Jeremy (3:25)

Unfortunately, and this has picked up steam, really, over the last couple of years. That show doesn't do analysis. Like, that's not analysis. They don't. They're not analysts. They're not. And that's why you get Shaq saying things like, he's got to step up, need more out of him. He's got to score 45. Like, it's. It's not analysis. It's really simple stuff. I love that show, but if you're going there for that, you're in the wrong place.

Tony Allen (3:51)

It's an Unk barbershop show.

Jeremy (3:52)

Yeah.

Tony Allen (3:53)

That's essentially what it is. It's like we're sitting at the barbershop with a bunch of unks, and they'll be like, he's got to step up tonight. 45 is the number. And it's like, well, he had 19 on 17 shots.

Chris Cote (4:01)

The reason, though, that I bring it up, okay, is because I love that show and that show is the standard bearer. But you have a fight happening beneath that show. Okay? Cuz everything's beneath that show where Stephen Jackson is yelling angrily about Mad Dog's analysis because Mad Dog is looking at Donovan Mitchell and James Harden and doing some version of calling them either overrated or trash. And so Stephen Jackson, Jackson, as a former player, is looking at what the icons and media are doing on the general talking points, and he's saying, really? You're going to call Donovan Mitchell and James Harden trash? You're going to call them overrated when Those. And Stephen Jackson's point is, Mad Dog, what have you ever done in your life that would be as substantive as what those athletes are doing? And so when you say. You say that's not analysis, but what is getting rewarded in sports commentary, I would say, is not analysis. That's. You don't rise to stardom now, do you? Like, you can be analysts that are trusted for their information, but to get to the top of whatever the game has become now, where Stephen Jackson and Mad Dog and Stephen A. Are playing and where Shaq and Barkley are playing it, the job is now, you have to be entertaining. You don't have to be smart about anything, right?

Jeremy (5:28)

But also Stephen Jackson's argument there, which is not an original one. It's just. Which is why it's so tired when you hear the. You never played. So, like, if we're doing that game, like. Like, Stephen Jackson, I get. Like, he can never talk about anything other than basketball, right? Because he didn't do any of these things. You stick to basketball then, right? That's the thing that you do.

Chris Cote (5:48)

But I. But the part I do think is fair, though, is looking at Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, who would be, I'm. I don't know, top 20 in the world that's competing over something. Like, to call those people trash and overru rated. Like, that is not sophisticated commentary. That is. And it's not fair. It's not in any way reasonable. Like, if. If the standard is you can only be number one, and then the 10th best at something is trash.

Jeremy (6:12)

Well, trash is obviously strong and probably disrespectful.

Chris Cote (6:18)

I don't even know if trash was used. I know Stephen Jackson. Stephen Jackson was saying that trash was used. I don't know if it was.

Jeremy (6:24)

But overrated. Like, you can call a player overrated. Like, you're. You're allowed to think that.

Chris Cote (6:29)

All right?

Jeremy (6:29)

Most people think this guy's really great. I think it's overrated. That's okay. You could say that.

Tony Allen (6:34)

And also, it's wrestling, right? Like, that's what Dog does. He gets up there, he does his whole spiel on Bob Koozie and whatever, and it's like, that's what it is. So when you walk into the tent not understanding who Dawg is, and you see him say, this guy's overrated, why didn't he dribble? Like Bob Cousy in 1957? Like, yeah, you don't get it. It's like listening to the show. If you don't listen to the show, you don't. You don't understand what we're doing.

Jeremy (6:52)

And I mean, someone like Dog, who has been. Who essentially invented the medium of sports radio, okay. And has been doing sports radio for 40 years now. You know what? I think his credentials are pretty high. Like a pretty good.

Chris Cote (7:04)

Yeah, but you're. You're doing. And I get why you're doing it. You're protecting our space. And Stephen Jackson is saying it's time to replace the people who are in the places for this space on the way that we've all been doing. They did.

Dan Le Batard (7:18)

They did. An athlete can fire up a podcast anytime that they want. Like, there's obviously enough space for everybody. I think it's foolish for anybody on either side, either athletes or pundits, to be like, they shouldn't be doing it. If you're good enough, the audience will find you. And by the way, Steven Jackson is part of the properties that have proven on merit. They're good enough. But a lot of these people, you make a big PR release and a tweet goes out announcing a new podcast. They never go out. When they announce that they're stopping, so many of these things just go away. Duncan Robinson had a. What seemed to be a popular one just went away. Like, they. They go away because they realize, like, for you to be good at this, the way that Steven Jackson got good at this is you have to treat it like a job. You can't just fire it up whenever you want. You have to look at cadence. You have to look at audio metrics. You have to look at things that you have to put work in.

Tony Allen (8:18)

They have subbed athletes for media members in analyst spaces. And Carmelo Anthony Said gave praise to Nico Harrison for Cooper Flag getting the Rookie of the Year.

Chris Cote (8:26)

Right?

Jeremy (8:27)

Carmelo, we have. Carmelo is a Hall of Famer. That. That opinion that it was part of Nico Harrison's plan to, with 1%, land the number one overall pick. I mean, by Stephen Jackson standing, then Carmelo probably shouldn't be talking about these kind of things. Cause that's a ridiculous thing to say.

Chris Cote (8:45)

All right, let's go ahead and hear him say it then. We had something special in Cooper Flag, and we're starting to see that.

Dan Le Batard (8:51)

Shout out to Nico Harrison, man, for seeing this right here, for understanding this vision, whatever happened, how it happened. Dallas got something back, you know, in that they got the number one pick. They got a rookie who led the squad in points, rebounds, assists.

Jeremy (9:07)

I mean, we need more of that.

Tony Allen (9:09)

They didn't get anything back.

Jeremy (9:10)

I mean, I don't know that was his vision.

Zaslo (9:12)

We get a lot of stuff wrong though.

Jeremy (9:13)

Hey guys, trade away Don Chich but I got a vision.

Chris Cote (9:17)

We're landing on overall pick but Jeremy is saying is right though. I mean we can go back through the library of 20 years and I'll find. Hell, I'll find the thing that says that. Draft Carmelo. I probably said it. Draft Carmelo instead of LeBron.

Zaslo (9:31)

Oh, you for sure said it.

Tony Allen (9:32)

All right, you want a Chris Kamen fan?

Dan Le Batard (9:34)

Let's look at that draft. Did anybody say take Darko over Mellow.

Zaslo (9:37)

Oh my God. Good draft.

Chris Cote (9:41)

Let me analyze tired.

Jeremy (9:43)

The whole you never played well, it

Chris Cote (9:46)

can be tired like that and I understand why we would be defensive about it. I just find interesting that people are staking their claims to the corners and putting their fists up and Stephen Jackson is purposely going after Stephen A and Matt Barnes. They are having legitimate beef here. That is interesting to watch. But also I started with Shaq and the analysis that I just gave you for that show, that's terrible. Like to expect Donovan Mitchell if you've been watching that series and just what Toronto can be defensively to expect Donovan Mitchell to go out and just demand 45 of him. I just didn't think we were there. Even on a night where I'm watching in Orlando and Detroit, two players put up 45.

Dan Le Batard (10:32)

The nature of these rights agreements are that unfortunately, well, sometimes on certain nights you have competing platforms having a playoff game in the same window, but they alternate. I like having the variety. I know that when I go to Inside the NBA now on espn, I'm going to get something more personality driven, more humorous. And they're photoshops and I like it for what it is. And then two nights later I get the opportunity to watch Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitzki on an iPad running through motions and this player triggers this action. I enjoy that. I like having the variety.

Chris Cote (11:12)

I will say, as I do with many things around pop culture change, what ends up happening with whatever your discomforts around the change. The top 10% of it will be better than it's ever been. The bottom 10% will be worse than it's ever been and 80% will be just mediocre stuff. That show, though, has been the standard bearer for for three decades. No matter what the changes are and what the changes are. The reason I bring up the all of it is because you have heard me say over the years that I believe that LeBron James is underappreciated because of the specifics of the time he's coming up in. And the argument television of the time where he's giving an ESPN magazine interview and he's saying, why does it always be. Why does it always have to be everyone shitting on me? Because we can't just appreciate that LeBron and Michael Jordan had different games. That when we're talking about them in the modern age, we underappreciate LeBron James because the comparison point is whatever the difference is, ah, you're not the best ever. You're second best. And now we're gonna shit on you the entire time. Even though what we're watching has LeBron last night losing his first home elimination closeout playoff game in 18 years.

Jeremy (12:26)

That's crazy.

Chris Cote (12:27)

And. No, but the whole thing on his resume is totally crazy. Like, everything on it, including that he's now expected to win that series and has a historic choke on his doorstep. And Jamari Smith Jr. Is saying, without Kevin Durant, he's saying, we're better. We're the better team. And here's how LeBron's reacting to him saying that.

Dan Le Batard (12:47)

What's the best way to respond to a group that obviously has some confidence growing over there?

Chris Cote (12:53)

I don't care about shit like that, bro. The game is one in between the four lines. I don't give a damn. Who cares? I mean, of course you say, why would you say we're not the better team? Like, But I don't ask one of them young guys that question. I'm too old for that shit. We're at the I'm too old for that shit stage of LeBron's career. That's the nose hair. That's the ear hair. That's the I'm too old for this stage. That's old as shit. Too old for that.

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Dan Le Batard (13:50)

Hey, Roy, buddy, you know that energy shift when the game gets good and everybody all together in unison knows to stand up on their feet? Oh, absolutely, Mike. Yeah. You've been at many big time sporting events you know that moment quite well. That's what it's like when you take your first sip of Cuervo. Oh, delicious. It's the signal that says, we're not checking the time anymore, pal. It's when small talk turns into stories. Cuervo, man. It's that high five. A random stranger effect. That's right. The game is popping. You're hugging people you never met before. That's the kind of energy that Cuervo brings. It's so smooth, so delicious. That's the Cuervo effect. Keep it Cuervo. Hey, it's Mike Ryan, and I want to talk to you about the random midweek hang that you have with your friends. Maybe it's an NBA game. You get a text, hey, come over. You want to watch the game? And maybe you're like, I don't know, I kind of just wanted to stay home. And then you think about it after your buddy hits you up, and you know, just the thing that'll make that regular hang, that regular midweek hang around the basketball game into a special time, into a Miller time. That's right. This happened to me just last week. I grabbed a six pack of Miller Lite, said I was on my way, and next thing you know, we're arguing about rotations like we're on the coaching staff yelling about a missed call, and the game's coming down in the final possession. It was one of those nights that you look around, you take a sip and you think, yeah, this was the right call and my friendship stronger for it. Cheers to legendary moments with 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. It's Miller time. Celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Co. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 96 calories and 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces. Don LeBatard for weeks, months even, during the regular season, I wondered aloud what Kevin Stendland did. And then about three weeks ago, it hit me. Stugats. He gives him one of these, and he gives them one of those. This is the Dan Levatar show with the Stugats.

Chris Cote (16:06)

What are the most famous. I'm too old for that shit in movie history because I only think. And it's only Danny Glover. Lethal Weapon.

Jeremy (16:15)

It's a good one, but it's the

Chris Cote (16:17)

only one I think of.

Dan Le Batard (16:18)

Riggs. Too old for this.

Chris Cote (16:20)

Did he do that? Too old for this? Oh, he did it. He did it multiple times.

Dan Le Batard (16:24)

He did it in all four movies, Dan. Yeah. Yeah. He didn't stop being too old for the three movies in. He only got older for the. I believe the first time he was too old for the shit. He was 36.

Chris Cote (16:37)

How old is he now? He's got to be 80 now, right? He's got to be.

Dan Le Batard (16:40)

Are they still working on another one? I think there's. Mel Gibson might be directing this.

Jeremy (16:45)

I mean, he.

Dan Le Batard (16:46)

Love that guy.

Jeremy (16:46)

He was old in the color purple.

Tony Allen (16:48)

79. He turns 80 July 22nd.

Jeremy (16:51)

He was like 60 in the color.

Dan Le Batard (16:52)

So he's had his pension from the forest for 40 years, at least.

Tony Allen (16:56)

Good pension back then.

Chris Cote (16:57)

So he's done it in every. He's done it in every Lethal Weapon movie, the same way that Roger Clemens is one of Cy Young in every city that he's played in.

Jeremy (17:05)

I'll bet he's 100.

Chris Cote (17:06)

Oh, they just told you he's 79.

Tony Allen (17:08)

I just said he was 79. Turning 80 July 22nd. You're not listening.

Zaslo (17:11)

That ear wax. I like the tool. I'm too old for this. In Elf.

Chris Cote (17:14)

I'm getting too old for this job.

Dan Le Batard (17:17)

It's my favorite.

Zaslo (17:18)

It's a good one.

Dan Le Batard (17:18)

Yeah. Anytime it's invoked now, it's basically a tribute to Danny Glover. Myrtle.

Chris Cote (17:24)

Look up as many as you would like, Chris, and just play them randomly, because I can't remember off the top of my head any other than Glover's. I'm too old for this shit. The many replicas of it that he did in all the Lethal Weapons with

Zaslo (17:37)

Paul Rudd and Anchorman.

Chris Cote (17:38)

I'm getting too old for this shit. So LeBron James is in this portion of his career. I'm told we also have the wax candles out there. I am now being informed. How do you want to do this? Chris is rubbing his hands together.

Zaslo (17:50)

Someone's got to do it. I vote Zaz.

Chris Cote (17:53)

What?

Tony Allen (17:53)

You can't hear anything. I just said he was 79. You said he was 100.

Jeremy (17:56)

I do.

Tony Allen (17:56)

Not listening.

Chris Cote (17:58)

You're already not listening. You do. All right. Zaz has been nominated. Is there so.

Zaslo (18:02)

Not Jeremy?

Jeremy (18:03)

Jeremy.

Dan Le Batard (18:04)

He.

Jeremy (18:04)

He just.

Zaslo (18:07)

We should make Jeremy watch Zaz do it like a cuck. No, no, no. He's the cuck.

Jeremy (18:12)

Jeremy just volunteered his tribute. You could do it.

Zaslo (18:15)

This isn't the Hunger Games. Happened in Star Wars.

Jeremy (18:18)

I'm getting too old for this sort of thing. All right, fine. I'll do it.

Chris Cote (18:23)

I think that you should do it because you do listen poorly. You have. You've. You've had some issues lately. Where you're just not listening to the show.

Jeremy (18:32)

Getting old, man 12 is shit.

Chris Cote (18:34)

And. Okay, so let's. Let's get that in here. But this is a process, right? So this.

Zaslo (18:39)

This is right there.

Jeremy (18:40)

Can I lie down on the couch?

Tony Allen (18:42)

You gotta be. You gotta be, like, parallel.

Chris Cote (18:44)

Okay, yeah. All right. No, that's fine. Go ahead and put him on the couch there. That's a good idea. But also give him a microphone, because I want to be able to get takes from him while he's over there. But we should have others do it as well, though, because we should have. I think we're going to be mortified by the things that are found in some ears. It has to be. It has to be more than one person here willing to. To shame themselves. So who else is willing to do this?

Dan Le Batard (19:08)

Jesus Christ.

Zaslo (19:10)

I already said I was willing.

Tony Allen (19:12)

No, you sit. You sit in the chair and watch him.

Dan Le Batard (19:14)

You say.

Chris Cote (19:15)

All right, so, Roy, so we're going out there to do all of it, though. Okay, good. I should do it as well. I'm going to. I'll do it from here.

Zaslo (19:22)

Internet lives forever. Dan.

Chris Cote (19:24)

Something that I. Yeah, this is. This promises to be dangerous and disgusting.

Tony Allen (19:28)

You're next. Gonna have to be, like, really turned, though. You're gonna be, like, almost sideways.

Chris Cote (19:31)

Yeah, I think I'll do it like that.

Zaslo (19:33)

That's how he listens to me speak.

Chris Cote (19:35)

If you guys want to give me some topics to talk about that can go viral while doing that. I'd like no context for a burning candle in my ear while I give some controversial take. If you guys can just get together on whatever it is that you think might be something that we can play with here. Something I did want to talk about, though. I don't know whether this is getting a lot of coverage, but this one. When you talk about how someone takes over a league, not just with their play, but also their personality. Wemby cried on the bench after defeating the Blazers. Okay? And he was asked about that and fans who have criticized or mocked his tears by a French outlet. Now I see Tony back there is shaking his head because he's been the first to the. To the trough on Wemby. I'm tired of it. Get it. Get out of here, Wemby, you're too sweet.

Tony Allen (20:28)

Oh, you won. You're crying on the bench. Okay.

Chris Cote (20:30)

You're too sweet.

Zaslo (20:30)

Once again, you're not better than me.

Chris Cote (20:31)

Well, he's French, so he is.

Zaslo (20:33)

That's what I mean. He thinks that's the vibe always.

Chris Cote (20:34)

No, but. But he's just French. That's just better than me.

Tony Allen (20:37)

Because he's 75 play like that.

Chris Cote (20:39)

That's why also. Yes, but that. And he's got cleaner ears. And my guess is if I asked for his opinions, he would give them in a way that was more coherent than yours. On occasion, possibly.

Zaslo (20:48)

And he just is better than me.

Chris Cote (20:51)

Yeah, well, he is. Put it on the poll at Levitar show. Is Wemby indeed better than you? Because I think most people would say yes, but I want to be mad at him.

Zaslo (20:59)

But it's like he is.

Tony Allen (21:00)

No, you can still be mad.

Dan Le Batard (21:01)

Can't be there yet. He's got to beat okc.

Chris Cote (21:03)

That's right.

Dan Le Batard (21:04)

And then all this stuff can get old. And it will, but it's still charming.

Chris Cote (21:07)

Well, but how about this, though? How about this question? So he's asked by a French outlet about fans who have criticized or mocked him for his tears, and his response is, quote, that's a tough question. I think it's first and foremost a fear of judgment. Like this feeling that you have to act a certain way. Social codes, I guess. Personally, I refuse to carry the burden of having to hide my emotion.

Zaslo (21:33)

Eyes were rolling. That entire thing. Yeah.

Tony Allen (21:36)

Okay.

Zaslo (21:36)

This is amazing.

Dan Le Batard (21:38)

Okay.

Zaslo (21:39)

You like your Ally Wemby. Wow, you guys suck.

Chris Cote (21:43)

I'm with Jeremy on this.

Dan Le Batard (21:44)

You do kind of suck. Like, forget like, the introspection and even Wemby for a second. The number one issue facing that league is that they don't care enough. They don't care enough to play. They don't care enough to win. They have to make some rules for tanking. They don't play enough to win awards. You have to introduce rules for that. And now you have a guy that is showing emotion for beating a Blazer team. That is okay. It's a first round. The expectations for San Antonio reach far beyond getting out of the first round. And he cares so much that he's crying for his first playoff series win. And we're going to criticize it. When we. When we spend all season long complaining about the guys in that sport who

Chris Cote (22:27)

don't care, I'm not going to criticize it. And more to the point, I would say that there is great bravery in his general vulnerability, and it gives him a lane no basketball guy ever wants to take. Like, he is out there with, I'll block your shot eight times a game. I'll be physically better than everyone out here. And I'm also good with my emotions. Oh, look, I see. I see. Zaslo is out there with A candle burning in his ear. Zaslo, do you have any thoughts? I don't think you can hear us or exactly what we're saying, but do you have any thoughts on.

Zaslo (23:07)

I was him saying, yes, he can't

Chris Cote (23:08)

hear you on wembanyama.

Jeremy (23:10)

What do you mean saying yes, he can't. How would I respond if I couldn't hear Chris?

Zaslo (23:14)

He was like that. You can't hear me?

Jeremy (23:16)

And you go, yes, I got you, player.

Chris Cote (23:18)

Did you hear what we had to say about wembanyama?

Jeremy (23:21)

No, I couldn't hear you.

Chris Cote (23:24)

Wembanyama was crying on the bench after beating the trailblazers. Tony is done with wembanyama and all this syrup. And when he was asked about French fans making fun of him, he says, that's a tough question. I think it's first and foremost a fear of judgment, like this feeling that you have to act a certain way. Social codes, I guess. Personally, I refuse to carry the burden of having to hide my emotions. Your thought says you still can't hear me.

Zaslo (23:51)

We can hear the room talking, though.

Chris Cote (23:52)

Okay, that's good. I think we should plan this just a slightly better so that we could communicate with him and so that I could talk to the fires.

Tony Allen (23:59)

Looking good, though.

Chris Cote (23:59)

Definitely someone else's fault.

Zaslo (24:01)

That couch could catch on fire.

Chris Cote (24:02)

Well, it's got to be somebody's fault that he. I want to do the show with him. Just shout to him. Give a wemby take. Just shout it.

Jeremy (24:09)

I got you.

Chris Cote (24:09)

That's the way we want to know.

Jeremy (24:11)

Here's what.

Chris Cote (24:11)

I don't want to repeat the story a third time.

Jeremy (24:13)

No, I got you now. Go ahead, Dan.

Zaslo (24:16)

Please repeat that story for him just one more time when we take go. Third time's the chart.

Chris Cote (24:20)

LeBron James winning that game last night. I'm not talking to him anymore. Bring the show back in here. We'll go back to him when he's ready to.

Tony Allen (24:26)

Still need eight more minutes.

Zaslo (24:27)

How does it feel in your ear, by the way? Can we just get a quick update?

Jeremy (24:30)

Honestly, like, I don't feel anything. I had to ask, is it lit? I know it is lit because I saw on the monitor over there. I'm looking at Roy over here. I don't know. I'm pretty comfortable, actually. I'm hoping to get a lot of. A lot of. A lot of stuff out of my ear. Maybe I'll hear better, but you don't.

Chris Cote (24:44)

Can you hear it crackling? Because. Okay, there is a bit of a crackle that will start when it starts vacuuming like when it starts working and I don't know what is the recommended time to do the ear candle?

Jeremy (24:54)

10 to 20 minutes.

Chris Cote (24:56)

Oh, okay. So we're going to be here for a while. All right. We'll get our payoff at the end of the segment.

Zaslo (25:00)

Grunting.

Chris Cote (25:00)

Yeah, I heard. Yes, I heard. I heard Roy. Who's not miked up. I heard Roy.

Jeremy (25:04)

It looks like a spliff does.

Chris Cote (25:06)

Yes, it does.

Jeremy (25:08)

You know about that spliff?

Chris Cote (25:09)

I do, yes.

Zaslo (25:10)

I'm really worried about that cushion behind Zaz.

Chris Cote (25:13)

All right, so do me a favor. Have someone come in here and I'm going to try it too. Just to make a full on mess of everything that we're doing here. I'm going to also try it even though it's a little bit dangerous to be doing it the way that we're doing it here. But LeBron James, his team is now in trouble. I don't know what it is that they're going to do about Austin Reaves. What is the latest information? Because I have been reading that he is due back later in this series and LeBron James find himself in the position when I say he's underappreciated. Do you realize what a disgrace it will be if LeBron James pulls off this season at this age? But it gets punctuated by the fact that he recreated giant expectations by getting up 3, 0 and then he becomes the team that coughs up the 3, 0 lead because they are limited. And I would think over the course of a series with Houston being able to physical somebody. The greatest advantage LeBron James has had over the last 20 seasons is his body holds up throughout the playoffs the way nobody's does, no matter how many miles you put on it. And it's an unreasonable request at this age to ask him to win one more game by himself in a playoff series that extends when Houston can actually wear you down.

Tony Allen (26:27)

And it's funny, we thought, oh, all right, I guess the Lakers do have enough to beat Houston, especially without kd. And then as the physicality has ratcheted up game after game, it's like, oh, wait a second, maybe the guys that we were counting on for the Lakers to actually do that are not doing that. Obviously, Luka's still waiting in the wings. We'll see if, if it gets to a game seven, if he makes an appearance. But Austin Reaves played 34 minutes last night. LeBron had 27. Seven and seven. Like the. The ingredients were there for the Lakers to win and eliminate the Rockets. And it just didn't happen. So to the to the thought that you had, Dan, which is if LeBron can do this, can he. He can beat the Rockets. This would be the greatest thing of his career or whatever it is he said better than Michael Jordan or whatever it was that you the take you had.

Chris Cote (27:10)

Do you think now that the take I would the take was if he wins this playoff series as the oldest player in the league without his two other starters. You mentioned Reeves, and I was. Forgive me, because I did say Reeves and I I was asking about how it is that the rest of the team is going to look with Doncic and when it is that he came when it is that he comes back. Because I don't you can expect from Reaves in this state and I don't know if it's fair to keep expecting LeBron James to go 27, 7 and 7. But it is the expectation. Going for two when you're up by five, switching the zone when man isn't working. Oh, and building your new stadium in the state your team actually plays in. In sports, some things just make sense. You know what else makes sense? Drinking Jagermeister shots. Ice cold. Drinking it any other way would be like punting on first down or letting your worst hitter bat first or like going for two when you're down three with a second ago. It wouldn't make any sense. So don't let the team down. When it comes to Jagermeister, drink it cold or don't drink it at all. Jagermeister. Damn, that's cold. Drink responsibly. Jagermeister liqueur 35% alcohol by volume imported by masked Jagermeister US WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.

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Dan Le Batard (29:26)

Don LeBatard. We're gonna win Stugats. We're gonna win.

Chris Cote (29:31)

They're annoying.

Zaslo (29:31)

What an old reference.

Dan Le Batard (29:32)

This is the Dan Levatar show with the stugats.

Zaslo (29:44)

It's really important that we clarify. He did not go for 25.

Tony Allen (29:47)

You want 25 and a seven.

Zaslo (29:48)

Yeah, because his. His career averages are that. And he's never actually gotten a 27, 7 and 7 game. But he has played 296 postseason games and he's never sat one out.

Tony Allen (29:58)

More of a euphemism for the 27, 7 and 7. But Austin Reeves went 4 for 16, 12 of 13 from the. From the free throw line. So it's like the help is a little bit there. I just don't know if they want to have Luka completely rested, hoping that they can get one more game and then get Luka ready for OKC on the other side.

Dan Le Batard (30:13)

So you mentioned. I want to be clear that we cannot move the goalposts here because Dan started doing that a little bit by saying, wow, like, once this series started turning physical, it's a lot to ask for this guy to win this series. No, we're not. We're asking him to win one game. Asking him to win one game and not blow a 30 lead. And unfortunately for him, he did have that 3, 0 lead. Yes, he came back in an NBA Finals 3 1. That's always one of the first things that you mention when you mentioned LeBron James. I guess the math is even in out. He's played so many playoff games that maybe this was bound to eventually happen to him, that he'd be a guy that would blow a 30 lead.

Chris Cote (30:50)

Oh. But the thing that I am saying, though, about the totality of it is you could actually have such a weird season for LeBron James as the oldest player in the league with a still relevant team who is losing his first home closeout game in 18 years. That season can end in laughter that's historical at LeBron's expense when it has been by any definition an insane, unprecedented, magical season from a player of his age. Like for that to end in laughter because it collapses at the end because Doncic couldn't get back in time to save him. It put stakes on these games that I didn't think we'd have in the

Dan Le Batard (31:40)

first round, but insane unprecedented 3 oh series lead. I mean, yeah, you're, you're missing Don Church, they're missing Kevin Durant. He, he went up 3 0. If he blows it, that's a huge stain.

Tony Allen (31:55)

No team ever has come back from a 30 deficit to win a best of seven playoff series. Oh, for 285 records.

Dan Le Batard (32:02)

As insane and unprecedented as his season has been at his age, that's what blowing a 30 series lead is in the playoffs in that sport.

Chris Cote (32:11)

I'm simply stepping back in awe and marveling at the idea that LeBron James can captivate me with stakes in the first round because that's where we are on. Oh, people are going to lose their mind here if this is how this goes. While he's giving the eight city interview to Dave McMenamin, when he's saying that, that people don't have to compare me to Jordan all the time and only shit on me.

Dan Le Batard (32:39)

It doesn't go at all to Luca at all. It laps up on one shore and that's LeBron James because he's playing though.

Tony Allen (32:46)

Like if, if Luca was playing and LeBron was hurt, we wouldn't really be talking about LeBron.

Dan Le Batard (32:51)

Luca will. The way that sports media talks about LeBron, no one will talk about Luka being out. Like this will all be about LeBron.

Zaslo (32:59)

And it's so crazy in particular because, what a month and a half ago when the Lakers were starting to play better basket, we were praising LeBron for fitting in as the third guy, playing off ball, cutting, dishing, doing all little things.

Tony Allen (33:14)

They were great.

Zaslo (33:15)

Now he's expected to take down a team single handedly without their other two best players.

Dan Le Batard (33:21)

But this is what I'm talking about, about moving the goalposts. They were also great with Luka out. Oh, they were. They were also great with LeBron taking a Command 30 series lead. Absolutely.

Zaslo (33:30)

And it's not moving the goalpost. It's saying how amazing it is that we got to this space. And it would be equally insane if we saw LeBron James led team blow a 30 series.

Tony Allen (33:43)

And the funny thing about LA and I'd be interested to see like Sedano or somebody who's tapped into the LA market go from the the pendulum swing of oh, Lakers are up three nothing

Dan Le Batard (33:51)

could they beat OKC to now all

Tony Allen (33:54)

of a sudden, oh my God, here come the Rockets. What if we lose this?

Chris Cote (33:58)

I don't know what Durant's status is. He's out game seven six. And so we can have a in la Right. So that. And. And he misses the shot late last night. Let's go out to Zaslow here, though. That flame is getting close to his ear. Zaz, do you have any thoughts on anything you may or may not have heard there?

Jeremy (34:18)

Yeah, Dan, how you doing, man?

Chris Cote (34:20)

Yeah, I'm as good as I was last time that we did this and you couldn't hear us.

Jeremy (34:24)

All right. Yeah, I mean, I. I think. I don't agree with the part about it was bound to eventually happen to LeBron. He's played in so many games. You know, he was eventually going to be faced with this kind of scenario as well. This is unprecedented. If you go down 03, it's never happened before. But here's the thing that I would push back on, okay? Because you see the headlines. Are the Lakers in trouble? They're up three two. They're not in trouble. Like, if the series was tied 22 and they went up 3 2, nobody would say the Lakers are in trouble. Now, do I think that they're going to lose in Houston in game six? Yeah, I do. I think it's going to be a game seven in la, but, like, they're not in trouble. They're up three two.

Chris Cote (35:01)

Roy, do you have any thoughts on the hockey playoffs last night?

Dan Le Batard (35:04)

Shouting, yeah, Cindy Crosby's gone. Dan very happy about that right now. Poor Dave Damaschek. I feel bad for him, though.

Jeremy (35:12)

I feel bad for Damascia. He must be so sad last night. Dan, did you see when the guy scored the game winning goal for Philadelphia? Did you see what his celebration was?

Chris Cote (35:20)

I did not.

Jeremy (35:21)

He took his stick and he flung it into the crowd. It went up like 15 rows. I saw it happen live. I'm like, what if he spears someone? That's kind of dangerous that Zaz has

Dan Le Batard (35:34)

finally given these NHL playoffs a shot.

Jeremy (35:36)

I'm giving it a try. Dan.

Chris Cote (35:37)

Dan. Roy with the off mic commentary, shouting commentary into the air while that fire climbs higher. Roy, do you hear any crackling in your ear? Can you hear things being cleaned out?

Dan Le Batard (35:52)

Yes. It's very unsettling. I'm very nervous about this, but thank you, Dan, for allowing me to clean my ear right now. All right, But Dan, he screamed lawsuit. And he wasn't talking about the hockey stick going into the sand.

Chris Cote (36:04)

That's correct. It's that stick going into his ear. We have gotten done with Zaslow here, so we will check the contents of his ear.

Zaslo (36:12)

What is the end game with this? Are we gonna look into the.

Chris Cote (36:15)

Yeah, you're going to look into it. And you're gonna tell us what it is that you see, and we're gonna figure it out from there. The flames. Roy. Tony, are you smiling because of how close and how raging that flame looks near Roy's ear? Because that no longer seems safe when he's shouting lawyer suit.

Zaslo (36:31)

Yeah.

Tony Allen (36:31)

Dan, as. As a cigar aficionado and enjoyer as you are, you know how when. When the ash starts, you know, collecting on the engines into the cigar, you have to kind of, like, hit it off.

Chris Cote (36:41)

That's too much.

Tony Allen (36:42)

That's where they're at right now. So there's like a. From the wax paper. There's like a black part that's just ash that Carl has to go and, like, cut with scissors. But Roy's. Roy is letting his hang long, so I'm. I'm kind of worried that they may topple over.

Chris Cote (36:56)

Hey, yo, Mike, the face that you're making is. I have seen a depleting trust in Tony's commentary today. Off the side of your face. Do I have that wrong? You seem to be. You're listening to Tony talk the way that I was listening to that Pat Riley press conference earlier this week.

Dan Le Batard (37:15)

A little bit. He's battling. It's what you do when you face adversity. Adversity sometimes is a blessing. But that.

Tony Allen (37:22)

That.

Dan Le Batard (37:22)

That thing hanging long, that was tough.

Chris Cote (37:24)

What do you guys think is going to happen with the contents of the ears? Are you making assumptions about Roy and Zas and what they might have in their ears? Do you have expectations about what's about to be unveiled before the American public? In a way that can be a bit shameful, I think. Yeah.

Zaslo (37:42)

I'm not sure how this ends. Let's play it by ear.

Dan Le Batard (37:47)

It's not a bad joke. It's not.

Chris Cote (37:51)

It could have been half as long if you just say, let's play it by ear.

Zaslo (37:54)

Well, the context wouldn't have made sense. Dan. I'm a grammarist.

Dan Le Batard (37:58)

Don't be so defensive. Just take it.

Zaslo (38:01)

Tony Allen.

Dan Le Batard (38:03)

Ooh.

Zaslo (38:04)

Where do you think of a Tony Allen Grizzly?

Chris Cote (38:07)

Why are you moving it to basketball?

Dan Le Batard (38:08)

Ironically enough, I just think Andrew Bogut. You say Tony. Tony Allen. I don't think Grindfather. I think they. They nuked the whole thing by putting Andrew Bogut on it.

Zaslo (38:19)

I thought of a good one. Giancarlo Stanton.

Chris Cote (38:21)

The reason that Tony Allen is funny is because Tony Allen had a career in the NBA. And the only thing I associate it with is the start of the warriors dynasty that they figured out, oh, just leave Tony Allen Open. He plays the whole game in, like, workers. Construction boots.

Tony Allen (38:42)

That's what I think of Timbaland boots.

Chris Cote (38:43)

Like, he's just. Oh, yes, I love grinding defense. He represents the soul of the city. Oh, my God, there goes a dynasty for 10 years because they figured out. Yeah, just leave him open.

Dan Le Batard (38:53)

Let him shoot.

Chris Cote (38:53)

Just, you got the ball, let him shoot.

Tony Allen (38:57)

Bricked everything.

Chris Cote (38:58)

No, but the game really changed right there. Like when. When I think of. You have to understand, when he mentions Tony Allen and the word association that I'm playing. You say, you say, what do you think of Roger Clemens in a uniform form? I've got a guy in construction boots. He's at the three point line. He's wide open. The jersey doesn't matter. The thing I know is that shot's not going in.

Dan Le Batard (39:21)

He's got an orange vest on.

Chris Cote (39:23)

And Golden State's going to win for 10 years after that. Like Tony. Tony Allen is unlike almost anybody in professional basketball that I point at him and I say, that's where basketball changed. Right at hits, dickies, work boots.

Tony Allen (39:40)

2013, 2014. He shot 23% from three.

Zaslo (39:45)

All right, Zaz just walked in here. Mike, talk to us here. What are you looking at?

Dan Le Batard (39:49)

I think the pseudo scientists that dismissed this were onto something. There's. There's nothing.

Zaslo (39:54)

Or he had a clean ear.

Dan Le Batard (39:55)

Nah, it doesn't work dirty.

Chris Cote (39:58)

Okay, so now all we've got left is Roy. Roy, let's wrap this up so that we get this payoff here at the end of the segment and see if you have secretly dirty ears. Now, Zaz, did you ever hear any crackling? Because Roy heard crackling, and the crackling is supposed to be the vacuuming. When this happened to me, there was stuff in my ear. Maybe a pseudoscience, but it did pull stuff out of my ear.

Jeremy (40:22)

Yeah, I mean, maybe. All right, everybody take it easy.

Dan Le Batard (40:26)

Everybody calm down.

Jeremy (40:28)

Everybody. Everybody calm down.

Tony Allen (40:31)

You're used to sitting in chairs.

Dan Le Batard (40:32)

Come on, you're done.

Chris Cote (40:36)

Everybody calm down. It looked like you were gonna injure yourself.

Dan Le Batard (40:40)

There's no coming back from that.

Chris Cote (40:42)

Please tell me you guys have the camera of. You have the camera shot of Zaz being incapable of sitting down in a. In a segment where we talked about what difference does it make that I never played the game? Zaz struggled with sitting in a chair, which he shouldn't.

Dan Le Batard (41:02)

Tony, slump buster.

Chris Cote (41:05)

Look at that.

Dan Le Batard (41:06)

Yeah, you got a good joke off.

Tony Allen (41:12)

What an idiot.

Chris Cote (41:13)

All right, we'll wait to see if Roy has dirty ears next.

Zaslo (41:17)

Hey, guys. So I've talked about mental health quite a bit on the show, and I'm not really sure when it happened, but at some point, we all got really good at ignoring our own mental health, especially men. Like, guys, if your phone breaks, you would go fix it. If your car makes a weird noise, you're like, all right, let's figure this out. But if your brain's doing it, we're all just sort of like, yeah, that'll pass. And most of the time, it doesn't. I think part of that is getting help just feels like a hassle. You gotta find a therapist, figure out your insurance, hope it's the right fit, which is very important. It's a lot, and that's usually where people stop. So that's where Rula comes in. Rula is a healthcare provider group that makes therapy easier to access. They connect you with licensed, vetted therapists who take most major insurance. And sessions can be as low as 15 bucks. So you just answer a few questions, get matched, pick a time, and you could be talking to someone as soon as the next day. So if you've been putting it off, this makes it a lot easier to take that first step. And here's where I will say, take my advice. If that first therapist isn't the right fit for you, that's okay. Schedule another session with another therapist until you find the right fit, because that's the only way you will get help. Thousands of guys have already used Rula to finally get the care they need. Don't keep putting it off. Go to rula.com crate and get started today. That's R U L A.com crate take the first step, get connected, and take control of your mental health.