The Dan Patrick Show: Hour 1 - Better Weekend, Michael Jordan or the NBA?

Date: February 16, 2026
Hosts: Covino & Rich (filling in for Dan Patrick), Danny G
Podcast Network: iHeartPodcasts and Dan Patrick Podcast Network

Episode Overview

This lively post-Valentine’s and President’s Day episode is a humorous, sports-heavy recap, wrestling with one big question: “Who had the better weekend—Michael Jordan or the NBA?” Filling in for Dan Patrick, Covino & Rich and Danny G dissect NBA All-Star Weekend’s lackluster excitement, Steph Curry’s new animated movie “Goat”, and celebrate Michael Jordan’s Daytona 500 win as a team owner, addressing the viral video moment involving MJ. The show is packed with candid dad banter, hot sports takes, generational gripes, and moments of pure comedic chemistry.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. NBA All-Star Weekend Recap: Underwhelming or Evolving?

[03:39 - 13:50]

• Hosts admit: Priority for All-Star Weekend was low, with Rich focusing on dad duties and only catching highlights.

• Event Critiques:

  • Dunk contest and general All-Star activities failed to capture sustained attention.

    “Sweeping is more exciting. Wiping down my counters... cleaning up the house. Kavino is more exciting to me.” – Danny G, [07:20]

  • Dunk contest specifically felt forced and lacked star power.

    “We were so spoiled as kids… Vince Carter, all the big stars…” – Danny G, [09:23]

  • Attempts at excitement (like player dance moves) seen as awkward and cringy, with questionable showmanship.
  • The event felt more like background noise than a can’t-miss spectacle.

• Empathy for Participants:

  • Hosts note it’s tough for NBA stars to risk being ridiculed if they lose these “fun” events, so the best avoid it.

• Efforts to Innovate:

  • While praising the NBA for trying new things, the hosts agree that past iterations still loom large.

    “You gotta throw things against the wall to see what works.” – Rich, [08:18]

2. Steph Curry’s “Goat” and Competing Weekend Narratives

[04:05 - 04:36; 14:12 - 22:19]

• Rich’s Mini-Review: He took his kids to see “Goat,” a Steph Curry-produced animated basketball movie, and found it more engaging than the All-Star events.

  “Animated animals playing basketball... seem to be more action packed than the NBA All-Star weekend.” – Rich, [06:46]

• Box Office Note:

  • “Goat” made $26 million, which the hosts respect, though they joke about movies vs. NBA in terms of “winning the weekend.”

3. Michael Jordan’s Stellar Weekend & Viral “Controversy”

[14:17 - 18:33; 35:55 - 37:16]

• Jordan scores as a team owner:

  • Michael Jordan’s NASCAR team wins the Daytona 500 (Congrats to Tyler Reddick).

• Controversial Moment:

  • Viral video shows Jordan playfully interacting with a child during celebrations, leading to social media uproar.
  • Hosts’ Reaction:
    • Context matters: The child is the driver’s son, celebrations were innocent, but in today’s climate, moments get misconstrued.

      “If you got kids, you tickle your kids and you horse around… it’s so contextual.” – Rich, [15:37] “Unfortunately, social media gets a hold of these things and they explode.” – Danny G, [15:45]

    • Hosts show empathy for Jordan, criticizing those who always “assume the worst.”

      “It’s the public who should be ashamed of themselves for making things like this into what it is.” – Danny G, [36:24]

4. Who Actually WON the Weekend: Jordan or the NBA?

[14:12 - 19:51; 22:36 - 23:01]

• Hosts present the central debate: did Michael Jordan, with his team’s Daytona 500 win (and social media fame), have a better weekend than the lackluster NBA All-Star festivities?
  • Covino: “He had the best weekend.” – [18:33]
  • Rich jokingly puts the "Goat" movie at #1, Michael Jordan at #2, and the NBA at #3, wishing the league had more flash.

5. Sports Entertainment: Generational Shifts & Fan Demands

[20:35 - 21:40]

• Parallels between modern fans impatiently flipping through streaming services and quickly judging sporting events—harder to entertain, more easily distracted, and quick to move on if unimpressed.
• Hosts admit maybe it’s a generational thing, but even casual fans struggled to connect with this year’s NBA showcase.

6. Interactive Food Break – Keeping it Light

[33:01 - 35:55]

• A fun tangent: comparing the merits of interactive dining (melting pot, hibachi/teppanyaki) and the proper etiquette for tipping chefs who perform stunts. Offers a breather before shifting topics.

7. Baseball Segment – Rule Change on ABS & K-Zone

[39:06 - 48:54]

• Discussion on MLB’s new automated ball-strike (ABS) system and the impending removal of the on-screen K-Zone for TV viewers.
  • Some hosts are nostalgic for the K-zone and the “laser puck” era in hockey.
  • Rich contends the All-Star Game & Home Run Derby remain MLB’s only undiminished showcase events, compared to NBA/NFL struggles.

  • “Baseball’s All-Star Game… still works till this day. The Pro Bowl went down the tubes… NBA All-Star Weekend? They’re figuring it out…” – Rich, [39:06]

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• “Sweeping is more exciting… cleaning up the house, Kavino is more exciting to me [than the All-Star Weekend].”
  – Danny G, [07:20]

• “We were so spoiled as kids… Vince Carter, all the big stars…”
  – Danny G, [09:23]

• “[NBA All-Star] just couldn’t get my attention the way it used to...or then again, maybe that’s on me.”
  – Danny G, [19:51]

• “We really are King Joffrey… entertain me! Like we are. We really are sitting on our throne… thumb ready to go up or down.”
  – Rich, [20:37]

• “It’s the public who should be ashamed of themselves for making things like this into what it is. But you also gotta protect these kids. So I see both sides.”
  – Danny G, [36:24]

• “I’d rather watch that Goat movie over and over and over with my kids…”
  – Rich, [22:37]

Important Segments & Timestamps

• Opening Banter & NBA All-Star Initial Reactions: [03:39-07:50]
• Dunk Contest & NBA All-Star Criticisms: [07:51-13:50]
• Goat Movie Review & Family Corner: [04:05-04:36, 22:36-23:01]
• Michael Jordan Daytona 500 Win & Video Reaction: [14:17-18:33, 35:55-37:16]
• Weekend Winner Debate & Pop Culture Parallels: [14:12-19:51, 20:35-21:40]
• Dining/Interactive Food Tangent: [33:01-35:55]
• Baseball Rule Changes & K-Zone Debate: [39:06-48:54]

Final Thoughts

This episode is a colorful, laugh-out-loud take on the constantly shifting landscape of sports entertainment. The hosts blend nostalgia, critique, and humor to capture the modern sports fan’s love/hate relationship with all-star specials—ultimately, leaning toward Michael Jordan as the real weekend winner. For longtime and casual fans alike, the conversation is as much about sports as it is about the quirks of contemporary fandom and dad-life priorities.

For more:

• Follow Covino & Rich, and Danny G on the Dan Patrick Show for future fill-ins and daily radio banter.

Next Hour Teaser:
More baseball talk, a Doug Gottlieb coaching meltdown, and your calls!