn't happened to you guys. I've done it.”
- Chris [04:45]: “We had our first Bob in major league baseball in 15 years. Bob Seymour hit his first home run last night for your Rays, Dan.”
- Zaslow [06:55]: “Has there ever been a season that begins with the Heisman Trophy favorite ... Arch Manning ... has no resume in college football?”
- Billy [11:28]: “Lee Corso is as iconic to your Saturday mornings as Bugs Bunny was. He is an adult Saturday morning cartoon. ... He means that much. Wow. Sunshine scooter.”
- Billy [15:03]: “It was important to the family and Cam Rin at that time that he was recognized as Cameron Ward. ... For branding sake, you're wearing number one and your name is Cam, and you're going solely as Cam. We're still too close. I mean, Cam Newton's still very active in the media space.”
- Billy [17:35]: “They asked him ... any lessons that you learn from your scuffle with Jeffrey Simmons. And he said, yeah, Jeff is strong as shit.”
- Dan Le Batard [40:00]: “It's really cool to see SportsCenter morph into something that needs individuals more than the individuals need SportsCenter.”
Timestamps for Important Segments
- Intro/Ad skips: [00:00–01:13]
- Segregated Baseball & Kyle Schwarber Talk: [01:46–04:48]
- 'First Bob' MLB Trivia & Bob Seymour Segment: [04:48–05:48]
- Arch Manning Hype & College Football Expectations: [05:57–12:03]
- Lee Corso Tribute/Nostalgia: [11:10–12:03]
- Cam(er)on Ward Name Change & Media Reactions: [14:28–16:29]
- QB Fights & Grit: [16:29–18:05], [27:33–28:11]
- Judge Zaslow Rules on Name Changes: [33:17–37:17]
- Rich Eisen & SportsCenter Reflection: [38:56–41:05]
- Local Radio and Miami Nostalgia: [41:05–43:12]
Episode Tone
The tone is irreverent and fast-paced, peppered with friendly mockery, insider references, Miami-centric nostalgia, and running bits. The hosts balance insightful sports analysis with comedic tangents and a willingness to poke fun at themselves and each other.
Takeaways for New Listeners
- This episode typifies the show’s genre-blurring style, where sports analysis, local color, and sternly silly digressions collide.
- The conversation about Arch Manning is a must-listen for anyone tracking quarterback narratives this season; likewise, the breakdown of how modern media treats athlete “branding.”
- The show’s self-referential humor, polls, and affection for Miami sports culture offer a taste of the camaraderie that defines the Big Suey.
Note: This summary skips all advertisements and sponsorship reads.
