The Big Suey: Mission Kind Of Impossible

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Big Suey: Mission Kind Of Impossible The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz Release Date: July 2, 2025

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1. Miami Dolphins’ 2025 Outlook and Waller’s Trade Duration: 01:00 – 04:15

Dan Le Batard opens the episode by comparing it to previous iterations of their podcast, prompting Jon Stugotz to humorously defend the show’s uniqueness.

The discussion quickly shifts to the Miami Dolphins' future, specifically focusing on the implications of the Waller trade. Ben Solak’s tweet expressing fascination with the 2025 Dolphins sets the stage for a debate on the team's prospects.

• Mike Ryan (02:20): "Waller's a guy that like, you could see getting to camp and not making it out of camp. Or also like, oh wow, he's still got something left in the tank."

Mike expresses skepticism about Waller’s long-term impact, suggesting that while optimistic fans hold hope, Waller’s productivity has been inconsistent.

• Jon Stugotz (02:37): "Win a playoff game. Yeah, but they haven't done it in 25 years."

The panel debates whether the Dolphins can break their long-standing playoff drought, ultimately agreeing that even a single playoff win would be seen as a success, albeit reflecting missed opportunities with key players like Tyreek Hill.

2. Miami Heat’s Attendance Streak Under Scrutiny Duration: 04:17 – 07:03

Shifting focus to the Miami Heat, Zaslow raises concerns about the team’s sold-out streak jeopardizing next year. Dan questions the authenticity of the reported sell-outs, suggesting possible data manipulation.

• Dan Le Batard (05:51): "You have general questions. If you've sold out for 15 years in a sports event, whether or not that can ever be real, I don't understand."

Jon and Mike concur, expressing doubt about the consistency of sell-out reports. They cite the Dolphins’ last playoff game not being aired locally due to sell-out issues, highlighting irregularities in attendance reporting.

3. NBA Contracts: Damian Lillard and the Milwaukee Bucks Duration: 07:03 – 17:09

The conversation pivots to NBA executive decisions, focusing on Damian Lillard being waived and the Bucks acquiring Miles Turner.

• Dan Le Batard (08:00): "Reckless because you might lose Giannis because it's not the move that he wants."

Jon questions the rationale behind labeling the Bucks’ move as reckless, emphasizing franchise autonomy in roster decisions. Jeremy adds depth by analyzing the potential impacts on team chemistry and long-term financial commitments.

The panel delves into Giannis Antetokounmpo's possible reactions, with reports suggesting Giannis disapproved of the trade’s execution.

• Jeremy Tache (15:03): "If Dame was caught off guard, I can understand Giannis at least looking at his ownership in front office..."

They debate the strategic missteps and financial ramifications, highlighting the complexities of managing star players and deferred contracts within the modern NBA landscape.

4. Deferred Contracts in Sports: Top Five Examples Duration: 21:15 – 27:13

Jon introduces a segment on the most notorious deferred contracts in sports history, prompting Jeremy and Mike to list their top five.

1. Bobby Bonilla – Deferred $50 million
   Dan (23:35): "The Wilpons did have a relationship with Madoff where they thought they'd get more money."

2. Max Scherzer – Deferred $105 million out of a $210 million deal

3. Manny Ramirez – Deferred $32 million over 16 years

4. Shohei Ohtani – Deferred $68 million over nine years

5. Chris Davis – Deferred $42 million over 14 years

The discussion highlights the financial strategies and long-term implications for both athletes and franchises involved in such agreements. They scrutinize the ethics and practicality of deferring payments, often to the detriment of the players.

5. Light-Hearted Segments: Manny Ramirez’s Money Mishaps and Listener Calls Duration: 27:13 – 36:37

The hosts share amusing anecdotes about Manny Ramirez’s unconventional handling of his finances, including uncashed checks found in his car and his lack of familiarity with banking processes.

• Dan Le Batard (28:11): "He points to one of them. He's like, I want to buy that. Can I afford that?"

The segment transitions to listener interactions, featuring humorous calls about Miller Light beer.

• Unknown Speaker (20:03): "I make it Miller time. That beautiful white can."

Jeremy and Dan engage with callers, rating their inputs and humorously discussing the merits of the "Mission Impossible" movie series, eventually settling on renaming it "Mission Kind Of Impossible."

6. Business Updates: God Bless Football and Future Plans Duration: 37:03 – 41:30

Dan inquires about the status of their side project, "God Bless Football," leading to updates from Mike Ryan.

• Mike Ryan (40:05): "Sugats is dead set on going. It's just a logistical thing."

They discuss the challenges of balancing the podcast with their entrepreneurial ventures, emphasizing the financial constraints and the need for listener support during the growth phase.

7. Closing Remarks and Additional Content Duration: 41:30 – 43:55

The episode wraps up with continued humor and light banter about personal experiences in sports, such as playing in celebrity softball games and amusing encounters with former athletes like Jose Canseco and Levon Hernandez.

• Dan Le Batard (36:37): "If Pat Riley had punched me with a diamond in the forehead."

These stories add a personal and relatable touch, showcasing the hosts' camaraderie and love for sports beyond the competitive landscape.

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Notable Quotes:

• Mike Ryan (02:20): "Waller's a guy that like, you could see getting to camp and not making it out of camp."

• Dan Le Batard (05:51): "If you've sold out for 15 years in a sports event, whether or not that can ever be real, I don't understand."

• Jeremy Tache (15:03): "If Dame was caught off guard, I can understand Giannis at least looking at his ownership in front office..."

• Dan Le Batard (08:00): "Reckless because you might lose Giannis because it's not the move that he wants."

• Unknown Speaker (20:04): "That beautiful white can."

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Conclusion

In this episode of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz, hosts delve deep into the tumultuous future of the Miami Dolphins, the dubious attendance records of the Miami Heat, and the intricate world of NBA contracts with a focus on Damian Lillard’s recent waiver by the Bucks. Complementing these discussions are entertaining segments on deferred sports contracts and light-hearted listener interactions, all while sharing updates on their entrepreneurial ventures. The episode balances serious sports analysis with humor and personal anecdotes, providing a comprehensive and engaging listen for both regular fans and newcomers.

Transcript

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[Dan LeBatard]

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

[Jon Stugotz]

I'm sorry, I'm not going to apologize for that.

[Dan LeBatard]

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. I've done it. And now here's the marching man to Nowhere Fat Face and the habitual liar. Ben Solak has tweeted after the Waller trade quote, I am grotesquely fascinated by the 2025 Miami Dolphins. Put it on the poll, please. At LeBatard show. Are you grotesquely fascinated by the 2025 Dolphins?

[Mike Ryan]

Waller's a guy that like, you could see getting to camp and not making it out of camp. Or also like, oh wow, he's still got something left in the tank. And then he's a contributor, right? Like, you have absolutely no idea. You. I mean, I think yesterday most people, aside from like the very optimistic Dolphins fans, were kind of like, this is kind of a weird one here. Like, what do they think that they're going to get out of him? He hasn't been that productive in a number of years. But maybe now his body's healed, maybe he'll be the guy that's like, you know, 32, 33, that comes back and is going to play again. And he'll be fine because he's been able to rest for a couple years. But also if he doesn't make it out of camp, I don't think anyone would be that shocked, right?

[Billy Corben]

But Mike McDaniel is probably pitching him, you'll be Johnny Smith, right?

[Mike Ryan]

Mike McDaniel is on the hottest of seats. Is he not?

[Billy Corben]

Like, not the hottest. They can be hotter.

[Mike Ryan]

He. If the Dolphins do not. I'm trying to think of what is viewed as a success for him this season.

[Jon Stugotz]

Win a playoff game.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah, but if he wins a playoff game, he's safe. He's good.

[Jon Stugotz]

Yeah, they haven't done it in 25 years.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah, but even winning a playoff game, I feel like with this roster and the fact that they're aging, you've wasted Tyreek Hill. Like, you didn't get out of Tyree Kill what you wanted to get out.

[Jon Stugotz]

Of Tyree Kill up in a big game.

[Billy Corben]

I think if this team is. It sounds terrible, and I don't want this to happen, but I feel like if they have. If they just get back to being good in the regular season, get to the playoffs and lose again, I think he might be safe.

[Dan LeBatard]

My apologies for spending this much time on a loser regional team that isn't interesting in the off season. Except for doing things that people are like.

[Chris Cody]

Huh?

[Dan LeBatard]

Where it's not interesting because you know they're getting better. It's interesting just because you have no idea.

[Jon Stugotz]

What was it. They were grotesquely interesting.

[Mike Ryan]

We also do that with the Heath, though. Like, they're. They're by record a losing team. They're 37, 45.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah, but they've. In the last five years, they've been to the championship. And in the last 20 years, they took this city from the Dolphins because of the amount of winning that Dwyane Wade did. This franchise. Since you've been an adult, Billy, since you've been an adult, this franchise hasn't won a playoff game. It is a laughing stock nationally.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah, but if they win a playoff game, they have the city back. Like, they have leased the city to the other teams. People are dying to get back on a good Dolphins.

[Dan LeBatard]

Do you know how absurd it is what I'm saying, though? You were not. You didn't have a driver's license the last time the Miami Heat won or. I'm sorry, the Miami Dolphins won a playoff game.

[Jon Stugotz]

Who was the youngest here since the Dolphins won?

[Jeremy Tache]

I was five years old. I was five the last time they won a playoff.

[Jon Stugotz]

All right, so you have never seen.

[Jeremy Tache]

My entire lifetime, they've been mediocre.

[Jon Stugotz]

You've never seen them win a playoff game.

[Jeremy Tache]

Yeah, they're a mediocre franchise.

[Dan LeBatard]

Zaslow mentioned earlier the idea that next year will be the first in a long time that he believes the Miami Heat attendance streak will be in jeopardy. Can you guys find. For me, I believe the Miami Heat have one of the longest sold out streaks anywhere in sports. Yeah, I think it's the longest in basketball.

[Jon Stugotz]

I think it goes back to 20 to 2010.

[Dan LeBatard]

I think what happened that year. Oh, yeah, that's right. That's where that started. That would probably happen in a lot.

[Jon Stugotz]

Of cities, but it continued a couple bad years in between.

[Dan LeBatard]

I know, but it started in 2010 and some of the numbers since then I think have been a little bit suspicious. Where I don't feel like the arena is actually.

[Jon Stugotz]

You feel like there's been some empty seats.

[Dan LeBatard]

But it, but it looks, it looks like they needed to keep their streak alive. So. So I don't know if I, I guess I'm accusing them of fudging numbers, but do you believe that that sell a sold out streak is true? That they've been actually sold out all of Those games since 2010? Billy is shaking his head.

[Mike Ryan]

No one believes that that's true. If you're a reasonable person, there's plenty of tickets available for every game. They're not sold out every game. This is just David Sampson attendance numbers for the Miami Heat.

[Dan LeBatard]

I don't feel comfortable totally making that accusation, even though I know sports teams do that all the time. But in Miami, I do have general questions. If you've sold out for 15 years in a sports event, whether or not that can ever be real, I don't understand.

[Jon Stugotz]

So you're telling me that they cannot be sold out and they could just say another sellout?

[Dan LeBatard]

Well, that's. Sampson said they were always lying about the numbers, but.

[Jon Stugotz]

Right, but Samson was never able to say we're sold out.

[Dan LeBatard]

That is correct. The thing that makes some of this difficult in this sports town is the last game that the Dolphins did play in the playoffs wasn't on television locally because it wasn't sold out in time. So there was a play. The last playoff game the Miami Dolphins played, Lamar Smith game did not air locally because it didn't sell out.

[Jon Stugotz]

I drove to Orlando to watch the game.

[Dan LeBatard]

Did you really?

[Jon Stugotz]

I was in school at that time, but I was home from school and so I went back early to watch the game.

[Dan LeBatard]

You just drove out? How far out is it? Three and a half hours out that you have to drive for the local. How far out do you have to drive in order to get the local broadcast when it's been blocked, blacked out locally?

[Jon Stugotz]

I don't, I don't, I don't remember. But I Was like, all right, I guess we're driving to Orlando today to watch the Dolphins.

[Dan LeBatard]

I thought Orlando was like the place. I thought Orlando, the Orlando line was where it is. You could go see a Dolphin game.

[Jon Stugotz]

Great game.

[Billy Corben]

You had to be able to see.

[Mike Ryan]

It in like Vero beach or something.

[Billy Corben]

A couple hours away.

[Dan LeBatard]

I am glad that Zaslo's here as both judge and journalist. He's also a doctor, a lawyer, and a race war expert. I'd like to get some rulings from him if I could, as a judge in just a moment. We're going to get to that. But before we get to that, just the Damian Lillard thing from yesterday. An NBA executive has been quoted, anonymous, anonymous, anonymously as saying that the Bucks are reckless, that bringing in that much Miles Turner for that much money is a super curiosity. What are you laughing about?

[Jon Stugotz]

Why are they reckless? Why aren't they allowed to do with their roster what they want? Why is it wreck. I mean, is it a bad choice? Yeah, probably, but it's reckless. Reckless for whom?

[Dan LeBatard]

For the Bucks.

[Jon Stugotz]

But it's their franchise. They could do they want their roster.

[Dan LeBatard]

Reckless because you might lose Giannis because it's not the move that he wants.

[Jon Stugotz]

Well, which do you think was more likely? Losing Giannis by bringing in Miles Turner or losing Giannis by not bringing in Miles Turner?

[Jeremy Tache]

I would assume the reason that, that GM would consider this move or their flurry of moves reckless is the multiple years where, when you don't really know how this is going to work out with the complimentary pieces where Giannis and sometimes was kind of playing center last year. So how does Miles Turner complement that? I can understand why GM would look at what they're doing, go, whoa. You're committing a lot of money long term to a roster that if you don't have Giannis is going to probably be a disaster.

[Jon Stugotz]

Which is more reckless, doing this or not doing it and risking losing Giannis. That's more. That's more reckless.

[Dan LeBatard]

Well, I would say and will say that the Bucks have more information than we do. And because they have more information than we do, I'm assuming that they're doing every possible thing to keep Giannis or they already know that Giannis is gone and so they're doing every possible thing to replace Giannis. Windhorse has said on television that if Halliburton hadn't gotten injured, the Pacers would have likely paid the tax and just tried to keep Miles Turner.

[Tony]

Dan, have you looked at the potential starting lineup for the Milwaukee Bucks next season? It is Sad. Kevin Porter Jr. Gary Trent Jr. Kyle Kuzma Giannis Miles Turner Portis is in.

[Dan LeBatard]

There somewhere right now.

[Tony]

Six man and they might trade him too.

[Dan LeBatard]

The the thing that I wanted to talk about though, from yesterday and I still want to talk about and for some reason I cann keep the attention span engaged from our basketball fans. They keep changing the subject on me to the future transactions as opposed to what happened yesterday, which is I saw a headline that read Damian Lillard waved and it was confusing to me. And I know he's injured and I know that he's the age that he is and I know that you've spent a year, more than a year, knowing that Damian Lillard isn't what he was. But to have a contract that has two years on it, $110 million, and to have the buck say waived, we have no use for you. And the punctuation on this part of your career has been about as disastrous as it could be for someone who was in your position at the end in Portland. It's not something we've ever seen before and for some reason around here yesterday, everybody wanted to skip right past it because of how quickly we will discard even the most famous of basketball players.

[Jon Stugotz]

How about that trade was just two years ago and literally all of the pieces in that trade are no longer with the teams they were traded to. Boston, Portland, Milwaukee. None of those guys are on those teams anymore only two years ago.

[Dan LeBatard]

The interesting part about that, because I remember what Woj wrote about Portland at the time and how it was a bit of poetry that was overwritten on behalf of, you know, just people being fascinated by GM transactions. But the Miami Heat did not believe the Boston Celtics could get into the game and create a jrue holiday package to get jrue holiday from them and didn't believe that anyone had a better offer than what they were offering for Damian Lillard. But once Boston offered Time Lord and the pieces that they offered that were broken, right, Brogdon just a bunch of physical pieces that were broken, the Heat did concede by their assessment that the offer that Boston made was better than the offer that they had on the table. And so while we look at it in retrospect and say those were a bunch of damaged pieces like Brogdon and Williams and those guys didn't end up being any good, the bet that Portland was making was that some of them would indeed be good. And the Heat's assessment on that was that the pieces that were offered there were better than what the Heat were.

[Jon Stugotz]

Offering but the Heat are likely saying to themselves right now, we're glad we didn't make the Lillard trade. Right? I mean, even. Even without the Lillard's going to miss most of next season, like, even before that. They're glad they didn't make the trade, right?

[Dan LeBatard]

They are. But I still want to simply concentrate. As you know, Damian Lillard right now has to feel a bit broken and shell shocked. Physically broken, but shell shocked that he's in a position that the last part of his career has been so mangled that his headline has the word waved in it like the last time. I remember sort of being Brandon Roy in terms of potential, where I'm like, it's just all over. Like, there's just. No, there's no chance that he recovers from any of that. I saw, I got aggregated for saying that Lillard is now done as a star. Like, that's the most obvious thing in the world, is it? That he's done as a star. That that person will never be an important player. Doesn't mean he can't make baskets, doesn't mean he won't be a role player. But leading a team, being a centerpiece on a team, or being the second best player on a team, that's not a good team, like, his movement is going to be affected by that injury in a way that has made the Bucs make the assessment that has no value, even though we have to pay it $50 million a year, just go away, just get off of the roster. I still can't really get my head around it, even understanding that this is a player that has been injured for a while. And I guess a lot of people have moved on from Damian Lillard before I moved on from Damian Lillard.

[Jon Stugotz]

But you would, you would acknowledge Damian Lillard yesterday. Like, even though maybe it was shocking originally when he finds out, wow, I'm getting waived. Damian Lillard was a big winner yesterday. Like a huge winner yesterday. I don't know if he got to a place where he liked Milwaukee. He adjusted to it. He was okay with being in Milwaukee, but his employer yesterday literally told him, here is all of your money, not a penny short. And guess what else? Go do whatever you'd like.

[Dan LeBatard]

Not limit.

[Jon Stugotz]

We're not limiting the things you could do. Here is all of your money and you can do whatever you want. Which is essentially what he wanted two years ago. And what he wanted was to come to Miami. He didn't get what he wanted. Well, now you get all of the money and do whatever you Want like he was a big winner yesterday.

[Mike Ryan]

Damian Lillard, the Athletic reported that he was quote, elated with what happened yesterday because of that exact thing. He gets all of his money and now he can go choose wherever he wants to go. He can pick whatever contender he wants to play for. He was elated is how they put it.

[Dan LeBatard]

Also, Chris Haynes, though, reported that Giannis didn't like what they did yesterday. And we were talking about how you always have to go to the roots on who's reporting what and why something's being being leaked. Chris Haynes is known as being Lillard's guy. He's the one who has perpetual access to Lillard. What did you make of the report that Giannis wasn't happy about what they did yesterday? Trading for Miles Turner.

[Jon Stugotz]

Not believable. It's just not. I mean, maybe Chris Haynes is bad information. I not believable. Like, Giannis is upset that in a year from now he's not going to be able to play anymore with a 36 year old coming off of an Achilles injury.

[Dan LeBatard]

Chris Yanis upset about Chris Haynes's information is rarely wrong. Like, this is not somebody whose information is disputed very often.

[Jeremy Tache]

I would think if he got that inclination from whoever it would have been that's close to Giannis, it would be because he just didn't like how it was handled. Because the reports that are out there, including from Chris Haynes himself, are that Dame wanted to spend his time rehabbing in Portland so that he could be around his kids. We know his, his personal life has been a little wild in the last few years and that was something he wanted to do. And apparently Buck's management was not happy about that, which is what facilitated this decision. And if Dame was caught off guard, I can understand Giannis at least looking at his ownership in front office and saying like, man, I don't love the way you guys went about that with a guy who I like.

[Jon Stugotz]

But then that's super misleading headline then to say Yanis not happy with the way it went down.

[Jeremy Tache]

I don't know that it was a headline. It was just a piece of, of the reporting.

[Tony]

It could be more macro too, the way that they stretched and waived it. All of a sudden you got money on your books for the next five years where you're trying to get pieces to be a contender and you're looking around saying we're paying how much for Miles Turner? What his original salary is plus what we waived Dame for. Like that all adds up.

[Jeremy Tache]

That's the recklessness that you're talking about right. There's a tweet here from Yasi Guzlan and it says the Damian Lillard trade had risk and the worst case scenario ends up happening. They're down Jrue Holiday an unprotected first two swaps and now they have to pay Lillard 22 and a half million dollars a year not to play for them for the next five seasons.

[Jon Stugotz]

But that's a, that, that is an effect of today's NBA where every one of these teams that as a star player is afraid, they're afraid of one day their star player coming into the office and saying I'm not happy. And so as a result, this is the kind of stuff you have to do because it doesn't matter if a guy signed to a contract, you're a free agent every single year. That, like that right there is the effect of today's NBA.

[Billy Corben]

If I'm Lillard, I Bobby Bonilla, give me five over the next 20.

[Jeremy Tache]

You know guys, it feels pretty good when you accomplish something you've you've dreamt of. For a long time, I've been feeling really, really lucky to not just make it to 30, but to be doing all of the things I ever wanted to do, including working here on the Dan LeBatard show with Stu Yachts. And when you think about it, the origins of this show were once just a dream for them. That dream turned into the show and business that you're listening to today. And starting your own business is a dream that lots of us share, but too many of us just let it remain a dream. Don't hold yourself back thinking what if I don't have the skills? Or what if I can't do it alone? Those what ifs turn into why nots. With Shopify by your side, Shopify powers millions of businesses worldwide, including 10% of all all U.S. e commerce. Whether you're Mattel or you're just getting started, Shopify's got your back. Not a web designer, not a problem. Shopify has beautiful ready to go templates. Need help with the details? Their AI tools can enhance product images, write descriptions and even generate discount codes. Worried about finding customers? Shopify makes marketing easy with email and social media tools. And if I ever get stuck, Shopify's award winning 24. 7 support is always there. Turn your big business idea into With Shopify on your side, sign up for your $1 per month trial and start selling today at shopify.com but go to shopify.com batard shopify.com buttard this show is sponsored by Gametime, the official ticketing partner of the Dan LeBatard show with Stugats. And folks, let's be real. Buying tickets for concerts or games is usually a pain. You hop online early, you wait in some never ending virtual queue, which I truly can't stand, and by the time you get through it, prices are sky high or tickets are gone. It's the worst. But that's why I use Game Time. Look, you guys know me. I'm a white guy who likes to project like he thinks he's smarter than other people. Which means Vampire Weekend is one of my favorite bands. And when Vampire Weekend was coming to town just a couple of weeks ago, I was looking for tickets. And not only did I find amazing seats on Game Time, but I actually saved a ton of money. Gametime has last minute deals that let you save up to 60% off for concerts, comedy, theater, sports, you name it. And soccer fans. How about you? Listen up. Gametime's offering 10% off exclusive zone deals for FIFA World cup matchups, big matches, great sections and even better prices. You can see the view from your seat before you buy. Checkout takes just two taps. There are no surprise fees. What you see is what you pay for. So take the guesswork out of buying concert and show 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. Download the Gametime app today. Last minute tickets, lowest price guaranteed.

[Unknown Speaker]

Jeremy, you know something about me, right? You know when I'm grilling outside and it's summertime? You know how I supplement my summertime?

[Jeremy Tache]

Of course I do.

[Unknown Speaker]

I make it Miller time.

[Dan LeBatard]

Of course.

[Unknown Speaker]

That beautiful white can. Oh, when it's so hot outside, I just. I just put it right to my forehead right there. And I just roll it sometimes right on the forehead, cool my body down, and then I crack it open. Instant relief. And then that first sip, brother does that first sip.

[Jeremy Tache]

That is a top five sequence of events that you can possibly go through.

[Unknown Speaker]

I'm just serenity now, when I just imagine that first sip of Miller Light.

[Jeremy Tache]

Just thinking about it, it's making me happy.

[Unknown Speaker]

Dude, the sun is out. It's nice. You have your friends showing up. You got your family there. You just had your first sip of Miller Light. And you know what? You're happy. You're blissful, you're fulfilled. I've been stocking my cooler with Miller Light four years, and for good reason. It's food for taste only. 96 calories and 3.2 grams of carbs. This year, Miller Lite turns 50. That is five decades of cookouts, laughs, and ice cold moments that never miss. It's the original light beer, and it's still my. Go to Miller Light. 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. Cheers to 50 years of Miller time. Celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 96 calories and 3.25 carbs per 12 ounces.

[Dan LeBatard]

Don LeBatard.

[Jon Stugotz]

John, can you rate my Al Pacino from that billiard scene in Carlito's Way if I do it for you? I think it's pretty good.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah.

[Jon Stugotz]

Okay.

[Dan LeBatard]

Stugats.

[Jon Stugotz]

You think you're big time when you're gonna die big time.

[Jeremy Tache]

That is my infamous scale of 1 to 10.

[Dan LeBatard]

That's a. That's a 7.6 solid. Good job.

[Unknown Speaker]

That's a Suey nominee right there.

[Dan LeBatard]

This is the Dan Levatar show with the Stugach. Let's put together the top five deferred contracts in the history of sports at LeBatard show. Jeremy, do that quickly. I'm going to test you quickly. I'm not even going to give you very much time to do it quickly. Put it on the poll at Le Batard Show. Is every basketball player in the world a free agent while under contract?

[Mike Ryan]

I saw a clip of Steve Phillips explaining why, because I guess he was at the center of the contract negotiation there with Bobby Boney. As to why it is that they did this deal with him where he would make all of that money. And it should surprise no one. It involved Bernie Madoff. So they were like, well, our thinking was, is that we owed him like, $6 million and we had this buyout that we'd pay him 29 over 30 years. And we had invested a lot of money with Bernie Madoff. So we thought if we gave Bernie this $6 million, we're gonna make $100 million. Whatever. We're gonna make so much money that this is gonna be financially such a great deal for us because Bernie's gonna make us so much more money that the fact that we're dragging this out for 30 years isn't really going to affect the Wilpons at all. So this is a great idea. And they're like, wow. And he's like, you're welcome, Dodgers, for the idea.

[Dan LeBatard]

That's exactly what happened. The Wilpons did have a relationship with Madoff where they thought they'd get more money. And Bobby Bonilla was so terrified of going broke that he said, just give me a million dollars a year for 20 years so that I can know that I'm going to have money coming in in 2025. Is today Bobby Bonilla? Yesterday. Yeah.

[Jon Stugotz]

I don't understand though. What would have happened to the Wil Ponds if they just gave Bobby Bonilla the 6 million they owed him. They couldn't afford to just give him the six.

[Dan LeBatard]

They wanted more. It was greedy. They can afford to give him the 6 million, but they can make more money on Madoff. I have. I found they couldn't do both. They just, they wanted more. What do you mean they couldn't do both? Yes, they can do both, but they could make more money with Beni is money and Madoff and Madoff than they could just giving that money.

[Mike Ryan]

What could go wrong?

[Dan LeBatard]

Right? Nothing would ever go wrong there. You just give it all. Everyone knows Bernie Madoff totally solid. Don't have to worry about anything. Top five deferred contracts in the history of sports. Any olis? Are we going straight to number five?

[Jeremy Tache]

Well, I just have baseball contracts here, but they're all pretty brutal. So number five, Max Scherzer. He signed a seven year, 210 million dollar deal with the Nationals in 2015, but 105 million dollars was deferred. So he makes 15 million dol year from the Nats through 2028. Of course he plays for the Blue Jays.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah. Number four, Wasn't he getting checks from like three teams at one point in time?

[Jeremy Tache]

Brett Saberhagen put it on the poll at Lebiton show.

[Dan LeBatard]

Did you know that Scherzer was a Blue Jay? Did you know Verlander was a Giant?

[Jeremy Tache]

Brett Saberhagen retired in 2001, but he receives $250,000 a year from the Mets. It started in 2004, it'll end in 2029.

[Dan LeBatard]

Oh, wow. So this was another one that the Wilpons did. Same thing, but Bene is the only one who gets stuck with it and skates.

[Jeremy Tache]

Well, I guess the difference of a million versus 250,000. And Bonilla, it's July 1st. But number three, Manny Ramirez. In 2001, he signed an eight year, $160 million deal with the Red Sox. They deferred $32 million over 16 years. So he received $2 million every year in that span starting in 2011, ending in 2026.

[Billy Corben]

I heard Bobby Bonilla say that he gets More texts on Bobby Bonilla day than his birthday.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah.

[Jeremy Tache]

Purely for the money. Number two, Shohei Ohtani. So it's a 10 year, $700 million deal.

[Mike Ryan]

Right.

[Jeremy Tache]

But over nine years, starting in 2034, I believe he'll make $68 million per year over nine years.

[Dan LeBatard]

I know who my number one is. I don't know if he's still being paid or not. Go ahead. Let's see if I can get. I don't want to ruin it by guessing it, but I think that what Jeremy might say here will be shockingly quiet, that most people don't know what he's about to say.

[Jeremy Tache]

Do you want to write it down on a piece of paper before I do this so that we can see if it's the same name? Because Jeremy doesn't. One of my favorites.

[Billy Corben]

Doesn't trust Dan, to be honest.

[Jeremy Tache]

No, I just love this as a. As a payoff. Aren't we always looking for payoff?

[Jon Stugotz]

I think it has a little bit to do with honesty.

[Jeremy Tache]

Number one, Chris Davis.

[Dan LeBatard]

I got it wrong.

[Billy Corben]

Who'd you say?

[Dan LeBatard]

Ken Griffey.

[Jeremy Tache]

Chris Davis, former Orioles slugger, signed a seven year, $161 million deal with the club in 2016, including 42 million in deferred money from 2023 to 2037. They will be paying Chris Davis.

[Jon Stugotz]

Would you have been honest if you didn't write it down?

[Dan LeBatard]

I would have been, yeah. Because Ken Griffey, I think, is more shocking than Chris Davis. But they might have been done paying him last year. Did they pay him his last installment?

[Mike Ryan]

Last year, Ken Griffey Jr. Received his final installment of 16 year deferred 57 and a half million dollars. So last year, his final 3.59, 3750 million dollar payment.

[Dan LeBatard]

That's got to feel good for all of them though, right? When that, when that arrives, that, that one payment arrives 19 years later, you.

[Mike Ryan]

Think like two weeks before, they're like, oh, let's go out to show. He's like, nah, Today, two weeks. In two weeks we can go out to show these with the whole family.

[Jon Stugotz]

I just imagine them writing a check where it's like, don't cash it for another week.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah, hold on.

[Tony]

Just give me a sec.

[Dan LeBatard]

How old is Bobby Bonilla?

[Jeremy Tache]

He's 62 years old and he's still getting paid a million dollars a year by the Mets.

[Jon Stugotz]

Huge home run game seven. Marlin's huge.

[Dan LeBatard]

The Manny Ramirez story reminds me. I've told it before, but I will tell it again because it is just so Great. I used to live in Pembroke Pines in a cul de sac in Pembroke Pines called Silver Lakes. It wasn't a high end neighborhood. It was my first home. I would say in it would classify as a middle class neighborhood.

[Billy Corben]

It's a nice neighborhood.

[Dan LeBatard]

No, nice, nice. But I'm just nice middle class up.

[Jeremy Tache]

To upper middle class neighborhood.

[Jon Stugotz]

Better than that now.

[Dan LeBatard]

That's not what I meant by that. I'm framing this story for Manny Ramirez. But yes, I am better than that.

[Mike Ryan]

Somewhere between upper middle, middle class and lower upper class.

[Jeremy Tache]

Yeah.

[Dan LeBatard]

I would, I would say you would.

[Jon Stugotz]

Never be caught there today.

[Dan LeBatard]

I wouldn't say that I would never be caught there today. Maybe fleeing the authorities, I would get caught.

[Mike Ryan]

The neighborhood take a turn or was it really like hard times over there?

[Jon Stugotz]

Is that why you left?

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah. Neighborhood of crime.

[Jon Stugotz]

Was it fight or flight?

[Mike Ryan]

Key flight.

[Dan LeBatard]

It is a very protected neighborhood. It is a cul de sac. And it is though not a neighborhood that you would be likely to find a famous person and certainly not one with the wealth of Manny Ramirez.

[Billy Corben]

Dan still has the house. It's now just his closet.

[Mike Ryan]

Oh.

[Dan LeBatard]

After Manny Ramirez signed his $160 million deal with the red. So that's quaint now, right? I know that gets you a Miles Turner now, but back then it seemed like a ton of money. $160 million reckless. He's walking through what is largely a middle class neighborhood and he points at a house and he's like, can I afford that? And it's one of these neighborhoods where the developer has only made three or four types of houses. There are no other types of houses. In fact, I think it was just three types of houses in the neighborhood. And he points to one of them. He's like, I want to buy that. Can I afford that? And his agent Gene motto says, manny, you can afford this whole bleeping neighborhood. The whole thing. You can buy the whole thing for your family and it wouldn't be any problem. But he had no concept of the amount of money that we were talking about. And I just wonder like they, they were always finding uncashed, right?

[Jon Stugotz]

Wasn't there an accounting issue one year with him and the team?

[Dan LeBatard]

Please look up for me a couple of stories here. I'm pretty sure Ricky Henderson, his first million dollar ch believe the A's were like, why hasn't Ricky cashed that? It's because he just put it on his wall. I'm pretty sure Manny Ramirez always had a bunch of uncashed checks. And then there was. I think it was Was it Ariel Prieto who came from Cuba, gets a million dollar signing bonus and walks around with it in the jeans of his pants for a week. Cuz he doesn't understand what banks are like, he doesn't even. He's from Cuba and so he's got a million dollar signing bonus check in his jeans that they're telling him is worth an amount of money, but he just doesn't even under. He doesn't know what banks are, what a check is, what any of it means. So he's just walking around with the million dollar check.

[Mike Ryan]

How did Manny not have direct deposit? Like he has an agent, he has a team around him and he was getting paper checks like he needs to go to a teller every two weeks.

[Dan LeBatard]

I think that it might have been before. Is it possible that this is before direct deposit, that people would just be paid with checks? I don't know when, when we invented direct deposit, but for some reason Manny Ramirez was pulled over. I think I have this story right. I think Manny Ramirez was pulled over, then made a new turn and was pulled over again. And then they found the checks in his, in his car and they found. I'm pretty sure I have that right.

[Billy Corben]

I can confirm the rickey story. In 1982, Oakland A's couldn't solve an annoying accounting error. The answer was framed on Ricky Henderson's bedroom wall.

[Tony]

Also, Ariel Pareto did, did have the $1.2 million signing bonus check in his.

[Jeremy Tache]

Pocket for a week.

[Dan LeBatard]

Let's find that Manny Ramirez story and see if I go 3 for 3 here because we've got an assortment of checks for tens of thousands of dollars. Checks found in Manny Ramirez, his car. Is Manny still playing somewhere? Is Manny over 50, playing like in Taiwan or something, still trying to play baseball somewhere?

[Mike Ryan]

I don't think so. I think we saw him with his son recently. Like his son was at a showcase or something. But I think his son was praising his swing. So I think he may be done at the mo for the moment. He may be done but you know there's always another league that comes out. Do you guys ever have jobs where like when you got your physical check, it was a race to the bank bank to make sure you got paid because you weren't sure the funds were going to be there for everyone.

[Jon Stugotz]

My old job, check bounce one time.

[Dan LeBatard]

Are you feeling that way with God Bless football?

[Mike Ryan]

No, there's no checks right now. This is strictly community service and it's for my resume.

[Billy Corben]

I'm seeing. A month ago Manny Ramirez says he wants to return to mlb, but as a hitting coach. So I don't think he's playing.

[Tony]

He's still in the cages. Dan, I just saw a video. Still in the cages, still just working on the craft.

[Dan LeBatard]

Put it on the pole. Do you assume that Manny Ramirez will still be in the batting cage? Past 100 years old.

[Mike Ryan]

I'll. Duke is still at Tamiami Park. Like, you're. You think I'm joking?

[Dan LeBatard]

I don't.

[Mike Ryan]

That's the. My sister played a softball game against Levon Hernandez a couple months ago, and I was like, how is that possible? It was supposed. She works at a school.

[Jon Stugotz]

Was he the pitcher?

[Mike Ryan]

Okay, so it was a school. And it was supposed to be, I guess, like a bunch of schools. It was like a holiday of some sort that all the schools were off. So the schools have, like, these softball teams that are playing against each other that are supposed to be comprised of faculty of the school. And she sends me a picture, and she's like, you'll never guess who I'm playing against. He sends me a picture, and I'm not here to shame anyone. Unrecognizable. It's like, who the hell is that? She's like, that's Levon Hernandez. I'm like, how is Levon Hernandez like Levon Hernandez? Is he a science teacher? Why is Livon Hernandez playing in a school vs school softball game at Tamiami Park? Other than the fact that I guess we just got to keep our juices going and we need the competition. First baseman, he was playing.

[Billy Corben]

I've seen him at the highlight front on. He still looks like Levon Hernandez.

[Mike Ryan]

Turns out, I guess. I guess he's doing some coaching at a school. So he was eligible for this. This roster, but they brought in a ringer. Luvon Hernandez is now playing.

[Dan LeBatard]

I don't know why it is you felt the need to put quote marks around that.

[Mike Ryan]

Well, because someone knows Levon Hernandez. Like, we have a big softball tournament. You want to come out there and then say when people ask you what's going on? He's a baseball coach. Assistant baseball coach.

[Dan LeBatard]

I will tell you, I have rarely been more scared doing anything in sports than what I'm about to describe for you. Showing up at Tamiami park for a softball game, looking. Playing third base and looking in the opposing dugout. And there are Jose and Ozzie Kon. Six screaming line drives toward third base are not anything I want a part of. If they don't hit the 500 foot home run that they are confident that they're going to hit every time because those two guys were only there to hit the ball as far as a human being can hit it. Like Jose Canseco was only going out there. The only reason it wasn't to win, it wasn't to beat anybody up. It is just simply to swing and have everyone go. I can't believe how far that softball went. But when it didn't go far, it went screaming at the third baseman's forehead. And I was too close. And I was. I was scared of everything that was happening there because the way that the ball came off those bats, it wasn't Levan Hernandez. And Levan could hit, too.

[Jeremy Tache]

That's why they call it the hot corner update on the Manny Ramirez story that you were talking about. Yes. He was pulled over in Cleveland in 1997. He was receiving three tickets, which were for illegally tinted windows, the stereo blasting too loud. And there was something else that it's not saying right here, but when. When the. When the cop pulled him over, he knew who Manny was. He said, manny, I'm gonna give you a ticket. And his response was, I don't need any tickets. I can give you tickets. Sped away, pulled around with an illegal U turn, and then received another ticket.

[Dan LeBatard]

And how many checks were found on the tickets?

[Jeremy Tache]

There's no details, and I've just read three different articles, and none of them have details of the checks. But I'm like a dog with a bone on this. I'll fight.

[Jon Stugotz]

I played second base. Charity softball game. I threw out Derek Leaf.

[Dan LeBatard]

First base.

[Mike Ryan]

Really through.

[Jon Stugotz]

I. I picked that grounder up, threw him out.

[Mike Ryan]

Wow.

[Jon Stugotz]

That's right.

[Mike Ryan]

When Ozzy and Jose are there, you got to play back on the infield. Right. You got. If you're playing, you know, Ozzy and Jose are not going to bunt. You got to play back.

[Dan LeBatard]

Agreed. What I'm telling you is you can't play back far enough. I was in left field, and I was still scared. Like, I. I was very. I would. I did not have the arm strength to throw the ball from where I was to the first basement. Look, if they hit any kind of ball on the ground, they were going to have an infield field single. I was just trying to make sure there wasn't a dent in my forehead.

[Jon Stugotz]

In front of you.

[Dan LeBatard]

If Pat Riley had punched me with a diamond in the forehead.

[Billy Corben]

Zaz, who's the first baseman?

[Mike Ryan]

The.

[Billy Corben]

The celebrity first baseman when you threw out?

[Jon Stugotz]

I don't remember, but I was double play tandem. I was second base, shortstop. Michael.

[Mike Ryan]

Oh, wow. What were you doing in this game?

[Jon Stugotz]

Playing baseball?

[Mike Ryan]

No, I know, but it was a celebrity game. Yeah, like Make a Wish.

[Jon Stugotz]

You know who I am?

[Mike Ryan]

I'm just asking.

[Chris Cody]

I don't know.

[Dan LeBatard]

He's a big star.

[Mike Ryan]

What year was this?

[Jon Stugotz]

Says 10 years ago.

[Dan LeBatard]

That says a big rising star at ESPN radio. 305486. Gotts is the number. I've got some more God bless football questions, but we've got a Boost Mobile boldest take hotline. It's 305-486-not it. Has been up and down. It's been better, but it's been up and down. How do you feel about this batch, Chris Cody?

[Billy Corben]

I feel good about this batch. It's the Boost Mobile boldest take, and it's presented by, of course, Boost Mobile, the newest 5G network in the country.

[Chris Cody]

Hey, guys. Walking the dog. Isn't it weird how if you're up for something or down for something, it means the same thing? My boldest take is no one realizes how bad old school wrestlers were. Hulk Hogan, terrible finisher is a leg drop. Kidding me? Me? Everyone does a goddamn bad job. I hang up and listen. This is Dan on a walkie talkie. I don't like the expression you can't have your cake and eat it too. Why? Who's getting cake and not eating it? Over and out. Hey, gang. Ryan. Up in Washington state, one of life's underrated joys is opening a can of Pringles to find them completely unbroken and perfectly stacked. Amazing. Yeah, this is Mark on a mobile. My bold take is that all things considered, especially versatility, lemon is the most underrated fruit. I'll stay on. Don't try to take Raythe Lefriend to the hole. Cause you will not scold. You know who that is? That is Rafael. Who the f are you? Yeah, this is Josh from Immobile in my car. My bold take is that Mission Impossible should be called Mission Kind of Impossible because all the previous missions have been impossible, yet they still solve them. So it wasn't really that impossible. I think maybe Mission Kind of Impossible I'll handle.

[Jon Stugotz]

Hey there.

[Chris Cody]

This is Todd. I just wanted to say I miss Stugotz.

[Dan LeBatard]

I'm not afraid to put it on the poll at Lebatard Show. Should it actually be named Mission Kind of Impossible? Also put on the poll is Lemon. The most underrated fruit is that guy.

[Billy Corben]

Okay at the end.

[Dan LeBatard]

And also put on the poll is life's greatest pleasure. Opening a can of Pringles and having them all be a unbroken at LeBatard show. The telephone number again is 305486. Gotts 4689. We've mentioned Stugatz. We've mentioned God Bless Football. Billy, can you give me anything in the way of an update? Because I asked Stugatz this yesterday. I'm like, are you guys going to Lake Tahoe or not? And I got a plume of blue smoke he spit in my face like from heaters and disease and no truth. And so I don't know whether you guys are going to Tahoe. I know that God Bless Football is going to be more often during football season. I know God Bless Football has new studios and is going to try and grow as a business. I don't know what's going on with Tahoe. Do you know what's going on with Tahoe?

[Mike Ryan]

It's definitely a maybe on the Tahoe situation. Sugat is. He's dead set on going. It's just a logistical thing. And as you know, Dan, it's hard starting a business and now we're paying for things out on our own. So if I want to go to Tahoe, I'm going to pay out of pocket. Pocket to go to Lake Tahoe. So I'm, you know, I have to talk to the Mrs. And say, is this, you know, financially something we're going to do? And we're out there. We have deals coming in soon, so at some point we're not going to have to pay out of pocket for these things. But at the moment, until those things are signed and the eyes are dotted and the T's are crossed, these things are coming out of pocket.

[Dan LeBatard]

In the interim, you guys should support God Bless Football and Stupidity and Stu Tube. He is working very hard on those things and that is the reason that he is around less. Because by the time of football season, he's going to want to be making God Bless Football a lot, lot more often for you. But right now you can get it. It's pretty easy to find all over the Internet. And he is doing. I don't know what the schedule is though, Billy, because he hasn't informed me. It's. It's nebulous. And I've, I've asked him several times, like, I want to promote the things that you're doing. Tell me what I need to know. And again, it's just, it's a lot of smoke.

[Mike Ryan]

No, I mean, it's. Again, it's hard. I mean, we're balancing two responsibilities at the same time. The schedules here are not super consistent. So sometimes we have recording days that are one day and the. And then other times we're not scheduled the same day. So we're trying to make it work in the interim, but we're working on it. It's getting out there.

[Unknown Speaker]

Jeremy, you know something about me, right? You know when I'm grilling outside and it's summertime? You know how I supplement my summertime?

[Jeremy Tache]

Of course I do.

[Unknown Speaker]

I make it Miller time.

[Dan LeBatard]

Of course.

[Unknown Speaker]

That beautiful white can. Oh, when it's so hot outside, I just. I just put it right to my forehead right there. And I just roll it sometimes right on the forehead, cool my body down and then I crack it open. Instant relief. And then that burst sip, brother, does that first sip.

[Jeremy Tache]

That is a top five sequence of events that you can possibly go through.

[Unknown Speaker]

I'm just serenity now. When I just imagine that first sip.

[Jeremy Tache]

Of Miller Light, just thinking about it, it's making me happy.

[Unknown Speaker]

Dude, the sun is out. It's nice. You have your friends showing up. You got your family there. You just had your first sip of Miller Light. And you know what? You're happy, you're blissful, you're fulfilled. I've been stocking my cooler with Miller Light four years, and for good reason. It's brewed for taste only. 96 calories and 3.2 grams of carbs. This year, Miller Lite turns 50. That is five decades of cookouts, laughs, and ice cold moments that never miss. It's the original light beer and it's still my go to 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. Cheers to 50 years of Miller time. Celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Co. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 96 calories and 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces.

[Tony]

What's up, guys? Tony here and I wanted to talk about something super important. And that's how I keep my home protected. Obviously. You guys know I have a little one back at home. My wife is there with her and I get tremendous peace of mind knowing that the moment I leave for work that my home, my property, my family is protected. Not just reactively, but proactively by Simplisafe. They are the number one for home security on the planet. On the market, there's nobody better than simply safe. I got the cameras going on. I got indoor cameras, I got outdoor cameras. I'm looking all over the place. Most security systems only take action after somebody breaks in. But you And I know that's too late, especially when you have a little one at home and when you have your wife at home and the big dog's not there, right? Simplisafe's new active guard Alpha Outdoor Protection help stop break ins before they happen. AI powered cameras live monitoring agents detect suspicious activity around the property. If somebody's lurking, agents talk to them in real time, turn on spotlights and can call the police. Proactively deterring crime before it starts. Everything's on the app. I want to see the cameras.

[Dan LeBatard]

Boom.

[Tony]

I see who's walking their dog a little too close to my yard, maybe leaving some dog residue close to my yard. I can go on the microphone, say, buddy, clean up after your dog. Over 4 million Americans trust SimpliSafe. And so do I. Simplisafe is offering levitar show listeners 50% off a new system with professional monitoring. Plus, your first month is free. Visit SimpliSafe.com DLB to claim this offer. That's SimpliSafe.com DLB there's no safe like Simplisafe.