The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

Big Suey: The Step-Sister Mistake (feat. Taylor Twellman)

Date: February 18, 2026

EPISODE OVERVIEW

Broadcast live from the Elser Hotel in Miami, The Big Suey welcomes renowned soccer analyst Taylor Twellman for a wide-ranging conversation on the return of MLS, Lionel Messi’s transformative impact, racism in sports, the U.S. Men’s National Team's prospects, and the off-field Tony Clark scandal. With the show's trademark irreverence, Dan, Stugotz, Greg Cote, and Twellman mix sharp sports insights with playful banter and offbeat observations.

MAJOR SEGMENTS & DISCUSSION POINTS

1. MLS Returns & Messi’s Miami Magic

[00:54–08:07]

• MLS Season Kicks Off: Dan expresses surprise at how quickly the new MLS season is underway, particularly noting Inter Miami as reigning champions.

  • Dan: “This is a bit stunning to say, but MLS is back this…this weekend. It seems like it happened really fast.” [00:54]
  • Messi’s Ongoing Brilliance: Dan and Taylor marvel at Messi still performing at the top level at his age.

• Messi’s Impact on MLS and Miami:

  • Twellman observes how Messi’s presence makes Miami the epicenter of global football attention:
  • “You can make an argument they’re actually going to be better. They’re more talented, they’re deeper...Miami Freedom Park on April 4...It just feels like the World Cup less than 100 days away, Messi, defending champion Argentina.” [02:59]
  • Massive Valuation Spike: Dan references Inter Miami's rapid value growth—from $56 million in 2022 to over $1.45 billion.
  • Twellman argues the on-field trophies and the franchise’s value are linked:
    • “The dream was to open Miami Freedom Park as defending MLS Cup champions. They've done that.” [07:16]

• Messi’s Motivation and Longevity:

  • Twellman: “Every single time he steps on the field he wants to prove you wrong, he wants to prove me wrong, he wants to prove himself wrong. That Father Time isn’t knocking on the door.” [04:26]

• Load Management and World Cup Prep:

  • Stugotz raises concerns about Messi missing matches for rest or injury.
  • Twellman responds: “Messi believes he can only get that kind of fitness in games, not in training…If he can play the game, he’s going to play the game.” [05:27]

2. The Globalization of MLS and Bundled Apple-TV Coverage

[08:07–08:34, 17:28–20:00]

• MLS’s International Reach:
  • Twellman points out the benefits of Apple TV’s global streaming:
    • “You’re on Apple TV. You can see MLS in over 108, 109 countries. That’s great. That's going to grow the league and, more importantly, grow the likes of Son and Messi.” [18:06]
  • The panel reflects on how infrastructure and visibility have changed dramatically since 1994.

3. Racism and Homophobia in Soccer

[08:07–12:48]

• Stadium Chants and Offensive Behavior:

  • Greg brings up the persistence of lewd and homophobic chants in sports, comparing college basketball crowds in the U.S. to soccer stadiums in Mexico.
  • Twellman decries both racism and homophobia in soccer:
    • “Actions are louder than words for me and slogans. What happened with Vinicius Jr is absolutely irresponsible. It's completely gross.” [08:34]
    • “The moment you go to racism or homophobic, you lack creativity. That’s not even a good chant.” [08:34]

• Repeated Incidents with Vinicius Jr.:

  • Discussion of the Benfica vs. Real Madrid match, where Vinicius was allegedly racially abused and then, incredulously, one defense was that the player said a gay slur instead.
  • Dan: “In my lifetime in soccer, [Vinicius] has been subject to as many of these incidents as I can recall any other player...” [09:21]

• Walking Off the Field as Protest:

  • Twellman: “I’d walk off the field. Until UEFA or FIFA actually do something about what they are talking about...if six players are saying ‘we heard it,’ you can miss me with the denial.” [10:33]

• Europe’s Lag in Addressing Racism:

  • Dan: “Even a champion coach like this [Mourinho] doesn’t know how to not victim-blame. We did this with Terrell Owens in this country 20 years ago.” [11:26]
  • Twellman: “If, after the game, you want to say, 'Why does this always follow that player?' That doesn’t work for me. That means you don’t understand what racism is.” [12:01]

4. U.S. Men’s National Team Outlook (World Cup 2026)

[16:09–20:00]

• Renewed Optimism:

  • Dan asks if there’s more hope for the USMNT than last year.
  • Twellman: “Yes, Dan, I do absolutely. ... If they do their job, they finish first in the group...it’s quarterfinals or bust after that.” [16:21]

• A Window to Capture the Moment:

  • Greg voices anxiety about the U.S. squandering the World Cup opportunity.
  • Twellman: “Just be or just do what we do. Show the world what it is. Once the schedule change comes...the salary cap is going to change, and then you’re going to see the global player want to come here a lot earlier than they have in the past.” [18:06]

• Politics and the World Cup:

  • Stugotz: “Can the US hosting a World Cup at this time in its history be politics-free?”
  • Twellman: “I will never be a person that says politics isn’t in sports…But I want it to be safe, because that is what the United States is. We are a diverse country that opens our arms to people coming to see…what we do.” [20:15]

5. Football Free Agency & Dolphins QB Talk

[26:14–28:27, 31:20–35:19]

• Malik Willis Hype:

  • Dan: “Malik Willis went 13 for 15 for 450 yards and two touchdowns on deep passes with the Packers. Insane stuff...the most intriguing free agent quarterback in years.” [26:14]
  • Greg: “I really loved Malik Willis at Liberty. I thought he was raw...the consistency was not there.” [26:53]

• Dolphins’ Needs & Diskussion:

  • O-line and defensive priorities, speculation on draft choices (Ruben Bane).
  • Dan: “If you’re the best pass rusher in a draft...you’re gonna go before nine.” [29:00]

• Tyreek Hill’s Injury and Uncertain Future:

  • Debate over whether teams should take the risk on Hill after a serious knee injury:
  • Dan: “His leg was going the wrong way...when your gift is that you're faster than all the other athletes in the league, I think if your leg explodes that way, you might not be anymore...” [32:29]

6. The Tony Clark MLBPA Scandal: "Step-Sister" Slip-Up

[35:19–42:52]

• Scandal Details & Dan's Faux Pas:

  • Tony Clark, former MLB player and head of the players union, resigns amid a probe into financial improprieties and an alleged affair not with his stepsister (as Dan mistakenly says at first), but rather with his sister-in-law.
  • Dan: “This scandal though, the only thing that anyone is going to see is stepsister—excuse me, that’s a good correction, my bad. That’s different, that’s even a worse scandal.” [36:57]
  • Greg: “That's right.” [37:22]
  • Crew debates the proper "fine" for Dan’s error, concluding at $25.

• The Panel Weighs Scandal Severity:

  • Comic, mock-serious analysis of which is “worse”: cheating with your brother’s wife, your wife’s sister, or your sister’s wife.
  • Stugotz: “If you’re gonna be scandalized, be creative with it...an affair with the sister-in-law, that gets my attention.” [38:11]
  • Greg: “Either way, Greg’s commending the creativity.” [41:19]
  • Dan: “I’ve somehow managed to make all of this less scandalous than it was...I think it should be bigger than a $25 fine.” [39:02]

• Tony Clark’s Legacy in Shambles:

  • Dan: “He is a person who had great respect in baseball circles as both a player and a leader. To have all of this in front of people...the amount of shame that must be in this man's life right now in all regards.” [39:42]

7. Showman Banter, Wrestling Segments, and Tag Team Nicknames

[22:11–25:30, 41:19–42:52]

• Playful Tag Team Brainstorming:
  • Names like "Los Gorditos," "Cold Soda Steve Austin," "Hardee's Boys," "Dos Huevos," "Ravishing Rick Food," and "The Rib Roll Express" are crowd-sourced.
  • Wrestling training session provides comic relief:
    • Dan: “I’ve never seen Greg Cody be so proud of his failure of a son.” [25:35]

MEMORABLE QUOTES & MOMENTS

• “Every single time he steps on the field he wants to prove you wrong, he wants to prove me wrong, he wants to prove himself wrong. That Father Time isn’t knocking on the door.” – Taylor Twellman on Messi [04:26]
• “I’d walk off the field. Until UEFA or FIFA actually do something..." – Taylor Twellman, on dealing with racism in soccer [10:33]
• “If you’re gonna be scandalized, be creative with it...don’t get involved in a scandal that’s mundane.” – Stugotz, on the Tony Clark affair [38:11]
• “Which is worse? Cheating with your brother’s wife, cheating with your wife’s sister, or cheating with your sister’s wife?” – Dan, reading out the poll options [42:08]
• “I’ve somehow managed to make all of this less scandalous than it was…It should be bigger than a $25 fine.” — Dan [39:02]

TIMESTAMPS FOR KEY SEGMENTS

• 0:54 – Return of MLS, Messi and Inter Miami’s reign
• 2:59 – Messi’s impact and Miami Freedom Park’s opening
• 4:26 – Messi’s mindset and longevity
• 5:27 – Messi’s load management and World Cup focus
• 8:34 – Racism and homophobia in soccer; Vinicius Jr.
• 10:33 – Twellman: players should walk off for FIFA to act
• 16:21 – Hopeful USMNT prospects for 2026 World Cup
• 18:06 – Apple TV’s global MLS deal and U.S. soccer’s opportunity
• 20:15 – Politics and the U.S. World Cup
• 26:14 – Malik Willis hype and Dolphins draft priorities
• 32:29 – Tyreek Hill’s injury and career risks
• 35:19 – Tony Clark’s MLBPA scandal and Dan’s “step-sister” mistake
• 38:11 – The show debates scandal “creativity”
• 41:19 – Poll: which kind of in-law affair is “worse”?

TONE & STYLE

As always, this episode delivers a blend of insightful sports analysis, open critique on social issues, and the group's playful, occasionally irreverent, chemistry. The hosts bounce between earnestness and comedy, never lingering too long before the mood shifts again via an in-joke, local flavor, or a new pop-culture tangent.

For listeners seeking a crash course on current MLS storylines, the Messi phenomenon, sports and society issues, and the latest Miami sports (and sports scandal) gossip—with plenty of laughs and Le Batard show weirdness—this episode is a can't-miss.