ESPN is a network en fuego. Dan Patrick, who coined the catch phrase as a SportsCenter anchor, is a big reason why. But after 18 years with the Worldwide Leader, Patrick left in August to build his own brand.
He joined the Chicago-based Content Factory, which is syndicating his radio show, and last week he announced a deal with Sports Illustrated. But don’t let that fool you; Patrick is now his own boss. While in Washington on Thursday to say thanks to WTEM 980 AM, one of the first stations to put him back on air, Patrick sat down with The Examiner to chat about his career shift and a few D.C.-related sports topics.
Examiner – You’ve talked about how no one’s left ESPN and lived to tell about it. Is your partnership with Sports Illustrated a good first step in making sure you do?
Dan Patrick – It is because I left when I wanted to leave. Normally when you leave a job like that, you’re asked to leave, but I left on my own volition. I picked Sports Illustrated, I’m syndicating my own radio show, so I’m doing what I want to do, and not many people get that opportunity.
E What is it about your new setup, including joining SI, that was so appealing?
DP SI gives you that credibility branding. I can use their reporters for my show, since ESPN’s precluding me from using their talent on my show. I have that, and I’m free to do other different entities. TV-wise it’s going to be NBC or CBS or somebody along those lines. It allowed me to pick and choose what I wanted to do instead of being under one umbrella, which is what I was at ESPN.
E What’s the next event you’ll cover, and are you itching to get back out there?
DPI could’ve gone to the World Series, but I’m being fair to the markets that I’m in [not Boston or Denver]. I’ll be at the Super Bowl, and I’m hosting Sportsman of the Year at the beginning of December. It’s not, “Let me have my coming out party. I’m here, notice me again.”
ECan the Redskins beat the Patriots?
DP It’s possible because who would’ve thought Stanford would’ve beat USC at USC?
You’ve got to make New England play ugly, but you can’t make a mistake, and you’ve got to have career days. Jason Campbell’s got to play great, Clinton Portis has got to give you a hundred yards, and you have to get plays out of Antwaan Randle El and Santana Moss. If you play mistake-free and put pressure on the Patriots, then you have a chance. But they are 16-point underdogs.
E Gilbert Arenas, quirky eccentric or franchise player?
DP I like a guy who has a chip on his shoulder. Is he an eccentric, yes, but he wants to be great. Not all of us know how to go about being great. There’s no guidebook. He’s trying, working through this. He’s an incredible talent, a fun personality, but you can fight yourself on being great, being a champion. This is not a championship team. Are they a playoff team? Yes, but they’ve gotto get some defense to be a championship team.
— As told to The Examiner’s Craig Stouffer
