DUSTY MAY TO THE DALLAS MAVERICKS?!?! | Hour 2

Summary of DUSTY MAY TO THE DALLAS MAVERICKS?!?! | Hour 2

by Dan Le Batard, Stugotz

42m•June 22, 2026
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Overview of DUSTY MAY TO THE DALLAS MAVERICKS?!?! | Hour 2

This hour of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz bounced between a few big themes: the changing economics of college sports and why a coach like Dusty May might leave, an extended debate about Serena Williams’ comeback to Wimbledon and the psychology of elite athletes aging out of competition, and a long-running Greg Cody catchphrase bit that veered into the show’s usual absurdist territory. The hour also included a spirited discussion about what makes someone a “showman,” plus a fresh on-air feud update involving Craig Carton.

College Sports, Dusty May, and the Professionalization of Everything

Why a coach might leave college

  • Dan opened by reflecting on how college athletics has become so professionalized that the old model of a coach staying at one school forever doesn’t feel as realistic anymore.
  • The conversation framed this as a reason someone like Dusty May might choose to move on from college basketball despite success.

Broader point

  • The panel’s takeaway was that the college game now resembles pro sports so much that the job security and “lifetime school” model of the past is fading fast.

Serena Williams, Identity, and the Challenge of Returning

Main debate

A major chunk of the hour focused on Serena Williams returning to Wimbledon at 44 and what that means for an all-time great athlete.

Key themes discussed

  • Can elite athletes truly expect to lose?

    • One side argued that champions at Serena’s level probably don’t walk into competition thinking about failure.
    • Another view was that Serena is likely realistic and understands she won’t be the same player she was in her prime.

  • The loss of athletic identity

    • The conversation got deeper into how hard it is for athletes to stop being “the special one.”
    • Dan and others described retirement as a kind of mourning process: losing the thing that has defined you since childhood.
    • They compared it to the struggle of finding a new identity after sports.

  • Motherhood as a parallel

    • The show explored whether motherhood can create a similar identity shift, though the group noted it’s not the same because the ego piece of elite competition is different.

The consensus

  • Serena is expected to get huge admiration for even trying.
  • The group disagreed on her mindset:
    • Greg Cody leaned toward the idea that she’s probably realistic and just wants the challenge.
    • Others thought it’s impossible for someone like Serena to fully switch off the competitor’s mentality.

Greg Cody Catchphrases, Masks, and the Running Bits

The catchphrase countdown

  • The show continued its ongoing Greg Cody Top Catchphrases bit.
  • The list was expanded again, with discussion about moving from 50 to 65, 70, or even 75 entries.
  • New entries 12 and 11 were revealed:
    • “Bae”
    • “Blanking it”

Related bits and updates

  • They also discussed:
    • Cody Cup / World Cup website traffic
    • The Things to Ponder file making a comeback
    • The absurd possibility of turning the catchphrase list into a much larger countdown

Sick-Dan / mask banter

  • Dan sounded ill, leading to jokes about:
    • COVID tests
    • expired tests
    • masks
    • plexiglass
    • social distancing
  • The bit became part of the show’s usual self-aware chaos.

What Is a “Showman”?

The David Blaine discussion

  • The crew debated whether David Blaine deserves to be considered the greatest showman of all time.
  • That led to a broader discussion of what “showman” even means:
    • Is it just skill?
    • Is it packaging, theatrics, and performance?
    • Can a magician qualify?

Names that came up

  • James Brown was mentioned as a classic example of a performer who fully embodied the idea of a showman.
  • David Copperfield was also floated as a possible contender.

Poll questions raised

  • Can a magician be the greatest showman ever?
  • Can a woman be the greatest showman ever?
  • In one of the show’s more ridiculous jokes, they even asked whether cocaine could be considered the greatest showman.

Craig Carton Takes Shots at Dan

What happened

  • The hour ended with an update that Craig Carton had gone on a rant about Dan after a caller brought up comments Dan had made about James Dolan.

Carton’s criticism

  • Carton called Dan:
    • untalented
    • a hack
    • a scumbag
    • a self-appointed moral compass
    • someone who lacks real success

Dan’s response

  • Dan pushed back by pointing out Carton’s own history:
    • prison time
    • lying to family, employers, and listeners
  • He said the bigger issue is that media often keeps giving platforms to loud but not especially bright people.

Biggest Takeaways

  • College sports is now so professionalized that coaches leaving for other opportunities feels more understandable than ever.
  • Serena Williams’ comeback sparked a thoughtful debate about athletic identity, aging, ego, and whether greatness ever really turns off.
  • The show kept its usual mix of running jokes, absurd bits, and self-referential chaos, especially around Greg Cody and his ever-growing catchphrase universe.
  • Dan and company also explored the idea of what makes a true showman, using magicians, musicians, and athletes as examples.
  • The hour closed with a classic media-feud callout, with Dan dismissing Carton’s criticism while highlighting the hypocrisy behind it.