The Dan Patrick Show: Hour 3 – Christmas Classics and Sports Classics

Date: December 24, 2025
Guests/Hosts: Steve Covino, Rich Davis, Tony Fusco, Danny G (in for Dan Patrick)

Episode Overview

This holiday-themed hour combines warm Christmas nostalgia with lively debates on the fading allure of so-called "classics"—both in film and sports. Steve Covino and Rich Davis, subbing in for Dan Patrick, swap funny personal stories about trying to share their favorite holiday movies (and classic sports moments) with younger friends and family, only to find the magic doesn't always cross generations. The crew bridges to sports, examining iconic plays to see whether they stand the test of time, and they cap the hour with “Midweek Major” news hot takes and NFL holiday wishes.
Tone: Fast-paced, playful banter, blending sports talk radio energy with self-aware nostalgia and genial ribbing.

Key Topics & Insights

Classic Films vs. Modern Taste

• "It's a Wonderful Life": Translation Breakdown

  • Steve shares the struggle of persuading younger family members to watch the classic black-and-white Christmas film—only to feel the pressure that, if it flops, "It's all my fault."
  • Quote (Steve Covino, 06:45):

    "I'm like, hey, hold on. I'm not from 1946... I'm surprised you guys have never seen it... But don't watch it for me, because then I'm gonna be insulted that... you're looking at your phone... and chatting over the movie."

  • Rich relates: childhood favorites like Gremlins and Goonies fall flat for his nieces and nephews ("Uncle Rich, you suck. This is the cheesiest movie ever." – 08:44).

• Why Don’t Classics Hold Up?

  • Slow pacing, dated visuals, and opening credits ("...my kids love Wicked...let's watch Wizard of Oz...I had to fast forward the first minute and a half." – Rich, 13:31)
  • The attention span of "Weenial social media eyes" undermines old movies, regardless of story quality (Steve, 10:26).

• Debate: Do Any Old Movies Still Work?

  • Action-filled adventure classics (e.g., Goonies) fare better.
  • Steve: “Back to the Future came out in 1985. It’s still great today. Because classics stand the test of time.” (10:09)

Generational Gaps: Sports Nostalgia

• Iconic Sports Moments – Lost in Translation

  • Kids don’t respond to blurry, slow clips:
    • Rich: “I showed my kids the Mets ‘86, game six... my kids like, dad is like, it's all blurry. Like, is something wrong?” (18:58)
    • Steve: “Your kids probably think we grew up in the blurry era. Dad, when you were a kid, was everything just blurry?” (19:24)
  • Legendary moves seem unimpressive today:
    • Magic Johnson no-look passes; John Elway’s “helicopter” run isn’t as dramatic on rewatch (16:28–17:19).
    • Steve reflects: “My memory of it was different than the reality.” (17:02)
    • Danny G: “Not to take anything away from Elway...in my mind as a kid, that was one of the most awesome quarterback runs ever...Now...I was like, yeah, it was cool. But we've seen bigger, faster, stronger quarterbacks running the football now.” (17:19)

• Old Sports Comedies vs. Serious Classics

  • Tony Fusco shares: Sports comedy films (“Major League,” “Bull Durham”) may fare better with new viewers than dramas (“Brian’s Song,” “The Natural”).
  • Rich: “I couldn’t even sit through ‘The Natural.’ It was rough.” (31:38)

Why Modern Audiences Struggle With the Past

• Snappy Editing & Social Media Culture

  • Kids’ content (ex: Cocomelon) changes shots every 3 seconds, “because the kids attention’s like boom, bam, bop, beep.” (Rich, 12:52)
  • Tony: Maybe old movies should be watchable at 2x speed, like a podcast (13:57).

• Generational Translation Skills

  • Steve: If you’re Gen X/early Millennial, “you’re fluent in old guy analog and the fast-moving social media culture of today...Younger person only wants fast moving content or they’re falling asleep or looking at their phone.” (22:23)
  • Rich: “The wild thing is the attention span is not there.” (24:29)

“Over-Hyping” Kills Nostalgia

• Managing Expectations
  • Steve: “When you over hype it, it usually under delivers, right? So if you’re like, you gotta see this play from Montana...they’re not gonna be impressed...because we oversold it.” (29:41)
  • Rich: “A catch to them is an ODJ one-handed snag. Receivers today are catching them in their back pocket.” (30:06)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I thought Alf was amazing...I went back and watched an episode...it was nonsense.” (Rich, 09:58)
• “Our nostalgia is a drug.” (Steve, 17:02, referencing a chat comment)
• “If you tell kids, yeah, the Buffalo Bills...lost...because of a missed field goal, and...they're thinking, oh, what did the kicker miss like a 60, 70, 50 yard field goal? No, it was a 39 yard...” (Rich, 24:50)
• “Old highlights...don’t work with them. It’s not enough stimulation. That’s the shame of it.” (Steve, 18:58)

Sports Hot Takes: “Midweek Major” (32:06–38:03)

1. Steve Young—Suit Up at 64? (32:57)
   • Steve Young says he could theoretically “take the snap, run the screen game, throw the ball in the flat, maybe throw a slant.”
   • Opinions split:
     • Rich (33:51): “I think it’s major. Move over Mac Jones, we got a new backup, Steve Young!”
     • Steve: “You know what? I’m going mid. He’s 64...not realistic.” (35:00)
2. Travis Kelce Retirement Rumors (36:06)
   • Both agree his career is HOF-worthy, but Rich finds it “mid” because “everyone retires at some point.” (37:00)
   • Steve: “He’s done and he’s one of the greatest...He doesn’t need this anymore.” (37:38)
3. Joe Rogan’s Warning to Jake Paul (38:03)
   • Rogan cautions against CTE and the price of long fight careers.
   • Rich: “If you could come away successful with your health, you’ve won.” (39:21)
   • Steve: “Jake Paul is in the top three of the five most viewed fights [in the 21st century].” (39:39)

Modern Boxing Viewership: Eye-Popping Stats (46:39–48:14)

• Steve summarizes the "Jake Paul effect" in boxing:
  • Fights like Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson (108 million viewers) and Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua (33 million) dwarf traditional boxing PPV audiences (e.g., Mayweather v. McGregor: 4.3 million).
  • Steve: “Hate him or not...he’s bringing eyes to the sport, and it’s unbelievable how big he’s making it.” (47:36)

Festive Finale: “Dear Santa” Wishes (49:10–50:19)

• The hosts and crew share their holiday “Dear Santa” dreams for their sports teams:
  • Rich: “Please sign Cody Bellinger for the Mets.” | “Let this be the year...Brock Purdy and the Niners get over the hump...”
  • Danny G: “Let Tom Brady mentor Mendoza and bring in leadership to get the Raiders a top O-line.”
  • Steve: “Put Anthony Volpe on the bench and sign Boba Shet.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Classic movies with the next generation: 03:20–13:55
• Why old movies look "slow" to today's kids: 10:10–14:21
• Classic sports highlights and generational translation: 15:45–25:33
• Viewers’ feedback (sports & movies lost in translation): 28:07–32:06
• Midweek Major (hot takes and news): 32:06–40:14
• Boxing stats and Jake Paul’s cultural impact: 46:39–48:14
• Holiday wishes for sports teams: 49:10–50:19

Listener Takeaways

• If you want to share your favorite holiday movies or legendary sports clips, be prepared—they may fall flat for younger generations used to the speed and style of the Internet age.
• Nostalgia can distort how you remember old content—sometimes to hilarious, sometimes to disappointing effect.
• The format and expectations of entertainment are evolving fast; even sports highlights need context for new viewers.
• Modern spectacles (think: Jake Paul fights) are dominating viewership, regardless of critical opinions about their legitimacy.

Summary in a Nutshell

This hour of The Dan Patrick Show is a whirlwind of holiday memories, generational divides, and big questions about what truly stands the test of time—whether in Christmas movies, sports highlights, or blockbuster boxing bouts. Steve Covino and Rich Davis keep things humorous and honest, reminding us all: nostalgia hits different when you try to share it, and classics—no matter how beloved—need context, patience, and maybe a fast-forward button.