The Dan Patrick Show: Hour 1 Summary – Hall of Fame Voting Controversy & Coaching Changes

Release Date: January 22, 2025
Episode Title: Hour 1 – Hall of Fame Voting Controversy, Ben Johnson Introduced
Host: Dan Patrick
Guests: CC Sabathia, Joe Thomas
Network: iHeartPodcasts and Dan Patrick Podcast Network

1. Introduction to the Hour

Dan Patrick opens Hour 1 by outlining the primary topics of discussion: the ongoing controversy surrounding Hall of Fame voting and the introduction of Ben Johnson as the new head coach for the Chicago Bears. He also hints at a segment on sports anger, setting the stage for a robust conversation about the state of professional sports leadership and recognition (Transcript [02:39]).

2. Coaching Carousel: Opportunities and Speculations

Timestamp: [02:39] – [07:05]

Dan delves into the current landscape of NFL coaching vacancies, highlighting multiple teams in need of leadership:

• Teams with Open Head Coaching Positions:
  • Dallas Cowboys
  • Jacksonville Jaguars
  • New York Jets
  • Las Vegas Raiders
  • New Orleans Saints

He discusses potential candidates, emphasizing the Cowboys' openness to Kellen Moore after his stints with the Chargers and Eagles. Cliff Kingsbury’s future with the Commanders is also scrutinized, with Dan noting, "Cliff Kingsbury, I think is in his 40s there, but you have openings here." (Transcript [04:20]).

3. Raiders’ Decision and Ben Johnson’s New Role

Timestamp: [07:08] – [14:10]

A significant portion of the discussion centers on the Raiders' failed attempt to secure Ben Johnson as their head coach. Dan expresses surprise at the decision, especially after Tom Brady's extensive discussions with Johnson:

Dan Patrick: "Tom Brady spent an hour talking to Ben Johnson last week. And you know, when they fired Antonio Pierce, I wasn't surprised." [07:08]

Instead, the Raiders opted to hire the Chicago Bears’ head coach, prompting Dan to analyze the implications of this move versus their initial expectations.

4. Playoff Betting Lines and Team Performances

Timestamp: [09:17] – [13:22]

Transitioning to NFL playoffs, Dan examines the betting lines, particularly noting the Eagles' favored status against the Rams. He theorizes that Jalen Hurts is likely to play, given the betting odds' significant jump from 4.5 to 6 points:

Dan Patrick: "Four and a half to six means Jalen Hurts is probably going to play, but I don't know health-wise and they don't have to reveal that." [09:17]

He praises the selflessness of quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady, arguing that their focus on winning rather than personal statistics is key to their teams' successes (Transcript [12:21]).

5. Hall of Fame Voting: Public vs. Private

Timestamp: [14:10] – [32:30]

The core of Hour 1 revolves around the contentious topic of whether Hall of Fame voting should be public or remain private. Dan champions transparency, recounting his own experience of making his votes public and standing by his choices despite criticism:

Dan Patrick: "Should be public or private. I'm going to talk about this coming up in a little bit here. I've said that when I voted I wanted it to be public." [14:10]

He references the 2016 Baseball Writers' attempt to make ballots public, which was ultimately shelved by the board of directors. Dan argues that making votes public would provide clarity and accountability, allowing voters to explain their decisions:

Dan Patrick: "If you're going to take on that honor, and it is an honor, then you should explain why you voted for or didn't vote for somebody." [14:13]

6. Listener Interactions and Opinions

Timestamp: [32:30] – [47:29]

Listener calls enrich the debate, with Paulie advocating for public voting and criticizing the lack of transparency that can undermine the Hall of Fame's integrity. Dan responds by highlighting discrepancies in voting outcomes, such as Billy Wagner's delayed induction despite his impressive statistics:

Dan Patrick: "I have no problem. And they fought for this. This was a couple of years ago, I think, 2016." [15:27]

Matt Castle emphasizes the inconsiderate nature of some voters who bypass deserving candidates like Ichiro Suzuki without valid reasons, questioning the rationale behind such decisions (Transcript [28:26] – [32:26]).

7. Poll Results: Overwhelming Support for Public Voting

Timestamp: [46:25] – [48:52]

Dan relays the results of a listener poll on the show, revealing that 90% of the audience favors making Hall of Fame voting public:

Paulie: "Including should Hall of Fame voting be public or private? That's kind of fun. Paul has if you were a baseball hall of fame rotor, would you hall of Fame voter, would you lean towards not voting for anyone as a first ballot hall of Famer?" [25:33]

Paulie: "This one’s a landslide. 90% of the audience want the voting public." [47:16]

Dan reiterates his stance, advocating for transparency to foster meaningful conversations and ensure the process honors truly deserving athletes (Transcript [47:29]).

8. Case Studies: Ichiro Suzuki and Billy Wagner

Timestamp: [33:38] – [39:02]

Dan and callers explore specific cases impacting Hall of Fame voting, using Ichiro Suzuki and Billy Wagner as primary examples. They debate whether modern playing styles would affect Ichiro's candidacy if he were today’s player and scrutinize Wagner’s delayed induction:

Matt Castle: "I think Ichiro does deserve the hall of Fame." [33:38]

Dan Patrick: "Billy Wagner, you know, he's a dinosaur. Guys are going to log those innings and have 3,000 strikeouts and over 250 wins. It's just not going to happen anymore." [14:10]

9. Historical Perspectives and Voting Integrity

Timestamp: [30:07] – [35:08]

The discussion broadens to historical voting trends, analyzing why even legendary players like Hank Aaron or Rickey Henderson have faced voting challenges. Dan argues that personal biases and lack of transparency hinder fair evaluations:

Dan Patrick: "If somebody says he's not a Hall of Famer his first year, but his seventh year, he's a Hall of Famer. I just think if I say your name, then that should tell me what you think of that player." [25:49]

10. Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Timestamp: [47:29] – [49:00]

In wrapping up, Dan emphasizes the importance of public voting for accountability and celebrates the evolving landscape of Hall of Fame inductions. He anticipates future inductions reflecting changing perspectives and the increased scrutiny that comes with transparency:

Dan Patrick: "Sports is about conversation. It's about arguing and why... I think it's so important to these players." [48:52]

He expresses optimism that ongoing discussions and public support will lead to a more transparent and fair Hall of Fame voting process.

Notable Quotes

• Dan Patrick: "If you're going to take on that honor, and it is an honor, then you should explain why you voted for or didn't vote for somebody." (14:13)

• Dan Patrick: "Should be public or private... I've said that when I voted I wanted it to be public." (14:10)

• Paulie: "This one's a landslide. 90% of the audience want the voting public." (47:16)

• Dan Patrick: "Sports is about conversation. It's about arguing and why..." (48:52)

Takeaways

• Transparency in Hall of Fame Voting: A significant majority supports making voting public to enhance accountability and understanding of inductee selections.

• Coaching Vacancies: Several NFL teams are actively seeking new head coaches, with discussions focusing on potential candidates and the implications of recent hiring decisions.

• Player Legacies and Voting Integrity: The debate underscores the importance of objective voting criteria and the impact of personal biases on recognizing athletic excellence.

Looking Ahead

Dan Patrick teases the upcoming guest, CC Sabathia, who will provide additional insights into the Hall of Fame voting process and share his experiences as a fresh Hall of Famer. Listeners can anticipate a deeper dive into Sabathia's career achievements and his perspectives on the evolving nature of sports recognition.

For those interested in the intricate dynamics of sports leadership and the integrity of athlete recognition, Hour 1 of The Dan Patrick Show offers a comprehensive and thought-provoking exploration.