The Big Suey: Lucy's Trip to the CFB National Championship

Summary

The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz: Episode Summary

Episode Title: The Big Suey: Lucy's Trip to the CFB National Championship
Release Date: January 22, 2025

---

1. Lucy's Journey to the College Football (CFB) National Championship

Timestamp: [02:02] – [09:30]

In this episode, Lucy Rodriguez shares her firsthand experience attending the College Football National Championship. The discussion begins with the chaotic logistics she faced at the airport. Dan LeBatard recounts his own frustrating experience:

Dan LeBatard ([05:37]): "It was the worst I've ever seen an airport. I felt like I was at war. So it was insane."

Lucy highlights the disorganized security lines and the tense atmosphere among fans, particularly Notre Dame supporters. The hosts delve into the challenges of managing large crowds and the absence of traditional tailgating due to unexpected weather conditions.

Notable Incident: Line-Cutting Controversy

A significant moment revolves around an incident where Dan accidentally cut in line at the airport, leading to a humorous yet tense exchange among the hosts:

Dan LeBatard ([05:37]): "I will throw myself under the bus."

Lucy Rodriguez ([07:31]): "That's aggressive language."

This segment underscores the unpredictable nature of event logistics and sets the tone for discussing broader organizational issues.

---

2. Evaluating the Championship Game Atmosphere

Timestamp: [09:30] – [17:03]

Lucy and the hosts critique the overall experience at the National Championship game, emphasizing the overly corporate feel that detracts from the traditional college football spirit. They compare the event's atmosphere to NFL-style stadiums, noting:

Lucy Rodriguez ([12:09]): "Commerce comes to college football. Corporate comes to college football. Shit show."

Entertainment and Engagement Issues

They express dissatisfaction with the in-game entertainment, particularly the use of DJs, which they feel disrupts the natural flow of the game:

Dan LeBatard ([10:54]): "I don't want to be hearing from a DJ throughout the game."

Jessica ([11:36]): "And the speakers were so loud, it was just too much."

The hosts argue that the infusion of corporate elements and unconventional entertainment choices dilute the authentic college football experience.

---

3. The Corporate Influence on College Football Culture

Timestamp: [17:03] – [18:12]

The conversation shifts to the impact of corporate sponsorships and organizational decisions on the game's atmosphere. Dan LeBatard shares his disappointment with the lack of traditional tailgating and the cold weather's effect on fan engagement:

Dan LeBatard ([17:03]): "The University of Georgia had the best music I've ever seen at a football game. But I don't want to be hearing from a DJ throughout the game."

Lucy emphasizes the loss of soul and authenticity due to corporate dominance:

Lucy Rodriguez ([17:03]): "The higher you get to the money, the colder some of these things can be."

---

4. Introducing the "Lucy Challenge" Super Bowl Giveaway

Timestamp: [28:38] – [32:03]

In a playful segment, the hosts launch the "Lucy Challenge," a contest encouraging listeners to submit creative challenges for Lucy to undertake to earn a trip to the Super Bowl. The challenges range from humorous to absurd, reflecting the show's signature comedic style.

Selected Challenges:

• Spa Day for Lucy:

  Dan LeBatard ([31:43]): "Lucy gets a spa day. That was a really good suggestion."

• Watching All Rocky Movies:

  Mike Ryan ([31:34]): "Attend a game and tailgate with Mike Ryan."

This segment fosters listener engagement and adds a lighthearted break from the more serious discussions.

---

5. Deep Dive: Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat Dynamics

Timestamp: [40:21] – [45:30]

A substantial portion of the episode is dedicated to analyzing Jimmy Butler's role and performance with the Miami Heat. The hosts discuss Butler's dedication, team dynamics, and recent performances, highlighting both his strengths and the tensions within the locker room.

Key Points:

• Performance Analysis:

  Greg Cody ([44:35]): "But Jimmy. Jimmy didn't make them champions. So has he succeeded? By Heat standards, By Pat Riley?"

• Locker Room Tensions:

  Jeremy Tache ([41:58]): "The locker room is awkward and uncomfortable."

Lucy Rodriguez draws parallels between Butler's situation and broader workplace dynamics, questioning his commitment and its impact on team morale:

Lucy Rodriguez ([41:33]): "How are they winning? It's 23 free throws and these guys are hitting from three."

The discussion underscores the complexity of leadership within sports teams and the fine line between individual excellence and team cohesion.

---

6. Book Release Banter and Media Dynamics

Timestamp: [33:11] – [36:37]

The hosts engage in humorous banter regarding the release of Stugotz's book and audiobook, playfully critiquing the publishing industry's gimmicks and self-promotion tactics:

Lucy Rodriguez ([35:56]): "Stu Gotz publishing a book. The starting point on that is, my God, what a magical gift."

Greg Cody ([34:28]): "Lovely day. And that kind of feels like a good choice."

These exchanges showcase the hosts' camaraderie and their knack for poking fun at media and publishing norms.

---

7. Final Thoughts and Sponsor Messages

Timestamp: [36:37] – [47:40]

As the episode winds down, Lucy humorously recounts an anecdote about her bachelor party at the Georgia Aquarium, blending personal stories with the show's characteristic humor.

Closing Remarks:

The hosts wrap up with lighthearted discussions about sponsorships and everyday topics, maintaining the show's engaging and entertaining atmosphere.

---

Notable Quotes:

• Dan LeBatard ([05:37]): "I felt like I was at war. So it was insane."
• Lucy Rodriguez ([12:09]): "Commerce comes to college football. Corporate comes to college football. Shit show."
• Jessica ([11:36]): "And the speakers were so loud, it was just too much."
• Greg Cody ([44:35]): "But Jimmy. Jimmy didn't make them champions."
• Lucy Rodriguez ([17:03]): "The higher you get to the money, the colder some of these things can be."

---

Conclusion

In The Big Suey: Lucy's Trip to the CFB National Championship, Dan Le Batard and Stugotz provide an in-depth and entertaining exploration of the modern challenges facing college football championships. Through Lucy's experiences and the hosts' insightful commentary, listeners gain a nuanced understanding of the delicate balance between tradition and commercialization in collegiate sports. The episode seamlessly blends serious analysis with humor, making it both informative and engaging for fans and newcomers alike.

Transcript

[Dan LeBatard]

You're listening to Giraffe Kings Network.

[Stugotz]

Folks. The playoff season is here and the only thing better than the game day predictions are the foods that come with them. Introducing TUM's fantasy football pool brought to you by Tums, America's number one anti asset brand and DraftKings each week leading up to the big game, turn football into football by building your best game day plate for a shot at winning a share of $40,000 in cash prizes inspired by game day bites and tailgate treats. Join the Tums foodball action during this playoff season's most heartburn inducing times. Visit DraftKings.com TumsFoodBall between January 6th and February 9th to enter for free and select your game day plate before the start of each playoff round. Age and eligibility restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. See [e-mail] tumsfoodball when you feel the heat of the game, don't let the heartburn keep you on the sidelines. Try Tum's Chewy Bites with a tasty outer shell and soft center for fast relief of heartburn, acid indigestion and upset stomach. Check out Tums Gummy Bites, featuring a soft and easy to chew format for fast relief of occasional heartburn, acid indigestion, sour stomach and upset stomach. Both available at Amazon, Target and other major retailers nationwide. And for more heartburn relief fun, be sure to follow tumsumsofficial on Instagram and TikTok.

[Chris Cody]

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

[Mike Ryan]

Welcome to the Big Sui presented by DraftKings.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

Why are you listening to this show?

[Mike Ryan]

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.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

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.

[Mike Ryan]

I've done it. And now here's the marching man to Nowhere Fat Face and the Habitual Liar.

[Stugotz]

This episode of the Dan LeBatard show with Stugots is presented by Smirnoff. We Do Game Days. Please drink responsibly. The Smirnoff Company, New York, New York.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

Chris, you and me know like very few people, except perhaps your mother, Greg Cody's wife. How stubborn he is about admitting when he is wrong. Greg Cody just muttered under his breath in a shocking statement I could not believe that I was hearing out loud. Yeah, Martin Short. I think I'm full of shit on that one.

[Greg Cody]

Yeah. I have to admit it. I did a little research. I do think he. His acting in Only Murders in the Building is theatrically overacting.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

That's what it. What he is like. He does some of that.

[Greg Cody]

Yeah.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah.

[Greg Cody]

Okay, well, it's not my fault, right? Yeah.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

Why are you now full of shit?

[Greg Cody]

Well, because he's an accomplished. He's been around a while.

[Stugotz]

You didn't realize that before?

[Greg Cody]

Yeah, I mean, he's bigger and you know, the more I talk, the more I'm going to start criticizing again. Yeah, obviously he's much bigger in Canada than he is Stateside.

[Chris Cody]

Well, have you seen him in the Canada Pavilion at Epcot center and in Disney World?

[Greg Cody]

I have not.

[Chris Cody]

Oh my God. He takes you on a tour. It's 360 degrees around.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah, it's great.

[Chris Cody]

I think that maybe they removed that, but it was a 360 degree thing. You'd see.

[Dan LeBatard]

But I never got.

[Stugotz]

Now Ellen, at one point, I remember.

[Jeremy Tache]

That thing that was like dinosaurs or something.

[Chris Cody]

Enough with Dinosaurs.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

Is Martin Short passing an immortal juju? Put it on the poll, please. At Levitard Show.

[Mike Ryan]

He's not. He's been nominated 29 times. He's won three awards. He's like. And the three time he won, everyone was bored. They were yawning. No one wanted Martin Short to win.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

Yeah, awards are the. Yeah, that's the way.

[Mike Ryan]

You know. He's invited to the dance, but no one wants to. Actually, I would like a personal record.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

Book of entertainment with stugats. Who actually deserves the Oscars and who doesn't?

[Chris Cody]

Well, speaking of that, Stu Gods, I don't know. I'm assuming you don't watch Only Murders in the Building.

[Mike Ryan]

No, I don't watch.

[Chris Cody]

Well, you know who's been in the last two seasons of Only Murders in the Building Nominated a bunch of times? No winning any.

[Jessica]

We're not doing this again. No, change the subject.

[Mike Ryan]

Meryl.

[Chris Cody]

Yeah, and guess who she's dating on the show? Martin.

[Mike Ryan]

Real life.

[Jessica]

Yeah.

[Stugotz]

Are they in real life for real? Like a real life romance?

[Jessica]

It's a rumor. Her and her husband got divorced recently.

[Chris Cody]

Wow. Did you hear that?

[Lucy Rodriguez]

That's.

[Greg Cody]

That.

[Stugotz]

That can't be.

[Chris Cody]

What's Tinseltown telling you, Daniel?

[Lucy Rodriguez]

Yeah, I don't want to offend anyone in Hollywood. My opinions help on that. I am happy that we have found Lucy. She has returned from the national championship, I am told. And I don't know. I don't want to pit Lucy against Jessica here, but somebody's got to break the news. Spoken out loud of who cut this TSA line? What media member cut this TSA line? Because I don't know. Jessica wasn't willing to smoke the person out in shame, but did say that we would all know who the person was. Lucy, do you know who the person was?

[Dan LeBatard]

There were. Let's just say there were a couple I saw.

[Mike Ryan]

Wow.

[Dan LeBatard]

I saw two people. But I'm not going to throw anybody under the bus. I will throw myself under the bus. And I believe that I accidentally cut the line.

[Mike Ryan]

How do you accidentally cut a line?

[Stugotz]

How do you play?

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah, no, let me tell you. So I get to the airport two hours early.

[Mike Ryan]

Talk slowly.

[Dan LeBatard]

I'm ready.

[Mike Ryan]

Okay.

[Dan LeBatard]

Okay. I probably should have gotten there a little earlier. I walk in and. And there's no line. It is just, like, felt like thousands of people just all herded together. There was like, a tiny semblance of a line. So I got in what I thought was that line. No one knows what's going on. It's almost all Notre Dame fans. So everyone's kind of in a bad mood to begin with. And then they're telling you, like, hey, you're going to have to wait three hours for security. I'm like, fine, whatever. I know there's another flight. I'm very chill about flight stuff. It goes wrong. What are you going to do? And then they start, like, putting. Kind of trying to put lines together. It's not going well. I see two media members. They're behind me in line. I'm like, oh, I know who they are. I turn around and I see them. Just go ahead. I said, whoa, you can do that? I did not do that. I stayed where I was. Then all of these people came together. So many people were cutting me in line that I just cut a couple of people in line because they cut me in line. And there was this one woman with blonde hair and red pants. I don't know if that rings a bell for anybody. She was atrociously cutting the line. I almost said something to her, but then I realized, you know what? I don't care that much.

[Stugotz]

What was your cut? Strategy? Looking at the phone, looking up, acting like you were looking at, like, the flight.

[Dan LeBatard]

There was. There was no strategy other than me turning around and saying, oh, I think those people were actually ahead of me. My bad, Lucy. Like, it was totally accidental. It was the worst I've ever seen an airport. I felt like I was at war. So it was insane.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

All right, Lucy. That's aggressive language. Lucy, I think you.

[Mike Ryan]

Have you been to Hartsfield?

[Lucy Rodriguez]

I mean, I think you and Jessica are reporting nationally. Total shit show. That's what you're reporting. Just enormous shit show. Commerce comes to college football. Corporate comes to college football. Shit show.

[Dan LeBatard]

It got worse after I left. So, like, I. It probably took me, like, a bit, like an hour, hour, 15 minutes to get through security. And it got more organized after I left, but it got busier to when I was there. There were no lines outside. There were lines outside by the time I boarded my plane. Where, like, you were in TSA pre check line, which was, like, 90 minutes long, where general boarding was three hours long. And you were outside in Atlanta, which was, like, in the polar vortex. So it was, like, 15 degrees outside. I've never seen anything like it. I did make my flight. I got it. I got to my gate five minutes before. Before boarding. First class was empty. Like, the plane was completely empty because so many people missed their flights.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

First class.

[Mike Ryan]

Dan, I know you're feeling this, but is someone going to name names? I mean.

[Greg Cody]

Yeah.

[Mike Ryan]

Anyone?

[Lucy Rodriguez]

Yeah.

[Greg Cody]

Name names myself.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

No, that's not enough. It's not good enough. I need at least give us some hints here on who we can shame, who we can chase as a line cutter and a security risk to. To all of us.

[Mike Ryan]

If we make guesses, will you guys tell us if we're right?

[Dan LeBatard]

No, but I'll give you a hint.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

Okay. All right, I'll take the hint. But this. This is awful. Like, the fact that you guys won't get us closer to the truth as media members is why people hate the media.

[Stugotz]

My money's on Kevin Ngandi.

[Mike Ryan]

Oh, that's a good one.

[Dan LeBatard]

But I'll give you a hand. I'll give you a hand. This one's not gonna be shocking. They were men, huh?

[Jessica]

Wait, that, like, report on college football. That doesn't sound right.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

White.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah. No, it's crazy. They never act like that.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

White men.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah.

[Chris Cody]

Classic Lyles.

[Dan LeBatard]

They were white men.

[Stugotz]

Trevor Matich.

[Mike Ryan]

No, he would never do that he honors the line. He takes a line seriously.

[Dan LeBatard]

I don't blame anyone except for that one lady.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

And I insist right now that you take that back.

[Stugotz]

I will not have to apologize.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

Yeah, you will not, Chris.

[Mike Ryan]

Jeez.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

You will not disrespect the honor. Trevor.

[Chris Cody]

Until this moment.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

Trevor Mad. Would never ever.

[Chris Cody]

I had no idea.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

Would never cut a line.

[Mike Ryan]

No one takes a line more seriously than Trevor Mad.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

Nobody.

[Mike Ryan]

No one.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

Nobody. He'll keep everyone else in line. That would never happen on Trevor Matich's watch. Never. No one would cut a line. You wouldn't have all of these prepubescent Lucy's running around in the media.

[Chris Cody]

What?

[Dan LeBatard]

I don't know if you're allowed to.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

Call me pre pubescent or so I'm doing it through Trevor Matt's eyes.

[Dan LeBatard]

I don't know if he's allowed to call me that either.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

How bad was it? How bad was the entire coverage of everything?

[Dan LeBatard]

Like the. The. Just. The airplane airport was terrible. The. The game experience was interesting because it was so cold. It was freezing. You guys are lucky you're talking to me today. I got windburn on my face. I looked like I had terrible blush for days. It was awful. But the game was fun. They had a speaker too loud, which was kind of annoying. And they had an indie game DJ.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

Complaint that Jessica was making. How bad was this?

[Dan LeBatard]

DJ was bad. DJ was. I. I'm a firm believer that especially in college football, you should never have like a. Like a dj. It's fine to have someone in the back, like, putting on music. The University of Georgia had the best music I've ever seen at a football game. They were very good. But, like, I don't want to be hearing from a deejay throughout the game. And it would go from, like, they did a lot of, like, good sort of timeout hits about, you know, MLK Day. So they had like black historians come and talk about these famous black athletes who kind of paved the way at Notre Dame, at Ohio State. And then it would go to the DJ being singing along to, like, hot to go or something. Just. He wasn't just playing music, he was singing it.

[Jessica]

And.

[Dan LeBatard]

And the speakers were so loud, it was just. It was too much. And he was trying his best. So I don't. I don't want to shit on him, but, like, try less.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

Are we that show now? Does this sound. Does this sound bad to people? The idea of you get to go to the championship game. But it becomes such a logistics nightmare that even Jessica, who's going to celebrate. Her team might have had a bad time even if that team had won just because of how everything outside of the game felt.

[Jessica]

I don't know if that. I wouldn't go that far, but it was definitely not a setup for a city that was 20 degrees and people like there was so much outside walking and it was freezing and it was. There needed to be more bartenders per capita. That's, that's my main complaint. We needed like, we need to bring, bring in the bartenders for the national championship game. There's like thousands of Irish Catholics descending on your city. They want to wake up at 8am and they want to drink and they want to drink Guin and they want to drink all your beer. Let them have that chance.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

I think Jessica could win a political campaign on the slogan more bartenders per capita. How was the energy, Lucy? We've sent you to some bad ones, right? We've sent you to some atmospheres that get corporate and that some of the soul of college football gets lost because the higher you get to the money, the colder some of these things can be. Were you able to get some access on this one that felt like you were a part of a big energy?

[Dan LeBatard]

Jaz actually watched the first half of the game with us and she said something where it was like, I feel like this is kind of an NFL energy where I felt that too. And I don't know if it was just like the stadium or like sometimes I think that when they go to these neutral site games, they play so much into like, okay, it's a neutral site game. So we need a dj. We need, you know, these like silly little games during these, these media timeouts or what, where I kind of wish they had introduced more of like, okay, here's a song Ohio State likes to play where when we went to the Big Ten championship game, they did like a pretty decent job of, you know, each sort of break would be designated to a certain fan base. So it kind of reminded you of being in Happy Valley or being in Eugene. And I didn't really get that here. It ended up being a much better game than I anticipated. By halftime, I was like, oh, buddy, we're in for one. This is not going to be good. But obviously turned around so the energy stayed up. But it was like, you risk that every single time you go to a neutral site college football game. I think the only real neutral site college football game that's like awesome is.

[Stugotz]

Red River, Brock Osweiler.

[Jessica]

No, honestly, like, not far though, for one reason. But I Won't say what that reason is, but yeah, I don't know. The in game entertainment I think does like. It had weird NFL energy to start because there was a lot of like, you know, just it. Show us the marching bands. Like, I don't know, like, I love the marching bands. Maybe I'm alone on that one.

[Dan LeBatard]

But no, love them.

[Jessica]

Give me marching bands.

[Mike Ryan]

Brock Hewitt, Tim Tebow.

[Chris Cody]

Tebow line.

[Mike Ryan]

Tebow would be great.

[Dan LeBatard]

That would have been awesome.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

Put it on the pole. Funnier at Levitard show. Marching bands. Do you love marching bands? I'm assuming. Forgive me for this, because I'm guessing that Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreet go wherever they want in whatever city they're in, right? We're talking. That's a whole nother class of different airport. That's a whole nother class of flying. You guys are talking about media members you're looking to shame who aren't actually from the top of the food chain in media. You guys are. Are looking to smoke out somebody who's not a power broker like Joel Klatt.

[Dan LeBatard]

I feel like he's a power broker.

[Mike Ryan]

Really?

[Dan LeBatard]

Wasn't him.

[Mike Ryan]

It wasn't him. How about the bear?

[Dan LeBatard]

Him?

[Mike Ryan]

The bear.

[Dan LeBatard]

Nope.

[Mike Ryan]

No Joe Test.

[Dan LeBatard]

Nope.

[Jessica]

The first drive was also so long that we had so many commercial long commercial breaks in the second quarter. And that and that really, really dragged things out. Lucy, I don't know about you. I'm like, we're doing back to. Back to back, like video board. Which helmet is the football under games.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

Oh, God.

[Stugotz]

I'm like, love that.

[Greg Cody]

Worst stadium game ever.

[Stugotz]

What?

[Greg Cody]

Just inane.

[Chris Cody]

You guys like someone that can't figure it out.

[Mike Ryan]

To me, Tom Luganbill, who wants to.

[Greg Cody]

Pay that much attention?

[Mike Ryan]

You have to.

[Chris Cody]

You can't. I knew it.

[Greg Cody]

So fast.

[Chris Cody]

You're the one.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

You're the one.

[Stugotz]

You hear the crowd shouting it and then you act like you watched it.

[Greg Cody]

I don't. I act like I didn't watch it. Even if I did.

[Chris Cody]

Dave Fleming, you can't keep up. Greg Logan, power broker.

[Mike Ryan]

Really?

[Greg Cody]

Why are we ratting out whoever this was who cut.

[Chris Cody]

Yeah.

[Mike Ryan]

Why are we pretending to be someone important?

[Chris Cody]

Out with it.

[Mike Ryan]

Why are we people.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

I got to tell you guys, but.

[Dan LeBatard]

He sat behind me on a flight I. And I was so nervous because I knew he was going to be watching my screen.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

I. I don't want to. I really don't want to grandfather this, but I just. I do want to ask. I don't want to sit here and be syrupy about nostalg romantic times that didn't exist. I don't want to be pastoral or precious about football, but when you tell me the college football national championship feels like an NFL stadium, that doesn't sound right to me. Like, and maybe it doesn't matter. Maybe at the altar of capitalism we sacrifice all things. And so the atmosphere at the, at the stadium does, the energy, none of it matters. Because all that matters is what's televised.

[Mike Ryan]

No atmosphere, I think matters more to college football than any other sport. You can't take a college board. I know it's professional, they're paying the players and bring it to an NFL indoor stadium. In a city that's really not prepared for something like that, you can't do it. I propose the Rose bowl for every national championship game.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

What I would say to all of you is that if I, if I took Notre Dame's fan base and threw it against most major cities, they would be able to handle that party in a way that would be a lifetime party. Like, I don't know what happened, but to me, what you're describing, I've been to national championship games and they do have a corporate feel. More antiseptic going way back. But for you guys to be, to be. To love college football this way, at least in part because of those atmospheres, how corporate was like, what's this video that I'm tossing to here, Lucy? Is it a celebration of the sport as punctuation or is it you walking through a strip mall? Sad because the corporate sponsors have bought everything.

[Dan LeBatard]

It's c. None of the above. So we went to the SEC championship game at Mercedes Benz last year and we were shocked by how like, crappy the atmosphere was.

[Mike Ryan]

Right. You had the same plans last year. Yes.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah. Atlanta is also like the. Where the way that stadium is kind of located and like what's around it, it's just not ideal for tailgating. And you combine that with the weather. So we were like, well, this is a tough situation that we're in. We knew what we were going into. Plus we knew it was the last off roading of the year. So if I messed up, there wouldn't be that many consequences. So we went to the aquarium instead.

[Mike Ryan]

Safe place.

[Dan LeBatard]

It was awesome.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

This is what you did with the, this is what you did with the expense account. You went to the aquarium with Rose instead of going to the national championship game?

[Dan LeBatard]

No, we also went to the world of Coke as well. We went to both the World of Coke.

[Jessica]

I thought that was in Miami.

[Dan LeBatard]

I found Dan. Just a joke. Ha ha ha ha. I need a job. Please don't fire me. Hi, Dan, it's Lucy. And we are at the national championship. The last game of the season. The last off roading of the season. Now I have some good news and some bad news. Bad news is it is like 12 degrees outside, and I'm not exaggerating. It is literally so cold. No one's tailgating, no one's doing anything. Good news is no one's tailgating, no one's doing anything. And it's the last off roading of the season. So we're gonna do whatever we want today. So I think we're go to the aquarium, maybe the world of coke. We're really. We're really just gonna live Atlanta up like the tourists that we are. This is what I look like after 20 weeks on the road. 20 college football games. Any predictions for the game today? Notre Dame or Ohio State? How does it smell?

[Lucy Rodriguez]

Like fish.

[Dan LeBatard]

How it does fit. It's so gross. Whoa, they move fast. These guys would go for at least a mil in the portal. Do you agree with Chris Cody's take that you should switch sport allegiances? That dolphin has a very foul mouth. Jesus. They do not agree. We're at the world of Coke now. We're gonna try a bunch of soda. This is roast before the soda. Yes. Nothing beats a diet Coke.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

Too sweet for me.

[Dan LeBatard]

Bad.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

Too sweet.

[Dan LeBatard]

Cough medicine. Not bad. I don't love it. I don't think that's half bad. So so far, no one from Notre Dame has wanted to talk to us. So this is how I imagine an interview with the Notre Dame fan would go. Hey, do you think Marcus Freeman is super hot? Yes, I do. He's so hot. Do you miss Brian Kelly? Not even at all. I hate that guy. He's the worst. Do you like dressing up like a leprechaun? Yeah. It doesn't make. It's not weird that I'm a grown adult dressing up as a leprechaun. It's really cool and awesome. Do you know Jessica's Montana? Yeah, I do. She's perfect. She's the love of my life. She's amazing. Awesome. Do you watch the lepatard show? No. And that's it. How confident are we feeling today? 1,000% confident.

[Jessica]

I mean, we're here to play, but.

[Dan LeBatard]

It'S not really competition. I mean, what's the deal with the hat?

[Lucy Rodriguez]

The hat was first made in 1987 in Kenan hall on campus for the national championship season. Then we didn't know it at the time.

[Dan LeBatard]

Does Ryan Day dye his beard? No.

[Chris Cody]

Yes.

[Dan LeBatard]

That's what it's supposed to look like.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

I kiss a skunk and look at Ryan Day. No, he dyes his beard.

[Chris Cody]

I think he might use just for men. I'm not gonna lie.

[Jessica]

No, he's perfect. That man has never made a mistake in his life.

[Dan LeBatard]

But dyeing your beard's not a mistake. What do you guys miss most about Brian Kelly?

[Lucy Rodriguez]

Absolutely nothing.

[Dan LeBatard]

Not even how red his face got. Is losing to that team maybe a good thing?

[Lucy Rodriguez]

Hell, no.

[Mike Ryan]

God.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

Losing to that team up north is never a good thing.

[Dan LeBatard]

If there are any takeaways from this, the expanded playoff work. Still, it matters. With a loss to Michigan and Oregon, Ohio State wouldn't have made it. And now they're here and they're national champions. And they're gonna go down as one of the better national champions of all time. So this ruled. I am so tired in general and from a long, fun day in Atlanta. Thank you for this opportunity. It never feels real. I don't know what I'm gonna do until August. I vote nothing. But I don't think Medlark will prove that.

[Stugotz]

This is a message from sponsor Intuit Turbo Tax. Guys, Taxes was waiting and wondering and worrying if you're going to get any money back whatsoever. And then waiting, wondering and worrying some more. Now Taxes is matching with a TurboTax expert who can do your taxes as soon as today. An expert who gives your taxes their undivided attention as they work on your return while you get real time updates on their progress so you can focus on your day. An expert will find your every deduction possible and file every form, every investment, every everything with 100% accuracy. Also, you can get the most money back guaranteed. No waiting, no wondering, no worries. Now this is Taxes. Get an Expert now on TurboTax.com only. Available with TurboTax Live full service real time updates only on iOS mobile app. See guaranteed [e-mail] guarantees.

[Jessica]

Yeah, sure thing.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

Hey, you sold that car yet?

[Stugotz]

Yeah, sold it to Carvana.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

Oh, I thought you were selling to that guy.

[Greg Cody]

The guy who wanted to pay me.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

In foreign currency, no interest over 36 months. Yeah, no.

[Stugotz]

Carvana gave me an offer in minutes.

[Greg Cody]

Picked it up and paid me on the spot.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

It was so convenient. Just like that. Yeah. No hassle? None. That is super convenient.

[Dan LeBatard]

Sell your car to Carvana and swap Hassle for convenience.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

Pick up.

[Chris Cody]

These may apply if you're a pet parent like me. You know about Chewy when they say they have everything you need to keep your pet healthy and happy. They're not messing around. Oh, look at this good boy and good girl over here. Taking an early morning siesta after their breakfast with the food we got from Chewy. Hassle free with auto ship to keep Dopey happy. Chewy offers over 100,000 products from brands my pets love at prices I love too. Foods, treats, toys, beds. You name it, they've got it. To keep Izzy healthy, Chewy has got me covered with pet prescriptions, insurance, telehealth, vet visits, and even vet clinics rolling out nationwide. My favorite feature, autoship. I never run out of essentials like food or litter, and I can update or cancel anytime. So no guilt trips from Dopey or Izzy, and everything ships right to your door in just one to two days. Oh, and Chewy isn't just for dogs and cats. They've got birds, fish, reptiles, and more covered too. Chewy has everything you need to keep your pet happy and healthy. And right now, you can save $20 on your first order and get free shipping by going to chewy.comDan that's chewy.comDan to save $20 on your first order with free shipping. Chewy.comDan minimum purchase required. New customers only. Terms and conditions apply. See site for complete details.

[Greg Cody]

Don LeBatard I want to address Tony and all men who would wear that shirt in public. Stugats don't do it.

[Chris Cody]

This is the Dan Levatar show with the Stugats.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

All right, we got a problem on our hand. She's a rising star and diva, and so she goes to these things and she just spends a bunch of money and goes to an aquarium. But while I'm in the world of coke. Yeah, being outraged by that as a frivolous expense on behalf of the company, us funding, her and Rose just doing things together. Stu Gotts whispered in my ear during that segment something that was at once truly, truly shocking and not shocking at all, which is that Jeremy had his bachelor party at that aquarium. I did. Yeah.

[Jeremy Tache]

Part of my bachelor party, we went to the Georgia aquarium. It was. It was a dream.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

Dream.

[Mike Ryan]

He said.

[Stugotz]

Part of nice, part of.

[Mike Ryan]

How was it a dream?

[Jeremy Tache]

Have you ever seen a ten foot whale shark, Stu?

[Jessica]

Guys give a lap dance.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

Baby.

[Jeremy Tache]

It was amazing. I had the time of my life at that Georgia aquarium on my bachelor party. So Lucy is definitely didn't ingest anything to make it a little more fun.

[Mike Ryan]

She should get rid of your best man. I mean, just get him out of your life.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

Seriously, put it on the pole at Lebitard show. Do you fire your best man? If the bachelor party's at the aquarium.

[Mike Ryan]

It is shocking until you realize it's German.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

Not at all.

[Jeremy Tache]

I knew it wouldn't be.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

It is a rare. It's a rare, rare thing to have something be truly, truly shocking. And then. Yeah, not surprising. Not surprised. Lucy, I can't handle what's going on with. You're coming now. Between the money, between corporate. Meadowlark would like to have a good relationship with Venmo. They would like. Venmo would like to be supporting a fine bucket that is working because it accrues money. Greg Cody hasn't paid his fines. He owes 11 or $12 from the other day. I have now installed Venmo and I will historically make my payment as soon as you guys tell me the handle. I need the handle. I don't know where I'm sending this.

[Mike Ryan]

You did it yourself?

[Lucy Rodriguez]

The installation? No, I told you already. Valerie.

[Dan LeBatard]

Oh, she did it.

[Mike Ryan]

Okay, good.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

Sorry, I've never used Venmo. I know you're there for me to make fun of me at any time.

[Mike Ryan]

I was just wondering.

[Chris Cody]

Yeah, for Venmo, it's great. It's very easy.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

It is very easy.

[Chris Cody]

We all know how to do it.

[Greg Cody]

It is super easy.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

Couldn't be easier.

[Mike Ryan]

You want me to set up the handle? I'll send myself some money.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

I don't want.

[Mike Ryan]

Just as a test, just to make sure it's working. Yeah, right. Right. A$1,800.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

We're not allowed to say what the handle is on the air. 1-800-Stugot. Let's do that. Let's. Let's stugs get on that right now.

[Mike Ryan]

Okay.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

Buy that.

[Mike Ryan]

All right.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

Make sure to buy before somebody else does. It's 1-800-Stu.

[Mike Ryan]

Guys, I'm sure it's too late, but I'll give it a try.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

Okay.

[Stugotz]

What year was the peak for those jokes? You know, like just.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

We're not.

[Stugotz]

Are we still doing 1-800-Numbers?

[Greg Cody]

Yeah, some of them are 188 now. 888.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

Put it on the poll Levitard show. Are we still doing 1, 800 numbers? Lucy and Chris, where are we with the Venmo fine bucket, which right now doesn't have money in it. And I would like for people to start paying their fines. Lucy killed a person on air, owes $50, refuses to pay.

[Stugotz]

We came up last week with the idea. Lucy wants to go to the super bowl and she hasn't paid her fines. So we partner with Venmo, and we came up with the Lucy super bowl challenge.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

Did we partner or did we pardon her? Did we partner with Venmo or did we pardon her with Venmo?

[Dan LeBatard]

Okay, Oprah, topical joke.

[Stugotz]

We both. The answer is yes to both those questions. So the Internet. We did hashtag Lucy Challenge. You can still send in submissions if you'd like, but I have some here, Lucy, for you to. You know, I don't know who's deciding this. I guess Dan is. The one that I like the most is that Lucy, in order to go to the super bowl on behalf of Venmo, needs to spend an entire day with the real Emily.

[Dan LeBatard]

She would kill me.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

Ooh, that would not go well.

[Dan LeBatard]

I can't do that.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

That would not go well.

[Dan LeBatard]

She's also blocked me on everything. I wouldn't be able to get a hold of her. She even blocked me on Venmo.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

A whole day? No, you'd have to have a phone call between them, a soul bearing conversation to see if there can be any connection. They're not gonna be in each other's presence for a day. That's very Lucy. Lucy.

[Dan LeBatard]

Her name in my phone is the literal worst human alive.

[Chris Cody]

Okay, hold on a second. I have a question about this relationship with Emily. Did she block you before you did stuff like this on air? Because I think an argument can be made that you are more of a bully to Emily than she ever was to you by publicly shaming her.

[Dan LeBatard]

I do sort of agree with that. Take a little bit. However, she blocked me the second we moved out, so I don't think she knows any of this is happening.

[Chris Cody]

Let her have it. She's.

[Dan LeBatard]

We don't even know if her real name is Emily. That might be a lie. I may have given you a fake name.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

You would never. Cyber bully. That was something. And we can't trust anything you say. It's why you're a rising star in this business, because it's disinformation. And then you go and do things at the national championship game that aren't about the national championship.

[Mike Ryan]

Stanford. Steve.

[Dan LeBatard]

No.

[Mike Ryan]

Oh.

[Jessica]

Not a bad guess, though.

[Dan LeBatard]

Good guess, though.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

Thank you.

[Stugotz]

So do we want more submissions here? How do we feel? So is the Emily one not happening? Like that's not happening?

[Dan LeBatard]

Oh, no. I'll quit this job before I spend time with her.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

Okay, excellent. So we're negotiating down on this one. Do you have something else here? I don't think it's for Lucy to decide, but I guess she. Like, how does this work? Because I would. The audience is deciding.

[Dan LeBatard]

I saw some really great. I saw some great submissions that I would. I'd be happy to read that people submitted that. I said, fine.

[Jessica]

Well, it's like Lucy gets a shopping spree at Neiman Marcus. Is that the one?

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah, I saw that one. I thought that one seemed really fair. I saw one that said Lucy's punishment should be she goes to a bookstore and has a lovely day. And that kind of feels like a good choice. Right. I saw one that. It said, dan should pay my student loans. And I said, well, that feels like a really good job.

[Chris Cody]

That'll teach you. Yeah.

[Greg Cody]

What about.

[Dan LeBatard]

I really will.

[Stugotz]

What about in one day watching all the Rocky movies and live streaming?

[Chris Cody]

It's.

[Mike Ryan]

That's heaven.

[Dan LeBatard]

How many movies are there?

[Lucy Rodriguez]

It's. What is it eight now?

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah. You don't have to watch five, though. I mean, is it.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

Is it eight or nine? Because those are the Creed movies too, Right?

[Mike Ryan]

There's Rocky one through four. You could skip five. And then I think it gets to Creed. So there's two or three Creeds, I think. Yeah.

[Stugotz]

Attend a, um, game and tailgate with Mike Ryan.

[Dan LeBatard]

There's no tailgate, so you can't do that.

[Stugotz]

Eat mayo covered pop Tart.

[Dan LeBatard]

Not doing that.

[Greg Cody]

Oh, I like that idea.

[Jeremy Tache]

Why not?

[Lucy Rodriguez]

You like?

[Dan LeBatard]

I don't want to.

[Greg Cody]

Yeah, I like her eating that. Not me. I wouldn't eat.

[Dan LeBatard]

Lucy gets a spa day. That was a really good suggestion. I don't know who sent that in.

[Chris Cody]

I'm sure this is gonna work.

[Stugotz]

So we're still spitballing. Send us your submissions. Hashtag Lucy challenge. Remember, it's presented by Venmo. We want to get Lucy to the Super Bowl. Send us good challenges.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

Lucy. Thank you.

[Dan LeBatard]

I touched. I touched a little stingray. I feel like that. Should that count? Gross.

[Chris Cody]

Her life was on the line.

[Dan LeBatard]

It was.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

We are going to have to negotiate this.

[Mike Ryan]

All right.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

Another disaster. We do not know how to take care of our sponsors on anything. It's a rambunctious group of people. They can.

[Jessica]

But that stingray did a hell of.

[Dan LeBatard]

A strip tease for Jer Bear that you wouldn't believe.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

It's just ridiculous.

[Chris Cody]

What a stinger that one had.

[Jessica]

Sting is in Only Murders in the Building too. I thought he was a good actor in that.

[Greg Cody]

I didn't know he was in it. I must have missed that episode.

[Jessica]

It was several.

[Chris Cody]

So Lucy did the first part of the challenge. Check off that. For putting your life on the line with the stingray. What's next?

[Lucy Rodriguez]

What a Stinger. That one had.

[Mike Ryan]

I enjoyed it.

[Chris Cody]

I had such a great moment yesterday, Dan, that you would love, speaking of bookstores, that it was like the most genuine and honest moment. That was the least surprising thing ever, where we were in the commissary over there and Teyor walks up to Stugatz and goes, stugatz, congratulations. Audiobooks out today. He goes, it is. Had no clue that I wasn't expecting.

[Mike Ryan]

It, to be honest with you. Yeah.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

It has been a stunning witness next to him, him just taking everything for granted and still cashing in. It is a marvel. It's one of the best jokes ever told.

[Mike Ryan]

I forgot about the date.

[Chris Cody]

I could not believe he had no idea it was the release date for his own audiobook.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

Billy. Billy. It's the joke that keeps on giving. Because I would say in general, Stu Gotz publishing a book. The starting point on that is, my God, what a magical gift. Taylor wandering in and finding out that he's not only not read his own book, but couldn't be bothered to do the audiobook in time for the first time in Random House history. And because he couldn't be paid to even read his own book that many of us wrote for him. And. And for that to be a cash cow is an amazing gift and an amazing grift.

[Mike Ryan]

All true. Except I read the book. I mean, listen to the audiobook. Stugouts book dot com. I had to read it.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

The audiobook is out. So finally they cornered Stugats. This was supposed to come out when the book came out.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

They were supposed to happen simultaneously.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah. And just teaching you the book game because you've never written a book. Greg and I have. We have another edition of the audiobook, a special edition coming out on Father's Day.

[Greg Cody]

Nice.

[Mike Ryan]

Speaking of Griffs.

[Greg Cody]

Very nice.

[Chris Cody]

Especially of yearbook coming out on Father's.

[Mike Ryan]

Special edition. Yeah.

[Greg Cody]

Wow.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah.

[Greg Cody]

Why is it special?

[Mike Ryan]

You're reading it.

[Greg Cody]

Okay.

[Chris Cody]

Did you just call your own book a grift?

[Greg Cody]

I'll get right on it.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

I mean, isn't it obvious? It's. It is.

[Chris Cody]

Don't say that part.

[Mike Ryan]

No, but I'm just saying that's what they teach you in the book industry. Okay? I learned this a long time ago. Right. They teach you, hey, the book is never ever finished. It's never done. We never stop selling the book. There's always a Father's Day, a Mother's Day right around the corner, Valentine's Day.

[Greg Cody]

You know, Happy New Year.

[Chris Cody]

Stephen King's gonna shoot you or something. You cannot Be putting out these author secrets.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

Billy, I will tell you that we have done very few things better than have Greg, Cody and Stugot be vigilant protectors of the written word in 2025. Caretakers for written causes in 2025. You have two wonderful soldiers here. Literate people keeping bookstores and reading alive. Not, not like your parents or grandparents did it in an old fashioned book. Only in a book that you can hold in your hands in the bathroom. But also available by Kindle if you want to read it that way. Available in all the ways that you get books. I have seen them in Canada. Stu Gatz's book is, has genuine giant distribution. Some people sent us books from a grocery store somewhere.

[Mike Ryan]

I was sent a picture from a Key west bookstore. Thank you to everyone at Key west that the book was sold out. The guy who took the picture was purchasing the final book in that store. It's amazing. Thank you to everyone. Seriously.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

Stu Gotz and Greg Cody protecting the written word.

[Chris Cody]

I mean, they're not though, like they're betraying the written word. They've called it a grift themselves. You guys are like the magicians that go and reveal the secrets like on.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

TV while they're doing the actual.

[Mike Ryan]

It's me. It's not.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

They are live streaming the grift right now. Stu got's book dot com. He's giving you play by play on how it telestrates. What's special about the special edition? I said it's special.

[Mike Ryan]

Here's another secret. Okay, If God forbid it's not going to happen, but if the Phoenix Suns make it to the NBA Finals, do we start promoting the book like it's new again? I mean, Kevin Durant championship rings. This is amazing. Let's hope it happens. It won't, but let's hope it happens.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

Off of the news. Well, they might get Jimmy Butler. Jimmy Butler came out of a chapter. Jimmy Butler came out yesterday wearing Phoenix sun sneakers. It is the lamest escalation of these things that there has ever been tripling down.

[Chris Cody]

Did the Suns like acquire a bunch of first round picks? Yeah, like the Heat don't trade for picks. They don't value picks. That's not the move to get him.

[Mike Ryan]

I think they've run out of options though with Jimmy Butler. No, like if they have to take picks, they have to take picks. He doesn't want to be here.

[Jeremy Tache]

So the picks will be in part the package for them. But it's, it's probably more to sweeten the pot for someone else. To take on the Bradley Beal contract and that's why they acquired three. So they're 20, 31. First round pick that they traded will probably be a really good pick. This is what Danny Ainge does. He essentially shorts other teams and says you're going to be bad by this point and that pick is going to be valuable to me. It's how he got Jayson Tatum and Jalen Brown. So he was willing to trade three of the worst picks of a whole bunch that they already had over the next few years so that those can just be distributed out from.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

Let's do this though because I know, I know everyone listening to this is good and tired of Stop talking to me about a 35 year old malcontent from Miami who can't get joy Mike Ryan from playing for 40 and he.

[Jessica]

Was the first 35 year old I could think of. It wasn't a personal attack.

[Mike Ryan]

He nailed it when he wishes he was 35.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

Yes, his Instagram knows he's about to.

[Mike Ryan]

Be 40 the way Dan wishes he was 50. Like he said before.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

Yes. The Jimmy Butler parts of the story though the one part that I would say now graduates to interesting to me. Right? Not, not. The silly pettiness is once you get to Stugats, it's pretty rare. The owner needs to meet. Yeah like you've got to bypass Riley because now we're going to go, we're going to go talk to the owner about like how do we figure out what works here? You got Bradley Beals, got a no trade. You can hammer us from every angle if you wish to make this messy. But this part to me is where I take the information that Jeremy is giving me about super awkward locker room now where all the other players know they have this thing that used to be running the team. We were all good when that conflict was running the team and the fuel to the team. But then when Bam and Hero get more of the team and he doesn't like that, so much more of the usage rate now all of a sudden this is a really awkward workplace and I dare say outside of sports, a toxic one. I'm guessing that there's going to be a lot like that. If we weren't in the world of sports, this would be a workplace place right now that's awkward enough that it creates the following in a language only the people in that locker room would understand on the court when you're losing to Portland that way, can you tell if Jimmy Butler is trying his hardest when he gets no free throws and doesn't get any steals. Are we really playing defense the way Jimmy Butler plays defense when he cares the most? And do you bench that if you're supposed to make more of a scene because you're going to make this work? Because we can't tell if you're trying your hardest on every possession or comparative to what it is you've done in the past, but your teammates can. And when you lose at home to that Portland team. Stugots an embarrassment of a Portland team.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah, 15 and 28.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

Now when you. But you lose at home and you're giving up a bunch of points and your credo is defense. And Jimmy Butler has played aggressive defense for four years. When he really cares about playing defense, can you tell if he's trying his hardest? When I've lived long enough to see a whole bunch of people watch LeBron James at the end of his Cavs career, see him get a triple double in a loss against the Celtics in the playoffs and say he quit in the game because he can put up the numbers any damn way because he's that good and trick you into believing that he's playing as hard as as he can. The Miami Heats still don't believe stugats. That last spurs final where the Heat got blown out by The spurs and LeBron had good numbers that he don't believe he was trying his hardest in that series to win that series.

[Mike Ryan]

I agree with the Heat. I said it then. I still agree with them. I mean, he could put up those numbers.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

Tell to me that's the.

[Mike Ryan]

So what happens is when you have this type of work environment where the best player, the star player, your biggest star, is disgruntled, then what happens is you're left to ask those questions. That's the product of the workplace environment. You are now left to question is Jimmy Butler actually trying his hardest when he's playing basketball? And I don't have the answer. I don't.

[Greg Cody]

No. But to Dan's point, players know, like you can't tell it from the box score. You can't even tell it from no steals.

[Mike Ryan]

Right.

[Greg Cody]

But the players know, they feel, they see it in a way that we don't. You know, and I think this preceded his suspension. You know, when he's missing five games because of an illness that sounds like he didn't want to play.

[Mike Ryan]

Yep.

[Greg Cody]

And they were giving him the option to not play before they suspended him.

[Jeremy Tache]

The Heat forced zero turnovers in the first half yesterday against the Portland Trailblazers. That shows you just about everything you need to know about where their entire team's energy and effort level were in the second and third quarter in particular. But. But it is. This is wearing on these guys. Like Dan said, like, the locker room is. Is awkward and uncomfortable. Both Eric Spoelstra and the players are having to do press conferences where it's acknowledged, but they won't really talk about what's going on with Jimmy. You know, we don't know as media whether Jimmy's gonna speak, whether he's not gonna speak. He doesn't speak after yesterday's game, despite wearing the Sun's Colorway sneakers. The players. After Friday night's game, there were players in that locker room as the media standing around going, he's not gonna speak. He's not going to talk to you guys. What are you doing? Before he then just comes in the locker room and starts speaking to everyone about how much he loves his teammates. And some of them are giving us looks like, what is this about It? It's an uncomfortable working environment. And yet there are still players who I've spoken to who want Jimmy there. That's the awkward part. There are still relationships there.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

It's not just that, though. This is the part that gets lost in the noise of the day when the Celtics run away, when you were right there with the Celtics, when and how were you right there with the Celtics when you played a style of basketball led by Jimmy Butler, that they're going to get 19 deflections in the first half on your passes because they're playing regular season basketball, like if it matters, and it's going to be super precise basketball, how are they winning? It's 23 free throws and these guys are hitting from three. And they're doing it with no margin for error because they're not all that good. They're all overachieving. And so that's the way they got to win.

[Mike Ryan]

But they did it.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

But. But if Jimmy's not trying like that, what I'm saying to you is that's not perceptible to our human eye. Like, not to most of the people analyzing this. And that's where it gets super interesting on. If you're already in a workplace where you think the guy next to you isn't working as hard as he can because you're all playing for your. For each other's careers and your money and all of the things that make up team that your business partners with. Jimmy Butler, he's bleeping with everybody's money stughods. Like, even if it's guaranteed money. The workplace is filled with. All we care about is let's make that money.

[Mike Ryan]

He's also the guy, though, and I think his teammates would probably agree with this, that, you know, made them relevant, brought them at a time where the Heat weren't supposed to be relevant. Jimmy Butler became a player we never thought he'd become, and he led them to the NBA Finals and a couple of trips to the Eastern Conference Finals, like, that's fairly amazing.

[Greg Cody]

But he's putting himself before the team, which in Miami is.

[Mike Ryan]

Most players do.

[Greg Cody]

Greg, I know, but this is the antithesis, as antithesis of heat culture, right? I mean, what he's doing, everything that he is going through right now is the opposite of the culture.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

It's the result of the last 15 years. It's not the antithesis. Heat culture birthed all of this.

[Mike Ryan]

But what if Jimmy is saying, I did the Heat culture thing? You may be the best player I've ever been at any point in my career. And the reward is what, guys?

[Lucy Rodriguez]

The result of the last 15 years is Jimmy Butler's better than he's ever been. The Miami Heat profited greatly. And these breakups are super messy. And now it's in their locker room in the way. That's an infection. And Jimmy control with sneakers. And Pat Riley must be like, you clown. Like, this is how you disrespect everything we did together when it was really hard.

[Greg Cody]

But Jimmy. Jimmy didn't make them champions. So has he succeeded? By Heat standards, By Pat Riley?

[Lucy Rodriguez]

He has. Yes, he has succeeded. Winning the championship is not the only measure he.

[Mike Ryan]

Greg, I never thought I'd see Jimmy Butler be the best player on a team that went to the NBA.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

I don't want. I don't. I don't want to talk about it anymore either, because I understand where it is that we make this stuff weary. But don't disrespect the last five years like you did Martin Short. Like, don't, don't. Like, like, be like. Greatness is hard to achieve. Okay? They were right there with the Celtics. It's really hard to be at the top of a conference for five years.

[Mike Ryan]

Almost achieved it.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

Okay. To almost achieve. Fine. To Greg Cody's standards.

[Stugotz]

Folks, the playoff season is here. And the only thing better than the game day predictions are the foods that come with them. Introducing Tom's fantasy food ball pool, brought to you by Tums, America's number one anti acid brand and DraftKings each week leading up to the big game turn football into football by building your best game day plate for a shot at winning a share of $40,000 in cash prizes inspired by Game Day bites and tailgate treats. Join the TUMS foodball action during this playoff season's most heartburn inducing times. Visit DraftKings.com TumsFoodBall between January 6th and February 9th to enter for free and select your game day plate before the start of each playoff round. Age and eligibility restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. See [e-mail] tumsfoodball when you feel the heat of the game, don't let the heartburn keep you on the sidelines. Try Tum's Chewy Bites with a tasty outer shell and soft center for fast relief of heartburn, acid indigestion and upset stomach. Check out Tum's Gummy Bites, featuring a soft and easy to chew format for fast relief of occasional heartburn, acid indigestion, sour stomach and upset stomach. Both available at Amazon, Target and other major retailers nationwide. And for more heartburn relief fun, be sure to follow TUMS at Tums official on Instagram and TikTok.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

Yeah, sure thing. Hey, you saw that car yet?

[Stugotz]

Yeah, sold it to Carvana.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

Oh, I thought you were selling to that guy.

[Greg Cody]

The guy who wanted to pay me in foreign currency, no interest.

[Stugotz]

Interest over 36 months? Yeah.

[Greg Cody]

No.

[Stugotz]

Carvana gave me an offer in minutes.

[Greg Cody]

Picked it up and paid me on the spot.

[Lucy Rodriguez]

It was so convenient. Just like that? Yeah. No hassle? None. That is super convenient.

[Dan LeBatard]

Sell your car to Carvana and swap. Hassle for convenience. Pickup fees may apply.