 Before Dan Le Batard built the top sports podcast in the country, he established himself as a columnist for the Miami Herald, regularly covering the biggest moments for South Florida’s biggest teams. A constant in the Miami Dolphins press box, Le Batard provided readers provocative perspective on Dolphins’ greats including Don Shula, Dan Marino, Jason Taylor, Zach Thomas, Ricky Williams, and so many more.
In the tank, Dan and OJ reflect upon their heated exchange in the Georgia Dome visiting team locker room (2:08), while Dan also shares how his lifelong passion for sports was inspired by attending Miami Dolphins games as a child (9:38), discusses being called into Don Shula’s office after writing a column the legendary coach took issue with (12:39), explains his admiration for Jimmy Johnson despite the “dictator coach” label (16:14), and details his challenges in covering Dolphins icon Dan Marino (20:40). Additionally, the conversation features an in depth look into Dan’s friendship with Ricky Williams and the awkwardness of covering him once he arrived in Miami (24:15), as well as the intersection of mental health and playing football at a high level (41:56). Contributors to this episode include Sean Todd aka DJ Prēc and Miami Dolphins Productions. Theme song created and performed by The Honorable SoLo D. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dan-le-batard-i-must-have-deserved-it/id1409148022?i=1000551157930
0 Comments
Originally from the Pacific Northwest, Travis Wingfield looked across the entire country to turn his love for sports into an undeniable passion when he became a diehard Miami Dolphins fan at an early age. Wingfield’s hunger for all things aqua and orange paired with his analytical approach led him to podcasting, and ultimately to building one of the most listened-to Dolphins podcasts around. Today, as host of the Drive Time Podcast on the Miami Dolphins Podcast Network, Wingfield has realized his dream of working for his lifelong favorite franchise as a podcaster, writer, and on-camera personality.
In the tank, Travis explains how the Miami Dolphins unique color palette developed his fandom at an early age, despite growing up more than 3,000 miles away from South Florida (2:02). Additionally, he shares the events that led him to podcasting (6:03), reveals how his refusal to actually play football forced his tireless study habits to learn the “Xs & Os” of the sport (11:09), reflects on a March-Madness style tournament bracket that named him the “Best Follow” on Dolphins Twitter” (17:20) only to be let down later by losing out to friend Kyle Crabbs for a writing position (20:28). Travis also pulls back the curtain on the first time he realized working for the Dolphins could become a reality with an amazing story that involves Tom Garfinkel, Dan Marino, and Stephen Ross’ suite at Hard Rock Stadium (24:00). Contributors to this episode include Sean Todd aka DJ Prēc and Miami Dolphins Productions. Theme song created and performed by The Honorable SoLo D. 
Jason Jackson is widely known to South Florida sports fans as the television host and courtside reporter for the Miami HEAT, and was recently named the NBA team’s radio play-by-play voice as well. The Ohio native and former ESPN anchor first took his talents to the Sunshine State in 1994, however, as a sports reporter for WSVN-TV, where he spent significant time covering the Miami Dolphins.
In The Tank, Jason reflects upon landing on the South Florida sports landscape at the same time as his sports hero, Bernie Kosar (12:00), vividly recalls his first and only, ill-fated Dan Marino Wednesday interview (16:37), shares his “Eureka” moment found during the famous Marino “Clock Play” (19:39), explains what covering legendary Fins Head Coach Don Shula was like through the lens of electronic media (22:58), and details how the HEAT, Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O’Neal revived his broadcasting career (31:44). Contributors to this episode include Sean Todd, aka DJ Prēc, and Dolphins Productions. Theme song created and performed by The Honorable SoLo D. 
The Emmy-nominated ESPN Reporter and “Bangy Dangy” house party legend returns to The Tank and he’s not holding back! Dissatisfied with the download ranking of his previous appearance on the show (and even more dissatisfied with the fact that Seth IS satisfied with the ranking), Darlington dives in with the same fervor that has made him one of the top NFL reporters in the business.
In this episode, Jeff gives us an inside look at the mindset of journalists as it relates to developing relationships with players, commitment to accuracy, and even the current trend of postgame interviews on zoom. He also sheds light on the Dolphins 2005 team rallying cry, “Why Not Us?,” reflects on how the rest of the sports world reacted to his reports that Tom Brady would not return to the New England Patriots prior to the 2020 NFL season, explains how his refusal to plan for just about anything resulted in a shared hotel room night with fellow writer Jason Cole, and looks to one-up long-time friend, Channing Crowder, with a Matt Roth story of his own. 
He’s baaaack!!! Channing Crowder sets a Fish Tank record as dives in for the third time, picking up right where he left off. Since joining OJ and Seth several years ago, the former Miami Dolphins and Florida Gators linebacker has exponentially grown his own multimedia career with his role on the I AM ATHLETE Podcast, which he co-hosts along with Brandon Marshall, Fred Taylor and Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson.
In this episode, Channing provides a behind the scenes look at the hit show, shares his passion for fishing, recalls a moshpit-level scuffle in a London nightclub, and makes sure not to leave without blessing us with another Matt Roth tale. Contributors to this episode include Sean “DJ Prec” Todd and Dolphins Productions. Theme song created and performed by The Honorable SoLo D. |
