The Big Suey: The Stugotz WFAN Controversy
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There are a lot of people just theorizing that the straight white male energy on the vice presidential side of the ticket is going to be extreme. Got to balance this one out, maybe from a swing state or two. See if you can have somebody that lives in one place but works in another. Well, since you bring that up, I want to get into something that is a little awkward today that has created some tension in the room because Mike was seething.

And I don't know, Billy has sort of gotten used to a casual numbness. But Stugat, I think, was supposed to be here today. I'm not totally sure. At some point last week, he told somebody that he was going to be doing WFAN this week. And so Metal Ark is paying him to work for someone else there while not being here to do his job. He's not on vacation. He's just...

doing what he could be doing here at WFAN. However, for some reason, it's not today. He's not there today. We could have used him today. We needed him today. And he said he's traveling today. And so I just ask the group here, what is the level of anger towards Stugatz because of responsibilities that are being shirked this week while he works actively for someone else? I'm numb.

I don't feel anything when it comes to him anymore, good or bad. Yeah.

Like the opposite of what I was saying earlier by the election where I'm good with Stugatz. It's just like there's no emotion. I guess the question I'm asking you, right, because since Whittingham suffered from some of this of Stugatz trying to find all the crevices, all the places where people can say yes to things, where he could do the move of, hey, Dan said I could do this thing that I didn't say he could do. And then he says, man, Carl said I could do this thing. And it's the thing that nobody said that he can do. And that's how he ends up doing it.

But, Billy, when did you find out he wasn't going to be available for God Bless Football? Last night at 8. Yeah. I was trying to plan out, and I sent a text. I'm like, so are you available or are you not available? He told me he's available every day after 10 a.m. We'll see. But I don't know that that's necessarily the case because I would imagine, without knowing specifics, that WFAN studios aren't just available around the clock.

At his whim. So we'll see. Why wouldn't he plan any of that with you? Well, because he knows that it wouldn't have gotten the way that it went. I've asked him multiple times for his schedule, and he just tells me he sends it to other people. And I'm like, okay. And I never get it.

from anyone. I'm not getting it either. So maybe he's just going to Carl with it. Like, I think like a couple months ago, two vacations ago, I was on an email for a vacation. We had a vacation schedule for Stu Gatz that was every day he was supposed to be here up through July 11th. And it is the 22nd. So the last 11 days and the future are unaccounted for.

The person I think who's most upset with him, and I don't know if he cares, but I'll betray him. I don't care, is Taylor because Taylor is from New York. He's a big WFAN fan, and Taylor behind the scenes does some work for Stugatz, and he helps him out with certain things. Sometimes Stugatz...

enlists him to do work for Stugatz, then Stugatz doesn't show up after Taylor already did said work for him, anticipating him to be here. But in this particular case, because again, Taylor's from New York and he's a big WFAN fan, when Taylor actually informed us that Stugatz was going to be on WFAN because he was listening to WFAN, where they made that announcement that Stugatz was going to be on. Like weeks ago, right? Yeah, but they didn't give dates. So then he asked me when Stugatz was going to be on WFAN. I'm like, I don't know.

I don't know what you're talking about and he's like well they announced it on WFAN I'm like get back to me if they give you more information on that on WFAN because I haven't heard a peep on that anyway so Stu Gatz told him the next time I go buddy just tell me I'll get you into the studio you can check out the studio you can see behind the scenes you can do xyz thing and he's been checking with Stu Gatz since that announcement was made on WFAN and what I saw today was

was as of last Thursday. He said, hey, do you know the dates yet? And he said, still not sure on the dates, buddy. I'll let you know so you can come. And Taylor was going to pay his own way. He just kind of wanted to go be part of this. And, you know, he's helped Stu Gatz behind the scenes. He wanted to kind of

reap the benefits of doing so and check out WFAN, a place that he's loved growing up. And as of last Thursday, according to the text exchange that I saw, we still didn't have dates set, which seems impossible. Billy, please do me the favor of getting a live active microphone to Taylor in the other room so that I can speak to him about...

What is happening? You don't want him to stroll in here? It would be a lot less technologically confusing. Yeah, it's fine. Okay, we can do it that way. Plus, he'll get more nervous, I think, if he comes in here. Yeah, yeah. A lot funnier. Nervous, less talking. Okay, well, but... But I'm right here next to me. Stugatz has found another... And Billy, you, I mean, I don't know whether you were the original Mark. I don't know who was the original Mark on...

on Stugatz finding people who can help him, that he can squeeze every ounce of everything they have out of those people, pay them a moderate amount, promise them more and not give it to them. Taylor was made certain promises here by Stugatz, but I still, I need to rewind some of this.

why is Stugatz not here today if he's not on WFAN today? Well, he has to go. Yeah, travel day. He has to go and he has to get good sleep and he has to do prep. You know him. He wants to be prepped. So when he goes on air, he's boom, ready to go. Okay, Taylor, I'm going to get to you in a second. But Mike, you are just eating shit the entirety of this segment. I see it on your face. You don't want to say what you actually think here. I don't

want to mine for content your genuine disgust. So let's go to Mike. Should I just go to Taylor to keep you out of this? Yeah. Taylor, what did Stugatz promise you? And he's not on FAN today, correct? He won't, what is this, the weird Tuesday through Friday schedule he's doing? Yeah, he's hosting Tuesday through Friday. He basically told me

Buddy, you know, I know how much you love WFAN. When I host there, you're going to be sitting behind the scenes with me. Oh, EPing. You're going to EP for me, buddy. Yes, yes.

So his personal EP that he's going to go to co-host a week of New York radio. And he doesn't tell them about, so they're not expecting it. No, the white guy with the ponytail. What's his name? Does he have to move out of the way? Yeah. Is Eddie going to have to move out of the way for you? Yeah. Okay. But I have a text from Stu Gotts, July 9th. This is me texting him. Do you have a date for WFAN shows? I need to book this flight. I'll know tomorrow. Oh.

Nothing from that. Kick the can. July 15th. Hey, do you have an update? WFAN need a flight. We'll talk tomorrow. We never talk the next day. And then Thursday, my last attempt because I'm like, I know he's hosting sometime in July. We're running out of dates. Do you know the days of WFAN? Thursday at 419, never responded. No.

In his defense, that might just be as much about not hanging around you as it is just like his general way of being. Hold on, though. I'm just kind of... Because that's how you ignore somebody in general when you don't want to be with them. I'm just thinking out loud now, and I know that this is a dangerous game.

I thought he had to fly last Thursday after the show. So today's not a travel day. He would have seemingly already have been there. This is what I don't understand about him because I asked him. I'm like, you should go by the New York offices. They're really nice. They'll be happy to see you there. And also count the dings is doing something on Saturday.

And they did a monster event that was popular electric and stuff. And I thought he would have enjoyed being around those people. But he's like, I'm not in New York yet, buddy. And I'm like, but I thought you were going last Thursday to New York. I thought that's why. I think he was in New York State, but not New York City. That old thing. Mike. Yeah.

I mean, I understand what you're doing. He's left us with this, this one note of Stugatz is the worst. He puts us in a bad situation. It's the only content that we can get out of it. But, you know, this is in light of the recent news and just generally because he hasn't been here in the studio all that often over the summer is I actually think the content that he would provide in that studio next to a host that is just coming back from Africa would be better than talking about how he's not here.

And he is always trying to find the person that'll get him the yes by evading the people that'll give him no's. He's doing it to his producer on God Bless Football. I feel really bad for Billy. I feel really bad for this show. And we keep rewarding it so we can't act surprised by it. And all I ask is that we stop doing content around it because it's not very interesting to me because this has been 20 years of this bullshit. And that's what it is.

It's bullshit. This is not how a person who cares allegedly about others should behave. And we get Jeremy instead. Yeah, I feel bad for the audience because they have to hear my voice instead. No, it's not just... Taylor's been fine. And Taylor. It's not just Jeremy. It's like, look, and then we bring in the reinforcements and it's Jeremy and Taylor, which is, by the way, he wanted to be a program director at WFAN. All he would do is hire...

40 Jeremy's and Taylor's, pay them nothing, and feed off them for an eternity like the vampire that he is. He's going to text me by 2 p.m. asking for Pete Alonzo takes.

Summer's the best time to run the way you want. Dial it up with new challenges and programs and bring your workouts with you to make the most of outside sunny days. Stugatz, guess what? What? You know what you can do with Peloton? What? Get the app, go outside, ride a bike. Well, I thought you ride Peloton inside. Well, you do, you can ride Peloton inside if it's a rainy day or if it's cloudy or you just don't want to get outside, maybe it's too hot.

summertime, go outside. I record a lot from my office with you and you've noticed it's sitting there yet. It hasn't been used. Well, now's the time. Summer's the best time to start that push. Right. Can we do it together? Not on the same bike, but we could join a class together. I used to do that. We used to have Guillermo Tan. I'd invite people. We'd all take a class together. Okay. So I think you're starting to get concerned about my health and my age, Billy. I,

I sense that with you. We're beyond starting. Okay. Whatever road lies ahead, your training starts here with Peloton Tread and Tread Plus. It's not just a bike, a treadmill too. I'm going to go outside. I'm going to get in shape. I'm going to do it with Billy Gill. I want to be in your class. I want you to be my instructor. You know what? I won't be your instructor. You don't want to spend more time with me. No, I can schedule a class and we can ride together. I won't be the instructor of the class. We can have Camila could be our instructor. I like the Grateful Dead class. My daughter, she uses the Peloton. Mm-hmm.

She was on it once, and an instructor who was playing Grateful Dead tunes. Let's do that. Okay. Why don't we go for a run? Outside. Guided run. Peloton. Me and you. That's something we can do together. Okay. Turn on the app. Me and you. Go outside. Enjoy the summer. Call yourself a runner with Peloton at onepeloton.com slash running. All right. Dan Levatard. Sports. Stugatz. More sports. This is the Dan Levatard Show with the Stugatz. ♪♪♪

We outside, man. Dan Levitard show with Stu Gotts. You already know me in the building. They sent the kids out to WNBA live as they should. You dig me? Let's get it. Rookie of the year, Angel Reese or Kaitlyn Clark? Who do you got?

I'm giving the clock. Angel Reese. Angel Reese. Of course. Angel. I gotta go for Reese. She's bringing that fire. I got Angel. I love what she's doing on the boards. She's been really dominant this year. A lot of people slept on her, but Angel's my rookie of the year. Angel Reese. Angel Reese, what you say? Angel Reese. Oh, a house divided, ladies and gentlemen. It's so hot.

The air conditioning is on. I know it's on in here, but it do not feel like it, bro. The fate of the universe depends on your answer. OK, Angel Reese, because angels are better. I'm going with Angel Reese. I'm going with Kaitlyn Clark. Angel Reese! Kaitlyn Clark for sure. I mean, you got the triple-double, 19 assists in one game, fastest to 400 points and 200 assists, all kinds of stuff going on. I'm contractually obligated to say both. Nice.

Rookie of the Year. The controversial question. I think Angel's gonna be a strong contender for it. Yeah. You heard it here first. If Big Bailey said it, you already know it's written. I'm gonna give them Co-Rookies of the Year.

First of all, to piss everybody off. But they've both been doing their thing thing. So we can't say one outweigh the other. Women's basketball grows when everybody wins. Thank you so much for your time. Since you are fresh as a thousand tooth, drill down. How can I obtain one of these beautiful bucket hats? You got to do a legit. You got to do a legit. Where the beat? Hold on. Okay. Hold on. You don't get the show. You don't get the damn show. Poppy was right.

- Copy was damn right. - Stugas was right? Stugas was right? - Holy bleep, Stugas was right. We found somebody with a very important message for our very own Mike Ryan. What you got brother? - Ruiz, where Ruiz at? As the King Paul Pierce said, it's not Nevada. You weren't in Tahoe, Nevada. You were in Tahoe, Nevada, all right?

We came we saw we asked an important question But we definitely damn sure conquer you feel me Phoenix is showing so much love brother to the DraftKings Follow the good follow right there now. Well wherever you are right now pull out your damn phone I'm awake now go to Instagram type in good follow

And follow a good follow, you dig me? Salute to you. Salute to the love. Dan, thank you. Thank you, Dan. Thank you, Dan. God. And you know what? Thank you, Stu. I love you, Stu, guys. Back to you, Bob.

What it do, y'all? We are live at WNBA All-Star Weekend versus Team USA, man. So much love in the building. All the talented sisters are everywhere in here, you feel me? We're going to ask a couple questions and get some good responses from these talented athletes. Salute to my dog, Danny, as always. Let's go. Let's go.

How does the weekend feel to you so far? I mean, it's been fun. I mean, a lot of festivities going on. You are one of the shining examples for motherhood in the league. What is that like? It's awesome. I mean, she's the best part of my day. So having her, it just puts everything in perspective. Doesn't matter if I have a good or bad game. She loves me the same. How is it to play with your life partner? That's so cool to me. It's good. It also has its challenges. Alyssa is like the...

I want to say me, she's a tough one. So we kind of balance each other out. - We had Jackie Young bobblehead night the other night in Vegas. How does it feel to see yourself like being cartoon-lized and just around the arena seeing that? - Yeah, it was cool. I thought they did a good job on the bobblehead actually. - I got two of them by the way. - Thank you. - What song do you always go to? Like what's on your playlist?

I listen to country music, so I'm the late-posed, fast car type of girl. Who is the best social media follow in the WNBA? Ha ha!

I mean, I think you gotta go with the face of the league, Sid Colson. Sid Colson. Either me or Sid Colson. Stewie's pretty funny on social media. I think Angel's pretty entertaining. How important do you think the addition of Marina Mabry gonna be post-break? I think it's huge for us. Obviously, in the first half of the season, we had some weaknesses.

I mean barely, don't do that. Weaknesses. How important has the addition of Tiffany Hayes been to the locker room and the Aces? It's been huge. I was like, come on out of retirement, come on over to Vegas. So it's been great. Just seeing her on our team and just the joy that she brings and she plays with every day, just kind of that spark off the bench for us. I remember joking with her like, Tiff, I don't know why you had a rap before you came here because, man, you're incredible.

How important is it to maintain great mental health? Oh, yeah, you see it. You see it all the time. The social media will drive you crazy if you let it, you know? Just got to stay locked in, focus on, you know, what you control and just focus on yourself. Understand what is needed of you, um...

Just mentally and making sure that you're at your best at all times. As individuals, we have to be able to prioritize ourselves and understand what we need to take a step back and what that looks like for us. For me, I'm just trying to give myself grace and just, you know, continue to lean on God and then also my support system around me. Taking time to yourself, journaling, I pray a lot. You know, mental health is super important and taking care of that, that comes far before playing a basketball game.

Media Day was a success. My ass is on fire because I'm sitting on this hot ass step. My chest is on fire because the sun is burning my chest. I love you all. Good follow. Follow right now. Leviton Show. Stugas. I see you. I love you. We out.

We're going to catch up with Juju because I really did enjoy everything that he was doing from the WNBA All-Star Game, particularly because it was cool to watch somebody who's emotionally so invested in all of this for many years be a part and feel a part of the energy of, you know, what is an All-Star Game that hasn't mattered like that before because the league has come alive and come of age. And he was there before and before it was popular, before it was easy. And so it was fun to watch him.

his energy meet their energy and we'll be talking to him a little bit about that later in the show but Roy I saw that you were wearing a McOverrated t-shirt and I was surprised to see that that had happened I was hoping that Greg Cody would

be able to get in here today, but he says he's very hard at work on his Biden impersonation that he's unveiled now on the Greg Cody show featuring Greg Cody. He says he has one, too. He says it's better than your Biden impersonation. I'd say by not showing up today, he's killing it.

Your Biden impersonation you think is better than your father's Biden impersonation? He sent it to me. He can't be bothered to make it in today, but he did just send in, hey, can you promote this on my podcast? I do a Biden impersonation. Mine's stronger. My dad just focuses on the word Scranton because apparently he's from Scranton. You got to go back to Scranton. So like my dad just says Scranton a lot. That's all he's got. But mine's more, you know, wide ranging. I'd say mine is.

Yours is pretty terrible. It's getting better, man. I'm tired. Let me go. Let me go lay down for a few months. I'll come back. Can I come back in October? Check back in October. Is he Southern? Come on, man.

Roy, why were you wearing a McGovern-rated shirt? I was surprised at the statement you were making. I was not making a statement. I thought it was a very good-looking shirt. It had the Edmonton Oilers logo, but it was spelled out McGovern-rated. I just love the idea of somebody wearing an offensive shirt.

and then trying to say, oh, I just think it's a good shirt. I don't believe in what it says. I don't. You could literally just wear an Edmonton Oilers shirt. It's the same logo. It'll say Oilers instead of something that is, you know, offensive to one of the best hockey players, I'm told, in the NHL. I haven't seen it with my eyes, but.

I'll be wearing another team's shirt, especially after the Stanley Cup final. You took a stand like you signed on the McOverrated thing by wearing that shirt. You could play that you didn't all you want, but you did. And in their eyes, they'll see it that way. Like you unnecessarily shot yourself in the foot. You had no reason to do that. I just think it was a nice looking shirt. And I decided to buy an award. Well, tell that to Ed McDavid, who's over at the elbow room because he's mad at people.

Whatever his name is. His father's name is Ed. Roy, you've made a, this seems like a bad judgment that you have made. Where'd you get the shirt? Did you pay for the shirt? Yes, I paid for it on our website. This is our shirt. You can't even just, yeah. He cared that much for it that he paid his own money for it. You bought. With a discount. You bought with a discount. Wait a minute. How many other times have you bought show merch online?

because you needed to wear it on your body, but this is the one where you're not making any kind of statement. How many other times do you get... I thought everything you wore from here was free for you. How many shirts have been this nice, though, Dan? That's a good point. His father's name is Brian. Oh, okay. With an I. Ed McDavid sounded good, though. With an I. Well, Billy, speaking of which, since all right now what we're headed into over the next couple of months of sports is just action.

Action in the Olympics. How many different patriotisms can I get? Did you see that LeBron's going to be the flag bearer? Sorry to cut you off. Just exciting news. One of the flag bearers. First time. Oh, wait. How many? Because I just seen the LeBron thing reported. I just saw a headline where it said he's going to be one of. Oh. Well, one of. The only basketball player. Every country has a flag. You're not going to have multiple U.S. flags, are you? Oh, yeah. Maybe that's what they meant. My bad.

I thought it'd be a thing like, yeah, we'll get Ledecky over here and we'll get, you know, like you guys can do it together. I think that's what it should be because I think being like a flag bearer is a generally overrated experience. Like, yeah, it's a great honor. It's voted on by fellow Olympians. And you're super excited to take all the photos and then march out to the, your procession's got to be really cool. And then I imagine the novelty wears off almost immediately. And then you're just dragging this thing around.

I'm walking. The wind is picking up. You ever hold the flag on a windy day? It's tough. It should be done by someone whose skill set is primarily legs. Because that could wear his arms out. LeBron James will be one of the two U.S. flag bearers. There will be a woman, too. It's going to be announced today.

Or Tuesday? I would imagine. I don't know if I have this right or not because the Olympics have always been seminal events and broadcasting greatness. It's the top of the food chain. Every streaming services before it was popular wanted to have the Olympics because the programming was amazing. You could drape commerce in the flag and it's a giant for people who don't have cable who watch on three networks. But I would imagine in the modern age,

Our world is international enough, connected. You see the world that some of these ancient distinguished things from a bygone Olympic time, probably not as valuable anymore. Maybe if to LeBron at 40, because he's your dad's age. But I don't know if the pageantry of the Olympics International is now something that we're this connected is going to hold for future generations what the Olympics have been for the last,

three generations. Imagine if I told you there was an Olympic event in which a 40-year-old was competing in. I think you'd be drawn to it.

I think loss in all of this is we've grown so accustomed to LeBron's greatness in that not only is he one of the greatest basketball players ever, he's apparently one of the greatest Olympians ever because of how many Olympics he's competed in. To be considered still among the nation's very best at age 40 is quite impressive. What would be more impressive? Someone competing at 50 or someone competing at 8? What?

Either way, I'm watching. Eight. Soccer's closer to that now. Soccer is a lot closer to that. Dan, while you were in Africa, you may have missed a couple of soccer things. So I'm just going to put a little bullet points out there because I know you're not the biggest soccer fan. So in the MLS, a 14-year-old made his debut. He's the youngest pro athlete to ever make his debut in a North American league. His name is Kaven Sullivan.

All right. He's 14 years old. Like LeBron made the decision and then out came Caven Sullivan. Like he's that new. But also while you were gone, and I know this is,

philly union mls we've seen freddie adieu before this guy's a little bit younger but not the craziest thing well how about a 16 year old with braces being for my money the very best player in the euro competition he made the first team lamine yamal won a european championship with spain first name on the team sheet he was incredible boss the entire tournament kovid's been around for 25 of his life

Wow.

Tell me more about Kaven Sullivan, Jeremy, please. Kaven Sullivan, if you just want to look at his age, just to realize how young he is playing in MLS, there had already been three generations of the iPhone before he was born. He was born the same year as the debut of the Jersey Shore. He was born two weeks after Kanye West interrupted Taylor Swift at the VMAs. After? He was born after Michael Jackson died.

And in his life, he has spent as many years with a black president as a white president. Look at him checking into the game, though. He carries himself like he's much older. This is a 14-year-old boy. Oh, wait a minute, though. You say that he carries himself as if he's much older. Yes, because he's been professionalized. But that looks like a child.

Really, man? He looks older. He looks older than a kid. Maybe it's because soccer players look younger and younger. That dude looks like 20. You could have convinced me that dude is 20. No, you're shrinking Michael Bradley, and you're just taking a generation. He does look like Michael Bradley, dude. It's a generation of players that look like Michael Bradley, and you're just making them all this kid. He looked like Michael Bradley.

That kid, I'm looking at him, he doesn't look like a teenager to me. He looks closer to 12. I'm telling you, I could find other soccer players that you put up next to him and you're going to be like, these guys all look like they're teenagers. Yeah, they all look young. They're all thinner. But no, he carries himself on the field. And he's already signed with Manchester City. He's essentially being loaned back to his parent club. But if the Euro is any indication, there's always been this trend of getting...

younger and younger and finding the next great player. And usually we see flash as a promise. We don't necessarily see, like not since Pele, a 16-year-old just come into a major international tournament, which is Euro, probably the second toughest international trophy to win on the men's soccer side.

For him to boss Euro and be, for my money, the best player, the most consistent player starting every match in that tournament, that is wild. That is unprecedented. John Michael Plum is the American who has participated in the most Olympic Games with seven.

His sport? Equestrian. Look, man. And had it been for 1980, it probably would have been eight. I was watching yesterday morning. I'm not even going to be ashamed of it. CBS Sunday morning. And it was old Ted Koppel got in the game and went to interview a 90-year-old decathlete.

and I was just, uh, you know, as, as everything was going on couples on CBS Sunday morning. Yeah. Well, he was doing a, he was doing like a correspondent hit. Yes. And it was lovely. It's like the, it's where all the dinosaurs, dinosaur journalism pieces are going to go die. Mo Rocca was there talking. Yeah. Mo Rocca has been there for a while. There's a Serena. Ouch. She'll has,

Has been on CBS Sunday morning for a while. Such a good show. But they are trying to get the 90-year-old demo, and they did a decathlete doing decathlon at 90 years old. And as I watched everything going on with Biden, and what a hard job that is, I was just like, good for you. You should be able to compete into your 90s if your bones aren't going to break when you do the pole vault. I made it a point, Dan.

to watch 60 Minutes last night, wondering if they would do anything on the front end about Biden. And then they just interrupted the show completely for a special news report, which I guess makes sense. Ian Miller has participated in 10 Olympic Games from Canada, equestrian also. Actually, you know what? Now I'm going to look up like Lolo because Lolo did summer and winter.

Billy, I want to figure out how Metal Ark Media... Sends me to Paris to cover the games! I think it's too late. Yeah, we're not going to do that. Oh. But I'm going to need your help...

We've never been the show that covers the Olympics well, ever. We've never paid much attention to the Olympics at all. I don't think this is the year. We enjoy talking about other things and we largely ignore the Olympics. But Chris Cody wants to bolster our Olympics coverage and...

We were very close to a real international calamity over the weekend where how do you only win by one point? Like, how has the world shrunk so much on basketball that we went in 92 from the dream team to we can't beat anybody for sure? LeBron saved this country a huge international embarrassment. Granted, it wouldn't have happened in the Olympics, but there's a possibility that it can. These two teams will meet up.

again but i did a whole bunch of reading on this south sudan team no to see i did i wanted to learn about them that was an incredible story and i i gotta say i and maybe framed as anti-american what'd you learn i was kind of rooting for south sudan in that moment not just because it would have been this really cool upset it would have been maybe a a movie a 30 for 30 in the making an american traitor literally no i guys what do you mean no guys it's not that because it's it

It was a friendly. In the Olympics, I'm going to be rooting for Team USA. And when LeBron made that layup at the Cup, I'm still, wow, 40 years old doing that. All right, USA all the way. But there were, in my mind, no bad results. Even a loss would have just kind of sent a message to Team USA, you better wake up.

Luol Deng's coming to get you. And that's legit. Luol Deng is an assistant coach on this staff. He's a president of the South Sudan Basketball Federation. Their head coach is Royal Ivy, which may be a name that you can recall from the NBA. They only have two players on that roster with NBA experience. And yet we're down in the final seconds.

just by one, and had an opportunity for one of the game's biggest upsets. And granted, what was just a friendly, an exhibition, but that was still a really cool story to see. And when you see how the Olympic groups break down, you're like, well, Team USA actually has a pretty easy path. But it's not your daddy's Spanish national team on the other side of the bracket. Put it on the poll, please, Juju, at Levitard Show. Is it your daddy's Spanish national team on the other side of the bracket? And also, is Luol Deng coming to get you?

And South Sudan, Team USA, we'll meet up again. So this bracket that I thought was more of a flat track. How much reading did you do on South Sudan? I just shared all of it. Read about half an article. And I gave you Royal Ivy, players with NBA experience. There you go. I came and brought it. I'm on the South Sudan front. I'm not questioning your information. I wanted to be helpful on South Sudan. I know I have you.

I thought it was going to be what everybody was talking about on Monday. If it had been a point difference, Billy, would it be everything that we'd be talking about today? If in a friendly, would we all of a sudden make it an international calamity that is both a reflection of how the game has passed us by and American weakness in general?

Because if you lose to South Sudan in a friendly, at the moment, there has been nothing that has been cheaper and more in the history of American sports than whatever it is the original American dream team was to get from that to this because Joel Embiid doesn't know how to play international basketball. It doesn't happen often where Team USA, with its best roster...

loses an embarrassing game in the game of basketball internationally. We know how to talk about when Team USA loses and doesn't do well in the Olympics when we know, when we know for sure we're not sending our best team. But you've got LeBron. You've got Steph. You've got the best of the best representing this country right now. So I think that would have been an upset that

talk about certainly in South Sudan, like they become national heroes. It's got to be bigger than that. I won't allow the whole thing in the entire continent of Africa. I think that's a huge moment. Keep in mind, like the NBA and FIBA have invested in a basketball league in Africa. It's been going for about four years now. You can see it occasionally on NBA TV. I think this is what you're, you're actually seeing the seeds of the NBA's investment in the global game with South Sudan, just falling a point short. They've been literally invested with the league. Now,

It got some notoriety when J. Cole tried to play in it a couple of years ago, but this is actually a really cool thing. This is actually growing the game, and sometimes it looks like suffering a huge embarrassing loss. I am going to overreact in the moment without having done any reading on South Sudan and just say –

That if you beat whatever it is, the vestiges of Team USA are injustice friendly. And you've beaten Joel Embiid, who is part of a revolution of American players who are playing for America who don't have to be necessarily from the U.S. as an origin country.

I would say without even knowing the history of Sudan in sports, that it would resonate. Beating the USA would resonate like a seismic sports event, unlike anything the country has ever seen. And it would probably demand more investment into that African basketball league. But they were a point away. It was a cool moment. No, but it was a point away. But they have an opportunity to do it. You got to win the game. You got to win the game. You got to win the game. Jacqueline Modal from Brazil. Eight Olympics.

Summer and winter. One biathlon, five cross-country skiing, cycling, mountain biking. Dan, you mentioned that we generally don't cover the Olympics, and I'd agree, but I'd also venture to say that there have been reasons for that. Yeah.

They're boring as hell. Well, that could be one reason if you feel that way. But the previous Olympics were canceled because of COVID. And then we had a stretch of Olympic Games, which were in very difficult time zones for us to follow here on the East Coast.

So we have a Paris Olympic Games, one of the planet's greatest cities. We have a time zone and coverage, by the way, across the entire NBC Universal Universe where you can follow all these things. If you're about fencing, they have Scott Hansen and Andrew Siciliano doing a red zone for the Olympics this year. So I actually think our coverage of it will be the best it's ever been.

Howdy, listeners. It's Mike Ryan, and I've told you for quite a while about GameTime, my number one destination for the secondary ticket marketplace. No one does it like GameTime. There are often times where I'm using GameTime, and I'm like, man, this experience cannot get any better. And then, boom, GameTime now has a new feature called GameTime Picks that makes getting tickets to see your favorite teams play even easier. GameTime filters out the fluff to only show you the incredible deals on great seats for your team so you don't have to waste time searching through thousands of tickets. Go

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Don Libetard. You got to know I'm a big Columbo guy. Salute to that boy. Okay, I don't think that's proof. I don't think that's proof. I think that could be. I think that's a lie. I don't think that's. He said salute. I don't think that is evidence. Salute to that boy. It suggests camouflage. It suggests that Juju has no idea what we're talking about.

And now he's just Googling it. Stugatz. I'm not Googling it. My grandmama stayed in the country. I watched the Braves. I watched Columbo. I watched Matlock. I watched Andy Griffin. You go to the pit of the bus, Dan. Dan, take your ass to the pit of the bus. Call me a liar. You tell him, Juju. Back to you, Stu. This is the Dan Labatar Show with the Stugatz.

Perhaps we can make some company announcements about that time that would get people excited about some of the new things we're making as we expand as a network. And I will say to you and the

audience that I've really enjoyed what a hustler Juju Gotti is on getting content that's not easy to get because he really believes in what it is. He's not acting. He really loves and has pride around everything that's happening around the WNBA. And he's not just adjacent. He's part of that world in a way that clearly has

a great deal of respect. So Juju, thank you for representing the company so well over the course of the last week. Did you have an enormous amount of fun? Yes, sir. Absolutely. One of the most funnest weeks in my entire life. It was such an honor to be around those sisters like

they couldn't believe that I like the facts I spit at him. I don't walk up and be a casual. Oh, good to meet you. I walk up with a scrape fat eight two games ago. I saw this, this and a third and they'd be like my my guy you did. So it was a pleasure and that was an honor to be around those such great athletes.

Well, you connect those someplace here in fandom, I would imagine, just because you've been here since the beginning, right? Like there are certain special things around the way that sports tend to ascend for people. But to be there on the ground floor when you see the struggle, when it's really shitty, Juju, it's like to be able to celebrate at the gala. It almost feels like the most magical thing because none of you can believe you're there.

Right. That's why I don't mind the commentary. Like when people be like, ah, you got a fact wrong or Stephen, eight steps in it or whoever. I don't mind it brother. Because any attention, like my brother, Chris Cody say any publicity publicity is good publicity when it comes to spreading the word of these magnificent sister. So I'm with it. I'm about all the way here. What were the highlights for you? Like what were some of the things that you enjoyed most about the week? Uh,

If I'm not mistaken, they told me to get a top five together, put a top five together. All right, let's do it. All right, hold on a second. Hold on. Do we have music? I was not informed of this. Music. I don't know. We've got a top five. Just a fanfare. Just something. Top five. O-L-I.

Yeah, O-L-I. My bags and my flights were all on time through the grace of the magnificent God I serve. Holy moly. I was really worried about you, dude. I was really worried about you. It was a bad situation. Glad you got lucky. Oh, wait. Juju, so you're talking about a lot of clothes, right? You're talking about a lot. You need, you cannot look, you cannot look bad in a suit.

doing that, correct? Yes, it's because I left last Sunday. So I went to NBA Summer League and then right after that I went to the All-Star and then right after that I had to go to New York. So yeah, it was my bad. I never packed that much clothes and I got the notification from Delta a couple of times and said, hey, you may be F-U-C-K'd but luckily it did not happen. So thank God. Salute. It would have been a good piece of content to watch Juju have to put together an ensemble from like a duty-free shop though.

No, it would not have. I promise you that. That's anxiety. It would have been the worst. Yeah, it's a lot of anxiety there. You couldn't have gone, right? If your bags don't get there, you can't show up. You can't. I would have had to go to some kind of Phoenix mall. Hopefully, Amina Hassan would have had something for me in Phoenix. Oh, no. No. Just a shirt that says Arizona. No. Come on. No.

And some sweatpants that also say Arizona. Come on, that would have been great content. Juju, other OLI or are we on number five? We are number five. Number five. I met the commissioner Sarah Spain for the first time in my entire life at a flage performance.

She was going crazy. Flage was rapping. She had a fantastic show, dog. Everybody who was anybody was in that building, and Flage was giving it to us. Fantastic job by my sister. But I could not believe I met the commish. Dude, that's incredible. That's kind of like a sad of the day, considering how long both of you have been in our worlds. But I guess things like the pandemic and different companies that got in the way of that. That's great.

Yes, sir. Number four, along the week, I went to see the Chicago Sky face the Las Vegas Aces.

Holy moly. I was invited by a Chicago Scott coach. You know what I mean? I don't want to give his name out. Don't bother my brother. And so I wore my Marina Mavry jersey. And then two seconds later, she got traded. But for that night, I was on top of the world because I was in Vegas doing my favorite thing I can do, be a villain and root for the road team in a sea full of homers. And you already see, peace out, A-Town down. Usher was in the building causing a whole bunch of catastrophes. You dig me?

And I wanted to make a correction too. Last week I saw y'all on the show. I was like, oh, no, no, no, no, no. Asia was talking about the referees whenever she was like, y'all ain't did nothing at all game, but y'all want to take pictures with Mother F and Usher. And I was looking at y'all videos like, ugh. Yeah, we blew that one. I love my brothers and sisters. No, that was a bad one. You know what I mean? That's a bad mistake, yes. Accountability. Number four. Let's see. I got to scroll up. Number three.

Oh, number three. See, look at that. Number three, the media day practice. Oh, my God. In the morning, the media day slash practice, I got to ask all the questions to all of my sisters that I admire so much. I touched on mental health, as you've seen a little bit earlier. We got just – it was such a great energy because they're used –

They usually getting come at and that room was none of that. It was just all vibes and all respect from every party. So man, salute to everybody involved. I love that.

What number are we on here? Two? We're on number two. I wanted to, before we get to number two, real quick, I didn't realize that you and Sarah Spain, how long has that been since you've known Sarah Spain without feeling like you've met Sarah Spain? Right. It's been for a while. Sarah Spain was one of the first people to show me some support. During the pandemic, I was having a lot of depressing thoughts. I didn't want to live at all because...

the pandemic was the first time that i really sat down and thought about the choices i've made and the decisions that have led me to where i am while all my friends are going live and they're doing versus battles i'm looking around like dang this person gets to call me the n-word because he doesn't like my ryan and i was going to kill myself so i mean i bleep it out sorry but i just wanted to i didn't want to live anymore and sarah spain she bought one of my shirts off of my website and wore it on espn brother like that's it's

Why is Roy shaking his head at me? I didn't do anything. I didn't make that happen. I just existed. I'm sorry, Juju. I'm really sorry. Roy just shook his head at me.

I understand, Mike. This isn't about none of that, though. This is about me and my sister, man. I want to show her so much love because that mattered so much to me. And it was just a regular act to her, but that mattered so much to me and gave me life and energy to move forward and salute to Sarah Spang. That's beautiful, Juju. Thank you for sharing that, too. I know that was hard. Yes, and that was not active. There was no active undermining in the room. It's just Roy getting in the way of things. I didn't!

I can't do anything. I just look behind me. Jesus Christ. Number two. It's all good. Number one, Dan. Number one. What is going on? No, wait. Number two. Number two. What are you doing? Oh, my gosh. Chris, go sit in the penalty box. Hold on a second. Hold on a second. But he's hitting the button. He's hitting the button. Two minutes, asshole. Dang it. I'm sorry, Chris. We love you. We miss you. Number two, though. Number two.

I met Big Aub's and she was with Jason Sudeikis, Katelyn Clark, Sue Bird, Megan Rapinoe, Katelyn Perrins. It was a gangster party, man. Big Aubrey salute, man. I met the queen herself. Hold on. So Aubrey Plaza, she's having a moment around here for several years. She is wonderfully unusual, correct? She has courtsided a lot of games and this time injured. Why was she injured? What happened?

Yeah, she injured herself playing a knockout game, the game knockout. Look, since as an athlete, you already know, you get up in age, you know what I mean? Your body don't respond the same way it used to. So much love. Get well soon, my beautiful, illustrious queen sister. You dig me? But yeah, I...

It was a highlight. I got to speak with her for a little while. And like I said, the party was such a star-studded event. Every party that we went to, Caitlyn just walking around normal. Everybody just walking around normal. Angel walking around normal. Ain't nobody bothering these people because we all respect what it takes to get here. So for them to even show me a little support or salute back and knew who I was a little bit, I'm like overwhelmed with greatness and just joy in my heart. Number one, Juju.

Brother, Big Al, Alicia Gray, Alicia Gray won the three-point contest as well as the skills contest. And for Atlanta Dream supporter, seeing her on that stage,

and seeing just how humble she was and getting to see her just with that spotlight bro that made my entire weekend that was the biggest thing that was bigger than any other thing this this year brother like because atlanta we never get a win like that you did me so to see her up there and see all the people look at ryan oh my god and renee was in the crowd like the whole family is it was such an honor to be a part of that just

seeing the world shows my sister some love like bro she never get it bro you salute the big gal man it was bro culminated to that moment she got 55k for each win and you know these sisters need you know they're not right where they want to be financially with it with their contracts or whatever yet so that's just a big big night for big al man salute and the atlanta dream man

Juju, I do really love how much you care. Check out the videos of Juju in Phoenix at Levitard Show on social. He is feeling these things deeply because it is a cool time to follow everything that he's been following longer than most. Thank you, sir. Thank you.

Howdy listeners, it's Mike Ryan and I've told you for quite a while about GameTime, my number one destination for the secondary ticket marketplace. No one does it like GameTime. There are often times where I'm using GameTime and I'm like, man, this experience cannot get any better. And then boom, GameTime now has a new feature called GameTime Picks that makes getting tickets to see your favorite teams play even easier. GameTime filters out the fluff to only show you the incredible deals on great seats for your team so you don't have to waste time searching through thousands of tickets.

Go ahead and try it out for yourself. Pick an upcoming game on the app, browse through it on GameTime Picks, and you want to talk about great deals. GameTime always brings it, whether it's their all-in pricing, seat views, the lowest price guarantee, or their ticket coverage. They make this experience so easy. And for my money, it's the best ticket marketplace app out there.

Take the guesswork out of buying tickets with GameTime. Download the GameTime app, create an account, and use code DAN for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Again, create an account. Redeem code DAN for $20 off. Download GameTime today. Last-minute tickets. Lowest price. Guaranteed.

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