Dan Patrick
| Dan Patrick | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 15 1956 
Mason, Ohio, U.S. |
| Occupation | Sportscaster |
| Spouse | Susan |
| Children | Grace, Georgia, Jack, Mollye |
| Website | DanPatrick.com Dan Patrick Show |
Daniel Patrick Pugh (born May 15, 1956), better known as Dan Patrick, is an American sportscaster from Mason, Ohio. He attended the University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio. His brother, Bill Pugh, is a longtime sports radio executive, and is currently the head of programming at Sporting News Radio. Patrick was an anchor on ESPN's SportsCenter (1989-2006). He also hosted The Dan Patrick Show on ESPN Radio from September 13, 1999 to August 17, 2007. Starting on March 19, 2006, until the final game of the NBA Finals, he became the host of ABC's then-titled NBA Nation, a pregame show for the network's NBA telecasts.
ESPN announced on July 9, 2007 that he would be leaving the network in August 2007. Patrick’s final radio show was broadcast on Friday, August 17, 2007. The mutual agreement allowed Patrick to pursue new interests outside of ESPN and brought to an end his involvement with ESPN’s radio, television and magazine outlets.
In the mid-1990s, Dan and Keith Olbermann were among ESPN's most recognizable faces. Olbermann used the catch phrase "Welcome to the big show" when Patrick worked with him on SportsCenter. When Olbermann left, Patrick said, "This isn't the Big Show anymore." [citation needed]
Early life
Patrick was a basketball player in high school, becoming an Ohio all-state selection his senior year.[citation needed] He attended Eastern Kentucky University on a basketball scholarship for two years before transferring to the University of Dayton, where he joined the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity.
Prior to ESPN
Prior to working with ESPN, Patrick was known by his real name, Dan Pugh, as an on-air personality with the album rock-formatted WTUE in Dayton, Ohio (1979-1983). Patrick was then a sports reporter for CNN (1983-89), where his assignments included the World Series, NBA Finals and Winter Olympics.
Departure from ESPN/ABC
On July 9, 2007, Patrick on his radio show announced his departure from ESPN/ABC effective August 17, 2007, stating, "I am leaving ESPN August 17 to go out on my own and be a free agent. "I think I was starting to take it (ESPN) for granted," Patrick said. He said ESPN tried to talk him out of it. If there were any animosity, he says, "I wouldn't be sticking around until August."
Patrick remained off air from ESPN radio until August 15 for his three farewell shows. [1] He was originally reported to be returning for a final week, but returned on Wednesday of that week.
ESPN's statement released to the media said that Patrick would be released from his contract August 31, 2007, exactly one year early from his deal that was to run until August 31, 2008. The statement also said this would be the final comment on Patrick's situation from ESPN. "ESPN contractually bans all employees from making specific announcements of their futures on their airways, but out of respect to Dan and all he's done for ESPN we allowed him an opportunity to end the speculation".
Reaction to Patrick's departure from ESPN/ABC
Reaction from media sources hit the internet by storm. Many webpages, blogs, and news media outlets have speculated on the reasons for Patrick's departure and possible future. On July 10, 2007's The Dan Patrick Show, Keith Olbermann and Dan Patrick himself put some of the rumors and comments to rest.
Patrick confirmed that he was asked by the producers of The Price is Right to audition for the vacant host position, but he declined. The job eventually went to Drew Carey. Patrick admitted that he was hurt when good friend, Sports Illustrated writer Rick Reilly wrote that, "Patrick was making one of the top 5 biggest career mistakes in Entertainment history," ranking right under Shelley Long's leaving Cheers and Katie Couric's leaving NBC.
Keith Olbermann stated that it was only a matter of time before a website claimed that Patrick was fired from ESPN as was falsely reported of Olbermann. Patrick again stated he was leaving on good terms with ESPN and that he could return to ESPN if he would so choose. Patrick said that he wants to be on both television and radio again although some newspapers were reporting he only wanted to do radio.
Future beyond ESPN/ABC
On July 12, 2007, the Chicago Sun-Times reported that Patrick will continue in radio and launch a new nationally syndicated program via Chicago-based Content Factory.[2]
On August 23rd and 24th, 2007, Patrick filled in as a host on Dennis & Callahan, the morning show on WEEI, a Boston-based sports talk radio station. Patrick was joined by Greg Dickerson on the 23rd and Tom Curan on the 24th.
Patrick has live video, a blog, and other commentary on his site: www.danpatrick.com.
Patrick returned to radio on October 1, 2007, syndicated to WHEN in Syracuse, New York, KLAC in Los Angeles, and numerous other stations.
Sports Illustrated has hired Dan Patrick, who will be doing work for them after the 2008 Super Bowl. He will have a presence both in the magazine and on SI.com, where users can listen to a live stream of his radio show.[3]
Movies
Patrick has made cameo appearances in many movies, they are as following: [4]
- The Definite Maybe (1997)
- BASEketball (1998)
- The Waterboy (1998)
- Clerks (Animated ABC program) (2000)
- The Longest Yard (2005)
- Benchwarmers (2006)
- I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry (2007)
Last Shows
August 17, 2007 was Dan Patrick's last day on
ESPN Radio. He named his final 3 shows "Farewell For Now" tour. The last 20 minutes of his
show was filled with many thank yous and looks back down on memory lane. Guest stars included Bob
Costas, Bobby Knight,
Commercial spokesperson
Patrick appears as the commercial spokesman for the following advertisement campaigns:
- The Wisconsin sub shop chain, Cousins Subs. Patrick's main catch phrases are talking about their 'serious subs' and poking fun at the way they want him to advertise their product.
- Consort, a men's hair product line
- Over 30 SportsCenter commercials to promote the ESPN's main program.
- The Swiss watchmaker, Raymond Weil.
- Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company's national campaign to promote their seasonal beers.
- Time Warner Business Class media solutions.
"En fuego"
Patrick told about the following at the ESPN25 Silver Anniversary Spectacular.
In 1994, when calling the highlights for a game in which Marv Albert described Sam Cassell as being "on fire," Dan Patrick said he was "el fuego", which he thought was Spanish for "on fire." A few months later, he received a letter from a Spanish teacher in Pennsylvania suggesting that he say that athletes are "en fuego" (on fire) rather than "el fuego" (the fire). Since then, Patrick has used "en fuego" on certain occasions when a player is said to be "on fire." Note that "en fuego" is an Anglicism in Spanish, since it is a literal translation from English (and could be also translated as "in fire"-- that is, "in flames," which has nearly the opposite meaning); as such, other translations would be more fitting, e.g., prendido ("lit" or "fired up"). Patrick started using the "en fuego" phrase because he believed the standard "on fire" phrase had become cliché. A more practical way to translate this phrase could be "a fuego" which carries all the meaning the "on fire" english phrase has.
Music Videos
Dan Patrick has appeared twice in music videos:
- In the 1995 Hootie & the Blowfish song "Only Wanna Be With You", where he called the group, who was using their money to purchase several sports teams in the video, "Dare I say they're anything but 'en fuego'."
- In the 2002 Brad Paisley song "I'm Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin' Song)", with the quote "Brad Paisley, dare I say, 'en fuego'."
References
External links
- Dan Patrick Online Dan's official web site
- ESPNradio website
- Cousins Subs website (with video of Patrick's ads for the chain)
- Dan Patrick biography
- http://jefflouderback.com/images/upload/personality_profile3.pdf
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