The Dan Patrick Show (Covino & Rich Edition)

Episode: C&R – Modern Sports Injuries & Rich’s Mom

Date: October 1, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode, piloted mainly by Rich with Covino out on vacation, takes a deep and humorous dive into the epidemic of injuries plaguing modern professional athletes—across the NFL, MLB, NBA, and beyond. The hosts and their callers reflect on whether today’s athletes have become “too big, too strong, too fast” for the physical demands of their sports, why injuries seem more common and severe, and what’s changed from decades past. Later, the show lightens the mood with the return of the fan-favorite game “Will Rich's Mom Know?” where listeners guess if Rich’s mother can answer both sports and pop culture questions.

Main Discussion: Are Modern Sports Too Demanding for the Human Body?

Are We Outgrowing Our Sports?

(10:40–36:50)

• Rich opens with a thought: injuries (Tommy John surgeries, ACL and Achilles tears) are rampant in all pro sports. He wonders:

  "Have we physically outgrown the nature in which these sports were designed to be played?"
  (10:58, Rich)

• Compared athletes of the 1960s-80s to now—how today's pros are far more muscular, faster, and maximize athleticism in ways that didn't exist 40 years ago. Old highlights show "guys were in shape, but they all looked like...dad bods."

  "They had, like, dad strength... Like your grandpappy would have the ability to lift stuff. Guys got injured, but not the way they do now."
  (11:30, Rich)

• Observes that rules, equipment, and medical advancements should mean fewer injuries, and yet the opposite is true.

• Key Question:

  "Are we just too big, strong, and fast and not flexible enough...is our body not designed for the speed, strength, and size of how you get hit today, how fast you throw today?"
  (12:22, Rich)

Panel and Caller Feedback

• Danny G: Acknowledges athletes' size and training creates unprecedented physicality—possibly exceeding safe biomechanical limits.
  (13:50, Danny G)

• Discussed over-specialization (youth pitchers with coaches at 7 or 8 years old), year-round training, and how the push for “explosiveness” may come at the cost of joint stability and injury prevention.

• Dan Beyer: Compared football players’ longevity in the 1950s vs. today. Noted that older generations weren't as specialized or muscle-bound, possibly contributing to fewer catastrophic injuries even with fewer safety rules.
  (17:45, Dan Beyer)

• Rich dismisses the "guys were just tougher" argument. Medical advances didn't exist; now, injuries are too severe to play through.

  "Don't give me this BS that guys were just tougher back in the day... No guy's rupturing his Achilles or...ACL injury and just keep playing."
  (21:05, Rich)

Listener Insights

• Nick from Alabama: Brings up PEDs and supplements, arguing that rapid muscle growth doesn’t strengthen tendons, making athletes more fragile.

  "You can have the biggest quad in the whole world, but the tendons that are around it...the steroids don’t make those grow like that."
  (32:05, Nick)

• Bob from Texas: Cites over-specialization and lack of well-rounded athletic backgrounds for making today’s players less resilient.
  (33:45, Bob)

• Panel debates muscle vs. joint training, with Spot and others noting that “training for explosiveness, not for joint stability” may be increasing injury risk.
  (36:10, Spot)

Iconic Modern Example

• Rich uses Giancarlo Stanton as an example:

  "Who's maybe the best in-shape baseball player? Giancarlo. Who's always hurt? Giancarlo."
  (45:49, Rich)

Quirky Theories & Memorable Contributions

• Dan from Idaho: Wonders if kids not riding bikes anymore is why there are so many knee and Achilles injuries—a tongue-in-cheek but thought-provoking comment.

  "What did we do 20, 30, 40 years ago as kids? We rode bikes, and no kids ride bikes anymore..."
  (48:10, Dan in Idaho)

• Rich laughs, noting the creativity of searching for answers:

  "That's actually so ridiculous it almost goes along with my thought..."
  (48:45, Rich)

Game Segment: Will Rich's Mom Know?

(51:30–1:12:15)

A lighthearted quiz segment where listeners guess if Rich’s Baltimore-area mom, Marianne, can answer various sports and pop culture questions.

Memorable Moments

• Mom nails the Raiders Question:

  Q: “What is the name of the Raiders running back from Boise State that broke out in Week 4…?”
  Marianne: "Ken Seats Genti."
  (53:45, Marianne)

• Correctly answers Bad Bunny as the Super Bowl halftime performer, admits she "can't name a song, but I knew it was Bad Bunny."
  (54:53, Marianne)

• Stumbles on the "Big Dumper" (Cal Raleigh), resulting in:

  "Never heard of him. Look up his butt, you might like it."
  (56:10, Rich, in jest)

• Misses on LeBron's three teams, only naming the Lakers:

  "The Lakers. I don't know any other ones."
  (59:35, Marianne)

• Contestant Matt wins a CNR Nerf football; Marianne jokes, "Do I get a T-shirt for losing?"
  (1:00:13, Marianne)

Oddball Topic: Would You Take the Injury for Your Team?

(1:16:30–1:25:40)

After discussing “turf toe” knocking out NFL quarterbacks, the crew ponders: If fans could transfer an athlete’s injury to themselves in exchange for team success, would they do it?

• Rich:

  "Do you think fans would take on the pain for the player they root for? Do Sundays, Mondays, and Thursdays mean that much to you?"
  (1:19:10, Rich)

• Panel agrees that die-hards (citing Philadelphia, Raiders, and 49ers fans) absolutely would, at least for a playoff or championship win.

• Lively debate concludes with the panel going off the rails about hypothetical injuries and even herpes as a sacrifice, with everyone glad Covino will be back to restore order next episode.

Notable Quotes & Exchanges

• Rich on sports science paradox:

  “How are they also more fragile? That just doesn’t make sense.”
  (34:16, Rich)

• Spot:

  “Players are training for explosiveness, not for joint stability.”
  (36:10, Spot)

• Dan (caller):

  “We rode bikes all summer. No kids ride bikes anymore. I think that’s why there’s so many lower extremity injuries, bro.”
  (48:10, Dan from Idaho)

• Marianne (Rich’s mom):

  “Never heard of him. Look up his butt, you might like it.” [on Cal Raleigh]
  (56:10, Marianne)

• Show’s wrap:

  “Thank God Covino’s back tomorrow...”
  (1:26:20, Rich)

Key Timestamps

• Main Injury Discussion: 10:40–36:50
• Listeners Call-In: 31:08–36:50
• Giancarlo Stanton discussion: 45:49–46:40
• Bike-riding caller: 48:10–48:45
• Will Rich’s Mom Know game: 51:30–1:12:15
• Would you take an athlete’s injury for them?: 1:16:30–1:25:40

Episode Tone & Style

• Wide-ranging but always light, playful, and irreverent.
• Sports knowledge mixes with pop culture and personal anecdotes.
• Banter between hosts, regulars, listeners, and even Rich’s mom keeps the show moving at a rapid, fun clip.

Takeaways

• Today’s athletes may, ironically, be “too good” for the sports as they were designed, explaining the injury crisis.
• Specialization, explosive training, and even fewer fun childhood activities may play surprising roles.
• Fans are as passionate (and as willing to suffer) as ever—maybe even more intense than the pros themselves.
• “Will Rich’s Mom Know?” is a hilarious anchor, blending generational sports and pop culture gaps.
• The show is a blend of sharp sports insight and ridiculous, relatable humor that makes even complicated topics feel fun.