Podcast Summary

Podcast: The Dan Patrick Show — Covino & Rich Edition
Episode: C&R - 3 Cries, Southwest, STD Rankings
Date: January 28, 2026
Hosts & Regular Contributors: Covino, Rich, Danny G., Dan Byer, Sam, Spot

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode blends sports talk with the hosts' signature humor and banter, diving deep into cultural shifts, emotional expression (specifically “crying” in adulthood), the end of an era for Southwest Airlines' seating, and a comedic look at college STD statistics. The show oscillates between lighthearted reflection and playful debate, mixing personal anecdotes with topical sports analysis.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Weather, Geographic Habits & Life Preference

(02:49–05:00)

• The crew discusses growing up in cold climates versus living in places like Southern California.
• Rich shares: “I’d rather live in a nice place and visit the cold than live in the cold and visit the warm” (04:00).
• Sam and Dan Byer reflect on the burdens of shoveling snow, harsh winters, and seasonal preferences.
• Covino narrates his day in NYC, dealing with “slush up to my knees” (05:09), highlighting the choice to live in LA now.

2. Sports Sentimentality — How Many Times Should a Man Cry?

(05:00–14:00)

• Prompted by Mike McCarthy getting emotional coaching his childhood team, the team debates: “Is there a limit to how many times men should cry?”
  • Covino: "You only get 96 tears per lifetime… about three a year, max. That's taking away tragedy and things like that." (06:43)
  • Rich: "I cry like three times a week." (08:37)
  • Covino counters: "That's crazy, you need to talk to somebody then." (08:41)
• The group distinguishes “blubbering” (full-on crying) from “welling up” (getting glassy-eyed):
  • Covino: “Being emotional, welling up... doesn’t count. I’m talking full-on blubber — an ugly cry." (10:04)
• Rich draws a line: Crying over meaningful, happy, or nostalgic moments = fine; crying over petty disappointments or being a “sore loser” = “stop being a bitch” (11:12).
• Commercials and movies that unexpectedly elicit emotion are shared:
  • “You ever see that [holiday] commercial where the grandpa trains all year just to pick up his grandkid? I’ll cry at that!” (Rich, 12:43)
  • Sam relates: “There was this guy cooking and his grandmother is in the reflection … shows she’d passed away, given her recipes… Got me right in the tuchas.” (13:09)
• The consensus: Three “blubber” cries a year seems “lenient”; emotion is healthy but over-criers might “need a check.”

Memorable Quote:

"Vatos have 96 tears — use them wisely." – Covino (13:00)

3. End of an Era: Southwest Airlines Assigned Seating

(15:21–19:39)

• Southwest Airlines ends its open seating policy; assigned seats are now required.
  • Danny G.: "Yesterday was the last day of choosing your own seat. Today is the first day of them assigning you." (15:25)
• The hosts reminisce about checking in 24 hours ahead to grab the “A group” boarding spot, the weird stress and ritual of picking seats, and how it paralleled the old days of unassigned movie theater seats.

Memorable Exchange:

• Rich: “There was the last time you bought tickets to a movie not knowing where you were gonna sit. That, to me, was anxiety ridden…” (18:30)

4. End-of-an-Era Moments in Sports & Culture

(19:39–22:48)

• From the sports world: Retirements (Brady, Ken Griffey Jr., Derek Jeter, John Cena) spark thoughts about aging and the passage of time.
• Covino notes: “When Smells Like Teen Spirit hit... that was the end of the hair metal era. Because it was the start of something new for the next decade.” (22:16)
• Discussion extends to TV habits, changes in league structures, and the decline of pay-per-view events.

5. Showtime Mahomes NFL Trivia Segment

(27:19–35:23)

• Patrick Mahomes character banters, bemoans not being in the Super Bowl, and hosts trivia.
• Contestants: Rich (27-time winner), Dan Byer, Spotty, and caller Dave from Maine (retired art teacher).
• Sample question: “How many total receiving yards did Jerry Rice finish his career with?”
  • Correct answer given by Rich: 22,895. (30:15)
• Light-hearted jabs and camaraderie throughout the segment.

Humorous Quote

“Mahomes said, and quote me, Shador [Sanders] straight buns.” – Patrick Mahomes character (28:30)

6. College STD Rankings: The Most “Infected” Schools

(40:42–42:53)

• Danny G. shares new data on college campuses with the highest STD rates (thanks to Arnie Spanier).
  • Arizona State is #1: “Always had a reputation for being a big party school and is still holding that reputation, man.” – Covino (41:47)
  • Florida State ranks #5; other top schools include Temple, Illinois, UMass, Rutgers, Penn, and Troy.
• The guys joke about correlating “hot people” and cold climates (“inside a lot doing it”).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• Covino on Crying Limits:
  "You only get 96 tears per lifetime, so you gotta use them wisely. I think you should get, realistically, about three a year, max." (06:43)
• Rich on Crying Frequency:
  "I cry, like, three times a week." (08:37)
• Covino on Today’s Men:
  “Today’s man is real quick to just let the water works out.” (10:54)
• Rich, defining “acceptable” crying:
  “I think there’s a big difference between positive welling up versus someone being a b*tch… If you’re crying because your kid got a scholarship or you saw old videos of your grandparents from the 1930s… that’s like, fine. But when you act like a little baby, that’s where you don’t cry.” (11:12)
• Mahomes Character, on Missing Super Bowl:
  "Disgruntled Showboy Mahomes. That's what you're getting right now… Not in a Super Bowl.” (27:54)
• Danny G., joking on STD stats:
  “I’m guessing the stats went up when Rich left Syracuse.” (40:55)
• Covino on End-of-Era Moments:
  "When Smells Like Teen Spirit hit the radio airwaves, that was the end of the hair metal era." (22:16)
• Rich on Lasts:
  “There was the last time you went to a video store, the last time you picked up your kid before bed… You just don’t realize it.” (17:01)

Segment Timestamps for Reference

• Weather & Regional Living: 02:49–05:00
• Men Crying & Emotional Thresholds: 05:00–14:00
• Southwest Airlines Policy Change: 15:21–19:39
• End-of-an-Era in Sports & Life: 19:39–22:48
• Showtime Mahomes NFL Trivia: 27:19–35:23
• College STD Rankings: 40:42–42:53

Tone

Conversational, playful, sometimes irreverent but always grounded in real-life reflection, mixing nostalgia, sports fandom, and comedic takes on pop culture.

For Listeners Who Missed It

This episode of Covino & Rich brings laughs and insights by dissecting what it means to be sentimental in the modern world, sharing quirky end-of-an-era stories from sports and daily life, and poking fun at the quirks of both airline policy and college reputations. Sports trivia, personal memories, and unique countdowns (like “top college STD rates”) ensure a fast-moving, feel-good listen with relatable moments for anyone, sports fan or not.