The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz - Hour 1: Keith Yandle Hates Vijay Singh

Episode Date: May 28, 2025

And he has no idea why. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

At Starbucks, we serve cold coffee just the way you like it. That refreshing chill of ice. That rich, smooth taste you crave. That handcrafted care every time. Your summer ritual is ready at Starbucks. It's hockey season, and you can get anything you need delivered with Uber Eats. Well, almost, almost anything. So no, you can't get a nice rank on Uber Eats.

But iced tea, ice cream, or just plain old ice? Yes, we deliver those. Goaltenders, no. But chicken tenders, yes. Because those are groceries and we deliver those too. Along with your favorite restaurant food, alcohol, and other everyday essentials. Order Uber Eats now. For alcohol you must be legal drinking age. Please enjoy responsibly. Product availability varies by region see app for details This is the down labor tour show with the Stu gots podcast This episode of the Dan love at all show was Stu gots is sponsored by draft Kings draft Kings the crown is yours Why are you so excited here? Chris? Why are you grabbing? Yeah, and zon?

We got game five tonight. We just re-upped with DraftKings what a day. Not as ours. You're saying Yans that's how we talk hockey guys. Stugats loves this when you call him Yans I don't know what to do with him because he's been a combination of rubbing his hands together the way that Stephen A Smith sort of moves his neck back and forth when he's preparing for a fight it It feels like Jans wants to talk playoff hockey in a way that's rough and tumble because the Panthers are very and clearly, obviously champion good, but I think it'd be fair, Chris, to fear the Edmonton Oilers because the idea... One team at a time, Dan.

Okay, so Keith, thank you for joining us, appreciate it. What will you tell me about the excellence of the Panthers at the moment? Because I think I can make the argument that this team is better than the one that won the championship. Yeah, well first off, thanks for having me. 20 years of the show, amazing.

That's pretty incredible stuff. But yeah, the Panthers are their juggernaut. Like what they've built the last few years is pretty insane. Just the depth that they have. You know, even losing a bunch of guys, they lost one of their best defensemen last year with Brandon Montor.

And you bring in other guys like Seth Jones, Nate Schmidt, like guys who just came in right away and clicked with that group and I think it just says a lot about the leadership in that group with Barkey and Matthew Kachuk and Aaron Echola to Dan Bennett so a lot of credit to those guys the guys that have been here for a while and you know showing the new guys the way of the way that the Panthers you know have handled their business the last few years is pretty incredible. Chris what are you doing? What's the matter? I'm just showing the new guys the way that the Panthers have handled their business the last few years

is pretty incredible. Chris, what are you doing? What's the matter with you? I'm just listening to the hands. What are you talking about? You're just, you're applauding, you're wandering around. Well, I'm just like, as he's talking, it's time to be a Panthers fan.

He's hyped up. Excited, big game tonight. He's getting juiced. Well, Bill Zito has constructed this roster over his six year term with the Florida Panthers, yet he's been nominated for the GM award, what, four times and hasn't won yet. Talk to us about Bill Zito's influence on the team.

Yeah, I think it's everything. From when he first came in here, you know, making hard decisions and one of those was, you know, getting rid of me, which happens in sports. It's where the whole thing started. We can all celebrate. Yes, this is, look, let's not change the history of this. The greatest move, the best of the moves,

the moves that started all of this, taking over Tampa and Florida was releasing Keith. He's off the books in the off season. 100%, yeah, off the books. But you know what, at the end of the day, when someone gives you $50 million, you gotta root for them. So I will be a diehard Panthers fan for as long as I live.

And I love rooting for these guys, especially, you know, there's still a lot of guys that I played with here. And you know, just they're still great guys, great friends. You know, you can- Everyone else hates them though, right? Canada hates them, the hockey hates them. This is, what level of hate does this team deserve, earn,

beat out of you? I honestly don't even think it's hate. I think it's more like everyone just respects them. They respect how hard they play. They don't cheat the game at all. They play really hard. In playoff, there are some things, there's been some suspensions, some controversy know guys running into goalies or cheap shots

but at the end of the day that's part of the game and that's why they're you know about to make their third appearance in the finals in the last three years so whatever they're doing I think you know fans probably hate them more than other people but the players just everyone around the, I think fans probably hate them more than other people, but the players, just everyone around the league, I think, just respects. But that's what I was talking about, though. Well, let me clarify. I think what he's saying is that Canadians,

people who live in Canada, people who live where you grew up in Massachusetts, where hockey means something, they hate that the best hockey is being played in Sunrise, Florida. No, and- That's the thing. Yeah. No, but, and also, they're viewed as a team that, you know, whatever, on the line, on the dirty stuff that that Brenda Moore has to say, hey, you got to be careful about when you retaliate

with these guys because, you know, that reputation is earned, is it not? One hundred percent. And if you're a winning team, you have to have that. You look at a guy like Brad Marchand, everyone, every fan base, everyone in the league hates him. And then you bring him over to your team and you love him. And that's the best compliment a hockey player can get is, I hate playing against them, but I'd love to have them on my team.

And I think the Panthers are, their whole team is pretty much constructed that way where guys you hate to play against, but you'd love to have on your team. And it's when that all comes together like it has, it's a fun showing. But yeah, at the end of the day, the fans are gonna hate it,

especially the Canadian fans, like they're shoveling snow eight, nine months a year. And here in sunrise, you know, we're in our pools around the beach and golfing. That's a cheap shot. No, see, that's a cheap shot, what he just did there. That's a chicken wing. I think our fans- That was a chirp. That was a chirp, come on. It's playoff just did there. That's a chicken wing. See I think our fans

That was a chirp. That was a chirp. Come on. You saw what he did there. He did he just did what he did. No, no what you did the same bullshit Stu Gottz did was like in Toronto. They're fishing. They're ice fishing in their igloos. It's stereotyping and I won't allow it. I won't allow it because I'm scared of Edmonton. And I just want that on the record. I will say that this fan base has come a long way the last four years, just in terms of knowing Puck. But one criticism that I have

for this Florida Panthers fan base, and please, Jans, you talk to them, because I've already looked at the camera multiple times, tried to tell them, stop shouting Knight during the national anthem. He's not on the team anymore. Please, maybe they'll listen to you. Just, you're embarrassing us, Panther fans.

I 100% agree. I was at the game on Monday and in a box with a bunch of my friends and we all looked at each other at the same time. We're like, he's literally not on the team. I don't know why they're doing this. So annoying, cause they do it and then you hear murmuring.

Right before it's coming, you can hear the crowd being like, oh, I hope they don't do it. I hope they don't do it.'re doing this. So annoying because they do it and then you hear murmuring right before it's coming. You can hear the crowd being like, oh, I hope they don't do it. I hope they don't do it. People yell night and then afterwards the whole crowd's like, oh, come on. What the hell? It's the worst. I don't like anything being said during the anthem. The only the only good one that, you know, and people are just screaming is during the the black hawks anthem. But I think during an anthem, it should be dead quiet. I agree.

They when they chant red or night or Washington, yeah, the stars do it and then Washington they do an OV one. But I'm old school, I think it should be quiet and that's a time to respect the people who served our country. He was up for a big one too. That was a small window you got in there with that. Do my best work, though.

Okay. The Panthers, when you look at what it is that is the pain of the Edmonton Oilers, and I put behind it as well, the pain of Toronto stinking when they wanna be what invented the sport in big games, the suffering that McDavid had not winning against Florida last year when

in that sport if you do have the best player on the ice come back from down 3-0 Edmonton's pain must be kind of unbearable as far as sports pain goes. How does that make them better this year? Yeah the thing that scares me about them is it's, you know, the old school, you know, start of a DVD, championship DVD, and I can just see it now of like Connor McDavid flipping out in the locker room last year about how they need to be better. And, you know, they'll be back in this situation. So it does scare me when the best player in the world,

and I personally think he's the best athlete in the world right now. When he's on a mission, the way that he is, and, you know, at the end in the world, and I personally think he's the best athlete in the world right now. When he's on a mission the way that he is, and at the end of the day, he knows for his legacy to win one, especially in hockey, it means so much more to win a championship for your legacy than any other sport, I think.

So I think he's one of those guys that he's just driven every single day. He's not just happy with being the best player in the league He wants to go out and win championships and when he's on a mission like it looks like he is right now it's definitely scary but It's confident. I am as I am in the Panthers like he's a real concern and then you know with a 1a 1b with him and Leon dry side all it's it's a scary competition every game and they're playing really well but you know like we said earlier in the show you got it we got to finish this series okay

well but if I can stop you for just a second on this okay best player in the world and you just called him best athlete in the world I have not heard a lot of that put it on the poll at LeBotard show can the best athlete in the world. I have not heard a lot of that. Put it on the poll at LeBittard's show. Can the best athlete in the world be a hockey player? But best athlete in the world, who are you rejecting when you arrive at Connor McDavid is the best athlete in the world? Maybe I would say the only one close to him I think is Shohei just because of what he does. You know obviously Patrick Mahomes. But I just think in pure athleticism of being able to skate as fast as Connor does

and the way that he can handle the puck and make players around him even better. I just, I don't think that there's a guy in sports that can dominate the way that he does. Cause hockey's so hard, like you go to a game, like there's not a lot of room on the ice there. It's not, you know, it's so hard to beat NHL players one-on-one or make them look silly.

And he does it, you know, pretty much every night. So it's, you know, that's kind of why I get, I might be a little biased cause you know, how hard the game is for some people, even for me who played in the league, like it's hard, but for him, it just looks so damn easy every single night well but the thing I guess that I'm asking you here because you know the history of the sport and you know the particulars of what greatness what is required of greatness

to be this much better than everyone else to suffer the worst of the pains for everyone who's watching you to know oh oh, this isn't all time great. This guy could be the best ever. I've never seen something that's this much better than everything around it. For that to lose, the way it rings eternal is that it come back and wins. It takes the championship from the team that broke him and the team that is empirically better late than any because they will strangle you the way OKC will in basketball. So in this spot for the legacy, McDavid always wins

Keith if he thinks if if he is what you think he is. Yeah, 100%. And I think he's one of those guys that you know, if I think if you'd ask him like he would want to beat Florida, he wouldn't want to get an easier matchup and have. Oh, come on, Yans. Yans. He wants Carolina. Come on. I honestly, I think he's wired differently. I think, you know, people talk about if they got that dog in them or whatever, but I honestly think that he's, he's that type of, you know, he has that type of mentality where he wants to slay the drag and he wants

nothing handed to him and he wants to go out and earn it. But it's still going to be a tough task to do it to my cats. Keith in round two you had a bit of fun with noted Toronto Maple Leafs fan Paul Bisennet. Why don't you talk about your rivalry that you have with Biz? Yeah well the thing like he gets gifted a ambassador's jacket. The man never played one minute for the team. I know he scored a goal against them, and it was like a charity game that we let him play in because he was from that area

and his dad hadn't seen him play. So we went to the GM and the coach, we were like, can we please put Paul in this game? His dad has never seen him play. So yeah, I just, I really don't understand it. But no, at the end of the day, Biz is so good for our game. And the attention that he brings every single night,

especially on TNT and the podcast and bringing out guys' personalities. He's an amazing, amazing asset to the NHL. All right, I've gotta stop him because once Slay the Dragon, I'll allow nothing handed to them. End of the day. Well, he gotta end, and then gotta earn it. Once he's gotta earn it, like, I'm done with this.

I wanna learn. Hockey cliches. I'm done with his analysis. I don't, it does it, because it does, it's not, he knows good, he knows good and well that the vocabulary has to rise to meet this moment. I was one big one You're talking about You're talking about coming after Connor McDavid here and a rematch of last year's finals not last year's final

It's the best story, correct? Again Canada trying to take this from the swamp. Yeah, you know, it's been since 1993 that a Canadian team has won the championship. And I'd be lying to you sitting here if I said that I wasn't happy about that. I love the fact that, you know, the Stanley Cup is going to hold this long. No, I don't think it's gonna,

I think it's staying here. It's gonna get a nice tan this summer down here. Oh, is the Stanley Cup gonna get a nice tan? Is the Stanley Cup gonna get a nice tan? Is the Stanley Cup gonna get a nice tan? Speaking of staying here, paint a picture for me where we keep Sam Bennett next season. Yeah, that's the biggest one. I think the whole league is looking at that

because just the impact that he brings, obviously during an 82 game season, the way that he plays, he's not gonna get you a hundred points, 110 points, but when that pucks drops in playoffs, he's probably the number one guy any team would want on their team, just because of what he brings every single night.

He's a heart and soul guy. I honestly think that he's gonna stay here in Florida. I think it scared me a little bit. He's a Toronto guy. Kind of scared me a little bit that he would go to Toronto But you know the way that they treated him after he you know Accidentally ran into the goalie and knocked him out for the series and he was getting booed I think they shot themselves in the foot on that one obviously have no clue and this is all speculation

But I I think that if if there was a chance he was gonna sign there, they ruined it. Your real feelings on Marshawn? Like I don't like the way this is going around here. Like honestly, your hatred's not in any way real if it's totally fraudulent and it can be bought this easily. Well for me, I love Brad. I played with him in junior, so I've known him since he was 16, 17 years old.

And he's been in Boston. He usually stuck around there in the summertime. So I would skate with him and work out with him. So I know him a little differently than other people where they just know his antics on the ice and licking people and slew-footing people. But I know him off the ice, know how good of a guy he is. So I have a little different aspect.

If I was like a Montreal Canadiens fan and then, you know, hated him and then he got traded there, I think I'd still hate him. We have a Panthers fan in our midst, I won't name names, that refuses to this day to say it, like he just, he's that guy of, no, I'll never root for him. What do you say to that Panther fan?

You know what, if he's helping, if you really love the team and he's helping the team win, you can be happy for it, but I also do, I do respect somebody who truly hates an athlete because I've been there, I've been there before and I've met guys that I did not like and uh. Who do you truly hate? Name one. Who do you hate? Yeah, name one. Yes, who do you hate? My least favorite athlete of all time is probably VJ Sing and I don't know why. What did he do to you? VJ? I mean, harmless?

VJ Sing? I mean, yeah, I don't know why. He's probably the best guy in the world. What a weird, what a weird. If you gave me a million guesses. What a weird, VJ Sing, all he did was represent golf himself and his country well, and you hate him for no good reason. He gave us nothing.

He literally gave us nothing. Like I never even heard him interviewed or anything. I'm sure he's the best guy. He's probably an unreal family guy. It doesn't make any sense. Why would you hate BJ Singh? You know what I love is that he didn't even have to like ponder the question for a second.

He had a name ready. But no, I- It was VJ Singh. Wait, Yandel's a big golfer. You lost a bet to him. Did you know? I demand an answer. I demand to know why you hate VJ Singh, please.

I don't know. It was him and Paul Gasol. I've always hated him. I do not know why. The two nicest guys in the world. We're the two best guys ever. I don't know. All right.

Thank you, Keith. Good talking to you. I want to guys in the world. I'll be the two best guys ever. I don't know. All right, thank you, Keith. Good talking to you. I want to go around the room. Do you guys have anyone, anyone in sports that you just hate them and you've not examined at all? Ty Wiggington.

Sidney Crosby. No, but this is a cheap handle. No, Roy. He's still here. He heard it and he has words for Billy. I believe he was trying to come back to Billy. Oh, he wants to come back on. He wants to come back on.

Billy always does. Take the gloves off. All right. Yes, Keith, you just heard that. You heard that chicken wing on the way out. This is a wild Billy Wednesday, Keith. He wouldn't say it to your face. He waited till you left.

And then he said, I've always. Billy, anytime, anywhere you want. Whoa! What's going on here? I thought we were gonna be friendly here. A little charity fight, you want it? Charity fight, geez. Charity boxing, I'll set that up.

I'm donating. Okay. He left and then heard you. I was joking, I saw you was there, I wanted to ask him, he thought Nadal was ugly now. We didn't get to it. The thing we've been talking about all day today, Keith, is we were ranking Nadal, Federer, Murray,

and Joker on their looks. But we didn't get to it with you, yeah. You wanna objectify them with us and judge them as not attractive as they age, the way Billy was doing? Keith looks great for his age. Oh, he looks pretty Aztec, yeah. Now you're sucking up on him.

I don't really, I'm not a huge tennis guy, so I don't really know how they've aged. All right, well, we'll let you go then. You brought this to a screeching call. Yes, yes, that's totally his fault, not your fault in any way. You were just doing what you do on wild Billy Wednesdays, which is you never know what's gonna happen.

Billy out of nowhere might just hate Keith. And what are you gonna do about it? Hey listeners, listen up, because I know that approaching the summer, you're probably as busy as I am, but also as desperate as I am to find some healthy meals that you can fit into those busy windows. Well, it's time to make this the best summer yet

with nutritious two minute meals from Factor. Eating well has never been this easy. Just eat up and enjoy, giving you more time to do what you want. Get outside instead of prepping and cooking indoors. Factor meals arrives fresh and ready to eat. It's perfect for any active lifestyle because with 45 weekly menu options you can pick gourmet meals that fit your goals. Choose from calorie smart,, Protein Plus, Keto, and more. In my most recent meals, I had the honey mustard chicken, I had that garlic herb salmon, and every side, every part of this meal was delicious. Honestly, at the end of it, I was

just left wanting more, because Factor's meals are that fresh, that delicious, and that nutritious. So get started at factormeals.com slash Dan50 off and use code Dan 50 off to get 50% off plus free shipping on your first box. That's code Dan 50 off at factor meals dot com slash Dan 50 off for 50% off plus free shipping. Guys, I want to talk to you about something that I don't think we think about enough on a daily basis. And that's comfort specifically when it comes to underwear.

Because let's be real, when it's not right, you're going to feel it all day. And that's why I want to tell all of you about Tommy John. Because the first time I put on a pair, I knew my underwear drawer would just simply never be the same. Tommy John just recently sent some of their product to those of us in the shipping container. And this is my first time wearing Tommy John underwear I was really blown away by by the comfort by the stretch that was available within the design by the texture There's a genuine comfort and I can tell that they put in effort to make sure

Specifically in our case with men that we would feel comfortable. Honestly, Tommy John's changed the game for me I know it's gonna be a good day now when I walk out the door and I've got Tommy John on. No distractions, no adjusting, just all day confidence. If you haven't tried Tommy John yet, I personally think you're missing out. These are the MVP of your underwear drawer with up to four times more stretch than other brands,

something I definitely appreciate. Double down on comfort with Tommy John and get 25% off your first order right now at TommyJohn.com slash Dan with promo code Dan save 25% at TommyJohn.com slash Dan The conference finals are set NBA history is on the horizon with DraftKings Sportsbook an official sports betting partner the NBA You're not just watching you're actually in the game. From player props to game lines, live bets, this is playoff betting at its best. New to DraftKings, bet just five bucks, and if your bet hits, you'll cash with $300 in bonus bets.

The finals are almost here, get in on the action now, download the DraftKings Sportsbook app, and use code DAN. That's code DAN for new customers to get $300 in bonus bets if your bet wins when you bet just $5. Only on DraftKings, the crown is yours. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. In New York, call 877-8HOPENY or text HOPENY at 467-369.

In Connecticut, help is available for problem gambling. Call 888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org. Please play responsibly. On behalf of Boothill Casino andino in resort in Kansas 21 and over age and Eligibility varies by jurisdiction void in Ontario bet must win to receive reward bonus bets expire 168 hours after issuance for additional terms and responsible gaming resources see DKNG co-slash audio Don LeBataard Lightning Panthers, what do you think?

Stugarts look at this face while I tell this to you Okay, cuz I don't want there to be any kind of confusion. You look me right in the eye Panthers could take that ass man. This is the Don Lebatard show with the Stugats I love it. It's so weird, so strange. So I ask the rest of you though, because Roy didn't understand how to play the game. He shouted Sidney Crosby, we all know why you hate him. There's no confusion about why you hate him.

In fact, I gotta penalize you. Why, oh why? Because I mean, that's not playing the game correctly. Isn't it obvious? I mean, I'm not playing the game correctly. I'm not playing the game correctly. I'm not playing the game correctly. I'm not playing the game correctly. I'm not playing the game correctly. confusion about why you hate him. It's like, in fact, I gotta penalize you because it's just not because, I mean, that's not playing the game correctly.

Isn't it obvious to you that that's, like, that's just, how do you choose Sidney Crosby just because you believe him to be? We've got a penalty, five minutes, major asshole. Oh, major? Oh. The game is, I don't understand what he just did. He hit the kid.

If I'm going to hate somebody, I've got to have a reason. Don't you? No, no. The game is, there is no reason, right? There is no reason why he hates VJ Singh. Well, no, he doesn't like VJ because VJ didn't give us enough. He didn't speak enough. No, he didn't say, no, he said, no, quite the opposites to God.

He said, I don't know. He didn't speak too much. He said, that's correct. He said, I don't know. Well, it didn't speak too much. He said, that's correct. He said, I don't know why I hate him. It's not like he ever even said anything. You've got a quiet golfer, known for not being interesting. Like just, and great though, like, or, okay.

Hall, Hall of Very Good, not just okay. All of okay. Vijay Singh was not just an okay golfer. One major. Put it on the poll, VJ Singh, good or great? No, good or okay. It's not good or great, no. Chris, he's being a purposeful asshole about VJ Singh's career that shows no respect for it,

even though he's our golf expert. Three majors, it's a fine. He did win the big one. Did he? Augusta. Was he nominated? Oh, yeah. It's better than okay. It's good.

I'll upgrade it to good. Look at that. That is why we're the winners of the big one. Don't say this show cannot evolve. He goes from being a primitive ape to evolving before your ears and conceding that VJ Singh, three majors and the masters might be better than okay.

The ultimate critic, ladies and gentlemen, Stu Gatz. It's why he's the owner of the big one, which is flimsy and light and hollow. Dante Bichette. Ooh, that's a good one. You hated Dante Bichette? I didn't like him. Really?

Tony, do you have any of these? It's TJ McConnell. Oh no, that's, again, Roy. Co-sit with Roy. I mean, like, you did the same thing that Roy just did. No, but mine is less known. TJ McConnell versus Sidney Crosby, star of the league in minor penalty, two minutes, asshole.

Everyone knows, why would TJ McConnell not be liked? Because he's pesky. Yeah, but when Roy says Sidney Crosby, I know why that is. Thank you, Chris. I don't know why Tony hates TJ McConnell. It's kind of random. No, but it's pesky.

Like of course everyone knows it's the way he plays. What are you talking about? Everyone who's not a Pizzas fan hates TJ McConnell. How about Aaron Aflalo, Dan? That's a good name. Aaron Aflalo, you like that one? Good name. That's a good name.

How are you still here? Jeez, he never did anything. He was just always there. We're in number four for the magical cares. Playing the game, say what Dan wants to hear. That's correct. One of my favorite games. Let's get to Stugats's top five athletes

who played in the wrong era, please. This is very exciting from yesterday. I can't believe we didn't get to it yesterday. This is why DraftKings pays the big bucks for everything that's happening around here. He takes yesterday's thread, which was about Andy Murray, and points out the great point of if Andy Murray played at any other time in human history,

he would be the greatest tennis player any of us have ever seen. But because he played with these three guys, he's fourth best forever, no one cares. He will be okay in a future iteration of the tennis show with Stu Gott that doesn't respect athlete feats like BJ Sings. Three majors.

Surprising. And Augusta. Yeah. And you just. Well, I knew Augusta. It was the two PGA's that surprised me. I know. But the okay. Like. I upgraded it to good. I know. I just. A rare upgrade. A major evolution. Fair enough. NELI.

It's the Andy Murray top five guys who played in the wrong area. He has naming rights to this list. Wow. Okay. And I just have a straight five here. Uh number five, Wilt Chamberlain. He played at the same time as Bill Russell. Russell was his kryptonite. If

there was never a Bill Russell, we'd be talking about Wilt Chamberlain as the greatest winner of all time. Can you imagine Wilt in the social media era? Oh my god. Dominating. Everywhere. This guy's with Arnold. He's hanging the

number four Phil Mickelson unfortunately for Phil played at the same time as Tiger had Tiger never played golf Phil would be considered probably the greatest golfer of all time lefty lefty number three Peyton Manning played when Tom Brady played.

I mean, listen, people thought coming out of college, it was gonna be Peyton Manning who would win seven Super Bowls. It was not. It was a guy out of Michigan, Tom Brady. And Brady kept everyone else from winning the proper amount of Super Bowls. Peyton Manning, number three.

Number two, anyone who could shoot threes in the 1990s. Dale Ellis. Reggie Miller. number two, anyone who could It's literally getting ready to start naming Patrick Ewing, Charles Barkley, Reggie Miller. Stocked him alone. Stocked him alone, Clyde Drexler, who else? Kemp and Payton. Yep, everybody. I want to read for you guys just some information.

Danny Chow of the Ringer on last night's Pacers game and Knicks game. I think most of us are assuming that series is over. Stu Gutz will hide his tears from you for a while. I suspect he might evacuate for weeks if the Knicks lose so he doesn't have to deal with any of this. But the Pacers are now 11 and 3 in the postseason and 45 and 17 since the new year so it's a 60 win pace. Last night was Halliburton's 11th career game with at least a 15 to 0 assist to turnover ratio. That's Chris Paul territory Stockton.

He's only 25 years old. Like that's the game that he had yesterday on the Knicks is sort of where stars get born in important moments because you're just spinning the game on your finger like a Harlem Globetrotter. And the other part of this and I mean I want you to speak to this as OKC, I believe will choke everyone out because they have the choke hold that you need. Brunson with Neesmith on him, 30 minutes, three for 13, 10 points.

Brunson with Neesmith off him for seven minutes, five for six, seven for eight free throws, 21 points. Like I told you at the beginning of this series, like oh I'm not used to seeing Brunson sort of smothered physically like getting the ball up but just not not not able to do what Halliburton was able to do in yesterday's game I don't think he took a shot in the final six minutes of the game but but Niesmith this is how I mean you'll know the history of basketball this way this is why a player of this size throughout history gets ground down

by the end of whatever this is because the physical nature of the people who are coming after you are bigger than you are and Brunson's physical type can only get so far unless it's Isaiah Thomas, then he beats you in the fourth quarter on a broken ankle. The thing about Brunson is you got gotta understand, he's not an explosive player, right? His whole game is footwork and IQ and sleight of hand and things like that. So when you get someone like Neesmith,

who not only is large, but also very disciplined, right? Great defensively discipline. And then you throw on top of that, oh, this isn't, I'm playing Neesmith tonight and then tomorrow night I'm playing someone else. It's no, they're, the group call has been saying this the whole time, it's 13 days, it's 13 days, this is day six, this is day seven, right?

All they're thinking about, all Neesmith is eating, sleeping, shitting is just Jalen Brunson information, right? He's actually shitting Jalen Brunson information. He's going to the toilet. That's the waste though, the info he doesn't need. He's literally, I made fun of Richard Jefferson yesterday for saying literally, game three of Thunder, Timberwolves, lives were on the line.

They were. Game for your life. They were on the line. Dan, this is important. I don't know if you heard, Shane Batty had this quote on his podcast where he was talking about Eric Spolster, the reason why he can yell at refs and not get teed up, it's what he yells.

He says, what he yells is, focus, this is important. This means something to people, right? And so- Encouragements almost? Yeah, it's almost like I'm disappointed in you rather than- It's guilt? Yeah, it's just guilt's almost like I'm disappointed in you rather than guilt Yeah, it's just guilt. This is important. This is important. This means something. It's a way of saying do your job

Yeah, but it's also not tech worthy. That's why that's exactly why he does it I but the way that you're like it's clear rage, but it's also just Shouting at someone care about your job seems like helpful advice. I appreciate that effort there, but you screwed up a little bit. No, that's, no. But I appreciate your effort. No, no. Focus. Focus, focus, focus.

This is important, this means something to people. Chris. I don't even want you to. I appreciate your effort. I remember, that was the front end, for a slight just, I disagree slightly with that call, but I appreciate your effort You're doing that you're doing the feedback sandwich right like good feedback bad feedback good. He's not doing that at all No, Chris. How do you guys not know how to play any of these games?

Just trying to what does Dan want me to say? Yeah, that's the game. That's the game and What I want you to say is that Halliburton has a 44 to 6 assist to turnover ratio Sheesh! Sheesh! I mean you're talking about Brunson, he's averaging 33 points a game. But Stugats, that's not the way to do that one I don't think. Rick Carlisle will be upset with you. Rick Carlisle said yesterday in the press conference.

Team game. He said it's a team game. He's sick and tired of all these questions about individuals okay so still gots is going down though on Knicks and seven and so I would ask you mean how do you wanted the Knicks you want the story so that's is also saying I will not watch Pacers thunder just not gonna watch it so still gots who hasn't cared very much about basketball the last few years in a way that would be noticeable to the ear the Knicks have not hurt his feelings.

So guys, have you been watching Pacers Knicks? Yeah, I'm watching Pacers. Okay, all right, just making sure. I like the- Just started one. But you're saying, what is the argument for or against Knicks in seven? I don't think much of New York is doing this today.

Even the most hopeful New York fan has had some of this beaten out of him because what I'm telling you, Stu Gotz, over a long series, they're not gonna stop exploiting that Brunson's the liability when he's on the court defensively he's the worst defensive player in the league by metrics and I know we don't measure that stuff well but what I'm telling you is when there are four teams left you can't have one of those and it sure as shit can't be your best player and the tough part is you have probably the best point guard right now in the NBA

Dissecting and using you as a secondary screener. All right, let me switch back onto Brunson I think I saw a stat where there was 25 One-on-ones with Halliburton and Brunson where it was just like he's cooking them Halliburton cannot will not do that against OKC He is looking like this for now because this team is not as good as okay see a means been telling you all year nobody's beating okay see but for this round you take out in new york now you have the story line and this is how it is general generational players become in their time

indiana last offseason went through all those knuckleheads could have beaten boston they were in all those games late all they don't know how to when they don't know i when they don't know how to win then the next year they come back they appear to have grown some maybe that hurt a little bit that's interesting and they take out new york and they take out new york is a dog and they take out loud new york when jaylen brunson's got the clutches guy but now indiana says no we've got the clutches guy clutches and we're bringing

his dad with them and we're bringing his dad with him. And we're bringing his dad with him. That was a nice look, though, by the Pacers, right? To let John Halliburton back in. I guess, yeah. If the Pacers win the championship. What'd you say there? I said it was a nice look for them to let

John Halliburton back in the... No, come on, guys! It's time for an E-game. Don't Look Now. Damn it, I mean... Don't Look Now, presented by Smirnoff the world's number one Vaca Please drink responsibly Dan. Are you looking I was looking? Yeah, but you're not looking now, right? Oh, I'm not okay. No cuz I just wanted to inform you AJ Cole of the Las Vegas Raiders now the highest paid punter in the

What's his number? 15.8 million. Oh, wow. What? 15 to punter to punt to pump baby. I would have thought it would have been half teach your kids how to punt Oh my god, don't look now in some good news rest in peace to Marius Thomas The Broncos will induct de Marius Thomas into the ring of honor Congratulations being a kicker or punter in football the thing in sports that people think they could do? Like what's the thing in, what would be your easiest path to being a professional athlete?

I'm gonna tell you right now, punter for sure, right? Kicker, there's a lot of pressure. I gotta hit this shot, I gotta make these extra points. Punter, just get the hell out of here. Oh my God, I could do that. Just kick it far. I can do that. I'm not looking, but it's a four year, $15 million deal.

Yeah. With 11 million guaranteed. That's a pretty good guess, Billy. Yeah, 15.8, but it's a four year, $15 million deal with 11 million guaranteed. That's a pretty good guess, Billy. 15.8 million. It's a lot of money. I just don't understand how this game works. If it's don't look now, why wouldn't you want me to look at Demarius Thomas being remembered? It's more of a heart thing.

You feel that. You feel it. You don't have to look. You feel it. Don't look now. No, do not look, but feel. Okay. Feel now. And I want you to feel.

You feel the absence. Do you feel it? Of? Absence of what? Kirk Cousins. Where is he? He's not a DOTA. I felt kind of weird. You know what? I was looking and then I closed my eyes and now I do feel it. Coach Morris says, I don't know where he is. I'd like him to be the backup to Michael Pennex. Kirk Cousins? I don't think he wants to be the backup. I think he's a starting quarterback somewhere. That's what he thinks. I don't know enough about that sport and sports in general to understand how Kirk Cousins went from looking really good to having a noodle arm one week later and then suddenly couldn't throw a football because his arm wasn't strong enough. I don't know

what happened to his arm. I don't know what they're telling us about injuries. It was all weird. Then he had that 500 yard game on Thursday night where we were like, oh he's back! But then he couldn't throw the ball at all. And then he was done. He won a night game and then it was all over and it just, all of it happened too quickly. It was because of the Achilles. You're right. Tony, don't look down, but I'm hearing the Steelers, Kirk Cousins and some rumblings.

Should I put the blindfold back on? You think you should? I mean, as it relates to the Knicks and the Pacers, what is the argument to be made on behalf of New York? Because the reason I'm burying them, as I am saying, once you have zeroed in over a long series on what Amin is saying, I know we like to say basketball players, whatever, they don't care enough,

load management, once you've gotten to this point in the season, Neesmith isn't thinking about anything other than burying Jalen Brunson because of how much everybody was talking about Jalen Brunson. You already said this, yes? You're turning into Stephen A. Smith right there. I'm repeating what it is that you have said,

except you said it less gracefully because you made him shitting chunks of information. And what I am saying is a very proud athlete who, if he's not at the top one percent of one percent of competing with other people for money is very good on a team with the outcome who's also very good when we're playing a lot of primer defense we've got athletes all over the place

and proud enough to be like jaylen brunson yes i know you're special what do i get if i show you're not that special what do i get if i'm the one always running through screens when nobody cares about basketball and now he hits six threes oh I get to ride Halliburton into whatever the next part of this story is cool we'll do it with some positionless basketball and we will be a story that everyone hates but they'll remember it for the rest of their lives because Amin might say this isn't the best pacer team of all time but it has a

chance to be. No, it has a chance. I mean, obviously, if you win a championship, you automatically get to say that. I don't think they are going to win a championship, but they're in a position to go to the finals and reach the heights that the prior greatest. Well, but what I'm saying is I remember that team you're talking about as the elder, and what I would say is this team is a better team than that one. I know what you're looking at when you say Reggie Miller

and Dale Davis and Rick Smits and Detlef Schrempf and all of these people that you're speaking of. Austin Crozier would like a word. Austin Crozier, talk about stretch four. Travis Best would like a word. This team would smoke that team. This team is better, it's not just the difference in the game though, it's not just the difference physically

of whatever it is that the Davis brothers were. That doesn't exist in the sport anymore, shooting 16 footers. Dan Leventhal, if we played against that team, they would say about Reggie Miller, mama, there goes that man. Mark Jackson. There it is, that's what I'm going for.

Come on. Yeah. I don't know why you would argue with me that this is the best feeling professional Indiana basketball has had beyond Paul George. Because I asked the guy who's called the games since 1991, hey, is this the best? And he said no.

Yeah, but old people are great at being nostalgic. He covers the game! Right. He's not like just remembering. He calls the games. He loves what's happening. He's telling me, no, like this is great, but it still has a way to go to hit where, because again, it's not just that, oh, that team went to the finals. It's where it started. Prior

to Reggie Miller and the Davis boys and all that stuff, they had been to the playoffs in the NBA twice in their history. They'd been to the playoffs twice all of a sudden you make it a playoffs you go to the conference finals you're losing at the cusp you're almost there you lose to michael jordan a game seven again that that nineteen ninety eight game six reggie miller game winner where he's just start spinning around that's like one of those more uh... that's a real a moment for that franchise lost the series i know but but no one took mich Jordan to seven games. But they lost the series.

No one took Michael Jordan to seven games, and that's 1998 Michael Jordan. So what, do you agree with what he's saying right here? Taking Michael Jordan to seven games is more impressive than getting to the championship. Well, they haven't gotten there yet. They made it to the NBA finals, wouldn't you? And number one, they haven't gotten there yet now.

Number two, that team went to the finals two years later so it it happened they did it they went to the finals they played a shackle colby and that is an elder