The Dan Patrick Show – Hour 3

Date: February 2, 2026
Guests: Larry Baer (President & CEO, San Francisco Giants), Dianna Russini (NFL Insider, The Athletic)

Overview

In this third hour of The Dan Patrick Show, Dan and the Danettes broadcast live from Oracle Park, with the picturesque San Francisco Bay as their backdrop. The show features candid, insightful conversations with Larry Baer, President & CEO of the San Francisco Giants, followed by NFL Insider Dianna Russini. Topics range from baseball stadium culture and the Giants’ team-building philosophy to breaking NFL news, the coach hiring process, journalistic challenges, and memorable Super Bowl moments. The hour is punctuated by humor and lively banter, reflecting Dan Patrick’s signature style.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Conversation with Larry Baer (San Francisco Giants CEO & President)

The Enduring Legacy of Oracle Park and Ballpark Culture

• Age vs. Experience: Oracle Park is a quarter-century old but still going strong, unlike other stadiums that have a shorter shelf life due to poor location or lack of vision.
  • “Candlestick Park was 30 years old or so. Felt like it was 75 years old. Dodger Stadium ... felt like it was 10 years old.” – Larry Baer (05:09)
• Urban Ballpark Philosophy: Baer emphasizes the importance of keeping stadiums urban and accessible, contrasting Oracle’s city setting with proposals to move teams outside city centers.
  • “I want people going into a city, not leaving a city.” – Dan Patrick (06:16)
  • “The growth engine of San Francisco is right where we’re sitting here ... a whole area, a whole neighborhood.” – Larry Baer (07:08)

Statues & Hall of Fame Debates

• Barry Bonds Statue Dilemma: Barry Bonds, while not formally a Hall of Famer, is considered as such by the Giants, leading to ongoing discussions about his recognition at the stadium.
  • “The five statues we have are in the Hall of Fame ... but we view Barry as a Hall of Famer even though he’s not in the Hall of Fame." – Larry Baer (07:34)
• Candid on Hall of Fame Criterias: Baer openly acknowledges the complexity of Bonds’ candidacy and believes his pre-controversy career qualifies him.
  • “By any objective measure ... there are others not in the Hall who are worthy ... Barry was, before all the allegations, Hall of Fame-worthy.” – Larry Baer (08:48)

Rivalries & Spending in Baseball

• Dodgers Rivalry: More Than Hate: The Giants-Dodgers rivalry is chronicled as both competitive and collegial, with Baer downplaying the idea of hatred and emphasizing the rivalry’s contribution to the sport’s vibrancy and history.
  • “Having a dragon to slay in a sport ... is not all bad. The Yankees did that.” – Larry Baer (10:10)
  • “Off the field, we’re actually colleagues and partners in trying to grow the sport.” (11:33)
• Team Financial Philosophy:
  • Giants’ championship teams were largely homegrown, and Baer argues success isn’t solely about outspending opponents.
  • “Do you need to overspend to win? I would say no, but you have to have the right development in baseball.” – Larry Baer (13:09)

High-Profile Free Agency Pursuits

• Near Misses: Ohtani & Judge: Giants were serious contenders for both Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge, with comparable offers and logistics—falling just short due to personal and legacy factors.
  • “We were going to let him [Ohtani] pitch and hit ... salary and deal was competitive to the Dodgers.” – Larry Baer (14:44)
  • “We did what we could ... Aaron Judge is good for baseball ... we didn’t walk in thinking there was a 90% chance he was coming.” – Larry Baer (15:33)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Oracle Park’s Endurance: “We hope we can be in the vein of Wrigley and Fenway and be around forever.” – Larry Baer (05:09)
• On Bonds’ Hall Stance: “Barry’s a Giant. Barry’s a great Giant, one of the greatest of all time.” – Larry Baer (08:48)
• On Postseason Surprises: “Baseball is unpredictable ... we didn’t have a top five payroll any of those years.” – Larry Baer (10:10)

Segment Timestamps:

• [03:37] – Larry Baer joins the show, gifts Dan a Giants jersey
• [04:54] – Discussing stadium longevity & urban ballpark design
• [07:25] – Statues: Barry Bonds, Hall of Fame candidacy
• [09:54] – The Giants-Dodgers rivalry, history, and mutual respect
• [13:09] – Team-building philosophies and financial strategies
• [14:29] – Stories about pursuing Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge

2. Conversation with Dianna Russini (Senior NFL Insider, The Athletic)

Balancing Motherhood & NFL Insider Job

• Personal Juggle: Russini shares personal stories about balancing her demanding “insider” work with raising two energetic young children, while maintaining credibility and energy in a male-dominated field.
  • “My role’s a little different. I’m not just an NFL reporter; I’m an insider. So there’s this expectation that I have to be on all the time.” – Dianna Russini (26:14)
• NFL Accommodating Parents: She notes how understanding NFL figures are about her role as a working mom.
  • “I’ve always really appreciated that ... the men in this sport have been about my transition into motherhood.” (27:10)

Reporting Highlights & NFL Hot Topics

• Scoop of the Year: Russini’s top story this year involved uncovering the absence of 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk from the facility, with credit to transparency from SF’s Kyle Shanahan.
  • “Kyle Shanahan is the best at being transparent with the media. ... He just doesn’t lie.” – Dianna Russini (27:44)
• NFL Commissioner’s Press Conference: She expects tough questions for the commissioner, especially regarding minority coach hiring practices, and comments on the sometimes superficial nature of the hiring processes.
  • “This process this past month stood out the most to me. ... It seemed almost fake.” – Dianna Russini (28:49)

Behind-the-Scenes: Source Management & Reporting Risks

• Navigating Pushback: Russini recounts a tense exchange with Mike Vrabel following a report about his job prospects, illustrating the delicate and occasionally antagonistic communications reporters have with sources.
  • “I probably spend more time arguing with people in the league ... They want to push you around, and they want a story told a certain way. But the truth is the truth.” – Dianna Russini (34:45)

International Super Bowl Speculation

• Super Bowl Abroad?: Discussing the potential of hosting a Super Bowl outside the U.S., with London as the most probable initial venue.
  • “If I said five and a half years, the over/under … I do. I think ... Start there [in London], because, hey, we started it here.” – Dianna Russini (34:53)

Super Bowl Coverage War Stories

• Dan’s Behind-the-Scenes Reflections: Dan describes the high-pressure chaos of handling the post-Super Bowl trophy presentation, offering listeners a vivid look at what happens off-camera.
  • “I’m under the goal post ... I’m running through the Rolodex. … ‘Who am I interviewing?’ ... Next thing I know, Russ goes back to pass. ... I didn’t even know what happened!” – Dan Patrick (36:03)
• Russini’s Sideline Experience: Dianna shares how tough it is to report live postgame, noting the wild, adrenaline-filled environment.
  • “The post game interview is so much harder than it appears. … [They] make it look easy, but it’s very difficult.” – Dianna Russini (37:20)

The Impact of Social Media on Reporting

• Misquotes & Public Misperceptions: Russini discusses how quickly stories can be twisted online, referencing a recent article about the firing of an NFL GM and public overemphasis on his paternity leave.
  • “That’s all anyone can talk about now. … He did not get fired because he took paternity leave. But this is where the conversation is.” – Dianna Russini (41:44)

Memorable Quotes & Banter

• “If I could FaceTime a T-Rex, we’d be good.” – Dianna Russini, on her kids' interests vs. NFL stars (25:35)
• “You need an ironclad stomach in this league ... there’s a lot of yelling going on ... they want to push you around.” – Dianna Russini (34:45)
• “You just did your job, and then I went and had a beer and sat and watched an episode of The Office.” – Dan Patrick on coming down after the Super Bowl (40:32)

Segment Timestamps:

• [24:24] – Dianna Russini joins, discusses family life and NFL insider work
• [27:44] – Recaps her big scoop (Brandon Aiyuk situation)
• [28:49] – Previews questions for the NFL Commissioner (coach hiring process)
• [31:49] – Stories of getting yelled at, Mike Vrabel incident, handling disputes
• [34:53] – Discusses possibility of an international Super Bowl
• [36:03] – Dan and Dianna recount Super Bowl coverage and post-game chaos
• [41:44] – Impact of social media/misinterpretation in sports journalism

Noteworthy Light-Hearted Moments

• Dan, in self-deprecating humor, jokes about his remaining years and Todd being an “accomplice”:
  • “Kind of over under seven, seven and a half years … you’re the one that’s driving me to my grave.” – Dan Patrick (23:52, 24:01)
• Poll Results Segment:
  • Best Bay Area music artist poll – Metallica leads with 39%.
  • Sunrise vs. Sunset – 68% of the audience prefers sunset.
• Cooking Humor:
  • Dan and the Danettes delight in “meat Monday” with bacon-wrapped scallops, wagyu steak and eggs, and loaded baked potatoes (22:04).
• Kids & NFL Players:
  • Dianna’s kids aren’t impressed when meeting NFL stars but would love to FaceTime a dinosaur (25:35).

Conclusion

This hour of The Dan Patrick Show deftly blends nostalgia, sports business insights, the challenges of top-tier journalism, and stories from behind the scenes of America’s biggest sporting spectacle. Larry Baer and Dianna Russini offer a firsthand look at how tradition, rivalry, breaking news, and authenticity shape the modern world of sports.