The Big Suey: Golden Globes & The AJ Burnett Story (feat. David Samson)

Summary

The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz: Episode Summary – "The Big Suey: Golden Globes & The AJ Burnett Story" (January 8, 2025)

Hosted by Dan Le Batard and Stugotz, this episode from the Elser Hotel in Downtown Miami delves into a variety of topics, including podcast scheduling controversies, insights into corporate podcast management, highlights from the Golden Globes, and an in-depth look at the AJ Burnett story. Special guest David Samson joins the conversation to provide expert perspectives.

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1. The "12 Days of Gregmas" Scheduling Controversy

Chris Cote initiates the discussion by addressing the backlash from listeners regarding the "12 Days of Gregmas" holiday episodes.

• Chris Cote (01:17): "Why were our listeners so mad about that? What happened?"

Jeremy takes responsibility for the scheduling mishap, explaining that episodes were rescheduled strategically but some listeners missed them due to podcast app settings.

• Jeremy (02:01): "We took episodes that were already in our megaphone feed and rescheduled them purposefully... some folks didn't see it. They were upset."

Stugotz slightly shifts the blame, suggesting it might have been the fans' fault for not staying updated.

• Stugotz (02:42): "If anything, it sounds like it's the fans' fault."

Despite the attempts to clarify, the hosts engage in playful banter, highlighting the tension between organizational planning and audience reception.

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2. Introduction of David Samson and Corporate Climate Insights

To address internal podcast management, Chris Cote introduces David Samson, who is focused on improving the corporate environment.

• Chris Cote (02:55): "David Sampson is working very hard... but he's the guy who says, hey, Mike Evans, you're not getting $3 million in incentives."

David Samson expresses frustration with the current operations, emphasizing inefficiencies and time management issues.

• David Samson (03:37): "Your sleep habits... lead to me sitting here since 9:40 waiting for you."

The conversation becomes more contentious as Chris Cote, Billy, and Stugotz respond to David's critiques, leading to a mix of humor and tension.

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3. Highlights from the Golden Globes: Jeremy Strong's Appearance

The hosts pivot to discuss Jeremy Strong's appearance at the Golden Globes, focusing on his unconventional outfit.

• Chris Cote (06:03): "What was the most interesting thing from the Golden Globes?... Is he just self-serious?"

Billy provides background on Jeremy Strong, noting his dedication to method acting and his deliberate choice to wear a standout outfit.

• Billy (06:20): "He was trying to remake his image but still at least trying."

David Samson adds his perspective on Strong's performance and predicts his future moves in the industry.

• David Samson (07:37): "Tom Brady will not return as an analyst for Fox next year."

The discussion highlights the intersection of celebrity image management and career trajectory in the entertainment industry.

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4. The AJ Burnett Story: Contractual Decisions and Player Relations

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to the AJ Burnett narrative, where David Samson provides a comprehensive overview.

David Samson (21:34):

"We had a player named AJ Burnett. He was young, brash, got a tattoo the day before a start, which impacted his performance. His contract had clauses that penalized extra starts, so we made a strategic decision to start another pitcher, Josh Johnson, instead. This led to the end of our relationship with AJ as he realized our stance and his contract expired."

Chris Cote and Billy interject with skepticism and additional context about Burnett's on-field behavior, including a notorious game where he threw at a truck and a mascot.

• Chris Cote (23:29): "This was the part that was more interesting... I do think David Sampson would not have approved that moment if he were running the Bucks."

David Samson clarifies that disciplinary actions were taken to maintain team integrity and performance standards.

• David Samson (24:25): "We charged players for equipment mistakes because we paid them every two weeks. When they would damage equipment, we took deductions from their salary."

The segment underscores the complexities of player management, contractual obligations, and maintaining team discipline within professional sports.

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5. Padres Management and Succession Planning

Chris Cote solicits David Samson's expertise on the ongoing management issues within the San Diego Padres, particularly following the untimely death of team owner Peter Seidler.

• Chris Cote (18:24): "Why we're covering what's happening behind the scenes with the Padres so poorly..."

David Samson elaborates on the familial disputes arising from Seidler's death and the ensuing lawsuit between Seidler's widow and his brother.

• David Samson (19:23):

"The succession plan was clear in coordination with Major League Baseball... This lawsuit is frivolous... It's a sad lawsuit because she is painting the brothers as racist, ignoring the actual succession strategy."

He emphasizes the importance of legal and organizational succession plans in preventing such disputes, highlighting how the Padres' situation serves as a cautionary tale.

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6. Documentary Review: "Chasing Amy"

In a lighter segment, David Samson reviews the documentary on Kevin Smith's film "Chasing Amy."

• David Samson (26:29): "Can you make a lesbian not a lesbian? Can you somehow get her to fall in love with you as a man…"

Chris Cote and Billy briefly discuss the film's impact and its reception within the LGBTQ community, with Billy praising it as Kevin Smith's smartest movie.

• Billy (26:55): "It's probably his smartest movie."

David Samson reflects on the film's divisive themes and its personal interpretation as a love story, demonstrating the subjective nature of film appreciation.

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Notable Quotes

• Jeremy (25:03): "He was the starter when Marlins Park opened in 2012." – Referencing Josh Johnson's role.

• David Samson (15:57): "Tom Brady will not be with Fox next season. He will be full time in the Raiders front office running that team. Period." – On Tom Brady's career move.

• Chris Cote (12:30): "Do you promise you know it? Come on, David." – Challenging David Samson on his certainty.

---

Conclusion

This episode of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz offers listeners a deep dive into the intricacies of podcast management, celebrity culture, and professional sports dynamics. Through candid discussions and expert insights, the hosts and guest navigate controversies, strategic decisions, and cultural critiques, providing a comprehensive and engaging narrative for both regular listeners and newcomers alike.

Transcript

[Dan LeBatard]

You're listening to giraffkings Network.

[Stugotz]

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[Dan LeBatard]

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[Chris Cote]

Why are you listening to this show.

[David Sampson]

The podcast that seems very similar to the other Dan LeBatard podcast?

[Chris Cote]

I'm sorry, I'm not going to apologize for that. 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 if they're just there. That hasn't happened to you guys. I've done it. And now here's the Marching man to.

[David Sampson]

Nowhere Fat Face and the Habitual Liar.

[Chris Cote]

Would you guys be kind enough to clarify a couple of things for me that I don't know whether we've gotten resolution on? 1 the 12 days of Gregmas that we did over the holidays. Why were our listeners so mad about that? What happened? Where did we fail them? And why was it Jeremy's fault?

[Jeremy]

Well, it's always my fault, so I'll take blame on that one. We took episodes that were already in our megaphone feed and rescheduled them purposefully with strategy for everyone to be able to have their special 10 days of Gregmas. Chris and I did some intros, but with Spotify and Apple podcasts, there are settings within your podcast app that if you've either already listened to or already downloaded episode, it won't repopulate. And so understandably, some folks didn't see it. They were upset. I tried my best on Twitter to give everyone the dates of those shows.

[Chris Cote]

Okay, so unprofessional and unreliable by our organization.

[Jeremy]

Totally professional and reliable and well scheduled and well thought out.

[Stugotz]

If anything, it sounds like it's the fans fault.

[Chris Cote]

Right? It's honestly.

[Jeremy]

Information.

[Stugotz]

Stop listening. And then when Jeremy tweets. Just watch all his tweets.

[Chris Cote]

I think the fans were also mad with us just being off, I mean, during a busy time. Well, I will tell you, we'll bring in David Sampson now. And I've got a number of different things in sports to speak to him about, but he's just basically trying to improve our corporate climate. And I'm worried about that because he's the guy who says, hey, Mike Evans, you're not getting $3 million in incentives. I want it to be a company with a soul. David Sampson does not have one of those. However, David Sampson, I would argue is probably right if he thinks there is nobody at our company working harder right now than David Sampson. I don't know if he thinks that, but do you think that I would.

[David Sampson]

Not pretend to try to guess the way that people work hard to do the number of hours they do with you, Dan, I can only tell you that your sleep habits with my sleep habits, with Skipper sleep habits, plus all the other issues that are pervasive in the company of your creation, lead to. Lead to this. Lead to this, lead to me sitting here since 9:40 waiting for you. Because that's when I was told to be here. And now it's 21 minutes later and I don't have that kind of time to waste.

[Chris Cote]

Billy was cooking on the heat. He had doesn't matter me. It does matter. He's wearing a dinosaur costume and he was cooking on the heat. David, that's where you're wrong. Billy's words matter. They matter to this audience. They matter to this radio show.

[Stugotz]

How did this become a Billy thing?

[Chris Cote]

I don't know.

[David Sampson]

I'm happy for Billy's words to matter. As long as this is not 9:40.

[Stugotz]

This is not a Billy thing. Let's just be very clear. I'm dressed as a dinosaur today to make Dan happy. I don't control who's talking when you.

[Chris Cote]

Are making me happy, I believe, and that was very diplomatically stated by you. But David Sampson is working very hard on nothing personal on the sporting class. He's doing a number of different things to be valuable during a very valuable content time. So I ask you, David, in the proliferation of the business of podcasting, what are you fascinated by as you see nothing personal grow and an assortment of economies emerge? Where Billy is in the back saying enough with all of these companies making content with their independent, independent brands. Enough content. I don't need more content.

[David Sampson]

So everybody needs more content. I think what you're finding is there's a great difference between people who have a name and then get money up front and then all of a sudden there's disappointment when the production does not match the name. And so you're having a lot of people. There's no barrier to entry to start a podcast, but it turns out that the work ethic required like what you all have to do a show every single day for the number of hours you do. There's a huge value to that as opposed to a famous person starting a podcast and doing it maybe once a week or every other week. It turns out that companies don't have the value associated with that that they thought they did because sponsors want consistency, continuity and daily shows are way more valuable than, you know, weekly shows.

[Chris Cote]

What would you say was the most interesting thing from the Golden Globes? We have not talked about anything Golden Globes related. I don't know if you guys think Jeremy Strong is very self serious, right? He. Is he in on the joke or is he just self serious? What are you shaking your head about him mean?

[Billy]

He's absolutely not in on the joke. Everything I've read about him is that this is a guy who. He patterned his whole career after Daniel Day Lewis. Someone who famously takes himself very seriously.

[Chris Cote]

Yeah, but he's a method actor. He takes acting very seriously. But he's not dressing as someone who takes himself very seriously.

[Jeremy]

For what it's worth, that silly outfit, he said he wore that specifically. Cuz he's always accused of just wearing brown and drab clothes. So he figured why not do something kind of silly which is him trying to remake his image but still at least trying.

[Chris Cote]

He's a great actor. We can agree on this. Yes, he was exceptional. And the star of succession, if it wasn't Brian Cox, like he was one of two stars on, on one of the smartest shows ever made.

[David Sampson]

Not not only that, but what his performance in the Apprentice when he was nominated for. That's a movie that for whatever reason people aren't seen because they don't want to be seen as supporting Trump by seeing the movie. And it's a, it's a crime not to see the Apprentice. Both Sebastian Stan's performance, but Jeremy Strong is the attorney. Roy Cohn. Simply fantastic. And the outfit, you know, it's the Golden Globes. He would not wear that if he's nominated for an Oscar. And those nominations are out on the 17th of January. If he's nominated in the supporting actor category, which would be an upset, I do guarantee you he will not wear that to the Academy Awards.

[Chris Cote]

The other thing that I wanted clarification on, other than the 12 days of Greg Miss that were clearly Jeremy fault. I mean, people, I don't think, are believing that your facial injury was something that happened the way that you said that it happened. Falling, running across the street. And it appears like you have had to have work done on your face, because I can still see the swelling from a week ago. Like, it seems like this was a horrible fall that you had.

[Billy]

The swelling is gone. I do have a pretty cool scar now on my upper lip.

[Jeremy]

Just his face.

[Chris Cote]

Yeah, his face looks more swollen than it did. I know. Okay, he's just fat. So does yours, Dan Holiday. Thank you, Jeremy, but that's not what we're talking about. I didn't fall on my face. That's something you do around here.

[Jeremy]

It's a Monopoly hat.

[Billy]

But, Dan, to be fair, there was. As I was nursing this injury over the break, I did feel like this was karma taking a big dump on me for all the Jay Leno stuff because I was kind of the loudest voice on Jaylen owes money to the mob. And now I'm like, okay, maybe he just fell down a hill, you know?

[Chris Cote]

Well, people don't. What is the fairest criticism? Billy, I don't know what you've heard. Do people believe. People are saying Amin got into a fight. Meadowlark's not talking about how Mike Ryan and him got in that fight. Defensive about basketball. Drank too much at the holiday party. Like, what's real and what's not real here, Billy, Is there some inner office gossip around?

[Stugotz]

Amin saw the bald guy around these parts that week, so who know?

[Chris Cote]

So you touched his elbow. Your face is not. Your face is not swollen.

[Billy]

I. I mean, like last time.

[Stugotz]

I'm doubling down on this one.

[Billy]

Last time I sat in this seat, I sat, like, at an angle because I didn't want anyone to see what my face looked like. I'm now staring right in the camera. Is my face swollen? Do you guys. Yes, it is.

[David Sampson]

The right side of your face. You look like a squirrel.

[Billy]

See, that's how. You know. He said the right side of my face. The injuries on the left side, full of shit.

[Jeremy]

With all these cameras, it could be the opposite, right?

[Billy]

Oh, that's right.

[Chris Cote]

It's a mirror.

[Billy]

It's a minute left.

[Stugotz]

It's opposite Day too. Yeah.

[David Sampson]

Wait, do you have a chipped tooth also?

[Chris Cote]

Samson. Shut up for a second. Dan.

[Stugotz]

He's been waiting since 9:40. Let's show him some respect.

[Jeremy]

Nothing personal except waiting.

[Chris Cote]

It's Opposite Day is what you gave me from behind that dinosaur costume.

[Stugotz]

Who said that? I'm just here to help.

[Billy]

I keep making eye contact with the dinosaur eyes.

[Stugotz]

I wanted a microphone that I could hold up here to the mouth of the dinosaur for the visual joke, but I don't reach.

[Chris Cote]

There's no joy in the joke for me when I can't see your face and see how happy you are at being the asshole. Because it's Opposite Day is the worst you can do, Billy. Like it's Opposite Day. He's got an ear to ear smile underneath that thing. Nothing. And I can't even even see your smile.

[Stugotz]

I was trying to help Sampson, believe it or not, because he got the wrong.

[Chris Cote]

You were trying to help Sampson. What do you make of what's going on with the Raiders? What's. What are the most interesting business management leadership stories going on right now in sports to you?

[David Sampson]

Well, the number one thing in the NFL is the desire by all these owners to come out with statements when they're not making moves or when they are making moves. And the strangeness of the timing. The whole Antonio Pierce thing I take great issue with. Nothing happened from day one postseason to day two postseason where he did a press conference and then got fired the next day. You don't make a decision like that after the press conference. He was fired before they let him do his postseason press conference. And there was no reason. What, they couldn't get to him. They couldn't find him. They couldn't reach him. It just. It's embarrassing. And then they leak out that Tom Brady is going to be very involved in the new coach and in the search for the new coach. Guess what? Tom Brady's running that team right now and the NFL knows it and Fox knows it. And something's got to give. So enjoy Tom in the booth because you're not going to see him there next year.

[Chris Cote]

Whoa. What? Whoa. What?

[Billy]

Where is he going to be?

[David Sampson]

What he will be in the Raiders front office. He will not return as an analyst for Fox. You cannot be this involved in the operation of a team and be the number one analyst. It is an absolute insult to analysts what he's doing. And it's an insult to team presidents what he's doing. You end up doing both of them in a mediocre way. And I assume. And I know that he'll. I know. I promise you.

[Chris Cote]

Wait a minute. Which is it? Wait, wait, wait. Get it right. Do you promise or do you know? Come on, David. David, get the dismount right, please. Do you know it? Do you assume it? Do you promise it? If you're going to give us the sound bite of saying something no one else is saying, can you do it correctly, please?

[David Sampson]

Nail the 8, 6, 9. Tom Brady will not be with Fox next season. He will be full time in the Raiders front office running that team. Period.

[Chris Cote]

Oh, a period. Oh, my God. Period. He hit us with a spoken punctuation, ladies and gentlemen. That is broadcasting expertise. But still a guess, right? It's still a guess, but it's an assumption. But he's promising you. It means nothing. It's like he said game over the other day, and it means nothing. They're just words. Did he say period? I mean, let me stick up for.

[Billy]

Him for what he said the other day. All he said was, if it wasn't approved, then people are losing their jobs.

[Chris Cote]

Agreed. Not like. Wait a minute. So for those who don't know, Mike Evans got a $3 million bonus. Jesus. I mean, not everyone listens to the show the way you do.

[Billy]

Sorry.

[Chris Cote]

Mike Evans gets a $3 million bonus on the field. And what David Sampson said about that was that if didn't know and approve all of that and it cost them $3 million game over, there would be penalties. It's just a. Just a fart of wind came. He wanted the Bucks to release him before the game. No, but that. So this is the part, though, right? This is the part, to me that was more interesting about what he said and what he didn't say. I don't think David Sampson would have approved that moment if he were running the Bucks. He would have told them to bench Mike Evans. And so that is a joy.

[Billy]

Would have cut him before the game.

[Chris Cote]

That is a joylessness that I was stunned by.

[Billy]

David, let me stick up for you here and say the Bucks needed to win that game in order to make the playoffs.

[Chris Cote]

Correct? Yes.

[David Sampson]

Yes.

[Billy]

So there's no way you would have said, bench Mike Evans in the game, right?

[David Sampson]

It's idiocy. You're all talking. It's hurting my ears, your inability to understand the nuance of the comment. And if you want to make it a bit, if you want to do whatever you want to do, I don't care. Of course he's going to play in the game. They've got to win the game. You got to win the game. You're not doing it to give him the extra $3 million. That play at the end was a risky play. That's why I wouldn't have done it before the game. I would have said in the normal course of the game, if he gets it, he gets it, but we're not going to hand it to him. Wow.

[Chris Cote]

What's up? I just bought and financed a car through Carvana in minutes.

[Dan LeBatard]

You, the person who agon four weeks.

[Chris Cote]

Over whether to paint your walls eggshell.

[Dan LeBatard]

Or off white, bought and financed a car in minutes.

[Chris Cote]

They made it easy, transparent terms, customizable, down and monthly. Didn't even have to do any paperwork.

[Dan LeBatard]

Wow.

[Chris Cote]

Hey, have you checked out that spreadsheet.

[Dan LeBatard]

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[Chris Cote]

This holiday at T Mobile I'm joined by a special co anchor.

[David Sampson]

What up everybody? It's your boy, Big Snoop.

[Chris Cote]

D O double G Snoop, let's talk about T Mobile.

[Stugotz]

Okay, cool.

[Chris Cote]

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[David Sampson]

Let's get cracking like a breakfast egg.

[Chris Cote]

You can use those eggs to make some eggnogs. Snoop. Respect and people do love T Mobile where you can save on every plan versus the other big guys.

[David Sampson]

When you switch, you know y'all can take some of those savers and Buy some Snoop merchandise.

[Chris Cote]

Always a great starting stuffer.

[David Sampson]

Snoop. We up out of here. Hold your horses Snoop.

[Chris Cote]

D O Double G let's remind people one more time.

[David Sampson]

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[Chris Cote]

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[David Sampson]

Pee Stugats Go pee pee.

[Stugotz]

This is the Dan Lebatar show with the Stugats. What's the value of one playoff game? Like is it worth $3 million?

[David Sampson]

Are you on the road or are you home?

[Stugotz]

If you're, if you're a road team.

[Chris Cote]

They'Re a home team.

[Stugotz]

Hold on. In this hypothetical situation, you can decide paying a player a 3 million dollar bonus or having one road playoff game. You're never going to have any home playoff games. Do you bench him to save the $3 million because you won't make it back?

[David Sampson]

I want the playoff game because there's a chance to make it through the playoffs and there's a huge benefit the following year in it when you increase your season ticket prices, increase your corporate prices. So I want the playoffs way than any personal records for players. You want playoffs? All that matters is playoffs. And then all that matters above that is rings. The rest is just noise and individual accomplishment that adds up to nothing.

[Chris Cote]

I will tell everybody, as I always do when David Sampson is on with us, that on Nothing Personal he covers an assortment of subject matter that I know our audience and in general sports audiences would eat up because they have a business acumen that's unusual. And if, if I explain to my audience or our audience well why it is they should care about what's happening with the Padres right now, I am promising you that David can produce for you a gossip that people usually like around money and power and transactions. But I don't think the American sports media covers very well this stuff. So David, please tell me why we're covering what's happening behind the scenes with the Padres so poorly when that seems like something that the general audience would want to know about. Family dynamics because as soon as we tell you that Woody Johnson's team is being run by his teenage sons, all of a sudden is ever. Everyone's interested in how rich people play with their toys.

[David Sampson]

Yeah, there's. There's some family stuff that goes on that we do talk about, like the whole Broncos situation. When Pat Boland died, there was tremendous fighting with the family, and it forced the sale of the team to the current owner, the Walmart guy. I'd like to talk about the Padres because Peter Seidler, the great man and a great friend who I've known for a long time, died young, 63, three young children. He was trying to create the Dodgers in San Diego. He did it in a way that was fiscally irresponsible but full of love. And the fans appreciated all the signing of the players. But once he died, there has been now a reduction in payroll, a return to responsibility, and now there is a fight. And this lawsuit that was brought by Peter Seidler's widow against Peter Seidler's brother is a cautionary tale about what happens when someone dies young. The wife is claiming there's a piece of paper that shows that the control person, meaning the person who should own the team once Peter's dead, is her. What the brothers are saying is, no, no. Peter was very clear. The person who should be running the team is me, meaning one of the older brothers. Here's what's not being discussed. Every team has to submit a succession plan to Major League Baseball. And it's true in all the sports, there is a plan in place for what happens when a controlling owner croaks, whether it's sudden or whether it's at the age of 120. And that succession plan is done in concert with a legal succession plan, like a will or a trust. And so this lawsuit has a very easy solution. And the succession plan for the Padres included his brother being voted shortly as the new control person. This is a frivolous lawsuit, and it's a sad lawsuit because she is painting the brothers as racist. She's trying to appeal to the fans, saying, why would you hurt a wife and a widow and three little kids? But it ignores the truth about how succession plans work.

[Stugotz]

David, last week, you. Or on Monday, you told us that you were going to come with a list of the players that you found ways to get out of.

[Chris Cote]

Thank you.

[Stugotz]

Giving them bonuses for. Do you have your top 12?

[Chris Cote]

Top 12.

[David Sampson]

So I made a decision on that, Billy. Thank you for asking. There's really one that I want to talk about only. And. And I'll tell you, and I'm just going to mention it and tell you why. We had a player named AJ Burnett. And when we had AJ Burnett, he was young, he was brash, he would. He got a tattoo the day he was the day before a start. And it impacted his start. He was that kind of immature. He then, of course matured, and now he's an amazing father, an amazing guy. But he had a contract that had an A level where if we started him one extra game, he would have gotten a payment. So we gave a start to a pitcher that no one knew, but was a high draft pick of ours. And you may know him because he was the starter when Marlins park opened in 2012. Josh Johnson. Josh Johnson received as a young player a start when AJ Burnett could have gotten that and could have gotten paid. And that was pretty much the end of our relationship with AJ because he knew what had happened and we let him go. As you all may recall, we did not sign him, we did not trade him. We let his contract expire and moved along from him. But that was an example where we were pretty honest with the pitcher, explaining that we were not going to give him the ball again. And he and his agent were less than happy.

[Stugotz]

Do you know what the bonus was? Do you remember?

[Chris Cote]

Of course he does.

[David Sampson]

Yeah. It was, it was around, call it 100K. I mean, after taxes, whatever, 70K.

[Chris Cote]

You just.

[David Sampson]

This is the guy who's in charge.

[Chris Cote]

Of cleaning up the company. You just, you just took that money from him. This was a pitcher who threw a baseball at a truck and at a mascot. Correct. While in warmups. He was.

[David Sampson]

That was before. That was before I got to Miami. That is a famous thing, that he went after a truck behind the plate. People confused that. You see the video here? Yeah. This is purposeful. When you're A.J. burnett, you do not miss the catcher that encapsulates the picture is a hitting that truck. We actually had an argument with players when they would break stuff about how they would pay for it. And we ended up just taking out of their salary because we paid them every two weeks. But when they would do equipment, what we would call an equipment mistake, which is hitting the TV or breaking a window purposefully, we would, we would charge them.

[Chris Cote]

I, I just, I, I just want to tell that. Can you guys just look up for me this information? Because this player he speaks of. Oh, what a God. Oh, what a. By God, so good golden age. Go look up the stats on his no hitter. He had nine walks or 11. Or 11. Threw the ball really hard, got tattoos, broke. Trucks, got suspended. P. Nipples. Yes.

[Jeremy]

He had the second most walks in no hitter history.

[Chris Cote]

How many? How many? Nine or 11. I thought it was 11, because all it was was throw it at your neck or strike out. And everybody was up there was afraid because he threw. Because he threw too hard. And back then it was about 97. Back then. In 97, now it's 147.

[Jeremy]

Every single player for the other team, except for the pitcher, reached base at least once.

[Chris Cote]

But how many pitches did he throw? Do you understand?

[Jeremy]

129 pitches.

[Chris Cote]

It was. It was nine walks. I have confirmed that. Thank you. Nice memory, Stugach. I would say that David Sampson would tell you that. That. That way of pitching, that he was purposely trying to injure A.J. burnett's elbow in that game by making him throw 129 pitches.

[Jeremy]

He either walked. He either walked or hit by pitch. Every position player in the opposing lineup.

[Chris Cote]

Oh, so was. Wait a minute. So was it nine walks and two hit by pitch? Is that what it.

[Billy]

There's your 11.

[Chris Cote]

Steve Martin, David.

[David Sampson]

Yeah. You may not remember. He was not part of the rotation when we won the World Series because he had Tommy John and he was out for the season, which is why we had Mark Redman and why Dontrell Willis was called up and ended up starting those games. So he was. He still got a World Series ring. The players still voted him a share, but he was on the injured list the majority of that season.

[Jeremy]

Did you call him Redman?

[Chris Cote]

Why'd you call him a Red Man, Redmond?

[David Sampson]

Because there's Mike Redmond and Mark Redman. So that is. We make the distinction. We talk that way.

[Jeremy]

But I think he would say it's Redmond.

[Billy]

I love his album with Method Man.

[Chris Cote]

Yeah, Red man is offensive.

[Billy]

No, it's not.

[Chris Cote]

He's a rapper.

[Jeremy]

Whoa, Dan.

[David Sampson]

It's his name. It's a compound.

[Chris Cote]

That's not his name. Redmond is his name. It's not Red Man.

[David Sampson]

It's not Mike Redmond.

[Jeremy]

Oh, we know it's spelled Red Man, David.

[Chris Cote]

It's Redmond.

[Jeremy]

No one ever said Red Man.

[Chris Cote]

It's Redmond. It's not Red Man.

[David Sampson]

It's a whirlpool.

[Chris Cote]

What are you reviewing today for us, Samson?

[David Sampson]

I'm reviewing a documentary called Chasing Chasing Amy. I am very hopeful that people in the room have seen the movie Chasing Amy, which is a Kevin Smith vehicle.

[Chris Cote]

It's great.

[David Sampson]

I can't. I can't imagine I'm the only One you and I, Dan.

[Chris Cote]

But for sure, it's one of Kevin Smith's best. And Kevin Smith's best over a three year period would have been as good as anybody.

[Billy]

It's probably his smartest movie.

[David Sampson]

It was a movie that had a very interesting theme, which is, can you make a lesbian not a lesbian? Can you somehow get her to fall in love with you as a man? And that's what Ben Affleck was trying to do to Joey Lauren Adams, who is Kevin Smith's girlfriend at the time. This whole documentary is about how people are viewing that movie today, how politically charged it actually was, how it may not have spoken to the LGBTQ community in the language that they wanted to be spoken to. Yet for some portion of the community, it spoke to them absolutely directly. And to others, it turns out it was super divisive. And I engage with that movie in a totally different way. And I always have engaged with it differently. I engage with it as the love story that I've always been searching for, not having anything to do with lgbtq. And the Jason Lee character as the roommate who. There's. There's undercurrents of homosexuality and all sorts of things that happen like that. Speaking of working, do you want me to get the call from the boss at Metal Arch? And so all sorts of things like.

[Chris Cote]

That Is this is the phrase you tried to use after homosexuality, sexuality.

[David Sampson]

I thank you very much, Dan. Thank you for that. I hope you clip that. I'm trying to not step in it as someone who would be looked at as a middle aged, white straight guy.

[Chris Cote]

Go take the call. It's very.

[David Sampson]

I'm not taking it. I already hung up. Obviously somebody's not watching the show live.

[Chris Cote]

No, don't say that. Don't do that. What happened? Is it. Who's calling you? Who's trying. Who's calling the brand. Who is calling you right now? The boss is calling the. The boss is calling you.

[David Sampson]

Bruce.

[Chris Cote]

Fr. You're talking to him. I do believe that was me. What? No, I thought you were talking to him. Now. Who you talking. Who's calling you? I'm not calling you. I do apologize, David. What do you mean, the boss?

[Billy]

We like to have fun here, Dan.

[David Sampson]

You butt dialed me?

[Chris Cote]

No.

[Stugotz]

Oh, boy.

[Chris Cote]

Fine.

[Billy]

There's a fine way for that now.

[Chris Cote]

What do you mean saying to my face, the boss is calling you?

[David Sampson]

I am doing my best to juggle the amazing intricacies that exist in the world that you've created. And when I say the boss called, whoever I speak to at Any particular moment I view as the boss.

[Chris Cote]

Is it Sedano's mother?

[David Sampson]

It was Will Manso.

[Chris Cote]

Well played by David.

[Billy]

Owes me. Apologies.

[Chris Cote]

You See you later, Samson.

[David Sampson]

See ya.

[Dan LeBatard]

The Dan Lebatard show with Stu Gotts is sponsored by Better Help. Every January feels like a fresh start. 365 blank pages just waiting for your story to be written in 2025. Maybe you're ready for a plot twist. Ready to revise the parts of your story holding you back. Life isn't about New Year's resolutions that disappear by February. It's about picking up the pen and becoming the author of your life. Therapy can help you do just that. Therapy isn't just for the big traumas. It's for anyone who wants to grow, heal and thrive with BetterHelp. Therapy is convenient and affordable. It's fully online. You can access it anywhere, anytime, BetterHelp connects over 5 million people with a network of 30,000 licensed therapists, specialized, experienced and ready to help. If it's not a right fit, it you can switch therapists at any time at no extra cost. Write your story with better help. Visit betterhelp.com DLB today to get 10% off your first month. That's BetterHelp. H-E-L-P.com DLB.

[Jeremy]

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