The Dan Patrick Show – Covino & Rich: "Sports Renaissance, Minus the Scandal"

Date: October 24, 2025
Podcast: The Dan Patrick Show (Covino & Rich hour)
Network: iHeartPodcasts and Dan Patrick Podcast Network

Episode Overview

This episode of Covino & Rich, guest-hosting on The Dan Patrick Show, dives into the exciting start of the sports season—celebrating the emergence of new talent and the vibrant health of the major leagues—while also grappling with a developing NBA gambling scandal involving high-profile names like Chauncey Billups. The hosts, Covino and Rich, infuse the episode with banter, pop-culture analogies, and listener interaction, ultimately framing the current sports moment as a “sports renaissance”—even as scandal threatens to derail the positive momentum.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Victor Wembanyama's Breakout NBA Performance

Timestamps: 04:06–09:52

• The show kicks off celebrating Victor Wembanyama’s outstanding 40-point game, highlighting his unique blend of size (7'5"), agility, and skill rarely seen in NBA history.
• Covino marvels at the spectacle:
  “He’s playing like he’s six-seven…But he’s seven foot five. He’s making it look easy again, 40 points. He’s playing with some sazzle, some razzle dazzle.” (05:15)
• Rich compares Wembanyama to past giants, noting how rare it is for a “big” to be this dynamic.
• Comparison with other big men—George Muresan, Manute Bol, Taco Fall, Yao Ming—underscoring Wembanyama’s unprecedented impact.
• Anthony Davis’s post-game statement is cited as ultimate validation:
  “After the game, Anthony Davis said, I don’t know how you’re supposed to guard a guy like this.” (08:57)

2. NBA Scandal: Chauncey Billups & Gambling Controversy

Timestamps: 06:00–24:37, 33:24–36:48, 37:02–41:31

• The positive NBA momentum is juxtaposed with breaking news: Chauncey Billups and others indicted in a gambling and Mafia-backed poker scandal.
• Immediate impacts discussed:
  “The moment you woke up today, you’re like, dang. Chauncey Billups, Hall of Famer, rigged mafia-related poker games… And then of course, all the other gambling nonsense that’s going on.” (04:36)

Listener Reactions:

• Callers express how this scandal undermines trust in the NBA.
  • Mo from Tempe warns: “Right now it’s just Portland who nobody really cares about. But wait until it’s somebody’s favorite team... Pandora’s box is opening up.” (33:28)
  • Kelvin from Indianapolis (34:49) reflects on temptation and the fallibility of admired figures.

Industry and Ethical Questions:

• Discussion on the growth of sports gambling, its normalization, and the resulting conflicts of interest with sports media.
• Rich notes: “It is just uncharted territory... the wild west, you know, when we learn things about the Internet or AI and we're like, yeah, we haven't been here before, so we're making rules and learning as we go. I think the legalization of sports gambling...those are things that used to be taboo that are accepted in our society.” (20:14)
• The difference between legal gambling and “rigged” illegal activities is stressed: "You gotta be real careful. It's rigged gambling. Oh, that's a big difference." (22:34, Covino)

3. The “Sports Renaissance”

Timestamps: 12:04–17:54, 14:04–15:54

• Rich launches the thesis that we’re in a “sports renaissance”—major leagues (NBA, MLB, NFL) all firing on all cylinders.
• Factors cited: rule changes, new talent, embracing nostalgia and young stars, rising media consumption, and increased accessibility via social/digital platforms.
• Quote: “Sports in general right now is better than it’s been in a decade. Baseball, the stars, the rule changes, the franchise players... NFL ratings and interest... NBA is really starting to lean on the young stars, while also hitting you with a little nostalgia. I think sports right now is peaking.” (13:02–13:54, Rich Davis)
• Covino analogizes this to Disney’s “renaissance era” in animated film:
  “We might be on the precipice... of a sports renaissance... Social media is really starting to play a positive role in how we view these superstars, these young superstars.” (15:21–15:54)

4. Changing Attitudes: Gambling, Weed, and Cultural Shifts

Timestamps: 20:13–23:39

• Rich and Covino reminisce about how gambling, weed, and online dating have shifted from taboo to mainstream.
• Rich: “Everything that used to be shady is now like, yeah, I’m gonna do my DraftKings power parlay. And then on my way home...do you want me to stop and get some edibles? We live in a completely different world.” (21:48)
• They explore the need for personal responsibility and smarter regulation as lines blur between leagues and sponsors.

5. Interactivity and Listener Calls

Timestamps: 33:03–36:43

• Listeners weigh in on the NBA scandal, the paradox of star athletes succumbing to temptation, and the potential for even bigger fallout if the scandal spreads to bigger franchises.

6. Old School Throwback: The 1993–2025 Time Capsule

Timestamps: 49:02 onwards

• In recognition of Back to the Future’s anniversary and the Blue Jays’ World Series berth, the hosts play a time capsule game: What would shock someone from 1993 if you told them about 2025?
• Examples:
  • The evolution of U.S. presidents: first Black president (Obama), Trump as president
  • The Twin Towers being gone (9/11)
  • COVID-19 shutting down the world
  • Bruce Jenner (Caitlyn Jenner) transitioning genders
  • Social and technological changes (TikTok, online dating, legal weed and gambling)
• “Between 93 and 2025, where people in the 90s would be like, wait... they do this, they do that. What are the big shocking things?” (51:30, Rich Davis)

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On Wembanyama:
  "He's making slam dunks look like hook shots. They look like sky hooks that he’s slamming because he's got this ridiculous wingspan. We've just never seen a move like that…at least that’s how I feel when I see it." – Covino (07:03)
• Social & Sports Cycles:
  "Sports in general right now is better than it’s been in a decade... I think sports right now is peaking." – Rich Davis (13:54)
• On the NBA scandal:
  "That's why this is bad for the NBA, you know, because you're going to second guess everything.” – Covino (33:57)
• On temptation and humanity:
  “Sometimes the nicest dudes make a mistake... People are, you know, we're only human. You just try to make the best decisions. And Chauncey Billups, Oopsie Daisy is all you could say.” – Rich Davis (35:39)
• On Responsibility:
  "Responsibility is what comes along with all these things. Weed and gambling...are enjoyable to many if done responsibly. It's the idiots that mess things up, right?” – Rich Davis (22:35)
• On Getting Caught in Scandal:
  (After a Chris Farley-esque riff on why people think they won’t get caught): "You look suspicious and you're not even doing anything." – Covino (39:48)

Important Segment Timestamps

| Segment | Content | Timestamp | |---------|---------|-----------| | Wembanyama’s NBA Impact | Main discussion & analysis | 04:06–09:52 | | NBA Gambling Scandal | Initial breakdown | 06:00–24:37 | | Gambling, weed, & culture | Changing taboos | 20:13–23:39 | | Positive “Sports Renaissance” case | Rich’s thesis and supporting discussion | 13:02–17:54 | | Listeners chime in | On scandal and NBA trust | 33:03–36:48 | | Law enforcement/commissioner quotes | “His career is already benched – not for injury, but for integrity.” – NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch on Terry Rozier (37:02) | | Old School Game: “What would shock someone from 1993?” | Nostalgia, societal changes | 49:02–53:57 |

Tone and Style

• The hosts use humor, pop-culture (wrestling, hip hop, and Disney), and vivid analogies to relate to the audience.
• Language is conversational and self-deprecating (“We’re not even famous in our own hometown” – Covino, 31:54).
• Callers are included, maintaining inclusivity.
• Serious topics (scandal, addiction) are tempered with empathy and reflection on evolving societal standards.

Summary

This episode was an engaging mix of celebration and caution: marveling at Wembanyama’s unprecedented skill and the vibrant state of all major sports, while not shying away from examining the challenges and risks associated with gambling’s expansion into mainstream sports. The underlying theme is the unpredictability and resilience of sports and culture, as cycles of scandal and renaissance interplay. The hosts push for responsible enjoyment—whether with betting, weed, or just being a fan—and encourage listeners to savor what might be a once-in-a-generation “sports renaissance.”

For those who missed the episode:
Expect a breezy, funny, and reflective take on where sports is now, how fast the world is changing, and how even our heroes are only human. Plus, nostalgia games like “What would shock 1993?” make it a fun, interactive listen.