The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz - Big Suey: 50 Stars Bigger Than Aaron Judge

Episode Date: August 15, 2024

FIBA denied The Big 3 League's challenge to the Olympic Champion, Netherlands, to play a 3x3 game. How would that game go and what does the U.S. need to do to become more dominant in 3x3? The show the...n discusses who would be great 3x3 players to send to the Olympics and who would make the best 1 on 1 players in the NBA. Would LeBron James be able to defend Kevin Durant 1 on 1? Where is Stugotz when you need him? Then, Adnan Virk joins the show to discuss Aaron Judge hitting his 300th career home run and being the fastest player to 300 in MLB history. Juju thinks he can create a list of 50 bigger stars in American sports. Plus, our discussion of seminal handsome movie stars continues with Adnan. Then, Roy brings the show full circle in a way only he can. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Starting point is 00:01:40 Please drink responsibly smirnoff number 21 vodka distilled from grain 40% alcohol volume The Smirnoff company, New York, New York. Please do not share with anyone under legal drinking age. Welcome to the big suey presented by DraftKings. Why are you listening to this show? The podcast that seems very similar to the other Dan LeBattard podcast. I'm sorry. I'm not going to apologize for that. In fact, the only difference seems to be this imaging. I have been tempted in restaurants just walking past tables to grab somebody's fries if they're just there. That hasn't happened to you guys? I've done it.
Starting point is 00:02:15 And now, here's the marching man to nowhere, fat face and the habitual liar. Sorry for this transition if we don't want to go here but what you were saying will make me remember that the Big Three League they challenged the Netherlands the big three champions of the world the Olympic champions gold medal star salute and the Netherlands accepted the challenge and the FIBA stepped in and said no we can't do that so I feel like bruh if you allow the big three to construct the team Michael Beasley Jordan Jordan Crawford, Swaggy P.N.M., bro, I think they can beat whoever in the world. Coached by who?
Starting point is 00:02:50 Coached by our sister, Nancy Lieberman. Yes sir, absolutely. I have a question. Have you guys ever watched the Big Three League? Yeah. Do they have the same, is it the same rules as 3X3? No. No, that's what I thought.
Starting point is 00:03:03 So are we playing with FIBA rules or are we doing big three rules? This is the eternal question. Anytime we have an international team wanting to play against one of our teams over here, it's like what rules are we playing with? Because the big three uses an NBA three point line, international uses a closer international line.
Starting point is 00:03:17 Big three, 24 second shot clock, international, I think it's- 14, and as soon as the ball goes in the hoop, it's like- It's still live. It's live, it's the other team's ball, but it's like the life It's like the other teams ball, but it's but it's live So they got a check it out. You got to check it Well, they got to get out to three-point line, but yeah, big three does check up right big three has a four-point spot Which is very far by the way, it is very far, but it exists
Starting point is 00:03:38 It does not they have are there three pointers three pointers or two pointers No, they play twos and threes and a four-point spot. International 3X3, ones and twos like we're playing pickup. I feel like put Michael Beasley out there, whatever the rules is, whatever rule y'all want Michael Beasley to play, he gonna win, man. He the goat for real.
Starting point is 00:03:57 The interesting thing, Juju, if you really wanna go down this three-on-three thing, we talked to Fran Farsilla, who is basically the grant hill of the three on three program for Team USA. And he was saying like the big, we talked to him on Oddball by the way, check it out wherever you get videos and podcasts
Starting point is 00:04:13 and all that stuff. But Coach Fraschila explained to us the reason why, why didn't we send Michael Beasley and all these guys? He says because FIBA made the rules so that in order to be eligible to play in the Olympics, you had to play in all of these qualifying tournaments throughout the year. They made it specifically so we couldn't just take
Starting point is 00:04:32 our three best players, all right, here we go, let's go. So that's why they had to get guys who were ready to commit, guys who were ready to give up on opportunities to play in other leagues and stuff to make money in order to do this. That's why Jimmufordette came out of retirement to do it. Which is enough said, like come on, what we doing y'all? FIBA, it's FIBA, it's not us, it's FIBA. It's why the women's team was gonna be,
Starting point is 00:04:54 Haley Van Lith and Cameron Brink were like two of the big names in it because they've been on the 3X3 circuit like winning all these like 3X3 events when they were in college. So they were gonna, like they have a lot of together, which is why when Cameron Brink got hurt, obviously like changed their, but they still ended up getting a bronze. So not, not terrible. But yeah, I'm curious about this new, like unrivaled league, which is a three on three league that Brianna Stewart and Nafisa Collier are starting in Miami too. Like I doubt it's
Starting point is 00:05:21 going to be the same rules as FIBA, but I wonder if that is going to like spark interest in people playing more three-on-three basketball. Because- People play three-on-three basketball, right? People play three-on-three- But being on the five-on-five team is still obviously the- Sure, that's the goal.
Starting point is 00:05:34 People aren't gonna take off time from their regular five-on-five league to play in the three-x-three tournaments, like you said. And the Unrivaled, they got a one-versus-one league coming out of the tournament. Bro, I'm so ready for the Unrivaled. Salute to Breonna Stewart and the Feasy. Y'all like watching one on one?
Starting point is 00:05:50 Hell yeah. I feel like one on one just turns into the same thing. And maybe I'm just speaking for my youth, but it's like, oh, it's just a fight. One on one, they're like, did they call their old pals? Right. Hell no, check up. Would Durant be the most dominant one on one player? Yeah, because he's seven feet tall and he shoots from anywhere.
Starting point is 00:06:11 It's like you can't beat that. Nobody can beat that? The most dominant one on one player of any kind, you would say, is Kevin Durant. History of the sport. Give me a top five. Kyrie would like a word. I would say history.
Starting point is 00:06:24 But Kevin Durant can guard Kyrie. Kyrie can't guard Kevin Durant. LeB the sport. Give me a top five. Kyrie would like a word. I would say history, but Kevin Durant can guard Kyrie, Kyrie can't guard Kevin Durant. LeBron can guard them all. I don't know if he could guard Kevin Durant one on one. Juju, you got LeBron ahead of Durant if you were like ranking? If I'm ranking him, I think I got LeBron and then KD second.
Starting point is 00:06:40 Wow. Wouldn't I just take Shaq? See, that's the one. If Shaq gets ball first, then it's game over. But if Shaq doesn't get ball first, like he's got issues. But Durant just needs to miss one shot and then Shaq gets the ball back.
Starting point is 00:06:54 And once Shaq gets the ball, he's just going to, Durant's just gonna get stuck in his ass crack again and again until Kevin Durant can't do anything at all. There will not be any stopping of Shaq, he's just dunking every time. You have Kevin Durant missing shots, come on man. A shot. No. A shot, I have him missing a shot with Shaq guarding him.
Starting point is 00:07:16 No? No. He'll miss a damn shot, come on man, he ain't Superman. He just, he win perfect in that one game. Put it on the poll please, Juju, who wins-on-one game between Kevin Durant and Shaq and Also put on the pole is Kevin Durant the greatest one-on-one player ever Oh Carmelo Anthony's the only other name I would I would have there Well, but Durant's got four inches on him. Sure, but Carmelo's strong,
Starting point is 00:07:45 and Carmelo can make shots all over also. Okay, so you're making Carmelo Anthony somebody who's more imposing one-on-one than Kevin Durant than LeBron? Yes, I think one-on-one, yes. How am I playing this game? Tracy McGrady would be good. Oh, Tracy McGrady would be awesome.
Starting point is 00:08:02 Oh, you know what? Okay, open it back up. Well, Kobe would be great too. Kobe, oh, that's right, oh my GodGrady would be good. Oh, Trace McGrady would be awesome. You know what? Okay, open it back up. How about me? Well, Kobe would be great too. Kobe, that's a good one. Good answer. Oh, that's right. Oh my God.
Starting point is 00:08:10 All right, okay. Now we have to reopen this. Michael Jordan? I mean, you just took that. What? What? Don't be ridiculous, Tony. Stu Gotz isn't here.
Starting point is 00:08:18 I had to say it. In his memory, you summoned Michael Jordan. He's so mad that he's not here. Stephen A got very mad at Carmelo for saying that he would take his gold medal over an NBA championship. He wouldn't trade his gold medal. He said it's the most ridiculous thing Carmelo's ever said. And that's American exceptionalism for you.
Starting point is 00:08:38 Any particular reason that you muttered that under your breath as if you're extremely tired? Well, it's the end of the segment. You're a broadcaster. Folks, The Dan LeBittard Show is sponsored by BetterHelp. under your breath as if you're extremely tired. Well, it's the end of the segment. You're a broadcaster. Folks, The Dan Lebittard Show is sponsored by BetterHelp. What are your self-care non-negotiables? Maybe you never skip leg day or therapy day. When your schedule is packed with kids' activities, big work projects, and more,
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Starting point is 00:10:53 Now the best player is on our side. Been losing and losing for much too long. But now we're back with New York pride. Stugats! Jalen! You've got us on our feet, Jalen! We're gonna win the East, Jalen! Without Randall we're still doing fine. This is the Dan Lebatar Show with the Stugats. This episode of the Dan Lebatard Show with Stugats is presented by Smirnoff. We do game days.
Starting point is 00:11:41 Please drink responsibly. The Smirnoff Company, New York, New York. As soon as Old Head Roy arrived, he sort of nuked everything I was talking about by putting in De Niro and Pacino, who obviously are bigger movie stars than Clooney and Pitt, but I don't think of them as the classically handsome movie star, which is where we were having the conversation about beauty in Hollywood.
Starting point is 00:12:09 Do I have this wrong? Because do I have that raging bull you think of De Niro as being beautiful for the time period, Pacino, scent of a woman or- Godfather 2 with the slick back hair? Come on. Not pushback, slick back. Slick back, yeah.
Starting point is 00:12:25 They're no Giamatti, but. No, De Niro, De Niro, man, and De Niro had the quality of, as he got older, got more handsome. So you think of De Niro as the same kind of handsome as Pitt and Clooney? Like, I almost make their movie stardom about them being handsome.
Starting point is 00:12:42 Like, and- Look, Pitt's in a different category. Like, Pitt is up there. Pitt, DiCaprio, Denzel, Wesley for a moment. Caprio's in the Pitt category. Ever since Shut Up, Wesley. Wesley?
Starting point is 00:12:58 Wesley made Dawson back in, man. That's how it happened. Oh, okay. Is Pitt viewed as more handsome than Clooney as a movie star? Yes. Brad Pitt is just like a phrase. That's Brad Pitt.
Starting point is 00:13:10 Brad Pitt, yes. Clooney looks like Stugatz. Let's be honest. I, okay, just put it on the poll at Leviton. I don't think of, I don't think of Pitt as, I know Pitt has the pretty boy stuff, but I thought Clooney was the standard of handsome movie star handsome for his time. Dan, I'm going to tell you right now, this is how I know.
Starting point is 00:13:32 This is how I know who's the pretty boys and who are guys who are merely just handsome, right? The pretty boys are the one that I hate at first. I'm like, this guy can't act. And then as time goes by, I'm like, he's pretty good, man. You know who else is in that category not as good of an actor But still won me over despite all the nice guys what Zac Efron I used to hate on Zac Efron like what this Disney da da da Oh, he just he's a pretty boy. I started really watching his movies and stuff much. Yo, this is pretty good, man. They watch
Starting point is 00:14:00 neighbors Before you started talking about Zac Efron, I was gonna say this is why the Ocean series is one of our greatest filmmaking achievements of all time because wow, what a cast. Put it on the poll, Juju. More handsome movie star, and if I make it classically handsome, it's gonna be Clooney.
Starting point is 00:14:18 It's not going to be Brad Pitt. If you make it classically handsome, it's gonna be somebody white for sure. Who's the more handsome movie star, George Clooney or Brad Pitt at LeBretard Show? I'm not sure this is as concrete as you think it is, but maybe I've got this wrong. Getting back to the initial conversation
Starting point is 00:14:39 I was trying to have in the labyrinth of all the things that we've discussed since then. So Aaron Judge gets to 300 home runs faster than anyone in the history of the sport. He wears pinstripes. He is the historically great franchise in the giant market. He's a big star literally in New York. I'm not sure outside of baseball how big a star Aaron Judge is. I want some more expertise on this subject, but the reason I bring all of this up is, and therein lies where it is, 20 years later that
Starting point is 00:15:22 steroids end up hurting baseball the most. You distort all of the numbers so much in a sport that treated its numbers as treasures that now when Aaron Judge gets to a number in that sport it only matters to the people who care the most about that sport. Whereas when you get to the big milestones usually now that I'm watching the Pete Rose documentary, I'm watching how it is he got a nine-minute standing ovation because the number that he got to mattered and it seems like that's a different time. But all across America
Starting point is 00:15:59 Pete Rose was one of the biggest stars anywhere because he played baseball better than others. I don't feel like like Aaron Judge I feel like if we sat here and started talking stars in sports I'm not sure that we wouldn't get to 50 names whoa 50 before anyone mentioned Aaron Judge if we just went all across sports because we're not just making about baseball we're making about all of sports how it leaks into the rest of society and the rest of pop culture america or the world because of the world now we set on some other names in there that i don't know like princess louis hamilton the world bigger so that i
Starting point is 00:16:44 judge lose how to go walk around new york city no one will stop them though that I don't know, like for instance, Lewis Hamilton, the world, bigger star than Aaron Judge. Lewis Hamilton could walk around New York City, no one would stop him though. The world, I would say in America. I think you might be off with that one. Even if it's America, bro, I can name 50 professional players that are more popular than Aaron Judge. Could I get to 100?
Starting point is 00:17:00 How controversial is it if I say- Are you the first baseball player? Are we not seeing Shohei first? Right, of course. The Shohei's a better player, but is he more popular? Yes. Domestically in America? Yes.
Starting point is 00:17:11 In the United States? In the US of A. But Judge is so tall that I feel like, so is Shohei. But everyone is seeing Judge, though, and being like, that's somebody. My larger point is someone who looks like that does that in that uniform at any time in my lifetime before now, that's someone who's in the top 10
Starting point is 00:17:29 sports star category the way Jeter was. Like that, that's how that one's gonna happen. So Adnan Virk is with us now and maybe we'll get some more expertise on this because he really knows his baseball and he's seen the entire generation of stuff I'm talking about. And he also knows his movies, so we can ask him about the Brad Pitt stuff also,
Starting point is 00:17:49 after we get to this baseball stuff. Yes, yes, we can. We can find out who he thinks is more handsome, Brad Pitt or George Clooney, as well. So, Adnan, get in on what it is that we're talking about here. Cinephile is the name of his only movie podcast, because he
Starting point is 00:18:05 loves that. It's one of the things that he loves more than baseball. One of the few is the movies. Aaron Judge, the number getting to 300 within a thousand games faster than anyone else. At any point in your lifetime, would it have felt bigger than it feels right now because of baseball baseball status in America? Um yes and no. I understand you're saying Dan that baseball doesn't hold the same passion allure and national level that did in the 80s and 90s when I was growing up but I also think the number isn't massive. Like 300 home runs to me as a kid growing up you knew 400 home runs was huge. Al Kaelin was 399. You knew 500 home runs is automatic induction
Starting point is 00:18:46 to Cooperstown. So to me, if I hear 300 home runs, I'm like, okay, now what's notable, as you said, is he's the fastest to ever do it. 400 fewer at bats than Babe Ruth, and you look at all the great sluggers of the past, no one's done it quicker than Judge. So it's certainly notable, and perhaps on national level,
Starting point is 00:18:59 he should get more pup, because he's an incredible player. He should win his second MVP. Certainly living here in North Jersey, I'm surrounded by Yankees fans trust me there's there's no lack of notoriety when Aaron Judge ever knows how special he is but I can't speak for the entire country is it not the way it once was sure but 300 is not 500 I think people still know he's great if the Yankees make some noise in the playoffs everyone will still be aware of who Aaron Judge is. If I told you though that I can name 50 athletes in America who are
Starting point is 00:19:25 bigger stars than Aaron Judge you would say what? That's ridiculous I think that's too many if you can ten absolutely twenty-eight. I'm on nine right now. I'm on nine. Not Juju you can't get to fifty that's crazy. I'm only on number nine I just started it. Can I just say can we hear what you have so far Juju? LeBron, Steph, KD, Kaelin Clark, Jalen Branson, The Joker, Jalen Brown, Jason Tatum. No, I'm not putting Jalen Brown. You out your mind.
Starting point is 00:19:51 Jalen Brown, forget it. Okay, so all the other names don't get nothing. See how they do you? They listen to eight names that was acceptable. They harped on one. I got you, bro. Okay, Kaitlyn Clark, I would also argue, Juju. I know she's a big star,
Starting point is 00:20:04 but I think she went to visit Aaron Judge. The story wasn't Caitlin Clark's at the Yankee Stadium. It's that Caitlin Clark went to visit Aaron Judge. It's because she's a young woman who grew up in the era of these stars. She's a bigger star than Aaron. Adnan, please, brother, I care about you.
Starting point is 00:20:16 Don't do this. Well, the reason I want to talk about this is because I think that this is where you're going to see the gulf of where it is that Ad and spends the entirety of his life in the bubble of baseball where they think of yes erin judge is a huge start and they don't realize how much baseball has fallen in cultural points with uh... with everyone in america despite my jersey i'm not in the baseball bottle bubble bubble right and but i i also think you're severely underrating Aaron Judge.
Starting point is 00:20:45 No, I'm underrating baseball, if anything. It's not about Judge. It's about the fact that I don't think of Aaron Judge as the kind of star. Man, all the quarterbacks. No, no. No, all the star quarterbacks. I just said that back here. All the star quarterbacks. I just said that back here. All the star quarterbacks.
Starting point is 00:21:01 Joe Burrow, absolutely not. Russell Wilson. Joe Burrow wasn't Aaron Judge? I didn't just call him Aaron Judge. That's ridiculous. I'm with Russell Wilson. Joe Burrow wasn't here. Joe Burrow had bigger shot than Aaron Judge. That's ridiculous. I'm with him, man. There's no way. Disrespectful.
Starting point is 00:21:08 I think y'all are showing y'all age at this point because y'all sound old as hell. Joe Burrow has more than two times the amount of instant followers. Right, y'all don't understand what TikTok is, I guess. Bruh, did y'all see him through the playoffs last year? When he threw the ball in Buffalo and the snook, bro. These women went crazy, man.
Starting point is 00:21:24 Cheers, you. If you pulled 100 sports fans and just showed pictures, goes, who's this and who's this? Aaron Judge versus Joe Burrow, more people are knowing Aaron Judge. Yeah, brother, I know you work for the MLB and the baseball league, but I'd like to introduce you to America, the real world, because you are sleek. The 2019 LSU Tigers were one of the greatest college football teams of our lives. People know Joe Burrow, my guy. I don't know why I said that. Ann Rogers.
Starting point is 00:21:47 I would say that this has to do with a generational golf there, Adnan, and I am allowing for how much baseball has fallen, and I'm also allowing for an entire demo that runs 18 to 34 that doesn't care about the way that baseball makes its stars. But I will argue this Dan, and again, as you just said I am a puppet for Major League Baseball here as one of the hosts of MOE Network, Emmy Award winner. The ratings, I just saw the ratings the other day.
Starting point is 00:22:16 Yeah, but baseball doesn't matter. We still won the Emmy by the way. We beat SportsCenter, we beat NFL Live, all football runs. Let them know. No, baseball beat them. That's okay. But anyways, back to my point. Ratings are up right now. Dan, I checked nationally. They said these, you can tell me all right now. Let them know I'll beat him. That's okay But anyways back to my point ratings are up right now, Dan
Starting point is 00:22:25 I checked nationally they said these you can tell me it's propaganda The national ratings for Major League Baseball up 10% across the board of Fox and ESPN rating for our network up 10% So that's a national networks. We're still generating people making a sound No one's watching baseball national people are still watching it numbers are up and add man The other thing I would add on to that is juju says you guys are old. Y'all acting like the old people went away. Yeah, there's still a shit ton more people older than 35 than there are people younger than 35 in this country. Brother, I'm just saying Joe Burrow
Starting point is 00:22:53 is more popular than you guys think. That's all. And beyond that, I would say, Adnan, I'm actually not disputing. I love baseball, and I watch a lot of baseball, and I'm not disputing that the write love baseball and uh... i watch a lot of baseball and i'm not disputing that the ratings are up i am disputing that baseball has a lot of national stars i am disputed i i i am i am saying to you that all of those people watching yes absolutely erin judge all those people watching
Starting point is 00:23:20 absolutely know who erin judges and they think of him as a star but if i go outside of that could start of isn just you're great at your sport Mark Mike Trout is great at the sport he's not a star he's just simply not a star and so when I are in a name of the kind that I can name 50 people you wouldn't dispute with me that 50 people go ahead of Trout correct? Correct I think that's fair I think definitely listen football rules the country we all know that as you said quarterback specifically if you look at star players and star power that runs the NBA no question someone says
Starting point is 00:23:52 you know team X is playing team Y it's not the teams it's more about the players Durant versus whomever. But I would agree with that that certainly the star power isn't there in baseball but I think if you're a fan you still know the stars are there. I'd go a step further though, Adnan, and you correct me if I'm wrong on this. I'd say baseball has only two stars. I mean, everyone definitely knows Judge and
Starting point is 00:24:12 Otani. Those guys are transcendent and Bobby Witt's having an incredible year, but you're right. Nobody would know Bobby Witt. Jose Ramirez is under a pressure. That's the bias I'm talking about. The Bobby Witt. This is the world where he lives. How old is he? This is the world where he lives. How old is he? This is the world where he lives. I remember Bobby Witt's father. Nobody would know who Gunnar Henderson is.
Starting point is 00:24:31 He's right about that. OK, I don't like this argument. Spooky Betts. Everyone knows Spooky Betts. Oh, you're right. Fair enough. He's been hurt, yes, but fair enough. Yes.
Starting point is 00:24:40 Three. Bryce Harper. Bryce Harper is a star. People know Bryce Harper. OK. I'll concede him to you, but the fact that the sport in its entirety, Three. Bryce Harper? Bryce Harper is a star. People know Bryce Harper. Okay. I'll concede them to you, but the fact that the sport in its entirety, that's a star problem, Adnan. Yes.
Starting point is 00:24:53 Like that's, and the ratings can be up and it can still be a star problem. No, to your point, Dan, before, you know, okay, do you pick whatever NBA team you like? If you say Oklahoma City, you're looking at SGA, you're not saying, oh, I love the Thunder. Whereas if you're looking at the Twins, you support them because the Twins. You're not saying, oh, Byron Buxton's coming to town or Carlos Correa or Royce Lewis, all great players. I hear you.
Starting point is 00:25:12 America says who's more handsome, George Clooney or Brad Pitt? In their prime. I'm glad I mean out of the caverns. I have to say, George a little older now. I mean, I don't think they're the same age. I think George in his prime. I'm glad I mean out of the cabinet. I have to say George a little older now. I mean I don't think they're the same age. I think George and his prime. I mean because Clooney's got that. Yeah, you know what I thought I know Brad Pitt. He definitely and this is again an example of me skewing older because you know George again I think when he was in his prime had that older
Starting point is 00:25:38 reflect a modern day Cary Grant had that refined look. Brad Pitt though in his prime. I mean every single woman is jumping his bones. So again, if I'm speaking on behalf of America, I think most women would say Brad Pitt, but I personally, in my taste as a heterosexual man, found George Clooney more attractive at his apex. The heterosexual man wasn't necessary. They think he can just be handsome.
Starting point is 00:25:58 Travis Kelsey, Jason Kelsey, Mama Kelsey, Donna Kelsey, Dion Sanders, who had that brother? Juju, keep going, and at the end of this segment, you're gonna have 50 of them. You're gonna be able to find 50 people that you can name before Aaron Judge. Can we define stardom first because there's celebrities and then there's stars.
Starting point is 00:26:16 And stardom to me implies that you know them beyond just what they're good at. So like, you know, Caitlin Clark, she's a star because we know Caitlin Clark and we know things about her that catapult her past just like, oh, she's a celebrity. You know what I mean? Like Aaron Judge, I just don't know anything about. No, I think to me a star is,
Starting point is 00:26:36 does someone who doesn't watch your sport know who you are? Put it on the poll then, who's a bigger star, Caitlin Clark or Aaron Judge? Because I don't think it's Aaron Judge. Aaron Judge literally walked around New York City asking people who is this and people didn't even know who he was he had a picture If I know your dog's name you're a star for example Just so you're the you get to be the gatekeeper your knowledge I'm not saying that cuz my dog got recognized yesterday while I was walking her by a dog named churro
Starting point is 00:27:09 Not that's not why but it implies like people have interest in you beyond just you know You're a thing that you're very good at they're interested in you the person you're a star What what's something about Caitlin Clark outside of basketball that we're interested in actually as I was saying it I was like she's actually a bad example because she has been very, very, kept her personal life sort of private. But people do know about her boyfriend and her friends. Yeah, they know about her boyfriend
Starting point is 00:27:35 for all the wrong reasons. I know, that was a bad example. Angel Reese would be a better example because she's been in music videos and she's on stage with Megan Thee Stallion and she's got this huge pop culture crossover tie. I think the definition is gonna be different by generation, Adnan.
Starting point is 00:27:49 I think that what they're talking about, when Juju objects and bucks on us because he's telling, he's telling you that Joe Burrow has a TikTok following that we don't understand. There's a different measure of celebrity presently happening right now than there was back when it was paparazzi chasing George Clooney and Brad Pitt around Yeah, I mean now we just we have more options. We have more vehicles. There's different avenues that stardom takes
Starting point is 00:28:14 How about Juan Soto Juan Soto's a star come on someone back me up on no no I disagree and I love him I love him as a baseball player. No those not that that i understand what you're saying and then you're so close to it that you're looking at the players in your sport that have huge flamboyance and what i'm saying is that baseball rarely leaves it it's confines it rarely gets out into the public to become a pop culture phenomenon anymore you can't be as great as mike trout has been for a decade and nobody cares who you are no matter the market you play in not when you just mentioned
Starting point is 00:28:48 Shay gilded Alexander and OKC and it becomes instantaneous Mike trout it took Shay gilded Alexander one year to do what Mike trout hasn't done in 10 Jake Paul, come on. Jake Paul, come on. No, no, what? No, we're not my athletes. No, we're not my sports people. Look, Jake Paul is on the ropes right now. Y'all know what to do. I got more. Nah, I don't agree with a lot of your lists, Juju, but I'm gonna let you cook
Starting point is 00:29:17 because I like your contributions, that's why. But I don't agree with a lot of these things. I don't agree with a lot of your lists, but I like your contributions. Keep going, young buck. Don't try to be like that, man. My list is valid. But Juju, this is my point.
Starting point is 00:29:29 When you talk about TikTok and all that stuff, you're right, for a certain generation, it's true, but the thing that y'all seem to be ignoring is that the majority of this country are older people. They may not be in all the places where we're looking for them on Facebook, on TikTok, on Instagram, whatever, but they're there. And for those people, Aaron Judge. They're exclusively on Facebook.
Starting point is 00:29:50 Who? Old people. Well, you know what I mean. I'll cancel my MySpace page if that's what you want. Juju, you're trying to tell me Aaron Judge and Kate and Clark are walking down Times Square. You think Caitlin Clark has more buzz than Aaron Judge. Not Times Square, let's put them both in Iowa. Aaron Judge asked fans about Aaron judge in Times Square with glasses on
Starting point is 00:30:14 Neutral location we have to put them in like Boise or something here And then Caitlin is a bad example. She's like as famous as anyone right now No, she's in every commercial. Like I- What commercial? Every single commercial. Yeah, I don't know what commercial. Nike, State Farm, Gatorade.
Starting point is 00:30:30 That's three off the top of my head that I have seen a thousand times just in the last week. Doesn't seem like we're watching the same things. I'm watching sports. I don't know what you guys are watching. Not baseball though. I never see Katelyn Clark. I'm gonna say this right now.
Starting point is 00:30:43 I think we've arrived at a agree to to disagree which means we passed Armageddon. Wow Armageddon cannot be ten spots down on this this list is not off any way accurate Adnan one of the things that we were talking about because I I was saying that I was transported to another time seeing GQ magazine put Clooney and Pitt on the cover. And you as a movie connoisseur of the highest order, again I will tell people, Cinephile is some place that you can find his passions.
Starting point is 00:31:16 They are resplendent, like he really knows a lot about what he's talking about when it comes to movies. Baseball and fame, not so much. When I say to you top five move mail movie stars of your time of your time that fit all of the categories of check mark check mark check mark i was saying those two on that cover go into every top five
Starting point is 00:31:42 for my generation and it just means something different. I'm not even sure we're even gonna make movie stars exactly like that again. So your top five of people in the difficult abstract category of these are the five male stars that everyone knew and loved. I didn't put Pacino and De Niro in there. I didn't. Yeah, I mean, I guess maybe that's generation, like those guys that really,
Starting point is 00:32:06 they're tipping what was the seventies. They became breakthrough stars, obviously, with, you know, for Al Godfrey, I mean, that run he had from Godfather one, Godfather two, Serpico, Dogged Afternoon, historic four for four, and of course De Niro right there with him with Taxi Driver, Main Streets, Later Raging Bulls.
Starting point is 00:32:20 So if you're just saying my generation, I'm 46, I'd say DiCaprio, Clooney, Pitt, Denzel, Tom Cruise. Like to me, those five guys, juggernauts. Those guys could open any movie. Will Smith is probably right there in the precipice. I know you guys had a very lengthy Will Smith conversation the other day. But to me, I mean, the fact that Will Smith had a straight $100 million blockbusters is shocking. But those five, Leo, Clooney, Pitt, Denzel, Cruz. Hanks.
Starting point is 00:32:42 Hanks. Oh, Hanks, of course. Hanks, yeah, yeah, Hanks, of course. Thanks. So did you forget? You forgot? So do you have to redo your list now? Yeah, we're going to... No, I still like Hanks on the outside. Look at it. I know what they'll take out. What? Hanks is in.
Starting point is 00:33:00 Leo Clooney, Pitt, Denzel, Hanks. So hold on a minute. What just happened? Chaos just happened. the list seems faulty. Hanks does go in and who'd you pull out? Tom Cruise is out. What? Yeah, we're taking Tom Cruise. Who am I taking out?
Starting point is 00:33:15 Leo Clooney, Pitt, Denzel. Clooney. Clooney doesn't have the resume that all those other guys have. As an actor, as an actor. That's an actor, you're right. No, it means right, Clooney's out Yeah, it's a direct. No, as you read the director. He said was I adore good night. Good
Starting point is 00:33:30 luck. Yes TV persons about black and white 50s movies. I love that kind of stuff. But yeah, he's made a lot of misses as a director and as an actor. If you looked at his apex and star power and fandom, I mean Cruz shows up. It's 100 million dollars cloney hasn't been able to do that. I got a question for Adnan. If I might one one of my particular the executive producer oddballs a man named gave goodwin gave goodwin had this thread uh... couple years ago he says
Starting point is 00:33:53 tom cruise is the greatest actor for his flexibility cuz he's got one of the best rom-coms in jerry maguire one of the best dramas in a few good men one of the best action franchises in Mission Impossible, one of the best road trip movies in Rain Man, one of the best cameos in Tropic Thunder. Don't make me do this, don't make me do this.
Starting point is 00:34:16 One of the best villains. Tom Cruise is cocky in everything he's ever been in. That's the role. I love Gabe Goodwin, I mean I remember him well from our days at Eastman. I've heard his pro-Cruz rants. Listen, he's made a ton of movies. If you make a hundred movies, by nature, you're gonna have a few hits.
Starting point is 00:34:30 But I've never found him to dance point to have an exceeding amount of range. He's generally the same guy. Valkyrie? I know there's variations on that. Yeah, I don't think he has a ton of range. And listen, I think Rain Man, he's underappreciated. Hoffa won the Oscar, but he's doing a really good job playing the straight man.
Starting point is 00:34:42 So I get it. Tropic Thunder is a hysterical cameo. Magnolia is a brilliant movie. I adore PT Anderson But generally if you tell me Tom Cruise is like the best actor of his generation. That's where I press pause He's made a lot of repetitive movies a lot of action movies that are generally the same ilk And I don't really see him challenging himself the way other actors would he's not he's an immersive like a Daniel Day-Lewis He's not doing what De Niro did in his pride. Oh now you made me think of Daniel Day-Lewis now I'm thinking what do we do with Matthew McConaughey? I mean Matt Damon. We haven't even mentioned McConaughey no McConaughey no no you want to buy one trick pony
Starting point is 00:35:13 To me this point he never really followed on the promise of Dallas Buyers Club he wins an Academy Award. He's great After Dallas what did he do he really Dallas Bars, what did he do? He really hasn't done much. Two detectives was a go, okay, one season. After that, hasn't done much. I want to stop everything that we're doing here and congratulate Amin for doing what is officially and historically the single worst Matthew McConaughey
Starting point is 00:35:39 anyone has ever done. La la la la la la. You mentioned Paul Thomas Anderson. I couldn't believe the other day when I learned that he made Boogie Nights when he was 26 years old. That doesn't, I don't even understand. Like I don't understand how that's possible. In the history of film prodigy, what compares to that? Orson Welles is 25 when he meets Citizen Kane. And Citizen Kane, Wilder Girl, The Greatest Me of All Time. And much like PT Anderson, you know, Welles is 25 when he made Citizen Kane, and Citizen Kane, Wilderger, the greatest movie of all time, and much like P.T. Anderson, Welles is a real auteur
Starting point is 00:36:08 in that he was writing it, directing it, producing it, starring in it. P.T. Anderson wasn't starring in it. Spike Lee, of course, he'll do all four of those. He did that with She's Gotta Have It, Do the Right Thing. I don't think he was, may have just turned 30. So there's not many examples of guys that can do what P.T.A's done,
Starting point is 00:36:21 and he's one of my favorite filmmakers, again. Talk about a guy guy always has a real signature in a voice and boogie nights is an iconic movie it's obvious a little filthy and not for all tastes but memorable stories about how Bert Reynolds is hated because who is this kid tell me what to do. But PT Anderson was very cocksure you see learn so much about movies not only from his dad was in entertainment but also from watching DVDs and DVD
Starting point is 00:36:42 commentaries like me that's what used to do you watch a movie watch the DVD that you'd listen to the director commentary and pick up tricks and ideas so but Bert Rayl's famously hated PT Anderson on that set but he made so many great friends who would continue to work with obviously Philip Seymour Hopp and John C. Rallium anymore. You're talking about like acting direct directing writing that's what Bradley Cooper like thinks he's doing but it hasn't worked out for him right? That's well said yeah he definitely like things he's doing but it has a word for him right she's the uh...
Starting point is 00:37:05 that's well said that he he definitely wishes that he could be out that justice and listen he has talent but the fact that my sure was thought to be this like you know generational film and it kind of for me came in flickered it certainly had some moments but i remember people that you have a better star power flotter people water cooler conversation the case in my show last night i don't like that's what he'd love to do but he's not that guy unfortunately
Starting point is 00:37:26 and then before we get you out of here last question because i imagine you've taken some inventory of something that we talked about a little bit earlier in the movies if i made you come up with the greatest examples that you have of actors uh... doing athletic things incredibly poorly in the movies where you're asking a baseball player i i was thinking of john c riley is the catcher and for the love of the game i will always remember him trying to catch a foul ball and looking like he had never worn a glove or catchers equipment when
Starting point is 00:37:57 you think of the worst sports acting that's been done in the movies the least believable sports acting what are been done in the movies, the least believable sports acting, what are the examples you cite? Well, it's funny, it's not least believable sports acting specifically, but our friend Tim Kirch and always talks about the natural, how offended he is. Again, I have to look this up, but I believe the team that is winning,
Starting point is 00:38:17 it's like, I think that the shot that Roy Hobbs hits is like in the top of the 10th or something. Like it's something so ridiculous, any baseball player would go, well, you can't walk off a game in the top inning. Whatever it is specifically, I'll get to me on it. But as far as guys who look like poor athletes, I mean, it's hard because generally I just think
Starting point is 00:38:32 of the guys who are good athletes like Kevin Costner and those guys that can actually do it. But I mean, I remember an eight men out, which is a movie that I love and our buddy Boog Shambi loves as well. I remember watching it going, these guys are throwing like 35 miles per hour. Like Charlie Sheen is a legit athlete,
Starting point is 00:38:47 he can throw the ball 80 miles an hour. The rest of these guys, I'm like, of course the Black Sox are throwing the game. They're throwing the ball like meatballs. That's a tough comparison because you've got good young actors like John Cusack, et cetera. But even the movies that do baseball well,
Starting point is 00:39:00 it's still tough to do it, to replicate it like the majors. So it doesn't appall you. It's not something that you have ready list at the top of your head of like this is absurd this is ruin this movie for me how absurd this is I got one I mean mystery Alaska maybe Russell Crowe playing hockey is a bit of a tough one yeah I can back me up on that yeah yeah it didn't look great in that movie but I also have one since it wearing that jersey. Danny McBride. He was not a very good pitcher.
Starting point is 00:39:26 Oh, he's going down. Yeah, he wasn't here. That's where the whole conversation started. Yes, Roy. That is exactly where it is that we got all of it. Full circle. Yes, we've come full circle. Adnan, thank you for being on with us.
Starting point is 00:39:37 We appreciate it, sir. Dan, as I texted you, and I want everyone to know, that was a profound conversation with Ted Danson. People should listen to South Beach Sessions. And I still applaud Amin. The one time conversation did with Ted Danson. People should listen to South Beach Sessions and I still applaud him being the one time he rode with Ted Danson on a plane. He brought up the curb your enthusiasm, which Ted appreciated,
Starting point is 00:39:51 but you guys should all listen to it, man. It was a great interview. Great job. Folks, The Dan LeBittard Show is sponsored by BetterHelp. What are your self-care non-negotiables? Maybe you never skip leg day or therapy day. When your schedule is packed with kids activities big work projects and more It's easy to let your priorities slip even when we know what makes us happy
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