The Dan Patrick Show: C&R - WBC Tie Breakers, Ravens Gutted? Bam!

Date: March 12, 2026
Hosts: Steve Covino and Rich Davis (Covino & Rich)
Network: iHeartPodcasts and Dan Patrick Podcast Network

EPISODE OVERVIEW

This episode is packed with sports drama and tension, focusing especially on the chaos surrounding Team USA's precarious fate in the World Baseball Classic (WBC) due to tie-breaker confusion, fallout from an NFL trade gone wrong (Max Crosby/Ravens), the aftermath of Bam Adebayo's headline-grabbing NBA performance, and the way organizations (and fans) handle high-stakes blunders. The Covino & Rich Show delivers its trademark humor, barbershop banter, and passionate analysis, flowing naturally from hot takes to listener interaction.

KEY DISCUSSION POINTS & INSIGHTS

1. WBC Confusion: Team USA at Risk Due to Rule Blunder

• Setting the Stage:
  • Team USA's advancement now depends not on their own play but on the outcome of the Italy vs. Mexico game, after making major strategic errors based on a misunderstanding of the tournament rules. (03:50)
• What Happened?
  • Manager Mark DeRosa and his staff believed USA had secured a quarterfinal spot, played their "B squad," and lost.
  • Turns out: Run differential and allowed runs matter for tiebreakers—something USA's manager, staff, and apparently players failed to grasp.
  • "Clearly Mark DeRosa, the manager of Team USA, did not know the rules..." – Rich Davis (08:54)
• Consequences:
  • Team USA needs either:
    • Italy to beat Mexico
    • Or, Mexico to score five or more runs (even if they win) against Italy
    • Otherwise, USA is out ("It's so embarrassing… I can't even believe what happened." – Rich Davis, 08:19)
• Players & Staff Under Fire:
  • "Shame on him. Shame on everybody, the entire team, because not one player said, hey… what you say matters because it proves in this case what you actually thought." – Rich Davis (09:26, 10:44)
• Blame Analysis:
  • DeRosa's lack of managerial experience probed.
  • "There’s always someone who doesn’t understand the tie-breakers." – Steve Covino (11:08)
• Twitter/Fan Reaction:
  • Many on social media realized the ramifications before the actual team did.
  • "We know before the people actually playing the game. That's disgusting." – Rich Davis (19:55)

Memorable Quotes & Interactions:

• "If they go out like that… that’s embarrassing." – Rich Davis (12:49)
• "Not only did DeRosa misspeak – he misunderstood." – Rich Davis (20:56)
• "Team USA didn’t 'read the email' because they didn’t think it would apply." – Steve Covino (20:00)
• "Then they don’t deserve it. Then it shows to me that they don’t care as much as the other countries." – Rich Davis (20:08)

Tiebreaker Scenarios Explained (15:25)

• Italy wins → USA advances.
• Mexico wins and scores 5+ runs → USA advances.
• Mexico wins and scores 4 or fewer → USA eliminated.

2. Strategic Drama: Mexico/Italy Dynamics and In-Game Strategy

• High Drama:
  • Discussion about whether Mexico would play to keep USA out.
  • "If all of a sudden Italy is up 3-2, you're like, come on, Italy." – Dan Byers (17:39)
• Potential for Shenanigans:
  • "Do you start subbing players? …If your team, Mexico...blowing open the game, what you're doing here is you're inviting in the Vegas favorite back into the dance." – Steve Covino (18:10)
  • Jokey vision: "Imagine bases juiced, bottom of the eighth, Mexico up four nothing, and Randy Arozarena just stands at home plate…" – Dan Byers (18:33)
• Wider Point:
  • Show highlights the crucial need for managers to know every nuance of complex rules—especially with international tournaments and odd tiebreakers.

3. The ABA Documentary Sidebar (05:46, 33:38)

• "Soul Power: The Legend of the ABA" Discussion:
  • Covino brings up an "under the radar" documentary discovered during a barbershop visit.
  • "It's a four-part Prime Video docu series... produced by Dr. J. So pretty cool to watch." – Steve Covino (07:04)
• Side humor:
  • Barbershop NBA fun and personal trivia; connects nostalgia and sports history.
• Listener Call:
  • Dwight in Idaho tries to call in, but technical difficulties ("Dwight? ...What happened to Dwight? ...Is he alright?" – 34:05)

4. NFL Fallout & Max Crosby/Ravens Trade Snafu (36:08)

• Breaking News:
  • Cardinals release Kyler Murray; Vikings interested.
  • Ravens fail to finalize Max Crosby trade, quickly pivot to Trey Hendrickson.
• Ravens GM on the Record:
  • "Nobody is more upset about this than me. Gutted by it, actually..." – Eric DeCosta, Ravens GM (audio at 36:08)
• Trade Drama Discussion:
  • Were the Ravens' medicals a pretext for "buyer’s remorse"?
  • "The doctors, they're called team doctors because they work for the team." – Danny G (40:34)
  • Suggests some trades fail when a team reconsiders after loss of assets (picks, salary, free agents).
• Max Crosby's Motivation:
  • "Can you imagine this chip on his shoulder?" – Danny G (43:31)

5. Bam Adebayo's 83-Point NBA Game (47:37)

• The Play of the Day:
  • Bam scores 83, second only to Wilt Chamberlain.
  • Discussion of whether it's "legit," given high free throw count: "36 of 43 from the foul line. Nasty controversy is you know how he got the points and who they played against." – Rich Davis (48:10)
  • Steve Covino: "No one will ever score over 100 points in the NBA...I could be wrong. I mean, he had 83. If he hit all the free throws he would have had 90."
• Upcoming:
  • Promises more breakdown post-segment; teases midweek major, NFL updates (49:08).

NOTABLE QUOTES & MEMORABLE MOMENTS

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote / Moment | |-----------|----------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 08:54 | Rich Davis | "Clearly Mark DeRosa, the manager of Team USA, did not know the rules..." | | 11:08 | Steve Covino | "There’s always someone who doesn’t understand the tie-breakers." | | 15:25 | (Summary) | WBC tiebreaker scenarios spelled out for the audience—see above | | 18:33 | Dan Byers | "Imagine bases juiced, bottom of the eighth, Mexico up four nothing...Randy Arozarena just stands at home plate..." | | 20:00 | Rich Davis | "We know before the people actually playing the game. That's disgusting." | | 36:08 | Ravens GM | "Nobody is more upset about this than me. Gutted by it, actually..." (audio of Eric DeCosta on Max Crosby trade collapse) | | 43:31 | Danny G | "Can you imagine this chip on his shoulder? [Crosby after failed trade]" | | 47:37 | Steve Covino | "No one will ever score over 100 points in the NBA. I mean, I could be wrong. I mean, he had 83." |

TIMESTAMPS FOR KEY SEGMENTS

• WBC Scandal Explained / Tiebreaker Scenarios: 03:50 - 22:31
• Manager Mark DeRosa's Misunderstanding (Clips/Quotes): 09:26 - 10:44, 20:56
• Fan & Social Media Reaction to USA’s Fate: 12:36 - 19:55
• NFL Fallout, Max Crosby/Ravens Drama: 36:08 - 43:49
• Bam Adebayo’s 83-Point Game Discussion: 47:37 - 49:08
• ABA Documentary Sidebar: 05:46, 33:38 - 34:14

TONE & STYLE NOTES

• Informal, humorous, and conversational tone—sports talk with playful jabs and pop culture references.
• Relatable analogies: barbershop NBA talk, blaming "not reading the email," and American snacks as baseball luck charms.
• The hosts are open about their biases and lay sporting failures bare, emphasizing accountability, passion, and the unpredictability of high-level sports.

SUMMARY FOR NON-LISTENERS

This episode is a fast-moving, in-depth look at the embarrassing blunder by Team USA’s WBC staff, who misunderstood tiebreaker rules and put their fate in someone else’s hands. The crew breaks down the likely outcomes and what it means for managers to be detail-obsessed — or not. There's also drama from a major NFL trade collapse and a celebration (with caveats) of Bam Adebayo’s jaw-dropping NBA feat. All is woven through the show's signature banter and self-deprecating style, with shoutouts to documentaries, pop culture, and audience feedback. If you love sports drama, rules confusion, and a little bit of chaos, this episode delivers.

For full context, skip to:

• WBC tiebreaker breakdown & USA's fate: 03:50 – 22:31
• Max Crosby/Ravens trade drama: 36:08 – 43:49
• Bam Adebayo's record game: 47:37 – 49:08