Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Hour 2: Culture Shifters Release Date: February 6, 2025

The Herd with Colin Cowherd, hosted by iHeartPodcasts and The Volume, is renowned for its incisive discussions on the latest sports stories. In the February 6, 2025 episode titled "Hour 2: Culture Shifters," hosts Covino and Rich take the reins as they delve deep into the concept of culture shifters within the sports world, punctuated by engaging listener interactions and current event analyses.

1. Filling in for Colin Cowherd (00:00 - 01:56)

Covino and Rich open the episode by explaining that they have stepped in for Colin Cowherd, who is attending Super Bowl 59 in New Orleans. They highlight recent guests, including Puka Nakua, Fred Warner, Vince Wilfork, Paige Spiranic, Kurt Shilling, and Malcolm Butler. Covino mentions:

"We had Paige Spiranic stop by. Pro golfer turned influencer." [01:44]

They also discuss their social media presence and encourage listeners to rate, review, and follow their podcast for updates and additional content.

2. Exploring Culture Shifters in Sports (02:16 - 16:55)

The core of the episode revolves around identifying and discussing key figures who have significantly altered the cultures of their respective sports teams or organizations.

Key Figures Discussed:

• John Madden (00:22 - 06:12): Celebrating his 1969 takeover of the Oakland Raiders, Covino credits Madden with transforming the team's culture.

  "John Madden was that guy." [13:54]

• Joe Torre (02:47 - 03:12): Mentioned by Rich as another seminal culture shifter.

• Bill Walsh and the 49ers (03:22 - 03:30): Rich cites Walsh's introduction of the West Coast Offense as pivotal in elevating the 49ers to new heights.

  "When Bill Walsh took over the 49ers... they took the 49ers to new heights." [03:22]

• Pat Riley and Eric Spoelstra (03:51 - 04:05): Highlighted for their contributions to the Miami Heat's sustained success.

  "Pat Riley, Spoelstra, that's a culture shifter." [04:05]

• Pete Carroll (04:15 - 04:44): Discussed as a potential current culture shifter in the NFL.

  "I think Pete Carroll is a culture shifter." [04:15]

• Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers (04:54 - 05:24): Rich credits Harbaugh with giving the Chargers a playoff appearance and instilling a new identity.

  "Putting Jim Harbaugh at the helm made the playoffs." [05:24]

Listener Contributions:

• Kenneth from Miami (06:25 - 06:38): Suggests the New Orleans Saints as a culture-changed team through the acquisition of Drew Brees and Sean Payton.

  "They traded for Drew Brees and Sean Payton. That was a culture changer." [06:38]

• Cliff from Kentucky (14:50 - 15:31): Adds Tony La Russa and Andy Reid to the list of influential culture shifters.

  "Tony La Russa... Andy Reid winning as coach." [15:11]

• Spot (07:17 - 14:07): Offers insights on various coaches and their impact, including references to fictional coaches for illustrative purposes.

Discussion Highlights:

Covino and Rich explore how leadership changes can redefine team identities, citing both successful and struggling examples. They emphasize the importance of aligning leadership styles with team dynamics and player mindsets.

"It has to be the right mix of leader and players. It just has to be." [10:07]

Covino muses on the challenges of instilling a new culture, especially with younger athletes:

"You need that right leader to really work. Different locker rooms, different mindsets, different generations of people." [09:19]

3. Super Bowl Highlights and Controversies (16:55 - 23:16)

The hosts transition to discussing the upcoming Super Bowl, focusing on notable attendees and halftime show controversies.

Key Topics:

• President Trump's Attendance (20:09 - 22:18):

  • Mahomes and Kelsey Bravac express excitement about playing in front of a sitting president.

    Mahomes: "It's always cool to be able to play in front of a sitting president..." [20:09]

    Kelsey: "It's a great honor no matter who the president is." [22:02]

  • Covino reflects on the significance beyond political affiliations:

    "It's an honor, even if you don't like the guy." [22:10]

• Halftime Show Controversy: Kendrick Lamar and Drake Lawsuit (23:05 - 25:16):

  • Marcus introduces the issue where Kendrick Lamar's song, "Not Like Us," is under scrutiny due to alleged defamatory lyrics about Drake.

    "The Drake diss track 'Not Like Us' is currently part of a defamation lawsuit by Drake against Kendrick Lamar." [23:16]

  • Debates ensue over whether the controversial lyrics will be censored or altered for the halftime performance.

    "There are two sensors in place plus a five-second delay." [24:46]

  • Covino and Rich discuss the implications, with Rich emphasizing the severity of the accusation:

    "Calling someone a pedophile is a pretty serious accusation." [24:33]

  • Spot underscores the anthem status of the song despite the controversy:

    "That song is not going anywhere." [25:02]

4. Offbeat News and Listener Stories (23:16 - 36:55)

The episode transitions into discussing various offbeat and current news stories, enriched by listener calls and host banter.

Key Stories:

• Marcus Jordan’s DUI Arrest (25:17 - 26:54):

  • Marcus narrates the incident involving Michael Jordan's son, Marcus Jordan, who was arrested for DUI after driving into train tracks and exhibiting erratic behavior.

    "He was demanding that they play Mariah Carey up in the V." [25:44]

  • Covino comments on the embarrassment due to Marcus's high-profile family name:

    "I think it's major, unfortunately, because of his name, his father's name." [26:36]

  • Rich adds humor to the situation, likening Marcus’s behavior to a character from The Office.

    "It's like Michael Scott in The Office when he drove into a river." [25:48]

• Mavericks’ Trade and Refund Offers (26:55 - 28:54):

  • Discussion centers around the Dallas Mavericks offering refunds to season ticket holders following a surprising trade.

    "Fans who purchased ticket blocks... have reportedly been contacted by the Mavericks organization with an offer to refund their money." [27:12]

  • Covino criticizes the move as an appeasement tactic:

    "It's just a way of putting the fire out... super weak that they'd even have to explain this." [28:24]

  • Rich labels the Mavericks' approach as “crybaby behavior”:

    "It's a crybaby move." [28:28]

• J.D. Martinez’s Transition to Pickleball (28:54 - 35:59):

  • Covino and Rich discuss J.D. Martinez’s signing with the pickleball league Joola, pondering the trend of athletes finding new competitive arenas post-retirement.

    "J.D. Martinez... signed a professional contract with a pickleball company or league called Joola." [34:09]

  • They debate the viability and appeal of pickleball as an alternative sport for retired athletes, highlighting its growing popularity.

    "Pickleball seems like a perfect in between. When I go to Texas... I'll go to the gym." [35:02]

  • Covino connects this trend to maintaining competitive drive post-sports career:

    "If there's contracts to be had and money to be made... they still have that competitive juice." [35:48]

5. Closing Remarks and Teasers (36:55 - End)

As the episode wraps up, Covino and Rich tease upcoming segments and encourage listener engagement.

• Final Stories:

  • Brief mentions of upcoming stories and guests, including J.D. Martinez's activities post-baseball.

  • Covino reflects on the transient nature of sports careers, likening them to child stars.

    "It's almost like if you're a child actor... you're no longer an NFL player." [33:50]

• Upcoming Content:

  • Hosts hint at exploring more about former athletes' ventures into new fields and sports ecosystems.

  • Announcement of joining pickleball evenings in New Orleans and encouraging listeners to tune in for future stories.

• Sign-Off:

  "Until then, at Covino and Rich, a lot of fun clips from today's show. Having great times here in New Orleans. Until then. Ariba di, baby." [37:17]

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Covino on Leadership and Culture:

  "You need that right leader to really work. Different locker rooms, different mindsets, different generations of people." [09:19]

• Rich on John Madden:

  "He changed the culture." [13:54]

• Kelsey Bravac on Super Bowl Significance:

  "It's a great honor no matter who the president is." [22:02]

• Marcus on J.D. Martinez:

  "J.D. Martinez... signed a professional contract with a pickleball company or league called Joola." [34:09]

• Covino on Mavericks' Refund Strategy:

  "It's just a way of putting the fire out... super weak that they'd even have to explain this." [28:24]

Conclusion

In "Hour 2: Culture Shifters," Covino and Rich provide a comprehensive exploration of how pivotal figures reshape sports cultures, enriched by listener insights and timely discussions on major sports events and controversies. From legendary coaches like John Madden and Pat Riley to contemporary shifts influenced by leadership changes and athlete transitions, the episode offers listeners a nuanced understanding of the dynamics that drive success and transformation in the sports industry.