Podcast Summary: Holmberg's Morning Sickness – 09-11-25: Thursdays w/ Former Dallas Cowboy OLineman Dale Hellestrae

Date: September 11, 2025
Host: John Holmberg with Brady Bogen, Bret Vesely, and Dick Toledo
Special Guest: Dale Hellestrae (Former Dallas Cowboys Offensive Lineman)
Episode Focus:
Discussion of NFL Week 1 reactions, Arizona sports culture, player mentality, and Week 2 parlay picks.

Episode Overview

The team welcomes former Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman Dale Hellestrae for “Thursdays with Dale,” diving into reactions from NFL Week 1, the characteristic hopes and heartbreaks of Arizona sports fans, how players respond to early season performances, and fun predictions for Week 2 via a group parlay pick. The signature banter between John and Dale keeps things irreverent and candid, with memorable anecdotes from Dale’s career.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Reflecting on National Tragedy and Free Speech

• The episode opens with a somber note, referencing a recent event and discussing the importance of allowing open dialogue rather than silencing dissent.
  • Dale (00:52): “As a human being, if anybody celebrates that, yeah, I'd like about three minutes with them in a room.”
  • John (01:07): “Part of the freedom of speech is the right to do things that other people don't like. And you can't match it with violence.”
• Quick pivot to sports as a necessary distraction in difficult times.
  • John (00:19): “Football… a nice distraction will feel great.”

NFL Week 1: Overreactions and Realities

Cardinals’ Win – What Does it Mean?

• Cardinals squeaked by the Saints; both teams looked shaky but ultimately Arizona got a win.
  • John (03:02): “Cardinal fans are watching that thing… did everything they could to not put their foot down, but they walked out with a W.”
  • Dale (08:39): “You look at that performance… you found a way to win. Wasn't pretty. I wouldn't say awful.”
• Winning ugly vs. losing close: Players and teams’ mentalities post-Week 1.
  • Dale (06:12): "No, especially when you go on the road… The teams are there going to be teams that win game..."
  • John (07:44): “So when you get on the field week one, you're a little more prepared.”

Preseason vs. Preparation

• Debate: Are teams who rest starters in the preseason at a disadvantage early?
  • Dale (06:35): “Your body needs to absorb some hits… I think you could steal two to three wins in September if you play your guys.”
• Anatomy of NFL practices then and now; Dale explains older, tougher camp routines compared to today’s lighter schedules.

Arizona Sports Woes and Hope

• The psychological toll of early-season loss or hope for both ASU and the Cardinals.
  • John (10:06): “Arizona sports can't have nice things.”
  • Dale (11:38): "I think the 49ers, they're old. They're already missing guys... NFC West is going to be very interesting. But I think the Cardinals have a chance."
• ASU’s recent loss and its effect on fans and the program.
  • John (10:44): "Beating you meant something… that's a terrible football program."
  • Dale (11:31): “Are you Heisman Trophy? … No, that's over. It scares me to death.”

NFL Week 1: Game Reactions and Notable Performances

Best Game of the Week?

• Buffalo vs. Baltimore: Both John and Dale agree it might have been the game of the season, especially for high drama.
  • John (12:51): “If that was a Super bowl, it would be the greatest super bowl ever played.”
  • Dale (12:56): “Now, was it good to you because it was high scoring, exciting... or because the Baltimore Ravens lost?”
  • John (13:05): “I love sad Lamar Jackson.”
• John’s open schadenfreude over Ravens’ loss.
  • John (13:48): “You actually get more enjoyment out of a Raven's loss… Not even close.”

Cowboys’ Ups and Downs

• Review of Dallas’ first-week showing: respected for physicality, but worries about dropped passes and true “superstar” mentality.
  • John (16:24): “Michael Irvin was never going to drop a clutch pass.”
  • Dale (16:46): “Most people… think Michael Irwin was arrogant… but we knew how hard he worked... he was not going to let you down.”
  • John (17:56): “Michael Irvin never, ever had to go, I was a jackass… and then I dropped the clutch.”

Coaching Comparisons and Roster Moves

• Dale draws parallels to coaching/roster moves from other sports and contracts, e.g., Amari Stoudemire and Jerry Jones.

Quick Hits: Week 1 Surprises, Injuries, and Player Watch

• Bengals’ and Dolphins’ poor Week 1 showings.
  • Dale (07:57): “Dolphins are awful… McDaniel lost the team.”
• Steelers’ high-scoring opener and Aaron Rodgers’ demeanor.
  • Dale (26:09): “Aaron Rodgers… seems like he's matured ten years in a year.”
• “Superstar accountability” spotlighted with anecdotes about Michael Irvin’s meticulous preparation and leadership.
  • Dale (16:46): “He was not going to let you down.”

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On ugly wins:
  • Dale (08:59): “The thing is, now you've played 60 plays. None of these guys… There's no way in my mind… to practice like it's a game.”
• On over-celebrating players:
  • John (18:15): “They get burned on 20 plays and the one they make, they're celebrating. But the showboating early—when you're a superstar, you have gotta continue to be that all the time.”
  • Dale (18:22): “You better back it up.”
• Football then vs. now:
  • Dale (07:25): “When we used to go against the Raiders… you do team period full speed. You do one-on-one pass rush… everything but tackling the running back; sometimes they'd do that anyway.”

Locker Room Antics & Personal Stories

• Classic locker room stories about Michael Irvin's confidence and humor.
  • Dale (23:46): “He would walk through the middle of the locker room without a towel… let things hang out.”
  • Dale (24:16): “All I had to do to him is go, ‘Hey, Michael, have you put on a couple pounds?’ … He’d run and get on the scale…”

Arizona Sports: A Cursed Existence?

• John (29:36): “If [ASU] would happen to lose against Texas State, then… we can't have nice things.”
• College football poll antics and criticism over odd voting.
  • John (29:53): “Did you see the thing about the top 25 voter… lost and she moved them up?”
  • Dale (30:05): “How did this lady… pick her?”

Parlay Segment: Week 2 Picks (31:02-34:47)

• Hosts and Dale build a four-leg parlay, with a fun twist: if someone's team loses and busts the parlay, that person owes the others $25.
  • Brady takes the Bears, despite consensus that Detroit will win.
  • John, Dale, and Brady all banter about loyalty, logic, and gambling superstition.
  • Dale (33:10): “There should be some penalty if you pick your team, and that's what loses the parlay.”
  • John (33:41): “If you’re the lone wolf that loses the parlay, you owe the other guys 25 bucks.”

Pop Culture & Entertaining Tangents

• Molly Farton Joke Song Segment (20:45–23:48)
  • A prank song is played; Dale is initially fooled, then disappointed to learn it’s AI-generated, not a real country song or artist.
  • Hilarious, good-natured ribbing about country music, locker room stories, and Dale’s wife.
  • Dale (22:26): “That’s disappointing, man. You killed him… you didn’t have to tell me that.”

Baseball & Closing Thoughts

• Brief touch on Arizona Diamondbacks’ playoff race and baseball’s morale vs. expectations.
  • Dale (35:41): “Diamondbacks are only three and a half games out of [the] wildcard. Remarkable.”
  • John (36:08): “Are they playing better because there's no expectations?”
• Quick talk on fearing another letdown with the Phoenix Suns’ upcoming season.
  • Dale (36:30): “I can't believe you're going to re-up…”

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 00:52: Dale’s reaction to national events, freedom of speech
• 02:24: Transition to football talk
• 03:02–04:30: Cardinals’ win recap
• 06:12–07:44: The importance of Week 1 and preseason/play readiness
• 08:39–09:42: Effects of one-game-per-week NFL schedule
• 10:06–11:38: Arizona sports' hardships (ASU and Cardinals)
• 12:51–13:48: Game of the week: Buffalo vs. Baltimore; joy in Ravens’ loss
• 14:25–18:06: Dallas Cowboys’ opener, Michael Irvin anecdotes
• 20:45–23:48: Comic relief—Molly Farton song and locker room hijinks
• 26:09–27:02: Steelers' game, Aaron Rodgers as a Steeler
• 31:02–34:47: Building the parlay, penalties for bad picks
• 35:41–36:30: Baseball chat, D’backs and Suns
• 36:47–end: Closing jokes, playful banter about Dale’s wife and upcoming events

Memorable Quotes

• Dale (06:35): “Your body needs to absorb some hits… I think you could steal two to three wins in September if you play your guys.”
• John (18:15): “They get burned on 20 plays and the one they make, they're celebrating.”
• Dale (22:26): "That's disappointing, man. Did he deflate? That's disappointing."
• John (29:36): “If [ASU] would happen to lose against Texas State… we can't have nice things.”

Tone and Style

The episode is irreverent, candid, and playful, blending locker-room humor with genuine football insight. Dale brings first-hand player perspective and classic NFL stories, John delivers sharp Arizona sports commentary, and the running banter provides both laughs and local color.

For listeners who missed the show:
This episode features NFL insights you won't find on TV, classic inside stories, and Arizona sports perspectives—with plenty of laughs along the way. Whether you care about the Cardinals, Cowboys, or just love football talk that doesn’t take itself too seriously, this one’s a can’t-miss.