The Dan Patrick Show – Hour 2, February 23, 2026 More Gold Medal Love, NBA Tanking Continues

Episode Overview

In this episode, Dan Patrick and his crew (Fritzi, Seaton, Marv, and Paulie) return from a snowy weekend to break down Team USA’s stunning gold medal victory in men’s hockey, reflect on the emotional moments that defined the Olympics, discuss the challenges of NBA tanking, and celebrate standout sports performances from the weekend. The hour features listener calls, poll questions, and candid roundtable banter, full of wit and deep sports knowledge.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Team USA's Gold Medal Hockey Win (02:21–16:00)

• Setting the Scene: Dan opens with the aftermath of USA’s gold medal win over Canada in men's hockey — their first Olympic gold since the “Miracle on Ice” in 1980. He emphasizes how unexpected the result was given Canada’s dominance throughout the game.
  • "For most of the game, it felt like [Canada] always had the puck... But all it takes is one or two. You have a great goaltender, and then all you need is one other person to make a play." (Dan Patrick, 04:38)
• Game Recap: The crew relives the thrilling OT goal by Jack Hughes and the dramatic 3-on-3 format. Dan shares mixed feelings about the format for such a high-stakes situation but credits both teams for adapting.
  • "Do we want three on three hockey in the Olympics in for the gold medal? No, I do not. But both teams knew you get to overtime, it's three on three..." (Dan Patrick, 06:16)
• Historic Perspective: Dan draws parallels to the 1980 Miracle on Ice, hinting at the long-term legacy this win might inspire.
  • "If they played ten times, the Soviets are winning ten times. They were that good... This is. These are professionals against professionals. But I did love the attitude, the spirit. It just. It felt big and it lived up to it." (Dan Patrick, 08:35)

2. Olympics as a Platform for New Heroes (09:30–12:58)

• Unexpected Stardom: The team marvels at how Olympics create household names—this time, Jack Hughes and Jordan Stolz among others.
• The Curling Craze: Laughter ensues as the crew admits curling is oddly addictive and accessible.
  • "Curling is that way too, that you're watching it, and then all of a sudden I become an expert... you kind of feel like you could do that one." (Dan Patrick, 09:58)
• New & Strange Olympic Sports: Discussion about unfamiliar or unusual winter events like ski mountaineering and biathlon with humorous "improvements" (like adding paintball).

3. Emotional Olympic Moments & Listener Calls (13:37–16:39)

• Emotional Moments: Callers celebrate both the men’s and women’s hockey teams' inspirational impact, especially the moving gesture of Team USA bringing Johnny Goudreau’s jersey onto the ice, honoring him and his family after tragedy.
  • "That’s a moment that his family will cherish forever. I still get goosebumps thinking about it." (Alex, Michigan, Caller, 15:00)
• Dan’s Reflection: Dan calls the gesture “well done,” highlighting the Olympics’ power to create stories that resonate beyond sports.

4. Coaches & Olympic Medals — Who Deserves the Bling? (22:05–24:45)

• Debate on Medals for Coaches: Paulie relays his wife’s question: Should Olympic coaches get medals? The crew debates whether coaches in team events deserve the same recognition as players.
  • "He said, ‘I'm not the one playing. But he said, ‘You're the one coaching.’" (Dan Patrick recounting Coach K, 23:31)
  • "It should be for everything, including the Olympics. I don't know why they have to be unique with the medals that you can't get a medal for." (Todd, 24:05)

5. NBA Talk — Standouts, Tanking & MVP Odds (24:45–27:17; 27:38–28:48)

• Celtics vs Lakers, MVP Race: Dan recaps the Celtics’ sweep of the Lakers, Jalen Brown’s MVP credentials, and returns from the Super Bowl with insider info on Jason Tatum’s injury status.
  • "Jaylen Brown has been great for the Celtics, so maybe those odds improve just a little bit." (Dan Patrick, 27:03)
• NBA Tanking Problem: With teams openly tanking and shutting down stars (e.g., Sabonis, Levine), Dan previews a serious off-season for the Commissioner, teasing a deep dive later in the hour.

6. Best & Worst of the Weekend — Roundtable (27:17–30:38)

• Todd: Best – UCLA’s comeback win over Illinois; Worst – Sacramento’s historic losing streak and tanking.
• Seaton: Best – Johannes Klaubo (Norwegian skier) wins six golds; Worst – Brittany Bowe’s triple fourth-place finishes in speed skating.
• Marvin: Best – BYU’s AJ DeBancer stuns Iowa State, and watching "Miracle" for the first time.
• Paulie: Best – Michaela Shiffrin and Jordan Stolz, breakout Olympic stars.

7. Calls on Sports Moments & Coaches’ Temperament (31:11–36:00)

• Memorable Defensive Plays: Callers recall classic defensive moments (LeBron, Jordan, Malcolm Butler) and praise USA Hockey’s legendary defense in the gold medal match.
• Coach Meltdowns: Dan critiques coaches (e.g., Mick Cronin, Danny Hurley, Bob Knight) for excessive sideline histrionics, arguing they should embody composure, not chaos.
  • "You're supposed to be the one who has decorum. You're not the kid. You're the one that's supposed to be able to maintain and not fly off the handle..." (Dan Patrick, 32:00)

8. Athlete Toughness & Sacrifice (39:47–40:46)

• The intense physicality and toughness of hockey players discussed, triggered by stories of Jack Hughes skating after losing teeth.
  • "Would you give up a couple of teeth for a gold medal?" (Dan Patrick, 40:28)
  • Todd: "I would, but I would not like it very much...but if it to the gold medal..."

9. NBA Tanking Solutions & Territorial Drafts (46:21–52:43)

• Exploring Fixes: Dan outlines various proposals to curb NBA tanking, including flattening lottery odds, restricting top-4 picks, and the historically failed “territorial draft” concept.
  • "Is there a soft landing spot for this topic where everybody is going to be satisfied? And I don't think that's going to be the case." (Dan Patrick, 50:17)
• College-Professional Loopholes: Dan warns a territorial draft would backfire today, incentivizing NBA teams to bankroll local college programs via NIL deals to gain future draft advantages.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “If they played ten times, the Soviets are winning ten times. They were that good... These are professionals against professionals.”
  – Dan Patrick, 08:35
  [Olympic perspective, comparing 2026 to 1980 Miracle]

• “The Olympics have a way of birthing new heroes like Jack Hughes … it was a great showcase for the NHL.”
  – Dan Patrick, 09:13

• “Curling is that way too—then all of a sudden I become an expert … you kind of feel like you could do that one.”
  – Dan Patrick, 09:58

• “That’s a moment that his family will cherish forever. I still get goosebumps thinking about it. Q. Freebird, and thanks for taking my call.”
  – Alex (Listener from Michigan), 15:00

• “Would you give up a couple of teeth for a gold medal?”
  – Dan Patrick, 40:28

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 02:21 – Show resumes, Team USA hockey gold medal analysis
• 05:59 – Play-by-play of OT gold medal goal, critique of 3-on-3
• 08:35 – Comparing 2026 win to 1980 Miracle on Ice
• 13:37 – Listener calls, emotional Olympic moments
• 22:05 – Poll updates, Medal debate for Olympic coaches
• 24:45 – NBA update: Celtics sweep Lakers, MVP race/Odds
• 27:17 – Roundtable: Best & Worst of the Weekend
• 31:11 – Callers on defensive moments, coach temperaments
• 39:47 – Athlete toughness, hockey’s unique grit
• 46:21 – NBA tanking solutions, territorial draft critique

Episode Tone & Style

The tone is conversational, insightful, and peppered with humor. Dan’s approachability and the lively banter among the crew make the analysis more engaging, while passionate listener calls add an authentic, emotional dimension.

For Future Reference

• Next hour teased: Al Michaels joins (likely to discuss Miracle on Ice legacy and gold medal moments)
• NBA tanking segment will continue, with a focus on possible policy solutions

This summary encapsulates the major discussion points, memorable interactions, and cultural insights from the February 23, 2026, Hour 2 episode of The Dan Patrick Show, making it easy for listeners to catch up on news, context, and vibe.