The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz - Local Hour: Many Miami Mannys (feat. Brad Williams & Some Kid From UM)

Episode Date: January 16, 2026

"Keep it short?" Stephen Ross is displaying the behavior of a sloppy person in the way he's handled the Dolphins' coaching search, and Dan Soder has some words for him, and, unfortunately, the entire city. Also, Tony is on the University of Miami campus interviewing a random student, and Brad Williams drops in to make a pick for the game, but derails the show. Today's cast: Dan, Zaslow, Chris, Jeremy, Mike, Roy, and Tony. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Folks, I'm getting hungry, and you know my favorite part of any meal, snack, or game day app? That's right. The goat, or should I say, the greatest of all time? Frank's Red Hot! It's got the perfect blend of flavor and heat that elevates all foods from wings to Buffalo chicken dip to even ice cream. That's right, I said ice cream. And with a roster of flavors from OG to sweet chili, you can put that shit on everything.

So make every dish the greatest and eat the goat. I'm nervous, Dan. Because? Well, we have a great guest coming on today. Chris Fowler. It's one of my favorites. I like it. Matter of fact, some may say he's a colleague of mine.

And I feel like, I don't know. Like, I want to impress him. You've struggled there this week. Diana Rusini and Nick Wright. You're doing Zaz stuff in front of the media. elite and you've stumbled a couple times. Yeah, and I wasn't nervous around any of them, but it's Chris Fowler. I don't know, a lot of pressure I feel, you know. And so what are you worried about? Today's show is a bit crazy, right? We're ramping up until Monday when we just

throw the entire kitchen sink of Gallocho. Everything that has ever been in Miami is going to be thrown at Monday. But today we're warming up for that by just basically calling everyone we know for predictions. So at any point during the show, somebody can stop by, and it's just going to be who you got, Indiana, Miami. If they say the wrong thing, we'll immediately get rid of them. If they say the correct thing, we'll talk to them for a long time. And you're worried what, that this is going to happen during Chris Fowler? Yes. Yes. And he won't think that that's, like, worth his time, you know? He's a busy guy. And so you think he's going to blame you instead of me on that? Well, I think it's guilt by a socioccur.

at the very least, right? Are you guys worried about this at all? Because I want to have as many voices talking about this game as possible, but that is a pretty signature voice to have and to interrupt him for, say, I don't know, Brad Williams might be strange. I don't know.

I feel like that's exactly what we want this show to be. It's been that kind of week. Yeah, but Zaz is scared. It's been that kind of week, and Zaz has played nervous some this week, but he hasn't said before, or a show, I'm nervous. Right.

Like, I like, I like, I like, this is Chris Fowler. That's the point. This is Chris Fowler. And we got Tony on campus. This is exciting, Dan. They actually let us on campus. Is that right? I don't think we told anybody.

It's just a campus. You can walk on. Oh, yeah, Pabloito. What's good, bro? Oh, yeah, most of the Pida, me hent. How Cuban? Are you, okay? Billy Corbin.

If I know anything, I know you're not Cuban. It's Propting Nagan. Correcta! It's hard to learn in South Florida about Cuban things when you live in Broward. It's Propting Nagian. Name a single flaw. He's a dork. What you put in that aluminum thing?

Here we'll be, to be a bit of who is a Cubano, repentio. Two collas. It's Propting Nagan. I don't know what Tauqua is. I don't know what Tauco is. Oh, Jesus. For your mother. I imagine it would be like your mama.

Por tu Mard. Saludo. Más save the diablo for viejo than for diablo. Is this a Cuban expression? What the hell does this mean? How do we feel?

De lo huracane. Composa, is that like the raspberry compost they do on Great British baking show? Oh yeah, the jurekane. Guess what we're doing the party? We're doing it at Bird Bowl. He had Cuban coffee

for the very first time. He thought he was having a heart attack. You hit La Casuela, bam, bam, and that's what that is. It's propped in naked. How'd I do? Dave Dunn, what's your favorite Cuban dish?

What we're there we're in? Hey, careful. Batelita of Guayava, patelita. No, Guayava, no. This taco with baby powder the same thing? Yes, you doofus. All right. What kind of Cuban are you?

Ah, patenteca-cocca. Are you a bread chaser? Because they have them right here, dude. Oops, there goes another rubber tree plant. It's Brock Ding, Ney. I am not quite ready for everything that cometh this way. I am not ready for today's show. We've got some sound I have to get to of Darren

of Eric Spolstra and weirdly of Dan Soder. But before we get to the bigger sounds, I need to do some calisthenics around here with just the sounds at my availability today. What sounds do I have available today to get people fired up? Okay, Jessica snoring is not a sound that's going to get anybody fired up. I thought that was doctored. People have to think that's doctored. People have to think that we're faking that. can you get me any of the Zaz messups from this week to

The Packers winner, the Bears lose. Get me a different one. Shitty, you want to know how that? What were the kids doing? Shitty you want to know how that? What were the kids doing? Get me fired up for the Miami game with some of the sounds that we have. Give me some different.

Yeah, that's a good one. I want to give all the glory to God. Yeah, that's not bad. It's propting. No, something bigger than that. Oops, there goes another rubber tree plant. Well, I'm ready. Perfect.

I'm ready now, too. Let's, before we get to the Spoh sound, because the heat haven't had a lot of things like this where you're watching the coach take out a player. You didn't understand what I was trying to ask? I would love somebody who's listening to yesterday's show. Let's play the whole sound. from yesterday. Somebody who didn't hear yesterday's show and it's just listening to

today's, I would love for them to try to translate what Zaz was talking about here. Did you want to know how that, what were the kids doing? So this is what I'm worried about with Fowler. Like one of you is going to decide it's fun to play that for Fowler and then I'm disgraced. You mean like asking a guest what's the hardest thing about the life? The Spoh sound is not something you'll see a lot of in, he's history, the coach putting his voice publicly. They keep this stuff private unless they're trying to embarrass somebody. Dan, I don't think we've heard Eric Spolstra speak this way about a player since

where? Can you guys get for me before we get to that, though, the sound of Darren Waller on Johnny Mansell's podcast. Before we get to the stuff he had to say about Tua, which I thought was interesting, it turns out he's the guy who was in the exit meeting that I was telling you guys about that was just sitting there. And it happened the way that I told you it happened, where Waller's just sitting there across from McDaniel and then listen to what happens next. I was at the scene of the crime, bro.

I think I was the last person that saw him before he got fired. My exit meeting was that Thursday morning, and he's like, definitely wants you back next year and we're just like reflecting on the year. And then Stephen Ross kicked the door. And he comes in and joins a conversation. We're just all talking, reflecting on the year. And then the conversation kind of hits a low.

And I'm sitting across the desk from Mike. Stephen Roth is standing there just kind of looking. at me like it's time for you to get the hell out i looked at mike he was like we'll finish this conversation later because i didn't know they had the gm search was was in full flow i didn't know what they had big business talk about like so i go out the meeting i go downstairs and get a massage i come up from the massage check my phone he's fired and i'm like damn like that's fast to go from the meeting room mcdaniel thinks he's has a job to coming out of the massage and it's already in the news like it's already they've already released it uh and mcdaniel was the last to know i i would have to be

of the opinion that, you know, certainly it's sloppy the way Stephen Ross handled it. Why didn't he fire him on Black Monday? Why did McDaniel have the impression that he was staying? He's doing exit interviews. African American Monday. But I would have to figure that the new general manager, maybe even several of them that they were interviewing, said we should move on. Like I would go in a different direction. I think it's interesting that if I'm right about that, I think it's interesting that Stephen Ross decided, okay, I'll fire him.

I'm not going to hire you and make you fire him. McDaniel ends up, okay, in a situation where this is a little bit embarrassing. And his friend, Dan Soder, the comedian, a childhood friend of Mike McDaniels, was all manner of pissed off about this. Is this the We Must Be Drunk Podcast? Well, he'll get a gig, right? Somewhere else? Absolutely. In fact, I think he's better off because I think, and listen to me right now, I think it's a shit organization.

I think it's ran by an old. that stab Mike in the back after he told him he was going to be alright for another season and fuck the dolphins. And honestly, fuck Miami as a comedy town. When having a friend that's an NFL coach,

you notice you listen more when people talk about your friend. Uh-huh. And Troy Aikman shits on McDaniel in a way that I'm like, he doesn't like Mike. Whoa. And me and my friend Chad, who grew up with Mike, were like, Chad was the first one was like,

I bet Aikman had something to do with it. And then I was just like, Troy Aikman. Looking like white Jay-Z. Quarterback that was falling off. Tua stinks. But people, listen, I think McDaniel got fired because he tied himself to Tua and they lost. That's a sign of my friend being loyal.

So, like, as a friend, I go, yeah, he stuck with him. And I hope the next team he goes to, the quarterback goes, well, this guy stuck with him, so I believe in him. Yeah. So I'll fucking play for it. I just hope McDaniel goes and wins. 10 Lombardi trophies and then shoves them up the owner of the Dolphins

asshole one at a time and I hope the dolphins never win another game you're stupid your old logo's better your new logo looks like a penis jumping through a new Vering your fans don't know ball a couple of them at the stadium

it was like crazy watching them not knowing to cheer on third down Jesus Christ I'm that whole organization Okay so he's mad. Thank you, Mike, for the help there. The thing that I was noticing Zaslow during that,

and I understand the sound is spicy, but I was noticing the Mark Norman sounds and only the Mark Norman sounds, and the reason I was noticing them is because before I did his show with Sam, Sam told me he doesn't know anything about sports. So the sounds of Mark Norman coming out of him are like, wow, but he doesn't care at all about just about anything. Dan Soder's just railing against something that Mark Norman doesn't care about. And me and my friend. He had good contributions, I thought. He did.

That's a proper reaction when shoving 10 Lombardi trophies up, Stephen Ross's asshole. Ten's ridiculous. Nine, maybe, but ten. He's 85 years old. You've got to go to the grave. You've got to win him in a row. At 85 years old, you've got to think the second one being shoved up there probably kills him. There's a lot to talk about in the Miami Heat organization.

Before we get to that, though, the sound he also dropped in there, and I'm curious whether any of you care about this part. Maybe you don't. I believe Dan Sutter when he says, my friend was told he has another year, and now where are we on that? Like that particular detail, that particular detail of what are you guys doing?

Because Ross is sloppy. That's exactly what... Ross is sloppy. I would imagine Ross told him, I'm not firing you. It's why Black Monday came and went, and McDaniel's still the coach. African American Monday. And then he hired a GM who wants to move on.

And, okay, like, he's going to move on. He's sloppy. I don't think Dan was really wrong about anything there. Hey, the Miami being a shit comedy town. Come on now. Okay, fair enough. And honestly, I, B'Hm Miami as a comedy town. The fans that don't know Ball, I actually think that's fair.

But, I mean, yes, even Ross. probably didn't handle this, right? I mean, we can tell from where we're sitting, right, without knowing much. Mike McDaniel was saying that he was going to be involved in the GM process, that is a little sloppy. And I can certainly understand why anyone close to Mike McDaniel would feel like this was handled incorrectly. We're going to have Darren Waller through here for a South Beach session. I find him refreshing. Listen to what it is that he is saying here, though, as it relates to us. as have you heard any of this sound where he's talking about a teammate and being in a huddle and being in a locker room where you're not sure if your friend and teammate and leader's head

is right? But I was watching most of the training camps. I'm on the sideline. I'm watching this man throw darts every practice, bro. Like, it was just like, what the fuck am I watching? Like, I'd never seen the anticipation and the accuracy out there. So it's like, I think from my standpoint, the skill set for him is still there. Well, I think, like, maybe some of, like, the disconnect comes from, like, seeing it translate,

I think there might be, like, some, there could be some, like, trauma still store, like, in his body from, like, what he's gone through, like, with the head injuries and stuff. Because there's a book called The Body Keeps the Score, which is, like, the number one book about, like, trauma. And they talk about how trauma was first with, like, war veterans and, like, what they went through there. And, like, they'll come home and they'll see, like, a car sitting by itself in a grocery store, parking lot, but they're in their body and their brain will tell them like that car is about has an explosive in it when it's just like a car sitting at Publix or something. And so I think

like in what like I can notice him like trying to make things happen like in the game. Like he's trying to pull the trigger, but it's almost like his his body and like his system won't allow him to do that. Yeah, you know what I'm saying? So I think I feel like if there's a way for him to find some healing in that regard, I think the skill set is definitely still there like you said. Can you imagine as we diagnose this very poorly while watching, just imagining dropping back in traffic in the particular traffic of football and having any kind of hitch anywhere in your body that's a short circuit on, well, I can do this over here, but now I've got post-traumatic stress disorder because the wiring in my brain's not right. You will never get that information from to a while

he's playing at a microphone. You will never get honesty about that. So any criticism of him that it doesn't have that in it is a little bit empty, I think, because all of us would short circuit if what he's describing, you're walking down the street, living a life, and you think every car is going to explode. And I just can't imagine playing that sport that way. You can't play that sport unless you're 100% free-flowing. I think we saw it, right? Like, I think it's a perfectly reasonable explanation or observation that Darren Waller is giving a stare. But it's not in any of the criticism of Tua. Like the criticism of Tua doesn't have that compassion in it. No. None of it. It doesn't have any of the idea that somebody might be out there playing scared and can't tell

anybody he's scared, although it shows up in his performance. Really? I kind of felt like that was the gambit when it came to Tua. That he was forever changed by what happened and naturally it would affect how he plays the game. You think the majority of America, when they've been arguing for years about the polarizing quarterback of the dolphins, can he play, can he not play? You think the majority of Americans are saying he's regressed because of his brain? Maybe I'm an idiot, but I think, I think that's implied when you discuss to and all that goes with it. I think we saw this year and acknowledged throughout the season that he looks scared. And I know that's something where when you say that about a football, but what do you mean? They're all tough. You're not scared? It's like,

No, I think in this instance, since we're watching a guy who looks scared back there. Perhaps it deserves more nuance, but I just assumed that if you're familiar with Tua's story and the downward trajectory of his professional career, that the head stuff is all encompassing. Doesn't it feel cold to you? Yes. Because it doesn't, if it were encompassing, I would think it would show up as compassion somewhere in the critique, somewhere. I think, look, people have gone at Tua. Every time we talk about his play, I think we've worked that into the conversation. And by working that into the conversation and making it a part of the discussion,

I do think that does show compassion because we're not just saying, wow, this guy was a fraud. He sucks. I don't know. I mean, when I sit here telling him to get out of my city, I'm not showing very much compassion. No, I understand. And you're, I'd probably feel a similar way if I were a dolphin fan, right? But I don't think that we've discussed to a lacking compassion. Maybe we could be more compassionate, but I think it's been part of the discussion, always implied, and always hanging over it.

I do think what's part of what has turned off the Dolphin fan, even if we can acknowledge that maybe we should show some compassion, if this is what's going on is, man, like he has said some really weird things throughout this season, some really unlikable things throughout this season. And that part I think, I know as a Dolphin fan has really turned me off. I think every time we've analyzed what he's said and said, this is strange behavior, we have applied the context of, you know, he's gone through a lot in his career health-wise. I wasn't actually talking about us. I was talking. I wasn't talking about our show. I know we've talked about it plenty. I was talking about America as in regards to measuring, can this person play or not? Yeah, outside fans probably don't think of it. Yeah, I don't think they're looking at it that hard. He had some pretty shocking concussions on standalone TV windows. Yeah, but I just don't think any of us really understand it. Like, how can we possibly... Does anyone?

How can we possibly understand it? He was a league's leading passer, you know? And he is very clearly dropped off, and there's a line of demarcation from when he had the fencing hands. Happy New Year, everybody. 2026 is already getting off to an incredible start because you want to know how I rang in the new year? It was with a bunch of friends in a Dallas Hotel Lobby Bar,

ordering a bunch of Miller Lights, because that's how you do it. That's how you make special memories. Miller Light has been by my side and many special football memories this year, and hopefully we get to write a few more memories with Miller Light. Some of my most legendary moments have started that exact same way. A buddy's house, a lobby bar, a game, no big plan.

And then you crack open a Miller Light. You take a sip and you look around and you immediately recognize that you made the right call. Legendary moments start with Miller Life. Great taste, 96 calories. Go to Miller Lite.com. Dan to find delivery options near you, or you can pick up some Miller light pretty much anywhere they sell beer.

It's Miller time. Celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 96 calories, and 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces. All right, kicking things off with Smearingoff, the official vodka sponsor of the NFL and the number of vodka in the world. Chris Cody, you're here. Smear enough!

Wow, you're on the money with Smearroof. Chris, do you know what goes great with Smear enough? Yes, but I'm really talking about game day fit. The style's got to match. survive. Smirnoff! All right, here's the deal. Game Day is everything.

And that's exactly why your fit has to match the occasion. MIREN-AF! Starting this December, Smyranoff is giving fans 21 and over the chance to score limited edition Smyranoff commission, merchandise from some of today's top creators, including Kayla Jones, Gavin Matthew, and Ailely May. Smearov! Here's the kicker. One lucky fan will take home the grand prize.

A trip to the biggest game of the off season. Plus, one fan will win Alea May's one-of-one game day jacket. Wow. The merch will be dropped on select dates from December to January, 21, and it's all, courtesy of what brand? Smirnoff! That's right, Chris, fans, 21 and over can head to Smyranoff socials

to learn how to sign up, and don't forget to grab a bottle of Smyrnav vodka. Number 21 at your local retail. Smyrath. Please drink responsibly. Smyranoff. Number 21 vodka distilled from grain,

40% alcohol by volume to Smyranoff Company, New York, New York. Please do not share with anybody under legal drinking aid. Smyrnaw. No purchase necessary must be legal U.S. resident 21st, 21st, 25, 2525,

at 12 a.m. Eastern, and ends 1-23-2026 at 11. 159.m. Eastern. See official rules at program website. Draft King Sportsbook, the number one sports book for live betting, is turning up the stakes this NFL playoffs. Every Sunday, every draft king's customer has a shot at over $2.5 million in prizes.

Holy moly. Here's how it works. Open the draft king sports book app and opt in. Place a live bet of just $1 or more on Sunday's playoff games, and every live bet gives you another chance to win. The more you bet live, the more you bet live. entries you stack all Sunday long. Download the Draft King Sportsbook app right now and use Code Dan.

Bet live for your share of $2.5 million in prizes with Code Dan. In partnership with Draft Kings, the crown is your, sure, sure, sure, sure. Gambling problem, call 1-800 Gambler. New York, call 8778-8-Hope-N-Y or text Hope in Y. Connecticut call 888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino in Kansas, wager tax pass-through may apply in Illinois. 21 and over in most states, void in Ontario. Restrictions apply. No purchase necessary. Three sweepstakes with separate opt-ins. Minimum odds minus 500. Prices, either bonus bets that expire in seven days or single-use profit boost. See official rules at dkng.com slash live millions for

entry period and free method of entry. Sponsored by Crown Gaming Inc. Don Lebertard. John, can you rate my Al Pacino from that billiard scene in Carlito's way if I do it for you? I think it's pretty good. Yeah. Okay. Stugats. You think you big time? But you're going to die! On my infamous scale of 1 to 10, that's a 7.6. Solid.

Good job, that's a sui nominee right there. This is the Dan Levitar show with the Stugat. I see that Tony is on the lovely, lovely campus of the University of Miami. I was thinking today, man, oh man, did I feel my age today? because it didn't dawn on me until today because it's 2026. Oh, shit. It's been 40 years since I walked on to that campus to go to school. 4-0.

I was, yeah, that's the face to make, Tony. That is correct. That's exactly the face I made when I was like, Tony's going to campus today. And I walked on it for the first time 40 years ago. Tony, what's going on out there? Last time you were at a bakery, too. Can you feel the buzz?

Can you feel the emotion? Can you feel the electricity of students walking past the lake and people at the architecture school thinking of the hurricanes? I can definitely feel the buzz in the air, Dan. There's about 17 people walking around campus right now. It's still a little early. There's classes going on. People are definitely looking at me like, who's this guy?

Why is he here? There's a camera. People were kind of confused by the camera. But I feel like a little bit of kind of an infidel because I was never allowed to even get on the campus. Last time I was here was for Frank Hates team camp when I was a sophomore in high school. So like 20 years ago. But yeah, Dan, so excited to be here.

We've already got a person who's a big fan of the show. And can we interview him really quick? Yeah, yeah. Let's go. Let's go. Okay. All right. We got Manny here.

What's up, Manny? What's up, guys? Big fan of the show. Mani was at Columbus. He's also working on the broadcast team here at University of Miami. He was also over at Columbus a couple days ago. graduated with Fernando Mendoza from Columbus, but I want to ask him, Danny, very important question.

Manny, how many manis are there at Columbus? There's actually quite a few manis at Columbus. So I want to say the kids that graduated with me, there was about three more Manny's in my class. There's no way. There had to be like about 10 or 11 or 12, at least. It wasn't that much, but mine was, I'm Emanuel, but most of them were manual.

So it was different, different kind of Manny. Top five names at Columbus. We had to go Manny. We had to go Alex. Armando. There's got to be a lot of Amandito. No, Dan, you're talking about from the 80s. Nobody calls their kid at Mondeito anymore.

A couple generations. There's got to be Knicks, a lot of Knicks. My best buddy from Columbus is here right now. Name is Nick. And then there's a lot of Jose's as well. Yeah. So, yeah, Dan, he graduated with Fernando Mendoza. So to see Fernando from what he was in high school to where he is now,

how do you gauge that? Well, I mean, he's still a great guy, a good friend still. Well, I wasn't that great of a friend with him when I was there, but we had classes together, but I still give him a text every time he had a big win this season, and he did respond, which was pretty cool. Every time? Every time. Okay, so we're trying to figure out somebody who could say a bad thing about Fernando Mendoza.

Coach Dunn said that he was a dork, and that's kind of the worst that we've had. Is there anybody that we can find anywhere that can say something bad about Fernando? A little bit of a nerd, smart guy. That's about it. I can't say anything bad. What does brother say something bad about him? Can we find his brother? Alberto or Max, the little one?

Oh, I don't know. You tell me, who's spicier? Well, Alberta's his teammates, so I don't think you're going to get anything out of him. Maybe the little brother, Max, but he's always with the dad, so they're always hanging out together. Okay, so we've got some work to do, Dan, if we want to find somebody to say something bad about Fernandum. No, we're doing well. We got lactose intolerant, and we've got a second source now on Dork. We've got Miami's not going to get beaten by a dork.

That can't happen. When does that happen? Miami's not going to get beaten by a nerd? Yeah, Dan says there's no way Miami gets beaten by a nerd. a dork. We have two accounts of him being a dork and we also have him being lactose and Tylen. Did you know that? I did hear that released by the Dan Levitard show. I did not know that, but that's news to me. Ah, he saw my journalism. Anything, anything you can, he saw Jimmy's journalism, yeah. Anything you can give us as far as insights to Fernando, insights into Columbus,

insights into anything that people wouldn't know in the national landscape? That's a great question, Tony. Thank you, buddy. Let's end it there because he's filibustering with the that's a great question. I had a great experience at Columbus. I think the athletic program has done a great job. And if everything that I just said stays true, he might be a little bit of a problem. But I think the canes are still going to win.

Because he doesn't have anything. And we're going to. Touchdown. I think the spread is way too big right now. I think it's going to go down. Smart money comes in later. Great Cody. Wow.

Smart money comes in later. Greg Cody Manning. Thank you so much, buddy. Appreciate you. He got to work at 930 or else he would have done another 25 minutes if that's okay with you, Dan. We lost it, Craig Crenzel. Yes, that's right, with the greatest football team there's ever been. With the greatest roster that's ever been.

It happens. BYU pushed us in a locker one time. Jeremy, I'm sorry. Tony, good job. Freud didn't slip. Good job on the sideline reporting. Yeah, I'm sorry. We'll come back to you later in the show.

We were so close to Dan saying, Jeremy, good job for the first time. Yeah, and I think I did say it. I just didn't say it toward you. Someone clip that for me. Let's get to the other thing that I wanted to get to here because it's not something that I see very often around the Miami Heat. The Miami Heat, reportedly, don't have Kevin Durant because they weren't willing to separate from Khalil Ware.

I assume that Ja-Morant will cost at least one young player like that. I might be wrong. He might be so discounted that it's not even one young player. are like that, but I think that Heat fans would be really excited about whatever it is that Khalil Ware becomes. But he hasn't played great with Bam on the floor. He's gone to the bench since Tyler Hero has returned and Spoh doesn't like his attitude about going to the bench. So where is the sound here on Spow doing something that the Heat organization rarely does but has now done several times in some way to Khalil Ware? It must stink, Zaz, to be in the doghouse of

this coach when he protects everybody. He doesn't want anything in public, and he continues to shame only one guy on his team, and really outside of Hassan Whiteside, only one guy ever, and it's Khalil where? With Kaleel, I know that's a lightning rod topic. He needs to get back to where he was eight weeks ago, seven weeks ago, where I felt,

and everybody in the building felt that he was stacking days, good days. He's stacking days, you know, in the wrong direction now. He's just got to get back to that stack. days, build those habits, force, well, make sure you're ready and play the minutes that you're playing to a point where it makes me want to play you more. You know, and, you know, I get it with some young players. You sometimes subconsciously play poorly to say, hey, I'll play poorly if until you play me the minutes, you know, I think I'll deserve, then I'll play well. that's not how it works.

Calel, no. It's surprising to hear this type of sound from Spoh in certain ways, right? The young players forcing him to play them is a thing he's consistent about. That's a common line. He played really poorly at the beginning of the year after coming back from injury. He didn't have the energy that Spoh was looking for. He rode the bench for three weeks before finally earning his way back in. Bam spoke after the game about guys needing to do role player things.

even the best players on the team. They lost to the Celtics last night. They get off to a big lead early and then lose late. Celtics, so many offensive rebounds in the second half. Yeah, and that was the fan's frustration is, well, Kala, where you would think could be a part of fixing that. Same thing happened against Phoenix. He allows a lot of offensive rebounds when he does,

and I can see how people would think, hey, he's not trying very hard there. I went back this morning and watched the eight minutes that he was on the floor, and what you didn't see were crashing toward the rim on shots where for offensive rebounds of your own, where he was out by the perimeter. What you didn't see were the boxouts on the defensive end, where you would look for throwing your body around. He had five rebounds in those eight minutes. A couple of them did just follow them. A couple of them were solid rebounds as a big guy.

But when you look at him on the offensive end, he took five shots. Four of those were threes. Now, he's a really high percentage three-point shooter. It's part of the offense. But Spoh has been looking for this from Kowellel all year long, and I think that you can see it when you watch the game. There is a difference between how Kalelele plays for the force of a full game when he is engaged from the jump because he's in that starting lineup. He's getting the ball in the first few possessions versus what it looks like when he's coming in in the flow of a game. And I don't know if that's the insinuation of like personally sabotaging your own minutes.

that doesn't seem like what a professional would do when they're trying to earn their way into the league. But at the same time, you can see the difference in what the motor, which was the one knock on him coming out, not the talent, seems to look like in those games. Bonifide coming.

I watched the game with Sound On. First time I've done that since the playing game. All four quarters? All four quarters. And do you guys consider where a core piece? I don't. I think here's a issue. But do you not consider him a core piece because you think they're going to use him to trade for another player?

Well, potentially that's framing it, but also he's not on the court when the games are hanging in in the balance. And the guys that I did see on the court couldn't make a layup. You know, we were puffing our chests out after we beat Phoenix. And then I saw a band not be able to make a layup. And look, I don't want to do the repeat takes here. I think it's very clear. And I don't want to put anybody in an awkward situation, two-time champion broadcaster, guy who does a great job on the broadcast. I think it's fairly evident that this core is not going to get it done.

We have seen this core max out, and they're always hovering around the hawks and bulls. Something needs to be done to this roster. I don't know how drastic. I just know the core individuals on the Miami Heat roster appear to have a ceiling over the course of several seasons, and that ceiling is 10 seed? Maybe get hot in the playoffs? At Medcan, we know that life's greatest moments are built on a foundation of good health, from the big milestones to the quiet wins.

That's why our annual health assessment offers a physician-led, full-body checkup that provides a clear picture of your health today and may uncover early signs of conditions like heart disease and cancer. The healthier you means more moments to cherish. Take control of your well-being and book an assessment today. Medcan. Live well for life. Visit medcan.com slash moments to get started. On game day, pain can hit hard and fast, like the headache you get when your favorite team

and your fantasy team both lose. When pain comes to play, call an audible with Advil plus acetaminophen and get long-lasting dual-action pain relief for up to eight hours. Tackle your tough pain two ways with Advil plus acetaminephim. Advil, the official pain relief partner of the NFL.

Ask your pharmacist at this product's rate for you. Always read and follow the label. Don Levatard. All these high-paid analysts, I don't want to mention names, TNT, ESP, You know, oh, yeah, they're dead. They're not going to make it, you know.

Even if they win in, if they lose it in Miami. I need to calm you down. That's right. They lose in Miami. They don't got a chance in Boston. Oh, they're going to have their ass. You know what in Boston, you know. Stugats.

They were wrong. Are they going to lose their job? No. Are they going to get a cutting pay? No. What are they going to do? Keep predicting what is the obvious. They're going to say, oh, the nuggets are going to win.

Oh, oh. Denver, the altitude. And you know what? The Heat are going to win it all. This is the Dan Levitar show with the Stugats. Here's what's not up for disputes, says, and it's been fairly shocking to watch, okay? Since Boston's best player was stopped by Miami's best defensive player at the rim in the bubble. What a moment. The Miami Heat have gone in one direction, and the Celtics of last night without Jason Tatum are just as good or better than

Miami, and that's Miami healthy, and that's not Boston healthy, because Boston doesn't have its best player. And this season at the halfway point, Boston without Jason Tatum is just as good as Miami. That Gulf of separation, the things that have changed there, they were separated by a block at the rim in the bubble. And since then, what's happened is Boston's become both a champion and a champion with the architecture that looks right that can withstand not having Jason Tatum, and Miami's in a place where a week ago you were trading Bam. Yeah, my biggest first, and I get it, the league is different. There are certain rules that make it more complicated.

But, man, it wasn't that long ago where if Pat Riley acknowledges a team that is not a championship team, he says, F this, and he blows it up, and he makes trades. It's going to happen. And now it's going to get blown up. How long have I been saying that, though, Dan? They're going to go get blown up. Like, it seems obvious now that that's what's going to happen. and they're 500 at another break. They're not a team.

I mean, Hero missed some games, but they've been herky jerky. And their best player, whether it's Bam, Norm Powell, Tyler Hero, Khal, where, whoever you think their best player is, isn't good enough to lead you to a championship. Calell, no. That part seems obvious to me. And you guys are at a level of frustration that I haven't seen you before. Mike has been there for a while, but Zaz is usually a diehard.

and Jeremy's alone on Lonely Island. I'm still a diehard. That hasn't changed. I am like the Lonely Island. Jeremy, Jeremy does not want Bam traded. Jeremy, there are not a lot of players like that who can guard everybody. Like, that's a really valuable piece. I just, I understand that you don't want it to be your best player because it can't be your best player.

I don't want Bam traded either, but I don't want him making $50 million a year more. You've already said you're trading. Sorry, Jeremy. I'm sorry. There's a knock at the door. Yes, there's somebody. No. Our first guest.

Look at this. Establish that sound. Thank you. There is Brad Williams, and it's our first guest in a barrage of guests to predict Indiana against Miami. So, Brad, welcome to the show. Please keep it short. Keep it short? Wow.

You just told a dwarf to keep it short. Really? All right. That's fun. You just told me to keep it short. Also, just a prediction. You fat shamed me earlier this week. Okay.

You let Andrew Santin. know, be your Bears correspondent. You let Sam Morrill be your Knicks correspondent. You, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, Gilles farts on. And then I actually rep your, your, rep, rep your show. I support the show. I'm a diehard, lifelong Broncos fan.

They're on a historic run. You're not letting me in. And then you fat shame me. You, Dan Levitart fat shame me. That's insane. Like, you, that's all people know about you, Dan Lebitart. Is that your fat? Watch this.

Watch this. Excuse me, sir. Excuse me, sir. Do you know, do you know who? Dan Lebitard is? Yeah, he's a fat guy. Yeah, he's a fat guy. Look at that, Dan Lebitard.

I have a top five list of things less hypocritical than you fat-shaming me. Number five, Chris Cody fat-shaming me. Number four, Jeremy saying that joke was corny. Number three, Mike Ryan saying you stick up for your team too much. Number two, Greg Cody saying be more professional. And the number one thing, less hypocritical than Dan Libetard fat shaming me, Michael Irvin saying you have a cocaine problem. Shorter.

Come on. Shorter? You haven't even talked about the fact that many of your show was at my show. Chris Cody, Greg Cody, Zazzo. They all came to my show in Fort Lauderdale. Killed it. While on stage, I said that Zaslo, it's ironic he has a foot fetish because he looks like a toe.

And you guys never talk about this. You never bring it up. My wife was in the crowd. I had to explain that to her. The U's going to win. The U's going to win. Whoa, there's the prediction. The U's going to win.

Because I know, because I know that the U winning will piss off Dan Levitard the most and that's what I'm rooting for. What? Many are saying. Yeah, that's fake Cuban. Check out Brad's new podcast,

Height and Babel. Ha! What? You think it'll make me happy for the University of Miami Luz? You guys, I don't understand what's happening around. Yes. Absolutely not.

All right. Broncos correspondent, Brad Williams, on with us. You don't understand me? I feel like we calmly explained it to you. No, because I said, a lot of rationale. Because I said reputationalally that Mario Cristobalton. Let's not do this again. No, no, no.

It wasn't an isolated incident. This is, you know, a decades long bit. Trust me, Dan. I'm here in Salt Lake City, Utah, in the Salt Lake City Airport. And even they're shaming your name in these streets. You're not out here, Dan, you don't know what they're talking about. The U is back, baby.

All right. Thank you. I appreciate the time, Brad. I appreciate the correspondence. I didn't feel like I fat shamed you. I just said that if they were going to throw you seven yards on fourth and short, they might want to get someone lighter than you. That's not fat shaming. I'm not sure Bryce Young could throw.

I'm just thinking it's an efficiency thing. It's not fat shaming. Five pounds lighter means lighter than you, and that might go a little further if someone were to throw somebody on fourth and short that was five pounds lighter or even a muffin light. Like I'm not fat-shaming you. I'm just saying a lighter thing can be thrown further. Have you watched these guys work out in the gym?

You think NFL players are going to be like, yeah, I would throw a human being over the line. But Brad, a little too big. You're thick and muscled. You're thick and muscled. Like, I'm not just, I'm not saying you're fat. I didn't say you were fat. I said you were too heavy to be thrown seven yards on fourth and six. That's what I said.

And this is supposed to one word. We're off to a bad start. We're just supposed to have people here who come in and say Indian or Miami and then get out of here. And it's shorter. Shorter. Brad William, shorter. Shorter? You're saying me shorter.

Do you want to tell the black guy right here to lighten up? Is that what you want to do? Jesus. See you later, Brad. Thank you. We appreciate the time throughout the show today. Zaslo is worried about this because Fowler is going to be here a little bit. I don't think they can be longer than that.

No, they can't. See, this is what. What I'm worried about, though, is it relates to Fowler that we're going to have 20 minutes of Fowler's time and somebody's going to come in and do that. I got a top five list. I want to do this. Who? Someone else is here? Here.

What? Is that Jason Benetti? What the hell is Jason Benetti doing? Jason Benetty, I suspect that it'd be good to talk to Jason Benetti about Kyle Tucker and the fact that Kyle Tucker, I think Jason Benetty was talking to Lewis back there. The fact that Kyle Tucker now Zaslow, you've got the Dodgers, $60 million. a year. The Dodgers get Kyle Tucker. That came out of nowhere for me. I thought somebody else was going to get him. You're setting Benetti up to say more than one word. So Jason Benetti, who you got? UM. The number one song in America in 1950 was Goodnight Irene. The number one song in America in

1979 was My Sharona by the Knack. We made it all the way from Good Night Irene to My Sharona in music. And Indiana, in that span, had three seasons with more than that. than five wins. You have to root for Indiana a little bit, right? Probably. I mean, think of all the music in between. I need one word for these people.

Get out of here, Benetti. I need one word. What don't these people understand? Is that his prediction, though? Or just who he's rooting for? That's an Indiana prediction. I mean, it's definitely not a Miami prediction. So we're split. He said you have to root for Indiana. He said you're obligated to root for Indiana. He also

loves Fernando Mendoza. You guys agree, right, that nothing in sports around here has felt quite this alone since the heat gathered as LeBron, Chris Bosch, and Dwayne, right? Like where the nation is rooting for something else? The hockey world at large did not want to see the cup go to sunrise Florida. I mean, we were up three games to none. We got to that game seven, find me someone who was still rooted for the Panthers. Yeah, in that insular hockey world, no one wanted to see it. and they certainly didn't want to see it a second time.

I do understand that in the insular hockey world, but what about the rest of the world? Because I do believe, like, Miami doesn't get to be Cinderella here as the eight and a half point dog. They are, though. Which is crazy. They're a 10 seed. A two-loss 10 seed. They're Cinderella.

Happy New Year everybody. 2026 is already getting off to an incredible start because you want to know how I rang in the new year? It was with a bunch of friends in a Dallas Hotel Lobby Bar ordering a bunch of Miller lights, because that's how you do it. That's how you make special memories. Miller Light has been by my side and many special football memories this year, and hopefully we get to write a few more memories with Miller Light.

Some of my most legendary moments have started that exact same way. A buddy's house, a lobby bar, a game, no big plan. And then you crack open a Miller Light. You take a sip and you look around and you immediately recognize that you made the right call. Legendary moments start with Miller Light. Great taste, 96 Kowel. Go to Miller Lite.com slash Dan to find delivery options near you.

Or you can pick up some Miller Light pretty much anywhere they sell beer. It's Miller time. Celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 96 calories, and 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces.