The Dan Patrick Show

Episode: Hour 3 – Apologies to Michael Jordan
Date: February 17, 2026
Hosts: Steve Covino & Rich Davis (in for Dan Patrick)

Overview

This episode centers around Michael Jordan’s 63rd birthday, a recent social media controversy involving Jordan at the Daytona 500, and a fun debate about celebrity birthdays and cultural impact. Covino and Rich blend sports insights, pop culture, and humor, including their signature Shaq Diesel trivia segment. Major topics include the defense of Michael Jordan after a viral clip, a spirited Green Day vs. Ed Sheeran debate, and lighter moments about ice cream trucks, dog etiquette, and leadership in sports clubhouses.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Michael Jordan’s Birthday & Daytona 500 Moment (06:30–26:00)

• Celebrating MJ at 63: Both hosts note how Jordan’s greatness transcends teams and fandom. “Michael Jordan is probably the league leader of that. 63 years old today… He transcended not only the game, but he transcended allegiance, alliance to any team.” – Covino (08:30)
• Recent Controversy Clarified:
  • The Incident: After his NASCAR team’s victory (Tyler Reddick at the Daytona 500), MJ is shown on video interacting with Reddick’s young son. Social media suggested impropriety based on fleeting body language.
  • Hosts’ Take: Covino and Rich explain it as a classic case of projection—what viewers expect to see, they see. The real context: the boy had ice down his back, and Jordan was helping get the ice out.
  • “Michael Jordan deserves a little ‘I’m sorry’ from you because he’s close to the family… and now it appears the kid had ice down the back of his shirt. Right? The ice really explains what’s going on.” – Rich Davis (15:20)
  • They liken it to infamous internet illusions—“brainstorm/green needle,” “the dress”—highlighting how perception shapes interpretation.
  • The episode becomes a broader critique of internet rushes to judgment and a reminder of Jordan’s legacy and positive impact.

2. Internet Illusions Parallel (19:20-23:10)

• The hosts play a clip of the “green needle” vs. “brainstorm” auditory illusion, using it as allegory for how people saw what they wanted to see in the MJ video.
• “If you want to see him grab some booty, that’s what you see. If you want to see him shaking some ice out of a kid’s shirt, you see that.” – Covino (22:30)
• They press the point that intent matters, not kneejerk internet narratives.

3. Celebrity Birthday Power Rankings (27:00–40:00)

• Inspired by MJ’s birthday, Covino and Rich rank the cultural or current “impact” of the following celebrities also celebrating birthdays: Paris Hilton, Ed Sheeran, Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Jerry O’Connell.
  • Both hosts agree Jordan is #1, with a Green Day vs. Ed Sheeran debate for #2 and #3. Paris Hilton, JGL, and Jerry O’Connell fill out the remainder.
  • “Even though I’m biased because my daughter’s favorite artist is Ed Sheeran, when it comes to legacy, Green Day is bigger.” – Covino (37:20)
  • They reflect on how some stars (like Green Day) have generational impact, while others (like Sheeran) are current powerhouses.

4. Green Day vs. Ed Sheeran & Nickelback (44:00–58:00)

• Audience Call-ins: Listeners weigh in on the “Green Day or Nickelback” question.
• Both hosts acknowledge Nickelback’s popularity but say Green Day is in “a different league.”
• Rich shouts out “She” and “Brain Stew” as favorite Green Day songs; Covino calls “Dookie” a “no skip-a-roo” album (54:10).

5. Shaq Diesel Trivia (with Shaquille O’Neal Guesting) (59:00–70:00)

• Special recurring trivia segment with Shaq co-hosting (jokingly in studio, in character):
  • Two listeners (“Nick” and “Pickles”) compete in NBA and mascot trivia.
  • Notable banter:
    • “What’s up? It’s Big Shaq Diesel, aka Shaq Fu, aka Shaq Daddy, aka the Big Aristotle. Guess what? It’s time to win some CNR prizes.” – Shaq (as voiced) (59:30)
    • Trivia winners and playful Shaq remarks (“I don’t like pickles, no, I don’t like you either.”) add levity to the show.
• The segment ends quickly—with “Pickles” winning—leaving Shaq (again, in character) faux-annoyed about its brevity.

6. NBA All-Star Game Viewership (73:00–75:30)

• Despite criticism, the 2026 NBA All-Star Game is the most viewed in 15 years (~10 million viewers).
• “You have to give props where they’re due. If you’re going to criticize, you also gotta give it up when something goes right.” – Rich (74:10)

7. Ice Cream Truck & Regional Lawn Care Debates (76:00–85:00)

• Covino fondly reminisces about East Coast ice cream trucks (Mr. Softee, Choco Taco) and contrasts them to LA fruit trucks.
• Lighthearted jabs about childhood, chasing the ice cream man, and “dad’s deliberate delay” getting money.
• They riff with the producer about “Mexican Ghostbusters” (local landscapers running leaf blowers) and regional differences in lawn care services.

8. Pet Etiquette – Dogs on Lawns (85:30–89:00)

• Rich vents about neighborhood dogs messing up his privately maintained lawn:
  • “My kids play on my lawn, I pay a landscaper… What makes you think your dog—get your mutt off my lawn.”
  • The group jokes, “So Rich wants to choke dogs out now?” (jokingly, not serious!)

9. Random Sports Thoughts: NFL & MLB (89:30–98:00)

• Jameis Winston wants to play another 12 years:
  • “He may want to, but it’s not happening… That’s not hating, just stating.” – Covino (91:20)
• Seattle Seahawks/Kenneth Walker III Franchise Tag:
  • Discussing the “weird morale” when star players leave after title runs.
  • “When a star player leaves after a Super Bowl, World Series, MVP, it’s a weird taste in the fan base’s mouth.” – Rich (93:20)
• Francisco Lindor and Mets’ Locker Room Leadership:
  • Mets’ owner Steve Cohen says he “doesn’t believe in captains,” which Rich suggests may be a strategic move if Lindor is a clubhouse problem.
  • “If Lindor is part of the problem… Steve Cohen, the owner, is a genius [with that move].” – Rich (96:00)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On public overreaction to Jordan’s Daytona clip:
  “It’s a shame you can’t be nice to a little kid without people questioning your intentions… For all the joy Michael Jordan brought to kids all over the world, I’d like to be like Mike—if you thought that even a little bit, you owe him an apology.” – Covino & Rich (19:50)

• Pop culture illusions as a metaphor:
  “It’s like the ‘green needle/brainstorm’ clip: whatever you want to hear, you hear. Whatever you want to see, you see.” – Covino (21:10)

• Green Day vs. Ed Sheeran debate:
  “Ed Sheeran is huge now, but I don’t think he’s bigger than Green Day. Green Day’s in the legendary category.” – Covino (37:25)

• Shaq’s comic entrance:
  “What’s up? Big Shaq Diesel, aka Shaq Fu, aka Shaq Daddy, aka The Big Aristotle…” (59:30)

• Regional food/lawn humor:
  “There’s a big difference between the east coast and the west coast—ice cream trucks out here are crappy!” – Rich Davis (77:45)

Important Timestamps

• 06:30 – Michael Jordan’s birthday/legacy reflection
• 14:40 – Explaining the Daytona 500 viral video and controversy
• 19:20 – “Green Needle/Brainstorm” illusion discussion
• 27:00 – Celebrity birthday “power ranking” debate
• 44:00 – Green Day vs. Nickelback/Ed Sheeran
• 59:00 – Shaq Diesel NBA trivia segment
• 73:00 – NBA All-Star Game ratings commentary
• 76:00 – Ice cream truck and regional differences
• 85:30 – Rant on dogs on lawns
• 89:30 – NFL/MLB random thoughts and leadership discussion
• 95:55 – Mets, Lindor, and clubhouse “captains” debate

Tone

Lighthearted, comedic, relatable, and occasionally irreverent—mixing genuine sports takes and pop culture nostalgia, with frequent asides and playful ribbing between hosts and their regulars.

Summary Takeaway

This episode blends sports controversy with humor and cultural legacy, defending Michael Jordan against hasty internet judgment while using bar debates about music and celebrities to underscore how perception drives public opinion. Listeners are treated to Shaq-fueled trivia, pop culture tangents, and relatable griping about everyday life—hallmarks of Covino and Rich’s guest-hosting style on The Dan Patrick Show.