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| | Monday, August 28 Company man | |||||
 Dan Patrick is everywhere. SportsCenter anchor. ESPN Radio host. ESPN The Magazine contributor. ESPN.com chat host. How does he find time for it all? We don't know either.
But he did manage to find time to stop by ESPN.com to take your questions on all things sports (and a few that aren't). In fact, he will be dropping by on a monthly basis now thanks to his new website on ESPN.com.
In case you missed the August 25 chat, the following is an edited transcript.
Greg: Hi Dan.
Dan Patrick: Hi Greg. This is going to be a piece of cake!!
Steve Garcia: In all your years of sports journalism, what do you think is the most significant sporting achievement you have seen accomplished? (Had to ask, or course) Who will win the Super Bowl?
Dan Patrick: Game 6 1986 World Series. Bill Buckner. I was working at CNN and we were under the stands at Shea waiting to interview the Red Sox who were going to win it after all those years. We were moving around based on the crowd noise. When I heard the big blast of sound, I knew something very big had happened. By the way, I did not see the play until later that night.
For a play I saw, I was in the stands with Peter Gammons and Dave Campbell in 1993 when Joe Carter hit his World Series winning home run.
Bryan: Now that you have a view do you realize that you are in Bristol. GET OUT WHILE YOU STILL CAN!
Dan Patrick: Sorry. I am not a Bristol basher.
Jeff from Indy: I recently read your Outtakes with Dan Snyder. Do you think Snyder is good for the game of football?
Dan Patrick: Thanks for mentioning The Magazine. We could not live without synergy. Daniel Snyder is a fine owner. Has his own style, does things his own way. That would describe a lot of owners who are good for their games.
Frank Johnson: Dan, you seem like you are everywhere. How many hours a a week do you work??
Dan Patrick: Let me get out the calculator . . . Rough estimate would be 70 hours a week, spread over six days.
JR: Who is your all time favorite interview?
Dan Patrick: Larry Bird. I found him to be genuinely honest on whatever subject came up. I asked him how he paid his mother back after she raised the family after his dad committed suicide. He said "with money."
will jones: Dan, do you think the Diamondbacks will pull it together and catch the Giants?
Dan Patrick: Giants have the better schedule. But it will come down to the last two weeks when they have eight games against each other. I like the Giants. Better overall team and pitching. But the Diamondbacks have Schilling and Johnson. It will be close.
Jesse: Dan, how do you think the Vikings will do this season?
Dan Patrick: I think Denny Green went on the hot seat on his own by going with Culpepper. I think that offense can hide the imperfections of a young QB. That team will go as far as the defense takes them.
Philip from Denver: Loved your book. Have you done any interviews that just couldn't be printed because the interviewee was such a bore?
Dan Patrick: No. I have a sense of what a guy will be like. I gravitate toward the colorful guys. Two tough ones were Roger Clemens and Dale Earnhardt. Real work. Dale was in a pre-race meeting and just was a bit distracted. Clemens was just more guarded than I expected.
Frank Johnson: Dan, do you collect autographs from the people you meet?
Dan Patrick: I have never asked for an autograph from someone I was interviewing. It's an unwritten rule. But the last time I interviewed Wayne Gretzky, my son asked for one. He got a picture too. Not me. And I don't take my son on interviews anymore. Not for a while anyway.
Jay: Is Tiger Woods explosion good for the game of golf?
Dan Patrick: Tiger is great for the game. There were some petty jealousies early on from the other guys. They did not like the attention he got but then they saw that he brought money for all of them. Any golfer who does not like Tiger-mania can do one thing. Beat him.
Charles Barkley playfully told me that the only problem he has with Tiger is that now there are a whole lot of African Americans out there who do not know what they are doing on the golf course. They just want to be like Tiger!
Corey: I just moved to Fresno. Ever been here? Is it as bad as it seems?
Dan Patrick: I have not been to Fresno. Is that an invitation? Ask the local chamber of commerce or Jerry Tarkanian for advice on what to do, where to go.
Brian: Who is your favorite co-anchor to do a show with on SportsCenter?
Dan Patrick: Keith was my favorite. We did it for five years. I don't have a particular fave now. But I like what each one brings to the show. For instance, I like Stuart's enthusiasm, Kenny's sense of humor.
Kelly: Do you ever just want to catch a good play or an opera and leave the sports world to its own? Nonstop sports has to get old at some point right?
Dan Patrick: I have a rule at my house. I do not turn on sports until everyone is in bed. I have to admit that I snuck downstairs to watch the end of the British Open this year with my son. Other than that, home is a haven away from sports. You need a break to get some perspective. Which I am going to go get right now!!
Have a good weekend.Thanks for chatting. See you here next month. Buy the book, the magazine. Listen to the radio. Visit the web site. Have I forgotten anything? See you later. Dan | ||||||