Despite his name still being on the show, Jon “Stugotz” Weiner hasn’t appeared on The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz since July.
And with the Long Island native inking a new wide-ranging deal with Fox Sports Radio, questions are once again being raised regarding when — or if — he’ll ever return to Meadowlark Media’s flagship show.
But while Stugotz has remained cryptic regarding his Le Batard Show future, at least one program regular is under the impression he’ll be coming back. According to Miami Herald columnist/Le Batard guest host Greg Cote, Weiner remains a part of the show’s future, with plans in place for him to co-host nine episodes next month.
Whether those plans come to fruition remains to be seen.
After all, Stugotz previously shared that he had dates scheduled to return to The Dan Le Batard Show by the end of November, which never ultimately happened. While Weiner’s presence on the program has decreased in recent years, it’s been nonexistent for nearly five months now, during which time he’s launched his own podcast network, complete with a rival sponsor (Stugotz is partnered with FanDuel, while the Le Batard Show is tied to DraftKings).
All the while, Le Batard has remained publicly supportive of his longtime co-host, including in the aftermath of the Fox Sports Radio deal.
“Thrilled for him,” Le Batard told the Herald. “He wanted to build his own world, and he has. He’ll always be a sports radio giant.”
Stugotz, meanwhile, has remained more evasive regarding his future with Meadowlark. Addressing the situation on his Stugotz and Company podcast on Monday, the 53-year-old confirmed his upcoming scheduled appearances on The Le Batard Show, but also revealed they come with some qualifiers.
“If, for whatever reason, after the New Year, you do not hear me nine times in January on the show with Dan, that is a decision that was not made by me,” he said. “There is one condition, and that decision is not a decision that will be made by me. That decision will be made by Dan and Meadowlark.”
Stugotz didn’t reveal what that qualifier is, although he did share that it’s not monetary. Nevertheless, it will certainly be worth monitoring whether next month marks not just the start of his new show, but his return to his old one
About Ben Axelrod
Ben Axelrod is a veteran of the sports media landscape, having most recently worked for NBC's Cleveland affiliate, WKYC. Prior to his time in Cleveland, he covered Ohio State football and the Big Ten for outlets including Cox Media Group, Bleacher Report, Scout and Rivals.