Sam respects Opie for being a professional broadcaster...he's realizing how hard it is to steer the ship when you have a dry drunk trying to punch holes through the hull.

The Opie thing is funny but let's not get delusional.

He was never the reason the show was good or got "decent radio out of him" or anyone else. This was specially obvious the last few years when Opie was informed of bits prepared by producers right before they happened. He didn't even get involved in getting the show ready.

Opie did a great job babysitting Jim and Anthony. It's become very apparent they all need each other. I don't even think Jim and Anthony would be good without a foil to keep things going.

Babysitting? Have you really taken this bit seriously? The show needed a straight man for sure, but Opie's insecurity didn't even allow him to do that correctly. If by babysitting you mean interrupting the best moments the show had, then you might be right.

Nopie videos are still the best content on youtube from the old shows for a reason.

I would argue the giddy excitement of freedom that came when Opie took a sick day wouldn't be possible without knowing he would be back eventually. I just don't think Jim and Ant would really maintain itself if they didn't have someone to keep them in line. One of the funniest Vos appearances was them making fun of him for how confident he was acting when Opie took a sick day.

Because Opie knows where the bodies are buried.

Of course, any guy who can hire an Air-condition repair-guy and some weird side-act comedian from New Jersey and become a millionaire off of it should be respected. What Opie managed to do should be respected by anyone and it was only when the stars of the show forgot their humble beginnings the show started to detoriate.