Hour 2: That Guy Thursday

Summary

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Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 2: That Guy Thursday (June 25, 2026)

Episode Overview

This hour of the show balances classic New York sports frustration, raucous on-air banter, and quick dives into pop culture. The hosts focus heavily on the disarray of the New York Mets, fan identity, leadership in sports organizations, and “That Guy Thursday”—their signature segment to vent about recent irritations in sports and life. They also weigh in on the viral Caitlin Clark WNBA foul debate and close with a passionate talk about Simon & Garfunkel’s reunion. As always, the trio blends sports, life, and humor with a distinctly New York tone.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Parking Woes, Soundproofing, and Banter

• Don’s Meter Mishap: Don opens the hour lamenting forgetting to pay his parking meter, worrying about quotas and the myth of end-of-month ticket blitzes. The crew debates whether you can get multiple tickets for the same infraction in one day.
  • Quote: "Stupid, stupid, stupid… you don't want is the boot." – Don, [00:51]
• Changing Job Titles: They riff on what’s "politically correct" for parking enforcement, poking fun at evolving nomenclature ("meter maid" vs. "parking enforcement officer").
• Alan’s Soundproofing Debacle: Alan describes chaos at his house amid construction and jokes about attempts at soundproofing.
  • Quote: "You just say you don't love it." – Alan, [03:59]
  • Quote: "It's just interesting to talk to someone while there's another man… banging away at his house." – Don, [04:11]
• Banter on Aging & Home Projects: Alan confesses he wants to watch the contractor work—a sign, Peter notes, that homeownership makes everyone become like their parents.

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Mets Agony & Lack of Leadership (Big Segment)

• Caller Charles, Lifelong Mets Fan (Starts [06:05])

  • At 71, Charles despairs he’ll never see the Mets win again, blaming David Stearns for poor roster-building & passionless management. He cites a lack of chemistry, constant shuffling of pitchers, and the loss of key players.

• Hosts' Analysis & Riffing (06:05–18:22)

  • Stearns' Philosophy Critiqued: Peter asserts Stearns is overly cautious, favoring short-term contracts out of fear of bad long-term deals—especially with now-departed Pete Alonso.
    • Quote: "He is so afraid that he’s going to sign a guy to a long term contract and then that guy is going to be bad in the back end… and not thinking about maybe how good he could be in the front end." – Peter, [08:11]
  • Ownership & Dysfunction: Alan & Don dissect Mets' rudderless leadership—neither players nor management set a clear tone.
    • Quote: "Who’s the leader of this franchise? Who’s a guy that you say, he’s the face. This is the guy. Everybody follows his lead." – Alan, [12:58]
    • **"They don’t have a manager that does that. The manager is disillusioned… your owner, he’s not built like that… So the Mets don’t have that." – Alan, [15:19]
  • Comparisons to Yankees & Other Teams: Discussion on championship teams having individuals who impose a standard (Brian Cashman, CC Sabathia, Tom Coughlin).
  • Ultimate Frustration: The hosts yearn for a true leader in the Mets’ organization who sets expectations and holds everyone accountable.
    • Quote: "Somebody’s got to do it and make that understanding of this is how we play here, this is what we do here. And any of this crap that you just watched yesterday is unacceptable." – Alan, [18:10]

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Mets Fan Identity vs. Yankees (19:00)

• Jim from Queens Calls In: Wonders why manager Carlos Mendoza hasn’t been fired, claims the Mets are living "rent-free" in Yankees fans’ heads since the first call after a Mets rant was from a Yankees fan.
  • Quote: "That will be till the end of time." – Jim, [19:35]
  • Don & Peter respond: This isn’t what they want (“I want to live in that trophy with all the little flags on it”), and reiterate the Yankees’ focus will be elsewhere come October playoffs.

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World Cup & Ecuador’s Coach (20:05)

• Light banter on World Cup games, with Don latching onto Ecuador as his World Cup team—mainly due to the coach's long, flowing blond hair and rock-star name (Sebastian Ceci).
  • Quote: "All I know is he’s got long blond hair… Sebastian Ceci—are you kidding me? He is definitely a leader of a heavy metal band." – Alan, [20:41-20:50]

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That Guy Thursday: Rants & Observations (Starts [24:29])

Alan: NBA Draft Hat Nonsense ([25:54])

• Alan’s “That Guy”: Adam Silver & NBA Draft Logistics: Alan vents about the absurdity of players wearing hats of the wrong NBA teams because trades aren’t yet official during the draft. He shares a story about Ugonna Onyenso's journey through three teams in minutes, highlighting the confusion and poor optics.
  • Quote: "29 of 30 kids who were picked, this is their dream night, had the wrong hat on. So please, NBA, stop being that guy." – Alan, [29:08]
  • Peter's Fix: Suggests players wear a generic NBA hat until trades are official.
    • "Just give me a hat with the NBA." – Alan, [29:30]
    • "They should eliminate the hats and the players all just wear the jeans with all the logos." – Don, [29:42]

Don: Meter Miss & Self Chagrin ([30:08])

• Don admits he was so engrossed in show talk he forgot to pay his meter and got a ticket, owning up to being “that guy.”

Peter: Overreaction to Caitlin Clark WNBA Foul ([31:02])

• Peter rails against sports talkers and social media users who overreact to a hard foul on Caitlin Clark without context, despite rarely watching the WNBA.
  • Quote: "These people just show up… they see a clip, and then they start giving their speeches on the W. Shut up. You don’t watch the game." – Peter, [31:15]
• The hosts agree: Physicality is part of sports, and the complaints resemble a misunderstanding of how competitors challenge rising stars.
  • Quote: "If you’re a real league, the best players always get thrown around… That’s how you beat the Oilers—get physical with the talented player." – Don, [33:05]
• They also mock those calling for criminal charges, insisting that hard-nosed play is normal and should be addressed via officiating, not existential hand-wringing.
  • Quote: "The people… trying to give credibility to the WNBA are hurting it by saying things like that." – Peter, [34:44]

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BONUS: Simon & Garfunkel Reunion, Merch, & Legacy ([43:02])

• Peter’s Jay-Z Night: Peter recounts a Jay-Z anniversary event and his wife’s merch binge, joking about spending their life savings.
• Paul Simon & Art Garfunkel: Discussion about their rumored reconciliation—why old grievances can persist, and how history is balanced against ego and competition.
  • Quote: "Life’s too short. When you get to a certain age, don’t you just say, what the hell are we fighting about?" – Alan, [46:00]

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Mets Leadership: "The manager is disillusioned… your owner is not built like that… So the Mets don’t have that." – Alan, [15:19]
• NBA Draft Hat Snafu: "29 of 30 kids… had the wrong hat on. So please, NBA, stop being that guy." – Alan, [29:08]
• WNBA Clark Reaction: "These people just show up… and then they start giving their speeches on the W. Shut up. You don’t watch the game." – Peter, [31:15]
• Fan Identity: "That’s not what I’m in this for. You know what I want to do? I want to live in that trophy with all the little flags on it." – Peter, [19:41]

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Important Timestamps

• 06:05 – Charles the lifelong Mets fan unpacks Mets despair
• 08:05 – Hosts critique David Stearns' roster philosophy
• 12:58 – Who is the Mets leader? (extended team leadership debate)
• 18:22 – Lack of accountability/leadership as fundamental Mets problem
• 19:35 – Call from Jim in Queens: Mets vs. Yankees fan identity
• 24:29 – "That Guy Thursday" segment begins
• 25:54 – Alan’s NBA Draft “hat” rant
• 31:02 – Peter's take on Caitlin Clark WNBA foul overreaction
• 33:05 – Discussion on physicality in pro sports
• 43:02 – Jay-Z event, old school rap memories
• 45:06 – Simon & Garfunkel reconciliation, legacy debate

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Style & Tone

• Conversational, teasing, opinionated, and sometimes self-deprecating, with New York sports pain and pride ever-present.
• Hosts are unfiltered and knowledgeable but also drive home the value of context, credibility, and not taking sports clichés at face value.
• The episode balances sports nuts-and-bolts with pop culture and personal stories, giving it a true “New York radio” feel.

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Summary

This hour of Don, Hahn & Rosenberg offers classic NYC banter, a whip-smart takedown of Mets dysfunction, and critiques of performative sports hot takes. The trio’s insight on what separates winning organizations from perennial losers shines alongside authentic fan frustrations. Whether it’s the Mets, the NBA Draft’s awkward hat tradition, or the WNBA’s transition-to-mainstream growing pains, the hosts mix real expertise with humor. “That Guy Thursday” lets them vent, but it’s always with an eye toward what really matters in sports and life: leadership, credibility, and, above all, the pursuit of excellence (and good merch).

Transcript

[Alan Hahn]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Alan Hahn]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Don La Greca]

This is the Don, Han and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That sounds like heaven to me.

[Don La Greca]

Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New

[Alan Hahn]

York app, and your smart speakers.

[Don La Greca]

Oh, yeah, baby. I. I forgot to pay my meter.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think you just pay again because.

[Don La Greca]

No, I'm paying. I just can't believe I completely forgot. I walked out of the car, hustled over, and then you look at you. I didn't even. Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid. And you're getting late in the month, which is when it feels like they start going for the quotas.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Is that a thing?

[Don La Greca]

I think it is.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I believe it. But I'm only basing it on seeing how many people get pulled over at the end of the month. But I've heard that's a myth from police. But I would expect the police to say it's a myth because they want to keep. They want to keep it mystical.

[Don La Greca]

Well, here's the question I asked for. I asked though, if you did already get a ticket, will you get it? You won't get another one.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's a good question.

[Don La Greca]

Four hour window. Will you?

[Peter Rosenberg]

You're Mr. New York Allen. Would you get another ticket if you already have a ticket?

[Caller/Guest]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Haven't you ever seen that where they just. The tickets just pile up.

[Don La Greca]

But not in what I feel like

[Peter Rosenberg]

that's not one day.

[Caller/Guest]

No.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't think in one. I don't think you get. First of all, it's the same probably meter made. Right. So they're not going to just keep coming back to you. You don't want. Is the boot.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I would think they'd have a problem with that name. What?

[Don La Greca]

Meter made.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, he's not.

[Alan Hahn]

What else do you call if I.

[Peter Rosenberg]

If I can't say stewardess anymore? I don't think I should be allowed to say meter mate.

[Alan Hahn]

What am I supposed to call them? Parking.

[Don La Greca]

The parking enforcement.

[Alan Hahn]

Parking enforcement.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, I don't. I don't know. I'm guessing, but I would think is

[Alan Hahn]

there a proper name now for. For this that I don't know about?

[Don La Greca]

I'm so annoyed. I hate when I just forget to pay a meter. And that is the Worst.

[Alan Hahn]

But you don't have it on the app.

[Don La Greca]

No. Now, I mean, I normally do, but I. That was the plan. I just didn't do it.

[Alan Hahn]

Wait, there's no.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He did the rare. Got out of the car. He thought it was like 1925. He got out of the car and walked into the building.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh. Put some coins in it. Right.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah. I turned a little dial. I just got distracted. We were on our call and I was just distracted with whatever we're talking about and I just walked away.

[Alan Hahn]

Apparently it is called parking enforcement officer. Did you know that?

[Don La Greca]

That sounds right.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. Hey, Al, A peo to you and me.

[Don La Greca]

Hey, Alan, do you remember when we were planning for the show and you said they're doing all kinds of construction here, but don't worry, my room's getting completely soundproofed.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, it's not.

[Don La Greca]

I want to talk. Talk through what your views on soundproofing were.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, well. Well, because right now, look, I'm going to be open and honest, everybody. You've heard me talk all about the. The great door I'm getting from Rings End. We'll discuss a little bit later on in the show and.

[Don La Greca]

Sure.

[Alan Hahn]

The project that we're doing at the house. Well, the door was ordered. It came right before the show.

[Don La Greca]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

My contractor, Michael's been great. He made, you know, the opening for the door. Everything set up, but he's got to take out an old header and build a new one. He's taking out the old header and it's just very complicated to take out a header. For anybody that's ever done this, you know, it's noisy and messy. This is the time he's taking out the header. So he was. He's trying to do most of the noise during the breaks and I'm trying to turn the microphone off as much as I possibly can.

[Don La Greca]

No, listen, you're doing a pretty good job. My point was just that those soundproofing you spoke of was not maybe 100% accurate.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, I mean, the door isn't soundproof. Everything else around me is.

[Don La Greca]

Got it.

[Alan Hahn]

And it's an echoey room, so.

[Don La Greca]

Well, listen, it's just fun to hear. You know, it's an interesting situation. We talk to.

[Alan Hahn]

You just say you don't love it.

[Don La Greca]

No, it's just interesting to talk to someone while there's another man.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm 98% waterproof, except for my nose. A mouth. Otherwise I would never drown.

[Don La Greca]

That's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's right.

[Don La Greca]

It's just interesting. You're listening to Allan while another man is just banging away at his house.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, excuse me.

[Caller/Guest]

How.

[Don La Greca]

What else?

[Alan Hahn]

I like the way you. I don't like how else you describe

[Don La Greca]

it, except there's a man banging away.

[Alan Hahn]

There's only one man doing any banging in this house. You understand me?

[Don La Greca]

He's banging and banging right now.

[Alan Hahn]

But. But it, it is an exciting project that, by the way, as much as I love you guys, it's killing me to not be able to just hover over him while he.

[Don La Greca]

Oh, you want to see it so bad? He loves it. He loves.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So he's like his dad, right? Like he's made that commercial.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, he's become his dad.

[Caller/Guest]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You don't have that.

[Caller/Guest]

That.

[Peter Rosenberg]

There's more than. Than 12 items in that. Let it go. Walk away. Once you buy a house, you start to be. Act like your parents.

[Alan Hahn]

I can't. But you're so right, though, about me wanting to help out. He's so right.

[Don La Greca]

Germany up one. Nothing early on. Ecuador at MetLife Stadium as we are. It's a day of group play in the World cup six games today.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Carlin and Bart are in Hoboken right now.

[Don La Greca]

You know, I'm glad you brought that up. And they're not the only ones. How about this? RJ Santillo and Ray Santiago of DPA and Rothenberg on Monday will be out this Monday, June 29, for a watch party presented by Radeburger pilsner. Watch the 430 match at the Ainsley Bowery on the Lower east side. Enjoy pilsner perfection since 1872 from the first German Pilsner come out. Grab a cold Rataburger, which is. I used to tempt women with that about taking a date. And join the energy with ESPN New York. That's RJ Santillo and Ray Santiago live at the Ainsley Bowery this Monday, June 29th. Brought to you by Rataberger Pilsner. Now, I promised you we had a caller with a lot of passion on the other side. And here is Charles in New Jersey. He wants to speak on the Mets. Hey, Charles.

[Caller/Guest]

Hey, what's going on, fellas? How you feeling?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Hey there.

[Caller/Guest]

I want to. First of all, I want to thank you for taking my call. I do appreciate it. And you know, this is, you know, this is your old man call here, but here, here we go. I'm 71 years old and I've been a Mets fan since 1960. And I say 63 because the first game I ever saw was the seventh game of the World Series. The Yankees Giants. So the following year Duke Snyder. And because of my last name, I became a Mets fan and have been one ever since. My biggest fear at 71 is I'm never going to see them as a winner again. David Stearns is in my opinion, a poor evaluator of major league talent. And the way he's put this team together really without any passion or what have you, I understand money, money, money, but at the same token, fellas, I mean there's a certain part of team sports which chemistry comes into play and you can't tell me that that chemistry that was then in 2004 and was disrupted by Stearns in 2005 last year did not play a role. Aside from Pete gone, Mims is gone, Diaz is gone. And I mean, you know, I'm not going to, at this rate, I'm not going to see the Mets as a winner again. You know, you go back to last year where he was shuffling ineffective pitcher after ineffective pitcher between what was the circus, Binghamton, wherever, right? You know, Tommy Tom, that was, I mean that killed me. That really killed me. And what's going on this year is a travesty. I don't know how the guy. Go ahead.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You're right about it being a travesty, Charles, but to me it's not really being like evaluating talent because you've got scouts. And it's just, it's a philosophy he has of so deathly afraid of getting into bad contracts. He's trying to find players on the cheap, not cheap financially. He's trying to get guys that'll sign two year contracts so in case they don't work out, he's able to get out of the deals. He is so afraid that he's going to sign a guy to a long term contract and then that guy is going to be bad in the back end of the contract and not thinking about maybe how good the guy could be in the front end. Alonso is the perfect example of that. Alonzo was a guy that was a good player, much better than what's been at first base all year. But he wanted a five year deal. He probably could have got him for three, but he knew that the last two years of the five year deal would be bad. And I say, so what? You've got an owner that can live with that. That's the benefit of having the owner not going out and spending hundreds of millions of dollars on a free agent. It's hey, if we got Pete Alonso and then the last couple of years of the contract are bad, you know what, I'll cut Them I'll eat that money and then I'll use it on somebody else. Now, the cap, we'll see if we. How that might affect things. This might. Guys, this might turn out to be a good thing. All these short term contracts might work to the Mets advantage if there is a salary cap. But I got to live in the now. I can't always think about the future, guys, especially if I'm a team that's gone 40 years without winning and I've got Soto and I've got Lindor. I'm paying big money to these guys. They're not going to be young forever.

[Alan Hahn]

But wait, Don, just let's stop there and not worry about the cap, okay? Let's just say we know there's going to be some type of cost certainty in Major League Baseball.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Caller/Guest]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

We know it's coming. Some type. Whether it's a soft cap or not, something's coming.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I agree.

[Alan Hahn]

There's also probably not going to be a season or half of a season, whatever it is. We know that all this is. Let's just take that as these are, these are absolutes. Do you think David Stearns can build a roster? Do you think he's good at talent evaluation? He's already kind of working within budget restraints.

[Caller/Guest]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

He's already kind of trying to keep them from being the Dodgers. The owner was the one that pushed some of the other money stuff, not him.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No.

[Alan Hahn]

So let's get, let's just, let's play in that, in that sandbox. Does he really look to you like somebody that A, is in control, in charge, and B, competent enough to build a team in this market, not in a small market, in this market to be successful?

[Peter Rosenberg]

It doesn't feel that way.

[Alan Hahn]

Is there any evidence that tells you that that's. That he can do it?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, there's evidence that he's a guy that with moderate means can put together a baseball team that can, that loses in the.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. That can make the playoffs in the center.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And listen, Milwaukee's still very good and a lot of the players that are there were there on his watch. But what do the central divisions in both the American and National League have in common? Not great. Not great, Bob. Not very good. And teams that don't make runs. All right. At least over the last decade. Right. All the Royals recently and all the Guardians have been recently. And the Tiger, it was recently. They're just whipping boys for the Yankees and the National League. Same thing. What have the Reds done in recent vintage? What are the Cardinals done recently? What are the brewers done recently? What are the Cubs have done recently? That amazing World Series championship was a decade ago. So is Milwaukee great? Are they just a byproduct of a bad division? And you just said it. Once they get to the playoffs, they never do anything like. So I don't want to take away from the fact that he built a pretty decent team in Milwaukee, but it's not working here. And it's. And you shouldn't have to penny pinch and give short term contracts when you've got an owner that's got $23 billion. So my problem is I'm sure he's good at baseball. You couldn't reach these heights without knowing something about the game of baseball. My problem is his general philosophy on pitching. Peter, I think you agree we can kind of understand not giving long term contracts, but the everyday players. You have an owner that just gave a 15 year contract to Juan Soto. So I.

[Alan Hahn]

He wanted it, right? He wanted.

[Don La Greca]

By the way, that's going swimmingly well.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's not Juan's fault.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, I'm not blaming him.

[Don La Greca]

No, hold on, hold on. I agree, guys, but in a year in which this team has looked lethargic and just not great, he's had plenty of moments to not do that. And we don't know whether he's willing to be on the field at the same time with Francisco Lindor. It hasn't been great. No matter. Yes, he still hits, he puts bat on ball, but he shows no effort. He doesn't seem to be able to get along with the other guy who stuck there for a decade. It hasn't been great.

[Alan Hahn]

And let me go back to one more thing. Who's the leader of this franchise? Who's a guy that you say he's the face. This is the guy.

[Caller/Guest]

He.

[Alan Hahn]

Everybody follows his lead. Everybody follows. He sets the standard. He, you know, like all good teams have that guy.

[Don La Greca]

It's been tough. You thought it was. You thought it was Lindor.

[Alan Hahn]

Sometimes in other sports it can be the owner, sometimes it's the general manager, the president of whatever operations. Right, Whatever put enter sport here.

[Caller/Guest]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

But it usually could be the president who just sets the tone. This is who we are.

[Don La Greca]

Oh, you mean non player. You mean just anyone?

[Alan Hahn]

It doesn't. Well, it's the coach of the manager and sometimes it's the star player.

[Caller/Guest]

Who.

[Alan Hahn]

Who is it for? The Mets?

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right, well, you said good team. They're not a good team. So they're rudderless ship. The last time they were good, it was Lindor. Even more than Alonzo. It felt like it was Lindor's team, and he had the big grand slam against Philadelphia. He had the big second half of the season. It felt like he was the first guy that got the big contract from Cohen. It felt like it was Lindor. That's not the case anymore. Soto, I don't think, wants any part of it. It's not Pete. Pete's gone.

[Alan Hahn]

Could have been either, though. You know what I mean? Like, they don't. I don't don. The. The right answer is they don't have one. They've never had one. They've never. Lindor might have. Might have been sort of like that because he had a click, and the click was around him, and that's the buzz. But you could tell that that click fell apart. And especially the guys that weren't in the clique, they're the ones that aren't here anymore, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

All right. So what really, do you have? What standard does the Mets have, and who is it that's upholding it? They don't have that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's a work in progress.

[Alan Hahn]

We just talked about cece Sabathia. Cece was the one. Even when he fell off as a talent, he still, though, was a guy that, in that clubhouse, people respected, went up to and followed. And when things went south, he was the first guy to get in someone's face and say, we don't do that here.

[Caller/Guest]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

You don't have that. They don't even have a general manager that does that. They don't have a manager that does that. The manager is disillusioned right now.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, the key word that's my biggest

[Alan Hahn]

concern about Carlos, like, but Mindy is the fact that he's disillusioned. I can't have you disillusioned. You need to get tougher. You need to be. You need to be the one that drags us out of this. That's why you're a leader. But he's disillusioned. That's scary. And then your owner, he's not built like that.

[Caller/Guest]

He.

[Alan Hahn]

He's a money guy. So the Mets don't have that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, you just said, what do winning teams have? They're not a winning team.

[Caller/Guest]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And you got to find it. And again, we keep circling around the run in 24 with the Alonzo home run, and they beat the Phillies and Diaz with the big saves, and they end up losing to the Dodgers. They're one of the worst teams of baseball in the first half of the season. Then they Got hot. So, like, how good was that team? How sustainable was that team anyway? Like, so when we. When we go back to when the Mets were good, were they really that good or were they. Did they just a team that got hot, went on a little bit of a run, and then that same team came back and won 83 games and missed the playoffs? So when have they been good? When have they been. When there has there been zero dysfunction? When have they been well run. When was that? 15, when they went to the World Series. Then they followed it up with a wild card appearance the next year. That's a good.

[Don La Greca]

Pretty good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It was a decade ago.

[Alan Hahn]

Isn't that when they brought in Sandy or no, am I wrong? Was Sandy after that?

[Don La Greca]

Sandy's before that?

[Alan Hahn]

Alderson wasn't Sandy before that.

[Don La Greca]

Before that was Sandy Steam.

[Alan Hahn]

Because I believe. And he was the guy that had to come in and do what, Don. Get everybody in order, get this thing back on track. That's the point. You need people like that. It's why the Giants went off the rails when Tom Coughlin walked out the door. It's all like, come on, it's easy math. They don't have it in the organization. For all the. For all. We want to scream and yell about Brian Cashman. I always lead the way. The one thing you can't argue is that Brian Cashman has a plan and everybody follows it. And anybody that doesn't, you're not gonna be part of it. Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Pretty clear for right or wrong. Right.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

This is who we are. This is how we play. This is how it's going to be. And it look, they. They win every year now we want more, of course, and that's why I have frustrations with him. But he's defined about their style because he proves every year. We've already talked about this, so I don't have to go into it, but it's like, that's what has to happen. And for the Mets, their owner is kind of this wishy washy, I'm a money guy, kind of nerdy. Like, he's like, you think. You really think that he understands athletes and sports and all that stuff? He doesn't. He knows he doesn't. I give him credit for that. He doesn't try to be something he's not. Like Woody Johnson, who tries to be something he's not. But he knows I got to write a check and we got to have the best of the best. Then he brings in people that he wants to trust that know what they're doing. And Stearns was that guy. He's failed him. So now he's got to find somebody better. And whoever he finds has to have a backbone that not only believes in the way he wants to build the team, but also understands that when I have a team that's playing like this, I got to close the door sometimes. And my spit's got to be all over the walls by the time I'm done talking to them. Because somebody's got to do it and make that understanding of this is how we play here, this is what we do here. And any of this crap that you just watched yesterday is unacceptable.

[Caller/Guest]

That's all.

[Alan Hahn]

That's sports, guys. This is a reality thing. It's not always just everybody's holding hands. Somebody has to be the bad guy every now and then. And at the Mets, I don't see one.

[Don La Greca]

Let's go to Jim in Queens. Hey Jim, how you doing?

[Caller/Guest]

Hey, what's up guys?

[Don La Greca]

Hey pal.

[Caller/Guest]

So two, two very quick points. One. I don't understand why Mendoza is not fired. This team clearly doesn't listen to him or his coaches regarding fielding, hitting or pitching. Like, I mean, just do it already. What are we waiting for? But there's one thing that's certain with the Mets and it's comical to me. I love it. But you talked about the Mets for an hour. You made a plea. Mets fans call up, we want to hear from you. And the first call you take is from a Yankees fan. So I, I love it. That good mid or bad, we are rent free in the simple minded Yankees fans brain. I, I'll take that. And that will be till the end of time.

[Don La Greca]

Well guys, that's nice, Jim. Sadly it's all you got.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But that's all you. That's not what I'm in this for.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, I mean I don't want to

[Peter Rosenberg]

live in anybody's head. You know what I want to do? I want, I want to live in that trophy with all the little flags on it. The piece of tiny that Manfred called. Yeah, I want to live in that for a while. Can I do that?

[Don La Greca]

And you may. And you may be in the Yankee fan today. But come to October when the. Come October, when the Yankees are playing, they won't be thinking about the Mets. They'll be thinking about their playoff games. And unfortunately Mets fans will be doing nothing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Was that the Ecuadorian head coach with the long blonde hair running around like he was David Lee Roth?

[Don La Greca]

I didn't see. No, it might have.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Is that. That's the coach I want him to win the whole day.

[Don La Greca]

You got Ecuador.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I want him to win the whole damn thing.

[Alan Hahn]

Let me see this.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know what? I just threw out David. I looked at him again. Not David Lee Roth. It's straighter, but it's straighter. Good looking guy running up and down. Long, flowing, blonde hair.

[Don La Greca]

That's your team?

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's my.

[Don La Greca]

He's in. So Don is in for Ecuador?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, I'm in for.

[Alan Hahn]

He's an Argentinian, actually.

[Don La Greca]

It doesn't matter.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Listen, I. All I know is he's got long blonde hair.

[Alan Hahn]

You know his name is Sebastian.

[Don La Greca]

Of course his name's Sebastian.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, wait a minute.

[Don La Greca]

What else would it be?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Sebastian Bach.

[Alan Hahn]

It might even be Becca. Ceci is his last name.

[Don La Greca]

Well, that's Don's guy now.

[Alan Hahn]

Sebastian Ceci. Are you kidding me? That. That. He is definitely a leader of a heavy metal. I mean, that name alone.

[Don La Greca]

Now Ecuador.

[Alan Hahn]

I have hair jealousy right now, boys. Wow. Serious hair jealousy.

[Don La Greca]

Now Ecuador. To me, Don, I think you'd want to get a win out of them to feel good about them getting out of the group stage.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, so they got to be Germany.

[Don La Greca]

They're currently 0, 1 and 1. A tie would maybe be enough.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm all in.

[Don La Greca]

All of a sudden, Madonna's locked in for Ecuador wearing their classic yellow uniforms.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Looks like they're playing the Kraken. Germany looks like the Seattle Kraken.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah. What is that color for Germany? I always think of Germany wearing, like, white.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, it's Germany's usually the black. Like red and yellow. Right?

[Don La Greca]

Well, no, usually I think of them as the white jersey with the black, red, and yellow.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, okay.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, we got. We got at least nothing on that.

[Don La Greca]

Nothing. And by the way, the ref is dressed like the Kraken as well.

[Alan Hahn]

This feels like when I watched the women's Olympic game and I was ahead of you guys, and you're.

[Don La Greca]

Oh, yeah, we're ahead of you now because we're here.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't know everything. I don't know a lot about the football. I think that was a good call.

[Don La Greca]

No, Don sounds good with that. It's 1:1 at the former MetLife Stadium now. New York, New Jersey Stadium, 24th minute between Germany and Ecuador. We actually. Don and I were having a conversation about World cup that we thought was worth bringing to the air.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes.

[Don La Greca]

We'll continue to take your calls on.

[Alan Hahn]

I like it.

[Don La Greca]

We'll continue to take your calls on Mets. Obviously, a lot of frustration there, but we'll move into some other things as well, including the level of excitement potentially around Team usa, who plays their third game in the group stage tonight against Turkey. But first, before that, we have a little that Guy Thursday coming up. You guys have a guy? Is there a guy? We'll find out next right here.

[Alan Hahn]

Don Hanna Rosen oh, I got a guy.

[Don La Greca]

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[Don La Greca]

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[Don La Greca]

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[Alan Hahn]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

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18

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[Alan Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don La Greca]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Alan Hahn]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. We all have that one friend.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm talking about the yo yos who set themselves on fire and bathe in pork and beans.

[Alan Hahn]

Or know that one person I'm here

[Don La Greca]

with my family who can't help but be he's not cool. His voice is weird. He's kind of a dork. His brother's a tool. His girlfriend's annoying that guy.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't know it was banner night. We won't be out for that.

[Alan Hahn]

It's time for that Guy Thursday. Hey guys, anyone want to play some

[Don La Greca]

ball with Don Han and Rosenberg?

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's just being that guy.

[Don La Greca]

Real quick as we get into that Guy Thursday, how about a little game time brought to you by Teleport Irish Whiskey because when it's game time, it's time. Mets closing it out with the Cubs. Thank God. Coverage immediately following us on 880 at 6:30. Team USA do you have my turkey? A drop over there, Jacob. We need to have that ready at all times. I shouldn't have to say it live when the glory already happened on tape. Team USA with the last group stage game against that's happening tonight. That's at 10 o'.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Clock.

[Don La Greca]

Liberty in the storm at 10 o' clock as well. Tullamore Dew, the original triple distilled, triple blended and triple cast matured Irish whiskey. Be sure to grab a Tullamore Dew or try the new Tullamore Dew honey today. During today's action, glasses up to enjoying Tullamore Dew responsibly. And with that I'm told Alan Hahn has a that guy to get us started.

[Alan Hahn]

And this one hurts to say because that guy is somebody I really like and respect and had a chance to spend some time with while covering the NBA draft the last two nights. And that's Adam Silver. This is why he. And it's not just him, it's the whole operation that's being that guy. Guys, we had two days of draft and we always know that there's trades that happen on draft night. It happens. But how many times do we have to have a player walk down, walk up to the podium, take a hat behind him. He takes a photo with the commissioner and behind him is a team and he ain't going there and everybody knows it. He's not going there, but the picture's taken. And then later on they fix it by taking some other picture at the facility. But. But the moment is on the stage, man, like that's when it matters. We already know this pick was traded. We know this, but it's not official. So they do the whole song and dance with the hat and the sign behind them. So the second round last night, guys, this was an old Timer. Every there's 30 picks, 29 of them were traded. So every kid that put a hat on had the wrong hat on. Think about it. Everybody. I'm Sorry, not everybody. 1 Jaden Bradley, who was the 50th overall pick, get out of Arizona, went to the Raptors. Only kid that had the right hat on the whole damn night. All of them. We had Uganda Onyeso who came over to us, Virginia, big man, impressive kid from. He's from Nigeria, but he was playing at Virginia. He led the nation in block shots. He was the 53rd pick that was originally the Knicks pick. The Knicks. I'm sorry, it was the Rockets pick. Because the Knicks and Rockets made a trade to start off the draft that became the Knicks pick. But because the Rockets owned the pick originally the kid had a Rockets hat on. So he comes over to our our area to do the interviews and he sat down and I fun thing I said to him was, well, I was like, you got a Rocket's hat on, but you know where you're going, right? He goes, no, I don't. I go, well, that's the Knicks pick. You're going to be a Knick. And he smiled and I was like, so you're home, you're in New York. In the midst of the interview, we got an alert from Shams. The Knicks have traded that pick to Detroit. So then at the end of the interview, I said, I hate to break it to you, but you've been in New York for five minutes. You're already being moved, you're on your way to the Pistons. And it's like the kid's face was so confused. He's been on three teams in 30 seconds. So why can't we fix this in some way? Just know if Shams know the pick is being traded, the league should know too. And let's not have these silly. You're wearing the wrong hat, we're taking the picture with the wrong team behind you. And it's just bizarre. So there's got to be a way that you can do this better than to have. Think about it. 29 of 30 kids who were picked, this is their the dream night had the wrong hat on. So please, NBA, stop being that guy.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, it's not official yet. We know we have to have it official before we can make this. Stop it. We all know anyway, that's my vacation. You guys agree? Do you find that or am I overreacting?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, I love it. I love what you said. What do you do about it? Do away with hats. Do you come up with a hat? Do you come up with like a to be determined hat for guys that are rumored to be a hat?

[Alan Hahn]

Just give me a hat with the NBA.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You're in the NBA. I like that.

[Caller/Guest]

Where are you going?

[Alan Hahn]

We don't know. You're in the league. That's all that matters. You're in the league.

[Caller/Guest]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

You got to give them one of Those old school 2000s, like the jeans with all the teams on it. Just give them that hat with all the teams. We'll get there.

[Don La Greca]

By the way, they should eliminate the hats and the Players all just wear the jeans with all the logos.

[Alan Hahn]

Just put on these jeans real quick.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, including, like, Vancouver Grizzlies, because these are all from the early 2000s, the prime time. Don Bryant Reeves era Grizzlies. No, it's a great point by you, Alan. Completely fair. I'm that guy. Because I forgot to pay the meter and the ticket happened.

[Alan Hahn]

Guys, you went and checked.

[Don La Greca]

No, I went and checked.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Did you look at the time? Was it like, just a couple of minutes ago or right away?

[Don La Greca]

You know what, Don? I'm not the kind of person that I want to torment myself again.

[Alan Hahn]

I would, because I'd want to know if the meter maid was hiding in the bushes just waiting for the clock. He's staring at the clock. He hasn't come out yet. He hasn't come out yet.

[Don La Greca]

No, no, but it was. It could have been anytime. Considering I walked away without paying it. What's the point of even? I don't have anyone to blame but myself. I. I'm the only guy.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, you didn't even pay.

[Don La Greca]

No, I didn't even open the app. I just. I was. You were obviously. Alan, you were probably saying something incredibly interesting on our call, and I was riveted by whatever our conversation was, and I didn't even think about it. Not buying it, so I wandered off. Okay, fine. I'll come up with one. Here you go. This is actually something that needs to be said. Can we. My. That guy is to everyone who's, like, overly freaking out about the Caitlin Clark footage from last night.

[Alan Hahn]

I haven't seen it.

[Don La Greca]

Look it up right now. Just look on Twitter. Just type in Caitlin Clark. It's a hard foul. It's another hard foul. I'm not saying. Listen, first of all, here's what I'm not going to do, because I don't want to be that guy. I'm not going to make some gigantic declarative statement as if I've been watching the product every night, Don. Because I haven't been. Because that's also part of why these guys are that guy. Because, like, unless you're my boy, Robin Lundberg, respectfully, who's, like, covering this league, every night, these people just show up. They completely just airdrop in the night. They see a clip, and then they start giving their speeches on the W. Shut up. You don't watch the game. Like, seriously, if I'm getting it from Shanae, if I'm getting it from Monica, if I'm getting it from someone who I know is watching the product, I will Listen to it more. But, Don, the sports talk hosts who show up with their think pieces on Caitlin Clark when, you know, they haven't sat down to watch one WNBA game all season in. It gets to be a little bit tiresome. And frankly, I'm tired of the narrative of Caitlin being some damsel in distress. She's an ish talking swag having most talented player in the league in every version of basketball that I've ever seen. Those people, especially when undersized, get roughed up.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I love that you brought this up. And I just looked. I had seen it a couple of times, but I didn't give it as much thought because I wasn't sure if we're going to be talking about it.

[Alan Hahn]

Let's just also update the story. Alyssa Thomas, it was upgraded to a flagrant, too. So she's suspended for a game for.

[Don La Greca]

So she gets a game suspension.

[Alan Hahn]

So they did take an action. They said it was recklessly made contact with her fist of the throat area of Caitlin Clark.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right.

[Alan Hahn]

No foul was assigned at the time, but she's now going to get suspended. So let's just make sure everybody.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, look at.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Watch, watch the video.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The fact that there was no fouls.

[Alan Hahn]

A joke.

[Don La Greca]

Sure.

[Peter Rosenberg]

She was not punched in the throat.

[Don La Greca]

She was not.

[Caller/Guest]

All right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

There was a fist on the shoulder that slid off the shoulder and kind of touched her throat. She wasn't punched.

[Don La Greca]

Still.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, a flagrant, too. Again, no problem. You gotta be responsible for your actions. It looks awful in real time, but when you slow it down. It wasn't a punch. But the problem I have. And if I don't mind. If you don't mind me piggybacking off of yours, please, Peter. Is that. Are we fugazi? Are we real? Because, like, some of the defense is. Well, don't these women realize that she's the cash cow? Why do you treat her like that? She makes the league relevant. They're making money off of how good she is. Then you're a fugazi league. If you're a real league, the best players always get thrown around. That's why Wayne Gretzky needed some Anko to protect them, because otherwise Gretzky would have been pounded into oblivion. Because that's how you beat the Oilers. Get physical with the talented player. All the clutching, grabbing actually got Mario Lemieux to leave the league because that's how you slowed down the most talented players.

[Alan Hahn]

Don. It's also in basketball. It's why There was a M.C. filthy and McNasty in Philadelphia around Dr. J. It's a. It's why Bill Lambert existed in Detroit. It's why Charles Oakley was traded for. For Patrick Ewing. It's what you do in the sport. And, and I, I just. To me, again, the overreaction for people that aren't sports fans and don't understand physicality in sports and start saying that person should be charged with assault. You never played a sport, so you don't understand that things that happen in a game, in a contact sport you can't do on the street.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But you're hurting the.

[Alan Hahn]

We understand that when we play the game.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right. The people that are trying to give credibility to the WNBA are hurting it by saying things like that.

[Alan Hahn]

Correct.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Because if Connor McDavid gets tackled, people will complain about how poor the officiating is. Not like, I can't believe they tackled Conor McDavid.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Don't they realize he's the cash cow? Don't they realize that he's important to the league?

[Alan Hahn]

They don't give him.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's about trying to win a game. These women are trying to win a game because it's a legitimate league, it's a legitimate sport. But the people that are trying to help it because they don't follow it, they don't understand sports, are actually discrediting it by saying those types of things. If it is an actual sport, which it is, then the complaint should be how poor the officiating was that there wasn't a foul on the play.

[Don La Greca]

Can I. Can I ask you a question? Have you looked long enough yet to get it in fast speed?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, I just.

[Don La Greca]

Guys, I'm not going to lie to you. It's. Without that, without that slow mo version circling the world, it's not getting a flagrant to the flagrant. Two is reactionary, frankly, because they're getting so much heat over it. You watch it in fast, in regular speed.

[Alan Hahn]

Diving for the ball.

[Don La Greca]

She's diving down to the ball. And Kate, Caitlin's, of course, very fast. She makes a quick move, quick move. She gets into the paint. She gets tangled up, goes down, and then it's a collision that lasts a half a second. By the way, it happens in basketball constantly.

[Alan Hahn]

If I could point out something, too, that this very much reminds me, I do. In all due respect, Peter, she's not the most talented player in the league. She's very talented.

[Don La Greca]

Sorry. Among the most talented players.

[Alan Hahn]

She is. But she's still not there yet. I got to be honest. She's not there yet. She's a phenomenal player. But those who want to make her the best player in the league, that's not what she is. What she is is.

[Don La Greca]

They give us a good comp in your. In your estimation.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, I mean, I was going to say what she is is what Lynn. What everybody wanted Lynn. Sanity to become, which is something that lasted more than two weeks. Right. Like she is. Because her size, it's remarkable for her size. She's. She's slight. She's not strongly built, but she's quick as hell, and she can shoot. She's a great shooter and smart. I think her cutting is better than her shooting. Her. Her IQ to get open is elite.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, super.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay, so that's the thing. But because of it, she puts herself in dangerous places. And I'm sorry, when you play this sport, I bring you back to when Jeremy Lin was crushing everybody, including Kobe, and then went to Miami and that Miami Heat team. And David Fisdale told me about this. He was an assistant on the team. They had all their guys jacked up, all their guards, and they got into their heads going, you going to let them just go in there, spin, dribble? You're going to let him do all that? And they were saying, let's test him. Let's see if he can handle some physicality. You got six fouls. Use them. See how he handles it. And it was tough on Jeremy, and they beat the hell out of him in that game. Nobody was crying for assault. Everybody looked and said, yep, that's basketball. Now you get tested, and Caitlin's getting tested night in and night out. Alyssa Thomas, one of the best players in the league. Guys, this isn't a jealousy thing. This is. We're playing hard. This is what we do. Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, when they faced each other, beat the hell out of each other, talk trash to each other. That's the sport. But because there's people who are involved, that or following her, that aren't really basketball fans that don't understand the game, they start screaming things that make no sense for those of us who understand sports. So my advice is to not listen to it. Tune it out.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, but it's. This is what you're right.

[Alan Hahn]

It's. It's stupid.

[Don La Greca]

It's hard, and it's hard to avoid it. The algorithm takes it over. All of a sudden, you haven't seen. You know, you haven't seen a WNBA play on your algorithm in a couple of days, maybe a couple of weeks, maybe a couple of months, and all of a sudden, they're showing you the same foul in slow mo over and over again. So now every idiot feels like they have to do a think piece and say things like Caitlin Clark should leave the wnba. What are you saying?

[Alan Hahn]

Go to go to Europe? Well, did Jalen Brunson decide I'm not going to play anymore in the NBA finals when he got moved in the back of the head? Let me tell you this called the foul on Wemby and they didn't have any supplemental discipline after the play.

[Don La Greca]

If last night's play was a flagrant to the Jalen Brunson Wemby play, should have been a two week suspension. I mean that was done. That was assault brother. Compared to that. Anyways, that'll do it for that guy. Thursday, 1-800-919-3776 now we do want to talk some about USA Soccer, which I don's the one who suggested it folks.

[Caller/Guest]

So.

[Don La Greca]

Yes, so it's just that as a

[Peter Rosenberg]

starting point before I found out who

[Alan Hahn]

the coach of Ecuador was now.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, but now he's in for Ecuador.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now we should have led with it.

[Don La Greca]

But. But Alan, what's going on in your life?

[Alan Hahn]

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[Don La Greca]

A lot more to do including your phone calls at 1-800-919-3776 and we get into a little bit. Watch out everyone. Don Legreca has a question about USA Soccer. Can you believe it? We'll do that next right here at dhr.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Hey, I just Venmo'd you for rent.

[Caller/Guest]

Nice.

[Alan Hahn]

Now I can instantly spend it whether I'm checking out online with Venmo or using a Venmo debit car. More more. Exactly, because the more you do with Venmo, the more you get.

[Don La Greca]

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[Alan Hahn]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

So order more pizza.

[Alan Hahn]

The math demands it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Don La Greca]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Don La Greca]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Alan Hahn]

contact store for availability. Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don La Greca]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Alan Hahn]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us.

[Don La Greca]

Wherever you get your podcasts,

[Peter Rosenberg]

educate me.

[Don La Greca]

Peter. This is Jay Z's first single off of his first album. It's Dead Presidents. I remember that. I remember. It's funny again, considering Jay Z was not the biggest deal, particularly outside of New York, at the time in which this album came out, it's very odd that I also remember where I was the first time I heard that song. I was at my friend Greg's house and I turned on the radio show that I really liked on Saturday nights in D.C. and they played this new Jay Z song. I was like, oh, wow, this is amazing. Samples Nas. Oh, this is so great. And I didn't know at the time that it was the beginning of this classic album run that would lead to this guy who then would go on to be the greatest ever and. But I remember it all. It's just weird that I remember it all, but I really. I really do. And yeah, we went to an event last night. They did a Apple Music, did like a celebration, and it was very cool. My wife spent our life savings on merch.

[Caller/Guest]

Oh.

[Don La Greca]

I mean, she's. She's on.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's the first legitimate shot you've taken at your wife.

[Don La Greca]

Our wife. I mean, she's. Listen, I love merch, too, so I don't do a great job fighting back. Although I did tell her today we need to pack things up to give away. Like, with the amount that she got last night, that means we have to get rid of, like, a handful of things.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, you know where to go first.

[Don La Greca]

Oh, if it's good, I'm going right to you, Jake.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, thank you.

[Don La Greca]

Come on, you already know that. But no, they had. It's the best merch I've ever seen Jay Z do in the. In the modern era, the T shirts. And then I heard. I heard for the Yankee Stadium shows. I heard he has exclusive Jordan stuff at the Yankee Stadium shows, including actual Jordans, which means if they're doing exclusive reasonable doubt Jordans that they're selling at the stadium, that's going to be like a $400 item. The amount of money that these big artists are capable of getting. And Don, I'll complain about it all day, and then I show up and spend hundreds of dollars on the money.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's why you complain about it.

[Don La Greca]

I know.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Because it's affecting you.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, because I have. My wife has to get it, but she got a couple of teas that were fantastic. Now, Don also may have. Now resulted. Don may be forcing me to spend money because I was on the fence about whether or not I'm going to go to one of the Paul Simon shows in two weeks, considering I already went to what I thought was his last show at. At the Beacon last year, and then he's playing again in Queens in a couple of weeks. And I go, I don't know, I'm not sure if I'm going because I'm going to Jay Z the next day. It's a lot, blah, blah, blah. And then Don sends me an article, I don't know if you've seen this yet, Allen, that apparently Simon and Garfunkel got together and reconciled, which is gigantic news, Don.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, apparently. I think it was Paul's son. Got them to sit down, have dinner, reconcile their differences that have lasted for, hey, look, 50 plus years.

[Alan Hahn]

Life's too short. When you get to a certain age, don't you just say, what the hell are we fighting about?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, yeah, because the memories are.

[Alan Hahn]

There's more good memories than the whatever the hell it was that got you mad.

[Don La Greca]

Well, I love him. I love him. It's always Paul. I'm pretty sure it's always Paul. Guys, I think Paul has had a thing up his, you know, what about art? Since the very beginning. And he gets easily sort of annoyed with him and then casts him out sort of, and then brings him back. That's how I see it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

At the Rock and Roll hall of Fame. I saw correspondence letters that they sent each other while they were in summer camp. I mean, that's how long they've known each other.

[Don La Greca]

Oh, no, it's 10, 11 years.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So now you're in your 80s. Tomorrow's not promised to anybody.

[Don La Greca]

No, it's not.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean, come on, get your differences. And if I'm Paul, if they really are now, good, you're bringing him out. And I know, and I know Arts had vocal cord problems and stuff, but he just released an album with his son so he can sing. I would have him at every concert that I perform until I'm done.

[Don La Greca]

But Don, that's my point. Now you're forcing me to go in two weeks because they could be together. I was already leaning towards probably going on account of will these be the last shows ever? But if he brings out. Can you imagine in Queensland, where they're from, as best friends as kids, since they were 10 years old. Can you imagine if he brings him out, what it'll be like? It would be insane.

[Peter Rosenberg]

As big as Paul is as a solo artist, humongous. I wonder if it does bother him that it would get that big of a thing. Simon and Garfunkel are still a bigger thing.

[Don La Greca]

I don't know that I even fully agree with you, but the moment would be bigger.

[Alan Hahn]

But what exactly? Like why at this point of your life, how could that bother you? I don't understand people.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But.

[Don La Greca]

But you should. Honestly, Alan getting to know you, you should understand it more than you think you do because you're crazy. And everybody. So take your crazy. Take your.

[Alan Hahn]

That stuff doesn't like maybe it's just

[Don La Greca]

maybe the older I get the.

[Alan Hahn]

I was very competitive like that when I was younger, especially when I was still an athlete. But I'm dead long gone from that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But if you're saying it's about I don't care.

[Alan Hahn]

Like, I just like to me it's like if we have history and it was good history, I don't care what the hell happened in between.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Competition does get in the way. And I. Since you brought up. It was Paul, I. I don't know this, but I'm sure it bothers Paul that the biggest song he ever wrote, Art sang Bridge Over Troubled Water is probably the best song Paul ever wrote. He performs it himself live.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, but it was intended for art at the time.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right, but that's the competitive. Listen, nobody's going to question who is the better artist. Paul Simon's better. But there's something about Simon and Garfunkel. They were humongous when they were together and listen. And Paul was able to have the solo career that he had. And for a limited time, Garfunkel based off of them being together. But now they're in their 80s. Man, what are you doing?

[Don La Greca]

That's what makes humans crazy though. You know, I think, I think for Paul, he. Paul. Paul, I think goes back to when they were children and Art Garfunkel was the more handsome. Did better with Girls one. I literally. That's what I think it's based on.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And he had an acting career.

[Don La Greca]

I just think it always lasted. He was tall, he was good looking, he had more of the pure voice. You know, he had a couple of gifts that Paul didn't have. So. But even though Paul's talent surpasses it by a lot, respectfully with being one of the greatest American songwriters of all time, I still think that we have these things that happen that this, these little traumas that add up and they. And they fly with it forever and you live with it forever.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Sit there for 50 years on that and then it just, it becomes part of you. The quote from Art is not. He's not sure if it'll lead to anything. Because it's up to Paul. Paul's got to be the one that's cool. Art's not touring. That's not doing anything.

[Don La Greca]

It's always been up to Paul. That's the thing. Apologies to Anthony, who's not here just because that conversation even took place. Big five o' clock hour, including Don question on USA Soccer Next right here on Don Han and Rosenberg.

[Alan Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don La Greca]

I don't want to know how the

[Alan Hahn]

sausage is made, but I just want to know it's good. Hear more of Don Allen and Peter Weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 880 ESPN, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers. MLB TV on ESPN is your home for every out of market game, live or on demand. Catch your favorite teams and players plus MLB Network and ESPN app features like multi view, syncing your stats, key plays, bets and fantasy all in one place. Sign up now for MLB TV in the ESPN app. Separate subscriptions required. Blackouts and other terms apply. Visit stream.espn.commlbtv for more information.