The Dan Patrick Show: C&R – Belichick Blessing & 40 Years Ago Today

Date: January 29, 2026
Hosts: Steve Covino & Rich Davis (with the C&R team: Spot, Dan, Danny G, and callers)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Covino & Rich—filling in for Dan Patrick—tackle two main storylines:

1. The controversy around Bill Belichick not being inducted as a first-ballot Hall of Famer, the surrounding media uproar, and whether social media outrage has actually worked in Belichick's favor.
2. A look back at iconic sports and cultural moments "40 Years Ago Today," reflecting on both the Challenger disaster and the wider world of 1986 in sports and pop culture.

The episode is packed with candid debates, humorous tangents, listener calls, and signature banter, delivering a lively mix of sports analysis and nostalgic storytelling.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

I. Bill Belichick's Hall of Fame Snub & PR Blowback

[01:19–05:51]

• Initial Reaction to Snub

  • Rich and Covino revisit Belichick's first-ballot Hall of Fame controversy, questioning the motivations behind keeping him out.

    "Is it attention seeking?" – Rich Davis [02:04]
    "Cowardly has been used a lot." – Steve Covino [02:08]

• Contrarian Voters & Historical Parallels

  • Comparing to fact that Mariano Rivera was the only unanimous Hall of Famer, and some voters just "want to be the contrarian." [02:10]

• Media Spin: Blessing in Disguise?

  • Covino shares a positive take from a Patriots fan friend, suggesting the controversy is good PR for Belichick, reminding the world of his greatness:

    “Took a horrible PR year and turned it into everyone now talking about how great of a coach he is again.” [02:32]

  • The hosts agree the public outcry (from Tom Brady, Mahomes, LeBron, J.J. Watt, and others) flips the script, with vast support rallying behind Belichick, making "the plan backfire.”

    "Tom Brady’s on defending him. That man is ridiculous. He’s the best of all time." – Steve Covino [03:55]

• Social Media's Double-Edged Sword

  • Acknowledges the role of social media in generating this massive show of support:

    "Social media is the devil, but it's also pretty awesome to get your thoughts and voice out there." – Rich Davis [05:13]

II. Callers Weigh In: Accountability, Walk-Offs, and Sports Endings

[05:38–08:50]

• Accountability and Penalties

  • Callers chime in with perspectives on accountability for cheating; debate whether Belichick ever really faced discipline for Spygate (fines, but never suspension).

    “Sometimes you just got to put your big boy pants on and take accountability for the stuff that you do.” – Caller Ed [06:30] "Belichick was fined $500,000 by the NFL but never suspended for anything." – Danny G [08:03]

• Famous Walk-Offs in Sports

  • Stories of dramatic exits, including John Kruk retiring in the middle of a game:

    “He got a single and made sure he hit .300 for his career and walked off mid game and retired and left the stadium.” – Caller Derek [07:21]

III. Words of Wisdom & Social Media's "Paper Trails"

[09:05–17:46]

• Big Mike's Words of Wisdom

  • Humorous segment with a philosophical quote from "Big Mike" played for listeners to repeat and win a prize:

    “Deserving isn't something other people get to grant or revoke. You don’t become less deserving because someone else failed to recognize you.” – Big Mike [10:36]

  • The team jokes about its "Confucius-level" complexity.

• Digital Footprints in Sports

  • Discussion shifts to how social media captures youthful predictions about athletes—now, viral old tweets can "prove" early genius scouting.
    • Examples:
      • Drake Maye: Old tweet from Justin Farkas in 2012 predicted his future stardom at age 9 [12:59].
      • Paige Bueckers: 2013 tweet from Gary Knox called her the next Diana Taurasi as a 6th grader [14:48].

    “We live in a world now where you could see a tweet about someone… it was cute that I used the word cute.” – Rich Davis [14:22]

• Nostalgia and Sports Parenting

  • The hosts joke about making premature proclamations about their own kids in hopes some will age well [17:57].

IV. Memorable Sports Lineages & Fun Facts

[19:55–21:44]

• Sam Darnold’s Grandfather
  • Delight over Sam Darnold’s grandpa, the Olympian/modeled "Marlboro Man," Dick Hammer:

    “He is one of the Marlboro men… And it’s like, to think Sam Darnold winning a Super Bowl would make him the coolest guy in the family. How is that?” – Rich Davis [21:06]

  • Recurring jokes about the best sports names and legendary family status.

V. Midweek Major: Sports & Pop Culture Headlines

[23:42–32:58]

Moderated by Spot, the crew rapidly reacts to trending topics, rating each as “Midweek” (mediocre) or “Major”:

• Tyson Fury’s Comeback [25:03]

  • Announced return fight in April after a hiatus. Reception: "mid until proven otherwise, but big because it's Fury."

• Caitlin Clark on NBC Sports Broadcasts [28:13]

  • WNBA sensation to contribute to NBA coverage: Generally considered "major," but questions linger about sustaining the Caitlin Clark buzz.

• Mike Ditka’s Iconic Vest Up for Auction [30:12]

  • The legendary 1986 Bears sweater vest expected to fetch over $82k—a hot commodity for any Chicago fan.

    “This might be one of the cooler memorabilia pieces in Chicago sports.” – Rich Davis [30:39]

• Mike Vrabel’s “Half Off” Joke Returns [31:35]

  • Titans coach pokes fun at his old quote about making a bodily sacrifice for a Super Bowl win, drawing laughs and puns all around.

VI. 40 Years Ago Today: Remembering the Challenger & 1986

[35:36–41:13]

• The Challenger Disaster [37:15]

  • Somber collective memory from the school classroom as the space shuttle exploded.

    “First time I saw adults blubbering, like crying uncontrollably.” – Danny G [37:40]

  • Discussion on its impact on culture—the fading astronaut dreams of a generation.

• 1986 in Sports & Pop Culture [39:25]

  • 1986 as a pivotal sports year:
    • Super Bowl: Chicago Bears victory (aired in ‘86 after the ‘85 season)
    • World Series: Mets vs. Red Sox
  • Other 1986 highlights: Oprah TV debut, Top Gun movie, Halley’s Comet, and the first TV appearances of franchises like Zelda and Ninja Turtles.

    “The Smurfs, Alvin and the Chipmunks, the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic came out…” – Steve Covino [40:31]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Belichick’s snub:

  "It took this for everyone to be like, what, are you kidding? This guy's the best." – Rich Davis [04:33]

• On Social Media as Double-edged Sword:

  "Social media is the devil, but it's also pretty awesome…" – Rich Davis [05:13]

• On Collectibles:

  "Other than a Michael Jordan piece, this might be one of the cooler memorabilia… in Chicago sports." – Rich Davis [30:39]

• On Challenger Disaster:

  "First time I saw adults blubbering, like crying uncontrollably." – Danny G [37:40] "They probably just felt… terrible to have to watch us as kids witness something so tragic." – Steve Covino [38:10]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Belichick Hall of Fame Snub & PR Spin: 01:19–05:51
• Caller Reactions & Sports Ethics: 05:38–08:50
• Big Mike's Words of Wisdom & Social Media “Paper Trails”: 09:05–17:46
• Sam Darnold’s Family Sports Legacy: 19:55–21:44
• Midweek Major (Hot Headlines): 23:42–32:58
• 40 Years Ago Today: Challenger & 1986 Memories: 35:36–41:13

Overall Tone & Energy

The episode is lively, irreverent, and deeply nostalgic—with Covino and Rich’s trademark humor and openness with personal stories. The audience gets candid sports commentary, a celebration of sports history, and a look at how digital culture is shaping sports storytelling for the next generation.

For more from Covino & Rich, catch their show on Fox Sports Radio and join the conversation on YouTube and social media.