The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz - The Big Suey: Good Point

Episode Date: May 9, 2024

We continue the Knicks talk with a couple of heavy hitters in Mad Dog Russo and Sam Morril! Mad Dog teaches us about some of the true greats in Knicks history like Dave DeBusschere as Zaslow makes a 3-good-pointer. Then, Sam Morril is here to share his experience courtside last night with Tommy the Cop and his buddy Chris. Sam praises his team, rips Rick Carlisle and Charles Barkley, and tells us whether or not he would personally hurt a Pacers player if they injured a Knick. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Jersey City, New Jersey. Please drink responsibly. Welcome to the Big Sui, presented by DraftKings. Why are you listening to this show? The podcast that seems very similar to the other Dan LeBattard podcast. I'm sorry, I'm not going to apologize for that. In fact, the only difference seems to be this imaging. I have been tempted in restaurants just walking past tables

to grab somebody's fries if they're just there. That hasn't happened to you guys? I've done it. And now, here's the marching man to nowhere, fat face, and the habitual liar. There he is. Look at him, look at him, look at that face. Doggy on a Thursday! Doggy on a Thursday! Look at him. look at him, look at that face. Look at him. How my voice? Look at him.

Doggy on a Thursday. Look at him. Yes, sir. He is delighted. His hair looks like he just rolled out of bed. What the hell is happening? You seem and look crazed at all times, but never more so than right now

when it looks like your hair's trying to get away from you. And my makeup person, Danny, hasn't shown up yet. I got the baseball show in an hour, so she'll be here at 10.15. If I knew I needed my hair done for you guys, I would've had it here at 9.30. But here I am, raring to go. And I'm better with the hair crazy anyway.

It makes me crazy, which is better radio. How are things going? Things good? Excellent. We are always happy to see you. The MLB Network show he's talking about is high heat. Every week he's on first take. headlines of course mad dog sports radio on series xm including mad dog on leash weekdays at 3 p.m. eastern he's a pioneer in this

industry practically can be credited with inventing the industry he did invent the industry and here he is today with new york mattering in basketball the way it has in a long time can you explain to the audience the link between nicks basketball and that city and why because it's in the city it seems like that city loves that team more than any other when it does this it just hasn't given it many chances to feel the way that it does today that excellent what had a right ahead i mean that sixty nine seventy nixie and is one of the

famous teams in new york and all the sports i put the jets in the other year they beat the colts i put maybe the uh... you know probably the ninety six yankees who surprised everybody maybe eighty six nets but that sixty nine seventy nix team, you know, with Frazier, DeBush, Bradley, Reid, and Barnett was a much, much value-o team and everybody loved them. You know, the basketball in New York, obviously, the original franchise in the mid-40s. This was a great college basketball town for

a long time. That kind of went away with CCNY, with the scandals there in 1551 when they went NCAA and the NIT the same year, but obviously, you know, cheated because the points shaving scenario and then the NBA, you know, hit the forefront. Knicks were bad for the first 20, 25 years. Then they drafted Frazier, they drafted 20, 25 years. Then they drafted Frazier, they drafted Willis from Grambling, Holtzman was the head coach, and they had that four or five year run there

where they were great, then they were bad for a long time, then they won a lottery with Ewing, then Riley came in, Riley for the four years here was superb. Everybody loved Riley, lost the game seven at Houston, and then Mangondi had a great run too.

But for the most part, it's been very sporadic Nick's success. But this team, in the last couple years, they love, everybody loves Brunson. Rosen did a great job. The general manager, Leon Rose, Leon Rose did a great job. It was a Rosen or Rose, whatever his name is, did a great job.

It's Rose, doggy, don't worry, just keep going. Yeah, a superb job. It's Rose, doggy, don't worry, just keep going. A superb job by Tibideaux, Defengenzo, people love him. Josh Hart is a tremendous Villanova player who loose balls, hustles, offensive rebounds, Hartenstein, I mean this is the kind of a Nick team they love. They would prefer defense over offense, they like the scrappy instead of the finesse. And this is kind of what you see here as far as this Knicks team is concerned. And that there's a, there's a, no, listen, Nick, the Knicks are not the football. It's not the NFL. I understand that it's the NBA, which is, it's not the NFL. It's not jets or giants, but this is, everybody's totally in love with the ball club. I mean, and every

game they play is a close game. That's the other thing. They never get blown out and they never blow anybody else out. So there's always high drama. Madison Square Garden. Think of the seven playoff games that they played so far to date. They're obviously the six or the eight now six and a two. Every game has been a tremendous game. There's some drama, some comebacks. Nick's these two fourth quarters here in this series against the Pacers. Then the Sixers series with the calls

at the end of the game two, when they didn't have foul calls and Maxey lost the ball twice. Mad Dog, I'm gonna cut you off here because I need to cut them off just real quick because Jeremy, Jessica and Chris all just said in my ear What the fuck just happening because there's been a WFAT I will let him cook. I will let him cook in a second cook some more in a second because we're going through the whole history

This but I've seen this happen to Stephen A Smith and I've seen it happen to Max Kellerman you get on first take and he's Been doing radio for years, but you get specifically on first take and you got 45 minutes of news, but you gotta talk for two hours, all of a sudden you're a hijacker. You're somebody who can't stop talking. You're somebody who revs, tell me I'm wrong.

Russo, tell me I'm wrong. You right? No, doggy, doggy, he's wrong. No, he's the greatest, but everyone here was expecting him at some point to stop talking and he wouldn't. No, Dan, that was a great history lesson. My doggy, my grandpa was actually the manager of one of those teams that played CCNY in 1951.

He would have been 102 this year. Oh my God. How about that? They beat Kentucky and they had DePaul. I mean, they did a great job. They beat Bradley in both title games. Anyway, to make a long story short, the fascination with the Nick,

the Nick crowd likes this kind of team. Hustle, feisty, offensive rebounds, play good defense. Brunson's a little guard. Everybody is shocked how well he has played. That was a tremendous move by Rose bringing him in here with a great contract. And this is a fun team. Now, I think they're going to get more by the Celtics

when they get there. But I thought they beat Indiana in seven. Now it's probably going to be a little earlier than that. I thought they beat Philly. There's something about the team. Dogg. There's something about the team. Dogg, I'm trying not to get caught up at the moment,

but I have Jalen Brunson as the greatest Nick of all time. Do you agree? No, he's not. I mean, he's not better than Frazier. He's not better than Reed. You can't put him ahead of obviously Ewing. That's three. He's not Dave DeBusher.

That's four. But you can make an argument anywhere after the fourth one, you can beat Brunson in there. You can make that argument. But wait a minute though, these stats, are you not allowing, I guess, because of the modern game being so different? Because what Brunson has done,

those playoff performances are unprecedented in Nick's history, there's no such thing. But remember, the other guys I've given you, they were in finals. I mean, Ewing was in, you know, was in a final. Obviously DeBusher Bradley, DeBusher Frazier and Reed won two championships. He's only won two playoff rounds. You're right, the 40 point thing is phenomenal, but I'm looking at it from the team and the

big picture of what the team did. Nick's going to championship, we can put Brunson one, but he's doing it in a second round of the postseason. So that's why I, that's how four guys is tricky. The busher, Clyde Reed and Ewing. I mean, geez, that's a hard top four to crack. The busher was a tremendous Nick. He was the missing piece of, with the Howard Comi's trade. He was the missing ingredient that fit like a glove

with that Nick team that won two titles. I can't put Brunson over the busher. That's not fair. The busher averaged 18 points a game and guarded the best offensive player in the other team. And they won two titles. I can't put Brunson over him. That's not fair.

Dog, dog, you mentioned, first of all, great talking to you as always. Dog, you're mentioning some great all-time Knicks. A bunch of them sit in the front row for these games. Some of them, I feel like maybe should be more like the second or the third row. Like Stefan Marbury, teams were terrible. Marbury gets front row at the garden. Come on. Good point. Come on. I would love, I would love, first of all, that's the highest honor when Chris Russo tells you you made a good point.

But do you realize that if you talk to him the way that you talk, which is like him, and you guys got into an argument, it would seem like you two were arguing with a mirror? I don't want to argue with Dogg. I agree with everything he says. That's my guy. I'm not going to argue with Dogg.

What are you talking about here? But for the sake of radio. Let's take it easy. I'm not always right. Yes you are it easy. I'm not always right. Yes, you are, Doug. But listen, you want to put Brunson fifth? Go ahead. You can put him fifth. Thank you.

I can't put him fourth yet. Appreciate it, Doug. And listen, the Pacers are going to have some moments in this series. They're bounced back some. Dana and Carlisle, what, are you going to send 78 film clips to New York, to the NBA office because of calls? When you blew a nine point lead in game one and a 12 point lead in game two,

and then you're gonna send clips to the, and you're gonna talk about small market, big market. The Spurs won five championships. What, a San Antonio, a big market all of a sudden? That was weak. That was very weak. And the Knicks fans are gonna love picking on Carlisle now. The Pacers, if the Pacers are gonna be honest with themselves,

they should have won one of these two games. I'm crying out loud. They should have won one of these two. Doggie, you're absolutely right. By the way, it was Duquesne, and I think my grandpa might have been the only Italian man there who wasn't point shaving, but I enjoy the history lesson,

and I think maybe our audience would like to put it in context of maybe just the last 20 years, because I think you're going a little too far back here with your comps. Jalen Brunson is the best Knicks player since when? You know, I'll say since Ewing has that. That's fair. You all live with that one?

But look, yes, but we're going to put on the screen, see if you can see this here. You're telling me that this was better than Jalen Brunson. I just want to be... I'm going to go with those. Fire grips onunson. I just want to be. I was gonna say that guy. Oh my God. He'll tear your arms. Be fair, be fair.

Where's his bicep? It was like, oh my God. Did you know when Julius Erving was a net and the first day of the merger, the Knicks and the Nets played an exhibition game, which is a big deal, in New York. And you know that the Burscher completely shut Julius Irving down.

The Burscher was great. Now listen, it's a little too far back, I get it. So we'll put Brunson since the early 90s. And nobody loves Riley more than me. And those Knick teams are rugged. Oakley, Mason, Ewing, Starks, Derek Harper, that was Anthony, those were the luggiest teams. Xavier McDaniel, we loved those teams in New York.

And I'm not a Nick fan, but the fan loves those teams. And let's face it, I mean, they probably came as close as you can come to winning a championship. They lost a game seven, they played the Bulls in a game seven. You know, but one thing about the Bulls, Bulls in a game seven. You know, one thing about the Bulls, Bulls played two game sevens, Jordan did, in his career in the postseason when he won. Not when he lost to Detroit when he won.

And one game seven was against Indiana, and the other game seven, that first year was Raleigh with the Knicks. So we will put Brunson ahead of everybody, since Ewing, we'll put him number one. I think that makes everybody happy. Dog, dog, let's be honest here for a second. Watching that broadcast last night, true or false,

you would have thought that Reggie Miller was undefeated against the New York Knicks in his career. That's a good point. Thank you. Excellent. Two of them! Two of them! I love Reggie.

He scored the 25th in the fourth quarter in that one game, in game six. He made the eight points there. Let's take it easy. I mean, Reggie didn't win 20 championships. The Nick nemesis is more Jordan than who beat the Knicks millions of times. It's more Jordan than Reggie.

And Reggie loves this, but Reggie's almost taken too much credit for being the ultimate quote unquote Nick killer. I take it easy, Reggie loves this, but Reggie's almost taken too much credit for being the ultimate quote unquote Nick killer. Take it easy, Reggie. And remember, in the one year when he scored the 25 in the fourth quarter, Nick Sled 11 started the fourth quarter, Reggie had 25. The Pacers lost a series.

They lost the series. They didn't win that series. They lost game six in Indiana. He had 16 points. I was there for that game and lost game six in Indiana here 16 points I was there for that game and he did nothing in game seven He lost his series too much love for Reggie the idea that he is the the ultimate and I love Reggie I'm a fan, but way too much love. I agree with you. We've got to keep passing the ball to Zaslow He's getting good points from man dog

Let's see if you got more. Dogg, let's be fair here. Rick Carlisle with the complaining after the game of the officiating. You're not Phil Jackson. Come on. Now, he did win a championship. A three pointer. He did win a championship at Dallas and he's a very, very good coach. But he's not Phil Jackson. He's not Phil.

He's not Phil. That sounded very weak. I mean, he's sent 78 clips to the NBA really in the last two games take it easy I mean my gosh Almighty please I didn't like the offensive illegal screen call either I'll be honest with you but let's be I mean be fair Indiana blue two big leagues it hurts ball point lead last night the 9.8 fourth quarter in game one, and he got OGs out with a hamstring, and Brunson can't walk in the first half, and you still lost the game. And you can also make the idea he should never have taken

McConnell out, who is great, and he took him out with seven minutes left in the game in a two point game. Have a feel for the game, right, doggy? Good point. So you can make an argument that Rick wasn't Rad Holtzman these last couple days either. So you can be fair on that too. WFZ!

Here's what I wanted the end to do. My god. Jesus. Here's what we wanted the end to do. Keep your mouth shut. Yep. All right. Nose to the grindstone.

You got it. Come back here two two. All right. Let me see you win two games at home. Zip it up doggy. That's what I want to see in the end of the day. Then he can say something. Let me see him do it. We will let't able to do it let me see him do it we will let you go on this note we're out of time we've been out of time for a while i need to get to a mispronunciation

that he had and i need to get him to explain himself because uh evidently on air he learned what the phrase jiu-jitsu Quickly, they all had the same lines. Let's go kill Gisele and her boyfriend. That was the whole theme of the whole night. Let's figure out a way, how does Tom Brady, the magnificent good looking quarterback, how did he lose his beautiful wife to a Jujutsu, to a, how you pronounce it?

What's the word? I don't even know, what is it? Jujitsu? Jujitsu instructor. I mean, that's the whole theme of the night. That she's going out with a jiu-jitsu instructor. Now poor Tom, all by his lonesome. That's the whole theme of the night.

That's the... It's why you're the greatest of all time. I knew what you were trying to say. All right. I mean, did you guys like that stupid, that roast was awful. Did you guys agree with me or not? We liked the roast.

Wait, let's keep on for 30 more minutes to talk about it. I do, I do want to. Come back next week and we'll talk to you again about it. Good seeing you, Mad Dog. See you, Dog. Folks, Mother's Day is around the corner and let me talk to you about 1-800 flowers. I can't wait. Every year to tradition, I send stuff to my mother, my mother-in-law, and my wife, because they are three amazing moms. They're better than all your moms out there. You think you have good moms? No, I have good moms in my life.

I'm just kidding, this was a little harsh. I'm sure you guys all have good moms too. From your mom to the mother of your children and all the moms in between, this Mother's Day, give back to the ones that have given you everything. 1-800-FLOWERS helps you celebrate all amazing moms from homemade bouquets, sweet treats, gourmet food,

and one of a kind gifts ordered easily and delivered fresh. For a limited time, you can save up to 40% off Mother's Day bestsellers at 1800flowers.com slash Dan. Don't wait. Order today and save up to 40% at 1800flowers.com slash Dan. Dan LeBretard. It's a three. The crowd goes into a delusion.

Winning in the playoffs not an illusion it's a heat check he's on fire Stugats! Harry Osh, Jalen Bronson, thumbs up clutch that's why we won New York knows you are the best not the joke no more. This is the Don Lebathear Show with the Stugats. This man and his fandom, this man and his comedy can run dark. He can run dark, but look at him right now. He is radiant. This is as radiant as you will ever see this man. He's the commissioner of fandom.

He was courtside last night. He has shows coming up in Kentucky, Southern California, Atlantic City, Rochester, and Doral. Same time tomorrow is the Netflix special. And these moments for you keep getting sweeter because all the things you believe about heart and grit and underdog play out for you where you can be scared in the first half

and then what comes limping out of the locker room, tiny little Willis Reed. I can't act like I wasn't scared. The energy was out of the building. I took my brother last night. We were like, did we just lose Jalen Brunson? He comes back, the building goes crazy and he was like settled down.

He didn't know if he was ready yet. Somehow Brunson Willis Reeded on the 54th anniversary of Willis Reed. He pulled a Willis Reed. It was epic. You know all these complaints from the Pacers Rick Carlos and the officiating is bad. You can't beat the Knicks when we've lost more men in the Korean War. The new Nick is going down every day and we're still finding ways to win. Oh, Giannone. We pray he's okay We don't know how bad this is gonna be Brunson comes on one leg and beats the Pacers stop whining you're getting stopped

You have been telling me for four months now since they made the on a knobby trade that uh... that guy changes everything about what that team was before he got there yeah i mean he's a three and the guy but he's more than you saw what he did last night it's soxie got injured because that was the old g on an obi game he was completely taking over he was showing you his offensive repertoire i saw someone post uh... ice by send the house. He turns into 2019 Kawhi Leonard,

and that's what he looked like. He looked freaking great. So yeah, I mean, we know what OG is capable of, but it's a team effort, you know? Josh Hart has been the, just the motor, all game, every game. Dante shot the lights out. Hardenstein, one of the best passing bigs in the NBA I mean Brunson just it's like the energy in the building changed

like we didn't have anything to cheer for in that second quarter because we were scared he comes back and he made us believe like he's made us believe all season long Sam here's here's what I want to know you're a huge fan and you're sitting in the front row there all alright last night at the garden. How do you not run onto the floor and like hug players and if I was there somebody would have to hold me back. How do you not, how do you control yourself from running on the floor and celebrating after a big shot?

Because I want to go back. That's the only thing keeping me from celebrating. I don't want to pull up crazy. Although Hardenstein came over to try to high five me and my friend Chris DiStefano was in the way and Hardenstein DM'd me after the game. I tried to say what's up, but some dumb ass was in front of you.

Chrissy D. Chris, I was like, you called for a high five. Well done. Yeah. Okay, so you were in the front row and here's something I need to understand. If you're in the front row at the Garden, you're big time obviously, alright? What if you're a- I want to know the process of getting the front row at the Garden for a playoff game

because if your agent calls you and says, hey, I got your tickets for tonight, you're in the third row, you're a loser then, Sam. So what's the process of getting the first row tickets? Well, I don't care where I sit, man. I sat in the handicap section the other game. I don't care. I just want to be in the building. So every time I've asked him for tickets, they've said yes. I've known them for a while.

I play all their venues, the MSG venues. I did the theater there, I did the Beacon. I've done the Chicago Theater. It's all MSG. So I think they're like, oh, he plays a lot of our venues. He's a diehard fan. We like him.

So they're nice enough to hook up tickets when I ask but I don't want to over ask because I'm grateful Right and I don't for granted But aren't there like whispers where if a celebrity is sitting in like the second or third like oh, look at that guy He's kind of a loser No, I'm turning around and high-fiving everyone in sight. Yeah, but Sam, you know, this is a status symbol Yeah, that's my garden. You know it is like if the Knicks told you hey Sam, but Sam, you know this is a status symbol. Yeah, that's what I mean. You know it is. Like if the Knicks told you, hey Sam, we're putting you upstairs. You're not going to the game. I mean, come on. I was just in the handicap section.

You know what I said? That was Brad's fault though. They don't listen. That was Brad's fault. Sam. And that's a decent section. I got to be honest. Sam, they've been in sports radio a long time. Neither one of them listened. I'm a huge fan and I used to sit in the 400s and I'll still gladly go to the 400s. I just want to be in the building for the, for the madness. I just love the team.

So I don't care. What an every man. Let me, let me put up on the screen here, this image because Brunson hit a shot early in the fourth quarter and you see Chris DiStefano between you you see there's someone reaching out to DAP and just to DAP Brunson and he stares at them there what is happening there did you make fun of the fact that Brunson stiffed him there? Well here's the thing that's Chris's friend Tommy the Cop that guy's like 350 pounds of pure muscle that guy nearly like he would chest bump me and I was like I think I

broke a rib like this guy's a lunatic you know so that's one of Chris's old-timey buddies and uh Brunson did the right thing not taking that high five the force this guy has could have broken a finger or something so good move from from Jalen just staring us down we knew what was up. good move from Jalen just staring us down. We knew what was up. Sam, enough of Reggie Miller, no? Did you say anything to him? If I saw him, I would have said what everyone else in the building was saying.

I joined the chant, of course, because we all hate Reggie. And the fact that he's calling the broadcast, the fact that TNT is so anti-Nix, like, I'm sorry, Charles, I don't know what the Knicks fans did to you. We all just love our Knicks. the way we're underdogs we everyone they may have chosen the Knicks to win but not with all these injuries we lost

Mitchell we lost Boyan we lost you know Julius Randall of course and now we don't know how long OG is gonna be out and from for some reason they're just like taking joy and Rudin against us we are bad-ass and we have heart and we play with resilience. Show us some respect. We, what is this anti-Nix broadcast? I feel like I'm watching like an anti-America broadcast in North Korea or something.

This is the Knicks. We got a quick fan base. Let's play some of that sound here for Sam to maximum agitate him. You know, if the Knicks win that'll be good You care who went cut it out. I don't care who wins, but I will tell you what I would love to see them get the ass stomp by the seltzer. That'd be great Then you care what I mean, I'm just saying whoever whoever with this series gonna get stomp by the seltzer

You said you'd be happy to see it. Yeah, yeah, cuz the New Yorkers y'all deserve it What y'all think y'all the greatest things since sliced bread. Tell them, Chuck. Come on, y'all ain't that good in New York. What else, Chuck? Come on, man, y'all overrated. What else, Chuck? It's because y'all make good pizza and good bagels.

And what else, Chuck? And what else, Grime? Hey, hold on, Chuck, don't forget about the street. So, you know, I ain't gonna say anything bad about the street meat. I love the street meat. I love the street meat. Yeah, we can tell you love the Street Meat, Chuck.

Why don't you cut down on some of it? We do have great pizza and great bagels. I appreciate the compliment. And look, I'm a Charles Barkley fan. How could you not be? But enough with this hatred on New York. I'm sorry. Did it stem from when we swept your ass in the 80s?

When you played for the Sixers and demanded a trade? Is that when it came from? I don't know why he hates the Knicks fans so much. We've been a star for greatness franchise and we finally have greatness in Jalen Brunson. Put some respect on the Knicks names, Charles. We're doing this injured. We're doing this next man up style. Precious stepped up. Badass game defensively from Precious. Give it a break and hopefully, I can't believe I'm saying hopefully we get ESPN the next game, but at least maybe we'll have Mike Green, a great broadcaster calling the game,

instead of a tuts like Reggie Miller. Get Reggie off the broadcast. Oh no, oh no. It kind of like falls flat to be like New York, what do they have other than really good pizza, really good bagels, really good food carts. It's like, you ever see those memes about Boston that's like, oh, Boston, the weather's terrible,

the traffic's bad, but at least the food sucks too. You never say that about New York. It's good. I don't hate, I had great times in Boston, actually. Look, I hate the Celtics, but I don't dislike Boston as a city. I taped my last special in Boston for the new one I just shot.

I love Boston, but I will say New York is the best city in the world and you don't have to agree with me, but there's, even if you don't like New York, you have to admit we're in the conversation. So I don't know what he's talking about. No arenas rocking like the garden. It's just not. I do enjoy though. This is the part that has to hurt you as someone who loves the NBA so much, there is very little better on television than Shaq continually throwing lobs to Barkley until he gets what he wants, and then dissolving in laughter when he finally gets Barkley

to just say how much he likes street meat. Look, I love Shaq and Barkley. Like, how could you not love this crew? Like, we don't want this crew to be, and I'm a Knicks fan, All they do is hate on us. All they do is doubt Brunson. And the hatred that they threw at Brunson, it was fuel. I think he just kept getting better

because his whole career has been people doubting him. This Knicks team has a chip on its shoulder. So keep doubting us, please. I love it. Keep throwing fuel to the fire. But I can't deny that I don't love this broadcast. It's like they were like the original podcast. They're great together. And I hope I don't love this broadcast. They were like the original podcasts. They're great together and I hope they don't get broken up.

The Garden's cool and all, but Amor and Bencarina last night. Sunrise. Six to one! Ice Cat Baby, Possibly a Cat Game. That's right, Panthers took that ass last night. Alright, alright. Oh exactly, dude, where do they shoot? Atlanta? Go to a Hawks game.

Tell me how lit that is is the garden's worth that I don't think Sam was listening. Yes, it doesn't matter Your shirt tell me about how much Nick's gear you how much how much Nick's gear you have What are you wearing anything else these days? Well No, not really. I I have to decide between all these Nick shirts. I've had to give some away because I'm moving upstairs in this building.

So I like, I'm going through something like I have too much Nick stuff. I got to spread the wealth. I've given some out to friends. Yeah, no, it's like, it's all Nick stuff all the time. You're moving on up to a deluxe apartment in the sky. I'm actually using an alias of the comedy seller right now because they got mad at me,

because the schedule didn't come out in time for the playoffs. So I would just keep canceling every Knicks game and they have to email every person who shows up. What? I now use an alias of the comedy seller until the playoffs are over. I like it.

What are your favorite things at the Knicks game outside? Like in terms of touches, whether it's, you know, music, anything that they're doing to accent your courtside experience. Winning. Winning is the best. I mean, we got to say what's up to Frazier last night. And like, you know, that,

Walt Frazier to me is the coolest dude ever. Like just the outfits, the vibes, the way he speaks. He's so humble. I love Walt Frazier so much. Sabathia, depth of sabathia, another New York legend. So I love that. And that song that comes on that's like, na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na.

That's our song. Like what we play here? Come on. That's our. I had enough of them taking our tea. na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na ball. That's what New York fans love. We remember Oak and Charlie Ward just diving into the stands all day. So when we see Josh Hart, just that motor man and Hardenstein grabbed so many loose balls too. That's why we miss Mitch right now. He was great at that. But yeah we love this team so much so I get so so pumped up. The Dan LeBattard Show with Stugats is sponsored by BetterHelp. We all carry around different stressors, big and small. When we keep them bottled up, it can start to affect us negatively.

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Bum, bum, bum, bum, bum. Stugats. Let's go islanders. Bum, bum, bum, bum, bum. This is the Don Lebatard show with the Stugats. ["When Is the Last Time?" by The Bumblebee Boys playing on the piano.] When is the last time, and I know I've asked you forms of this before, but when is the last time that it felt this way for you? Cause I don't know that there's anything that in sports and sports that would feel

this way that I mean this team, I don't. Yeah. The Sixer series had some of that too, but I'm saying that you have not gotten joy from your fandom with this team, Sam I'm saying that you have not gotten joy from your fandom with this team, Sam, they've hurt you a lot. Yeah, I think it's been like 26 years, probably. I was, I was definitely, I was definitely pretty young for the last one, but that, that one we went on last time we were an eight seed. So it kind of came out of nowhere. We knew we had Miami in the first round that

that Alan Houston floater and like, there's something about a rivalry whenever it's a rivalry the seats don't matter as much you know I'm right though I mean you see what Miami did to the Celtics last year like when it's two teams that kind of go at each other's throats I feel like the seeding isn't as important so we look good that and we had a tough team that you're you know just skill but also like really tough LJ was really tough SpJ was really tough. Spree was really tough and skilled. But Brunson has climbed to the top of your emotional list, correct?

Brunson is at the very top of Nick's positive feelings. He says every right thing. I mean, I don't think he could handle the press any better. Josh Hart is hilarious with the press. I feel like he's always trolling. I mean, these guys are very lovable. There's something about them. You can't not love this group.

They are, they play with a lot of humility. They play with a lot of grit. And I feel like they represent New York City very well. We really love them. And I think this is a basketball town. You walk a few blocks, you can't not see a basketball court. Everyone here plays basketball and loves basketball. So this team just plays

the right way. It's corny, but it's true. They really do play unselfishly. They play hard ass D. I mean, this is what New Yorkers love and they say all the right things to the press. So we can't not love this team. I know you showed great restraint by not running onto the floor when you were super excited last night, but if, if like someone for the Pacers gooned it up and knocked over Jalen Brunson, would you run on the floor and make sure that... Okay, look. If they injured Brunson further, would I Nancy Kerrigan Tyrese Halliburton? Possibly. I can't say I wouldn't. I mean, that's just how it goes. An eye for an eye. Respect. Sam, I have not cleared this with Dan, but if the series gets back to the Mecca for game five,

if it gets back, I'm thinking I'm coming up here. I'm coming up to the game. I want to go courtside with you. What do you think? Can we make it happen? I don't know if they're going to give me two in a series. I want Tommy the Cop there. Would you sit in the handicap spot?

Who's in the handicap spot together? Tommy the Cop is a, I did not get a lot of leg room from that guy. That was tough. But me and you courtside next week? Well I'll try. All right good. Uh you're not gonna try and I don't want you to try and he embarrasses me all the time. Anytime anyone comes on the show with power he just asks for things. If Sam tells me he has courtside I'll be there. That's all I can tell. We don't know with you. He just told you he doesn't though. It doesn't matter what you say. Those words are empty and meaningless. Last thoughts before we get you out of here, Sam, on anything that you want to say to anyone in our audience about feeling better about your Knicks than you've felt at any point this century. I feel great, but I am always, I'm not a fan that's like,

we got this, I live in fear. These haven't been any blowout games. These have been all closed games. We've clawed back every game. I mean, that's why it's hilarious that Carlisle can't stop complaining. It's like, stop giving up big leads. Like Dante's flame throwing, Bronson's cooking you.

Stop whining, Rick Carlisle. I thought he had some class the first game, but this time he's like being a little crybaby. We're all injured and you're still losing. You're missing Benedict Matheran. We're missing half our team. So maybe if you can't beat us, you shouldn't be here. I think game three is gonna be a challenge

because I don't know if OG is gonna play. I don't know about Brunson's health. And I know that arena in Indy is gonna be be popping, but it ain't going to be the Garden. And you know Knicks fans will travel to that game. Sam, your choice here. The Knicks win the NBA Finals this year. All right? Be the first time in your life you've seen it because you're not a thousand years old. The Knicks win the Finals or you, Sam Morrill, sell out the garden for one of your shows. I think both are going to happen. I already sold out the MSG.

Choose one Sam, sports radio, come on. Well, but let him finish his thought. It'll both happen. Obviously, I would rather the Knicks win because I can just do like, okay, if I can't do that, I'll do multiple shows at Radio City in the future. I'll do the MSG theater. So Knicks winning it all is number one, of course. You think they're going to win the championship. Energy to the city. I go out to Seventh Avenue after every game to just be a part of the mosh pit and be a part of the madness and high five.

So happy. So, I mean if we will get this crazy after a playoff win, think of what we will do to this city. If we win a ring, I want it so badly, it's good for the energy, just random New Yorkers on the street during the day going, go Knicks, high-fiving, there's great, great vibes in the city right now. So I want to keep it going and I want a championship here and it feels like Brunson will bring a championship here at some point. It's crazy to me that you're saying that though because you know sports, you know

this sport and you can be as hopeful as you like, but most of the country, let's say the Knicks somehow do get to the championship round, I believe the analysis of most of the country will be, what is gonna happen to the Knicks in those finals is the same thing that happened to the Heat last year in the finals, where they go to the top end of what they are,

but at the end they run into something that's just better. We're underdogs, but we've been underdogs all along and you never know what happens. And speaking of your heat, seems like trouble in paradise, Dan. I mean, Jimmy Butler running his dumb mouth in Cancun, Riley calling him out. I love to see it.

I love to see your team in shambles and soft, fragile Tyler Hero as well. Okay, good talking to you, Sam. That's how you do it, Sam. Thank you, thank you for being on with us. You nailed the dismount, we appreciate it. Look at that smile. Yes, he's very happy, I'm telling you.

His comedy runs dark and acidic, but he is a 13-year-old teenager when it comes to this team. I wanted to go back to something that we wandered away from earlier in the show when Chris Russo was on with us. Jessica came into the studio and she was wondering correctly how it is that Chris Russo had happened about the particulars of this mistake.

Chris Cody, can you get the long one for me of Chris Russo trying to figure out off of the Tom Brady roast how to say the word Jiu-Jitsu because he didn't seem to be familiar with it. How did he lose his beautiful wife to a Jiu-Jitsu instructor? I pronounce it Jiu-Jitsu? Jiu-Jitsu instructor. I mean, that's the whole theme of the night that she's going out with the Jiu-Jitsu instructor

and poor Tom all by his lonesome. That's the whole Dean theme of the night So Jessica came in here and she asked a question that I believe is the right question And if we had mad dog back on I think he might confirm it which is Does he think that the martial art is jitsu and that the person participating in it is Jewish? That's the right question at the end he just says a Jitsu instructor. Not Jew. And he before said Jew Jitsu

and he obviously wasn't reading it, he just didn't know what it was. So I was wondering like, does he think it's a Jewish Jitsu instructor? To a Jizu construct, to a, how do you pronounce it? You have the instructor being Jewish and the or being Itzu. That she's going out with a Jitsu instructor.

I think she's right. I think so. I think he just got scared of it. StuGun still reminds me every day of the time Barclay came on here and spelled the word Jew. Because it was just, yeah, he was just. J-G-W, I'm like Charles, you could say the word, man. He was just, he didn't know.

But Jitsu or Itzu, let me hear it one more time. Is it Jitsu or Itzu? How did he lose his beautiful wife to a Jiu Jitsu, to a, how do you pronounce it? Jiu Jitsu? Jiu Jitsu instructor. I mean, that's the whole theme of the night, that she's going out with a Jitsu instructor.

Yeah, that Jew was Mr. Steel Yo she's going out the jitsu instructor yeah that Jew is mr. steel yo girl the Jew zoo constructor hall of famer you you are feeling house as low having crammed down your throat all of this WFAT New York coverage I'm fine with it we all know how it's gonna end I mean it's gonna end with them losing so whatever but we're gonna get to a place where it's Nixon Celtics and my head's gonna start spinning and it's gonna fall off like a so whatever but we're gonna get to a place where it's Knicks and Celtics and my Head's gonna start spinning and it's gonna fall off like a top because I'm not gonna know what to do with myself You'll root for the Knicks. That's what I will root for the Knicks I will I will root for the Knicks and then I would heavily for the Western Conference your head just

Spinning on the floor like a top. Yeah, like like a top. I didn't say dreidel I don't know everybody's gonna get on inclusive. So I said like a top. I didn't say dreidel, I don't know everybody's gonna get it. I wanna be inclusive. So I said like a top. Jew, right. Right. It is going to be fun though. We cannot dispute, right, that New York, loud, happy, and obnoxious is something that will lure people, will lure a crowd.

And I've just missed this feeling around here, you understand that when LeBron came to Miami, on the spot I'm screaming in one of those rants, New York, welcome to another decade of irrelevance. Is this a Miami sports show, it's under the bathers!