The Dan Patrick Show (C&R) - "Bobsledding with Broken Hearts"

Date: February 11, 2026
Hosts: Covino & Rich
Theme: Post-Super Bowl cultural fallout, sports monoculture, Winter Olympics, and the universal pain of breakups

Episode Overview

This episode rides the wave of post-Super Bowl emotions to explore how sports, pop culture, and even bobsledding intersect with our collective feelings—particularly heartbreak. Covino & Rich riff on the divisiveness of Super Bowl halftime shows, the search for experiences that unify America (like the Olympics), and the desperation of trying to win someone back. The show is full of humor, Gen X/Millennial references, and their signature relatable takes on masculinity, nostalgia, and social media.

Key Discussion Points

1. Super Bowl Halftime Shows, Counterprogramming, and the Culture Wars

Timestamps: 02:57 – 07:14

• Halftime Show Debates: Covino & Rich comment on recent backlash toward the halftime show:
  • “I'm not a Bad Bunny fan, guys. Never was, probably never will be. Bugs Bunny fan, though!” – Covino [08:18]
• They reflect on the evolution from corny musical acts to superstar spectacles, crediting "counterprogramming" as the real reason halftime blew up.
• On Criticism: “Why are we so butthurt about these things? ...It was cultural. Like I said, it was a business move.” – Covino [05:14, 04:48]
• Notable anecdote: The infamous 2001 halftime show featuring Aerosmith, NSYNC, Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige, and Nelly [06:37].

2. “Week of Love” and Too Much Negativity

Timestamps: 03:18 – 10:01

• The hosts call out the excessive negativity in sports fandom and media commentary.
  • “Everyone needs to get laid or something.” – Rich [03:18]
  • “It's Valentine's week, papi. Go get some love. Relax a little bit.” – Covino [03:23]
• Call for listeners to celebrate “the week of love” instead of wallowing in post-football grumpiness.

3. The Social Media Divide and “Expert” Culture

Timestamps: 12:08 – 13:17

• Rich and Covino lament how social media divides the country and makes everyone feel like an expert.
  • “I just feel like social media has divided us... I think it gave everyone some weird opinion that their opinion means a lot.” – Rich [12:47–12:56]
  • “Everybody's an expert.” – Covino [13:00]
• They joke about air hockey, dome hockey, and how even trivial opinions start fights online.

4. The Search for Unifying “Monoculture” Moments

Timestamps: 14:39 – 17:36

• Referencing the new “Miracle” documentary (about the 1980 men’s Olympic hockey team), Covino & Rich ask what could unify Americans today as the 1980 “USA! USA!” chant did.
  • “We lost monoculture. We're all in our own lanes because of social media.” – Covino [15:34]
  • “The last monoculture discussion we all had was Tiger King during COVID.” – Covino [16:22]
• Brainstorming unifying experiences: WBC, Olympics, and viral pandemic pop culture.

5. Olympic Events: Could You Pass as an Olympian?

Timestamps: 18:02 – 20:21

• Fun hypothetical: What Olympic sport could a regular Joe blend into without looking foolish?
  • Curling and cross-country skiing top the list for “blend-ability,” with nods to shuffleboard.
• Rich describes figure skating as “majestic, beautiful,” while Covino jokes about being the Rocky Balboa of ice skating.

6. The Viral Norwegian Heartbreak: Bobsledding with Broken Hearts

Timestamps: 20:25 – 24:32; 29:09 – 30:35

• Highlight of the episode: A Norwegian biathlete, Sterla Holm La Greid, breaks down post-bronze medal win, confessing on Olympic television that he cheated on the love of his life.
  • “Six months ago, I met the love of my life. Three months ago, I cheated on her, and I hate myself for it... I'm very sorry.” – Covino (translating Sterla’s speech) [21:38, 24:01]
• They dub this the “curse of the evil peni,” teasing how Olympic pressure, love, and poor judgment collided in a viral moment.
• Listeners react with both sympathy and ridicule:
  • “He uses this opportunity to try to get out of the doghouse…That’s a move I’ve never heard of before!” – Covino [22:18]

7. Desperate Attempts to Win Her Back: Listener and Host Stories

Timestamps: 24:32 – 36:33

• Prompted by Sterla's public apology, Covino & Rich share their most embarrassing “win her back” episodes:
  • Covino: Once tried to win back a dancer ex-girlfriend by getting a mega radio DJ (Paul ‘Cubby’ Bryant) to dedicate a song to her on Z100, hoping her dance team would hear.
    • “I was like, oh, this is it, she’s mine… and she was so mad about it, it just put me further in the doghouse.” [33:33]
  • Rich: Drove hours to his ex’s dorm with a Kay Jewelers necklace (“Every kiss begins with K…”), only to get a door slam from a new bearded boyfriend.
    • “She slammed the door on me. I remember driving back from Binghamton to Syracuse... just listened to sad music.” [36:02]
  • “Desperate guy never looks good.” – Rich [33:58]

8. The “Monoculture” and Social Media's Echo Chamber

Timestamps: 15:36 – 17:01, 44:55 – 45:39

• More reflection on the loss of shared experiences.
  • “If you say Bad Bunny was i [so-so], you love Trump and you're racist. It's like, what? Huh? I don't get it... the whole thing doesn't make sense.” – Covino [45:39]
• Rich jokes about being called “a really hateful guy” on social media despite his upbeat nature.
  • “If anything, I’m annoyingly friendly.” – Rich [45:05]

9. Winding Down: More Olympics, Relationship Advice, and Hot Takes

Timestamps: 41:49 – 47:41

• Covino & Rich tease the remainder of the Olympics, hand out prize packs, and toss around NFL injury hot takes.
• Friendly debates about athlete recovery, unifying sports, and how to enjoy the rest of the winter.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On halftime show outrage:
  “People have always, you know, fought against the man. Stick it to the mon.” – Covino [05:10]
• On heartbreak at the Olympics:
  “He’s so caught up in his emotions that this guy admitted to cheating on his girl on international television.” – Covino [22:14]
• On desperate romance:
  “You know what? When a girl sees you desperate, it’s over, man… Mr. Confident dude that’s with her or like Mr. Desperate dude trying to get her back?” – Covino [33:44, 33:58]
• On monoculture:
  “Maybe we need that song [‘I Saw a Tiger’ from Tiger King] back in our life. And the tiger saw, man. Maybe we need that.” – Covino [16:22]
• On social media:
  “All it did was give everyone some weird opinion that their opinion means a lot. Everybody’s an expert.” – Rich & Covino [13:00]
• On unity through sports:
  “What could we all agree upon…that could unify us?” – Covino [16:17]
• On post-breakup routines:
  “Drove away in my Plymouth Acclaim. That was an ass-getting machine.” – Rich [38:58]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Complaint Culture & Halftime Show Talk: 02:57 – 07:14
• Social Negativity & Week of Love: 03:18 – 10:01
• Social Media and Everybody’s an Expert: 12:08 – 13:17
• Monoculture Discussion/Tiger King: 14:39 – 17:36
• Olympic Event Hypotheticals: 18:02 – 20:21
• Norwegian Olympic Heartbreak: 20:25 – 24:32, 29:09 – 30:35
• Embarrassing Win-Her-Back Stories: 24:32 – 36:33
• Monoculture & Social Media Echo Chamber: 15:36 – 17:01, 44:55 – 45:39
• Closing NFL/Olympics Takes: 41:49 – 47:41

Episode Tone, Style & Takeaways

The tone is breezy, self-deprecating, and heavy on relatable banter. Covino & Rich use real pop culture and personal stories to bridge sports analysis, relationship wisdom (or lack thereof), and sharply funny commentary about our divided, social media-driven world.

For listeners:
If you’re struggling with breakups, missing sports camaraderie, or just wondering when America’s next “USA!” moment will be, Covino & Rich serve up both laughter and food for thought. Plus, never dedicate a song to your ex on the radio.