Podcast Summary: The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
Episode: The Big Suey: Zaslow Asks a Question (feat. Dianna Russini)
Date: January 13, 2026
Location: Elser Hotel, Downtown Miami
Episode Overview
This episode of "The Big Suey" delivers the show’s signature blend of sports talk, Miami culture, and irreverent humor. Hosts Dan Le Batard, Stugotz, and the cast are joined by special guest Dianna Russini (The Athletic) for a rapid-fire, insight-heavy NFL discussion, wild Miami-centric banter, and an especially memorable Zaslow on-air blunder. The episode pivots from breakdowns of football narratives and coaching drama to a running joke about Cuban identity and family rooting interests, all delivered in the distinctive, chaotic tone of the show.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. College Football Playoff: Indiana’s Unprecedented Run
[00:37 – 02:19]
- Dan challenges the betting line: Indiana is a 7.5-point favorite against Miami on Miami’s home field.
- Dianna Russini stresses the historic nature of Indiana’s season:
“If Indiana does what the sportsbooks say it’s supposed to do...that’s greatest team of all time talk.” (Dianna, 01:13)
- Chris Cody and Dan question Indiana’s schedule strength; much of their point differential came from blowouts against weaker teams.
- Early segment establishes the show’s balance between insightful analysis and playful skepticism.
2. NFL Playoffs: Eagles' Collapse and the Philadelphia Mood
[06:47 – 09:03]
- Dianna recounts the unraveling of the Eagles’ season, citing leadership issues:
“No one ever came up...and said, I need to be better. Everyone just kind of sat in the muck and the yuck of, this isn’t good.” (Dianna, 07:50)
- Discuss the city’s emotional response and A.J. Brown’s alienation from the team.
- Consensus that the Eagles’ demise was unsurprising given their play.
3. San Francisco 49ers Resilience & Coaching Advantages
[10:00 – 13:03]
- Dianna and Dan marvel at the 49ers’ ability to overcome injuries.
- Analysis credits coach Kyle Shanahan’s scheming and the team’s ability to “play loose” with nothing to lose.
“You have a really good head coach...who has the pulse of this team and understands how to take advantages of the things they’ve been facing.” (Dianna, 11:43)
- Dan emphasizes the seismic nature of coaching value in the NFL.
4. The Mike Tomlin Conundrum & Broader Coaching Landscape
[13:03 – 14:48; 24:03 – 25:44]
- Pittsburgh Steelers’ extended playoff drought gets attention. Dan questions if “stability” has led to mediocrity.
- Dianna speculates openly about Tomlin’s possible move to television—a rumor now widespread in NFL circles.
- Fast-paced examination of the unusually busy head coach job market.
5. Rapid-Fire Football Q&A with Dianna Russini
[25:44 – 29:18]
- The cast pressures Dianna for quick takes on major NFL storylines:
- Marcus Freeman: “Teams want him, but I don’t think this is the time he wants to do it.” (Dianna, 25:44)
- Packers vs. Bears result: Hilariously butchered by Zaslow (“The packers win or the Bear lose. Bears lose.” [26:36]; more below).
- Kevin Patullo’s future: “Serious conversations about the future...I do not think it would be surprising if they decide to move on.” (Dianna, 26:18)
- John Harbaugh coaching rumors, including Dolphins interest:
“There’s been so much back channeling...Don’t freak out if you’re a Dolphins fan...They’ve talked to him.” (Dianna, 29:42)
6. Zaslow’s Question Blunder: Showwide Laughter and Embarrassment
[26:36 – 38:24; Recap throughout]
- Zaslow attempts a simple question but mangles it: “The packers win or the Bear lose. Bears lose.”
- The show seizes the opportunity for merciless ribbing:
- “That’ll never go away either.” (Mike Ryan, 35:22)
- “That is the correct analysis of that Packers Bears game.” (Dan, 35:34)
- The moment becomes a recurring bit for the rest of the episode, used as shorthand for both football ineptitude and Zaslow’s embarrassment.
- Dianna playfully twists the knife: “Did the Bear loose? I think anybody ever took you seriously.” (Dianna, 38:02)
7. Miami, Cuban Identity & Family Betrayals
[39:15 – 43:39]
- Conversation pivots to the fierce Miami vs. Mendoza (Cuban-American QB) rooting, with Dan astonished his own mother is supporting Mendoza over Miami.
- Dianna contextualizes Mendoza’s appeal for older Cubans:
“Mendoza is a dream scenario for the older Cuban heads.” (Dianna, 41:43)
- Lots of loving Miami/Cuban generational ribbing, building the family and cultural dimensions central to the show.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
On Indiana’s historic season:
- “No team has ever gone 16-0…and in a power conference…That’s greatest team of all time talk.”
— Dianna Russini [01:13]
On the Eagles:
- “Everyone just kind of sat in the...yuck of...‘this isn’t good.’”
— Dianna Russini [07:50]
On the 49ers’ resilience:
- “They’ve been able to just piecemeal...year after year...when physically this whole thing should have been ground to dust.”
— Dan Le Batard [11:04]
On Mike Tomlin:
- “That team is not good enough. And their season ended the way you figured it would...defense that is championship worthy.”
— Dan Le Batard [03:48]
Zaslow’s infamous “question”:
- “The packers win or the Bear lose. Bears lose.”
— Zaslow [26:36, repeated continuously]
On the Miami-Mendoza debate:
- “Mendoza...is the archetype of a good Cuban boy that has made the most of himself in this country.”
— Dianna Russini [41:43] - “My mother...traitorous...rooting for Mendoza in a Miami Orange Bowl.”
— Dan Le Batard [40:35]
Important Timestamps
- 00:37 – Start of Indiana-Miami college football playoff discussion
- 01:13 – Dianna: Indiana’s case for greatest team ever
- 06:47 – Start of frantic Eagles postmortem and Philly mood
- 11:04 – 49ers injury chaos and resilience analysis
- 13:03 – Mike Tomlin/Steelers purgatory
- 24:03 – Rumors of coaching changes in the NFL
- 25:44 – Rapid-fire NFL Q&A with Dianna begins
- 26:36 – Zaslow’s infamous question
- 28:13 – Harbaugh coaching speculation
- 29:42 – John Harbaugh/Dolphins rumors clarified
- 35:34 – Crew roasts Zaslow; running joke intensifies
- 39:15 – Dan’s mother’s “betrayal” discussed
- 41:43 – Dianna on Mendoza as “dream scenario” for older Cubans
Episode Tone & Flow
The show’s breezy, self-satirizing tone is on full display: a mix of sincere sports debate, Miami/Latin culture inside jokes, and extended comedic deconstruction of on-air slipups. The cast embraces both expert football breakdown and self-deprecating chaos, turning what could be a minor on-air mistake (Zaslow’s question) into a hilarious, unifying bit.
Final Takeaways
- Dianna Russini shines as an incisive NFL guest, offering rapid, nuanced insights on everything from coaching drama to player mentality—while also gamely joining in the show’s self-mocking vibe.
- The Indiana-Miami, Eagles, and 49ers segments combine real football acumen with zaniness.
- Zaslow’s error is immortalized as the comedic highlight, giving the episode its title and main running joke.
- The family and Cuban-identity subplot adds warmth and cultural specificity.
Recommended for: Fans of sharp football talk, self-aware radio comedy, and Miami-flavored pop culture conversation. This episode serves as both sports bar argument and family group chat, with just enough football nerdery to satisfy, and plenty of laughs for all.