The Dan Patrick Show (Covino & Rich)

Episode: "C&R - Olympic Names & Rigging the Draft"
Date: February 20, 2026
Podcast Host: Dan Patrick / Guest Hosts: Covino & Rich (Steve Covino, Rich Davis, et al.)

Overview

This lively episode of The Dan Patrick Show, featuring guest hosts Covino & Rich, dives into the cultural impact of Olympic athletes, the peculiar celebrity of Olympians, and the latest NBA draft lottery conspiracy theories. Blending nostalgia, humor, and skepticism, the crew revisits Olympic legends, debates the plausibility of draft rigging, and engages listeners with their trademark banter. With notable contributions from Dan Byer, Sam, and Danny G, the conversation covers everything from Olympic superstars to pop culture and sports conspiracies, keeping the tone laidback and playful throughout.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Olympic Names and Celebrity

(Begin ~03:28, ends ~16:10)

The Power of Olympic Moments & Athlete Celebrity

• The crew conducts an off-the-cuff brainstorm: Who are the most memorable U.S. Olympic athletes or moments since 1980?
  • Names that come up: Mary Lou Retton, Scott Hamilton, Greg Louganis, Dan & Dave, Nancy Kerrigan & Tonya Harding, Usain Bolt, Carl Lewis, Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte, Simone Biles, Gabby Douglas, Kerri Strug, Shawn Johnson, Flo Jo (Florence Griffith Joyner), Jackie Joyner-Kersee, and members of the Dream Team.
• Discussion on the strange, ephemeral celebrity of Olympic athletes:
  • Rich Davis: “It’s a weird type of celebrity... they’re amateur athletes, they’re not paid, but if they’re good enough, they’re household names and they get endorsements. And you hope they make some money because there’s nothing more aggravating... the elite of the elite at the Olympics...they don’t get paid anything, but a middle reliever in the NBA makes $50 million.” (06:59)

The Modern Olympic Moment

• The group reacts live to Alysa Liu’s (“Alyssa Liu” in transcript) gold medal in figure skating.
  • Dan Byer: “She was also in that read, by the way...Alysa Liu just won. So now her life changes, obviously, for the rest of her life.” (11:23)
  • Rich Davis: “The first time I ever heard her name, but I guarantee I will now know her.” (11:37)
• On why some Olympic moments/names resonate for decades; sometimes, nationality doesn’t matter—legends are legends.
  • Dan Byer: “Some names just pop a lot harder. They don’t have to be American names, they’re just names.” (12:41)

The Enduring Curiosity of Olympic “Randomness”

• Listeners and hosts recall other significant names: Christy Yamaguchi, Tara Lipinski, Sasha Cohen, Michelle Kwan, Brian Boitano, Oksana Baiul, Apollo Anton Ohno, Nadia Comaneci, Mike Eruzione.
• The Tonya Harding–Nancy Kerrigan scandal is framed as almost unbelievable for younger generations—too wild to be true.
  • Rich Davis: “If you told someone...these two women were so competitive that she hired some goons to take a club to the leg of the other skater...They would think you’re telling them a fib.” (13:45)
• The contrast between “real” sports celebrity and reality TV/viral culture is drawn:
  • Rich Davis: “This is the reason you should know someone.” (14:38)

Notable Quotes & Humor

• Steve Covino: “I’m also impressed with how it must work out their posterior to be adult and professional about it.” (05:58)
• Sam: “Don’t forget Carl Lewis.” (04:41)
• Rich Davis: “If you know the cast of 'Love is Blind' but you don’t know an Olympic gold medalist, that’s shame on us, right?” (12:04)
• Dan Byer: “When you hit, you hit...Alysa Liu just won. So now her life changes, obviously, for the rest of her life.” (11:23)

2. Sports Conspiracies & Rigging the NBA Draft

(Begins 15:59-ish, picks up at 16:10, ends ~27:17)

Pablo Torre’s Allegations & Draft Lottery Rumors

• Discussion arises on Pablo Torre’s investigative reporting and recent hints about possible NBA draft lottery rigging—specifically the Dallas Mavericks’ pick.
  • Rich Davis: “He had bumped into two anonymous owners that both are in agreement that the draft...the lottery was rigged.” (20:21)
• Evaluation of classic draft conspiracy theories: the 1985 “frozen envelope” and Patrick Ewing to the Knicks.
  • Steve Covino: “You mean to tell me out of all the teams, he could differentiate which envelope was the coldest?...That’s ridiculous.” (19:44)
• Skepticism reigns: hosts mostly do NOT buy the rigging, seeing most as coincidences or fan myths.
  • Steve Covino: “I don’t buy that...maybe you just didn’t feel a chilly one and grab it. That, oh, you got the New York Knicks and they get Patrick Ewing.” (20:06)

Other Sports Conspiracies

• The group touches on tanking, “scripts” in the NFL, and instances of weird game events (e.g., QB Sam Darnold running backward to hit the under on a Super Bowl prop).
  • Rich Davis (on “bad beats”): “Well, yeah, it happened. But this guy at the gym was trying to convince everyone that they put in the call...You really think that?” (25:23)

Notable Quotes

• Steve Covino: “Well, a bad beat doesn’t necessarily mean conspiracy or rigged either. That just means it happened.” (26:49)
• Rich Davis: “It’s hard to get current players who are fighting for their jobs and livelihood [to lose on purpose]... It’s very hard to be like, yeah, we’re just going to lose on purpose...” (24:30)
• Danny G (on college football safety causing a “bad beat”): “Mendoza just starts running towards his own end zone and runs out for a safety. And Iowa loses 20–15, 6…Even after the game, Mendoza addressed it...” (26:18)

Discussion on Which Conspiracies Sound Plausible

• Covino is more open to fight/boxing fixing than major league game rigging.
  • Steve Covino: “There's something so—I'll buy into boxing conspiracy. Like, that dude took a dive, or these judges are shady, or that was a fix...But when it comes to other sports, I'm not buying it.” (24:14)

3. Listener Engagement & Olympic Nostalgia

(Listener call: 31:55–33:48)

• A caller (Ryan from Chico, CA) invokes Dominique Moceanu, sparking more '90s and older Olympic nostalgia.
• The hosts collectively reminisce about legends like Nadia Comaneci and Mike Eruzione.
• The universal conclusion: Olympic names can enter and stay in the national consciousness—even if, just a month ago, most casual fans never heard them.

4. Old School & 50 Hits: Mr. Rogers Anniversary

(42:37–45:04+)

• The team marks Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood’s debut anniversary, debating his cultural importance, the show's effect on American “kindness,” and whether or not Mr. Rogers qualifies as a “nerd.”
  • Steve Covino: “I watched that guy change his shoes so many times, thousands of times, clean his fish tank, just tell boring stories. But I loved every second of it because he led with kindness. The world’s a kinder place because of Fred Rogers.” (44:07)
• Notable banter about the show's specifics—creepy puppets, childhood memories, and the show's legacy.

Memorable Quotes

• Rich Davis (on Olympic celebrity): “When you’re the greatest in the world, you deserve those accolades. If everyone knows random idiots on dating shows...but you don’t know an Olympian gold medalist, that’s shame on us, right?” (12:05)
• Steve Covino: “I feed off that excitement, too. So thanks, Dan.” (12:18)
• Dan Byer (on post-victory): “Now her life changes, obviously, for the rest of her life.” (11:23)
• Rich Davis (on draft conspiracies): “If I told you, I don’t think I’d be able to pick the one. They’d all feel a little cold after a while.” (19:46)
• Steve Covino (on nostalgia): “When you hit, you hit. And so like, Alyssa Lou just won. So now her life changes, obviously, for the rest of her life.” (11:36)

Important Timestamps

• 03:28–16:10: Olympic name brainstorming, why Olympic celebrity feels “different”
• 13:45–14:15: Kerrigan/Harding saga retold as an “almost unbelievable” American story
• 16:10–27:17: NBA lottery, draft conspiracies, Pablo Torre investigative reporting, broader sports “fixing” debates
• 31:55–33:48: Listener call, more Olympic nostalgia (Dominique Moceanu, Nadia Comaneci, Mike Eruzione)
• 42:37–45:04+: Old School/50 Hits – Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood, legacy, kindness, debate on being a “nerd”

Tone and Style

• Conversational and informal: The C&R crew leans into humor, self-deprecation, generational references, and playful bickering.
• Nostalgic and inclusive: Sharing childhood memories, reliving “where were you” sports moments together.
• Critical but skeptical: Open to conspiracies in sports, but mostly demystify the myths.
• Engaged: Frequent listener inclusion, challenge to guess “show & tell” items, shoutouts.

Conclusion

This episode blends sports history, pop culture nostalgia, and modern skepticism to connect the thrill of Olympic moments with the ever-present specter of sports conspiracies. From laughing about teenage crushes on gymnasts to poking holes in draft lottery rigging theories, Covino & Rich foster warmth, debate, and classic radio energy. Whether you're a casual fan or a sports trivia whiz, their conversation makes it clear: Olympic greatness, once seen, is never forgotten—and sometimes, it’s just fun to wonder “what if?” about how the sports sausage gets made.