The Big Suey: Don Van Natta Jr. & Boban Marjanović (feat. Well... Both of Those Guys)

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Big Suey: Don Van Natta Jr. & Boban Marjanović (feat. Well... Both of Those Guys) The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
Release Date: July 24, 2025

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1. Introduction and Overview

In this episode of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz, hosts Dan Le Batard and Stugotz delve deep into significant sports and cultural topics, featuring two prominent guests: Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Don Van Natta Jr. and NBA star Boban Marjanović. The episode skillfully balances serious investigative discourse with light-hearted banter, offering listeners a comprehensive look into ongoing issues within sports unions and the multifaceted career of Boban Marjanović.

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2. Investigative Reporting on NFLPA and MLBPA with Don Van Natta Jr.

a. Unveiling the Union Crisis (01:01 - 05:04)
Don Van Natta Jr., a senior writer for ESPN, joins the show to discuss his extensive investigation into the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) and Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA). Van Natta reveals that both unions are under federal criminal investigation due to financial irregularities linked to Team Partners, a company co-founded by the two unions alongside Redbird Capital.

Don Van Natta Jr. (02:00):
"There's a federal criminal investigation going on in Brooklyn looking very closely at the NFLPA and the MLBPA."

He highlights a pivotal moment when Pablo Torre's 61-page collusion ruling intensified the scrutiny on union activities, particularly spotlighting the resignation of Lloyd Howell, the then-head of the NFLPA, amidst revelations of unauthorized expenditures.

b. The Lloyd Howell Scandal (05:04 - 11:10)
Van Natta provides an in-depth analysis of how Lloyd Howell conducted a secretive election process to secure his position within the union, largely unbeknownst to the players and even some within the union's leadership. He details Howell's questionable past, including his tenure as CFO at Booz Allen, where he was implicated in a significant fraud case involving overbilling of the federal government.

Don Van Natta Jr. (08:00):
"It's how he picked up a $700 receipt costing him his $3.4 million-a-year job."

The conversation underscores Howell's misuse of union funds, notably charging a $700 car service fee to the NFLPA for a trip to Tootsie's Cabaret, a notorious Miami strip club. This excessive expenditure, especially on a school night, ultimately led to Howell's resignation.

Don Van Natta Jr. (07:25):
"He went straight from the airport to Tootsie's Cabaret, and that was the last straw for Lloyd Howell."

c. Impact on the Union and Future Leadership (11:10 - 13:19)
Van Natta discusses the profound crisis plaguing the union, labeling it the worst in its 68-year history. He emphasizes the growing frustration and desire for change among the players, who have long felt disconnected and mistrustful of their leadership. The search for a new executive director is critical, with Van Natta stressing the importance of selecting a leader capable of standing up to NFL owners in upcoming Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs).

Don Van Natta Jr. (12:39):
"They have to find a permanent executive director, which they will likely do after the Super Bowl. And that choice is really, really important."

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3. Light-Hearted Banter and Humorous Interlude

Amidst the serious discussions, the hosts and Van Natta engage in playful teasing, particularly targeting Van Natta's teeth. This segment showcases the hosts' camaraderie and ability to balance intense topics with humor.

Stugotz (07:32):
"I can tell that our entire show wants to be friends with you and wants to talk to you for hours, but he has to go."

Mike Ryan (15:30):
"Can we agree that if you're at the strip club from 10 pm until 6 am and you're an adult, you're a loser. I mean, like just."

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4. Discussion on Don Van Natta Jr.'s Upcoming Book on Jerry Jones (10:21 - 14:55)

The conversation shifts to Don Van Natta Jr.'s forthcoming book, The Star, which focuses on the life and legacy of Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys. Van Natta draws parallels between his investigative work and the upcoming Netflix series on Jerry Jones and the Cowboys, emphasizing the cultural impact Jones has had on and off the field.

Dan Le Batard (10:21):
"I wanted to have Don on also to talk about his upcoming book, the Star. It's going to focus on the life and legacy of Jerry Jones."

Van Natta critiques Jerry Jones's negotiation tactics, suggesting that Jones often prioritizes media dominance over financial prudence, particularly regarding player contracts.

Don Van Natta Jr. (14:55):
"Jerry doesn't mind paying a few extra million dollars to these guys as long as he can dominate the conversation."

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5. Special Feature: Boban Marjanović on Acting and Hollywood Ventures (15:30 - 41:22)

a. From the Court to the Screen (19:35 - 25:50)
Boban Marjanović, the Serbian NBA star known for his towering presence, shares insights into his burgeoning acting career. He discusses his role in the John Wick series, detailing the rigorous training regimen he underwent to perform his stunts convincingly alongside Keanu Reeves.

Boban Marjanović (24:32):
"It's like practicing for the basketball game. They work with you, make the best out of you."

He also talks about his participation in the upcoming Happy Gilmore 2 on Netflix, expressing excitement about reprising a beloved character from the original film.

Boban Marjanović (30:43):
"I hope to watch this movie with my friends and family, but my wife and my kids are in Puerto Rico right now."

b. Balancing NBA and Acting (34:09 - 39:24)
Marjanović reflects on the challenges of balancing his NBA career with acting commitments. He humorously addresses the logistical difficulties posed by his size, such as finding appropriately sized cars and hotel accommodations.

Boban Marjanović (39:00):
"Cars cannot fit. Like, this is like so much. So much like not too much cars."

He remains passionate about both basketball and acting, highlighting his admiration for role models like Shaquille O'Neal and his aspirations to excel in both fields.

Boban Marjanović (28:28):
"Shaquille O'Neal is my role model. He makes gold, and this is the goal for me too."

c. Humorous Interactions and Fan Engagement (41:07 - 41:22)
The episode concludes with light-hearted interactions between Boban and the hosts, including playful gestures and friendly exchanges, reinforcing the warm and engaging atmosphere of the show.

Dan Le Batard (40:59):
"Big heart. Like this."

Stugotz (41:07):
"He told me. Good job."

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6. Conclusion

This episode of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz masterfully intertwines serious investigative journalism with entertaining conversations, providing listeners with both informative content and engaging personalities. Don Van Natta Jr.'s revelations about the NFLPA and MLBPA present a critical look into the governance of major sports unions, while Boban Marjanović's foray into acting adds a dynamic and humorous dimension to the discussion. The hosts' adept moderation ensures a balanced and comprehensive narrative, making this episode a must-listen for sports enthusiasts and casual fans alike.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Don Van Natta Jr. (02:00):
  "There's a federal criminal investigation going on in Brooklyn looking very closely at the NFLPA and the MLBPA."

• Don Van Natta Jr. (07:25):
  "He went straight from the airport to Tootsie's Cabaret, and that was the last straw for Lloyd Howell."

• Don Van Natta Jr. (12:39):
  "They have to find a permanent executive director, which they will likely do after the Super Bowl. And that choice is really, really important."

• Boban Marjanović (24:32):
  "It's like practicing for the basketball game. They work with you, make the best out of you."

• Boban Marjanović (28:28):
  "Shaquille O'Neal is my role model. He makes gold, and this is the goal for me too."

• Boban Marjanović (39:00):
  "Cars cannot fit. Like, this is like so much. So much like not too much cars."

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Final Thoughts:

The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz continues to excel in delivering a blend of deep investigative topics and entertaining guest interactions. This particular episode not only sheds light on the intricate challenges within sports unions but also celebrates the diverse talents of its guests, making it a standout installment in the series.

Transcript

[Dan LeBatard]

What does Zyn give you? Not just smoke free nicotine satisfaction, but real freedom. Freedom to do what you love and choose your rewards. With Zinn Rewards, you can redeem points for premium tech, outdoor gear and gift cards to your favorite retailers. Find your Zen and keep finding rewards that fit your [e-mail] rewards. Warning this product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical. Welcome to the Big sui presented by DraftKings.

[Stugotz]

Why are you listening to this show?

[Dan LeBatard]

The podcast that seems very similar to the other Dan LeBatard podcast. I'm sorry, I'm not going to apologize for that. In fact, the only difference seems to be this imaging.

[Stugotz]

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.

[Boban Marjanović]

I've done it.

[Dan LeBatard]

And now here's the marching man to Nowhere, Fat Face and the Habitual Liar.

[Stugotz]

The answer was always the same when I was texting my friends, hey, what's going to happen here with the head of the players union? What do you think will happen when it was still uncertain about everything that's happening with him? Is it about what Pablo Torre found out or is it about what's about to come out? And I told you it was the strip club. I told you it was the reporting about the strip club. And I told you that he was trying to save everything. And then it all changed when he's like up, Van Nada's sniffing around, Van Natta's asking questions. Then all of a sudden he shut everything down. So Pablo smoked it out, but Van Nada made him quit. Don Van Natta, the Pulitzer Prize winner, joins us now and he's very busy. He's a senior writer for ESPN and he continues to investigate all of this stuff. This is just the beginning, isn't it Don? This is about you guys. Now that you guys are sniffing around, this is about to get a whole lot worse.

[Don Van Natta]

Absolutely. Dan, great to see you. It it will get worse because there's a federal criminal investigation going on in Brooklyn. Looking very closely at the NFLPA and the mlbpa. That's how I got started in this. I want to set the record straight a little bit about Pablo. Pablo did get that 61 page collusion ruling which certainly intensified our investigation. But a month prior to that, Jeff Passon and I broke a story at ESPN that the NFLPA and the MLBPA are under criminal investigation for one Team Partners, which is this company that was co founded by the two unions and Redbird Capital looking into financial irregularities there. So that's when I first started getting interested. But no doubt when Pablo got that 61 page collusion ruling that the union literally Lloyd Howell tried to bury with a confidentiality agreement that we reported with the NFL. Then from that moment we did that story, I think it was nine days from that story to when we found out about the strip clubs and Lloyd Howell resigned. It was, it was quite quick.

[Stugotz]

What would you tell us is most important for the audience to know about your most recent reporting?

[Don Van Natta]

Well, the story that we did yesterday that Kaylin Kaler and I did is a deep dive, more than 3,000 words that takes you inside how Lloyd Howell got his job. He was elected in the most secretive process in union history. The architect of that secret process was JC Treader. JC Tretor was a former NFLPA president who then Lloyd Howell made. He created a new job for him actually called Director of Strategy. And interestingly, Treader, as Director of Strategy knew nothing about the collusion ruling and a lot of other things that were going on that Lloyd Howe was keeping from the players. So Dan, you had a secretive election that put Lloyd Howell in the job and then many decisions, as we laid out in our story yesterday that Hal made, kept the players in the dark. Not just about the collusion ruling, but even after he got his job. And details came out about his previous work at Booz Allen where he was the CFO and in charge of that company when, when there was one of the largest fraud cases of over billing of the federal government after he got his job just three weeks later, a settlement was set between Booz Allen and the federal government. $377 million fine was paid by Booz Allen. And a month later the Washington Post reported that a whistleblower at Booz Allen brought all this alleged fraud, turned out to be fraud, right on the desk of Lloyd Howell. And he said nothing to see here. All that came out just within a few weeks of how getting his job. A top union lawyer wanted to tell the player reps who had just voted Lloyd Howell in that information and they were never told. So time and again inside the union, players, the entire membership, even the leadership, even JC Treader didn't know what was going on. And so that's, I think one of the biggest takeaways of yesterday's story that Kaylan and I did.

[Stugotz]

Zaz is a radio legend, he's an entertainer. I feel that he's getting a little bit bored when we get into the weeds here on some of this stuff. So Van Naata can You please impress Zas and Chris Cody with like, what are the dirtiest parts of this story? Like what's coming next? Given the dirty stuff, like impress us with, instead of union talk, try to entertain you old timey print journalist guys. Like do a little clown dance for us and tell us where's the, where's the dirtiest shit.

[Boban Marjanović]

We.

[Stugotz]

What's the worst of it and what's coming next?

[Don Van Natta]

Well, certainly the strip club stuff, which we absolutely have to talk about because that was really the end of Lloyd Howell's tenure. I had been hearing about a week earlier that he was going to strip clubs, taking employees at the NFLPA to strip clubs during events and started chasing it. And literally in the course of just a few hours last Thursday afternoon, we heard a lot of details about it, particularly the one which to me is one of the most astonishing things I've ever come across in my career. Lloyd Howe flew to Fort Lauderdale International Airport at 10:36, got into a car hired by the union and the car took him directly to Tootsie's Cabaret. Let me tell you what Tootsie's Cabaret is if you don't know. It's in Miami Gardens, Florida.

[Stugotz]

Oh, we know.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah, right.

[Stugotz]

It's the biggest. It's the biggest. We saw.

[Chris Cody]

It's never seen it.

[Don Van Natta]

We know it's the, it's the largest in the world.

[Dan LeBatard]

That's what they call themselves.

[Stugotz]

We do.

[Don Van Natta]

That's right. 76.

[Stugotz]

You're not impressing them, print guy. Listen, the entertainers know what you're talking about. And Chris Cody and Zaslow too.

[Don Van Natta]

All right, well, what we found out, which Lloyd Howell I don't think knew that we knew this is that the car sat outside while he was in there through the night for seven hours. Because he got out about 5:30 and then the car took him to his apartment in Sunny isles Beach at 6pm or 6am and here's the key to this. This was charged to the union. And I don't think Floyd Howell knew that we even knew that and had the documents. And when he found that out, he didn't find that out, nor did the executive committee until our story came out the following day. But he knew the bad optics of that as well as a visit in Atlanta to the Magic City Strip Club, which is quite famous in Atlanta.

[Chris Cody]

Lemon wings.

[Dan LeBatard]

Chicken wings.

[Don Van Natta]

Yeah, chicken wings are famous. Right. A lot of people love that place. Right. And so those two visits on the expenses of the NFLPA were really the last straw for Lloyd Howell.

[Chris Cody]

Dan, that's some chutzpah 700 plus dollars.

[Stugotz]

It's just this. I thought that was the. I swear to you when it happened. And Van. Not a new. This when he wrote it. When I read $700 from Fort Lauderdale to Miami. And Van. Na. You can take us through this. You submit questions to get to Lloyd Howe that are going to say why did take eight hours? Why'd you go straight from the airport? And Lloyd Howell picks up the phone. He says, I resign. I. These are not questions I want. You asked very detailed questions that had him caught on. You spent 800 bucks of union money with a car just sitting outside a strip club and you went straight from the airport.

[Chris Cody]

And it's not a long ride. It's not like it's a schlep.

[Stugotz]

No, it's a $40 Uber.

[Don Van Natta]

That's right. And this is a guy worth $100 million. And a $700 receipt cost him this job that pays him $3.4 million a year. And you're right, Dan. When I called them with those questions, I knew the answers to them because I knew I was going to get the document. I didn't have it yet, but I had it described to me and knew I was going to get it in a matter of a few hours. And Lloyd Howell resigned not knowing I was going to get the document because then he went into an executive committee meeting, which is also kind of stunning. We reported yesterday he met. He basically sat down with the 10 guys that elevated him to the job and they were still all in, begging him not to quit. He told them about the strip club, but not honestly. And he hung in there because I think he probably assumed correctly that we were going to get the receipts and we got them and published the story the next day.

[Chris Cody]

Can we agree that if you're at the strip Club from 10pm until 6am and you're an adult, you're a loser. I mean, like just. I mean, what, like he's supposed to be a professional?

[Stugotz]

Or having a great deal of fun?

[Dan LeBatard]

What about 12 to 6?

[Chris Cody]

Come on.

[Stugotz]

Or having a great deal of fun.

[Chris Cody]

8 hours.

[Stugotz]

It is a long time. But have you been to Tootsies? Like they're not profitable from. I haven't been. They're not possible from midnight to 8am because it's not active from midnight to 8am as an open 24 hours. Okay, there we go. I've lost all. I've lost all my credibility on this issue because I don't know anything about.

[Dan LeBatard]

Not open 24 hours. I've heard.

[Don Van Natta]

Look again he wants to go to the strip club on his own time, with his own money. I don't care. Nobody cares, right? This is union money. These are union dues paid for by players that he used for this car service on a Thursday night. Okay? It was a school night. And Friday at 6am the car dropped him off at his place. And so the optics of that clearly were not good. And he knew that. And that was it.

[Stugotz]

I wanted to have Don on also to talk about his upcoming book, the Star. It's going to focus on the life and legacy of Jerry Jones. It's going to be released in 2026. You're about to get a whole lot of Jerry Jones, incidentally, because Netflix is doing a 10 part series on Jer Jones and the Cowboys. And, and so I want to talk about that. But what else do we need to know here, Don? What are the important details? The, the. The union must feel rudderless. Its players must be furious that you guys continue to embarrass them. Players have traditionally. I can't remember a time that football players didn't have a problem with the head of this union. All of them have been problematic to the players. How much worse is it now in terms of the union being unified on really being embarrassed by what, what you've reported, you and Pablo have reported recently?

[Don Van Natta]

Oh, that's a great question. It's clearly the worst crisis in the union's 68 year history. Dominique Foxworth puts it quite nicely, I think. Well, he, he said basically this has woken everybody up and has gotten a pretty traditionally apathetic rank and file. Not just embarrassed, but also wanting to fix it. And it remains to be seen whether they rise to that challenge. They have to find an interim executive director. I believe they'll do that by the end of this week. But they have to find a permanent executive director, which they will likely do after the Super Bowl. And that choice is really, really important. Look, no ex player Dominique Foxworth applied. Matt Schaub applied for this job. When Lloyd Howell got it. Kellen Winslow senior, the hall of Famer, none of those guys even got a real serious look. And Lloyd Howell, formerly of Booz Allen, with this massive fraud investigation ongoing, when they looked at him, he's one of the two finalists. The other is a SAG AFTRA guy named David White. And none of those former players do. As we know, Gene Upshaw was the last former player to lead the union. And he was a pretty tough guy across the table with those NFL owners. They respected him.

[Stugotz]

That's the last time I remember this union having leadership that it felt like it could trust. It's been nothing but mistrust since then.

[Don Van Natta]

Right. That's fair. And Dee Smith, you know, we did a profile of demora Smith a few years ago. He's got a book coming out that apparently trashes me and says that I'm in the hip pocket of NFL owners, which is one of the more absurd things you could say about me. But Dee Smith, we did a profile. The NFL owners looked at D as somebody that they were happy was in that position. They felt they had rolled him and not one, but two CBAs in 2011 and 2020. And the next CBA is still five years away, but it's going to get here very, very quickly. And whoever the players do decide to elevate and choose for the next job has to be somebody who can be equal to the NFL owners that they face in the next cba.

[Mike Ryan]

Don, you've done some great reporting over the years on Jerry Jones and I'm wondering what your take is when Kevin Clark says, when I look at Jerry Jones, I think of one thing. If the football gods came down and said, Jerry, you get to win the next three Super Bowls, but the catch is you can't do a press conference. He looks at the football gods and says, no deal.

[Don Van Natta]

I saw, I saw that. Kevin said that. I don't agree with that. Let me tell you why. Because Jerry wants the next super bowl in such a bad way, he would write a massive check for it because it shows that he as general manager can win a Super bowl without Jimmie Johnson. And so when he says three, he wants to win the next one. I actually think Jerry would give up that post game press conference that he loves to do all the time before the camera to win one, not three, I think he'll win one. And then he would like to go back to all of the press conferences at all of the sitting in front of cameras that he does loves to do. But he really desperately. This is part of his legacy. It's hardwired to that he wants to win the next one really, really bad. And I think even Jerry would give up being a showman and being out front if he could get that next Super Bowl.

[Stugotz]

Do you agree with Zaz when he says he does all of the contracts protracted and caves and gives all the guys money because it's all entertainment and he just wants to be in the news?

[Chris Cody]

It's just the only explanation I can gather, Don, when he could have paid these guys, you know, like last year and saved money.

[Don Van Natta]

No question. I do. Zaz, I agree with you. By the way, I heard what you said earlier. Zaz, I respect you, okay? Even though you're wearing the Goldilocks.

[Stugotz]

No, no. What?

[Don Van Natta]

What is that?

[Stugotz]

What is what is what?

[Mike Ryan]

You're talking about his new beard.

[Chris Cody]

Yeah, I'm a grown up, so I have a beard now.

[Don Van Natta]

Don't got it. Okay. Anyway, I respect you, Zaz, you're absolutely right. Jerry doesn't mind the extra, you know, few million as long as he can be dominating the conversation. And when training camp opens, we've seen it year after year. It's. It's part of the formula. Jerry doesn't mind to pay a few extra million dollars to these guys as long as he can dominate the conversation.

[Stugotz]

We know you have to go. We appreciate the time. Last question on your way out. Who is more famous in South Florida? Pulitzer Prize winner Don Van Nada or two time broadcasting champion Jonathan Zaslow?

[Don Van Natta]

Or Jonathan Zaslow, Without a doubt. No question.

[Chris Cody]

Respect, Don.

[Don Van Natta]

Respect to you all. All the way. You've got no doubt. Wow. Thank you.

[Mike Ryan]

What's going on there?

[Stugotz]

Okay, put it.

[Boban Marjanović]

What is that?

[Stugotz]

What is that? What is on the pole? What's going on there?

[Mike Ryan]

I'm just saying. I mean, those teeth are very.

[Stugotz]

You're going to investigate the investigator. Are you making an accident? Hold on a second.

[Dan LeBatard]

Let me just.

[Don Van Natta]

Please don't find the receipts for my teeth.

[Stugotz]

Hold on.

[Don Van Natta]

Let's not look for the time to.

[Boban Marjanović]

Throw away the journalistic credibility and get reckless. Here is something we like to call reckless speculation.

[Mike Ryan]

You got big teeth.

[Boban Marjanović]

Whoa.

[Stugotz]

No, no, that's not right. That is not right, what you just did that.

[Mike Ryan]

They're nice, though.

[Stugotz]

That's spectacular. That was rude. Rude.

[Mike Ryan]

Who's your guy?

[Stugotz]

Let him go. He had a heart.

[Mike Ryan]

And do they talk a lot about Trump?

[Stugotz]

That's not cool, what you just did. Not cool. You know what? Hold on a second.

[Mike Ryan]

Because Dan has his dentist that he likes a lot. We've got a penalty.

[Chris Cody]

5Min major.

[Stugotz]

Goodbye, Don. Thank you for being on with us.

[Dan LeBatard]

Not you, him. We love you, Don.

[Stugotz]

Yeah, nice guys. As soon as you said that, I saw that poor man, like his upper lip moved to cover his teeth because of whatever shame he had about what you just did to him.

[Dan LeBatard]

They're real and they're spectacular.

[Boban Marjanović]

He's still.

[Dan LeBatard]

Still here. Looking at him like. Like this at all.

[Stugotz]

Well, because that. That was not.

[Dan LeBatard]

It was uncalled for. It was uncalled for. Ridiculous.

[Stugotz]

What a way to. The man has been nice enough to Come and be on the show with us. He's a wildly respected person. I've loved his work for 30 years.

[Chris Cody]

I have a lot of confidence now because of him.

[Stugotz]

He's super nice to us. He makes time for us. And Mike does that.

[Don Van Natta]

Like, that's.

[Stugotz]

That's reprehensible.

[Chris Cody]

What a dick.

[Don Van Natta]

What a schmeckle.

[Stugotz]

Worse than Dick Sampson, man.

[Dan LeBatard]

Now we got Bobon coming up. This is a fun show. Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan are back in Disney's Freakier Friday.

[Stugotz]

Yes.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yes. On August 8th.

[Don Van Natta]

Switched bodies.

[Stugotz]

I am freaking out right now.

[Dan LeBatard]

Let's pause and reframe. Get tickets now. Now, now, now for the ultimate movie event of the summer.

[Don Van Natta]

I definitely don't know how to watch as an old person. What do they do?

[Dan LeBatard]

Talk about transitional lenses, home repairs, John.

[Don Van Natta]

Mayer, or, you know, Coldplay.

[Dan LeBatard]

Disney's Freakier Friday in theaters August 8th. Get tickets now. Rated PG. Parental guidance suggested.

[Unknown]

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[Dan LeBatard]

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[Boban Marjanović]

Don LeBatard ahoy.

[Stugotz]

Is Captain Slappy Stugats is this chum bucket.

[Boban Marjanović]

This is the Dan Levatar show with the Stugats.

[Stugotz]

Bobon is joining us from where? Because I'm a little bit worried. I'm worried about the connections. I'm worried about how foreign. I was told that where there are time zones. Where is he joining us from? Like a movie set somewhere?

[Dan LeBatard]

I would assume that he's doing press, so I'm gonna imagine. I'm gonna guess he's in New York starting a sentence. I'm worried about how foreign probably isn't the way you want to go, though.

[Stugotz]

Okay, time. I was worried about time for me, Dan.

[Mike Ryan]

Don't worry.

[Stugotz]

Thank you Know, was not a play on what Mike did.

[Dan LeBatard]

That's not a play on that. Stop play right there.

[Stugotz]

Well, we used to have. You know what I miss? I missed the dead fish. Can we do this here at Metal Arc Media? Can we build a contraption that when a dead fish comes and spends. Does what happens there? That a dead fish falls from the sky and falls on the table?

[Chris Cody]

I just, I'm a little bit embarrassed because Don Van Nada, as everybody knows, is a mensch. And I didn't like how Mike Ryan treated him at the end there, especially after he said nice things about him.

[Dan LeBatard]

Sideswiped him at the end. I didn't like that.

[Stugotz]

It was just unbelievable. And so anyways, let's move on to other subjects and see if we could do something in the way of a palate cleanser here before Bo Band joins us. Because I am excited about this. You guys seem to be too. Congratulations to Pablo Torre for one for being one of the top 100 podcasts of all time. It should have been number one among all of the podcasts ever made.

[Dan LeBatard]

You mean good hang with Amy Poehler. That came out in March. Shouldn't have been on this list.

[Chris Cody]

It's made an indelible mark.

[Dan LeBatard]

Really, really good podcast though. It is great Podcast called My dad Wrote a Porno is there top 100.

[Stugotz]

Did you find any that would. Would pass for fake on the.

[Dan LeBatard]

That would have been one.

[Stugotz]

Did you have any there that the top 100 podcasts of all time that someone out there would say, that's not a real podcast. And then the rebuttal could be, nope, it's one of the top 100 of. You haven't heard of it. You're the idiot, not the podcast. That's you. If you haven't heard of it, you think that's a fake name, You're a fool. There have to be some podcast name. I mean the tennis podcast. I can't believe that's a real thing. Why isn't the hockey show on there? Who's on the tennis podcast? Who's on it? Why is that? Why is the tennis podcast? Who took no time whatsoever to think of a name, couldn't even be bothered. How is that one of the top 100 podcasts of all time if they couldn't even be bothered to think of.

[Dan LeBatard]

A name trying to find these hosts?

[Stugotz]

You guys know nothing about the tennis podcast. Let it be known for the audience. We are all just biting time here, filibustering, waiting For Jordan's boyfriend to be allowed to talk to the Media by Jordan, 2pm I'm sorry I called her Jordan. I will learn her name as more news develops. Welcome back. Michael, do you feel bad about what you did to Don Van Nada there? Because you should. You should feel guilt, you should feel remorse. And these are things that we do privately, on our own or publicly when people are not around. We don't do it when their teeth are in our face and they might be insecure about something.

[Mike Ryan]

Look, I don't speak truth to power. I say opinions in a video.

[Stugotz]

Wow.

[Boban Marjanović]

I like Don LeBatard.

[Dan LeBatard]

We just got to change the language up because challenge just sounds contentious. Let's call it a politely disagreeable.

[Boban Marjanović]

Oh, how about this?

[Dan LeBatard]

An oopsie.

[Stugotz]

There you go. All right. Put it on the poll at Lebiton show. Should a challenge be called an oopsie to placate the referee's ego?

[Dan LeBatard]

An oopsie flag, stugats or the red flag. The challenge flag should not be called a challenge flag or the flag should say on it, love your butt. Red is also an aggressive color. Very, very baby pink.

[Mike Ryan]

We should actually. We should have them throw daisies and call them whoopsie daisies.

[Don Van Natta]

Oh, yeah.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah.

[Boban Marjanović]

It's a good idea. This is the Dan Levatar show with the stugats.

[Stugotz]

Boban surprised me in the John Wick movies I was not expecting to have. And he's been. This is the thing about Boban. Like, I wonder how he feels about this because he's got a sense of humor about it. But this is a human being who can dunk, I believe, without leaving the floor. There aren't. There still aren't very many of those. And he is lovable. And a lot of people really like his personality. He is willing to make fun of himself, and he's become an action star. That was legitimately menacing and fluid. When I saw him in the John Wick movies, like, I could not believe. I know he's an athlete, but that's a whole different thing to be like a stuntman and to do choreography, meaning.

[Chris Cody]

He didn't look awkward.

[Stugotz]

Not nevermind awkward. He looked like somebody that you wouldn't be wanting to fight in a library, like, under any means. Like, he looked like somebody who was a killer.

[Mike Ryan]

8,000, 711 knows how to do action.

[Stugotz]

I mean, yeah, but he knew how to do action. And I don't know how easy it is to do so. He's here to talk now about Happy Gilmore 2.

[Dan LeBatard]

Oh, Happy Gilmore, too. I'm excited.

[Chris Cody]

So funny.

[Stugotz]

Yes, that is going to be very funny. We look forward to finding out.

[Dan LeBatard]

Bad Bunny's in it too, you know. Bonnie, Bob, Bonnie.

[Stugotz]

I want to hear. I want to hear all about these things. Boban. It's nice to see you, sir. Thank you for making time for us.

[Boban Marjanović]

Nice to see you guys. Thank you for everything. Thank you for inviting me.

[Stugotz]

So. So just let's start with. With hard. Was any of that to do and. And was it uncomfortable for you to have to learn how to do all of that or were you immediately receptive?

[Boban Marjanović]

No, there was. There was so perfect with me. Like they. They give me classes like seven days. I'm a little bit blurry, but I think my camera. Something wrong with my camera.

[Dan LeBatard]

You look great. Don't worry about it.

[Boban Marjanović]

Sorry for that. And I think like same like you practice for the game. Same like practice for the basketball. It's like there they work with you. They make. They make the best person of yourself. Like try to all your. All your strength. Be the best you can to do it to be like to be best person yourself. They helped me with all moves, with all boxing, with all like all hits, all fake, like all book hits or like every everything. What is going with that? It's like it was so amazing and it's so perfect too. I can learn from the best and not just like fighting. I think for acting too. And you know, we're just starting by the way. We just started. This is. This is one of the many.

[Stugotz]

This won't be surprising, I suppose as a question. And I don't even know if it's anything other than awe, but I simply can't believe how large your hands are.

[Boban Marjanović]

Jesus.

[Stugotz]

Yeah, like that. Hey now how many hours of training take us through the rigor of what you had to do to be an action star fighting Keanu Reeves and John Wick.

[Boban Marjanović]

They say you want to come we learn how you to fight. And it was like. It was like seven days we come to New York. He was. It was conversation between us. They want to make. They want to make like Kanye, Abu Jabar and Bruce Lee. Same same of that. Because his Bigfoot, his big hands and like obviously I'm my bigfoot, my big hands. And it's can of course one of the. One of the best action movie like on the world. I can say that. And it was like. It was like good choice. And opening scene. And we practice. It was practicing New York in New York before shooting seven days. Seven days before shooting 45 minutes. The work day Work, great job. They like, basically do great job with me so I can. So I can learn all these tricks, all these moves and they can make to look. To look really good on camera. But by the way, when you finish that, when you finish this shooting, I watch. I watch a small scene. They come out. Somebody tagged me. I don't know how, but they have that. They have that like when somebody tagged you on Instagram to say, oh, this guy is not bad. And I look at. I look at my moves. I was in. I was in Philadelphia 76 at that time. I was in locker room next Tobias. And I like, hey, Toby, look at this. I don't look bad at all. And I didn't. I didn't expect. I didn't expect there will be. They will be like that, but they come out. They might come out better than I really expected, to be honest. And that time I was figured out. That day I figured out it was who. I love it. I love cameras. I like to be around. It was like, so. It was so late from 5pm to 8, 8am in the morning. He was in New York time. He was really, like, exhausted. But it's not just me. It's. It's everybody. It's everybody there. It's everybody. Everybody working hard. It's not just like one person. Keanu producer, only one camera. It's basically everybody there. You have like 20 people already awake and watching you, watching you and make sure you do the best you can. And of course, stunt people.

[Chris Cody]

So, Boban, in the next NBA season, whenever you were playing a game, were guys on other teams telling you, yo, you were awesome in John Wick.

[Boban Marjanović]

I was like, I remember. I remember the day. I remember the day. I was like, we play against lakers and. And LeBron coming, like, downhill. And I make. And I make foul. And he. I tell referee, referee, that's not a foul. And he. And he turned to me and say, hey, Bobby, this is not John Wick.

[Mike Ryan]

Boban. I'm curious if you always had a passion for movies. Some people of your. They just kind of find their way into it and don't necessarily take the kind of natural liking that you seem to have for movies. So I wonder if growing up, this was a goal of yours, that you loved movies and wanted to be in them.

[Boban Marjanović]

No, I watch. I like. I like the movies. I like the movies. Movies. It's always, always nice to know. It's nice to be there, of course, watching Shaquille o' Neal and all. All of what he. Or what he do, you know. Like, he's. He's my role model. And I watch, I watch him how he doing, what he do, how he provide everything, what, what he touched. Basically, he make gold. And this is like, this is goal for me too. Like, you know, like, be the. Be the most movie I can be the. Like, of course, maybe one day be the TV host. You never know. And of course, maybe like, I'll be DJ whenever I basically, I work on my DJ skills. And this is like, this is like my goal to be. To be almost like him. Nobody can reach him. But, you know, like, I. I try a little bit small part of that. And when I watch him that time, I was like, maybe I can try, but it's never. It never was really, like, true. I didn't ever believe in that till I really didn't step on. A. Step on a couple commercials, go there, film the movie, saw how that look. I was like, man, I love this. I'm super excited for this. I'm. I'm like big fan. And. And now they call me actor. I don't know why.

[Stugotz]

Well, they call you actor because you fought in John Wick. You fought John Wick. You're in the upcoming series Robin Hood on mgm. And then we're all excited this weekend to see him in Happy Gilmore 2. It's only on Netflix. It begins tomorrow. On Netflix.

[Boban Marjanović]

Yes. Yeah.

[Stugotz]

So how. How many opportunities and what are the most interesting opportunities offers that you got when people realized, oh, this person can be in the movies, we can have some fun with this and he wants to do it? What are the opportunities that came your way that were the most exciting?

[Boban Marjanović]

But this is like how you say we like we're doing right now, Robin Hood. What is super exciting? That's why I couldn't go on premiere. They shooting here. They shouldn't hear in Serbia what they have Lucky to be in my country, basically. Like not. Not really my city, but like 30 minutes driving what is like really close by. And it's. They'll be like same. They'll. They look like they'll be amazing because I'm there. No, they'll be. They'll. They look like they'll be great show. The good TV show and looking forward to. Looking forward to see that happy game or two come out. Come out like tomorrow, but super sunny. Have so much fun.

[Stugotz]

This is great, though, Bob. And you look just like. You look just like the original Happy Gilmore character. They made.

[Dan LeBatard]

They did the Mr. Larson. Richard Keel.

[Stugotz]

Yeah, you did. They did. They made you look like jaws from the 007 movies. Did. Did you know what he looked like? Did you. Were you. You saw the original?

[Boban Marjanović]

Yes, of course I saw original. I saw. I saw. I saw the movie and they. I think they. They really did great job with that. Matching. Matching me with him. And it did. That was a great idea. It was great idea. It was fun. The movie is amazing. So much. So much famous people in that movie. Of course, Adam Sandler, like, one of. One of the. One of the best. Bad Bunny. And Dan.

[Chris Cody]

What's the matter with you? You don't think Boban. You don't think Bo man had seen Happy Gilmore? What's wrong with you, man?

[Stugotz]

I'm sorry. Sometimes I ask dumb questions.

[Dan LeBatard]

Can you tell us, like, anything about this character? Like, do you have a nail in your head? What can you tell us about this character?

[Boban Marjanović]

I. To be honest, I don't know what I can tell, but only what I know. I don't have nail in my head. This is the only. What I cannot tell. This is what you guys know. I like. I don't know what. How far. How far I can.

[Chris Cody]

No spoilers. No spoilers.

[Dan LeBatard]

Okay, I respect that.

[Boban Marjanović]

I respect you guys. You guys watching tomorrow, but I have nail in my head, and it's super exciting to be. To be there. We did. We did them mostly shooting with them, and it was like, super cool. They helped me with everything. It was like. I don't know if you can say more, but this is it. I know. I. I'm. I hope so.

[Stugotz]

I hope so. He's getting punished. Look, there's someone off camera telling him he's got to stop talking.

[Boban Marjanović]

Okay, that's fine. I'm gonna ask you a question that.

[Dan LeBatard]

Has nothing to do with the movie. How is being with Bad Buttons money?

[Boban Marjanović]

Yeah, it was. It was cool. It was cool. I met him. I. I met him on his show. I was. He was in Dallas, and I met him in a. Basically, when I work out in Portland, we have the game. I work out before. Something happened to being the same time in the wait room, only me and him. That's why we literally have a small conversation there and one more time in Dallas. And this is like four times time. Four time in. In. You know, when they do makeup and everything? That's why we did. We did makeup together. That's my. That's my hair. What they. What they build on my hair. And it was like. It was. It was super exciting because they need some time to do that.

[Dan LeBatard]

Boban, I love you. I love you.

[Mike Ryan]

I love you too.

[Boban Marjanović]

Yeah, I love you guys, I love you guys too. But I saw, I saw a little bit like a picture late here, but I think it's not because of me. Maybe.

[Stugotz]

Yes, you look great, buddy.

[Boban Marjanović]

I don't know about that. Look great.

[Stugotz]

All right, all right, all right. Your tech, your technology is great.

[Boban Marjanović]

I will take that.

[Chris Cody]

Boban, I think you said that you hadn't seen the movie yet. Like, do you have. Do you have a plan when you're going to sit down, who you're going.

[Boban Marjanović]

To watch the movie with tomorrow? My. My. My family right now in Puerto Rico. There was the fun part because they went. They went vacation and. And I'm here, I'm here to do something and they have to. To see Bad Bunny concert. And I did. And I did a movie with him. That's like, that's like. So that was like. That was like fun fact. And I think I'll watch this movie with my friends and family, but family, mom and dad and. Because my, my wife and my kids in Puerto Rico right now.

[Stugotz]

So what sounds better to you? Coming back to the NBA and winning an NBA championship or winning an academy Award?

[Boban Marjanović]

Look, I'm basketball player. I always go, I always go, you first come to NBA, win championship. This is like. This is like all. Every goal, every goal for every basketball player. When I come, when I come to play basketball, if not basketball game, I will never have opportunity to be on. Never have opportunity to be on, on in movie, TV show or commercials on or like, you name it.

[Stugotz]

So.

[Boban Marjanović]

Or here from a few guys.

[Stugotz]

Okay, well, so when you think of the things that have happened in your life and how improbable they are that you would get to some of these things when you say, what is the most ridiculous situation I have found myself in because somebody wants to meet me or somebody wants to spend time with me. How did I get from here to being in the presence of this person outside of the NBA?

[Boban Marjanović]

Great question. I asked that every time myself. I ask every time myself because I really come from 3,000 people city. It's basically village here in Serbia. People in Serbia doesn't know where is that city. And then I come here and every time us from that time and I start to play basketball. Every time I ask myself, stay in front of all these players, play with all these players, be like around all these people, like who, who I met who have opportunity to have blessed to be around every time, ask that my question, like how it's happened. Chase your dreams. And this is like. This is like one of my dream. Basically, I'm Living every day my dream. I never. I never thought they'll be like that. But this is like. This is like my dream. I hope so. I respond on that question really good because I didn't have.

[Stugotz]

Yes, you heard it, but. Yes, you heard it very well, but. And you answered it very well, but you didn't actually answer it.

[Boban Marjanović]

Like, because you tell me to answer what you think.

[Stugotz]

What one person. Have you found yourself around or situation where you're like, how the hell did I get here? Do you know how much the odds are against me being in this situation?

[Boban Marjanović]

I know. Look at this. John Wick for Keanu Reeves. Sitting. Sitting there. We practice. We practice the scene. He say. He say, ernest, it's almost time. You know, like, he said that. And I was like, flashback. I know the lines. I know everything. And I was like, huh? And I. I can basically flashback from the Matrix. What I watch when I was like, really, like, when he's. When. When I was the kid. Not like kid kid, but when I was. When I was the younger and I'm watching, I watching, I was like, like, is this really happen? Like, I watch around and like I was like, that's. That's really true. That's. That's basically one. One of the many. But mostly like what I really remember because it was like really. I couldn't believe Boban.

[Chris Cody]

So you've been in a couple of Adam Sandler movies now. Happy Gilmore 2. You were also in Hustle, right? Great movie. So are you. Are you now like an Adam Sandler guy? Are you. Because his friends are in like all of his movies.

[Boban Marjanović]

No, he's my best friend right now. He's my best friend. He's. He's the best. He like really like make people like when they go there, film them. They make them. They make them to look special. They make them to feel special. And he is. He's one of best to do that. Like you go there to shooting is not. It's not job. It's like. It's like basically pleasure fun. You always. You always learn something new. You always find something new. They always. They always make you have a smile on the face. And it's like, this is. This is who. Who he is like the like one. One of the best person who ever met Boban.

[Mike Ryan]

You came up through the national team ranks with Jokic and he's misunderstood. I think by. By many some on this show would agree. He's probably the most unstoppable player in NBA history, yet people talk about his passion for the game and he doesn't actually seem like he really enjoys it.

[Stugotz]

It.

[Mike Ryan]

Does he enjoy basketball and why are his arms always bleeding?

[Boban Marjanović]

Well, he like I know him. We played together. We played together together in Mega Visura. And that time he was 18. And that time I was. That time I was star. Now he. Now we change. Now it changed and we played together. He always. He always played great. He always have passion for basketball. This is like. This is like who he is. Like, you know, he love. He love what he love to do. And he. I think he really enjoy. Of course they. Everybody have like some better. They don't want to be like on their job. But you know, job is job and. And he's one of the best in. In that working that job. They mean like we. We like expect him from him every time to provide. And he always provide. Maybe he don't have that. They're always like that smile what we expect every time to enjoy, but he really provide every time with. With numbers, with. With the helping teams to win all this. All this stuff. What, what they do, like all this championship, all these MEPs. What he done. It's like, you know, I don't talk about just NBA. I talk about like when he's like, when he's passed in Europe too. What he's like tremendous player. And I think I agree with you. One old unstoppable player in NBA. Or maybe like not. Maybe it's in the world too.

[Stugotz]

Happy Gilmore 2 only on Netflix tomorrow People have no earthly idea what it is to walk around the world at your size. So among the inconveniences, whether it's can you find a hotel shower that works for you? Can you find a bed in a hotel that works for you? You. What would you say is the greatest daily inconvenience of being as large as you are?

[Boban Marjanović]

You know, like, car. Car cannot fit. Like, this is like. This is like so much. So much like not too much cars. So I can really like go there, go there and say, hey, this is the car. What I like. No, I go first to try saying like, you try T shirt. You try pants. That's how I try the car. Like, not like trying how they drive. It's about trying how they fit, you know, like, okay, I can drive, not drive my head. It's like to the roof or not my head to the roof. I can, man, I can. I like my. My knees be under the steering wheel or no, can I basically fit by my shoulders in the car. Everything, like, everything matching or because I have kids, I have Any space on the back or like. Like behind me because my seat or. No, that's like. That's like mostly. Mostly like for me things and same like for the. For the bed. You know. Going hotel like not every. Not every hotel here like the large. Large size. Like big size. Whatever. How they call like big size bed. King size. And they always. I'm used to. I'm used to sleep like that and if my leg don't go, don't hang out of the bed. I couldn't sleep good. You know, like basically like even I have. I hear in my house like bed like my size. But I still rolling down. They're like my. My legs.

[Stugotz]

That's how you sleep now?

[Boban Marjanović]

Yeah, that's. That's all my life, you know. Like I doesn't know for nothing else. That's how I choose this and this. This how. How I'm built. And that's how I did.

[Stugotz]

I can tell that our entire show wants to be friends with you and wants to talk to you for hours, but he has to go. We are excited to see him this weekend in Happy Gilmore 2. It is only on Netflix tomorrow. Nice seeing you, sir. Thank you for making time, guys.

[Boban Marjanović]

Bigot, big heart. Like this.

[Dan LeBatard]

Put the elbows together.

[Stugotz]

Mine's no good.

[Dan LeBatard]

Touch my elbow reach.

[Boban Marjanović]

Yeah. Good job.

[Chris Cody]

Thanks, Bo man.

[Boban Marjanović]

Thank you guys.

[Dan LeBatard]

Oh my God.

[Stugotz]

He told me.

[Dan LeBatard]

Good job.