Hour 1: THAT'S WEIRD, RIGHT? (feat. Michael Wilbon & Dave Dameshek)

Summary of Hour 1: THAT'S WEIRD, RIGHT? (feat. Michael Wilbon & Dave Dameshek)

by Dan Le Batard, Stugotz

41m•February 6, 2026
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Overview of Hour 1: THAT'S WEIRD, RIGHT? (feat. Michael Wilbon & Dave Dameshek)

This hour of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz blends Super Bowl media-night comedy bits, betting talk, and a longer interview with veteran sports journalist Michael Wilbon. The show opens with recurring sketches from Dave Dameshek (“That’s weird, right?” / “Is this a must-win game?”), player and team observations around Super Bowl 60 (Patriots vs. Seahawks), quick betting/odds segments, and then a candid conversation with Wilbon about the dismantling of the Washington Post sports department and his frustrations with modern sports media and the NBA.

Main segments & topics covered

  • Super Bowl media-night bits and interviews

    • Dave Dameshek’s recurring comedic bits: mustache talk, “That’s weird, right?”, repeating “Is this a must-win game?”
    • Short interactions with players/coaches, commentary on media-night moments (Jason Myers, Sam Darnold, Drake Maye, Kenneth Walker, etc.)
    • Banter about Patriots vs. Seahawks matchup, uniforms, narrative around the game being “underwhelming.”

  • Advanced metrics vs. eye test in football

    • Discussion of defensive metrics (DVOA) and whether Seattle’s defense is truly better than Denver’s or Houston’s.
    • Wilbon: leans toward gut/eye test; thinks Texans/Seahawks close, Broncos not as good; highlighted Seattle’s recent dominant defensive performance.

  • Betting & Against the Spread (DraftKings-sponsored)

    • Lines and props referenced (Seahawks -4.5 mentioned).
    • Picks: Roy recommends U.S. women’s hockey -5.5; Mike (and others in the segment) lean Patriots +5 (taking Patriots and Mike Vrabel against the public Seahawks line).

  • Odd/curious sports stories and locker-room chatter

    • Conversation about skiers reportedly injecting fillers to affect suit fit/lift — discussed as an example of athletes seeking marginal advantages.
    • Light, crude humor and running gags (e.g., “plumb sick in my balls,” “dickhammer” sound gag).

  • Michael Wilbon interview (longform)

    • Wilbon expresses devastation and anger over the Washington Post sports section being gutted.
    • Criticizes Jeff Bezos (called a “lightweight”) and management/executives for classless handling of layoffs and cuts.
    • Reflects on journalism’s decline as part of larger media changes but blames leadership choices for avoidable harm.
    • Critiques ESPN-era specialization and loss of generalist sports journalists.
    • Strong criticisms of modern NBA: load management, players sitting out, fractured TV/streaming access, lazy All-Star Weekend changes; while acknowledging positives (younger players, international stars, competitive parity).
    • Nostalgia for earlier eras (athletes playing full seasons in worse gear) and frustration with current consumption model.

Key takeaways

  • Tone: The hour oscillates between playful Super Bowl-era shtick and serious media criticism. Expect lots of inside jokes, recurring bits (Dameshek), and crude humor alongside substantive commentary.
  • Super Bowl narrative: Hosts and guests are split — many think Seattle is favored/expected to win (public money on Seahawks), but some analysts and pickers like the Patriots at the number (+5).
  • Metrics vs. instinct: Defensive rankings (DVOA) were questioned; Wilbon trusts what he sees on film and felt Seattle’s recent defensive displays were convincing.
  • Journalism concerns: Wilbon is deeply upset about the Washington Post cuts — he frames it as symptomatic of leadership failures and broader industry decline, not merely inevitable market forces.
  • NBA frustrations: Wilbon hates load management, the difficulty of locating games across platforms, and the league’s half-hearted All-Star Weekend fixes; he wants better product consistency and accountability.

Notable quotes

  • Dave Dameshek (comic bit): “But that’s weird, right?”
  • Michael Wilbon on the Post: “It’s disgusting. It’s disheartening… it’s as bad a feeling professionally as I’ve had in my life.”
  • Wilbon on Bezos: “He’s a lightweight… I can’t even imagine having that money and being afraid.”
  • Wilbon on the NBA: “My son comes in and says… the players now are bigger, stronger, faster. Then how come their asses are hurt every night?”
  • Dameshek describing his Super Bowl angst: “I’m plum sick in my balls.”

Guests & roles

  • Dan Le Batard — Host, leads interviews and panels.
  • Stugotz — Co-host/sidekick, participates in banter.
  • Dave Dameshek — Guest/comedian, recurring bits and Super Bowl media-night correspondent.
  • Michael Wilbon — Featured guest; longtime sports journalist; main interview about journalism and the NBA.
  • Roy, Mike, Zass — Production/take callers/panelists contributing betting picks and reactions.

Practical items / recommendations from the show

  • Betting: If you’re betting the Super Bowl, the show referenced movement toward Seahawks and some hosts recommended Patriots +5; consider lines moving and public money.
  • For casual listeners interested in context:
    • If you follow sports media, pay attention to the Washington Post situation and broader newsroom changes discussed by Wilbon.
    • If you watch the NBA, expect continued debate about load management, player availability, and league presentation — these issues could influence how you consume games this season.

Final note

The hour mixes goofy Super Bowl-era radio theater with an earnest, pointed interview about the state of sports journalism and modern pro sports. If you want quick entertainment plus a thoughtful critique of media and the NBA, this hour delivers both — with frequent vulgar jokes and recurring bits that color the conversation.