Sometimes It's Personal, Selective Hearing, Love You Dan!

Sometimes It’s Personal 

Something Dan has been able to do since leaving ESPN more than anything else is express himself when a topic hits the heart. Recent examples are Hurricane Sandy, the Penn State child abuse and cover up case, the suicide of the bartender/friend at the Seven Seas and on Tuesday, alcoholism. Tim Cowlishaw has written a book, Drunk on Sports, about his alcoholism and recovery and was a guest. After the interview Dan spoke of his personal experience reminding us that there is a history of alcoholism within his family and offering a little of what his family went through towards the end of his father’s life with his battle with alcohol. It’s times like these that make this show so endearing to its audience. 
　
Selctive Hearing

Food City 500 Winner

The show gave NASCAR a little love Monday with the play of the day clip featuring Kasey Kahne going over the line to win the Food City 500 at Bristol. Dan quipped that drivers know they’re being recorded so what they say on the radio isn’t genuine because it’s always nice and complimentary even when you did poorly. DP obviously has heard Kyle or Kurt Busch or Tony Stewart on a bad day.

Love You Dan !  

Seth doesn't need to buy a dog to express
DP love

Monday’s awkward moment for Dan came when Seth Davis of SI and CBS said he loved Dan. This is twice in a year that DP has been told by one of his guest that they loved him. The other was Dion Sanders. That comment was less awkward because of the conversation content that surrounded that response. When men can say that to other men is uncomfortable for Dan and Paulie. Let’s face it, it pains Paulie to have fun or personal moments. Fritzy and Seton, not so much, especially if Seton has been in his cups. DP can say it somewhat comfortably to a father or a son but for him, even saying it to a brother is a bit too touchy feely. Chris in Ohio and a couple of others ended their phone calls that way, poking the bear. Too bad not all of the callers today pushed that button.

Sing it loud, sing it proud, don't poke the bear, NASCAR what? who?

Is there really any minor heart procedures?
Did Jim Harbaugh’s family think it was minor? The heart is a major organ that keeps you living last I checked. A derm-abrasion is a minor procedure. For the second procedure, if things go wrong, you just don’t show your face in public for a few days. For the first procedure, if things go wrong, you could die. It’s scary how those in medicine use minimizing words for actions that could have maximum effects.

The boo boo is right about here

In a rare invitation from the show, there was a NASCAR driver appearance. Not from any driver, but one that has been invited on the show before, five time champion, Jimmie Johnson. I think I can count on one hand and one finger the number of different drivers that have been on the show over the years – Johnson, Stewart, Earnhardt Jr., Patrick, Kenseth and Hamlin who got on only because he called in on his own and donated something to the man cave. The season is 11 months long, pre-season testing through championship week, and there are roughly 150 drivers, and 150 crew chiefs (like a head coach to you stick and ballers) so you would think that the show could muster up more than 5 NASCAR interviews in one year. Okay, the ratings and the attendance aren’t the same as the top sport in America, the NFL, but it does do better than MLB, NBA, the 2011 NHL and the multitude of soccer leagues USA ratings. Come on man!

Dan trying to get Chad Knaus' attention
the wrong way

Okay, I’m done with that mini-rant. Johnson did elude that there was a darker side to his vanilla personality when it comes to the desire to retaliate against an opponent. If there was a world out there without witnesses, audio/video equipment and major sanctioning body fines and penalties he might handle on track confrontations differently than a smile and a positive spin for the media. The 2012 Sprint Cup Champion, whether it be Johnson or Brad Keselowski, is scheduled to be on the show Monday.

Can the brash kid from Michigan be the next
Cup Champion?

Fritzy was feeling pretty cocky today. It is Fritzy Friday you know. When Dan was doing his interview with Jimmie Johnson, was Dan saying Jimmie with an ie or a y? Was he saying Johnson or Johnston? Watch out Fritzy, the mighty fall pretty hard. Don’t poke the bear…

Fritzy's new weight loss plan -
poke the bear

Huge fail from Fritzy followed. He had in the run down and on the chalkboard Mitch Kupchak, GM of the Lakers, when the actual guest was going to be Mike D’Antoni, Head Coach of the Lakers. Ok, he misread the email. He did have a few things right. 1. It was someone from the Lakers. 2. Their first name started with Mi. Other than that, not even close. What’s worse is that for the first 90 minutes of the show Dan was promoting the wrong person appearing on the show. What ever MVD points Fritzy did have are now in the negative column.

Hi, my name is Mi____

Against the Grain started out shaky and stayed that way. Two-a-Days played a sped up version of the theme song, which I actually like better. McLovin was thrown by the music change and then couldn’t concentrate because Casey was buzzing Seton with the clippers behind him. Was McLovin concerned that Casey might come after him next?

"It's only hair"

Seton has one of those heads that can adapt to many looks.His normal head is one of an 18 year old with occasional bits of stubble. The look Seton got today from Casey, host of The Box Score, really didn’t resemble Whitey Herzog, but more of a 16 year old who cut his hair like someone from a progressive boy band. Time to climb back into the snugly tiger outfit and sing. Fritzy was allowed to join in and started by talking in character during the instrumental intro of Eye of the Tiger and repeating "There is no tomorrow, there is no tomorrow, there is no tomorrow" building up to Seton singing the first verse and chorus. Slight problem, Fritzy got Seton so amped up Seton started signing a few bars too soon. I wouldn’t go as far as saying it was singing either from Seton. It was more like lyrical talking. Fritzy was getting into his ‘80’s falsetto music and grooving along with the song reliving his glory days.

Rough cut
Somebody's gonna need a beer

Just another great day in the man cave for the highlight reels. It’s not your typical sports show, its family.  What did you learn today?

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Beauty secrets of the Danettes and a new sex drug

Just when you got over how hard it was to listen to the sports related Halloween names were, Fritzy brings out sports related presidential names. A mind-numbing list of sports names that have the last name of a president. Thankfully this list only comes out once a year and not annually. I don’t blame the other Danettes for hiding their heads, putting on the headphones to drown him out, or as Dan did, leave the room and just close your eyes until the massacre is over. Hope y’all got out and cast your vote.  Then don't do what I did, watched MM followed by Hannah Storm.

Poll question of the day:
Would you rather be the President or Vice President? VP does seem like a pretty sweet gig. Almost all the same perks without the responsibility. Kind of like the four Danettes don’t you agree?

Today the Danettes took a stab at guessing the "bombshell" question. If correct DP wouldn’t say who. One person did get it right. DP the master of mind games, as Seton said. As an example Dan played with Seton’s confidence walking into the box. Seton’s statement of Dan bringing the best of the best with him when he left the Mothership Dan knocked down. Yes Fritzy is the best of the best at what he does, Dan didn’t know Seton’s name, Paulie was doing Tony Stewart’s show on the Sirius NASCAR station and McLovin just showed up and wouldn’t leave. Confidence balloon popped. So the question not so rocking was who has updated their looks in the last two years in hair and make up for television. In August McLovin consulted his wife and stylist and touched up his hair. The stylist claimed it wouldn’t be noticed. Everyone noticed. When DP did it at the Mothership everyone noticed and it was a horrible experience for him. Paulie stood his ground and said he never did although his hair has looked lighter. Could that have been from the summer sun? Paulie’s wife stated he has never dyed his hair in their home. Paulie’s barber confirms that he has only cut the hair and what he did after leaving he did not know. Seton continues to think Paulie is lying. What about make up – other than Danette make up day and tiger face day. Fritzy considered "a little rouge and eye liner" but didn’t go through with it. That could be a bit drag queen if Fritzy applied it on that round face. The I Team, headed by Paulie, is investigating the I Team. Hairgate. 
 

On a side note:
Rick in MA questioned if maybe some artificial tanning was involved in making Paulie’s hair look darker. I can see it now. Paulie’s in the spray tan booth with swimmer goggles and the disposable shorts getting the spray applied channeling his inner Channing Tatum.

Is Paulie aspiring to look like one of these guys?

Seton’s official day for his Tiger bet pay off is Friday. Whitey Herzog hair cut, tiger make up and costume. What happened to singing Eye of the Tiger?

Whitey Herzog and his hair

Chris Berman got hammered on Twitter last night after his interview with the presidential candidates. What would DP do? Keep it light, keep it about sports. Don’t ask what everyone else is asking. Ask what the every man would want to know. Do you remember when DP was at ESPN and did the phone interview with Clinton and accidentally hung up on him? I wonder if the Clinton autographed picture of Clinton on the phone with Dan is hanging in the mancave?

 

No tequila face and jazz hands during the presidential
interviews Monday night

Just your everyday football family: How long does it take to hit the ground when your kid sends you airborne? According to Howie Long from NFL on Fox, when his St. Louis Rams defensive end son Chris sent him flying it seemed like an eternity.

 

Nothing like a father and son bonding

Bob Costas today spoke of his interview with Jerry Jones and other sports related stuff but more interestingly the art of the interview. Something that he does very well. I decided it’s not what he says or how it says it. It’s how his voice is like butter. Then Dan stepped in and did a topper of an interview question for Jay Cutler. DP wins once again. Costas admits defeat. This was only to be topped by Costas winning a Sports Emmy for his interview with Jerry Sandusky.

 

Costas with one of his 232 Emmys

What does DP dream about? SI swimsuit models? Jennifer Anniston? The chick from Entourage he’s so crazy about that I can’t pronounce her name? Nope. It’s par 3, 7 at Pebble Beach and not pervy dreams like Fritzy. Here’s another thing. Fritzy doesn’t drink, yet his conversations at lunch and the way he talks are as if he does. He gets a little loose after knockin’ back a few wings and the lips start to flappin’. Wings, the new drug. This can only be second to Fritzy’s Chinese food, Mountain Dew and Cinemax combo.

Chicken wings, the new sex drug

Sven in CA once again outdid Fritzy phoning in three killer mock headlines.

Wild Bill, one of the Directv cameramen, who’s a hoot to watch, is solid as a rock. No matter how many times Dan tossed a ball at his junk he didn’t flinch. Maybe he really is solid as a rock, down there.

DTV's Wild Bill's doppleganger, Hickok

Beer sampling after the show again today. This is the third rendition. Time to narrow down the final taste. This is the beer that will debut at the Super Bowl. The official name of the beer isn’t on the bottle yet and won’t be revealed until much later. Honey I’m working late again today!

To go with the beer today was the smell of the bread baking downstairs at Subway wafting up into Dan’s side of the studio.

Did you know: Dan’s mom once called the show concerned because her son had missed three shots in a row shooting hoops during a look in.

The man doesn't miss in his own house

Bonus feature:

Saw a new coffee break with McLovin today featuring Nick from the back. In the feature McLovin introduced Nick as the person responsible for the condition of the coffee maker and supplies. Well of course nothing was to McLovin’s liking so as punishment he poured what looked like cold coffee with cream over Nick’s head saying "Do better, no sorries." Now Nick may be shorter than McLovin but the dude is tight. I can only speculate that Dan gave him a bonus so he wouldn’t punch McLovin.

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