The Dan Patrick Show – September 3, 2025

Hour 3 – Guests: Michael Irvin, Pablo Torre

Episode Overview

In this engaging hour, Dan Patrick mixes his trademark humor and insider perspective with sharp sports commentary and two standout interviews: NFL legend Michael Irvin talks candidly about his career, the Cowboys’ latest upheaval, Deion Sanders’ health, and more; and investigative journalist Pablo Torre breaks down his bombshell report alleging the LA Clippers and owner Steve Ballmer circumvented the NBA salary cap via a secret $28 million deal to Kawhi Leonard. The episode balances sports nostalgia, analysis, and explosive current events, making for a must-hear conversation for NFL and NBA fans alike.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The “Week of False Hope” for NFL Fans (03:35)

• Dan Patrick opens with a wry take on NFL fans’ optimism ahead of the new season, calling it “The Week of False Hope.”

  • “If you're an NFL fan, you can have all the hope you want. ...some of you fans, you know it's false hope. You just don't want somebody telling you it's false hope.” (03:41)
  • He jokes about browbeaten fan bases like the Browns and Saints.

• Upcoming storylines:

  • Cowboys-Eagles NFL season kickoff (04:20)
  • Rumors of LA Clippers salary cap circumvention (04:32)
  • Introduction of Michael Irvin and mention of the coming interview with Pablo Torre.

Interview: Michael Irvin – Cowboys, Football Nostalgia, & More

Memories and Miami Hurricanes (05:11)

• Irvin reflects on being present with the University of Miami sideline, emphasizing the importance of appreciating the fleeting moments of young athletes:
  • “It's my job to let them know these are the greatest times of your life. Don't let these slip away. You're writing your history and... you could be an old man like me and reminisce well later.” (05:19)

Revisiting the Cowboys Documentary (06:01)

• Dan asks Irvin about seeing the new Cowboys documentary and reliving the team’s wild history.
  • Irvin stresses the value in setting the record straight: “The world has moved forward and changed and now you can use your history to try to help somebody have a better destiny if you... open up and share.” (06:22)
  • He calls out exaggerated stories, notably the notorious scissor incident with teammate Everett MacIver:
    • “I was getting my ass kicked... In order to try to defend myself, I did something stupid.... But when you see the documentary, it makes you think and relive all of it and... how important that moment was in the way he handled it.” (07:03–08:54)

Cowboys’ State Post-Micah Parsons, Jerry Jones Dispute (08:54)

• Irvin and Dan dig into the Cowboys’ recent issues signing Micah Parsons, including Jerry Jones’ disappointment and agent drama.
  • Irvin is candid about the emotional toll: “That's a hurting question... Because he's hurt. Hurt. Because he's hurting. That's the answer.” (09:03)
  • On Parsons' agent: “The number one thing [the agent] said was Michael wanted to be a Dallas Cowboy. That's your job to go get the most money from the Dallas Cowboys. That was your job. And they failed at it.” (11:21)

Deion Sanders’ Health Update (13:29)

• Irvin gives a heartfelt update on Deion Sanders: "Health wise, he's in the best place he could be... Back on the sideline with his guys. ...when he was really at his lowest, all he talked about... I haven't seen my players.” (13:46)

Hurricanes or Cowboys – Who Would Irvin Choose for a Title? (14:32)

• Dan tries, playfully and unsuccessfully, to get Irvin to pick between Miami or Dallas for another championship. Irvin refuses to pick: “I won a championship in both teams.” (14:59)

Eagles as Super Bowl Favorites (15:34)

• Discussing this year’s Eagles team, Irvin praises their strength:
  • “They are the favorites, and you gotta go take it from them. The only way they lose it is if they lose that glue. That glue is Saquon Barkley.” (16:24)

Cowboys Brotherhood & Troy Aikman Stories (16:34)

• Irvin affectionately talks about his relationship with Troy Aikman, recalling that Aikman never joined the team’s rowdier escapades at the White House and alluding to Aikman's high-profile dating life with humor:
  • “Troy never came to the White House. ...Troy came home and people in his house, he called the police. That's what Troy does.” (17:16)
  • On Aikman’s rumors: “I'm gonna leave that alone. Don't try to get me in trouble, Dan. But, you know... Troy with young blonde hair, blue eyes and boy, that shotgun, you know...” (17:53)

Interview: Pablo Torre – Clippers/Ballmer/Kawhi Salary Cap Bombshell

Breaking the Clippers Salary Cap Scandal (25:22)

• Dan Patrick introduces Torre’s exposé, which alleges Clippers owner Steve Ballmer funneled $28 million to Kawhi Leonard through an endorsement deal with a green startup, Aspiration.

  • “This is a story that started because of a company called Aspiration... The endorsement deal that was the biggest that Aspiration signed... happened to be Kawhi Leonard. $28 million—more than four times the rest of the celebrity roster combined. ...He didn't do anything. It was a no-show job.” (25:54–28:02, Pablo Torre)

• Notable Quotes:

  • “The absence of evidence happens to be in this very narrow but meaningful way, the evidence.” – Pablo Torre (30:21)
  • “Inside of Aspiration, what is very clear is that the number one priority... was you gotta pay Kawhi Leonard. ...as no one else was getting paid, Kawhi was getting paid. And the question I ask you is: why was he priority number one for doing nothing?” (31:45)

NBA Reaction & Potential Punishment (28:05, 34:17)

• NBA did not know about the deal; league offices in “panic.”

• Compares it to the Joe Smith/Minnesota Timberwolves incident, but argues the Clippers case is even more audacious and well-documented.

  • “There's a difference here... it’s more than the Joe Smith story, right? This is actually far more sophisticated and yet stupid at the same time.” (33:02)

• Torre highlights the unusual predicament: Ballmer is the NBA’s richest owner—how do you punish your own “boss?”

  • “This is not a real justice system in the NBA. This is a business deal. ...How do you punish your own boss?” (34:17)

Broader Implications and Open Questions (34:33–36:18)

• Torre hints that the scandal could inspire others to come forward about off-the-books deals across the league.

• Suggests there may be similar, though usually less blatant, attempts by other teams and players: “I would argue that it doesn't happen to this scale and with this level of documentation, which is only enabled because of the collapse of this fraudulent company.” (35:37)

• Leaves a teaser about possibly investigating Jalen Brunson’s deal with the Knicks: “My tip line has never been more used by enemies of Jalen Brunson... I don’t want to get ahead of myself.” (35:08)

Follow-Up & Panel Reactions (36:32–39:31)

• Dan and crew riff about the implications of Torre’s reporting, joking about who would be the most interesting interview in the aftermath (Ballmer, Kawhi, Adam Silver).

  • “Kawhi’s not going to tell you anything... Adam Silver, I don't know what he would say. Steve Ballmer, you could ask questions and say, how did we get to this point, Steve?” (37:44–38:40)

• Michael Irvin on Kawhi’s possible defense if pressed: “My uncle Dennis set it up. I just said, all right. It seems like it's very cut and dry where I don't handle any of this.” (38:40)

Additional Highlights

College Football/NIL Parity Discussion (47:37–51:45)

• Lively discussion on the changing landscape of college football:
  • Dan and the team note how NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) has upended the sport, sometimes even leveling the playing field for less traditional powers.
  • “The Blue Bloods are like, wait a minute here. I thought we had the unfair advantage. What's wrong with this sport?” – Dan Patrick (50:07)
  • “My favorite thing about Alabama during the Nick Saban years was, hey, Alvin Kamara, your fifth string, you're not going to play... Frank Gore couldn't get on the field until his senior year because he just had Clinton Portis and Willis McGahey and Najee Davenport ahead of him.” – Michael Irvin (51:28)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Cowboys nostalgia and accountability:

  “The world has moved forward and changed and now you can use your history to try to help somebody have a better destiny if you... open up and share.”
  —Michael Irvin (06:22)

• On the 'no-show' Kawhi endorsement:

  “The absence of evidence happens to be in this very narrow but meaningful way, the evidence.”
  —Pablo Torre (30:21)

• On enforcing NBA rules:

  “How do you punish your own boss? What are the other bosses, the 29 others you have, what do they have to say about it? It's a fascinating parlor game...”
  —Pablo Torre (34:17)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Segment | Time | |----------------------------------------------|--------------| | False hope for NFL fans, show opening | 03:35 | | Michael Irvin joins, Miami Hurricanes, nostalgia | 05:11 | | Cowboys documentary, scissor incident story | 06:01–08:54 | | Cowboys’ Micah Parsons deal, agent drama | 08:54–11:56 | | Deion Sanders’ health update | 13:29 | | Eagles as Super Bowl favorites | 15:34 | | Troy Aikman stories, Cowboys brotherhood | 16:34–18:10 | | Pablo Torre exposé introduction | 25:22 | | Torre details Kawhi/Clippers salary cap allegations | 25:54–30:21 | | NBA, Clippers, Ballmer reactions | 28:05, 34:17 | | League punishment speculation | 33:02–34:33 | | Other owner shell games & broader implications | 34:33–36:18 | | College football NIL parity discussion | 47:37–51:45 |

Episode Tone & Style

The tone of the episode is witty, authentic, and a bit irreverent—true to Dan Patrick’s signature style. There’s a blend of hard-hitting investigative journalism (Torre’s report), heartfelt sports nostalgia (Irvin), and lively banter both on and off air.

For New Listeners

If you didn’t catch the episode, you missed an hour where sports’ past and future collided—spotlighting how the human element (ego, loyalty, and accountability) can shape, or shake, major franchises. Whether you love NFL history or NBA intrigue, or just want unfiltered takes from those who know the leagues best, this episode delivers.

End of Summary