The Best of The Dan Patrick Show

Summary

The Best of The Dan Patrick Show Release Date: May 21, 2025

Overview In this standout episode of The Dan Patrick Show, host Dan Patrick engages in in-depth discussions with notable guests, delves into current NFL rule changes, interacts with dedicated callers, and features a special interview with hockey legend Wayne Gretzky. The episode offers a blend of sports analysis, humor, and insightful commentary, making it a must-listen for fans who seek comprehensive coverage of both NFL and NHL topics.

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1. NFL Rule Changes: The Tush Push Ban

Guests: Jeremy Fowler, ESPN Senior NFL Reporter
Duration: 03:05 - 28:43

Dan Patrick opens a significant segment discussing the potential ban of the "Tush Push" play in the NFL. Joined by Jeremy Fowler, the conversation centers on the ongoing vote among NFL team owners to prohibit this play, which has been both a strategic advantage and a point of controversy.

Key Points:

• Current Proposal: The Packers' proposal to ban the Tush Push is under a tight vote, requiring a 3/4 majority (24 votes) to pass. (04:19)

• Language and Implications: The proposed rule change aims to broaden the language to prevent offensive players from pushing or pulling, moving away from the previous, more team-specific regulations. (05:17)

• Health and Safety Concerns: While some argue the ban is purely for player safety, there's skepticism about the actual injury data supporting this change. (05:17)

• NFL's Motives: Dan speculates that the NFL may be motivated by a desire to reduce predictability in gameplay, enhancing entertainment value. (06:17)

• Eagles' Unique Position: The Philadelphia Eagles, led by quarterback Jalen Hurts and offensive lineman Jason Kelce, are highlighted as a team that would remain effective despite the ban, thanks to their exceptional execution of the Tush Push. (07:46)

Notable Quotes:

• Dan Patrick at (06:17):
  "The NFL is in an entertainment business and it's a predictable play. It's like the extra point. We don't want predictability."

• Jeremy Fowler at (07:17):
  "Some people in the league say that they think it could cause some sort of catastrophic injury. We just don't know yet."

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2. Playoff Restructuring and Onside Kicks

Duration: 28:43 - 60:30

Continuing the NFL discourse, Dan and Jeremy transition to discuss other rule changes and proposals affecting the league's playoff structure and onside kicks.

Key Points:

• Playoff Seeding Proposal: The Detroit Lions' suggestion to reseed playoffs based on wild card records was shelved for the current term, though discussions may resume as the NFL considers expanding the regular season to 18 games. (09:36)

• Onside Kick Innovations: New rules allow for onside kicks at any point in the game, not just the fourth quarter, with adjustments to kickoff distances to improve success rates and maintain game excitement. (10:00 - 11:13)

• Callers' Perspective: Caller John expresses frustration with the onside kick's low success rate and suggests alternatives like a 4th and 15 play to increase ball recovery opportunities. (13:45 - 15:06)

Notable Quotes:

• Caller John at (13:46):
  "Why don't they vote to have like a 4th and 15 play, something more likely that a team can get the ball back?"

• Dan Patrick at (11:07):
  "But you have to declare that we're going to have an onside kick. You have to tell that right?"

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3. Special Interview: Wayne Gretzky

Duration: 35:22 - 58:57

In a highly anticipated segment, Dan Patrick interviews hockey icon Wayne Gretzky, delving into his illustrious career, personal anecdotes, and reflections on the evolution of hockey.

Key Points:

• Career Highlights: Wayne shares stories from his playing days, including memorable moments and the significance of trophies in his life. (46:10 - 49:59)

• Evolution of the Game: Discussion on how hockey has become more skilled and faster over the years, with today's athletes surpassing past legends in both physicality and technique. (41:21 - 43:29)

• Personal Reflections: Gretzky talks about his retirement decision, balancing family life, and his ongoing passion for the sport through broadcasting roles. (53:35 - 55:58)

• Respect and Sportsmanship: Emphasis on the respect among players, highlighting how adversaries on the ice maintain camaraderie off it. (44:19 - 45:29)

Notable Quotes:

• Wayne Gretzky at (46:10):
  "I have one trophy here, that Rocket Richard gave me—the only hockey trophy I have here."

• Caller John at (44:20):
  "There's one common thing that we all have as professional athletes. One day we're going to be alumni. We're all going to be retired, right?"

• Wayne Gretzky at (49:30):
  "I always said that Gordie Howe and Bobby Orr were the two greatest hockey players that ever lived."

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4. Listener Calls and Engagement

Duration: 60:30 - 59:17

Throughout the episode, Dan Patrick interacts with callers who share their perspectives, frustrations, and insights on various sports-related topics.

Key Points:

• Emmy Awards Discussion: Caller John, a cast member of ESPN's NFL Live, expresses disappointment at not winning a Sports Emmy, sparking a humorous and heartfelt conversation about handling public recognition and personal achievements. (12:55 - 24:57)

• Mental Health Awareness: Promoted through sponsored segments encouraging listeners to prioritize mental health, aligning with May's Mental Health Awareness Month. (Various timestamps)

• Probiotics Segment: Brief interactions highlight discussions on the impact of probiotics on health, blending sports talk with wellness topics. (36:53 - 37:55)

Notable Quotes:

• Caller John at (22:17):
  "I think we deserved it as well. But you're a good man. The people you work with are good people."

• Dan Patrick at (23:03):
  "Can you help us understand, like, how do we come back from such an embarrassing loss that we didn't win the Sports Emmy last night?"

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5. Advertisements and Promotions

Duration: Skipped per user instructions

All advertisements, including promotions for Ferris State University, T-Mobile, Talkspace, and other sponsored content, were excluded from this summary to focus solely on the episode's content.

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Conclusion This episode of The Dan Patrick Show encapsulates the essence of sports radio—blending in-depth analysis with personal anecdotes and listener engagement. From critical discussions on NFL rule changes to heartfelt conversations with sports legends like Wayne Gretzky, Dan Patrick delivers content that is both informative and entertaining. The inclusion of caller interactions adds a relatable dimension, making this episode a comprehensive and engaging listen for sports enthusiasts.

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Notable Moments Recap:

• Mandate against the Tush Push discussed with Jeremy Fowler.
• Insightful interview with Wayne Gretzky on his legacy and the evolution of hockey.
• Emotional and humorous exchange with ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler about the Sports Emmy.
• Engaging interactions with listeners on topics ranging from rule changes to personal sports experiences.

For those who haven't tuned into The Dan Patrick Show, this episode serves as an excellent encapsulation of the show's dynamic mix of sports commentary, expert interviews, and interactive segments.

Transcript

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[Talkspace Ad]

This podcast is sponsored by Talkspace. May is Mental Health Awareness Month and Talkspace, the leading virtual therapy provider, is telling everyone let's face it in therapy. By talking or texting with a supportive licensed therapist at Talkspace, you can face whatever is holding you back. Whether it's mental health symptoms, relationship drama, past trauma, bad habits or another challenge that you need support to work through. It's easy to sign up. Just go to talkspace.com and you'll be paired with a provider, typically within 48 hours. And because you'll meet your therapist online, you don't have to take time off work or arrange childcare. You'll meet on your schedule. Plus, Talkspace is in network with most major insurers and most insured members have a $0 copay. Make your mental health a priority and start today. If you're not covered by insurance, get $80 off your first month with Talkspace when you go to talkspace.com and enter promo code SPACE80. That's S P A CE80. To match with a licensed therapist today, go to talkspace.com and Enter promo code SPACE80.

[Dan Patrick]

Why is a soap opera western like Yellowstone so wildly successful?

[Jeremy Fowler]

The American west with Dan Flores is.

[Dan Patrick]

The latest show from the Meat Eater Podcast Network. So join me starting Tuesday, May 6th where we'll delve into stories of the.

[Jeremy Fowler]

West and come to understand how it.

[Dan Patrick]

Helps inform the ways in which we experience the region today. Listen to the American west with Dan Flores on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts.

[Ferris State University Ad]

Or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Dan Patrick]

I know a lot of cops. They get asked all the time, have.

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[Jeremy Fowler]

I get right back there and it's bad.

[Ferris State University Ad]

Listen to Absolute Season 1 Taser incorporated on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Jeremy Fowler]

You are listening to the Dan Patrick.

[Dan Patrick]

Show on Fox Sports Radio. Jeremy Fowler, ESPN Senior NFL, a national reporter joining us from the owner's meeting. All right, Jeremy, where are we? The countdown for the vote for the Tush push.

[Jeremy Fowler]

Yeah, Dan, great to be with you. And you are a Hall of Famer in my book. You should not let last night's results affect anything at all. Certainly.

[Dan Patrick]

But don't you contribute to NFL Live, the show that won the sports Emmy? Do you get a sports Emmy?

[Jeremy Fowler]

I think I actually do. From what I know, coming to the.

[Dan Patrick]

Show, should you have won? Should NFL Live, should that have won last night over us?

[Jeremy Fowler]

You know, it's, I think it's a tremendous show. Laura Rudledge and Dan do a tremendous job. I love that show.

[Dan Patrick]

I'm just, I'm just kidding.

[Jeremy Fowler]

I'm a very, very small part of it. However.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay.

[Jeremy Fowler]

Your hall of Fame career should be the morale boost that you need this morning.

[Dan Patrick]

All right. All right. Okay. Sorry to do that, too. That's all I wanted to talk to you about, Jeremy. Thank you. I don't care about the Tush push.

[Jeremy Fowler]

And we're done.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay, what's the timeframe here on the vote?

[Jeremy Fowler]

Any minute then. So that the packers, their proposals in owners, my understanding, are voting like right down the hall as we speak. You know, they're meeting on a. Jason Kelsey walked through the hallways with Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie a little while ago. So he's in the meeting. Maybe he can sway some votes. Maybe he can help the Eagles here. Their Philly's clearly all hands on deck to try to sway some people. So what. What was told to me from some teams is that there is momentum for this to change, for the Tush push to be banned. They only got 16 votes in March, though, so they need 3/4 majority vote, which is 24 votes to get this push through and then, you know, they'll go from there. So seems to be momentum, but I think it will be close and it could be really. I'm checking my phone right now to see what goes down here, but it is expected early this morning.

[Dan Patrick]

What kind of language do you think is going to be in or changed with this? Let's say they get rid of it. Is there going to be language that's put in their rule book?

[Jeremy Fowler]

So the language right now is from the packers proposal that was tweaked this week to make it broader. Because I think the issue that teams had back in March was like, it was too specific to one team. Right. They felt that it's specific to the Eagles. They wanted to tailor that to just be back to the way it was in the early 2000s, which is you can't push or pull any ball carrier at all at any time, or it's a 10 yard penalty. So I think that sort of whets the appetite a little bit of some of the teams that were on the fence. You know, they're just. There are a lot of teams that want to get that, quote, rugby style play out of there. What's still unclear, Dan, is what the data is on injury prevention here. Like, if there really is an issue with this play that causes more injury. Injury risk than others, then that's great. Let's see the data. But right now, I don't know that anybody has seen that Health and safety has talked to the league. So maybe today we'll get some sort of clarity on why that's important or if this is more just under the guise of player safety, which I know is. Some around the league believe that might be the case.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah, I think they're. And they could probably frame this and say we're being proactive. We don't have negative data or injury data. We, we want to be proactive. I, I understand how they can spin this, but like, aesthetically it's not pleasing. The NFL is in an entertainment business and it's a predictable play. It's like the extra point. Like, we don't want to, we don't want predictability. They can't say that. But I think that's really what's happening behind the scenes. That that's my gut feeling.

[Jeremy Fowler]

Well, and the Eagles are a major brand in the league and they've had tremendous success with it. And, and it evokes a lot of emotion because from a football standpoint, there still are teams and coaches and general managers in the league that will tell you, like, you shouldn't punish a team for being able to execute a play that you can't stop. So that is Really a core issue here that really won't go away. So you're right. It's a matter of taste in a lot of ways. And, you know, is injury prevention really a thing? You know, some people in the league say that they think it could cause some sort of catastrophic injury. We just don't know yet. So we have to go by what they want and the fact that, yes, it is an entertainment industry. But, yeah, I think part of the equation, too is that a lot of teams feel like the Eagles would still get these plays without having to push from behind. Like, usually Jalen hurts in that offensive line. They get it anyways. So I don't think the Eagles would be all that affected by this, to be honest.

[Dan Patrick]

On a football standpoint, I don't either. I don't. I. I said that. I. I've been saying that with that offensive line, with that quarterback. There's no quarterback like him. It's a low target. It's not like Josh Allen. It's a low target for a guy who squats 600 pounds. I mean, let's be realistic here. You're not going to stop that. I mean, you might a couple of times, but they're probably, you know, their success rate will probably be over 90%. But, you know, we had Matt LaFleur on at the draft, and here's the Green Bay coach saying, admitting that the NFL nudged them to be the team that would put its name behind this to get this play banned. So that's the NFL saying to the packers, hey, I mean, that tells you everything you need to know. The NFL does not want this playing.

[Jeremy Fowler]

Well, it would be. It would be naive to think that Roger Goodell is not involved in the decision making here. You know, you have a couple different tenants. You have the competition committee, which is eight or nine people, you know, composed of general managers and team presidents around the league. So they've recommended that the Tush push should be out. You have the health and safety component, and then you have Goodell, who is a presence. And if votes need to be swayed, he can be involved in those discussions. So typically, what the league wants, the league gets. But Phillies pushing back here, you know that, like Nick Sirianni has a pretty big coaching tree now with Shane Steichen in Indianapolis, two or three others that are head coaches whose teams benefited from the Tush push and don't want to go against the Eagles.

[Dan Patrick]

So.

[Jeremy Fowler]

But that's only three or four teams. Do you have enough to sway the majority?

[Dan Patrick]

Jeremy Fowler, who will win a sports Emmy because NFL Live won a sports Emmy last night. Joining us from the NFL owners meeting.

[Jeremy Fowler]

You can have mine. We'll switch the name on it. Be fine.

[Dan Patrick]

What else should we be aware of that could happen today?

[Jeremy Fowler]

So the interesting news this morning, Dan, was that the playoff reseeding proposal from the Detroit Lions, which they were proposing, hey, look, if you have a better record as a wild card team than a division winner, you should jump them in the seatings that has been off the table. That has been now revoked, at least for this term. But it was a little bit of a surprise. It didn't have much legs, but I thought they would at least vote on it. They are not doing that now. So.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay.

[Jeremy Fowler]

To be the same playoff format this season. But there is an acknowledgement here that like if it goes to 18 games eventually or in future years, they're going to have to receive this thing. They're going to have to work it out. They don't really want situations where teams have meaningless games in December and January when you're locked into a two seed and you're resting your guys or you saw the Rams do that last year, resting your guys in the last week. You know, they want these games to matter. Even though I think some fans love second and third stringers playing and the dynamics of who's going to tank and who's not. Like I think there's an element of that. But for the most part the league doesn't want that. They want good games. So I do think they're going to switch that eventually. Just won't happen this week. And then you got some onside kick news. There's some stuff about, you know, you can do an on site kick anytime during the game, not just the fourth quarter when you're down. If you're from behind, you can do it in the first quarter if you want. And they're going to move the kickoff point like a yard. I don't know why. I'm going to find out why they're doing that. They're trying to create a better success rate on these kicks. It's kind of become a boring play. They're trying to spice it up.

[Dan Patrick]

But you have to declare that we're. Hey, we're going to have an onside kick. You have to tell that, right? Oh my God.

[Jeremy Fowler]

Correct.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay.

[Jeremy Fowler]

Yeah. So it's, it's. They're. They're hoping for a little bit more excitement.

[Dan Patrick]

Anything I need to know about Aaron Rodgers today?

[Jeremy Fowler]

So Dan, I checked on that this week. You know, I kind of get the same lines from people in Pittsburgh, which is, hey, we remain optimistic, we remain in contact with Aaron Rodgers. No new update yet. So they all are essentially still waiting on him. You know, I go back to like, this is his first foray into free agency in a 20 year career that was highly unpredictable. So this was never going to be smooth or easy. And you know, OTAS is in a little under three weeks for the Steelers, like May 27, so that'd be the target date for them. They would, you know, certainly hope that by then he's in the fold. I don't think they've changed their plan. They're waiting on him. They know he's had some stuff in his inner circle or some family stuff that he has been dealing with. But she alluded to on the Pat McAfee Show a few months ago. So they're sensitive to all that and they're just going to kind of roll with Mason Rudolph until then. There's some teams I've talked to, they're still kind of wondering like, is he just waiting out the Vikings? You know, because the Vikings would be an ideal scenario. One of the best play callers in the league and Kevin o' Connell. Nine dome games. You're guaranteed nine dome games per year. There's some element of that. But I, you know, checking with the Vikings, I still don't expect that they're moving forward with J.J. mcCarthy. So he really has no other option other than Pittsburgh or retire, it seems, right now.

[Dan Patrick]

Did he get married?

[Jeremy Fowler]

I, I do not know that. I haven't heard that.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay.

[Jeremy Fowler]

I haven't heard that. So my, you know, it could be just something a matter with his family. But yeah, I know I saw him.

[Dan Patrick]

Wearing a ring and then there was speculation did he get married? And maybe it's a mood ring which would be appropriate for Aaron. Like what, what's the mood that you're in? But thanks for joining us and congratulations on, on winning the sports Emmy last night.

[Jeremy Fowler]

Thank you, Dan. I appreciate it. Thanks for having me.

[Dan Patrick]

That's Jeremy Fowler. He's a big time NFL reporter for NFL Live at the mothership. Yes, Paul, I like that we didn't even know that he won a sports Emmy for being a participant NFL Live. And he goes, yeah, I think I do get one. Yeah, must be nice. That's what working at a place like ESPN or Fox or whatever is. I have friends who have a dozen and they're like, oh, I think I.

[Talkspace Ad]

Picked one up this year.

[Dan Patrick]

You're like, oh my gosh. John in San Diego. Hi, John. What's on your mind?

[Caller John]

Hey, how's it going? I had a question in regards to the on site kick. It's very frustrating year after year that the owners don't decide just to completely get rid of it because the success rate is so small and there's been so many close games that have ended in such a small percentage of getting the ball.

[Caller]

Why don't they vote to have like.

[Caller John]

A 4th and 15 player, something more likely that a team can get the ball back because the onside kick just obviously it's impossible.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah, they have proposed that. There's been language that's been drawn up where teams have suggested that. I just think it's, it's an inherently violent sport. You know, we're past the concussion lawsuit. I think when you sign up, you know, hey, it's violent and I could get hurt. I just don't. You can take safeguards, but safeguards should be with equipment you still need to play the game and this is how the game is played. And yes, it's violent, but I don't, I just don't think you can do a little of this and a little of that and tweaking and you know, we're gonna have an onside kick, but you got promise you're not going to hit somebody hard. Hey, you got to tell us that you're going to have an, I mean it's, it's pro football. It's going to hurt. You sign up for that. Fox Sports Radio has the best sports.

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Talk lineup in the nation. Catch all of our [e-mail] and within the iHeartRadio app.

[Dan Patrick]

Search FSR to listen live. Hey, Steve Covino. And I'm Rich Davis. And together we're Covino and Rich on Fox Sports Radio. You can catch us weekdays from Fox to 7pm Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific on Fox Sports Radio. And of course, the iHeartRadio app. Why should you listen to Covino and Rich?

[Covino and Rich]

We talk about everything.

[Dan Patrick]

Life, sports, relationships, what's going on in the world. We have a lot of fun talking about the stories behind the stories in the world of sports and pop culture. Stories that, well, other shows don't seem to have the time to discuss. And the fact that we've been friends for the last 20 years and still work together, I mean, that says something, right? So check us out. We, we like to get you involved too. Take your phone calls, chop it up, as they say. I'd say the most interactive show on Fox Sports Radio, maybe the most interactive show on planet Earth. Be sure to check out Covino and Rich Live on Fox Sports radio and the iHeartradio app from 5 to 7pm Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific. And if you miss any of the live show, just search Covino and Rich wherever you get your podcast. And of course on social media, that's Covino and Rich.

[Ferris State University Ad]

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This podcast is sponsored by Talkspace. May is Mental Health Awareness Month and Talkspace, the leading virtual therapy provider, is telling everyone let's face it in therapy. By talking or texting with a supportive licensed therapist at Talkspace, you can face whatever is holding you back, whether it's mental health symptoms, relationship drama, past trauma, bad habits or another challenge that you need support to work through. It's easy to sign up. Just go to talkspace.com and you'll be paired with a provider, typically within 48 hours. And because you'll meet your therapist online, you don't have to take time off work or arrange childcare. You'll meet on your schedule. Plus, Talkspace is in network with most major insurers and most insured members have a zero dollar copay. Make your mental health a priority and start today. If you're not covered by Insurance, get $80 off your first month with Talkspace when you go to talkspace.com and enter promo code SPACE80. That's S P A CE83. To match with a licensed therapist today, go to talkspace.com and Enter promo code.

[Covino and Rich]

SPACE80 and it's going to take us to heal us.

[Caller]

It's Mental health awareness Month.

[Covino and Rich]

And on a recent episode of just heal with Dr. J, the incomparable Taraji P. Henson stopped by to discuss how she's discovered peace on her journey. So what I'm hearing you saying is healing is a part of us also reconnecting to our childhood in some sort. You said I look how youthful I look because I never let that little girl inside of me die. I go outside and run outside with the dogs. I still play like a kid. I laugh. You know, I love jokes. I love funny. I love laughing. I laugh at myself. I don't take myself too seriously. That's the stuff that keeps you young and stops you from being so hard to hear. This and more things on the journey of healing. You can listen to just heal with Dr. J from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts.

[Caller]

Or wherever you get your podcast at.

[Covino and Rich]

And T connecting changes everything.

[Dan Patrick]

Your gut, microbiome, and those healthy bacteria.

[Caller]

Can actually have positive effects throughout your body.

[Dan Patrick]

Not just your gut, but your mental health, your metabolism, your immunity, your risk of cancer, heart disease, almost any disease under the sun.

[Covino and Rich]

Yep, you heard right. Probiotics might actually impact everything from your brain to your heart. So what's science and what's just really good marketing? On this episode of Dope Labs, me and Zakiya cut through the hype and get into the real deal behind probiotics, with help from gastroenterologist Dr. Roshi Raj.

[Caller John]

So, yes, bacteria is definitely having a.

[Dan Patrick]

Moment, and I'm very excited about that.

[Covino and Rich]

From probiotic drinks and gummies to face creams and pillows. Yep, we said pillows. The probiotic boom is everywhere. But how much of it actually works? And what does it all mean for your gut, your skin, and even your mood? Join us on Dope Labs, where we break it all down in the lab like only we can listen to Dope Labs on iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Dan Patrick]

On this Wednesday. Morale is high. It's fake, but it's high right now. Yeah, absolutely. Are you trying to get everybody up? Come on, everybody. Yeah, let's hear it. I can't hear you, M.P. he's here. Big Fritzi. He's here. By the way, win or lose, we celebrate. T shirts are available right now. DanPatrick.com stat of the day, brought to you by Panini America, the official trading cards of the Dan Patrick Show. That's all t shirts are. $10, but none of them are Specifically, win or lose, we celebrate T shirts. Just t shirts for $10. Oh.

[Talkspace Ad]

So whatever we have left, we're trying.

[Dan Patrick]

To get rid of all of our inventory. Okay. So at this point, we've marked them down to $10 because we lost. So let's celebrate. But it's not a win or lose, we celebrate T shirt. It's not. Those are becoming. Oh, okay. Yeah. No, yeah. No, no. Yeah. Okay. All right, final hour. Wayne Gretzky will join us. He wins awards. He wins a lot of them. I like to know how big his trophy case is. I get. It's got to be a room because he's been getting trophies since he was probably 7 or 8 years old. Yeah, Paul, I think I saw a.

[Caller John]

Feature on E60 or something that Wayne.

[Dan Patrick]

Gretzky's father has like this house slash shrine to Wayne back in Canada that he maintains. Yes. I think he's got a shrine to his son. I can't imagine how many trophies that guy. Yeah. And these aren't participatory trophies like my kids got. And then we finally just gave them. The goodwill is there. Like, you'd have all these trophies, but none of them for winning anything. Be like, oh, and because you competed in karate, here's a four foot trophy. All right. Eight, seven, seven, three, DP Show. Email address dpdanpatrick.com Twitter handle @DP Show. Yes, Todd, one of the cast members of the very popular, successful and Emmy winning NFL Live on espn, which kept us from receiving the award last night.

[Caller]

For outstanding studio show daily Mr. 1.

[Dan Patrick]

Dan Orlopsky has just checked in to the top of the final hour here. All right. Hey, Dan, how are you?

[Caller John]

I am not. I'm doing very well. How are you? Good, sir.

[Dan Patrick]

Like doing crappy.

[Caller John]

Yeah. I feel very poorly right now.

[Dan Patrick]

Do you?

[Caller John]

I do.

[Dan Patrick]

Why? Do you think we deserved it?

[Caller John]

I think we deserved it as well. But you're a good man. The people you work with are good people. And I know there's only one winner. And it makes me feel awkward now talking to someone who didn't win that was probably very deserving.

[Dan Patrick]

You know what it's like when you throw a pick six or something? You know, when you. You have a moment and you got to come back from it? I mean. Yeah. Can you help us understand, like, how do we come back from such an embarrassing loss that we didn't win the sports Emmy last night?

[Caller John]

Yeah, I think that you guys, you know, there's a couple really good self help books that might be out there that you can entertain, too. Listen, I mean, we did win, and I woke up this morning and two of my four kids absolutely stunk this morning. So I had to deal with life moving forward as well, no matter we win or lose. So I looked at my wife after we dropped off our daughter's school. I said, well, whether we won last night or lost two of our four kids gave us absolute attitude this morning. So here we are.

[Dan Patrick]

Well, in all honesty, sincerity. Congratulations. Dan Orlovsky, ESPN analyst, part of NFL Live, former NFL quarterback, let's say five years, let's say 10 years ago, I told you, you know what, you're going to be part of a show that wins a sports Emmy. You would have said, what?

[Caller John]

You're out of your mind. There's no shot. I won't even be in tv. What is a sports Emmy? I didn't know they gave those out.

[Dan Patrick]

Because I look at you and I keep thinking you're an offensive coordinator in disguise. You know, you're, you're, you're an analyst. But have you given up that dream of being a head coach or a coordinator?

[Caller John]

I don't think I've given it up. I think I, you know, I want to be. As always, I'm very honest and transparent. This is. I felt in the last two years, it was probably the closest that calling had come for me as far as the desire and the pull. And probably after this past maybe four to six months, that is subsided, and it's probably the furthest I've been away from that in a couple years just because of the reality of where we are with our life as a family. I've got, you know, three seventh grade boys. I've got a fourth grade girl. My wife loves living where we live. We've made really good friends in town. I don't have the desire to uproot that right now, you know, with a, with a want rather than a need. You know, unfortunately, some people have to do that because it's their only choice. I don't have to. And so, And I really love what I'm doing right now, you know, Dan, like, I think this process of going through being nominated and then being a part of last night, you know, it kind of, I don't want to say re energizes because energy is not what I need. It makes me want to continue to climb things, you know, Like, I'm gonna be honest with you. I was up for analysts of, of last night as well. I was furious for not winning. Furious. I was. Everyone's like, it's an honor to be nominated. I get that, you know, like, but I wanted to win that. I really did. And when Barkley won, I texted him like, what the heck, dude? And I was bummed. I was bombed. My wife. I was like, I want to go. I was being a sore loser, a baby. And so, like, you know, like, I want to win that one day. I really do. So it's. It's been really cool to be a part of the team that won. And I like, do I love what I'm doing right now.

[Dan Patrick]

Talking to Dan Orlovsky of the mothership, the Tush push. We're waiting. Supposed to be voted on any minute now. What do you think? How does this play out?

[Caller John]

Yeah, it sounds like it's going to get, you know, it's going to get passed, that it's going to get banned. I just caution everybody that there's going to be consequences that come from this that no one's really looking at. If it goes back to the newest proposal, which is what Green Bay has put out there, I believe language wise, that no offensive player can push or pull another offensive player. We're totally changing offensive football then. And this is about way more than just quarterback sneak. My mind goes to all of those plays that the ball carrier or quarterback, whoever gets hit at like the three or four yard line and then all of a sudden the two or three offensive linemen come in, it becomes that will push, you know, who's got more desire at that moment to get the ball across the goal line. Because that play will now, if the ruling gets passed, will go from a touchdown to then a penalty. And just so everybody understands defensive players are caught, first guy make the hit, wrap up, second, third, fourth guy come in, hit, punch at the ball, put your helmet on the football. So now from an offensive perspective, if this rule gets passed, I hand the ball off to my back and he gets it at the four yard line. No one on my team can touch him from that point forward to push or pull. But the defense can come in and punch at the ball and rip at the ball and hit at the ball. Then we're changing football offensively in a way. And we're also changing some, if we're being candid, defenseless player situations.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah, I still think Philadelphia is going to be extremely successful at a quarterback snake because of Jalen hurt. There's nobody like Jalen hurts in the NFL. Nobody who has that much lower, lower body strength at that position can get that low. And it's about leverage. And I. But they, you know, the Eagles imported Jason Kelce to be a lobbyist here at the owner's meetings. What, what could he possibly be saying to these other owners that are going to make them rethink their vote?

[Caller John]

I would imagine there's a little bit of the health part of it, you know, in him speaking on his own behalf or experience because there's people who say there's health concerns or injury concerns. And so him sharing that, I think him sharing the unique ability to, you know, the way that they coach it, the way that their interior offensive line does it, to your point, how Jalen hurts, executes it and how, you know, it's not a cheat play for them, but more something that they've really perfected because of the way they coach and the people that they have. I'm sure it's an angle to try to educate the owners maybe differently than, oh, they're the only team that does this and it's unfair.

[Dan Patrick]

How excited are you about the NFL being in the Olympics with flag football? How does this.

[Caller John]

I think it's really cool. I really do. I think it's very cool. My biggest takeaway is how smart the NFL is. It's brilliant, you know, if you listen to Commissioner Goodell and in his words, he was saying, you know, this opens us up even more to men and women all ages, all over the world. And so now you're, you're taking the game of football that many of us Americans know and you're bringing a version of it to all parts of the world that maybe don't know a ton about it and maybe can feel that, oh, I, I can play football like Dan. I've always thought the protection of the quarterback rule that changed years and years and years ago was about kids. It wasn't about, you know, Eli Manning. It was about moms and dads letting their 8 or 10 year old son watch the game. Because the 10 year old son that falls in love with football is going to be the 30 to 40 year old who watches football. You know, and so it's a little bit of that this is brilliant business, you know, stuff from the NFL and it's, you know, these, I said this yesterday, NFL Live, these players in the NFL, you climb the highest mountain that you think you can climb when it comes to your profession. You accomplish it, you can't go any further. And so now this gives them another mountain to climb, another challenge to go accomplish. How rare it would be to be a person that is an NFL professional player, an mvp, a world champion, and then an Olympic champion. That's. I think it's very cool.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay, but how many players will play for Team usa? Who are NFL players? The team that will play represent us if we're trying to win a gold medal, how many players will get that opportunity?

[Caller John]

Yeah, it's. It seems probably half a dozen, you know, maybe. Maybe 10. You know, by my understanding, you got to try out, so how many guys are going to be willing to just go try out? Because, let's be honest, there's an ego element to these guys as well. We all believe that we're the best and whatnot to. You can only have one player per NFL team, per country, I believe. So that means that Brian Branch and Jir Gibbs, both Lions, cannot play for United States.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay.

[Caller John]

You know, so that limits your pool just a little bit.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay. Are you going to have 32 players competing for 10 roster spots on Team USA flag football? Is that how this plays out?

[Caller John]

No, I don't think so. I mean, how many quarterbacks are actually going to go try and do it? You know, how many receivers, you know, will be, you know, willing to do it? I'm sure they're going to be some organizations that are a little bit cautious on it. I know they all voted in in favor of it. We'll see how they feel about it in three years when it's their super bowl window and it's their star receiver that they're concerned about and whatnot. So I. I don't know if it'd be 32, but I do think that there's going to be a decent amount of guys, at least initially interested in it.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah. Can I submit this for next year's sports Emmy? Having you on it, having won, and agreeing that we deserve to win the sports Emmy.

[Caller John]

Yeah, you can submit it. Yeah, you could submit it.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah. Okay. Yeah.

[Caller John]

Yeah.

[Dan Patrick]

How about a round of applause to Dan?

[Caller]

Congrats.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah. Should be a very interesting NFL Live episode later today for you, Dan.

[Caller John]

No, I. I'm actually not on today.

[Dan Patrick]

Good for you.

[Caller John]

I'm not on today. I'm not. My sons have a big lacrosse last regular season lacrosse game tonight, so I don't want to miss that.

[Dan Patrick]

Thanks for joining us and congrats again.

[Caller John]

Thank you, sir. I appreciate you. You're a legend, you know that? So thank you.

[Dan Patrick]

Thank you. That's Dan Orlovsky. Yeah. I've taken care of my part of this. I'm the legend. It's the other part that's the problem. I'm a hall of famer. The show is in the hall of. Very good. You know what? Maybe I go work for NFL Live.

[Caller]

Seriously.

[Dan Patrick]

You know, it is true because even.

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[Dan Patrick]

Came calling, they inducted you and not the show. Everyone is like the Breakfast Club is in the Tom and TJ show, the Jimmy and Skippy show, Sally and the Commanders show.

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Dan Patrick.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah. And then. Yeah, you are the hall of Famer. Bob and Tom are getting in. Not Dan and the Dan. Not Dan and the Dan. Yes, yes, Marvin. But you're going to the hall of Fame for your influence. Very much like Vince Carter. I'm the Vince Carter of sports radio. So when Pat McAfee in their show.

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Wins the radio on sports or on.

[Dan Patrick]

Tv, Emmy or Dan Leitard. Nah, they're not going to win one. Well, I'm just saying, not without st Gods, they're not. What are you doing? Yeah. All right, all right. Let me take a break. Let's clean this up. Wayne Gretzky is going to join us. The great one. Oh, dear. Let's take a break. We're back after this. Fox Sports Radio has the best sports.

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[Covino and Rich]

And it's gonna take us to heal us.

[Caller]

It's mental health awareness month. And on a recent episode of just.

[Covino and Rich]

Heal with Dr. J, the incomparable Taraji P. Henson stopped by to discuss how she's discovered peace on her journey. So what I'm hearing you saying is healing is a part of us also reconnecting to our childhood in some sort. You said I look how youthful I look because I never let that little girl inside of me die. I go outside and run outside with the dogs. I still play like a kid. I laugh, you know, I love jokes. I love funny. I love laughing. I laugh at myself. I don't take myself too seriously. That's the stuff that keeps you young and stops you from being so hard to hear. This and more things on the journey of healing. You can listen to just heal with Dr. J from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts.

[Caller]

Or wherever you get your podcasts at.

[Covino and Rich]

And T connecting changes everything.

[Dan Patrick]

Your gut, microbiome and those healthy bacteria.

[Caller]

Can actually have positive effects throughout your body.

[Dan Patrick]

Not just your gut, but your mental health, your metabol metabolism, your immunity, your risk of cancer, heart disease, almost any disease under the sun.

[Covino and Rich]

Yep, you heard right. Probiotics might actually impact everything from your brain to your heart. So what's science and what's just really good marketing? On this episode of Dope Labs, me and Zakiya cut through the hype and get into the real deal behind probiotics, with help from gastroenterologist Dr. Roshi Raj.

[Caller]

So, yes, bacteria is definitely having a.

[Dan Patrick]

Moment and I'm very excited about that.

[Covino and Rich]

From probiotic drinks and gummies to face creams and pillows. Yep, we said pillows. The probiotic boom is everywhere. But how much of it actually works? And what does it all mean for your gut, your skin, and even your mood? Join us on Dope Labs where we break it all down in the lab like only we can listen to Dope Labs on iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Dan Patrick]

My name is Brendan Patrick Hughes, host of Divine Intervention. This is a story about radical nuns in combat boots and wild haired priests trading blows with J. Edgar Hoover in a hell bent effort to sabotage a war.

[Caller]

J. Edgar Hoover was furious.

[Covino and Rich]

Somebody violated the FBI and he wanted.

[Dan Patrick]

To bring the Catholic left to its knees.

[Caller John]

The FBI went around to to all.

[Jeremy Fowler]

Their neighbors and said to them, do you think these people are good Americans?

[Dan Patrick]

It's got heists, tragedy, a trial of the century, and the God damnedest love story you've ever heard.

[Caller]

I picked up the phone and my.

[Dan Patrick]

Thought was, this is the most important phone call I'll ever make in my life. I couldn't believe it. I mean, Brendan, it was divine intervention.

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[Dan Patrick]

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Pacers at the Knicks, game one tonight. You have the Oilers at the Stars, game one last night. Panthers roll the Hurricanes five. Two more phone calls coming up. We make way for Wayne Gretzky, the Hall of Famer, part of Turner Sports coverage of the Stanley Cup Final. He'll be in attendance for all the games. Wayno. Good to see you again. How you feeling?

[Caller]

I feel older, but it's great to see you. You know, when you get your two youngest kids graduating college the same week, you know you're getting old. So Thursday, nyu Friday, smu, and on to the Stanley cup semis and the finals.

[Dan Patrick]

Now, could you give me a shift on the ice?

[Caller]

No. I'll tell you what happened. About the age of 57, I was playing in a charity game and I came back and I threw my bag down in the hotel room, and I said to my wife, that's the last time I'm ever going to skate. And she goes, what do you mean? I said, I was scared to death that I was going to fall and hurt myself. And you can't play this game with fear, right? So it was time for me to officially retire, even though I retired at the age of 39. But I skate every now and then, my son's hockey schools, and I get on the ice, but I don't play in charity games anymore. I don't trust myself out there.

[Dan Patrick]

But that's what makes what Yarmier Jagger or Gordie Howe did.

[Caller]

Listen, it's amazing. Gordie Howe got 20 goals in the NHL at the age of 50. Think about that. Elmer Yarger, I don't know. He's got to be 58. I don't even know how old he is. And he's still playing games. Although he told me one day, he said, I only play the home games now, though. I said, well, that's nice. You're well rested. And Chris Chelio has played to 50 years old. And the way he played, he was a maniac at the age of 20 and the age of 50. So my. I have great admiration for older players, older athletes who've excelled. Guys like Tom Brady, guys like LeBron. It's pretty remarkable that you can go on at that age because, you know, and you've been around sports a long time, the athletes are better today. They're bigger, they're stronger, the coaching's better. And that's not a knock to the past, that's just progression, right? 20 years from now, it's going to be better. Today it's different. Every sport is different than it used to be, but the athletes I think are better today.

[Dan Patrick]

Did you lift weights?

[Caller]

Brett hall had the greatest line of all. Somebody said to him, do you lift weights? And he said, I've never seen a barbell score, but I've seen a lot of dumbbells. We used to do a training camp, we. And they'd have these kids from university that would do her, you know, I guess they were seeing what kind of shape you're in. So they had this. He had to bench press £195. And I would just look at the bar and I'd say to the kid, just mark me down for one. I didn't even try to lift it. I said, how many sit ups did I do last year? He said, seven. I said, mark me down eight. So say they would think I was getting better. But Listen, I did 8 push ups in training camp and scored 92 goals. I did 125 sit ups my last year at training camp. I got nine goals. There's no correlation, right?

[Dan Patrick]

When did you realize that Ovechkin could get your goal scoring record?

[Caller]

Well, when he scored on his back against us when I was coaching in Phoenix in about 2007, I came in the locker room and I think it was Rick Talkett said, the writing's on the wall. This gu going to be chasing you down. No, we knew he was. Listen, he's. I said this, there's only three guys, him, Messi and Gordie Howe that could play with the finesse, the goal scoring touch and the physical part of the game. Those three guys did that. Now, maybe Mark had a little bit more creativity with passing but scoring. Mark scored big goals all the time. Gordie Howe scored big goals, but if they weren't scoring, they'd run through you. And that's what those three guys have in common.

[Dan Patrick]

But explain to us that it's the hardest thing to do aside from hitting a baseball, but you're on skates with a stick and guys are trying to beat the hell out of you when you have the puck on your stick, like, what were you looking for?

[Caller]

Well, people always say, how did you score that goal? Did you see that open spot? Did you scout the goalie and know maybe where his tendencies were and what was his weakness? The game is so fast. To me, I was just shooting, trying to get an open spot, trying to hit the net. It was My biggest pet peeve in the world, when you go all the way down the ice and the guy would shoot the puck and miss the net. And if you look at Mike Bossi and Brett hall and Vechkin and Yuri Curry, Mario, they didn't miss the net. They hit the net. You can't score if you don't hit the net. It's common sense, right? Game's too fast. Now, in practice, you get out there and you put up targets and you work on things like that. But during the game, the game's too fast. You're just trying to get it to the net.

[Dan Patrick]

Do you hold a grudge against anybody?

[Caller]

Do I?

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah. From. From your playing days?

[Caller]

No, as a matter of fact, the exact opposite. I have so much more respect for the players I played with and against today, even back then. Now, listen, there's a lot of guys I didn't like because they're trying to win, and I was trying to win. But today, even. Even the guy that played me the hardest, the guy like Dennis Potvan, if he called me, needed a favor, I would try to drop everything, try to help him. You know, we become one. There's one common thing that we all have as professional athletes. One day we're going to be alumni. We're all going to be retired, right? So I got a great deal of respect.

[Caller John]

Now.

[Caller]

There's a lot of guys that probably hated me when they played against me, and there's a lot of guys I didn't like. But when it's all said and done, it's like the other night when you saw Dallas, Jamie, Ben and Scheifele battled for six games like real men. They were physical, hard, played hard, and that's what makes our game so great. The emotions that they showed after the game and the sportsmanship and the respect they had for each other was truly remarkable. I happened to be at the game, and I thought it was just amazing.

[Dan Patrick]

Talking to Wayne Gretzky, the Hall of Famer. Does your wife ever call you the Great One?

[Caller]

No. Every now and then she probably says, do you think. Why do you think you're the Great One? I will tell you. I was having dinner with Charles Berkeley one night in Phoenix, and my son and I. And we're sitting there, and his wife said, great One, will you pass me the soul? And I went to grab the salt, and his hand was already there. And he said, in this house, they call me the Great One. My son was 15 then. He thought it was the greatest thing in the world.

[Dan Patrick]

Where are all your Trophies.

[Caller]

I have one trophy here, that Rocket Richard gave me the only hockey trophy. I have one of the trophies I'm most proud of. I have here Sports Illustrated Sportsman in the Year. That's the only two I have here. The rest are at the Hockey hall of Fame or in the basement of my since past parents house that my nephew lives in. And my trophies are still there.

[Dan Patrick]

How important were trophies to you? Aside from the Stanley Cup?

[Caller]

Yeah. You know, Glenn Sather had a theory in training camp. I want to win the scoring race. I want to win the best defenseman. I want our goalie to be the best goalie. I want to have the mvp and but with all that, I want the Stanley Cup. So yeah, it was. He put it out there. He didn't hide from it at all.

[Dan Patrick]

The difference between playoff hockey and regular season hockey. And it's not, you know, that much different than other sports. You know, maybe the NFL was still each game because there's only 17 games. But what is it about playoff hockey that we, you know, it's just different. It's different than any other sport.

[Caller]

It really is. Although I'm a basketball fan, I think the basketball has been phenomenal this year, the playoffs. And you can tell those guys have gone to another level. Our game has just always been that way. And I think one of the things that happens is it's so hard to referee our sport so fast. And our referees do a great job. And when we get in the playoffs, the referees tell both teams, look, you can play hard and you play physical. Just don't be stupid. We don't want to be the difference in the hockey game. And so the game becomes extremely physical and very fast. And it's hard, it's hard to win in the National Hockey League. And I thought Carolina played a really good hockey game last night. Unfortunately, they're playing maybe the best team in the last three years and they get beat. And now you play all year to get home ice advantage and you lose it in one night. So I expect and anticipate Burns and company will come out flying tomorrow night.

[Dan Patrick]

I don't know if you're like Peyton Manning when you're watching. Peyton gets upset, you know, when he's watching bad football or somebody does. I don't know. How are you similar to Peyton Manning when you're watching hockey and you're like, why, are they doing something? Or you get, you know, visually, you know, upset with what you're seeing?

[Caller]

No, not at all. I don't critique it. If anything, I'm the Opposite. I just sit and enjoy it. I really appreciate good plays. I really appreciate good coaching. And you can see the four teams that are in the finals, they all have good coaching, and that's part of the reason they're there. And then they have the skill and the talent to go with that. So, no, I know how hard these kids work, and I never critique.

[Dan Patrick]

No, the oddest place where you were recognized is where?

[Caller]

Oh, gosh, I don't know. Maybe Rome, Italy. You know, it's amazing. I retired 25 years ago. I think I get recognized more now than I did in 1999. But people are nice. It doesn't even faze me. You know, people are always nice. Everybody has their opinions. Who the best player was, who the best teams were. We all do. That's what makes sports great. We don't all. We don't have the right answer. It's your opinion. As simple as that.

[Dan Patrick]

But Michael Jordan thinks he's the greatest basketball player of all time.

[Caller]

Yeah, he was the greatest athlete, I think, of all time.

[Dan Patrick]

Do you think you're the greatest hockey player of all time?

[Caller]

No. No, not at all. I always said that Gordie Howe and Bobby Orr were the two greatest hockey players that ever lived. I made my life because of those two guys. They took the NHL to another level and gave me an opportunity. Now, I would never say that, and I mean that sincerely. I tell my kids that I say it publicly. I have too much respect for both those players that I would think that I was better than they were.

[Dan Patrick]

But if I said, I can wipe away everything you did in hockey, but you would have been a Hall of Fame baseball player for the Tigers, and.

[Caller]

I would have told you I was the greatest baseball player ever. I could brag about my baseball, but.

[Dan Patrick]

You told me years ago that you. That really was. That was a goal. Like, you loved the Detroit Tigers.

[Caller]

Oh, I really did. I grew up an Ernie Harwell fan. Mickey Lolich, one of the great days of my life. I watched Mickey Lolitz pitch when I was 13, and I wrote it in my book. We're playing in Detroit. One day, trainer came in and said, there's a guy out here who wants to sign his book. Can I bring him in? I said, sure. It was Mickey Lolitz, because I wrote the story in the book. And so I got a chance to meet him and get a picture taken with him. And then through those years, you know, Mark the Bird Fidrich came and, you know, and then when Spark Anderson went to Detroit and they won the World Series, So I. I grew up a huge Tigers fan. Now, I love the Blue Jays, but they weren't there until 76, so I'd been 15 years in baseball by the time the Jays were sort of founded.

[Dan Patrick]

Were you starstruck first time you met Jordan?

[Caller]

Yeah, I think everybody is. Like I said to me, the two greatest athletes ever were Michael Jordan, Muhammad Ali in. I got a chance to be friends with both of them. I got a chance to spend a lot of time with Muhammad Ali. I went to New York in 1978 when I signed the WHA, and I was with Gordie Howe and Bobby hall. And I was this kid, just starstruck, right? And we're in the Plaza Hotel. It was the first time I'd ever been to New York. And there I was, standing there. Muhammad Ali came over to shake Gordie Howe's hand, and I almost fell over. Oh, my God. And then five minutes later, Pat Boone came over to say hello to Gordie Howe. And I said, is there anybody. This guy doesn't know him. So he fascinated me from the very first time I ever met him.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah, but they have to be starstruck when they meet you, too.

[Caller]

Oh, I don't think so. I hope not, because I'm like you. I'm a normal guy.

[Dan Patrick]

Well, you are. You're so approachable, you know, And I liken you to kind of Joe Montana. If people see you, they don't realize that guy did what he did in his sport, like UC Montana. He looks like he's a kicker. You don't think that's one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time like you? You. You're disarming because you're very generous to people and very gracious.

[Caller]

Yeah, people are nice. And listen, I got everything in my life because of hockey, because of fans. But I remember our sons played together, and I used to love the fact that Joe was there because we go to the high school football games and nobody even cared that I was there. Everybody was bothering and getting pictures with Joe. He made my life in high school that much easier.

[Dan Patrick]

But that's. I mean, it's been a pretty amazing career. But like, any goals, that. What's left here for you?

[Caller]

Oh, I don't know. Right now, I'm proud to have five grand or five grandchildren and two more on the way and, you know, families for me now. And, you know, I did my hockey thing, and I loved every minute of it. Now I'm a fan. I enjoy being on tnt. They're wonderful people. And the People we work with. And Liam is unbelievable. He's our quarterback and you know, he does all the legwork and all the heavy lifting and I just got to sit there and talk hockey. How, how nice is that? You get to sit there and I don't have to worry about getting hit or run or knock over the head. I can just sit there and have fun.

[Dan Patrick]

But you're healthy.

[Caller]

Very healthy.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay.

[Caller]

Although like everyone else, you know, I had some pre cancerous things taken off my face in the last few weeks.

[Dan Patrick]

But, but no concussion stuff.

[Caller]

Like if you ask my wife, she would tell you forget things. I just told you an hour ago. You watched that back in those days, they told you to go home, have a beer, go to bed, have an aspirin. We'll come and skate it out of you tomorrow. You'll sweat it out.

[Dan Patrick]

Do you have any pictures of you fighting? Like frame photos of you fighting? Yeah, because it didn't happen very often, but I'm curious if you listen.

[Caller]

I was talking about my Sports Illustrated trophy. I got I one fight, really, in my career. Neil Broughton wasn't even his fault. I jumped him. The guy flies from New York and he's out there giving this presentation about how my sportsmanship. First shift in, I'm fighting Neil Broughton and I get to the bench and I'll never forget my message said to me, what were you doing? And I said, I don't know. But Dave Simicho says the good news is that's not even a fight, that's called cat fighting, so that doesn't count.

[Dan Patrick]

But did you throw a punch?

[Caller John]

I don't even remember.

[Caller]

I think I kind of, I don't know. We got to the penalty box and I remember I looked over at, I said, I'm sorry.

[Dan Patrick]

I apologize, Neil.

[Caller]

I think he was more shocked than the 17,000 people at the game and 19 teammates ahead on the bench going, what was that all about? One night we were playing in Chicago, Bob Murray kind of, he's always whacking me and hacking me and I got so mad I grabbed him and he threw me on the ice and he had his hand like this. And I'm looking over our bench and there was five guys with their legs over the boards and he's holding me, he goes, now don't move, I'm not going to hit you. I got back to the bench and I told all the guys, he said, nobody's allowed to touch him the rest of the night.

[Dan Patrick]

But, but did you give like Dave Seimenko an extra gift? He was your Protector. They had to have one on each team.

[Caller]

I'm guessing in those days, everybody had sort of. That guy, right?

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah.

[Caller]

You know, the one thing I did give him, I gave him my car that I won at the all star game in 1989 in Edmonton, I guess.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah.

[Caller]

I brought him downstairs after the game. I said, here, here's the keys. You can have the car. So he was great. He was a great teammate to all of us. And he was beloved by the fans, the fans in Edmonton. He was as big as anybody on that team. They loved him to death. And, you know, he was witty, he was fine. And he didn't really want to fight. He only did it if he had to. If he saw somebody abusing a teammate, he never went looking to hurt anybody. And that's. Listen, that's the other thing about our league, especially in those days. Those tough guys didn't want to go hurt guys. They didn't want to go after those guys. They fought the big guys, right? They fought each other. It was kind of a code.

[Dan Patrick]

All right, handicap the teams that are left in the playoffs. Give us like a tutorial on what do you think is going to play out.

[Caller]

Well, I like all four teams because I. I think all four teams are well coached and I think all four teams right now are getting goaltending. I think Ottinger and Bobrovsky have proven to be two of the elite goalies. Skinner last year got to the finals and had a good run. He's had two shutouts in a row, so he seems to be on a roll. Anderson in Carolina, I wasn't. He didn't have a bad game last night, but he didn't have a great game last night. The thing between Carolina and physical, I think Carolina is a little bit faster. And they go, go, go, go. Florida is smart and disciplined. This general manager has made some great deals. He's got to Chuck. He got Bennett traded for Seth Jones, Marchant, on and on. So it's tough to knock out the Stanley cup champions. Right. So I like Florida, but Roddy Brunemore and I were roommates at the Olympics in 1998, so, you know, my heart's with him also. And he's done a phenomenal job. Now everybody knows Edmonton, that, you know, that's where my life was made. And I always pull for them. My brother's the assistant gm. They have the two. Two of the best three players in the National Hockey League and dry saddle and McDavid will have questions. The best player in the game. They're going to have to contain him. Pete DeBoer has done a great job in Dallas. They made incredible trade getting Rantin. I think it changed their team. The team that Dallas is playing or Edmonton's playing this year in the semifinals. Dallas is a better team than they were last year and that series went six games. So this series I predict to go seven games.

[Dan Patrick]

My best to your wife and the family. Great to see you again and nice.

[Caller]

Seeing you and it's always a pleasure. I hope everything's going well for you and your family too.

[Dan Patrick]

Thank you bud. Good to talk to you again.

[Caller]

Take care you guys all take care.

[Caller John]

How about that shout out from the great one one.

[Dan Patrick]

Bye Fritzy. Yeah. Jealous. Super. Yeah. Wayne wasn't on the bus last night coming back from the Emmys.

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[Dan Patrick]

Why is a soap opera western like Yellowstone so wildly successful?

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[Dan Patrick]

So join me starting Tuesday, May 6th where we'll delve into stories of the.

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[Dan Patrick]

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[Caller]

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[Dan Patrick]

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