Dan Le Batard (2:41)

Welcome to the Big Sui presented by DraftKings. Why are you listening to this show, the podcast that seems very similar to.

Amin Elhassan (2:48)

The other Dan LeBatard podcast?

Dan Le Batard (2:50)

I'm sorry, I'm not gonna 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 that if they're just there. That hasn't happened to you guys.

Guest Analyst (3:03)

I've done it.

Dan Le Batard (3:04)

And now here's the marching man to Nowhere Fat Face and the habitual liar.

Jeremy (3:10)

This episode of the Dan Lebatard show is presented by DraftKings. DraftKings. The Crown is yours.

Dan Le Batard (3:15)

We are on the DraftKings Network Monday through Friday, 11 to 2pm you can also catch us on YouTube, obviously, Samsung TV plus, the Roku Channel, Vizio Watch, Free Plus. And there are many, many more. Peacock, NBC Sports now, that's Monday through Friday 12 to 3. And also Apple, Spotify, Amazon, Sirius, XM, channel 85 as well. We are continuing to add more and more networking possibilities. What are you shaking your head about?

Amin Elhassan (3:44)

I mean, wow, look at us, man. We're everywhere.

Mike Ryan (3:46)

He number one podcast on Apple this.

Dan Le Batard (3:48)

This morning when I checked on that is. I think we should get imaging for that, that we are number one on Wednesday mornings when you checked.

Mike Ryan (3:56)

That's right.

Dan Le Batard (3:57)

Number one sports podcast. I saw something driving to the airport the other day. Someone's gonna have to help me with this. There was a billboard, and I think the podcast's name was only in Miami. I'm not sure. The billboard said number one podcast in Miami. And I'm like, that can't be right because that's me. Us. I know you think it's you, but it's us.

Mike Ryan (4:15)

I was doing Dan Lebatar's.

Amin Elhassan (4:17)

I know you were.

Dan Le Batard (4:19)

I know you were doing Dan Levitar.

Zas (4:21)

Don't do another penalty.

Tony (4:22)

All right?

Dan Le Batard (4:22)

You've done so much, but that can't be right. How can you say you're the number one podcast in Miami when you're not?

Jeremy (4:28)

I mean, you can say whatever you want.

Amin Elhassan (4:30)

Thank you, Zaz.

Dan Le Batard (4:31)

No, that's false advertising.

Amin Elhassan (4:32)

No, that's not.

Mike Ryan (4:33)

Oh, have you seen that's you can do that. You aware of what's going on in.

Zas (4:36)

The world right now?

Dan Le Batard (4:37)

So everybody can just lie to.

Mike Ryan (4:39)

Your faces are down 600%.

Dan Le Batard (4:42)

Okay, so no rules.

Mike Ryan (4:43)

Say whatever you want.

Jeremy (4:44)

I mean I see CBS all the time. They say NCIS is the number one watch show in the country. I don't know anyone who watched that show.

Dan Le Batard (4:50)

Well, but wait a minute, Dan.

Jeremy (4:52)

Have you ever heard a single person say did you see this week's episode of ncis?

Mike Ryan (4:55)

Good question.

Amin Elhassan (4:56)

I always assume it's old white people in the Midwest.

Dan Le Batard (4:58)

That's, I mean that's what Yellowstone was doing. Their slogan, CBS put it on the poll at Lebatard show. Should CBS slogan be old white people in the Midwest? Yes or no. The the things that I wanted to talk to you guys about before we get started in earnest. One of them is Michael Jordan. Michael Jordan talking. This has been received how? Because a pre taped interview that Mike Tirico did before the season that is going to run all season and be insights into excellence and is just old guy saying in my day I played all the minutes.

Jeremy (5:41)

I think it's been received pretty positively.

Dan Le Batard (5:43)

Well, this is just Michael Jordan getting applause for an opinion. Amin is shaking his head. His head. No.

Amin Elhassan (5:50)

I don't know what you guys are doing. The segment is called insights into excellence not insights into oh my elbow hurts. I need to sit down for two weeks. Excellence. He is excellence and he's giving us his insights into it. That's it. That's the segment. What are you guys searching for?

Dan Le Batard (6:11)

More and better.

Amin Elhassan (6:12)

Better than Michael Jordan.

Mike Ryan (6:14)

Look, I can understand one and more.

Amin Elhassan (6:15)

Better than Michael Jordan. Better and also more. You know what? You know what? Say you leave them wanting more. This is show business kid. Wake up.

Dan Le Batard (6:24)

I don't want more of this.

Mike Ryan (6:25)

What?

Amin Elhassan (6:26)

You're lying.

Dan Le Batard (6:27)

Not more of you're lying. More of this. I don't want more of a taped interview. Milking a taped interview all season is not what I want.

Zas (6:35)

Would you feel better about it if he had different clothes on and it.

Jeremy (6:38)

Seemed like a different day?

Mike Ryan (6:39)

Yeah, that would help.

Dan Le Batard (6:40)

I probably would if you change the locale once in a while. You know what? It's an excellent production note by you. Yes, that would help so that I'm like so that later in this season when they're giving me the last drivel that they have already given me. Generally speaking, when someone sits down with Michael Jordan or anyone for an hour, what you get is the three best minutes here. You're going to get the whole hour. You're going to get Everything he and Tirico talked about spliced out over time so that by the Finals, there's nothing left but Michael Jordan giving you cliches because they had to give you the best stuff early. So here's Michael Jordan giving you the most predictable position possible about load management. Everyone's going to applaud this play as much as Michael Jordan does.

Guest Analyst (7:25)

I never wanted to miss a game because it was an opportunity to prove. It was. It was something that I felt like, you know, the fans are there that watch me play. I want to. I want to impress that guy way up on top who probably worked his ass off to get a ticket or to get money to buy the ticket.

Dan Le Batard (7:41)

You really cared about the guy who.

Amin Elhassan (7:42)

Sat in the top deck at the.

Dan Le Batard (7:43)

Palace in Auburn Hills to watch you.

Mike Ryan (7:45)

When you came to Detroit.

Guest Analyst (7:46)

Yeah, because I know he's probably yelling at me. I want to shut him up. You know, he's calling me all kinds of names. I. I definitely want to shut him up.

Mike Ryan (7:52)

Right.

Guest Analyst (7:52)

You have a duty that if they're wanting to see you, and as an entertainer, I want to show. Right. So if the guys are coming to watch me play, I. I don't want to miss that opportunity. Physically, if I can't do it, then I can't do it. But physically, if I can do it and I just don't feel like doing it, that's a whole different lens.

Mike Ryan (8:15)

I'm hanging on every word.

Amin Elhassan (8:16)

More and better than that. He just told you that the guy in the back row of the palace in Auburn Hills worked hard, hard for his money to buy that ticket. And so he owes him a duty to go out there and shut him the hell up. Because he's still Michael Jordan.

Mike Ryan (8:30)

I love it.

Amin Elhassan (8:30)

And he holds grudges.

Mike Ryan (8:31)

I love it when I go to a concert and they're like, hey, we see you up there.

Amin Elhassan (8:34)

Yeah.

Jeremy (8:35)

How's everybody in the 300 level doing.

Mike Ryan (8:39)

Dan?

Jeremy (8:39)

Michael Jordan was 40 years old in his last year. Played in all 82 games for a bad Wizards team. He's allowed to talk like this. Look at it.

Amin Elhassan (8:47)

Look.

Jeremy (8:47)

You look at his stats. He played 82 games every year, Daz.

Amin Elhassan (8:51)

And you know what happened in that last season? The Wizards led the league in road attendance. In road attendance. Right. The number one team, not Shaq and Kobe. Lakers, not Allen Iverson. Sixers, not the Knicks, who have a million Knick fans in every city. The number one road attraction that season was the Washington Wizards. You know why?

Mike Ryan (9:13)

Rip Hamilton?

Zas (9:15)

Because the best player ever was retiring.

Jeremy (9:16)

Because you knew Michael Jordan was going.

Amin Elhassan (9:18)

To play because he's gonna play. And he was devoted to giving everyone in that arena insights into excellence.

Dan Le Batard (9:26)

I did enjoy him pivoting from the softer. If someone worked hard and paid their money to watch me play, I want to entertain that person. And then when Tirico asked the follow up, he's like, and shut that person up. What I actually wanted to do is shut. I didn't want to hear any. Anything from up there anymore because he's fueled by rage still.

Mike Ryan (9:45)

No, That's a great job by Mike Tirico. This is a good job in humanizing someone who's a part of NBA lore, right? Who has built up a certain air of mystery around him. And it helps the entire segment because when he speaks, it has gravity, has weight to it because of who he is. He Torico identifies, hey, this is something that humanizes you. This is something that has you thinking about the common man. Let me stay here and further ingratiate you to our audience. Amazing job.

Amin Elhassan (10:16)

Two straight weeks where he's appeared to be human. And then he pulled the rug and showed us I'm still Michael Jordan. And I love that, right?

Mike Ryan (10:22)

I love it. I don't want to fake cliche.

Jeremy (10:25)

Cliche, no cliche.

Amin Elhassan (10:26)

I don't want to get to know my heroes. Let him just be a mythological character. But the other thing, Dan, which I think he's doing a great job of and NBC's doing a great job of, is it's not what I guess. And I love the TNT guys, but the TNT brand of nostalgia, which is, everything sucks.

Dan Le Batard (10:41)

We are better.

Amin Elhassan (10:41)

These guys who do better. He never puts it in the context of right now. He says, why did you play all those games? Because I felt like I had to. Not like none. Like these soft guys. He just said, because I had to. In the same way where he said, would you want to play if you still could? He said, man, I wish I could take a pill and come back and put on the shorts and play again so that I can measure myself against what other people consider greatness. Again, on the surface, it sounds like he just wants to play again, guys.

Jeremy (11:09)

He'S a good analyst.

Amin Elhassan (11:10)

He's got. Yeah, he wants to compete, but reality underneath is he's letting you know, hey, man, I want to see this thing. You guys think this is good.

Dan Le Batard (11:18)

What other people consider great.

Amin Elhassan (11:20)

Exactly. As Jay Adande eloquently said, that is the pregame layup line of shade for Michael Jordan.

Mike Ryan (11:26)

I think we're in a place where saturating the market with Coverage is a good thing for the NBA. People were starved.

Dan Le Batard (11:32)

Peacock and Amazon are doing a great job.

Mike Ryan (11:34)

They're doing a fantastic job. And look, ESPN has upgraded by bringing in the Turner guys. I mean the rest of their coverage could, could learn a little bit from that. But it also kind of shines a light on how bad NBA coverage has been over the last 20 years. I mean you have an apples to apples comparison with you Donnis Haslam right now and he's just totally been unlocked by Amazon. He really good and it really is someone with like thinks a little bit like a producer. Makes me really disappointed in what the NBA producers have done over at espn. Wasting talents like this. Because you watch Udonis Haslam on Amazon, you're like, wow, ESPN could have used this guy.

Dan Le Batard (12:09)

This was a frustration of both David Stern and Adam Silver that ESPN could never get right. Nevermind that you can't be inside the NBA. Nobody can be inside the NBA. But they could never actually get right. The thing that you're talking about, which is just simply for example unlocking you done is Haslam. I enjoyed Giannis against Brunson and the Knicks so much last night. And it was different. It felt different than what I'm used to with my broadcasts. And usually most things are so familiar in sports than when something's different. There's almost an initial visceral reaction to I don't like that better. It's too different. I noticed the difference in the broadcast and I appreciated last night specifically just on a, on a random Tuesday night, Giannis and Brunson watching the end of the game and it feeling different than all the other broadcasts I've been watching for 20 years.

Amin Elhassan (13:07)

Yeah, I mean there's a couple of things. So I told Mike before the show it is production because I remember going to do SportsCenter and when you're about to do SportsCenter they say hey, we need you for the 9 o' clock show your hits around 9:30. Be there by 9:15. You're in the green room. Now when I'm in the green room and they're NFL guys, the producers will come downstairs and sit with these guys for up to 30 minutes sometimes watching film. Oh, should we use this clip? What about this? What are you seeing in this cover too? Like actual analysis that they're trying to produce for the segment for me and for other NBA analysts, it's not just me, it was Tim Legler, it was everyone else who did NBA. You just get a bunch of really rote questions about hey, what do you Think the Knicks need to do to get over. Like, it was just no investment in it. And it goes back to Dan the. I've talked about this before. The thumb of the commissioner Roger Goodell is on ESPN's ass to get. To get their stuff. But.

Dan Le Batard (14:05)

So Silver and Stern were too.

Amin Elhassan (14:08)

Stern was. Silver hasn't been. Not in the way. The direct and blunt way the NFL and the old NBA was. And I think that's a big reason why the new people came in and they're like, oh, dad wants it this way. He's not going to, like, make a big show about it. But we kind of got the vibes of the way they feel about espn. They want it to be done a certain way. And the curious thing about it is the two networks are doing it in different ways. As we said, NBC playing nostalgia, right? But not a nostalgia of, this thing stinks. It's just like, hey, this is cool. This is all part of the same tapestry. So Bob Costas doing monologues for both of those games last night immediately upped the value. Immediately it went from just, okay, there's a game on to, whoo, oh, my God, what are the stakes here? The Knicks and the Bucs, whoa, they were big. Both good in the 70s, and now they're good again. And, like, it sets everything up for you, man. It's weird. I learned last night that the warriors had the third most titles behind Boston and la. Like, I. I know that conceptually, but it, like, it shocked me hearing Casa say that. But that's what those things are for, to drum up those emotions. Meanwhile, Amazon is like, we're going into the future. The court lights up under them, and Taylor Rooks is over there in the corner, and there's a circle around and all like. And they're doing it a different way. Not better, not worse, just different. But they're all a higher production value and a higher level of care from the production than the predecessors.

Chris Cody (15:39)

It's such a great point that Amazon feels like it's moving into the future. Like, you're watching these guys break down the game. And so what's great about it is when you have. It's Blake Griffin, who adds his fun personality to it, and Dirk and Steve Nash and you, Donis Haslam, and these guys who have a taste of what the previous era of basketball was, but can explain to you how basketball is changing with not just X's and O's that you're watching on the screen and. And you know, you're seeing people circle stuff on the screen and break things down the way that at the best of moments on espn, they've done with Tim Legler. It's not a film breakdown in that way. It's them standing on a physical court with shadows underneath them as they set up what a team's offense looks like. And to see these guys not pitted against each other in some sort of debate where they're talking about what's going to happen with Giannis's future in a game that doesn't even involve Giannis, they're actually just breaking down the game. So when you go into that game or you come back from halftime, you actually have a better understanding of what you're watching. And when you can watch something and feel informed, that's when it's the most fun to be able to watch.

Mike Ryan (16:50)

Mike Ryan here want to talk to you about the official ticketing partner of the Dan LeBatard Show Game Time that's right, the GameTime app gives the advantage back to fans. It's a hack for unlocking amazing tickets and experiences in just a few taps. It's incredibly easy to use. I use it often. And the Game Time guarantee means that you can Trust you'll get 100% authentic tickets on time and at the best price. Plus fees are always included. So what you see is what you pay. They're not tricking you, folks. Zone deals, Favorites, Panoramic seat views, the low price guarantee. They're unparalleled ticket coverage, which means your purchase is covered with the most flexible customer service policy in the ticketing industry. I can go on and on, take the guesswork out of buying NFL tickets with GameTime. Download the GameTime app, create an account and use code DAN for $20 off your first purchase terms apply. Again, create an account and redeem code dan for $20 off swipe, tap ticket. Go download the Gametime app today.

Tony (17:54)

You ever try to name all your financial accounts and what they're actually worth? Like your 401k, your investments, your house? Yeah, I couldn't either. Most of us can't. And when you don't know, you're basically leaving money on the table. Feel organized in confidence in your finances with Monarch, an all in one personal finance tool that brings your entire financial life together in one clean interface on your laptop or your phone. Right now, just for our listeners, Monarch is offering 50% off your first year with code dan@monition.com I started using Monarch and I found an old 401k from an old job that I totally forgot about and it was worth way More than I thought. I also realized I wasn't saving as much as I imagined. Monarch shows you everything you're spending, your investments, even how much cash is just sitting there doing nothing. No spreadsheets, no chaos. Just a clear view of your money you can share with your partner, too. Which means fewer fights about who spent what at Target and how much the baby actually needs. Don't let financial opportunity slip through the cracks. Use code dan@monimalmoney.com in your browser for half off your first year. That's 50% off your first year@monimalmoney.com with code dan.

Liquid IV Sponsor (18:55)

This show is sponsored by Liquid IV. You know that switch from the lazy days of summer to the chaos of falling. I'm struggling. I have zero energy. I can't keep up running between shows. The main show, Ms. She Crate. Going to this meeting, that meeting, trying to organize dance costumes like I have no energy. That's when I reach for Liquid Ivy's new sugar free energy multiplier. Hydrating energy that actually keeps up with me. It's got electrolytes, vitamins and natural caffeine. So I get steady energy. Not the jittery, crashy kind of zero sugar. Three times the electrolytes of the leading sports drink, plus five essential vitamins. I gotta always keep a few packets with me wherever I go. It's so easy. You tear, pour, mix and go. My favorites are the strawberry kiwi and the BlackBerry lemonade. I love me some good lemonade. Don't let the grind drain you. Ditch the glitch with zero sugar and zero crash from Liquid IV. Tear poor, live more. Go to Liquid IV.com and get 20% off your first order with code DAN at checkout. That's 20% off your first order with Code DAN@liquidiv.com Don Lebatard While I was.

Dan Le Batard (20:09)

Gone, a third Gaki was born and I think I heard. Correct me if I'm wrong here, Jeremy trying to partake in a fourth Zigaki. And I am here for a future where I am surrounded by a chorus of clucking Zagakis. Stugats.

Jeremy (20:23)

You know what it means when you have four Zagakis, Dan?

Dan Le Batard (20:26)

You don't have one. This is the Dan Levatar show with the stugats.

Amin Elhassan (20:39)

What Jeremy is describing, ladies and gentlemen, is a lot of broadcasts they want to go to. Predictive. Who's going to win? Who's going to do this? Who's going to do that? Predictive. Tell the future. Tell me what's going to happen when the customer. A lot of times doesn't even understand what just happened. And so those guys are taking the time to say this is what's happening. Not just this is the play, Jeremy, but also them telling you the options. Right? When Udonis is saying, when I get here, I'm going to roll really hard because I'm going to. This might be my only opportunity as a role player to get the ball. They're not going to call place for me right where Steve's telling you. I'm reading where the defender's going. If he's going under, then I'm going to take a step back and now I've got the shot. But they try to lock and trail. I'm gonna go this way. It is explaining and teaching people basketball rather than trying to predict the future.

Mike Ryan (21:26)

That part, that part is huge because you have analysts, you have all this new blood. Guys that aren't too far removed from the game. And while TNT was the industry gold standard, they have a cast that is largely filled with guys that haven't played in 25 plus years. Shaq's a guy that was most recently retired. We haven't seen shaq since the 2000 and tens. There was an evolution in the game that wasn't unlike baseball. You know, like that there was a huge analytical shift to the entire sport. And you didn't have guys, God bless Kenny Smith. You didn't have guys that could actually explain what was happening and the nuances of the game. And you don't realize that you're starved for it until you start getting those options.

Amin Elhassan (22:09)

Mike, you know what's weird? It's not that they couldn't or didn't know how to. And I know I can speak very confidently. This is about Shaq. Maybe not Charles, probably not kid, but definitely with Shaq. He understood the new, the new way of playing. I tell the story all the time. The year the warriors won their first title in 2014-15, I saw him in Phoenix and he said to me, who do you think is going to win it all? I said, who do you think is going to win all big fellas? He said, no one's beating them. Light skinned boys out of Golden State. That's what he said to me. He said, they're going to. This was like in January or February, he said this so. And now on tv, everyone will be like, Shaq says you shoot too many threes, give it to the big man. But in reality, Shaq's like, no, that's how basketball is played. And then he pulls out his phone he shows me his son Sharif, who at the time was a sophomore in high school six, nine. Everything he was doing was primitive. Shooting three. He's like, I'm teaching him everything facing the basket because the way I played doesn't apply anymore. He knew this. But when Shaq goes on air, he feels a responsibility to defend his era. And the way we did it was better. And Charles, I think, actually feels that way. And Kenny, you know, Kenny gives his analysis, but he's not gonna push back too hard on the other two. And that's how you get a broadcast that says everything now stinks and everything. The way we did it was so much better.

Dan Le Batard (23:22)

Can you guys look up for me when it was that Kenny joined Charles? And I wanna go through the evolution of that?

Jeremy (23:32)

Pretty sure Kenny was first.

Amin Elhassan (23:33)

Kenny was first.

Dan Le Batard (23:34)

Yes. So forgive me. Ernie and Charles end up joining what was Ernie and Kenny? Correct it. Kenny. And then they had Charles. And then many years later, they add Shaq. And Shaq, even though he's a mumbler, he's an entertainer, Shaq ends up fitting in a way that doesn't disrupt that show too much. But the thing that I wanted to talk to you guys about, because I've seen three of these guys locally now try and make this change we're talking about in you. Donnis, Haslam, Dwyane Wade, and Jason Taylor, okay? The three of them end their playing careers and are now searching for the thing that they want to do next. And they pour themselves with the same intensity that they poured themselves into being great the previous 20 years at sports. They're like, I want to do this as a broadcaster now and be great at it. Jason Taylor goes to espn, realizes after a year, nope, not for me. Don't want to do this.

Jeremy (24:33)

I don't even remember Jason Taylor.

Dan Le Batard (24:35)

Yeah, don't want to fly up here, stand on a spot, and get these silly questions that are not entertaining. Entertaining to me, not interesting to me. I'm not going to become a great broadcaster here. Shane Battier, same sort of thing. Struggled with it. Trying to find their voice after retiring, but really pouring themselves into the same work ethic that they applied to sports they're now applying to. What is the realization, oh, I've got the rest of my life to live. So Jason Taylor says, nope, I'm going to coaching and now is going to be a head coach somewhere. Is doing it the hardest way. You never see a Hall of Fame coach deciding to be a defensive line coach on a college team. That's not a normal thing. So Jason Taylor has chosen in his path Dwyane Wade broadcasting. He, he liked it, did some of it, but has bigger power moves in play. The interesting one to me is you, Donnis Haslam because he has been unlocked by Amazon and when I saw him on first take in a suit, right, In a suit and tie, I was like, that doesn't feel like you done is Haslam, suit and tie, all buttoned up and like playing within confines. And he was limited trying to do first take, did his best but now clearly the space and is super serious about being good at it. So he is going to be good at it and is already leaps and bounds better than he was 18 months ago.

Amin Elhassan (25:53)

He's excellent. And I know he's not only a local legend, but he's a friend of the show. But can we call him a fraud already? Whoa. You donis has him because you remember his last season. We had him on the show, we asked him, so what sex you do? You gonna do media or like he's like, oh, he acted like we spat in his face to say do media and now all of a sudden the guy loves a camera. Loves you.

Dan Le Batard (26:18)

You just called Shaq a fraud.

Amin Elhassan (26:20)

No, I didn't.

Dan Le Batard (26:20)

You kind of did.

Amin Elhassan (26:21)

You said that.

Dan Le Batard (26:22)

You said that on television. He was saying you got to play my way. But in private he was saying those light skinned boys are going to win the championship.

Jeremy (26:29)

You said that.

Dan Le Batard (26:29)

You said that.

Amin Elhassan (26:31)

I said that. I didn't say the word fraud. I don't think anything he was doing was fraudulent. I think Shaq feels a responsibility.

Dan Le Batard (26:37)

That is the definition of fraudulent. No. Say one thing behind the scenes and the opposite thing on television.

Amin Elhassan (26:42)

Sometimes you got to do the right thing in the right thing somewhere else. It's different. Things that can both be right, Dan.

Dan Le Batard (26:48)

Those both can't be right. Classic.

Mike Ryan (26:50)

Classic Dan. Putting words in your mouth.

Dan Le Batard (26:53)

Don't let him do it. Those things can't be both, right? Either you play the way Shaq does or you play the way the warriors do. You can't play both of those ways. Those are two different ways of playing.

Mike Ryan (27:03)

Called him a showman, not a fraud.

Zas (27:04)

Cleaning up what you asked before Inside the NBA began in 89. Ernie Johnson started hosting in 90. Kenny Smith joined him in 98. Barkley in 2000. Shaq in 2011.

Dan Le Batard (27:14)

You've seen on television the growth of that show and adding Shaq was the ingredient that was most turbulent possibilities and they navigated it and became an even better show because of the size and weight of everything that Shaq is Doing and how often it seems like while Charles and him are fighting, they also love each other, but they might also come to blows over arguing about things the way that brothers and friends do.

Jeremy (27:44)

It's a pretty balls move adding Shaq because the show was already considered all time great. And then they're just adding Shaq in there.

Mike Ryan (27:55)

That's.

Jeremy (27:56)

That's a move.

Mike Ryan (27:57)

It took a minute.

Jeremy (27:58)

Well, yeah, he wasn't great the first year.

Mike Ryan (27:59)

No, he wasn't. Like, he was serious and there's a lot of mumbling. It's good production. And I'm sure the other guys on, on the cast were like, let's lean into this friction. Let's lean into you being a goof. Because when you do things, it's funnier than when anybody else does things. And then he found his role. But it did take a. I would say it took a couple of seasons.

Jeremy (28:18)

By the way, Shaq had to have joined after 2011. He was still in the NBA at that point, like a couple years after that. But okay.

Amin Elhassan (28:24)

Yeah, the, the. The fourth seat was a kind of. They tried a lot of. They tried Magic. If you remember, before Magic with espn, he was on.

Jeremy (28:30)

That was Chris Webber on.

Amin Elhassan (28:31)

Chris Weber was on that as well. You know, they, they tried different names.

Zas (28:36)

They've had Magic Johnson at one point. Reggie Miller.

Amin Elhassan (28:38)

Yeah. Steve Martin as well.

Dan Le Batard (28:39)

Yeah, that'. First.

Amin Elhassan (28:41)

He was really good. I thought he brought a lot of props.

Zas (28:43)

This time I'll penalize myself.

Dan Le Batard (28:44)

Yeah, get out of here. No, that's okay. You don't have to penalize yourself. I'll do it.

Amin Elhassan (28:50)

Wow.

Dan Le Batard (28:51)

Minor penalty, two minutes for verbal diarrhea.

Guest Analyst (28:57)

Wow.

Dan Le Batard (28:58)

And you can, you can get an extra penalty here as well. Minor penalty, two minutes for not listening to the show.

Mike Ryan (29:07)

For helping minutes. I'll teach hip research.

Amin Elhassan (29:14)

But then ultimately, what we're talking about with all of this is the power of production and that people believe. All I need is names. Just saw some names on and that's it. And it'll be awesome. Everyone's going to watch. That's been ESPN's approach to doing Countdown for years, right? Whether it was Bill Simmons at one point, whether it was Magic Johnson. I remember having a conversation with a ESPN producer when I was on my rocket ship going to the moon. Sports station's going great. The jump is going great. Highly questionable is going great. Everyone loves me and I'm like, so when do you think I'll get to be on Countdown? You know, maybe it's like a day where everyone wanted a day off or whatever. I'm not a regular, but just one time. And the producer, who's a friend, said, never. And I said what? I was so shocked by how blunt and straightforward and my producer said I had to fight, fight to get Jalen Rose on and to get Tracy McGrady on and Chauncey Billups on because they said, oh, well, these guys aren't hall of Famers, right? And other than Chauncey, they haven't won championships, had to fight, fight. And those guys are good, Right? But Scottie Pippen was a like a green light the whole way because it's got to be six rings. It doesn't matter if he doesn't say a single thing that's interesting or insightful.

Dan Le Batard (30:30)

He was terrible.

Amin Elhassan (30:30)

He's Scottie Pippen. That's an okay.

Jeremy (30:33)

What's Chauncey up to these days?

Dan Le Batard (30:35)

He was terrible. He was really bad. Scottie Pippen. Amin will tell you, I don't know what can be told about Pablo and what you're doing for tomorrow's episode of Pablo Torrey finds out. But since ZSAS is asking about what's Chauncey Billups up to these days, you guys are going to update in a way that's exclusive. And Pablo is dominating this space. This is going to be a pod that has a lot of, again, thorough information no one else has, Correct?

Amin Elhassan (31:03)

Yes. So again, we started investigating this with the July episode back. It was about Malik Beasley, but it was a lot about this peripheral characters here right before that announcement happened. As I told you the other day, the earlier that week, we knew these indictments were coming. We knew who was getting indicted. Right. So we actually were supposed to record that week. It then ended up getting postponed because we knew Cash Patel was gonna do his dog and pony show. And so we ended up recording it at a later date. And so tomorrow, the fruits of our labors, which is going to be a deep dive in the connective tissue, the connective tissue that is gonna bring to light how all of these different cases, whether it's Shante Porter, whether it's Terry Rozier, whether it's Chauncey Billups, whether it's Damon Jones, they're all connected. They feel disparate, but they all have a connection point. And that's what we're going to go in depth on.

Dan Le Batard (31:58)

I urge you also to listen to Pablo Torre finds out where John Skipper and David Sampson do the latest episode of the Sporting Class. A lot of really good information there. David Sampson and John Skipper cover sports business with Pablo better than I'VE heard on any sports podcast. So Pablo Torre finds out it dropped at like 2 o' clock in the morning. That one for the insomniacs out there. And tomorrow's episode is, is another one where he's got more terrain that he is covering with Amin and others that just others have not been able to do. Pablo is lapping the NBA media when it comes to a lot of his coverage.

Amin Elhassan (32:38)

Because, Dan, we're not chasing tidbits of information or factoids of things that are about to happen, happen. What we're chasing is tangible evidence, documents, testimony, evidence of that even provided by some people unwittingly. That's what the, the hallmark of the reporting has been, at least on the things that I've worked on with Pablo. And every time there's stuff that I know going in and there's always stuff that I get shocked and surprised by. And guess what? Tomorrow I'm shocked and surprised by something. And, and there is a Miami reference in it. So stay tuned.

Dan Le Batard (33:14)

Pablo Torre finds out tomorrow at noon is when that one is dropping. We'll have Pablo on to talk about it.

Tony (33:20)

Hey, it's Tony from the Dan Levatart show and I gotta tell you something that makes me feel a lot safer with my wife and kid at home. It's simply safe. Most security systems only react after a break in and that's too late, if you want to be honest. Real security stops crime before it even starts. I just watched a video that was absolutely terrifying. An arsonist trying to light a family home on fire.

Chris Cody (33:39)

And you know what?

Tony (33:40)

Simplisafe stopped it before anybody got hurt. Their AI powered camera spotted the threat, alerted the monitoring agent, and the intruder got confronted while still outside the house. That's what I call real security. Pre security, not post security. I trust Simplisafe with my home, my family and everything I care about. No hidden fees, no long term contracts. And they've been named one of the best home security systems by U.S. news for five years running. Right now, Levitar show listeners can get 50% off a SimpliSafe system@simplisafe.com DLB that's SimpliSafe.com DLB try it risk free with their 60 day money back guarantee and see why I trust them so much. There's no safe like Simplisafe.

Mike Ryan (34:21)

Oh, the football season. Cruel beast. Sometimes it gives, sometimes it rips away. Sometimes you got good times, sometimes you got bad times. But one thing that'll always lift your spirit is making it Miller time. Because game day just Hits different with Miller Lite in your hand. 50 years of great taste, simple ingredients and that iconic golden color that you can spot from across the room. It's a real eye catcher, folks. And here's the kicker. Just 96 calories, 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces. The original light beer since 1975 and still hitting different five decades later. So whatever your game day looks like, remember Miller Time is always a good time. Miller Lite Great Taste 96 calories. Go to millerlight.com dan to find delivery options near you, or you can pick up some Miller Lite pretty much anywhere they sell beer. It's Miller Time. Celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Co. Milwaukee, Wisconsin 96 calories and 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces.

Zas (35:24)

Get nutty with Hampton Farm, the official peanut of bowl season, bringing you the ultimate game day snack. There's nothing like the roar of the crowd, the thrill of the play, and the satisfying crack of fresh in shell peanuts. From the first kickoff to the final whistle, Hampton Farms Peanuts keeps your energy high and your taste buds happy. Join the celebration of college football with every delicious crunch. Purchase for sharing with friends, tailgating outside the stadium or cheering from the couch, grab a bag from the produce aisle of your local grocery store and savor the game one peanut at a time.

Dan Le Batard (35:55)

Don Levatard what is the worst part of the life?

Mike Ryan (35:59)

Stugats.

Chris Cody (36:03)

The worst part of the life of what?

Dan Le Batard (36:05)

This is the Dan Levatar show with the Stugats. We were talking before about Amazon and how futuristic it is. We're trying to keep up with Amazon by taking tape recorded calls from listeners. How we try to keep up in the future with Amazon. The Telephone number is 305486 Gotts 305-486-4689. It's the boost Mobile Hot Take line.

Zas (36:38)

And it's presented by Boost Mobile, the newest 5G network in the country.

Football Player/Coach (36:44)

You guys are such fat slob indoor kids that Andrew Luck riding a bike to work is totally unbelievable. All of you. We as a human society, we breathe too much cornhole. No thanks. Dave Damshek has made me hate the Pittsburgh accent more than the Boston accent. Jeremy looks like the kind of guy who brings his own helmet when he goes to rent a Segway. You know, based on his recent poker losses plus the NBA investigation, you guys should probably just refer to Nick Wright as the Fish. Going forward, Adam Silver looks like an end zone pylon. Alex Rodriguez looks like a bronze statue of Alex Rodriguez. Anyone who chooses blue raspberry as their favorite Jolly Rancher. Flavor needs to figure things out better. Jonathan Taylor sounds like a forefather. Does Jonathan Zaslow look like a magical thumb that grants wishes? There's not one deep pass out there. No one to hear our prayer. Tua, tua, tua, you can't throw the deep ball. Won't somebody help us chase a dolphin's curse away? Tua, tua, tua, you can't throw the deep ball. Won't somebody help us chase a dolphin's curse away?

Dan Le Batard (38:25)

We could have edited out the last 25 seconds of that and not lost very much. Put it on the poll at Lebatard Show Cornhole. No thanks. Yes or no?

Mike Ryan (38:33)

Who says that?

Dan Le Batard (38:34)

And also, does a rod look like a bronze statue of a rod?

Chris Cody (38:39)

Spot on.

Dan Le Batard (38:41)

I'm looking forward to the documentary that's coming out at the beginning of November. HBO Max Alex versus A Rod. I would be curious though how much he had control over the content. You'll be able to figure out pretty early on by watching it whether or not he was controlling the content or not. I would recommend to everyone listening to this. I'll actually tell you guys a story that I have not told before that was wildly interesting to watch happen in real time with a Rod. Billy Corbin and Raconteur. They only make good documentaries. They don't make any other kind. And they went behind the scenes. Have you seen this documentary? Okay, you really should watch it. It was about what a clown show steroids was in baseball when it ran through Ryan Braun and Manny Ramirez and a Rod and how it was all these strip malls in South Florida and tanning salons that were just basically fueling these hundred million dollar contracts. And ESPN did this with Billy Corbin and Rock On Tour. They had a documentary about a Rod and it's got all the dirt. But A Rod was an employee of ESPN at the time. So the documentary just went away. It's no longer on espn, no longer going to be made by ESPN just because a Rod was an employee at espn. And thankfully they didn't just kill it because they could have just kept it and thrown it in a closet, but they allowed it to get made. Can you guys get me the name of the documentary? It's worth watching. I'm guessing it'll be better if if A Rod had any creative control over the one on Max. It will not be as interesting as this one was, which didn't have a rod in it, but took you through the dirt of Miami. And how just what a clown show you guys think this FBI stuff. And this NBA investigation stuff is stupid, stupid. You should have seen how far behind Major League Baseball was on steroids and how poorly they investigated the stuff that changed their entire sport. Billy Corbyn got into the thicket of that. Get me the name of that documentary. Yeah, Screwball. Thank you. And it's just. It's really excellent and I recommend it to everyone who's listening here. Can you also get me Chris, the useless sound montage? Because we have gone too long in the week without getting to all of the useless sound from the football weekend. And I want to unleash that on the unsuspecting public blood.

Amin Elhassan (41:08)

Probably one of the worst experiences I've had in terms of waking up.

Guest Analyst (41:12)

First, congratulations to the Green Bay packers on a. On a victorious performance.

Amin Elhassan (41:16)

You know, Sundays, man, these things, you can be humbled. And today was one of those days.

Football Player/Coach (41:19)

You mean the process is the process. It seemed to be more cosmetic than anything. Tale of two halves right there.

Guest Analyst (41:24)

Before you can learn how to consistently.

Dan Le Batard (41:26)

Win, you have to learn how not.

Jeremy (41:28)

Not to lose.

Football Player/Coach (41:28)

I mean, we're all men, coaches included. They stuffed us pretty good. They stuff is pretty good up front.

Dan Le Batard (41:33)

I love Finnish. I preach Finnish.

Chris Cody (41:34)

We have a lot of experience bouncing.

Football Player/Coach (41:36)

Back from bad plays.

Dan Le Batard (41:37)

To be honest, we were not good on a lot of aspects of football today.

Football Player/Coach (41:39)

This is a good football team. Talking about us that did not play very well today. We know the reality in this league that you can lose multiple games in a row because of the parity of this league and the good players and the teams and the coaches.

Dan Le Batard (41:50)

What was your overall message?

Amin Elhassan (41:52)

That this is sort of the swag I think we gotta continue to flow over to next week's game.

Football Player/Coach (41:59)

The way I understood it was it was a Benadryl type situation. Different attitude, different energy. Finishing plays really was more how, in terms of how we do things. I don't think he took Benadryl. I don't know what he took. I wasn't very good today. I don't think Floose thinks he was very good today. Clayton doesn't think he was good. Very, very good today. We made the points when they counted, so the good team win. This is a game of players making plays days, you know, especially in crucial times. There's some good moments and some not so good moments. In football.

Jeremy (42:24)

It's.

Football Player/Coach (42:25)

It's always us, all of us.

Guest Analyst (42:26)

We just simply got to get a lot better in a lot of areas, in all areas, but some really specific areas.

Dan Le Batard (42:32)

I think someone needs to step up and lead the group.

Football Player/Coach (42:33)

I Have a lot of trust and faith in them and it didn't work out.

Amin Elhassan (42:36)

Not going to get, not going to.

Football Player/Coach (42:38)

Get any particulars though with it.

Dan Le Batard (42:39)

A lot of frustration along the sideline. My message to the group is this is one game right here.

Football Player/Coach (42:43)

He was a beast. He was a man possessed. I know the value of being a two dimensional offense.

Guest Analyst (42:48)

That field flipping play on third down, we laid the ball up to him. He made a catch and run I thought was a significant component of the texture of the second half.

Football Player/Coach (42:55)

Anytime you win in the National Football League, it's a, you know, it's a good win. Good teams, they look at it, they.

Mike Ryan (43:00)

Look in the mirror.

Football Player/Coach (43:01)

Adversity is a good thing.

Dan Le Batard (43:02)

They did a nice job today and.

Amin Elhassan (43:03)

We did not do a well job today.

Dan Le Batard (43:04)

You know, we just need some guys to step up. I'm not going to sit here and name names. We just need you guys to step up.

Guest Analyst (43:08)

We can't settle for field goals versus good people.

Football Player/Coach (43:10)

The preparation pieces piece had to be where it needed to be.

Dan Le Batard (43:12)

We will look at this film, we will take it and correct the things that need to be corrected and write the ship based on the things that we've been doing.

Chris Cody (43:18)

I feel like I've heard and seen it all.

Football Player/Coach (43:20)

So the outcomes of the game is much different in my opinion. If all three phases aren't working in concert at that point, I would say.

Amin Elhassan (43:29)

That was, that was one of the better team wins that we've had in all three phases.

Guest Analyst (43:33)

Steel flipping type plays were significant plays. There were catalysts for, for drive engineering, the two touchdown drives or whatever in the third quarter.

Amin Elhassan (43:40)

Seems like by the end of these.

Dan Le Batard (43:42)

Last two games, you've not been moving wonderfully.

Amin Elhassan (43:46)

Thank you.

Chris Cody (43:51)

Do you want to race?

Dan Le Batard (43:56)

Mac Jones becoming a secret star in these. Laughing at his own jokes, delighted with his own gig.

Jeremy (44:03)

Can your quarterback laugh like that?

Dan Le Batard (44:05)

Put it on the poll at LeBatard show. Can your quarterback laugh like that?

Amin Elhassan (44:09)

Not if his name is McCorkle.

Dan Le Batard (44:12)

I've got a number of different things to promote here over the next couple of days, but before I do that, did you guys see or read the quotes from Tom Aspinall's dad? Because the no contest that ended the UFC fight in a really disappointing fashion. The details have been gotten worse. If you saw what it is that we showed you, which was Aspinall with a finger in his eye, knuckle deep in his eye, an eye gouge ended the UFC heavyweight fight. And it was hard to watch. And now literally hard to watch. Is anything that Tom Aspenhall is doing because his father says he's got no vision in his left eye. None can't see anything out of his left eye. And the other one's a little bit gray too. And so they seem super concerned, never mind about the career of Tom Aspinall, which would be secondary to the idea of you never go into a UFC fight calculating the dangers and think that blindness is going to end up being what you end up fearing in the hospital afterwards. So those quotes were just. When I read them, I'm like, oh my God, this guy is such a good champion, such a good fighter. And could not have thought that that fight would end up going that way. The no contest is one kind of disappointing. But then to have that where the fear involved with I can't see stuff out of one eye and the other eyes kind of gray too. It's just horrifying.

Jeremy (45:47)

That's always one of the things I'm squeamish about in like movies when dudes are fighting and you know, usually it's a guy who's being choked and his way to get out of the choking is he the then pushes in your eyeballs, you know, like. Yeah, I always have to look away. That really gross. It makes me. It makes me want to puke.

Dan Le Batard (46:06)

Let's advertise a couple of the things that we've got going on this week. Amin was talking about the costume that he will be wearing tomorrow night when we go to the Miller Light watch party. Miami and Baltimore are playing the Thursday night game and we're really excited about this. When it's a block party, we've never been to Kendall this way. We have never done anything like this this way. We are looking forward to being with our Miami fans in an open space here. And we're gonna have a costume contest. Fifteen hundred dollars to the best costume. And also tomorrow night, we haven't even talked about the World Series yet. That had to be feel good for Vlad Guerrero last night to hit it specifically off of Shohei to like, okay, big guy, I've hit everything hard this entire postseason. I've got seven home runs. I'm kind of great too to take a 2:1 pitch from Shohei to when when they needed Shohei last night to stay out of the bullpen. The Blue Jays tie that series. Jeremy, tomorrow night is going to throw a watch party on YouTube with an assortment of guests. Pitch clock live is basically what you're doing.

Chris Cody (47:10)

Absolutely. And even better news, it's actually tonight. You don't have to wait. Game five is tonight. And we're going to be doing a watch along on YouTube. Myself, Chris, Cody, Ethan's gonna have some trivia games ready for us. You might see June Lee, you'll probably see RM Layton, you might see Marlin's broadcasters, maybe David Sampson, probably Adnan Vir. These are the answers that we've gotten from these folks.

Jeremy (47:33)

What about girlfriend?

Chris Cody (47:34)

Hey Jane Levy? She'll be there at intermission of Damn Yankees because she accidentally bought tickets before she figured out it was gonna be game five of the World Series. All those names and more celebrating baseball game five tonight as the winner has a 64% chance of winning the entire World Series.

Dan Le Batard (47:51)

It is a genuine World Series, right? This feels like a more genuine World Series than all the other World Series that have been played before it because you've got an American team, you've got a Canadian team and you've got stars that are Japanese in it. Like it. I know that world championship is often what we say in the NBA and it is because the world is playing in the NBA. But this is the first World Series that feels like a. This feels most like a World Series given that you've got Japan, Canada. Japan and Canada probably care about this more than America does.

Chris Cody (48:23)

The moments last night were a Canadian born Dominican hitting a homer off of a Japanese legend and then Andres Jimenez, a Venezuelan guy who came through the Dominican Republic at the New York Mets Academy singling to advance the lead. That's the type of internationality that exists in this World Series. It has been spectacular and it has lived up to anything. Anyone could have hoped for it. As we head into this is why.

Dan Le Batard (48:49)

You'Re the boy toy that Jane Levy loves more than all the other boy toys she has.

Chris Cody (48:54)

Jane, thank you so much for taking the time to join me today.

Football Player/Coach (48:57)

For you boy toy anything.

Zas (49:01)

What does Zin 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 Zinn and keep finding rewards that fit your lifestyle@Zinn.com rewards warning. This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical.