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Dan LeBatard
You're listening to Giraffe Kings Network.
Stugotz
This episode is brought to you by State Farm. You might say all kinds of stuff when things go wrong, but these are the words you really need to remember. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. They've got options to fit your unique insurance needs, meaning you can talk to your agent to choose the coverage you need, have coverage options to protect the things you value most, file a claim right on the State Farm mobile app, and even reach a real person when you need to talk to someone. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.
Dan LeBatard
Now's a good time to remember where tequila's story truly began. In 1795, Cuervo invented tequila. Cuervo, what are you doing here? Cuervo?
Billy Corben
Anytime someone says Cuervo, I show up.
Dan LeBatard
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.
Billy Corben
Sweet, delicious Cuervo.
Dan LeBatard
Since then, Cuervo has stayed true to its roots. The same family, the same land, the same passion.
Billy Corben
Cuervo.
Dan LeBatard
So enjoy the tequila that started it all. Cuervo. Cuervo, the tequila that invented tequila. Proximo. Cuervo.com, please drink responsibly.
Billy Corben
Cuervo. 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? I'm sorry. I'm not gonna apologize for that. In fact, the only difference seems to be this imaging. I have been tempted and ra 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.
Mike Ryan
This episode of the Dan Lebatar show with Stugot is presented by DraftKings. DraftKings. The Crown is yours.
Billy Corben
I thought I could leave it alone. I couldn't because I went out there. Ethan shoved Taylor under the bus and said, taylor hasn't seen Raiders of the Lost Ark either.
Tony
But Taylor's a different kind of guy. The problem with Taylor is that he's never seen anything.
Billy Corben
Any movie.
Tony
Any movie whatsoever. He just watches tape. That's it.
Hawk
No, he watches Kings of Queens and that's it. Like, that's that and Everybody Loves Raymond. Like, that's what he does. He doesn't watch anything else.
Billy Corben
Doug Heffernan is a big Doug Heffernan guy. Is that what he telling me?
Hawk
Big Jerry stiller guy.
Billy Corben
Oh, Jerry still is the best man. Rip the bulk of it. But. But Raiders of the Lost Ark, this is, like, required viewing, right?
Tony
Like, one of the greatest. One of the greatest movies of all time.
Billy Corben
Greatest movies of all time.
Greg
Easily.
Billy Corben
And. And my. Like, so my kids. I sold my kids. Rocky for first time. Last weekend, watched Rocky for the first time, and I was worried because, you know, Rocky one is slow.
Greg
Dangerous.
Billy Corben
It's slow. Well, no.
Greg
Violent.
Billy Corben
You know what my kids watch?
Tony
Violence is not the issue.
Greg
We agree that Rocky had CTE early in the game.
Mike Ryan
Yes.
Greg
Like, from day one. He came into the pros with cte. We agreed, okay.
Billy Corben
Advanced.
Greg
It was, like, not the fun. He shouldn't have been fighting.
Dan LeBatard
How did.
Greg
We can look back and be like, hey, maybe you should just keep the warehouse job.
Dan LeBatard
How did it go, though? Because I'm worried about that. That film age, and especially with a younger demo. It's risky.
Billy Corben
It's. It was so. I was worried they would be too.
Dan LeBatard
Slow for them, because it's a great film, and you want them to feel what you felt. Yes, but the times may change.
Billy Corben
They liked it. They like. They liked it. The two.
Dan LeBatard
Did they like the ending? Because the ending.
Billy Corben
They loved it. They were confused by the ending. They were like, wait, who won? It wasn't clear. And I was like, yeah, I'll apologize.
Mike Ryan
It wasn't clear. Interested.
Dan LeBatard
But it's kind of a celebration. You can see how people are confused.
Billy Corben
Roy. The way it shot.
Dan LeBatard
Combat sport is kind of. You should not land it the way it's shot.
Billy Corben
First of all, like, my kids don't watch boxing, so the idea of, like, the first judge had it 150. Like, they don't. They don't know what's happening. Right. Number two, the announcement is actually in the background because the foreground is Rocky going Rocky, like so. And then they hug and they see Apollo jumping. They don't know what they're like, wait, who won? So I had to explain that to them. The other notes that we got right, number two is when Eye of the Tiger come on. And I have to explain to the guys, guys, Rocky 3, which. Which led me to. Should I Skip watching Rocky 2?
Dan LeBatard
No, no. Rocky 2 is good.
Greg
Is it all you got to do?
Billy Corben
Rocky 2 is the one I've seen the least of.
Dan LeBatard
There's only one that you skip, and it's Rocky 5.
Mike Ryan
Oh, that never happened.
Greg
But you know what?
Billy Corben
I like Rocky 5, man. I don't know what.
Greg
In my older age, really, I have become a lot more appreciative of Rocky 5.
Billy Corben
Yeah.
Greg
I showed my kid one through four and we went one day binge. Watched all of them.
Dan LeBatard
Four age now.
Billy Corben
Oh, four is great.
Greg
Four is pretty good.
Billy Corben
Yeah, but great when I watch.
Dan LeBatard
But there's so much ambiguity now.
Billy Corben
Oh, yeah. Well, are they our enemy? No, actually, now it's more resonant than ever. Like 15 years ago, I was like, what? Why are we mad at this Russian guy? Like now it's like, yeah, yeah, it's back. They were back. Cold war back, maybe 20 CBs.
Tony
When's Mason the line Dixon?
Billy Corben
That's six.
Dan LeBatard
Rocky Balboa six.
Billy Corben
I call it Rocky six. I'm not gonna do. And I call Creed. Rocky seven, and I call Creed two.
Greg
Rocky eight.
Billy Corben
What? Yes, it's all Rocky.
Greg
Rocky.
Mike Ryan
Rocky wasn't even in eight.
Billy Corben
He wasn't in the second one.
Dan LeBatard
No, I wouldn't mean.
Greg
The Creed series slowly making its way onto. Dude, Creed is good to go black. Black movie.
Dan LeBatard
Creed is really good.
Greg
By the way.
Dan LeBatard
Rocky 7's like my third favorite ride.
Billy Corben
Rocky 7 is really good, man.
Dan LeBatard
Rocky 7's awesome. Rocky 7 and Rocky 8 ain't bad either.
Billy Corben
That's the one with Drago's son, right?
Dan LeBatard
Uh huh.
Billy Corben
Oh, yeah. No, Rocky 8 is fire, bro. What are you talking about? Rocky 9 was the one with down the majors again.
Tony
Good.
Billy Corben
That's bad. I haven't seen that one. I don't think that's the one I haven't seen. Maybe we'll work our way up.
Dan LeBatard
Yeah, no, he's working his way back.
Tony
Do you want me to give you the little synopsis for it or do you just want to watch it?
Billy Corben
It's like his friend was. Goes to prison.
Tony
His friend, who's the better boxer when they were younger, goes to prison, comes back, and then Jonathan Majors feels like Creed took his life and lived his life.
Billy Corben
Is he supposed. Is John Majors supposed to be like, kind of like Clubber Lang? Not quite, but a little bit of that.
Tony
He's more evil.
Dan LeBatard
Much more evil.
Greg
He's a bad Clubber Lane.
Billy Corben
Hold on. Clubber Lang.
Greg
Clubber Lang was not a good dude.
Dan LeBatard
This guy's a bad guy's a bad. This guy's a bad dude. Although his narrative just gets, like, fast forwarded, the pacing on Rocky 9 ain't great.
Billy Corben
Okay.
Greg
Okay, Love that. We're calling it Rocky 9.
Billy Corben
It's Rocky 9.
Tony
He gets a world title shot very quickly.
Billy Corben
But you guys are telling me Rocky, Rocky 2 has the replay, the rewatch value, right?
Dan LeBatard
Well, Rocky 2 has. It tells the story that everybody was like, well, Rocky one could have been better. How do we make Rocky one better but by telling a similar story.
Greg
Yeah. The other help and making sure he wins.
Dan LeBatard
Yeah.
Billy Corben
So this is. This is what I wasn't.
Greg
What it could have been gonna be.
Mike Ryan
No rematch.
Billy Corben
Yeah. People. Yeah. That's when they're hugging. And right at the end of Rocky one.
Greg
Right.
Billy Corben
Oh, new one.
Dan LeBatard
As Creed taught us there were two rematches.
Billy Corben
Yeah, man. We recorded an episode of Cinephobe Top five the other day and we were talking about worst parents in Cinephobe history. And I submitted as one of my outside looking ins Rocky in Rocky 4. Because he's so sick and tired of being a dad and being a husband, he decides to fight in Russia on Christmas Day. Just get me the away from my family as far as possible on Christmas Day.
Mike Ryan
And then Adrian shows up.
Billy Corben
She shows up anyway because she's CT five were spouses just nagging. Had to follow.
Dan LeBatard
You can't win.
Billy Corben
You know how strong he is. Oh, annoying, shrill voice. Shrill.
Greg
He shouldn't have took the fight. I mean, could we not. Could we not be honest and say he shouldn't have fought the dude who. Anybody. Shouldn't have fought the dude Apollo.
Billy Corben
Apollo should not have fought the dude.
Greg
Apollo shouldn't have fought.
Billy Corben
It was an exhibition. He didn't know the dude was going to go like that.
Greg
Rocky shouldn't have fought him after he watch kill Apollo.
Mike Ryan
Rocky should have thrown the tower earlier.
Billy Corben
But again.
Greg
But again, think Rocky gets a concussion every Adrian. He's clearly concussed. If we get an independent neurologist out.
Tony
Here that didn't exist at that time.
Greg
Or do we. Is this 20 CB? Is this shot that important?
Billy Corben
20 CB? They just give you the smelling salts. You're good. He's good. He's awake.
Dan LeBatard
Look at my finger.
Tony
All right, he's good.
Dan LeBatard
Go.
Mike Ryan
A walking concussion.
Greg
Walking concussion.
Billy Corben
Think about this. Rocky left his wife and child on Christmas to go to Russia, Communist Russia, to go fight a dude who murdered his friend in the ring. Like, you know how much of a bad husband and a bad father you have to be to be like, I'm gonna do this over here on Christmas.
Dan LeBatard
He's good. He's a good husband. He still visits the grave.
Greg
He's a great friend.
Dan LeBatard
As Rocky.
Billy Corben
Oh, as Rocky 7.
Dan LeBatard
Michael Jordan Motivational speech. Well, and then he was on a nine.
Billy Corben
No.
Greg
Michael Jordan would never fight the person who ended up killing you in the ring for you.
Billy Corben
That's fair.
Greg
So this is why Rocky is. Is maybe one of the best friends.
Billy Corben
And I didn't say he's a great. He's a great. And.
Mike Ryan
Well, your boxing truck.
Tony
I think we got a LeBron windy situation here. He never said he was his best friend.
Billy Corben
Yeah, yeah.
Tony
All he said is go to the funeral.
Billy Corben
To go to the funeral.
Greg
Friends go to funerals.
Billy Corben
That's not true.
Tony
I've gotten to a lot of.
Dan LeBatard
Why do we keep having a mean die before Michael Jordan?
Greg
Mean?
Tony
He's got the premonition he's going to do it.
Billy Corben
Number one.
Greg
Because he wants Michael Jordan to go to his funeral. He's going to make sure it happens.
Billy Corben
Lebr is not the only person spending seven figures on their body. Michael Jordan is, except it's just cognac and cigars. Yeah, but still that, that. Look at George Burns. He lived to like 112 or whatever. So there it is. You, Hawk.
Greg
Millions, cognac and some gars a year on your body.
Billy Corben
Let me get away from this before he decides he's not going to come.
Greg
Yeah, he's not. You see how I'm trying to get to it, Mike? Trying to make sure I keep my money. Like, I can't believe.
Billy Corben
I'm sorry, Mike.
Greg
All you said he spends his money on is cigars and cognac.
Billy Corben
Mike. I'm sor. I was just playing. I'll play. You know, I like to play, Mike.
Greg
With friends like you, who needs enemies?
Mike Ryan
I like Hennessey too.
Billy Corben
So Hawk.
Greg
I like him.
Billy Corben
I like him.
Tony
Mike's not drinking Hennessy, by the way.
Billy Corben
Yeah, he's Remy Louis xiii, baby.
Greg
A little higher.
Billy Corben
Hawk. You had umbrance. You took umbrance. You took issue with something that Dan said on the show about. Was it Russell Wilson?
Greg
Yeah, Russell Wilson. About how it's so sad that he gets to go make up the $21 million with the new York Giants and that. It's a. It's a. It's a. It's a terrible ending to a career. I completely disagree with that take. I think he might be the happiest person in all of free agency.
Billy Corben
Dude, you get to live your. Like, it's like. What do they call them on when people go play? Not fantasy baseball, but like when people pay a bunch of money to go play on. On Yankee Yankees.
Tony
Like fantasy.
Billy Corben
Like Billy Crystal. Yeah, like fantasy camp. Right? It's. Except it's real.
Greg
Except it's real.
Billy Corben
Except it's real. Like, that's crazy. It's like going to Westworld for Russell Wilson, right? Yeah. You go in there and like, oh, yeah, These robots are actually trying to kill me.
Greg
Like, I don't. I can't see a world at all where Russell Wilson. I'm not even kidding. Not even a single point of it. I can see where he would be disappointed in how things transpired, especially given where he was with the Denver Broncos. And he was positive in that situation.
Billy Corben
Yeah.
Greg
And it was clearly him and his coach did not get along. His coach hated his guts.
Billy Corben
Yep.
Greg
He got cut in a season where he was playing decent. And the thing about it is, he didn't finish last year. Great. He is aging. Everyone does. He's not a young quarterback, but he's not playing that far off of the way that he's always played. And that is just the thing. Elements around him. And now he gets to go to New York media market with his superstar wife.
Billy Corben
Yep.
Greg
And back into.
Billy Corben
Yeah.
Greg
Sierra's a.
Billy Corben
She was a superstar.
Dan LeBatard
We're doing this off of follows.
Billy Corben
She was a superstar. She was a huge superstar.
Dan LeBatard
She's more famous worldwide.
Billy Corben
Yes.
Greg
I would argue she's more famous now than she's ever been.
Tony
No, that can't be true.
Billy Corben
One, two steps, sir.
Greg
That you guys are living in a moment. Like, she's more visible now.
Billy Corben
No, she's not.
Greg
The injection of sports.
Tony
I had the biggest song on the planet.
Billy Corben
The biggest song on the planet. She had the missing.
Greg
I think you guys are really, really into hip hop at the time.
Dan LeBatard
At that time. Absolutely. It was certifiably one of my passions. Yes.
Greg
That was one of.
Dan LeBatard
In that era. 100%.
Greg
I still think when Luda hopped on the track.
Billy Corben
Let the meanest cleaner. Come on, man.
Greg
I didn't say it wasn't fire. I didn't say I wasn't in the parties going, hammer, come on. I'm just saying she's still a superstar. And they're now in the media market of New York as opposed to.
Billy Corben
Sure.
Greg
Western Pennsylvania.
Billy Corben
Sure. No, no, look.
Dan LeBatard
Hey, man, you know what else grinds my gears? I'm sorry to cut you off. Like we were doing this thing. We let Dan perpetuate this. Aaron Rodgers and Stu guys last five games. Last five games. And then I look at Russell Wilson's last five games. Very comp. But Russell Wilson was actually playing real teams in real games, meaningful football against teams trying to win their football games instead of whatever the hell they had going on with the Jets.
Greg
Now do that with Aaron Rodgers over the last three years and you will see that it's the same thing. He's played better than Edwards and he's five years Younger, more excited about Aaron Rodgers.
Billy Corben
I'm going to tell you right now, don't look now, but I think Russell Wilson's going to do better in New York than Aaron Rodgers did. Oh, wait, I shouldn't have said that.
Greg
It's time.
Billy Corben
New game.
Greg
I like that.
Billy Corben
Don't Look Now. It's not a new game and it's a terrible game.
Tony
I'm glad you said don't look Now.
Dan LeBatard
Hold on.
Tony
I'm glad you said don't look now. Go ahead, Roy.
Billy Corben
All right.
Mike Ryan
Don't look now is presented by Smirnoff, the world's number one vodka. Please drink responsibly.
Tony
Tony Absolutely is the world's number one vodka. Okay. Okay, boys, obviously we talked about Russell Wilson. That's on my. Don't Look Now.
Billy Corben
She's really concerned about a lot of things. Tony, before you start. Well, number one, I don't know what Mike is doing to Pat Riley.
Greg
That's.
Billy Corben
Yeah, I know that Pat Riley has a case, an HR case. Number two, you guys have recruited Andrew Hawkins into this somehow.
Greg
I wish I got a real blindfold.
Tony
Well, Hawkins, you gotta close your eyes at least.
Greg
Okay, they're closed.
Tony
Okay, good. All right, don't look now. We haven't even mentioned this on the show. I don't know who's behind me. We have a foot. What is that?
Billy Corben
Riley?
Tony
Don't look now. Stefan Diggs is a patriot.
Billy Corben
Yeah.
Tony
Not mentioned, not uttered once on this show, by the way, last week. Stefan Diggs now with Drake May, now with interesting. Interesting veteran receiver, veteran presence. Is it a good veteran presence?
Billy Corben
I don't know.
Tony
That's why we're not looking.
Dan LeBatard
He wasn't that bad.
Tony
He wasn't that great, but it's like.
Dan LeBatard
The first tad, too.
Billy Corben
So this. This is the first piece of analysis Mike has ever offered in this segment.
Tony
That is true, but again, Mike likes it. Drake, May Hawk. What do you think? Getting a veteran guy in there, trying to help him out, you gotta.
Greg
You gotta develop your young quarterback, you know, who's really good at helping develop young quarterbacks with rocket arms, at 6 foot 5, with a lot of potential. Stefon Diggs, Josh Allen ring a bell? Anybody? I love it.
Tony
Mack Holland's at the 2. What if they go up and draft Travis Hunter, too? Nice little 1, 2, 3.
Greg
I can't believe how much we talk about Mac Holland. Taylor introduced me to that name like a year and a half ago, and now he's a superstar like Sierra.
Billy Corben
I like how we've barricaded Mike by the Way. Good job, Billy.
Greg
I have no idea what Mike's doing because I'm not looking now.
Billy Corben
There you go.
Tony
Don't look now. And it's actually gaining steam. Diana Rossini commented on this and reported this earlier today.
Billy Corben
You guys talking to the mic?
Tony
Where's my mic?
Billy Corben
You got to talk into a mic.
Tony
The Packers. The packers were one of the teams that tried to ban the push, the Tush push. And now it's starting to gain some steam. Where across the league. There may be some people sled by the packers that want to cancel the Tush push.
Greg
Gotta do. It has to happen.
Tony
There we go. I'm back.
Billy Corben
All right.
Tony
What else do I have here? Don't look now.
Billy Corben
You're looking at your paper.
Tony
Well, it's the psychic thing where I can see where the Ark of the Covenant is. I just can't see exactly where.
Billy Corben
How many soldiers?
Tony
200E. Sorry, Vikings have not. Yeah, hold on. Give me. The Vikings have not. Oh, I got his hand. I got his hand. The Vikings have not commented on the QB1 for their team. Is it gonna be JJ McCarthy? Could it be Aaron Rodgers? They haven't closed the door yet. Don't look down.
Billy Corben
Hawk, how surprised are you that the door isn't closed on Aaron Rodgers everywhere?
Greg
I'm not surprised because he's such a. He is a great talent and he. He still is one of the best 32 quarterbacks in the league, physically. The question is, what comes along with him off the field and being a 42 year old in a locker room that you. You don't really feel like you need to be subjected to everything every player is subjected to. How does that, how does that play?
Billy Corben
Hawk, let me ask you a question, okay. As you got older, was there any part of the locker room environment that you were like, I'm too old for this? Not necessarily the physical, but just like.
Greg
So much of it, by the time I retired, when I got plus 30, I hung out more with the coaches than I did the players. Just because I'm married with kids.
Billy Corben
Right.
Greg
You got 21 year olds coming in here with music. I don't know. I was very much the old guy. That's how me and Joe Thomas became friends. Because he's an offensive lineman, I'm a wide out, but we're both old as hell. And he was the only person I could talk to about like older person things in the locker room. So you get. It loses you quick.
Billy Corben
Yeah. So. And you said you hang out with the, with the, with the coaches. How do the coaches Receive that. Like, is there any part of it. Oh, okay.
Greg
I gotta see. I gotta look now. I'm sorry. It was. Yeah.
Tony
Segment's over.
Greg
Segue's been on. Nobody was going to tell me.
Billy Corben
We just want to see how much longer you want to go.
Dan LeBatard
Yeah.
Greg
All right, folks, listen up.
Jerbear
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Dan LeBatard
Today, weather is starting to warm up. Regular season starting to wind down. Games of consequence in sports starting to ramp up. I know what you're going to need by your side. It's by my side already. Miller Lite. Yeah, that's right. I'm making my springtime a Miller time. I'm making my sports time. Miller Time. Going to a car race. Miller Time. Gonna see some tennis. Miller Time. Gonna chill in the backyard with some friends and make some memories. Miller Time. I love Miller Lite because it's got taste that I know I can depend on. No games, no gimmicks. It's that simple, folks. It's just a great beer. For people who like beer, Miller Lite is brewed for taste. It hits different than the other light beers. It's got simple ingredients, and at just 96 calories, 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces, Miller Time is always a good time. The original light beer since 1975 and still the very best one, 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. Tastes like Miller Time. Celebrate responsibly Miller Brewing Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 96 calories, 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces.
Unknown
Hey, friends, it's Jerbear here, and I'm.
Dan LeBatard
Here to tell you all about Boost.
Unknown
Mobile, which is now a legit nationwide 5G network. So I must take a break from.
Billy Corben
The jokes here for a second and.
Unknown
Put on my serious voice, because I would never, ever joke about a 5G network that has invested billions building 5G towers across the country. Not even once. Not even if Mr. Boost Mobile himself asked me to. There is nothing funny about it. Boost Mobile is now a legit nationwide 5G network and also provides coverage across 99% of America. Seriously? Visit boostmobile.com or your nearest Boost Mobile store location to learn more. The Boost Mobile network, together with our roaming partners, covers 99% of the US population. 5G speeds not available in all areas.
Greg
Don Levitard.
Dan LeBatard
If all the raindrops were lemon drops and gum drops oh, what a rain that would be Stugarts Standing outside with my mouth open wide Ah ah, ah.
Greg
Ah ah ah ah ah, ah if.
Dan LeBatard
All the raindrops were lemon drops and gumdrops oh, what a rain that would.
Greg
Be this is with the Stugach.
Billy Corben
Guys. As you excited as I am for this new Statham movie, A Working Man. A Working man.
Tony
I just saw the preview right now.
Dan LeBatard
Where's my laptop?
Mike Ryan
It's always an occupation. It's like wrestlers in the early 90s, late 80s.
Billy Corben
It's always, I love these new Statham movies, which is always. I'm just a guy minding my business, but then somebody messes with an innocent person.
Tony
But I'm also an elite fighter.
Billy Corben
No, but someone messes with an innocent person in my life.
Mike Ryan
Steven Seagal.
Greg
I don't like that.
Billy Corben
I can't do. I can't do a Statham. So I just do this voice right here. It's like someone messes with an innocent person in my life who really isn't in my life, is tangentially in my life. So maybe it's my neighbor. Like, it wasn't the beekeeper. Or maybe it's like the daughter of my best friend. Like, it isn't working, man. But now that they mess him, I've got to destroy their whole criminal organization. Just me, Just the man.
Greg
I love it.
Billy Corben
Did you guys see Beekeeper, by the way?
Mike Ryan
No.
Dan LeBatard
Oh, he was in occupation.
Billy Corben
Beekeeper was hilarious. Hilarious, including a line most people don't know. Honey is one of the most flammable liquids ever. And he lights it on fire and the guy goes, is that so? Yeah, that's what he said.
Dan LeBatard
Really?
Billy Corben
I don't know if it's real.
Dan LeBatard
Is that.
Greg
No way.
Dan LeBatard
I don't know. Can you light honey on fire?
Billy Corben
Apparently it's very flammable, according to Beekeeper.
Dan LeBatard
I gotta watch Beekeeper. I would imagine they just wouldn't make something up like that. Although films do tend to do that.
Greg
I mean, it's a movie. It's Hollywood, baby.
Billy Corben
Holly.
Dan LeBatard
I remember, like, the whole, like, plot to the film Triple X was the submarine in landlocked Czech Republic.
Billy Corben
Oh, yeah.
Dan LeBatard
In their defense, the submarine could fly.
Billy Corben
Oh, flying submarine. It's a. It's a supermarine at that point. Right. Submarine is. And if it were just a boat, it'd be a marine. Get it?
Mike Ryan
Yeah.
Greg
Everything in movies is real. It's just not revealed yet. So.
Billy Corben
Yeah, like the Ark of the Covenant.
Mike Ryan
Exactly.
Billy Corben
Don't look now. Oh, no.
Tony
No, no, no, no.
Greg
We're back, baby.
Tony
Where's my laptop?
Billy Corben
No, no. Kill that music, please.
Greg
Her back.
Billy Corben
The one of the big stories in sports and Mike, I'm glad you're here and looking now. I want you to be looking now because this is a big story in sports. I call it the biggest Cinderella story in sports.
Dan LeBatard
UFL kicking off. Almost rough neck. Battle Hawks.
Billy Corben
Not a Cinderella story.
Greg
Shout out to the Battle Hawks.
Billy Corben
The biggest Cinderella story in sports is the Sudanese national team in soccer, Right? So if you don't know, I'm from Sudan. And our country has been at war.
Tony
Just like Akbar.
Billy Corben
Yeah, just like Akbar Domestika has been at war for a good two years now, where there's no infrastructure, there's no safety people. It's the largest number of displaced people in the world right now. The biggest refugee crisis in all the world. And so the Sudanese national team, as a result, has not been living in Sudan, has not been playing home games in Sudan. They've had to live in Libya and play their home games there. And everyone who listens to the show knows I'm a huge Brazil fan, because growing up in Sudan, you're like, well, Sudan's never going to be good. So we all adopted Brazil as our. That's our country. And it's been an unrewarding experience to watch Brazil be awesome and excellent. But this is different. Because now the Sudanese national team that doesn't live at home, that doesn't play its home games at home, has been on this miraculous Cinderella run over the last year and a half where they've qualified the African nations cup. And they're currently number one in their World cup qualifier group. And so they had a big game last week against Senegal. And Senegal is a team that has a lot of big name guys. Sadio Mane, to give you an example, they got a bunch of guys that play in the epl, and they play at the top levels of European football.
Dan LeBatard
Traditional AFCON power.
Billy Corben
Power, Right. Like you talk about the biggest teams in Africa, like the Perennial, the Dukes, the North Carolinas of African soccer. It's Nigeria, it's Senegal, it's Ghana. Right. Those are the three. And then everyone else kind of get in where you fit in. Algeria, I guess you could put them in there as well. And so for Sudan to go and play against Senegal and not only come out with a draw, but kind of should have won the game. Kind of should have won the game. It was something that was magical. And I was wondering, Mike, because you are a soccer guy, is this a story that's resonating with soccer people? I know Master Test Facion went on Galazzo and he did a segment on it. But for the soccer heads, overall, is this a story that's resonating or is this still kind of.
Dan LeBatard
If you look across the globe, too, there's plenty of those stories, especially in the Middle East. There's a lot of countries that would make for incredible storylines if they were to make it to a World Cup. A World cup, especially here in North America. Geopolitically, there's a lot that put, you know, the host committee in a precarious situation, although the World cup usually transcends that stuff. But given the current climate, it'd be hard to ignore. I do think that it's resonating. You still have to have to seek it out. AFCON qualifying region does not get a lot of attention over here just because it's not readily available.
Billy Corben
Right.
Dan LeBatard
You have to really seek this out. But as we march closer, I really do think that come summertime, with the formal ramp up of the Club World cup that also kicks off down here in Miami, I believe with Inter Miami, you're gonna start seeing these media entities, start putting together narratives as the picture becomes a little clearer. It's also a little bit difficult here in this country because I don't think, like, it's been damn near 30 years since the United States hasn't had to go through a qualification process.
Billy Corben
Right?
Dan LeBatard
So things that happened last week with.
Billy Corben
The United States losing, it doesn't matter.
Dan LeBatard
It doesn't. It doesn't really resonate because all they know is World Cup. We're not really having our position Jeopardized anyway because they've already qualified as a host nation.
Billy Corben
I want to put this out there. If Sudan makes a World cup, and obviously the World cup is going to be here, Canada and Mexico in a year. Real. Wow. It's coming right up. If Sudan makes a World Cup, I've already announced that I am going to be the host for all of this. I'm going to take the team out to dinner. We're going to go to Fogo de Chao because we want that Brazilian energy in us. Right. And I'm going to be doing the media rounds. I'll do espn, I'll do fox. I'll do everything. I'm going to make this a thing.
Dan LeBatard
It should be.
Billy Corben
Because I want to be. I want this to be visible because I think people need to understand it's insane to not know if your family members are alive or healthy and have to go out there and compete. And again, I'm trying to think of what the American equivalent is. It would be like, like McNee State playing against the Bulls.
Dan LeBatard
Only if they were coming from like a war torn part of the country, dude.
Billy Corben
Well, I'm just saying. I'm just saying the war torn stuff apart. Like, this isn't like it could do so much good. It's the war torn stuff apart. It's also like the talent gap. Like we don't have anybody that's close to what these teams are bringing to the table.
Dan LeBatard
Yeah. And just even if it's for a brief moment, you have on that continent. Didier Drogba famously helped end a civil war and introduce a peacetime just for the Ivory coast, which is also probably in that group of Afcon blue bloods. But the attention that it would bring to a cause which, as you know, is so underrepresented in the news cycle, especially here in the United States because we're just so infatuated with our own problems over here. To have that kind of attention can do some real legitimate good, even just from a fundraising perspective. Even if it just impacts the lives of the players and the families of those players. Everybody should be rooting for this. Everybody should be rooting for what's happening.
Billy Corben
Absolutely. Now, should everybody be rooting for the ufl?
Dan LeBatard
They should. Spring ball matters. We have a testament to non NFL spring ball. No, you played in the cfl, but it was a.
Greg
Well, cfl, not a developmental league. It's been around longer than the NFL.
Dan LeBatard
Did you see the Trey Lance story?
Greg
No.
Dan LeBatard
Trey Lance may be going north of the border to help revive his career.
Billy Corben
Forgetting his Roots to go build a career.
Dan LeBatard
Are you one of the greatest underdog stories in the history the Cleveland Browns?
Greg
I'm the secret sauce.
Dan LeBatard
Are you actually going to come out against the ufl?
Greg
No, I love the ufl.
Dan LeBatard
The UFL is great.
Greg
I just take issue with you pointing to me about a league I did not play in.
Dan LeBatard
Well, as someone that cut his teeth in a league that wasn't the NFL and then rode that league to the superstardom that you did multiple contracts in the NFL world's quickest man, you would know that what's going down tonight in Houston between the Roughnecks and the Battle Hawks is of importance.
Greg
That's an intro, is there. That's the intro I was.
Billy Corben
That's what he's looking for. Yeah.
Greg
Thank you.
Billy Corben
Is there an Andrew Hawkins of the ufl?
Dan LeBatard
There's plenty of good stories in the US like right now. Josh Pearson.
Billy Corben
That's made it.
Dan LeBatard
That's made it.
Billy Corben
Like Hawk. That's the Hawk story. The Hawk story is he started there and then he made it. Not a guy who could make it. A guy who did make it.
Greg
Turpin.
Dan LeBatard
Turpin's probably the best.
Billy Corben
He was at ufl.
Dan LeBatard
It was. Who's had that contractor tight end for the Chargers. Oh, my God. Backup title.
Billy Corben
Antonia Gates.
Dan LeBatard
No. Okay, I'll get it. I'll find the name. But there were. There were good stories. And then never forget what covet took away from us, which is the Roughnecks. Battle Hawks. I mean, collision course for the championship. Jordan Tiamu and PJ Walker, who are letting the world on fire.
Tony
PJ Walker, another guy, had a couple.
Dan LeBatard
DJ Walker was a great story and he was legitimately good. We got Anthony Brown starting at quarterback for the Roughnecks. We got Max Dugan. We got a loaded offense for the Battle Hawks. I got Hakeem Butler, who is a huge producer, wide receiver for them.
Greg
McCann still there.
Dan LeBatard
We got McCarron. Wait, he's playing out to the league.
Greg
Hold on.
Dan LeBatard
I'm like 90 sure. This game goes down because there's all sorts of talk that there might be works.
Billy Corben
Wait a second, wait a second. Is this a Brian Scalabrini situation? No. Brian Scalarini played in the Big Three. Do y'all know that? Yes, very briefly. Then he went to broadcasting after that because he was like, I'm too old for this. But, like, the idea of, like, I'm a broadcaster, but then I come back and I work out and I play. Is that what's happening?
Dan LeBatard
Karen has been very vocal. I wasn't a Huge fan of the merger because they kind of sided with the USFL way of doing things, which meant they had to use that union. They took some of their rules. Thankfully, the XFL kickoff that the NFL adopted is back in what was formerly known as the xfl. But the ufl, I don't know. It's just not doing it. It's not as extreme, I guess. I miss the xfl. I don't like the UFL as much, but I'll give it time and hopefully with the second year. But there's all sorts of reports being done right now. The players still exhausting every option because they're not happy with the. The compensation that they're getting. I mean, I do think today's game is going to go down, but AJ McCarron has been one of those outspoken voices, especially for the quarterbacks. The quarterbacks came out in unison and said that their pay wasn't right. But McCarron's not playing for the Battle Hawks anymore now.
Greg
Yeah. And also I think you're confusing Greg McElroy with AJ McCarron, who are both former Alabama quarterbacks. One is an analyst for each.
Billy Corben
Which one had the hot girlfriend? That Musburger?
Tony
AJ McCarron.
Dan LeBatard
McCarron. Although to be fair, I don't know what McElroy is working with.
Tony
But the famous one where. Who was it? Was it Bradness or Nessa or.
Billy Corben
No, Musburger.
Tony
That's the one you're thinking of.
Billy Corben
It's. It's McCarran. Okay. Okay.
Dan LeBatard
But we got football under the Friday night lights.
Greg
I love it. I love it. My question, and this is very. I don't even want to qualify. But okay, so the players that are fighting for the money and all the things. It feels a little premature.
Billy Corben
What is like the.
Greg
I don't know what the UFL makes. I don't know what those TV contracts look like. I don't know what the cbs. I'm coming in this unchecked.
Billy Corben
That's how we like it.
Greg
That's how we like it here. Right. But I will say that when I'm looking at the ufl, to your point about cfl, my opportunity there being similar is I'm looking at it as an opportunity to build a profile and tape to try to make it to the NFL.
Billy Corben
Yes.
Greg
Versus creating a career out of the ufo. Now, there will be players that do so. And not by choice. Not by choice. So. And do I. I kind of feel like it's cutting your nose off despite your face a little bit to. For a work stoppage. In a scenario where you guys are trying to put enough film out there to make it to the big show, which is kind of the whole premise around, quote unquote, spring football in the first place. So that's not like it's not disrespectful to the UFL to say you're a feeder league to the NFL because that's how it's built. Versus the CFL truly views himself as a self contained professional league in their country that has been around longer than the National Football League.
Dan LeBatard
Did you mention that the CFL is older than the NFL?
Greg
I did.
Dan LeBatard
Is that true?
Greg
It is true.
Dan LeBatard
Yeah, absolutely true.
Greg
Yes, it is. It is. The og.
Dan LeBatard
You mean older than the merger? No, older than the actual league.
Greg
Older than the actual league. And then also like, you got to realize like in the 70s, 1956 is what I'm looking at, the salaries are comparable.
Billy Corben
Not older than the NFL then.
Greg
Well, then that is the merger. The NFL, it's older than the NFL.
Hawk
No, NFL was founded in 1920. The CFL was founded in 1958.
Greg
I don't think that's right. Okay.
Billy Corben
I think we need CFL merch for.
Greg
That's right. I would love CFL merch.
Billy Corben
Anybody who works for the cfl, can we send some CFO merch to Hawk so he could wear it on the show next?
Dan LeBatard
At least we admitted on the front end we are not informed on this at all.
Billy Corben
Again, unchecked. That's how we like it around here. Everything's unchecked. When you guys have a cleaning person coming to your house, do you clean your house first for the cleaning person?
Tony
It's crazy, bro. It's crazy. We had around here, we had the cleaning lady the other, the other day, right? A couple of days ago and the night before, I got a baby, a three month old kid, very hectic in my life, right? Baby screaming, crying. We got to give her a bath, we got to put her down, we got to do this, we got to do that. By the time I get home, my wife's like, hey, the cleaning lady comes tomorrow, we gotta clean up. And I'm like, she's, we're paying her to clean up.
Billy Corben
Yeah.
Tony
And she's like, no, no, but we gotta clean up before she cleans up.
Billy Corben
Yeah.
Tony
So we don't look like slobs and we don't look like, you know, dirty people. And I'm like, I get that. I'll put away a couple things that we've got out. But like, I'm not gonna physically get on my hands and knees and scrub something that she is gonna scrub tomorrow.
Billy Corben
Now, here's the deal. There's part of it that is to save face, right? Absolutely. I feel like this is. This is a universal. This isn't a two Americas thing, Right. This is universal.
Tony
Three Americas.
Mike Ryan
Three Americas. Four too.
Billy Corben
Four Americas.
Dan LeBatard
Just gotta close the loop. Donald Parham.
Billy Corben
Oh, there you go. Thank you. Parm. The interruption.
Mike Ryan
The dishes have to be done.
Billy Corben
Yeah. Like, look, this is. Some of it is to save face, right? Some of it is you don't want, like, these people, like, oh, these people are animals. Right? But. But there's another part of this. There's actually two other elements to why you clean up before the cleaning people show up. Number one is you clean up the things that I don't want you messing with. Right, Right. Like, I'm going to put this stuff away because I don't trust.
Tony
Because you don't know where it goes. I know where it goes.
Billy Corben
Exactly. And one of the things I hate about the cleaning people is when they, like, I open like a drawer and I'm like, where the hell is the thing? And like, oh, they put it in this cabin over here. Like, we never put the bottle opener there. Why would it be there? Right. Number two, and this one is huge because if it's too much of a hard work, they might half ass it. So I'm going to get rid of the original kind of surface level.
Tony
You're gonna do like 25%. So they only have to do 75% instead of 100.
Billy Corben
Not only they only have to do 75%, they have to do the hard 75%. I'm gonna get rid of the aesthetic, like, superficial part of the dirt. Like, all right, now you gotta scrub that part. That won't come out.
Mike Ryan
So instead of them half assing, you're a half ass.
Billy Corben
Absolutely. Absolutely. That's why you clean before the cleaning people show up. It's just.
Tony
It's just like, I don't get it because I had to clean my house at 11 o'clock and it's like, that's annoying. Who put all these shoes here?
Billy Corben
Why are all the shoes.
Tony
There's 11 shoe pairs of shoes in the house. Why are they here?
Billy Corben
I kind of feel like this is him.
Tony
I'm running up the stairs with nine shoes. Try not to make them wake the baby up. One shoe falls off. My wife's like.
Billy Corben
I'm like, tony, I'm not trying to sow seeds of discontent in your household, but I kind of feel like when it's you her and the baby. It's pretty obvious whose shoes are who.
Tony
Yes, of course.
Billy Corben
I got a problem in my house. Cause I got kids multiple, and two of them are twins. And so whose shoes are.
Greg
How old are your twins? I got twins too.
Billy Corben
My twins are 11.
Greg
Mine are 10.
Billy Corben
For real?
Greg
Come on, put it there.
Billy Corben
Twin lives. Did you find that once you had twins, you started meeting people who had twins left and right? Yeah.
Greg
That's all you see.
Billy Corben
That's all you see is twins.
Greg
You should go to the Twinsburg Twin Festival in Ohio.
Billy Corben
Oh, yeah.
Greg
All the twins in the summertime converge in Twinsburg, Ohio, to have a twist. A festival. All twins.
Mike Ryan
By the way, twins file.
Billy Corben
There it is. I have a brother.
Greg
Also, the Gray cup is older than the Super Bowl. It's 1909. It was when the Gray cup.
Tony
But it was a CFL thing.
Greg
The CFL is older than the NFL and the merchant. I wouldn't find that.
Dan LeBatard
All right, so courtesy of ChatGPT, which has been wrong about Hawkins driven topics before.
Greg
It's a little racist, but go ahead. I'll allow it.
Dan LeBatard
NFL was founded in 1920. CFL was formed in 1958 through a merger of various Canadian football organizations. However, Canadian football itself has its roots going back to the 1860s, which predates American football. But the official CFL organization came much later than when the NFL started.
Hawk
Yeah.
Greg
Right.
Billy Corben
So Canadian football is older than reconstruction.
Mike Ryan
Well, what about college football?
Greg
But that's how the NFL is too, though. Like all those leagues, that's what they consider the NFL, but also the CF, like the roots of the NFL or from 1920 something.
Dan LeBatard
Is there. Is there a really old franchise inside the CFL that is older than the CFL itself? Because that's a good way to do it.
Billy Corben
Yeah. What's the oldest CFL franchise?
Greg
I don't know.
Billy Corben
Will you get on that? Go find out.
Greg
I will find out.
Billy Corben
Even though this is contrary to what we want to do, we want to do unchecked. Boy, I'm asking you to check.
Dan LeBatard
Do you remember when Baltimore was in the cfl?
Billy Corben
Oh, that was the time.
Greg
Stallions. Right.
Dan LeBatard
They brought back the Colts, I believe.
Greg
Bought some more stallions, was it?
Dan LeBatard
Yeah, yeah, it was a horse of some sort.
Greg
Yeah.
Hawk
So the great cup originally was a hockey trophy. And then the league that handed out the trophy then got another trophy. So they gave it to the Canadian Dominion Football champion. So they just were like, well, we have this extra trophy you guys can have.
Billy Corben
It's a hand me down.
Greg
It's efficient.
Dan LeBatard
We got another point in your favor right now. The Toronto Argonauts are the oldest franchise in the CFL and the oldest professional football team in North America. They were founded in 1873.
Greg
Come on, what are we talking about here?
Dan LeBatard
While the CFL as a league was officially formed in 1958, several teams like the Argonauts predate the league by decades.
Greg
You think I would just peddle that stat? You don't think I've heard that a million times?
Dan LeBatard
Well, you said the CFL is older than me.
Greg
I know, but it is.
Mike Ryan
You gotta get that. See, that's why we check.
Greg
It is the NFL. The merger didn't happen till the 60s, right.
Dan LeBatard
We're really bending over backwards to make you. Right.
Greg
Thank you.
Mike Ryan
We're trying the.
Greg
The field goal post in the front of the end zone. That's a Canadian thing. That's where they got it from.
Billy Corben
Oh, for real?
Greg
Yeah.
Tony
There's a reason why they changed it.
Billy Corben
Yeah, cuz it's Canadian.
Greg
Cuz they're not as. We still like big hits. We got an extra defender out there.
Dan LeBatard
If you take one rule from modern day CFL and apply it to the NFL, is it running certs 1 point, point rouge 1?
Greg
I don't know. I don't think it's running starts. I think it's no fair catches. Oh, no fair catches, no touchdown.
Dan LeBatard
You hated returning punch.
Greg
I did, but we had a five yard halo. So no fair catches, no touchbacks.
Dan LeBatard
But you're like strict with the halo.
Greg
But if you're inside of five yards, when I catch the ball, it's a penalty. And also if I, if I take a knee in the end zone, the defense gets one point.
Dan LeBatard
What about a slightly wider field than the NFL?
Greg
That's fun. You want, you want metric big scores and touchdowns. Wait, make the field wide?
Billy Corben
Is that why the field is wider? Is it the metric system?
Mike Ryan
It's in meters, isn't it?
Greg
Yeah, but it's not the same. It's not equal. It's still like, yeah, the field is 110 yards long, which would be 100 meters to the NFL's 100 yards. The end zones are 20 yards long, each end zone. So you could be on the 10 yard line from a 25 yarder for.
Dan LeBatard
A toe sideline to sideline, it's also wider.
Greg
Sideline to sideline is also wider.
Billy Corben
So when they call, when they're like, okay, if third down and 35 meters like this.
Greg
No, they don't do that because there's only three downs in the CFL. So third down and 35 meters, you better punish.
Billy Corben
You got to punt.
Greg
It you got, you go two and outs, dude.
Billy Corben
Only three. Okay.
Greg
You talk. I mean, hold on. The offense.
Billy Corben
Hold on.
Greg
A big advantage in the cfl.
Billy Corben
You want, you want to make NFL football more fun? Less downs.
Greg
Less downs, less downs.
Billy Corben
Why are we doing four downs? Let's go three downs.
Greg
Hey, you're preaching my, my language right now, brother. There is no football that was more fun to me than playing in the cfl.
Billy Corben
Why isn't CFL football more popular? Do they play at the same time as the NFL is the season?
Dan LeBatard
It starts earlier, but it gets a lot colder earlier. Yeah.
Greg
Championship is like Thanksgiving weekend.
Dan LeBatard
We have an update on the Baltimore Stallions.
Billy Corben
Yes.
Greg
Yeah.
Dan LeBatard
Former Great cup champion Baltimore Stallions.
Greg
Wow.
Dan LeBatard
We took to the Great cup, went.
Billy Corben
Down there and this is like what.
Hawk
Year they folded too. They won the Great cup and that was it.
Dan LeBatard
It's really unfortunate.
Billy Corben
Leave on top like George Costanza. I'm out of here.
Dan LeBatard
Did they relocate or they just totally shudder? We'll keep working it.
Billy Corben
Yeah. I'm fascinated though by this idea of could the CFL be a TV product that would be successful in the US if their season just didn't coincide with the thing that gets everyone's attention?
Greg
The answer is no because each roster has to have at least 19 Canadians.
Billy Corben
Okay.
Greg
Right. So there's like also like certain positions that are more Canadian than others. We'll call it that way.
Billy Corben
Like what?
Greg
Like offensive linemen. A lot of the old linemen are Canadian safety. You have a lot of Canadians.
Tony
He's talking about secret sauce.
Greg
The secret sauce, nationalism, possession.
Dan LeBatard
Slot receivers may come as a shock.
Greg
They have blackouts, you know.
Tony
No, no, I know. I'm saying. But. But their secret sauce.
Greg
But like the secret sauce is in those. Linebacker.
Tony
Linebacker must be a great Canadian.
Greg
You're not going to see a lot of white corners in the cfl outside receivers.
Dan LeBatard
So the further away from that ball, the less Canadian.
Greg
There's just like, hey, we can find that here. They don't come to America to get things they can find to feed the ratio.
Tony
Big six six, 330 pound guys.
Greg
We got that right here in Nova Scotia. That's nothing to us. When a lumberjack Saskatoon. We got ourselves a linebacker straight out of Calgary. Not a big deal, you know, so there's that. So that would make it tough because also. And this goes to the UFL as well. What the NFL does great is they do great character development. Right. There's a cycle like we. We see the high school kids. This kid's a five star. Jeremiah Smith. Where's he gonna go? Miami Ohio State goes to Ohio State, you've watched him again. Then as they get to the NFL, you're now seeing pass or fail. And then they do well. And the Lamar Jackson story arc is nuts. It's hard for the UFL because I don't know these guys and there's no way to get me as caught up. But you're giving me the same broadcast. CFL is the same way.
Summary of "The Big Suey: Whose Shoes Are Whose?" Episode of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
Release Date: March 28, 2025
In this engaging episode of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz, hosts Dan LeBatard, Stugotz, Billy Corben, Greg, Tony, and Mike Ryan dive into a variety of topics ranging from classic sports films and NFL player movements to alternative football leagues and inspiring international soccer stories. The conversation is peppered with humor, insightful critiques, and personal anecdotes, providing listeners with a comprehensive look into the multifaceted world of sports and pop culture.
The hosts open a heartfelt discussion about the enduring legacy of the Rocky film series and its implications for younger audiences. Billy Corben shares his experience of introducing Rocky to his children, expressing initial concerns about the film's pacing and violent content.
Dan LeBatard raises concerns about the film's portrayal of boxing's physical toll, particularly regarding Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).
The conversation evolves into a broader analysis of the moral and ethical dimensions depicted in the films, especially focusing on Rocky Balboa's decisions in later installments.
The discussion shifts to Russell Wilson's recent career decisions, sparking a debate among the hosts about his move to the New York Giants amidst his stellar performance.
Billy Corben challenges the narrative surrounding Wilson's move, comparing it to fantasy sports scenarios.
Dan LeBatard counters by highlighting the legitimacy of Wilson's performances against competitive teams.
A substantial portion of the episode is dedicated to examining the landscape of alternative football leagues, particularly the United Football League (UFL) and the Canadian Football League (CFL), juxtaposed against the dominant NFL.
Dan LeBatard introduces the UFL by highlighting its current season and key matchups.
Greg and Billy Corben discuss the challenges faced by the UFL, including player compensation and organizational stability.
Billy Corben emphasizes the UFL's role as a feeder league to the NFL, contrasting it with the CFL's self-contained nature.
The hosts delve into the history and operational differences between the CFL and NFL, correcting misconceptions and highlighting unique aspects of Canadian football.
Greg corrects the show's earlier inaccuracies about the CFL's establishment.
Billy Corben speculates on the potential for the CFL to succeed as a television product in the U.S., considering its scheduling and player composition constraints.
One of the most inspiring segments of the episode highlights the Sudanese national soccer team's remarkable journey amidst ongoing conflict in their home country.
Corben elaborates on Sudan's challenges, including displacement and lack of infrastructure, and celebrates the team's qualification for the African Nations Cup and their impressive performance against traditional powerhouses like Senegal.
Dan LeBatard underscores the potential global impact of Sudan's story, drawing parallels to historical instances where sports have played a role in peace-building.
The hosts entertain listeners with relatable household anecdotes, particularly focusing on the humorous dilemma of tidying up before professional cleaners arrive.
Greg shares his experiences balancing family life with professional obligations, adding a personal touch to the conversation.
The conversation takes a light-hearted turn as the hosts discuss the joys and challenges of raising twin children, sharing stories and jokes about their experiences.
Billy Corben [36:23]: "My twins are 11."
Greg [36:33]: "You should go to the Twinsburg Twin Festival in Ohio."
The hosts express excitement over the latest action-packed release starring Jason Statham, analyzing its plot and character dynamics with enthusiasm.
Dan LeBatard reminisces about past action films, drawing parallels to enhance the discussion.
Billy Corben highlights a humorous scene from the movie Beekeeper, sparking a brief debate about the plausibility of lighting honey on fire.
Billy Corben [21:41]: "Honey is one of the most flammable liquids ever."
Dan LeBatard [21:43]: "Can you light honey on fire?"
Billy Corben [02:28]: "I was worried because, you know, Rocky one is slow. It's slow. Well, no."
Dan LeBatard [08:15]: "Rocky left his wife and child on Christmas to go to Russia, Communist Russia, to go fight a dude who murdered his friend in the ring."
Greg [09:50]: "I think he might be the happiest person in all of free agency."
Billy Corben [22:50]: "The biggest Cinderella story in sports is the Sudanese national team in soccer."
Dan LeBatard [27:08]: "Didier Drogba famously helped end a civil war and introduce peacetime for the Ivory Coast."
Billy Corben [34:06]: "Some of it is to save face, right? We're not really having our position Jeopardized anyway because they've already qualified as a host nation."
This episode of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz skillfully weaves together diverse topics, offering listeners a blend of sports analysis, cultural commentary, and personal stories. From dissecting the complexities of beloved sports films to celebrating underdog triumphs on the international stage, the hosts deliver a dynamic and thought-provoking conversation that resonates with a broad audience.