The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz - The Big Suey: The Mike Lowell vs. Gary Ferman Race For Charity

Episode Date: February 24, 2025

Dan cannot get over Greg Cote taking out Gary Ferman in the previous hour. What's the difference between a beat writer and a column writer? Would it hurt Greg more if you called him a "shitty reporter" or a "shitty writer?" Then, AROD is always in the middle of something, but this time, it leads the crew to a conversation about the most important athletes from South Florida. Mike Lowell? Frank Gore? Udonis Haslem? Plus, Greg Cote has a theory about why the Yankees finally changed their facial hair policy, and Billy Gil was well-informed while simultaneously chaotic on the FIU Panthers baseball broadcast over the weekend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You're listening to Giraffe King's Network. The guy who wanted to pay me in foreign currency, no interest, over 36 months? Yeah, no. Carvana gave me an offer in minutes, picked it up and paid me on the spot. It was so convenient. Just like that. Yeah. No hassle. None.

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Earn rewards for paying your bill in full and on time each month. Rise to rewards with the BMO Eclipse Rise Visa Card. Terms and conditions apply. 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. I am legitimately surprised that Greg Cody,

and I'm sorry to belabor this, has taken out Gary Furman. I know we've spent too much time on it. I just, I am, I have been knocked over by a South Florida legend being less than respectful to somebody else who is another South Florida media legend. And I happen to really admire in this business, in this town, the survivors, the people who could get to the very end of their careers outlasting their businesses by evolving. Greg, what what do you think the

perception of you is amongst the writers? Because you seem to not have a very favorable one of many of the writers. And I'm wondering if this is just like a writer thing or if it's like a uniquely you thing, like you have problems with the firmans, the hides of the world. Like, is this just a normal thing amongst all of you disliking each other, but also saying you respect each other or like, are you the one that has a problem with everyone?

Billy, I don't know where that's coming from. Dave Hyde and I are good friends. I think he's a- Did he come to your 70th? He was invited and couldn't make it and he told me why, but he was invited and I think he's a wonderful columnist. I think he's really, really good. Billy, what do you, Dave Hyde's not a good representation.

What are you accusing Greg Cody of here? I'm not accusing anyone of anything. I'm just asking the situation, because I think he's really really really what are you acute Dave hides not a good representation? What are you accusing Greg Cody? I'm not using anyone of anything. I'm just asking the situation because I think you don't know whether Greg Cody is liked by his colleagues I don't know I'm wondering if they would say the same thing about you And this is just kind of how you guys hang out. You know what I mean? I'm not critical of anyone in in this market Not since the days of Charles Bricker in this market, not since the days of Charles Bricker, have I just actively not gotten along with anybody that I fraternize with. Chris.

Did you talk to Bricker recently? Yeah, they were reintroducing one another on the air. Can you please get that for me? Any little, any little, I think. Please get that 40 minute segment in its entirety. I think that this, I think that this thing is the funniest prank we've ever pulled on Greg Cody. It really is.

It was great because I legit was buying it until about halfway through. You guys should release that. She gets a little lippy. You guys should real, you guys. It was gonna, it's earmarked for a super cut on the oral history. Just release it separately.

Just let somebody listen to 40 minutes of that if they have not heard Greg Cody being introduced to his old rival, Charles Bricker. The thing that I wanted to theorize though with you, Chris, because I don't think you actually know your father here, and I think it insults him to not know him here that you and your brother Have taken so little interest in the thing. He cares about in a career I think that one of the reasons that he is regarding Gary Furman as

Lower on the food chain than I do is because Gary Furman was a very workman like writer He was he was kind of like Barry Jackson where he was nuts and bolts information and I believe that Greg Cody thinks himself something of a poet and judges other writers only there. Who's a better writer than me or who's a good writer, who's got touch? I think it's the thing he admires most. I'm theorizing on his behalf but I think that's probably one of the things that he does because he really loves the craft of writing. What's the... Chris, what do you think is the worst insult you can give your father if you're writing him a

nasty letter at the Herald, the way the people used to do? Like, what do you think is the single worst insult that you could give your father that would hurt him the most? Doesn't show up to the games. Lazy. Lazy? Yeah. That's not your opinion. No, that's what Ryder's right. How would you hurt your dad? Yeah, I would think, like, I always see him at opening day in the playoffs.

Like, that's the only time Greg shows up. That's fair, that's a fair criticism. You haven't been to the front-on since you almost died. That's fair. That's by choice, I don't want to add it. For me, I don't like, I was, dad? You know, nobody ever breaks news on your highlight team. You know, why is that that is it a tight?

Lipt we do it like Billy. I do it quietly come around. Okay. I think the worst insult is that you call him a fighter For sure yeah, yeah, that's what you do very it seems pretty bad. No your job Your occupation will always stay no because no cuz he was reporter for a long time I'm talking about he that he reporter for a long time. I'm talking about he's making a distinction between reporter and writer, I think. I think he's making, all the people he's talking about are legends at the Miami Herald were people who were like, they were poets. They were great writers. And I learned a lot from all of them, including Edwin Pope, my ultimate mentor. You're a great writer. I mean, I do respect more highly people

who I think are really skilled with words. I respect that more than I respect breaking a news story. I just do, which probably speaks ill of me and is a reason why they shunted me off to be a columnist because I wasn't that good as a beat reporter. Might be. I haven't tried my hand at really skillfully trying to write. It seems very difficult. The Breaking News beat is a very difficult beat. It's all consuming.

No, you're right. You're right. And somebody's got to do it and I admire people who do it well. It's very difficult. And I never had a knack for it i was never somebody who's gonna who's gonna show up to people i was covering and become friends with them you know back in the day when i was covering teams as a beat i did that a little bit uh... particularly with the dolphins uh... more so than the canes but i just never liked it i i never liked uh... you know waiting in a in a half empty locker room for a twenty-year-old kid to come out

hoping that he might grant an interview with me to me that was demeaning uh... you know that that was part of journalism and job though need to move past it is something that is you say that's the job but that's the distinction i'm making when i say if you say that reporter doesn't carry was but if you say is a shitty writer you've insulted him at his core because he knows he's not right and I know better but it still would hurt to hear it People I'm sorry Tony the people kind of decided though in terms of public lore the breaking news people have it

The call the the a the great age of columnist kind of went by the wayside with newspapers Having happened what happened. Yeah, now we all have podcasts like The Greg Cody Show. But in some... Who's on this week. You know, but I'm going to argue that the columnist should be more coveted than he or she ever was for the simple reason that news is breaking everywhere now. Yudonis Haslam might break news. Somebody in a tweet, some athlete in a tweet might break news.

It's not just coming from mainstream media anymore. And so the columnist that you enjoy reading who can make you smile, make you laugh, make you think, I think that's there's a value there that is beyond breaking news in my opinion. Then again, I have a vested interest. Greg, I'm absolutely 100% in agreement with you. And all respect to Gary Furman, that's his name. I just learned about Gary Furman today. I had no idea who Gary Furman was, obviously, but I come from a different generation of Miami Herald writers. I have a specific way that I know who a Miami Herald legend is. Dan, you're a Miami Herald writers. I have a specific way that I know who a Miami

Herald legend is. Dan, you're a Miami Herald legend, clearly, obviously. Greg Cody, you also. The way that I know. But if Furman was here, what would you say to him? I'd give him the same thing, right? I'd tell him exactly what I'm gonna tell you guys. When I go to Flanagan's and I go to take a leak in the urinal. If your face stares back at my hog... Furman's name has been there, but not his face. Maybe on a Saturday morning, maybe on a Saturday morning with a college football... I've never seen Furman's face staring at my hog at the urinal. This is the standard.

I get my dad's face, like, photoed to me, like, once a week. Somebody at Flanagan's. Exactly. That is the standard. Can you imagine? I want all of you, Chris, most of all, to fully absorb what your father's legacy is. It's weird for me when I'm there. Staring at my hog.

Flanagan's bathroom. We've seen it before. Over the urinal. Look, that's back in my day. Back in my day, you'd put a newspaper over a urinal and somebody knew what that meant. That meant that columnist mattered in this town. Nowadays, it might be the column from last week,

you know, might not be up to date, but it's gonna be there. Braves, Tigers, Split Squad. Oh, baseball's back. 12-8. Tis the season. Tony, that is excellent work by you. That is the gold standard for where journalism matters

over the urinal. Put it on the poll, Juju, at Levitard Show. Is over the urinal at Flanagan's the highest journalism standard. In closing, the only issue that I have with Gary Berman is that he took out Peter Ariz's reporting which was credible for several weeks. This was an airtight job of reporting by Kane's Insight to come out and say that it's untrue when you're the person that reported John Gruden to Miami, not me.

Here's Gary. Not a great luck. Okay, enough, please. And it's my fault. I know it's my fault. This episode of the Dan Levitard Show at Sue Gotts is sponsored by Liquid IV. Guys, I take a deep breath here because your boy is tired.

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A-Rod winning again. Just A-Rod always in the middle and the center of some strange sort of fame currency that, look man, this is hard to do, and I will tell you that I've had a conversation with A-Rod about dating Madonna and having the conversations with Madonna about how you keep yourself relevant and growing through fame as old people become discarded.

A-Rod's ability to be in the center of things and now really climb into ownership in a place that has him making a half court shot. Is he wearing a suit in this clip? Because he's almost always wearing a suit and there it is. Bank. This also-

That's good form. By the way, for clarification, this was at Bucknell because he I believe had like a meeting or a speaking engagement there. So like this isn't even the basketball team that he owns. This is just, he was randomly at Bucknell because he I believe had like a meeting or a speaking engagement there. So like this isn't even the basketball team that he owns. This is just he was randomly at Bucknell and he was taking shots on behalf of scholarships for a student.

You can make the argument with not get a lot of rebuttal that A-Rod is the biggest and the most important athlete in the history of South Florida. And relevant since he was 17 years old and still climbing into ownership in power brokering ways because he profited, made a ton of money, and cheated and resurrected himself after the cheating, which is just nuts to me. You're talking about like from South Florida. Yeah, like homegrown.

Homegrown. Yeah, I'm just talking about most relevant athletes in the history of this market where you- Dwayne Wade, duh. If you put at the, oh, but Dwayne Wade was- We raised him. Well, A-Rod hasn't played- This is home, he'd never leave.

He'd played down here, so. It matters that you're from here, does it not? Yeah, yeah, it matters. It doesn't matter as much though as playing for a team down here, yeah like if we've raised someone and all their playing was in high school and then they did all of their winning else for who cares I wouldn't say who cares but to Billy's point it's you know that that's why I put a little asterisk by calling him the most influential well

but wait what's the asterisk that you're doing because they by your standard then Mike Lowell would be more relevant locally because he went from somebody who won a championship here right uh... for this region and being from this region then a rod who wants to be about this region so much they pays millions of dollars to put his name on the college baseball state he wants to be known as from the hooding candle is somebody who is trying to imprint South Florida for the for the world right like he's he's proudly from here you can't say that about Dwayne Wade by the

guidelines is are you have to be born here correct not born here necessarily but just your athletic prior you're a cuz they run we saw we saw you grow up we saw you grow up. We saw you grow up. We saw you in our high schools We saw you in eighth grade. Yeah, people were whispering about you in the streets I've got a good one that plays a lot of different categories Frank Gore Yes played high school play college, I mean he's a Hall of Famer, but when I say to you I'm sorry is this is not something that whose second place Jackson? South Florida, what was that sound Billy? Well, I mean, I'm still we're sure still trying to figure out the rules if they didn't play here professionally

Then is that part of it or is it not part of it? Jose can say go never played the rules are are you from here? And then what did you do and you guys are saying you have to have won in Miami, which would disqualify A-Rod. Not to try county area, but not to talk about Palm Beach. No, or Broward. Straight up Miami. What if you live here on your spare time? No.

While you're doing the winning elsewhere, like the Williams sisters. How about Mike Lowell? I already said that. What? You don't want Tony? Aaron Rodgers? Tony, god damn it.

Oh, okay. The Rock is a good one the rock is a great one how about the rock? yeah, Dwayne Johnson, yeah, aww, minor penalty two minutes for not listening damn it, Mikey the Rock, FIU baseball matters, get out of here, I already said that, that's what I've been trying to tell anyone that don't listen Michael Lowell said Mike Lowell, he's a good one. Mike Lowell denied first ballot entry into the new made up Marlins Hall of Fame. Levitard colon Mike Lowell doesn't matter.

I think he's mad at our show. I think. Our show or? No, he's mad at me. I think Mike Lowell is mad. What'd you do to him? It was like a 15 year long grudge. He didn't find something.

I was like, you weren't that great defensively at second base. He's like, you know what, blood feud forever. At third base, third base. Yeah. No, no, no, no, I criticized his ability to play second base because he was an emergency second baseman during a season

and he took it really personally, which I have apologized for. There's probably more to it than this. There has to be more to it than this. No, no, no, that was it. He's like, I'll take crap talk from you, Lebatard, but Mike, no way. And that was it. He's like, I'll take crap talk from you, Lebatard, but Mike, no way. And that's pretty much where we left him.

Okay, Mike Lowell had a problem with us perpetually undermining how good of an athlete he was by making fun of a number of different things, one of which is we all thought we could beat him in a foot race. And so I just, I think- Him running down the first baseline was always fun to watch.

But again, we can set up a race between you and Mike Lowell now, Mike. Look, I don't want a feud with Mike Lowell or Gary Fuhrman. I'm good with Gary. Good with feud and with Gary. Mike Lowell, I apologize if he doesn't want to accept it. I'm sorry. Mike, for the record, I'm sorry I said

you played with a frying pan in your hand. We actually googled it. Your defensive metrics were really good. It was just odd at that stage in your career to watch you at second base. I thought we were all having fun. You clearly weren't. I'm sorry again.

OK, it's just I don't want to feud with anybody else today. I'd like to see Mike Lowell race Gary Furman for charity. OK, we'll set that up shortly. I'm sure we'll get people to come out by the thousands. Thank you for a terrible idea. Who's more upset with us, you think, today? I don't want to do this anymore. Let's move upset with us, you think, today? I don't wanna do this anymore. Let's move on to other subjects.

Over the weekend, I really did, and you guys had to have found this funny. And for the people listening who may not be familiar with what is just a majestically silly rule, the New York Yankees since the 1970s have just sort of proudly been, you'll not wear facial hair on our watch. Over the dead body of George Steinbrenner,

we're gonna be a well-groomed beard allergic team. No facial hair. For the New York Yankees, for Jeff Passan, to write a long story this weekend, because only the most important stories for Jeff Passon to write a long story this weekend, because only the most important stories that are culture shifting get the Jeff Passon treatment, for Jeff Passon to write a long story

about how monumental it is that 50 years after Steinbrenner implemented, the New York Yankees are now willing to allow their players to wear only a well-groomed beard. And this being some sort of victory for America progress that the New York Yankees are embracing facial hair is one of the comically ridiculous wonderful stories I've ever seen reported on a weekend in sports. Dan take the victories when you could get them,

all right? This is progress. Udonis Haslam. Yes. Greg, don't get distracted by the fact that bill is doing his own show there yet i don't know and refer to whatever it is that i was talking about the comment that is that you don't get distracted by billy purposely trying to stop the show and i'll try to tell you right about you do you know uh... thank you it it's it's huge news mainly because it's the new york yankees and because the rules and oh beard rule was so archaic. It's nice to see the Yankees step gingerly into the

21st century because the old rule was straight out on 1956. It's ridiculous and I think what's happening here is the Yankees realize that in an age where the coveted free agent is getting a couple of 500 million dollar offers maybe the tiebreaker on that offer is gonna be you know what I've had a beard my whole life I'm shaving a beard on so I don't think there's a person that's turned down 200 million dollars for the Yankees over facial hair yet well what if that's the tiebreaker though what if he's got two 200 million dollars this is wonderful to think about I went look at Chris Cody agreeing with that. I just think my dad's right.

If you if it's the money similar it could come down to I prefer to have a beard. It's not even prefer to have a beard. I prefer to work for an organization that doesn't care whether or not I have a beard. Do I really want to do I really want to be working for people who are that interested in my grooming? Amanda Nunes. Oh. The idea of that as a story though. You're saying it's huge news, Greg. That's ridiculous. Greg Foss-Amanda Nunes. It's huge news because it's New York and because of the rule was so outdated.

Greg Foss-Amanda Nunes. I understand that it is news. It's just I don't understand how in 2025, anybody can be okay with an employer saying, we're not good with a well-groomed beard like you cannot have facial hair and then furthermore there were all look go look at what goose gossage had on his face I don't know what that what he was allowed to wear facial hair mustaches are good though yeah must that was not a mustache look at what goose gossage had that was more than a mustache they established that you could have a like a mustache that was well-groomed with Yankees. But Goose Gossage was pushing it.

He was right between mustache and beard. Mustaches were socially acceptable. Right? Do you want to hear this sound of Hal talking about it? Because it's funny to hear him. He's just like, these kids these days, they like their beards. Our new vice president has a beard. Members of Congress have a beard.

The list goes on and on and on in this country and in this world. It is a part of who these younger men are, it's a part of their character, it's a part of their persona. I did make the decision that the policy that was in place was outdated and given how important it is to that generation and given that it is the norm in this world today, that it was somewhat unreasonable.

Howell feels like a pioneer in these conservative times, like boldly going out there progressively saying, I think a beard shows you a man's character. Yeah. These young people today, they're making artistic statements with their beards. There's members of Congress with beards. Imagine that. It is a part of who these younger men are.

It's a part of their character. Brian Wilson and David Price both voiced concerns about the facial hair policy and not going to the Yankees. Now. There you go. Probably dodged a bullet with not signing Brian Wilson and David Price both voiced concerns about the facial hair policy and not going to the Yankees. Now! There you go. Probably dodged a bullet with not signing Brian Wilson long term, right? That was a fun flash in the pan.

What do you give that guy? Then all of a sudden it's like, okay, well, now we're stuck with him for a while. But would that be a well-groomed beard? Because what Brian Wilson's was would be illegal by Yankee standards. They would be the judges of what would be well-groomed. No. He was incredibly well-groomed beard because what Brian Wilson was would be illegal by Yankee standards. They would be the judges of what would be well-groomed. No. It was incredibly well-groomed. For a longer beard, it was perfect.

But what I'm guessing, you guys, everyone here, correct me, that if the Yankees in whatever was the height of this ridiculous movement of no facial hair, if a Yankee of some sort had worn a cartoonishly James Harden beard, that would be against the principles of what it is the Yankees were saying that a man could show of his character and personality on his face. That that would be too much character. No, no, no, that's well-groomed. I disagree.

That's well-groomed. What's not well-groomed is, you know, Keanu Reeves anytime you see him do an interview and it's all patchy. Jason Worth, less well-groomed. But Brian Wilson, that's creme de la creme. He established an aesthetic- I understand what you're saying. Do you understand what I'm saying?

Which is the Yankees are trying to eradicate personality. It's not that you will come in sloppy and unprofessional. It's that the New York Yankees wanted the pinstripes to always lord above whatever it is you thought was your personal expression. Thought it was about control. Yeah. Personally, especially towards the latter end when the salaries got out of whack with George Steinbrenner,

I thought it became all about control. The question is, would my dad be able to play, if he, this picture of my dad that we have up here, would my dad have been able to play with this beard? Okay, so this is right between, this is sort of what Goose Gossage was doing where it's like, I don't know that, yeah, you're starting as a mustache,

but Greg Cody is also testing the limits of mustache-ness. The video team says this is a combination of Greg, Stu Gots, and Dan. Oh. Chris, can you please, can you just- Save some for the rest of us. Can you just grab for me a few sounds first? I'd like the 22 minutes please

of Greg Cody talking to Charles Bricker. Oh God. That was on the line and we should go through that with a fine tip, go. Oral history super cut. I do want to release the 22 minute, it's one of the greatest pranks in the history of Greg Cody.

Greg, what are you doing? What do you mean? He's right. Are you holding your you're wielding your Coffee mug, you know shaking it up Just how how by the way mentions shaking things up. He also announced no more New York New York after losses Oh now Wow Yankees lose. That's life You're gonna learn you gotta learn you gotta earn earn, you gotta earn New York, New York. Mm-hmm. Fair minute. What is that? What do you mean? Why did they change that? What's wrong with that? That's life. You're not gonna play New York, New York for losers. You play That's Life. Good decision. Exactly right.

Yep, Hal's got it going on. Okay. Put it on the poll. Does Hal have it going on? And again, I want you guys, please, can you understand for just a second, just enjoy the idea of somebody so burdened by the Steinbrenner name, so burdened by whatever it's been to be the Yankee boss's kid in a tabloid town where dad ran this town when the Yankees were the most important thing,

to come out in front of the cameras and have to nervously explain look i know i know this is crazy what i'm about to do here and i know that a lot of yankee fans are going to like this but i'm going to be scared as i deliver the news of you know congressman have beards

and and the beard is a form of character this is a scared son child trying to play up to daddy's rules on facial hair. You know, our new vice president has a beard, members of Congress have a beard, the list goes on and on and on in this country and in this world. It is a part of who these younger men are,

it's a part of their character, it's a part of their persona. I did make the decision that the policy that was in place was outdated and given how important it is to that generation and given that it is the norm in this world today, that it was somewhat unreasonable. Do you understand what a waste of that man's time it is to sit in front of people and have to explain that? What else is he doing? The burden of growing up a Steinberg. Yeah I'm sure Hal really wanted to earn his pinstripes and become

president of the Yankees on his own without help from daddy's last name. Hal had an epiphany. He woke up one morning and said you know what facial hair is a part of someone's personality we're going to allow it the turn of the century baseball had a team that required full beards flowing beards like a like a 19th century u.s. president Garfield or somebody and and this are you looking this up are you know are you and and this rule was just as ridiculous to not allow facial hair it's crazy but now by saying it has to be a well-groomed beard, you're still opening a can of worms because now...

Yeah, who judges that? The Yankees have a vice president in charge of judging whether your beard is well-groomed or not. It's ridiculous. You can have a beard down to your...if I'm running the club, have a beard down to your navel if you can catch a damn fly ball. Why are we judging facial hair in sports? It's crazy.

What an odd rant. I'm an odd man. Hey there wellness warriors. If you're like me, you've given a lot of thought to how to improve your health and wellness routine this year. I've started stretching more, do a little mindfulness and meditation every day. Try to clear my mind, make my body feel right.

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Tastes like Miller time. Celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 96 calories and 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces. Don Lebatard Quiet man. Yes. You know I'm a married man. I don't cheat on my wife despite that gratuitous line in back in my day. Stugatz I wish you were here my wife. I really miss her.

No I don't. That's the thing about being married. You're not allowed to say, I don't miss my wife. I've been gone two days. I haven't been gone long enough to miss my wife. I'm sorry. I call her. I'm on the phone with her for 30 seconds. You just said you do miss her.

Hello, all right. All right, we'll see you. All right. And then I'm going to see her in two days. I was jumping Charlie. Good. This is the Don LeBattatar Show with the Stugats. Do you have the sound of Billy doing the FIU baseball game speaking of odd men?

Billy you did your first this is your first FIU baseball game, speaking of odd men. Billy, you did your first, this is your first FIU baseball game. You very quietly became a broadcaster for FIU baseball out of nowhere. You have become somebody who pops up as a content factory in places quietly. You did so this weekend for FIU baseball. What's the sound that we've gathered here? We have a couple clips from FIU baseball and you know if you like it I'm gonna be doing another game on Saturday on Friday sorry Friday evening you can check it out ESPN plus we're gonna do it this is me kind of so they had FIU baseball starters career high was nine strikeouts and you know got off to a bit of a slow start it's early in the season players on somewhat

of a pitch count so I felt pretty confident in the assessment I was about to give you. Looks like we're not gonna see his career high in strikeouts for a game at nine, unless we really start swinging and missing. We'll see. Another strikeout. There is number nine.

In three and two thirds innings. We were in the second inning when I said I don't think we're gonna get to nine because we're already close to 40 pitches and I think there's more of a buildup to that, but it's fine. Second inning, four strikeouts, I said nine's gonna be impossible,

but no, it wasn't. You're there for that kind of expertise, right? You're there for- I roll wasn't entirely discussed, they just said, would you like to call some games? And I said, yes, so I assume it was for of expertise, right? You were there. I roll wasn't entirely discussed. They just said, would you like to call some games? And I said, yes. So I assume it was for my expertise, not for silliness, like what you're about to hear.

It's his birthday on Wednesday. You guys wish him a happy birthday? I did. Good for you. See, it's a real friend. Of course. I'm not like you, Zach. Jeez.

Do you know whose favorite artist is? I got a brush up on my birthday. I do not. Do you know whose favorite artist is? I don not. Do you know who his favorite artist is? I don't. Picasso. That seems like just something you say. Yeah.

I don't, I mean. That's kind of difficult to get right. Here I am thinking you were going to say a music. Like Drake or like Future. I said alright. No. What other information did they give you that he loves a good burger? He doesn't tell you that right now.

Loves a good burger. Shout out't tell you that right now. Loves a good burger. Shout out to Burble right down the street. I don't believe that he loves Picasso. This is just respectfully to Jaden Bishop. I guess we're going to have to ask him. Are you calling me a liar? I just want the full scoop. I could just make stuff up and you wouldn't know the difference right just assume I'm reading it from something

you want to guess his favorite artist it's not Picasso music or that's your painting music or painting this one's music I'm gonna say that bunny yeah it is bad let's go all right I shouldn't have told you well he even the good teammate in fairness it doesn't say musical artist, it just says artist. So he may be a fan of Bad Bunny's painting. He took the liberty to do it as a music artist. Yeah. Yes, that lines up.

You think Bad Bunny paints? I think he does it all. Whoa. Cross to right field, it'll be pulled foul. There is a sitcom here somewhere of broadcasters who go to work together in a booth and don't like each other. Don't like each other? Is that what you gathered from that?

I'm, I'm, I'm. Hold on, this is constructive criticism because I haven't received this yet. When I left, they said that was a lot of fun. And I said, okay, see you Friday. So you think they didn't like me. Well, no, this is. Because I thought, you look,

there's the play-by-play guy. They brought in a former FIU baseball player they didn't like me. Because I thought, look, there's the play-by-play guy, they brought in a former FIU baseball player to kind of give you the ins and the outs, the nuts and bolts, if you will, so I said, well, where do I fit? So I would go through, I would watch the videos of media day, I'd read the media guide

to get facts about all the players, and then I'd find things like this person's favorite artist is Picasso. Maybe this is a helpful fact I can throw in there in the middle of the fourth inning. But they don't trust you, they think you're lying. They don't believe you. They think you're there to cause chaos

and I wouldn't like that if I was sacred about broadcasting. I will say this and I don't know if I should give you all of this information beforehand, but I made sure to call Zach, the lead play-by-play guy, like two days before and like introduce myself, because I had never met either of the broadcasters before. So I called and I said, let me introduce myself to Zach in particular, just so that,

because Zach, you know. Was he aware of your work or no? Well, that's, he's a young up and comer and I said. So he knows you're an evil cat. Dog. No, tone, tone. But I said, let's just, let's have a nice get to know you session on the phone beforehand so that we're not surprised kind of by the way this may end up going,

which I thought was a nice gesture on my part if I'm gonna be perfectly honest with you. It is not only nice, but Tony, this is why this is a very specific, funny lane for Billy to occupy. If you're working with young broadcasters who aren't familiar with as what Mike Ryan might call what my resume suggests.

He's from Syracuse, like this is a real deal broadcasting. So, okay, look, I have seen this happen too many times. Tony Kornheiser and his wackiness was not welcome around the sacredness that makes Hal Steinbrenner moan because someone's got hair on their face. Like the Cathedral of Sports, the ridiculous sports people fear of being different makes it so that you're gonna be on that broadcast and they're not gonna know what to make of you, the broadcasters who are taking it seriously. You're right. Dennis Miller, same thing.

And so even if you're calling to warn them, hey, are you familiar with what it is that I do? Not war, just kind of a get to know you session, you know what I mean? Because it's awkward if you just go on the air first time you meet someone, which is basically what happened. So I wanted to have a call. More awkward, though, more awkward than the awkward

of going on the air without having worked together before is the specialty of awkward that you have. Like, where you're purposely going for the awkward. Yes! Where the broadcasters are taking their job seriously and you're finding funny. Same. Dude, I spent like two hours reading a media guide

and watching videos of media, David. I didn't take it seriously. No, you're very well prepared. Mike caught me in the middle of a zoom with the fort the opposing Delaware's baseball coach on The show I kicked him on the shin. He's like what what are you doing? And I'm like our baseball coaches here. I need to know what's going on with the blue ducks and hands the blue head Well, they're gone. I don't need to worry about them anymore on to Mary Mack Wow He does prepare but I think what Dan suggesting is that you you do have a bit of a bit bit

Yeah, I want two strangers in the booth. I think that'd be great chemists I'm telling you that there is a I would love to read something that is scripted about Broadcasters being awkward around each other because they're trying to remain professional but they don't actually have chemistry or know each other. Billy going to these broadcasts and doing FIU baseball and making fun of the construct while inside of the construct while pretending he's not and also getting on the pre-call with the Delaware.

In the middle of the show as well. But you were interviewing PK Subban. Like what am I, you guys are ranking the hottest black men. Like I thought I was fine at the time to hear what the Delaware baseball coach had to say. It went beyond the Subban influence. It went a little longer than I thought, I'm gonna be honest with you.

Mike, you just snitched, you snitched on your senior. No, he self-snitched. I would have never revealed that he was talking to the manager of the Delaware Bluehands. During the show, I didn't know that. There would have never revealed that he was talking to the manager of the Delaware Bluehens. During the show. There was one time I was in your headphones, don't go to Billy, I can't say why. It was a quick 15 minute chat, you know what I mean?

We had to talk about the players. You don't turn down that chance. Who? Who? Exactly right. We had a chance to interview the Delaware Bluehens manager. How many times have you guys done that? I have not. I was doing a lot of Maine. I did a lot of Maine black bear.

Oh, the black bears. The black bears. Good squad. So what you're telling me, if I'm to understand correctly, is that me going on there and me doing research beforehand where I get fun facts about the different players in a clip that maybe we'll play here, possibly Chris Cody maybe I'll play here.

What you're saying to me is that if I'm there and I'm doing the research where I find out the biggest fears of the baseball players and I'm sharing that in like the fifth inning of the seventh game of the season, that this is a problem of sorts and this is a bit not me doing my job. He's a grad student on a Key West.

Worst fear is the dark or huge birds Hopefully the birds here won't spook him For the birds don't scare him which do you think scares him more because the media guide says dark or huge birds Down the line foul that's a great question I'd say it's more the huge birds. Yeah I mean night games would be a problem. Huge birds? Was that the description? Dark or huge birds. I would say huge or dark. I'm gonna agree with Rhyno there. Yeah. I will tell the audience and this is a Guillermo mafia that is very strong

if you believe Billy to be the greatest of all the characters in the history of this show. The idea that Billy would spend any time listening to the droning of the manager of the Delaware Bluehens during our show, just so that he could go make the joke of, I'm prepared in the event anyone asks me a bluehen managerial question so I can go to in the pre-interview we talked to

skip and he said X Y & Z but Billy is going to great lengths to broadcast in the small lanes that these serious broadcasters will afford him. You know taking my time with coach Mamula, hear what he had to say about the Blue Hens and you know, we learned some things. Someone has to work on their breathing though in there. There were some slurping sounds as well. What? What? What? What? What?

There was a bit of slurping in there, yes. Well that's a TV broadcast so you know, it's primarily visual. Did you enjoy yourself? Were you nervous? Working with new people, what's the worst part of it? Working with new people or collaborating with new people or just doing something for the first time? A little bit of all of it you know it's difficult to build a rapport with people that you haven't worked with before so hopefully the next one you know goes goes a little better than the

last one and that's just the goal just keep it moving keep it talking baseball keep it about the players in the game and that's it Billy I have a tune in to watch them I have some advice for you. Go watch the Alex Solana broadcast those are so much better just take some notes from Alex and then just redo it. He comes prepared he comes ready to go he's got his hands going and Billy you got bringing a Picasso I mean after the media stuff is done We got a Picasso note is a good one when the what is that? Solana yeah, what is this exactly? What's happening? I just saw his broadcast very professional really you watch the entire broadcast He came in a suit you didn't show up in a suit. That's I don't know what he wanted I shoot for you. He wasn't on camera. So going in a suit is just

What he came in yeah, what is what is this business that we're doing now? I can't believe Tony took you out with Solana. He's an ingrate. I can't believe he just did that. That is the bravest thing Tony has ever done. You're not gonna turn this broadcast team against each other. I'm gonna tell you that right now. There may be a number of us, but we're strong.

We're Panther strong, and we're not gonna be broken apart by the likes of you who went to the school and is running around with a UM, whatever the f*** that is on your head today. Confirmed. Pause up. Hey there wellness warriors. If you're like me, you've given a lot of thought to how to improve your health and wellness routine this year. I've started stretching more, do a little mindfulness and meditation every day, try to clear my mind, make my body feel right. Take your health routine to the next level with the magic of contrast therapy. Meet our new amazing sponsor, Redwood Outdoors.

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