The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz - The Big Suey: The Sounds of Saunas

Episode Date: February 21, 2025

Mike has an update on the asteroid that may or may not hit Earth in 2032. Then, Car-son Beck had his cars stolen, Jessica attended last night's Notre Dame vs. University of Miami Women's Basketball game, and the crew reviews the Oscar-nominated movies they've seen this year. Plus, the Dalton Knecht story continues to evolve, and Tony has a take that is so hot that we sent him to a sauna. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You're listening to DraftKings Network. 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 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

that 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. This episode of the Dan LeBotard show with Stu Gotz is presented by DraftKings. DraftKings, the crown is yours.

We need a fire tailor. That was not. That was pretty rough. That was not cool. I'm mad on your behalf, man. How did he know to pick the photo from the behind the bit video? He's got a big smile back there, by the way.

I just kind of leaned over and looked through the window. Your most insecure photo of all time. Oh, come on. Not great. I just kinda leaned over and looked through the window. Your most insecure photo of all time. Oh, come on. Not great. Hey, I got breaking NASA news. NASA? NASA.

Yeah, I've been kinda ticked off. You've been following the asteroid? No, I see it in preview. Do not put that photo back up. It was up, it's off now. Okay, do not, do not. Jason, you're a gator. You're already on thin ice, all right?

So just, let's chill. All right, so daily, whether or not we're gonna be here past 2032, you know, it's fluctuated. Please give me some good news. I've got bad news for ya. The percentage, which had been at like an all time high, 3.2, I guess not all time high,

but NASA really wasn't around for the time of the dinosaurs, if that's what happened. NASA has just announced new data gathered last night dropped the December 2032 impact odds of the asteroid to 0.28%. What? All right, so we're good. Already, they dropped it back down?

Let's clarify though, because I was worried that this was like an Earth ender. This is just a city ender, right? No, it's like- Maybe not even that. I mean, it depends on where it hits. Yeah. But still, that, it's obviously all bad,

but that's better than Armageddon. Yeah. Like I was thinking- Well, it depends on your point of view. Our room out there was just, our room was just poo-pooing 3%. They're like, oh, 3%, we're still good. I'm like, are you guys leaping crazy?

No, and also- We're still good. I had read that it was like too late to do anything about, which I was like, I saw Armageddon You got plenty of time maybe not enough time to turn astronauts into drillers But you certainly have enough time to turn drillers into astronauts as Michael Bay taught us but as This story turns because every day we're gonna have huge swings on whether or not NASA's lost all credibility with me because I could wake up tomorrow and you could tell me it goes up to six percent

All right, cool. It's been that kind of thing Market like what's up? Oh, it's up to six percent Oh, no, what are we gonna do? No, it's back down to zero percent. Okay, what do I do? Not now we got enough going on and I'm not look this is not a can that you want to kick down the road Well, we're bringing it all back check for knocks Last night by the way Mike it was this is why I will never make fun of Mike on air ever again. He graciously gave me his courtside seats for the Miami Hurricanes game

as they hosted Notre Dame last night. I sat three seats down from Brianna Stewart. The Notre Dame, one of the Notre Dame staff members was like, yeah, we're trying to get courtside seats for Skyler Diggins, who was there, and Arikay and Jewel Lloyd, and we couldn't find any. And I was sitting in Mike's seats with Lehman, and we had one empty seat next to us,

because we don't have any friends to invite that wanted to see the game. And I was like, you could tell Skyler she could come sit by me. So you saw Josie? I did, he was calling the game for ACC Extra, and it was electric. I see him all the time, and it's never not awkward.

Very awkward. Always awkward. I mean, you've been with me to a game where I just have to walk right behind. My walk is I have to walk right behind Joe Z. I think we both kind of know. I hope he does. I know he's not a fan, but yeah,

a tough one for the University of Miami-Less. He did lose by 40, but the plus side, Notre Dame is the number one ranked team in the country. Notre Dame's really, really good. And look, Hannah was dealing with something. Carson Beck was at the game? Carson Beck, he's always had the game. I was like, is he bending the elbows at full mobility?

How does he look in person? The same. No, I'm saying like statuesque? Does he look good? He's large. He's tall, okay. He's big, but also, his hair is small. Cavenders are both smaller.

Hair's small? It's a Philly, it's always a sunny thing. The Cavenders what? He's large. He's taller. He's big. But also, his hair is small. Cavenders are both smaller. Hair is small? It's a Philly, it's always sunny thing. The Cavenders what? They're small. Yeah, the Cavenders are very tiny. Also, I, so Notre Dame made these 3D printed point, pocket size point guard little figurines

for their back court, Hannah Hidalgo and Olivia Miles. Olivia Miles is electric. Hannah Hidalgo is great and everyone knows that, Olivia Miles electric. One of the greatest passers in the women's game and seeing her in person was I mean her court vision is crazy but anyways I got these cute little figurines. I got a question about the figurines. I met Olivia Miles after the game we took a picture together it was so cute. So you say 3d printed but what's the line between 3d printed and just like whatever we used to do that wasn't 3D printed like like handmade

No, like how would we make a little plastic figurine before 3D? ChatGPT? I don't know I guess it depends what it's a little machine would make a mold Yeah, but like we'll get on that crack reach research staff Just reach out to the Innovation Lab in South Bend that printed these bad boys. Yeah, but I Haley Cavender is a brilliant passer and I Go into those games are a great experience. Jess actually, look, there was plenty of reason. Miami season hasn't gone well.

It was fun. It's a good atmosphere. Good environment. Better than, I went to the Notre Dame Miami men's game, which was a Saturday night game a couple weeks ago. That's toxic. And I told three teens sitting behind me, I was going to call their parents if they didn't shut up,

because they were being very loud and they were being very inappropriate and saying inappropriate things behind me. And they left and then they stopped. So I got my mom voice down. I scolded some kids. I had an unnamed producer from the other room tell me the other day that the UN men's basketball team

is one of the worst teams he's ever seen play. They haven't seen Notre Dame's men's basketball team. Yeah, this is the worst UN men's basketball team I This is the worst U.M. men's basketball team I've ever seen. For them to waste all that momentum from back-to-back really deep runs in the men's tournament is really kind of heartbreaking. I mean, as you know, I was a blue blood.

I knew ball better than anybody when it came to college hoops. And for me to just... You were. Yeah. No, I could... You should be in my house when Cindy asked me, are we going to the game? And I just laugh her out of her room. I literally would rather do anything else. Well, it's a very exciting time to be a women's College Hoops fan and a women's basketball

fan in general with Unrivaled tonight. Just a lot of fun things happening. And if you're someone like me who didn't watch NBA All-Star or the Four Nations tournament because you're watching college hoops, I mean, there's a lot coming up this weekend. So very exciting. Yeah, I should clarify. It's a men's hoops team.

Like, I love going to the women's games, and I know that this season's been disappointing. No, you clarify, don't worry. Women's games, electric, men's games. Yeah. Yuck. But Hannah Cavender played in that game. Hannah Cavender had her car stolen.

Carson Beck had. Two cars stolen. Have you read the details? This was a home invasion. While they were sleeping, the men went into their home and grabbed the keys. And that's how they stole all three cars. That is terrifying.

It's hugely terrifying. Really, really unfortunate and scary situation. They caught the guy that did it, who confessed to it and the entire plan. And they got their cars back? They got their cars back intact. Quite honestly, you can talk yourself into it. And that's why Stu Gatz isn't here today.

That's why Stu Gatz isn't here today. Usually, look, everyone was having to go at Miami, move to Miami, see what happens. Look, I'm not gonna issue the banter back, like maybe stealing the car from a Georgia Bulldogs at public service. But you know, the case is closed. So everyone is good.

Hey, did you know MLS is back this weekend? No? No one knew. Yes, yes. It was back because Messi played in like negative 19 degrees. That wasn't MLS. I was curious to know, that was not MLS. We did talk soccer yesterday.

So you guys are aware that Messi played in a game that was below zero. The coldest game that he's ever played. That we mentioned. And that wasn't MLS. We did talk soccer yesterday. So you guys are aware that Messi played in a game that was below zero, the coldest game that he's ever played. And that wasn't MLS. It was on FS2. And Tony made a great Tua joke. It was on FS2. FS2a. And this was just the first leg.

They're going to play Sporting Kansas City to win the CONCACAF Champions Cup, hopefully. But MLS is back this weekend. And look, most people did not know that Leo Messi was playing a game in Kansas City in sub-zero temperatures. MLS, not really part of the national conversation, even though it's coming back this week. I have a storyline that many people may not be aware of.

Okay? Here's a storyline that I think I'm breaking to everybody, but maybe Jess, because I've texted Jess about this. There is a player on FC Cincinnati Peter Mangione it would do we have a photo of the soccer player on FC Cincinnati Certainly a familiar surname that is because he is Luigi's cousin Luigi's cousin plays for FC Cincinnati and Luigi's cousin plays for FC Cincinnati. And they're kit sponsor. Anybody wanna guess the kit sponsor for FC Cincinnati?

Oh no. The health insurance company. They have a healthcare provider. No way. As their kit sponsor. And I'm pretty sure like no one knows about this. It's. They do now.

They do now, but look, if you're waiting, if you've been waiting for the right moment to politicize I'm a last year here is your chance Luigi's Gus in place for FC Cincinnati Peter didn't get the the eyebrows you've done it from the from the family tree that the genetics mean you've got all of his eyebrows to Luigi yeah you do so they are great brows that wraps up our MLS preview. Good coverage. It's great coverage.

So what the hell was the game that Messi played and if it wasn't MLS, what was it? Can somebody tell me what it was? It's a CONCACAF Champions Cup. Oh, of course, yes. Yeah, but I'm not exactly sure. So I know what CONCACAF is. But Tony definitely does.

No, it's CONCACAF. It's different from MLS Cup, which is different from another cup. League's Cup. League's Cupagues Cup right which is also part of the MLS. So I'm assuming Inter Miami qualified for the CONCACAF Champions Cup because they won the supporter shield. They had Messi. No. Well they won the supporter shield because they had Messi no doubt. So that gets them there. Man I could not tell you who won MLS last year. I'm just drawing a blank here and

I like the sport. I follow it occasionally. It feels like an Atlanta United year. Wasn't it Los Angeles, the Galaxy? No. That feels right. Was it LA versus LA in the final? No, it was LA versus New York City. This is electric content. I think it was. Yeah, well, either way, Sporting Kansas City somehow got the other spot and they lost the first leg in some zero temperatures.

Ah, yes, the Galaxy won. Can someone find out how Sporting Kansas City made this thing? This is an electric... I'm seeing that the LA Galaxy beat the New York Red Bulls in the MLS Championship 2024. All right, so it was an NYCFC, which is who in Miami start this season off against?

Fan width, folks. I mean, I've been through the ringer. It's only so much we can do, yeah. I've been through the ringer, right? I've been on a mission to watch every Oscar nominated film before the Academy Awards next weekend. And I'm five deep. Who do you have left? I have a lot left.

I watched five out of the like 12ish that I have on my list. I'm debating next if I should watch the Timothy Chalamet, Bob Dylan biopic, or if I should watch Wicked, which I still haven't seen, which I heard is amazing. The problem is a lot of these movies are plus two hours long. It's just a big time commitment and it's hard.

I wanna crush like three in a day, and that's my whole day. What have you seen already? I've seen Anora, which I really enjoyed. I saw Amelia Perez, which was a baffling film. I've seen- You say that again. Conclave, which was a baffling film. I've seen- You say that again. Conclave, which I also really enjoyed. And-

Poignant. A Real Pain, which I also enjoyed with Kieran Coulkin. I didn't like A Real Pain. Really? Why not? Because I thought, I understand why he's getting all the fanfare and it kind of feels like, oh, a bunch of like movie people are watching Kieran Coulkin for the first time.

Because he- But he's playing a similar character to Roman Roy, because I've heard people say that. Yeah. He's just playing like a kind of like a shit head little brother. Yeah, there doesn't, for me there doesn't, I understand there's an audience for it and I'm sure there are connection points

for a ton of people in that I didn't have connection points. I did really like, I actually, you're right. I think like he, his character was good and I think there was enough depth that like, I don't think it was that similar to Succession but I could see where you're coming from like it wasn't like the plot wasn't there wasn't any like action it's just like a travelogue through Poland with the two cousins as they're trying to like grapple with their pain and suffering but also like their ancestral pain and

suffering I thought it was well done no doubt definitely a big moment for Indiana University because Jesse Eisenberg war in Indiana had the entire film. But I liked it. I liked it more than the substance, Mike, which I know is your favorite. I like the substance more because of the audacity of it. Since I didn't have the connection points to a real pain, I went specifically for what I heard

was a great Kieran Colkin performance. And I saw just Kieran Coulkin. I wasn't blown away by the performance. He does a solid job. So without the connection points, it didn't do much for me. I understand why people don't like the substance, by the way. And I think you and I were talking about some of the, like, there's like a plot hole. There's a, okay, this is like, not really a spoiler, but if you haven't seen the substance and you don't want to know anything about it, skip ahead like 30 seconds. But the premise of The Substance is that Demi Moore

takes The Substance, she's like an aging fitness A-list celebrity star in Hollywood, and she takes The Substance to be younger, question mark, but like a younger body hatches out of her body, and then every seven days they switch back. So like the younger body's unconscious, and then Demi Moore is out in the world and then there's like some twists and turns later in the movie but my question is there's a younger body that is out in the world while Demi Moore's like passed

out in her bathroom but Demi Moore and the younger body they're technically supposed to be the same you are one the whole thing is you are one. But they have different consciousnesses, because Demi Moore doesn't remember what the younger body is doing, or experience being in the younger body, and the younger person doesn't have the experience of Demi Moore when she's awake.

It's very confusing, I'm like, what is the? Maybe skip 45 seconds. What is the appeal, if you're Demi Moore, of taking the substance if you are still in the same body and you don't get to be the younger version? You don't get to actually enjoy it. Right? Yeah. Or you have no recollection of enjoying it.

And when they really hammer home that you are one, well, of course, one of them is going to go all wonky on the other and be greedy with their time with the substance. So I do think, like it's not a perfect film at all, but I did like its audacity. I did like that the performances were visceral and they went for it the way that they shot it. Oh yeah, the effects were amazing and the acting was good

and it was disgusting to watch. And so it gets major points for that. I need to get to Conclave, but so far, anora is my favorite I love how many different they really nailed it with all the different types of Cardinals They really hammered home the message about beauty in Hollywood and the substance. I mean and sexism No, no, no, it didn't create. Oh Dennis Quaid was disgusting. Mm-hmm Which is foul foul mouth man job well done. Oh

While we're catching up on Jess's movies she's watched. Let me catch you up on the Venmo bucket presented by Venmo. A light week for the fines. Honestly, only Dan was fined yesterday $1 for a mistake. $1? We're gonna have to step this up next week. And my dad had to do something earlier this week that was finable. But one fine this week from the Venmo fine bucket $1 for Dan making a mistake.

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Don LeBretard. Mike Ryan's in there and he's the one with a baby. He's the one who's gotta like worry about what the future is. And Mike Ryan bet on DraftKings because Mike Ryan bet on us This is the bet you're afraid of doubling down on putting up a billboard in Edmonton Stugats I care more about Matthew Kachuck than I do my daughter. This is the Don LeVatar show with the Stugats Zach Martin retired yesterday. Yeah. So sad. He's just 34 years old. That was, I guess we're not

really allowed to be shocked by retirements in the NFL all that much. Aaron Donald retired, although we had been able to brace for Aaron Donald because there was that chatter there. Zach Martin really shocked me. Jess, he's a member of Notre Dame legend. The greatest guard of all time. Notre Dame legend, yeah, definitely a Notre Dame legend. And I know he's gone through some injury, but this surprised me. Should I have been surprised?

Uh, I don't know. I wasn't that surprised. I mean he's made so much money with the Cowboys I don't know exactly what triggered it now There was like just not wanting to sign another extension or whatever his contract situation was But I don't know It feels like he has been in the league a long time and is a very taxing position. Michael Jr. is the expert of all things, Zach Martin. So we should have him on just to ask about Zach Martin. Yeah, I guess I'm not allowed to be surprised anymore when someone retires, especially someone

that has made their money. And that gets me to Dalton Connect, who I want to talk about because there were actually developments on this story, Jeremy, would seem that the trade, like everyone's pointing their fingers at the Lakers right now for this Dalton Connect failed trade. Update the people, and then I wanna talk about how people are psychoanalyzing Dalton Connect, which is a little unfair.

By the way, Bruce Matthews would like a word. Essentially, it seems as though the Lakers are the ones that went back on the trade with Mark Williams because of the physical. And so they end up with Dalton Connect coming back to their team, Mark Williams going back to the Hornets. And it was just a really awkward time.

J.J. Reddick, when Dalton Connect had missed a game before the All-Star break, kind of, to me, left Dalton Connect hung out to dry by telling everyone that he still needed time to process what had gone down, because to me as a coach you're supposed to kind of shield players from that sort of thing. But it let the media and a whole bunch of people

on social media go after Connect, it let Mark Williams go back to Charlotte, and it's just been one of the most awkward things I've ever seen and there was a I think there was a tweet yesterday or a post for Mark Williams that I'll try to go Find now there's Jeff Schwartz. Yeah, it came out and said there's nothing wrong with Mark Williams Like the Lakers were wrong about this There's been independent doctors that have come in and basically cleared Mark Williams of hey This this guy is not damaged goods because the other thing is he's coming up on a contract this upcoming year, and you look around saying,

well, if the Lakers denied a trade, why would we pay him any money? What leverage do the Hornets have at all? So that post by Jeff Schwartz was like, all right, wait a second, Mark Williams is good, the Lakers just kind of had buyer's remorse. The official quote from Jeff Schwartz of XL Sports Management is,

the overwhelming sentiment after conferring with multiple nationally recognized doctors is that the Lakers should not have failed Mark Williams on his physical. Well, that changes the narrative quite a bit. Complete. Because the onus was falling on the hornets. Oh, you played this guy to increase his trade value

was the narrative that was going along there. But I wanna focus on the Dalton Connecting. And you said something interesting. I agree. JJ Reddick should have done a better job here. He's still learning. This is a teachable moment. It would have only bought so much time

because remember, Dalton Connect, maybe because of the actions of JJ Reddick and how he exacerbated some of this stuff. He sat out some of the Rising Stars stuff, the All-Star Weekend stuff. And at that point, you don't have your coach there to protect you. You're gonna have to start asking, answering some questions there. I have a tough time with this one, and I

understand where people are coming from. Like, you know, this is a business. You know what you're getting into. You've been grooming for this moment your entire life. You get to the league. You understand the association is a business. It didn't work out. You go back to a place that you don't feel wanted. I do actually think that this newest revelation does make it easier for the Lakers to welcome Dalton Connect back in that, look, we failed him, we shouldn't have. That's because we knew how special you were, Dalton.

Man, that's a hell of a spin. Look, you gotta make it the most of it. It's like if you traded Stugatz to like FS1 and then he failed a physical and we were like, oh, come back. Man, we had immediate regret. So look, it's clandestine that you are coming back. Dalton Connect, I'm willing to,

I don't think I've ever seen a situation quite like this before. So I understand there's no playbook for it. I also, the way that I've been kind of processing it before, I don't have a take on this. Where I've settled is he hasn't made his money yet. So the spoiled athlete trope that you hear like go out there and understand the business, like he hasn't made his money in this league yet. So I don't think that's necessarily, we're dealing with

a very human thing. I think because it's framed in sports, everyone feels like they can disassociate how awkward that must be as someone that has previously walked into a building where he knew with full certainty that he wasn't necessarily welcome there or wanted there at that time. I understand how difficult it is to go about your job and to try to maintain a how difficult it is to go about your job and to try to maintain a level of professionalism that then again you are contracted to actually play. I don't know how much he's participating

in some of the other stuff though. I'm sure there'll be a big investigative piece on it and hopefully it comes out on the other side, but I'm willing to not rush to judgment here, but I do hear a lazy trope on social media when it comes to spoiled athletes, and I don't think that applies here. He's not this multi-millionaire.

Well, especially because his story is so interesting, right? He was a guy who played junior college basketball and then transferred two more times before ending up at Tennessee, and then a first round pick who had moments, he hit nine threes in a game for the Lakers. During the summer league, he was like white boy of the month for the NBA where everybody was obsessed with him

and oh my God, look at this dude hitting threes in the Lakers. Yeah, he was supposed to be the steal of the draft after the draft. It happened, everybody's upset that they passed on him. He's gonna be the spectacular player and then a little bit of struggle as a rookie, and then all of a sudden you're shipped

to a team in Charlotte that's one of the worst teams in the league, you had just been playing alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Like, it's a strange thing to happen to a young 20-something, and he's not someone who has been through the business in the same way. He's not even the type of guy who we're gonna start seeing who dealt with NIL in college

and so saw some of what the business was like. This is basically Duncan Robinson, but if Duncan had climbed so much at Michigan to be able to also be a first round pick, so it was the coolest story and the Lakers embraced him and then all of a sudden he's discarded, I can understand how he would want to kind of take a moment and take a beat before returning to the team.

I've been told that Tony has a hot take that's too hot for this room. So Tony, we prepared a place where you can formulate this hot take and unleash it on the show. I bet it'll be with our bryals. It's not, it's not. But we are sending you away to a sauna, I believe. Ooh, I love the sauna.

So you can deliver this take. Oh, I'm jealous. Yeah, sauna, I believe. Ooh, I love the sauna. So you can deliver this take. Oh, I'm jealous. Yeah, I'm sorry, suckas. I love a sauna. This better be the hottest take I've ever heard in my life. It better be. And it better be focused on the NBA, because as I've already said.

I know you haven't been watching, so I wanna get you up to speed with something that you may hear at first and be like, well, yeah, of course, but then I'm gonna give you some extra stuff, a little extra heat. Okay. All right.

Let's get over there. I wanna inject the storylines now in the NBA because as I've stated, sports and shambles just lost the face of the league, has a terrible all-star game, Miami heater crap. You could've started with that one. The Miami heater crap? The rest trickle out after that.

No doubt, and I will readily admit this, it's awfully convenient for me to say the NBA is in shambles when my team is no good. I know. Yes, I'll wear it. My investment in this league was my team being good as the sport itself got less appealing to watch for me. And when the team started going about the regular season a certain way, I responded in kind. And then it was very disheartening to know that I knew better about the direction of the franchise than the franchise did. And so that's where I'm at. And then I start seeing all the other flaws. If I'm not invested

to watch my own team, I'm certainly not invested to watch other people not care about their sport. So that's where I'm at with it. And hopefully there's peaks and valleys. Baseball kind of figured something out. I watched that World Series. Granted, it was New York versus LA. But look, Yankees, we got un-groomed beards, well, groomed beards now.

Still can't believe that. We did stuff to the shift. The games are moving faster. And the NFL a couple of years ago was at the same point. The sport wasn't as watchable. They had to change the rules. You had the Kaepernick stuff out. There was politics.

Everybody was just exhausted. You had people saying the UFC is gonna be bigger than the NFL. The NBA is gonna be bigger than the NFL. The NFL kind of figured all that stuff out. So I think that the NBA is at one of those points where they need to bring it in tight, do what's best for business, and change something.

But I'm a little distracted by what I'm seeing right now, because I wasn't fully prepared. I was not fully prepared for how this was going to go down for Tony's hot take. All right, that is a bit of a shock. Hey, good for Malley. Yeah, now Malley, sleeper. We're not showing it yet.

We're waiting. He was right, they're still previewing the shots. I don't reveal it yet, guys. Malley's a sleeper, but I, oh man, the cockles of my heart are warmed right now as I'm watching first take, and Stephen A. Smith have to formulate hockey opinions. This is great. This is actually

a great proving ground for him as he's going to have to, you know, one day possibly talk about the Balkans. Well, they're doing it through the prism of how can this impact other sports? So they're like, Hey, Stephen A, just bring it to other sports. Yeah. Which is why they're dragging out PK and Damien Woodie as well. Damien Woodie was there too. Well, Damien Woodie is an Allende fan so I can give him a pass. But Stephen A. Smith, mm, eh. Well, it's particularly interesting as MLB and ESPN

have announced their mutual separation moving forward after the season. Is this Amazon? I'm not sure where it goes. Amazon or Apple do seem like the logical places, right? In that Apple has already created a TV package around MLS and has learned how to do that. And they have an MLB game.

And they have an MLB game already. Amazon obviously just announced a partnership with the network regionally that carries so many teams and allows- Well said. Well, avoiding some sort of things there. We're giving you credit, Pal. Thank you. You keep it going. I appreciate it. That was earnest, sorry.

I said it in my sarcastic voice, but it was earnest. Thank you Said that's better. That's a lot better. Actually, it's still felt condescending The first one couldn't have sounded more condescending. Well said I Think everyone understands your position. Thank you. There's so many confused people listening though. Nonetheless More people like me that just, once they realized, oh you're gonna charge me what for that? No thanks. There's a package for that network

to be on Amazon Prime Video now. And so with that, you would think that that's a space where a certain network in Amazon Prime might be interested in getting in with MLB. Clearly Major League Baseball, in what their statement was, this was a mutual thing. They talked about ESPN being like a declining network and as they try to figure out how to discuss hockey,

they're leaning away from talking about baseball. So this is one of the most interesting inflection points in all sports, right? NFL is the only thing that we understand exactly how it works in terms of TV nationally and it's gonna stay that way. But hockey has had recent changes, baseball's about to go through a change,

basketball's about to go through a change going with Amazon Prime and NBC, which you can only hope those two networks will know how to market the game better than ESPN has in the last 15 years. Because all ESPN has done is react to the decision and decide that, oh, ratings go up for the decision, let's make everything about transactions.

MLS went through this change as well and I don't think it was a good change. Yeah, it's not always a good one. No. That's what's interesting here is. I don't know how Sporting Kansas City is eligible for the Concord Calf Champions Cup. And that's not a thing that happened to me before when these games were more accessible.

Now, I couldn't really follow most of the league because the way that they stacked their games was a lot in the same window, but I was locked in on what Inter Miami were doing. Now I'm kind of just living my life once I got priced out of those season tickets. And it, I mean, I got to tell you, like there is an accessibility factor. A hundred percent. That's why the NFL is the NFL, right? You're getting it on CBS, on Fox. You're getting it nationally televised on broadcast television where, you know, Dan brought up yesterday or maybe several days ago that the Heat's ratings are down 56%. Well, a lot of that has to do with fans who

no longer are able to access the games via whatever their cable subscription might be and don't want to pay for whatever the monthly subscription is and in turn have been priced out regionally and the Panthers are no longer on that network. So if you're a Panthers fan, you're watching via a different means. You know, we're not factoring in all of those things. So that is a key one because if that's a huge one, there are plenty of Panthers and Heat fans who were watching Heat games as a result of the fact that they felt they needed to watch every Panthers game. And some, obviously at a time that would have worked vice versa as well. But when you have the Panthers kind

of holding things up, there's some people there, there's some people with cable networks. So these things are shifting in a way that's really fascinating right now. And the next five or so years for several of these different leagues are going to show us who is the second league after the NFL. Well, I thought it was going to be the NBA globally. It still is and it probably will be. Yeah, well, I mean, if we look globally, like the NFL isn't even first. It's soccer.

Of course, we're talking in the United States. Which is so strange that soccer can't make a dent here despite loads of investment. But the NBA, because of its global reach, because of the fact that its best players are international, you would think that that isn't really a good spot. But here in home base where the sport was invented, it's at a troubling time right now in its history. But I think Tony is here to rescue the sport somehow by pushing a topic that can be talked about on cable television and promote big games.

So Tony, we now have you in the sauna. Hey, Mally, congratulations, pal. That's a good job by you. You can tell a lot by who decided to go with the towel around the waist and the towels over the shoulders. But Tony, what is your hot take that we sent you to a sauna for? Well, me and the boys are here in the sauna, just hanging out.

We got Mike, we got Mallie obviously here, flexing, doing his thing. We've got Ethan who's, sorry, it's a lot of sweat here. Ethan in a jersey for some reason inside the sauna. Just never stops wearing a hockey jersey. A lot of jersey there for the kid. All right, Mike, you haven't been paying attention to the NBA, but want to tell you this okay

SGA minus 500 to win the MVP Really minus 500 to win the MVP. He's been arguably the best player on the planet and the reason why I Am gonna make this a hot take is because I don't think he should win the MVP I'm gonna make this a hot take is because I don't think he should win the MVP Shea Gillis Alexander or Shane Gillis Alexander as Dan likes to call him Should not win the MVP the MVP should go to Nikola yokich now. I know you're gonna tell me Mike I know you're not watching the NBA obviously he's the best player on the planet

He's the best player in the world of course He should win the MVP the reason why and I want to bring in Jeremy to to help me with this because I know He's in on the analytics and the numbers Jokic when he's on the floor a lot of sweating this sauna more of a steam room than and I can't stop looking at Mally I haven't heard a word that Tony said right now. I'm just looking at the top four abs of Mally alright, so Jokic don't touch me Mally Jokic is Yoke itch don't touch me Mally. Yoke itch is

the best player on the planet and his offensive rating when the nut when him and the nuggets are on the floor together when he's on the on the floor is One of the greatest of all time right the best net offensive rating where the Celtics of last year When Yoke itch is on the floor with the nuggets they are the best team offensively maybe ever okay? When he's off the floor they are as good as you're gonna. Yeah use that buddy But watch out them here. Thank you. Okay when they're when when yokich is off the floor excuse me They are basically the equivalent of the 2015 2016 Philadelphia 76ers who were obviously the tank teams who were terrible so Yoke itch even though he's won three out of four MVPs man's a lot of sweat even though it is hot. It's getting hot in here. It's getting out

Ethan why don't you take off that uh that sweater there go Ethan's gonna take it off now here we go Do you think that another shirt on the new thing? Do you think Mally shaves his chest? Do you shave your chest Mally? Oh hell? Yeah, you think he does I'm more Ethan speed Another shirt on the knee. Do you think Mally shaves his chest? Do you shave your chest Mally? Oh, hell? Yeah, you think I'm more Ethan speed a little chest hair on the boy Okay So with that Nicole Yocca should win a fourth MVP in the in the last five years Because he is literally the greatest player on the planet and if you take him off the Nuggets They are terrible. They are the worst team

Maybe in the last decade of offensive rating. Jeremy, can you back me up on these claims? Yeah, I mean, their disparity when he's on the floor verse off the floor is dramatic, and they're the number two seed in the Western Conference, a Western Conference that has been unbelievably competitive. Now, the one thing, Tony, to Shay's advantage would be that they are running away with the Western Conference, and he has been so efficient and so dominant, but the Nuggets are not a team

with a great supporting cast around Jokic, and it's proven in the numbers you're talking about. Back in November, we were talking about this, and I brought up that when he was on the floor, they had the greatest offensive rating of all time. In history. And when he was on the floor, they had the greatest offensive rating of all time. In history. And when he was off the floor, they had one of the worst offensive ratings you would ever get over a full season. That's the disparity of when he's there. He's such a singularly dominant force.

And when you're talking, like we've spoken about on this show before, about value, there's nothing more valuable than someone who literally makes you one of the best teams ever when he's on the floor and one of the worst teams ever when he's off of it. That's the steam you hear, by the way. Yeah, I was trying to figure out what that was. Yeah, I didn't know if it was a flush. He's making it hotter in there.

I didn't know if it was a dookie bomb. I didn't know what happened there. The sounds of a sauna. You would think from this bit that Finland won the Four Nations Cup. You would think that. Let me remind the people first though to enhance your physical and mental wellness routines

with Redwood Outdoors. Take advantage of your special savings today. Visit redwoodoutdoors.com and use code Dan to save $175. So just to be clear, we did the sponsored segment for a hot take and the hot take was the best player in the world should win the MVP. Yes. Yes. Theoretically, yes, which is why it's a hot take. Right. You go full circle on, well, he's the best player in the world.

Like, obviously he should win the MVP, but then there's somebody who's got more. Damn it. Mally's just sweating all over the place. place Mike you want to come in here and switch place with me So you can be next to Mallie I Mallie can come into this studio right now. What's going on to that? Yeah, I feel bad for the podcast audience because the only reward for this segment It seems to be the visual component and Mallie has won it. This is a star making turn Mike You have an ab now. Why are you I have? I have two. I think I have two now. Thank you for the shout out. I told you I would give your abs a shout out

for the courtside seats. That was just for the close friends. But they wouldn't know that because Taylor had to pick that photo earlier in the show. So, all right, Tony, come back in here because I want to talk UFC with you as we try to depoliticize sports for a moment. I'd like to talk about UFC Miami.

You can feel free to wear your same wardrobe. But Jess, you mentioned you're doing your deep dive on the Oscars and how time consuming that is. I'm in a similar boat, I've got a lot to watch. So I need you to essentially cut out two films. Now I'm pretty sure Amelia Perez, that's done. We're not doing that one. But I need another one that you just know

that I'm not gonna jive with because I know I gotta watch Conclave. I've had way too many people tell me that Conclave is a banger. So what should be next on my chopping block? Conclave is a banger. I think, have you seen Enora? I loved Enora. Okay, I knew you would.

So more sex in that film than I've ever seen in my entire life. Really? Yeah. I read this article that said the Oscars are afraid of sex because certain films didn't get nominated. And I'm like, there is more sex in Anora than you can possibly imagine. There is a lot of sex in that film.

It's a very good movie. I haven't seen it yet, but I've heard, don't waste your time with The Brutalist. So The Brutalist is like three and a half hours long. Exactly. I think it just went on a video on demand. I kinda need to see The Brutalist. Man, it was gonna be, it was the odds on favorite.

And then this AI controversy spring around The Brutalist, which I kind of, I don't get all too much. I saw the director speak on this AI controversy. For those that don't know, in post-production, they used artificial intelligence to refine Hungarian accents to make it more authentic, rather than just let the performances speak for themselves. Which sometimes is a good thing.

Look, if you watch Blake Lively in the town, you wish that they used some artificial intelligence because I don't know what that accent was. Oh man, and I know you haven't seen the new season of White Lotus yet, but Parker Posey and Jason Isaacs are getting killed for their Durham accents, which I love.

So sometimes accents can be like a huge distraction. I don't know how many people would be nitpicking the Hungarian accents, which I love. So sometimes accents can be like a huge distraction. I don't know how many people would be nitpicking the Hungarian accents, but this seems to be a big betrayal of artistry, but I thought the director acquitted himself nicely in that, look, we're trying to make an authentic film that speaks to certain people, and you literally want to speak to them. You don't want them to be turned off.

Yeah, I also get people that are concerned with the AI creep into the arts, but yeah, there is a lot of AI used for certain programs on computers and cameras and things like that, that are sort of widely accepted. But I think it's a worthwhile, to borrow Chris and Stu Gatz's line, I think it's a worthwhile debate and it's still something that I don't know if anyone has really like a perfect answer for yet because yeah there's like there's helpful uses for it but also like we should maintain some sort of like humanity in the arts.

We should have had this entire discussion with Mally Shirtless. Hey friends, it's Jerobar here and I'm here to tell you all about Boost Mobile which is now a legit nationwide 5G network. So I must take a break from the jokes here for a second and put on my serious voice. Because I would never ever joke about a 5G network that has invested billions building 5G towers across the country. Not even once. Not even if Mr. Boost Mobile himself asked me to.

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