The Dan Patrick Show – Hour 3 Summary

Episode Title: Hour 3 – Dan’s Confusing Haircut, Pat Benson
Date: November 14, 2025
Host: Dan Patrick
Guest: Pat Benson (Sneaker Reporter, Sports Illustrated)

Overview

In this lively hour, Dan Patrick leads a spirited discussion on the intersection of sports and sneaker culture, featuring a deep dive into Steph Curry’s surprising split with Under Armour with expert guest Pat Benson. The show also explores iconic and collectible basketball shoes, touches on player endorsements, and navigates through humorous, offbeat team banter. Dan shares a comedic anecdote about a misunderstood cosmetic procedure, and the Danettes debate the greatest “must-win” games and recent MVP trends in major sports.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Steph Curry and Under Armour Breakup

• [05:01–13:49] Dan & Pat Benson Interview

  • Context: Steph Curry and Under Armour are ending their partnership.

  • Pat Benson explains:

    • The split is surprising given a long-term/lifetime contract signed only two years ago.
    • Under Armour is undergoing “major restructuring,” spinning off the Curry brand, making Curry and his sneaker line “free agents.”
    • Curry's signature sneaker line history: Early promise, viral setbacks (notably, 2016’s widely-memed “Dad Shoes”), and strong performance tech.
    • Curry’s Legacy: Even as retirement nears, Curry remains highly sought-after by global brands.
    • Other athletes (Roger Federer, Deion Sanders) succeeded with new footwear ventures post-legacy brand.
    • While a Nike or Adidas “Curry 1” is unlikely, Chinese brands may quickly snap him up.

  • Nike Meeting Fallout:

    • Story: A Nike exec called him “Stefan,” and Curry’s pitch was sloppily recycled from a Kevin Durant presentation — both confirmed as pivotal, but disputable, factors in Curry leaving.
    • Quote: “Under Armour offered $4 million to Nike's $2.5 million plus a signature shoe deal... Under Armour made a major gamble, and it paid off in the short term. But here we are more than a decade later and maybe it didn’t pay off in the long term.” (Pat Benson, 08:27)

2. Sneaker Culture Trends

• [09:56–13:49]

  • Top basketball shoes now:

    • Kobe Bryant’s Nike retros are far and away the most popular, followed by shoes from Anthony Edwards (Adidas), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Converse), Ja Morant (Nike).
    • Women’s market: Sabrina Ionescu’s Nike has crossed gender barriers, paving way for A’ja Wilson; Caitlin Clark’s signature debuts in 2026, predicted to be huge.
    • Michael Jordan’s estate will “make money forever” as long as Air Jordans are sold.
    • Sneaker “misses”: Pat Benson cites the never-released Adidas Kobe 3—a breakup shoe between Kobe and Adidas.
    • New Balance is making a major push with top talent across sports (Cooper Flagg, Shohei Ohtani, Josh Allen, Coco Gauff).

  • Notable Quote:

    “Every time the sun rises, Jordans will sell and Michael Jordan’s estate will make money.” – Pat Benson (11:22)

3. Collectible Shoe Stories & Nostalgia

• [13:52–19:34]
  • Dan reminisces about wearing hand-me-down basketball shoes from college players, highlighting the humble roots of sneaker collecting.
  • The team discusses the booming market for original and retro sneakers:
    • Game-used, autographed Michael Jordan 1985 Air Jordans recently sold for $560,000; six autographed Finals pairs auctioned together for $8 million in 2024.
    • Dan shares stories of witnessing MJ’s post-championship shoe signings.
    • Marvin and others describe the powerful “nostalgia factor” and the surge in adults buying shoes they couldn’t own as kids.
    • Paulie notes that collectibles are often undervalued in real-time: “You would never think the shoe industry hadn't taken off yet.”

4. Lighthearted Banter: Haircuts, Cosmetic Procedures, and TV Favorites

• [27:00–29:58]
  • Dan recounts visiting his longtime hairdresser, who compliments his “work”—implying he had cosmetic eye surgery. Dan finds it both flattering and awkward, and the barbershop erupts in speculation about his looks.
    • Quote:

      “She goes, ‘Where’d you get your eyes done?’ I go, like, I had laser surgery. She goes, ‘No, no, like cosmetic surgery.’ I go, ‘Wait, you think I got surgery?’ … They said, ‘Well, your skin looks really nice. What do you do?’ I said, ‘I just drink beer.’” (Dan Patrick, 27:06)

  • Lively debate about Botox, “Brazilian butt lifts,” and whether cosmetic work should be denied or embraced in public.

5. Weekend Sports Preview & MVP Quizzes

• [33:05–49:52]
  • “Most must-win game of the weekend” picks from the Danettes include Steelers vs. Bengals, Bills vs. Bucs, Texas Longhorns vs. Georgia, and Dolphins vs. Commanders.
  • Best week in sports: Patriots, FC Tulsa, Aaron Judge (Yankees), Matthew Stafford.
  • Listeners call in to debate Mac McClung’s dunk champion status and to share shoe stories.
  • Paulie’s MVP Quiz:
    • Trivia on the rarity of MVP awards in a player’s first two seasons across major US leagues. Highlights: Wilt Chamberlain, Fred Lynn, Ichiro, Patrick Mahomes, Dan Marino, Earl Campbell, Kurt Warner, among others.

6. Listener Calls & “What We Learned” Segment

• [35:36–52:45]
  • Listeners share nostalgic tales: one used Air Force Ones as “bean walking” shoes on an Iowa farm; another seeks Jordan’s autograph on a mint 1998 Finals ticket, reportedly worth millions.
  • The “jacked off” fitness challenge for the Vegas trip is humorously admitted to have fizzled out.
  • The Danettes poke fun at each other over backroom jobs and “Most Valuable Backroom Guy” status, while prepping for upcoming show highlights.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Pat Benson on sneaker free agency:

  “Even if Stephen Curry’s NBA career ends tomorrow, there’ll be brands that want to sign him.” (09:05)

• Dan on the collectibles market:

  “Every single game-clinching win by the Bulls, when Mike won a championship, he signed his shoes… Those shoes are probably worth a couple million dollars now.” (18:20)

• Dan (humor) on cosmetic rumors:

  “They said, ‘Well, your skin looks really nice. What do you do?’ I said, ‘I just drink beer.’” (27:06)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Time | Segment/Topic | |-----------|-------------------------------------------------------------| | 05:01 | Interview: Pat Benson on Steph Curry & Under Armour split | | 06:22 | Did Curry’s shoes ever take off? Shoe culture nuances | | 07:14 | The infamous Nike meeting and why Curry left | | 09:56 | Hottest current basketball shoes | | 10:29 | Women’s shoes & Sabrina Ionescu/Caitlin Clark discussion | | 11:18 | Michael Jordan estate royalties & sneaker legacy | | 11:46 | “Worst shoe” & Kobe/Adidas drama | | 13:52 | Dan’s sneaker hand-me-down stories/collectibles market | | 17:25 | Market for Kobe “Grinches” and retro shoe releases | | 19:07 | Autographed MJ Finals shoes for $8 million | | 27:01 | Dan’s haircut & comic plastic surgery misunderstanding | | 33:05 | Must-win games of the weekend by Danettes | | 34:41 | “Best week in sports” picks | | 37:43 | Callers share vintage Air Force One and collectible stories | | 47:27 | Paulie’s MVP trivia quiz (cross-sport, early-career MVPs) | | 50:27 | Audience question: “Jacked off” challenge |

Tone & Style

• Engaging, informative, playful
• Dan seamlessly mixes sports expertise with personal anecdotes and friendly teasing, keeping the energy light, fast-paced, and welcoming for both hardcore fans and casual listeners alike. Pat Benson’s in-depth sneaker knowledge gives the hour extra heft for fashion and basketball enthusiasts.

For listeners and non-listeners alike, this episode offers:

• A masterclass in sports-sneaker business drama
• Rich nostalgia from the golden eras of NBA collectibles
• Laugh-out-loud banter about looks, rumors, and the art of the barbershop chat
• Fun, trivia-driven recaps for “must-win” games and MVP insights across all sports