The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz - Hour 1: Dan Will Not Respect Black History Month

Episode Date: February 19, 2025

Should Saturday Night Live actually have evolved into Saturday Night Taped? Dan, Jessica, Mike, and Hawk lead the crew's conversation on SNL's 50th Anniversary that inexplicably aired on Sunday night. Then, P.K. Subban is here to discuss all things hockey, but first, he delivers his "Top 5 (10? 50?) Good Looking Brothers." P.K. dives into what has made the 4 Nations Face-Off such a success for hockey, how the league has grown its TV audience while also expanding at the grassroots level, and why the emphasis on team has helped the NHL grow. Plus, did the Illinois Athletic Director show us the fakest leadership ever recorded after the school's banner-raising debacle? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You're listening to Giraffe King's Network. This is the Dan LeBattor Show with the Stugats Podcast. This episode of the Dan LeBattor Show with Stugats is presented by Giraffe King's. Giraffe King's, the crown is yours. Roy, I feel like you're a little scared a little gun shy i feel like that's got going on and i think he's got a lot going on that seat has a lot of uh... news and a lot of stuff going on the senate mayor of microphones are on and sliding over here yeah so keep uh... stay on it but he's doing a good job

yeah great job i would never say otherwise i just alleged i'm a shit talker i believe myself to be a supportive uh... for the friend and ally to all involved here thank you uh... i believe as well that i will have a hard time getting jessica billy andrew hawkins and still got to meet the enthusiasm of roya and mike for what is presently happening in hockey and p Subban is gonna join us here in moments. I don't believe I will get from the group

fired up people. I believe Stugatsch right now is looking up everything that happened this weekend so he can get caught up on all things hockey. I was looking up Wes Welker. I mean. It seems like this is minor shit talking. It's like, you guys aren't gonna care about this.

Well, all right, so what I'm asking you to do is create chemistry for me here Seems like this is minor shit talking. It's like, you guys aren't gonna care about this. I bet you're not gonna care. What I'm asking you to do is create chemistry for me here when I have trouble with leadership and I run a loose ship. Mike and Roy badly wanna talk about this. I don't think anybody else does. And it's always a problem around here when we've got like real good sports content,

but also people want the funny. And I've gotta make the chemicals combined. And sometimes I do it by just shit talking. Well, what do you want to talk about do you want to talk about the hockey because we'd love to get your board on our side you've highlighted a bunch of people that you don't feel like one i want to know what you have a lot of what i was i because i want to talk about i want to talk about terry shannon that's what i want to do

i want to talk about that illinois ceremony that's what i want to do who let's just a weird way of saying you don't wanna talk about hockey. You should just do what you wanna do. We're not watching Saturday Night Live, it was that empty netter. I was watching Saturday Night Live, which is what I wanted to talk about earlier in the show, but people assume that I'm in control of what's happening around here. I was watching Kevin Hart take pictures with women much taller than him, which we also need to talk about. But we could start with the hockey.

Also, Saturday Night Live aired on Sunday. I didn't like that. I didn't like that either, Billy. They should have done it on Saturday for tradition's sake. I know it was like a four day thing. For 50 years, we've had this one time slot. You know how we're gonna honor it? By putting it on a Sunday.

But it was a Sunday that felt like a Saturday because we had Monday off. But there was also a Friday concert. Correct. So there was just nothing airing on Saturday? Well, they knew not to go up against the other four nations. That's smart. That's smart.

And it's also 50 years. Come on, give them, they're allowed to do one night the next day. Compilers. No, Saturday Sunday. Whoa! No, I'm with Billy on this. Whoa!

We could have probably stopped at 30 years. They need to get over themselves. I'm serious, Dan. That show hasn't been funny in 25 years. Whoa! Come on. Woo! Comedy institution. Hasn has been funny in 25 years Comedy and hasn't been funny for 25 years

Fine how disrespectful that is it is super disrespectful Chris we've got fall wigs like my favorite character ever on SNL and she was in that 25 years that you've eliminated Just one person come on apparently they aired the first ever SNL and she was in that 25 years that you've eliminated. Just one person. Come on. Apparently they aired the first ever SNL episode on Saturday. That seems problematic. There's warnings for it. What is it that is not funny in the last 25 years or we're not allowed to watch the first episode? It can't be both. Can I ask you guys a question about those warning things that we put before stuff because like... He wasn't listening to you at all by the way. It just gonna go it's a great question, but he was just an incredible question We'll get back to it, but he's gonna go and do what no it's about what you guys are talking about You said that there's warning things beforehand like Disney plus like half of their old movies for kids have the warning thing before and it's like

Careful like this is probably racist and you may offend a lot of people It's like are we gonna take a stand or not like We're just gonna like, okay, we're good. We're just gonna keep airing it. We have the warning at the front end, so our hands are clean of this. We don't need to do anything else here. You know, Disney altered the warning. What'd they say?

They softened it. Societal shift, everybody. Societal shift. I did see Ben Stiller post about heavyweights, and he said that Disney Plus will probably never put it on there, but it was like the 20th anniversary of heavyweights. Is anybody in here a Heavyweights fan?

Love Heavyweights. One of my favorite movies of all time, show my kids all the time, probably not appropriate in today's day and age, but damn it if it ain't funny. It's the exact same character from Dodgeball 2. Yes. Exact same character.

Yes, and it's one of those movies that I wish actually had a remake. Like I wish that they would do heavyweights in adult version. We should create that movie right here on this show. If we can talk about some of the difficulties that there are in comedy, because Stugats and Billy have the opinion

of a lot of people that it would be hard for a show to keep up in the modern age on funny when they are live on Saturday night. And the criticism very commonly is of a show that has existed for fifty years yeah which is crazy not surprising that at the end people would disrespect it with you haven't been funny for twenty years if they gave us twenty five of fifty years that are funny still unbelievable

that they would have a 50 year television show when sketch comedy, I can't even imagine how hard it is to do right now. Something, and they don't do it well all the time. They do it less well than they used to, but in this realm, I do believe some comedy has gotten harder in 2025. Absolutely, because of the internet.

There's a social media comedian named Mark Phillips, Supreme Dreams, who points this out, is that it's hard to do sketch comedy shows today because there are so many at home comedians and sketch artists that when something happens, almost immediately you see a sketch on it. Like I'm talking about within minutes, hours, like let alone if you're waiting until Saturday,

it's too dated, content doesn't last that long for anything. But the internet's a gift and a curse for SNL, right? Because that's how the majority of their content's actually being viewed. Like, I don't think there's a ton of people who are sitting at home on Saturday night watching SNL anymore. It's also how they're discovering talent now, mainly.

Oh, but it's just such a great way to see meritocracy play out. Yes, the internet is trying to make all of this harder, so it's harder to compete. And the late night shows have crumbled at the feet of that as well. All of it's gotten a lot faster, because people see that there's money

to be grabbed 10 minutes later, and that's where media shakes and crumbles. Like, that's how it happens. That's it. Here's a look at me Louie moment here. I did last dance sketches almost immediately, and a cast member from SNL, come on hit me, Roy. Roy, sorry.

There it is. Look at me, Louie. Can I also have stats for Look at Me, Louie? Cause I feel like I've earned a lot, like per show, Look at Me, Louie, I gotta be up there. I am, but you know, don't be mad cause I'm padding the stats. No, but it's cheating.

It's not cheating, it is how I talk. Okay, it is my life. You're like Rondo with a sis. Yeah, he's good at it, but still. Yeah, but like. You cheapen it. But the thing that SNL has that a lot of like the TikTok comedians don't have is the A-list celebrities,

which is why I think they leaned all the way in to making the entire show, just like, look at all of these famous people that have played a role in what our show's been for the last 50 years. Like the entire audience was all. Famous it was like Kevin Costner sitting next to like Bad Bunny sitting next to Adam Driver and I still Julie. I was locked in on and Billy weirded out in Demi Lovato. Yes.

The day there was like, there's a part where shares hand is like really high on Costner's thigh. There's a weird look that he gives Ryan Reynolds at a certain point. He's got weird vibes. He's also got like a rumored romance right now with Jennifer Lopez. Also like a old woman.

Costner, Reynolds, Whitney Houston. Whitney Houston in him, there's like a, yeah, there was something there. There's a thing. I don't know, it was a social media thing. The bodyguard. I don't know. What I like best on SNL are the pre-recorded sketches.

I think they do those the best. And I think it probably shouldn't be Saturday Night Live. Saturday Night Tapes, yeah. It should be Saturday Night Taped. And that was the evolution that they missed on. Favorite SNL sketch over the last 20 years was the other Cavaliers that actually did make it into the show.

You should look this sketch up. It's when LeBron was at his height in Cleveland, 2018, and they did like an intro to the other Cavs you never hear about. And it is the funniest shit I've ever seen in my life. I liked the most the montage of all of the fake advertisements, like the fake commercials for the fake, like the mom jeans, like all of those,

and like super colon blow. Like that was a funny bit. And then they also did a bit at the end where they did an in memoriam for all of the characters and sketches over the years that are not- Questionable makeup, child molestation. Problematic, and they went category by category. And I think that was like a funny way to laugh at themselves

for some of the questionable things that they've done. And they also blurred out every actor who was in black face or brown face in that entire. That's smart. Yeah, I like what they did there. Chappelle Show, Key and Peele, I Think You Should Leave, all that. That's where I think some of their strengths are

is you just identified shows that didn't do too many their sketch comedy shows But they didn't necessarily do like topical like this isn't because they were taped so far before and that's where SNL is really struggling Yeah, I get it to be topical and vibrant with the way that SNL is known for especially in the opening sketch I can see where that's more difficult But where they've really struggled where they've lagged behind are these benchmark characters that would spawn off movies like they're just kind of lacking in that department right now. Ted Lasso is a miss for Saturday Night Live that should have been a Saturday Night Live sketch turn show. Should have started there you're saying. Yeah it should have started there. Hey folks it's Mike Ryan it is big game, and I've got just the thing to make

your big game time a Miller Time. From fireside conversations to football Sundays, winter means more moments with the coolest people in your life. Make these moments even better with Miller Lite, the great tasting light beer for people who love beer. A new year is a perfect time for friends, family, and great tasting light beer. Tastes like Miller time! Miller Lite is brewed for taste!

It hits different than other light beers and when you're hosting your ultimate game day party why don't you bring out a beautiful silver platter of that amazing white can and know you will make everybody there happy because Miller Lite is the original light beer since 1975 and still the very best one. Miller Lite, great taste, 96 calories. Go to MillerLite.com slash 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 and 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces. Dan Lebatard. There is no question, Dan Lebatard show included. Anybody else that this guy is the best player on the planet, whether he wins the Stanley Cup or the Cotsmite this year, there is no question about it. Stugats. Overrated weight. Yeah, overrated.

What's going on? Dan Lebatard, how you doing? Are you living in an altered world or what? Oh my goodness. to this is the down lebatard show with the stugats do you think k.suban has any interest in this conversation? I've been wanting to get to this conversation since the beginning of the show, but I don't have any control over here what it is that we're doing, so now we're going back to hockey. Do you have any interest in talking about Saturday Night Live with us?

Does it mean anything to you as a pop culture phenomenon? I think everyone's being disrespectful because they didn't like the last show when fifty years on television is just a crazy achievement they're allowed to celebrate it with the and you're allowed to not find any of it funny if you did if you if you had expectations for it well he is a friend of mine uh... you know i was able to work with him he probably the only person that i know uh... that were so Saturday night live i've never been on the the show, so can I say I'm a fan? I've been a fan of a few things that they've done,

but I don't watch it consistently, so maybe if I get on the show. You know, maybe if I get on the show. I think, okay, okay, so, okay, you'll give us true opinions if they invite you on the show. I think Billy and Stugatz might have the majority opinion here just dismissing this as something, well, the last 25 years or 20 years or 15 years,

it hasn't been funny enough. Hold on, P.K., he's trying to put us in a really bad spot here, because Keenan has had quite the career, starting on all that, then Keenan and Kel, then he does all the stuff on Saturday Night Live, he's in the Grinch remake. Keenan is really a testament to- I'm stunned, stunned, absolute stunned.

He's devoted his life to sketch comedy. He's made us laugh since we were nine on the same formatted show. And to say the last 25 years hasn't been funny. Well it hasn't. When Keenan has been on there the whole time making me laugh profusely. Keenan also knows, you know what,

this is working for me. I'm not gonna be the guy that's gonna leave Saturday Night Live and go be a Hollywood star. Not that he's not, but he's not gonna turn his back on Saturday Night Live and his roots of sketch comedy. Like all the others, like Farrell. I think he might be one of the longest tenured SNL cast members of all time.

He's the longest tenured SNL cast member, the most episodes, and it's not even close. He's like, by a long shot. Pierre Escargot. Yup, and he's good looking too. I'll give him a shout out too, right live on the air. Good looking brother too. Absolutely, he looks the same age.

Let's do that, PK. Let's go ahead and just give out all the shout outs for the good looking brother. Just go ahead, I'd like to do this as long as you like. To all my brothers that are watching, all my good looking brothers, yes, give him love. Thank you, I appreciate you, PK.

I want his top on, good looking brother, PK. Yes, I did too, we'll get to that in a second. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, PK. I appreciate you. Top five, good looking brother, K. I did too. We'll get to that in a second. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, PK. I appreciate that shout out. He's actually slimmed down. The part that I loved about that, and the single best part of that,

is that was absolutely him saying, my fellow good looking brothers. Oh, he's permanently entrenched in his own top five. I'm writing a tear, Peter. 100%. Fraternity of it. All right, top five good-looking brothers.

This is not where I thought we were going to start, but let's go ahead and do it. Number five. I know this requires some time for you to think, but number five on your top five good-looking brothers. Go ahead, number five. Taye Diggs. I'm going with Taye Diggs at number five. Number five, okay. Go ahead number five. Hey digs. I'm going with Taye digs Hold on a second is this list just good-looking brothers or these ones that are on TV presently

I'm just gonna give you my top five. I don't know Alright clear out everybody wants the ball. Hey dig Diggs. Yes, number four. Kobe Bryant. Oh. Kobe Bryant at number four. I got MJ at number three. Oh, he's always number one. I think he's mixed in top five. I got Tyson Beckford at number two.

And I got Denzel at number one. That's my top five right there. Silver Fox. No, Jalen Hurts. Silver Fox at the end. Or Keenan. Or P. No Jalen Hurts. Silver Fox at the end. Or Keenan. Or P.K. Jalen Hurts, he's an honorable mention. Keenan, Keenan's in there. He's in my top ten.

He's in my top ten. You want to do top ten? Eric Allen, he has lagoons for eyes. No, I don't. This is his list. It's his list, yeah. P.K. Subban's top 50 best looking black men in America. All right, let's do this. And Billy wants it to be, whether it's it. P.K. Subban's top 50 best looking black men.

Hold on, let's do it. In America, and Billy wants it to be, whether it's entertainment or not. So, try to figure out where we're at. The guy in apartment 6B that lives near Billy. Yes, number 10. What did I do? Let's do it for number 10.

We'll do it number 10. And we'll go to 10 to six. Number 10, Karl Subban. I'm bold like that. Yeah, not bad. Good choice, good choiceubaid. I'm going with my dad. Yeah, good choice, good choice. Apple doesn't fall far from the tree. I gotta go with big Carl. Number nine.

Number nine, I'm gonna go with Kevin Weeks. ESPN analyst, friend of the show. Excellent. I'm gonna go with Kevin Weeks. Number eight, I'm gonna go with Mike Greer. Hockey guy, GM of the San Jose Sharks. Shout out to BU, Boston University. I'm going with him.

Go Terriers. Where are we at now? Number eight. Number seven. Number seven. Lucky number seven, I'm going to go with Jordan Subban, my youngest brother. Just got married this summer.

Good looking family. Wait a minute. This list is ridiculous. This is ridiculous. This list stinks now. Youngest brother This is ridiculous this list stinks now, it's a terrible list Number six number six I'm going with with the worldwide West New York Knicks are going well, so I'm going with worldwide West my boy That one's from way out left field no one saw that one He said Keenan was on his top ten he named the top ten he didn't make the top ten his list is asinine Jalen her I got a number one two five

Oh number one number one number one number one number What do you mean a number one? Denzel was your number one. I had Denzel. I wrote it down. I wrote it down. You can throw Spike Lee in there. Spike Lee in there. What is happening right now? Are you naming people you want to work with, OK? This is just asinine. Asinine. This is just asinine.

So they clip it off, and you can get on Saturday Night Live, start a Spike Lee movie. Offensive to me. Offensive that you would have a top 10 list of best-looking brothers, and it would be your family. A three family members. That's not the offensive one, it's worldwide West. Unbelievable, he got a shout out.

Crazy got a shout out. His top five, Taye Diggs, Kobe Bryant, MJ, Tyson Beckford and Denzel. That is a list that was made 25 years ago when SNL was funny. My aunt Charlene has the same top five. She's 66. You are so right. Come on, man.

What a fraud list. Dan, it's his list and it's Black History Month, so maybe lay off the shit talking. Thank you very much. That's about right, Jessica. Anything goes right now, guys. True ally, Jessica. I appreciate you. Dan, you're out now guys. True ally Jessica I appreciate you. Dan you're out of line. Except hockey I would say. Yeah. Out of line. Anything goes right now. You led this conversation between PK Roy and myself okay. Greatly appreciated. I will not

respect black history. What? That much? You guys clipped me saying, you clipped me saying that much? You all heard what you said. That much? You guys didn't even let me get it out. Not a day's work. I felt it long before you said it. That's a respectful top five, though. You got to respect that top five.

It is. I do, but I don't have to respect it because of Black History Month. Well, I didn't say it. Hey, don't put that on me. No, you did say it. You did. No, I heard it come from the other side

and I acknowledged that it is Black History Month. I didn't say that. You asked for my top five. You asked for top 10, I gave you 10. You know what I mean? You asked for it. It's your show. Hey, I'm just saying.

Look at the box. Look at the four box right now. You know why? Because Dan thinks that your whole top five looks exactly the same Yeah, you asked me for top five brothers I gave you the best-looking brothers It's not my fault if they they kind of look the same. They're all good-looking What do I think that was the brotherhood Dan was looking for? Well, what did you guys think why don't you give me your top five? What's your top five? Huh Dan Dan Dan

Dan I don't I for one. I'm not interested in Dan's top five brothers Can I be can I go out on a limb and say that yeah? I'm doing on that limb Dorn black history that Dan doesn't respect Yeah, but I am interested in him having to come up with a top five right now off the top of his head Good luck. I do not respect black history. We got it Dan. We said it already. We understand. You don't respect black history. How many sound bites of it do we need? Damn. Month that much that I would allow these guys to decide that Denzel Washington. Number one. Okay that's the least

controversial one on that list. Hold on. Denzelzel Washington I walk into Starbucks. I get a coffee like everybody else. They ask you for your name This has happened to me at least 50 times. I go into Starbucks. No way There's a long lineup. It finally gets to my turn I order my matcha my green tea matcha or I get my Americano Double shot of espresso almond milk or oat milk steamed. Sir, what's your name? Denzel. Every single time I say Denzel, they laugh. Why are they laughing? Every single time I go to Starbucks, they ask me what my name is. I say Denzel and she laughs in my face. So, you know, I don't know. I think Denzel's a pretty good

looking guy. I don't know. I think Denzel's a pretty good looking guy. I don't know. I think I kind of look like him a little bit when I cut my hair low. I knew it. That's where it was. When I cut my hair low. I knew you were going there, PK. If you come straight on, you won't see that.

Where's the look in me, Louis? You gotta look from the right side. I felt the set up from the start, PK. I knew where it was going the moment you asked for silence as you told that story about Denzel I knew where the hell you were going with it. Dan does he look like Denzel? When I turned to the side he didn't laugh anymore. She was like, oh, sorry Denzel. Sorry Maximus. This man is shocking to me. The amount of ego on this man on how handsome he believes himself to be Hey, no, I don't think I look like Denzel. I think I

I don't know No, I don't like I gotta be honest about that. That's a stretch Dan No, that's not this month. No, nine days left, man, be careful. I thought MJ was a good poll, actually. It's a complete lack of respect for black history. Well, I figure if you shoot for Denzel, you're gonna fall somewhere short. Maybe in between like Morris Chestnut and a Tay Diggs,

somewhere in there, you know what I mean? Yeah, that's right. Right in the middle. That's good, yeah. That's good. All right, I'm not mad at the association to put yourself in that company. I like it. I was more upset the association to put yourself in that company. I like it

You know man, I was more upset you didn't put yourself on your top five or your top ten But I guess you know all because you put my goal members too much mustard if I do that too much ego Nobody takes you seriously if you put yourself in the top five. Yeah Your thoughts on the hockey stealing Basketballs weekend. I did not think I would ever live enough lifetimes to see something like that happen in this country. Well stealing I mean that's quite a word I don't think we we stole anything I think anything that we get from hockey is earned you know when you look at the hockey culture itself it's always protected the team aspect of the game.

And that's as deep into the culture. I mean, it's intertwined in the fabric of the culture as deep as you want to go. So what you're seeing now is the evolution of sports. Is hockey growing with that? With the changing landscape of media and social media and all of those things, us being able to

show the brightest spots of the game and fans are noticing that. But one thing that's never changed, which is consistent, is the team aspect of the sport that's never wavered. And ultimately what that is, is the players, coaches, everybody that is in the game, no one thinks they're bigger than the game. And when you have that, you have a commitment. You have a commitment from your core hockey fan, which pays for that,

which has paid for that over the years. But the growth of the game, now we're seeing it take off. And a lot of that has to do, like I said, with the changing landscape. So I don't think we stole anything from the NBA. I think anything we get isn't a slight at the NBA at all. We're different leagues.

You know, I think it comes down to the fan and what the fan wants to pay for. You know, I think that you're getting your money's worth when you pay the price of admission to go into a building to watch a hockey game today. I think you're gonna be happy with what you see on the ice. I think you're gonna enjoy the experience. And I think we were put on a platform,

this four nations tournament has been such a huge success because the players, first the league put the structure around it and then the players, the players showed up in a big way and have showed up in a big way and they've earned it. Anything that we're getting right now is all earned and it's earned on the backs of the players. You talk about growing the audience on television. What about at a grassroots level? What is the league doing to help grow the game that way? Well you know since I've I mean since I've retired I've

obviously worked on the media side and I've worked with the league you know. I've retired, I've obviously worked on the media side and I've worked with the league. As a co-chair on the PIC and working with the PIC, we have a ton of programs and players that do things locally. Not everything is national, but we do have a lot of players that are involved in individual programs locally if you follow the NHL. We have a lot of players in different cities that are doing programs in a city and it's different. That's one thing that's cool about the NHL is that every city is different. For example, my Blue Line Buddies program that I started in Nashville, they still continue that program. I go back every year. I'm lucky enough and it's such an honor to go back. They honor me every night. They honor the program. They bring kids to the game and law enforcement officers.

And that's what I can speak to. But we have a ton of guys in the league that are doing things. So, you know, depending on what city you're in, you can find out about all of it. But in terms of grass. The game is growing right now just for a number of different reasons.

But when you're speaking about what this weekend was symbolically right and what it is locally as i see the florida panthers becoming what tampa was and i see something again i didn't think i'd ever see in my lifetime which is florida caring about hockey in a way that wants to fight with canada at these political times to sink a chalk fight with Canada at these political times to see Kachuk protect specifically what you're talking about the team concept of hockey and the things that you care about to you know bring himself to the superstardom of now we're wrapping some of this stuff in the flag as

well I'm watching Kachuk be at the center you give me the perspective in the history on this of what is going to be one of the best trades in the history of hockey and sports to see kachuk turn florida into this to turn the american hockey player into this the guy who will fight nine seconds into a game and will hit and ill hit connor mcdavid because he's here to represent america and hockey that way the way that you love it well you just said something very very key towards the end represent hockey

and that's what our players get they not only represent their families they not only represent their country they represent the game and that is the key in all sports i'm sorry that's what greatness is. Because when I look at greatness in sports, you talk about Matthew Kachuk and this is gonna go down as one of the biggest trades ever. Well, with that being said, there's greatness there.

So we're gonna recognize some of these players as all time greats when it's said and done. But how do we look at players as all-time greats? If you want to talk about basketball, hockey, let's talk about hockey for a second. Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Jean Belivaux, all of these guys. Sidney Crosby now is the guy in today's game. Connor McDavid is going to be next in McKinnon. All of these players have forged paths for the next generation.

And part of greatness is not just winning championships, it's are you forging a path for the next generation? Like Magic Johnson and Larry Bird did in basketball with Michael Jordan and Kobe, are you forging that path? And I can tell you, as a retired player, newly retired player, when I look at Matthew Kachuk, Brady Kachuk, Sidney Crosby, McKinnon McDavid, and what these guys are doing,

they are putting the game in a phenomenal position for the future players. And that's, to me, part of greatness. That's a part of what fans wanna pay for. That's what fans invest in. And that's what our game is today. We got players that are all in for the right reasons. PK, all of American hockey Twitter's

trying to give Jake Sanderson food poisoning here in the next couple hours so Quinn Hughes can play in this game. Why doesn't the NHL, the governing body here, allow for Quinn Hughes to just play this game so we can get the best offensive minded American defensemen on the ice? They're enforcing these roster rules

more than they enforce long-term injury list. Rules are rules. Rules are rules. So at the end of the day, they made rules at the beginning of the tournament. All the teams knew that. Quinn Hughes, God bless him. You know, I talk about Kale McCart being the best defenseman in the world. Well, Quinn Hughes is probably going to win the North Trophy this year. He's right in line for it.

So, you know, obviously we want to see him on the ice playing and God willing if something does happen He'll be in the lineup tonight But as of right now there's rules and everybody said to tiptoe around those rules not just the United States now So, um, you know, I think when it's all said and done no matter who's on the ice That's what we have with these players players they're gonna put on the best show uh... that we've seen throughout this tournament tomorrow night you can guarantee that whether quinn uses in the lineup or not but if he is in the lineup

what an addition that's going to be that does change the look of the game for sure u s a and canada face off that is tomorrow night uh... four nations final the rivals will play in the championship game at TD garden on ESPN and ESPN plus Thank you, PK. Good talking to you. Good seeing you. I will not respect black history That's not fair. What you've done to me is not say it's not fair the next time I come on You better have your top ten Dan. Okay top ten. I want to know your top 10. I can't. Number five, Reggie Theus.

Whoa, whoa, what? Number four, Michael B. Jordan. Oh! Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! Number three, Rick Fox. You have a tie. Yes! Number two, Lenny Kravitz.

Yeah! Oh, that's a good one! And number one, Jordan Subban. Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! That's good. See you later. Thank you for being on with us. Thanks guys.

Appreciate it. Bye. The Dan Levitard Show with Stu Gautz is sponsored by BetterHelp. We talk a lot about red flags, the warning signs that tell us to stay away from toxic relationships. But what if we spent more time looking for green flags? You know the signs? That our relationship is actually healthy, supportive, and worth investing in.

So what are some green flags to look out for? Good communication, emotional safety, mutual respect, and someone who genuinely listens to you. Whether it's a romantic partner, a friend, or even a co-worker, recognizing these positive traits can help you build relationships that truly love you back. And if you're not sure how to spot them or even how to practice them yourself, therapy can help. It's not just for people going through major challenges, therapy can teach you positive coping skills,

how to set boundaries, how to show up as the best version of yourself. BetterHelp is accessible, affordable, and convenient with over 30,000 licensed therapists and a fully online platform so you can find the right match for you. Plus you can switch therapists at any time at no extra cost. Discover your relationship green flags with better help. Visit betterhelp.com slash D L B today

and get 10% off your first month. That's better help. H e l p.com slash D L B. This is a message from sponsor Intuit Turbo Tax. Taxes was dealing with piles of paperwork and frustrating forms and then waiting and wondering and worrying if you were going to get any money back. Now, Taxes is easily uploading your forms to a TurboTax expert who's matched to your unique tax situation. An expert who's backed by the latest technology

which cross-checks millions of data points for 100% accuracy. While they work on your taxes, you get real-time updates on their progress. And then you get the most money back guaranteed, all while you go about your day. No stressing, no worrying, no waiting. Now this is taxes. Into a TurboTax, get an expert now on TurboTax.com. Only available with TurboTax live full service.

Real-time updates only in iOS mobile app. See guarantee details at TurboTax live full service real-time updates only an iOS mobile app see guarantee details at TurboTax.com slash guarantees Don LeBataard number three chick-fil-a waffle fries Love it. I mean nah, I think it's an overrated you guys go ketchup or chick-fil-a sauce when you have the chick-fil-a That's my brother right there good call you're my brother stooge arts. Oh my god, what a weird interaction Wow, this is the done libertar show with a stooge arts I want to get to this Terrence Shannon story because I don't know what happened here, but I'm enjoying that Illinois is leaning into the embarrassment and the incompetence. Usually in the internet age we will just mock something mercilessly and nobody embraces it. But they are promoting a t-shirt for charity

because of this ceremony. What happened here? Do we have details on how it is that this happens? Yes, they were raising this banner before an Illinois basketball game this weekend and when they unveiled it, realized oopsies, we hung it upside down. And everyone was really sad and now, like youies, we hung it upside down. And everyone was really sad.

And now, like you said, they've leaned into it. So happy ending, I suppose, but genuinely very funny to see. Do we have, how much video, how much audio do we have on embarrassed parties? We have the athletic director from Illinois talking about it here. Regrettable situation at halftime with the Jersey

around Terrance's celebration. I just wanted to address that briefly before Brad came up and talked about the game. Obviously, really regrettable moment. It's a shame that it happened that way. Of course, I didn't hang the jersey, but I'm ultimately responsible for everything that happens in this building. And ultimately, that means that was on me tonight.

We need to make sure that we understand that in life mistakes happen, but there are also certain moments where mistakes can't happen. And tonight, we stole that moment from Terrence. And that's on us and something that we have apologized to him for, apologized to his mom. We want to make sure that we apologize to our fans and everybody who was excited to be a part of this experience tonight. That's not leaning into it.

That's not yet leaning into it. No, this was before they leaned into it, but I was going to ask you, Dan, is it an apology if you say, obviously I didn't raise the banner, but it's my fault? Like, he's throwing someone under the bus there and they know that someone's been fired. Good apology. It's a terrible apology It's the most it's the fakest leadership that I've ever seen it's in that category it's uh You know a leader takes responsibility for all even if you're not responsible at all So just want everyone to know that it was not my fault, but I am the leader.

As if anyone thought the athletic director was the one who's like put the little hooks on it. Come on, we thought you hung it up. Yeah. Come on, some things don't need to be said, Mike. Come on, you can't. I like Dan asking, how did this happen? Well, hooks to hang it up, wrong side. I wasn't sure how to answer that. Thank you for having me. How did this happen? Well? Wrong side

Looks the same I feel like we're glossing over the really funny part of this story Terrence Shannon was on that team last March Like why are we retiring his Jersey already late Illinois for two seasons because he transferred from Texas Tech I even saw an interviewer he was like, I'm surprised, but they're like, that's cool. I mean, wait, maybe it's really ace. Maybe this is all a marketing ploy. Maybe it is the whole, any publicity is, there's no other way we would have talked about this story unless they hung it up upside down.

No, we talk about Illinois basketball all the time on this show. It is like one of our main beats. I don't know, you're not here. We get complaints all the time. I'm not here. Too much fighting Illini. Not even just the Illini.

Men's college hoops. I mean, we spend a lot of time on it. Yeah, I mean, it's... I had to Google the years he was there. Oh, you're so right about this. This is good for business. In fact, I would do this as aggressively as possible, except for the part that we have to take sports so seriously that the athletic director has to be profoundly ashamed of a

stupid ceremony because of how sacred we are about sports like that guys apology was terrible but also profuse like he was sorry he was sorry that he was embarrassed he might not have been sorry that he was responsible for at fault the distinction being made there to me though is an interesting one when you talk about leadership. I feel that all the time around here that things are all my responsibility but wherever people are dissatisfied I don't often find myself feeling at fault

but I'm responsible for it. So it puts me at fault. It does put you at fault and that is the, you know, heavy is the crown, right? But that athletic director having to apologize they just raised a bunch of money for charity because a ceremony silly in sports today let's celebrate someone who's been here as a transfer for two years and let's do the jersey backward that is something that would make great sketch comedy. It would it would make a funnier thing if that intern did it on purpose because they're like, this is stupid that we're hanging his jersey up.

We should hang it up upside down to really show that athletic director. Like a protest. Yeah, I mean, imagine you're watching this. Imagine you're Luther Head and you're sitting at home watching the game and you're thinking to yourself, how did that guy get his number retired?

You picked the perfect name. I know it. That is the perfect name. His jersey has to be retired though. I don't know. One would assume. Let's go through it now since we like talking fighting Illini basketball so much. Let's go to the basketball hall of fame of Illinois basketball.

Kenny Battle. I'm going to wink when I recognize him. They had a D Brown right? We probably would not. We have failed at March Madness. Billy, March Madness is again sneaking up on us, even though March is in the calendar every year. We have March Madness approaching. Which means the sadness is also approaching. Our tournament is approaching. But it's presently embargoed, so don't ask Billy any questions.

I don't know anything about what we're doing. It's an effective embargo. We're doing it soon. We're doing it. Some may say. March is coming up. And if people don't like it, I'll just get blamed for it again. The reason I ask the question is I'm also

wondering where Bet the House went. I'm also wondering where Gas Bag of the Week went. I'm also wondering where Boost Mobile Line went on hot takes. I'm just sort of asking since I don't know. Roy's in the EP chair, and Roy has told me that we have boost and we have a hot take machine but it's the first I'm hearing of it and there are a lot of plate spinning so where are we in this? Yes the boost mobile bonus take from the weekend is presented by boost mobile. Roy let's start that let's start that again okay hold on hold on. He wasn't expecting

it. I know but I I know. I was looking up Illinois. Not being on PK's top five. Kendall Gill, he, oh Kendall Gill, dreamy. Dreamy to look at. Dreamy, yes. Should have been in my top five, don't even know what you're talking about. All right, the Boost Mobile boldest take

from the weekend is presented by Boost Mobile, the newest 5G network in the country. 305-486-G-O-T-Z is the number, Dan. Thank you, Roy, but the reason that I went to it and you weren't prepared for it is because you told me to go to it. You asked me to go to the Boost, and it was the first time hearing

that we were doing that today. Yes, sir, yes, sir. It does disappoint, Dan, it's great. All right, disappoint me. Hi, this is Alex from South Dakota. Um, and I'm just here to say that Bono would not be anybody without his sunglasses. Okay. At best I think he would be Huey Lewis in the news. Yeah.

I think Roger Goodell should have to tackle Derek Henry to get his full salary. He doesn't, then he should only get 25%. Charlie Bucket was the wrong pick to run the chocolate factory. Charlie Bucket was this poor little, he was like this pure of heart little child and he was picked because he was the most pure and decent and kind and whatever. That's not what it takes to run a chocolate factory. The right kid to run that chocolate factory was Augustus Gloop. He was not pure of heart, he was clogged of heart.

And he would have made the greatest chocolate you ever had in your entire friggin' life. I'm making my mouth very can't refuse. Today is the day my daughter's wedding. Hey buddy, it's Rob on the mobile. My hottest, boldest take that I got is best of seven series. I got John Wick over Ethan Hunt.

I actually got John Wick in sixth. Hey this is Nolan from Louisiana. Long time, first time. My hottest take is that a good hot dog is better than a good hamburger, but a bad hamburger is better than a bad hot dog. Oh, how you got the list? Hey this is Rich from Chicago. Long time, first time, first time, long time.

Just wanna say my take is this. If you're in a sauna and you're exercising or doing calisthenics while in the sauna, pretty much a giant douche. Here's my limited fake of Coach Mike Gundy. Come after me! I'm a man! I'm 40! The Cowboys are going to take on the big three...

Oh, scratch that, scratch that. Hey there, Wellness Warriors. If you're like me, you've given a lot of thought to how to improve your health and wellness routine this year. I've started stretching more, do a little mindfulness and meditation every day, try to clear my mind, make my body feel right. Take your health routine to the next level with the magic of contrast therapy. Meet our new amazing sponsor, Redwood Outdoors. They're making it easy to bring the benefits of saunas and cold plunges right to your backyard.

A Redwood Outdoors backyard sauna seats 2-8 people where you can relax, unwind and enjoy all the benefits like reduced muscle tension, improved sleep and glowing skin. And it doesn't stop there. Redwood Outdoors invigorating cold plunge helps to boost circulation, sharpen your focus and leave you feeling absolutely revitalized. Whether it's detoxing deeper, reducing inflammation or connecting with loved ones in moments of peace. Redwood Outdoors has you covered. Enhance your physical and mental wellness routines with Redwood Outdoors. Take advantage of special savings today. Visit redwoodoutdoors.com,

use code DAN to save $175. That's redwoodoutdoors.com, code DAN to save $175 on your order. redwoodoutdoors.com, code DAN.