Podcast Summary: The Dan Patrick Show (C&R) – "Robot or Waste, Mahomes, Free Bases"

Date: October 29, 2025
Hosts/Guests: Chris Covino, Rich Davis, Dan Beyer, Spot (Producer), Jonas Knox, and Showboy Mahomes (AI/Robot)
Network: iHeartPodcasts / Dan Patrick Podcast Network

Episode Overview

This lively episode of "Covino and Rich" covers the aftermath of a dramatic World Series Game 3, the ongoing "sports renaissance" of 2025, a full NFL Week 8 recap featuring a unique AI-generated musical summary, and a spirited discussion about the intersection of technology, sports, and culture. The crew also holds their signature "Showboy Mahomes Trivia" segment and debates the growing influence—good and bad—of artificial intelligence across sports, entertainment, and daily life.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Sports Highs – “The Sports Renaissance of 2025”

• Rich opens by echoing a sense of excitement about the day’s epic sports lineup, which included a classic World Series game, major NFL action, Wembanyama’s Spurs remaining undefeated, and Austin Reeves making Lakers history.
  • "I'm riding on a high right now. For real. I think we're onto something. The sports renaissance of 2025. Because everything's clicking." – Rich Davis [03:36]
• Austin Reeves is noted for his hot start with the Lakers, outperforming legends in first four-game scoring.

2. World Series Game 3 Instant Classic

• The crew analyses the wild game, from unexpected plays to extreme weather impacts:
  • On missed home runs due to chilly LA nights:
    "Three or four of those would have been home runs... It's just how it is." – Chris Covino [06:23]
  • On chaotic umpire calls and MLB history flashbacks: "There was such confusion on it... Like there are umpire moments. And because of how crazy it was, we forget what happened so early." – Spot (Producer) [07:16]
  • Standout defensive plays: Ohtani’s dramatic steal, Edmond's "game changing" throw to third.

3. NFL Week 8 Recap & Chiefs’ Win

• Chiefs defeat the Commanders 28-7, Travis Kelce breaks 100 career touchdowns—Taylor Swift is in attendance.
  • "The Chiefs are chief and they're back on track... Taylor was on hand to see Travis break some records." – Rich Davis [09:37]
• Covino and Rich reveal they purchased an AI "robot" to generate rapid football recaps, previewing a "robotic" future for sports media.

4. Debut of the AI Robot Recap (C&R’s Robot Recap)

• They showcase an AI-created musical recap of NFL Week 8:
  • "We bought a robot... this robot does something special. What it does for you is it recaps an entire week of football... This robot condenses everything for you." – Rich Davis [11:27]
• The robot’s folksy, “rock country” song blends headlines, heartbreak, and the league’s chaos.
  • Notable lyric: "Jets fans crying in the rain all year, Sunday came and washed their tears, finally one win column..." [14:30]
• The segment launches a broader discussion about the creative (and controversial) potential of AI in entertainment.

5. Technology, AI, and the Future of Sports Fandom

• Discussion pivots to the broader implications of generative AI, VR, and Sora/Google Gemini.
  • Predictions include virtual re-creation of historical sports moments and deeply immersive fan experiences.
  • "If you could say, make a song ... by just putting in key terms ... where’s the weirdest place this will all go?" – Chris Covino [17:28]
  • "I think you could take a picture of a moment, have AI recreate that moment, put on some sort of headset, and now you're in that time period..." – Rich Davis [17:59]

Concerns About AI’s Role in Culture

• Some, like Sam, express discomfort with how technology can become “soulless” when replacing authentic human creativity:
  • "A lot of it's soulless. But that's why you want to put your human touch on it." – Rich Davis [23:30]
  • Covino warns against over-optimism, citing actor and entertainment unions’ resistance to AI replication [24:18]

6. Showboy Mahomes Trivia Segment

• Light-hearted NFL trivia hosted with both the real and AI voices of Patrick Mahomes.
  • Notable banter:
    "Who's the first player in NFL history to throw 4,000 yards in one season? ... Joe Namath. 1967." – Patrick Mahomes [33:24]
  • Contestant Jeremy from Alaska (by way of UK) wins, and Mahomes pokes fun at being overshadowed by the Dodgers' run [36:45]
• The trivia serves as both a fun interlude and a way to bring fans into the interactive experience.

7. TV Ratings and Sports Media Innovation

• Discussion of the massive Canadian viewership for the World Series (up to 7.4 million for Game 3), equating it to "Friends finale" levels of cultural impact. [37:46]
• The team evaluates evolving sports broadcast graphics and the silent removal of pitch clocks and intrusive overlays, reflecting on the importance of tradition and visual clarity in major games.

8. Baseball’s Strategic Controversy: Intentional Walks

• The episode critiques the excessive intentional walks given to Shohei Ohtani (5 times in Game 3—4 intentional, 1 “kind-of intentional”).
  • Fan complaints, including from kids in the stands, are aired; John Root’s proposal to limit intentional walks per batter per game is discussed.
    • "There's lots of speculation ... commentator John Root proposed ... that Major League Baseball should limit teams to one intentional walk per batter per game and force the pitcher to throw." – Rich Davis [49:24]
  • The team leans toward keeping strategic options open, especially in playoff baseball.
    • "It's strategy ... every move you make in game three is going to have a factor in game four." – Rich Davis [50:11]
    • "In the postseason ... that's strategy, man. He's the best player in baseball. We're not going to let him beat us in the World Series." – Chris Covino [51:54]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the sports week:
  "Stats don't lie, man. Stats don't lie." – Rich Davis [04:25]
• On creative AI’s future:
  "If you could say, make a song ... by just putting in key terms ... what do you think the craziest thing we'll see is?" – Chris Covino [17:28]
• On AI's impact:
  "It just has no... It’s a real-life Black Mirror episode. It really is, you know, and it’s changing our world at a rapid rate..." – Rich Davis [24:36]
• On Ohtani’s walk-fest:
  "No, don't walk Ohtani again..." – Chris Covino recalling kids in the stadium [48:40]
• On strategy vs. spectacle:
  "I think in the playoffs, you gotta do what you gotta do to win. But in the regular season, I would not be opposed to a one-time-a-game (limit on IBBs)." – Chris Covino [51:51]

Important Timestamps

• 03:36 – Rich declares "sports renaissance" after epic week
• 05:58 – Listeners call in, dissecting World Series drama
• 10:57 – Announcement of C&R’s robot purchase
• 14:30-17:01 – Debut of the AI “Showboy Mahomes” robot recap song
• 17:28-21:33 – Deep dive on future tech and AI implications
• 33:20-36:28 – Showboy Mahomes NFL trivia game
• 37:46 – Canadian World Series viewership stats
• 48:40-52:12 – Debate on intentional walks/Ohtani, MLB rules

Summary

This episode encapsulates the intersection of sports, technology, and entertainment in 2025. The "sports renaissance" spirit is clear, from World Series drama to NFL showdowns and the debut of an AI-powered NFL recap rock song. Fast-paced banter, nostalgia, and debate over the role of AI, both as a creative tool and cultural disruptor, set the tone for engaging discussions on the future of fandom and the soul of sports. The crew balances admiration for innovation with genuine skepticism—reminding listeners there’s still value in human touch, on the field and behind the mic.