Holmberg’s Morning Sickness: The Sports Thing Podcast – Episode 8 (09-25-25)

Podcast: Holmberg’s Morning Sickness, 98KUPD
Hosts: John Holmberg, Dale Hellestray, Dave Nash, Brady
Date: September 26, 2025

Overview

This episode of "The Sports Thing Podcast" features John Holmberg, legendary Dallas Cowboy Dale Hellestray, and the irrepressible Dave Nash. The crew dives into a full range of sports: breaking down the Ryder Cup and the intricacies of international golf, dissecting coaching decisions in the NFL (with a focus on the Giants and Cardinals), riffing hilariously on the disconnect between sports analytics and coaching guts, and closing out with a heated, slightly off-the-rails debate on vaccines and family values.

The conversation is candid, often irreverent, and full of Arizona sports soul, keeping the show's signature high-energy, quick-banter style at the forefront.

Key Segments & Discussion Highlights

1. Ryder Cup & The State of Team Golf

[02:00 – 22:00]

- Passion for the Ryder Cup/International Golf:

• Holmberg extols the Ryder Cup as the “most exciting tournament” in golf, wishing for more international team formats without diluting the event’s appeal.

  • “International events bring out the best fans, even passive ones… Golf actually does this really well but could go even bigger.” (05:03, John Holmberg)

• Nash and Hellestray are skeptical about expanding the format, with Nash turning discussion to LIV Golf and the drama of Saudi money and controversies. Brady jokes: “If it wasn’t for LIV Golf, there’d have been no 9/11… No, no, no, no!” (05:49-06:03)

- Betting and Picking Favorites:

• Brady confesses he bet on Europe, citing the underdog mentality and how favorites choke under pressure:

  • “It’s hard to be the favorite in any golf event...” (08:56, Brady).

• Dale points out the unique pressure of team formats and how “alternate shot changes everything – if I hit a ball in the trap, and now my partner’s gotta go out there? You feel horrible.” (06:44, Dale)

- Who Should America Start? Strategy Banter:

• The roundtable jovially argues who should open for Team USA – with mixed baseball and golf metaphors. Holmberg wants lesser-knowns and “wouldn’t start my heavy hitter out first… Look at what happens with the Dodgers and Shohei.” (12:02-17:02)

• Brady, in classic contrarian form, disagrees:

  • “If you’re not expecting anything from Cantlay or Schauffele… I’d put them out first, hands down.” (13:41, Brady)

• Extended digressions compare lineup strategies in baseball, riff on Ohtani’s RBIs, and the idea of “putting bad guys first.”

- Why Europe Cares More (According to John):

• “It means more to the Europeans to beat the United States... They’re our little brother, they’ve gotta beat us at something.” (18:03)

Notable Quotes:

• “Europe can suck it. That’s what I say. And keep your eyes on Germany.” (20:39, John Holmberg)
• “I'm an American, Dave. I root for the United States.” (20:49, Holmberg)
• “You’re big on ties – they love that stuff, all their sports. We kick the living bejesus out of them to become the USA.” (20:15, Holmberg)

2. NFL Quarterback Coaching & Rookie Development

[23:34 – 34:23]

- The Daniel Jones/Sam Darnold/Jackson Dart Debate:

• The hosts launch into the struggles of NFL rookie QBs being thrown into bad situations, arguing that coaching matters more than draft hype, and cautioning against wasted potential:

  • Holmberg: “Wouldn’t it be smarter for coaches to just say, ‘You gave me a roster I can’t win with… let me keep my rookie on the bench?’” (24:09)
  • Dale: “Coaching is so important. Sam Darnold in New York with the Jets was seeing ghosts… he goes to Minnesota and leads them to 14 wins.” (26:44, Dale)
  • “Patrick Mahomes sat a year behind Alex Smith. Andy Reid had the patience and wisdom to say – ‘I’m not starting a rookie.’” (34:44, Holmberg)

- The Risks of Rushing Rookies:

• “Is it worth the risk? He is their future… You just had Russell Wilson go for 460 yards. If you can beat the bad teams, build on that.” (32:20, Holmberg)
• “Troy got the living snot knocked out of him his rookie year. He was mentally strong enough, but most don’t survive that.” (34:08, Dale)

- Giants and the Giants’ Defense:

• Brady touts the Giants’ promising defense and wonders if Dart could succeed with more support:
  • “Maybe give Dart a chance to actually move this offense and the defense stiffens up. You have a different team.” (31:02, Brady)

3. Football Analytics vs. Old-School Coaching Guts

[35:15 – 43:14]

• Dan Campbell’s Gutsy Coaching:

  • Deep dive on Lions' coach Dan Campbell’s infamous 4th-and-2 call against the Ravens, balancing analytics vs. feel:

    • “If he misses that throw, we’re almost talking about Dan Campbell as a moron. But… guess what – he can live with that.” (37:37, Dale)

    • Brady’s take is bold:

      • “Even if it doesn’t work, I want my team to play to win. Punting is fear.” (38:45)

    • Holmberg pushes back on analytics over trust in defense:

      • “You think punting is fear? It is not. Playing the strategy of your defense – that’s playing to win.” (41:41)

• The Group’s Consensus:

  • Analytics have “reared their ugly head” but don’t account for “six sacks and forced fumbles” the defense has already produced (41:53, Dale).
  • Win or lose, coaches will always be judged by the result, not the process.

Notable Quotes:

• “Brandon Staley did it too, and the Chargers lost every time…” (37:10, Holmberg)
• “Questions get answers. That is dialogue.” (68:45, Holmberg)

4. Arizona Focus: Cardinals & Marvin Harrison Jr.

[47:06 – 56:59]

• Dale raises the “what-do-you-do?” dilemma with Marvin Harrison Jr., the talented but disengaged Cardinals receiver:

  • “What do you do… with a guy who stops running routes, who’s body language is disinterested to high heaven?” (47:06, Dale)
  • “He’s now a year and three games in, and the one consistency I’m seeing: he’s aloof. He takes plays off.” (48:23, Holmberg)
  • “Trade names when they’re still names. You don’t lose anything – you can replace receivers in the draft.” (47:57, Holmberg)

• Group reflects on inherited talent, attitude, and juniors never quite matching their celebrated fathers:

  • “Work ethic, played, whatever, 15 years in the league, and that doesn’t seem to have been imparted to his son…” (51:19, Dale)

• Detours include Marvin Harrison Sr.’s infamous off-field controversy.

5. Valley Sports Blues & Suns Sidebar

[55:49 – 57:19]

• Dale coins the line, “The Valley can’t have nice things,” referencing Arizona’s sports heartbreaks (55:49).
• Debate on the Phoenix Suns hiring Steve Nash in a backup executive role, and the pressure on their “kindergarten” head coach:
  • “If this doesn’t work out… Steve, you ready?” (56:50, Holmberg)

6. Cowboys, Packers & Micah Parsons

[57:42 – 61:22]

• Outlook on the Cowboys' locker room after losing key players, and whether there's pride or apathy:
  • “Wouldn’t you want to show you’re more than just one guy?... Now that he’s gone, we’re worthless?” (59:25, Holmberg)
  • Dale has a veteran’s view: “It’s one thing to have pride. It's another to not be good enough to block him.” (60:56)
• Consensus: Packers will handle Dallas, but the NFL is, as always, wild.

7. Five Minutes with a Lunatic: Vaccine Rant & Family Values

[62:10 – 69:03]

• Dave Nash delivers his customary segment, taking a conspiratorial stance against vaccines:
  • “Nothing that goes in your body is good for you. Mercury, aluminum… Amish don’t get vaccines, they don’t have autism. Vaccines cause so much damage to us…” (62:26-63:29)
  • Claims he would disown his kids if they vaccinated his grandchildren:
    • “If my kids have kids and they vaccinate their kids, they’re discommunicated!” (63:54, Nash)
  • Dale and John challenge his logic but concede that people should ask questions and have honest dialogue.
    • “Ask questions. The truth loves scrutiny.” (67:19, Holmberg)

Notable Quotes:

• “Game over.” (68:21, Nash, on mRNA vaccines)
• “Questions get answers. That is dialogue.” (68:45, Holmberg)

Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes

- “Europe can suck it. That’s what I say… keep your eyes on Germany.” (20:39, Holmberg)

- “Punting is fear.” (41:41, Brady)

- “If you’re not expecting anything from Cantlay or Schauffele… I’d put them out first, hands down.” (13:41, Brady)

- “The truth loves scrutiny. Always ask questions.” (67:19, Holmberg)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Ryder Cup Debate: 02:00 – 22:00
• NFL Rookie Coaching: 23:34 – 34:23
• Football Analytics/4th Down Calls: 35:15 – 43:14
• Cardinals & Marvin Harrison Jr.: 47:06 – 56:59
• Suns & Valley Blues: 55:49 – 57:19
• Cowboys/Packers/Micah Parsons: 57:42 – 61:22
• Five Minutes with a Lunatic (Vaccines): 62:10 – 69:03

Tone & Style

The episode is classic morning radio: irreverent, fast-talking, peppered with sarcasm and strong opinions, with frequent pivots from genuine sports insight to hilarious, sometimes politically incorrect asides. The crew challenges each other, mixes sports and pop culture, and always finds time for regional Arizona references and personal jabs.

A must-listen for fans of Arizona sports talk, NFL strategy debate, Ryder Cup hype – and the odd, outrageous soapbox!