The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz - The Big Suey: Is The NHL Better Than The NBA?

Episode Date: December 18, 2024

Dan kicks off the hour by sharing his love and gratitude for everybody in the studio as we move through the holiday season, but pays no mind to those outside the studio. He reels in Izzy from the outside to discuss how his allegiances have changed with the Miami Heat stuck in a rut and the Florida Panthers winning the Stanley Cup then continuing to be phenomenal this season. He also shares his allegiances on the big topic that rustled Greg Cote's feathers in the last hour: is Greg Cote really neck-and-neck with Dave Hyde? Plus, Doc Rivers takes a victory lap after the Milwaukee Bucks won the NBA Cup last night, and it launches us into a very heated debated about whether the NHL has surpassed the NBA as a product. To cool the room off, Chris Cote has a loop to close. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You're listening to Giraffe King's Network. and get up to $75 in PC optimum points. Visit superstore.ca to get started. This is an ad from BetterHelp. This holiday season, do something for a special person in your life, you. Give yourself the gift of better mental health. BetterHelp online therapy connects you with a qualified therapist via phone, video or live chat. It's convenient and affordable and can be done

from the comfort of your own home. Having someone to talk to is truly a gift, especially during the holidays. Visit BetterHelp.com to learn more and save 10% off your first month. That's BetterHelpHELP.com. Welcome to the Big Sui, presented by DraftKings. Why are you listening to this show? The podcast that seems very similar to the other Dan LeBattard podcast. I'm sorry, I'm not gonna 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. At the at the risk of going syrupy on you guys during the holidays, I am looking right now at six people. I cannot see Roy here and his Santa stoic Santa face, but I will say in the most heartfelt of ways after four very, very difficult years that I love you

guys and I am super grateful to be able to do all of this with you. Such a great professional blessing and to be surrounded by gifts everywhere but none greater than the ability to still do this show with you guys this long into 20 years and still have it be something that people want to listen to so in the most heartfelt of ways as if no one was watching during the holiday party season I just you guys I'm super grateful for. Just us? Well you know mostly you guys and also also the occasional other I mean I can hear him in the other room. I can hear Izzy in the other room.

I can hear all the people on the outside of this room looking in wondering, well, what about the gratitude for? OLI is exactly right. Billy, what have you placed behind me here because I do want to get to Greg Cote. There's so much I want to get to. I want to get to Greg Cote gift wrapping. I want to get to Amin and Izzy have all sorts of takes that they are firing. Oh, now Tony's

here too. Tony's upset. Lucy is upset. Everybody wants to get their shots off. They're all in the other room waiting to get their shots off while I profess my gratitude to this group of people that is right here sitting with me right now. It's fine. They're spectrums of love, you just love them less, that's okay. So how can we use them for our entertainment now

as employees of this company who serve- I wouldn't phrase it that way. Well, let's start with a meme. Let's start with a meme out there, shall we? Let's give a meme a microphone and let's get him to celebrate whatever it is that he wants to celebrate here in a victory lap.

Because I don't know, he was in Vegas stealing company money and he went for that cup that the Bucks surprised me yesterday. I didn't know that OKC could be held to 81 points. I didn't know that was a thing. So it is when it's in Vegas. Yeah. Yeah. So, but it's a very important cup that not a lot of people care about.

And then the people do care about it. Get very mad at of people care about and then the people who do care about it get very mad at the people who don't care about it for not caring about it enough, even though it's an invented, contrived cup, to make us more interested in regular season games that the players sit out. Stupid. Yeah, I mean, okay.

Did the Bucs even take it home? They didn't do the celebration. They didn't want the champagne. Their coach was like, ah, let's not do that. How about that? Dock Rivers, learning from Darvin Ham and the Lakers, celebrating with champagne. There are photographs out there of champagne

unopened because the Bucks just won and then didn't do any celebrating. Darvin Ham is a perfect 14 and 0 in the NBA Cup. As a head coach for the system. The greatest NBA Cup coach ever. We're going to go here to Amin in a second and see what his victory lap looks like. But the game last night was something that Amin cared about and I'm finding a hard time as we just got done talking about hockey and we just got done talking about how your allegiance

is a change for sports is he's a basketball guy and now he's a hockey guy and mike's tire mike's out here telling you tired of this core done with it two years ago don't want to do this team anymore given up on where that franchise is while it's this other one that's giving me all manner of hope is he is uh... the smiling face of changing allegiances.

What are you laughing about, Billing? Nothing, just, you know, heard a joke. I felt like high school all over again. Care to share with the class? Izzy, get out of here, he doesn't love you. I think I know what you were laughing at before. Now I know. It was laughing at before Now I know I do think I now know what he was laughing at yes

Found one of those blueys at Walmart by the way. Oh, yeah, yeah expensive looking for the football Wow, we'll get back to that for the football. Wow. We'll get back to that. We'll get back to that again. Please use Roy visually like that. The remainder of the show where he just pops in staring at his confused from the toy drive at Dolphin Mall. Izzy, how have your allegiances changed in terms of you're somebody who grew up here around me and Cody? You know what? Before I get to that, let me ask Izzy something else, because this will make for better drama. I felt in the last segment, I don't know if the rest of you did,

Greg Cody bristle when I dared to put Dave Hyde at his side as second best. Neck and neck is what you said. Seconds. I don't know if you guys felt it, but there was a little. We felt it. There was a little.

I'm feeling it now for sure. There was a little. Okay, so let me cover this ground for the audience, because this is good ground right here. This is good ground. Greg and I got in a lot of trouble with Howard Schnellenberger and Hank Goldberg and Bob Greasy because at the Clevelander Pool at Marlins Park, we celebrated our longtime mentor, Edwin Pope, as the most legacy-soaked columnist in the history of this market. The party was supposed to,

I think they thought it was gonna be awake. Schnellenberger came with patches on his elbows, and we've got drunk people jumping in a pool. They've had too many drinks. Because I decided open bar at the Cleveland. But it also had very little to do with Edwin once it got started. Yeah, they did have a proclamation from the city though,

calling it Edwin Pope night or something. Okay, you gotta be careful with Greg Cody, eulogies, funerals, he'll make them about himself. That's what happened that night. And- And mayors showed up, like luminaries left and right. It was actually a really cool occasion. It was, yeah.

But it was too messy and festive for the people who were gathered in the memory of somebody who was a distinguished pillar of professionalism. I think Bob Greasy was pissed. He was mortified. Who was angriest? Was it him or Schnellenberger? Who was the angriest?

Time for first. Really? Neck and neck, huh? But I will say that Izzy learned like you learned and like I learned. Edwin Pope is the columnist in this town. Yeah he's the king always will be. The things he says were the things that mattered anyone who comes after him here in this market

learned from him, Dave Hyde included. But I'm putting Greg Cody second and he's bristling he doesn't think Dave Hyde I think of him as 2A and 2B. Dave Hyde, they're competing newspapers. Who's A, who's B? They've had very parallel careers. Is Greg A?

It's important, Dan, trust me. I mean, the Herald's top dog. Does Hyde have a trade merino column? No, I think not. Does he have a Miller Lite sweater? Come on. Thank you, Billy. Can he rap?

This is where I come in on this. Can he rap? There you go, rap, rap, rap. They call him the rapper. All right, Greg, go ahead and start rapping. I don't think you can multitask where you're wrapping that gift and doing show with us But I also want to do it around this conversation because I want to quantify it. Greg Cody in the history of this market When you pair him against Dave Hyde, I think their resumes are largely equal

Largely equal. It's like an extra medium. They trying to be hurtful on purpose. Largely equal. Okay. Merry Christmas, Greg. You're entitled to your opinion. I was a columnist at the same time as both Dave Hyde and Greg Cody at the Miami Herald, the paper of record, let's be honest.

And there is just something about the weight of a Greg Cody column because you know Greg believes it. Like deep down in his soul, he believes it. This is nothing against Dave Hyde, absolute true professional, a wordsmith, knows how to sort of hit some notes with the fans and the readers, but not quite the same as Greg Cody.

Sometimes it might just be a roundup column. Hey, how are all the teams in the city doing? But every once in a while when he hits you with that big energy, that trade merino energy, there's nobody else like him. Greg, can we create optimal conditions for your wrapping? Is this good enough for you? It seems like this is a little tight of an area to do this well. Yeah, it's a little tight, yeah. I should probably be out there on an open desk. Dan, before Greg goes rapping, he told us how great he was as a rapper.

So I went and I collected about six or seven presents for you. And I put them in the back corner to see if you can guess which one of them is Greg's rapping, because he did such a great job. Other corner over there, right over your shoulder. She's got some, maybe you want to get them. Then we can kind of assess which one we think is the best wrapped and which one we think is Greg's.

So then you'll know. Also, I'll let you know, someone has reached out to me personally and they said that they got wind of you wanting to match every toy that was donated, and they told me that they wanna donate a Nintendo Switch and asked me how they can send one to us from Iowa so that you have to buy a Nintendo Switch for someone.

The toy drive is still the end of tomorrow. It's what I have in my possession at the end of tomorrow. So this person needs to book a flight and get down here. You need to deliver it in person. Look, we will do this better in upcoming years. This is hastily organized and I have made it. I would like, at some point in the future, to create so many toys that it costs half a million dollars

because our audience, I have to match our audience on toys given during the holidays. But right now, we're at Flanagan's in a parking lot, and we got two days at Dolphin Mall, we got six hours to do this, and whatever it is we raise, I'm telling you, I will then estimate that and match it. Ha ha ha. Stugat's also in an effort to help has made it worse because now no one can see any of the gifts.

I didn't know what you wanted me to do. I mean, Dan, you can't estimate a match. You can't do that. You got to match dollar for dollars what you have to do. Okay, so what just happened? Look, I think that Billy came in here and they very carefully- We are never going to close this Dave Hyde loop, I'm telling you right now. It's done, over and gone.

I can tell you what's what. No. No, Dave Hyde and I are friends. I mean, he's... Ah, debatable. You know, he's taller than I am. Did you invite him to your 70th? I did, actually. He couldn't make it. He was out of town.

Some friend? Yeah. Were you there, St gots? I can't remember now but seriously Come surprise you remember that I keep notes If you think he didn't notice that you bailed on his seventieth after committing and costing him a meal you don't know my lease giving friend in the history of charity very well you know we we do we do charitable work in the Cody household yeah okay I don't sign the checks per se but my wife's a big giver and since I

married her I get credit for her big giving no no no no no Chris can we ask Earlene Cody please how she would describe, if she doesn't have time for us today and can only text us, to give us a word or two of what she thinks of your father, her husband, as a charitable person. A person who, who donates and gives time, energy, sacrifice, spirit of any kind to charity. Given it all. In Greg's defense, gift giving and charity involves really two primary parties, the giver and the receiver, both of them playing equal roles. If you do not have the receiver, then the giver is accomplishing nothing.

So receiving charity is just as equal as giving charity, I think. We will get in a second to this Dave Hyde loop, but I do want to close. But why is Lewis behind me right now holding the gifts after Billy tried to produce a segment and then Stugats for some reason got in and- He asked. Just trying to close loops. It's just for you to guess which one because they were some nicely wrapped presents to see which one you thought was the best.

All right, so let's look at this. Over my shoulder there are an assortment of gifts. They all look from here to be wrapped roughly the same. I think I would have to more closely inspect what is a well, you guys look, you guys tell me, pick one. They all look like they're wrapped the same. I can't tell any difference between how it is that they're wrapped.

They all look like they're wrapped well, except for this one doesn't seem like it's wrapped very well. It doesn't look like somebody put in any effort here. Not Greg's, definitely not Greg's. So if I eliminate this one and I eliminate this one doesn't seem like it's wrapped very well. It doesn't look like somebody put in any effort here I'm Greg's definitely So if I eliminate this one and I eliminate this eliminate the bag What is that a slab of ribs sure that person put a lot of thought into that gift So it's either this one or this one. No, no. No. Well, there's one on the floor, too I think that has a bow possibly. Oh, oh there it is.

He mentioned a bow also. I don't know if you thought. He loves a bow, yeah. Telltale giveaway. Fake bow. That's actually not his. Not a real bow. Disco balls and a bow.

Not a real Christmas bow. Okay, I don't know. Which one is it? The brown one. It's the one that looks like it's from a butcher shop. Strings with no bow. The one that he bragged about how great it was, not that one, the other one, with the rhino on it. The the one that Stu gots called a slab of ribs looks like from a butcher shop

Is Greg's great wrapping yeah, that was wrapped in store by the way the Rhino is actually a white elephant Huh, what is it? There also Greg what is the to and from say you're not supposed to put those on the white elephant gifts I give away nothing the the two if it is indeed a gift from me, which I'm not acknowledging To from Ricky Martinez no no it doesn't What is that says from Rudy Martinez ah big difference, that's a fine. Yeah, it is a fine That's for you to figure out does he work here

The guy that was laughing at Lucy my pain Who's Rudy Rodriguez video department Dana who is Rudy Martinez Is a mean ready first victory lap out there through the holiday party is he closing some loops? Is he ready to go? We'll get to Dave Hyde in a second, but is Amin ready? Thank you. Get out of here Louis. And we'll get to Izzy's fandom. In a second The Dave Hyde one though. That's a tough one. Where are you guys on this? Where should Izzy? Let me put you in the middle of this. Please. There's no bigger fan of Greg Cody than you in the universe. Well, I don't know Arlene might be yeah Well, no, definitely not around here. No one thinks Greg Cody is better funnier than you do true pro

Dave Hyde resume against his resume. Oh How do you stack them I Cannot remember off the top of my head one singular Dave Hyde impact column that had anywhere near the impact of Trade Marino. I mean, it's on our wall. What's the next biggest one since Trade Marino though? That was a long time ago.

No, we had one last year. Yeah, McDavid overrated. Hey, I sit corrected. I'm a fan of Dave Hyde's. That was a long time ago. No, he had one last year. Yeah, McDavid overrated. Oh, McDavid. That was pretty good. I sit corrected. I'm a fan of Dave Hyde's. I don't know why it has to be either or. Because you went icy when I dared

to put him in the same category as you when I was comparing legends in this market. No, I think I'm above him. I do. And that's not, if he and I were having that conversation, I would be like, dude, I'm older than you. I've been in the market longer than you have. What would Hyde say?

I mean, he'd probably say, why are we having this silly conversation? It's me, Maxime. And he'd be right, by the way. He'd be right. Which loop was that that we closed? Did you or did you not go totally icy when I said that Dave Hyde, when I dared to suggest that Dave Hyde was

in your class as a columnist in legendary stature in this market well he isn't he is in my class as a columnist and you could argue he's uh... a better columnist than i am uh... although you'd be wrong i don't think so well how do you measure what how do if i say awards who wins more warred a wide has been uh... in the in the a p sSC top ten more often than I have. Wow, but who's counting? Well I know I've been, I think I've made it three or four times, I think he's made it

probably ten times. Wow. No, he's good. He's really good at what he does. I probably have a higher national stature largely because of this show. So you know, there's different ways you can weight it. I think because I'm a protege of Edwin's more directly than Dave is and longer, I think I deserve that stature in this market. But you could make an argument for Dave.

If there's a tie, and let me be clear, I don't think there is. There is no tie. You're the better columnist. You've been doing it longer. You've been doing it better than Dave Hyde. But if there is a tie, I guess it goes to Greg because he appears on this show once a week Dave Hyde He fills in for Joe Rose that has nothing to do with being a columnist My dad the podcast. Well, you don't have Dave Hyde in here every week

I mean my dad also more than doubles his Twitter following. There you go. What's the measurement not awards? Well, I'm asking What's the what is the measurement for this longevity? What's the measurement? Not awards? Well, I'm asking, what is the measurement for longevity? He just gave himself more points for being more at the knee of Edwin Pope than Dave Hyde. I don't even know what that was. Dave Hyde also learned from Edwin Pope. We all did. But who gives out these awards? Because Mick Overrated deserves an award. That column in itself top two, I would say, of the last decade. So you got here, I wanna tell you a story. I'm serious here.

My wife and my two daughters, they begged me to buy a Peloton. So I bought a Peloton, and then I watched that Peloton sit in my office and stare at me. So you know what I did one day? I looked at it, and so I decided to get off my ass, and I jumped on the Peloton, because no one else was using it, and I paid for it. I mean, so why not my ass and I jumped on the Peloton because no one else was using it

I paid for it. I mean, so why not then I realized eventually that they bought it for me I and I got to tell you hey more challenging than I could have ever imagined Peloton coaches are walking the walk I love the coaches. I do the Grateful Dead one. It's fantastic. They have a sub three-hour marathon runner military trained athlete a Former college basketball player and so many other well-rounded coaches on their team. All this experience really shows in their classes which are never short of challenging, especially for me.

So I jumped on it that first time, it was challenging, more challenging than I thought and then I wanted to beat the bike and so I kept jumping on it and I absolutely love it. I mean I'm the only one who uses it but again, they got it for me. I mean I had no idea. That's a little passive aggressive, don't you think? Find your push, find your power with Peloton at OnePeloton.com. You got here right now, my friends over at Simply Safe are extending their massive Black Friday deal for our Leviton show listeners.

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environmental conditions and usage accessories sold separately. Don LeBretard. All right, we got to go back out there. That was big. Wake him up. Uh oh. He doesn't want, he doesn't want to be bothered anymore. Now it's getting tense because he didn't need that as a result.

He needs something that happens. Can we bother, are we bother you right now? Turn on your microphone. My microphone's on. Stugats. Paint the scene. Paint the scene is I gotta go to work. Good night.

This is the Don LeBattar Show with the Stugats. It's weird comparing us. It really is. You know, it's like... Be a wrestler. Let's go lean into this. You're like trying to be a wall. No, it's because I know Dave. I like Dave.

I admire him. He's very good at what he does. You know, I think I'm very good at what I do. I don't know that we have to... Let's go out to a mean who is out taking a busy victory lap I'm sorry I put you in an awkward position I did that on purpose I just thought it'd be funny to rip Dave Hyde he's a delightful man he wouldn't care at all right I mean that's not a victory lap that's no this is waiting for you to

close this loop for a while all right so Amin is there we need to get we need to get some basketball analysis he was very excited about the Bucks are now Cup champions they didn't bother to break open any of the champagne They just left the big cart of things for people to carry in and out of a room there That's how they celebrated winning the cup over ok see I mean you were surprised as I was to see ok see held the 80 81 points or whatever it was give us out your update still smelling like Las Vegas absolutely not Dan I wasn't surprised at all I told you guys hey everyone was like hey this guy he's a fraud he's blown more 3-1 leads than anyone in NBA history guess how you blow 3-1 leads you gotta be up 3-1 to start

don't ever talks about that over no one ever acknowledges hey you gotta be pretty good to blow a lead that big. If I was trash, we would never even be up that much. Do I get the thanks? No. Do I get the credit? No.

And now you ain't won one's self a champagne. They brought that champagne out, I said, you know what they're waiting for? They're waiting for us to drink this, then the next time we lose the game. They were drinking champagne, they were drunk in Vegas. Keep running. No way. Yeah No way. Look, let me play something down a little tort

This wasn't Blake's fault It wasn't And it damn sure wasn't my fault. What is anyone ever gonna say? It's not dogs wall, huh? When I got like they that what's up? Oh, oh the pucks don't defend. Hey, hey, you guys love Oklahoma City? Guess what? We put them in shackles. They're in the drunk tank down there in Vegas. They still have it left.

This victory lap is presented by Peloton. Find your push, find your power with Peloton. Okay, very well done. He's running in place. Very well done. That's the second time that's happened to you. You can't tell whether it's push or power that you're pushing.

I mean, yes, you need to be yes, you need to be a little more tired when doing this. The whole bit is- I'm Doc Rivers. You think this is easy? Oh, I'm full of energy. You hear my voice? I have to talk to my throat guy.

I don't know why I have a throat guy. Does everyone have a throat guy? Am I the only one? I have a throat guy. He did say he had a throat guy and he had to talk to his throat guy and it's the only guy in the league that I thought, yeah, he's I have a throat guy. He did say he had a throat guy and he had to talk to his throat guy and it's the only guy in the league that I thought, yeah, he's probably got a throat guy.

I'm doing lunges. Yeah, okay. I'm lunging, Dan. All right, good. Who else would have a throat guy? When Doc Rivers said that with that voice, when Doc Rivers said that, I thought to myself, yeah, that's why his voice sounds

like that. He's been seeing the throat guy. Apparently not enough. Milwaukee, what do you make of them all of a sudden playing better? Weren't you talking about their schedule yesterday or two days ago? I heard a beanleazer talking about, oh, our schedule. Hey, hey, I mean, how solid was that? Huh? That was a hard one. And we gave it to you right up there.

Wow, really? Baby. You could have been more subtle than that doc. If you're gonna argue with Amin Elhassan, you could be more subtle than that. Tell Amin what you really think about his take from yesterday that the Bucks haven't turned any corners at soft schedule. Well, first of all, he didn't say that, Dallas. Let's not get ahead of ourselves. What he said was

every great winning streak, every great record is built on beating up on bad teams. And the true test is when you get through that, did you build good habits or did you build bad habits? Well I would say based on what we've been doing in the NBA Cup, the last three, four games we played, great defense. Great defense, we locked him down. We locked up Dre Young. We locked up J. Gildes Alexander. Andre Jackson Jr., you don't know who that is.

But he's a hell of a player. I'm losing my Doc voice by the way. Okay, all right, we'll come back to you. Thank you. See you through, guys. Yeah, we really appreciate that. I asked for Doc Rivers to berate Amin Elhassan. Instead, he made an eloquent argument on behalf of what Amin said yesterday. Hey, Amin Elhassan. Instead, he made an eloquent argument on behalf of what Amin said yesterday.

Hey, Amin's a great guy. Okay, thank you. Appreciate all your help. I wanted Doc Rivers to rip what Amin said yesterday. He's like, no, let me offer some context and be totally fair to what Amin said yesterday. No, I'm sad. Okay, get out of here.

I don't wanna hear from you anymore. I don't need your nuance anymore. Izzy, I'm sorry you were interrupted before we were saying where it is your allegiances went. Mike Ryan is proudly trotting you out here as the symbolic face of South Florida. I've moved from basketball to hockey. Well, actually, if you don't mind,

just leaving this loop open for a second, because I'd like to, Chris gets beat up a lot when he misspeaks, right? When he makes mistakes and he just gets tortured all the time. By you, mostly, Dan. Who misspeak, by the way, stover, stovetop, probably the worst in the history of the show. Chris read the liner, right? Can we do it again for Peloton, please? It's Victory Lap is brought to you by Peloton. Find your push.

Find your power with Peloton. It sounds like a mistake, but it's actually how it's written And it's easy to understand if it sounds like a mistake from Chris it probably is which is why I just wanted to get Out in front of this one say not a mistake This one's interesting, definitely Cody. So I actually checked in on myself the other day when it was the same day, right, where the Heat lost in overtime to Detroit and the Panthers came back and beat the Oilers.

That was one of those deals where I watched the Heat game and was in pain. I actually felt it, I was like, Tyler, what the hell are you doing with five seconds left on the shot clock, taking that ridiculous three, and then I said to myself, all right, let me see if the Panthers can soothe me, because they've never been on the same level. And that comeback win did it for me.

I forgot all about the Pistons, I forgot all about Tyler Hero, and it was not just like blindly cheering for sweaters and laundry. I know these guys now. I know how they play and I know how big a win that was in Edmonton. But this is one of the things though that is so cool

about how fandom grows up and how you get spread thin as a parent and where it is that you outgrow sports or don't or can't. The idea that the Heat lose to the Pistons and symbolically you're like, those three guys losing to the Pistons, it doesn't mean anything regular season playoffs, oh Jimmy was really good, this is probably all over, this probably doesn't have a chance. And then you tune into the other game and what you're getting because it's not the Pistons is no this is going over there and

and beating them at their game now where they score the five goals and they never lose when they score the five goals and you beat them there six to five after making sure that they saw you celebrate all offseason with the trophy that Canada would like very much for Florida to give up at some point like that the the bigness of what it is the Panthers felt like made the heat feel small comparatively because one of the victories felt like it mattered and the other one was just sort of signaling again, the redundant end to an era here really,

because if Mike's given up on, if Mike's out here publicly get, that's for two years, stop withmy bam tyler it's not good enough yet you've lost one of your chief fans to hockey and there was no bark off the other night uh... the thing about the panthers comparing to the heat just when you watch them one team clearly just won the championship but still feels like every

game is important while the Miami Heat have done that at least going into the season labeled it as a every game is important. While the Miami Heat have done that, at least going into the season, labeled it as hey, every game's important, Jim's gonna try to play every game, you know that it's just not the case. You know that they're experimenting with stuff, you know that they're floating around one through six seed

and they're perfectly happy. Every game doesn't matter as much, so the passion and the want to to actually experience the game, it's a little different now from the Panthers to the Heat. It's such a great point, Izzy, because their approach to these last few regular seasons isn't a front to the uniform that they wear.

It runs counter culture, and it's not what they sell us. And yet, I can't see my best player play because rest day, maintenance, it's just, get rid of those uniforms. Their approach for many of the most recent seasons has been let's just get into the tournament. Well, even the play-in and then we'll figure it out there. Well, then I'm not gonna check in on the regular season

if you're gonna check out on it. Don't you guys sort of feel though, I mean, I'm sitting the other day and you've got at my side on their podcast, the OGs, you've got you Donnis Haslam and Mike Miller whose bodies are just sort of broken from like working at that military complex across the street where they're saying even 2010 to through 2014, hey that wasn't wasn't fun none of that was fun going to work pressure pressure and we're being run into the ground

to create the league of player empowerment then would then allowed ten years later for jimmy butler to do to to to for for maintenance in general to be around the program you do understand that the power shifted when pat riley went to Vegas and LeBron went somewhere else. Like the power of all that shifted. Well get out of here with maintenance programs.

Do you guys remember what the Florida Panthers look like after they lost to Vegas in the Stanley Cup? Do you remember, like they were in neck braces. Body parts everywhere. Aaron Echoled played with a broken ankle and I turned on the NBA and I got guys on maintenance plans. It's ridiculous. I tuned into the NHL and aside from Mark Stone or like the Tampa Bay Lightning

trying to game the salary cap, I'm guaranteed the best players trying to play and frankly a much more physically demanding and tougher sport. I can't disagree with you there. Like that that part That part is where you can just drag the NBA for load management Because if you compare my toughness to hockey players the military is gonna pale Like the if you're doing it as hockey players are the standard for what toughness is then you're asking an inhumane Standard from what it is you're asking an inhumane standard from what it is you're expecting from the bodies that play in those uniforms. But this seems for Mike, and I think he's right about this, and he's been saying this

for a while now, this is a sport to sport thing. This is about the product of hockey being better than the product of the NBA right now. And it's hard to disagree with that. It's a much more entertaining product. It really is. Yeah, the NBA is struggling to reinvent itself in a way with the NBA Cup in-season tournament. Now they're talking about making a tournament of a single-day all-star game. They're just, it's full of gimmickry. They're losing ground. The Miami Heat have been spinning wheels for two or three years. They need to break up this big three right now. You know, trade Butler if you get anything for them before the February 7th deadline because whoa

They're another columnist take right there because why not yes, why not? He's throwing up. Why not is there he's 35 years old if he has any value And you can get anything for him before February 7th trade him and move on without them They have to. The thing about the Panthers, I was at the championship parade in a pouring rain. The crowd there was astounding given the weather. It was astounding. This is not a niche sport anymore. The Panthers are a big deal in town and getting bigger all the time. Five years ago, they've had five years of sustained competitiveness and being really good. Kids born five years ago are just now growing up to become sports fans. What do I want to cover? What's a good team?

The Panthers are the best choice in town right now. Let's not doubt though this market if they go back to being batting. 100%. This isn't like, oh, it's fixed forever. No, you're right, Chris, but you have no indication. You have to if they go back to being batting. 100%. This isn't like, oh it's fixed forever. No you're right Chris, but you have no indication. You have to stack cups, that's why you have to do it. But you have no indication the Panthers are going to be bad anytime soon.

You'll never get that from David Hyde by the way. So let me get this straight. So market has team that wins title, and that's why, no shit. No shit. I hear you. No, no, no, hold on, hold on. Cause there's a minute, first of all, hey,

Greg, what did you think about the NBA All-Star format that they're gonna do? The new one? Supposedly it's several games. No, don't explain it. What do you think of it? Don't explain it. What do you think of it?

I think it's ridiculous. It's ridiculous, pretty dumb, right? Pretty dumb, right? It's gimmickry. Gimmickry, right? Nobody's asking for it. You know who, where they It's gimmickry. Gimmickry, right? Nobody's asking for it. You know where they got it from? No. The hockey all-star game. The hockey all-star format

is like that. But you guys won the cup, so it's awesome. It's awesome if it's hockey because you guys won the cup. If we're talking about all-star games, they're all terrible. The Pro Bowl should be eliminated. The all-Star game. It has been. Exactly. That's not the right gambit. The NHL totally replaced the All-Star game with an international cup. You get to see four nations and those four nations are putting on their best players regardless of the NHL season that they're having. This is not an apples to apples comparison.

And to your point, yes, especially down here in this market, fair weather fandom, totally fair. But I do think that this team and its present run of form is making hockey fans that will like to go to an in-game experience that if I actually attend, I'm going to see the stars play when they come to my town. That takes me to point two. Point two is Mike touts the toughness of the Florida Panthers

after game seven, all those guys in braces. So let me get this straight. Headline, players playing in a win for everything, all for like winner go home scenario, all put it out on the line versus players in a regular season. Wow! Oh my God! They really drive? You're showing your ass here dude.

You don't know when players put themselves through. No, I'm not. That's not my point. They're in the regular season in hockey. That's not my point. My point is, you're touting what they did in a game seven of the goddamn finals, as your comparison. No, I'm touting what they look like, but I can also tell you, I've seen players throat

slashed. I've seen a mean artery cut. Congratulations. And I've seen a guy come back two weeks later. You're pulling examples out of your ass. You showed it with the NHL All-Star Game and you're showing it here by not knowing exactly what the NHL players put their bodies through during the regular season.

Time out, time out. Why is everyone so defensive? Hold on, there's a time out. No time out. Number one, I didn't show my ass with the NHL All-Star Game. Go to 2017 NHL All-Star Game. Tell me what the format was. It didn't show my ass with NHL all-star game. Go to 2017 NHL all-star game Tell me what the format was. It wasn't Nations motherfucker. It was they played Represented their divisions

That's the ones that did it is this a red-eye that you just Okay, so you're gonna distract from the point I made. I'm not gonna distract. I'm trying to have a level headed conversation. 2017 All-Star game. What do you... The John Scott one? Like, were the fans vote? They very clearly had to change the All-Star game, and that's why we have this amazing

Four Nations Cup. My point is to call it gimmickry while praising the NHL. Who were the originators of said gimmickry? You're getting mad at the wrong guy. I didn't call it gimmickry. That's what I said. You said I would show my ass at the All-Star game. You said that right now.

You said that right now. I'm just opting out of this. I don't know what this is. You said right now. I have zero interest on this. Did he not say? You can run it back on the tape. I'm getting yelled at.

You showed your ass with the All-Star game. Getting yelled at just because like Joel and B doesn't play. Like I said, he didn't love him earlier. Distract all you want, but you could confirm or deny. Okay, I said that, my bad, I mean, you can do that, or you can distract and say, oh, he's ruling, oh, he's ruling. I would like, all right, hold on a second.

This is what happens when I cancel the fine bucket. I can't get control. Now I don't wanna see this guy. All right, let's hold on a second, okay? I don don't need you're coming over and you're talking to the official right now I've thrown the flag and I want to clear everyone out you yelled timeout. Yeah, I nobody acknowledged your timeout It was a 20. Let's all gather. I'll say Dan. What do you got here? I think I got a soon after I showed You know what? This is the first thing I'm gonna do, okay? And I'm not going to abide anything,

I'm just throwing down law here, okay? Amin, you're going to leave the room right now. Oh no, no, hold on. Wow. Hold on. He doesn't love you. At least the tone got better immediately. Amin, Amin, just, we'll revisit this,

because this is real, and it's the holiday spirit. You're going to leave for a second. Now, well can I hear the rest of the thing before I leave? Amin? Well how does he know? Amin, I need you. There's a monitor out there, he can follow you. Amin, it's because you're going to say something about me after I leave.

No. Amin, I'm on the national airwaves. You'll find out about it. International, really, it's the internet. Amin, I need you to leave the room now. And it's only because you're not white or Hispanic. So, so. I don't think you can say that. Well, I already said it.

He said it. Now, now, hold on a second. Is he? I also, I, is he? I also need you to leave the room. He's Hispanic. I didn't even get to say anything. No, but, but, is he?

It's because you're gay. What? Oh wow. So, so. I mean fine, I guess. No, no, fine I'm gonna get to, because we're bringing back the fine bucket. I'm gonna bring back the fine bucket,

and now there are gonna be rules that people abide by, because it's gotten out of control where a sports show just broke out. After I expressed. I don't wanna be alive all the time. I expressed gratitude for everything and everyone that was here. And a sports show just broke out around a hugely defensive

Amin Elhassan angry that hockey has overtaken basketball in this town. Very angry. Which is not even true. Justin, wait a minute, Mike. Mike? Mike, you don't get the last word just cause he's out there. I can step out too.

You go too. Oh wow. You go too, you go out there and make up with him because you guys were shouting at each other and for some reason he's- I don't wanna talk to him. He gave me like a pat on the side like we're good. I'm gonna need a minute.

But you love him and he's white and he's Hispanic. I know. I'm so straight. I'm so straight. Many are saying. If he goes mother bleeper, it just comes off different. Okay. It is, like I was so straight. I'm so straight. All right. Many are saying. All right. If he goes mother bleeper, it just comes off different. Okay.

It is, like I was so rude. I need help with everything that's happening here. It was a mean comment. Dave Hyde's written four books. A means to an end. Does that influence the rankings, Billy? That's what I'm wondering. I mean, part of them are cosines, right?

So like Greg has his book about the lion, right? But Dave Hyde has Swagger, Jimmy Johnson's book. With Jimmy Johnson. Yeah, and then he also. That was a big one. He also has Perfection with Bob Greasy. Then he has Still Perfect, the Untold Story of the 1972 Dolphins,

and then The Dolphins at 50, Legends and Memories. Hey, one trick pony, some are saying. Wait a minute, if we paired his dolphins at 50 with Cody's 50. Fins at 50. If we put, wait, oh, he got dolphins? He's back, Dan, you gotta pay now. He's fins at 50, yes.

I'm saying if I put them next to each other, I want to do a more empirical measurement of whether or not Greg Cody is better than Dave Hyde because our bias crew thinks so. I think we have bigger fish to fry right now. Everyone's screaming at each other. I have a loop I can close. Yes, please, please.

Mike Lupica. Hey, yeah! What is the loop? No, please. I texted my mom, how charitable would you describe dad? Oh God. Hold on, hold on. That's long.

Hold on, hold on. That's a big one. That's a lot of reading that's long. Hold on. Hold on. This is a big one. That's a lot of reading that's coming. Hold on. This is a good one. Wait a minute. Greg is now scared because he's been cornered. Alright, good. Good. Hold on a second. Hold on a second. Let's breathe. That escalated quickly. The holiday festivities have gotten off to a fiery start. Wow. Again, not what I saw coming. An argument about hockey versus baseball being the trigger because of me. I don don't know I think you kind of like what's going on

today it was hockey versus basketball that's a fun yeah Chris can you please tell me what your mother says to the allegation that Greg Cody is one of the least charitable people in the history of charitable finances. Okay, so I said, how charitable would you describe Dad? She writes, quote, hmm, he is a very sensitive and caring man, but in terms of monetary giving for people less fortunate, he has a low bar of what he thinks is enough money.

I would give $100, he would think 10 or 20 is fine. He lives in 1970s, 80s standards of money. But the gift of knowledge. Right, and caring, and caring. I'm a caring person. And I've tried to explain it before, my wife is very charitable. Like she gives to, I would say easily a dozen causes to

charitable that was just in your ear you forgot how to do the show that was a joke told to you right to continue charitable you could argue they were I mean 12 charities a little bit I do not see how you guys are producing it. This is not going on. He laughs at the joke. Why is Dan stepping on my punch line? You gave him the... He's supposed to be wrapping a present I think too. You gave him the punch line! You gave him the clothes to the segment he laughed took it for himself and didn't share it!

Hey folks, it's Mike Ryan. The holiday season is upon us. Christmas is coming next week! So, what are you doing for it? I imagine you're going to have some family over. what are you doing for it? I imagine you're gonna have some family over How do you entertain the family? How do you keep everybody happy? Well, I know one easy way make your holiday time Miller time bring out a nice silver platter of that beautiful white can or bottle Whatever your preference heck do it on draft as long as it's got that beautiful amber color and was triple hops brewed

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