Sag mal, Nikola, hast du auch immer dieses Gefühl, bei der Steuererklärung mit einem Bein schon im Knast zu stehen?
Boah, nee, gar nicht. Wieso Steuer ist so die Steuer-App, mit der ich wirklich nichts falsch machen kann. Wow. Das heißt, damit ist alles sicher?
Ja, genau.
Wieso Steuer ist die Steuer-App, die dich versteht.
Weil Steuer betrifft ja dein ganzes Leben.
Arbeit, Kinder, Partner. Du kannst nichts falsch machen.
Stimmt. Nice. Fühlt sich gar nicht wie Steuern an.
Steuern erledigt? Safe.
Mit Wieso Steuer? Jetzt kostenlos testen.
This is the Dan Levatard Show with the Stugats podcast.
This episode of the Dan Levatard Show is presented by Bombas. Bombas brings the comfort in all your everyday go-to: socks, underwear, T's, and more. Use code Dan for 20% off your first purchase. B-o-m-b-a-s. Com/dan.
I swear by those, and I would advise you to get Bombas in your life, especially if you have any issues with your feet being cold, because this is something that I have found very helpful. I see the smiling face of Adnan Virk. I am grateful that we gave him more than 11 days' notice on appearing on today's show. He has been sending everyone who has access to computers him singing with Michael Bouboubles.
So let's go ahead and play that to get him in the right mood here before we start with Adnan Virk.
Let's play the sound of Adnan Virk singing on air in a way that seemed to annoy Michael Boubles, who wanted him to stop, and he simply would not stop singing.
Earth, don't mind, Michael. Is it really your birthday tomorrow? Yeah. Call me.
You do it with me then.
Call me, irresponsible.
Call me, undeniable. Drawing hands of smoothable, too. Happy birthday, T. Thank you. Irresponsibly mad for you.
Take that to my grave now. I got to admit, Adnan's singing voice was pretty great. To hang with Bouboublais, I mean, not in the same category, but to not sound tone deaf around Michael Boublais? Well done, Adnan.
You're a good man, Tash. As soon as we were done, Boublais looked at me and goes, Not bad. So take that to the bank, Dan. Hummed with Michael Boublais, but you're right.
What would I do with that at the bank?
The The Adnan gave me this. He said you sing with Michael Buble. Can you do something?
Stack of dimes. But to Dan's point, anybody can be a great singer for six or seven seconds. You got to know when to cut it. After Buble said, Happy birthday to my colleague and friend, Blake Boldon, I kept going. I needed a giant cane to pull me back. Enough, Ferk.
Get out while you're ahead. Where does that rank in terms of career highlights where you have found yourself just baffled by where it is you've arrived?
Yeah, it's a great question, It's one of those, I'm sure, as you know, in the moment, you're just living it. Then afterwards, you're terrified and petrified by what just happened and shocked that I didn't pee my pants. It still feels rather surreal. It's still sinking in, but I hope I need to follow up with this. I need to somehow get a hold of Boubouboum's manager, backstage passes at the garden. We need to extend this relationship. This can't just be a one-off. It's too special.
What are you, Stugat? You can't just have your one moment with somebody.
You have to then marry them so that they can perpetually be giving you good feelings.
I got Adnan as a song and dance man. This guy wants a one-man show so bad.
Mike has read about that. When people say, Oh, you can sing? No, I can't. I can just do that. To Mike's point, just the crooning. I mean, there's not much differentiation. There's just that one octave. I wish it could be a dance band, but a songman, absolutely, Mike, you're right.
Why is the World Baseball Classic so much more fun than just baseball?
It's insane, Dan. I'm watching the Dominican Republic last night, and they are celebrating as if they're curing cancer. Juan Soto's home run is epic. Fernando Tatis had a bat flip for the ages. It was so incredible to watch that game last night, and it's riveting. It's funny how this has grown in popular. You know this is Wallzai, the Latin American countries have always gravited to this tournament because it is truly an expression of the world's best. It's about patriotism and celebrating a great game. But now everybody else is in. Before it was, okay, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, they love it. Now, no. The USA roster has schemes in scuba and we'll get to USA's predicament. The reason I'm wearing a Team Canada hat. For the first time, Canada advances out of the group stage. We're in the quarter finals against the Big Bad Americans first time in 20 years. How about Ernie Witt, the long suffering manager, and yes, Canadian icon, Stubby Clap, who is the first base coach? It is riveting entertainment. I think Dan, quite honestly, it's because the guys care. If they're into it, it blows the doors off Cactus League or Grapefruit League or any league, quite frankly, because they're so passionate about it.
Put it on the poll, please, @LevitargeShow. Is Stubby Clap one of the great baseball names you have ever heard in your life, because I would have assumed that that was a guy who took the train to games in the 1920s.
Old Stubby Clap had a second job as a plumber and would show up, would throw the ball about 64 miles an hour and had an Efa's pitch. That's Stubby Clap from the 1920s.
Stubby Clap could absolutely use some Bomba socks. I think that is no doubt about it.
If we got a picture Stubby- Everybody Nobody could use some Bamba socks.
All of team Canada is getting Bamba socks. Can we discuss Italy as well, Dan? I mean, has there ever been a better time to be an Italian of any ancestry? How about note an Italian closer, Greg Weisert? That's spelled W-E-I-S-E. It's S-E-R-T. That's the guy who struck out Aaron Judges, Italy wins 8 to 6. There was a Nona along the way who's Italian. Great. You could play for team Italy. They kept laughing. Lorenzen's like, I'm playing against my home country. Michael Lorenzen has been the story of the World a baseball classic. He's an American playing for Italy who shoved and threw four and two thirds. This is the Wackiest tournament ever if Italy beats Japan and somehow makes it to the final.
Vinnie Pasquintino make it the salad.
He three times.
He make it the salad. The Pasquatch. What happened here? Let's play this sound here, Pasquantino saving, bailing out more than anybody in the world, Mark DeRosa.
Three Espresso shots in. How are you feeling?
I'm caffedated. I'm beaned up right now. Yeah, we're in a good spot. How many more boxes of those Espresso pods are now on order? As many as we need, we'll make it happen.
That was unbelievable, huh?
You're welcome, USA. We were thinking of you guys over at your hotel. We were thinking of you guys, so I'm glad you guys could join us in the party.
Just spiking at the five-yard line, Dan, an exclusive just for you and your audience. At last year's spring training camp, it's me and the foremen tion, Mark DeRosa, MLB Network colleague and friend, and the manager of Team USA. We're talking to the Royals. Diero talked to Bobby Wood. I interviewed Vinnie Pasquantino. At the end of the interview, Pasquantino walked over to Diero and says, Hey, I know I'm Italian, but I'm also American. Nudge, nudge, winch, winch. He walks away and Diero looks at me. He's like, Come on. Am I going to put Vinnie Pasquantino on Team USA? And now here's Vinnie Pascutino with the first 300 home run game of his life. He was headless in 12 at bats going in. He's beamed up, and he's been the captain of this Italian team. I'm just in shock of what this team has done. It's a remarkable story. And credit to Vinnie, who's one of the game's best personalities. The Pascwatch is bringing it.
You said it was an exclusive. I think it's a reheated turd from nothing personal.
I believe that that story is recycled, and you said it was an exclusive, and you sold me a bag of recycled shit is what you just did.
You leaned in immediately. So wait, a tiff, perhaps? Pascalino D'Rosa, where's the That story going?
Oh. Nowhere is the answer. That story, nowhere for the second time that story is going. Nowhere for the second time I've heard it. How dare you say that's an exclusive when it's a reheated turd from nothing personal?
I can't wait till Cody tweets this out and says, Listen, it's your personal exclusive here, DeRosa Pasquantino.
You said it's an exclusive. You gave it to someone else earlier. How dare you? Don't shake your head at me. How dare you reheat that turd and try to pass it off as exclusive?
A full 27 hours ago, Adnan.
It's exclusive to this audience, all right?
They put it on the poll at Levitard show, Are you offended that Adnan is a turd reheater?
Adnan, hockey question for you. You do a great job covering the sport. It's been a disastrous season for the Toronto Maple Leaves. They tried a culture change. They got rid of Marner, and they find themselves having a worse season without any injuries than the Florida Panthers. Is everybody on this team going to be shipped out? What's going to happen with the Maple Leaves?
Great question, Mike. Dead Man walking. I love Craig Ruby, former flyer great, eighth all time in Pellymids, second in majors, but he's done. He was brought in to bring in a culture of intensity and passion. Take this leaves team, which had been so great in the regular season and actually win in the playoffs. They came to make the playoffs, and now they're hoping to bottom up the bottom five and just tank, and somehow get a chance of Gavin McKenna, which ain't going to happen. So unfortunately, Chief, as he's effectively known, will be out of a job. And Bradford Living is in trouble. The GM of this team has thought, listen, they had Brett and Shana in for years. Kyle Dubis, that was the brain trust. Those guys made a perennial regular season powerhouse that couldn't win the big one. But now they're taking a big step back. And to your point, the main defection was Mitch Marner, who was a sensational player. There's no question about 100-point guy, Selky nominee, now having a very good season with Vegas hasn't been exceptional. But you've got Austin Matthews, you've got William Neylander. Sure, there's been some injuries, but nothing major of substance.
You don't have any good, great young core. Morgan Raleigh has been a terrible disappointment. Micheli hasn't been great. East and Cowen is expected to have some promise was a healthy scratch for a handful of games. My prediction is, Broobies is out of a job. I think living could join him. A complete overall this leaves team. Nine straight years of making the playouts, Mike, but this is truly bottoming out for the team that has the deepest pockets of any in the sport.
Adnan Virk is an exceptional broadcaster, really, really clean at almost all times. How do you feel and how much will you wear the way that you just said perennial?
It will haunt me for days. It It will haunt me for days, Dan. You know what it's like when you make a mistake, we're all so neurotic in this business. And as Mike just asked me a hockey question, of course, my passion is also covering baseball. While on Amazon Prime, I called nick Suzuki of the Montreal Canadian's Kurt Suzuki, who is, of course, the manager of the LA Angels and a former catcher of summer known with the Washington Nationals. And immediately the producer got me out of my ear and said, nick, nick, not Kurt. And I thought, God, I'm an idiot. I felt like a Tim Kurchin type moment. God, I'm an idiot. God, I'm a big dope.
Great deflection from Mamba Mandality.
Adnan won the Stanley Cup playoff start. Buffalo is going to be America's team, right?
Yeah. Zaz, it's a great story, man. In the Eastern Conference, there's one great team. There's the Tampa Bay Lightning. I hate to say it to the Panthers fans. I know you guys are. Carolina Huracanes are a really good team, and only they're quite great. I think they're really good. They're one of those teams, much like the least for years, terrific in the regular season, yet to ascend. The third best team is the Buffalo Sabers. This is the same Sabers team that went 14 years making the playoffs, 14 years counselor to invoke Robert De Niro's Max Katie in Scorsese's Cape Fear. Fourteen years, counselor, and now they're going nuts on Chippewatt Street. They can't get enough of these chicken wings. Tate Thompson is wearing a red hat like mine. It's not Team Canada. It's a mega hat when he's at the White House. And Tate Thompson and the savers right now are celebrating. This has been a team which is a juggernaut. That 8-7 win the other day against the Lightning was absolutely unbelievable. Their defensive core is remarkable. Rasmus Dallian, Bo Byer, Michael Samuelson, even if Colton Pareco turned down a trade to go to them.
America's team without questions as if you were an underdog that's been long suffering, Bill still haven't won a Super Bowl. The Sabers is everyone's team to cheer.
Mike, you know I have one rule to live by, right?
Don't place parlays on multiple long shots. Don't say a game is one when it hasn't hit triple zero.
Always drink your Jägermeister ice cold. That's the rule. Everything else is merely a suggestion.
Everything else?
Everything else.
Wearing clean underwear every day?
Well, that's just a personal decision.
Brushing your teeth?
Obviously, Mostly smart, but not a rule.
Never PP on an electric fence.
Okay, maybe there are two rules, but the one that is 100% that I insist on completely, Jägermeister must be drank ice cold. Or don't drink it at all. Damn, that's cold. Exactly. You're finally starting to get it.
Drink responsibly. Jägermeister L'Core, 35% alcohol by volume, imported by Mass Jägermeister US, White Plains, New York. Quick break to tell you about a special Miller time I had with my good buddy, Mochetta. Mochetta texted me the other day. He said, Hey, what are you doing for the game? I said, I'm just on my couch right now doing nothing, enjoying it. He's like, Hey, do you want some company? I said, From you, Mochetta? Absolutely. Mochetta comes over to the house and I pull out the Miller light. Miller light made that casual hang. A memorable good Miller time with my good friend Mochetta because Miller light brought us together. We took that first sip after we toasted our beers and we knew we made the right call. We watched the game. All of a sudden, we're standing up on our feet. Big threes are being drained, and white cans are being clanged. See, times like these, that's exactly why Miller Light is my go-to. Clean, refreshing, easy to drink, brewed for taste with simple ingredients. The original light beer since 1975, and it still hits different for yours truly and his good friend, Mochette. Cheers to legendary moments made with Miller Light.
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Don Levatard. During one long evening at the Burton's, Robert sent their guest, Tennessee Williams, and director Joseph Losey, running for the door. But in Burton's words, she insults Rex. She said, Rex Harrison. Rex, sexually, morally, physically, lay on the floor in the bar and barked like a dog, started to masturbate her basset hound.
Jesus Christ.
What's happening? I don't know. No. This is the book. And I'm like, how do I... Because to Mike's point, he has to know I read the book. Well, okay, listen, I had this part, so you know I read it. Stugatz.
Have you ever met Mike before today?
No. No. First meeting.
So your thing is in the first five minutes, let's talk about dog, masturbation, and trash.
Because I knew he would be able to relate to the subject matter. He would know what it's like. How so? Because he's a guest on the show and the guy is trying to impress him because, okay, what's going to go with? So I figured masturbating a basset hound was definitely something he could at least appreciate.
Weird assumption to make. Was he right or wrong? I'm going to say he was wrong.
This is the Dan Levatard show with the Stukatz. I've got four things here for you, Adnan. You give me a bronze, silver, and gold medalist of things you love the most from among these four things, which means you have to exclude one of these four things. Tennis, baseball, hockey, and movies are your choices there. And is there anything I'm missing that would make this even harder? Is there your kids? Let's throw your kids in there as well.
Your four kids as well as there. Tennis, movies, your kids, baseball, and hockey. I'm hoping you do this correctly. I am hoping you do this correctly and you exclude your kids from your list. The Bronze Metalyst on Things That Adnan Loves The Most from among tennis, movies, baseball, hockey, and his kids.
Bronze Metalyst.
Okay, well, it's the only sport that I play. And of course, you know my adoration of Federer, so tennis has to be a Bronze. I love tennis like no other. It's the one sport I've never been able to cover somehow, someway. Tennis is the Bronze.
The Silver Metalyst is?
The National Pastime. It's baseball.
And your Gold Metalyst on Things That You Love The Most.
Do it correctly here, Adnan. Do not choose your kids.
Make sure you buy my book, Cinephile Now. It's available wherever books are sold. Number one is indeed movies. Cinefile Now.
He will be a part of what it is that we're doing this Sunday, the weirdness of Selection Sunday and the Oscars. I'm looking forward to that. What are you looking forward to finding out on Sunday?
What I think is going to be great theater, Dan, is what's happening, the best actor, Timothée Chalmet is self-imilating before our very eyes. I I thought he was going to win the best actor Oscar. I thought he was deserving to be so. He's been a terrific young actor. Call Me By Your Name for the Art House audience's Dune and its sequel for the more populist audiences. He makes the Bob Dylan film a complete unknown, which I had some issues with, but I thought his performance was excellent. He makes Marty Supreme, exhilarating Thrill Ride, two and a half hours of the real auteur in Josh Saftee. Everything is aligning. He wins the Golden Globe. Then he goes up there and craps on ballet and opera. Jessica Spatana takes him to task, and his star has fallen. Michael B. Jordan won at the actor awards, and Chalmy didn't win at the BAFTAs, the British Oscars. So I am fascinated to see if indeed, Timothée Chalmy has gone from being a front runner to an also-run, it would be an epic swan dive for a guy who wouldn't care for a movie like Black Swan, which is about ballet.
Let me hear Adnan trying to say perennial.
Who's guys made it perennial? Who's guys made it perennial? This is unfair. Who's guys made it perennial? I did for perennial. Who's guys made it perennial? Okay. Let's I'm not going to play again. Come on. Who's guys made it perennial? Who's guys made it perennial? Who's guys made it perennial? I can't spoil the vapor.
I can't believe he gave us a recycled turd of a story. A recycled turd.
It wasn't an exclusive. How can you say it was exclusive after you already said it 27 hours earlier? I bet you said it before that. I'm guessing I'm guessing that thing was... I'm guessing it was reheated three times, four times. You just given leftovers all over two countries, Canada and the United States.
People are going to be riveted in this story. Pasquintino, DeRosa, Tiff, question mark, exclusive.
When I heard you start talking now, I was like, Oh, wow, how interesting. There's going to be another story from that interaction because surely he won't say the exact same thing. By the way, word for word. I bet if we went and clipped it from nothing Yes, it was. I would bet word for word, sentence by sentence, it was exactly the same the way you told the story.
It just tasted the same as the recycled turd from the day before when it wasn't any fresher.
Disgusting. I'm disgusted by Adnan Virk. It will That's how I keep me from inviting him to be a part of what it is that we are doing on Sunday. We have to give him more notice next year. Eleven days is not enough when you have four kids. That's what he says. That is what you said.
That was a private conversation. Now you're telling me what I'm saying.
I left you a candid voicemail.
Now you're outing me.
That's ironic. Don't recycle turds around here, and I won't put your business in public. Zaslow brought up something yesterday from the Quintin Tarantino file, Quintin Tarantino continues to double down no matter where the criticism comes from on, I'm allowed to use the N-word on, In my voice, in my movies, in my writing, I'm allowed to this, and he will not back off from it.
In fact, he aggressively comes after anyone who will criticize. Tell Chris to not put that in the club. Your thoughts are what on Quintin Tarantino? We love his movies on him taking this criticism from, is it Rosanna? Rosanna. Rosanna Arquette.
I've always been a fan of his movies, Dan. There's no question about it. He's a supremely talented guy. He also has an incredibly high opinion of himself. As you said, he pushes back in any criticism. When you watch his movies, it is how much he uses the N-word. There's certain movies where you go, this does feel gratuitous. I don't think that's an unfair criticism. I don't think Rosanna Arquette is unfair in criticizing it all these years later. Tarantino's point is like, Well, you took the check. I'm like, yeah, but you can make decisions in years back be reflective and say, You know what? I had some issues with that, or in retrospect, that wasn't a right decision. That's what life is, having regrets, living with those, et cetera. I think Rosanne Arquette is perfectly in tell to give her opinion. I guess QT is fine to lash back and say, Well, you took the check. You didn't have an issue with it. But it's definitely been a blemish to some of his films, and This is not the first time we've heard that criticism. Spike Lee said this years ago. Does this guy want to be black?
Stop using the world all the time. But then you have Jamie Foxes and Samuel Jackson's notable black actor who defended Tarantino, his use of the word in that vein. If you're making a film called Django Unchained, it's about slave owners. I'm allowed to use that word. I personally find it a little gratuitous at times, but he is a hell of a filmmaker, and I have loved his movies. I have to admit that.
Why do you think it is? I love Quentin Tarantino's movies. They are my favorite. He's my favorite director. Pulp Fiction is my favorite movie. But you have that right there, the criticism about the N-word. You also have what was likely a pretty close relationship to Harvey Weinstein. It does feel like Quentin Tarantino skates a little bit, no?
I completely agree, Zaz. The Weinstein one is a great point. When you look back at some of those movies in the '90s, and it's a personal decade for me, I loved a lot of those films. But there's no doubt that Weinstein's imprint was all over it. And specifically to Tarantino, you're absolutely right. Reservoir Dogs was born at Sundance. But once Miramax put that stamp on it, they gave it that push and that boost. And him and Harvey were thick as thives at the Palm Dore at the Cannes Film Festival at 94, and Pulp Fiction One. All those films always have the Weinstein imprint on them. How many other people will be supporting Jackie Brown, which is a film that I liked but wasn't a commercial success? Tarantino definitely gets a pass. Sometimes it happens for certain filmmakers. Maybe eventually, people will be more critical of his work. But again, I guess it's a weird thing, Zaz, when your movies are so beloved people are willing to give you a pass. But you're right. Connection to Weinstein plus the N-word. Not everything about QT is golden. And who knows? His career will be over soon anyways.
He has said himself he wants to make one more movie. Apparently, he's been writing a play that's going to be premiering in the West End in London. One more film in the tank for QT anyways.
I'm allowed to use the N-word.
No.
Put it on the poll, please. Are Thiefs really that thick? And look up for me, Jeremy, why the saying is Thick as Thiefs. I think Thiefs shouldn't trust each other when they get into business together. I don't understand quite that expression on Thick as Thief.
I think because if you're working together as a thief, you have to really trust your thief partner.
Well, but I've always thought that thief tend to not trust other thives and also think that everyone else is a thief and know that thives can't be trusted. Tarantino said this as well. There's supposed to be a spree de corps between-I love that.
That was my favorite part of the statement.
Can I finish the quote?
I just wanted to say I was so excited. The usage of a spree de corps was unbelievable because he wants to be a relatable guy, and he throws in his high pollutant statement. It was so great. Go ahead. Esprit de corps. How good is that?
Who else is using that?
That's why he gets a pass. Say what it be like, If you use Esprit de corps, you have my vote. I'm sorry. I'll just shut up now. I'll see you Sunday. Say something.
I'm trying to give the audience the whole quote I was so excited. The quote from Tarantino is, There's supposed to be a spree de corps between artistic colleagues, but it would appear the objective was accomplished in response to Arquette, which totally ignores what he did to Paul Dano. He called Paul Dano a weak sister, weak sauce. He said he's the weakest male actor in sag. Now he's No, no, no. Sprita Kaur on me using the N-word. I was like, What?
Sprita Kaur is such a great term. A feeling of pride, fellowship, and common loyalty shared by the members of a particular group. I mean, A plus usage of it. But you're right. Paul Dano, who is incredible in The Ruby Blood, which is a film that I adore, I think many of us do. Tarantino, I remember there's a commentary track to The Ruby Blood on the DVD in which he says his one issue with it, and this is before he really committed character assassination on Paul Dano. This was years ago. He said, Listen, I adore the film, but I do think Daniel Day-Lewis against Paul Dano is like Ali Quare, which is a great boxing reference for people of a certain vintage. It's a little dated.
It is super dated. It's so dated.
Eric I'm re-referencing. I burst in laughing when he said that. That's pretty good. Ali Kory. Take that to the bank.
Again, we're taking that to the bank, too.
I got Ollie Quare.
I'm going to show up. Just to be clear, I'm going to a bank. What bank is this that I'm going to? I'm like, Hey, I got Tarantino over here using the N-word, and I've got Ollie Quare. Can I get, please, a roll of pennies? No, they're going to say to me, Get out of here, sir. You're a lunatic, and they're going to have security arrest me. What on Sunday else do you want to see? Because you are very excited about the Oscars, and I'm hoping that you join us wearing a tuxedo and applying the appropriate formality to what it is that we're attempting to do on Sunday.
I'm thrilled to always be a part of the shenanigan, Dan. You know that I've seen all the nominations in 17 categories, and I'm missing one nomination in a total of 19 categories. To say I'm well-versed and probably an understatement, but I'm glad you're asking if there's one award I could see, and it's not going to happen. If there's one award, there's always one I'm stumping for. It's Ethan Hawke for a film called Blue Moon. Ethan Hawke has been one of the best actors around for a long time. This is his first ever best actor Oscar nominations. He's been nominated twice before as a supporting actor, Boyhood and Training Day. He's been nominated twice before for original screenplay with Richard Link later and Julie Delpey, probably before Midnight Franchise. But his first ever best actor nomination, he's got a horrible comb over. He plays 5'2, Lawrence Hart, who is a Broadway composer, and the film is about his relationship and what happened with Rodgers and Hammerstein. It's a beautifully calibrated performance. He's incredible in it. He's not going to win. And then Michael B. Jordan will. But God, if Ethan Hawk wins best actor, you'll see a man leaping up and down out of his tuxedo.
I am looking forward to Sunday, Adnan. Thank you for everything you do for us. And joining us on Sunday. Cinefile is the name of the podcast and the book. The podcast, you can look at, and you should, at old episodes because he does a lot of stuff that is worth reviewing there. His expert knowledge of movies is second to none. Film, he would call it because he's ostentatious, but it is second to none. The book is called Cinefile as well. It is available wherever it is. You get your books.
Do the best, Dan. Appreciate you guys always. Canada, USA, WBC. Let's go Canada. Nailer Brothers, get it done.
Adnan, before you go, you said that he played 5'2, Roger, whatever the guy's name was. Lawrence Hart. Lawrence Hart. How does that work? Does he just like, crouch a little bit? Does he go on his knees and use shoes on his knees? Why do you say that?
It's a great question, Tony, because Ethan Hawke has been answering that. He said they built tunnels. The whole movie takes place in a bar, so they actually built tunnels. Then the tracking shots of Ethan Hawke would be much shorter than Bobby Cannavale, who is much taller than him in real life. He also time shrunk a little bit. He said, Listen, if we can Charlie Chaplin look taller, we can make me look smaller. Ethan Hawke's 5'10, and the movie's 5'2. Excellent question.
He said, Dilt tunnels. Get him.
Those guys made a perennial.
No, no, no, no, no.
Those guys made a perennial Those guys made it perennial.
Thank you, Adnan. We appreciate it. I appreciate it.
I enjoyed that awkward silence more than John Schneider enjoying Enjoyed the awkward silence around-Wool Rally.
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Dan Levatard. What is the worst part of the life? Stugatz.
The worst part of the life of what?
This is the Dan Levatard show with the Stugatz.
I've been wanting to ask Chris Cody a question for three days to stump him because he's on vacation, and I don't think he's considered at any point what I'm about to ask him.
You're not going to believe what Bam out of bio did.
Can your dad tell you what Bam out of bio did?
Like, one of the least likely players ever.
Chris Cody is somebody who has become, right around here and very recently, our O. G, Original Ginger, on deciding whether others are allowed to be gingers or not, because he did not allow Sam Darnold to be a Ginger even after he won the Super Bowl. So my question to you is this, Bill Burr, is he a Ginger?
I can't picture him with a full head of hair, but for me, he's always fit the mold.
Well, he's bald now, though. And so you were saying that the Sam Darnold beard made him a fake Ginger, even though it is a full and resplendent red beard.
If Sam Darnold was bald outside of his beard, maybe I would have thought he was a Ginger. But for me, it's just a yes or no. It's like porn. I've said this before. Bill Bur, yes, full ginger. That's it.
Okay, I'm surprised by that because I'm guessing many people don't even know that Bill Bur, because I think of Bill Bur as almost famously bald.
He's got the freckles on the forehead. That's always big.
Put it on the poll at Lebitard show. Can a bald guy be a ginger? Yes or no? And is Bill Burr a ginger? Yes or no? Last night, the Clippers won by a lot and are now over 500. They're the first team ever, I believe, to go from 15 games under 500 in an NBA season to over 500. And many of you have said around here that Kawhi Leonard is having his best season, which is a shocking thing to hear. But he scored 45 last night, and he's putting up efficiency numbers that look like Steph Curry when he won the MVP in 2015. What Kawhi Leonard is doing without his two running mates who they traded at the deadline is crazy.
He's literally having the best season of his career, almost 15 years into said career. You look at the way that people age, and it's like the jumper's gone, you're not good on defense, you have no sideways mobility. It's like he's got all of those things, and we thought he had no knees, and now he's just back and playing Michael Jordan basketball the wall. It's insane.
You remember, he said at the first game availability after they traded away Hardin and Zubats, he literally said, as far as them being a contender, that ship has sailed. They're playing great now.
He is over 25 points per game. He is over 50% from the field. He's over 90% from the free throw line, and he's got more than two steals a game. Only Steph Curry in NBA history has done that, and it was when he was unanimously the MVP of the league. I will say it again, I don't think it's happened before in the history of the sport, where in a regular season, an NBA team is 15 games under 500, and then it stops being under 500 and stops being under 500 after they traded his second and third best player.
And that's why basketball is in such a cool space, because you have Kawhi, who's having the best season of his career. You have Jokić who's having the best season of his career, averaging a triple-double, leading the NBA in assists and rebounds as a seven-foot-two guy. And then they're not even close to winning the MVP because SGA is going to win the MVP for what he's done.
Kawhi has had an unbelievable season, worthy of MVP consideration. I'm going to take it to a Miami Hurricane here. Jordan Miller is really important to this team. There is a direct correlation with him being on the floor more and them playing better. He's doing exactly what he did for the Miami Hurricanes, which is be an unsung hero, like the fourth guy you I talk about, but he's a versatile defender. You'll never catch him flat-footed on a switch. He can guard basically one through... He can guard one through five. He can put an elbow, one through four and a half. But he is a really important player for what they do.
Is SGA going to qualify? Is he going to have enough games to qualify for the MVP for sure?
Yeah, he's got, I think, eight games to spare.
Two handful of games, yeah. Jokić is the one that's in trouble. I think he has one more game. If he misses, then he's completely out.
It's why SGA is such a huge favorite to win the award.
Also with Jokuj, he hasn't quite been the same since his knee injury. There is some stuff happening there where his range from distance has been less good. Look, we're grading on a curve, right? And it's a curve that has very little precedent in the history of the league when you say Jokić is playing less well, but he has been less efficient since the knee injury. I wanted to circle back around on something that we were talking about, and we just glossed over, and I understand why we glossed over it, but I want to bring it back up. Kenneth Walker was the Super Bowl MVP, and you guys are shrugging at him getting a three-year, $45 million contract that is what Bradley Chubb got. And you're shrugging and saying, Yeah, Dan, that's what's happened to the running back position. And it has in terms of value. But man, that was quick. It happened pretty quick. It's over the last five years where we've decided Super Bowl MVP at Running Back, who is somebody who gets more than 10 yards a carry. The Running Back becoming disposable is something that's happened over the last seven years, I'm going to say.
Are we back on an upswing? Salaries, I feel like they went down, and now they're almost back up.
Yeah. Maybe it's felt like a quick thing for you, but I think it's been 15 years where the league's been like, We can get other people to do this. It feels like Walker's actually getting more money nowadays than he would have maybe just four years ago.
A hundred And James Cooke signed for a similar deal, 4 for 48. So it was like, that's what the range is for a top-tier running back these days.
I mean, I get what you're saying. He was Super Bowl MVP, but he's been in the league four years. He's had 2,000-yard seasons, and the high was in his rookie where he had 1,050. I don't know.
He's battled injuries, too, on top of that.
Yeah, and they've had some committees.
But this year, he played all 17 games. He had 1,027 yards rushing. This isn't Walter Payton here.
He wasn't even considered the starter at the start of the season. He was not getting starter's reps at the start of the season. They favored other guys on their roster.
Charbonne was a guy that they loved, and then he tore his ACL. But Charbonne and him were splitting time, basically, one A, one B for the last couple of years. So when you look at a thousand yards here, If he had 1100 yards a year prior, it's like he's splitting time.
Anyway.
Yeah, this isn't a big thing to me. This is not someone that I would have broken the bank to keep if I were Seattle. I'd imagine Seattle didn't even give this much thought. They'll They'll go with Charbonne next year, and they'll draft a running back in the fourth or fifth round.
From the video that we saw from the parade, I had to agree. They didn't give him much thought.
That is the evidence I'm using in my favor.
The point that I made earlier, though, about the alterations in Aworth. Jalen Phillips, older than Kenneth Walker, body more broken than Kenneth Walker, getting more than $100 million from Carolina, again, older than Kenneth Walker. And you guys are saying, Big deal. Four years in the league in Seattle.
Jalen Phillips got $100 million?
That one I missed.
That's insane.
He's broken. They got Devon Lloyd, too.
Holy.
Although Zaz said, Zaz, you know him? Not a big move.
I don't know that fool.
Jalen Phillips, with his body in that condition at 26, being older than Kenneth Walker and getting three times the contract act that the Super Bowl MVP was. I understand that you guys are now immune to how much the running back position has been devalued. I'm making my assessments on Kenneth Walker not as the Super Bowl MVP. It's how good he was at Michigan State. He got Mel Tucker more millions than he just got from Kansas City because Michigan State was carried by Kenneth Walker and his rugged running style. And I'm still a little startled by how quickly we make these guys disposable. I tell you this as someone who was wrong for several years on highly questionable because I was willing to pay Todd Gurley. I was willing to pay Ezekiel Elliott. I was willing to pay Dalvin Cook. I got left behind by how that sport changed all of its salaries. I was making bad arguments on behalf of runningbacks while the league totally adjusted how we pay the runningbacks.
Who can forget the A blocks of DeMarco Murray? Pour one out.
How much time did we spend talking about Levy on Bell? How much time did I spend talking about, You got to pay Levy on Bell?
Sat for like 15 games.
He was pretty awesome. Yeah, but almost every example that Dan brought up was immediate regret. Which is why the market has been what it is for that position for most of this century.
But the money with a player like Kenneth Walker compared to the money that Jalen Phillips got, the reward is so much greater than the risk from that position to the other. If you have an incredible pass rusher, incredible pass rusher is more valuable than incredible running back.
It's why there's a school of thought that positionally, there needs to be something collectively bargained for running backs. Actually, Kenneth Walker, in his fourth year, being able to get to that next contract, that is a job extremely Well done. Running backs don't often get that opportunity to cash in for a second contract. Look at what happened to Isiah Pacheco and his running style. It took a toll on his body, and Kansas City moved on from him and got the next durable back.
Zazlo, this is what I would say, though, in disagreement to how it is that you just frame that, because you're generally right on pass rusher, but Kansas City's defense is going to be good no matter what because of how they do things. I I think that's an extraordinary signing for just that team. Just that team saying, You know what we're going to do, Mahomes? We're going to actually get you a running back who does break 10-yard runs. You haven't had one of those the last couple of years. We're going to make all of this easier by getting you a running back. I think that particular team needs pass rush less than it needs what they're presently getting. They getting that at $45 million, to me, is more value than Carolina getting Jalen Phillips for $120 million. And I will say it again, Kenneth Walker is younger than Jalen Phillips.
You would argue that Derrick Henry, probably the best running back of this generation, his best contract was four for 50. So Kenny Walker is better from an average annual perspective.
And he's one of the outliers, as he's always been his entire career. Just nuts what he's done, both on the field and in his bank account, where paying the man actually worked out for you.
You're also judging it with context. If you just look at it in a vacuum, what I'm saying makes more sense. But in the context where it's like on that team, he's worth that, yeah, of course that makes sense.
They've also had a young defense, and their defensive coordinator, Spagnolo, does things. Spagnolo does things with them that very few deep coordinators are able to do. Let's just play again the awkwardness, though, between John Snyder and Kenny Walker, and as I like to call him, just Stugats.
Ken Walker being the MVP. Let's go. Negotiating with me five minutes ago. It was really weird. Anyway.
"I'm allowed to use the n-word."
Michael Buble, Stubby Clapp, and Dan Le Batard walk into a bank...
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