The Dan Patrick Show – Hour 2 “Notre Dame Will Always Draw, Peter King”
Date: October 2, 2025
Host: Dan Patrick
Guest: Peter King (Hall of Fame NFL Writer)
Episode Overview
Hour 2 of The Dan Patrick Show features Dan and the crew discussing legendary baseball lineups—particularly those loaded with MVPs—debating the relative greatness of players like Rickey Henderson and Pete Rose, and what makes a lineup historically special. Later, renowned NFL writer Peter King joins the show, weighing in on the legacy of legendary baseball teams, the NFL’s overtime format, the evolution of football stats and Hall of Fame standards, and why Notre Dame’s unique TV appeal keeps them relevant (and often playoff-bound) in college football.
Main Topics & Key Insights
1. Historic MLB Lineups and MVP Tallies
(Timestamps: 02:59–14:25)
- MVP Rich Lineups: Dan marvels at the 2024 Dodgers’ current lineup featuring Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Shohei Ohtani, and Clayton Kershaw—each with MVP awards. He compares this to historic teams like the 1970s Reds and the Yankees both past and present.
- Dan: “I still look at that 78 Reds team, you know, Bench, Morgan, Foster and Rose, and all four of those won MVPs with the Reds. Greatest National League lineup in history, in my opinion.” [07:31]
- Debate on Value: The difference between MVPs who won the award with the team versus having the hardware before joining is highlighted as a wrinkle in the conversation.
- Notable Stat of the Day: Yamamoto’s pitching performance (postseason ERA and bullpen stats) illustrates the high level of play currently.
Memorable Call-In
- A caller reminisces about Reds teams nearly derailed by competing powerhouse rosters (like the Orioles and A’s) and pokes fun with an anecdote about Jewish pitching greats (Koufax/Drysdale). [15:05–15:48]
2. Rickey Henderson, Disruption, and All-Time Rankings
(Timestamps: 10:54–14:32)
- Rickey Henderson’s Impact: The panel debates whether Henderson should be considered among the greatest ever; consensus is he was the “great disruptor,” not necessarily the all-time best.
- Dan: “He was the great disruptor. Yeah. ... When he got on, people, they got out of their comfort zone to be like ‘I’m going to throw over, throw over.’” [11:08]
- Defensive Skills and Player Evaluation: Dan stresses that defensive excellence should count in “greatest ever” talks, citing Mike Schmidt, Johnny Bench, Dave Concepcion, and others.
- Longevity & Character: Paulie notes Henderson’s late-career decline and how his outsized personality may overshadow his on-field contributions.
3. Caller Questions and Managing 'Big Money' in Sports
(Timestamps: 48:21–51:14)
- Pete Rose vs. Rickey Henderson: A caller asks Dan who he’d pick straight-up between Henderson and Rose; Dan says both are so good, he’d take either and be happy. [48:45]
- Sustainability of Sports Contracts & NIL: Callers raise the issue of ballooning salaries in both pro and amateur sports; Dan predicts that contracts will continue to rise with TV deals, expecting to see $100 million-per-year NBA players soon. [49:56]
- Dan: “In five years, you’re probably going to have somebody making $100 million a season because it has to go to somebody. ... That’s just where we’re headed.” [51:04]
4. Peter King Joins: The Big Red Machine & Legendary Sports Debates
(Timestamps: 24:13–42:09)
A. Ranking the Big Red Machine
- King ranks the 1970s Cincinnati Reds among the top five lineups ever, explaining that their fearlessness and depth made them unique for their era.
- Peter King: “It’s got to be in the top five. ... I thought it was so dangerous and, and that was such a potent group.” [24:47]
B. Ohtani-Like NFL Players?
- Dan wonders if dual-threat QBs (like Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson) have MLB Ohtani-like advantages; King notes mobile QBs have always existed, but Ohtani’s two-way impact is unmatched in recent team sports. [26:14–27:58]
C. Ties in NFL Overtime
- King admits he’s “actually fine” with NFL ties, arguing that they clarify tiebreaker scenarios and add variety, even if fans and players dislike them.
- Peter King: “A tie basically eliminates a tie [in standings] at the end of the season ... once in a while, different is fun.” [28:09, 30:26]
- Dan prefers clear winners/losers, likening a tie game to a meal without dessert. [30:10]
D. Fixing Overtime?
- King would like pure sudden death but empathizes with concerns over player safety/extra snaps, stating current rules are “probably the best compromise.” [31:15]
E. The Kicker Conundrum
- He suggests the NFL should look into how advancements in football/kicker equipment have made ultra-long field goals too common, potentially tilting games in anti-climactic fashion. [32:32]
F. Hall of Fame Standards: Stats vs. Impact
- King: Yes, players (and coaches) can “play themselves out” of the Hall by tailing off or tarnishing their legacies late; mentions Russell Wilson and others as borderline cases. [34:10]
- The debate shifts to statistical compilers vs. those clutching up in big moments—Eli Manning vs. Russell Wilson, Joe Namath’s “impact,” and whether postseason heroics trump regular-season numbers.
- Peter King: “At the biggest moments, ... [Eli] produced, and ... I am more of a fan of, let’s not get totally hung up on the numbers.” [36:28]
- Peter King: (on Namath) “He had hall of Fame impact. Huge, huge impact.” [38:41]
G. Baseball’s Changing Pitching Staffs
- Closing out, King marvels at how big-market teams rely more on bullpens and bullpen games, rather than deep rotations, compared to past eras. [40:27]
H. Memorable Anecdote
- King recalls skipping class to watch Bucky Dent’s famous home run game and getting (mildly) reprimanded by his professor—highlighting sports passion as a lifelong bond. [41:10]
5. Notre Dame’s Place in College Football
(Timestamps: 51:39–53:56)
- Independence and the Playoff:
- Callers question why Notre Dame gets playoff shots without playing a conference title game and how this is fair; Dan says ND’s value is simply too high for TV executives and ratings to ignore.
- Dan: “NBC partnership ... this is the entertainment business. Having Notre Dame there is good for ratings ... That’s just the fact, whether you like it or not.” [52:11]
- Marvin and Dan agree: Notre Dame’s “mystique” is their independence, and they have no incentive to join a conference; as long as they go 10–2, “they’re going to make the playoffs.” [52:45–53:39]
- Callers question why Notre Dame gets playoff shots without playing a conference title game and how this is fair; Dan says ND’s value is simply too high for TV executives and ratings to ignore.
- Looking Ahead: The show notes Dan and the crew will visit Notre Dame in two weeks, joking about being ranked even when 0-2.
Notable Quotes by Timestamp
- “I still look at that 78 Reds team ... and all four of those won MVPs with the Reds. Greatest National League lineup in history, in my opinion.” — Dan [07:31]
- “He was the great disruptor … When he got on, people, they got out of their comfort zone …” — Dan (on Rickey Henderson) [11:08]
- “Once in a while, different is fun.” — Peter King (on NFL ties) [30:26]
- “I thought it was so dangerous … and they were totally fearless. That’s what I loved about them.” — Peter King (on the Big Red Machine) [25:20]
- “At the biggest moments … [Eli] produced, and … I am more of a fan of, let’s not get totally hung up on the numbers.” — Peter King (on the Hall of Fame debate) [36:28]
- “NBC partnership ... this is the entertainment business. Having Notre Dame there is good for ratings whether you’re rooting for them or against them.” — Dan [52:11]
Memorable Segments (With Timestamps)
- Deep Dive on Lineups with Multiple MVPs: [02:59–14:32]
- Callers on Legendary Players & Contracts: [15:05–17:18, 48:21–51:14]
- Pete King: The Value of NFL Ties: [28:09–31:05]
- Hall of Fame Debate – Stats vs. Impact: [34:10–39:50]
- Notre Dame College Football Playoff Discussion: [51:39–53:56]
- Personal Sports Memory: Bucky Dent Game: [41:10–42:09]
Tone & Style
The episode features Dan’s signature blend of sports nerd banter, nostalgia, pointed debate, and lighthearted ribbing—blending sharp statistical analysis with reverence for the quirks and personalities that have shaped sports history.
For Listeners Who Haven’t Tuned In
- If you love legendary baseball and football debates, nostalgia, and Hall-of-Fame arguments, this hour is for you.
- Peter King joins for a smart and honest look at NFL overtime, Hall of Fame criteria, and why some teams (like Notre Dame) will always have a seat at the big table—no matter how the rules or eras change.
- The interplay between Dan and his crew ensures laughs, real fan engagement, and plenty of hot takes—grounded in both data and heart.
Next Hour: Al Michaels interview and more football talk.
Listen weekdays at 9am ET on Fox Sports Radio and iHeartRadio.