The Dan Patrick Show: Hour 2 – Saving Horse Racing’s Triple Crown, Vincent Goodwill
Date: May 7, 2026
Host: Dan Patrick
Guest: Vincent Goodwill (ESPN NBA Senior Writer)
Supporting Cast: Fritzi, Dylan, Marv, Paulie
Episode Overview
This episode blends Dan Patrick’s signature sports wit with thoughtful commentary and lively banter among the Danettes. The core themes are the evolving state of horse racing’s Triple Crown in the wake of the Kentucky Derby winner skipping the Preakness, shifting playoff structures in college football, and in-depth NBA Playoff analysis with Vincent Goodwill. Along the way, the crew dives into sports hypotheticals, career legacies, and even a playful debate about musical icons and sneaker culture.
Poll Questions & NBA Hypotheticals
[03:19–04:44]
On Jalen Brunson’s Rise
[05:25–08:27]
- Dan discusses Brunson’s ascension as a true #1 option:
- “Even when Brunson was going to the Knicks, I kept thinking, can he be the number one guy?... He's the number one guy on that team.” (Dan Patrick, 06:50)
- Praise for Brunson’s game:
- “When you watch Brunson, it’s like the next level of Chris Paul. He just kind of meanders around, waits for you to commit, then he takes a 12-footer and it goes in.” (Paulie, 08:12)
- “I just love when everybody in the building knows who’s getting the ball and you still score. That’s… I marvel at that.” (Dan Patrick, 08:27)
The Triple Crown Problem: Horse Racing’s Dilemma
[09:27–13:02]
- Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo will skip the Preakness – again raising questions about the value and viability of the Triple Crown.
- “The Triple Crown is so specialized now... If you’re Golden Tempo and you are the owners of that horse, you win the Derby. But if you finish eighth in the Preakness, then what happens to the brand? ... This is a business decision.” (Dan Patrick, 10:29)
- Suggestions floated:
- Extra week for recovery or a possible ‘appearance fee’ to entice Derby winners into Preakness.
- “I don’t know if you can give an appearance fee, but I would explore it.” (Dan Patrick, 12:20)
- Fans versus reality in racing:
- “This topic feels like non horse racing people talking about horse racing. We're sports fans. We just want to see three races with the same group of horses ... but we don't understand generally the business.” (Paulie, 12:42)
- Trainer Cherie DeVoe’s statement prioritizing horse’s health (paraphrased by Dan at 13:02).
Memorable Joke:
- “The naysayers.” (Todd, 13:37, followed by groans)
College Football Playoff Expansion: Too Much of a Good Thing?
[13:55–17:46]
- American Football Coaches Association moving to a 24-team playoff.
- “We just got to 12. Can we breathe a little bit here?... I don’t need 24 teams.” (Dan Patrick, 14:14)
- Concerns over four-loss teams in the postseason, dilution of regular season, and the impact on traditional rivalries.
- “Does the regular season… mean anything if that’s the case?” (Dan Patrick, 15:42)
- The shifting value of bowl games and competitive balance:
- “If you attach these playoff games to bowl games then they mean something.” (Dan Patrick, 16:56)
- Academic implications for student-athletes:
- “Still waiting for somebody to be academically ineligible.” (Dan Patrick, 18:12)
- “Can we officially change it today to athlete-student?” (Paulie and Dan, 18:23)
Interview: Vincent Goodwill (NBA Playoffs, Player Legacies & More)
[23:00–38:50]
On Knicks vs. 76ers, Embiid, and Series Dynamics
- Goodwill: Not surprised Philly competed hard minus Embiid, citing “the perfume of the Boston Celtics” still lingering after grinding through a 7-game first round (24:24).
- “They had nothing left in the tank because of the physicality and the speed of the game.” (Vincent Goodwill, 25:20)
- Expectation: Philly can replicate pace at home but cannot build an offense around an uncertain Embiid.
- “I would not make Joel Embiid the focal and center point of my offense knowing where he is or isn’t physically.” (Goodwill, 26:50)
On NBA Legacies: Barkley vs. Draymond Green
- Debate: Would you want Barkley’s or Draymond’s career?
- “Charles Barkley has become such a cartoon character on TV… but that man was never less than a top three player at his position every single damn season … I still say, give me Chuck.” (Goodwill, 33:23)
On NBA Dynasty Criteria
- Dan: “It took a while for people to acknowledge the Spurs dynasty because they weren’t exciting.”
- Goodwill on dynasties: “In this era of parity, the way we evaluate great teams or eras has to change... The last team to repeat was the 17-18 Warriors. It took Kevin Durant for them to go back to back and break the game.” (Goodwill, 29:46)
- On Spurs never repeating: “I do think there’s something about starting the year with a target on your back... That is a valid criticism, but I would still call them a worthy dynasty.” (Goodwill, 31:41)
On Celebrity Row at Knicks Games
- Playful banter:
- “When you are a regular peasant, they don’t allow you anywhere near those people 30 minutes before the game starts.” (Goodwill, 32:00)
- “Only someone like you would know that. Dan, go ahead and pull us behind the velvet rope...” (Goodwill, 32:36)
Musical/Lifestyle & Shoe Talk
- Stevie Wonder vs. Prince vs. Michael Jackson career?
- “Stevie by a hair... Michael and Stevie had to go through all the labor of dancing in heels. Stevie was on the piano or on the guitar or on the drums. That’s less pressure on my knees.” (Goodwill, 37:37)
- “Would you want to be the most famous person on earth?” (Dan, 38:20)
- “No, I would not. Would you?” (Dan)
Additional NBA & Sports Discussions
[48:03–49:10]
-
Jalen Brunson’s offensive uniqueness:
- “He’s not really ISO ball, it’s fairly unique. He’s something different.” (Listener Chris, 48:28)
- “He’s kind of slipped into the Steph Curry stratosphere of being able to get your shot when you don’t think that guy can get a shot off.” (Dan, 48:38)
-
Marv on Brunson’s footwork:
- “I think he's got the best footwork in the NBA. Maybe that's because he had an NBA player as a father.” (Marv, 48:46)
-
Who else could’ve been a #1 guy if circumstances were different? Klay Thompson, Scottie Pippen, among others.
Noteworthy Quotes & Moments
- “I marvel at the guy who comes to the plate, everybody knows that's the guy you got to get out. You somehow hit a home run… when Brady would get the ball with three minutes to go, I'd say they're going to win.” (Dan Patrick, 08:27)
- “If I’m the Preakness, I say, how about an appearance fee? How about a million dollars?” (Dan Patrick, 12:08)
- “We just got to 12 [teams]. Can we at least breathe a little bit here?” (Dan Patrick, 14:13)
- “I have a saying: ‘you’re still wearing the perfume of the Boston Celtics’…” (Vincent Goodwill, 24:24)
- “Charles Barkley...was a terror from, let’s say, 1987 to 1990. That 10-year run was some of the best basketball at the power forward position we've ever, ever seen.” (Goodwill, 34:06)
- “Would you want to be the most famous person on earth?” (Dan Patrick, 38:20)
Timestamps of Key Segments
- 03:19 – Poll Question Review
- 04:45 – NBA Clutch Player Hypotheticals
- 05:25 – Jalen Brunson’s Emergence
- 09:27 – Horse Racing's Triple Crown Crisis
- 13:55 – College Football Playoff Expansion
- 23:00 – Vincent Goodwill Interview: Knicks-76ers, NBA Legacies, Celebrity Row
- 34:17 – Barkley vs. Draymond Legacy Debate
- 37:28 – Musical careers and fame
- 48:03 – Brunson’s Offensive Game & NBA #1 Options Conversation
Tone and Style
The episode leans heavily on Dan’s trademark conversational, irreverent, and accessible style, balancing sports insight with humor, pop culture references, and well-paced debates. Interactions with Vincent Goodwill infuse expert analysis with playful moments and broader reflections on basketball and celebrity culture.
Useful Takeaways for Listeners
- Horse Racing: Business now trumps tradition—fans want compelling Triple Crown drama, but the sport’s incentives point elsewhere. The "appearance fee" idea for Derby winners in future Preaknesses reflects the deepening divide.
- College Football: Expansion to a 24-team playoff risks further diluting what made the season meaningful, and the show’s hosts are skeptical about whether more is better.
- NBA Playoffs: Jalen Brunson is lauded as more special than stats alone show; OKC's dominance and the value of “repeat” dynasties are interrogated.
- Player Legacy Arguments: The Barkley-Draymond comparison provokes rich discussion on rings vs. impact, and how sports media caricatures shouldn’t erase on-court greatness.
Perfect for sports fans wanting sharp insight with plenty of laughs, or anyone following the drama around NBA playoff legacies, college football chaos, and the future of horse racing’s most famous series.
