Overview

• On a July 9 “Pardon My Take” appearance, Patrick alleged that when he left ESPN in 2007 the network threatened to revoke affiliate status of any station airing his show
• He said those heavy-handed tactics motivated him to position himself as an underdog challenging a dominant media institution
• Patrick traced his decision to depart to a conversation with his wife about prioritizing family during a period of career uncertainty
• He recalled producing The Dan Patrick Show from his attic for three years and scrambling to cover payroll before achieving national syndication
• Patrick warned that his rise outside ESPN is a rare success and urged colleagues to weigh the steep risks of striking out independently