The Dan Patrick Show (C&R Takeover): "Superstar, or Schlub?"
Date: February 14, 2026
Hosts: Covino & Rich (C&R), with Danny G, Monsieur, Iowa Sam, and Shay
Network: iHeartPodcasts & Dan Patrick Podcast Network
Overview
In this lively Valentine's Day/President's Day weekend special, Covino & Rich serve up sports and pop culture banter with their signature humor. The core theme: Would you rather lose your partner to a superstar athlete or a regular "schlub"? The crew debates this hypothetical, blending personal anecdotes with audience calls and plenty of good-natured ribbing. Along the way, they touch on celebrity culture, heartbreak, sports admiration, and ego, wrapping up with their “Brainwave” game and recommendations for the weekend.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Valentine's Day Hypothetical: Superstar vs. Schlub
- Central Question: Would it hurt more to lose your significant other to a famous, admired athlete/celebrity, or to an everyday "schlub"?
- Covino frames it for the audience:
"Would you rather lose your wife or girlfriend to a schlub or your sports hero?" (08:00)
- The question is posed repeatedly to crew members and callers, sparking debate and self-reflection.
Perspectives
- Monsieur:
Prefers losing to a superstar:"I think it would make me more mad, probably, if it was a slob." (08:56)
- Covino:
Argues he'd rather lose to a schlub:"I would be like, yeah, you could have him. Yeah, there’s something wrong with you, then, in that case." (10:01)
- Losing to a superstar feels like a validation of inadequacy; losing to a schlub, "feeds my ego in a better way." (08:58)
- Rich:
Notes the lasting pain of seeing your ex’s superstar everywhere, but jokes the ego wound is deepest when it's a 'loser.' - Callers:
Split, with some agreeing that losing to a superstar stings more due to constant public reminders (15:33), while others prefer the twisted validation that "she was once with me," even if she ends up with a megastar.
Notable Quotes
- Rich:
"Imagine losing your girl to Tom Brady. How do you recover from that?" (07:08)
- Covino:
"It made me feel like a loser. It made me feel like an underachiever. ... I can't compete." (10:23)
- Caller Reese (Kentucky):
"If you left for Tom Brady...be in your face all day long... but if you left for a loser, time would heal the wounds." (15:33)
- Danny G:
"Every time Kike came to bat, he'd be looking at Kike like reliving the whole thing over again." (16:04)
2. Personal Stories & Anecdotes
- Covino confesses he's been dumped for both an athlete and an office nerd, discussing the emotional aftermath.
- Dumped for a New York Ranger at Del Frisco’s (13:42)
- Lost a girlfriend to a "weenie named Chad" in an office (14:13)
- Dumped for Brooklyn Nets’ Bruce Brown (18:43)
- Rich shares a wild Vegas story about dating dynamics and awkward hotel room moments (11:28).
- Callers add their heartbreak tales, from losing partners to army doctors to almost rekindled romances derailed by celebrities—including one with Jason Sudeikis (21:04).
Notable Quotes
- Covino:
"To a professional athlete...that's what every dude strives to be. ... I'm leaving you for the guy you wish you were." (14:18)
- Rich:
"She left you for some unemployed, like, fat, bald guy...that would make you feel better?" (09:48)
3. Celebrity Culture & Terminology
- Discussion about the evolution of the term "GOAT" (Greatest Of All Time)—from its negative origins to LL Cool J flipping the script (04:49).
- Quick pop culture riffs around Valentine's Day, animated sports movies ("Goat," Steph Curry's project), Lil Jon, and rapper slow jams (04:22-06:10).
- The indirect looping back to Tom Brady, as both sports hero and potential heartbreaker, gives context to the day's central hypothetical.
4. Interactive Segment: “Brainwave” Game (Starting ~28:43)
- Callers try to match the crew’s answers to subjective, pop culture-laden questions in a bid for prizes.
- Sample question:
- “Whose cell number would you rather have in your contacts—Donald Trump, Tom Brady, or Taylor Swift?” (30:34)
- Most answer Tom Brady, but some go for Swift or Trump.
- Olympics athletes and “who uses more of the 10,000 condoms in the village?”—snowboarders, ski teams, or figure skaters? (32:52)
- Fast food pizza: Domino’s emerges as the crew favorite. (35:09)
- Most "punchable" coach: Lane Kiffin dominates. (36:57)
- Super Bowl halftime choice: Miley Cyrus, Morgan Wallen, or Lil Wayne? Crew is split, with lively debate. (38:55)
- “Whose cell number would you rather have in your contacts—Donald Trump, Tom Brady, or Taylor Swift?” (30:34)
- The segment is humorous and showcases the crew’s chemistry, plus quick pivots to pop culture references.
5. Weekend Recommendations (“Hobnobbin’”)
(~50:53)
- Covino:
- Recommends watching Varsity Blues; checking out "Badlands" (Disney+/Hulu).
- His own podcast episode (Overpromised #127) for more Super Bowl and WWE chatter.
- Rich:
- Family viewing: "Is It Cake? Valentine's Day" (Netflix)
- Cat Williams' new comedy special
- "Love Is Blind" season set in Cincinnati
- "Traitors" & "Lincoln Lawyer" (Netflix)
- Plans to see "Goat" (animated kids' sports movie)
- Danny G & Team:
- Shoutouts to "Lincoln Lawyer" and encouragement to enjoy the long, love-filled holiday weekend.
Memorable Moments & Banter
- Rich to Covino:
"We've been friends since we were 20 something years old. We've never seen each other's junk." (11:13)
- Danny G:
"Now we know why Covino doesn't talk hockey on [the show]." (13:58)
- On pizza choices:
Crew unites over East Coast pizza snobbery and birthday party nostalgia for Domino's. (35:14) - Valentine's/Presidents Day Wrap-up:
Rich jokes about wearing an Abe Lincoln top hat for President’s Day; banter about subbing for Dan Patrick and sharing hosting duties. (27:32)
Notable Quotes With Timestamps
- Covino:
"Would you rather lose your wife or girlfriend to a schlub or your sports hero?" (08:00)
- Rich:
"Imagine losing your girl to Tom Brady. How do you recover from that?" (07:08)
- Covino:
"It made me feel like a loser. It made me feel like an underachiever. ... I can't compete." (10:23)
- Monsieur:
"I think it would make me more mad, probably, if it was a slob." (08:56)
- Caller Reese:
"If you left for Tom Brady... be in your face all day long... but if you left for a loser, time would heal the wounds." (15:33)
- Danny G:
"Every time Kike came to bat, he'd be looking at Kike like reliving the whole thing over again." (16:04)
Timestamps for Major Segments
- [02:57] Show proper begins; banter, Valentine's/President's Day welcome
- [07:08 - 15:10] Valentine’s Hypothetical: Would you rather lose your S.O. to a star or schlub? Crew & caller responses
- [13:42, 14:13, 18:43] Covino’s personal heartbreak stories: losing girlfriends to athletes/”nerds”
- [28:43 - 41:38] Brainwave Game: Matching crew's answers on pop culture, sports, and hypothetical questions
- [50:53] Weekend Hobnobbin’ Recommendations
Tone & Style
- Lighthearted, teasing banter with sincere undercurrents when discussing heartbreak and ego
- Rich with pop culture references and relatable sports anecdotes
- Inclusionary—a collaborative, improvisational feel where listeners call in and are actively engaged
Conclusion
“Superstar, or Schlub?” is a fun, fast-paced, and relatable episode full of self-deprecating humor, locker-room camaraderie, and universal questions about love, ego, and dealing with loss. Perfect for sports and pop-culture fans looking for laughs and a break from the usual analysis.
Listen if you:
- Enjoy the intersection of sports, celebrity, and everyday relationships
- Like to ponder funny, slightly painful hypotheticals
- Appreciate crew chemistry and interactive games with listeners
Not to be missed for:
- Longtime C&R fans looking for vintage banter
- Anyone who’s ever wondered—would it sting more to lose in love to a star or a schlub?