Loading summary
Don LaGreca
Hey, if you've been thinking about going back to school, here's your shot. National University's year of you scholarship can get you up to $6,000 a year on your bachelor's or master's degree. And don't worry, their flexible online courses fit your schedule, so you can stay in the game while you study. Plus, you'll get free tutoring, career counseling, and a lot more. Make this your year and apply by February 28th at Nu Edu. Terms and conditions apply. Check out the site for details.
Peter Rosenberg
This is the Michael K. Show.
Don LaGreca
Carlos Mendoza, the manager of the Mets. How important was it for you to sign Alonzo?
Peter Rosenberg
Yeah, it was big. The quality of the human that he.
Don LaGreca
Is, and he understands what it takes to play in New York. We know what he brings to the table. The power is real.
Peter Rosenberg
And as a manager, you appreciate the.
Don LaGreca
Fact that these guys, he wants to.
Peter Rosenberg
Be in the lineup every day.
Don LaGreca
He just.
Peter Rosenberg
I want to be in their skill. Michael K Show, weekdays at 1 on8.80, ESPN and the ESPN New York Ave. Don.
Don LaGreca
I had never seen holes like that before. Han. I'm not comfortable touching it. I'm not. No. And Rosenberg.
Peter Rosenberg
I'm not breastfeeding. No, but I.
Don LaGreca
That's too bad. This isn't North Dakota. This is New York.
Peter Rosenberg
This is Don Hahn and Rosenberg.
Don LaGreca
The best threesome I've ever heard on 880, ESPN and the ESPN New York.
Peter Rosenberg
Ave. See, that's why ultimately, Don, that's why Brownshire and I got into that fight, because pressure makes diamonds. You see what I'm saying?
Don LaGreca
Yes.
Peter Rosenberg
And now look where we are. We got. We got the Richard threesome. Drop in there. It's all happening. Happy President's Day. Whatever. The FAKOC the three day week is this time. It's February 17th. It's Michael Jordan's birthday, everyone. It's 301 in New York City. Peter Rosenberg. Don Legreca Allen is with his daughter for one more day at the big tournament. He'll be back on the program tomorrow. Don, how was your weekend?
Don LaGreca
Good. Lot of fun. And I tell you what, that video that Alan sent just looked like a volleyball bacchanal. I just saw nothing but courts and girls and screaming and referees and whistles. And it was just like. They just threw. It was like a sporting goods store exploded. It was incredible what was going on there. So I don't know whether to feel happy for him. Sad. I'm not sure what the emotion is, but there's a lot going on in D.C. and I'm not talking about politics. I'm talking about volleyball.
Peter Rosenberg
Who would have thought one day we have to have a deep conversation on this show with people more experience clearly than you or me. Though Alan could certainly weigh in on the sports side of things. We need to have a conversation. Don Power ranking the worst and best activities to push your kids to be involved in in terms of what it means for your life. Like I don't know how bad the volleyball thing is, but Allen has a kid who does hockey too. Like intense now college hockey. Don, from what I've been told that's like the worst thing you could do.
Don LaGreca
Alan Hahn has never been able to go to the sasso softball ever in the what, 12, 13 years we've been doing this because whenever we do it that first weekend of August, he's got a tournament with his son Zach to play hockey. In August.
Peter Rosenberg
In August.
Don LaGreca
Which tells you it's year round. His nine year old daughter now is like firing slap shots in his garage. So she's on her way as soon as Zach's done because Zach's in New Hampshire. So at some point he's either going to move on to the NHL or decide not to do this anymore. But then his daughter's going to jump in. And if you see what's happening with female youth hockey and even beyond, this could go on for another decade before she has to make a decision on whether she's going to turn pro or not. So it's crazy.
Peter Rosenberg
We need to have some real conversations.
Don LaGreca
With almost intervention is what you're saying, right?
Peter Rosenberg
Yeah. Well, listen.
Don LaGreca
Or learn from this for, for our.
Peter Rosenberg
Sake and well, listen, I'm telling you right now, my kids aren't playing hockey. It's not.
Don LaGreca
You don't know that.
Peter Rosenberg
No, no. Even if that. No, I do. I do. Because even if my daughter, even if my daughter says I really. I'm starting to feel this hockey thing. I love hockey. I'm just going to say, don't you. Let's talk about taking an improv class. You know what I mean?
Don LaGreca
Let's.
Peter Rosenberg
What are some things that don't require this level of commitment from me?
Don LaGreca
I love how naive you are about the power your daughter is going to have over you and the things that you're going to do and buy because goy little eyes are going to look at you and you're going to cave. I'm telling you, I've seen it now. It's so easy now to say no, no. But she doesn't have any verbal or ability to communicate with you yet.
Peter Rosenberg
But you're talking about two separate things. I'm not talking about saying no. I'm talking about. Are you telling me you think Alan Han's kids randomly got into hockey? Nothing to do with Alan, Hannah.
Don LaGreca
Well, nothing could.
Peter Rosenberg
You gotta shape this yourself.
Don LaGreca
But I'd have to talk to Alan. I'm assuming because Alan covered hockey, that he and his love of the sport. He loves basketball, too. I don't hear him going to basketball tournament. I have no idea if he even knew volleyball existed. And yet he's in D.C. believe me, I know Alan's resume. I don't remember him covering volleyball for Newsday.
Peter Rosenberg
Touche.
Don LaGreca
You know, all right, so this happens. Things happen. I had no interest in really ever getting on a horse and galloping around, but yet every Sunday, I'm, you know, during the summertime, I'm on a farm someplace with Jalen doing horseback riding. All right? So believe me, of all the things that I'm heavy into, you know, Marco's love of baseball is amazing. And hockey, yeah, that's influenced by me. But once he starts having friends. Peter, when once Maya starts going out, hanging out with her friends, if she gets caught in some sort of, I don't know, a Gaga click, where all of a sudden they're playing Gaga ball, who knows what's going to happen?
Peter Rosenberg
What's Gaga ball?
Don LaGreca
You'll find out when she gets older.
Peter Rosenberg
Should I be comfortable with Gaga?
Don LaGreca
I should get Marco on to explain the idiosyncrasies of Gaga. But the point is, you don't know what's gonna. I just. I love the fact that you believe that you have powers, that you probably are not going to be able to.
Peter Rosenberg
Don Flex as you get older. I'm just too old. So, like, Alan got started young and he could handle the mornings. And I did mornings for 20 years. I'm telling you right now, the kid in that crib in the other room could be Sid Crosby.
Don LaGreca
Okay, Guess what?
Peter Rosenberg
She's gonna be a receptionist who's thinking.
Don LaGreca
About being Sid Crosby. Listen, it can't happen. Enjoy it. Enjoy. Enjoy the power trip while it lasts, because it'll be siphoned from you.
Peter Rosenberg
No, listen, I have some things going for me. By the way, look at Alan's body type, right? The likelihood of his daughter getting into volleyball is much likelier, much more likely for him than I would think. So I've got some things going for me that lean towards my kid could end up in the arts more than sports. Anyway, I'm just saying the hockey commitment's impressive. And Speaking of the hockey commitment, we'd be remiss and we have to get to we have some hot, piping hot Aaron Judge audio that we're going to play for everyone in just a moment. But before we do that, we do have to set the table real quick for what you have to consider, Don, one of the biggest win weekends for hockey in a very long time. Like granted, I'm in a bubble. I've been around you a lot. I'm around Anthony Pusick, I'm around Alan Hahn. All of you guys are very into hockey and I'm predisposed to enjoying hockey. Plus one of my all time favorite players is kind of having his swan song and international play in this tournament, potentially in Sidney Crosby. So I'm a little biased on but I still think objectively Saturday night and this weekend was a huge win for hockey. What do you think?
Don LaGreca
No, without question. With Canada, you know, beating up on Finland, we are secured Thursday night in Boston, the championship game between Team USA and Canada, the rematch of what we saw on Saturday. And as a hockey fan it's very seldom it takes center stage and, and when it does, it's usually in the Olympics. Like what happened with Crosby's golden goal. Team USA and Canada playing in Vancouver in 2002 when they played in Salt Lake City, you know, on a Sunday afternoon with the nation watching. But for their this weekend, usually being committed to an All Star game where everybody collectively yawns to be able to have what felt like the sports world paying attention to what was happening on Saturday. And listen, take what you want from social media but and we know that we all live in our speaking of bubbles, we all live in our own bubble when it comes to social media. But still I'm seeing NBA fans just slack jawed at the beginning of that game and the fights and then the intensity after those fights where it was just a tremendous game with so much on the line and juxtaposition opposition to what was happening in San Francisco with the NBA. I don't even know what was going on with the skills competition. You saw NBA fans flipping over and watching this meaningful hockey game between the United States and Canada and then you throw in the booing of the anthem and we're not going to get overly political here but it's Canada and the United States are going through some things here, right? And how much of that led to the fighting, how much that leads to the players and one another, it's up for debate. But right now people are really sensitive to what's going on with their own country. And it's. It's a. That the Bell center on Saturday was a powder cake. And to see what happened with the fighting and then to see the intensity in that game, it was. The hockey got the flex. For the first time in a long time, they got to flex, and we'll see how much it carries over to Thursday and how much it carries over to the second half of the season and all that. But it was something to behold to just see so much attention on a sport that usually gets relatively ignored nationwide. I mean, over 4 million people watched that game in February on ABC. That was a pretty. A pretty intense, special moment that's got everybody kind of buzzing, and we'll see if the NHL can take advantage of.
Peter Rosenberg
Was awesome. I was disappointed with the game because, you know, I had Sid Crosby as my weekend warrior. And I love. You know, I would have loved to see Sid have a big moment. He did not have a particularly not. And the game over time, you know, obviously the US Put it away in the third period, even though. Even Don, when it was a close game. I don't know. I sort of. I sort of felt the US had it the whole time. But either way, a close, competitive game. The first five minutes was absolutely insane. Three fights in nine seconds after the booing of the national anthem. And it is an interesting situation because obviously that is not the first time the national ant has been booed in Canada. It's been happening at Raptors games. It's been happening at Leafs games. It's been happening basically ever since Trump has talked about annexing Canada or whatever craziness has been talked about having these players getting, as you pointed out, Don, they're getting sort of pulled into a thing. Like, it's a bizarre circumstance because you have the fans in Canada naturally upset with the United States at the moment. I don't think Americans have much of a feeling on this issue one way or another, beyond being like, what is anyone talking about? This sounds crazy, but if you're a Canadian, I can see why you'd be offended at it. The idea is offensive to them. So then they're jumping in, and now you have players who are like, wait, you don't even know where the players are connected to this issue. But as you pointed out, it doesn't matter. It just becomes a powder keg between this already tense sort of international hockey rivalry that exists, which I have to say, as a wrestling fan, Don, I love stories. It made it pretty awesome.
Don LaGreca
It did. Now, again, there is. I'll Be honest with you. There's a lot of hockey players that can care less about what's going on globally in politics. And there are some that are totally into it, all right. And are following it. And usually what happens. It's not the first time that they've booed the American national anthem. I remember when the Islanders were playing the Maple Leafs way back in 2002, and they were sniping at each other and they were booing the American anthem in Toronto, and they were booing the Canadian anthem at the Nassau Coliseum. But that's just funny because it really doesn't mean anything because you're booing the national anthem of Canada when half of your team's Canadian, like, so it just seems silly, right? And nobody really takes it seriously. But now you're representing the USA on your crest and your country is being booed, and now you're being asked about it. It's being discussed in the conversation. So whether you're just ticked you're being asked about it, or you actually have a dog in the fight, politically, you're gonna wanna represent. Right. No matter how you feel about it. The one thing I will say, I'm not gonna get overly political, but whether you're a maga, whether you're a liberal, we all live in the same country. And we should care about that, Right? We should care about what's going on as it. As we are looked upon, whether you're upset about it, whether you're fired up about it. There's something about representing your country and I think these players. That's why it led to the fights in the beginning. Also to send the message that, hey, this is no exhibition. We care about this. Have it carry over the hits that you're seeing in what's supposed to be an exhibition. It has really led to some really exciting stuff because it's the only sport. I was thinking about this today. Football doesn't play anything internationally. Basketball does. And baseball, now with the World Baseball Classic. Right, right. Hockey is the only sport where it matters this much because it's the only sport in which, as our country, we're the underdog. It's not our sport.
Peter Rosenberg
Well, you mean of the major sports? Because the major sport is true of soccer, right?
Don LaGreca
Well, exactly. But unfortunately, we haven't really been able, at least from the. From the. From the men. Women have been able to prove themselves time and time again internationally, but the men have not. Is that to be able to flex like that when it's not our sport? We're not known to be the best at it. We're known to be the best at baseball. We're known to be the best at basketball. So to get that hyped up for an international event involving basketball and Team USA define the level of competition to get to that height where in the US we're not that often we're the underdog and I think people can rally around that as well. It's not our sport, it's not what we're supposed to be good at. But now we've got a collection of superstar players in the NHL. Well, not that long ago we had a select few and now we can field a team or ice a team that is as good as any around the world. Makes it even more fun. So I think it's a perfect storm of what's going on here. And then the interesting debate of the exact opposite of what's happening in the NBA. When that skills competition looked like a joke. There are people like Draymond Green calling in a joke during the broadcast and then LeBron James tapping out of the game yesterday. It's like the polar opposite. So that's why the NHL's got to take advantage of that. It's never going to surpass the NBA. That's ridiculous. But it can expose a lot of people to if you're upset about the NBA with its load management and it's not caring during the regular season and it's superstar players not wanting to participate, flip over to ABC or TNT and watch superstars at the same level from the NHL putting their all out into something. And doesn't that make it fun for a viewer to watch people that care rather than watch people that don't care?
Peter Rosenberg
1-800-919-3776 we're going to continue the conversation on that and the hockey will be get get talked about quite a bit today. Real quick, Game time brought to you by Tullamore Do Irish Whiskey because when it's game time it's telly time. The local and the local hockey and basketball teams are on break obviously for the week. But the Four nations continues. USA Sweden tonight at 8 and on 8:80 we'll have men's college basketball coverage. Duke and Virginia at 7:30. 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 during today's action glasses up to enjoying Tullamore Dew responsibly.
Don LaGreca
It is pretty cool. There is a lot going on with nothing Going on. It seems the montage injury for the Mets is something obviously discussed. I thought that was a nice win for St. John's over Creighton. So we have things going on normally. We always hear about February twiddling your thumbs until baseball starts. We got plenty to discuss today on.
Peter Rosenberg
President well, speak speaking of it, of the baseball of it all and the Yankees and Mets, as you just mentioned. Yeah, we'll get to the Montas situation and how it is. It seems like that the Mets, the Mets pitching plan this offseason was like, hey, how can we incorporate the problems the Yankees have been having? We should take those on for our own problems. But let's hear from a couple of pieces. Number one, Juan Soto spoke yesterday. Here's Soto on his experience with the Yankees last year.
Don LaGreca
I feel like just playing for them, it was really cool.
Peter Rosenberg
It was a really nice experience. It teached me a lot. You know, it's a different vibe. You have so many eyes on you. You have so many teams that want to come in and beat you because.
Don LaGreca
You in New York and you're part.
Peter Rosenberg
Of the city, Broadway and everything. It's just everybody wants to come in and beat the New York team. So I think it was a big experience. We really enjoy it all the way.
Don LaGreca
That till we make it to the World Series.
Peter Rosenberg
But definitely we learned. I learned a lot on that year. All right, so he learned a lot. He had a, he had a good time. It's almost like, it's almost like he took a sabbatical. Don spent some, spent some time in the Bronx. Get the vibes. Here's Soto on the best ways to deal with the stresses of playing in New York. Winning games, that's all you got to do. You don't have to talk too much. You just got to go out there and get the job done. Now we played Soto's experience with the Yankees. Let's hear judge on the experience of the Yankees losing Soto in free agency.
Don LaGreca
Yeah, Soto is one of a kind man. He's a special player. You know, excited for him and his new chapter with the Mets. But we had a lot of new pieces here, you know, starting with Bellinger and Goldschmidt, two guys that are, you know, former MVPs guys are still wanting to improve, still want to get better. It's. They're going to add just such a different dynamic to this team. You know, it really lengthens out our whole lineup. You know, when you have those guys batting in the middle, middle of your order, it's just a lot of Good things are going to happen. So you can't replace a guy like Juan Soto, but you bring in guys like this that are All Stars, MVPs caliber players, you know, it's. We did a pretty good job. All right now, Aaron, that was a lie. I'm sure he's thrilled and really excited for Soto's opportunity with the Mets.
Peter Rosenberg
Oh, yeah, totally. Well, let's hear a little bit more about that. Here's Judge. Were you surprised that Soto left for the Mets for a better chance to win the World Series?
Don LaGreca
You know, that's his opinion. He can say what he wants. I definitely disagree with him, but I wasn't too surprised by it. I think that's where he wanted to be. I think that's where it was best for him and his family. And you got a pretty nice deal over there, so I think you can't say no to that. But I'm happy for him. You know, he got a good deal. He's gonna be in a great spot. It's gonna be great having him in town. We're gonna be battling back and forth for quite a few years. I'm definitely happy for him.
Peter Rosenberg
And lastly, on the Soto of it all, have you spoken to him?
Don LaGreca
Yeah, I tried to. He got a different number, though. But, you know, so texts weren't going through, but we should have chatted a little bit and caught up.
Peter Rosenberg
Something weird about Soto and the phone number. Like, did Soto just pull off the biggest new phone? Who dis in history? Like, that's what it feels like.
Don LaGreca
But if you read between the lines with what Soto said, what was said by Cashman, what's been said by Boone, what now has been said by Judge, that I think everybody kind of figured that he was a rental and that he was going to go to the Mets like that. That probably is how they felt. And then the vibe around him was, hey, I'm testing free agency. So was it just a case of all players just knowing, hey, when it's all said and done, he's going to go to the Mets. So let's not get that close. Let's not start anticipating that this is going to be a long marriage. If he ends up in our lap, great, we'll. We'll welcome him with open arms. But what the general vibe around baseball was that it was between the Mets and the Yankees and if the Mets paid more, that they would get them. So wouldn't the players think the same thing? That's what it feels like to me.
Peter Rosenberg
It does, it does. It's a very Sort of weird situation and kind of like retroactively a bummer.
Don LaGreca
Almost, because, like, what were all the fans saying during the course of the year? Oh, he's not going to leave the Yankees. You know, you've got the Bleacher creatures. You've got the fact that they can win every single year. They got the best of everything. We're going to win him over. And what did Michael and I say. And you said it, too. He's going to go to the highest bidder. It's not going to matter. So if we thought that, I'm sure the players were all thinking, sure, this is the place to be for me, but for him, it just seems like he's just here until it's time to sign a contract. And in all likelihood, with Cashman and Hal having fiscal responsibility and Cohen having way more money, that that's where he was going to end up.
Peter Rosenberg
Guys, it's his fourth team. He's still a kid. It's his fourth team. The guy loves the money. That's this. So he kind of made it pretty clear that that was always the case. And that's why, Don, I don't even read that much of him saying it was the best place to win. It wasn't that. It was literally we. You. We argued about this with Michael. It ended up being net a significant amount of money. If you're someone who really cares about money, it was a real amount of money, don. It wasn't $800,000 a year. It's millions of dollars more that he got.
Don LaGreca
It wasn't if all things are equal, it was the. It's the place to be. You know, and listen, as a Met fan, it's no time for me to flex and say, oh, yeah, he chose the better. No, he chose the team that paid him the most money. And if it had been another team that paid even more, that'd be a different story. He wasn't going to pull what happened with Judge where the Giants offered more, but he said, I can't leave the Yankees. I'm going to take a little less to stay. That was never going to be on the table. As much as Yankee fans wanted to convince themselves otherwise, it had nothing to do with the quality of the franchise. How big a name you're going to be being a Yankee over a Met or anybody else. It all just came about the money. And I'm sure the players understand that, right? That's what they fight for. That's why they're never going to begrudge another player to make Extra money they're never going to hate on a player. The fans will, but the players inside that room understand it's a business and he did what he had to do. So they probably knew that early on and didn't get close to him, didn't try to have dinner with them to convince him because they're not the ones that are paying him. House time burner was get in the zone. AutoZone. Welcome to the A to Z Savings Event at AutoZone. Yeah, happy to be here. Can I get some rotors? Would you like brake pads with that?
Peter Rosenberg
How much are the brake pads free with the rotors? Free.
Don LaGreca
Really, really free. Okay. I also need some oil. Would you like an oil filter with that? Yeah.
Peter Rosenberg
How much is that?
Don LaGreca
Free with five quarts of oil? Free. Really, really free. It's part of the A to Z savings event. You might as well call it A to free at autozone. Get in the zone. Autozone restrictions apply. This is a mini meditation guided by Bombus. Repeat after me. I'm comfy, comfy. I'm cozy, cozy. I have zero blisters on my toes. Blisters. And that's because I wear Bombus the softest Socks, underwear and T shirts that give back. One purchased equals one donated. Now go to bombus.com espnpod and use code espnpod for 20% off your first purchase. That's B O M b-s.com espnpod and use Code espnpod I can say to my new Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, hey, find a keto friendly restaurant nearby and text it to Beth and Steve. And it does without me lifting a finger so I can get in more squats anywhere I can. 1, 2, 3. Will that be cash or credit? Credit. 4 Galaxy S25 Ultra. The AI companion that does the heavy lifting. So you can do. You get yours@samsung.com compatible with select apps. Requires Google Gemini account. Results may vary based on input. Check responses for accuracy.
Peter Rosenberg
Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast. I didn't listen to anything you just said. Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. Why, Jacob? Why on Monday, February 17, are you playing the seminal Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince hit Parents Just don't understand.
Don LaGreca
On this day in 88, this song came out. Wow.
Peter Rosenberg
88. That's 37 years ago to you and me. Wow. I gotta tell you, Don, it's a very silly song. But it was critical in my obsession with hip hop because even though I was like getting exposed to like different other stuff that was more of a deep cut than that. That being on the radio every day did play a big part. That was a big song.
Don LaGreca
And did it make it to your world?
Peter Rosenberg
How much did it make it to your world?
Don LaGreca
Of course it was. Everyone see the reason why I got exposed to some hip hop around that time, late 80s, early 90s, because you watched MTV and you had MTV on. So you got exposed to all different kinds of music because it wasn't, you know. Yeah, they had Yo, MTV Raps or whatever and they had. I forget what the metal version was called, but during the course of the day, if it was a hit song, they played it. So you got all different kinds of eclectic music. And even if you didn't like it, it was there. There were. There was a time in my childhood this was towards the tail end of that. But MTV was on all day. Like that was your go to watch mtv. Was nothing else on. You put MTV on. Just watch the different videos. And then when I started working at sportsphone in like 92, it, like, it was. We had every TV to the different games. There's one TV that was dedicated to MTV, but by then they were already going into the real world and Beavis and Butthead. So they were kind of getting away from the videos. But during the time of videos, you got exposed to all different kinds of music. And some of it hit, some of it didn't. But, you know, that was something that I can't tell you that I was in love with. But I knew it. No, I knew it existed.
Peter Rosenberg
I knew the song and the videos were all very memorable and sort of set the tone for them what Fresh Prince, Bel Air looked like. But anyways, Jacob, always with the mind bend.
Don LaGreca
Very good.
Peter Rosenberg
Interesting, random stuff I didn't know is the 37th anniversary. I will say, though, February 17th is one of the very few athlete birthdays that I always remember. Jordan's birthday. I do always remember. For whatever reason. Do you remember that or.
Don LaGreca
No, no, it's interesting.
Peter Rosenberg
I don't know why. Actually, I do.
Don LaGreca
It's.
Peter Rosenberg
A friend of mine in elementary school was so obsessed with him and talked about him so much that I. That I. It's like been built in for 40 years. Let's talk to the people.
Don LaGreca
60. What?
Peter Rosenberg
It was 63. So.
Don LaGreca
So he's 62 years old.
Peter Rosenberg
60, 62?
Don LaGreca
Yeah.
Peter Rosenberg
Wow, man.
Don LaGreca
Damn.
Peter Rosenberg
Like, that's kind of an old guy. Like, Jordan's kind of an old guy. He's almost. He's on his way.
Don LaGreca
We've had this Conversation before, just back when we were kids, a 62 year old would have been, you know, celebrated at center court with a. With a walker. You know how 62 years old looks like he can play?
Peter Rosenberg
I know, it's so. It's so true. Like, if Michael Jordan ever looked cool, he would still look cool. Unfortunately, he just looks kind of weird when you see him in public.
Don LaGreca
Right?
Peter Rosenberg
Jordan's body type. He's one of the. Don, that's top five. Top five athletes who look like the coolest ever in their uniform. Get them in regular clothes, they look like a complete freak.
Don LaGreca
You'd have to take the deep dive on that one, but it would be fun.
Peter Rosenberg
Yeah, but Michael is one of those guys in, in his Bulls uniform. I don't know if an athlete's ever looked cooler in history. You put him in a pair of jeans and he becomes. Let's get to the phones. We're talking about it all. Robbie was the first one on the line wanting to talk Four Nations. So we'll start with Robby in Lenox, Massachusetts. What's up, Rob? Hey, Don. How are you? And Peter, it's really an honor to speak with you guys. I really enjoyed the show and. Okay, a couple of things. First of all, I'm Juan Soto. Look, I'm a Yankee fan. There's no coincidence that Soto and Bozo have the same amount of letters.
Don LaGreca
Right?
Peter Rosenberg
I'll just stop right there about Juan Soto and his superficialities with his money. So we won't talk about it. All right? Anyway, as far as the hockey goes, Don, you know me, I'm the biggest Ranger fan. You've been. I have been talking since the days when you're at the fan. I didn't realize you were at Sports Talk, by the way. Anyway, the last time the Mets won a World Series, guys, I was. I was doing radio at Emerson, all.
Don LaGreca
Right, with my buddy Tim Nebbert, who's the voice of the.
Peter Rosenberg
The Los Angeles Dodgers. Great guy, by the way. So, okay, so here's the deal, right? The fighting, to me, Don, was ridiculous. I mean, it's an international tournament. Do you see the Swedes and the Finns fighting, putting gloves down? No, they just play hard hockey. I don't mind playing hard hockey, but I like to see done after the season, kind of. McDavid took a hit the other night, which was just ridiculous. It's like you're paying these guys millions of dollars and you're going to play a tournament in the middle of the season. What if guys get hurt? What if Adam Fox suddenly gets hurt. What if. What if all of a sudden, I.
Don LaGreca
Don'T want to play that game, Robbie. Because then that's what takes the fun out of sports. Like, that's why nobody wants. Nobody cares about the NBA All Star game or the NHL All Star Game. What if I get hurt? What is so wrong with having something that they actually care? Now, the fighting. That's a very theatric. But you know what? The Swedes and the Finns don't have guys like the Kachuk brothers. They want to go out there and get physical and set a tone. It's a different type of style.
Peter Rosenberg
Politics is bs. No, I understand. It's a very defensive style. That's why watching the Finns and the. And the Swedes will put you to sleep. But, Don, the thing to me is that it's just. The politics is ridiculous. I really hope when they go to Boston, I swear, and I hope this, that the fans in America, here in the United States, do not boo the Canadian national anthem.
Don LaGreca
Well, they were in Boston today, and it was, like, a mild boo. I don't. Because. Because again, I looked, looking at the game, and, Robbie, thank you for the phone call. I saw a lot of red jerseys. I think a lot of Canadian fans made the trip to Boston. Because I'm looking at the ticket prices for Thursday, Peter. They're, like, astronomical. Like, on the. Like, we talking, like, three, four thousand dollars to sit upstairs. But, you know, Canada, this was a big game for them, and I think probably a lot of Canadians came down not that far from Boston. But mild booze, it's not even the politics of it. It's just, you get the chance to represent your country. See, I love Robbie, but this is the problem, I think, with sports now. Oh, we don't want to get anybody to get hurt. So what's happened is don't play in the preseason, Peter, because you might get hurt. Well, don't play in the beginning of the regular season because you might get hurt. And I already know I'm a playoff team, so let's not go all out. We're devaluing the regular season now because there's this constant fear that somebody's gonna get hurt or somebody's gonna get tired. And it's all about the postseason. And I'm sorry, we. We live off the regular season. That's the majority of the season, is what happens during the regular year. I. I can't take a knee on it, Peter. I can't. If you're an NBA fan, you can't Just sit there and go, I'm. I'll wake me up when we get to April or May. There. There. There's still games to be played. And that's why I love the Knicks, because they can't come and bring it every night. But. But if that's going to be the mentality, let's. Let's not try hard because it's an All Star Game. Let's not try hard because it's too early in the season. Then we're talking about, like, 75% of our sports is meaningless. That can't be how life is. So I'm not going to criticize them for going all out. And, yeah, listen, Shay Theodore got hurt. You know, got guys get banged up and it might hurt the second half of the season, but I'm not going to criticize guys for caring. That's why we pay the money to watch, because they care. Do you want us to care? Then I guess they have to care.
Peter Rosenberg
Didn't Robbie sort, sort of talk out of both sides of his mouth with the. Originally, the first point was basically, Soto sucks because he cares so much about money. And then his first thought when we talked about doing something cool was, you can't do something cool. You're risking it. There's so much money on the line. Like, do you want it to be about the sports or not? Like, this is a really cool thing.
Don LaGreca
And.
Peter Rosenberg
And right. Yes. There's a chance you get injured walking on the street, you get injured in practice, you get injured in preseason. It's all there.
Don LaGreca
But I just think it's cool that, like, they want to represent their country. It's not B.S. okay. To be able to represent your country is not. Not. I understand the juxtaposition of an American, a Ranger fan, you know, having to root for, you know, a non Ranger, like having to root for Hughes, right. Because he's on Team usa. But what's so wrong with every. Just being able to watch people care. And it just feels like even in football, which is the ultimate regular season, all September doesn't matter because these guys aren't ready because they don't do anything during the course of training camp. And December's meaningless because this team's not playing their starting quarterback because they've already clinched a playoff spot or they already clinched home. I feel like even in the NFL, there are six or seven games for some teams that don't matter. That's not what sports is supposed to be about. That's not what I fell in love with. Watching things that don't matter. And now we're going to criticize. The NHL came up with something that matters, and now we're going to worry about, oh, my God, somebody might get hurt.
Peter Rosenberg
Yeah. What are we doing for it to happen? At least listen. If you want to complain, can you at least wait for there to be something to complain about? Let's. Let's go to Griffin in Connecticut. What's up, Griffin?
Don LaGreca
So apparently that means let's not practice. Let's not do any practices because you can get hurt if you practice. Let's not go out on the street. You can get hurt if you go out on the street.
Peter Rosenberg
What are we doing? What are we absolutely doing?
Don LaGreca
I'm with you.
Peter Rosenberg
Down.
Don LaGreca
I don't care.
Peter Rosenberg
I actually love this.
Don LaGreca
I actually love this because people are trying hard. You saw Charlie Mack. Charlie Mack.
Peter Rosenberg
Can't say the last name.
Don LaGreca
Whatever. You know McAvoy. Yeah. Who slammed McDavid to the ground. That's like a Stanley cup hit. That's what you want to see. And then whatever the NBA was trying to do yesterday, they're trying to do something. And Draymond Green, they're trying to do something because your generation ruined the NBA All Star Game because your generation hardly wants to play or hardly wants to do anything. And now you got LeBron James not playing yesterday due to sore eight ball. That's how much we are at with the NBA right now. The NHL is trying to do something. Yes, people are going to get hurt, but they can get hurt doing anything. They can get hurt doing practice in any sport, college football, anything. I don't. But we need to enjoy. And I enjoyed that Saturday. But you know what's interesting, Griffin? Are we. Are they really afraid to get hurt, Peter? Or are they using as an excuse that just. They don't really feel like playing? And it's easy to just. The admirable thing to say is, well, I don't want to get hurt. I want to be ready for my team in the second half. Or is it really the answer? I don't feel like playing. I don't. I don't want to. I don't want to break my ass at a meaningless game. Or I do I really need to be in this game against Milwaukee on a Tuesday when on Wednesday we're going to be in New York, and I'm hyped up for that one. But I'm going to take the knee on the. The Memphis game or I'm going to take the knee on the Sacramento game because it doesn't mean as much do you really think it's because they're afraid they're going to get hurt or tired or they just don't want to do it?
Peter Rosenberg
I think it's the latter. And I also think, Don, that, like, listen, this isn't a regular job. You're off season. You get to vacation for six months. Not six months. Fine. You have four months where you can basically do whatever you want. This whole idea that the All Star break has to be like a real break for everybody. I'm sorry. If you're at the top of the league and you're the kind of player who's a perennial All Star, Don, in all likelihood, you are not even all likelihood guaranteed facts. You are making generational money. And I'm not trying to get in your pocket. I'm not saying you don't. You deserve every bit of it. I'm just saying part of the job that comes with it is that if you make the All Star team, you got to go do the stuff. Like, that's part of what the game is, unless they want to cancel it altogether. But you get to vacation when the season's over. This is. It's such a bad look for the NBA, man, and like the fact that Draymond was talking about it.
Don LaGreca
Let's.
Peter Rosenberg
Let's. Let's hear from Draymond, by the way, because he had more than just this weekend. Here's Draymond on why the NBA is boring today. It's not smart basketball no more. I saw a clip not too long ago where Kobe said, like, yo, it's accidental. Basketball, basketball.
Don LaGreca
He couldn't have been more right.
Peter Rosenberg
It was so refreshing to play against Bron because every possession is like a chess match. But you don't just get that on a regular basis. Who can run faster, who can hit more threes. It's no substance. And so I think it's very boring. He went on and had a little bit more on why the NBA is boring. I think the physicality has been taken out of the game, and to me, that's boring. The old style of refereeing would come back where if you've earned stripes, you get a better whistle. That's just the way it used to go, and now it's not that way. And then you question why, like, why is the game boring? Michael Jordan used to get calls, but not the rookie coming into the league. He ain't getting no call. The rookie coming into the league got a call or thought he was going to get a call. He turned to the referee and say, you didn't call that. And he said, who are you? Why would I call that for you? What have you done? So I think the human element has been taken out of it. I don't think that makes for a great product. Adam Silver, the commissioner of the NBA, responded to Draymond.
Don LaGreca
Everyone's aware he wants to play a very, very physical game. It's the sentiment of the league, not just me. We have a competition committee and the Players association is part of that. That while we appreciate the energy he brings to the game, we're also as focused on athleticism and skill and don't want it to become overly physical. And I felt he was reacting really more to sort of a little pushback on his particular style. He's entitled to his opinion, but he's a provocateur. He has his own podcast and he's clever and knows how to get attention. I mean, he's not wrong. If you had a guy that was a perimeter player saying this, I think it would carry more weight than a guy who's made his money and his bones in this league by being a physical player. But it doesn't mean that his points are invalid. Take a look. You brought up Michael Jordan. Michael Jordan, his last year in the NBA, 39 years old in Washington, played 82 games, went to the All Star game. Probably ceremoniously, right? He played 36 minutes in the all star game. So a 39 year old at the end of his career can play all 82 games and ball out for 36 minutes in the All Star game. And I don't think it affected his play. So it can be done. I don't want to sound like, get off my lawn, but why could Jordan do it but nobody else can? Is the game that much harder to play? You just heard Draymond. It sounds like it's easier to play. Nobody was knocking you to the third row. No hard fouls. Really, the only contact you have to worry about is hitting the floor after you flop.
Peter Rosenberg
I think it's definitively no.
Don LaGreca
Right?
Peter Rosenberg
I mean, there's not any way around it. It's an. It's an easier. At least on your body, it's an easier game.
Don LaGreca
I want. Robin broke the record for rebound. How many rebounds would he get today? First of all, there's more misses and he worked hard to get those rebounds. He's diving on the floor. Say what you want about him. The guy was a freak. I get it. But you know what? He brought it every single night. Sometimes too much, but, you know, so it can be done. I don't think human being. If anything, human beings should be stronger and faster than they were 30 years ago, better conditioned than they were 30 years ago. From a medical standpoint, the game is just easier and less difficult on the body. And yet they need breaks. It's winter and you can now get almost anything you need for the coldest months of the year delivered with Uber Eats. What do we mean by almost? Well, you can't get a ski slope delivered, but you can get dish soap delivered. Sunshine, that's a no. But a bottle of wine, that's a yes. A snow angel? Sorry, no, but angel hair pasta? Uber Eats can definitely get you that. Get almost, almost anything delivered with Uber Eats. Order now. Alcohol and select markets. Product availability may vary by region. See out for details. This episode is brought to you by Allstate. Some people just know they could save hundreds on car insurance by checking Allstate First. Like, you know, to check the date of the big game first before you accidentally buy tickets on your 20th wedding anniversary and have to spend the next 20 years of your marriage making up for it. Yeah, checking first is smart. So check Allstate first for a quote that could save you hundreds. You're in good hands with Allstate Savings. Vary terms apply. Allstate Fire and Casualty Insurance Company and Affiliates, Northbrook, Illinois. This episode is brought to you by Chevy Silverado. When it's time for you to ditch the blacktop and head off road, do it in a truck that says no to nothing. The Chevy Silverado Trail Boss. Get the rugged capability of its Z71 suspension and 2 inch factory lift, plus impressive torque and towing capacity thanks to an available Duramax 3 liter turbo diesel engine. Where other trucks call it quits. You'll just be getting started. Visit chevy.com to learn more.
Peter Rosenberg
Thanks for listening to the Don Han and Rosenberg podcast. I didn't listen to anything you just said. Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. Is there an anniversary of Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jacob?
Don LaGreca
Oh, no. Scar tissue, you know, especially dealing with these New York baseball teams. Oh, I'll see. This could become a thing now where every. Every rejoin has some sort of a meeting. Now I don't know if we can sit there and every.
Peter Rosenberg
Every analyze it every time. Right, right.
Don LaGreca
But it could be fun for the. For the listener to do. And then at the end of the show, if Jacob doesn't mind the extra work, then he can tweet out and we can send it off on Our social media, what each song meant and why he played it. You know what, something that all the fans out there can follow.
Peter Rosenberg
It's actually. That's a. That's a fun. I like, I like it because you just gave piled more work onto Jake. Well, but I. But I think guys need it.
Don LaGreca
Well, it's not that much work. If he keeps track of each one.
Peter Rosenberg
He does, then he's a professional, for God's sake.
Don LaGreca
Would you mind that, Jacob? Just if it's too much, just say it and we'll. We'll kill it right now. But no, you think. I don't think it's too much. I just have to, like you said, keep track of what songs I played because I just usually like play go and then delete once I move on.
Peter Rosenberg
Right, that's. That's a fun thought, though. Now, speaking of fun over the weekend, and I think Anthony Kiedis was. Was there. The SNL50 show went down last night. They did the concert on Friday night at Radio City. And I know, Don, we spoke about it Friday. You don't have Peacock. You may have to get Peacock. Like at least get the demo, the trial just to watch it. Don. I thought it was Trump. They took a lineup that I thought was while loaded with talent, and we went over it on the show while loaded with talent. I thought it was like kind of random and was like, ah, we'll see. Don. The way that they included the comedy between it mixed with the songs that the artist chose to perform the Radio City show was incredible. And then I got to tell you, Don, I thought they crushed last night too.
Don LaGreca
I mean, listen, just like any other Saturday Night Live, there's gonna be some things that hit differently than others. But overall, I thought it was a terrific way to honor, I think all the different stages, the fact that just filthy famous people in the audience when they did the question and answer thing and just see people in the background like Kevin Costner and Cher, like, wow, this is really awesome. I don't care how you feel about Saturday Night Live. You can't argue how culturally relevant it is throughout its 50 years and how important it's been to musical acts and hosts and. And the chances that they've taken. Not everything can be funny. Not every era is going to be its best. But shows like that, I thought they did a much better job this time around than the 40th. I love the fact that you had an engaged Eddie Murphy, which I thought his Tracy Morgan was amazing. It really was. So where he kind of just waved to the crowd and said thank you in the 40th. And he really participated in some funny skits last night. I thought it was terrific.
Peter Rosenberg
He did multiple sketches last night. There were multiple full Eddie Murphy sketches last night. Farrell was amazing. Maybe the most surprising was no Bill Hader yesterday at all. I don't know if there was any.
Don LaGreca
Nancy came up with something that I was not aware of.
Peter Rosenberg
Go ahead.
Don LaGreca
Apparently he did an interview somewhere where he talked about not wanting to go to the 50th because it reminded him of the tremendous anxiety that he had. I think the post had it. The tremendous anxiety he had gone through, you know, being a writer and being involved in that, and he just didn't want to relive it anymore. And I wonder if that was the idea, the anxiety song that included him at the end of it. So I don't know if that was a shot at him. So I don't know if there are people that don't like him there or whether they felt they were offended by his comments about the anxiety that he felt. But I thought that was a little bit more than just a coincidence that they did that song specifically about anxiety. And at the end of it, they included one of his skits. So that probably won.
Peter Rosenberg
You thought that was. You thought that was in some way a jab? I would. Yeah, that was his jab. That would be so crazy.
Don LaGreca
I don't know. He wasn't there. He was talking about how he didn't want to go back because of anxiety. And then they sing a song about anxiety.
Peter Rosenberg
Well, called Everybody. Everybody on SNL has anxiety because that.
Don LaGreca
Was basically what he was explaining. And then at the end, they showed one of the. I guess what. I don't know what you would call it, whether you would morph into this anxious face. One of the last ones they did was his. And I'm sorry, he was pretty significant to that, to snl, to not be included, except pretty much for that. So I don't know. I. It did feel like it was either a negative shot or honoring. I don't know what they were doing. But I think that's a little bit more than just a coincidence. I think the.
Peter Rosenberg
The biggest. Yeah, the biggest absences were Dan Aykroyd and Bill Hader. Right. Our guy Billy Crystal was there. Of course, as you said, the people in the crowd were just. Did that.
Don LaGreca
Can I ask you something? Because you're. You're into this. All right. So they did the New York Broadway thing towards the end. Yeah, right.
Peter Rosenberg
It was. It was a sketch where they included a bunch of different Broadway play musicals.
Don LaGreca
And then just out of nowhere show Billy Crystal and Ben Stiller in the crowd, mention their names. It didn't have anything to do with anything. So was there some sort of a. I just want to get people to get them in. I don't know why they did that. It wasn't part of the song, it wasn't part of what they were doing. But just out of nowhere, Billy Crystal, Ben Stiller and like saying their names. But it didn't have anything to do with anything. Was it just because they weren't in anything?
Peter Rosenberg
I guess it was literally just to fit people in the same way when they did the Q and A. They just fit people in there. It said Hater. According to his article in People, Hater had a long standing schedule conflict, but he was in a Volkswagen commercial during the show. By the way, they did a great job with the commercials. Man, they really found a way. Don, like, you know, for anyone wondering, it is odd, right? It's the 50th anniversary of Saturday Night Live. Nothing happened on Saturday on television. Friday was a concert, Sunday was the show, nothing. Saturday. And it's basically what we always talk about here with regard to putting meaningful sports events on Sunday night. They just, if you're going to spend this much money, bring in this much talent and you got to make money. And so the place to make money was 8 o'clock on Sunday night. So you end up awkwardly celebrating Saturday Night Live again on a Sunday. But Don, they did a great job. Like they flipped it into all these SNL sketch commercials. Like they clearly made Buku bucks putting this whole thing together.
Don LaGreca
And I had seen it when I was a kid and I didn't remember it, but you know, to have Garrett Morris out there, obviously of an advanced age, he's sitting there introducing Don't Look Back in anger. And just how, how sad was that video of the first guy to go is John Belushi talking about how he beat the odds and was the oldest. And then the first grave they go to is Gilda, who was the first one to die. And that was made in 1978.
Peter Rosenberg
Was that sketch on TV?
Don LaGreca
Yeah, it was back in 78.
Peter Rosenberg
I didn't. I've never seen that sketch.
Don LaGreca
Don't look back. And I. If I saw it, I probably saw it when it. When it aired. It's strange. There's really not a lot of places to get the older stuff. Yeah, well. And I don't have Peacock. Well, even when they would replay them one they did they because there's a lot of misses in the older world. Like a lot of stuff didn't make it.
Peter Rosenberg
Oh, the first several seasons are straight up hard watch.
Don LaGreca
It was experimental and all that, but. But some of the stuff still lives on today. But not a lot of it. But. And that was one of the things that were lost. But just how ironic that whole video was like him talking about, hi, you know, live fast and leave a good looking corpse. I beat them all like, and you didn't.
Peter Rosenberg
Garrett Morris. Who Garrett Morris, who introduced it is 88. Last question on this and we can come back to it later. What did you think of Paul Simon and Sabrina Carpenter opening the show?
Don LaGreca
Oh, that was terrific. And I thought Steve Martin was was terrific as well.
Peter Rosenberg
Really?
Don LaGreca
There's a terrific job. Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast. I don't want to know how the sausage is made, man.
Peter Rosenberg
I just want to know.
Don LaGreca
It's good.
Peter Rosenberg
Hear more of Don Allen and Peter.
Don LaGreca
Weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8.
Peter Rosenberg
80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app.
Don LaGreca
And your smart speakers. All right, let me ask you something. Ever feel like you're juggling at all, work, family responsibilities, and still trying to keep your eye on the ball? Yeah. You're in Ander and National University gets the hustle. That's why they have flexible online classes and support services for folks who are balancing jobs and kids and everything in between. If you're ready to take the next step, National University can help you level up your education and score your goals. Check them out at nu Edu to learn more.
Podcast Summary: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Episode: Hour 1: ASG, 4Nations, Soto
Release Date: February 17, 2025
In this episode of Don, Hahn & Rosenberg, host Don LaGreca, alongside Alan Hahn and Peter Rosenberg, delve into a multifaceted discussion covering international hockey tournaments, the pressures of youth sports, significant movements in Major League Baseball, and reflections on the 50th anniversary of Saturday Night Live. Skipping over promotional segments, the trio engages listeners with insightful commentary, memorable anecdotes, and spirited debates that are both entertaining and informative.
The conversation kicks off with an analysis of a recent high-stakes hockey game between Team USA and Canada. Don and Peter dissect the game's intensity, highlighting the rare spotlight on hockey in the United States and the palpable tensions influenced by current political climates.
Don LaGreca emphasizes the significance of the match:
"[07:51] Don LaGreca: ...for hockey fan it's very seldom it takes center stage and... it was something to behold to just see so much attention on a sport that usually gets relatively ignored nationwide."
Peter Rosenberg reflects on the game's competitiveness and its broader implications:
"[10:08] Peter Rosenberg: It was a really close, competitive game. The first five minutes was absolutely insane. Three fights in nine seconds after the booing of the national anthem."
The hosts discuss how political sentiments between the U.S. and Canada have added a layer of complexity to the rivalry, leading to heightened emotions and on-ice confrontations. They also touch upon the impact of social media on fan perceptions and the overall atmosphere of international sports events.
Transitioning from professional sports, Don and Peter engage in a heartfelt discussion about the intense commitments required in youth sports, particularly focusing on hockey and volleyball. They explore the fine line between fostering talent and overburdening young athletes.
Peter Rosenberg raises concerns about the long-term effects of such commitments:
"[02:32] Peter Rosenberg: ...we need to have a conversation. Don Power ranking the worst and best activities to push your kids to be involved in in terms of what it means for your life."
Don LaGreca counters with observations from his own family’s experiences:
"[03:53] Don LaGreca: ...once Maya starts going out, hanging out with her friends, if she gets caught in some sort of, I don't know, a Gaga click, where all of a sudden they're playing Gaga ball, who knows what's going to happen?"
The duo highlights the challenges parents face in balancing their children’s athletic aspirations with their well-being, emphasizing the potential for burnout and the emotional toll it can take on both the kids and the parents.
A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to Juan Soto's transition from the New York Yankees to the New York Mets, examining the motivations behind his departure and its implications for both teams.
Peter Rosenberg introduces the topic with Soto’s perspective:
"[16:24] Peter Rosenberg: Here's Soto on the best ways to deal with the stresses of playing in New York. Winning games, that's all you got to do. You don't have to talk too much. You just got to go out there and get the job done."
Don LaGreca offers insight into the financial aspects driving the move:
"[21:05] Don LaGreca: It wasn't going to matter. He was going to go to the highest bidder. ... he chose the team that paid him the most money."
The hosts discuss how financial incentives play a crucial role in player movements, often outweighing team loyalty or the pursuit of championships. They also speculate on the future dynamics between the Yankees and Mets, considering Soto’s influence and the strategic acquisitions each team is making to bolster their rosters.
Shifting gears, Don and Peter reflect on the 50th anniversary of Saturday Night Live, sharing their thoughts on the show's evolution, standout performances, and notable absences during the celebrations.
Peter Rosenberg praises the recent SNL show:
"[43:36] Peter Rosenberg: ...they really made a terrific job this time around than the 40th. I love the fact that you had an engaged Eddie Murphy, which I thought his Tracy Morgan was amazing."
Don LaGreca shares nostalgia and observations on the show’s cultural impact:
"[48:29] Don LaGreca: ...you know, to have Garrett Morris out there, obviously of an advanced age... how important it's been to musical acts and hosts."
The discussion touches on the blend of comedy and music, the inclusion of legendary performers like Eddie Murphy, and the absence of others such as Bill Hader, pondering the reasons and implications behind these choices. They also reminisce about classic SNL sketches and the show's enduring relevance in pop culture.
The episode wraps up with a listener call-in from Robby in Lenox, Massachusetts, who brings up both baseball and hockey topics, further enriching the conversation with personal insights and additional viewpoints.
Robby expresses his frustrations and perspectives on the recent hockey tournament:
"[28:29] Peter Rosenberg: I'll just stop right there about Juan Soto and his superficialities with his money. So we won't talk about it."
Don LaGreca responds passionately about the importance of competition and avoiding the devaluation of regular-season games:
"[32:14] Don LaGreca: ...if you're at the top of the league and you're a perennial All Star, you got to go do the stuff."
The hosts encourage listeners to engage with their opinions and continue the conversation on social media platforms, fostering a community of passionate sports enthusiasts.
In this episode of Don, Hahn & Rosenberg, listeners are treated to an engaging discussion that spans the intensity of international hockey, the complexities of youth sports, pivotal moments in baseball, and the cultural significance of Saturday Night Live. Through thoughtful analysis and lively banter, Don LaGreca and Peter Rosenberg provide a comprehensive look into the intersecting worlds of sports and entertainment, offering valuable insights for both avid fans and casual listeners alike.
Notable Quotes:
Don LaGreca on Hockey’s Spotlight:
"[07:51] Don LaGreca: ...it was something to behold to just see so much attention on a sport that usually gets relatively ignored nationwide."
Peter Rosenberg on Youth Sports Pressure:
"[02:32] Peter Rosenberg: ...we need to have a conversation. Don Power ranking the worst and best activities to push your kids to be involved in in terms of what it means for your life."
Don LaGreca on Juan Soto’s Move:
"[21:05] Don LaGreca: ...he chose the team that paid him the most money."
Peter Rosenberg on SNL 50th Anniversary:
"[43:36] Peter Rosenberg: ...they really made a terrific job this time around than the 40th."
This structured approach ensures that all significant topics are covered comprehensively, providing a clear and engaging overview of the episode for those who haven't listened.