The Dan Patrick Show: C&R – ROCKY Passion & NBA Stars Hurting

Date: November 21, 2025
Podcast: The Dan Patrick Show (Covino & Rich segment)
Hosts: Covino & Rich, Danny G, Monty, Spotty Boy

Episode Overview

This lively episode of Covino & Rich on The Dan Patrick Show celebrates the anniversary of the original "Rocky" film’s release, diving deep into the beloved movie franchise, nostalgia, and the cultural impact of Rocky Balboa. The hosts invite listeners to share and debate their top five Rocky/Creed movies, favorite lines, and memorable moments, while also discussing Sylvester Stallone’s legacy and fun behind-the-scenes trivia. In the latter part, the team pivots to a sobering list of injured NBA superstars, pondering why so many athletes are sidelined. The episode is filled with humor, passionate storytelling, and engaging live audience interaction.

Key Discussion Points

1. Rocky Movie Appreciation & Rankings

(Segment begins ~05:00, continues throughout most of the hour)

• Anniversary Celebration: The show marks the original "Rocky" film’s release and what the franchise means to sports and pop culture.

• Hosts’ Rocky/Creed Top 5 Lists:

  • Covino: 1) Rocky, 2) Rocky IV, 3) Rocky II, 4) Rocky III, 5) Rocky Balboa
    • “Rocky IV to me was the most fun… living in America, he fights in Russia on Christmas Day. Rocky IV is the most exciting, most fun of all of them.” (09:00-09:20)
    • Praises “Rocky Balboa” for its emotional depth: “It was sad, but it was real. I liked it a lot.” (10:36)
  • Rich: 1) Rocky II, 2) Rocky IV, 3) Rocky I, 4) Creed II, 5) Rocky III
    • “Unpopular opinion: the best is Rocky Part II… the best montage; Adrian's in the coma; and the best line.” (11:09)
    • Highlights Rocky II's montage and emotional payoff: “Everything about Rocky II…he does win. He finally takes Apollo Creed.” (12:14)
  • Danny G: 5) Rocky II, 4) Creed III, 3) Rocky IV, 2) Creed I, 1) Rocky
    • “Wore that [Rocky IV] VHS tape out as a kid… The whole Creed movie had me hyped up.” (15:24)

• Listeners share their rankings and passion for Rocky (21:01, 23:15, 34:22).

• Debates about Rocky V: The hosts agree it's the franchise’s low point, but defend its place in the series.

  • “Rocky V wasn’t that terrible…if he had fought Tommy Gunn in the ring instead… I think we would have liked it more.” – Rich (16:21)

• Creed Movies in the Pantheon:

  • There’s consensus that including the "Creed" movies makes the ranking debate much tougher.

2. Favorite Lines & Iconic Moments

(High points: 05:21, 11:35, scattered throughout top of the hour)

• Most Memorable Lines:
  • “There is no tomorrow.” – Rocky (05:22)
  • “Win.” – Adrian to Rocky in Rocky II (11:47)
  • “You got some money now, why don’t you invest in some condominiums? – ‘To be honest, I don’t use ’em.’” – Rich quoting Rocky (05:56)
  • “Prediction? Pain.” – Clubber Lang (09:56)
  • “Adrian, I never asked you to stop being a woman. Please, please don’t ask me to stop being a man.” – Rocky (22:25)
• Emotional Impact: Multiple guests recount getting chills or teary-eyed during iconic scenes.
  • “My favorite line is just a single word…when Adrian says ‘win.’ I get the chills every single time.” – Caller (24:17)
• Training Montages: Universal appreciation for the emotional power and hype of Rocky training montages; debate over which song/montage is best (“There’s No Easy Way Out,” “Gonna Fly Now”).

3. Rocky Trivia & Behind-the-Scenes Facts

(06:17-06:50, 18:50, 19:35, 33:27-34:00)

• Adrian and the Zoo: Noting the strange “longest-running joke” where Rocky takes Adrian to the zoo to get engaged (06:48).
• Stallone’s Backstory:
  • Rocky’s inspiration—Chuck Wepner’s fight with Muhammad Ali (25:02).
  • Real-life details: Stallone kept the original turtles from the first film (19:13).
  • “He had to sell his dog to finance the film but then he’s got the turtles from the film.” – Caller (19:18)
  • Stallone’s commitment to casting real athletes (20:00): “He stood with that formula for every single movie, including The Expendables.”
• Carl Weathers story: Carl Weathers got the Apollo Creed role after Ken Norton dropped out and joked about needing a “real actor” for Rocky—unaware Stallone wrote and played the part (33:27).
• Burt Young (Paulie) as an actual boxer (36:27): “Paulie was a boxer, had a military boxing record…32 and 2.”

4. Generational & Gender Perspectives on Rocky/Creed

(39:25-40:18)

• Some younger and female cast members have less direct connection to the movies.
  • Monty: “I did sit this one out. I’ve seen the first one…At the time, I think it was a boy movie.” (39:32)
  • Danny G points out the Creed films might be more universally appealing.

5. Listeners’ and Callers’ Connections

(34:22, 35:40, 36:58, 37:08)

• Personal Stories:
  • Attending the “Rocky Balboa” premiere with the cast, meeting Tommy Hearns (34:22).
  • Renting an apartment to Burt Young, meeting Dolph Lundgren (35:40).
  • New listeners who have never seen any Rocky or Creed film, seeking viewing advice (36:58).

6. NBA Superstar Injuries: A Modern Epidemic

(Begins 48:09)

• Covino presents a sobering list of big-name NBA players currently injured:
  • “Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, Giannis, Jalen Brunson, Wembanyama, Embiid, Tatum, Morant, Kawhi Leonard, Lillard, Trae Young, Haliburton, Adebayo, Sabonis, Murray, Tyler Herro, Zion Williamson…these are superstars.” (48:37-49:25)
• Rich’s Theory: “We have evolved as humans, bigger and stronger…but what hasn’t changed is what a ligament is capable of…Our human body is maybe not capable of sustaining how quickly we play sports now.”
• Danny G jokes: “I bet you if Reebok Pumps came back, some of these injuries—” (50:33)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Rocky’s Enduring Appeal:

  • “Rocky Balboa is the greatest cinematic character of my life.” – Caller, Roger in Tacoma (20:44)
  • “You know what? Even the worst Rocky or Creed movie isn’t that bad.” – Rich (15:55)
  • “The arc of the character…is amazing to see, that’s why I’m excited about the biopic…Stallone really is his story…He made it happen.” – Covino (24:40)

• About including Creed:

  • “When you include the Creeds, it’s an even more difficult discussion.” – Covino (38:41)

• Generational Shift:

  • “I think [Rocky] was a boy movie. My brothers watched them, and I watched my brothers watch them, but they did not resonate with me.” – Monty (39:36)

• On NBA Injuries:

  • “When you hear them all together…it’s insane.” – Covino (48:37)
  • “The explosive moves—your body and your tendons can’t handle, you can’t strengthen your tendons like that.” – Rich (50:26)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |-----------------------------------------------------------------|------------------| | Hosts’ Rocky/Creed Rankings Begin | 05:19 | | Favorite Rocky Lines Montage | 11:38—12:00 | | Behind-the-Scenes & Rocky Trivia | 18:50—20:13 | | Caller: “Rocky Balboa is the greatest cinematic character…” | 20:44 | | Callers’ Personal Rocky Stories | 23:15, 34:22, 35:40, 36:58 | | Newcomer Wants to Watch Rocky/Creed – Gets Viewing Order Advice | 36:58—38:41 | | Discussion of Generational & Gender Appeal | 39:25—40:18 | | NBA Injury Epidemic & Superstars List | 48:09—50:47 | | Rich’s “Evolved Athletes” Theory | 49:49—50:33 | | Show Wrap, Weekend Hype, and Future Games Mention | 47:23, 51:00+ |

Episode Tone & Style

The episode is high-energy, playful, and filled with camaraderie, reflecting Covino & Rich’s sports/pop-culture savvy and love of nostalgia. The language is casual, irreverent, and often self-deprecating, with many movie quotes, soundbites, and inside jokes. Storytelling is a mix of locker-room humor, genuine emotion, and affectionate ribbing of both the franchise and each other.

For First-Time Listeners

If you haven't seen all the Rocky or Creed movies, you'll be primed for both nostalgia and fresh takes. The infectious passion of the hosts and callers might even inspire a marathon rewatch. You’ll get a sense of why Rocky Balboa is such an enduring figure — across generations, backgrounds, and even for people new to the films.

The latter portion directly addresses pressing issues in major sports (NBA injuries), again blending insight with humor and lively debate.

Suggested Listening for Key Segments

• Rocky Movie Passion, Quotes, and Rankings: 05:00–24:00
• Callers' Personal Connections and Stories: 34:00–38:00
• NBA Injury Epidemic Discussion: 48:00–51:00