Transcript

Dan Le Batard (0:01)

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Sponsor/Announcer (0:54)

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Chris Cote (1:08)

Now's a good time to remember where Tequila's story truly began. In 1795, Cuervo invented tequila. Cuervo, what are you doing here?

Dan Le Batard (Host) (1:16)

Cuervo? Anytime someone says Cuervo, I show up.

Chris Cote (1:18)

Well, I do know that to be true. But even during ad reads like Cuervo, I think he could lay out especially for one of our great partners.

Dan Le Batard (Host) (1:25)

Sweet, delicious Cuervo.

Chris Cote (1:27)

Since then, Cuervo has stayed true to its roots. The same family, the same land, the same passion.

Dan Le Batard (Host) (1:31)

Cuervo.

Chris Cote (1:32)

So enjoy the tequila that started it all. Cuervo.

Dan Le Batard (Host) (1:35)

Cuervo.

Chris Cote (1:36)

The tequila that invented tequila.

Dan Le Batard (1:39)

Proximo.

Chris Cote (1:39)

Cuervo.com, please drink responsibly.

Summary

The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

Big Suey: The Lucky J

Date: November 12, 2025
Recorded at: The Elser Hotel, Downtown Miami

Episode Overview

In this episode, Dan Le Batard, Stugotz, and the crew gather at the Elser Hotel to deliver their signature blend of sports talk, media scrutiny, Miami flavor, and improvised comedy. The central themes include behind-the-scenes banter about the staff’s morning routines, a hyperlocal Miami story, and a deep-dive into the latest and messiest sports media beef involving Michelle Beadle, Stephen A. Smith, and Carrie Champion. Tony joins from a historic Miami “non-landmark,” and the group delivers absurd and contrarian “football takes of the day,” including the infamous “Tony’s Top Five.” Throughout, the tone is as irreverent, meta, and self-poking as ever, with pointed media criticism and a strong South Florida pulse.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Morning at the Elser Hotel and Big Mac’s “Take of the Day”

(02:47–07:42)

Show opens with Dan observing the “mortality” of the staff: Zaslow groans getting up for a sponsor read, echoing Dan's growing awareness of “wear and tear” amongst longtime and newer show members.
Big Mac, Elser’s “Doc Master” and resident Dolphins superfan, features with his daily takes:
- Big Mac’s theory on the Dolphins beating the Bills: Accuses players of “throwing” the game, noting Dalvin Cook’s unusual behavior and the Bills’ QB acting “all fatigued” (06:02–06:54).
- Emily notes: The whole staff jokingly receives the same “take” every morning.
- Dan on the authenticity of Big Mac’s take: “That was fraudulent. Big Mac's take of the day.” (07:19)
Memorable Meta Moment: “It was a fake laugh. He's not laughing for real. That was fraudulent.” – Dan Le Batard (07:19)

2. Sports Media Beef: The Michelle Beadle – Stephen A. Smith – Carrie Champion Triangle

(11:42–25:15)

a. Setting it Up

Dan unapologetically leans into sports media meta-talk (12:27): “I know that people get frustrated at the amount around here that I talk about sports media things, but I do not care.”
Live YouTube chat gets a shoutout and introduces the “Lucky J” moniker for Jeremy and others:
- “Jeremy is a lucky J who knows all the right people. Shocker.” – Read from chat by Emily (12:50)
- Zaslow on his mother: “That’s what my mom told me. I’m a special boy. Lucky J.” (13:25)
Team jokes about “buying” the Diamondbacks and Zaslow’s bar mitzvah bonds windfall.

b. Beadle’s Critique of Stephen A. Smith

Michelle Beadle Clip (15:05):
- Criticizes ESPN for treating Stephen A. Smith as irreplaceable and calls his new business “fraudulent.”
- Brutal closer: “I’m not a religious person, but I pray for the downfall. I really…” (15:25)

c. Carrie Champion Responds

Kari Champion’s challenge to Stephen A. (17:16):
- Asks if he’ll keep “the same smoke” for Beadle as for Black women, referencing a First Take history of gendered and racial disputes.
- “Keep the same energy…for everybody.” – Carrie Champion (17:57)

d. Stephen A. Smith’s Retort

Dan contextualizes: Noting the pain and betrayal in Smith’s response, especially as it becomes a complex intersection of race, gender, and loyalty in sports media.
Smith’s key points (paraphrased, attributed by Dan):
- Denies ever criticizing Champion or Jamel Hill, credits himself for her opportunities, and publicly calls Champion out for “flat out lying for clicks.”

e. Roundtable Analysis

Zaslow: “If someone was really good to you…loyalty is a really big deal to me. And I think it’s really lame what Carrie Champion did there.” (18:21)
Dan: Highlights the optics — “Not a great look…to have a fight with the white woman and then come back strongest at the black woman…Smith lit Kerry Champion on fire…” (19:22)
Chris Cote: “This is just so gratuitous. It just feels like high school gossip.” (23:22)
Emily: Breaks down why Black media voices, like Kerry Champion, are unsettled with Smith’s recent rhetoric and alliances:
- “There are examples what feel like weekly where I’m looking at Stephen A and going, man, I’m pretty surprised he’s on that side of this conversation.” (24:36)

3. Sports, Politics, and Cancel Culture

(25:27–28:06)

Dan wants big-picture reflection on sport’s societal shifts: referencing Colin Kaepernick, “right-wing cancel culture,” and the “post-politics” ESPN landscape.
Chris Cote and Emily push back:
- Chris: “Progressives have had to take it on the chin for 12 years…they just wanted to keep away politics that disagreed with their perspective.” (26:23)
- Emily: “White men continue to seek and have that power. And it’s just…sports media is a microcosm of what we’ve seen generally in society as we’ve shifted this way.” (27:27)

4. Miami History: Tony’s Broadcast from “Freedom Town”

(35:29–37:42)

Tony is on remote under I-95, at the site of the 1980 Mariel boatlift, called ‘Freedom Town’:
- 250,000 Cubans landed here in Miami, “living under the overpass” (36:24–36:59)
- Reference to Scarface filming location, “But 10 minutes of Scarface was filmed in Miami. Miami. And then the Cubans got mad and sent it to Los Angeles.” – Dan Le Batard (36:24)
- Chris and Tony discuss the importance of the site, not just as “movie trivia,” but as a pivotal historical migration event for Miami.

5. Tony’s Top Five Football Takes

(37:42–44:49)

A rapid-fire and self-deprecating bit where Tony delivers absurd football opinions ("Oli" segment before the top five):
1. Bears are sneaky tough
2. Davis Mills is a “gamer”
3. Mike McDaniel’s attitude after a big win (loving the coach's swagger)
4. Two teams won 44-22 in Week 9 (“store that one away for your record”)
5. “Here come the Ravens”
Dan: “These all deserve to not be mentioned.” (40:20)
The actual Top Five includes:
1. Bo Nix = “Bo Stinks”
2. Jonathan Taylor RB resurgence (“RB is back, Jack!”)
3. Hot take: “Josh Allen is Philip Rivers…He’s never going to win a Super Bowl.”
4. Patriots are “legit Super Bowl contenders” thanks to Drake May (?!).
5. Eagles will win the Super Bowl.
Group laughs at the wild swings and recency bias baked into media and fan opinions.

6. Local Heat Nostalgia & Show Closer

(45:15–46:41)

Brief nostalgia trip about the Miami Heat’s expansion Western Conference team and early days, more inside jokes about “lucky Js” and limited fake Ron Rothstein impressions.
Tony’s segment from the “temporary homeless encampment” wraps with more laughs about Scarface and Miami deep-cuts.
“You can rest another lucky J.” – Emily (45:42)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

“That was fraudulent. Big Mac's take of the day.” – Dan Le Batard (07:19)
“I know that people get frustrated at the amount around here that I talk about sports media things, but I do not care.” – Dan Le Batard (11:42)
“Jeremy is a lucky J who knows all the right people. Shocker.” – Emily reading chat (12:50)
Michelle Beadle (about Stephen A.): “I pray for the downfall. I really…” (15:25)
Carrie Champion: “Keep that same energy sir for everybody.” (17:57)
“This is just so gratuitous. It just feels like high school gossip.” – Chris Cote (23:22)
“If you want to use empty tweets as an example for snowflake dumb and all of this...all bs.” – Chris Cote (26:23)
Tony on Miami history: “It was just like, all right, you're gonna live underneath the overpass. Is that okay? …I guess it's better than communism.” (36:59)
Tony’s top five: “Bo Nix. More like Bo stinks. Get it? Stinks with an X at the end.” (40:32)
“You can arrest another lucky J.” – Emily (45:42)
“I can't believe that Scarface has held up held up for 45 years so that Tony's joining us from a parking lot I actually recognize.” – Dan Le Batard (45:31)

Timestamps for Key Segments

Big Mac’s Take of the Day: 04:19–07:42
YouTube Chat & Lucky J Discussion: 12:27–13:43
Beadle–Smith–Champion Media Beef: 15:05–25:15
Sports, Politics & Cancel Culture: 25:27–28:06
Tony from “Freedom Town” (Miami history): 35:29–37:42
Tony’s Top Five/Oli segment: 37:42–44:49
Local Heat Expansion/Audience Banter: 45:15–46:41

Final Thoughts

This episode is a classic “Big Suey” blend: meta, wildly self-referential, and unafraid to tackle the messiest intersections of sports, media, and culture. The Michelle Beadle–Stephen A. Smith–Carrie Champion segment offers a sharp window into power, race, and gender in sports television, distilled with the show’s trademark irreverence. Meanwhile, Miami history gets spotlighted alongside football absurdities, all under the show’s playful Miami sun.

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The Big Suey: The Lucky J