The Dan Patrick Show – C&R: “Raleigh Babies & Gambling > Investments”
Date: November 15, 2025
Podcast: The Dan Patrick Show (Covino & Rich segment)
Hosts: Steve Covino, Rich Davis, Danny G, Dan Beyer, Sam Spottswood
Network: iHeartPodcasts, Dan Patrick Podcast Network
Overview
This Friday episode of Covino & Rich (C&R), part of The Dan Patrick Show, dives into the current sports zeitgeist, focusing on hot debate topics like NFL MVP races, gambling’s rapidly growing role in sports culture, and the thin line between investments and wagers. The hosts add their trademark humor and A-list banter, including quirky analogies and lively segments like “Brainwave” and “Weekend Hobnobbing.” Special emphasis is placed on the social impact of gambling, fan reactions to MVP votes, and balancing excitement in sports with responsible behavior.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Drake May: The MVP Buzz
- The hosts kick off with excitement—and some skepticism—about Drake May’s emergence as a dominant NFL MVP candidate in 2025.
- Rich Davis: “Is he on an MVP path? Most consecutive games with 80+ passer rating and a win prior to age 24 since 1950: Marino, Lamar Jackson, Drake May...” (04:43)
- Previous MVPs with similar stats: Dan Marino (‘84), Lamar Jackson (‘19).
- Steve Covino: “It’s clear that he is on an MVP path as we speak. But there's still a lot of season left...” (05:00)
2. MVP Voting—Debate Over Aaron Judge vs. Cal Raleigh
- The hosts tackle a heated topic: fans upset over Aaron Judge winning MVP over Cal Raleigh.
- Rich Davis: “Aaron Judge was always the MVP... Cal Raleigh just made it closer than it should have been.” (06:16 – 07:34)
- They argue stats, media narratives, and what the MVP award should honor vs. what it often does (“good stories don’t always win”).
- Steve Covino: “A good story doesn’t always win because of that.” (08:13)
- Raleigh’s season called “magical”—but not deserving over Judge.
3. Gambling Culture—From ‘Taboo’ to ‘Mainstream’
- The discussion evolves into the shifting American attitudes toward gambling and its rapid integration into everyday life.
- Steve Covino: “I think gambling’s fun. If done responsibly, it could really be a fun supplement to watching a game. But not everybody can handle that responsibly.” (09:47 – 10:15)
- Wild stories shared, e.g., an Italian airport purportedly having a baggage carousel that acts as a roulette table (10:19–11:06).
- Comparisons drawn to changes in marijuana and cigarette culture—from forbidden to normalized almost overnight.
- Stat of concern: More people are now wagering than contributing to their 401(k) investments.
- Rich Davis: “There was a troubling stat... more people are now wagering than contributing into their investments in 401k.” (12:10 – 12:30)
- Danny G: “Average gambler is spending eleven hundred dollars per year and dialing back their investments by about 14%.” (17:19)
- Host’s take: “Treat betting as entertainment, not a financial strategy.”
4. Innovative (But Dubious) Gambling-Investment Ideas
- Rich shares a “Shark Tank” style concept—integration between gambling wins and automatic 401(k) or college fund contributions.
- Steve Covino: “If you win, you could directly deposit that into your kid’s 401k but you can’t take out of it...” (12:56 – 13:16)
- The group debates the merits and ethical grey areas.
5. The “Desensitization” Analogy
- Rich draws a parallel between sports gambling and how easy access to pornography has shifted expectations in more than one arena:
- Rich Davis: “We focus on the winnings...we’re losing the excitement of the game. Like...porn has desensitized a generation...What happened to just appreciating the game?” (15:54 – 16:33)
- This analogy is both humorous and thought-provoking, sparking laughter but driving home the point of “missing the joy” of the actual event.
6. Social Responsibility and Limits
- Sam Spottswood brings in a societal view, noting why gambling and drinking have always had warnings attached, invoking a broader sense of caution.
- “There’s a reason...gambling and drinking have been sort of looked down upon—maybe it causes some problems for societies.” (18:08)
7. The Role of Prop Bets & Sports Integrity
- The group discusses how prop bets, like on Super Bowl odds (National Anthem duration, Gatorade color), are capped for integrity reasons.
- Steve Covino: “You can't be like, yo, I got a tip and bet $500,000 on the national anthem...I think that they're going to do the right thing” (19:03 – 19:59)
8. Rich’s Big TV Game of the Week
- Segment highlights the must-watch NFL games of the week:
- Early Games: Green Bay vs Giants (“identity game for Green Bay”), Tampa Bay at Buffalo (“Baker Mayfield vs. Josh Allen”)
- Late Games: Baltimore-Cleveland, Niners vs. Cardinals (hosts to attend), Seahawks vs. Rams (“That is your big TCL game of the week.” 23:45)
9. Interactive Segment: “Brainwave”
- A new game where callers try to match hosts’ answers on fun sports/entertainment questions (e.g., best sports movie, corniest DJ format, most punchable sports face).
- Notable answers: “Rudy” unanimously favored as best based-on-true-sports movie (after some debate, 34:33 – 35:16), “pop” radio DJs called out as the corniest (37:04 – 38:12), Draymond Green and Manny Machado debated for “most punchable face.”
- Call-ins, quick back-and-forths, and camaraderie fuel this interactive segment.
10. Weekend Hobnobbing – What to Watch & Bet On
- The crew rounds out the show with “Weekend Hobnobbing,” their top sports and streaming picks:
- UFC 322: Jack Della Maddalena headlines
- Boxing: Chris Eubank vs. Conor Benn II
- Netflix: Guillermo Del Toro’s Frankenstein documentary, Landman, new John Candy and Eddie Murphy documentaries, Squid Game reality challenge. (51:43 – 52:25)
- College Football: Notable matchups (Notre Dame vs. Pitt, Oklahoma vs. Alabama, Iowa vs. USC, etc.)
Memorable Quotes & Moments
-
On Drake May’s MVP Stats:
“Dan Marino in 84, ten games, NFL MVP...Lamar Jackson 2019, eight games, MVP...Drake May, 2025, eight games—MVP? We'll find out.”
—Rich Davis (04:43) -
On the MVP Debate:
“You don’t grade catchers on a curve. You don’t give sympathy votes for MVP. Since when?”
—Rich Davis (06:28) -
On Sports Betting’s New Normal:
“Weed and gambling went from taboo to, like, hey, let's party it up.”
—Steve Covino (11:28) -
On Gambling vs. Investing:
“More people are now wagering than contributing into their investments in 401k.”
—Rich Davis (12:10) -
On Bet-to-College Fund App:
“If you win, you could directly deposit that into your kids' 401k, but you can't take out of it.”
—Steve Covino (13:09) -
On Gambling’s Social Impact:
“There's a reason... why for—even since biblical times—gambling and drinking have been, sort of, looked down upon.”
—Sam Spottswood (18:08) -
Porn Analogy:
“Porn at your fingertips has desensitized a generation...what happened to just appreciating the game?”
—Rich Davis (15:54)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Drake May MVP Discussion: 04:35 – 05:34
- Judge vs. Raleigh MVP Debate: 05:41 – 08:52
- Gambling Stories & Attitudes: 09:47 – 13:49
- App Idea—Wager into 401k/Kids' Fund: 12:55 – 13:49
- Desensitization/Porn Analogy: 15:54 – 16:33
- Gambling as Entertainment vs. Investment: 17:19 – 18:08
- Prop Bets & Integrity: 19:00 – 19:59
- Big TV Games of the Week: 20:00 – 23:45
- Brainwave Game Segment: 32:07 – 43:30
- Weekend Hobnobbing: 50:22 – 53:19
Tone & Style
The C&R crew balances humor and candor with sharp sports insights and relatable cultural commentary. Their style is conversational, irreverent, and fast-paced, leaning into inside jokes (“making love to a woman is already making love”) and pop culture references, while tackling real issues about the evolving relationship between sports, entertainment, and society.
For Listeners Who Missed the Episode
This episode is a can’t-miss if you care about:
- The league-wide impact of NFL MVP races and fan narratives
- The challenges and consequences of betting’s explosion in sports
- Why “the story” sometimes trumps stats—and why it shouldn’t
- How pop culture shifts change how we watch and enjoy sports
- What games and shows to watch or wager on this weekend
Whether you’re a fan of sports talk or just want to keep up with the latest debates and social shifts, Covino & Rich bring both laughs and thoughtful takes to the mic, making this episode equally entertaining and insightful.