The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz - Hour 2: They're In The Mix!

Episode Date: November 13, 2024

Jane McManus is the guest editor of "The Year's Best Sports Writing 2024" and stops by to discuss being a poll worker, how Title IV could be ripped apart by destroying the Department of Education, how she assembled a panel to judge sports writing and why Dan is no longer a part of what they do. Then, remember when Stugotz absolutely infuriated the incredibly kind Michael Strahan? Plus, Jamal Crawford is here to chat with the crew about the NBA including Tyler Herro's big night, Klay Thompson going home, Erik Spoelstra's future living with his mistake last night, the New York Knicks, J.J. Redick, and whether or not he's a better 6th Man than Lou Williams. Also, Crawford plays a game of "Shot For Your Life" and outsmarts Stugotz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You're listening to Giraffe King's Network. world's number one vodka and is an official vodka partner of the NFL. And this year Smirnoff is giving fans and select areas of the country a chance to win the ultimate game day experience from tickets to sideline passes and much more. Just head to wedogamedays.com until November 15th, 2024 to enter for your chance to win. That's wedogamedays.com. Smirnoff, wedogamedays. Please drink responsibly. Smirnoff number 21 vodka distilled from grain. 40% alcohol by volume. The Smirnoff company we do game days. Football season is here and there's absolutely nothing better than game day. But it can be a little bit stressful. You're placing bets, you're setting fantasy lineups, you're figuring out the most comfortable position to sit on your

couch for the next 12 hours. No one has time to think about this part. Cooking! Well, thanks to DoorDash you don't have to worry about that. DoorDash is the best place to order all your game day favorites. Chicken wings, nachos, burgers, dogs, hey maybe even little chips and guac, something like that, get a little salsa in there. It can all be delivered with DoorDash. So this football season, don't stress about the cooking. Kick back and enjoy game day thanks to DoorDash. DoorDash, your door to more. Download the DoorDash app now to order your game day favorites. This is the Don Leventor Show with the StuGuts Podcast.

Every year I get this book. I enjoy reading this book. It is one of my favorites because it is just the best collection of sports writing as deemed by a single person. You used to be in that book on the regular. I used to. I used to be in that back when I was a writer instead of a yodeler instead of what I do now. Yes I took great pride in sometimes arriving in this book because it's the best sports writing that there

is every year and Jane McManus is with us. She's a writer who's been featured in ESPN the New York Times USA Today and she's the guest editor of this year's best sports writing twenty twenty four which is available now wherever you get your books and uh... before we came on here uh... still gots when you were joining us jane just simply assume because you are the guest editor of this book and i don't think it wrong in assuming that because we writer types tend to be people who really just enjoy a freer America. As soon as he saw you, he said, Jane simply can't be happy

with the condition of America right now. Sorry, Jane. Wow, that's a great place to start. You know, it's so funny because I've been avoiding thinking about this now for a few days, and I'm gonna continue to avoid thinking about it, Dan. So you can't make me. I know I understand.

I'm not going to even force you to is an odd thing for him to say. But I also I think of the guest editor of this book as being sort of the best among us in journalism trying to do the right things that all the only people who get selected to choose the best American sports writing are people who not only have value for journalism and great storytelling but people who sort of admire that good writing can be done around truth that is instructive and just artful and so I assume that a person like that would be somebody who appreciates the arts and it's not

exactly something I see appreciated right now in America. Well, so you wanna know where I spent election day? I volunteer as a poll worker. So every election day, you know, I'm in line with doing that. I get up at four o'clock in the morning to get to my local polling place so that I can facilitate the vote.

So I agree with you. I'm an exceptional person in addition to being an exceptional journalist. I saw, when I was leaving the house this morning, I agree with you, I'm an exceptional person, in addition to being an exceptional journalist. I saw, when I was leaving the house this morning, I saw that my wife had put an I voted sticker on something in our house, and I just was like, huh, that's awfully sad.

That's sad today, like I'm gonna be reminded every day now that there's my vote right there, I could wipe my ass with it. I don't know what to say about it. I feel like you probably are in the same boat. I mean, you know, a lot of the things that I want to see elevated, a lot of the things I care about in sports are, you know,

have a political bent to them. For example, Title IX, if there's not a Department of Education, which has been the enforcing arm for Title IX, what does that look like in the future? And so yeah, I think there are a lot of question marks, you know, a lot of things about inclusive sports, about women's sports,

does the idea of protecting women's sports change? I mean, these are all, you know, open questions, things I worry about, but yeah, very much connected. Jane, I'm sorry to have laughed the entire time that you were talking very seriously about Title IX, but it's because Tony and Chris were whispering in my ear how I wouldn't actually be able to wipe my ass correctly with my I voted sticker.

Just one finger, you can really only stick it to the finger and be like, oh! First you gotta peel it off the cabinet. It's very small is what Jane says. Yeah, very small stickers. You need a roll of stickers. And we have those at a polling station you have a roll of stickers so you know maybe that's the better way to approach it what did you like best about this there is some pressure involved with doing this and I imagine some

responsibility with doing this because the caretakers for this volume tend to appreciate and respect what it is they their care taking so how much pressure as an honor how much pressure was this to do this time at it was a ton of pressure and as you know like rich dite stated last year i was on his advisor committee i kind of was with him as he agonized overall these different stories sending me you know do you think this one or that one you know which is better to me or can you know these three uh... you know is it kind of gets down to the sending me, you know, do you think this one or that one, you know, which is better? Give me your opinion on these three.

You know, as it kind of gets down to the wire and what you're going to include and what you're not, it is, it's really, you know, there's a lot of pressure because as you know, we writers, we really like to see our work honored. We like to see our names in these kinds of volumes. And so, but it's not just about, you know, me and my peers and who I know, it really is about including the best. And that means looking in corners right now where you don't always see a lot of long form that haven't necessarily been included in this volume. GQ, Esquire, Outside, all of these

magazine format places, outlets that are still really committed to doing great long form. And a lot of times now that's around sports. And a lot of our traditional long form outlets, as you know, have cut back, aren't there anymore, have folded, so it really is, it's a different kind of task now, I think, but you gotta do it right. Help me on the people who are listening to this, and very often people will come up to me

wanting to choose a career in writing and I would not advise it at the moment. And I would say that I learned at Pardon the Interruption. I remember I did a big magazine piece on Edwin James when I just started doing Pardon the Interruption and nobody there would read it or had any interest in reading it because they're like,

no, we do Bells and Whistles now, young man. We don't read long form magazine stories anymore. That's not what we're doing. You think what of the state of long form journalism and how much hope would you have for a young person who's saying, no, I would care deeply about choosing a profession where I get to write for a living because I'm curious about people. So I teach, I've taught for, you know, the last 15 years, 20 years, and every class I go around and I ask my students how they're consuming their sports information and their news. And I used to ask, who's your favorite writer? But I started getting Stephen A. Smith long after he left Philadelphia Inquirer covering

the Phillies. So people aren't reading as much anymore. But this year in my class class i had one student who said i'd like to read long form and i was energized all over again but yeah it is it's something that is uh... you know it's a it's a bit of a niche it's a total niche now uh... when it comes to how people are consuming news but

i would say you know look at a piece like sally jenkins piece on martina navratilova and chris evert and their friendship as they have developed, you know, through the years, but now also as they've both battled cancer. And that's a great piece of writing, but it also led the Washington Post website. Like you can do great work that gets great pickups still. People aren't doing as much of it and not as many people read it, but still, you know, it's a prestige piece for an outlet like the Washington Post.

And they're doing great work, and they're still putting together really quality reporting around that and investigative pieces as well. So I think if you wanna be, it really is what separates the wheat from the chaff, a traditional news outlet, a traditional journalism outlet from places that are just trying to get you to click

on the worst possible story in the world. In that vein vein Stugance I will tell you that while metal arc media was very proud of its Boston Red Sox Documentary and how popular it was I don't know if this is public yet But we are doing a documentary about Martina and Chris Everett that is it's been bought and it's gonna be amazing Because of what it is that that Jane is talking about here when she talks about the reporting of Sally Jenkins and well-told stories those women I imagine I don't know how many stories were in this volume was it 20 24 how many Yeah, it's 25 27. It's you know, usually that's the the barometer. That's how many you can squeeze in of that caliber

That story it was probably great just because Sally was doing it, but those two women are at ground zero of the women's sports movement that is now and are late in life with enough time to appreciate it. Their friendship and their entire story is fascinating. Totally, and what I love about this story that Sally wrote, and I'm sure your documentary is gonna be great as well, that the piece that Sally wrote actually has three main characters because she's

one of them as well. Her duration in the business, her relationships that go back with Martina and Chris, her familiarity with what it's been like in women's sports but in women's tennis in particular, that's all part of this story as well. She's almost the third character because without those relationships, you know, it's very difficult to tell a story like this. You've got to have the trust of the people to be able to have them open up to you about, you know, life threatening illness and, you know, incredible friendships and heartbreak and fear. I mean, that's all part of it as well. So I think, you know, again, that kind of storytelling and now, you know, now they're telling those stories, which is great. But that kind of storytelling is why this kind of long form is so important.

It's why kind of the institutional knowledge that comes with a reporter like Sally Jenkins is so important. Jane, another inspiring story this past year was written by our own Greg Cody. He joins us every Tuesday. He's with the Miami Herald. He wrote a great column about Conor McDavid

and the fact that he thinks he's overrated. Was that up for consideration at all or? Is that within the timeframe that I'm looking at? I have a very specific window, maybe next year? Oh really, so it could, okay, I don't know your windows. Yeah, so maybe it could be next year, huh? That's exciting for Grant. Absolutely. The only reason that was, it's a matter of timing,

otherwise clearly it would have been among the top 25 sports stories written this year. Yeah. There's an email inbox, Stu Gotz, where you can go ahead and submit that story. And I tell you, I read every single one of those, at least the first couple of graphs that got sent in. And that was, there were a lot of stories there,

a lot of stories. I don't think people- But also great caliber. I don't think people understand how time consuming and undertaking this is for you if you take it seriously. Number of hours that you put into this volume, again, this year's Best Sports Writing 2024 is available now.

Jane's upcoming book, The Fast Track, will be out in February of next year. Total number of hours put forth on this, and did you have an advisory committee the way that Richard Dyche did? I did indeed it was Sandy Padway, Richard Dyche, Kavitha Davidson and J.A. Adande and they were incredible and I didn't count you know who's counting the hours but it was it was nights and weekends for weeks. Can you give us what you believe to be the very best of all the stories I imagine

your entire advisory board might have a different answer to that question. But what, well, if it had made the timeline, obviously McDavid's overrated column would have been number one, yes. Absolutely. Yes. But absent that, because it wasn't in the timeframe, what would you say is the best story in the book? I mean, I think it's Sally Jenkins' piece

on Martina and Chris. I think that was fascinating. But I think everybody should go through and try to find their own one that i was super surprised by is from a place called long lead and it's about virginia craft a sports writer at sports illustrated back in the nineteen fifties and sixties who was there big game writer so lots of pictures of her standing next to a dead rhinoceros and and kind of weird and interesting but a real slice

of the past in that story very interesting uh... what would be your all-time advisory board if you could choose any for who would you choose all-time sports uh... okay jannet still clinton yates and sarah spain about that i know i'm not one of the. Congratulations Stu gots. One's not like the others. That is amazing that you snuck in there. Jane thank you for. Are you prepared to read? Stu? Are you actually? Are you prepared to do some reading? Not really I wrote a book though Jane, StuGotsBook.com. Me and, nice. Yes. Good plugs. It is a- We all got our plugs in.

It's a great question for you to ask and it disqualifies him immediately. Are you willing to read? And we all know, all of us had the same reaction to that. Nope, he's not gonna be on the advisory board. I have to do the audio book. It's the first time I'm gonna read my home book. You gotta do your own audio book?

You're gonna have an audio, oh, people are gonna want that. Your book has an audio version that's just you reading it? Yes, and you reading the forward. I want the unedited. Have you done that yet? No. Okay, cause that would sell.

That would sell, no the book's out in a couple of weeks. Hey what? The book is out, yes, the book is done. Jane, thank you for being on with us. We do appreciate the time. And also, just to be clear, it sounds like this thing is filled with politics. You're bullshit feminism.

Sounds like it's a whole bunch of women's stories is what's in this book. Whoa. I save that for my own book. This I tried to play a little straighter. So you've actually, you've got some men, you've got some male athletes in this book as well. I try to assure the love

uh... jane thank you i look forward to reading this every year uh... and i appreciate people who still take care with all of this stuff because they're they are fewer and fewer so it's nice to see you and thank you for tolerating our nonsense any time thank you very much that's on a weekly basis so why not today uh... thank you a podcasters it's mike ryan and let me tell you something the nbs got a lot Anytime. I tolerate your nonsense on a weekly basis, so why not today? Thank you. Hey podcasters, it's Mike Ryan. And let me tell you something, the NBA's got a lot going for it right now.

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Stugats It's the final nightgown This is the Dan Lebatar Show with the Stugats. Jamal Crawford is going to join us here in a little bit. He is a fun personality, the Stugats. People like him. He's likable. I don't know that we can say this for just about everyone in the media. I saw that Michael Strahan got into a bit of a controversy.

Chris, can you get me that sound, please, of Stugatz and Michael Strahan going at it legendarily many years ago when, I believe, I don't know why you got stuck with that interview by yourself. You had to leave for something. The Super Bowl was down here. You had to leave. I think you had an appearance. You were getting paid a lot for it and you had to leave the show early

and you left me alone with Michael Strahan. I don't know if it was an appearance or I just had to work to write a column. I don't know why it is you have me making these big Super Bowl appearances. I didn't get those until much later in my career. That was not at the beginning of my career. The Super Bowl paid appearances

were toward the end of my career. But Michael Strahan is a likable personality. Michael Strahan, one of the most amazing media careers I have ever seen. He took all of Tiki Barber's stuff and he became a national and international star well behind, well beyond his football fame. Billy, why are you making faces?

It's just concerning to hear you say at the end of your career. I'm sorry, Chris was talking to me and I didn't hear anything you said. It was just concerning to hear you say that you were getting the paid appearances at the end of your career. Yes, right, not at the beginning.

You getting paid Super Bowl appearances towards the end of your career. No, you said at the end of your career. The fact that it's that they're beginning you, getting paid Super Bowl appearances towards the end of your career. No, you said at the end of your career. The fact that it's the end, we don't work free. Well, you know why? It's because it's right now. Now is when I can get the big Super Bowl appearances. Even now being the end is concerning.

It's not great. Pepsi Smash is May 11th, so it definitely wasn't a Super Bowl. Okay, so it wasn't an appearance. For some reason, what I remember about this is that Stugots had the six to seven hour, and I'm going to guess this is around the LeBron James years that I had to keep going to the arena before these games to get to regular season game 17, because it was hugely important that everyone be there when they're getting to nine and eight.

For some reason. Those were the days, honestly. I think, is this about 14 years ago? Anyway, Stray Hand is in a controversy now. It's one of the dumb ones. Get ready for a lot of those over the next four years. Oh my God, what's coming in the next four years where Stray Hand is being swallowed by, he wasn't respecting the flag and the anthem enough because he didn't put his hand over his heart. It's just everyone else in the line had their hand on their heart.

So like they pan down and it's just, he's standing with his arms on his side, but he's standing like, I don't know, what are we doing here? Okay, well, what we're doing is stupid and get ready for a lot of that over the next four years. Where now you've got Jay Glazer coming out to defend his best friend.

Do you know how much he does for the military? Do you know how much money he gives and how many people who are veterans he helps because he was not disrespecting the flag but we're very much going to go from hey Kaepernick you're not only banned for kneeling in front of the flag straight hand if you want to be a beloved American football icon you will put on your hand on your heart in front of the flag like good Americans Brad Sean Howie Long and Jimmy Johnson like rock like good American like good white Americans his dad brought assistant cousins also so I think he knows how to

know but he's running somebody off away from his home apparently he threw a cell phone into a bush and it's the angriest that Michael Strahan has has been in public come on man allowed this dude to hold a tiny white woman's hand on morning television but are you realizing what a ridiculously likable figure you have to be a stray hand in order to be allowed to do that progress here is michael stray hand getting really mad it's to god mike you're in the news a lot lately because of your divorce and And what seems like it's a ridiculous amount of money

If we're gonna talk about football, I was told I'm talking about a Pepsi smash and football then we can talk about that But I don't want to get on just like I don't talk to the papers about that Right because I'm not gonna give somebody something so that they can make more news. And I prefer not to do this to make your show get any better ratings than I'm sure it already gets. I was just gonna ask if you're tired of talking about it. I guess the answer is yes. I don't talk about it. And I was told I wasn't gonna talk about it on the radio

and you're gonna try to come out of left field and kind of get me with it. But I'm from New York, my friend. I do radio all the time. And I'm gonna set you up before we even go there before you ruin this road the relationship that you and i have fair before we go there let's talk about the country's national reason but i agree to talk to you fair enough michael fair enough just was gonna ask if you're sick of it apparently you are that was a nice guy you know what you gotta hit

but don't ask me about the test it all but i have no it doesn't matter what you can't make i'm telling you what we're going to talk about we're talk You gotta, like I always say, ask me about the Pepsi. Don't go, I was gonna ask, it doesn't matter what you were gonna ask me. I'm telling you what we're gonna talk about. We're gonna talk about Pepsi Smash and how it's gonna be great, how us as players, we enjoy going, we enjoy being around the musicians, and we, because we're big fans of theirs,

and hopefully they're big fans of ours. And there we go. Cruisin' along, interview my friend, you have a great time, enjoy the Super Bowl. Thank you, Michael, we appreciate it. An absolute masterpiece by Strahan. Seriously, got the plug in, got the promo in, and then hung up on me.

Jeremy is wincing the entire time. That my friend is like a flounder to the face. Oh my God. Why'd you leave me? Lehman's dad. It looks like this might have been in 2009, so Stu Gatz was right about the Super Bowl aspect of it.

It was a Super Bowl Pepsi Smash concert, I think, in Tampa maybe 2009, but that was pre-Big 3 era, so that mystery still remains. Okay, so we still don't know why it is that I wasn't on the show. This clip says January 16,, 2014. Whatever that means. Maybe we saved it again in 2014. Okay, I don't know that that's very good producing by you, just to give me a date that's in your computer system. I don't think that that's a fact any more than Tony had a fact

when he decided to quote a YouTube gamer on Jared Goff stat that was then repeated by Aaron Rodgers yesterday. You saw that Mr. Civ put up a stat that a lot of us thought was real because we didn't look at it But no biggie. Okay, we just take it and run with it. That's the thing about showbiz say this that again the ridiculous That's not games, baby. Exactly off the top of my head. I think it was Jared Goff has thrown Five interceptions four different times these four different times any six in those games. You got it wrong. Trendsetter. I don't think that's right. I don't care what it was. You bought it. That he was apparently six and oh in games where he had thrown four or more

interceptions and he not only bought it, he quoted his fact as part of his top five. Again, I said, according to Mr. Siv. You did. You did put it on your basis. You missed Aaron. Aaron did not say according to Mr. Siv. I did shifting the blame towards Mr. Siv, not towards me. The accountability, not the blame. You need to get it right. So now he'd be 7 and 0. Yes.

But there's a chance that Aaron Rodgers was watching the show. Obviously, big fan of the show, big fan of you guys. And he saw the top five. Yeah, he used to be. He used to be. Sold the top five was like, bam, I'm going to take that for me. And then said it, and then everybody else agreed with him. And then.

He stole it from you. Aaron Rodgers is like a lot of people. He's stealing money from the Jets. Our relationship with Aaron Rodgers has changed a great deal over the last couple of years. It's probably the dripping sound. It is. It is probably what we lost him on.

There are so many people, Stugats, who write in to remind me and tell me some form of, I'm with McAfee now. I've left you. Too much politics is where it is that somebody writes in, for example, the LeBatard show has lost me. I know that doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things but i'm sure i'm not the only one

been listening religiously for over eight years every single day it's sad really because i love the show and everyone on it but i've unfollowed it and the reasoning is because i've got a woke brain i hit send on that where we watching a game together next week, Chris Cody? This is very exciting, Dan. Next Thursday, November 21st, our show, I know I'll be there, I know Mike Ryan will be there,

I can't speak. I will be there. Tony will be there. Me too. We are watching Thursday Night Football, and it's at our spot. It's at our spot. Oh, I can't believe this happened, Dan!

I can't believe it happened! Flanigans, our show, Flanagan's, Thursday Night Football, Miller Lite Collision Course. Join us this Thursday, November 21st, well it's next Thursday, November 21st, Flanagan's in North Miami Beach, that's 13205 Biscayne Boulevard, for our Thursday Night Watch Party,

presented by our friends at Miller Lite, it's Steelers versus Browns, and it tastes like Miller time, and we're looking forward to it. Flanagan's. That's good. Roy, you're really good at that. Roy, Roy, Roy, you're better.

You're better. Roy, Roy, I think we need to schedule you the night of this watch party. And I need to, as a punishment, grid of death punishment, you need to spend the whole show talking as Flanagan. You do well as the Flanagan's voice, and we need to celebrate Flanagan's because it is an American Miami institution.

We are big fans of this place, so we've gotta do it correctly. Roy, you gonna be there? I wasn't planning on it. But now I will. What, a Browns game? It is weird. Steelers, Browns, you know.

It's an odd choice by our show. No, A.S.L. North matching. Flanagan's basically in Orlando also. That is easy. I don't understand, I don't think Stu gots and I'll be there I'm not sure what happened here Why it's a Steelers game and not a Dolphins game not sure what we're doing with Flanagan's is this metal arc poor planning? This is great planning by us. I'm looking forward to it. I'll be there

I'll be with Miller light and Mike will be there and Tony will be there sure we're gonna be crushing it Dan If you want to see us in our element question what atannie. Nachos, crushing, chicken wings, ribs, the chicken stickers, the blackened mahi, everything. The food is good. The food is, this is a special place to us, to our show. I might have to go just to eat nachos. Jamal Crawford next. Football season is here and there is absolutely nothing better than game day. But it can be a little bit stressful. You're placing bets, you're setting fantasy lineups, you're figuring out the most comfortable

position to sit on your couch for the next 12 hours. No one has time to think about this part. Cooking. Well, thanks to DoorDash, you don't have to worry about that. DoorDash is the best place to order all your game day favorites. Chicken wings, nachos, burgers, dogs, hey, maybe even a little chips and guac, something like that. Get a little salsa in there.

It can all be delivered with DoorDash. So this football season, don't stress about the cooking. Kick back and enjoy game day thanks to DoorDash. DoorDash, your door to more. Download the DoorDash app now to order your game day favorites. on us. Plus four lines for 25 bucks. That's quite a deal, Snoop. Not to mention at T-Mobile, you can save on every plant versus the other big guys. Respect. Now drop that joke. See how you can save on wireless and streaming versus the other big guys at T-Mobile.com

slash switch. Apple Intelligence available now. Don LeBretard. I had Rachel and Emma both home and I was in a fight with Rachel and I said, if you roll your eyes one more time, there's gonna be a problem a big problem And she said really what are you gonna do? Stugats. Oh god damn. I mean that's where I didn't have an answer. This is the done. LeBata show with the Stugats We always enjoy talking to this guy. He's a lot of fun. He's going, what's happening right now?

What is this? You can't do this to Jamal Crawford. What are you doing? Dan, the NFL news, it never stops. It's still NFL season, according to Kevin Bowen. No. Shane Steichen says the Colts are going back to Anthony Richardson this two days after Steichen saying Joe Flacco

would start against the Jets. This is disrespectful to a man with a 20 year career, six man, best six man ever. I'm trying to introduce somebody here. Maybe that was big news too. It's not big news. That's not big news. Shaking his head yes.

Jamal, you're, what? That's big news? Dan, that was big news. We gotta respect and appreciate that. It was, I gotta be honest. No, I gotta respect and appreciate you. That's not, what, we're introducing a basketball segment and he's telling me about a quarterback change

for a four and six team. I mean, in the hunts. In the mix, exactly right. Big deal, coming back to the kid. Yes. Jamal, you can't agree with this saying in the mix? You can't say that. Hey, Dan, I can adjust.

That's why I became a six man. I'm fluid. I can adjust. I'm good. I'm good. All right. So Jeremy Tashay says that Tyler Hero last night had a game for all time. It's a career game for Tyler Hero.

I feel like Jamal Crawford had that game a bunch of times, but did you ever hit 10 threes in a game Jamal? That's a good question Dan. I didn't hit 10, but I did hit 8 in a row before missing one. So I've gotten pretty hot at times, but nah Tyler, I saw the work he put in actually this summer. So it's translating really well and he's playing great right now. Well you must, we've talked about this with you before, just how great it would have been if you had been born 15 years later and played in today's game

where everyone realized, oh, just let him shoot all the threes. That's all he should be doing. All the threes. Yeah, what are we doing? But Shaq says it's ruining the game. Shaq says it's why people aren't watching. Where are you on that?

Somewhere in the middle. I think the threes are needed, but I would love threes from from guys who are like the best at shooting them. I don't want everybody shooting threes. I think that becomes you know a little bit watered down. I would love to see you know the three-point attempts are great but let's let's have a nice balanced palette and I think if you mix those in and you can

draw some fans back in and when possession still meant something, I think that's what the fans want when the competition is at its highest level. Jamal, I think what's having a greater impact on maybe the lack of interest in the NBA, especially during the regular season, is fans not knowing when they're going to the game, not knowing if that superstar that they want to go see is going to be available that night. How do you feel about this with Joellen Bede and Paul George, Kawhi Leonard and others, just taking a lot of games off, man? Well, just in general, when this first came in, I think like 12, 13, 14, whenever it was,

I always thought let's load manage and practice. There's a kid out there right now whose parents bought him tickets for months in advance and they're sitting in the four or 300 level. And they're so excited to see their favorite player just to find out in the way of their game that their favorite player isn't playing like that's disheartening it's unbelievably wrong in so many ways and I think it kills you know spirits especially the young people I always thought like if there's so many

games in so many days let's let's let's low manage practice and then they'll be ready to go for the game so they're ready to perform. I'd like to talk to you a little bit more about stuff that's happening in the news right now. Clay Thompson goes back last night and I don't know if this registered with other people, but Jamal, it seems to me that all of that is an increasingly rare thing where a guy can go back to a place that genuinely loves and appreciates what he did,

no hard feelings and we're going to celebrate you and we're going to have, you know, Steph's going to want to speak before the game and everyone's going to be wearing captain hats and it's going to be genuinely moving to see you interact with employees that you brought happiness and championships to. Why is that so rare now? It seems like that kind of honest, sincere, syrupy moment is no longer available as it used to be. To me, that's the old NBA. And what I mean by that is this, when I was growing up watching the Lakers,

it was magic. It was Kareem, it was worth it. You could identify those guys because they were with the team for seven, eight, nine years. The Celtics had Bird and McHale and Parrish and DJ. You could identify. So it made you love the team and the player. The fact that it's so much turnover now with contracts being shorter, you know,

guys stand here, you look up to like, Oh, you got traded there. You never know. But the fact Clay was able to go back after being there, that tenure and all the success they had, and he was genuinely loved. I think he felt that we felt it it watching it, just as fans, it was unbelievable and incredible in it. And like you said, Dan, it was extremely rare. So I'm not sure we'll see that at that level again,

unless it's one of the pillar guys that we see, like the Currys. I wanna ask the group though on this, because LeBron, great as he is, he's a mercenary. He's bounced around. You never get, well, I'm not gonna say never, but it's rare to get the happy ending you want in the city that you wanted for him to leave

and go back and get love, while Paul George is saying, why are they booing me in Los Angeles? Like what, why, I just. But you know what I mean? Like Paul George is saying that why are they booing me on my return to the Clippers? Give me some of the other times that we've seen this happen recently

where a guy is allowed to go back and it's all good feelings. It's all positive vibes. It's not a bad breakup or, or, or, you know, Kawhi Kawhi is a nomad. Who does Kawhi belong to as an allegiance given how he left in San Antonio? Who gets this? I would say LeBron got it when he went back to Cleveland. And just because the championship that he brought and they had never had one in their history, they're forever indebted. And the fact that he came back after he left, right? And then he brings the championship there.

It helps, obviously, the charge of bringing the championship there. I would say he's the one guy I could think of offhand that got the love they deserved when they went back to their city. It's difficult to have an enduring memory like that. Do you have an allegiance to their city. It's difficult to have an enduring memory like that. Do you have an allegiance to one city more than all others that you feel in your heart?

Like that the relationship is a real thing? I would say the Knicks. I was in the jerseys over my shoulder right now, but I was there the longest. So I would say there, I would say the Clippers as well. I think those two stand out, but it goes hand in hand because I was there the longest at both places So I think those two I have more of an allegiance to than the rest

But I still get a lot of love when I was in San Francisco for 54 games and they steal all the security around like oh Like like I was there for years and I was literally there for a half a season So yeah, I have good relationships with those two stand out above the rest. How far can the next go Jamal? relationships with those who said about the rest how far can the next go to ma the skies a little for are said that when the trade happened they lost some things but they gave some things i thought they would struggle a little bit more the regular season they did the year before about that they could have more postseason success because i think they're built

more for that when the game slows down you don't go into this deep into your bench yet more days rest uh... i think they're built more for the playoffs actually. Where are you as the MSG Networks broadcaster for the Knicks on loving last year's team and the Hartenstein grit and the Brunson grit

and the Hart grit versus, oh, here comes this super talented guy, but we think he's soft. We don't think he's about grit, but we kind of got him specifically for him being. Yeah, I think you couldn't have this year without last year. You needed last year to take that stepping stone. Even for star players, when they see that a team is going

in the right direction, hey, if I fit in over here, this could be a perfect place for me if something ever did happen. That team last year built what was coming for the future and I think both were needed You had to have that foundation you had to have Brunson kind of be the lead dog and then see what that was like And now he has somebody to run with him that Complements his skill set the team skill set they may struggle in the beginning parts because they got to work out the kinks They lost a lot

But like I said, we know what they're playing for. They kind of graduated to being one of those teams that be judging the playoffs. Jamal, settle an argument for us. Billy and I have been engaged in rigorous debate. Billy, you want to present your argument to Jamal on what it is that you've been arguing as it regards Eric Spolstra? I was saying that Eric Spolstra, so yesterday I don't know if you caught it Jamal, Eric Spolstra called a time out that he did not have

and then ends up giving a technical free throw to the other team, they end up losing the game. He's an astute basketball observer, you don't have to heat-splain to him. Well I don't know if he was doing it, maybe he was out to dinner, I don't know. No, I saw that, I saw that. And also the audience, not everybody may have seen it.

So anyways, the point being, Dan was saying that this is gonna haunt him for the rest of his life. And I said, eh, it's the 10th game of the season. Like, you know, it'll probably bother him a little bit. I'm sure last night was tough for him, but like at the end of the year, you know, when he's like 85 years old, you know,

50 years from now or whatever it is, like I'm pretty sure he'll be fine. He won two titles, like He'll be okay with this. He will be okay. Now to present my side of the argument, I believe that this will haunt him on his deathbed. You know what? I think, Dan, to be very, very honest,

and here on both sides, I think you both have some valid points. I think you're both right. Thank you. You gotta pick a side. You gotta pick one. No, no, I'm about to tell you why. This is why.

Dan, you're absolutely right. I think Spowe is one of the best ever to ever coach a basketball game. And when you're that great, the little things you never forget. You will never forget that time out. He will remember this 85, when he's 85 years old, for sure. I'm not sure I'll haunt him, but he'll remember it.

But on the other side of it, he is a champion, multi-time, he is proven. He'll get over it, he'll, at that point, he'll remember it, he'll acknowledge it, but it multi-time, he is proven. He'll get over it, at that point. He'll remember it, he'll acknowledge it, but it won't haunt him, I think he'll get over it. So both of y'all are right. Is it possible that he let the Emirates Cup, NBA Cup, the moment was too big for him

and he just lost his bearings there? The ISD, yeah. Yeah, no, actually I coached AAU and I literally was just stealing a a play from spore the day before It was a side out of balance play and it was late in the game He he ran a confusion screen that somebody end up getting a layup on where he calls the switch I forgot who they're playing just other day. So no, he's one of the best ever. What do you have that most haunts you? What's the one before I go to Chris Cody's impersonation of Eric Spolstra on his deathbed haunted by this,

I'm gonna give him some time to think about it. What is the one moment above all others that still haunts you? When we were up 19 at home against Houston, and we did not close that out. We were already looking forward to playing the Western Finals against Golden State. I'll never forget JJ Reddick, like he calls me fam.

He's like, fam, you ever been to the elite, you know, elite eight or final four in college? I'm like, no, I was there half a year. Have you ever been to conference finals? He's like, that's a totally different thing. He said, we're one game away. We were up three one and we never won another game. So that will always haunt me because that team,

I felt like was built to get to the finals and play in the championship round. That's a terrible job by JJ. I mean, he jinxed you guys. He did. No, he did not jinx us. No, he didn't. He's doing great as a coach, as a first year coach. So no, he did not jinx us.

He's doing well. Don't let the record reflect what he's doing. They have more movement. It's not like before I thought the Lakers were playing kind of like 90s style basketball was very isolation heavy come down pass to the post and just play from there or whatever. Now they have way more movement they'll be better. You mentioned don't let the record fool you. We were talking about the Dolphins earlier we were thinking now with Tua back the Dolphins kind of still in the mix what

do you think? Yeah I think I think you would be correct They're not in the mix Make the argument because if they're in the mix everybody's in the mix You got to admit that everybody's in the mix if they're in the mix. Hey, we're playing to those zeros on the clock They're still in the mix if they're in the mix. Hey, we're playing to the zeros on the clock. They're still in the mix, all right? Colts made a move because they knew. Dolphins in the mix.

Let's hear from Eric Spolstra on his deathbed very late in life. Don't have long, Dan. I still think back to November 12th, 2024. Why do you become British? It's Scranton. On a boat. Whoa, we're back on board. It's a boat. I blew it, Dan, I blew it.

I haven't gotten over it. You sound like a founding father. You sound like a white-powdered wig. Spoh, I had nothing to do with this spoh. I had nothing to do with this. Terrible. Me neither, Spoh. Just terrible.

Just what was that? Not my best. It was... I'm trying to channel with the second. Terrible. Me neither, Spoh. Just terrible. Just what was that? Not my best. It was. I'm trying to channel an old Spoh. All right. I don't know why I had him like this. All right, Jamal, before we let you go, I saw that you were on Lou Williams' podcast.

Are you a better sixth man than him? Yes or no? Don't sit on the fence. Just yes or no? I would always bet on myself, Dan. Yeah. I would always bet on myself, Dan. Yeah. I would always bet on myself. But do you tell him when you're talking to him,

I'm a better six man than you, or does that never ever come up? It never comes up, it really doesn't, because Lou, if you had me pick another six man, it'd be him and Monty, every time. So I always give him his respect and flowers, he does the same thing. Not Mikael, huh?

Okay, so not Mikael, Mikael is not in there, no. He's not's not. Wait, I'm saying from my era. I didn't play against Mikael. Sorry. My apologies. Mikael is, oh, come on. Mikael is all time great, but I didn't play against him. I'm saying from who I played against, who I actually seen and faced on another side of the pillow. We play a game around here, shot for your life, Jamal, okay? Steph Curry, okay? You have to pick one of these two guys you can't pick yourself okay. If the guy hits the shot you're living. If he misses. We know what the game means.

I just want to make sure he knows and the audience. You don't mean to explain it to him. He understands the game. Shot for your life. I got it. Here are your choices okay. And be very careful here okay.

Steph Curry or Larry Bird. Shot for your life. Yep. Be life. Yep. Be careful. Careful. I'm going Larry Ledger. Yeah, you are living! Wow!

I'm going Larry Ledger. Jamal Ledger! Jamal, that's asinine. What? What you're saying is asinine, Jamal. Steph Curry is a better three-point shooter in any way anyone would do the metrics Hold on Dan. You didn't say three-point shot. You said shot for your life. That's right mid-range

That could be in the post that could be anywhere a shot for your life I'm going Larry legend Larry Bird was the first pro actually see I snuck in the Sonic's game I was like eight or nine They were up here playing and he was the first pro I seen make like nine shots in a row and I It may have been 16. I finally start counting and he hit nine like it was just that size shot just effortless Larry Bird I got to go Larry. What is the most you've ever made in practice? Were you ever counting and got to a number that represents the highest number of consecutive threes you made in practice? It was probably I think I got to the 20 something

It was never like crazy like Steph went 110 or whatever it was. I think it was like 20 something. I missed one May 15 or 18 again in a row. So it was probably 39 out of 41, but it wasn't like 100. Wildly unimpressive. Nobody's impressed. Exactly, it was not that great.

It was not that great. But when you were talking- But he's alive. He is alive. Yeah, I'm alive. But when you were talking to Lou Williams You also told him the story of once losing while gambling a car That's a fact that is absolutely a fact and it was not Jordan. It was I heard the rumors Jordan

We debunked that whole thing on the pivot, but no I actually was I was actually Shooting dice with somebody I shouldn't have been shooting dice with I got in over my head and I start air betting on if you know what that means but it's basically like I lost the cash I had so then when I lost the cash I was technically out the game so I had to bet on somebody else why they were shooting air money and it got so deep instead of giving the cash I said I'll give my car and I took my basketball off the trunk and gave him the car. True story. And you were a rookie and what kind of car was? Yeah, I was a rookie.

I was a rookie. It was a Mercedes. It was a S, a S430. It was a Mercedes. It is the truth. That's the big one. Yeah, it was an S430. And what was that ride home like?

I was a passenger and it wasn't Uber then. I think I took a taxi. It wasn't like I had nothing good that I came when I was in the back of a yellow cab. It was no longer his car. But you just gave the... It wasn't my car. He drove off with your registration?

Like just, that's it? Just left the place? That was it. You're getting bogged down on semantics here. I know, I know. But you know what? I'm so happy that that happened earlier in my career because obviously I made more money and that habit

was gone. It was completely gone. So I learned a lesson. That was a growth area for me. Any particular reason you don't name the player? No, it wasn't a player. It wasn't a player. It wasn't a player.

Okay. I'm sorry. You're of a different kind. No, no, no. Don't be. You should be like, you know what? That was a great lesson you learned because I saved so much not doing that again. That was a dumb, that was 19, I think 19 or 20,

it was a dumb mistake. So no, I'm actually thankful it happened. I was embarrassed at the time, but I'm actually thankful it happened. I learned from it. I was actually, I meant to say before I got to the back of it, I was just saying, I'm sorry for your loss, which was literal is what I was going to say.

But you're saying it's not a loss, it's a net gain. I got a lifetime of wisdom because I was a 19 year old idiot. That's a fact. It wasn't a loss. It was a lesson. Good talking. He bounced back. Yes, he did bounce back. It seems to have worked out. I bounced back. I'm strong. It seems to have worked out. Congratulations to all.

And he's living. Yeah. Hey, Larry, shout to the shot. I'm living. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Season's Greetings, podcast audience. It's Mike Ryan. And now is that time of year where you start hosting your family gatherings, be it Thanksgiving, be it the upcoming holiday season, you're gonna have some folks in town, you're gonna be doing some entertaining. So why don't you make your family time a Miller time?

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