When Preparation Becomes the Superpower | Dana Larson

You
Nobody would have thought that I would be the winner sports talk
Baseball Baseball Baseball Baseball Oh, it's a big mic. Oh, okay. All right. Yeah. Okay. Now I get it
We're not a lightning strike boys. What happened over there Grego? We had a little light
right outside the window. All right, all right. Here's a tip for all these
Americana league teams. Don't do it. You said tip. Yeah, tell me the peak. I would keep
jamming. To take a colon nothing but a big gen X jerk off. This is a cool
night or what? I'm back. Oh boy, look at us. It's gonna be a fun one today. We are
bordering on Deliria in here. Hello everybody. Hi, we're live at five. We are back. Thank
you very much for indulging me a little bit when I needed it last week, but we're back. We
are good to go. We are ready to happen and very excited about what we have for you today.
We're on YDC. Now this is episode number which one hundred ninety four and it is coming
down on this day, which is the ninth of fab. So now that we've got those niceties out
of the way, let us tell you who we've got in here for you today. We got in got somebody
in here that I really, really admire because over the years, I've seen her do a lot of
different things and she's done them all splendidly. She is a true, consummate broadcast
professional. And I mean this in every way that I can and not just saying it because
she's here in front of me. I will tell anybody this in conversation anytime, any place.
I admire this woman. She's great. And we're very delighted to say hello to the great Dana
Larson. Oh my goodness. Oh my goodness. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. You have no
idea what that means to me. I just don't even know what it means to me to be here. First
of all, I am so honored that you asked me to come and I'm honored that you agreed to do
it. Oh, to have to hear you say that is wild. The the version of myself maybe 20 years
ago, that was, you know, working my tail off to try to find my way in this business. If
I had told her that one day you would say those sentences, she would be sobbing right
now. I'm telling you, sobbing because I have obviously been a huge fan for so long.
And like was motivated so much by everything that you do and just trying to like, of someone
like you is kind of what's kept me going all these years. So I can't say thank you enough
for that. Well, you have done it for sure. All right. I want to get into, I don't know.
I got a whole page of stuff that I want to get get into here with you. But we do, I mean,
we could always just throw those out the window, you know? Okay. But first, I got to ask
some biographical data. Okay. Because I know all about your work. I know very little
about you. Where you from? Okay. I was born in Aurora, Colorado, a little suburb of Denver,
and then probably about elementary school age. I moved to Scottsdale, Arizona, where I
stayed all the way through high school. And my, my parents were there for a long time.
Um, probably lived, in fact, they lived there for nearly 40 years before they just recently
moved out here. I came to this area because I was coming to SMU. I went to college at SMU.
And then I just, you know, went to school to get a broadcast journalism degree and interned
at stations here, WFA mainly with Dale Hanson, Susie Woodums. And then just kind of started
getting jobs in the area. So that's really my, my ties, like my sports roots are Denver based
and Phoenix based just from where I grew up. Was sports the road that you always wanted to go
down or did you just start down another road and somehow wind up there? How'd that work?
It has literally always been what I wanted to do. I mean, I'm telling you from the time I was
probably six years old, sitting with my dad watching Bronco games, we had a, I had a Bronco foam
Bronco brick that we would throw, you know, throw the TV when they screwed up or we were mad or
whatever. And we sat there with, I had my Bronco brick and I started building my hall of fame
to John L. Way at that stage. And I just knew I was like completely obsessed. I loved watching sports.
And so it just, as I got a little bit older and I tried to like figure out what like what do you
do with that? Because I'm, you know, I wasn't it, I wasn't playing the sports. And so I went,
but I wanted to be involved in it somehow. So I realized I've really enjoyed writing and I want,
I kind of thought there's got to be a way to do this with journalism. But it was always about
sports journalism. I never wanted to be a news reporter, a news journalist. I just always wanted
to figure out how to get into sports. Were you kind of a brainiac kid or, I mean, how,
were you kind of tomboyish or? You know, so I actually, yeah. Well, I was, what's interesting is,
I guess at my age, they're, they're, you know, girls were playing sports. I don't want to make it
sound like we weren't. But I didn't actually like that was never sort of in my world. So I was a
gymnast, which is a sport. So don't get me wrong. But I started as a gymnast, but I mainly then
ended up doing a lot of dance. I came to SMU for a, to get it like in the performing arts school.
I minored in dance. Actually, I even took a little summer in New York trying to see if maybe I was
going to do that. So I really was enjoying doing that, but always like, okay, I, I love sports,
but I wasn't playing it. But my brother was involved in everything. We watched everything. I would
go to his baseball games and, you know, I would like, trying to learn about stats and, you know,
just, I would read the sports page. I was kind of like that tomboy girl that was taking the sports
page from my dad, you know, reading that every single day and just kind of immersing in it, maybe
not even realizing I was doing it, but just like loving it. So that's what I was gravitating towards.
And you went to school here? I went to SMU. Oh, yeah. Okay. Yeah. And what was your first job?
Um, well, so at SMU, I actually had to have an on-campus job from like day one. So day one to my last
day of school, I was always working on campus. And I, when I, they asked like, what are you interested in?
I've said sports. And so I got a job in the sports information department. So I would call my
first ever job was, you know, working in the sports information department. And they had the best
SID, John Jackson, who's been at Duke since. And I'm still really close with him. And he just
totally like led me through the whole path of here, you know, teaching me the ropes of things,
getting me involved. I ended up doing a lot of stats during basketball games and the football
games that were at the cotton bowl. And I was, I never went to anything as a fan. I worked
every sporting event at SMU. Got it. It's great to have somebody like that. Yes. I just, I,
you know, I took the stats and I walked across the court every time out and I handed them out to
all the media members. And I just wanted to like kind of be involved in any way I could.
We're up for the sports page, you know, those kind of things. Yeah.
The thing that has always jumped out at me about you is because, you know, as I've followed your
path over the years with all the different iterations of, I guess, what, yeah, there's been many
known as the regional sports network concept. Yeah. They've had you doing a lot of different stuff
over the years. And you have, I don't know what you've thought about that. Maybe you like some of
it better than others. No matter because all of it, you did it great. And every time I see you on TV,
you look like there is no place you would rather be. There's nothing you'd rather be doing. And
I respect that, man. It's hard to put on that brave face all the time.
I'm true. That is true. There is some of that. Some days you're just not feeling it. Yes. Yes.
That is, that is true. And in some of it, you know, I mean, I've learned a lot along the way,
because like you said, I have done just about like in the days of the Southwest sports report,
for example, like go and weigh back to the beginning when we were kind of figure out what we were
doing. I mean, we would cover every sport in the region. We would cover pro. We would cover,
you know, college, high school. Then when we kind of got into more like the agreement,
broadcast agreements with the teams, I was doing stars one night. And then the next night I was doing
the Astros. And the next night I was doing the spurs or whatever. So I mean, I was jumping around
between all the different teams and sports and leagues. And I mean, just at like the, I think
that was probably great. Because at the time, I just, I had to know a lot. I had to work at it. I
wanted to, you know, kind of dive in. And my biggest thing is just preparation. That's my,
my, the thing I live and die by. Like if I'm never going to step out in front of a camera to do
anything, except for this without preparing this, kill me today because I didn't know what to
prepare for. And that tells you everything. Yeah. I tried to help her out with a couple things.
Like, you know, we talked about her broadcast career and in life and a lab. But I didn't totally
know what we're going to talk about. Because that's kind of how we roll. Yeah. But she's like,
just please don't get me canceled. Like, I don't know. I don't think I'm equal parts thrilled
and terrified. But just because, just because it's like, it's so comfortable for me to like,
know what I'm doing. Prepare for it all day. Sure. Be ready to go get out there and feel good
about it. But like being on the other side is just a totally different ball game. Yeah. I mean,
you're, you're usually on this side. Yeah, it's exactly like it over there. Um, I'm, I don't know.
Would you? Okay. So far, so good. It's easy with you. It's easy with you. You know, you talk
about doing all the different things that you've, you know, had to do over the years to, to be a part
of the regional sports network and all of that. Some people really thrive on that. Yet others kind
of wish they had something that was theirs that they were known for. And when they people thought
of that thing, they would think of that person. Has that ever appealed to you? Well, you know,
what I feel a little bit like I've gotten kind of the best of both worlds. Because early on,
it was a lot of everything. And then it, we really did get to a point where we had some different,
you know, leadership come in and say, we're going to hone in like we're going to kind of make
things like a beat. And I got on the Rangers and the Mavericks beat basically. And so I was able to
basically basketball season, all I did was maps and then I just jumped right into Rangers. And
it felt, it did feel really good to be able to basically just try to become an expert on that
one thing where before I was just trying to make sure I knew enough about everything. Yeah,
never want to be exposed, right? You're like, I want to know enough about everything and make
sure I can handle whatever it is. But this was like, okay, now I can really try to get to know,
I can be out at the games. I can be out in the locker rooms. I can be, you know, in the pressers.
I can get to know the people. I can really start to be able to build like that background
for something so that I would have not only like just be ready for a game, but I would have some
historical foundation to be able to fall back on. And now after all these years, I feel like I
I have that a little bit more, which feels really good doing the maps all these years. Now it's like
I know I know the Dirk era. I know now I'm really I've been totally enjoying, you know, kind of
getting my my arms around the marker choir and the rows in the Dirk Harper era of things since
we've been kind of celebrating that all over again. So I I've loved this now and I kind of hope that
you know what people will maybe connect me with when all is said and done is, you know, that I
I really was tied to those two teams and now the Mavericks really. Yeah, that's that's been
hitting me in my fields too because that's kind of when I was breaking into the game a little
been starting to get my own. Oh, oh, not so sure footing, I guess, was when all those guys were around
and now to see them getting their due and everything is just that's been really, really cool to watch.
I loved seeing you that day that marker choir was was having as Jersey retired and I just wanted to
like pick your brain about like tell me what it was like. What did it feel like? Tell me, you know,
what I should be remembering because now I'm seeing them and I'm seeing them so emotional and I
knew how deep how deep everything was for like their relationships with like just a kind of
experiencing that from the outside and then having you kind of give me a little bit of a
background of of just what what the city felt like then how they felt about the team and the
organization. I don't know. It was really oh man. I could have gone on for hours. Yeah. Why don't
you do that right now on your show for the audience and for Dana. What was it like? Yeah. Well,
here's what it was like. It was a brand new sport for our remote yet burgeoning outpost and it
was new guys. It was new everything. It was an enterprise that was built from the ground up,
from the literal ground up. And you know, I look at those guys today and I tell them this every time
I see them as the guys who taught me what NBA basketball was really about. You know, I mean,
I was a fan and I would watch it on TV and everything like that. But until you're there and until
you're, you know, until you have a real vantage point on it that I was fortunate enough to have,
then you really don't get it. But it was from the ground up and the fans took to them right away.
That was so cool to watch. The fans took to this sport that was foreign to most of them and
probably most of them really didn't much care about until they got here. But it was just kind of a
ground ground swell thing, you know, like the words started to get out. Hey, man, you ought to go to
a Mavericks game. They're really fun. Really cool. And that just kind of built up over those first
couple of seasons. And then two or three years when the team started to get good, bring in,
you know, better players and start to have a little bit more direction. It was just it was like
it just blasted off from there. And it was so cool. I feel like I'm so glad that maybe we're having
this moment. It feels really meaningful right now because we've been, I think we're taking,
we've taken for granted so much of what was built then so much of obviously now what we've enjoyed
these last 20 plus years. And then, you know, there's been all this this turmoil here the last,
you know, year plus. And it was, it just gave me a moment to like really want to appreciate
what we have. And how hard it was to get it here. And how, you know, we just, you write out these
moments and it's never just from point A to point B. There's going to be all kinds of ups and
downs. But I just, I've kind of felt like it was so meaningful to have this minute to like really
appreciate that. And I don't know. It's made me really happy that day. My heart was like about
this full, you know, because and then to just have the game play out. I mean, like it did. And
that's what I, I think that's why if I really am like super genuine when I'm doing these shows,
like I love what I do. And I love telling these stories. And like that night, I was just like,
I can't believe this is happening. That on the night, you know, Marco Guyers,
Jersey's going to the rafters, Cooper Flag's going to come in and break his record. And then I get
to like put a bow on it at the end of the night. And I'm just dying like this, the storyteller in
me is exploding because that's the, that's what's so the beauty of sports, you know. Yeah, that's
where it's all that. Yeah. It's been so neat to watch it for all of them because I, they're also
appreciative of it. But and I never thought I'd be saying this because me and this guy had our
ups and downs over the years back in the day. He had a ups and downs with a lot of people,
but I'm really happy for Norm Sancho. I'm really glad that he was able to get down here and see this
because I mean, back of the day, he was, he was a guy who was really running the organization.
And he ran it hard. I mean, he went hard at everybody. And what I've always heard the legend has it
that that before this God here, and I don't know how this happened, but before this all God here,
he became infatuated with the idea of an NBA team here, even though he had no time here whatsoever.
And to invest, he became, he got this got this got tuned to the point where he supposedly on his
own nickel came down here, stayed for a few weeks and just went around to businesses talking to them
about getting involved. If, you know, if I could bring an NBA team here, would you be in like to
be involved? You know, just from the ground up and to see what it's turned into and to see him,
you know, still able to get around and come down here for it was, that was really cool.
And I'm sure too, I can appreciate like if you put that much of your heart and soul and an idea.
And I mean, it was, I've seen the word torturous just used to describe the process for him, the
many years it took to get from like idea to, we're being announced as the city that gets a team.
You know, and then you get to that point and you're not about to like let anything fall, you know,
through the cracks and he was a marketing guy from what I understand too. You know, like maybe not
necessarily his expertise in the in the building of a team side, but man, he was going to market that
thing and he was going to be out there getting people on board with it. And I learned so much about
that too over these last couple of weeks. It's been pretty fascinating. It's been awesome to watch.
Like I say, very, very happy for all of those involvement. There are a lot of people out there
who put a lot into this thing. It's really cool to watch. All right, now I want to ask you about
something here that that may bring the room down a little bit. Oh gosh, gonna make me sweat.
Okay, I'm ready. You're good. You're good. I'm ready. But I always I've always wanted to ask somebody on
the inside of the regional sports network scene. Where's this going?
And I, you know, it's really hard because I know I work for the maps. So the Mavericks network
created out of the fact that the regional sports network was not sustainable. And the moves
at the end of the the ballies and that sort of thing, you know, financially not viable. And the
teams had to come up with a new plan. And it feels like this is a transition period. There's no doubt
about it. And the teams have a lot of them have taken back control, creating their own networks,
trying to figure out what that means, you know, going forward. And I think there were so many years
where they were the beneficiaries of these regionals paying for the rights to do this. And so now it's
that is not the case anymore. They got to figure out where that money is going to come from.
And I am definitely not an expert on this by any means. And, you know, somebody who just
daily is like, please just, please, please find a way to to keep this going because I'm so
grateful that the Mavericks were able to, you know, have the resources to put behind creating
something. And the wherewithal and the time being to find partners to get it over the air,
you know, so there were options beyond streaming, but to also give a streaming option because
that is obviously how everything is going these days. So I don't have, I definitely don't have
a crystal ball. And I wish I probably would sleep better at night, to be honest, if I did,
because I don't know. And it's a little nerve wracking, for sure. But, you know, we know
there are big partners, there are big mega companies out there that have a lot of money. And I have
a feeling they're going to find a way. Some that are already dabbling in it, I would imagine. And
might end up, you know, partnering with the league specifically or because I don't, I don't know,
but it feels like each individual team does it that also doesn't feel super viable long-term.
Yeah. You know, and it's made it really hard on the fans. You know, we used to every night,
we knew exactly where to go to find the stars and the maps and the Rangers. And now it's
difficult to find every team. And it's cost you individual, you know, money to watch each one.
And we don't want people having to decide. Oh, I guess I'm only going to be a maps fan,
because that's the only amount of money I can spend on my sports viewing. We don't want that,
you know, that's not doing anybody. You know, we just don't want to be able to, or to be
hurting things that way. So I don't know, but I'm hopeful, some smart person out there is going
to figure this out. What have the last five years or so been like for you? I know it's been. Yeah,
not. I've kind of been in and out of the scene too of just, you know, transitioning the, you know,
we think this is where we're going to wind up. Yeah. And then you don't. And then something else
happens. And it's just been really weird. Now, imagine, you know, especially as a on-air talent,
you know, I think there's maybe, you know, being kind of the face of the production and all that,
there's got to be a little different pressure or just awareness maybe of your situation.
Like where are you all going next year? What's going to, where are we going to find you?
Well, and I'm happy to have these conversations in the grocery store like I do about five times a
week with everybody wanting to know the same thing, or to get mad at me too. Like, why can't I watch?
What's going on or whatever? And I patiently listen to everybody because I get it. I feel it.
And it has been really unsettling. I mean, I hate to say that. Like, it was a bummer to see
something that I was with for like the better part of 20 years. I've really felt, you know,
connected to the, you know, the Southwest Sports Report and what that turned into. And I felt
like we helped build this nice thing that all of a sudden was just like gone. And I'm like,
I was kind of like a free agent, you know, I'm running around working freelance work and hoping to
just, you know, keep having gigs and lucky, lucky that the Mavericks, you know, wanted to have
me for this stretch. And I hope continue to for a while. I don't know, but it's, it's weird.
Well, I think they're good with you. I hope so. But if you could write a little letter of
recommendation, I would mind cloud over there. But I don't know, maybe as we get bigger here,
I don't know what you do. You do. I'll coast on it. There you go. Do you have a sport that you
like working better than others? Well, I think, I mean, I, and I'm not just saying this really
and truly it has 100% become basketball. I, my love of football is like just what I started with
as a kid like football has been my favorite thing on earth. But in terms of working and covering,
I think basketball is like the perfect sport. I mean, it's, you know, you got like a here,
here's some selfish things. I'll just tell you. Okay. You got a clock. Because baseball can be
pretty long. And I have spent a lot of late late nights doing baseball games into the wee hours.
But I mean, I know you know exactly what I'm talking about. But yeah, rain delays on the west coast.
Rain delays. Another example. So basketball has a roof. There's another great example. A roof
in a clock. So selfishly those things, you know, play into why it makes my life easier a little bit
more fun. But I just think like, like basketball is so action packed. It's, it's, it's that, you know,
the excitement inside the arena is usually off the charts, no matter what's going on. It,
it just lends itself to be a really fun sport to watch and really easy to talk about. Yeah,
I would say what about you? I'm more of a baseball guy. Yeah. Oh, I shouldn't. I do know that.
If you can't, but yes, but I love them all. Yeah. I love football. I love basketball. I don't know if
I can say I love hockey, but I have become a fan. Yeah. You've become pretty big into it. What?
You've been probably more stars games than Rangers games almost. Um, I don't know. There's one A
and one B. That's fair. Yeah. But did you ever think stars would be the one B? Oh, no, no. I
didn't. I didn't. But I have turned into a fan. I still can't look at a game and tell you why
whatever just happened did. Yeah. You're not going to be able to call out icing before the ref puts
you in. I still don't know icing. I see it. I don't either to be fair. But I'm just as far as
the action of the game. I mean, you can't beat it, especially when you're second row. Yeah.
Oh, that doesn't hurt. No, it doesn't hurt. I don't think I've ever been that close. I,
I mean, I've done, you know, been like press row kind of stuff when doing the games. I've never
sat as a fan. Well, you know, who has tickets down there? Oh, my grinder.
Oh, no, no, I don't have tickets. What I've got is a little buddy who does.
It's always good to have those buddies. Yeah. We need to bang it on the glass.
It is. You know, or at least hold up the sign. That would be so great. I do have great memories, though,
of because when I did do stars hockey, I mean, it was like the Marty Turko era and he was great.
So that was so much fun. I feel super lucky about a lot of the teams I've gotten to cover because
they've just been great guys. Well, I'm glad you brought that up. Okay. Because that will
spellly segue into where I want to go next. Okay. She's a, she's an anchor, even when she's not
with you. That's right. And now it's time for Dana's favorites.
Who are some of the best managers and coaches that you've enjoyed dealing with over the years?
Managers and coaches. So I am like forever grateful to some of the ones that I that I was when
I was new in the business that were really kind to me because I was so intimidated. I was so
intimidated. So Mac Brown is number one. He was amazing. I was really new working in Austin and
covering UT football. And it was big time. I mean, we covered the year. They won the national
championship with Vince Young. And so Mac Brown was amazing. I really, Rick Barnes was the basketball
coach at UT at the time. He was also wild. He taught me that like you got to be ready for anything.
He would say the most outlandish things I never could see coming. And I was just petrified.
So I, I'm grateful for some of those things because they taught me a lot along the way.
Nelly was great. Avery Johnson was wonderful. And now I've like worked with him as an analyst on
shows. And I just like, I can't believe that either. And Avery was always great. Gosh, I got
it just sitting there here in him talk. Oh, I know. I do too. He's one of those, he's one of those
things that just his speech pattern, the sound of his voice. I get so focused on those things that
I kind of lose track of what he said. Yeah. That's true. Devon Harris does a great Avery Johnson
impersonation. He played for him, of course. And he any time we can do Avery, and he always, you
know, brings up the, I don't even want to do it. But it's so funny when Devon does it. And I've
done a show with the two of them working together now with me. And Devon will start to do it. And
Avery will say, Devon, you need to stop that. You know, it's terrible. I'm doing a terrible. But
it is so funny. It is really funny to hear them go back and forth. But I even remember Avery like
I actually worked through two pregnancies in this business, which is a kind of a awkward,
interesting dynamic to have when you're covering, you know, professional men's sports usually. So
the first time I was pregnant, I was, I just didn't know like, is this okay? Do I hide it? Should I
not? What is what I don't know what to do about this? I can't really hide it eventually. And I
do remember going to a practice media availability with Avery. And he answered all the questions. He
was great. And then afterwards, he came over to me and he rubbed my belly and told me congratulations.
And so he was so happy for me. And I mean, I just felt like it just meant so much. And I was like
relaxed about it. Yeah. Okay. Okay. I can do this. People are okay. They'll accept it. It's not too
weird. So I get I'm trying to think of, I mean, there's been so many over the years. Actually,
Buck Schowalter was was very kind. I know he's, you know, different to deal with at times. But like
we went to his house in Florida and in the off season. And when you get to see people sort of
in their own element, he was, he was interesting. I'm trying to think I've rick Carlisle through
the years has been really, really great taught me a lot. Like just in terms of how to prepare,
don't show up without being prepared. You better ask something smart. And if you do all that.
And if you do all that, guess what? You are going to earn as respect. And then if you've earned
his respect, he's in he's got your back forever. Yeah. I know. I can see that. I can see him being like
that. But, but I don't know. So some of us weren't around enough to respect. Well, and you see,
that's the other thing that's so tricky. Like if you're just, you know, sometimes you just see
sound bites and how somebody deals with, you know, different media situations are you're not really
getting a true, a true feel for them. And I'm just as much someone to like make snap judgments
just like anybody else on people and go like at all how they answer that question. I don't think
they're probably a very good person. And then you're like, oh, well, it was totally wrong. Or
I was totally right. And then you work with Rick Renter for two years.
We love it. We had him on. Yes, he's said of that chair. Oh my God.
No, he had. You might be surprised. I can't. I just did he do all this like DJ stuff. Oh,
my goodness. I know. I know. I can't tell you how much I love that. Yeah. And he brought
he brought carpets. I was going to say, did he sell you carpet? He my whole house is carpeted
thanks to Rick Renter. We worked together to do that. Like, I love that guy until I die. Did he
autograph a swatch for you? Swap? Swap? And his UT does like the funniest YouTube videos with his
like carpet stuff. He's was meant to be a salesman like in any former fashion. And I would buy anything
from the guy like anything or a weatherman or DJ. I mean, he do it all. All those things. I just
love that guy because I don't think he's ever had a bad day. No, I know. I know.
I know. He's great. He's great. Now you mentioned showalter. I had a interesting
interfacing with him one day. I can imagine. We kind of had we had our ups and downs with each other.
You know, when he was here. But one day I was up in it was just like a Saturday out of season.
I was up in Preston Center and I was waiting on somebody for something. And I had a little
time to kill. So I went into some forgotten restaurant. And I'm just walking in there and everything.
I'll see a guy sitting in a booth over here by himself. Don't think anything of him walk past him.
And then somebody yells wolf. And I turn and look at him. And I say it's showalter.
And he kind of gives me the like come over here. Sit down. And we sat there for about a good
90 minutes at least. Just talking baseball and talking stuff. I got to see him in a way that most
people don't certainly in a way that I never had before in a way that I probably otherwise would not
have. And that kind of brought me around on him a little bit.
It does. I mean, when you can have some personal interactions and you get a moment to see what
they're like, you know, real people, real people. And you never know what someone's been going through.
You never know it. You know, and of course he had dealt with a lot of tricky media situations
through the years before he got to us too. So you have your guard up and you're getting, you know,
that side of somebody. And it is really true that sometimes once you meet somebody and you see
they're just, you know, normal person, you're like, oh, okay, think about them differently.
Which is another reason a lot of times we, if we can, we really like to try to show that side
to people on our shows. It's like, you know, some of the off the court stuff feels really important
to bring to fans or bring to, you know, just to get another look at somebody because if you're,
you know, you were all different. Yeah. When we're, you know, I don't know.
I will be in touch or under siege. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Who are some of the players that you have particularly enjoyed?
Well, I mean, I know this is a long list.
Yeah. It's a pretty long list, which is why I'm so I feel super lucky. And, um, you know,
you say you said 1a and 1b and I probably have a 1a and 1b2. It's Dirk and Michael Young.
And I like literally don't even know. I feel like I don't even know where my career would be
without those two people. Obviously for what they did as players because then we had these amazing
games and seasons to follow and whatever. But they are just the most wonderful human beings,
you know, and just really were so respectful and let, you know, gave me the time of day,
gave me like treated me like I was a person and the interviews I did with Dirk over the years
are literally the most memorable, most fun experiences I ever can imagine having. He was,
and there wasn't a one that wasn't great because he's just that great. I mean, I know everybody
tells that story. I'm not telling anything new about Dirk and that's just why he's so great. But
like Michael is somebody now who I, you know, feel like I'm friends with almost, which I'm probably,
he's probably like, yeah, but maybe I'm overstating it. But like he, you know, watched his family grow up
and, you know, have a little interactions with him, you know, now and check in with him on his kids
and I'm just so happy for him and his life. And I feel like he's, you know, just a great guy.
I really miss that guy. I do too. I'm really miss him.
He needs to be around more. But he's just good for him. He's just often joy in life.
The good life. Good for him indeed. Yeah. Those are definitely my top two. But there's been a
lot of good ones through the years. And I feel like I'm so excited to get to work with some of them too
because Devon Harris is one I, like loved working with as a player. Josh Howard. I just, like,
I actually like really and truly loved Josh Howard. And I remember like he had kind of a, you
know, tough upbringing upbringing. And he was super close with his college coach who died. And I
remember asking about it. We cried together in an interview. And I'm just like, love Josh Howard.
And he's, you know, doing great now too. And we get to have him come on. JJ Berea. Like, I mean,
that just fun. Good people. I think this kind of folds into it. We got a listener question actually
from Shelby. Okay. Who is Dana's Mount Rushmore Dallas athlete? I may have just listed it. I feel
like he kind of did it. Okay, what? Let's stop down here for just a second. And we will come back here
with that. But right now, Dana, it is time for what is known around here as the dreaded and feared
mid showread. Don't be scared. Now, if you wouldn't like to have a drink of water
or anything like that or just kind of ease up for a couple of seconds, go ahead. Because I have
to talk to the masses here about something for a little bit. And what I have to talk to you about
is CBD. And the CBD House of Healing. I'm speaking to those of you out there who are
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You know that you have tried a lot of different things and none of them have worked. Well,
let me ask you, have you tried CBD? Have you been to the CBD House of Healing and checked it out?
If you haven't, you should because I was in this situation myself not too long ago. And I decided
to give it a try. I thought I was going to be walking into just a average spare head shop and
I'd walk out with incense and zigzags and stuff like like that. And that would really be about it.
No, no. What I walked into was a place run by a woman who is actually a registered nurse.
And I told her what was going on. She listened to me and she thought about it for a second
and gave me some stuff to try. She says, try this. And if it doesn't work, come back in here and we
will try something else. Well, I tried what she gave me. What she gave me was CBD gummies. Now,
look, I was skeptical. I'm skeptical of everything and everyone and I was skeptical of this.
But I tried them because I was so ready to be normal again and they worked.
They put me out of pain. When I felt bad, they made me feel better. And if they can do that
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Let's go. Where were we? We're going to give this to you.
It's just Mount Rushmore. Oh, yeah. Okay. Dallas athletes.
Okay. So I mean, you know, I don't haven't done a lot with the cowboy. So I'll probably just not
include a cowboy. If that's okay, is that okay? This is my Mount Rushmore. Okay. So and it'll be
like most likely, it's kind of again, sort of selfish like people who've been wonderful to work
with over the years. Of course. Slash great players. Okay. So Dirk. Dirk is number one.
Michael Young, we talked about that. I want to throw this is out there, not out there by any means
at all, but he wasn't, he still, he wasn't like actually still pitching when I've been around,
but Nolan Ryan, obviously, incredibly talented. And I was so intimidated to meet him and interview
him. And he was I was terrified, literally terrified and could not believe how, you know, just
easy to talk to he was. And then just that sort of that southern charm and the accent and I don't
it was it all came together and I just relaxed and I was like, this is amazing. And then getting
to know him through the years and getting to know his wife Ruth and his, his sons. And they even
sent a little baby spoon when I had my first daughter and it had a little glove on the end of the
baby spoon. And I just like Nolan Ryan and his wife Ruth. I mean, so I'm going to, I'm going to
put Nolan on there. And Marty, I would say Marty Turko and Elvis Andrews. How about that?
Hell yeah. Marty was wonderful to cover super, super nice. I felt like, you know, hockey is that
sport that I was like learning on the fly. And knew like I did not want to be exposed. I did not
want to look like I didn't know what I was talking about. I worked so hard to show up every day like
ready to go for that. And I felt like those guys were really easy and nice to, you know, help me
along along the way. So Marty was amazing, super fun. And Elvis, I mean, Elvis is Elvis, right? Like
how lucky are we to have had somebody like him come along and yeah, I should throw Adrian Beltsray
in there too, you know, but Elvis was just somebody that you kind of felt like you raised like a lot
you know, as we like he was so young when he came and he's so fun and funny and playful. And you're
just so happy that people will give you that, you know, because it's so, it's just so much easier
if everybody's like on the same page. Like, well, I'm not here to do anything, but just make you
look great. Like I'm not trying to ask the tough questions, but I am trying to like do this job
well, you know, and he was always wanting to play, play along. Can you imagine an infield of Belts,
Michael, and Elvis? Yeah. That was incredible. I know. That was just like, how lucky were we?
I know. I know not, and like from a, from a talent standpoint, from a professionalism standpoint,
from a play everyday standpoint, from a step up to the mic and answer all the questions. I mean,
they were just from a fun standpoint. Yes. Yeah. We had so much fun. Oh, man, we had so much fun.
Yeah. What is the one moment, Dana, that you were at, that you wouldn't take anything for?
Okay. That's, I think I would probably say the 2011 championship parade, because they won
on the road. And so it wasn't like the game itself. I was in a studio doing that post game show.
But the parade was where just, you know, complete like jubilation from every human being. And
it's a million degrees. I was nine months pregnant. I'm talking nine months pregnant. I literally
was the last thing I did. And then I went on maternity leave. So I have a picture and I'm a whale
in the chair, like just literally a whale. But I can't imagine that. Jason Terry over my shoulder
holding the trophy. And Jets another one I would add if I could keep adding to my Mount Rushmore.
And you know, just the memories of like guys just stopping by and talking and we're watching
the parade on the, the flow go by. And I'm literally doing a parade. You know, that's a funny
broadcasting experience too, you know, like a parade, a dirt singing. We are the champions and
everybody's happy. It was just, you know, it was just, it was so much fun. And it was all the things
about it with just my connection to like just being pregnant too. I've always remembered it so
fondly. And tell my daughter that all the time, like, you know, the last thing I ever did before I
had you was, you know, the Mav's championship parade. But I was, okay, I will, my, my honorable
mention maybe sure. I was on the field for the University of Texas National Championship.
And I was standing in the end zone that Vince Young ran to when he scored the big touchdown. And
there was a sport in the sports illustrated photo. You can see me and my cameraman. And there's
the confetti is falling in Vince Young. And, and I'm right there in the end zone. And I mean,
this is pretty early on in my, my career too. So I was like, wow, this is about as good as it gets.
Yeah. So that's a fun memory. All right. How about this? As far as the sports venues we have had,
which is or was or which ones are you partial to? Okay. Gosh. It's funny because I mean we've,
I've really only spent a lot of time and two of them, which is the AAC and
Rangers before they move to the new place. So I think, um, boy, I feel like I'm going to say
the ballpark because it, you know, being like outdoors and we had the, the two world series runs
and sitting, you know, in epic moments, like epic moments, obviously, um, that you kind of never
forget and as loud as it could be and like, you could see the sky and you could see the fireworks.
So I feel like I have, I probably am partial to the ballpark, maybe over the AAC, but I've like,
I've literally spent lifetimes in both of them. It feels like at this point and I haven't,
I mean, the new ballpark is beautiful. Don't get me wrong. I just had spent a whole lot more time
in the other one. Yeah. I would have to go with the temple myself. Yeah. It just, there was just
nothing like it. Yeah. I mean, I just could not believe that after all those years and that
swill of the other place, all of a sudden, a new season rolls around and now we got that.
You get to wear a sweater to a game. It's pretty neat with the ballpark. Oh, yeah. Yeah. I mean,
a roof is so game changing. Yeah. It is. It is. Yeah. But it is different, but it is different.
Yeah. Yeah. The sky. I just have a lot of memories of the sky. It's funny. You say that like
like the sun sets and, um, you know, I don't, and I think the fly, yeah, the flyovers and the
fireworks and I really do kind of remember sitting like when we, the playoff series,
we were, we were in the like, what did they call that? The, um, there was like the main press box,
but I was in one that was kind of in the outfield. So I was looking back and I looking back and
down on the field auxiliary. Yeah. We were out in the auxiliary and you're outside and it was,
I don't know. It was, it's, it's very special. Yeah. Yeah. And it was just so well done, so well designed
and classic. Yeah. I just so much detail went into it. I mean, Tom Sheifer was the man at the
helm of that. And I don't know what you think about him, but boy, that's one thing that he was going
to get right. If it was the last thing he ever did, that place was going to be the way he wanted
it. And he got it right. It's beautiful. I miss it. But I got to tell you, I don't hate the
globe. No. No, it's great. Yeah. It's great. It's really great. Bitch and complain like crazy about
it. And I do they really? Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Okay. I hear people bitching about it constantly. Okay.
And, and the crazy thing is when you ask a lot of them, what do you not like about it? They really
don't have a real platform to stand on. Basically just that it's not the temple. Yeah. Yeah. It's
just different. Yeah. Yeah. Right. Well, they put a roof on it. That ruined it. Yeah. But it's
nice and cool in here. Like that. Yeah. Pretty awesome. Yes. And I know reindeer lays. Yeah.
No reindeer lays. Yeah. When you go to a game, you know, you're going to see the game. How many
more massive reindeer lays like those crazy thunderstorms with buckets of sheets of water coming off
that, you know, that we sat through and it was. Yeah. I think I'm taking cover. Like when they
move everybody. Yes. Because there's a tornado. Yes. I know. I know. Do you ever want to do play by
playing? I think that there would may have been a time. But I don't I just think that I would have
gone about my career a little differently. If that had been something I kind of could see as
a possibility for me. And that really I did I never had that in that really was never like in the
cards. I still felt like I was kind of breaking through a little bit in areas as it was. And I really
and truly like I would I would have. I mean, because if I was going to do that, I would want to do it
right, which would be breaking it all the way back. Like go into school for it. Yeah. Starting at
the beginning, starting small, go into like I'm not even saying I could go to minor leagues. I'm
start I'm going to high school and asking if they let me do it. Yeah. You know, and I would want to
really and truly learn how to do it. Because I there's too many people that are too good at it.
You know, and work really hard at it and have been doing that the whole way. And honestly,
we had we did a women's all women's broadcast last year on the maps. And they asked me, do you
want to do the play by playing? I was like, I wouldn't. A, there is somebody who is really good at
it that deserves that. They've worked way too hard. Thank you for asking me, but there's no way
I'm just going to jump in there and not like have spent years learning how to do this. It is too
hard. And people are so good at it. And Mark follows the best there is. And he does it every night.
And I really and so maybe I should just stop now and start over and learn how to do that. We
started a different version of my career because I really would want to do it that way. And I just,
it's a little hard to go back and do that now because I just really didn't like learn how to do
that. And I would want to do it right. I have way too much respect for how hard that is and how
good the people are that do it. And I just not that I necessarily ever would would say I don't
want to do it. I just don't know if I missed that window of opportunity. But you just kind of got
the path you were on and wasn't a whole lot of reason to change it with as much stuff as you
were doing with Fox. I kind of exactly I like literally I felt like I was kind of just keeping my
head above water as it was. And I was so I mean I really and truly just wanted to do this job to do
it right and to do it well. It wasn't about being on TV. I am the most introverted extrovert or
extroverted introvert. There is like the idea honestly of being on TV make like but I know that
that's like what comes with the job. And so that part is not comfortable for me. That is hard to believe
Dana. That is hard to believe because you were I mean you get on TV and it's like imagine the
the screen lights up. That means so magic happens. That means so much. I think it's
maybe just because of the work that I put in to do that I feel comfortable in that moment and in
that spot and in that show. But like outside of that I mean they'll they like they don't say Dana
we're gonna put you on a one shot. And I'm like no don't do it. You know and I really don't
please don't put the camera on me. Please don't put the camera on me. I am so uncomfortable in my own
skin to be honest. It's taken a long time to get to where I am now. It's hard to believe.
Yeah. It's hard to believe you say I mean you seem so at ease and so natural and it just kind of
flows and maybe because I'm so used to it you know but still I see you on TV and there's Dana. She's
right where she should be. Look at her. She's she's making it happen the way she always does.
But I can vouch for the fact that she doesn't like being on the one shot. I've seen you a couple
times. Oh gosh. It was subtle enough but you know and this is off air but just seeing you in like
the monitors. Yes. We're you know producers telling you we're gonna start on a one shot with you
because maybe you have to do like a little read into a a sod or something. Yeah. Like I give myself
a pep talk. Okay. I mean you know there are so many people that are there are so many beautiful
women on TV and there are so many wonderful people on TV and I am just I did not come up with
that kind of like confidence and I you know have always felt like a fish out of water in this
business and would rather like blend into the background then like stand out you know I really
wanted to just like I wanted to go into the locker room and like look like one of the other like
beat writers. That was just incredible. You know and like just have my notepad and do my job and
the I you were such you were such a natural Dana. That was just incredulous to me. I guess along
those lines like did you ever have difficulties with certain athletes or with even certain
media members in the locker room or anything like that. I feel like you're such a delight. No.
That I can't really imagine a whole lot of people. Well it was no it was not easy. It was not easy.
I mean I definitely like I some of my first jobs were were small town Texas high school football. So
that right out of the gates you had some people coaches and things looking like you do not know
what you're talking about. And then I got here and I'm immediately like in the Rangers clubhouse
and there's Rafael Palmero and you know Alex Rodriguez and Kenny Rogers and those are not easy.
That those are not easy lockers to walk up to and they didn't exactly want you know
those females in there at the time either. And so I had to work through a lot of some of those
early uncomfortable days and there were some there were some other media members that definitely
didn't want us in there or other females who weren't exactly always the most encouraging too.
So there were dynamics that I had to work through which I don't know if that's why I had like you
know I wasn't always super confident or if that's just who I am that can just be who I am.
I don't know you've always seen super confident to me.
Fake it till you make it right. That's true. How much longer are you going to do this?
Is the wind inside for you? Oh my gosh. I hope not because I'm sending like kids off to college.
Oh then I can tell you the end is not inside. No I will be working. I will have to work forever
but I don't know about the TV gig. I don't know I mean I hope I really love this and I hope I can
do it for a really long time but I mean it is harder as you get older as a woman in this business
you know and I and that's just a real that's a reality that I've been aware of for many years
and I'm going to just keep hoping and I can do it as long as I can but I definitely am not ready
ready to be done. That's for sure. I can't imagine the TV scene around here without you in it.
Oh thank you. Thank you. Thank you for doing this today. It's been amazing.
Oh she is styling for Jordan. This makes me so happy. Oh yeah she is. That's right we do. Hold
that up here. I am okay where do I hold it so you can see it. Yes. I am obsessed with Boota Girl.
It happened for many years literally many years. I've been wearing them for such a long time.
I did maybe a Mav's event with okay Jessica. Wait the owner. Oh yes. Yes. I'm going to be I'm so
mad at myself that her name is blown out in my head right now but and she was so so kind to like
give us some and tell us about it. She was amazing and I love the company and so my daughters and
I have worn them for years and my producer Clark Rowe. Clark Rowe. When times get stressful
he always goes just put your bracelets on. You're serenity beads. He goes get your serenity beads
and I'm like okay I got them it'll be fine. Well the irony is he's usually the one causing you
to stress. I love him to death but he's a sort of stress. Live TV in general just has his moments.
Having you know voices in your ears all the time will cause you a little bit of insanity at
time but no I love these. The company is incredible. I am so amazed to learn that. Well well done
because everything about it is great. Yeah. All right she is the great Dana Larsen. Yay. Thank you
guys. This was so fun. I hope you've had a good time. We certainly have enjoyed having you.
You were awesome and I can't thank you enough and I think very highly of you. It's it means
the world to me. It means the world to me. I can't even tell you how many years ago I've seriously
been just listening and listening forever and ever and you know hoping and just hoping that
you would respect the work and it means so much to hear that you do. I do indeed. Thank you.
All right. Now if you like what we're doing around here at a little YDC here is what we need
from you. We need you to pick up your phone or get on your laptop or your tablet or whatever
and get us out there, man. Like us. Share us. Get us known out there. You keep doing that. We'll
keep doing this. It's how it works. Right, Shubi? Damn right. Shubi. All right. Thanks to Shubi.
Thanks to Ashley. Thanks to Becca. Thanks to the great Dana Larsen. Thank you for watching. Bye.
Bye.
All right. I'll go to pants. Go off.
Your Dark Companion is a stolen water media presentation.