The men’s USA basketball team has been playing a series of showcase games in preparation for the Olympics, which kick off later this week in Paris.
The play at times has been sloppy, but the U.S. has for the most part has looked the part of a gold medal favorite — Team USA is currently a -500 favorite to win the Olympic tournament on DraftKings Sportsbook. However, that nearly came to a screeching halt against South Sudan over the weekend.
Team USA went into the half down double-digits and wouldn’t go away as the Americans tried to assert their dominance in the second half. In fact, South Sudan had a lead with just 20 seconds left to go. Then LeBron James turned into Captain America, ensuring the U.S. would not suffer a historic upset and proving why he was selected to serve as a flag bearer at Friday’s Opening Ceremony.
And on Monday’s edition of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz, Dan wanted to know how they only won by a single point and how has the world shrunk so much on basketball that we’ve gone from the dominance of the Dream Team in 1992 to now not being able to count out anybody.
Mike says LeBron saved this country a huge international embarrassment. Sure it wasn’t an Olympic contest, but it showed that something like this could happen once Olympic play gets underway. After doing a little research, Mike has an admission: He was almost rooting for South Sudan. It would likely have led to a 30 for 30 type documentary!
He says it doesn’t happen often where Team USA has its best roster and LOSES in an embarrassing fashion. He says we know how to talk about Team USA losing when we aren’t sending our best players. But this team has LeBron. It has Steph. It has the best of the best. Dan says if you’re able to beat Team USA and Joel Embiid, even not knowing the history of South Sudan in sports, it’s a victory that would resonate like a seismic sports event unlike any other this country has ever seen.
Tune into The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz Monday-Friday at 11 a.m. ET on DraftKings Network!
SHOW BREAKDOWN
Local Hour: Team USB
- Today’s cast: Dan, Chris, Billy, Jeremy, Mike, and Roy. Did anything happen over the weekend? No? Oh! REALLY? Joe Biden stepped down? And endorsed Kamala Harris? OKAY! Well, we are grateful have the original crew (minus Stugotz) here to discuss the news (and to have Jeremy here to ruin everything you love about the show). Dan and the Shipping Container discuss the political news that led to the news dump of Thom Brennaman returning to the broadcast booth. Is 4 years enough? Then, the show pays tribute to Lou Dobbs after his passing in the only way we know how. Plus, Roy Wood Jr. is here to discuss the way the election process is playing out for the Democrats, the ways in which JD Vance may actually be courageous, and to spat with Billy over the football schedule. He also shares his thoughts on the RNC, Team USA Basketball, delivers his semi-sure bet of the week.
The Big Suey: The Stugotz WFAN Controversy
- Stugotz has abandoned the show, and this time it’s not for vacation. Stu is in New York to flirt with WFAN, and he has led on both Billy and Taylor about his schedule. Then, we take a listen to JuJu’s work from WNBA All-Star Weekend before catching up with him at the end of the hour. Plus, Ed McDavid, LeBron the flag bearer, Cavan Sullivan’s age, and not your daddy’s Spanish National Team. How will Olympics coverage look this year? Also, JuJu is finally here to discuss the Top 5 Moments from WNBA All-Star Weekend including some emotional moments he got to share with people who mean the world to him.
Hour 1: Team USBMI
- Billy’s eatin’ Cheetos and Dan’s showin’ some leg. Billy says he will stack his BMI up against anyone on the show after being shamed for eating Cheetos at 10:36 a.m. EST. Then, Dan wonders why we shame Ozempic users, Team USA almost gave us a chance for a classic rant, and the end of Skip Bayless’ career has us asking some questions. Plus, the WFAN crew is learning the nature of Stugotz very quickly, and Dan shares some facts about Donald Trump and his association with Project 2025. Also, our Friendly Neighborhood Race Lady Jemele Hill is here to discuss what it means to have Kamala Harris as the potential 2024 Democratic Presidential Nominee.
Hour 2: Good Bad Shows That Are Good Because They’re Bad
- BANNING WEATHER AND PORN? Jemele Hill sticks around to discuss Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, big money donors, the reaction to progress, and her “friendly” relationship with Harris. Then, Mike showed up to Twisters in a cow costume and Dan tells us about the feeling of being claustrophobic in a recent MRI that featured an ability to watch Netflix. Plus, what’s the best bad TV show of all-time?
Postgame Show: Sharing The News
- How good does it feel to have the news first and get to share it with your friends? Chris Cote got to be that person this weekend. Plus, Jeremy shares why Kamala Harris and her meme potential could sway the election during brat summer. He also (awkwardly) thanks the audience for their donations after mentioning Camp Fiesta, a summer camp for children with cancer he volunteers for here in South Florida, on Mystery Crate.
VIDEO
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