Hour 1: Broadway Blues

Summary

Podcast Summary: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 1: Broadway Blues

Release Date: January 8, 2025

In the inaugural episode of "Don, Hahn & Rosenberg" titled "Broadway Blues," ESPN New York's Don LaGreca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg delve into a mix of music analysis, in-depth sports discussions, and current events impacting the sports world. This comprehensive summary captures the essence of their lively conversation, highlighting key insights, debates, and listener interactions.

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1. Analyzing Elvis Presley's "Jailhouse Rock"

The episode kicks off with a surprising reinterpretation of Elvis Presley's classic song "Jailhouse Rock." Don LaGreca challenges conventional perceptions by suggesting that the song contains homoerotic undertones.

• Don LaGreca ([03:02]): "Jailhouse Rock is a gay love song."

This bold claim sparks a robust debate among the hosts about the song's lyrics and their possible interpretations.

• Alan Hahn ([04:16]): "There is a famous reference to homoerotics behind bars."

• Chris Canty ([02:49]): "It's one of the best and most obvious but under-the-radar takes I've ever heard."

The hosts explore the lyrical content, discussing lines like "you're the cutest jailbird I ever did see," contemplating whether the intentions behind the song were misinterpreted or deliberately concealed.

• Don LaGreca ([03:12]): "Are there co-ed jails? Were there co-ed jails in 1955?"

The discussion underscores how classic songs can hold deeper meanings that contemporary audiences may overlook, prompting listeners to revisit and reinterpret familiar tunes.

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2. In-Depth Analysis of the New York Rangers' Performance

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to dissecting the New York Rangers' recent struggles on the ice. The hosts provide a detailed breakdown of the team's performance, highlighting systemic issues that have led to a disappointing season.

a. Game Recap: Rangers vs. Raptors ([05:17] - [07:42])

Don LaGreca reviews the Rangers' overtime loss to the Raptors, emphasizing critical moments that defined the game's outcome.

• Don LaGreca ([05:40]): "They're just not a very good hockey team. And they didn't play poorly."

He notes key factors such as Keandre Miller's crucial turnover at [04:03] that resulted in the game-tying goal and the overall defensive shortcomings of the team.

b. Team Performance Issues ([07:42] - [16:26])

The conversation shifts to a broader analysis of the Rangers' ongoing issues:

• Don LaGreca ([09:24]): "This is the first time they've lost a game in the span in which they at least earned a point. They had 16 regulation losses in the last 22 games. That's bad hockey."

The hosts discuss the decline in key players' performances:

• Don LaGreca ([12:31]): "Lafreniere scored a goal for the first time in 14, ended with two. Chris Kreider before he got hurt, two goals in his last 12."

They explore the impact of injuries, particularly Philip Heidel's recurring upper body injuries, and the resultant instability in the team's lineup.

c. Coaching and Management Decisions ([16:26] - [36:47])

A significant debate ensues over the role of head coach Peter Laviolette in the team's decline.

• Don LaGreca ([25:10]): "You got two games away from the Stanley Cup Final last year. It's hard to sell that."

• Alan Hahn ([34:49]): "This is not a coaching issue with the Rangers. This is a personnel issue."

LaGreca defends Laviolette's track record, citing his successes with other teams, and argues that the current problems stem from roster construction rather than coaching strategies.

• Don LaGreca ([35:09]): "It's not a coaching problem, it's a player problem."

The discussion touches on the constraints of the salary cap, player contracts, and the challenges of making effective mid-season roster adjustments.

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3. Listener Interactions and Opinions

Throughout the episode, listeners contribute their perspectives, adding depth to the hosts' analysis.

a. Critique of Team Dynamics ([20:56] - [26:19])

A caller named Gil challenges LaGreca's interpretation of "Jailhouse Rock," leading to a humorous exchange about the song's lyrics and their implications.

• Gil ([29:00]): "Don, you killed my childhood. I listen to it, he says, and I looked at the radio. It is insane."

This interaction highlights the show's interactive nature, allowing for diverse viewpoints and lively banter among hosts.

b. Rangers' Roster and Strategy ([31:22] - [37:52])

Another caller, Bart, elaborates on the Rangers' strategic deficiencies, agreeing with the hosts on the lackluster performance and the need for organizational changes.

• Bart ([21:50]): "When you're with Alan Bart. We don't get to the playoffs with Panarin without Panarin's regular season play."

4. Impact of LA Wildfires on Sports Events

Shifting focus from hockey, the hosts address the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles and their repercussions on upcoming sports events.

• Don LaGreca ([40:03]): "Now this is real-life stuff... how important NFL playoff games are, but it's not more important than human life."

• Alan Hahn ([43:22]): "The NHL has already decided the Calgary is in LA to play the Kings. They postpone that game, as they should."

The discussion covers the postponement of the NHL game between the Calgary Flames and the Los Angeles Kings due to air quality concerns and the potential relocation of an NFL Monday Night game between the Rams and Vikings.

• Alan Hahn ([44:03]): "This thing is not going to fade quickly... It's real."

The hosts emphasize the severity of the wildfires, the challenges in rescheduling major sporting events, and the broader implications for affected communities.

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5. Closing Remarks and Final Thoughts

As the episode wraps up, the hosts reflect on the diverse topics covered, from music analysis to the tumultuous Rangers' season and the looming natural disaster in LA.

• Don LaGreca ([29:36]): "It's in the lyrics. What else am I supposed to think now?"

• Alan Hahn ([40:23]): "Hear more of Don, Hahn, and Rosenberg weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 880 ESPN."

They reiterate the importance of staying informed and engaged with ongoing sports narratives, while also acknowledging the real-world tragedies impacting their audience.

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Notable Quotes:

• Don LaGreca ([03:02]): "Jailhouse Rock is a gay love song."

• Don LaGreca ([09:24]): "They had 16 regulation losses in the last 22 games. That's bad hockey."

• Alan Hahn ([34:49]): "This is not a coaching issue with the Rangers. This is a personnel issue."

• Don LaGreca ([25:10]): "You got two games away from the Stanley Cup Final last year. It's hard to sell that."

• Gil ([29:00]): "Don, you killed my childhood. I listen to it, he says, and I looked at the radio. It is insane."

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Conclusion

"Hour 1: Broadway Blues" delivers a compelling blend of cultural commentary and sports analysis, anchored by the hosts' passionate discussions and backed by listener interactions. From reevaluating classic rock lyrics to dissecting the New York Rangers' strategic missteps and addressing pressing environmental crises affecting sports events, Don, Hahn, and Rosenberg offer listeners a multifaceted dialogue that is both informative and engaging.

For those interested in sports, music, and current events, this episode sets the tone for what promises to be an insightful series.

Transcript

[Don LaGreca]

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.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, checking first is smart.

[Don LaGreca]

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. Don, one day you're not gonna play football anymore. And if there's a God up above, it'll be soon.

[Alan Hahn]

Han, huge. No, but big. Yeah. And Rosenberg.

[Chris Canty]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don LaGreca]

This isn't North Dakota. This is New York.

[Alan Hahn]

This is Don, Han, and Rosenberg on 880 ESPN and the ESPN New York app. All right, here we go on a Wednesday here in New York City. And we were just having our little pre show discussion.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, yeah, the best.

[Alan Hahn]

And people need to understand, like, if we just did a podcast on that stuff and put it out, I think it would do numbers.

[Don LaGreca]

Numbers.

[Chris Canty]

Listen, Don, Don would be thought of in a different way maybe than he's currently thought of. Not. Not a bad way, but just.

[Don LaGreca]

I have an opinion about a classic song that is pristine and cannot be argued against. No, no, Don, that would change everyone's thinking.

[Chris Canty]

Don, you can. You can absolutely say it. The way you say it would probably be a bit different from a graphical stamp.

[Don LaGreca]

I don't. Listen, I like the guy. And also, people take things the wrong way. So it's not necessarily negative. It's just an observation. But it is absolutely. You can't argue it. It's a lock. There is a classic song that is clearly about something that you never thought that that would. It would be about. And when I tell you why, you'd be like, of course. How did I not know that, Alan?

[Chris Canty]

In all honesty, it was one of the best and most obvious but under the radar takes I've ever heard. It's not even a Right.

[Alan Hahn]

It's sort of one of these, like, revealing. How did I not see that or hear that?

[Chris Canty]

It's like, I completely agree. Don basically just had us go look at a picture and go, no, no, look at that side of the picture.

[Alan Hahn]

Right?

[Don LaGreca]

It's.

[Alan Hahn]

Should we play the song?

[Don LaGreca]

It's the red dot on the cashmere sweater in Seinfeld.

[Chris Canty]

Honestly, I think all you have to do, Don, is just say what it is and Everyone in their own. We don't even have to explain it. Go listen to the song or look at the lyrics one time. It's not even worth having a conversation. The only conversation is you pointing out what it is. That's it.

[Alan Hahn]

Don, you have the lyrics in front of you.

[Don LaGreca]

You ready? Take. Just listen. You're all smart. Read the lyrics.

[Chris Canty]

No, no, you just. Don, just give the take and let them do the rest.

[Don LaGreca]

It's. It.

[Chris Canty]

It's true.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, I don't feel comfortable.

[Chris Canty]

I'll do it. Jailhouse Rock is a gay love song.

[Don LaGreca]

Okay?

[Chris Canty]

That's. It's a jailhouse song between men who are in jail doing things.

[Don LaGreca]

And again, not that there's anything wrong, so I didn't want to come across as being a negative, but. But I just think Elvis didn't even realize it because he didn't write the song. But it says number 47 said to number three, you're the cutest jailbird I ever did see. Are there co ed jails? Were there co ed jails in 1955?

[Alan Hahn]

So those are inmate numbers, right?

[Don LaGreca]

So there's one guy going to another guy. Hey, you're the cutest jailbird I ever did see.

[Alan Hahn]

Never heard.

[Don LaGreca]

Let's do the Jailhouse Rock with me. All right. Well, you know what? Maybe it's more than just a dance.

[Chris Canty]

I never. I can't believe I missed this.

[Don LaGreca]

And I've been. I've been sitting on this for like 35 years. It was like a big college take. It would always be my college icebreaker, like, out, like at the dorm party somewhere. It's like that. Did you ever. Do you ever hear the song Jailhouse Rock? And I was like, yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, looks. What do you think they meant?

[Alan Hahn]

What is he talking about? What is he saying? Joe, Jerry Lieber wrote this. He wrote a couple of songs for Elvis. And I'm just curious, right? What it. What. What he originally was intending.

[Don LaGreca]

Right. Exactly. Is like an episode of Oz.

[Alan Hahn]

I am reading something right now on this that is interesting. I'm down the rabbit hole now.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

And there is a. There is an article that has it said it's famous reference to homoerotics behind bars. That's a quote I'm reading.

[Don LaGreca]

Okay.

[Alan Hahn]

In this article. So, Don, your instincts are.

[Don LaGreca]

Apparently, it just. It's just knowing lyrics because what else. What other conclusion can you really come to now?

[Chris Canty]

You know where this show is starting today? Like, this is the kind of brilliance that's in the aura today, okay?

[Alan Hahn]

This is where we be.

[Don LaGreca]

This is where we Be we break down everything here.

[Alan Hahn]

Everything. Exactly. Nothing is safe from us to have a take on it.

[Don LaGreca]

Sure.

[Alan Hahn]

And that's exactly why you're gonna fall in love with this show, those of you who are new to it. So as Peter will remind you, get to that podcast hit subscribe.

[Chris Canty]

That's right.

[Alan Hahn]

All right. Everything you need to do so you don't miss a thing. Now, Don, last night you were on the call here. I'm at Madison Square Garden because the Knicks are playing the Raptors, but you were on my call. Actually, yeah. I'm sitting in the seat that, that you were just sitting in. And it was. I watched it from start to finish. It was a very entertaining game. If you don't have a horse in the race, great game.

[Don LaGreca]

Tell me a lot going on.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, yeah, that first period you were very busy and so tell me what the hell happened again with this team.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, what happened is, is that just. They're just not. They're just not a very good hockey team. And they didn't play poorly. You know, it was one mistake, Keandre Miller's turnover at 4 3, that led to the game tying goal, and then they eventually lost it overtime in the power play. It's a brutal giveaway, but, you know, Zabanejad was active. Lafreniere scored a goal for the first time in 14, ended with two. Panarin had three assists. So if you isolate the one game and you say, all right, listen, they went against a cup contender and they came up short, but six wins in their last 23 games, guys, that's a problem. I mean, that's a too significantly long a streak to just ignore and say, oh, we're in just a bit of a slump. You kind of are where you are. They're going to play their 41st game tomorrow against New Jersey. That is the midway point of the season. And right now they're two games under.500. They're under.500 at home. This was the President's Trophy winner last year, and they've actually played pretty well. I thought they played well in Florida. I thought they played well in Washington. They certainly played well enough to win last night, but they're not winning games. And the answer could be, oh, Igor Shusturkin. If he plays last night, maybe they win. Maybe. But, you know, Igor's also been a part of this slump. They're just not that great of a hockey team. They don't defend particularly well. They don't have a well rounded offensive team. Now, they scored four goals yesterday. Great. But like I said, Lafreniere won, you know, two goals in his last 14. Kreider before he got hurt, two goals in his last 12. Z A. Banajad is a shell of what he has been as a New York Ranger. And I just don't know how much deeper guys can you really go and say, this is who they are, this is not a slump. This is not because of injury. This is a team that just is exactly where they should be in the standings. And I just don't know if it's going to get any better.

[Chris Canty]

I gotta tell you, Don, that game is a brutal game from every standpoint. I mean, if you're a fan, obviously they take your heart, you've already given up. I mean, a lot of fans are already done with this team. I've heard the conversation. But they give you these moments where you get excited. A 3 nothing lead, the crowds charged up, the Garden's rocking. The guys who are supposed to do it are scoring, everyone's involved. And then two seconds later, you blink. Don the Soul left that building like the freaking Exorcist. It was absolutely brutal. And then they win you back again in the third period. You get a lead, you think, okay, finally we're gonna just pull this thing out and they break your heart again. It is. I feel for Ranger fans right now. This is a. This roller coaster is nasty.

[Don LaGreca]

And the other thing, too, and you could say, you know, you're not getting breaks and things just aren't going your way, but it just seems like. And listen, I watch every second. If I'm not doing the play by play, I'm doing the pre and post. Anytime they make a mistake, it's in the back of the net and. And you just can't live that way. You know, you're never going to be perfect. It's just that, you know, Keandre Miller turns the puck over. It's probably the only mistake he made all night. I thought he played pretty well otherwise. And it ends up in the back of the net with 2 1/2 minutes to in regulation. It's just. It's just killer. And Alan, I just don't know. Everybody's waiting for the next hit, the next goal, the next win. That's going to just turn it all around. And I just don't. I don't. I don't see it happening now. Do I think they can. They've played better over the last few games, right? So they haven't been as brutal as they were when they lost to the.

[Alan Hahn]

Devils, but they Got to string together wins. But that's the problem is you can play better. Like, this is a game. I'm with Peter. This is a game that if you. If you were, like, playing fine, like, you weren't going through the. What is it, 6 and 16, whatever it is, if you weren't going through that and you lost this game, it's like, ah, you got a point. At least you got a point. Yeah, exactly. Clean it up. But at least you got a point because you're in this place now where it's. They've got to string together some wins to get some believability back into them. And that's been. The problem is they could. They couldn't just put two good performances together. But at three, nothing first period, this building started to have that belief again. This is. That whole thing is every time I take them out, they pull me back in. If you're a Ranger fan, that had to have been the emotion again last night of maybe this is it. That top line, I mean, the Panera and Trocheck LA Frontier line look great. Like, you're thinking to yourself, all right, maybe it's starting to turn. And then of course it doesn't, because the lead evaporates quickly. Then even when you take that late lead, which, that goal, by the way, I mean, that go ahead goal, the Trocheck tip, I'm telling you right now, even when you think about it, Zibanejad shot, that was a brilliant shot. I mean, him curling on inside edge and then jumping to the other foot and ripping it, like, in where he did it and how he did it. That also felt like, okay, maybe he's starting to wake up. Maybe things are going well. The Miller turnover don to me, and again, my son's a defenseman. I watch defenseman differently. The turnover is going to happen, right? That happens. He compounds it by being soft on the wall. Like, how are you just leaning on him? You just turned the puck over, man. He, you know, Lindgren had already kind of said that he was going to go get it, and you told him, no, I got it. So now Linguin's like, all right, you got it. I'm going to fade over here.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Then he turns it over, Chips it chases it because he's got to do something. And then he's soft on the wall instead of, I got to make sure I dig this thing out and get it back because I just turned it over and it said he's soft. And now Trocheck gets caught and it just a disaster. Unfolds in front of you because he was soft. The turnovers are going to happen. Mistakes are going to happen, but that's an effort thing. That would bother me, Don, if I was the Rangers.

[Chris Canty]

How. How was Quick? Some of the goals to me looked weak, but obviously that's.

[Don LaGreca]

You.

[Chris Canty]

Tell me, how did you think Quick was?

[Don LaGreca]

I thought. I thought he was fine. You know, he faced 39 shots, 19 in the first period, and made 17 saves. I mean, he could have. He could have been better. Now, listen, Thomas Harley's a nice player, but, you know, he's a defenseman. You know, it wasn't like Jamie Benn beat you. It wasn't like Robertson beat you. It's a defenseman that beat you. So, you know, could he have made that save? Sure. I mean, he's 38 years old. That's the other thing, too. Listen, he's a great story, and he's a really nice backup goaltender. He's 38 years old and. And now he's a starting goaltender because Igor's out. And listen, I didn't think he was great against Washington either. Gave up six goals in that game, you know, six goals on what, 26 shots. So, no, certainly he could play better. Would I say he's the reason they lost the game? No, but he certainly wasn't a reason they won it either. But, you know, he's not supposed to be the starting goaltender. He would not have been in that game had Igor not injured his upper body, you know, so Igor's close, right.

[Alan Hahn]

Because he skated with the team yesterday in the morning skate. And he practiced today, I saw.

[Don LaGreca]

Right. But he's on ir, so he's still got a few more games he's got to go before he's going to get a chance to play again. And then Chris Kreider, he's on IR, and you could say, well, he's got only 13 goals, but he's still somebody that certainly could help, you know, even on the power play. But if it's just the one game, guys. But it's not. It's now six wins in 23. You're just not getting any wins. And this is. This is the first time they've lost a game in the span in which they at least earned a point. They had 16 regulation losses in the last 22 games. That's. That's bad hockey. I'm sorry. And now, to compound it even more, and this is also an issue, guys, with this team moving forward. What's going on with Philip Heidel? Well, no, One's been able to find out where this upper body injury happened. It's wrong to assume that it's in concussion, but that's what everybody's thinking because he's had concussion issues. Every time you're ready to fall in love and think that he can be the star that they wanted him to be, they drafted him to be, he ends up getting hurt again. So you take a look and this is where, you know, I know Ty was doing this during the holidays about, you know, who had a bigger disappointing season, the jets or the Rangers. It's kind of the same thing where you're, you're overrating your talent. They gave Alexei Lafreniere a contract and quite frankly, he has not really lived up to that contract since they inked it to him. You know, last year they gave up on Capo. Kako Philippinel now can't stay healthy. Keandre Miller's been a huge disappointment here this season. So all of these young players we were so excited about, they were going to get this team over the top, have all kind of come up as disappointments. I mean, right now the best young player, guys, is. Is Braden Schneider. You know, so hedles hurt. Cocko's gone. Lafreniere hasn't lived up to expectations. I mean, it's an issue here and now. Kreider is what he is, a Banajet is what he is. I think Panarin's a flat out star. But one player is not enough. I mean, we're coming to the conclusion here, guys, over 40 games that I think this is kind of who they are. Now there's 42 games left and all the teams they're chasing for a playoff spot, I think they're better then. So I. Here's the thing. There's seven playoff teams in the Eastern Conference. Eight get to go. So they still have a chance to make the playoffs. And we've seen in the NHL sometimes that's good enough to make a run. But right now this team is a shell of what they were last year. And as far as being in a conversation about this team winning a championship is presently constituted, I'm sorry, that's off the table.

[Chris Canty]

Isn't it brutal, though? The thing about hockey, and kind of the NBA too, but particularly hockey, there's not a team in the east that's out. Right? So you're going to have to continue to stay on this ride to some extent because they're like four points out of a wild card. So you kind of keep having to play this game. But they just really, last night showed you that. Don, this is, as they might say on succession, this is not a serious hockey team. They're not a serious team.

[Don LaGreca]

But. But here's the thing, you know, when we talk about the Jets. Well, the jets hadn't gotten to the playoffs since 2010. This team won the President's Trophy last year, and we're two wins away from going to the Stanley Cup Final. So that, that's what's just so frustrating for fans, is that we didn't make this up. We didn't overrate. Maybe we did overrate the team, but if you. Based on what they did last year, I mean, how much did you overrate it? They were one of. They were in the final four. They had a 21 series lead against the team that eventually won the Stanley Cup Final. Now, I guess that's proving to be fugazi because the power play has disappeared. The goaltending is not nearly as good as it was last year. But it's one thing to overrate a Jets team looking at their talents. Say, I think that team can make a run to where I think the Rangers can make a run. They just came off making a run. By the way, a lot of the same players are on this team, Alan, that went to the conference final in 2022. So it's not like we, we didn't have some basis in reality for thinking that they were going to win a cup.

[Alan Hahn]

I just think they hit. They just fell off the cliff. I think it happens. I think what you have sometimes is a window to win a championship. It's sort of like, to me, as I hear you talk about it, and I've certainly, I've followed along with it. It's, it's that concern when you have that time to a window, your window to win with a lot of teams that you build and you have a core that, you know, it makes me kind of even more heightened to watch this Knicks team over the next couple of years and see, okay, your window, it's. It's starting now. You know, how close are you going to get? And can you get to the top of the mountain? I think what happened with the Rangers is last year was it for the window. And when the season ended, it's the hardest thing to do, isn't it? Like, we talk about GMs, we sit on our couches and we watch and we just, we know how to run a team. So we talk about what I would have done and what I do. But we also have the fortune of Hindsight, which for a GM in the midst of it, like when you go into this and you see how good the Rangers have been over the last couple of years, you're going to invest, you're going to keep players together. You're not going to let LA Frontier go. You're not like you. You want to believe. Okay, he just took a step last year. We think now he can be even better and he could be part of the next generation. It doesn't happen. And then what do you do? Because now I'm stuck. So I think what happened with the Rangers is the easy thing to look back and say is they shouldn't have kept all these guys. They should have seen the window was closing and they should have let it go. But they got two games away from the Stanley cup final last year.

[Chris Canty]

Yeah, you can't.

[Don LaGreca]

It's hard to sell that.

[Chris Canty]

You can't. It's very hard, Don. In any sport if you get that close to go. You know what? It's time we move on from every. I'm sorry. I know they're a hard.

[Alan Hahn]

Blowing up a team that's good is only like again. Jerry Krause did it with the Chicago Bulls. He's the only lunatic. Right. GM in the history of sports to look at a team that was in the. In its prime and still very much winning at a high level and just knew this is going to fall. I'm breaking it up before it's too late. He's the only one that knew to do it.

[Don LaGreca]

And you know, whenever we talk championships in New York, we always compare everything to the Yankees.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, the Yankees won four championships in five years. There was no salary cap like so they were always able to add just to. Just to be careful, you know. We need a big right handed back. Okay, Jose Canseco. Go get Glenn Allen Hill. Go, go. We need a lefty power. Go get Daryl Strawberry. Oh, we need somebody to run the big get Tim Reigns. If I just get. Get it wherever you can, add whatever you can. Oh, we need pitching. Oh, we'll just get Roger Clemens. The Rangers were very close to winning a Stanley cup last year and I think everybody looked at it and say we need to add some pieces. You're in a salary cap, there's only so much you can do. You know, if there were no salary cap, this is back in the old days with Glenn Sather before the cap, before the lockout, you know. Yeah, they would have added two, three, four piece just to be sure. Let's add a fifth piece just to be careful. Remember all the guys that they added in 94. Oh, let's bring in McTavish. Let's bring. Let's bring in Deacon. Let's bring in everybody. Because, you know, Stephon Matteo, it didn't matter. They can add money because they were a big market team and there was no cap.

[Chris Canty]

Now.

[Don LaGreca]

Now you got restrictions with that in.

[Alan Hahn]

Mind was the mistake. And remember, you bring. You brought. Something like that caught my attention. Remember they had Tony Amante and Doug. Wait, those were young, talented players who ended up becoming stars in the league.

[Don LaGreca]

Mm.

[Alan Hahn]

Who'd they move them for? And that was a high risk. That was one of those, like, we're gonna mortgage the future because we need to win right now because this group is an older group and we've gotta get this thing done this year. And they were willing to mortgage it for who? Esatikonen, who ended up having one of the biggest goals.

[Don LaGreca]

McCavish. They put a matoe. They brought. They added all these extra pieces at the deadline for a team that was gonna win the President's trophy anyway as the insurance to do it. But, you know, everybody's killing Chris Drury. Like, why didn't he do this? Why didn't he. Well, you know, you can only bring in Riley Smith because there was only so much room under the cap. I mean, you know, so you don't have the luxury that you have in other sports, especially baseball, where you can just for insurance, be able to add a bunch of pieces and you've got. And that's why I think it's so hard to have dynasties anymore, because you can't keep all these players together and. And you don't. And you come close and you can't go and just add a bunch of, like I said, insurance policies to make sure. Well, this year we're definitely going to take the next step. They could only make a handful of moves, and clearly it wasn't enough.

[Alan Hahn]

And now it feels like you might have to just detonate the best you can and then try to try all over again. But those are the toughest years to go through. 800 now at 93776, Jerry's in South Hackensack to start us off. Hey, Jerry.

[Caller]

Hey, guys. Love the new show. And Alan, I always appreciate it, you taking my calls when you're with me, so thank you for that. The Rangers. Listen, guys, you know, they have trouble getting out of their defensive zone with any kind of structure. They have trouble getting through the neutral zone, and they're weak on the puck. You don't score a lot of goals that way. You just don't. And Don brought up a key point, the salary cap. I mean, there's only so much. I mean, everybody wants to point to Drury. What the hell do you want this guy to do? He only has so much money to spend, you know, And I think what really hurt us is those two years we had the number one and number two pick. God forbid there was a Crosby or an Ovechkin or somebody of that, you know. You know, and look who we ended up with. Now, I'm not, you know, I don't want to complain too much about Lafarniere, except, you know, he's a guy. I think you were right, Alan. I think we overpaid for him. You know, he goes into these funks, you know, Panarin. Hey, you know, we talked. You and I talked about this.

[Chris Canty]

Alan.

[Caller]

When you're with Alan. Bart. We don't get to the playoffs with Panarin without Panarin's regular season play. We don't get to the ultimate goal with Panarin's playoff play. We just don't, you know, playoffs are.

[Alan Hahn]

Different for him because they get physical.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, thank you, Jerry. You just described this team's problem. It was a problem last year.

[Alan Hahn]

Yep.

[Don LaGreca]

They're not a great, even strength team because they can't get that first pass out of the zone. They. They can't rush the puck up ice. Now once they get in the zone, they're golden because they've got tons of skill. That's why they were so good on the power play last year. The power play masked everything, guys. The power play bailed them out of so many games. Go back to that stadium series game against the Islanders. They were dead in that game. They get a bunch of power plays in the third period. They score on all of them and they win the game in overtime. Well, this year they would get blown out 63 to the Islanders in that stadium series game because they'd go over 6 on the power play because they can't generate anything on the power play anymore. And now the five on five is killing them. So that. And that's. And you know what power plays are. You know, if you judge them on time in the zone, they'd be the best power play, but it's about scoring goals. And now those goals aren't going in for whatever reason. And they. They all seem to go in last year. So you look and go, wait, wait, you won the. You won the President's trophy last year. Now you're a last place team. Well, that can be the difference. And also as good as Igor is, they're not getting the goaltending they got last year and they got bailed out a lot by their goaltending and their power play. And it made a huge difference that they're not getting on a consistent enough basis this year.

[Alan Hahn]

David and Queens. David, you're up next.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Hey, what's going on, guys? Congrats on the new show.

[Don LaGreca]

What's up?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Thank you. I was just going to say that I think the veterans on this team are playing such an uninspired game of hockey right now and it's obviously easy to go and say, well, Benedict should play less or Crider should play less. Less. Or all these guys that were so instrumental in the last couple of years should play less. But we're getting to a point, especially as Peter brought up before, four points, or only four points out of a spot, where you really have to start thinking about tinkering around and trying to figure out what we can change. Even. Even obvious things like keeping veterans in the lineup, ones that were successful last year. I would love to see them try to give Berard more time. I would love to try to see them. I know, I know. Rempe is. That's like, you know, he's more of just an enforcer, but I don't know, maybe just to change things up. I don't know.

[Don LaGreca]

Here's the thing with Remy David. I'm really. Because it sounds like you're a fan, right? One of their best lines, I think through this really tough season has been their fourth line. I think they generate some offense, they play really well defensively. And that's vc, that's Enstrom, and that's Carrick. Who are you taking out for Matt Rempe to play? VC played 10 minutes last night. Is Matt Rempe ready to play 10 minutes of hockey? He hasn't so far, like. So where am I putting Matt Rempe? I can't put him in the top nine. And why am I going to break up a line that's actually been productive for them.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I know, but the problem as it's been brought up, there's not a lot of inspiring play and there's not when we have not been able to keep the puck in our own zone. And that's what an enforcer does. They get the puck, they're strong, and they can keep the puck in the zone. I don't know exactly what the lineup construction should be. You're right. The fourth line has Been performing great, and that's not what we should be breaking up. But something has to change, and it's a hard decision to make. I understand that.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, listen, everybody wants people punished. You'll bench Savannah. Jad. They. They tried benching Crider the other day. How did that work out? The Devils wiped the floor with them. Like, are we really going to see the fans want these guys punished for underachieving? Well, if I take Mika's advantage of that. Who's playing center? Heidel's hurt. Wait, wait. I'm going to put Johnny Brodzinski, God love him, he's a really nice player, but, you know, he's still on Mika's worst day is. Is Brodzinski's best day. That just. That's the kind of player that he is.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, but you know what happens to it? And you heard him say it. And this is, I think, the Matt Rempe thing with the Rangers. And if I. If I were Matt Rempe, this is not what I want. He's a novelty for these fans because. What did he say to inspire something? You think Mika Zabanaj sees Matt Rimpe and goes, oh, well, I want to play hard now? No, that's for the fans. Matt Rempe is in the lineup because the fans want something to watch that is entertaining to them, because right now the team's not. But that doesn't help.

[Chris Canty]

But that story's going on a year now of the fans believing he's the one who can inspire this team because.

[Don LaGreca]

But again, inspire means that they are playing poorly because they're uninspired. Maybe they're playing poorly because they're just not good enough at this point. Like, listen, they could put Rempe in the lineup, Tom. And he completely smashes Siegenthaler into the glass. And everybody looks at that as well. That was the turning point of the season. And after that big hit, all of a sudden, they won 12 in a row. Stop it. I've watched every game. I mean, Truba got into that, you know, big A big. Before he got traded, he got into the big fight in Montreal. Didn't do anything. You know, there was a big hit yesterday was that big hit on Labuschkin, knocked him out. Didn't do anything. Like, it's beyond. Everybody wants that DVD moment, right? Ye.

[Alan Hahn]

The partner versus Clark Ely versus Terry O'Reilly. Everybody wants that. Where the thing that turned everything around. That's right.

[Don LaGreca]

Everybody thought the season was over. And then Matt Rempe see Siegenthaler in the corner and completely destroys him into the boards. And that turned everything around. No, it's, it's beyond that, guys. It's driving. It's. It's. A major change has to happen. The Apple Watch Series 10 is here. It has the biggest display ever. It's also the thinnest Apple Watch ever, making it even more comfortable on your wrist whether you're running, swimming, or sleeping. And it's the fastest charging Apple Watch, getting you eight hours of charge in just 15 minutes. The Apple Watch Series 10, available for the first time in glossy jet black aluminum compared to previous generations. IPhone XS, are later released. Required charge time and actual results will vary.

[Alan Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Han and Rosenberg podcast.

[Chris Canty]

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. Well, Don, look what you started.

[Don LaGreca]

You can say that I've ruined childhood. I'm sorry. I read lyrics. It is Elvis's birthday and David Bowie's.

[Alan Hahn]

More on that later.

[Chris Canty]

Yeah, probably wouldn't have been, you know, Bowie fans probably wouldn't be taken aback so much. You know, he's, he was sort of a, a boundary pushing kind of guy. The Elvis fans might be a little shocked.

[Alan Hahn]

I think you're right. I think you're probably right.

[Don LaGreca]

Dead on.

[Alan Hahn]

Can you imagine? Imagine. And you know the, that there's a certain type of people that are Elvis fans. Can you imagine if you revealed that to them? Oh Lord. Like you'd have some, you'd seriously have some bark around your heart attacks happening. They wouldn't be able to handle that. Meanwhile, Gil in Brooklyn, though, is upset with Don.

[Caller]

Gil, Yo, I've been laughing ever since you made that comment. I played the freaking video about three times already, Don. You killed my childhood. I listen to it, he says it, and I looked at the radio. It is insane. You have me crying. I'm, I'm. I'm shedding ears. I'm laughing so freaking hard. That's a crazy take.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, but don't be mad at me. It's. It's not a crazy take. It's in the lyrics. What else am I supposed to think now?

[Chris Canty]

Don, I have a follow up question to lyrics.

[Alan Hahn]

Thank you, Gil.

[Caller]

Oh, wait, if you watch the video and listen to the song, that's not the only verse.

[Chris Canty]

Oh, no. In fact, Gil, thank you for the comment. Dom, what about this bar can if you can't find a partner, use a wooden chair, right?

[Don LaGreca]

Well, what is going on in that?

[Alan Hahn]

What the Hell yeah.

[Chris Canty]

And which part of the chair are you using?

[Alan Hahn]

That's the thing again. Definitely don't need that image right now.

[Chris Canty]

Yeah. It's not what you expected today, did you, On Elvis's birthday?

[Alan Hahn]

Definitely not. We're learning a lot though, and there's nothing wrong with that. To each his own. I say now he didn't write the.

[Don LaGreca]

Song, but at some point he's singing it, he's rehearsing it. When you look and say, can you explain to me exactly what's going on here?

[Chris Canty]

Well, listen, maybe Elvis was just a very open minded guy.

[Don LaGreca]

That is possible.

[Chris Canty]

He didn't mind singing about other people's experiences. Thank you very much.

[Alan Hahn]

That's right.

[Chris Canty]

I mean, you remember Don, as you remember, you could tell Elvis anything. You could say, Elvis, we're gonna win this race. We good.

[Alan Hahn]

We're gonna win this race.

[Chris Canty]

Elvis wants some lemonade. Lemonade.

[Don LaGreca]

Refreshing drink.

[Alan Hahn]

That is one of the all time great bits, by the way.

[Chris Canty]

Oh, come on.

[Don LaGreca]

It's.

[Alan Hahn]

It's one of the top 10.

[Chris Canty]

Top 10 all time bits ever performed on a stage, perhaps.

[Alan Hahn]

Absolutely true. Meanwhile, the stage here at the Garden for the Rangers was not good. Was not all time. They lost another one, this time in overtime. They get a point, but they lost five to four or to the Dallas Stars. It continues to be a mess because they look good at moments. Are they pulling you in and then they of course kick you back out again? That has been the emotion with the fans who are in calling us right now at 800. Now at 9. 3, 7, 7, 6. Let's go to Victor in Queens. Go ahead, Victor.

[Caller]

What's up, guys? How you doing? Love the hockey talk.

[Don LaGreca]

Thanks, man.

[Caller]

At this, at this point in the game, Laviolette's got to go. The way you brought up Miller loses the play. He got the easy out up the boards, gets tripped to the puck. Doesn't go hard to the boards when the puck back where there's no fire, there's no energy. The coach has got to go. These guys are scared for nothing. They're playing scared. Everybody, not just at play. That goes on and on and on. Every game they don't come back, they don't pick up men. You got two, two defensemen going down under the goal line. You got Panarin getting into scrums. Nobody else coming on his back. You guys got Dave over there listening to him. He goes crazy on the radio. This is out of control. You cannot just give up this season right now. Get rid of Laviolette. Bring in somebody that's going to kick some you know what around and turn things around. Give Nikki some confidence. Mika needs a broken bat base hit to get some confidence going.

[Don LaGreca]

But you're buying into again, you know, the lack of emotion or somebody to get something out of this is Peter Laviolette. Now listen, I'm biased because I really like Peter but look at his resume. Turn the Islanders around. Won a cup in Carolina. Took the Nashville Predators to the Stanley cup final for God's sakes. And now how many coaches you gonna allow this core to spit out? When are we gonna just finally admit it's not a coaching problem, it's a player problem. You got rid of Gallant alright. Everybody was fine with that because they got beat. They blew the two nothing series lead against New Jersey. Then you bring in Peter Laviolette. All the guy's done is win. He didn't win in Washington but he's won everywhere else. Went to a Stanley cup final in Philadelphia, Nashville, won a cup in Carolina. Got the Islanders to the playoffs back to back years after they went a decade without going to the postseason. And now he's the problem. Now the only thing I'll say is that he's got three. He's got a year and a half left on his contract. So at the end of this year if they miss the playoffs, Allen, then maybe you'll change coaches because it's not like you can extend them. You don't want a lame duck. But in the middle of the season, again it's buying into this, this one thing that's going to change everything around. It's a roster issue to me.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes. So I don't know if any coach.

[Don LaGreca]

Is going to change. Now maybe you bring in Joel Quinville. I don't know if they would even do that considering the controversy. But let's say you do that and maybe you get a bit of a spurt and you win a few games in a row because of the change. But then it's probably just going to revert back to where it was. This core has been given an opportunity, Allen. And I don't think it's some fire up speech, it's some benching. It's some coaching change that's going to make that big of a deal.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't think so either. This is not a system issue, this is a personnel issue. It's clearly that. Right? Like, and I've always warned people too, it's like the worst thing you could do is fire Peter Laviolette. He is not part of the problem like that is abundantly clear. And I've known him for. You know, again, you mentioned him with the Islanders. Like I was there. He was a rookie coach coming out of the ahl. I met him at the airport when he got the job with the Islanders. I mean, I've been. Been through a lot watching him throughout his career, watching him have success and everything else. I know everything about him when it comes to who he is as a coach and who he is as a person. And I could tell you that this guy right now, if you don't think that this is killing him, watching the team play like this, looking the way they look, because he is. He's. All he cares about is winning, but he's got to know as well there's everything. We put him in positions to be successful and they're not. It's as simple as that. This is not a coaching issue with, with the Rangers. This is a personnel issue. This might be a team that just went off the cliff. It might just be that, and that's harder to fix. Scott in Montreal. Scott.

[Don LaGreca]

What's up, Scott?

[Caller]

Hey, guys.

[Don LaGreca]

How's it going? Love the show. Interesting new format.

[Alan Hahn]

I like it.

[Don LaGreca]

Thank you. I just surprised you guys talking that.

[Caller]

Way about, about, about the personnel and not even like thinking about the coach. I mean, what's he going to do?

[Alan Hahn]

What's.

[Don LaGreca]

What's Jury going to do? Is he going to take on someone else's problem?

[Caller]

You know, it's tough to make.

[Don LaGreca]

Make a deal with a bunch of guys who are scuffling, you know. Well, listen, I'm not saying that, you know, Chris, Jury has to go do. There's nothing to do. Well, you, you know, yeah, it'd be great to get rid of Mika Zabanejad. He's not playing up to the level of his contract. He's an $8 million cap hit. He's got a no movement clause. You know, everybody's killing him for the treatment of Truba. He tried to move Truba because he was a big cap hit, and look what happened. I, I don't know what Chris can do, but, but firing the coach, to me, I just think would be a. Would be a lazy way to go about it. But there are per. There are roster problems, Alan. I don't know how you correct it. That's the issue.

[Alan Hahn]

That's the hard part.

[Don LaGreca]

You're not going to get what you're going to have to do. Alan, is that old Okie doke of I'm gonna give you my problem and then I'm gonna spice it up with a really high prospect or a high draft pick to entice you to make the deal. You know, the. Lou Amarillo used to do that all the time. He wanted to get rid of Malakoff so he, he shipped them to San Jose with a first round pick. They didn't, they didn't care about the player. They wanted the pick.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Don LaGreca]

You know you're going to do that. I mean, do you. Would you? But that's difficult to do. That's hard. Nobody wants to see Gabe Perot get, get dealt so they can move somebody else. But, but it's that kind of creativity that you're going to need to make it happen. And it, that's tough to do in season, man. I really think it's difficult because a lot of the roster problems are not because of Chris Drury. Now has Chris made that spectacular move that blows you away? No, but you know, some of these contracts that they have that are looked upon Allen as bad contracts, they're not. That's not Chris Jury's fault.

[Alan Hahn]

They are. I think they've reached that point. What you're talking about, which is how do you do a sell off off without also mortgaging the future because you're selling off and then adding picks to it just to get. You're dumping contracts and you're sending contracts into around the league. Or, or I give you my, my bad contract for your bad contract and hope you just have like something inspiring connects. Maybe it's a player that'll fit. Like there's a lot of ways you got to look at this and I imagine that's what they're doing right now before they get to this trade deadline. Vinnie. And Queens wants to ask about that. Go ahead, Vinnie.

[Chris Canty]

Vinnie.

[Don LaGreca]

Hey guys, thanks for taking my call.

[Caller]

Just wanted to piggyback off what you.

[Alan Hahn]

Guys have been saying about how this.

[Chris Canty]

Is more of a roster problem.

[Caller]

Do you think even if they get closer to a wild card spot that they'll buy at the deadline or just stay pat?

[Alan Hahn]

Like where do you think they'll stand at that point?

[Don LaGreca]

I think it depends where they are. I think they want to make the playoffs and with Igor Shisterkin, they probably feel like they got a chance to, to maybe make a run. So. But I don't think they're gonna. Allen, correct me if I'm wrong, I don't think that they're gonna make some kind of major splash.

[Alan Hahn]

But I also though I can't see a blockbuster.

[Don LaGreca]

They brought in Will Borgen because I think he was going to help the Depth on the blue line. And also you can get something for him at the deadline. He's a big, physical defenseman. That's what everybody, every playoff team wants that for the end of the season, in the postseason. So he could be moved for something. But if they got a chance to make the playoffs, I think he'll tinker. I don't think they'll sell if they're within striking distance, but if they're out of it, like if they're 10 points out of a playoff spot, then I do think that they'll probably sell some pieces off. But if they've got a chance to make the playoff, I think they're probably going to go for it.

[Alan Hahn]

I think this is not something you try to fix in the middle of the season. I think this is something that when you get to the offseason, that's when you'll start to see dramatic changes and they'll have to get real creative. But this team will not look like this next season. I just don't think you do it in the middle of the season. That's why you don't fire the coach. You don't, you don't do anything crazy right now because this, it's so much harder to make moves like that in season and get anything out of it. You wait till the off season and that's unfortunately what this has to be. And so if they sneak in and get the last playoff spot, that's the only way you can at least salvage, salvage a season. But it's not going to make anybody happy. It's not going to satisfy anyone. But that's, that's all I got. I don't think they're doing anything at the deadline.

[Chris Canty]

And, and you certainly, Alan, don't want to have a moment where like you go on a little toot, you start feeling good and then start actually thinking about something else this season. I mean, don't get fooled because of a three game winning streak into getting off course here. You really know what this team is already, by the way, Allen. Are they, Are they. Is there a battle of the bands tonight at msg? What exactly is going on?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, I don't know if. Have you heard of laundry day? It's a, it's a, it's actually a band. They have a whole drum kit. They have everything.

[Chris Canty]

Oh, so that was legitimately a full band rehearsal.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes. And they're, they're the halftime Entertainment tonight. And yeah, I noticed it's like I was trying to cover the mic so it wasn't getting too Loud for you guys and I apologize. But they, they look like they're high school juniors. Like, they don't really look that old.

[Chris Canty]

They're, they're, they're a band from. They're from Manhattan and they were formed in 2018. So they are pretty.

[Alan Hahn]

All wearing Knicks jerseys. It should be fun.

[Chris Canty]

So it kind of was a battle. I mean, Don, it sounded like the scene in Back to the Future when Marty's band is trying out to.

[Don LaGreca]

Sorry, you're just too damn loud.

[Chris Canty]

Yeah, exactly. And Don, who is it who says that?

[Don LaGreca]

That would be Huey Lewis, the great Huey Lewis.

[Chris Canty]

That's right.

[Alan Hahn]

Excellent. Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Chris Canty]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Alan Hahn]

Catch the show on demand whenever want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. So I think everybody has seen the devastating wildfires that are burning in the LA area. The Pacific coast, inland Pasadena, all those areas, Pacific Palisades. It's again, the video is harrowing. The NHL has already decided the Calgary is in LA to play the Kings. They postpone that game, as they should. The air quality in LA is terrible. It's never great. But even worse now because of all this. But how about this, guys? The NFL, remember the Rams play Monday night, right? And they host the Vikings at SoFi Stadium. That game right now could be moved. The NFL just said it's monitoring the situation and the potential impact it could have on that game Monday night, whether or not it even is appropriate to play that game in la. So it is something that they had a statement that just said the NFL continues to monitor developments in the area, will remain in contact with both clubs and the NFL.

[Chris Canty]

Pennsylvania, I don't know if they're probably.

[Alan Hahn]

Gonna have to make a decision by Friday, right? You have to know by Friday.

[Chris Canty]

Well, you have to for several reasons, right? Obviously, travel plans, getting a stadium ready. You go to a place like Vegas, it's a place where they're. The season's over and they need to figure out what they're doing also from the team standpoints and a preparedness standpoint. Guys like, as you know, you have a schedule of how you operate leading into a playoff game. So they got to figure out exactly what they're doing. And these, these videos that I have been seeing, it's. It's now like all over my algorithm on Instagram. Instagram. I've never seen anything like this in the United States. I mean, I've seen, I think we've all seen our share of wildfires in Southern California before the images we're seeing. And now they're saying two civilians have died, over a thousand homes and businesses have been destroyed. This one's really, really terrifying. And they're speculating, guys, it started from one person's backyard. May have been the start of this whole thing.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, they don't know for sure. Well, you know, like, there's also been some issues, electrical issues. Like, I was talking to a friend of mine who lives in Manhattan Beach. He said that there was a power surge, I think as a result of a lot of this stuff. And his, his outlets in the house started to spark, really. And they had to call in the fire department just to make sure that there. Because it's been so dry there. That's obviously why all this is going, going on too. They have not had any rainfall whatsoever. And so he said because the outlet started to spark, he called to make sure that they check the walls and make sure there's no, no fire. Because again, with everything so dry, all you need is just one little spark that could turn into what we are dealing with right now. So, yeah, it's, it's, it's really, really scary.

[Don LaGreca]

Now this is like real life stuff, and we all know how important NFL playoff games are, but it's not more important than human life and the tragedy that's going on there. So why not, if you're the NFL, get out in front of it. Announce today you're moving the game to Vegas. What's the worst case scenario is that by, by Monday everything's fine, and that you're being forced to play in Vegas when you didn't have to, or doing something last minute because not only do you have the air quality situation, but you also have, you know, lives being lost. And also, do you really want a lot of police and great points to be available at a football stadium when they might be needed somewhere else?

[Chris Canty]

Crowding people into one area, there's just so many reasons it wouldn't make sense. And what is the likelihood with the way that it's moving right now and the dryness that Allen was just alluding to that is such a cause here? What is the likelihood that everything is all good and safe by the time we get to Monday? I'd love for that to be true, but the way these things go, guys, it's often very hard. They just kind of have to let it fade to some extent.

[Don LaGreca]

And I would think, what is it, Wednesday? The game is Monday. If you announced it today, the people that would go to the game can now make plans to go to Vegas. You'd be able to sell tickets that might become available. And the worst case scenario, it's like baseball when you rain a game out and then you have the PR disaster that it didn't rain. All right, that's uncomfortable. Alright, so that would be a great scenario. All right. Monday you're playing a game in Vegas and you didn't have to because everything was okay. I can live with that. All right. I can live with the NFL have an egg on its face that they move something that wasn't necessary. But right now I'd rather have that than scrambling or maybe having to postpone the game flat out because things are getting out of control and now there's no time to move it. So the one thing the NFL has right now is time on their side. The game's on Monday, it's only Wednesday. Make the announcement now. Move it to Vegas or wherever you're going to move it. And give people the five, five, six days to make the necessary adjustment.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. Again, the statement that went out today is something that if you're monitoring it right. I think you're right, Don. Either by end of day today or by tomorrow morning, you had to make a decision. And the obvious move would be Vegas because it is a Rams home game. But the other way you could, I mean, I guess if you're the Rams, you wouldn't want this. But the other move, moving the game to Minnesota is really not an option. Vikings would love it. But like for the Rams, that doesn't make any sense because now all of a sudden your home, the home field advantage you have is gone. So they'll have to find more of a neutral site and something more close to the West Coast. It seems obvious, it seems something the NFL needs to do. But putting out a statement saying we're monitoring it. What are you monitoring? I'm with you guys both. This thing is not going to. Even if the suddenly there's a miracle and the thing is completely extinguished, it doesn't mean that everything's safe and everything's fine and that people in the area are really going to care that there's a football game on Monday night. This isn't one of those, oh, it'll help galvanize the community and bring people together. No, people lost their homes with this thing.

[Chris Canty]

Guys, we are going to be looking at in all likelihood the biggest insurance payout in the history of the state. One of the biggest insurance payouts probably in the history of the country. When you see this is just going to be a devastating thing. So many people have lost. You know, thank God most people seem to be able to get out in front of it and there have been tons of evacuations. So you're losing a home and not and not people. As I said, two people have been reported dead. But still guys losing a home, starting over again. It's a lot. It's just a lot for a lot of people.

[Alan Hahn]

All right. So we obviously our thoughts and prayers are with them and we'll also keep an eye on things there as well. But we'll keep an eye on what the NFL decides to do with this game. The NHL already making already acting on the Kings game that will not be played tonight. Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast. I don't want to know how the sausage is made, man. I just want to know. It's good. Hear more of Don Allen and Peter weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers.