Dan Patrick

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Dan Patrick

Born May 15, 1956 (1956-05-15) (age 52)
Mason, Ohio, U.S.
Occupation Sportscaster
Spouse Susan
Children Grace, Georgia, Jack, Mollye
Website
SI.com/danpatrick
This article is about the sportscaster. For other uses, see Dan Patrick (disambiguation).

Daniel Patrick Pugh (born May 15, 1956), better known as Dan Patrick, is an American sportscaster from Mason, Ohio who currently works for CNN's Sports Illustrated. 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.

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[edit] 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. He has two sisters, Molly and Anne.[citation needed]

[edit] Before ESPN

Before 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. From 1989-1995 Patrick did a daily sports segment for Bob and Brian, a syndicated Wisconsin-area morning show, and in the early 90's he did sports updates for the Columbus, Ohio Rock Station WLVQ and appeared on the morning show "Wags and Elliot"[citation needed]

[edit] Fame at ESPN

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. After getting reprimanded by their superiors, they began saying "This is SportsCenter" sarcastically, accidentally spawning the show's new catch phrase. When Olbermann left, Patrick said, "This isn't the Big Show anymore."[citation needed]

[edit] "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." Patrick started using the "en fuego" phrase because he believed the standard "on fire" phrase had become cliché.

[edit] 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".

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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, Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Ken Griffey, Jr., and other sports stars. Will Ferrell also made a heavily promoted appearance in-character as Ron Burgundy.

[edit] Future beyond ESPN/ABC

Patrick signed a syndication deal with Chicago-based Content Factory, which launched Patrick's new radio show on October 1, 2007. The show is streamed live via Patrick's website as well as in national radio syndication.

Sports Illustrated announced in October 2007 that Patrick would become the magazine's senior writer. He will contribute blogs to SI.com's "Fan Nation" and host the magazine's Sportsman of the Year show. SI will collaborate with Content Factory to launch a new version of Patrick's web site in early 2008, and will help stream Patrick's radio show. Patrick said he will produce non-television content exclusively for Sports Illustrated.[2]

[edit] New radio show

On October 1, 2007, Patrick began hosting a new version of The Dan Patrick Show, distributed nationally through The Content Factory and Premiere Radio Networks. The show airs from 9 a.m. to Noon Eastern and on XM-144 from 10am - noon Eastern.

[edit] Other appearances

[edit] Movies and television

Patrick has made cameo appearances in many movies and TV shows; they are as follows:[3]

[edit] Commercial spokesperson

Patrick appears as the commercial spokesman for the following advertisement campaigns:

[edit] Music videos

Dan Patrick has appeared twice in music videos:

[edit] References

  1. ^ Dan Patrick Will Return for Farewell Week at ESPN Radio - FanHouse - AOL Sports Blog
  2. ^ Bloomberg.com: North American
  3. ^ Dan Patrick (I)

[edit] External links

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