Best of the Week on The Dan Patrick Show

Summary

The Dan Patrick Show: Best of the Week

Date: July 11, 2026
Podcast Network: iHeartPodcasts and Dan Patrick Podcast Network

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Episode Overview

This "Best of the Week" episode of The Dan Patrick Show features engaging interviews with Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell, comedian Nate Bargatze, and Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves. Dan brings his signature blend of sports insight and humor, touching on NFL preseason storylines, life advice, stand-up comedy, fast food habits, and NBA free agency.

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Key Interview #1: Kevin O’Connell (Minnesota Vikings Head Coach)

Segment: [02:19] – [12:51]

Discussion Points & Insights

• Coach of the Year Award & Career Mementos

  • O’Connell shares that any football memorabilia is “in the basement or office,” and his focus is on pursuing a Lombardi Trophy for the Vikings.
  • He emphasizes the importance of humility and not broadcasting his football achievements at home.
    • Quote: “I’m hoping the goal I think about every single day is bringing a Lombardi Trophy to the Minnesota Vikings. … It’s the hardest thing to do in sports, but our fans deserve it.” (03:10)

• NFL Journeyman Insights

  • O’Connell reflects on bouncing between teams, revealing how knowledge from one team often leads to immediate contributions elsewhere.
    • Quote: “Once they figure out you can’t play, try to get two more years in.” – Mark Brunell’s advice (03:48)
  • He speaks candidly about bringing intel from the Patriots to the Jets (“I had to be smart about it. You couldn’t give it all at once…that was about 60, 70%. There’s more where that came from.” – 04:30).

• Tom Brady & Bill Belichick Stories

  • O’Connell reveals Tom Brady’s enduring generosity as a teammate, even with lower-string players.
    • Quote: “He had no reason in the world to be a great teammate to me…he was a great teammate. He pushed everybody around that organization to get better.” (05:12)
  • Describes one-on-one walks with Belichick that focused on the big picture and preparation, leaving a lasting impact.
    • Quote: “He just pulls you aside…maybe it wasn’t a fundamental thing…It was understanding, it was preparation. It was all these things that looking back on it now, I totally understand…” (05:58)

• Vikings Quarterback Competition Philosophy

  • Asked about the “open competition” for the Vikings QB position, O’Connell downplays the concept of a “closed” competition and stresses healthy internal competition and development, mentioning J.J. McCarthy, Kyler Murray, and Carson Wentz.
    • He highlights a renewed emphasis on the run game and defense.
    • Quote: “Let’s roll the ball out there…help the Minnesota Vikings get better. … We have a great defense—Brian Flores has done an unbelievable job.” (08:01)

• Coaching Clichés & Humor

  • Dan and the team tease O’Connell for the number of coaching clichés in his answers, leading to a playful mock-answer roleplay by Dan.
    • Memorable Moment: Dan delivers a mock press conference bold prediction: “I think we’re going to dominate the North…kick the Lions’ ass, the Packers’ ass, and the Bears’ ass. Who’s with me?” (10:04)

• Relationship with Sean McVay and Dan Campbell

  • Lighthearted banter about which coach O’Connell would rather face in a fight, and O’Connell jokingly calls Dan Patrick the “East Coast version of Sean McVay.”
    • Quote: “Not right now, no. He’s quick and shifty…He lifts weights every day. I wish I could.” (12:14)

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Key Interview #2: Nate Bargatze (Comedian/Actor/Writer)

Segment: [17:20] – [34:58]

Discussion Points & Insights

• Comedy Fuel from Sports & Life

  • Nate discusses using his Vanderbilt fandom and sports mishaps as comedic material.
    • Quote: “Because that’s the hard part, talking about a sport…how do you make that relatable to everybody?” (17:53)

• Amusement Park Venture

  • Bargatze details plans to open a theme park in Nashville, inspired by his childhood experience and city needs.
    • Quote: “Nashville is a city that can sustain a full theme park. … The city really still wanted the theme park, and I wanted a theme park.” (20:15)

• Celebrity Nervousness & Sports IVs

  • Recounts getting IVs with Joe Theismann and humorous confusion about what was in the IVs:
    • Quote: “I get dehydrated. I do that instead of drinking water, just go IVs.” (21:55)

• Stage vs. Sports Anxiety

  • Compares stage fright to first drive jitters in golf and shares an anecdote about signing autographs at a Pro-Am.
    • Quote: “You want your first joke to hit, because once you get the first joke, then you’re rolling.” (22:30)

• Fast Food Confessions

  • Extensive banter on the guilty pleasures and logistics of eating fast food on the road—including White Castle, McDonald’s, and Burger King, and the need to hide the evidence.
    • Quote: “I just pull [into a gas station] and get rid of these bags. … I can’t have this.” (26:39)

• Comedy Observations & Joke Authenticity

  • Discussion of why comics prefer to write their own jokes for authenticity; references to bombing at Caroline’s in NYC and how comics handle tough crowds.
    • Quote (Dan, to Fritzi): “He has observational humor without the humor. Okay, so that’s a problem.” (30:34)
    • Quote (Nate): “If it’s something that’s genuine to my experiences after chatting with me, then you can work it.” (34:19)

• Reflections on Arena Stand-Up & Crowd Work

  • Bargatze explains the difference between club gigs and stadium shows, and shares that big crowds don’t necessarily mean less anxiety.
    • Funny bomb stories ensue, with insights on how set order changes when jokes flop.

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Key Interview #3: Austin Reaves (Los Angeles Lakers Guard)

Segment: [38:30] – [46:32]

Discussion Points & Insights

• Free Agency and Loyalty to Lakers

  • Reaves credits the Lakers’ ability to negotiate before other teams could pitch him and expresses deep affinity for LA.
    • Quote: “The Lakers…had the advantage…so I didn’t have to actually hit the market.” (38:44)
    • On loyalty: “I love LA. It’s like a home away from home for me.” (39:38)

• Personal Spending Philosophy

  • Reaves admits he struggles to spend money on himself, revealing his financial advisor's advice to splurge more.
    • Quote: “My financial advisor told me I needed to spend more money… but I like, you know, getting gifts for other people.” (39:07)

• Relationship with LeBron and Lakers’ Stars

  • Shares how he first got LeBron’s number and the experience of being a rookie among multiple future Hall-of-Famers.
    • Quote: “I was on a team of six Hall of Famers… why am I here?” (40:48)

• Self-Confidence & NBA Stereotypes

  • Reaves discusses battling perceptions about being “white and unathletic,” and the “delusional confidence” that drove him.
    • Quote: “I could walk down the street—nobody’s going to… I’ve had people ask me if I played tennis or baseball before basketball.” (41:54)

• Observations on Luka Doncic, Jokic, Kawhi Leonard, and Steph Curry

  • Reflects on star players’ unique on-court pace and physicality.
    • Quote: “You’re not going to watch them and be like, they’re blowing by anybody… it’s always slow to fast or fast to slow. … They bait people to do what they want them to do.” (43:43)

• Welcome to the NBA Moment & Headband Origin

  • Shares being “lit up” by LeBron in practice and the origin of his signature headband.
    • Quote: “I played probably the best defense of my life and he scored every possession.” (44:04)
    • “I think it’s here to stay.” (46:15)

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Coaching Mindset:

  • O’Connell: “You learn every possible thing…being around the greatest coach of all time, the greatest quarterback of all time.” (04:12)
  • Dan Patrick: “Every job…everything you do is an open competition. Why am I limiting that to my quarterback room?” (09:47)

• On Stand-Up Heartbreak:

  • Nate Bargatze: “I could hear ice melting. … When you’re up there and it’s like you’re just not getting laughs, you’re just like, golly, dude.” (32:29, 32:43)

• On Stereotypes in NBA:

  • Austin Reaves: “I’m white, I’m unathletic…I always felt like I was capable [of the NBA], but didn’t know if the opportunity would present itself.” (41:54)

• On Big Crowds and Arena Shows:

  • Bargatze: “You have to have your act…you can’t really throw out new jokes. It’s just too many people.” (28:24)

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Timestamps of Major Segments

• [02:19] Interview: Kevin O’Connell
• [17:20] Interview: Nate Bargatze
• [38:30] Interview: Austin Reaves

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Tone & Style Highlights

• Conversational, humorous, and self-deprecating.
• Dan brings playful skepticism and banter, putting guests at ease and encouraging candid stories.
• Frequent use of running jokes (“coaching clichés”) and sharing of vulnerable, real-life anecdotes.

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Useful for New Listeners

This episode offers a rich cross-section of sports culture, NFL preseason drama, NBA inner workings, and slice-of-life comedy. It’s an ideal entry point for both sports fans and comedy enthusiasts seeking an easy blend of insider storytelling and light-hearted laughs.

Transcript

[Dan Patrick]

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[Dan Patrick]

to the Dan Patrick show on Fox Sports Radio.

How many years did Kevin o' Connell play in the NFL?

[Paulie]

Paul he was a quarterback at San Diego State. He was a Patriot, a lion, a jet, a dolphin, a Charger. So he played five seasons with, like, seven different teams.

[Dan Patrick]

All right. He is the Minnesota Vikings head coach. He stopped by yesterday after his practice round. Now, he won Coach of the year in 2024. And that's where I started the conversation by asking Coach where he keeps his award.

[Kevin O'Connell]

Kind of a replica Lombardi trophy after the 21 Super Bowl.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay.

[Kevin O'Connell]

It's got a couple. Got a couple of those things.

[Ad Voice / Announcer]

Okay.

[Kevin O'Connell]

All right.

[Dan Patrick]

But if I walk in the house, I don't know what you do for a living.

[Kevin O'Connell]

No, no, no.

[Dan Patrick]

Like, jerseys. Up in the living room. Bedroom, you got.

[Kevin O'Connell]

You gotta. You gotta travel. You gotta either go to the basement or into the office to see. To see anything. I'm not. Look, you know, I'm hoping the number, you know, the goal I think about every single day is bringing a Lombardi Trophy to the Minnesota Vikings. We have the greatest fans in the world and an unbelievable football history with the Vikings that I've really admired learning about. But we need a Lombardi Trophy, and it's the hardest thing to do in sports, but we, you know, our fans deserve it.

[Dan Patrick]

Were you ever picked up by a team and they were playing the team that you were on? Were they. Am I making up a story that I didn't know if you helped with information.

[Kevin O'Connell]

Oh, yeah, no. Yeah. Mark Brunell told me one time, you know, once they figure out you can't play, try to get two more years in. That's a guy. That's a guy that. That's. And that's a guy that played 20 years. And I. He's one. A very close friend of mine, actually the quarterback coach of the Detro Lions. But I started hearing, you know, you get released that first time I was with New England, ended up, you know, in a roundabout way, getting to the New York jets. And then we played. Played the Patriots and a couple weeks later, and, you know, I might not always been able to throw it from point A to point B, but I was going to take every last note. I was going to learn every possible thing I could being around the greatest coach of all time, the greatest quarterback of all time.

[Dan Patrick]

So they just downloaded you?

[Kevin O'Connell]

I had some information, but I had to be smart about it. You couldn't give it all at once. You know, it was like, hey, I'm. Hey, about 60, 70%. There's more where that came from.

[Dan Patrick]

What's your favorite Brady Store? Do you ever go out drinking with him?

[Kevin O'Connell]

No. No. I.

[Dan Patrick]

The early Brady years, I. I would

[Kevin O'Connell]

say so I was, I came in post that 07 giant super bowl where they had won all the way up until that game in Arizona.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay.

[Kevin O'Connell]

And then I came in then he actually got hurt that year and then the following year was, was 09. And I'm still, I've become, you know, pretty close with him just because, you know, now what he's doing. And obviously the best thing about him is he's, he had no reason in the world to be a great teammate. To me, I wasn't around him very long. He's the greatest to ever live at what he does. And he, and he was, he was a great teammate. He pushed everybody around that organization to get better and you know, cares about what I'm doing now and we stay in touch. And I think that's probably, you know, that's the best story of it all that he even, you know, he even wants to, you know, carry on a friendship, you know, that makes him a great teammate.

[Dan Patrick]

How often did you get yelled at by Belichick?

[Kevin O'Connell]

You know, he, it was more Dan. I remember these super impactful moments, you know, because I think it's changed now. I haven't been there since, but they now just have a facility and they, they practice fields right there. But you used to have to walk from the top shelf there outside Gillette Stadium practice fields, through the stadium, through the indoor or through the tunnel back to the everyday locker room. And I'll never forget two or three times, just these times where it was basically Bill and myself had somehow timed it up to walk back to the locker room. And it's not a short walk, it's, you know, so you, you got to make a decision. You can hang back. Are you going to maybe push past him? But a couple of those times where you know, he just pulls you aside and that was the greatness, you know, those one on one times of telling you. Exactly. And maybe it wasn't a fundamental thing, maybe it wasn't, you know, exactly something that was tied to one individual play from practice, but it was big picture. It was understanding, it was preparation. It was all these things that looking back on it now, I totally understand why, you know, he has been one of the best to ever do it for sure.

[Dan Patrick]

Help me understand an open competition at quarterback. Like, like it's open between J.J. mcCarthy and Kyler Murray.

[Kevin O'Connell]

I'm not, I'm not really familiar with a closed competition. So, you know, I've heard that, I've heard that, you know, everyone's like fascinated with, with that aspect of it. Here's what I would say, you know, you know, two players, and really the goal going into this offseason was to elevate the quarterback position, because when we have a certain standard of play that we feel like we have multiple guys in that room that are capable of achieving that standard. The Minnesota Vikings win football games, and so the best way to achieve that is having a daily attempt to have guys push each. Push each other and not just always need the outside noise or not always need, you know, what the narratives may be. Let's, let's. Let's roll the ball out there and let's try to, you know, help the Minnesota Vikings get better. Kyler has come in and done a great job. JJ I think, has benefited from it. He had a really good spring. Carson Wentz is this veteran quarterback in the room that, as a guy who's played seven or eight quarterbacks in four years, the two years we had our starter, you know, play the whole season, we won 13 and 14 games. So we want to try to get back to the standard of having the quarterback position be a driving force behind us. Winning by doing their job, by hopefully getting. Activating the great players they get to play with. We got a great defense. Brian Flores has done an unbelievable job. If we can limit giving the football away and generate some explosives and get a run game going, which is. Although no one's really talking about that, that has been a major emphasis of this offseason, both from a coaching staff standpoint and a player, a player development and offensive development standpoint. I'm excited about where we're at, but we won't really know until we, you know, go start calcifying, forging our team together that we're going to compete in the NFC North. It's very, very competitive division.

[Dan Patrick]

Paul, how many coaching cliches did. Did we get?

[Paulie]

Dan? We got six cliches in two minutes. So let's.

[Fritzi]

But let's.

[Kevin O'Connell]

Let's run this.

[Paulie]

Excuse me, coach. Run out the balls for practice as a cliche.

[Sam J.]

Yeah.

[Kevin O'Connell]

Well, it's a better way to say, and we're going to start practice in three weeks.

[Paulie]

We're going to take it one practice at a time. You didn't say that.

[Kevin O'Connell]

Well, we're not going to take it one practice.

[Tab Ramos]

You have to.

[Kevin O'Connell]

I think we actually go three, and then an off day, and then we go three. I mean, sports science. I mean, they have your cliches lapped at this point.

[Dan Patrick]

See, I think this is how you answer. You can ask me the question about the quarterbacking situation in Minnesota, Go ahead.

[Kevin O'Connell]

Would you make a comment if I asked you about an open competition?

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah.

[Kevin O'Connell]

Dan, why don't you take me through how you have an open competition and what are your thoughts on it currently in Minnesota?

[Dan Patrick]

Well, you know what I think every day, every job, everything you do is an open competition. Why am I limiting that to my quarterback room? I'm not going to close it. They're going out there. They're competitors. Go out there and win the job. I'm not handing you the job. JJ didn't live up to expectations yet. Maybe you can learn from Kyler. Kyler, I think, is going to have an incredible year inside on that turf in that division, me coaching him up. And I think we're going to dominate the North. We're going to win it, and I think we're going to be a Super bowl favorite. Brian's done a great job with the defense, and I want to kick the Lions ass, the packers ass, and the Bears ass. Who's with me?

[Fritzi]

Let's go.

[Dan Patrick]

Let's go.

[Tab Ramos]

Let's go,

[Fritzi]

man.

[Kevin O'Connell]

Dan Campbell's gonna have fun with you here. No, but it's a, it's a. It's a great answer, but I think up until the point where, you know, you kind of hit the gas there about 70% through there. But what you said is very similar to what I said.

[Dan Patrick]

I like the guys. I like that you got Kyler Murray.

[Kevin O'Connell]

We want the guys to. To push to find exactly what they can become as players. And it's okay to be uncomfortable doing that sometimes.

[Dan Patrick]

Yes.

[Kevin O'Connell]

As these guys are. And they are. We are. We are in a. We are in a world where you find out very quickly that you have to be a grown up in. In the National Football League, because that's what every Sunday, Monday, Thursday, whatever it is, is about. And we know that. I, we know what we signed up for. These players know that I think they've handled it well and I'm excited to see what it looks like. And I. We. We have a good plan in place to try to make sure we allow this thing to get to a place where we feel good about it, but also prepare the guy that's going to be our starter for the regular season.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah, I think Kyler will do a good job as your starter,

[Kevin O'Connell]

But how

[Dan Patrick]

do we go Vikings? Go Vikings school. See, I could be your script writer. I could help you be really colorful. You're too busy for it, and I'm going to set you up for that next job 20 years from now when you want to get into TV.

[Kevin O'Connell]

There you go.

[Dan Patrick]

That's what I'll have you. I get you some quotes and they'll be like, man, is he colorful.

[Kevin O'Connell]

Man, is he good.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah. No coaching cliches. Like you're kind of the, you know, east coast version of Sean McVay.

[Kevin O'Connell]

East coast version?

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah. Well, Midwest, mid ish, West, East. Yeah.

[Kevin O'Connell]

No, I love Sean.

[Dan Patrick]

Do you think you could take him?

[Kevin O'Connell]

Not right now, no. He's. He's. He's going to be quick and he's shifty and he's the. I think he lifts weights every day. I wish I could.

[Dan Patrick]

Low base.

[Kevin O'Connell]

Yeah.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah. Spends a little too much time on the abs, right? He does. He does.

[Kevin O'Connell]

I love Sean McVeigh.

[Dan Patrick]

Who are you more concerned about, Dan Campbell or Sean McVeigh?

[Kevin O'Connell]

If I. If you gave me the script that you just read. Dan.

[Dan Patrick]

Dan Campbell. Great to see you.

[Kevin O'Connell]

Great.

[Dan Patrick]

Thanks for being a good sport.

[Kevin O'Connell]

No, of course.

[Dan Patrick]

Good luck with Kyler as your starter.

[Kevin O'Connell]

Appreciate you guys, man.

[Dan Patrick]

That's Kevin o', Connell, the Vikings head coach.

Be sure to catch the live edition

of the Dan Patrick show, weekdays at

9:00am Eastern, 6:00am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the iHeartRadio app.

[Jason McIntyre]

Hey, this is Jason McIntyre. Join me every weekday morning on my podcast, Straight fire with Jason McIntyre. This isn't your typical sports pod, pushing the same tired narratives down your throat every day. Straight Fire gives you honest opinions on all the biggest sports headlines, accurate stats to help you win big at the sportsbook and all the best guests. Do yourself a favor and listen to Straight fire with Jason McIntyre on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Dan Patrick]

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[Dan Patrick]

Big Shout out to our friends at Panini America, the official trading cards and NFT partners of the Dan Patrick Show World cup. It started living up to the hype. The official Panini FIFA World Cup 2026 sticker collection is in stores. Now you're ready to go. Some of the best traditions in collecting you get to rip the packs, fill your album, trade your duplicates, chasing down those last few elusive stickers. Albums and packs available online. You can go to panini America.net, amazon and many of your favorite retailers. Take the collecting experience to the next level. Download the Panini Direct app and find local trading days in your area. Meet other fans, trade stickers and try to complete your album. Premier collecting experience. That's what Panini does. FIFA, WNBA, NWSL, La Liga, NASCAR, and so much more. Visit paniniamerica.net or download the Panini Direct app and start your collecting. Today we make way for Nate Bargadzi. You look like a golfer, huh? Yeah, I, like.

I got you, right? When you get fired up, you get all going and then you're like, all right, Nate, come on in.

Yeah, well, I needed you to lighten the mood.

Yeah, I understand.

But what gets you fired up,

man?

I don't know, like, sports wise. Is there something.

Oh, yeah, yeah. No, I. I've been watching WNBA stuff and then. Yeah, I mean, you know, Vandy fan, like, so this world Cup's been pretty firing up. Like, it's been, you know, getting excited.

But do you look at humor, something you could put into your act when

you watch with sports? Yeah, yeah. I did it with Vandy because I like. Because that's the hard part is like talking about a sport, going to a sporting event because it's like, well, how do you got to make that relatable to everybody? And so when I went to the Vandy bowl game in 2008, the first bowl game since 82, it was a big deal. It was freezing. And I. I go like, I. I was. I had tickets and they were at like, will call, and I went in to go get them like an hour and a half, two hours before the game. And then I was gonna go tailgate. My friends at all Vanny fans, we were all tailgating, having fun, and then they ripped the ticket and I had to go in. And so then they. Dude, I was in. It was in Titans Stadium. I was in there like an hour. It was like an hour 45 before the game. The players were in, like, jeans. They haven't even started getting ready yet. Like, I was watching the clock. They. They had a timer going, and it's just like, I don't know. Tomorrow the game starts. No concessions is open.

Was this Jay Cutler?

No. 2008. He did not go to. He beat Tennessee for us. I have a DVD of it.

A dvd?

Yeah, I got him to sign it. And I've, like, got to know Jay. So it's very funny to like, just like when you get to know someone and then you're like, hey, we signed this DVD of when you beat Tennessee in 2000.

So you're acting like a little Kid.

Oh, yeah, dude, I was experienced.

Okay. When's the last time you watched that dvd?

It's been a while.

Okay.

It's been a while.

Because that'd be sad if you said. Well, I watched it before I came out here.

I watch it on YouTube now.

Yeah, yeah, everything's.

Everything's on YouTube.

I know. Who have you met?

I like that you have your shirt.

What do you think?

I just see that you went and bought that shirt.

I did.

I know you did. And I. I can see it a million times over that you would have just wear just the local. Yeah, like. Yeah, yeah.

But I'm flying.

It's the hotel. It's not even from the tournament. It's the hotel's merch that you have. That hotel is amazing.

I'm a team player.

You are. I love it.

I. I am. I am. I'm the average American.

Yes, I know. I know.

So movie game show host, building an amusement park.

Yeah.

Book.

Yep.

What's next?

I mean, the amusement park is kind of where it stops. I'm. We're hoping I'm able to shoot some more movies and really dive into that world a little bit more.

Okay, explain the amusement part.

Yeah.

Okay. Is this like Dollywood is?

Yeah, I mean, it's like Dollywood's amazing. Dollywood, you know, gets ranked number one amusement park in the country every year. Over Disney, over everything. The experience. We're about four hours, three and a half hours, four hours from Dollywood. Dollywood is. It's. We're not a part of that. They're. They're doing their own thing. But Nashville had a theme park, and I worked at it when I grew up, and then they got rid of it, and so the city really still wanted the theme park, and I wanted a theme park. And Nashville is a city that can sustain a full theme park. And so it's a. It's honestly like a part of me wants to bring a theme park back just for everybody to be able to go to. I grew up going to it. It's like a very fun thing to go do. And then, I mean, we're a city that is growing and really can't handle something like that. And so that's the idea of bringing it back.

Who have you met here? That, like, leaves you a little bit nervous to meet them? Or have you gotten past that point where, hey, yeah, I'm a big time guy too.

I would. I said, with Joe Theisman, you know, some of them, you don't know if they're gonna know, like, With Joe, I don't know if he would know me. And so. But he was very nice, and he did. And so we were getting, like, IVs yesterday, and he's just telling the story about when he broke his leg.

Wait, you got an IV yesterday?

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Wait, what's iv?

They.

Well, I know. I know what it is, but, like,

you need an iv.

I need.

I've always said you need an iv.

I do, yeah.

You should do a couple a day.

What. What do they pump in their vitamins?

Stuff? Dude, I've never.

Are you on drugs?

We don't know. We don't know. Nobody knows.

Are they testing out?

No, they are. They're not testing. I asked that before I showed up. They said they're not testing. I. But IVs just. I. I got. You know, they just. You get the. I get dehydrated. I do that instead of drinking water is just go IVs.

Why don't you just drink water?

Well, that's ridiculous.

Water is terrible.

And why are you being ridiculous about this?

My bad.

Yeah.

The anxiety on stage or nervousness before anxiety out here playing in front of people. Any comparison?

Yeah, yeah. I mean, it's like. Because when you. When you go. When you do a show, you want the first joke to hit, because once you get the first joke, then you're rolling. And so I got. Here's the same way, like, you want. You know, you want your first drive to be like, you know, where it's not just like, oh, my gosh. It's just a problem. We played with a guy or. I played with a great group in a Pro Am yesterday. He had 1 on 17 that. I mean, it went right over the people's head. The 17. It was unbelievable. And he had a funny. I made. They were. They were such a wonderful group. But so, you know, you're signing a lot of autographs, right? And so we're. I'm signing. And you try to do as much as you can, and then it does get a lot. And I was. They were. I was making fun of. His name's Jason. And. And so we're. We were. There was a group in front of us that hasn't teed off. And so, you know, you're trying to kind of go through real kind of fast, and then he just walks back over. He goes, nate, they're always calling the tee box. You got all day, brother. And you're like, ah, thanks, Jay. I appreciate having. And just more people show up. Like, I have no out now. So I Just have to stay in there and do more.

Nate Bargazzi, he is multi talented, multifaceted.

Yeah. Yeah. I say that does it.

All actor, big time actor now.

Yeah. Six, two, two forty.

[Austin Reaves]

Dang.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah. So I. I think you can just keep going up.

What was the most you ever watch weight?

I bet it was like 2:15, 220. Like, I bet in my. I'm still in those days, but it's. I'm more active. But I bet like when I look back at some old videos, I'm like, I had to be like 220 or something like that.

Yeah. But when you get on the road, bad, you know.

Oh, dude.

Bad eating habits. Yeah.

Out of McDonald's three days ago, I have it all. I had it back to back two. Two nights in a row.

Did you feel guilty? Dirty?

No, no. I. I mean, it's. I know what's wrong. It is funny. As you eat bad, the older you get, the regret comes so much quicker than it's like, that's that window. You don't. The enjoyment really is just the actual eating. And then you do feel bad. I mean, it's immediate.

Like White household, everybody.

We're a big White Castle family. My parents are from Louisville, Kentucky. And so that's all White Castle. So we were not Crystals and so we're big White Castle. I could. White Castles is. I'm. I love it.

But it seems like we only eat White Castle at 11 o' clock at night.

You should go during the day. It looks nice. It's lovely.

But we used to get the. The. Is it the suitcase?

Yeah, yeah.

And my kids thought it was the most amazing thing.

Yeah.

They're like, wait, what do we get? And I go, suitcase full of White Castles.

Yeah.

And they're like, where's this been regular.

Because you let them. You know, how many parents you hear, they're like, oh, we like. They're like, my kid hasn't had a McDonald's yet. I was like, my kid. I gave her McDonald's immediately. I wanted to show her America. You go, you know. I remember she didn't want.

[Tab Ramos]

She.

[Dan Patrick]

My daughter was always. Which. She just turned 14. Happy birthday, Harper. And my brother Derek. His birthday was yesterday, but it was. She had. She don't want ice cream. And she was. She didn't want a lot of stuff when she was a baby. And I just jammed it on her mouth and I. But I think about that a lot where I'm like, man, did I mess that up? Like, she eats so much. She likes ice Cream now. And I just was like. Because once you put it on, she was like, loves it.

Yeah. Marvin.

[Nate Bargadzi]

Nate, have you ever tried Burger Donald's? Burgers from Burger king, fries from McDonald's.

[Dan Patrick]

Oh, wow. I could do. I could do that. Yeah. Same trip. I would do it. It's a Whopper. I get two Whopper Juniors. No onion, no tomato. And that's. That's the route. I've been going a lot lately. No fries, but now you throw a McDonald's. Oh, boy.

[Nate Bargadzi]

It's no good, but so good.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah, I agree.

Yeah, Paulie.

[Paulie]

But do you get the two Whopper Juniors to make it? Think, like, you're eating less, like, Diet Coke, but you're getting two.

[Dan Patrick]

Like, you could have gone, just a Whopper.

Just a Whopper. I like it so much that I won it twice. And so I want to experience. Whoppers are. They're pretty. I think they're underrated. I think people don't put enough respect on a Whopper.

See, I don't want to see somebody to see the rappers in the car.

Yeah. Yeah. Well, I'll throw them away. You should stop at a gas station.

I know, but my wife was like, hey, did you have. And I go, yeah. And then that. You know, you got to clean up the evidence there, dude.

[Paulie]

I'll.

[Dan Patrick]

I'll stop. I've thrown so much stuff away at a gas station. When you just pull through. I'm in an electric car, and I just pull through into the. Like, why you go? Because I got to get rid of these bags, dude. I can't have this.

Yeah. I don't need gasoline. I just got to get rid of the evidence.

That trash can right in the middle of those two pumps, and I got to get rid of all this stuff.

What did you learn from doing the movie?

Just preparation, I think. More. Not that you don't prepare and stand up, but I think you would. You would prepare. And by doing it. And with acting, you need to really be prepared before you actually show up. And so I think that was a big lesson to be like, all right, you know, the next movie. Hopefully, if I get to do another movie, but the next movie I do will be much more. Not that I wasn't prepared, but he was kind of learning everything on the fly and. But the next one will be a lot more preparation.

Could you see yourself. Sandler eventually did serious movies?

Yes.

Could you do a serious movie?

Yeah, I think so. I mean, I would like to. I think I would like to try. I like to organically let everything Happen, you know, as it comes and so. But I think, I think I could do it. Like, you know, I mean, you know, it's like I'm my. My person on stage or my. In life. Like, you know, it's like, I think I look like I'm miserable. So it's like, I think I could just do that.

What's it. When's the last time that first joke didn't land?

It would have been at, like a comedy club or something.

Oh, okay.

But it wouldn't have been in an arena. Like, it. Like the arenas are. So the whole thing with arenas is they're just. You have to. There. You do have. You have to have your act. You can't really throw out new jokes. It's just too many people. And so you got to come and really have your act. But I'll, you know, sometimes in arena, I'll make a little side joke about the town, and that might not go good. And then you say something and they're like, you know, I can tell that they're just like, all right, just do your.

Yeah, yeah, just stop this ad living. Go strictly here.

Yeah, yeah. I'm the opposite of most. The crowd work me. They're like, no crowd work. Don't talk to us at all. Do your thing.

Yeah. Shut up, joke boy. Fritz, he's heard that before because he's done stand up comedy.

Yeah.

Not good. Not well. He. He closed down Caroline's in New York City.

I know. And that's my. That's the one. That's my club. Caroline's was the best club to me and Caroline's. I always think it was my home club. They have a comedy in Jamestown, New York. They have a comedy museum, and they have the Carolina's background in the museum. And like, I went and saw it, but yeah, I still mad at you till this day. Shut down.

I love my life.

[Fritzi]

It did close within a couple of months.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah, we all heard about it.

I. I said to Fritzi, Sandler and Spade volunteered to write jokes for. For. And he said no, because he doesn't want somebody to get credit for something that he says, yeah, if it's funny.

Yeah. And they did the same thing. They didn't want credit for your bomb. And so that's. You know, I always thought I had

[Fritzi]

to come up with my own stuff for it to be genuinely to make me feel like I really accomplished.

[Dan Patrick]

So you can believe, like, so you can sell the joke. It's hard to sell it if you're not like, the one that it Was

[Fritzi]

like my observation or something that happened in my life that I want to share. And when you. If it's something that was written for you, as great as that is, I feel like not. I'm cheating on the test or something. It's not genuine to my life experience.

[Dan Patrick]

No, I agree. But it's also. You're not a comedian. So I would have taken those jokes, but it's. You're on. When people give you tags or little stuff to jokes, it can be very funny. And you sometimes can't do them because you're like, I'm just not going to be able to sell that joke.

He has observational humor without the humor. Okay, so that's a problem.

[Ad Voice / Announcer]

He just.

[Dan Patrick]

Because we're in a room and everybody. Yeah, we are in a room.

Yeah.

I had my buddy would do crowd work and he was not great at it either. And even he asked the guy in the front row, he's like, I guess, where are you from? Guy goes, Alabama. He goes, that's cool, man. And then he just moves on.

There's no joke. The guy that warmed up for you in the Madison Square garden.

Yeah. Julian McCollo, he was so really good. Very fun.

Then your dad comes in.

Yeah, yeah.

And then you come in.

Yeah, yeah. It was a fun. And Fallon.

Yeah, yeah.

He was pumped.

Yeah.

So it found. Really prepared for those. Like, I was like, just Julian was. Would go meet up with Fallon out on the road because, you know, he hasn't really done stand up, like it like a lot. And doing Madison Garden, it is. It's so many people that you're like, dude, it's. You got to really at least know where you're going and where you. You got to know where you're going to start with and know you're going to have to end. And Fallon went out a lot and got it ready.

But you have a home court advantage. It feels like on the stadium tour, like when you went, you go into the Garden, you know they're rooting for you.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. But I hope so.

Yeah, yeah. Like, you don't go into a hostile environment.

No, not. Not anymore. I mean, but you did. That's the beginning.

Yeah.

Beginning is only hostile.

They just.

You walk up, especially in New York, dude, you'd start. No one knows you. And like, you got to win everybody over.

Every single Southern accent in New York, they're just like.

You can't tell if they're just laugh. They're making fun of me. There was times of that where you're like, I think they're just making fun of it.

It feels like that.

It feels like that, but it counts as a laugh. So I take it, you know, it's

like when you hit.

It's like a good miss.

Yeah.

Where you just got a good miss.

[Ari Chambers]

Right.

[Dan Patrick]

There you go.

Still got on the green.

Yeah. I was trying to hit a draw, and it sliced.

Yeah.

Fairway.

[Paulie]

When Fritzi was at Caroline's, we could hear the food being prepped.

[Dan Patrick]

And back. I could hear.

I can hear kitchen back there. Yeah. It's not right out on this side, Nate.

I could hear ice melting. When Fritzi was on stage, it was so rough.

[Fritzi]

It was a little awkward. I was hoping there was going to be some way of just falling through the stage that can just kind of pull.

[Dan Patrick]

So did we.

I'm glad you experienced it, though, because it's. It is like. It's. It's for. It's, like, surreal. Like, when you're up there and it's like you're just not getting laughs, and then you're just like, golly, dude. And you're trying. And I like when you see a comic up there bombing, and it's always fun. You don't want to bomb, but we like seeing each other bomb, even, because, you know, comics are good, and it just could be the room is weird or whatever, but it's fun to sit there, and you can watch that person just start, like, fog. Like, they get to their jokes a lot quicker.

Yeah.

I mean, if you're in a. If you're bombing, you can do 60 minutes in 15.

Todd does that, and then he goes blue.

Yeah. Yeah.

So when he went blue, I said, oh, man, he's in trouble.

[Fritzi]

I panicked. I started just saying, like, f words, and I didn't know what to do with myself, and I. And I had memorized what I wanted to say, but said the first thing, like, fourth. And the second thing I was gonna

[Dan Patrick]

say, oh, yeah, first.

[Fritzi]

And now I'm, like, all confused because, like, my index cards and my brain roll now shuffled.

[Dan Patrick]

I didn't know that can happen. That can still happen now. Sometimes I can do a set, and then, like, I'll end up, like, doing it. I'm like, did I, like, introduce that joke right? Or you do a callback and then you didn't do the first one.

Yeah.

And then you're like, bananas, right?

And everybody's like, what?

And you're like, did I do the first bananas joke?

What if. What if Nate wrote three minutes for you?

[Fritzi]

No, I'm good. I'll be right. No, I. I should. I should have let.

[Dan Patrick]

I think I can help you. I wouldn't write it for you, but since I think you tell observation stories and you want to be personal, right?

[Kevin O'Connell]

Yeah.

[Dan Patrick]

You're not just jokes. So I think I could just sit and you tell me what you want to talk about and I would just work. I would say, all right, say this first.

[Sam J.]

That's perfect.

[Dan Patrick]

And then that would. That's what I was.

[Fritzi]

If it's something that's genuine to my experiences after chatting with me, then you can work it. Then that's a whole other thing.

[Dan Patrick]

We could work it.

[Sam J.]

It.

[Dan Patrick]

Now, I don't have time for this. But, you know, in the amusement park. We could sit in the amusement park. We will sit and just dive in.

You know, have you perform. Maybe he goes to a Vanderbilt game with you.

[Fritzi]

That would be lovely.

[Kevin O'Connell]

Yeah.

[Dan Patrick]

Come to V game. I would welcome that. Yeah. We'll be up big. We'll be able to sit there quiet. Yeah.

The movie, the bread winner out wherever you get your movies. Also the n land.com where you get tours, the court, you get tickets to the comedy tour and also the ABC comedy game show the Greatest Average American. Great to see you again, Nate.

Yeah, man.

Have fun. Thanks for joining us.

Always be sure to catch the live edition of the Dan Patrick show, weekdays at 9am Eastern, 6am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the iHeartRadio app.

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[Dan Patrick]

No, I don't need to.

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[Dan Patrick]

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They have the best network. And if we end up in bumtots nowhere, well, we've got T satellite for backup. Whoa, I don't trust my carrier that much.

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[Dan Patrick]

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What's up, fam?

[Ari Chambers]

I'm sports journalist Ari Chambers.

[Sam J.]

Hey, what's up, y'?

[Dan Patrick]

All?

[Sam J.]

It's your girl, Sam J.

[Ari Chambers]

And we're the hosts of Everyone Watches Women's Sports, a new podcast from Together and I Heart Women's Sports.

[Sam J.]

Because, let's be real, women's sports is giving us way too much to talk about these days.

[Ari Chambers]

The highlights, the rivalries, the breakout stars, the moments that take over your entire

[Sam J.]

timeline, and the conversations that start during the game and somehow keep going all week.

[Ari Chambers]

Every week, we're breaking down the biggest stories across women's sports.

[Sam J.]

We'll give you our takes, our debates, and probably a few disagreements.

[Ari Chambers]

We'll talk to athletes, celebrate big moments and get into what's happening on and off the field, court, track and beyond.

[Sam J.]

Because we're not just interested in what happened, we're interested in why everyone's talking about it. Because everyone watches women's sports. So if you're already a fan or

[Ari Chambers]

you're just getting into the game, there's a seat for you right here.

[Sam J.]

Listen to Everyone Watches Women's Sports on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Dan Patrick]

Austin Reaves of the Lakers. He joined us yesterday, signed the max deal with the Lakers. I started the conversation by asking him about free agency and did he ever give any thought to going anyplace else?

[Austin Reaves]

Yeah, I mean, the one thing that the Lakers, you know, had the advantage on was being able to talk to me as soon as the season was over and July 1st was when everybody else could come in. So, you know, it was. It was crazy, but it was. It was good that, you know, the Lakers had that opportunity to, you know, get something done so I didn't have to actually hit the market.

[Dan Patrick]

What'd you buy yourself?

[Austin Reaves]

I haven't bought myself anything, actually. My financial advisor told me the other day that I needed to spend more money, so I struggle with that. But, yeah, I mean, I'm more. I like, you know, getting gifts for other people. So, yeah, so I've done a little bit of that.

[Dan Patrick]

You're married?

[Austin Reaves]

I'm not married.

[Dan Patrick]

You got a girlfriend?

[Austin Reaves]

I do.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay.

[Austin Reaves]

She. Yeah, I'll give her the card and she'll. She'll do. She'll do what he asked.

[Dan Patrick]

Who gave you advice, though, to stay?

[Austin Reaves]

I don't know if there was really a single person. I think it was more so kind of just what I wanted, and that's kind of what my family told me from the get go, was whatever makes you happy, wherever you, you know, want to live, you know, want to continue your. Your journey is. Is where you should be. And I love la. It's like a home away from home for me. I've been there for five years and I would. I couldn't imagine being anywhere else.

[Dan Patrick]

You haven't lost that accent, though.

[Austin Reaves]

No, not at all. I go back. I go back to Arkansas after the season every year, so it probably fades a little bit during the season, and then when I go home, it comes right back.

[Dan Patrick]

You got an LA accent?

[Austin Reaves]

No, absolutely not.

[Dan Patrick]

How did you find out about LeBron's plans?

[Austin Reaves]

I was actually at Pot and Hearst playing golf. DLO had this little Ryder cup style thing out there, and so I was out there playing and I think my girlfriend text me and was like, no, LeBron or something. I was like. So I pulled up Instagram and it was all over that. And I. I texted him and I was like, I was having a great day on the golf course till you ruined it. But, yeah, no, I mean, he's. He's been, you know, probably the biggest impact on my career since I've been in la. So nothing but love and respect and, you know, wish him nothing but the best.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay. How long do you have to be on the Lakers before you get LeBron's number?

[Austin Reaves]

I'm pretty sure I got it pretty quick.

[Dan Patrick]

Really?

[Austin Reaves]

Yeah, I think so. He has a mini camp every year before our training camp, and when we were down there, I think there was a group message sent out and everybody was sending their names in it. And I seen his name. Well, and the thing is, I was on a. You know, my rookie year, I was on a team of six hall of Famers. So it was like I would see a message and be like, russell, Russell, Westbrook, Mello, Dwight. Like, it was just name after name after name. I'm like, holy, why am I here?

[Dan Patrick]

When did you know you could play?

[Austin Reaves]

I've always had like a, you know, a delusional confidence in myself. You know, it goes back to high school and, you know, just believing in what I can do on a basketball court.

[Dan Patrick]

Because I remember somebody who saw a practice and said, austin Reeves can play. And. And this was when you got to the Lakers, so. And I remember talking to Jay Billis and everybody looks back in retrospect and they'll go, oh, yeah, you know, everybody knew. I. I said, wait a minute, was he drafted? When was. He wasn't a first rounder. Like, there are a lot of people who didn't know if you could play. But what did you fight? Like, what was the stereotype that you're. You're fighting?

[Austin Reaves]

I'm wide, I'm unathletic, I could walk down the street. Nobody's going to be. I mean, I've had people ask me if I played tennis or baseball before basketball. So it's just, you know, things like that. But, you know, I never. I felt like I was never going to get the opportunity to play in the NBA. I always felt like I was capable of it, but I didn't know if the opportunity would present itself. But once it did, you know, I kind of got my foot in the door and then, you know, took advantage of it.

[Dan Patrick]

What were you told about the Lakers future or immediate future with before you signed? Did they give you any inkling?

[Austin Reaves]

Yeah, I mean, we had. I mean, I had a lot of talks with Rob. You know, I'm really close with Luca and JJ as well. And, you know, we're just building something that, you know, can be sustainable for not just now, but the future. I feel like I seen something the other day that I'm the oldest guy on the team and I'm 28, so that's. It's actually crazy to me. But, yeah, I mean, you know, we want to have success now and you know, five or six, seven years down in the future.

[Dan Patrick]

Were you a Kobe fan?

[Austin Reaves]

Huge Kobe fan.

[Dan Patrick]

And posters, the whole thing.

[Austin Reaves]

Oh, everything.

[Dan Patrick]

And do you have memorabilia of him?

[Austin Reaves]

No, we wasn't much of a memorabilia guy. I was just. I mean, every time they was playing, you know, my grandma was a Kobe fan as well, so we would, we would sit on the couch and watch. Watch Laker games all the time.

[Dan Patrick]

Lucas style, can that be taught to anybody?

[Austin Reaves]

No, I think it's just. I think it's God given, to be honest. The pace that he plays with, the way he sees the game and creates advantages for other people. You know, you can, you can study it, but I don't know if you can, you know, really do it the way that he does it.

[Dan Patrick]

He has a pace to his game. Joker has a pace. Kawhi Leonard has a pace to like they, they make you play their pace. Yeah. Is that fair?

[Austin Reaves]

Yeah, no, for sure. I mean, it's not. You're not going to watch them and be like they're blowing by anybody, which they do. But it's always like slow to fast or fast or slow. It's never, you know, just completely fast. There's guys that just run by people and then there's guys that bait people to do what they want them to do.

[Dan Patrick]

Austin Reeves of the Lakers, what was your welcome to the NBA moment?

[Austin Reaves]

I think it was in practice. Braun, for some reason I got matched up on him. Three straight possessions and I played probably the best defense of my life and he scored every possession and he was talking so I couldn't say anything. But that was kind of my, oh, wow. Like, do I really belong here?

[Dan Patrick]

But is that. He's so much bigger than people think.

Oh, yeah.

I think that's what. Well, so is Luke. I mean, we're surprised when we height, we can, you know, kind of look at and go, oh, that guy's tall. Yeah, it's when you see these guys that they're thick.

[Austin Reaves]

Oh, yeah. No, they're. I mean, the thing about Brian is he's one of the strongest guys in the NBA. And same with Luka. Like, you can't knock them off their spot, so it's. It's very tough to guard them because of how physical they are.

[Dan Patrick]

What'd you think of the Knicks winning?

[Austin Reaves]

I don't really have thoughts. I got, I mean, I got as

[Dan Patrick]

a team the appreciation of what they did. Because that's what you want to build in la.

[Austin Reaves]

Yeah, for sure. I Mean, I got to know some of those guys when I played the USA team with Mikhail, Josh and jb. Great dudes. You couldn't ask for better humans. And I think that that shows on the basketball court. They care for one another, they play for one another. And that's, like you said, that's something you want to build.

[Dan Patrick]

Who's the celebrity you want to meet this week?

[Austin Reaves]

I don't really know. I kind of stay to myself.

[Dan Patrick]

You don't get caught up in any of that?

[Austin Reaves]

Nah, I just. I kind of like. I stay to myself.

[Dan Patrick]

You kind of. You would pass as a country singer, Like a tall country singer.

[Austin Reaves]

I wish I could sing, but I can't.

[Dan Patrick]

Do you say anything to Steph Curry?

[Austin Reaves]

No. I mean, I. We played one round together last year. He played really well. You know, I obviously know him through the basketball stuff, but unbelievable human, you know, And a really good golfer as well.

[Dan Patrick]

Can you explain him? Like, if somebody never saw him.

[Austin Reaves]

Incredible. I mean, the things that he does. He's 6 3.

[Dan Patrick]

Have you guarded him?

[Austin Reaves]

Yeah, I've tried. I mean, you can try to. I mean, there was one game we played where I think he ended with 30. And at the end of the game, I was like, I did a really. I did a really good job job. And I look up and I was like, well, never mind.

[Dan Patrick]

When did the headband start and how long is that going to continue?

[Austin Reaves]

I think it's here to stay. I mean, I don't really know. It was. I think we were going through an illusion streak and I. We weren't playing well, and I kind of just wanted to make something up and it kind of stuck.

[Dan Patrick]

Thanks for making time.

[Austin Reaves]

Yes, sir.

[Dan Patrick]

Congratulations on the contract.

[Austin Reaves]

Thank you. I appreciate it. Y' all have a good one.

[Dan Patrick]

Austin Reeves.

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