The Dan Patrick Show (Covino & Rich) – Episode Summary

Episode: C&R - Pros Vs. Prep & LeBron's Golden Toes
Date: March 11, 2026
Podcast Network: iHeartPodcasts and Dan Patrick Podcast Network

Episode Overview

In this light-hearted and energetic episode, Steve Covino, Rich Davis, Dan Byer, and their crew take on a series of lively sports hypotheticals, debate gender and physicality in sports, discuss the pride-versus-price dilemma in outrageous challenges, and sprinkle in their trademark humor and banter. Notably, the show dives deep into the classic ‘pros vs. preps’ debate—could high school teams compete with professionals in different sports—and riffs on the viral topic of what price it would take to lick LeBron James’ toes. The crew also hosts their recurring “Iron Mike Trivia,” blending boxing nostalgia with listener participation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Hypothetical: High School Teams vs. Professional Teams

[03:54–09:48]

• Premise: If a high school team played a pro team (in any sport), which sport would see the biggest blowout, and which the closest game?
• Football: All hosts agree—a high school team would be utterly destroyed by an NFL team due to the mismatch in size, strength, and speed.
  • Quote (Rich Davis, 04:18): "I don't think a high school kid could tackle Derrick Henry... in football, a high school team would get massacred by an NFL team."
  • Quote (Dan Byer, 06:50): "It's not even close. It's football. It's not even close at all."
• Other sports:
  • Baseball: High school pitchers wouldn’t stand a chance against MLB hitters, and vice versa. There may be moments, but overall, the skill gap is massive.
  • Basketball/Hockey: The defense, speed, and size of pros would overwhelm high schoolers, but the theoretical margins might be narrower than football.
• Physicality is Key: The crew highlights the brutal physical aspect of football as a unique factor.

2. Gender, Physicality & Realities of Sports

[11:30–18:12]

• Viral Story: Clarissa Shields vs. Rolly Romero Hypothetical
  • Shields (professional female boxer, 185 lbs) bets she could beat smaller male champ Rolly Romero (140 lbs) based purely on her size and skill.
  • Shannon Sharpe's Take: "I'm sorry, you're not competing with Rolly Romero. Rolly Romero would destroy you as a man. Even a little man." (Steve Covino, 12:47)
  • The hosts debate if being honest about physical differences is "sexist," with Covino noting that separate leagues exist for a reason.
  • Notable Quote (Dan Byer, 15:17): "Serena Williams... said it—Andy Murray would beat me; Six-love, six-love."
• WNBA vs. High School Boys Debate:
  • Can a top girls’ team beat a good boys’ high school team? Most agree the physical edge rests with the boys, but pro women might beat an average high school squad.
• Overall Theme: Physicality, development, and gender differences are real in sports, and acknowledging them is not inherently sexist.

3. Hypotheticals & Integrity: "Would You Lick LeBron's Toes for $50,000?"

[35:27–45:41]

• Inspired by Selena Gomez licking her husband's feet—a segment detours into the ‘everyone has a price’ cliché.
• Rich presses the crew: "Would you lick LeBron's toes after a playoff game for $50,000?" (35:31)
• Responses:
  • Covino is adamant: he wouldn’t do it—out of pride, dignity, and not wanting to be “bought” or feel owned by a stranger’s dare.
    • Quote (Steve Covino, 43:18): “For me, I’m not that desperate for money... I have something called pride. I do. I have self-worth... I’m not your clown, I’m not your monkey.”
  • Some in the crew (Dan Byer, Iowa Sam) admit they might be tempted "for a house, maybe," highlighting personal circumstances matter.
  • Rich insists “everyone has a price,” and the practical reality of bills and life could entice most people to accept.
• Underlying Debate: It’s less about money and more about personal integrity, self-image, and whether you’re participating willingly or being “power tripped."

4. Listener Calls & Feedback

[18:52–19:48]

• Rick from Santa Barbara: Challenges the idea football would have the biggest professional-to-high school blowout, suggesting baseball’s lack of a clock could mean limitless scoring and the largest final margin.
  • Rich’s response: Entertains this idea, admitting baseball’s rules could produce astronomical scores.

5. Iron Mike Trivia

[28:53–34:44]

• The show pivots to its recurring segment with a comedic "broken Mike Tyson" impersonation.
  • Classic sports and boxing knowledge are tested with listeners calling in for a chance to win show prizes.
  • Questions include topics like Mike bribing police with a Rolls Royce, George Foreman's historic title, and the first HBO 24/7 fight.
  • Memorable Quote (Steve Covino as Mike Tyson, 29:15): "Don Flamenco never stops talking over here. What's up, Don Flamenco? And by the way, if you're wondering, I beat you up too. And any high school kid. Now I'm angry."
• Winner: Virgil from Phoenix, a proud pipe fitter, takes the prize pack.

6. Basketball & Playoff Structures

[38:17–40:21]

• Brief debate over NBA play-in and playoff representation:
  • Rich critiques teams under .500 being included in playoff scenarios (“I don’t think a team under .500 should be in playoff consideration.” — 38:55)
  • Dan Byer sees the play-in as expanding opportunity but recognizes quality concerns.

7. Miscellaneous & Pop Culture Moments

• Iron Mike jokes, references to SGA’s (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander) “Thursday flashiest outfits” (24:00–24:43)
• Brief pop culture sidetracks: Wizards of Waverly Place, social media discussion on Kevin Durant at a Mexico soccer game, Selena Gomez’s viral toe-licking moment.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Football Mismatch:
  • "Even the best high school kids couldn't keep up. Not even close." — Steve Covino [06:03]
• On Gender & Sports:
  • "When it comes to sport, they have to be separate, which is why there are separate leagues." — Rich Davis [15:56]
• On Personal Integrity:
  • "It’s that feeling, call it whatever you want, stops me, prevents me from moving forward." — Covino on refusing to take money for humiliating dares [44:35]
• On Sports Hypotheticals:
  • "This is also why I don't like hypotheticals all that much, because it's never going to happen until Jake Paul makes it happen." — Covino [16:05]
• Iron Mike Classic:
  • "Don Flamenco never stops talking over here. What's up, Don Flamenco? And by the way, if you're wondering, I beat you up, too!" — Covino as Mike Tyson [29:15]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Intro, banter kickoff: [01:56–03:54]
• High school vs. pro teams (main hypothetical): [03:54–09:48]
• Gender/physicality/Clarissa Shields debate: [11:30–18:12]
• Listener calls on baseball margin: [18:52–19:48]
• Iron Mike Trivia: [28:53–34:44]
• LeBron's toes hypothetical: [35:27–45:41]
• NBA play-in and playoff debate: [38:17–40:21]
• Witty pop culture banter: Scattered throughout (see [24:00–24:43], [35:00–36:00])

Summary & Episode Tone

Throughout the episode, Covino and Rich maintain a fun, teasing, and sometimes irreverent style that melds sports-talk with the humor and relatability of friends bullshitting at a bar. While much of the content is built from hypotheticals, the debates scratch at real issues of gender, integrity, and the competitive realities of elite athletics. Classics like “Iron Mike Trivia” add nostalgia and interactive fun, and the show closes with a tongue-in-cheek but surprisingly deep musing on what we’ll do for pride—or a price.

Ideal For:
Fans of sports talk radio that mixes real analysis with spirited banter, and those who enjoy shows that blend sports, pop culture, and "would-you-rather" style hypotheticals.
Miss This Episode If:
You want hard stats or X’s & O’s deep dives. This is pure entertainment, debate, and personality.