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Dan Patrick
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Wally Zerbiak
Game with your mom or grabbing a.
Dan Patrick
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Greg Sankey
Show on Fox Sports Radio.
Dan Patrick
He was the sixth overall pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves back in 1999. He's Wally Zerbiak, CBS Sports college basketball studio analyst. Also works for the New York Knicks. Good to talk to you again, Wally. Do you have your Miami of Ohio sweatshirt on? Is that okay? All right. You're repping. I like that.
Wally Zerbiak
Repp in Ohio, baby. I know you went to Dayton. I went to Miami. We were rivals back in the day. Dayton's got a good path. They just missed the tournament and Miami lost by two in their conference championship. So Travis Steele's doing a great job. I'm excited about where the program is.
Dan Patrick
If you didn't go to Miami, where were you going?
Wally Zerbiak
Oh, well, I wanted to go to St. John's but they didn't recruit me. They had Felipe Lopez going there, so they didn't really give me an opportunity. I was a little under recruited. Other schools I was looking at was Harvard, North Carolina State, Iowa, Siena, that was another one. I really wanted to go to Duke, but again, didn't recruit me. Really wanted to play for Rick Patino, didn't recruit me. Really wanted to play in the Big East. So I ended up at Miami, played for great coaches. Sean Miller was an assistant, Thad Motta was an assistant. Herb Senec, who's still coaching at Santa Clara, doing a great job, he was the head coach. So I went to kind of the cradle of coaches, which Miami is known for in football and also in college basketball. All those guys are thriving. So I got some great coaching for four years.
Dan Patrick
But would you have stayed there in the transfer portal nil era?
Wally Zerbiak
No, absolutely not.
Greg Sankey
I just, I loved it.
Wally Zerbiak
It's an amazing school. I got my degree. I have great friends. It's just an awesome campus, awesome place. But in today's landscape, the way players from mid majors are getting kind of taken away from small teams and going to the big schools, you look at a team like Florida, you know Walter Clayton Jr. From Iona, Elijah Martin from FAU, Will Richard transferred from a mid major. A lot of those top tier teams and we heard Bruce Pearl even said it, he said he loves to get transfers that come from mid majors that haven't had the glorious meals. Pregame meals have been driving the games back and forth on buses, which we used to do at Miami of Ohio in the Mid American Conference. They really appreciate coming to those big schools. From mid majors. They work hard, they're grinders. A lot of the top players in this tournament left are transfers from mid major schools.
Dan Patrick
John Caliperi said Yesterday in Pat McAfee show, at least I think it was yesterday, but he was talking about how you gotta wait for the transfer portal before you can get a high school player. But I'm guessing these coaches have contact with these high school players and you kind of have a sense of who on your team is going to be transferring or put their name in the portal. So I, is it that big of a deal that we have the transfer portal window open right now?
Wally Zerbiak
I, you know, I think it could wait a little bit longer. I think it puts a lot on coaches that are still coaching plate because they need to focus on trying to win a national championship and win games. And you can't be recruiting guys watching film on guys in the transfer portal on the side because you don't know whether those guys are going to pull the trigger and go to school and take a sure thing. As far as the scholarship and opportunity and nil opportunity. It's got to be crazy. Listen, the coaches have been doing it for years. Like for example, Herb Sendak, God bless him, we had a great freshman year. He ended up going on to NC State. You know, we hired Charlie Coles and my career kind of exploded. So it worked out great for me. But coaches leave when they have good seasons to take better opportunities. Now players have the opportunity to do the exact same thing. I think it's better for the game of basketball. I think if it's elevated the play of the players and of the teams because iron sharpens iron and now the best players, they can go to the best teams and play for the best coaches. And I think that's why we see eight teams left from the SEC in the Sweet 16.
Dan Patrick
Okay, but what kind of tweaks are you going to make if I said, all right, you're going to run college basketball? What's the one thing you want to change?
Wally Zerbiak
The one thing is to make sure there's a lot of promises out there as far as transfers and nil money and stuff like that that don't get delivered. If there's any way that it can be a lot more, it's kind of a wild wild west and it's like a promise that might never come to fruition. If there can be a way to just guarantee stuff and happening, you know, maybe a contract, something like that, a two year deal where coaches know who's going to be playing for them for at least two years and not just one, and they can just transfer after one, something like that. Maybe giving a guy one transfer in their four years without sitting out. Then if they want to transfer again, they have to sit out a year. Goes back to the old rules back when I played, where if you transferred, you need to just sit out a year and pay your dues kind of to in order to play for a new coach on a new team and a new campus. So I think those are a couple ideas that are being thrown around. But overall the quality of the game is very good. I love seeing high level basketball and I like watching the best basketball players in college, in the amateur level. And this year we've gotten to that point where the best players are playing on the best teams for the best coaches.
Dan Patrick
Talking to Wally Zerbiak CBS Sports College Basketball analyst so you faced Michael Jordan at the end of his career with the wizards. You had LeBron early in LeBron's career, in Kobe kind of middle of his career.
Wally Zerbiak
I had Kobe the whole entire time kicking my butt. They knocked us out of the playoffs. It felt like every year with Kobe and Shaq. When I was with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Kevin Garnett, Sprewell and Cassell, that team was just dominant. So Kobe was outstanding.
Dan Patrick
Okay, most frustrating out of that three to cover.
Wally Zerbiak
Well, I didn't play against Jordan in his prime. The hardest guy for me to cover, I've always said this was Paul Pierce. I played against him for years. He was such a smart basketball player. For me, being 6, 7, 6, 8, Paul Pierce had, had had the height that could match up with me, and I just had a lot of problems guarding him. You know, he, he changed speeds. He was so smart. He was one of the most underrated superstars I think, in my generation. The opportunity to play with him in Boston also for a year and a half, got to know him as a guy. But he was a handful for me. Obviously Kobe was because he was so quick, so fast. But the thing I could kind of, I could, I could post up Kobe a little bit and you know, because I had a little bit of a size and strength advantage so I could get some buckets on him. I couldn't stop him though, that's for sure.
Dan Patrick
On the other end was Jordan still talking trash back then at the end.
Wally Zerbiak
Of his career, Jordan talked the most trash to me on the golf course. I played with golf with Michael a couple times and he's a lot of fun to play golf with. He's a Lot of fun to play against in basketball, too, but he talks a lot of trash on the golf course. He's. He's a big time competitor and he talked a little bit of trash. But when he was with the Wizards and I was with the Timberwolves, in the three years that I played against him, we won. We were six and out against the Wizards, back and forth, home and away. We beat him every single time. So I caught him at the end of his career, but nothing but respect for him. He's my goat. With all Due respect to LeBron, my teammate, I got LeBron number two on the greatest of all time list. Michael Jordan. What he accomplished, when he needed to win a game, he won it. When he needed to make the big shot, he made it. And the way he dominated basketball on both ends of the floor for his career, he's my greatest of all time.
Dan Patrick
Okay, but is there something LeBron could accomplish that would change that list?
Wally Zerbiak
You know, what he's doing. The longevity, it's incredible. It really is. It's just the tightness of Jordan's career, making it to six finals and winning all six. Obviously had great teammates and a great coach, but he dominated his era of basketball like nobody else did. You know, the longevity of LeBron, if you want to enter a different argument, the fact that he's still doing it at 40 years old is absolutely incredible. I think they're a legitimate title contender this year, so it's amazing. But the fact that Michael Jordan did it in a, in a small span of time and just dominated every Finals, I just don't think there's anything LeBron can do to surpass that. That's just 50, 000 points plus amazing accomplishment. And I got him number two, right behind Michael Jordan.
Dan Patrick
Looking at the games tonight, BYU, Alabama, Maryland, Florida, Arizona, Duke, Arkansas, Texas Tech. Where's the surprise slash upset in that group?
Wally Zerbiak
Byu. Alabama is must see tv. That's the game to watch. This BYU team coached under Kevin Young, an NBA mind that came from the Phoenix Suns. Spreads the floor out, shoots a lot of threes. They get up and down the floor. They have outstanding big rebounders down low. So Alabama is going to have to bring their hard hat and they're going to have to rebound. This game is going to be first one to 100. I'm really excited for this game. It's like it's being played in Newark, out there in New Jersey. This is going to be a great one. As far as upsets, I think Maryland might be able to pull an upset I mean, Maryland, they have a great Crab five. They announced they have an outstanding starting five. They're rested after the first weekend. Florida looked a little bit vulnerable against UConn. I love Walter Clayton Jr. He shot him out of that game making some big shots. And if UConn could have hit some open threes, which Danny Hurley drummed up for his guys, they could have won that game. They just missed too many open shots. Caravan and McNeely, I think that could be an upset. Special look out for the Maryland Terps.
Dan Patrick
If you were Cooper Flag, give me a reason why you would go back to Duke.
Wally Zerbiak
Because it's a lot of fun to play in college basketball on campus. There's nothing like it. The thing is, there's a lot of risk if he does go back. You know, he's the surefire number one. He's ready for the NBA. What you get when you go to the NBA, the coaching, the professionalism off the court, the physical therapists, the trainers, the strength coaches. It is an all inclusive program to maximize your basketball abilities. Not saying that Duke is not the same, because Duke is at one of the highest levels in college. BYU is doing the same thing with Kevin Young coaching. They're trying to become basically a G League team, an NBA development team in college to get guys ready to play at the next level. But Cooper Flag just has so much to risk if he doesn't come out. He's going to be the number one pick in the draft. The number one pick in the draft makes a lot of money guaranteed. So we'll see. I know he's thrown out the idea. I think it would be great for college if he came back. I would love it because I love watching him in a Duke uniform. But at the same time, it's a very risky move if he does.
Dan Patrick
Yeah, but the Wizards could be there. I mean, it's. It's hard to say, hey, you know, they won the lottery and I'm the prize. I get to go to Washington. If you were going to go to Washington right now or you had a chance to stay at Duke for one more year, what would you do?
Wally Zerbiak
I'll tell you, that's a great point, you know, but there. But what if the flip side is, what if something happens in his, you know, at Duke and he hurts himself? You know, just something funky happens. That's a huge risk to take, you know, and you never know with that, with how the draft is going to pan out. You know, we've seen teams jump up in the draft and you have to trust that. You know, most organizations in the NBA, they're figuring out once they get talent, they're figuring out how to maximize that talent and how to be pretty relevant. Washington's just been pretty irrelevant for a pretty long time. And I understand where you're coming from, but it's just, I think, too big a risk for a guy like Cooper to take.
Dan Patrick
Good to catch up with you again, Wally. Thanks for joining us.
Wally Zerbiak
Always fun. Enjoy the sweet 16. It's going to be a lot of fun the rest of the way. All the way to San Antonio. Crowning a champ.
Dan Patrick
That's Wally Zerbiak, CBS Sports college basketball analyst, former star at Miami of Ohio. Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in the nation. Catch all of our shows@foxsportsradio.com and within the iHeartRadio app. Search FSR to listen live. Hey, it's Steve Covino and I'm Rich Davis and together we're Cavino and Rich on FOX Sports Radio.
Tim Kirchen
You can catch us weekdays from 5.
Dan Patrick
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?
Tim Kirchen
We talk about everything, life, sports, relationships.
Dan Patrick
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.
Wally Zerbiak
To have the time to discuss.
Dan Patrick
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 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 Ko Vino and.
Tim Kirchen
Rich wherever you get your podcast.
Dan Patrick
And of course, on social media, that's Cavino and Rich. Tires matter. They're the only part of your vehicle that touches the road and they're responsible for everything, acceleration, braking, steering, handling, tread confidently with new tires from Tire Rack. Whether you know exactly what you want or you're looking for expert recommendations, Tire Rack has everything you need. You get started. They are shipped fast and free. Free road hazard protection, convenient installation options, including mobile tire installation. They bring the tires to your home or office and install them on site. And of course the best selection of the full lineup of Goodyear tires. And they don't just sell tires, they test them on the road. On the test track. Learn how the tires you want tackle evasive maneuvers, drive and stop in the rain, or just handle your everyday commute. They think of everything@ Tire Rack.com Dan See their Goodyear test results, tire ratings and consumer reviews, and be sure to check out the current special offers. That's TireRack.com Dan the way tire buying should be in the NFL, there's no margin for error. One mistake can change the outcome of a game. Science proves quality sleep can help boost reaction time, recovery time, overall athletic performance. As the official Sleep and Wellness partner of the National Football League, Sleep Number's mission is to provide players with data and insights to optimize their sleep for the ultimate competitive edge. And did you know 80% of NFL players have a Sleep Number Smart bet? I've been partnering with sleep number since 2008. My sleep number setting is 75, and sleep plays such an important role in recovery. And we're all unique in what we need from our beds. Why choose a Sleep Number Smart bed so you can choose your ideal comfort on either side. It's the only bed that lets you make each side firmer or softer whenever you like your Sleep Number setting. Sleep Number Smart beds start at $999. Price is higher in Alaska and Hawaii. Exclusively at a Sleep Number store near you. Sleep Number Official Sleep and Wellness partner of the NFL see store or sleepnumber.com Patrick for details. The average time to hire for most organizations? 30 to 45 days. Are you tired of a costly, lengthy hiring process? We'll simplify and speed up the recruitment by using the experts at Express Employment Professionals. Reduce the time to hire, cut down on multiple interviews and lower your recruitment cost. Whether you're looking for contract workers or a new team member, the streamlined job posting they are able to help you with that candidate searching. Also, the hiring process is more efficient than hiring on your own. Let express pros do everything for you, and if you haven't used a staffing company before, this is the year to do things differently. Businesses are navigating a hiring landscape that's never been more expensive or regulated. Draft the experts and get the next pro for your team. Start@expresspros.com to find the location nearest you. For all types of jobs and a variety of reasons, choosing Express Employment Professionals is the move to make more than 860 locally owned offices. You'll get the hiring support you need@expresspros.com Expresspros.com Cars today are built to last, but how are they going to look? That's up to you. That's where Mako comes in. They specialize in cosmetic repairs, or as they like to call it, cosmolision. Affordable paint jobs. Fixing those annoying dents and dings. Mako makes it really easy to refresh your ride. Maybe your car's paint is fading or that scratch from the grocery store parking lot still bugs you. Whatever Mako has you covered the best part? Free estimates. You stop into your local Mako and find out just how simple it is to protect your ride, your investment. Keep your car looking sharp for years to come. Proud to be trusted partners for drivers across the country, helping get vehicles back on the road and looking their best. This year, they're hitting the road with a brand new van that showcases the many ohs that your vehicle might experience over its lifetime. Scratches, dents, dings, faded paint. So we have the Mako van on the road at the Super Bowl. Also drafts at the draft at Green Bay. This road trip is taking Mako to New Orleans for the big game and then from there, drafts at the draft in Green Bay. Also Iowa for this summer. You can follow Mako's journey. Check out the van@danpatrick.com Mako proudly bringing new life to vehicles and helping drivers get back on the road. Visit your local Mako for a free estimate today. Oh, better get Mako.
Wally Zerbiak
There's a type of soil in Mississippi called Yazoo Clay. It's thick, burnt orange, and it's got a reputation.
Dan Patrick
It's terrible, terrible dirt.
Wally Zerbiak
Yazoo clay eats everything, so things that get buried there tend to stay buried until they're not. In 2012, construction crews at Mississippi's biggest hospital made a shocking discovery.
Greg Sankey
7,000 bodies out there or more, all.
Dan Patrick
Former patients of the old state asylum.
Wally Zerbiak
And nobody knew they were there. It was my family's mystery. But in this corner of the south.
Dan Patrick
It'S not just the soil that keeps secrets. Nobody talks about it. Nobody has any information.
Wally Zerbiak
When you peel back the layers of Mississippi's Yazoo Clay, nothing's ever as simple as you think.
Greg Sankey
The story is much more complicated and nuanced than that.
Wally Zerbiak
I'm Larison Campbell. Listen to Under Yazu Clay on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.
Dan Patrick
He's the SEC commissioner. He's Greg Sankey back on the show. Commissioner, thanks for joining us. When did the SEC first start to focus its resources, maybe on making the Conference, a basketball powerhouse. Was there, you know, a moment where you said, why don't we just take the headlines in other months?
Greg Sankey
Well, yeah, I can speak to when it became really raw for me. And it was March of 2016. That was the end of my first basketball season as the SEC's commissioner, and we had three teams selected to the NCAA Tournament on the men's side. Now, Dan, that was the fourth time that had happened in the prior 10 years. So it's not like we had a great trend going, but when you're in the commissioner's chair, that moment was pretty raw. And we had to do some things differently from. From our end in the conference office.
Dan Patrick
Okay, but what. What was the plan that you put in place?
Greg Sankey
Yeah, a couple of things. One, we had had some consulting relationships where we really weren't talking about the right things. You remember the old rpi, which is now the net? We would spend an inordinate amount of time trying to figure out how to game the RPI and scheduling. We weren't talking about hiring the right people. We weren't talking about facilities. We weren't talking about recruiting. The day after that Selection Sunday, I transitioned away from one advisor, and I brought Mike Trangisi in the next day. And what Mike did is help us talk about the right things. The other bonus with Trangisi and I grew up outside Syracuse, New York, so watch the Big east form was like when Mike said you're good at basketball to the media, you were automatically good at basketball. But one of the things he did was he talked to our ads as they were going through the hiring of coaches and not tell them who to hire, but talk to them about perhaps who not to hire, who may not be ready for the stage that we have. Those kind of conversations became much more relevant. We had some other tweaks we needed to make, but that was a big part of the conversation.
Dan Patrick
Did you take the same approach to football at any point where you guys have been successful winning titles, but now with more teams in the playoffs? And is there any a different shift in philosophy?
Greg Sankey
You know, the reality of this job? And a long time ago, I was Southland Conference commissioner. I was, like, way off Broadway. You never called me for an interview, so I never had the opportunity. I made a decision that every day in that role, you had to think about football one way or another. And I think the reality of the Southeastern Conference is football is dominant on a daily basis. We have 21 other sports, but we also have to recognize the conversation allocation, the time allocation. So football's a bit more natural. Do we talk about issues? Absolutely. We're talking about scheduling in the conference. We talk about non conference scheduling. We talk about CFP impacts.
Dan Patrick
That's daily.
Greg Sankey
We had to be a little bit more intentional on the basketball front 10 years ago.
Dan Patrick
Are you in favor of more teams qualifying for March Madness?
Greg Sankey
Yeah, I'm in favor of fully exploring that. I think there's advantages to doing so given there's. There's more Division one members right now. There's one less conference. But what we're doing is excluding from participation some of the top 50 teams. And I think when you look last year at North Carolina State, 11 seed makes it to the Final Four. You've had two or three teams play in Dayton that have made it to the Final Four or made it into the elite eight and sweet 16. What that tells me is there's a competitive balance at the high end and we have to think about providing access. Now. I wouldn't just run to expand for the sake of expansion. I've never put a number on it. I think, and I've been clear that it needs to be fully explored and I'm pleased that the NCAA leadership and the, the committees involved are doing so.
Dan Patrick
Talking to Greg Sankey, SEC commissioner more concerned about transfer portal and nil with college football or college basketball, I think both are relevant.
Greg Sankey
You know, I watch the rhetoric right now, Dan, and I mean, we forget that we just seen coaches transfer, right? We've seen head coaches leave a program last week to go to another program. I've had it in my league. I've had it in my league a year ago where a coach leaves program A and the SEC to go to program B. That's reality. The commentary about young people doing the same thing needs to be in the context of the adults have that advantage now. There needs to be an orderly process. So when you watch coaches move, it's a pretty tight time frame. There are anomalies to that, and I think we need to tighten up the timeframe. Don't forget, like three or four years ago, the transfer portal was open 365 days a year. It's been narrowed, it's been moved back a week. Plenty of opining that we shouldn't have the transfer portal open during the NCAA tournament, I'll give you that. But I also know there's a lot of backroom conversations that take place. And at least right now, with the portal open, everything's on the table. If somebody's looking to leave, they go in the portal and it's known and people can deal with that. It makes it busy for 16 teams and I'm empathetic there. But we ought to just think contextually about what happens big picture in the game. The nil front we've got. We're going to see in a week and a half the outcome of a lawsuit settlement and whether that provides meaningful oversight of third party name, image and likeness activity. It can be a much healthier environment.
Dan Patrick
What if we cap the number of transfer portal players that you can bring in? Or like I'm just trying to. Everybody, you know says we have a problem. I just haven't heard solutions here. How can we make this better for all involved?
Greg Sankey
Yeah, we've, we've talked about solutions. So I think some of you have to go back. There used to be an NCAA limit on the number of entering team members in a year or over two years. The basketball community really ended up railing against that. Miles Brand was the president when that came in. We go right back to that and create some continuity. I do think you have to remember that we have had attorneys general in states file lawsuits over transfer policies, even common sense transfer policies. We also have to remember the NCAA has a habit of being asked for waivers and granting waivers, which I think magnifies the problem. So if we, if we came to a point where he said, hey, the rules are the rules, here's the time frame. You can engage in certain behavior and there are no waivers and there are no lawsuits out of those waivers, that would be idyllic for us compared to where we are now.
Dan Patrick
12 teams in the college football playoffs. When do we go to 14?
Greg Sankey
We'll see. Not, not this season. It's a topic of conversation. My view is it took us a heck of a long time to just get to 12. I think 12 was a success by all accounts. You saw continuing interest through the playoff. We actually took a deeper dive as a CFD management committee. So that's like gobbledygook for the commissioners and the Notre Dame ad. Looking at an analysis of viewership throughout the playoff, a lot of positive stories. You would hear this like year over year comparison of a particular game being down that didn't tell the full story. So I think it was the right time to expand. I think it worked well. I think we learned a lot. We've got some work to do before the 25 season to make some adjustments. I think the bracketing where we had these seeds that got moved into the top four and people lost home games, I'd like to see that Change, I think that's immediate. I do think there's some relevance to thinking about expanding the number whether it stays at 12 or 14. I think even 16 is a relevant conversation in advance of the 26 season. That doesn't mean we just go there. But like that NCAA Tournament expansion, we should be looking at what are the impacts and what are the opportunities.
Dan Patrick
Give me an alternative to the selection committees.
Greg Sankey
Well, we had the old BCS computer anchoring, remember those days? And everybody said, you know, how can we have computers making these decisions? We need people. And what we have now is how can we let people make these decisions? We need computers. So it's the full on pendulum swing. Maybe there's something in the middle where the combination of a committee and better informed data help support decisions. What I do think is really important from a Southeastern Conference perspective is the number on the left hand side of wins and losses the most important or the right hand side and what happened last year and maybe the last couple of years causes, at least among my athletics directors, the question of we need to lose fewer games. That creates thinking about non conference scheduling. That kind of dumbs it down. I don't think that's good for the game. I don't think Nebraska canceling the Tennessee series is good for college football. And the citation was that members of the CFP selection committee said well it won't hurt you that much for dropping the game. I think that's problematic. I tend to think we should play nine conference games. But to get there we have to have more clarity on the CFP selection process. So in answer to your direct question, there's, there's likely a balance that can be struck between the human thought process and the, the analytics. We, we know that people didn't like just analytics and now they're trending towards we just don't like humanity as much as we thought we did. So where's the middle ground? Is is another one of those work?
Dan Patrick
Do you be in favor of a college football schedulings? Are.
Greg Sankey
Some of these outside ideas have said that I'd welcome a conference commissioner having more authority over just deciding conference and non conference schedules. I don't think the culture of college football lends itself to czars. I probably said to you like the Russian czar thing didn't work out very well over time and remember like the 80s drug czar and we still have problems. So I don't think just identifying that one mechanism solves the problems. I'd welcome if people said hey you go set my conference schedule, pick the number of games in this league and our non conference opponents. I'd pursue that in a different way, but that's not something that resonates within a room of athletics directors and head football coaches quite the same way. It does on a, on a, on a, on a zoom with you.
Dan Patrick
One other item, and this is off topic with football and basketball, but it does relate to it. Can we, can you see where we separate college football, college basketball and then you have these other sports that we don't want to lose. They're not revenue producing but softball and lacrosse and soccer and, and we make them regional. So they're not flying, you know, Cal and Stanford aren't flying cross country for wrestling or volleyball, that we make this regional. So you know, your budget is not at stake here and you can still keep these smaller, you know, sports, Olympic sports maybe.
Greg Sankey
I don't know what kind of awards you give for genius decision making, but I think you just gave me a gold star because we are a regional conference. And for example last week.
Dan Patrick
Well, you guys are. Yeah, yeah. But college, college sports is not.
Greg Sankey
Well, that's because others made different decisions and they have to, to live with those decisions.
Dan Patrick
Yeah, but you're running college sports to me. So that's why I'm asking, you know that. That's, I'm making you the college football not czar. You're, you're running college sports. Why don't we let these other sports, smaller sports, non revenue producing, stay regional while football and basketball, if you want them going cross country, great again, I'm.
Greg Sankey
Gonna, I'm gonna hold the Southeastern Conference up as the bright shining example of decision making. And here's a why I actually think. I'm not going to speak to everybody else. They made their decisions for different reasons. What I made those decisions. I think you can look at what we've done and say, no, they wouldn't have done the same thing. We had a packed stadium for LSU at Texas last week in baseball. Packed. We had a packed stadium for Auburn at Texas and softball. I think those build on each other. I think those build on each other. So your question kind of the foundation was take football and basketball. I think if you're going to do something in basketball, you're doing it for men's and women's basketball. We have to acknowledge that. And I'm going to have baseball programs, first round draft picks in baseball who say, wait a second, I play in front of more people for conference baseball games than my basketball team plays in front of. And I'm going to sign an eight figure contract with a signing bonus. That's enormous, right? Why don't I deserve the same treatment as my basketball colleagues, men or women? I think there are distinctions that can be made, but I think some of that has to play out in decision making. So for the Southeastern Conference, I think what we do in football has great meaning in what we do in basketball and you saw it with our environments in basketball this past year. I think what we do in football and basketball plays out in baseball and softball in meaningful ways. I think people want to be in those environments. If you want to spend your time preparing, learning and competing not on airplanes, you're going to come and challenge yourself here at the highest level. That's my recruiting pitch. Others may have to make different decisions because I think you've seen with these coast to coast conferences, people opine about, hey, maybe we need a central hub for competition so we're not flying all over the place. I think they're probably all learning from this first year as they go. But I really like the way we've configured ourselves because it meets the exact question that you've asked me on a sport by sport basis.
Dan Patrick
He's the former great commissioner from the Southland Conference. He's Greg Sankey. Great to talk to you again. Enjoy the rest of the tournament. Good to do visit with you again.
Greg Sankey
I certainly hope I do.
Dan Patrick
Thank you, Greg. Be sure to catch the live edition of the Dan Patrick show, weekdays at 9am Eastern, 6am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the iHeartRadio Apple tires matter. They're the only part of your vehicle that touches the road and they're responsible for everything acceleration, braking, steering, handling, Tread confidently with new tires from Tire Rack Whether you know exactly what you want or you're looking for expert recommendations, Tire Rack has everything you need. You get started. They are shipped fast and free. Free road hazard protection, convenient installation options, including mobile tire installation. They bring the tires to your home or office and install them on site. And of course, the best selection of the full lineup of Goodyear tires. And they don't just sell tires, they test them on the road on the test track. Learn how the tires you want tackle evasive maneuvers, drive and stop in the rain or just handle your everyday commute. They think of everything@ Tire Rack.com Dan See their Goodyear test results, tire ratings and consumer reviews and be sure to check out the current special offers. That's TireRack.com Dan the way tire buying should be in the NFL, there's no margin for error one mistake can change the outcome of a game. Science proves quality sleep can help boost reaction time, recovery time, overall athletic performance. As the official Sleep and Wellness Partner of the National Football League, Sleep Number's mission is to provide players with data and insights to optimize their sleep for the ultimate competitive edge. And did you know 80% of NFL players have a Sleep Number Smart bet? I've been partnering with sleep number since 2008. My sleep number setting is 75 and sleep plays such an important role in recovery. And we're all unique in what we need from our beds. Why choose a Sleep Number Smart Bed so you can choose your ideal comfort on either side. It's the only bed that lets you make each side firmer or softer whenever you like your Sleep Number setting. Sleep Number Smart beds start at $999. Price is higher in Alaska and Hawaii. Exclusively at a Sleep Number store near you. Sleep Number Official Sleep and Wellness partner of the NFL. See store or sleepnumber.com Patrick for details. The average time to hire for most organizations? 30 to 45 days. Are you tired of a costly, lengthy hiring process? We'll simplify and speed up the recruitment by using the experts at Express Employment Professionals. Reduce the time to hire, cut down on multiple interviews and lower your recruitment cost. Whether you're looking for contract workers or a new team member, the streamlined job posting they are able to help you with that candidate searching. Also, the hiring process is more efficient than hiring on your own. Let Express pros do everything for you, and if you haven't used a staffing company before, this is the year to do things differently. Businesses are navigating a hiring landscape that's never been more expensive or regulated. Draft the experts and get the next pro for your team. Start@ExpressPros.com to find the location nearest you. For all types of jobs and a variety of reasons, choosing Express Employment Professionals is the move to make more than 860 locally owned offices. You'll get the hiring support you need@expresspros.com Expresspros.com Cars today are built to last. But how are they going to look? That's up to you. That's where Mako comes in. They specialize in cosmetic repairs or, as they like to call it, cosmolision affordable paint jobs. Fixing those annoying dents and dings. Mako makes it really easy to refresh your ride. Maybe your car's paint is fading or that scratch from the grocery store parking lot still bugs you. Whatever Mako has you covered the best part Free estimates you Stop into your local Mako and find out just how simple it is to protect your ride, your investment. Keep your car looking sharp for years to come. Proud to be trusted partners for drivers across the country, helping get vehicles back on the road and looking their best. This year, they're hitting the road with a brand new van that showcases the many ohs that your vehicle might experience over its lifetime. Scratches, dents, dings, faded paint. So we have the Mako van on the road at the Super Bowl. Also drafts at the draft at Green Bay. This road trip is taking Mako to New Orleans for the big game and then from there, the drafts at the draft in Green Bay. Also Iowa for this summer. You can follow Mako's journey. Check out the van@danpatrick.com Mako proudly bringing new life to vehicles and helping drivers get back on the road. Visit your local Mako for a free estimate today. Oh, better get Mako.
Wally Zerbiak
There's a type of soil in Mississippi called Yazoo clay. It's thick, burnt orange, and it's got a reputation.
Dan Patrick
It's terrible, terrible dirt.
Wally Zerbiak
Yazoo clay eats everything, so things that get buried there tend to stay buried until they're not. In 2012, construction crews at Mississippi's biggest hospital made a shocking discovery.
Greg Sankey
7,000 bodies out there or more, all.
Dan Patrick
Former patients of the old state asylum.
Wally Zerbiak
And nobody knew they were there. It was my family's mystery. But in this corner of the south.
Dan Patrick
It'S not just the soil that keeps secrets. Nobody talks about it. Nobody has any information.
Wally Zerbiak
When you peel back the layers of.
Dan Patrick
Mississippi's Yazoo clay, nothing's ever as simple as you think.
Greg Sankey
The story is much more complicated and nuanced than that.
Wally Zerbiak
I'm Larison Campbell. Listen to Under Yazoo Clay on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.
Dan Patrick
Tim Kirchen of the Mothership and a Hall of Famer, he joins us. Opening day double dip with the Mothership, brewers, Yankees at 3 Eastern, Tigers and the Dodgers 7 Eastern. Joe Buck will be on the call for the game in New York, and you can catch Timmy on Baseball Tonight. Following the brewers and the Yankees. Let me hit you with a poll question. Are the Dodgers good for baseball?
Tim Kirchen
Yeah, I think they are, Dan. Now, the way they do business, as we know, is completely legal, and if everyone else had the same advantages of them, they would do the same thing. I think they're great for baseball because wherever they go, they're going to draw a lot of people. I think every great drama needs a hero, and A villain. And to some people, the Dodgers are the villain. There's also a chance they will be so good this year that they potentially could make history in some kind. And of course be the first team since the potentially Yankees 98 through 2000 to win back to back World Series. So look, I understand this isn't fair to smaller market teams that they can defer all of this money and I think it needs to be changed. And it will be changed, I believe. But to say that they're terrible for baseball, I'm sorry, I'm just not buying it, Dan. Those two games in Japan were really cool and the Japanese players are so good. And that rookie Sasaki is going to pitch in the big leagues this year. I think it's good for baseball. I do.
Dan Patrick
Was it good for baseball to have opening day in Japan? And the reason why I bring this up is couldn't you play two spring training games over there and accomplish the same thing? Did it have to matter to the Japanese baseball fan?
Tim Kirchen
Look, Dan, I'm older than you, okay? I'm 68 and I enjoyed a parade in Cincinnati and that was the first game to lead to the season. Still do a parade in Cincinnati, but I believe they should all start on the same day. We should start in this country. However, I'm also a realist. This is all about money, Dan. We're growing the game. Those games in Japan were tremendous. And the more and more growth that baseball can get, the better it is. If you're asking me what would I like, I would like every team to open the same time on April 1st in this country. But am I going to argue with what we saw and the Ohtani show and the Sasaki Show? No, I'm not arguing how many teams.
Dan Patrick
Can win the World Series, Dan.
Tim Kirchen
I'm again in the big minority here. The beauty of this sport is its unpredictable nature. I think the Dodgers are the best team and I think there are six other teams in the Nash. Five other teams in the National League, maybe six that have a chance to win the World Series is if of course, everything goes right. I'm not so sure about the American League. I don't see a great team in the American League, although the Rangers can just mash when everybody is healthy. But the beauty of the sport, Dan, is that there are so many teams in the American League that are pretty good and not great. It's going to be a free for all. And there are so many really good teams in the National League that's going to be an equal free for all. To see who maybe gets to play, say, the Dodgers in the nlcs.
Dan Patrick
Okay, let's run down the teams. You got the Phillies and the Braves. Are you. You're including the Mets in there?
Tim Kirchen
Yes. Now the Mets have to get their starting pitching healthy. Sean Maniah's got to be as good as he was down the stretch. So those are three teams I think could win it from the East.
Dan Patrick
Who else?
Tim Kirchen
All right. The brewers are a pain in the neck to play Dan. They catch it, they're hungry, they're young, they're aggressive, they steal more bases than almost anyone. They are a dangerous team. So I'm going to put them in there. And then in the National League, of course, you have the Dodgers, you have the Diamondbacks, who are vastly underrated, especially with the pitching they have now. And I know the Padres aren't spending much money right now, but they're going to be a nightmare also if everything works there. So I think you could find six, seven teams that could win the World Series from the National League.
Dan Patrick
How much does Ohtani pitch this season?
Tim Kirchen
I thought he would be ready sooner than this. I was told in spring training he might be ready on May 1st. We don't need him until then because of all the off days. In April, they could go to a six man rotation. I'm not sure when he's going to pitch, but I promise you, when he does pitch, he's going to be really good. Let's say it's. Let's say it's mid. Let's say it's the All Star break. When he gets back, he's going to be really good. Because as you know, Dan, he is a machine in getting his body and everything else ready to play in the big leagues and be like no one we've ever seen.
Dan Patrick
But because of that, I don't know how he doesn't factor into the MVP every year if he's still able to pitch and hit. He's like Travis Hunter at Colorado. He's a two way player that nobody is like that. So he has a decided advantage. It feels like every single season going in, you know, for the mvp.
Tim Kirchen
He does, Dan, and I'm sorry, I don't like it that way. When I first started voting for these things in 1980, it depended on whether your team won or not. Chipper Jones won in 1999 because he carried his team the last two months into the playoffs. I refuse to believe that we're just going to give it to Ohtani before the season starts, even though he's the Best player in the game, period. But let's say Juan Soto hits.370 and hits 40 homers and carries the Mets into the playoffs. You're telling me that's not an MVP season and it's going to get aced out just because the most remarkable player we've ever seen is really good again? I'm sorry, I can't look at it that way. I want to watch the season play out.
Dan Patrick
Give me the next player to make 600, $700 million.
Tim Kirchen
I'm not sure anyone's going there anytime soon, but I think Gunner Henderson of the Orioles has a chance to get somewhere near there because he's so young, he's so good. He plays a premium defensive position, shortstop, exceptionally well. Louis Gonzalez, remember him from the Diamondbacks? He met Gunnar Henderson. I was standing right next to him last year, and he shook Gunnar Henderson's hand at the. At the batting cage. First time he'd ever met him. Gunner walks away and Louie looks at me and goes, I think that's the biggest shortstop I've ever seen. And I think he's got the biggest hands of any shortstop I've ever seen. That's what we're dealing with here. And Dan, great high school basketball player, tremendous athlete. He's going to figure everything out. And an absolute dirt dog when it comes to playing the game and playing it properly. He would be next on my list.
Dan Patrick
Can we do anything about those elbow things that these guys wear when they go to the plate?
Tim Kirchen
I think it's a little too late for that, Dan. We. What we really care about is protecting our players and making sure they don't get hurt. Dan, we have healthy scratches now. I got three hits last night, but he ran an awful lot last night. So one of the people are saying he might be a little tired. We're going to give him the day off. So as long as we're trying to keep our players healthy, I think they're going to allow gear and armor and stuff like that. And yet the irony is, or the paradox is the more we protect them, the more it seems they get hurt. It's a little confusing to me, and.
Dan Patrick
I rail on this and I have for a while, and then nothing can be done about it, I don't think. But the White Sox had six pitchers go down in spring training and they all need Tommy John surgery. And, you know, this is. It's concerning that. You know, maybe, maybe it's analytics that got us to this point here, but if you're the commissioner of baseball and you're watching. I mean it's, it's not a question of if, it's when this happens. And it's a health issue for Major League Baseball. So what do you do about it?
Tim Kirchen
Well, Dan, you have to go all the way back to Little League and I know it sounds corny, you gotta stop the 1012 year old from throwing off a mound 12 months out of the year. That's how guys are getting hurt. Dan, you know when you played baseball as a kid, November 15th came around and whatever you were doing at that time, you picked up a basketball and that's what we should be doing more often. When you play this game, which is so diabolically difficult to play, and you're throwing off a mound 12 months out of the year, no wonder you're going to get hurt. Plus the industry has demanded that our pitchers throw as hard as they can on every pitch. And when they don't throw a heater, they want them to spin a slider or a curveball at the highest RPM ever. And we wonder why they're getting hurt. The reason you were a good high school pitcher is you played other sports that made you a better pitcher when March came around because you just got back from the basketball season. I am really worried that we are specializing with our young kids. We have to go back to Little league and make those changes. Otherwise we're going to have keep having these Tommy John and other arm injuries.
Dan Patrick
What would Pete Rose's stats be? Tony Gwyn stats, Rod Carew stats, Wade Boggs stats if they played in today's game?
Tim Kirchen
Well, with the shifting a little bit different, I, I think first off they would be great players today because great players transcend all eras. If you're gonna play Rod Peru the way that they play certain guys, he's gonna get two bunt hits a game. And I'm not making that up. George Brett, who's a very humble man, told me a couple years ago when everyone was shifting all over the place, he said if I played today, I'd hit.450. He would see where to hit it. Tony Gwynn was a magician.
Dan Patrick
But would they be power hitters because of the analytics though, Tim, when they're coming up in the minor leagues, they, you know, the emphasis is, is on power.
Tim Kirchen
Yes, I'm well aware. And it really bothers me that we would take a player like Wade Boggs 328 lifetime walks well over 100 times because he can hit a hard line drive single to left field better than any left handed hitter. I've ever seen. And they would tell him, wade, you're unbelievably strong. You need to hit 40 homers. That's, that's what they would do with him today. And he wouldn't hit.328. He probably hit.288 with 35 homers. But I would rather watch Wade Boggs hit it to all fields and be just another guy who hits a million homers.
Dan Patrick
When was your first Opening day?
Tim Kirchen
My first was in 1982. I count that, Dan, as my first one, even though I did 81, but 82, I was the full time beat writer hovering. The Texas Rangers and the first three games of the season got snowed out in New York. So we had to open in Cleveland. 74,000 people in Cleveland for opening day. The next day they had like 3,000 people. So it was memorable for a lot of reasons. And this is so George Wright was the rookie leadoff guy for the Rangers. He got three hits on opening day. I went to George, rookie from Oklahoma City. I said, george, did you have a good time today? He goes, yeah, I've never been to a major league game before. So the first game he had ever attended in his life, he got three hits. And I just found out like six months ago that Mickey Rivers, the mischievous center fielder, baked an injury in spring training in order for George Wright to make the team. And that's how George Wright ended up on the roster on opening day. Because Mickey loved George Wright. He said, I'll fake an injury and you can play center field on opening day. And then he got three hits in the only game he'd ever attended in his life. That is the beauty of baseball.
Dan Patrick
Have fun today. Tim, great to catch up with you as always.
Tim Kirchen
Well, good to see you, Dan. Take care.
Dan Patrick
That's Tim Kirchen, ESPN baseball analyst and a member of the Baseball hall of Fame. Eczema isn't always obvious, but it's real.
Wally Zerbiak
And so is the relief from Epglis. After an initial dosing phase of 16 weeks, about 4 in 10 people taking.
Dan Patrick
Epglis achieved itch relief and clear or almost clear skin.
Wally Zerbiak
And most of those people maintain maintain skin that's still more clear.
Dan Patrick
At one year with monthly dosing, EBGLIS Lebricizumab, LBKZ, a 250mg injection, is a prescription medicine used to treat adults and children 12 years of age and older.
Wally Zerbiak
Who weigh at least 88 pounds or.
Dan Patrick
40 kilograms with moderate to severe eczema, also called atopic dermatitis.
Wally Zerbiak
That is not well controlled with prescription.
Dan Patrick
Therapies used on the skin or topicals, or who cannot use topical therapies.
Wally Zerbiak
EBGLIS can be used with or without topical corticosteroids. Don't use if you're allergic to ebglis. Allergic reactions can occur that can be severe.
Dan Patrick
Eye problems can occur. Tell your doctor if you have new or worsening eye problems.
Wally Zerbiak
You should not receive a live vaccine.
Dan Patrick
When treated with Epglis. Before starting Epglis, tell your doctor if.
Wally Zerbiak
You have a parasitic infection. Searching for real relief?
Dan Patrick
Ask your doctor about epglis and visit.
Wally Zerbiak
Epglis.Lilly.Com or call 1-800-LilyRx or 1-800-545-5979 in Mississippi, Yazoo Clay keeps secrets.
Greg Sankey
Seven thousand bodies out there or more.
Wally Zerbiak
A forgotten asylum cemetery. It was my family's mysteries, Shame, guilt, propriety. Something keeps it all buried deep. Until it's not I'm Larison Campbell and this is under Yazoo Clay. Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.
Dan Patrick
What's up, y'all? I'm A.J.
Wally Zerbiak
Andrews, pro softball player, sports analyst and the first woman to win a Rawlings Gold Glove on my new podcast, Dropping Diamonds. We dive headfirst into the world of softball by sharing powerful stories, insights and conversations that inspire and empower. It's time to drop bombs and diamonds.
Dan Patrick
Dropping diamonds with A.J.
Wally Zerbiak
Andrews is an iHeart women's sports production in partnership with Athletes Unlimited Softball League and Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. Listen to dropping diamonds with AJ Andrews on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.
Tim Kirchen
Brought to you by Novartis, founding partner of iHeart Women's Sports Network.
Dan Patrick
Eczema isn't always obvious, but it's real. And so is the relief from EBGLIS.
Wally Zerbiak
After an initial dosing phase of 16 weeks, about 4 in 10 people taking.
Dan Patrick
EBGLIS achieved itch relief and clear or almost clear skin.
Wally Zerbiak
And most of those people maintain skin that's still more clear at one year with monthly dosing. EBGLIS Lebricizumab, LBKZ, a 250 milligram per.
Dan Patrick
2Ml injection, is a prescription medicine used to treat adults and children 12 years of age and older who weigh at least 88 pounds or 40 kilograms with moderate to severe eczema, also called atopic.
Wally Zerbiak
Dermatitis, that is not well controlled with.
Dan Patrick
Prescription therapies used on the skin or topicals, or who cannot use topical therapies.
Wally Zerbiak
EBGLIS can be used with or without topical corticosteroids. Don't use if you are allergic to ebglis. Allergic reactions can occur that can be severe.
Dan Patrick
Eye problems can occur. Tell your doctor if you have new or worsening eye problems.
Wally Zerbiak
You should not receive a live vaccine when treated with Epless.
Dan Patrick
Before starting Epless, tell your doctor if.
Wally Zerbiak
You have a parasitic infection. Searching for real relief?
Dan Patrick
Ask your doctor about epis and visit.
Wally Zerbiak
Epis.Lily.Com or call 1-800-lilyrx or 1-800-545-5979.
Dan Patrick
In 2020, a group of young women.
Wally Zerbiak
Found themselves in an AI fueled nightmare. Someone was posting photos.
Greg Sankey
It was just me naked. Well, not me, but me with someone else's body parts.
Dan Patrick
This is Levittown, a new podcast from.
Greg Sankey
Iheart podcasts Bloomberg and Kaleidoscope about the.
Dan Patrick
Rise of deepfake pornography and the battle to stop it. Listen to Levittown on Bloomberg's Big Take podcast. Find it on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
The Dan Patrick Show: The Best of The Dan Patrick Show Release Date: March 27, 2025
Introduction The Dan Patrick Show brings together insightful conversations with A-list guests from the worlds of sports and entertainment. In this episode, host Dan Patrick engages with former NBA player and CBS Sports college basketball analyst Wally Zerbiak, SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey, and ESPN baseball analyst Tim Kirchen. The episode delves into pressing topics such as the transfer portal in college sports, the evolution of player greatness, the impact of major league teams on baseball, and intriguing local mysteries.
Career Insights and College Basketball Dynamics
Dan Patrick kicks off the episode with a conversation featuring Wally Zerbiak, a former Minnesota Timberwolves player and current CBS Sports college basketball analyst. Zerbiak reflects on his collegiate journey, discussing his time at Miami of Ohio and the high level of coaching he received.
Transfer Portal and NIL Era Zerbiak expresses concerns about the current transfer portal system and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) regulations, stating:
"In today's landscape, the way players from mid-majors are getting taken away from small teams and going to the big schools puts a lot on coaches that are still coaching plate because they need to focus on trying to win a national championship and win games." (04:03)
He argues that the transfer portal introduces unnecessary distractions for coaches and suggests potential solutions, such as limiting transfers or implementing contractual agreements to ensure player commitment.
Greatness in Basketball: Kobe vs. LeBron vs. Jordan
The discussion shifts to evaluating basketball legends. Zerbiak shares his perspectives:
"Michael Jordan did it in a small span of time and just dominated every Finals, I just don't think there's anything LeBron can do to surpass that." (10:16)
While acknowledging LeBron James's incredible longevity and current form, Zerbiak maintains that Jordan's Finals record sets him apart as the greatest of all time.
March Madness Predictions
With the NCAA Tournament underway, Zerbiak provides his insights on potential upsets and standout games:
"I think Maryland might be able to pull an upset. They have a great Crab five and they're rested after the first weekend." (11:14)
He highlights the upcoming match between BYU and Alabama as a must-watch game, anticipating a high-scoring affair.
Discussion on Cooper Flag's Future
Analyzing the future prospects of standout player Cooper Flag, Zerbiak weighs the risks and rewards of staying at Duke versus entering the NBA draft:
"It's a lot of fun to play in college basketball on campus. But the thing is, there's a lot of risk if he does go back... he's going to be the number one pick in the draft." (12:21)
Zerbiak underscores the importance of balancing career advancement with personal development and safety.
Enhancing SEC Basketball Performance
Dan transitions to speaking with Greg Sankey, the SEC Commissioner, focusing on the conference's efforts to bolster its basketball programs. Sankey recounts a pivotal moment in March 2016 that led to strategic changes within the SEC to improve competitiveness in the NCAA Tournament.
Managing the Transfer Portal and NIL
Sankey discusses the broader implications of the transfer portal and NIL policies on college football and basketball:
"The transfer portal puts a lot on coaches that are still coaching plate because they need to focus on trying to win a national championship and win games." (25:42)
He emphasizes the need for an orderly process and suggests potential reforms to mitigate the challenges posed by these systems.
College Football Playoff Expansion
Addressing the structure of the College Football Playoff, Sankey shares his thoughts on potential expansions:
"I think there's some relevance to thinking about expanding the number whether it stays at 12 or 14." (28:27)
While not advocating immediate expansion, he acknowledges the ongoing discussions and the benefits of providing greater access to top teams.
Regional Focus in SEC Sports
Sankey highlights the Southeastern Conference's commitment to maintaining regional play in non-revenue sports, ensuring that smaller sports like softball and baseball thrive without the need for extensive travel:
"The Southeastern Conference meets the exact question that you've asked me on a sport by sport basis." (33:08)
He praises the SEC's model as a balanced approach that caters to both major and minor sports within the conference.
The Dodgers and Baseball's Global Reach
In a candid conversation, Tim Kirchen, an ESPN baseball analyst, defends the Los Angeles Dodgers' impact on baseball:
"I think they're great for baseball because wherever they go, they're going to draw a lot of people." (42:14)
He argues that while the Dodgers may be perceived as a "villain" to some, their success contributes positively to the sport's growth and global appeal.
Opening Day in Japan
Kirchen discusses the implications of having Opening Day games in Japan, balancing the desire for domestic uniformity with the financial and global benefits:
"The beauty of this sport is its unpredictable nature. I think the Dodgers are the best team and I think there are six other teams in the NL that have a chance to win the World Series." (43:36)
He expresses a preference for starting the season uniformly in the U.S. but acknowledges the positive outcomes of international games.
MVP Considerations and Player Health
The conversation shifts to Most Valuable Player (MVP) discussions, particularly surrounding Shohei Ohtani:
"I refuse to believe that we're just going to give it to Ohtani before the season starts... I want to watch the season play out." (46:50)
Kirchen emphasizes the importance of evaluating players based on their season performance rather than pre-season hype.
Concerns Over Pitcher Injuries
Addressing the alarming number of pitcher injuries, Kirchen attributes the issue to early specialization and overuse:
"You gotta stop the 10-12 year-old from throwing off a mound 12 months out of the year. That's how guys are getting hurt." (50:27)
He advocates for a more diversified athletic upbringing to prevent overuse injuries and ensure the long-term health of pitchers.
Beyond sports, the episode touches on a chilling local mystery in Mississippi involving Yazoo Clay:
"Yazoo clay eats everything, so things that get buried there tend to stay buried until they're not." (20:33)
Construction crews at Mississippi's largest hospital uncovered over 7,000 bodies from a former state asylum, unveiling decades-old secrets. This segment highlights the podcast Under Yazoo Clay, which delves into the complexities and untold stories of this enigmatic region.
The Best of The Dan Patrick Show offers a comprehensive look into the current state of college sports, the dynamics of major leagues, and intriguing local narratives. Through expert guest insights and engaging discussions, the episode provides listeners with a nuanced understanding of the sports landscape and beyond.
Notable Quotes:
Wally Zerbiak on the transfer portal:
"The transfer portal puts a lot on coaches that are still coaching plate because they need to focus on trying to win a national championship and win games." (04:03)
Greg Sankey on SEC basketball strategy:
"Mike Trangisi helped us talk about the right things... hiring the right people, recruiting." (22:24)
Tim Kirchen on pitcher injuries:
"You gotta stop the 10-12 year-old from throwing off a mound 12 months out of the year." (50:27)
Listen to The Dan Patrick Show on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Stay connected with the latest in sports and entertainment, brought to you by Dan Patrick and his exclusive lineup of A-list guests.