The Dan Patrick Show – Hour 2: “RIP Boxing, Jay Onrait”
Date: February 24, 2026
Podcast: iHeartPodcasts and Dan Patrick Podcast Network
Episode Focus: Reflections on Boxing’s Decline, US-Canada Hockey Rivalry, Athlete Fame, and Jay Onrait’s Canadian Perspective
Episode Overview
Hour 2 of The Dan Patrick Show offers a spirited blend of sports nostalgia and current hot topics, led by Dan Patrick’s signature wit. The discussion pivots on the perceived “death” of boxing as a cultural force, the shifting fame of athletes like Shea Gilgeous-Alexander, and the US-Canada hockey rivalry, featuring an engaging interview with TSN’s Jay Onrait. The hosts also banter about pop culture, college choices, and Jeopardy, infusing humor and deep sports knowledge throughout.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Boxing’s Waning Relevance
- Dan Patrick reflects on boxing’s decline, comparing it to horse racing as an event whose cultural prominence has faded.
- Many legendary fighters and moments were recalled, highlighting how major bouts were once true national events.
- “I was able to cover some of the greatest fighters in history… but to be around these fighters, so many great fighters… it was such an event.” (Dan, 09:38)
- Modern Issues Hurting Boxing:
- Fragmented titles (17 weight classes now, vs. 4 in the past).
- Proliferation of new belts with little meaning.
- “They invented belts. I’d be like, wait a minute, where’d this belt come from?” (Dan, 14:27)
- Pay-per-view model restricts audience to only the biggest events; no week-to-week viewing culture.
- Talent and Personalities Now in UFC:
- “But the personalities and the talent are now with UFC. And, the money is there as well.” (Marvin, 16:10)
- Notable Quote:
- “Boxing, rest in peace.” (Dan, 12:08)
- Listeners asked to reflect: Is boxing beyond revival?
2. Poll Questions and the Floyd Mayweather Debate
- Active Polls:
- Is it more important to get the call correct or keep the game moving smoothly? (76% say “get the call correct”) [05:00]
- What’s more interesting: Floyd Mayweather winning or losing his next fight? (82% say “losing”) [05:51]
- Why isn’t SGA (Shea Gilgeous-Alexander) more famous?
- Floyd Mayweather & Spectacle Fights:
- Disinterest voiced over Mayweather’s next bout: “I don’t want another fight with Manny Pacquiao… but if you’re willing to consume it, they’re going to keep doing that.” (Dan, 07:18)
- Comparison to modern matchups like Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson.
3. Shea Gilgeous-Alexander: Fame and “Jeopardy!”
- Discussion:
- SGA’s relative lack of mainstream fame highlighted by a missed question on Jeopardy—even with his nickname provided.
- “They give you his nickname… they showed a picture of him.” (Dan, 24:10)
- Recognition factor in sports and why some NBA stars remain unknown outside hardcore circles.
- “SGA is sports famous… but he’s got to date a Kardashian [to be ‘famous’].” (Jay Onrait, 1:12:40)
- Broader Question Raised:
- Is the litmus test for athlete fame whether “your wife/girlfriend knows them”? (Group, 37:13)
- WNBA & Women’s Basketball:
- Recent momentum and comparison to NBA’s off-court interest.
- Caitlin Clark’s impact and the state of the league, its labor/contract disputes.
4. Jeopardy, Sports Trivia, and Knowledge Gaps
- Hosts laugh over Jeopardy contestants’ failures with sports questions, feeling a kinship for their own selective strong suits.
- “They do well in all categories except one. We do well in one category, not all the others.” (Dan, 44:00)
- Recollecting dinner with Alex Trebek: Both he and Dan estimated they only know about 70-75% of Sports Jeopardy clues by heart. (Dan, 40:30)
- Humorous riffs on pronunciation and quiz show bravado.
5. Interview: Jay Onrait (TSN SportsCentre, Voice of Canada)
[~1:01:40 – 1:16:00]
Topics Covered:
- Canadian Response to USA’s Hockey Win:
- “We were given permission by our federal government to open our bars two hours before puck drop at 8am... I think the majority of the country was pretty drunk by the time 10:30am rolled around.” (Jay, 1:04:50)
- Mixed sadness and pride, noting how strongly Americans' women's hockey team has dominated in recent years.
- US Women’s Hockey Team Praise:
- “Your women’s team is the most dominant force on the planet right now… They have been absolutely dominating the Canadians.” (Jay, 1:06:05)
- Canadian Perspective on Fame:
- “Shea is smoother than the gravy we put on our poutine.” (Jay, 1:02:25)
- Debate about SGA’s fame in Canada versus the U.S.
- Impact of Vince Carter on Canadian Basketball:
- “Vince was everything… more influential for Shea’s generation [than Steve Nash]. He put [Toronto] on the map.” (Jay, 1:13:45)
- Vince Carter continues to have cultural reverberations north of the border.
- On Future Olympics and US-Canada Rivalry:
- “What if we upset you guys in basketball at the LA Olympics?” (Jay, 1:12:10)
- Fun Fact:
- The phrase “standing on his head” (re: goaltenders) dates to 1918 NHL rule changes, per research by Paulie (1:18:20).
Notable Quotes:
- On hockey heartbreak:
“Canada got goalied… Canada’s goalie’d other countries, this time Canada got goalied.” (Jay, 1:09:50)
6. Collegiate Choices: UCLA vs. USC
- Poll: Which would you rather attend, UCLA or USC? (USC winning at 61%)
- UCLA noted for its selectivity and most freshman applications in the U.S. (146,000 in 2024).
- Fun rivalry and anecdotes about each school’s culture, academic profile, and famous alumni.
- Callers weigh in, sparking lighthearted controversy:
- “USC is a nepo school, a party school…” “I’m UCLA class of 90…” (Nick, 1:27:16)
- Dan recounts his own kids’ admissions journeys and parents bribing their way into USC.
7. Mailbag, Callers, & Final Banter
- Callers reminisce about figure skating crushes, weigh in on MVP eligibility requirements, and share opinions on sports shows and fandom [1:20:00+].
- Anecdotes on campus visits, cable show cameos, and behind-the-scenes production decisions pop up throughout.
- The hosts close with warmth, more banter about tertiary sports and universities, and tease upcoming guest Reggie Miller.
Notable Quotes / Moments & Timestamps
- “Boxing, rest in peace.” — Dan Patrick [12:08]
- “SGA is sports famous… but he’s got to date a Kardashian.” — Jay Onrait [1:12:40]
- “We were given permission by our federal government to open our bars two hours before puck drop… hard to make Canadians too depressed at the end of a really good hockey game.” — Jay Onrait [1:04:50]
- “Your women’s team is the most dominant force on the planet right now.” — Jay Onrait [1:06:05]
- “They invented belts. I’d be like, wait a minute, where’d this belt come from?” — Dan Patrick [14:27]
- “SGA is not famous… but that group of people outside of, say, LeBron James, I don’t know how many basketball players they were naming anyway.” — Dan Patrick [25:18]
- “If you say, hey, do you know who that is? And then, you know, my wife might go, no idea. Or she might say, oh, okay, I know that person. That’s usually where you can get how famous are you.” — Marvin [37:13]
- “Vince [Carter] was everything… more influential for Shea’s generation than Steve Nash.” — Jay Onrait [1:13:45]
- “The number of people were like, did you pay? Like, did you have to pay somebody [to get into USC]?” — Dan Patrick [1:31:10]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Boxing’s Decline and Nostalgia: 07:00–17:30
- Floyd Mayweather Debates & Polls: 05:00–10:00, 15:00
- SGA, NBA Athlete Fame, and Jeopardy: 24:00–39:00
- Jay Onrait Interview (TSN/Sports & Culture): 1:01:40–1:16:00
- Goaltender “Standing on His Head” Origin: 1:18:20
- College Choices, USC vs. UCLA: 1:20:30–1:33:00
Tone & Style
Casual, humorous, irreverent—the show maintains a bantering, insider-sports tone, frequently pivoting from earnest analysis to playful roasting among the hosts and their guests. Jay Onrait brings a quintessentially Canadian blend of pride and self-effacing humor, adding flavor to the ongoing US-Canada rivalry discussions.
Summary:
For listeners, Hour 2 provides a satirical eulogy for boxing, sharp insights about changing fame in sports, and a friendly, in-depth look at America’s hockey “ascension” from the Canadian perspective. Add in amusing asides on pop culture recognition, academic competitions, and callers’ memories, and you have a quintessential Dan Patrick Show experience—at once nostalgic, knowledgeable, and quick to poke fun at itself and its world.