Local Hour: Horseshoes and Hand Grenades (and Collusion)
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Billy, why did you just geez Louise Tony? He's a lot, this guy.

I literally haven't said anything to him. I've said three words to him today. The room's full of people, and they all kind of see what's going on. His non-answers are really telling answers. Like, I come up to him, and I was just, because, you know, I'm in full parenting mode. Whoa. It's early for that.

I'm in full parenting mode. Yeah, no, we've reached the stage of parenting where now there's gymnastics classes and things like that, and there's extracurriculars that I'm taking the kids to, dropping them off, all that stuff. But not dropping them off, because my wife got mad at me, and I probably...

I shouldn't have said this. No, I'm not gonna say what I said. It's more of an off-air conversation. I'm not gonna say it. Well, we're not, you know, technically we're not on video air. Well, we walked into a gymnastics place and she's like, isn't this great? This looks like so much fun, blah, blah, blah. She's like, you look so serious. So they're like looking around everywhere. And I said, and I shouldn't have, but it was like obviously a concern. I was like,

long history of abuse and gymnastics. So I'm like looking around like to make sure this is like, that's my child. I need to make sure that- It's his job, to be honest. Thank you. It is my job to make sure. So I'm looking around making sure. So I was having conversations outside and I said, how's parenting going? And this, this Weisenheimer over here goes talking to Zazzle. I'm like, no, he's got it under control. I got it on lock. Yeah.

He said he was looking that way, so I wasn't looking at Billy. I thought he was looking at Zaz. I'm talking to you. I worry about you tying your shoes. So I'm like, how's parenting going? I know that early on it's difficult and you're not responsible. So I'm asking how's parenting going? What did I tell you?

He said something about crying, fidgeting, squirmy, wormy, something like that. Last night, I said that she's been really good. She's got two teeth now. Sprouted out. That's what he said. She's been an angel. Perfect child. Two teeth. She's been sprouted out now. Two teeth. A little early, by the way, I've been told. She's not six months yet and has got two teeth. That is surprising. I'm a little worried about that. People love to brag when their kids do stuff early. Like, oh, my kid's rolling over. Growing teeth isn't a sign of smartness. Yeah.

Nobody said it was. My kid has two teeth already. I guess smartness isn't a sign of smartness. I'm just saying, like, I know a baby that's like eight months and still has one tooth. See, don't shame the eight-month baby with the teeth. I'm not shaming the one-tooth baby. No, that's one of the fun parts of being a parent is you look at other babies like, pfft, that baby.

"Hmm, hmm, what's going on? Why is that baby drool so much? What's going on over there?" So all I was saying when Billy asked me that was that she was a squirmy wormy last night and it was a lot, she didn't want to go to sleep that much, so it was like keeping the parents up. Of course, the day I have to come in. No, and then I asked like how old you're gonna be and he's like "Oh, about to be six months." I go, "You're a half birthday guy." Yeah, you are. Like I can tell you're a half birthday guy. And then there was like a long pause.

And he's like, um, and then there's long pause. And then we all, I think as a group was like, yeah, he is half birthday. He's like, I don't, I don't know if we're doing that. I'm like, when's the birthday? He's like July 1st. I'm like, buddy, you're a half birthday guy. I'm not a half birthday guy. The reason I gave pause and concern was because you might be Lewis's wife, Donia, uh,

had told Jenny, "Hey, we want to throw the baby a half birthday party." So now I'm like, "None of this." - Hold on. - But we were accepted. - We left out evidence early because this is the first we're hearing of this. You pretended like none of this was going on. So we nailed it. You are having a half birthday. - No. - Because he goes, he's like, "July 1st, I don't even know what day that is." I'm like, "It's July 1st. What do you mean you don't know what day July 1st is?" It has it in the title.

Put it on the poll, please, Juju, at Levitard Show. Do you celebrate six months old's birthday? And also put on the poll at Levitard Show, are you bragging if you say your child has two teeth within six months? No, that is a flex. He's, I mean, and congratulations, you guys, incredible genes, two teeth, six months. I mean, that's something to behold. Unfortunately, that means 30 more to go. Teething's going on. So like that, that's, you're going to get the

It's ruined our life. Yeah, teething sucks. Like, I'd rather have a child without teeth than have to go through it. Start the show already, please. Oh, you stumbled onto another wild Billy Wednesday. Hold on to your hats, partners. It's about to get wild.

So then I was asking him because he was a half birthday guy, obviously. Now we've found out, confirmed half birthday for the baby. Donia was wanting to throw the half birthday. We haven't accepted the gift yet. Louis, Donia's husband, has said in my ear, I just want for the record, we are not half birthday people. That seems impossible. Now everybody's backing away because I said, you're probably a half birthday guy. And I was like, are you guys like birthday month people? Like when your months come around, like, oh, here's a whole month of activities. Or did you like...

downgrade to, oh, it's just our birthday weekend. Here's five festivities. Like, no, none of that. Just one thing. I go, buddy, you're going to Las Vegas for a UFC fight and you're throwing yourself two parties. You're having one on a Friday, one on a Saturday. So don't come and tell me you're not a birthday month guy when you can't just simply go to Las Vegas and get a couple interviews. No, no,

We're going to have two parties where you have to come see Tony next week or this weekend or whatever it even is. First off, the first party is a Quirrell party. They're doing their own thing. They invited me to go over and kind of play host and do certain things. So I'm going to go over there. Aren't you fighting somebody on Friday? Yeah, Dan. I'm going to be sparring the wins record holder for the middleweight division tied with Michael Bisping. His name is Brad Tavares in the middleweight division. That's a bad idea by you. Terrible idea. Yeah, but again, what we're doing here with the MMA Hangout is pushing the limits of content.

So you guys can follow along. Like, I jump out of a plane. You guys don't. I fight people on camera. You guys don't. Like, I need you guys to elevate as I'm trying to elevate. Sparring, though, conveys he's going to take it easy on you. Oh, sorry. I'm not going to set him up on T-Mobile on Saturday night. I'm not going to come in at 220 like, all right, guys, I'm going to fight now. Put the old Pat Riley right to the forehead. Leave a diamond in his head. I might do a...

By the way, for clarification, I've been told in my ear multiple times I was invited to by Lewis. So you can come meet Lewis as well. Lewis, right now. All right, Lewis, I've heard from you too much in the first five minutes of the show. Go sit in the penalty box. Stop talking to people so much. And and and the rest of you stop listening to him so much.

Might I add, Dan, Saturday night the MMA Hangout will be live at Circa atop Stadium Swim. And you can go on the Stadium Swim. Party number one. Party number two. Okay. You can go atop Stadium Swim. And I'll read it right here. MMA Hangout live Saturday night from the Circa Hotel in Las Vegas. Overlooking Stadium Swim presented by Boost Bowl. How fun is that going to be? That's the first time. So you've grown that into a big fun thing. I'm seeing if Mero can join you on Saturday if you'll have him. It's a very popular thing. Of course I'll have a primo. Okay.

But you have grown it now so that you are flying to Vegas with a six-month-old that has two teeth. And I don't think your wife is going to like very much that you're going to be in Vegas. I think she said yesterday, like, I'm glad you're going to Vegas. Are you getting paid for it? Of course. That's uncomfortable. No, what?

wives like. Well, he doesn't. I don't know. Oh, there he is. No, wives love money. Everyone likes money, says. I'm glad that Amin is here. My wife especially. And not just because the NBA draft is today. It has been a fascinating thing to watch happen in the NBA, how teams and fan bases want to win the summer.

The Celtics have made two trades in the last two days. You want to know when the last time was the Heat made a summer offseason trade? Kyle Lowry. Ooh, that was a time. But this is the thing, right? Winning the offseason is something that now matters for front offices, and we can say this, right? At least the last two championships, maybe you feel like you could say this about all championships, but at least the last two championships are monuments to architecture, right?

Like what the Celtics did two years ago that they just undid like that. That is masterwork right there to get under the cap while Porzingis and Holiday become your fourth and fifth best player because Derek White ascends to your third. And all of a sudden you can get rid of them. And I mean, I want to get your thoughts on what they got back because I

I did not think that they had the kinds of assets in those two people trying to get under the cap that would bring them back, you know, a scorer and some value. I thought they would just have to dump to get out from under the cap. You don't think what they did was dump to get out of the cap? They did, but they got stuff back.

I mean, they got decent pieces back. Nice pieces. They got a scorer. They got someone who can score when Portland doesn't have, like Portland has redundancy of skill set there. Are these decent or nice pieces? I need to know. You guys, like I got two answers in there. The man giving you the analysis when Drew Holiday went to Boston called him a waterlogged corpse. That's not what I said, but it's all right. I mean, like if you're asking for my analysis and then undercutting it with a mockery of what Waterlogged corpse is strong. Yeah.

As strong as they say, I mean. That's not what I said. I thought you said corpse. I thought you attached corpse to Drew Holiday. I heard that's what you said. That's not what I said. And I'm not going to relitigate a show from two years ago. Can you guys find the sound? It was the corpse of Drew Holiday. I sent the sound to you guys after you kept saying I said corpse.

about it as far as like, oh, Boston got a corpse. That's not what I said. That's not what I said, but I'm sure if you can dig up the sound that I sent two years ago after I wanted you guys to cease and desist that, you'll know. But to the point I'm saying, Anthony Simons, nice young player, one year left on his deal, good scorer. He's got flaws. He's got warts. But again, in terms of what they got out of, which is Drew Holiday, who has long-term money on the books,

deteriorating not only in health but in play. That's a nice little swap. Porzingis for George Niang, that is a massive, a massive check down. Okay, yes, agreed, although George Niang is one of my favorite players because he's shaped like me. Sure.

Uh, I've loved him since Iowa state, but just so that, you know, the Celtics, uh, saved $180 million in tax penalties and whether you agree with it or not in doing so, they got three second round picks. They got a veteran who's had a couple of playoff runs and they got a potential 20 point score. So I, I, I think we can agree. My previous point, we'll get to the sound that I mean, wants us to eradicate forever in a second, but, uh,

I do think we can agree, if not all championships being always architecture-based because sometimes you just have a star and it doesn't matter how much you build around them, we can say the last two are celebrations of front office. Can we not? Well, last year, this year's championship, it's more of a long-term celebration of front office. To me, that's front office work, is building over time and adding and curating and chiseling, right?

The big blockbuster deal rarely, not never, but rarely turns into an immediate championship. The Celtics swung big two summers ago by sending Marcus Smart, who was a big part of their culture. Not an easy trade to make. That one is like, yes, that's swinging for the fences. It went out and got Porzingis, and it worked magically for them. The Thunder, yes, yes.

acquiring, uh, Alex Caruso huge, not only for his contributions on the floor, but also because he taught them how to pop bottles of champagne. Don't know if you guys know that one. I have to show you guys, I have to show you guys some of the video here on guys on the thunder who have never had a drink and guys on the thunder who had too many drinks. Uh, we can check in actually with them now, as soon as you finish your point, because Chet Holmgren was slurring through the parade, uh,

SGA looked drunk on GMA and Jalen Williams says he's about to go drinking even though he's never had a drink. - The Thunder are an example of the kind of patient front office work that nobody wants to, nobody really wants. This thing started six years ago, right? And they tore it down and they used their cap space to accumulate and accumulate and accumulate and pick right and develop and make tweaks here and there.

And it culminates with we have the cap space to sign Isaiah Hartenstein because we think he fits what we need.

We can go out and get Alex Caruso because we can't have too many of these young guys who've never done anything before. So Josh Giddey goes, Alex Caruso comes in, and now you get to a place where you win a championship. And even then, we see how small the margins are. It could have gone wrong several times. They were ready to lose that championship. Oddball will have some draft coverage for you here if you want some of that good stuff. We will have...

drunken players in a second. But before I do that, Theo Epstein represents in the history of Boston, the greatest architect that there has been in sports by reputation. I can't believe I'm saying this, but Brad Stevens would appear to be a better executive than he was a coach. And that's no knock on him as a coach. But the the Marcus Smart trade is a very difficult trade to

to make, to realize that Tatum and Brown needed to have a team that Marcus Smart didn't want to give it to them. And then to get two players like that in Holiday and Porzingis, they were perfect compliments, perfect compliments, because there are very few guys willing to do the things Drew Holiday does as a third or fourth option. And Porzingis stretched the floor ridiculously, but also allowed for the growth of Derek White in there.

But the idea that that champion is no more that quickly, still surprising to me. Like still, no, but it's still surprising to me. Why would it not be surprising to me? The Celtics seem like they were only on the ascent. It seems like if Tatum doesn't get hurt, they're going to go into the repeated tax. They're going to go into the luxury tax. Like it felt like it was kind of churning that way, no? It's more that I don't know that they would have ever gone into any of that

because of the new ownership and wanting to get under that luxury tax, but they would have been right back in that conversation at least this year and still been around the championship. It feels like everything fell apart, and now not only are they making moves just based off the future because they know next season doesn't really matter, but they were willing to get that much worse because they want to build it back up

up around Tatum once he is healthy. - They were going to make hard decisions either way. The only thing the injury did was give him the out of, oh no, no, we need to make hard decisions.

Like somebody, not Brown, not Tatum, right? And probably not Derek White, but there were going to be people gone. So you think they're done? Wait, but no, Shams is saying that Jalen and Derek White, they're getting calls all over the place. That the Celtics are getting the calls and I don't think they're done. You think they're done? Done in what sense? Either way. Big moves. Do you think that they're done with moves or?

done being able to do something for this year because I think they go right back to playing for the championship this year even though Tatum's going to miss most of the year. They're one more move away from getting under the tax. They're in the repeater tax and in order to get out of the repeater tax you've got to be out of it three out of five times. Right?

So, excuse me, two times in five years. They've been in the repeater text three times now. So they have a mandate to get under that thing one more time. So one more deal. Is it Sam Houser? Is it Derek White? I don't think it's going to be Jalen Brown. I don't think it's going to be Derek White. But, of course, they're getting calls and you've got to listen because you're in a position. Are they done forever? No. I think...

You know, a year from now, they'll be back to reload in the summer. Why would you trade Derek White? Because he makes $28 million next year, $30.3 million the year after that, $32.5 million the year after that, and he's got a player option of $35 million the year after that. That's why you trade. It's not because, oh, I don't like him anymore, he's no good. This is a lot of money. Now, if we're at the peak of competing for a championship...

I'll pay it, right? That's why they paid all those guys. But once you get to a place where we're like, we're not quite at the peak of competing for a championship, it's really hard for me to convince ownership, hey, let's just keep throwing money at this thing that's not going to pay for itself. I think they're going to trade Derek White. I think they're going to trade Derek White because you see what Orlando just got for Desmond Bain.

Boston knows they're not a contender this year. If they can get a haul for Derek White, which I think they probably could, then in a year from now, you're, you're, you're, you're going to do it again. Like you're building your championship team around Tatum and Brown. And now you have all of these assets next off season to play with. I think they're going to trade Derek White. The question is who has the assets to go get a Derek White? Who has what they, what Desmond Bain went for? Who has that left out there? Oklahoma city has everything. Uh,

Brooklyn's got a ton of picks. Brooklyn's got like five in the first round. Five in the first round, and they don't know what to do with them. Build their centerpiece around Derek White? Look, you build your centerpiece around Desmond Bain if you're the Orlando man? Do you believe Derek White? I don't believe Derek White's the number one. Look, he's a lot better player than any of us thought he was, but he was at least that good because he played with those two other guys. Yes, let's not get caught up. Yes, he's not a centerpiece of a team. I'm just trying to be funny because Desmond Bain went for eight billion picks.

But to answer your question, a Sam Houser deal gets them under. So he doesn't have to get to Derek White. You say 8 million picks. A Gobert costs you 5 now. A Bridges costs you 5 now. A Bain costs you 5 now. Yes? Let me stop you there because Gobert costs you 5. What had Gobert done in his career? He was like a three-time defensive player of the year when that happened, right?

Bridges' deal is the only example of like, hey, this guy who's never had any sort of accolade, we're going to give up a zillion picks for him. Why? Well, because he's best friends with my best player. That was their thinking. The power of friendship, of course. But that's the rate now. That's not the rate.

That's the rate if you're dealing with... Bane just is a catch-and-shoot three-shooter, and he just went for five picks. That's the rate. That's the rate if you're dealing with a team that is desperate. Kevin Durant went for one pick. What are we talking about? Bane has never been an all-star. You just said Bridges doesn't have accolades. Neither does Bane. That's the way I see it. I don't think it's what that guy is worth. I think it's worth it.

it's about what that guy is worth to the team that's trading for him. Like Minnesota felt, okay, Gobert's not worth five picks, but to us he is because we think he's the missing piece for a championship. Mikel Bridges, he's not worth five picks, but to us, we think it makes us a championship team. Okay, so this was what Mike was doing yesterday when he was talking about the heat missing on Anunobi and Siakam. They weren't missing pieces either, right? Because they didn't end up being champions. Siakam got very close and was important.

Anunobi has been very important, but they don't get to be missing pieces. No, the Heat have been as far as the Pacers just got. But that's like saying the Siakam trade was a failure for Indians. I'm not saying it's a failure. Mike Ryan's criticizing them for every guy they have not gotten. And what I'm saying is if they'd gotten Siakam, they still wouldn't be a champion and he'd still be criticizing them. If they'd gotten Anunobi, they still wouldn't be a champion and he'd still be criticizing them. But still criticizing them is criticizing them. All right, you're obviously going to play that back.

Let's play back before we do that. Let's play back Amin's clip here where this was the analysis. He was mad at us. He had just gotten home on a flight. He was upset. Can you explain to us what context this needs as you deny that your analysis was that he was a corpse? That wasn't from the day that I talked to you guys on the phone. I was in the car. I have a clip. It's audio. Drew Holiday's corpse. Drew Holiday's corpse.

Oh, okay. Drew Holiday's corpse. Oh, it's amazing how it's just like three words and there's nothing around that. So you did not say Drew Holiday's corpse? Wow. You think that was edited? It could have been like, what are you wearing as a Halloween costume this year? And he said Drew Holiday's corpse. What was the context? That could have been. It probably was the context. It probably was. That's right. It wasn't waterlogged. He also didn't call Drew Holiday a corpse. Are there levels to a corpse? It was the corpse of Drew Holiday, which is a very different thing.

Okay, so would you like the context since you guys aren't really good at finding context? The Marine Corps are celebrated. The Peace Corps. Peace Corps, too. Wide receiver corps. There you go. So this isn't all bad, Dan, the way you're painting Amin in this corner. You know what's weird, Amin? What's weird? I was talking to people and I was like, because it's Wild Billy Wednesday, as I've been told, and I said, you know what?

I'm not a man that asks for a lot, but I said I demand Amin comes in here. Last week, for whatever reason, we kept you away during the NBA finals. I demand on draft day Amin is back so that we can cover the NBA draft. I'm happy you said that. I stood up for you. I said Tony Reale was supposed to be here today. I said get that guy the hell out of here with his microphone and his bounce houses. I need Amin in studio on NBA draft day. Yeah, you do. Hey, Amin.

Draft Day, I'm glad you brought that up. Today is Draft Day, NBA Draft Day. Who knew? Cooper Flagg, everyone's excited. I'm sure we're doing like a live watch-along of the draft tonight, right? Like, we're all basketballed out tonight. Me, you, Jeremy, like... Everything, right? Because there's no chance that there's another sport that's, oh, in the beginning of the doldrums of its regular season that we're going to pick this day of all days.

to do live watch-along content. Because heaven forbid we have that on a Thursday or on a Friday or on a Tuesday or any other day of the week or the month that wasn't NBA draft day. No way that we could have that kind of planning around here. Metal Mark is not great at scheduling. What? Very bad at scheduling. Huh? But the reason this... Tony has two parties coming up. One for each of his kids' teeth. Thank you.

I'm happy with the schedule. Neither on draft day, though. Exactly. We have tonight a watch party with Tim Kirchhen that I don't actually know. Everyone here is invited. If you want to come and give us basketball analysis during it, you can because I will have to do it here from the studio. I wanted to do it from home, but my gangster Wi-Fi is not gangster enough. And now I've got all sorts of work in the walls and in the roof and all sorts of insanity going on at my home trying to get

more gangster Wi-Fi, but I will be here in the studio. If you want to come by, you're here at the Elser. If you want to come by, you're welcome to come here, give us some basketball coverage. The reason I'm doing this, though, with Tim Kirkshin is because no one around here except for Jeremy will talk baseball with me. No one. I can't get anyone to talk about my beloved Rays. Oh, they're so good, Dan. We're going to get Tim Kirkshin, and at 6 o'clock tonight, we're just going to watch baseball games tonight.

And if you want to come by, I mean, everyone's invited. If you want to come by and do basketball analysis, we'd be happy to have you during the draft. Would you like to do that? When you say more gangster Wi-Fi, is the Wi-Fi going to become more gangster in nature or will there be more of this Wi-Fi that is also gangster? It'll just be better. Huh. That's all I would say. Sounds like the former then. What does Zinn give you? Not just smoke-free nicotine satisfaction, but real freedom. Freedom to do what you love and choose your rewards.

With Zinn Rewards, you can redeem points for premium tech, outdoor gear, and gift cards to your favorite retailers. Find your Zinn and keep finding rewards that fit your lifestyle at Zinn.com slash rewards. Warning, this product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical.

The Dan Lebitard Show with Stu Gatz is sponsored by BetterHelp. So we mess around a lot on this show. Look, I know that. But let me be serious for a second. Men's mental health is a big deal. And honestly, for a long time, I thought, you have to tough everything out. Like, I'm supposed to be the strong one, right? No cracks. No help. Just keep going. No, that's not real life. Everyone, me, you, all of us, need support sometimes.

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I've never stepped foot on that campus. If you told me right now your life depends on it, go to Santa Fe University and just take a picture. I would die. I don't know where it is. This is the Don Levitard Show with the Stugats. Stugats.

Something that Amin was saying earlier, and I want to present this to the group here as something that the media and sports talks about very poorly, okay? Because Amin just threw out their repeater tax, and I don't believe that 1% of the audience has an actual knowledge of very much salary cap beyond you're either over it or under it.

But there is an information age going on right now throughout sports where Jordan Schultz is fighting Ian Rappaport in a Starbucks because they don't like each other. And Schultz is now being accused by other information guys of buying his way into the game by sending executives coffee from his father, Starbucks owner who used to own the Supersonics.

An interesting career choice, by the way, when your father is the owner of Starbucks and the Supersonics. That's his father? To choose the information game. You got to do something, right? Why not pick something fun? Yeah, but you think that's fun? I mean, for him, he's chosen that over doing nothing. Over coffee. He's being accused. I would do nothing. That's what I'm saying. He's chosen that over a life of riding jet skis and swimming pools. I'd do so much nothing. And coffee. Are you trying to make that sound like a bad thing?

What? A life of jet skis and pool and coffee. No, I'm saying that is an awesome life, and he's chosen this over that. But it doesn't seem fun. The information game does not seem fun. Oh, it's competitive. You get to go and threaten Ian Rappaport inside a Starbucks. That's home turf for him. What was more fun than that? A Starbucks your father owns. That's why. That's why you can get away with it. Are you going to press charges? No, that's my boss. That's what I thought.

The information guys are really valuable. I want to talk about Jordan Schultz in a second because what's happening with him is funny. He's being accused by other information guys as doing to the information game what the Saudis have done to live golf.

where they buy their way into the game. And now he's got player relationships the way Jay Glazer used to have player relationships. And most of the insiders don't have the player relationships. They have the executive relationships. And so he's playing a different game. But when Amin mentions the repeater tax, the thing that I wanted to ask you guys is Pablo Torre has a report

that is the sixth headline on a slow news day on ESPN News. He's got big breaking news, but it's about labor, the NFL Players Union, and what would pass for something very close to the dirty insides of collusion. Doesn't quite get there.

But it shows you how it is the owners tried to keep the money down, these greedy owners in that sport, by basically colluding even though an arbiter ruled that they did not collude. And the media has covered it very poorly. And Mike Florio is yelling and screaming about this. And I'm curious whether you guys are interested in this part of it at all. Mike Florio is saying it's not being covered because everyone's a league partner. And so it...

It's not going to be covered. And so it finally got on to the ESPN homepage, as I said, the sixth story. But all day yesterday, this was not talked about by the league partners. And I'm just curious. I'm asking you this because I remember these conversations when we left the ESPN and how insistent I was to the people who were doing our negotiating. Hey, be careful about partnering us with anybody who's NFL adjacent because they're going to be trying to control stuff we're saying around here.

and how we say it and when we say it. And the NFL has become so powerful right now, okay? Because Ian Rappaport is an NFL employee, okay? He's an information guy paid for by the NFL. The NFL has become so powerful that it's coming very close to being able to control the news. Like, not totally, but more than most people can control.

And I'm just curious, do any of you care? Because the insides of that story, and you can check it out if Pablo Torre finds out, the insides of that story will show you how dirty this business is, how greedy the people are, and how that power is at the very top of that sport in a way that's very well concealed. Florio and Pablo Torre were trying to get these documents, and Torre got them first. But what do you make of that?

florio's criticism that league partners in business with the n_f_l_ have to do things like this i will tell you are the john skipper former c_e_o_ of our company has the story

When their partnership with the NFL was with PBS and reporting about the NFL's concussion problem, you got ESPN doing business and journalism. Those things have to be different. They have to be separated. But ESPN managed it for many, many years, all of the conflicts in the business.

But as the story climbed on concussions, that story got to Skipper and Skipper's like, OK, we're out on concussions. We got to get out on concussions. We got this is climbed too high. I'm the conflict of interest. I at the top of the company have to decide, are we doing business or are we doing journalism? And then all of a sudden, concussion coverage, the way it was being covered at the time that it was groundbreaking. I mean, like it was.

It was PBS or was it NPR? It was a report that was showing the insides of brain trauma and the journalism department had to get out on that when the conflict reached where the business was. And so I ask you as I present you this story of collusion and the way that people love these contract management information stories, why isn't this a bigger story?

The Florio story or the Celtics repeater? The Celtics repeater, I don't want to talk about it anymore. All right, just make it short. Why would you think I was asking you about the Celtics repeater story? Because that was the launch. That is where that started. It's what I'd rather talk about. Went a few different directions. This is scaring me, this conversation. Worked your way back here. Well, first of all, does Florio not still work for NBC? I think he's got a contractor gig. That kind of thing. He gets money from NBC.

So, but that's kind of, that's playing with fire for him a little bit, right? If he's saying this story isn't getting touched because it's too hot for a league partner and he gets a little business with a league partner...

I can't imagine that the league that he's claiming to be that controlling would be happy that someone on league partner airwaves is talking. But is it because the story is too hot or is it because people don't like these kinds of stories that they're interested in certain things? Like if I,

made this about Kaepernick, all of a sudden it would be a much different story, right? But this is really close to collusion, what is happening here. And maybe it's a different story as well, if collusion had been ruled, which is not what happened when it went to an arbiter. I think the reason you're talking about, which is a valid one, is that

People just care about what happens on Sunday, right? They don't really care, especially if it's not like, oh, this is making things harder for my team. That's what fans care about. Hey, are you hurting the Dolphins from getting – oh, no, this is just something that screws players over but, like, doesn't do anything for my team? Yeah, I'm fine with that. You –

Are you accurate, though, when he says that about, I feel like the fan today is more informed than he or she has ever been and wants to be more informed than he or she has ever been. But they don't care about information that does not impact them. So, for instance, my boring repeater attacks conversation, Celtics fans are like, wait a second, this is why we're going to give away Derek White maybe? Because it impacts their fandom. But if it was just like, hey, you get to keep your team as it is, Derek White kind of gets screwed over. They're like, well, whatever.

That's what a fan does. Chris, if you found out that this collusion story is what stopped the Dolphins from having a great backup quarterback as opposed to Skyler Diggins or whatever the kid's name was. - Skyler Thompson. - There you go, same thing, right?

Like, you would care immensely about this. No, you're right. You're right. But because it has nothing to do with the impact on your team, it's just like, oh, that's cool. I'm informed. But, Zazz, what do you think is right here when it comes to – I know we can't speak for all of fandom on this, but don't you believe that today's fan craves more information than any fan before? Not necessarily. And especially not with, like, this story. Me as a fan –

I don't care about this story because if anything, this story, if there is collusion, which it seems that there was, it sounds like it helps my team get more players. It sounds like it helps my team build a better roster. I hope the owners collude. As a fan, that's where I'm coming from. So I don't care.

When it comes to the labor, it doesn't really matter because people care less and less about individual rich people as well. Right. So if you're talking about the repeater tax, I am sure there are Celtics fans that are frustrated that the reason that they're breaking up their core doesn't really have anything to do with basketball reasons. It has more to do with getting under repeater tax. But it does now in a way that it won't.

would have not in the same way going into this offseason had Tatum not gotten hurt. But when you look at collusion and all of these other parts of it, you really have a bunch of people with a lack of empathy. Even if they have the information, why would they be empathetic over the fact that this person who's making $500,000 more than them is...

is maybe making $10,000 less. Let the record show, I like collusion. Yeah, pro-collusion if it benefits us. Do we still get Black Friday games? Do we still get Christmas Day games? Are the Chiefs still in Buffalo on Week 9? I don't care about taxes. Talk to me about taxes April 15th. They should change the saying to close only counts and hand grenades.

What is it? Yep, that's it. Horseshoes, hand grenades, and collusion. Horseshoes, hand grenades, and collusion. He had worked that one with us earlier, and he said it right. He said it right. I don't know what they say. Counting hand grenades. Horseshoes, hand grenades, and collusion. And personalities. Don't leave.

Jeremy, the other reason beyond repeater tax is, oh, it's a lot of money for rich people. Oh, if Tatum was healthy, he'd be fine. It's not that. It's because they start taking first-round picks away from you. Yeah. Eventually, you have to get underneath that tax. Even if Tatum was healthy.

there's a high likelihood that they were going to make hard decisions. You're right. It's more the idea that there would be a frustration over the rule, not even necessarily at the owners. There'd be a frustration amongst the fan base over why does this rule exist. But let me ask you, because this would be...

disappointing to me, but I guess not surprising. Do any of you care if Florio's accusation is accurate, that league partners are either downplaying the story or ignoring it? Do any of you care about that in the abstract, or if it doesn't affect your team, you just don't care, it's not a story? Right, I guess I would flip it back on you. Why do I care? Yeah.

Mmm. Ho ho! I thought people cared when rich people got caught doing dirty shit with power. Yeah, but it's about my entertainment. Like, it's not like rich people who are in the oil business. It's rich people who control my team, which gives me entertainment and joy.

What country do you live in? Yeah, man. You thought what? Since the dawn of time, people have been abusing power with money? This is football. Who cares? It's not that serious. I just thought that generally speaking, a story about something that is a rich person's shame with corruption around power is a story that's going to get clicks. You're not going to make me sound like the asshole like I've got this wrong. Do you not think that Browns fans are hoping that their ownership group can find evidence

any way possible to screw Deshaun Watson out of that guaranteed money? Like they are all hoping that there's collusion or something that can be done to get out of that so they can make their team better. Do you realize that the reason that this happened is because it was two days after Deshaun Watson. These rich people can't control themselves and so what do they do? They try to cheat in order to control prices because they can't control themselves. It came today.

Two days after Deshaun Watson, you got Goodell getting with the owners and being like, hey, we can't be doing this. Are you guys crazy? And then what's the result of that right there happening? The result is my team spends less and they get more good players. Yeah.

That's like zazzes right on the nose. Okay. All of that stuff doesn't matter if it, like that's as American as apple pie. Wait, does it benefit me? Yeah, I don't give a shit. Like that's all people care about. That's all it is. Horseshoes and hand grenades and collusion. As bad as it sounds, like you're acting like

We've thought of football players as people and not just as my team that's going to get better. And I'm thinking about long-term futures and, oh, well, what is this player going to do with less guaranteed money 15 years from now when they're no longer playing football? 15 years from now, I'm going to be worried about who they're drafting in the draft this year. People complain all the time about NBA players. I can't believe this guy makes more than that NFL player.

You think these people care about the well-being and the financial health of these guys? They don't care, man. You guys ask these questions of me as if my entire mantra for 20 years hasn't been treat these people as human beings. You guys are asking me these questions. Yeah, but you're on the back.

into the bell curve now dan like in the first 10 years of your career things were ascending in this country toward that direction of people caring about others and in the last 10 years what happened last it's completely dropped off the other side of it and so now the more we see power and corruption and all of that constantly every single day in the news at the very top levels of the country why would we care about that in the nfl with the marriott starwood merger

That's what it was. I care about people, but I also care about winning playoff games. Put it on the poll at Labotard Show, please. What do you care more about? People or winning a playoff game?

At this point, one? Landslide. What I wouldn't do for one? What a silly poll. You are talking about empathy and treating them as people. I don't know if you guys saw what happened with the Arizona Diamondbacks last night where their second baseman, Marte, was heckled from the stands about his late mother who died in a car accident in 2017 and just immediately started sobbing. Doesn't he play for the D-backs?

Was that a home game? Some games. No, I think it was road games. Okay. That's the question that you're asking though. Like that, that's the first question that you have is, was it a home game or a road game? When I tell you a player was heckled in a, in a way that made him start sobbing on the field. The fan was ejected. Um,

And everything that happened after that was very paternal around him. It was a nice moment of humanity from the Diamondbacks who had to feel kind of alone, surrounded by people who don't think they're human beings. They're just uniforms running around. Yeah, Tori Lavella went out there and he was consoling. I wonder, did the umpire at one point go, hey, we've got to speed this thing up? Pitch clock, that's an automatic ball. Yeah.

Two people, you look, the guy starts, and then all of a sudden there's runners on first and second. Wait, hold on. Blue, the bases are empty. It's like, well, pitch clock. Two walks have happened now because it's taken so long. Happened in Chicago, so that person may be the Pope soon. So if you're wondering at home why we don't talk about baseball. We're talking about baseball right now. You get more of this tonight. Yeah, but as I'm asking for empathy and you end up talking about the Pope.

He's a White Sox fan. Noted White Sox fan. Have you not seen the video? He goes around Vatican City or whatever it's called and people are chanting White Sox at him. He chants White Sox back. Puts on a White Sox hat. Is he wearing a White Sox hat? He's worn a White Sox hat before. Yeah. No. This is a big, big moment for baseball. Yeah, with the robe. He went on. He put it on. What do you mean? Respect. No. Respect the game. Why? Would you prefer he wore one of the papal hats? Like a big...

Pope hat and then it just has a White Sox logo in the middle of it. That would actually be sick. They should actually have the White Sox. I'm not in charge of marketing. They should have a Pope day where they give out the big papal hat with a White Sox logo on it. They should do that, right? That'd be awesome. Dan, that'd be awesome. Dan? Now, it's made worse if that person is then heckling players about their deceased parents while wearing the papal hat. You don't want that. That's a bad look. That's where you disassociate yourself. Also, I'm going to go on the record and say...

Too far. Shouldn't heckle people about their dead parents. Oh, I thought you meant the hat. Too far. No, the hat's in fair play. That's too far. I give you guys a story about a guy sobbing on the field, and the first question is, home game or road game? And we end on the Pope in a white socks cap. What does Zinn give you? Not just smoke-free nicotine satisfaction, but real freedom. Freedom to do what you love and choose your rewards.

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