The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz - The Big Suey: Greg Cote Explains Jounalism

Episode Date: June 21, 2024

The madness continues as we barrel ever closer to Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers. Zaslow has left and the dust is slowly settling on the feud between Mike Ryan and Greg Cote, but now Dan and Mike begin taking jabs at each other. It's a 12-round battle on the show today, only interrupted by Dan taking a detour to discuss the rumored details of Stephen A. Smith's contract offer from ESPN. Before we head into the battle of our lives tonight in Edmonton, Greg Cote makes sure to explain to the crew what journalism is. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Jersey City, New Jersey. Please drink responsibly. Welcome to the Big Sui! Presented by DraftKings. Why are you listening to this show? A podcast that seems very similar to the other Dan LeBattard podcasts. I'm sorry, I'm not going to apologize for that. In fact, the only difference seems to be this show. The podcast that seems very similar to the other Dan LeBattard podcast. I'm sorry, I'm not going to apologize for that. In fact, the only difference seems to be this imaging. I have been tempted in restaurants just walking past tables to grab somebody's fries if they're just there.

That hasn't happened to you guys? I've done it. And now here's the marching man to nowhere, fat face and the habitual liar. Pull a little palate cleanser here to separate us from the tension here. Like it's sort of audio sage. I want Chris Mad Dog Russo mispronouncing something. Do you have anywhere back there Mad Dog Russo trying to pronounce Condoleezza Rice? The four or five things that I picked up that were interesting that I relate to you. Number one, Condoleezza Rice, you know, formerly of the Bush administration. Thank you. I need a little sorbet here. I need

something just to soften the mood. Zaslow has left in true disgust. He just stormed out of here. He hit the microphone as he left, like he punched the microphone as he left, and he punched the microphone as he left, and he took the chair with him, I'm assuming, to just throw it into the bay. He's had enough of Greg Cody. Greg Cody's been giggling to himself here while coughing and giggling. You've been giggling throughout the break. Are you okay? Like, what's happening? Everything is great. I'm reveling in- You have bronchitis. Yeah, no, I don't feel great, but everything else is great

It's another day in paradise down here and I'm reveling in the idea that that I am having renewed appreciation for my perspective for how I See sports in the overall and I don't want to be Zaslow and Mike Ryan about any team. I just don't want to be. Now that doesn't mean that I'm not rooting for the best story that I want to write and in this case that is a Panthers Stanley Cup. But that's you rooting because the best story I can admit this as a Panthers fan, the best story for hockey would be McDavid coming back from down 3-0

Right, but I'm not a national hockey writer. I'm a Miami Herald columnist and and I I don't I'm not a fan of a team. I'm a fan of people who read my columns Okay, and the column they want to read is not biggest collapse since 1942 the column they want to read is what a feel-good story biggest collapse since 1942, the column they want to read is what a feel-good story. Slaying the dragon to lift the first Stanley Cup in the 30-season history of this franchise. That's what I want to write because I like to write good stories. And so am I a Panthers fan? No.

And I think I proved it by not being afraid of superstition and jinks and avoiding writing what i thought about mcdavid which is that he needs to win a stanley cup to live up to all this hype and until he does he's overrated i still believe that and i don't care if i'm alone on that island but i do prefer to write a panthers stanley cut what's happening what's happening with you because during the break you seem to stand in judgment of people who are not journalists like you. You were dismissive of Roy and Mike and Chris as fans. They're fans. They're not journalists.

That's what you were doing. Okay, and and I think I owe an apology to Roy. I think Roy would consider himself a journalist. Roy is not somebody wearing a Panthers jersey in the press box. I have respect for Roy as an independent journalist. Christopher's not. Zaslow, who was wearing a Sam Bennett shirt in here, is not and doesn't pretend to be. Mike obviously is not and doesn't pretend to be. That's fine. But you know I like the perspective of being able to be. That's fine. But you know, I like the perspective of being able to see sports in this place. Jeremy pretends to be a journalist. Yeah, I do. I do pretend to be a journalist.

Is Jeremy a journalist, Dad? It's complicated, right? No, no, no. Jeremy, I asked my dad. It's complicated. Look, he's paid to cover the Heat, right? I am. And technically the Panthers and the Marlins. Okay, if you are paid to cover those teams. You don't want to call them a journalist though. Well, what I'm saying is if you're paid to cover those teams, you're paid to be pro those

teams, right? It doesn't mean you can. Covering them for the regional broadcast you're saying, like covering them for ballet sports where it is the home broadcast and that crew. Right. Yeah, we are paid to have a bit of a slant toward the team that we're covering, just as, by the way, you are in your columns, to an extent. You're rooting for the Panthers to win tonight

because it supports a positive column. You're saying Jeremy's not a journalist? I'm saying, I wrote a column saying the Panthers need to make big change, or the Heat need to make big changes because You're never gonna win a championship if Jimmy Butler is your best player. Jeremy can't he would he would not be well I wouldn't do that because it's wrong, but that's a separate conversation fine And I'm not saying all of my opinions are right, but I wrote that you're saying you're saying he can't be critical of the team

Therefore he can't be a journalist. He's not as objective as you are who's been a homer about the Dolphins since 1972 You get to be a journalist and a fan you're like I can be a journalist, but I want all the teams to win down here I Have not been a homer about the Dolphins. Oh my can we stop this? I don't okay No, no that that what are we doing that's a little too close to the bone okay i don't know that that what are we doing that that's a little uh... too close to the bone it i get as much email criticizing me for being too rough on the dolphins

so i'm not going to come out and i was i let that slide this is what i will say to uh... the audience because there it there has been a disconnect from the panthers fans in this room and in this town about what this show's responsibility is to this audience because we've been a local show for 20 years proudly a local show for 20 years I'm a journalist or was a journalist allegedly at the middle of all of that but this show had a regional identity and was projecting Miami to the nation at large. And now as we do it with one of the biggest podcasts

in the history of sports podcasts, as we do it, I'm getting a whole lot of audience that's siding with Greg Cody in this last hour of tension that doesn't like the way the whole room has ganged up on Greg Cody. People are taking Greg Cody's side because they believe this show is acting inconsistently and hypocritically as it

usually behaves around sports which is if a team is in danger of losing a three oh lead anywhere in sports the rest of us would be laughing with echoing laughter if this was happening to any fan base except this one but in this particular case we've got mike calling uh... uh... greg cody an idiot twice and a pal three times because uh... because he's in the tank for the panthers and greg cody the audience is siding with greg cody saying well he's at least trying to be some semblance of uh... not a rational fan the funny part is is that last year you guys laughed in my face as the heat were blowing a three o'lead because I was painted as the sole homer,

despite the fact that everybody in this room are actively fans of the Miami Heat, it was funny because hey, let's laugh at Jeremy as this is blown. Now this room is sort of taking the other side because there's a passionate fandom that's here. This is a group of people who are rooting for something to happen that's never happened

to them before. And so as there are things that we all do as fans that you know play into jinxes or things like that we're not exactly excited on the local side of it to be having the show that represents South Florida sort of turn against some of those things and laugh because hey nationally that would be happening. But look at at Mike Mike is in the back there, and I don't know if he's in a state of Pouting I don't know what he's doing. I don't know how close he is to quitting I don't know how close he is to getting fired all of this gets fixed if the Panthers win his mood not but It makes sense that he would be scared and it would make sense that he's lashing out

everywhere he can lash out because it's scary time. Like if you care this much and that guy is on the other side and you're going to Edmonton, it's scary time. Yeah, so realize that it's a hard time for us right now. We're all acting emotional right now. What happened is I've obviously been too much today. I'm not exactly proud of how the show's gone. And I'm literally just putting myself

in a proverbial penalty box because I don't like it. And I feel like I got played. Like Dan pulled all the right strings. He got the entertainment. Again with me? No, it's not. Greg is not the bad guy. He's not.

He's not. And you've've successfully pulled wool over his eyes So he feels like you're an ally in this just because I am an out of the proximity of the rooms No, like this is all you're doing. I am an ally, but I'm not gonna accept what you keep doing to me Okay So the last time you were the Panther game game five and you got your heart crushed and you're down for two You'll keep texting me from the game. game hey I got a lot of fans here just passing along the message just want to be a messenger a lot of fans here saying hey Levitard you that's Mike Ryan telling me that all the fans are coming

up to him and saying that last night I'm at dinner guy comes up to me pulls me by the arm and says no Dan you're right I love your show you tell Mike Ryan you cool yeah congrats on having the star those keys cancel out though do you had multiple he got some do that happen to be in the same restaurant as Dan is like hey I'm a big fan I like you no he went out of his way to be like, send this to Mike Ryan. He asked that I personally deliver the message,

so I really am just get the messenger. You know what I'm most frustrated about? Because if they lose this game, I'm gonna have a Monday. Not just a horrible weekend, but I'm going to have to spend a lot of money because tickets are sold out on the primary market and I only have one place to turn to, Dan,

the Game Time app. The Game Time app, which honestly, there should be a loyalty rewards program for how much I've been on there throughout the Stanley Cup playoffs, and I'm gonna see the red hot chili peppers on Sunday. Thanks so much, Game Time app. That could be a very depressing one

and I could really read into the lyrics of Under the Bridge, or we can just talk about California the entire time celebrating a title your move Florida Panthers today But if you're in the Edmonton area or if you're hoping for a game seven just so you can witness Someone lift the cup go to the game time app download it create an account use a code Dan that is D-a-n for $20 off your first purchase, terms apply, last minute tickets lowest price guaranteed, you get to see what your seat looks like from there, and amazing customer service. If you for whatever reason find a better deal out there on the market, Game Time will match it up to 110% and it's easy to get them matching it. Thank

you so much Game Time for your support. In keeping with the guarantee that I am giving you that the Panthers will win this cup they deserve in a sport that this year was magnificent because of how good all the teams were slaying each other. The Panthers will win the, one of the next two games in overtime. I'm sorry to do that to you. I'm sorry to do that to you, but these games are going to be, look, Messier said before game five,

he's like, you're going to see the single best performance at the same time from both of these teams for the first time and we did, the Panthers started slow, but you saw at the end they were battering Edmonton you got the best of both and that one McDavid won I believe that the Panthers will win one of those three because you're looking at the next two games and it's maximum effort maximum motivation

it's not about any bulletin board material all these broken bodies know what they had to overcome in that sport the ten teams the dozen teams that had a hundred points to get to this point earned it They're broken Physically God knows how many needles these people have to take at this point in the year Just to get on the ice because they're lunatics this sport is run by crazy people The sport is run by crazy people. They're going to win the cup. You're just gonna have to endure overtime.

I'm sorry about that. I'm sorry that you're gonna have to be shit running down your leg in overtime because of how fast that sport moves and one thing can wreck you. And then you're gonna say, isn't this fun? It is fun. It's the best. The last week has been terrible.

I genuinely, you got a text from me at 4.15 a.m. Just like game four, I could not sleep. I didn't see it actually. I texted you, look, timestamp, 4.15. I crushed a 5 a.m. German Peloton this morning because I needed to do something with my. Are you okay? My mind's racing, no, I'm not. Okay, like I got played by Dan

I've been doing this for 20 years and I told them the entire time I did not want to go along with this and here I am taking my Rolex off like I'm Rick and flair So I texted Mike at 11 just left a restaurant where someone asked me to make sure to tell you no You and then at 421 a.m Lost and all this is the fact that I've saved your ass. Can't imagine the shit you'd be getting if you actually put them up when you wanted to and the results went the way they had. I'm still tempted to do it, honestly.

I'm not rooting for them to lose tonight, but to have the weekend to think about it, like I want to double down before game seven. He's the bad guy, Greg. Look what he's doing to you right now. He's the villain. I believe in the team. I believe in the team. No, he believes in anarchy. He believes in Dayle Picard. I believe in the team more than I believe in your jinx. He believes in propping you up and making you the clown in his circus. Why can't you see

this, dude? We all see it. You don't have to tell me the role i play in this studio and his hand in it okay my greg cody show merch store is not selling mcovarrated t-shirts and capitalizing on it they won the next three games after we did that that can't be blamed as a jinx they want they want on a three oh one one my book but look he's trying to stop you because you're getting there on your own g Because you're getting there on your own, Greg. You're getting there on your own. Your shop didn't try to sell it. Your shop didn't try to capitalize on your take, which, you know, the hockey media's

poked holes in, which is fine, whatever. You've defended yourself. Right. But you're not trying to monetize it. He is. Okay. He's the one trying to put your face on billboards. Not you. You, what is your opinion? What is your honest opinion of these billboards? What is your honest opinion? My billboards? What is your honest opinion? My honest opinion is that they should not be put up until the Panthers win the Stanley Cup.

Same, same, same, that's where my passion comes. I said that last Tuesday. And he's not, he's not listening to you, bud. No, because the national audience wants me to put them up. It's his show. The national audience wants me to put them up. But South Florida and why people are telling me to relay FUs to you is you've never done this.

You've never made us a joke. It's not just like the jinxing stuff is you're actively trying to embarrass people that like this franchise. No, I'm not. Yes, you are. No, I am not. Because you cannot, okay.

I'm okay with taking us being the subject of the joke. Egg on the face. Tell me this is coming together for you like the end of a Saw movie, Greg. Like he's, no I'm not, we're laying out a pretty good case. We risk the maximum thing, me enduring, echoing national laughter

that stays with me locally for years. And what we risk is- But I believe in the team. What we risk- I'm willing to make the bet on behalf of the team. What we risk is you putting up billboards before game three and in oil country. I believe in them more than you do.

In oil country where the airport welcomes you with a baggage claim, it's just a myriad of like mannequin oilers. Like what you risk is pissing off the entire fan base, the entire Edmonton Oilers organization, pissing off hockey for saying, how dare you do this, this is so classless. You make that barn an insane asylum tonight.

I don't need to explain this. I can't do it today, it would have to wait to the weekend. I can't do it today, it has to wait. This is the best my tone has been, I think I laid out a good case, I think we're all effectively being played by Dan Lebatard and he's a true villain. That barn is going to be an insane asylum with or without billboards. Everyone's calling it a barn now. I love it. I mean, come on now. You know, Conor McDavid is going to be great with or without being called McOverrated. Does it help? It doesn't help.

I'm going to move off of this subject for a moment, but ask you, what does the phrase egg on the face? Why do people get egg on the face? Because I don't know the origins of that. Obviously, someone would be throwing eggs for some reason. I don't know if it's at a Renaissance fair or where. But the bet that I'd be making mike is maximum stakes it's uh... it is

an inside joke for our audience uh... that believes in the team you say it's not that time i'm believing in the team over james i'm believing in how good they are and it does risk that team it does risk my belief being betrayed in a way that embarrasses me and and lasts for a while and stings But at the moment I've got two games to win one and I've got the better team Okay, I

Mean we I think most people know what's happening here and he can rationalize it all he wants. He's good with words He's manipulated, Greg. As your resident theater guy, just off the top of my head, I believe this dates back to the late 1800s, early 1900s in theater when people were throwing rotten vegetables or eggs at performers. And so you ended up with egg on your face. All right.

I'd rather have rotten. Just off the top of my head. I'd rather have rotten vegetables than egg thrown at me, personally. Who do you? Not me. At least the egg shatters zucchini would hurt Right, but it's like well, yeah, it's right. It's still solid. No, like I feel like if it's rotten

It's softened a little softened softened, but the egg is just solid object yucky. It's gonna hurt if it's a rotten avocado It's gonna be pretty soft. There's a pit, but it's got a pit in it. Yeah, but you're not gonna feel the pit Oh, I think you would if it's soft. What would be the vegetable the rotten vegetable that is it? What would well the eggs not a vegetable so it's rotten eggs It's rotten eggs and rotten vegetables the eggs are thrown in as a protein because on your own I mean you need a lot of etymology is the number one diversionary tactic from Dan Levetard Playing you like a harp from hell and you're just going along with it, man.

It's a riveting conversation. Etymology, ooh, what is the origin of that? That's a great point. You know what? You know what? I have another one of those tools in my bag that is less easy to spot, but can you play that music real quick in terms

of a diversionary technique that I use at all times to get out of all situations because I just think we've talked about this enough it's not because I actually want to avoid it because honest to God I would do this pregame show for the next several hours like I'd be happy to just sit here talking to you guys about this game for many hours but I do have another diversionary technique. Play for me please the sound of the sports media gas bags that nobody wants to nobody wants to hear me talk about the sports media because there's a sports media story that is just breaking now that I do believe is super interesting. You get annoyed every time Dan Levatard pontificates about the sports media industry?

Well, too bad, motherf*****! He knows you don't give a damn about what he's gonna say. It's time for sports media talk today! So, I have told you, and Juju has reprimanded me on this because he has said man Dan nobody wants to hear about how much Money media people are making a lot of people are struggling out there they don't want to hear about Stephen A Smith's contract demands, but I Happen to find interesting that in our time The person who is at the top of our profession is now being offered, reportedly at ESPN,

the highest salary in the history of the company for a talent. It used to be for John Gruden at $6.5 million, but the explosion of everything that's happened has made everyone realize, oh, all these talents are super undervalued, even though everyone listening to this would say it's ridiculous for anybody to be making the kind of money doing this nonsense that people can make yes p n has offered steven a smith the highest contract in the history of the company putting him ahead of joe buck who is now the highest paid employee who doesn't have to do is much as steven a smith

steven a smith is reportedly countering with that's not enough eighteen million dollars is not enough i want to twenty fiveing with that's not enough. $18 million is not enough. I want $25 million. That's what's being reported. $25 million a year. And power, by the way. It's not going to just be money. He's going to want power and a bunch of other things

because he is the modern day Howard Cosell, whether you like it or not, and beyond sports, he's got conquering ambitions because he is casting a wide net going on fox making sure the audience is as large as it can be as he heads into the leverage of negotiations because he can do this for more than eighteen million dollars a year on his own he doesn't need ESPN you know how I know that Chris Cody's worth twenty five million dollars a year like what what what we've been paid the last four, the last three years. And a lot more work that goes into it.

And the fourth one, like our thing is worth what Stephen A. Smith is asking for. So what is- I think he deserves it. It's a ridiculous thing to say. It is because he's the entirety of that network. Their entire daytime programming strategy is around him. This is, yeah, you're right. This is another one of your diversionary tactics. But game on. I gotcha. Yeah, but game on. I got you. Yeah, you got me.

I got you. But he is the straw that serves their drink. He sets a table for all the rights that they have unless it's the Stanley Cup. So what I would do, if I'm ESPN, is I would pay him $10 million for every sport he can actually cover. Because the daytime programming on a game that they have,

their coverage was Mike Greenberg asking you, Donnis Haslam, what he thought about tonight. This country is headed in to a World Cup in 2026. What the f*** do you think is gonna be happening on that show? What do you think is gonna be happening on that show? Because it's more likely to be Dak Prescott than it is to be about the World Cup.

That show is limited, it is very limited, and it does what it's limited at exceptionally well, the greatest daytime sports show ever, because he is the greatest sports talent ever. But it is very frustrating. And it works against ESPN's overall best interests. I understand college football makes a lot of money, I understand pro football makes a lot of money, I understand the football makes a lot of money, I understand the NBA makes a lot

of money, and they haven't exactly figured out how to make a lot of money elsewhere except just putting the game on. But they should take a note from what's worked well with Stephen A Smith. If you have engaging great talented personalities that can speak with a wealth of knowledge, they can get you interested in games. They can get you interested to watch that. ESPN is wonderful at producing these packages that'll make you care about stuff. They do it every college game day. I just wish that they weren't just a two note entity.

ESPN is an excellent sports partner for the reasons that Mike Ryan is stating, that all day long there are infomercials with credible personalities just getting you to the next games and increasing your addiction to all of the things. But Mike is also right in his criticism that those morning shows have been abysmal covering hockey because the people on those shows don't know what they are talking about. Baseball too.

Well, but what has happened with hockey and the ratings with ESPN now engaged has been an explosion of people realizing how wonderful these playoffs actually are because elsewhere on the network they are better partners to hockey than they are to baseball by a lot. The baseball people are dying at ESPN because they clearly do not care about the sport but they care about hockey more and believe in the future of hockey more and spend as if they believe in the future of hockey more, but the morning shows aren't equipped

to talk about this well. They just- Pat McAfee is equipped and you're seeing, I genuinely think that the rise in interest in hockey, which is up 61% over the entire continent here over last year, which is a different series and whatnot, and it was cable television, but it is up and% over the entire continent here over last year. It was a different series and whatnot and it was cable television.

But it is up and I think that is really because of visibility. Because guys are going on main ESPN, because Barstool Sports is aggregating, because shows like ours, because of our platform and because of what's happening locally, is you're seeing an increase in the base and they can do that.

Pat showed you what he can do with the NHL. Stephen Hayes shows you what he can do with the NFL and Dak Prescott and all that. The NBA. The NBA certainly even though that's kind of leveling off but they're going to get a ton of money. I just wish they did it for the other sports because sports are great. Look what sports has done to us. This if we win will be remembered as a great time in our lives or the worst. Howdy folks it's Mike Ryan. It is hot. It is damp. It is summer and it's a perfect time in our lives or the worst. Howdy folks, it's Mike Ryan. It is hot. It is damp. It is summer. And it's a perfect time for grilling outside over an open flame or charcoal grill or propane. I'm not really sure. I'm not really all that manly. I think you guys can tell. But once a year, I'll bring out that brush and

I'll scrub down the grill and I'll make myself a nice meaty feast. And you can bet your bottom dollar that I'm doing so with a Miller Lite in my hand because Miller Lite keeps it simple. Undebatable quality, tastes as great as your barbecue. It's a beer that strips away everything you don't need and holds on to what matters most. The light beer with the most taste, less filling and only 96 calories. Perfect companion for grill masters all across America or people like me who grill maybe once a summer but take a sip of that Miller Lite and realize that no matter what, it's going to be a good day.

With Miller Lite in your hand, grilling doesn't just taste great, it tastes like Miller time. To get Miller Lite delivered right to your door, visit MillerLite.com slash Dan, where you can find it pretty much anywhere that sells beer. Celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 96 calories per 12 ounces. An action-packed fight card is taken over Las Vegas for UFC 303 Alex Beheda versus Yuri Prohaska II in the main event and then we've got T-City Brian Ortega versus Diego Lopez in the co-main event.

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Putting up a billboard in Edmonton? Stugats! I care more about Matthew Kachuck than I do my daughter. This is the Don Lebatar Show with the Stugats! If you're just joining us, you have missed Mike Bryan calling Greg Cody an idiot twice, Greg Cody pal three times, and also you've missed Greg Cody come idiot twice, Greg Cody pal three times, and also you've missed Greg Cody come pretty close to saying Dan Marino is overrated

and that Jeremy Tesche isn't a journalist. It's been an eventful morning. It's been aggressive, the Greg Cody show featuring Greg Cody. We're all in a bad place. Is, wait till there's a game center. No, Dan, stop. This is too much. Well they might win an overtime tonight so you don't have to worry about it.

You guys will have a good weekend and you can stop worrying about everything even though I think the worry is what makes it so goddamn great. Like it really does. It makes it more special but some people don't agree with that. Zaslow did leave in genuine disgust. He's going to be on ESPN radio at noon if you got, I don't know if he's got any more for Greg Cody. He might have some more for Greg Cody. He'll be on ESPN radio at noon. Greg, how do you think all of that went with

Zaslow? His disgust and his disdain are legitimate. He has been for many years texting me when you've written some column that says the Marlins should get Otani. He always sends me those columns that have a headline of yours that's a little bit obvious. How was your time with Zaslow? What is your general appraisal of how things have gone here today? I don't have a problem with Zaslow because he's not pretending what he is or isn't. He was wearing a Sam Bennett shirt. He's obviously a Homer, Panthers fan, and that's fine. He's respectful of me. He's never called me an idiot to my face.

I have no problem with Zaslow. I don't know what you're doing with this dismissive like fan thing right now. Like, I get what you're doing. You're trying to, I'm a journalist, you all are fans. I like, you. There isn't, I'm better than you in the journalism. But you've seen how Stephen A,

you've seen how Stephen A walks into the arena, right? Like given that we're, yes, yes. Well, he's not a journalist. The journalist often thinks he is better than the, he or she is better than the fan, correct. And holding up one of the dumbest hockey takes in a long time is just, it's just, it's just a rich juxtaposition of like

looking down at fans while giving that take. My own son doesn't know it and so I'm gonna remind him me saying Conor McDavid is overrated was predicated 100% on the fact that he's never won a Stanley Cup. If the unthinkable happens and he's the one raising the Stanley Cup, he will have caught up in his ninth year to expectations and hype. Okay? One of the reasons though I would argue that one of the many reasons I would argue that that is not the greatest of takes is that Connor McDavid will be no better of a player if he loses tonight than if he wins the next two games like he that's a Stu gots take to say hey he's overrated show me your rings in a

box but you as a journalist Greg should be able to dive deeper into what Connor McDavid Connor McDavid is able to do on the ice and have that impact regardless of his team's success. If he scores six goals tonight and loses seven-six, he will be no less of a player because he did not win the championship. Sure, and Dan Marino is no less of a player because he never won a Super Bowl.

That's not the way history judges sports and athletes. But journalists should help us untangle the nuance in history. That's job it's fans who don't I think I believe explaining to you how to be a journalist I yeah I understand you're trying come on man I understand that he's right there right in front of our eyes look that's a very good point Dan LeBbatard used to be a journalist. He's not anymore. He's a professional yodeler now. That's right. Now you distracted me. Oh, no, no. I believe in the macro of that

historical weight given to championships. I believe in it. But you don't disagree with my assessment that I just said. You do understand how silly it is to say that McDavid is overrated if he scores six goals tonight loses 7-6 and therefore does not have a champ okay no no I still stand by my opinion the challenge tonight we should issue as a South Florida show we've talked plenty of McDavid the challenge is for who PK Subban said is the best defensive forward in the league, a guy that should have the Selkie Award to himself for the next eight years or so. Sasha Barkov,

the captain that has been throughout this entire identity crisis of this franchise, that is the challenge. It is clear to novice hockey fans how good 97 is. To how special he is, the attributes in skating that you've never seen before in your entire life. The challenge is on the best defensive forward going right now to stop that. The challenge is on Gustav Forsling, who's the greatest waiver claim in the history of the sport.

Let me say that again. Gustav Forsling, greatest waiver claim in the history of the sport. Let me say that again. Gustav Forsling, greatest waiver claim in the history of the sport, and I don't think it's particularly close. Went from stop to stop. People quit on him. He finds his way here, develops himself into the plus minus points leader in the league with one of the best plus minuses in the history of the NHL. The league's been around for a long time. They have an opportunity to do something that no opposing team has ever done in Edmonton and that's lift Lord

Stanley. The Oilers have only been in the NHL since 1980. Since then they are tied for the most Stanley Cup championships. This is the Boston Celtics of our lifetimes in that sport. They had 99. They had the greatest player. They traded them. They won another. They've been on hard times just like we have. It's to go in that insane asylum today, made even more crazy by coverage and calling out players and the fact that they were down and written off, left for dead 3-0, they're going to be insane. But I've also watched that team plenty.

And if you score first, that bill then gets the entire air taken out of it. And that is a monumental challenge, and that is what journalists will be writing their articles about. But for as great as 97 is, Sasha Barkov needs to meet it. You say that, and I would stop you on this and I would say I'm good with Barkov and McDavid playing to a push on wherever it is that

greatness resides and I would like Reinhardt to score a goal in front of the net or for Hagee to do something or the waves of Panthers that I have watched over the course of this season win the game in the third period because bark off has played mcdavid to a tie or ma or bark off has played mcdavid to uh... i'm a little less good than you because on but you're an immortal and it's okay that i'm a little less good than you look at let me show you my nine other friends here on the captain of this team we traded for some of these because we were playing a different kind of hockey before and i could use something from some of these other we were playing a different kind of hockey before and I could use

Something from some of these other Panthers that have been a little quiet this series Matthew Kachuk Welcome to the series amazing play way to lead That is the exact effort that we need tonight Paul Maurice There is so much on the line for him. He could be one of the sports greatest losers There is so much on the line for him. He could be one of the sport's greatest losers. He could be one of the sport's greatest losers if he fails to win this cup. It'll be remembered as such. Like yeah, of course.

Oh yeah. I told you yesterday, 1942, that's not a real year. No one's ever actually come back from 3-0 down. And I've got to live it back to back years. Ted Williams left baseball that Ted Williams left baseball that year to become a fighter pilot. Do you know how in a war there was a world war going on. I want to celebrate tonight with my friends that have been there throughout this entire journey. I want to throw alcohol all over the bar. I want to go to the Grove after.

I want to have a pool party on Saturday, I wanna sing Red Hot Chili Peppers at a concert on Sunday, I don't wanna be here, dress like Sting, rationalizing throughout the entire weekend, well, same pressure on us, we got one game on our home ice and if I told you that before the series you'd take it, no I wouldn't, no I wouldn't. Anything could happen in a game seven. No, they're both going to be playing tight. That's what I'm saying. No, I don't want to be doing that.

I've had my suffering. I've embarrassed myself on this show, and I'm done. Please, guys, I'm begging you, Rhino, I'm going to be wearing a Rhino ski cap today, because I'm a goof about this stuff. I need it in the worst way. Please, oh please, oh please, I'm a goof about this stuff. I need it in the worst way. Please, oh please, oh please, I'm desperate for this. Just make the effort, meet the moment,

and I'm pretty sure this team will win. I hope. Anything can happen in any game. Why do we only say that for game seven? Such a good point. Such a dumb saying. And they always say that's the two best words in sports. That'll be the worst two words.

God, unless you win, then it's the best two words retroactively.'ll be the worst two words god unless you win then it's the best two words well there's no game seven there's no game seven if we win Lord Stanley is a best two words in sports you guys know a Stanley Cup finals never gone to overtime in a game seven put it on the pole and you say that out loud at LeBittard's take it back show no believe in the jinx that's that's okay I this isn't about jinx. We've amplified that This is about credibility and the Panthers the plight of the Panther fan, which is similar to the plight of the actual Florida Panther We are few But they have written us off for dead endangered

We need this we need this to actually ring eternal. We need this for credibility. I don't want to be a joke. I don't want to be remembered for this show. I hate it. Ahhhhh! Best two words in sports, put it on the poll at LeBatard Show. Game seven or Lord Stanley? Because I think you're gonna lose there. I think people are gonna choose game seven. I do want though to, the people who were gathered tonight in Sunrise around the arena, in the arena, because it'll be full watching

this, there is this wonderful region of South Florida that has cared about this franchise, this hockey team for a long time, and this is the best obviously that it has ever felt. What they're headed into tonight though I cannot I cannot overstate this part of it when Mike talks about the history of the Edmonton Oilers Okay, Canada cares deeply about hockey and the Edmonton Oilers as a franchise played it better more Dynastically than anyone in the last 50 years now Now I may have my time wrong on some of this stuff, I think I got some of the World War timing wrong on Ted Williams, but when Edmonton was great at hockey, Edmonton as a town became known throughout North America. Even as we headed into this series,

there were plenty of South Floridians asking, where's Edmonton? Where are the Oilers play? Is it in Texas? Where's Edmonton? Oilers. Oil country. Where are the Oilers? Edmonton is known. I don't even know what I'd say is second place on, what do you associate Edmonton with?

It's 80s hockey. Like, what else? What is second place on what? When the regional. 80s hockey, Islanders, and Oilers. That was the 80s. When the regional identity stuffers and Oilers is that that was the eighties when the regional identity stuff makes a play in sports Edmonton as a region is going to be hellfire for its team tonight because this stuff's been passed down from grandpappy like

this. Hey, this is what our town is. We did three shows trying to find a singular Panther fan. You step out of your front door, it hits you in the face. Every home in Edmonton has some sort of identity it links to this hockey team because it's how that city gets shown to the world for 50 years and they haven't won in hockey and now they've got the best player and they're on the cusp of coming back from down 3-0. I just looked up what is Edmonton known for?

The West Edmonton Mall. So it turns out where both of these teams are from are known for malls, Sawgrass Mills and West Edmonton Mall, amazing. Except here, what surrounds us is alligators and swamp. There, it's every child is aigators in swamp there it's every child is a hockey fan from birth that's right every single child from birth at everybody who is it in that building has put that has had that point in the

crib since a child that urine edmonton oiler that's who they got to take it from that's why it's so cool you gotta go up there and you gotta take it from the best player in the country that invented the sport and in a city that identifies with the sport it's the hardest leaping thing and it's going to go to overtime come on boys and there's never been a game seven over time in the history of the stanley cop stop it says mike stop it is the shit runs down his leg.

Howdy, folks, it's Mike Ryan. It is hot. It is damp. It is summer. And it's a perfect time for grilling outside over an open flame or charcoal grill or propane. I'm not really sure. I'm not really all that manly.

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a good day. With Miller Lite in your hand, grilling doesn't just taste great, it tastes like Miller time. To get Miller Lite delivered right to your door, visit MillerLite.com slash Dan, where you can find it pretty much anywhere that sells beer. Celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 96 calories per 12 ounces.