Hour 2 – Justin Verlander Announces Retirement, Kevin O’Connell, Kevin Frazier

Summary

The Dan Patrick Show — Hour 2 Summary

Episode Date: July 9, 2026
Key Guests: Kevin O’Connell (Minnesota Vikings Head Coach), Kevin Frazier (Entertainment Tonight)
Major Topics: Justin Verlander’s retirement, pitcher injuries, celebrity interactions, WNBA & Caitlin Clark, Vikings’ QB situation, U.S. Soccer criticism

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Overview

Hour 2 of The Dan Patrick Show features a dynamic blend of sports analysis, pop culture banter, and in-depth interviews. The hour opens with the breaking news of Justin Verlander’s retirement and reflects on his career and Hall of Fame legacy, transitions into fun stories about awkward celebrity encounters, delves into the state of pitcher injuries, and takes insightful calls on the WNBA’s Caitlin Clark and other hot-button issues. The highlight is a candid interview with Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell about the team’s quarterback competition. Entertainment Tonight’s Kevin Frazier stops in for a lively rant on the problems with U.S. Soccer. Throughout, Dan and his crew combine humor, nostalgia, and sharp opinion, offering fans a lively slice of sports radio.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Justin Verlander Announces Retirement

• [03:24] Dan Patrick announces Verlander will retire “as a first ballot Hall of Famer.” Discussion centers on how modern pitching stats (like 240 wins) are now viewed as elite, whereas earlier generations saw higher benchmarks.

• Contemplation on the changing standards for Hall of Fame pitchers due to shifts in how pitchers are used and career longevity.

  “For Justin Verlander, quite a career… But they didn’t get in because at the time you were looking at their numbers and you go, ‘Oh, you only have 240 wins.’ Now, 240 wins, you’re first ballot Hall of Famer.”
  — Dan Patrick [03:24]

2. Awkwardness of Celebrity Interactions

• [05:23] The crew shares stories about approaching celebrities, like meeting Sean McDonough at a urinal or resisting the urge to say hi to Paul McCartney.

• Debate on whether it’s better to seize the moment or “read the room” and lay back.

• On making small talk, the team jokes about how asking about family or living situation can sometimes backfire hilariously or create awkward silences.

  “I think it’s the second question that you ask that’s really important and what that leads to.”
  — Dan Patrick [06:39]

  “Even if they roll their eyes or they aren’t friendly at all, at least you tried, and that was your one moment in your life that you can meet Paul McCartney.”
  — Todd "Fritzy" [07:50]

3. Poll Question and Best Pitchers of the Era

• [08:49] New poll: “Best pitcher of the last two decades—Verlander, Scherzer, Kershaw, or other?”
• Fun debate: Which is more impressive—David Wells’ drunk perfect game or Doc Ellis’s LSD no-hitter? Over two-thirds favor Wells’s feat. [09:36], [43:58]

4. Pitching Injuries & Mechanics

• [09:52] A caller blames modern pitching injuries on poor mechanics, urging young fans to study Nolan Ryan’s delivery.

• Dan mentions teams expect at least one Tommy John surgery now, and some pitchers come back stronger.

• The broader pattern of wear and tear for all athletes is discussed, with Ray Allen and Vince Coleman’s post-career physical issues as examples.

  “It starts from the ground up with these guys… it’s inevitable that you’re going to have one Tommy John, maybe two Tommy Johns, but they think of it—an ex pitcher told me... You can actually come back stronger after Tommy John surgery.”
  — Dan Patrick [10:52]

5. WNBA Spotlight: Caitlin Clark & League Physicality

• [12:24] Caller voices concern about the WNBA protecting Caitlin Clark, fearing franchise instability if she’s not protected.

• Dan explains the commissioner’s delicate balancing act: avoid favoritism but recognize Clark’s undeniable impact on league visibility and finance. He highlights the physicality of today’s WNBA compared to the NBA and how Clark faces intense play, similar to what Steph Curry endures in the NBA.

  “As the commissioner, how do you give the appearance of not going out of your way to show favoritism?... It feels like they're going out of their way to not show any favoritism to the detriment of Caitlin Clark.”
  — Dan Patrick [13:03]

  “When Caitlin Clark first got into the WNBA, people like, oh, they’re being rough just on her. That screamed to me, you don’t watch the WNBA. It’s just par for the course.”
  — Marvin [14:24]

6. Identity and Nicknames on the Show

• [16:06] Light banter about “Fritzy” (Todd) and his various nicknames, affirming the show’s lighthearted camaraderie.

7. Handling Small Talk with Celebrities

• [17:26] More reflections on awkward or risky questions – “How’s the family?” Sometimes backfires if unaware of recent personal changes.
• The group jokes about safe small-talk alternatives, like asking “Where are you living these days?” and how those can go sideways too.

8. Interview: Kevin O’Connell, Vikings Head Coach

• [26:11] O’Connell talks about Coach of the Year Award, Vikings’ trophy drought, and his time as an NFL journeyman QB.

• Reveals using insider playbook info after moving between teams, but in a measured, strategic way.

• Reflects on Tom Brady’s leadership and the “one-on-one” moments with Bill Belichick that were formative for him.

• O’Connell addresses Minnesota’s open quarterback competition (J.J. McCarthy vs. Kyler Murray): his philosophy is to create “a daily attempt to have guys push each other" for the standard at the QB position.

• Fun banter about “coaching cliches,” including a mock Q&A with Dan poking fun at the typical “open competition” responses.

• O’Connell praises Sean McVay, jokes about not wanting to tangle with Dan Campbell, and credits Brian Flores for the Vikings defense.

• Dan and crew discuss that Kyler Murray is likely the starter and that O’Connell’s coaching lineage (Brady, Stafford, McVay) sets him up for QB success.

  “Every job, everything you do is an open competition. Why am I limiting that to my quarterback room? I’m not going to close it. They’re competitors. Go out there and win the job…”
  — Dan Patrick, joking as Head Coach [33:33]

  “The goal I think about every single day is bringing a Lombardi Trophy to the Minnesota Vikings... but we need a Lombardi Trophy, and it’s the hardest thing to do in sports.”
  — Kevin O’Connell [26:39]

  “I think Kyler Murray is going to have a really good year. I do. And I think a large part because Kevin [O’Connell] will kind of get him going.”
  — Dan Patrick [37:28]

9. Kevin Frazier Rants on U.S. Soccer

• [44:53] Entertainment Tonight’s Kevin Frazier drops by to vent about Alexi Lalas and the “pay-for-play” system in U.S. Soccer.

• Frazier is highly critical, arguing the system excludes talented city kids and gatekeeps the sport for rich suburbanites.

• Shares personal story about his own son’s struggles to break into city programs despite playing at a high level in Beverly Hills.

  “U.S. Soccer is gatekeeping, and they’re keeping all these kids out of the cities. The best kids we have, they’re not getting through.”
  — Kevin Frazier [47:49]

• Jokes about crossover celebrity (Jason Kelce) and how athletes don’t always realize the new kind of fame they sign up for.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On meeting celebrities:
  “I look, I find it awkward, and I—you know, I’m kind of well known in these circles, but I still...I wouldn’t have walked up to Larry David unless Larry David walked by and he looked at me and he goes. And I go. And then, you know, he kind of slipped away out of the room.”
  — Dan Patrick [05:42]

• O’Connell on Brady:
  “He had no reason in the world to be a great teammate to me, I wasn’t around him very long. He was the greatest to ever live at what he does. And he was, he was a great teammate.”
  — Kevin O’Connell [28:48]

• Kevin Frazier, on US Soccer & Alexi Lalas:
  “You are part of the problem. Stop talking about U.S. soccer like, you know what you’re—you know it. You don’t.”
  — Kevin Frazier [45:29]

• On sports small talk pitfalls:
  “How’s the family? Could be tricky. Unless you’re 100% sure. Me and the lady, we split up a couple of weeks ago.”
  — Todd/Fritzy [18:44]

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Important Timestamps

• 03:24 — Verlander retirement and the Hall of Fame pitching debate
• 05:23–08:33 — Celebrity encounters and social awkwardness
• 09:52–10:52 — Caller/Patrick dissect modern pitcher injuries and mechanics
• 12:24–14:24 — WNBA Caitlin Clark/league dynamics; physicality debate
• 16:06 — Fritzy on nicknames and show culture
• 17:26–19:44 — Small talk with celebrities, social missteps
• 26:11–36:36 — Interview with Kevin O’Connell (Vikings head coach)
• 37:24–39:21 — Crew breaks down the Vikings’ QB strategy and NFC North outlook
• 44:53–48:49 — Kevin Frazier’s fiery take on U.S. Soccer and celebrity crossover

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Poll Results

• Best pitcher (2010s):

  • Kershaw: 47%
  • Verlander, Scherzer, Other split the remainder [43:48]

• More impressive:

  • David Wells’ “drunk” perfect game: 67%
  • Doc Ellis’s LSD no-hitter: 33% [43:58]

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Conclusion

Hour 2 offers a rich medley of sports nostalgia, honest industry insight, and the humor that makes The Dan Patrick Show a fan favorite. From examining Verlander’s legacy, the nuances of star interactions, and the implications of WNBA's Caitlin Clark era, to coaching philosophies and the structural problems facing U.S. Soccer, the episode covers essential sports radio ground with wit, candor, and a few classic digs at “coach speak” and celebrity culture.

Transcript

[Dan Patrick]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.

[Paul Verze]

He's dribbling the ball with everything on the line. He's driving down the pitch. He's facing price hikes. And cuts past him. Carrier contracts, tries to block him. Oh, he leaves him in the dust. He's at the edge of the box. He cuts past the nonstop group chat, trash talk. He clears on goal. He shoots. No unlimited data for $25 a month. Forever.

[Boost Mobile Announcer]

Visit your local Boost Mobile store today to get unlimited data with a price that never changes. Boost mobile after 30 charge, customers may experience lower speeds. Customers will pay $25 a month as long as they remain active on the Boost $25 Unlimited plan.

[Mangesha Teagadur]

I'm Mangesha Teagadur, and I'm back with a new season of my podcast, Skyline Drive. This time I talk to scientists, biopunks, curmudgeons, blue zoners, super seniors, and Goa's top cryotherapy lab to try to understand this obsession with living forever and what it means for all of us. And I get into a bit of trouble along the way.

[Dan Patrick]

I'd say probably start bone smashing.

[Todd (Fritzy)]

That doesn't work.

[Dan Patrick]

To make it look more defined.

[Kevin O'Connell]

They say it works.

[Rebecca Nagle]

I don't know.

[Mangesha Teagadur]

Listen to Skyline Drive, how to live Forever on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Michael Rappaport]

This is Michael Rappaport, and my podcast, the I Am Rappaport Stereo podcast, is unlike any one you've ever heard. If you're looking for strong opinions about sports, entertainment, politics, pop culture, and whatever else catches my attention, then subscribe now. This kid, Jafar Jackson, should absolutely, positively get nominated for his portrayal as Michael Jackson. Listen to I Am rapaport on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Dan Patrick]

150 years ago, they were hunting us

[Kevin O'Connell]

down to kill us, and now they're

[Alexi Lawless]

hunting down immigrants to deport them.

[Rebecca Nagle]

This is First America, the true story of how the United States came to be and how we got to this present moment. Listen to First America on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Dan Patrick]

You are listening to the Dan Patrick show on Fox Sports Radio. The lake looks great, but I'm told it is freezing. I. I talked to somebody yesterday and they said, do you know that lake is really cold? I go, yes, go. Nobody told us. It looks really refreshing. I said, well, where do you think they're getting the water from? Probably the snow on the mountains. And I think there's some shrinkage that went on yesterday.

[Dylan]

Yes, Dylan, it's kind of crazy because if you look at the color of the water, it looks like the Caribbean.

[Marvin]

Yeah.

[Dylan]

So you're like, that must be a nice warm water. It's not at all.

[Dan Patrick]

Stat of the DAY brought to you by Panini America, the official trading cards of the Dan Patrick Show. We'll talk to the head coach of the world champion Seattle Seahawks, Mike McDonald. Kevin O', Connell, the Vikings head coach, will join us and we'll talk about the open competition at the quarterbacking position for the Minnesota Vikings. Also, Austin Reeves of the Lakers set to join us tomorrow. Steve Young, he is here participating. We'll talk to the hall of Famer as well. And scheduled to talk to the commissioner, Kathy Engelbert, the commissioner of the wnba. Yes, Tom, we saw her last night

[Todd (Fritzy)]

and she was very kind. She apologized for not being able to just join us on yesterday's show. And so this should happen.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay. Thank you, Todd.

[Todd (Fritzy)]

You're welcome.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah, Caitlin Clark was kind of back last night. She had limited minutes, the back issue. But set to Talk to the WNBA commissioner tomorrow on the program. 8773- DP show email address DP danpatrick.com Twitter handle @dpshow World cup today, France and Morocco, that's the only match. Justin Verlander announces that he will retire and he'll retire as a first ballot hall of Famer. And we started looking at some of the pitchers who might be now we're talking starting pitching. I don't know how we're going to be able to look at numbers moving forward and say, okay, what is the line now imagine pitchers who didn't get in and because of their numbers compared, you know, to those, their constituents, their, you know, fellow competitors now and they missed their time on the ballot. Now maybe, you know, the veterans committee will, will put some of these pictures in who put up really impressive numbers. But they didn't get in because at the time you were looking at their numbers. And you go, oh, you only have 240 wins now. 240 wins, your first valid hall of Famer. But for Justin Verlander, quite a career. And we'll announce his retirement. Dylan, poll question from hour one. What are we going with in hour two?

[Dylan]

Well, Dan, from hour one, how comfortable are you approaching a celebrity? Very. We're all humans or much trepidation. 56 say much trepidation.

[Mangesha Teagadur]

All right.

[Dan Patrick]

I like the Todd puts in there. We're all human.

[Todd (Fritzy)]

If you think about, if you get nervous about, you know, public speaking or meeting a person if you think for a second we're just all people with, you know, we put our shirts on, pants on, same week the way we do and all that kind of stuff. You know what I'm saying? That was your opportunity to do your. Your Lou Holtz thing.

[Dan Patrick]

Oh, I know. I'm not gonna do it. No, no. I'm the host here. All right. Yeah. Why? Why?

[Todd (Fritzy)]

I queued you up to do you.

[Dan Patrick]

I know. Thank you, Todd. I don't need to. Yes, Paulie.

[Paulie]

They can get more awkward, though, by where you are. I was in the bathroom at the event last night and at the urinal. And I go to wash my hands. Confirmed. And I look to my left and Sean McDonough, and he actually said, hey, like, he watches the show. And I was like, I wasn't gonna say hi while you're at the urinal. He goes, that's a pro move. But, like, even at the urinal, it's.

[Dan Patrick]

You never know. Yeah. A lot of luminaries, a lot of celebrities here, people that you probably won't be able to see again in person. But I look, I find it awkward, and I. You know, I'm kind of well known in. In these circles, but I still. I wouldn't have walked up to Larry David unless Larry David walked by and he looked at me and he goes. And I go. And then, you know, he kind of slipped away out of the room. Yes. Dylan.

[Kevin O'Connell]

Yeah.

[Dylan]

I just assume I'm gonna be bothering them, so I just opt not to generally.

[Dan Patrick]

Well, the way you look, too, I would probably opt, I think, against them.

[Dylan]

No. This isn't doing it for you.

[Dan Patrick]

No, no. There's certainly a Unabomber look to you today.

[Dylan]

Well, with me looking at the Unabomber and Todd's notebook back here, we've got the whole package.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah. Yes. Time.

[Todd (Fritzy)]

The awkwardness, the initial saying hi to someone just out of the blue. Or is it the. Then what do I do after I say hi and.

[Dan Patrick]

Yes.

[Todd (Fritzy)]

And they say. Now I'm standing there and I just walk away. It's just weird. That becomes weird, I guess.

[Dan Patrick]

Yes. And that. I think it's the second question that you ask that's really important and what that leads to.

[Todd (Fritzy)]

Just wanted to say hi. I'm gonna go get some tacos.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah. But that's it. Just. Hey, wanted to say hi and, you know, hope you're having a great day. Yeah.

[Paulie]

Paul, years ago, I was at this super bowl, like a suite at a Super Bowl, I think, in Jacksonville. I went in with some sales people from ESPN and There was a lot of bigwigs at this, and you weren't there. So he didn't have the buffer of you. And I look over and there's Paul McCartney in the room. And I was like, that's a different level of fame. I mean, a really different level of fame. And he was, like 10ft away from me, and I fought. I go, I'm not going to go bother him. And I did not. Of course, everything's pulling you to do it, but you have to fight it.

[Dan Patrick]

And he doesn't like taking pictures. I think he's very cordial with people, but he doesn't like taking pictures. I mean, certain athletes, I think Bill Russell didn't like signing autographs. Very, very rare that he would sign an autograph, which is fine, you know, And I think an athlete says, I give you everything that I can give you in my job. But then, you know, you probably have a separation there a little bit where, you know, some guys aren't comfortable doing it. Yes, Todd.

[Todd (Fritzy)]

But if you really admire someone, even if you're shy or you think it's going to be weird, and there's a very good chance you're never going to meet them ever in your life. Like, it's such an opportunity. Even if it's a quick hello, and even if they roll their eyes or they aren't friendly at all, at least you tried, and that was your one moment in your life that you can meet Paul McCartney or whomever. I think you got to go for.

[Dan Patrick]

No, you got to read the room. You don't have any sensor. You know, when you. You have that beeping. When you back up, you don't have that beeping.

[Todd (Fritzy)]

I choose not to listen.

[Dan Patrick]

I hear it in the background.

[Todd (Fritzy)]

I'm like, whatever that sound is.

[Dan Patrick]

Well, I can tell. Once again, I'm back to Dylan Dreyer, wonderful lady who works for the Today Show. And Todd is infatuated with Dylan Dryer.

[Todd (Fritzy)]

I didn't tell her I had a crush on her. I didn't say anything.

[Dan Patrick]

Well, no, no, you shouldn't say that.

[Todd (Fritzy)]

I know.

[Dan Patrick]

I. I almost did, but you said it to me. He goes, there's Dylan Dreyer. And I go, okay, should I go up and say something? I go, no, you don't say anything.

[Todd (Fritzy)]

You're doing drawer from the T shirt. You do the weather. I know who you are. I like you.

[Dan Patrick]

All right, so poll question for hour two is going to be what?

[Dylan]

Well, we got some options here, Dan. Best pitcher. I guess you could say the last two decades. Last 2000 and tens. Verlander, Scherzer, Kershaw, other.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay.

[Dylan]

All hall of Famers.

[Todd (Fritzy)]

Yeah.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah. So what's the question? Which one's the best pitcher? Oh, okay.

[Dylan]

I know you're probably gonna say Kershaw.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah, yeah.

[Dylan]

Do you want me to do some other ones?

[Dan Patrick]

Well, I don't know. I mean.

[Dylan]

All right, well, we were talking about David Wells. Which is more impressive, David Wells drunk, perfect game or Doc Ellis's lsd? No hitter.

[Dan Patrick]

I'm gonna say David Wells.

[Dylan]

He looked rough.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah, he always looks robbed. But in that game, yes, he, he did. Let me get a couple of phone calls in here. Will in California. Hi, Will. Good morning. What do you have for me?

[Caller]

Morning. 61 1. 90 and 80. You were talking about Verlander and that. Something I wanted to talk to you about a long time is the. All the injuries to pitchers. So many getting Tommy John surgery. And my theory is a simple one. The problem is technique. Most pitchers now pitch standing up. When Paul Skeens came up, I told my friend, let's just wait around until he goes to Tommy John. And the person to talk to is Nolan Ryan. And I invite the younger people to YouTube Nolan Ryan and watch him pitch. He threw his body toward the batter. He bent his right leg and thrust himself toward the batter. You pitch with your legs. And Ryan always said that he worked out by running in knee deep water. And the pitchers today, when you pitch with your arm instead of your body and your legs, these injuries are inevitable.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah, but they're aware of this. There's so much involved in science. And thank you for the phone call. I mean, Skeen's legs are, you know, tree trunks. Verlander. Same way, you know, you go back to Koufax the way he pitched or Tom Seaver the way he pitched Nolan Ryan. Yes, it starts from the ground up with these guys. And yes, it's inevitable that you're going to have one Tommy John, maybe two Tommy John's, but they think of it. An ex pitcher told me this a couple of weeks ago. He said, you can actually come back stronger after Tommy John surgery. It used to be like, hey, I don't know what I'm going to be like when I came come back, but I got a fresh ligament here. Like I'm, I'm good. And you know, just the wear and tear. I was talking to Ray Allen last night and I said, have you had surgeries? He said, just had my hip redone. I go, why would your hip? And he explain, you know, you're running miles and miles and miles and miles. And he said, I'm gonna have to get the other one done as well. So the wear and tear, it's not always when you're playing. It's after, you know, these guys get to be 50 or 60. Although Marcus Allen, we saw him last night, he could still give you a couple of carries. I asked Vince Coleman when I saw him, Vincent van Gogh, I said, you know, can you still run? He goes, oh, no, I walk. And here's one of the fastest guys who's ever played in baseball. Let's see. Michael in Houston. Hi, Mike. What's on your mind today?

[Caller]

How you doing, Dan?

[Dan Patrick]

Good, sir.

[Caller]

First time caller. I love this.

[Dan Patrick]

I love you.

[Caller]

I love your sir, your show. Hey, I got one quick thing about the wnba. The commissioner doesn't realize what's going on here. He's got something genuine. And what's going to happen if you don't protect Clayton Clark? A lot of fans are going to stop showing up. And what's going to happen? You're going to see some of these franchises go under. And she's put money in a lot of people's pockets. And not only that, I like watching the wnba that you like, watch Dallas, Las Vegas, Minnesota and New York, and there's just some great teams out there.

[Kevin O'Connell]

Yeah.

[Dan Patrick]

Well, we'll talk to the commissioner and we'll ask her those questions about how do you try not to be perceived as favoritism to Caitlin Clark? That's the tricky part of this. You're the commissioner of the league. Everybody knows the meal ticket and the person who has changed the game, changed the finances of the game, expansion changed how much money you're making, the travel involved, Everybody knows that. But as the commissioner, how do you give the appearance of not going out of your way to show favoritism? Now, to me, when I watch, it feels like they're going out of their way to not show any favoritism to the detriment of Caitlin Clark. She's a great player, but with that bad back. She. She's young, but you wonder what, you know, how much durability she's going to have moving forward. If you go to a WNBA game and Marvin has worked quite a few of these WNBA games, this isn't, you know, your old school, you know, girls basketball. This is physical. I, I find it more physical than the NBA. They allow more physicality in the wnba. And I want to ask the commissioner about that. Now. She might say, well, that's just your perception, which is true. But I've been watching basketball for 60 years, so I have a pretty good sample size to go on here. Yeah, Marv.

[Marvin]

Yeah. When Caitlin Clark first got into the wnba, people like, oh, they're being rough just on her. That screamed to me, you don't watch the wnba. You've never watched.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah.

[Marvin]

Obviously you watch it because of Caitlin Clark, because she is the phenomenon. So that's completely understandable. But if you've watched the wnba, it's just par for the course.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah. Paulie.

[Paulie]

It does feel like an odd situation the commissioner's in. If she issues some directive that protects one player, that actually would backfire. Now these players will feel alienated and not backed by their commissioner, and they may enforce it on the court even more. It's more about the referees, I think it is these days.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah. And I don't know what kind of referendum, edict message that's sent to these officials. Officials don't like to be told what to do. They want to call the game how they want to call it. And with Caitlin Clark, it's tricky to call a game with her. But my point is, if you can call a game with Steph Curry, why can't you call a game with Caitlin Clark? They move constantly. They're shooting deep. You're trying to rough them up, you're trying to get into their jump shot. You're. You're trying to be physical with them. And somehow Steph Curry has survived in the NBA. Caitlin Clark, it feels like they're allowing a little bit more physicality. Matt in la. Hi, Matt. What do you have for me today? Hey, good morning.

[Caller]

Welcome back. 611 85. You know the saying, absence makes the heart grow fonder. I actually missed Christie and.

[Dan Patrick]

Oh, it's.

[Caller]

It's amazing. And a follow up question to that. I, I remember, I'm not sure. Was there an official switch from Fritzi to Todd and was there a reason for that? Appreciate you guys and welcome back.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay, how about that? Matt missed you during the break.

[Todd (Fritzy)]

I missed Matt, too. That was very nice.

[Dan Patrick]

I appreciate that. When did you stop being Todd and you became Fritzy?

[Todd (Fritzy)]

I don't know if he was asking me or asking you guys how you were first. I'm always fritzy on the show.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah.

[Todd (Fritzy)]

Sometimes I'm tired and I lost a D along the way because of my behavior or something.

[Dan Patrick]

I said, yeah, we. Yeah, you're fritzing.

[Alexi Lawless]

Yeah.

[Dan Patrick]

But I, I just say thank you, Todd. But, yeah, for the most part, you're fritzing.

[Todd (Fritzy)]

Yeah.

[Dan Patrick]

Yes. Dylan.

[Dylan]

I think I've always called Todd Todd Actually.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay.

[Todd (Fritzy)]

Sometimes. Toddy Joe, tj, You have a couple of little nicknames.

[Dylan]

Todd Stewart.

[Todd (Fritzy)]

We're close like that.

[Dan Patrick]

Instead of Rod, Sir, Lake, Todd Ho. We're workshopping.

[Todd (Fritzy)]

This is good.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah. Let me see. Ryan in Detroit. Hi, Ry. What do you have for me?

[Caller]

Yeah, hey, Dan. Good to have you guys back. I got two quick comments and then a request of Gritzi. First comment, I did a triathlon there in Lake Tahoe, and I can 100% confirm there was shrinking.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah.

[Caller]

Second comment is, I love how you normalize all these celebrity interactions. I think, you know, it kind of pulls the fans in closer, and. And it's. It's really nice to have that experience through your lens.

[Dan Patrick]

Well, and look, I. I want to give them their space. I want to be professional, but. And I'm uncomfortable walking up unless. Unless there's something that I've already had a relationship with or, you know, there's certain guys that I just don't walk up to. I don't really know. And then there's other ones that, you know, we've had on the show. And so I. I'm just like you. If you meet somebody, you know, you're kind of nervous about, what do I say? And as I said to Todd, it's always the second thing that you bring up. You can say, hey, great to see you, Dan. Patrick. Oh, yeah, I know who you are. Hey, you look great, Baba. Are you playing in the tournament? No. Then the next question is really important. I even said to somebody, Roger Clements, I go, how's the family?

[Todd (Fritzy)]

I didn't.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah, because I don't know, there's something uncomfortable, maybe a little bit, with. With our relationship. We're not a relationship. But just, you know, what I do and what he did, maybe, you know, a little history there. And that's when I was like, okay, I'm gonna say hello. And then I'll go, how's the family? And then he tells me about his grandkids. Four grandkids, and his son is still playing. And, you know, so. So that was it. Yes, Tom.

[Todd (Fritzy)]

But even something as generic as how's the family? Could be tricky. Unless you're 100. Sure. Me and the lady, we split up a couple of weeks ago.

[Dan Patrick]

As a matter of fact, I. I've done that before recently. Where I go, hey, how's the family? Well, and then I go, oh, my God. Like what? And then it's, well, you know, we. We separated. Oh, okay. Well, okay. And then you're going, okay, maybe he can help me out. And Say something. He goes, no, no, no, no. It's. You know, nobody knew about it. You know, I just want to say, like, okay, okay. Yes, Paul.

[Paulie]

It happened to me just yesterday morning. I ran into a media person, no name. And I said, how's the family? He goes, oh, I don't have kids. I go, oh. And I knew he was married. I just assumed he had kids because he was like, 45 years old. And then I'm like, is it awkward? Can he not have kids? I'm like, in my mind, I'm going, what did I do wrong?

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah, that's when somebody. I. That's happened to me before. And somebody will go, oh, we have dogs. And then I go, oh, okay. Well, how are the dogs? Got pictures, you know. Good boy.

[Todd (Fritzy)]

Come here.

[Dan Patrick]

Yes, Mark.

[Marvin]

How's the families? In the same vein of how are you? I'm. I really don't care how you're doing or how's how the family is. It's just another. It's just a nice way of being polite when you don't have anything else to say. When somebody goes up, you say, oh, man, how are you? Oh, well, you know, I lost my leg.

[Paulie]

Well, you would know that.

[Paul Verze]

You would.

[Dan Patrick]

See, I didn't have my leg. Yes, Todd, what?

[Todd (Fritzy)]

We would hope the celebrity can bail that person out that you're going to and just. Even if they don't have any kids and they just live alone up in the woods somewhere, just say, everybody's fine. Thanks for asking. You don't have to. No one knows. Needs to know the specifics anyway.

[Dan Patrick]

Like, Marvin's saying, yeah, Paulie, my new

[Paulie]

one these days is, where are you living these days? And I did that yesterday. And the guy goes, I've been in Austin, Texas, for 30 years. Oh, my God.

[Kevin O'Connell]

Yeah.

[Paulie]

Where you're living these days is like, I'm kind of interested in what you're doing.

[Dan Patrick]

Did you move in Austin? Like, did you move to another house there? Yes, Dylan.

[Dylan]

Yeah, I'm with Marvin. Even if your life is in shambles, just say, fine.

[Dan Patrick]

Well, nobody wants to hear, like, all the health things I went through. And then somebody will say, hey, how you feel? And I go, do you really want to know? Because you don't. How about we just move on, you know, here, sit down for an hour, and I'll let you know about my health issues.

[Marvin]

Yes, Marvin, the only time last year when Grant Hill was on the show, he really wanted to know how you were doing because of the health scare, and you guys kind of talked about your different health issues. And you, you know, we're like, oh, you know, this, that and the third. You guys are going back and forth. So he really cared about how you were feeling?

[Dan Patrick]

Yes, because I talked to him about stem cell and I said it might help your ankle. And he said, would you give me information on that? And, and I appreciated that. Yes.

[Marvin]

Mark seeing his ankle, oh, man, he went through so much.

[Dan Patrick]

He almost lost, you know, they almost amputated. All right, let me take a break here. Kevin O', Connell, the Vikings head coach, will join us. Mike McDonald, Seattle head coach, will join us as well. Back after this Dan Patrick Show Be sure to catch the live edition of the Dan Patrick show, weekdays at 9:00am Eastern, 6:00am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the iHeartRadio app.

[Jason McIntyre]

Hey, this is Jason McIntyre. Join me every weekday morning on my podcast, Straight fire with Jason McIntyre. This isn't your typical sports pod, pushing the same tired narratives down your throat every day. Straight Fire gives you honest opinions on all the biggest sports headlines, accurate stats to help you win big at the sportsbook and all the best guests. Do yourself a favor and listen to Straight fire with Jason McIntyre on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Tab Ramos]

This is Tab Ramos from Inside American Soccer and this summer, topgolf is turning into the ultimate soccer destination. They're not just throwing games on in the background. Topgolf is going all in on soccer. They've got a new soccer themed game you can play with your group, special in venue activations, exclusive food and drink items inspired by the global game. And at more than 60 locations. They've even installed full size soccer goals so you can try to hit golf balls right into the net. And every match all summer long will be on throughout the venue. So it's a great place to watch with friends, hang out, compete a little bit and enjoy the atmosphere. And if you want to keep the fun going all summer, you can get the topgolf Summer Fun Pass, which lets you play every single day and bring up to five guests every visit. Get yours [e-mail] FunPass Summer hits different at TopGolf, the official language of football

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[Dan Patrick]

the

[Historical Narrator]

Declaration, which is full of these beautifully rendered sentences and paragraphs about enlightenment ideals, does also have this darker history to it.

[Rebecca Nagle]

Why is it important for the darker part of the Declaration of Independence and the American Revolution, why is it important that Americans know about it?

[Historical Narrator]

Well, if we don't understand the full context in which our nation was founded, we won't understand the full context in which our nation now finds itself.

[Rebecca Nagle]

I'm Rebecca Nagle. Gohin Dawadon Jalecayetli Gay la citizen of Cherokee Nation.

[Dan Patrick]

Are you guys big Chiefs fans? Hell yeah.

[Rebecca Nagle]

This is First America, the true story of how the United States came to be and how we got to this present moment. Listen to First America on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts, I think.

[Dan Patrick]

Rich Eisen, I don't know if he did it on purpose last year, but one we had, you know, a missile that came in here last year. Yes, Dylan.

[Dylan]

Well, it's nice you have that big pole protect.

[Dan Patrick]

Any slices coming in? Well, we had a glass wall last year, so I don't know what happened here. Maybe, maybe. I mean, we're at Edgewood. I don't want to live on the edge here with this, but I got to trust everybody behind me. This is where somebody, if they do have a grudge against me, I'm so sorry. Didn't mean to shank it over there. If Antonio Romo is a good golfer, if Romo hits it over here, you know, that's probably on purpose. How many years did Kevin o' Connell play in the NFL?

[Paulie]

Paul, he was a quarterback at San Diego State. He was a Patriot, a Lion, a Jet, a Dolphin, a Charger. So he played five seasons with, like, seven different teams.

[Dan Patrick]

All right, he is the Minnesota Vikings head coach. He stopped by yesterday after his practice round. Now, he won Coach of the year in 2024, and that's where I started the conversation by Asking coach where he keeps his award.

[Kevin O'Connell]

Kind of a replica Lombardi trophy after the 21 Super Bowl.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay.

[Kevin O'Connell]

It's got a couple. Got a couple of those things.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay.

[Dylan]

All right.

[Dan Patrick]

But if I walk in the house, I don't know what you do for a living.

[Kevin O'Connell]

No, no, no.

[Dan Patrick]

Like jerseys up in the living room. Bedroom.

[Kevin O'Connell]

You got. You gotta. Yeah, you gotta travel. You gotta either go to the basement or into the office to see. To see anything. I'm not. Look, I'm hoping the number, you know, the goal I think about every single day is bringing a Lombardi Trophy to the Minnesota Vikings. We got the greatest fans in the world and an unbelievable football history with the Vikings that I've really admired learning about. But we need a Lombardi Trophy, and it's the hardest thing to do in sports. But we, you know, our fans deserve it.

[Dan Patrick]

Were you ever picked up by a team and they were playing the team that you were on? Relate. Am I making up a story that I didn't know if you helped with information.

[Kevin O'Connell]

Oh, yeah, no. Yeah. Mark Burnell told me one time, you know, once they figure out you can't play, try to get two more years in. That's a guy who played. That's a guy that. That's. And that's a guy that played 20 years and he's one. A very close friend of mine, actually the quarterback coach of the Detroit Lions. But I started here and, you know, you get released that first time I was with New England ended up, you know, in a roundabout way, getting to the New York jets. And then we played. Played the Patriots and a couple weeks later, and, you know, I might not always been able to throw it from point A to point B, but I was going to take every last note. I was going to learn every possible thing I could being around the greatest coach of all time, the greatest quarterback of all time.

[Dylan]

So.

[Dan Patrick]

So they just downloaded some.

[Kevin O'Connell]

I had some information, but I had to be smart about it. You couldn't give it all at once. You know, it was like, hey, I'm. Hey, about 60, 70%. There's more where that came from.

[Dan Patrick]

What's your favorite Brady Store? Do you ever go out drinking with him?

[Kevin O'Connell]

No, No. I.

[Dan Patrick]

The early Brady years, I would say.

[Kevin O'Connell]

So I was. I came in post that 07 giants super bowl where they had won all the way up until that game in Arizona.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay.

[Kevin O'Connell]

And then I came in. Then he actually got hurt that year. And then the following year was. Was 09. And I'm still. I've become, you know, pretty close with him just because, you know, now what he's doing. And obviously the best thing about him is he's, he had no reason in the world to be a great teammate. To me, I wasn't around him very long. He's the greatest to ever live at what he does. And he was, he was a great teammate. He pushed everybody around that organization to get better and, you know, cares about what I'm doing now and we stay in touch. And I think that's probably, you know, that's the best story of it all that he even, you know, he even wants to, you know, carry on a friendship that makes him a great teammate.

[Dan Patrick]

How often did you get yelled at by Belichick?

[Kevin O'Connell]

You know, he. It was more Dan. I remember these super impactful moments, you know, because I think it's changed now. I haven't been there since, but they now just have a facility and they practice fields are right there. But you used to have to walk from the top shelf there outside Gillette Stadium, practice fields throughout, through the stadium, through the indoor or through the tunnel back to the everyday locker room. And I'll never forget two or three times, just these times where it was basically Bill and myself had somehow timed it up to walk back to the locker room. And it's not a short walk, it's, you know, so you gotta make a decision, are you gonna hang back? Are you gonna maybe push past him? But a couple of those times where, you know, he just pulls you aside and that was the greatness, you know, those one on one times of telling you. Exactly. And maybe it wasn't a fundamental thing, maybe it wasn't, you know, exactly something that was tied to one individual play from practice. But it was big picture. It was understanding, it was preparation, it was all these things that looking back on it now, I totally understand why, you know, he has been one of the best to ever do it for sure.

[Dan Patrick]

Help me understand an open competition at quarterback. Like, like it's open between J.J. mcCarthy and Kyler Murray.

[Kevin O'Connell]

I'm not, I'm not really familiar with a closed composition competition. So, you know, I've heard that, I've heard that, you know, everyone's like fascinated with, with that aspect of it. Here's what I would say, you know, you know, two players and really the, the, the goal going into this off season was to elevate the quality quarterback position. Because when we have a certain standard of play that we feel like we have multiple guys in that room that are capable of achieving that standard. The Minnesota Vikings win football games and so the best way to achieve that is having a daily attempt to have guys push each other and not just always need the outside noise or not always need what the narratives mean may be. Let's, let's, let's roll the ball out there and let's, try to, you know, help the Minnesota Vikings get better. Kyler has come in and done a great job. JJ, I think, has benefited from it. He had a really good spring. Carson Wentz is this veteran quarterback in the room that as a guy who's played seven or eight quarterbacks in four years, the two years we had our starter, you know, play the whole season, we won 13 and 14 games. So we want to try to get back to the standard of having the quarterback position be a driving force behind us. Winning by doing their job, by hopefully getting, activating the great players they get to play with. We got a great defense. Brian Flores has done an unbelievable job. If we can limit giving the football away and generate some explosives and get a run game going, which is. Although no one's really talking about that, that has been a major emphasis of this off season, both from a coaching staff standpoint and a player, a player development, an offensive development standpoint. I'm excited about where we're at, but we won't really know until we, you know, go start calcifying, forging our team together that we're going to compete in the NFC North. It's very, very competitive division.

[Dan Patrick]

Paul, how many coaching cliches did. Did we get?

[Paulie]

Dan, we got six cliches in two minutes.

[Kevin O'Connell]

So let's, but let's, let's run this.

[Paulie]

Excuse me, coach. Run out the balls for practice as a cliche.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah.

[Kevin O'Connell]

Well, it's a better way to say we're going to start practice in three weeks.

[Paulie]

We're going to take it one practice at a time. You didn't say that.

[Kevin O'Connell]

Well, we're not going to take it one practice.

[Todd (Fritzy)]

You have to.

[Kevin O'Connell]

I think we actually go three, and then an off day and then three. I mean, sports science, I mean, they have your cliches lapped at this point.

[Dan Patrick]

See, I think this is how you answer. You can ask me the question about the quarterbacking situation in Minnesota. Go ahead.

[Kevin O'Connell]

Would you make a comment if I asked you about an open competition?

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah.

[Kevin O'Connell]

Dan, why don't you take me through how you have an open competition and what are your thoughts on it currently in Minnesota?

[Dan Patrick]

Well, you know what I think every day, every job, everything you do is an open competition. Why am I limiting that to my quarterback room? I'M not going to close it. They're going out there. They're competitors. Go out there and win the job. I'm not handing you the job. JJ didn't live up to expectations yet. Maybe you can learn from Kyler. Kyler, I think, is going to have an incredible year inside on that turf in that division, me coaching him up. And I think we're going to dominate the North. We're going to win it, and I think we're going to be a Super bowl favorite. Brian's done a great job with the defense and I want to kick the Lions ass, the packers ass and the Bears ass.

[Michael Rappaport]

Who's with me?

[Paul Verze]

Let's go.

[Marvin]

Let's go.

[Kevin O'Connell]

Go, man. Dan Campbell's going to have fun with you here. No, but it's a, it's a, it's a great answer, but I think up until the point where, you know, you kind of hit the gas there about 70% through there. But what you said is very similar to what I said.

[Dan Patrick]

I like the guys, I like that

[Kevin O'Connell]

you got Kyler, the guys to, to push to find exactly what they can become as players and it's okay to be uncomfortable doing that sometimes. Yes, these guys are. And they are. We are in a world where you find out very quickly that you have to be a grown up in the National Football League because that's what every Sunday, Monday, Thursday, whatever it is it's about. And we know that, we know what we signed up for. These players know that. I think they've handled it well and I'm excited to see what it looks like. And we have a good plan in place to try to make sure we allow this thing to get to a place where we feel good about it, but also prepare the guy that's going to be our starter for the regular season.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah, I think Kyla will do a good job as your starter. But how do we go Vikings?

[Kevin O'Connell]

Go Vikings school.

[Dan Patrick]

See, see, I, I could be your script writer. I could help you be really colorful. You're too busy for it and I'm going to set you up for that next job 20 years from now when you want to get into TV.

[Kevin O'Connell]

There you go.

[Dan Patrick]

That's what I, I'll have you. I, I get you some quotes and they'll be like, man, is he colorful.

[Kevin O'Connell]

Man, is he good.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah. No coaching cliches. Like you're kind of the, you know, east coast version of Sean McVeigh.

[Kevin O'Connell]

East coast version?

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah. Well, Midwest, Mid ish, West, East. Yeah.

[Kevin O'Connell]

No, I love Sean.

[Dan Patrick]

You think you could take him not right now.

[Kevin O'Connell]

No. He's. He's. He's going to be quick and he's shifty and. And he's the. I think he lifts weights every day. I wish I could.

[Dan Patrick]

Low base.

[Kevin O'Connell]

Yeah.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah, yeah. Spends a little too much time on the abs, right? He does. He does.

[Kevin O'Connell]

I love Sean McVeigh.

[Dan Patrick]

Who are you more concerned about, Dan Campbell or Sean McVeigh?

[Kevin O'Connell]

If I. If you gave me the script that you just read. Dan.

[Dan Patrick]

Dan Campbell, great to see you.

[Kevin O'Connell]

Great.

[Dan Patrick]

Thanks for being a good sport.

[Kevin O'Connell]

No, of course.

[Dan Patrick]

Good luck with Kyler as your starter.

[Kevin O'Connell]

Appreciate you guys.

[Dan Patrick]

That's Kevin o', Connell, the Vikings head coach. He handled it well. Now he's a big fan of the show. He's been a big fan of the show for years. And going back to when I think he was getting Johnny Manziel ready for the NFL.

[Paulie]

Yeah. He had just retired from the NFL and he was kind of getting into quarterback coaching, and we read that he was advising Manziel out of college. We text him. He came on. He actually visited us at, like, a meet and greet in Huntington beach years ago with a few of his bros.

[Dan Patrick]

So he's known us forever, and I couldn't let him give coach speak. I probably roughed him up a little bit. Although I saw him last night. He came up and he started laughing when he saw me. And I think we both acknowledged that he had a job to do. I had a job to do. Yeah.

[Paulie]

Paul, what do you think the strategy should be with the Vikings quarterback position?

[Dan Patrick]

Kyler Murray is their quarterback. You didn't go get him because J.J. mcCarthy's your quarterback this year. This is a win now division. And Kyler Murray, I think, will do really well with Kevin. I think it's great. He'll be inside again on turf for half his games. You know, a majority of his games will probably be inside because when he plays in Detroit, obviously you got Chicago and Green Bay outside, but he. I think Kyler Murray is going to have a really good year. I do. And I think a large part because Kevin will kind of get him going. He'll set him straight and at least give him the tools. And. And what Kevin has done, I mean, he was with Sean McVeigh. He was with Matthew Stafford, and he just raves about Matthew Stafford. He said his quarterback IQ is off the charts and he was there with Brady. Now he's not comparing Brady and. And Matthew IQ wise, but I think he's saying Matthew Stafford is every bit the quarterback Tom Brady is. He doesn't have the results. But as far as IQ making all the throws, he's, he's up there in the upper echelon. Yes.

[Marvin]

Marvin, do you think Kyler Murray is going to have a Sam Darnold type resurgence in Minnesota?

[Dan Patrick]

Yes, I do. But I think the offense is, you know, you'll cater it differently for Kyler than you do. You know, Sam Darnold. I would keep Justin Jefferson happy. That would be the first thing I would do. You know, Brian Flores is going to have a good defense. They'll have an underrated running attack. Kevin, I think will, I think there'll be a fun team in that division. But man, there's no margin for error like Detroit. You're kind of, that window's closing. Green Bay, is it opening or kind of staying where it is? And then you got Chicago. It feels like that window is opening up even wider. Yeah.

[Marvin]

Mark, best division in football.

[Dan Patrick]

I'd have to think about that. But I would say if you've got four teams that are at least a B or B plus at probably, I mean, I have to look at the NFC west. Even though you have Arizona in there, the, the Niners, Rams in Seattle, like the two best teams in the NFC might be in that division. All right, we'll take a break. Oh, and speaking of that division, Mike McDonald, the Seahawks head coach, he'll join us coming up next hour. Take a break. Back after this. Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in the nation. Catch all of our [e-mail] and within the iHeartRadio app. Search FSR to listen live.

[Tab Ramos]

This is Tab Ramos from inside American Soccer. And this summer, topgolf is turning into the ultimate soccer destination. They're not just throwing games on in the background. Topgolf is going all in on soccer. They've got a new soccer themed game you can play with your group. Special in venue activations, exclusive food and drink items inspired by the global game and at more than 60 locations. They've even installed full size soccer goals so you can try to hit golf balls right into the net. And every match all summer long will be on throughout the venue. So it's a great place to watch with friends, hang out, compete a little bit and enjoy the atmosphere. And if you want to keep the fun going all summer, you can get the topgolf Summer Fun Pass which lets you play every single day and bring up to five guests every visit. Get yours [e-mail] FunPass Summer hits different at TopGolf.

[Paul Verze]

He's dribbling the ball with everything on the line. He's driving down the pitch. He's facing price hikes and cuts past him. Carrier contracts, tries to block him.

[Dan Patrick]

Oh, he leaves him in the dust.

[Paul Verze]

He's at the edge of the box. He cuts past the non stop group chat, trash talk. He clears on goal. He shoots.

[Dan Patrick]

No unlimited data for $25 a month forever.

[Boost Mobile Announcer]

Visit your local Boost Mobile store today to get unlimited data with a price that never changes. Boost mobile after 30gb, customers may experience lower speeds. Customers will pay 25amonth as long as they remain active on the Boost $25 Unlimited plan.

[Historical Narrator]

The Declaration, which is full of these beautifully rendered, you know, sentences and paragraphs about enlightenment ideals, does also have this darker history to it.

[Rebecca Nagle]

Why is it important for the darker part of the Declaration of Independence and the American Revolution? Why is it important that Americans know about it?

[Historical Narrator]

Well, if we don't understand the full context in which our nation was founded, we won't understand the full context in which our nation now finds itself.

[Rebecca Nagle]

I'm Rebecca Nagle. Gohin Tawa, Don Jaleca, Yetli Gay La citizen of Cherokee Nation.

[Dan Patrick]

Are you guys big Chiefs fans? Hell yeah.

[Rebecca Nagle]

This is First America, the true story of how the United States came to be and how we got to this present moment. Listen to First America on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Paul Verze]

Hey, guys, Paul Verze here and I want to talk to you about Paul's best podcast, Will Ferrell's Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio. I sit down each week with a special guest and we discuss the absolute best of things Davidson.

[Boost Mobile Announcer]

It's that and then there's everything else.

[Paul Verze]

He would just shout one line and it would murder.

[Dan Patrick]

Marie, lunch.

[Paul Verze]

Let's talk about the best moments that we had on the road.

[Dan Patrick]

I would love a cocktail.

[Dylan]

Dude.

[Dan Patrick]

Joker, get last row, middle seat on

[Paul Verze]

a Southwest Airlines flight.

[Dan Patrick]

Joe, how was your flight?

[Michael Rappaport]

It was great.

[Dan Patrick]

The guy at Penn State, we were on the field and the player thought Joe was his former coach and he

[Paul Verze]

hugged him and hugged him and Joe

[Dan Patrick]

just went with it.

[Paul Verze]

The guy goes, what are you doing here, coach?

[Dan Patrick]

And Joe just goes. And you walk in and it is bananas. I mean, it's a feast for the eyes. And I was like, it's like. It's not my thing either, but we're here.

[Paul Verze]

When in Rome, top athletes, chefs, musicians, everybody listen to Paul's best podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Dan Patrick]

Nate Bargazzi, when we were out there, just ran by and gave me a hug. It's like, hey. I said, what are you doing? He goes, when are you done? I go, I got another hour here. He goes, oh, okay. I'm gonna be out on the course, so maybe you'll stop by a little bit later on. Alrighty. Update the poll results if you can.

[Dylan]

Yeah, Dan. Best pitcher of the 2010s. Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, Clayton Kershaw or other 47. Say Kershaw.

[Dan Patrick]

Oh, okay.

[Dylan]

And then more impressive, David Wells. Drunk, perfect gamer. Doc Ellis's LSD. No hitter. 67% said David Wells.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay. 877 3DP Show. Get some more phone calls as well. The Colonel is back. Colonel joining us, Tampa. Daniel.

[Caller]

Listen, after those inspirational comments, I'll follow you to Minnesota anytime, buddy. Hey, listen, I just. I just wanted to call out. I thought. I thought the Egypt coach will made some courageous comments and because of that, I'm pulling for Morocco today. And, and Paulie, if you could. If you could check the stats. I think the Yankees lost last night. Boys, have fun in Lake Tahoe.

[Dan Patrick]

Thank you, Colonel. Oh, Kevin Fraser from Entertainment Tonight just stopped by. Always a must. This is always a.

[Alexi Lawless]

Ever since I. I've been dying to come here and talk USA Soccer, I was like, I gotta come here.

[Dan Patrick]

Really get this off my chest. Wait, what's wrong?

[Alexi Lawless]

Listen, man, we gotta stop Alexi Lawless, man.

[Dan Patrick]

What's going on?

[Alexi Lawless]

What's happening? Alexi, slow down, bro.

[Dan Patrick]

Slow down.

[Alexi Lawless]

I mean, I've been listening to some of his takes. I thought Terry Henry was gonna kill him. Zlatan wanted to take him out at one point and I was like, wow. And then I've been listening to some of these takes recently. And the way, you know, every four years we lose and we go through this thing where we say, what's the problem with U.S. soccer? And, you know, then he gives his explanation.

[Dan Patrick]

He's like, oh, the paid for play

[Alexi Lawless]

system works and it's okay. And I'm like, alexi, what are you talking about? You benefited from it. Like, you know, a kid from the suburbs. But back when us sucked, sucked, sucked in Italy, you were part of the problem. You are part of the problem. Stop talking about U.S. soccer like, you know what you're.

[Dan Patrick]

You know it.

[Alexi Lawless]

You don't.

[Dan Patrick]

You are coming in hot today.

[Alexi Lawless]

I was so hot when I read he had a recent tweet about, you

[Kevin O'Connell]

know, oh, there's nothing wrong with the system.

[Alexi Lawless]

I was like, shut up, shut up.

[Dan Patrick]

Isn't it good TV, though? Are they providing good tv entertainment? Tv?

[Alexi Lawless]

I think it's going to be cool until Zlatan gets up and just hits him at some point, right? It's just. It's crazy. It's crazy.

[Dan Patrick]

I hate when they say this is just the start. This, you know, Team USA this is. It's been just the start for 30 years, Dan.

[Alexi Lawless]

We've watched it over and over and over again. You know, I. I mean, I used to follow Landon down in a Vera Donovan around I went. When he played in Germany, I went to Germany to see him play. And I remember when we did so well in South Africa in the confed cup, and I was so excited, and I was like, we're building something. We're building something. What's that?

[Paulie]

I just think I was about to say, Kevin, it's like, it's the number one sport in Argentina, in China, in Spain. It's not even close. Here.

[Alexi Lawless]

Here's the problem, because we don't want it to be the number one sport. We want it to be the most profitable sport. And so what they're doing is they're making money off of kids in the suburbs, but those kids in the city. And I've spent the last 10 years because I got a kid who plays at the highest levels, and the last 10 years, I've watched how they really gatekeep and some of these best kids from the city. My son's playing in Beverly Hills. He thinks he's pele, right? And I'm like, dude, you can't play. So I take him. I take him into the city, in the hood, right? And I'm like, bro, let's go. Let's see what you do. And the guy's like, he can practice with us, but this is a program, it's free, and we have kids who can play. And I mean, they're dicing my son up, and it took him like three to four weeks before he even played a game as a nine year old. And I was like, that's the problem. How can you be playing in southern California and there's no Latino kids? I was like, there's something weird going on. I was like, what's happening? U. S. Soccer is gatekeeping, and they're keeping all these kids out of the cities. And the. The best kids we have, they're not getting through.

[Dan Patrick]

I like this. You don't get to be fired up on entertainment Tonight. They don't allow you to rail on celebrities.

[Alexi Lawless]

I loved being able to come in here. Just get that off my chest.

[Dan Patrick]

I'm glad you Alexi Lawless weight on my chest. All right, final 30 seconds.

[Kevin O'Connell]

Yes.

[Dan Patrick]

We've been around Jason Kelce the last couple of days.

[Alexi Lawless]

Oh, my gosh.

[Dan Patrick]

This is wild.

[Alexi Lawless]

People and athletes don't understand. When you cross over into the celebrity world, it's very, very different. You've crossed over into a space where the world is watching. When we're in esp, when you're at ESPN or you're in the sports world, you're in a little bubble and it's cool, it's a manosphere, it's beautiful and it's fun. But when you cross over into this and, and every party you go to, not just the dudes, but every woman knows, your wife, your life and everything that's going on, it's different now. And you know, I see dudes get irritated, but I'm like, hey, you asked for this one last. I never forget Tony Parker's father when he first married Eva Longoria. I was sitting with him at the All Star game and I was like, does he understand what he's done? And his dad's like, no, he doesn't.

[Dan Patrick]

Not yet. Probably never did. Kevin Frazier from Entertainment. I just had to come in to get that off my chest.

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[Marvin]

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[Mangesha Teagadur]

I'm Mangesha Teeguder and I'm back with a new season of my podcast, Skyline Drive. This time I talk to scientists, biopunks, curmudgeons, Blue zoners, super seniors, and Goa's top cryotherapy lab to try to understand this obsession with living forever and what it means for all of us. And I get into a bit of trouble along the way.

[Dan Patrick]

I'd say probably start bone smashing. That doesn't work. Make it look more defined.

[Kevin O'Connell]

They say it works.

[Rebecca Nagle]

I don't know.

[Mangesha Teagadur]

Listen to Skyline Drive how to Live Forever on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Michael Rappaport]

This is Michael Rapoport and my podcast, the I Am Rappaport Stereo podcast is unlike anyone you've ever heard. If you're looking for strong opinions about sports, entertainment, politics, pop culture and whatever else catches my attention, then subscribe now. This kid, Jafar Jackson should absolutely, positively get nominated for his portrayal as Michael Jackson. Listen to I Am rapaport on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Dan Patrick]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.