The Dan Patrick Show | Hour 1: Clank!, Pirates Need to Spend Money

Date: February 25, 2026
Podcast Network: iHeartPodcasts and Dan Patrick Podcast Network

[Overview]

Theme:
This episode opens with a lighthearted and engaging look at the sounds that define (and occasionally ruin) the viewing experience in sports—from clanking basketball rims to the sweet sound of a home run, and branching into a broader discussion about franchise building, especially with the Pittsburgh Pirates’ young talent. Dan and the Danettes blend personal anecdotes, sports nostalgia, and listener calls into a lively hour focusing on what makes sports both annoying and unforgettable—sonically and emotionally.

[Key Discussion Points & Insights]

The "Clank" Heard 'Round Texas Tech

• Opening Riff:
  • Dan describes being bothered by the loud, metallic clanking sound of missed shots during the Texas Tech vs. Cincinnati basketball game.
    • "I'm listening to the game, and it's almost like the sound of metal bats when you're watching the College World Series. And I hate that, too." (06:45)
  • He questions whether the sound comes from poorly mic'd rims or from loose hardware, drawing analogies to other universally annoying sports sounds.
    • "I had to turn it off, it was so annoying that whenever you miss and it's almost a reminder of, yeah, you missed the shot." (05:09)
  • The Danettes (Paulie, Seaton, Marvin, Fritzi) chime in, with Paulie noting he noticed the same "tinky" rim sounds and suspects over-miking by the broadcast team.
    • Paulie: “There was a loose rim feel. Like a 'tink' when shots were missed...I think it's over-miked, really?” (09:00)
• Broader Observations:
  • The crew debates if inconsistent rim sounds affect shooters, referencing tournament gyms’ notorious acoustics and looser rims designed to handle dunks.
  • Seaton: "You hear it a lot, actually, in the tournament..." (11:30)
  • Dan: "Everybody should have universal equipment...But maybe it is how the rim is mic’d." (13:00)

Baseball Sounds: The Pittsburgh Pirates and the Allure of Power Hitting

• Connor Griffin: Prospect Spotlight
  • Dan shares his fascination with Connor Griffin, a 19-year-old Pirates prospect known for his prodigious home runs.
    • "He's 19, he's 6'4", and he's a shortstop. He also steals bases..." (19:05)
  • The show plays a highlight of Griffin’s home run, reveling in the sheer sound of the ball leaving the bat:
    • Dan: “…when you hear that sound, you go, God, I’m giving up one. Everybody heard that.” (24:15)
  • The discussion veers nostalgic as Dan reminisces about when the Pirates (and Reds, Dodgers) were perennial contenders, lamenting how market forces prevent the Pirates from keeping talent.
    • "Roberto Clemente is not coming through the door. Or if he is, he’s not staying long..." (21:35)
• Fixing the Pirates:
  • Dan floats the idea: could an equity group (like a college collective) invest in the Pirates to keep young stars, referencing similar models in college sports.
    • "Could somebody do that with the Pirates? Come in and say, all right, give us 48%, 49% of the team and we're going to make this a powerhouse again." (22:30)
  • The Danettes joke about Griffin’s future and whether he’ll be traded for more prospects, exemplifying the frustration of small-market baseball fans.

Sports Sounds: Annoyances and Pleasures

• Poll Question Premise:
  • “Most annoying sound in sports: A tinny, loose rim in basketball or a metal bat in baseball?” (44:15)
• Listener Submissions:
  • Vuvuzelas and thunder sticks (as fan-generated noises).
  • Tennis player grunts (Monica Seles, Azarenka) (48:56).
  • Squeaking sneakers in basketball and recurring team-specific noises (e.g. Minnesota Vikings' horn, Mississippi State cowbells).
  • Doink of a missed field goal and other unique sounds (golf ball dropping in the cup, pickleball paddles, fastballs hitting the catcher's mitt).
    • Dan: “It doesn’t happen very often, but when it does, it just kind of resonates. It stays there. It’s like, dang.” [Regarding field goal doink] (62:40)

Rimgate: Investigative Journalism

• Texas Tech Response:
  • Paulie leads the charge, contacting the Texas Tech athletic department about the rim sound.
    • "We woke up some people at Texas Tech this morning...They sent a staffer down to the gym to check the rims before they're going to give you any statement." (79:31)
  • The crew waits for confirmation and teases updates throughout the show.

Calls, Tangents & Humorous Moments

• Classic Dan & Danettes Banter:
  • The conversation about poll questions riffs into personal hotel mishaps and combine “drills” for Fritzi, the Producer.
  • Dan: “When this show is over, do not become a vacation planner..." (53:17)
• Quotable:
  • Dan: “The older I get, the better I was.” (46:45)
• Unexpected Compliments:
  • Listeners call in to compliment Dylan (backroom producer) and Todd's (Fritzi) new podcast spin-off.
  • “Dylan is deceptively good. Absolutely. I think 60 pounds ago, he's a real athlete. He's sort of our John Daly...” (65:50)

[Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments]

• On Bad Rim Sounds:
  • Dan: "There's something about it...if it made the net, zip!—like that was pure. The defensive person, it's like, damn." (04:35)
  • Paulie: "There was a loose rim feel, like a ‘tink’ when shots were missed..." (09:00)
• On the Clank ruining his evening:
  • Dan: "The things that bother me..." (06:50)
• On Pirates Spending Money:
  • Dan: "Could somebody do that with the Pirates?...We're going to keep all this talent here because it's a wonderful stadium." (22:30)
• On Home Run Sounds:
  • Dan (citing Greg Maddux): “What’s a home run sound like? He said, a car crash.” (28:50)
• On watching the NBA before the 3-point shot:
  • Dan: "I was born before the 3-point shot...what could have been." (47:30)
• On hotel accidents:
  • Fritzi: “I had one of those weird…where you sit on to maybe tie your shoes…I just went flying” [commiserating about tripping over an ottoman in a hotel] (55:35)

[Timestamps for Key Segments]

• Clank Rims and Annoying Sounds:

  • 04:00 – 16:00

• Deep Dive: Texas Tech Rim & NCAA Tourney Acoustics:

  • 13:00 – 19:00

• Pirates, Payroll, & Connor Griffin:

  • 19:00 – 28:00
  • Notable audio of home run: 23:30 – 24:15

• Poll Question and Sound-Off:

  • 44:00 – 50:00

• Listener Calls & Sports Sounds:

  • 50:00 – 66:00

• Texas Tech Rim Investigative Update:

  • 79:00

[Conclusion]

This episode uniquely combines sensory observations (the sounds of sports) with the longing for teams that build and retain stars—in particular, Dan’s nostalgic wishes for the Pirates to reclaim their past glory. The conversational style is peppered with wit and sports fandom, making it accessible and entertaining even for listeners who missed the original broadcast.

Dan’s personal stake in seemingly “little” annoyances, paired with the Danettes’ banter and the audience’s interactive participation, highlights the show’s charm: sports are about far more than stats—they’re about feelings and sometimes, about the way something sounds when you miss—or make—the shot.