The Dan Patrick Show

Hour 3 – Dan Le Batard, Name Game

Date: September 19, 2025
Podcast Network: iHeartPodcasts and Dan Patrick Podcast Network

Episode Overview

This hour of The Dan Patrick Show centers on sports names—athletes who inspired baby names, the quirks and pitfalls of naming children after sports figures, and listeners’ stories about their own or their children’s sports-inspired names. Highlighted by a lively and insightful conversation with guest Dan Le Batard, the episode also includes a deep dive into the Miami Dolphins’ recent woes and broader musings about the culture of sports fandom. The tone, true to the show, is comedic, lightly irreverent, and peppered with genuine sports analysis.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Sports Names Phenomenon

• The crew shares a range of stories about parents naming children after athletes, often to the surprise (or ignorance) of their partners (“Maximus Johnson,” “Johnny and Bodie from Point Break,” “Marvin Gaye”).

• The discussion evolves into the perils and pride associated with such names—both funny stories and real-life consequences.

  Dan Patrick (05:12):
  "If, when your wife delivers... just the fact that Brad Johnson said to his wife, I got a name, Maximus Johnson. And somehow they signed off on that..."

• An amusing debate ensues about whether it’s wise to choose names inspired by athletes, given the risks of evolving reputations.

  Todd (38:41):
  "You run the risk if you name someone after an athlete or a famous person, and then they get into some kind of horrific trouble with the law... Next thing you know, that's what's on top of their Google card."

• Le Batard provides additional odd name trivia:

  Dan Le Batard (07:17):
  "All of George Foreman's kids were named George, including his daughter Georgette, or that Dennis Rodman, one of 19 children, his father was actually named Philander."

2. Personal Reflections on Naming Kids After Athletes

• Dan Patrick and Dan Le Batard riff about hypotheticals of naming their own kids after sports stars.

• Le Batard admits he'd never do it, preferring a family connection:

  Dan Le Batard (07:48):
  "Would I name my child after an athlete? No, I don't think I would do that... I would name it after a family member."

• Comedic takes on possible Le Batard offspring names:

  Dan Patrick (08:09):
  "So like Marino LeBatard."
  Dan Le Batard: "LeBron Le Batard."

3. Miami Dolphins’ Current Situation

• Deep analysis of the Dolphins’ performance, the significance of the team’s offensive shift, salary cap implications, and overall team management.

• Le Batard provides a nuanced breakdown:

  Dan Le Batard (08:57):
  "They have a structural problem, because they're no longer what they were, which was the best offense in the league. They're constipated on offense..."

  • Points out Tua Tagovailoa’s contract being a looming challenge:

    Dan Le Batard (09:50):
    "Tua’s cap hit the next four years is more than Josh Allen's cap hit in Buffalo. And that's obviously an issue that's not going to go away for a while."

• Le Batard criticizes Dolphins’ management and their GM's long tenure without success.

  Dan Le Batard (10:39):
  "They’re wildly mismanaged... They got fooled by scoring 70 points against the Broncos... They had exciting offense, but now you look up and they're accused of being soft..."

4. Coaching, Quirkiness, and Fan Perceptions

• The hosts discuss the public perception of Dolphins’ coach Mike McDaniel:

  Dan Patrick (12:53):
  "When you're quirky and you win, we're fine with that. When you're quirky and you don't win, then all of a sudden we start to pick apart your answers at a press conference..."

  Dan Le Batard (13:16):
  "The glee with which the quirkiness is being mocked by the Rex Ryans of the world... He had reason to believe... but there's something else happening with McDaniel, right? Because we don't really want our coaches to be interesting."

• Discussion of sports culture’s preference for “presidential,” reserved coaches rather than quirky personalities.

5. Miami Sports Fandom: Hurricanes vs. Dolphins

• Patrick asks Le Batard whether South Florida fans prefer success from the Miami Hurricanes ("the U") or Dolphins.

  Dan Le Batard (14:57):
  "I'm going to say the Dolphins because it's the, you know, 50 years of dolphin football includes a time... They won by percentage more often than everyone else. And now they've got the longest drought in the sport..."

• The nostalgia for glory days and the city’s enduring connection with its football heritage (Don Shula Expressway, Marino jerseys).

6. Callers’ Name Stories and Listener Interaction

• A series of listener calls highlight more wild, sports-inspired naming choices:

  • Names like Spike (after Red Sox’ Spike Owen), Espen (after “ESPN”), and others.
  • Practical advice: Don’t announce your chosen baby name in advance; everyone will have an opinion or a horror story.

  Dan Patrick (31:52):
  "This happened with my mother in law. It didn't matter what name. She had a problem with everybody."

• Light banter on the bureaucracy of hospital birth certificates and naming logistics.

7. Additional Sports Commentary

• Brief discussion about Tom Brady’s dual role as broadcaster and Raiders part-owner (25:08–26:55), with concerns about inside information and potential conflicts of interest.
• Sidelight on other sports topics: push push play in the NFL, the Colts pretzel, Pete Carroll’s youthfulness, and the enduring phenomenon of fans wearing old player jerseys.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On quirky coaching:

  "We don't really want our coaches to be interesting... Andy Reid, Bill Belichick, that tends to be what you get."
  — Dan Le Batard (13:16)

• On Tua Tagovailoa’s contract:

  "Tua's cap hit the next four years is more than Josh Allen’s... And that is an issue."
  — Dan Le Batard (09:50)

• On naming dangers:

  "You run the risk if you name someone after an athlete or a famous person, and then they get into some kind of horrific trouble with the law."
  — Todd (38:41)

• On family naming politics:

  "My mother in law, it didn't matter what name. She had a problem with everybody. And I said to my wife, 'Let’s not tell her the next one, okay? Lie to her.'"
  — Dan Patrick (31:52)

• Comedy highlight:

  "I'm gonna go home right now and this is too much information, obviously, but see if I can try and make a little LeBron LeBatard."
  — Dan Le Batard (18:21)

Important Timestamps

• 04:00–05:10: Introduction, “Name Game” poll results, sports names trend in the US.
• 07:16–08:45: Dan Le Batard’s “name facts” and personal take on athlete-inspired names.
• 08:45–12:16: In-depth breakdown of Dolphins’ issues; coaching, roster, and future.
• 12:53–14:50: Mike McDaniel's personality and public reception.
• 14:50–16:42: Dolphins’ history, fanbase, and “the U vs. Dolphins” debate.
• 25:08–26:55: Tom Brady’s broadcaster/minority owner conflict point.
• 27:23–38:16: Callers share their own name stories and interpretations, both comical and cautionary.
• 31:52–34:52: Hospital/bureaucratic naming process & banter.
• 38:16–40:18: Pitfalls of naming children after famous figures; “Nosmo King” anecdote.
• 45:02–47:15: "Most must win game of the weekend" roundtable with predictions and jokes.
• 49:46–51:51: Light banter on personal longevity, job stress, and the effect of show member antics on Dan’s blood pressure.

Structure & Tone

• The conversation moves seamlessly between thoughtful sports analysis, participatory audience interaction (calls and emails), and the trademark Dan Patrick Show blend of sincerity and irreverence.
• Le Batard matches Patrick with playful but sharp commentary—particularly on the Dolphins, his own hypothetical offspring, and Miami’s sports wider culture.

Conclusion

This episode is a quintessential Dan Patrick Show hour, balancing laughs and nostalgia with sharp sports commentary. The “Name Game” is a recurring, crowd-pleasing bit that taps into both sports fandom and everyday life. Meanwhile, Le Batard’s insightful breakdown of the Miami Dolphins’ troubles cements his reputation for thoughtful but accessible sports analysis. The parade of quirky, sports-themed baby names, and the candid crew reactions, make for an hour that’s equal parts relatable and entertaining—even for listeners less interested in the Dolphins’ organizational strategy.