Hour 1: Clutch Brunson

Summary

Podcast Summary: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 1: Clutch Brunson

Release Date: March 3, 2025
Duration: Approximately 25 minutes

Introduction to Key Topics

In the inaugural episode of "Don, Hahn & Rosenberg," the trio—Don LaGreca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg—dive deep into the current state of New York sports, with a particular focus on the New York Knicks and standout player Jalen Brunson. The conversation navigates through recent game performances, player dynamics, and the implications for the team's postseason prospects.

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1. Celebrating Young Talent and Team Success

The episode opens with Don LaGreca sharing a personal triumph about his daughter’s hockey team winning the championship. This sets a positive tone as the hosts transition to discussing the Knicks' recent performances.

Don LaGreca (01:33):
"It's tremendous. Hilarious. Like when they're that young, to see them so dialed in, locked in, kind of level. It's special."

Alan Hahn praises the resilience and skill exhibited by the young athletes, emphasizing the importance of nurturing talent from a young age.

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2. Knicks' Current Season Analysis

The conversation shifts to the New York Knicks' performance, analyzing their recent losses to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics. The hosts express concern over the team's ability to compete against top-tier opponents and discuss the impact of key players returning to the lineup.

Alan Hahn (02:29):
"I think that's why people think the NCAA is corrupt." (Note: This quote seems out of context and may be referencing a previous discussion.)

Don LaGreca critiques the Yankees' player management, drawing parallels to the Knicks' situation.

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3. Player Focus: Jalen Brunson's Clutch Performance

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to evaluating Jalen Brunson's role within the Knicks. Alan Hahn highlights Brunson's effectiveness in high-pressure situations, noting his impressive statistics and consistent performance in clutch moments.

Alan Hahn (18:25):
"He is right now the league's leading scorer in clutch time. He's also shooting over 50%, which is leading the league as well."

Don LaGreca supports Hahn's assessment, arguing that Brunson's ability to take and make crucial shots positions him as a valuable asset for the team's playoff aspirations.

Don LaGreca (20:07):
"If you're telling me he's in the top five or three of guys that if the game is on the line, he's taking the shot, isn't that better than anything else?"

Peter Rosenberg echoes the sentiment, emphasizing that Brunson's clutch gene could be pivotal in tight playoff series where every possession counts.

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4. Team Dynamics and Future Prospects

The hosts discuss the integration of Mitchell Robinson into the Knicks' rotation. Alan Hahn observes that Robinson's presence alters the team's defensive capabilities and overall game strategy, offering more flexibility and depth.

Peter Rosenberg (14:07):
"It's stuff that doesn't come up on the stat sheet. Which is the interesting piece."

Don LaGreca expresses optimism about the team's potential growth with Robinson fully integrated, though he remains cautious about the Knicks’ readiness to advance beyond the second playoff round.

Don LaGreca (22:36):
"The question for me is, will it convince people that they've got a shot to take the next step?"

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5. College Basketball Spotlight: St. John's Controversy

Shifting focus to college basketball, the hosts debate St. John's ranking issues within the NCAA framework. Don LaGreca criticizes the reliance on AP rankings, questioning their significance in tournament seedings and highlighting the potential discrepancies between perceived and actual team strengths.

Don LaGreca (08:08):
"If it doesn't mean anything for the tournament, then it doesn't really matter because if they're sixth in a nation, don't stick them as a five or a four seed."

Alan Hahn counters by explaining the traditional use of AP rankings as a guide for assessing team performance and potential.

Alan Hahn (08:37):
"I think it's just used as a guide. And it isn't until later in the season do the rankings matter."

The discussion underscores the complexities of college basketball rankings and their influence on tournament seedings, with both hosts advocating for a more nuanced evaluation system.

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6. Knicks' Playoff Potential and Challenges Ahead

Concluding the primary discussions, Alan Hahn emphasizes the Knicks' impressive record and hints at a possible championship-caliber team contingent on key player health and continued clutch performances.

Alan Hahn (20:07):
"It's the most confident I've said this many times, the most confident I've had in this team, this franchise in a long time to win a championship."

Peter Rosenberg adds that while health and player availability remain concerns, the current trajectory of the team suggests a promising future if they maintain their current form.

Peter Rosenberg (21:16):
"I fully believe it’s just a matter of health. If everyone is available, if OG is playing at 100%, if Mitch is playing, they are going to compete this year."

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Conclusion and Final Thoughts

The episode wraps up with the hosts reiterating their optimism for the Knicks' potential to ascend further in the standings, contingent on maintaining key performances and player health. They express excitement for the upcoming games in March, viewing it as a pivotal period for the team's development and playoff positioning.

Alan Hahn (22:36):
"I think the door is open to at least take a peek, get your attention."

Don LaGreca (22:36):
"We got them in the conversation as can they be a contender."

Key Takeaways:

• Jalen Brunson's Clutch Performance: Central to the Knicks' strategy and success, Brunson's ability to perform under pressure is a significant asset.

• Mitchell Robinson's Integration: His defensive prowess adds depth and flexibility to the team's lineup, enhancing overall performance.

• St. John’s Ranking Debate: Highlights the ongoing challenges and controversies surrounding NCAA basketball rankings and their implications.

• Knicks' Playoff Potential: The team's current form suggests they could be a strong contender, provided key players remain healthy and maintain their performance levels.

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Notable Quotes:

• Don LaGreca (01:33):
  "It's tremendous. Hilarious. Like when they're that young, to see them so dialed in, locked in, kind of level. It's special."

• Alan Hahn (18:25):
  "He is right now the league's leading scorer in clutch time. He's also shooting over 50%, which is leading the league as well."

• Don LaGreca (20:07):
  "If you're telling me he's in the top five or three of guys that if the game is on the line, he's taking the shot, isn't that better than anything else?"

• Don LaGreca (08:08):
  "If it doesn't mean anything for the tournament, then it doesn't really matter because if they're sixth in a nation, don't stick them as a five or a four seed."

• Alan Hahn (20:07):
  "It's the most confident I've said this many times, the most confident I've had in this team, this franchise in a long time to win a championship."

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Final Thoughts:

"Don, Hahn & Rosenberg" successfully sets the stage for future episodes by delving into pertinent sports topics with depth and passion. The hosts provide insightful analysis backed by relevant statistics and personal observations, making the podcast a must-listen for New York sports enthusiasts seeking comprehensive and engaging discussions.

Transcript

[Alan Hahn]

Done.

[Don LaGreca]

I gotta divorce my wife and have my kids bleed out. No, because the Giant game's on. Otherwise, I'm not a real fan.

[Alan Hahn]

What kind of fan are you?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Not a good one. And Rosenberg, the Peter haters who call stupid. The Peter fans who call very bright.

[Don LaGreca]

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

[Alan Hahn]

This is Don, Han and Rosenberg.

[Caller]

The best threesome I've ever heard on.

[Alan Hahn]

880 ESPN and the ESPN New York Apple. Start a new week here with you with Don Legreck and Peter Rosenberg. I'm Alan Hahn. 800-919-3776, of course, is the number. What a difference a weekend makes, fellas, huh?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Talking about the Knickerbockers.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. That's one thing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What else you talking about?

[Alan Hahn]

That's it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

John Cena.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. That wasn't on my radar.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You didn't see that? It didn't hit your radar on Saturday.

[Alan Hahn]

It's a Saturday night.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Knicks were Friday Sunday, right?

[Alan Hahn]

Knicks are Friday Sunday. Well, Cali had a big weekend. She did.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You were. You were dialed in.

[Alan Hahn]

I gotta tell you. Like, you know, and. And sports is so different now. You can. If you can't go like your kids play travel. They have now. It's been. They've had this for a while, but when I was a kid or other people like streaming services to watch the games. And so I'm locked in like they had. They had a couple of big games this weekend. Her. Her. Her 10U Islanders Girls Elite team. And they won the championship this morning. Wow. Why do we need to go to school when we have to play a champion?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Why. Why was the game today?

[Alan Hahn]

That's. They decided. I was in Wayne, New Jersey, not far from Don Lagreca.

[Don LaGreca]

Was the ice fault.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. Yep. And the ice faults.

[Don LaGreca]

I want Marco to play hockey just for this reason. I've actually met buddies there for dinner.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, the. The bar. Sports bar.

[Don LaGreca]

They got a sports bar in the crease and all. Like the TVs up here, like the studio. But they're showing each of the rinks within the ice fault. So you can sit there and watch your kids play and have a beer and hot dog or a burger.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What is that? That's very cool.

[Alan Hahn]

It's a great life. Well, we were. We were right on the glass. We got good seats right on the glass and. But it was great.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So you're able to watch all of her games on a stream.

[Alan Hahn]

If I can't go, which I couldn't go this weekend. My wife had her there this weekend. And so I had to stay back and. And work. But this morning, got up and went right there to. To watch the game. But yeah, you can watch streaming. So I probably missed everything Saturday night because all I cared about was. That makes sense.

[Don LaGreca]

It's fair.

[Alan Hahn]

Little bit of UNH versus BC that didn't go well.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No.

[Alan Hahn]

But yeah. So I wanted to shout out the girls.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's. Congratulations.

[Don LaGreca]

I'm so happy, man.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. So they did well. Nice. Championship season or first time in travel hockey. Goalie Nora Smith. You got to see this girl. She's like, like stopping everything. Absolute. Like just brick wall. It's tremendous. Hilarious. Like when they're that young, to see them so dialed in, locked in, kind of level. It's special. You never know, right? So it was just fun. It was so much fun to watch them culminate a season like this. So, yeah, we talk hockey and that's what we just did here.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I love it.

[Alan Hahn]

Congrats, girls. So that was that. And then the Knicks. Yes. And do the Yankees need a third baseman, Don?

[Don LaGreca]

Well, they've. They've got options.

[Alan Hahn]

That's been the question from the beginning. DJ lemayhue was supposed to be the answer. I'm stunned to report that he's hurt.

[Don LaGreca]

I don't think he was ever the answer from a financial standpoint. You'd like him to be the answer.

[Alan Hahn]

Come on.

[Don LaGreca]

Because he's making a lot of money. But you thought it. Play DJ LeMayhue. This was inevitable. So Parraza and Cabrera will decide. But it's not. It's not great. It's now their new left field. You remember a left field. Who do we put out there?

[Alan Hahn]

Well, that's also, by the way.

[Don LaGreca]

And that's. No, listen, it's so early. You can't get crazy. And the Yankees are going to be okay because the American League is very much theirs for the taking. Although Baltimore can still be scary. They haven't been able to put it together. So the Yankees are going to make the playoffs. I'm just. I'm not feeling them right now at all.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, when you go to their page on espn, here are the headlines that come up.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, boy.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Stanton to open season on IL lemayhue exits next headline. Luis Heel Yanks and AL Rookie of the Year. Heel to MRI for tight shoulder.

[Alan Hahn]

Now Marcus Stroman's like, oh, you need me now, don't you?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, there's no.

[Don LaGreca]

That's why I never understood why he even spoke out the way he did when camp opened. Because you know somebody's going to get hurt, you're going to get the opportunity.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You might be opening day again.

[Don LaGreca]

All he had to say was, I.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Although he turned it down last year, didn't he?

[Don LaGreca]

He did turn it down.

[Alan Hahn]

He wanted to pitch.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Stadium, I forgot.

[Don LaGreca]

We're still a ways away from it starting. But it's spring training. The dirty little secret about spring training is this. We don't need to be doing this. The only reason we do it is because the pitchers have to report early, because they've got to get ready, because they need time to get hurt, right? So they report early to give the extended time because you just. It's almost. You know what, I'm surprised that on the first day of camp, they just don't belt you with a bat in the elbow just to get it out of the way. But. But in order to stretch the pitchers out, they gotta get there early. So pitchers and catchers report. Then they need something to do. They gotta pitch to somebody. Every other sport, even football, for the most part, they don't last as long as this. Hockey and basketball, they get together for like three weeks. They play like five preseason games and let's get started. But baseball, because the pitchers, they've gotta extend this. All the media's gotta go down there and it's just like one soap opera after the other. Let's just get to opening day, please. This is what I was telling you guys. When they go, oh, we're only two weeks from pitchers and catchers. Okay, now what? We stare at each other for another month. Let's get this started, man. Mets and Yankees, it should be a fun season, right? I mean, I'm not feeling the Yankees right now, but you know, they're going to be right there. Mets have a chance to be right there. Let's get going already.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes. Well, at least we're in March, which is. Which is a start.

[Don LaGreca]

That was significant. The weather isn't cooperating, but otherwise, we.

[Alan Hahn]

Got to be getting there, though. But you know what else happened this weekend is St. John's there's now six. I mean, you think about it. Big statements again. And at the Garden, it was like a party. Like, why not the white out? And you have Pitino, by the way, did you see him in the all white suit? Interesting ice cream, man.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Very interesting vibe.

[Alan Hahn]

That was really cool. So they had a big part of. They had a. You didn't like it? They had a. They had the trophy, everything. They had confetti. Like it was a big deal. Winning the regular season champion.

[Don LaGreca]

It was the third game they Sold out of the Garden, which is pretty significant.

[Alan Hahn]

And I believe they're undefeated. Right? They have not lost this season.

[Don LaGreca]

They only lost four games this year. But I'm fighting this because this is why people think the NCAA is corrupt. And there's always something going on. They're ranked sixth in the country.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, they're in the coach in the AP poll.

[Don LaGreca]

Okay, so that's where they're put.

[Alan Hahn]

That doesn't mean that's what the selection committee.

[Don LaGreca]

So why do we have it?

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, because it's tradition every year. Every year you have.

[Don LaGreca]

If it doesn't mean anything for the tournament, then it doesn't really matter because if they're sixth in a nation, don't stick them as a five or a four seed because they're six in the nation and there's four brackets, last I checked. So if they're not going to be in the top two, that means that they're claiming there's eight teams better than they are, which means they should be able to slide into a three. Some have them dropping the four. And I would say, then why am I looking at them as six? And the answer always is, well, they don't respect the Big East. Well, apparently the AP respects them. They're six. So they're going to go if they make a run. So what you're telling me is this. If they make a run and win the Big east, which is not out of the realm of possibility, win the conference, they might go up to a top five team in the AP means nothing. If they sit there are five seed in a bracket or even a four seed. So what are we doing? At least in college football, it means something in the placement. Now, if there's corruption, at least they're going off a corrupt list. But we're going off an AP list. That's all we talk about everywhere, every Monday. Oh, St. John's is eight, St. John's is seven, St. John's is six. But what does it mean if they're not going to go with that once we get to the tournament, then what are we looking at it for in the first place?

[Alan Hahn]

I think it's just used. Same thing as college football. It's just used as a guide. And it isn't until later in the season do the rankings matter. But they don't have that for college basketball. So this is the only way you can kind of gauge the best teams in the country. But it doesn't mean anything until you get a selection committee and they start weighing wins and losses in your strength of schedule. And if you play. Play a big E schedule, it's not going to be nearly as impressive as playing a Big Ten schedule. Or an sec.

[Don LaGreca]

No, I get it.

[Alan Hahn]

Or acc.

[Don LaGreca]

But AP still looks at them as a six. They look at the conference, they look at the schedule the same as anybody else. Right.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, so now we got impropriety. So what happens? There'll be a four seed and all they hate. They hate patino. Oh, they hate New York. They don't. The St. John's isn't a blue blood. Well, why would you open it up like that? Put us where they deserve to be.

[Alan Hahn]

I still think there's enough respect for what St. John's has done that they. I don't think they'll be buried. I don't. And again, they still have to show you something in their conference tournament.

[Don LaGreca]

Listen, all bets are off if they drop like the first game. Yeah, which I don't expect. No, I don't expect it either.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Don LaGreca]

But it's just odd that you're ranked sixth in the nation and we're talking about to guarantee you at least a three seed. They gotta win the conference.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

When you're gonna have. You're gonna have. Peter, how many years we'd see Duke play North Carolina for the ACC championship. It didn't matter. Was a glorified exhibition. They were both going to be one seeds in the tournament. They didn't even care about it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But the thing is, it just totally depends on what the rest of the top five, in this case six looks like and what they do over the course of the weekend. Because if the teams right behind you, for example, do phenomenal things over the next week and you happen to have an unimpressive loss in the tournament, it can. That someone has to move somewhere. I mean, listen, Maryland. Maryland lost and moved up three spots this week. So you never know exactly what's going to happen.

[Don LaGreca]

They were in the game. No, I agree. They got blown out in the first game.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But.

[Don LaGreca]

But they, they lose the championship game of the Big east and go, sorry, you're going to have to be a five seed. That's all that I, I hope not.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm not even worried.

[Don LaGreca]

I hope not. It would be very disrespectful.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm not worried about that.

[Alan Hahn]

Easy.

[Don LaGreca]

You're right.

[Alan Hahn]

You want to take a second verklempt.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Don't get verklempt.

[Alan Hahn]

The. The other thing that happened this weekend was the Rangers continue to make some moves as well. So we've got to discuss that. There's a lot on the table today that doesn't feel like there's anything that feels like a big headline. So it does open us up to get into all different types of conversations and debates and everything with you. 800. I would. 9, 3, 776. But I do think, though, because we went into the weekend anticipating the return of Mitchell Robinson to the Knicks lineup and what's it going to look like? And, you know, are we putting all our all this team's hopes on him? You know, one week into another? It's a big difference. Right? You come out of the weekend past and you have two losses to the Cavs and the Celtics, and you feel like all is lost. This team is just heading in the wrong direction. They can't beat the good teams and all that. They go on the road to take on a Grizzlies team that was number two in the west and and then a Heat team that, while they don't have Jimmy Butler, they're just a pain in the ass to play against. We already know what it's like. They're going to grind you out and all that stuff. And of course, a Saturday night in Miami before you play that game, which we all know how that can be, can be a detriment. And both times, did the Knicks have great games? No. But did they have great finishes? Yes. And did we learn something about what they look like with Mitchell Robinson now in the rotation? Those are all things, I think, guys, as we now open into March, the Knicks right now have the month of March to see what they can turn Mitchell Robinson into in their lineup, what he can be for them. But the eye test tells you already they look different just having him on the floor because he's seven feet with long arms and defensive instincts. And when it came to winning time, he was part of them making winning plays. You're looking for resiliency, toughness, clutch play, and the ability to get stops when you need them, when you get into the playoffs. And this weekend, those games were about that. And so I come out of this weekend, they're 40 and 20. They're 20 games over. 500. We have been nitpicking this team a lot, and for good reason, because we have them in the conversation as can they be a contender. But I'll tell you what they are. They showed something this weekend that I believe is the kind of toughness that has been missing that the fans have been asking for. And I think these two comeback wins showed you that there is a little bit of mental toughness in this team. And now I'm really curious to see as Robinson gets his legs under him and more minutes is what they look like with him now in this rotation. Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

Because you weren't talking about a ton of minutes in either of the games.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Don LaGreca]

You know, both going up against quality opponents, especially Memphis down double digits in both games. Winning the games, getting the big shot on Friday night from OG which might be, you know, his big, big, biggest shot that he's had since, you know, coming to the Knicks.

[Alan Hahn]

Yep.

[Don LaGreca]

You know, and then winning against the Heat. I don't think they have to prove to anybody that they are the third best team in the conference. But you don't want to slip. You want to make sure that there's nobody behind you that's going to catch you. And all right, now Mitch back. Let's see if this team can progress forward. They're never going to get convince anybody until you do that against the Celtics, until you do that against the Cavaliers. But you can't play those teams until they're on your schedule. And the fact that they won, them both won the fashion that they did. You can't tell me they don't have guts. You can't tell me they don't have ice water in their veins. You just got to be able to be in a position to beat the Celtics. And the Cavs unfortunately didn't come down to the last shot in those games. They're getting blown out of those games. But no, there's a lot to like about the team. It's just I don't think they're there yet. But can they get there? With Mitchell Robinson being healthy, I think the door is open to at least.

[Alan Hahn]

Take a peek, get your attention. I think that's what I'm. When he's in a lineup now, it's like, oh, I need to see more of this. Right. Like it is.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It is interesting though, that he did nothing yesterday and they still won.

[Alan Hahn]

So he made a couple of big hustle plays.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

Made a huge block like he dove on the floor.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But it's stuff that doesn't come up. A lot of it doesn't come up on the stat sheet.

[Alan Hahn]

Correct.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Which is the interesting piece. And that's why we were sort of laughing about like, oh, when we get Mitch back. Because it's not like getting back a typical star. But you saw the results this weekend and even if it wasn't in the stat sheet, it's the hustle plays, it's the presence in general. It's how he changes the Defense, the.

[Alan Hahn]

Things you can do.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

It gives you options.

[Peter Rosenberg]

If Mitch's presence forces a team to do something differently, that doesn't come up statistically.

[Alan Hahn]

No.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It just means they had to take.

[Alan Hahn]

A different shot or they hesitate. That's like little things where you just see the long arm and you go, okay, I can't take this all the way to the rack. They had a first half. They gave up 40 points in the pain. It was embarrassing. Like, they. They were getting layup after layup after layup. And I know everybody. Tom Thibodeau gets. I don't think he gets embraced for all the things that he's done as a coach. I mean, he's going to pass Pat Riley, top four in Knicks history, before the end of the season. I mean, he's. I think he's eight games, eight wins away from passing Pat Riley for wins as a Knicks coach. Crazy, you know, like, he's had great success. Nobody wants to embrace him. And all I hear from people is, you know, what about the adjustments? What kind of adjustments are you making? These two games were a great example of adjustments at halftime that flipped the game, and they took advantage of. They took away all that stuff in the paint, and Mitch, again, didn't play a ton, but there. There was something. I was around the team all weekend. I was around them in Memphis, and you could just see how happy everybody was to have, like, sometimes guys with teams, you get a player back, it doesn't have to be a star, but it's somebody that just puts a lift into the rest of the team. And now, all of a sudden, it's like, now everybody can go back to the positions they were supposed to play. And we still haven't seen Tom Thibodeau put Robinson and Towns together yet. Like the Gobert in Towns that you had in Minnesota. That's coming at some point, and when you see what that looks like. So I think this month. I don't know, I mean, it's. It's. I have to have attention. It's going to get my attention because it's my job. But I'm curious to see how much this weekend might have caught some attention and say, I got to watch this Knicks team now and see what they'll look like with this piece added to it.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, I don't know why you wouldn't be watching them to begin with. I mean, they're a really good basketball team.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, it's March. There's a lot going on.

[Don LaGreca]

No, I get that. But just the idea that, hey, this is a good team. It took you till now to realize that. But the question for me is, will it convince people that they've got a shot to take the next step? All right, we know they're the third best team in the conference, fourth best.

[Alan Hahn]

Team in the league.

[Don LaGreca]

Right. I think that gives us they're the fourth best record in the entire league. Right. But unfortunately, you're not going to worry about the west until you get to the finals. And that's a long way off. So the idea is, can we convince ourselves that this team can get out of the second round? And unfortunately, being a three seed may mean you're taking on the Boston Celtics in round two. And even though it would hit much different to lose to the Celtics as opposed to last year when you lost to Indiana, it's still a second round exit. It's still not quite over the hump yet. Is there anything they can do between now and the end of the season to convince you they can take that next step? And the answer is, yeah, beat Cleveland, beat Boston. What? They got another game left with Boston.

[Alan Hahn]

That's all in April. By then those games might.

[Don LaGreca]

I know that's the other problem is, is that, yeah, you might beat them because they might have the 1 and 2 seeds locked up and, and they're load managing, getting ready for the postseason. Meanwhile, the Knicks always play like their hair is on fire and they might go out there and beat the Celtics by 20. What's it going to mean? But is there anything they can do in the meantime to convince you that without playing them and beating them that you feel like you've caught them? And I guess the only way to do that is to continue to win. There are only two back of the lost column of the Celtics. It's still gonna be very difficult because the Celtics have the tiebreaker. But if, if they're back with Mitchell Robinson and they're playing at this clip and maybe give you a reason to believe that they might be able to overtake the Celtics, then that may be a bit of a different story. But in all likelihood, no matter what happens, it's Cleveland 1, Boston 2 Knicks 3. Once we start the playoffs, how much?

[Alan Hahn]

Also, what Jalen Brunson has done in clutch time this season, where he is right now the league's leading scorer in clutch time. For those who don't know, clutch time is five minutes to go in regulation and overtime with the game within five points. Either way, what you do in those moments, meaning in a close game and he's leading the NBA not Just in points per game, in clutch time. He's also shooting over 50%, which is leading the league as well. So he's efficient. He's money in a. In a big spot. Like, he's. He's a closer. And he closed both games Friday and Sunday night. And when he starts doing that, which some people were critical of him as a player, saying, you know, he's not a big enough star in a playoff series, he can't. Can he win you a series? But when you got a guy that's got ice water in his veins and big moments, you got to feel like in the playoffs, you know, Don, there's no blowouts in playoffs. You can have close games. If you have a guy that can get it done in those spots, you have a chance to win.

[Don LaGreca]

It's so funny you say it that way, because if I'm putting together a fantasy basketball team, I might not be taking Brunson as high as some other players. But when I ask it this way, who do you want to take that shot at the end of a game? Where does he rank and tell me he's not in the top five in the NBA of guys, you want to have the ball in a key spot. So really, does it matter what his. What all the stats tell you or what his basketball war might be in certain situations? Yeah, there might be better basketball players, better stats, guys that you'd rather have on your fantasy team. But if you're telling me he's in the top five or three of guys that if the game is on the line, he's taking the shot, isn't that better than anything else? Isn't that what you want in a big spot? Isn't that going to win you a series?

[Alan Hahn]

That's what. That's my point. Playoff games are close, they're tight. And if you have a guy that has, again, confidence comes from demonstrated performance, and he is just doing it over and over again this season, they have 16 wins in clutch games. I believe the record now is 16 7. So it's one of the better records again in the NBA. I think it's the second best record in the NBA when it comes to clutch time. So they have proven a lot of little things along the way that we just keep overlooking because there are those freaking seven games where they just couldn't beat the three teams that are above them in the standings. But they do have a lot of elements. Guys, in my opinion, there are a lot of elements in this roster that suggest championship caliber team. It's just. Is it Maybe not this year, but it's going to be in this window. This is the most confident. I've said this many times, the most confident I've had in this team, this franchise in a long time to win a championship. And it's because of what they're made up of. I don't know if it's this year. Again, I've said it all year, but they give me enough evidence this year to say at some point this group's going to have a shot at it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I fully believe, and I know this is kind of weak, but I fully believe to me it's just a matter of health. If everyone is available, if OG is playing at 100%, if Mitch is playing, they are going to compete this year. Now, will they compete enough to win a series against Cleveland or Boston? I don't know. That's hard. Who knows? But guys, you're telling me, I understand there'd be some level of disappointment. You'd really be angry at this team if they lost a tough series to Cleveland or Boston. Is that really something to hang your head about?

[Alan Hahn]

If it happened right now, a second round sets up to be them in Boston, right? Right. If they go to seven, even six with Boston.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's what I'm saying.

[Alan Hahn]

While you'll say, well, that was last year. Same thing happened last, but it looked different last year because last year you got banged up. You should have gotten to the conference finals injuries, it caused that one. If this is just because it's a defending champs and it's a bed, you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Battle freaking good and every game's close and you lose 4, 2.

[Alan Hahn]

The eye test will tell you that whether or not you feel now knowing the play, knowing those guys like Jalen Brunson, it's a failure.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, they'll be disgusted, which is the.

[Alan Hahn]

Right thing to say. But deep down you got to think like you know, that's what you're looking to see. What does it look like? And that's why I'm just so compelled by the month of March and just watching this team and see where they go.

[Caller]

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[Alan Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

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. Oh, wow. Anniversary of this album, is it?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Is that right?

[Alan Hahn]

Right. Is this three feet high and rising?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes. Is this the anniversary?

[Alan Hahn]

This is the anniversary of the album.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Jacob told you or you knew that?

[Alan Hahn]

He told me.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay. I'm about to say.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, no, yeah, he. He told me. That's why we're playing this. But I just find it remarkable that it's. That's gotta be what 36 years old has to be, right? 30 something.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That sound right? 36 years old, Jacob?

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, 89.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's what I thought.

[Alan Hahn]

High school graduation.

[Peter Rosenberg]

High school graduation.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, I know, I know. I try to tell you guys I'm old.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You really are old. 89 to 97 is. It's a. Like, it does. Like, to younger people, we both just sound old. But to me, graduating 89, I'd be a whole different person. I was a kid because like I was a kid when this came out. I was 10. You were listening to it at parties.

[Alan Hahn]

Like, I mean, I was in high.

[Peter Rosenberg]

School, so you didn't go to parties in high School?

[Alan Hahn]

No, too busy playing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Playing the ball.

[Alan Hahn]

Just. Just. Yeah, just playing. Hope.

[Don LaGreca]

We drank in the woods.

[Alan Hahn]

I was just hoping.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I just drank in the woods, huh?

[Alan Hahn]

That what you did?

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

In the woods.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No party. No house parties.

[Don LaGreca]

16, 17 years old. What are you doing house? Walking in a bar.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You go to house party?

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, yeah. Walking in a bar.

[Don LaGreca]

I mean, listen, every once in a while you'd hit a party and be like, oh, my God, like Shangri La. Somebody's parents went away.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Don LaGreca]

And. And then you'd get at a house instead.

[Alan Hahn]

You're in the most dead body.

[Don LaGreca]

You just. You know, I'm at.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It was. It was like the Sopranos ep, the Pine Barons episode.

[Alan Hahn]

The Pine Barons with the dead bodies. They're just kids hanging out.

[Don LaGreca]

I'm at Gypsy Pond over behind Hess Station.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What about Clix's Gypsy?

[Don LaGreca]

And Clixies was right there too. Clixies was across the street, but directly behind the Hess was Gypsy Pond drinking Budweiser Nips.

[Alan Hahn]

You don't realize, parachute pants. He's making this is historical reference now when he's calling it the Hess Station.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Why?

[Alan Hahn]

They don't exist.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, they're just. They now. They just make the trucks.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, it's speedway now.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Wow. Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

So when you say a Hess Station, you're going back a little bit.

[Don LaGreca]

I'm dating myself.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. For us, there was a share of house parties. Not every weekend, but as we got older, by the time we got to like junior and senior year, a lot of weekends, there was a place to go have a party.

[Alan Hahn]

I lived so far away from my high school that, like, what am I going to? My parents drive me somewhere. They weren't going to do that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So what would you do on the weekend?

[Alan Hahn]

Just hanging out with kids in the neighborhood.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But, like, you didn't party?

[Alan Hahn]

Nah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Really?

[Alan Hahn]

No. I played basketball. That's all I did. I did not. Like, I wasn't.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean, I didn't drink in high school, but I partied. Don't ask me how. I used to somehow have a good time without having a sip of anything. Those days are dead.

[Alan Hahn]

That's hard.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't know how to do. Go into now to a party and you're like, you can't have.

[Alan Hahn]

Everybody that was with you needed a sip though, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Exactly. Just to be around.

[Don LaGreca]

I got to be honest. I would never admit it then, but now there are. We drank in the woods where I'm just. I'm seeing what's going on and I'm like, I can't do that. And then, you know, if I happen to be near a sink or go to the bathroom and dump some of the beer out, because I can't. I can't do that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, you mean you were pretending to drink more than you did because you didn't want to do it?

[Don LaGreca]

Because I didn't want to look like I wasn't keeping up with everybody.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But you weren't getting.

[Don LaGreca]

But I wanted to drink, but I just didn't want to drink at that level.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You weren't getting plastered. Wasn't for you.

[Don LaGreca]

I can't honestly say maybe a handful of times that I've been, like, really, really drunk. I mean, maybe be a little tipsy. I didn't like to lose control like that. Plus, I never wanted to get sick. And I hate the way it feel the next morning.

[Alan Hahn]

Awful the next morning, because I would.

[Don LaGreca]

Have, I guess I was playing baseball in high school and stuff. So that's what I mean, I didn't want to do. But I wanted to fit in. I wanted to hang out and listen. Peter was stronger than I was. Peter was just like, no, I'm good. I wanted my Budweiser Nips or my Stroz or whatever cheap beer.

[Alan Hahn]

Stroz. What was the dog, Alex?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't even know.

[Don LaGreca]

Strohs. Strohs.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Strozz.

[Don LaGreca]

I don't even know if it's still in business. So I still, to this day. Plus, it's carbonated, and I haven't had a soda in, like a decade and a half, but even now, more than three beers, I'm good.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

Now an Old Fashioned.

[Alan Hahn]

How old are you? First beer.

[Don LaGreca]

My first beer.

[Alan Hahn]

First one. Like, I mean, real one.

[Don LaGreca]

Not like a sip.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm talking about. No, not a sip. I mean, like, crack it open, down it. Like, how old are you?

[Don LaGreca]

15.

[Alan Hahn]

And was that a peer pressure thing somebody handed to you and you're like, I guess I gotta. Or did you just do it on your own? Like, I need to figure this out?

[Don LaGreca]

No, we'd be out. And I was curious, wanted a drink. And I didn't particularly like it, but it was. It was fun.

[Alan Hahn]

What do you think? Meister Brow? Something like that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Meister.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Do you guys grow up in America?

[Alan Hahn]

I don't even know what you people.

[Don LaGreca]

No, listen, the first beer I think I had was the Budweiser, but there were, you know, there was Milwaukee's Best. It was basically, you pull your money together, you wait outside the liquor store hoping that somebody would help you out, and you'd kind of get whatever they Were getting. And then if they happened to be a strohs guy or whatever they had or they wanted, you know, something like that or whatever, then you'd have to live with that. Very seldom did you get the. Really the high end and light beer. Forget about it, please.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Alan, what about you? How old were you?

[Alan Hahn]

I was 16.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right.

[Alan Hahn]

Went to. My sister was up at Cortland.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay.

[Alan Hahn]

And so went up to visit. And, you know, they had. I guess there was a party. And so my cousin and myself went to the party with her, and they thought I was a student. So you just walk into the party and they just hand you the solo cup.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

And so I was like, all right. And so went over to the keg and filled it up. I was done.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Really?

[Alan Hahn]

Just. No, no. A couple like it. And that. That, like, was the first. Okay. I don't want to do this anymore. So that's why I like the whole party thing. Lost on me quick. Didn't feel good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. I didn't have my first drink till I was 25.

[Don LaGreca]

Seriously.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Went through all the college, too. That's a. I was at the college radio station. I was just.

[Don LaGreca]

I just.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I was high off music, baby.

[Alan Hahn]

That's like.

[Don LaGreca]

You weren't curious to just have a beer?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No.

[Alan Hahn]

Wow.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I thought it was, like, so weak. I wasn't. It wasn't just weak. It wasn't just that I didn't do it. I definitively looked down at it. Now my friends did it, and I got over it. I didn't care after. At first, when they all started drinking, like freshman or sophomore year, I was a little bit annoying about it. By junior.

[Alan Hahn]

So you're out and everybody's just wasted and laughing and having a great time. And you're not. And you were fine with that? You didn't feel like you were missing out on something?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No. As it went on, I was missing out on so much. Cause my girlfriend lived in Europe.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, wow. You were definitely missing out on something.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, but I was also making up for it more than any of my friends when we did get to see each other.

[Alan Hahn]

I see.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But during the year, I would, like. I'm talking about from. From September to December. No girlfriend around. Cause she was gone. And I didn't drink or do drugs. So it literally was just me bringing mixtapes to the party. Let me make the mixtape with my turntables.

[Alan Hahn]

Just leave me alone.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Let me play the music. And I had fun. It's crazy. It's actually kind of sad. You get older and life happens and it Gets harder to just have fun stone sober. That's the truth. It's funny, I looked down on it then. I should look down on it more now because. No, no, no. You know what? I was right then, though. Because when you're young, it is easy to have fun without drinking. As you get older and more insecure and adults feel more awkward around each other, you tend to lean on. Let me just loosen up a little bit. But as a kid, it was easy. I had so much fun. I was so confident back then. I didn't know.

[Alan Hahn]

Beautiful. 800-919-3776 weeks. Cheeseburger, cheap burger. Cheap burger, no Coke, Pepsi, plenty of those. Let's take Caesar in Huntington. Caesar.

[Caller]

Well, Alan, it's the first time and pleasure to actually, you know, have a conversation with you. I actually wanted your take, but I'm gonna bypass on that since it's only been 25 years, aka since you had an actual drink. So, Don, I refer back to you. How do you feel about Mitchell Robinson actually playing four quarters in the playoffs?

[Don LaGreca]

I don't know. You hope that he will be able to do it?

[Alan Hahn]

I think they're trying to ramp him up to that.

[Don LaGreca]

Is that. Will he. Will this all just be a big letdown because he gets hurt again? If he's going to play four quarters, he's an A plus defender. How does that going to help you? How is that not going to help you make a run in the playoffs? But the question is, are we going to get to that point or as they're ramping him up, is he going to get hurt again and be an issue? But if he's going to be healthy, how does he not help?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, no, that's. That's definitely what they're trying to ramp him up to again. That's what makes this month so interesting is at the end of this month, where is he when it comes to game conditioning and minutes and all that stuff? By the way, Caesar, where in Huntington you at?

[Caller]

I'm in right off of Dix Hills Road, so borderline Dick Hills.

[Alan Hahn]

So I know exactly what that is. You remember the Salty Dog?

[Caller]

Yeah. Oh, of course. What do you know about that?

[Alan Hahn]

What are you talking about?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, he knows everything about.

[Don LaGreca]

You kidding me?

[Caller]

I didn't mean any disrespect. So, you know, as far as. Because I know you're the basketball savant. So at the end of the day, and I know you're a Long island product. So, yeah, much love to you and yeah, respect the fact that you hopped on board with These guys. Because these guys are clowns. And I love it.

[Alan Hahn]

I love it, too. Thank you, Cesar. We'll talk to you again. Let's go to Mike in North Bergen. Hey, Mike.

[Caller]

Hey, what's up, guys? Hey. I'm not disagreeing on Jalen Brunson's top five clutch list. But, like, let's be honest. Like, if. If you really watch basketball, do you really think Jalen Brunson is a top five clutch guy in the NBA? Because I can name about six guys.

[Alan Hahn]

Name six more.

[Caller]

Clutch.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now I'm curious. Now, go ahead.

[Alan Hahn]

Current players.

[Caller]

Curry, Stephen Curry, LeBron James. KG, Kyrie, Luke.

[Don LaGreca]

KD.

[Alan Hahn]

KD. You said KD, right?

[Don LaGreca]

KD and Kyrie.

[Alan Hahn]

Right. And did you say Tatum?

[Caller]

I said Tatum.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. No, your list is bad. That's a. That's a bad list. If you have Tatum.

[Caller]

I was in a bad list. Most of those guys are champions. Most of the guys are talking about different things.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, are we talking about who is on a championship team or who is a guy that late in the game is making big shots for his team to help them win? That's a different. That's a whole different story.

[Caller]

Alan, you're telling me you wouldn't take any of those guys I named? You'll take Brunson over any of those.

[Alan Hahn]

Guys this season, right now?

[Don LaGreca]

This season?

[Alan Hahn]

This. This season, right now? Jalen Brunson is proving to you that you have to trust him.

[Don LaGreca]

Mike gave it away there. He says he's not even the best player on the team. We're not talking about the best players in the NBA.

[Alan Hahn]

Who's not the best players are going.

[Don LaGreca]

To probably go with Cat, I guess, as being a better player.

[Alan Hahn]

Jalen Brunson is the best player on the team.

[Don LaGreca]

Right. But at least that's debatable.

[Caller]

You think he's the best player on the team?

[Alan Hahn]

I just said it. I absolutely think. Are you not watching this season?

[Don LaGreca]

But Mike, we're talking if you watch basketball.

[Alan Hahn]

Mike, you just said if you watch basketball. I do that for a living. I watch the entire league. I watched the league for a living. It's my job to do that. He is having a phenomenal season.

[Don LaGreca]

But we're having back. We're having different discussions.

[Caller]

I know that, Alan, but who's a better player between him and Carl? You know, Carl's a better player than him. Footwork overall, you know he's a better player.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't know that because I. Again, this is driving me crazy.

[Don LaGreca]

We could debate that, but, Mike, we're not. We're not debating who the best players in the NBA are.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Don LaGreca]

We're talking about tie game, three seconds to go inbound, taking the final shot. He's one of the top five players to do that. Now, sure, you'd probably want a bunch of players more than him over the course of a 48 minute game. And there are players that are going to be better, but as far as ice water and the vents, take that last shot, you're still ranking him ahead of Tatum, ahead of kd.

[Caller]

I don't know. I think that's a regular season thing right now and it's a good list. He's on the list, but I would not. He's not. I'm taking five or six guys to take the last shot in regular season or playoffs over.

[Don LaGreca]

But why is it his fault that he has never been on a team that's competed for a championship? You're talking about KD played for Golden State, won a championship team Luka was.

[Caller]

On last year before they didn't make it to the finals.

[Don LaGreca]

I'm sorry.

[Alan Hahn]

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Again, here's where we have to stop the conversation because you began it saying, if you watch basketball, and then you just keep giving me false information. The team that you're talking about that he was on with Luka before he came to the Knicks, went to the Western Conference finals, and by the way, he won a series when Luka was hurt against Donovan Mitchell.

[Don LaGreca]

See, See, these are all facts.

[Alan Hahn]

If you watch basketball, like you just said, if you watch, it's all I do is watch.

[Don LaGreca]

But he, his argument was flawed from the beginning because then he turned it into who's better. We're not talking about who's better. We're talking about in that moment, is.

[Alan Hahn]

He gonna ever get respect? Like, is Jalen Brunson ever gonna get respect from any. Like, what do you want? What has he not done at this point? Because the only thing left for him to do is was to prove he can make big shots and big moments. And he's done it all year because.

[Don LaGreca]

And again, I'm not going to get on the guy for, you know, not watching games or whatever, but clearly he is. He's. He's not paying attention to the regular season because he doesn't care about the regular season. He only cares about the postseason and guys that have won championships. Well, he hasn't been on a team that's been good enough to win a championship. But he is taking and escalated teams to heights that Maybe they didn't belong. And we will see if you put him on the Celtics, if you put him on the Lakers, you know, back in the day, I'm even sure the Lakers are that yet, although they seem to be getting there. You put him on the Cavalier, he might, he might come through where you'd look at it differently. Is that his fault that he hasn't been on that team to be able to make that happen? Then it's morphing into who's better. Clearly KD is going to be a better player for his career than Brunson, but taking the final shot to different story. It's like nobody's going to say Eli Manning is the greatest quarterback of all time. But you know what? I wouldn't mind having him for that last drive because it was proven twice in the Super Bowl.

[Alan Hahn]

What a great comp.

[Don LaGreca]

Two things can be the same. Nobody is saying that He's a top 10 player in the league, but give me a shot. I think he might be one of the top three players in that particular moment. Just give him the chance, man.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't know what it is about hesit. People have so much. The last thing for him to prove is he could take his team facing loss and turn it into a win. They were down 5 with a minute 17 to go and he won the game.

[Don LaGreca]

The fact that they where they are. Do you know how long we've waited for the Knicks to be in this conversation? And we're in that conversation because of him.

[Alan Hahn]

Still not.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And it's still. Yeah. And people still hate on it.

[Alan Hahn]

By the way. He was. He was just named player of the week in the NBA, if that matters. Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

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. Game Time brought to you by Tell the Mordew Irish Whiskey. Because when it's game time. Oh wait, Don's not by his.

[Don LaGreca]

It's telly time.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, you need.

[Alan Hahn]

That's all you need. Oh, we've got the rivalry again. Islanders, Rangers, this time at the Garden. I'm Don. I'm not falling for it again. Coverage begins immediately following us right here at 8:80 at 6:30pm Note the start time. 7:00pm puck drop. It's at the Garden. Don Lagreca on the pre pre and post today for you, right? That's right. Anyways, game time brought you by Telemardu the original triple distilled triple blended Triple cast matured Irish whiskey. Be sure to grab a Tulla Mordu or try the new Tullamore Dew. Honey, during tonight's action, glasses up to enjoying Tullamore Dew responsibly. I'm not falling for it. Not falling for it, Don.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What do you mean?

[Alan Hahn]

I mean, I'm gonna watch, I guess. But the last one, that if they don't come out and, like, if they have to come out with passion or else like Lou, like, how much is this team begging Lou to just rip it up? I know you blew out the Predators, but it's the Predator.

[Don LaGreca]

Hey, Sorokin scored a goal.

[Alan Hahn]

That was something, wasn't it? That's a Billy Smith goal.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah. Last to touch it in the own goal. You realize Steven Stamkos, no points in his last 13 games. Nashville's just a mess. Yeah, but they beat him 7 4. And they got the points. They're five points out of a playoff.

[Alan Hahn]

Come on.

[Don LaGreca]

With the game in hand on Detroit.

[Alan Hahn]

Don't do it. Don't do it.

[Don LaGreca]

But you've been outscored 103 against the Rangers. Show up. Show me something.

[Alan Hahn]

Something.

[Don LaGreca]

But no, I, I, I'm, I'm more than willing to put them to bed. They lose in regulation tonight.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, that's the easiest thing, but they won a cup.

[Don LaGreca]

They bounce back.

[Alan Hahn]

That came like the first nail, but I know they did bounce back. Show you a little something. But there is a trade deadline coming up, and it seems like Chris Drury's definitely making, you know, the moves that are necessary to reset a franchise. But Lou lamarillo with this group, I mean, we're going to have to see what are they going to do with this team. So anyway, that's the game tonight. We'll get more into it in a little bit. We got a lot of calls. Let's get to them. 800 now at 93776. Eric in the car wants to talk to Peter. Eric.

[Caller]

Hey, what's going on, guys? How are you today?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Hey, man.

[Don LaGreca]

Good, man.

[Caller]

Doing well, Peter? I just love when my world collide. I listened to Levitar in the morning and then I listened to you guys in the afternoon and to hear you on there this morning. What did you think of Greg Cody? He's a character, isn't he?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, he was cool. I didn't really think much of him. Did he say anything crazy to me?

[Caller]

No, he didn't say anything crazy to you. But he's always just like that guy that stands out. That's just. Is something else. He's, he's Just a huge character. And apparently he's not a huge character. That's just who he is.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But no, I had. I had a great. I had a great time with them. They. Dan. Dan's the guy. I mean, listen, he's a legend.

[Don LaGreca]

I love.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I love chatting with those guys. I wanted to go on, of course, and plug the start of Evolve on Wednesday. It was Oscar day, so we did some Oscar stuff. I thought I was gonna be completely lost and have nothing to say. And then it turned out that I. One of the actual movies I saw shockingly won best Picture. So I had. I ended up having strong takes on Anora because I saw it, but I completely lucked into it. But the main takeaway you have to have from the Le Batard appearance was that I was able to officially confirm that Michael K is the man dancing in the elevator in that interview in that video that's taken over the Internet.

[Caller]

Yeah, it's funny. Before you let me go, I actually called last week because I was listening to their show, and then Anthony had to provide me with the information that, no, it was not indeed Michael Keck.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, I'm here to confirm it is Michael Kick.

[Alan Hahn]

It looks just like him.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, I think. Guys, do you have any proof that that's not Michael Cattle?

[Don LaGreca]

Because he was dancing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, you know what, Don? Why do you. Why do you.

[Alan Hahn]

Thank you, Eric.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Why can't we just have something nice?

[Don LaGreca]

Sorry. I'm sorry.

[Peter Rosenberg]

If the truth runs through you don't think Michael could ever move that way?

[Don LaGreca]

No, he'd be the first to admit that he doesn't have that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's not there now. You think you crush him in a dance off?

[Don LaGreca]

No, I can't dance either.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So you think it's. It's a tie, right?

[Don LaGreca]

It's. It's the Elaine Bennis Award. Who do I think? Who.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Who do. Who do we think could dance at this station?

[Don LaGreca]

I don't think. You know what? Nobody jumps to mind.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No. Right. It's hard to picture anyone like I could see. I don't think so.

[Alan Hahn]

You don't think. You move.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No.

[Don LaGreca]

Carlin can. I don't think Rick. Rick's athletic, but I don't see a dance.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Maybe I would say.

[Alan Hahn]

I couldn't see Rick dancing in front of people. Sober.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No. Oh, sober.

[Alan Hahn]

He wouldn't want anybody to see. Not a chance. But if you put a few in, I bet.

[Don LaGreca]

I bet you Dave can't dance. I wouldn't think.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No chance.

[Alan Hahn]

Dan Grassa.

[Don LaGreca]

I've never seen it, but I think of the People that were mentioning he might have the best chance.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I could see Ty having like a little two step. Yeah. I mean, like not. But nothing.

[Alan Hahn]

Been through his wedding. I've seen him move. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm not. I'm no great shakes on the dance floor.

[Don LaGreca]

No, I don't. I've got.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean. But. Okay, now, though. But here's the. So let's get into the real conversation. Who cares? The question is, who would be the absolute worst, like, dead last? Is it Dave Rothenberg? Is Dave Rothenberg the worst dancer at the radio station?

[Don LaGreca]

I feel like that's. Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right?

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Does it feel like that?

[Don LaGreca]

Because I don't see. I don't think there's any real athleticism. So.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right. So you're thinking about the way he throws a football, the way he swings a bat.

[Don LaGreca]

Right. He's not graceful. Terrific chalk.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Incredible. Incredible text from Michael Kirk. Michael K. As we speak. I'm truly a great dancer. No, Cap. Cap, I think he's mocking. I don't think he really says that.

[Alan Hahn]

Cap.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't think Michael K. Did he dance at my wedding?

[Alan Hahn]

Hell, yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

I don't recall if he danced. It was probably just a slow dance with Jody.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But you didn't even slow dance.

[Don LaGreca]

I danced at your wedding.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You did?

[Don LaGreca]

You slow danced slow and.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And you guys up tempo.

[Alan Hahn]

Danced?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. I thought you were non dancey.

[Don LaGreca]

No. It depends if you know that if.

[Alan Hahn]

You go Macarena or not. Did you go Macarena?

[Don LaGreca]

No.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Do you know, Alan, that if you take Don and Nancy and reverse the letters, their name is non dancy and they don't dance?

[Don LaGreca]

No. See, help me out here. You're at the wedding, right? Your wife doesn't want to dance. Are you gonna go dance with other people or like. All right, we're not dancing.

[Alan Hahn]

Tell you.

[Don LaGreca]

Nancy didn't want to dance at Michael's wedding. We didn't dance.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But at ours, you did. She was up for it. Non and dancy. Non dancy.

[Don LaGreca]

I think she really dug the music at your wedding because I think the.

[Peter Rosenberg]

DJs the way to go. It's. It's my. It's the bet. Do you remember who did I fight with the most on that?

[Don LaGreca]

Michael, I think, because Michael had a band.

[Alan Hahn]

I hate the wedding dj. Why despise it?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Wait, what do you want a band?

[Alan Hahn]

Yes.

[Don LaGreca]

It's obnoxious. When you really think about it, it's obnoxious.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Why do you want a band?

[Alan Hahn]

Because I don't want to be bothered.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, what do you mean?

[Alan Hahn]

I Don't need the whole, like, everybody get it. Like, you're getting from the lead. You're coming over to me and you're like, everybody.

[Don LaGreca]

First of all, economic. 12 people that now have to get fed. All right, there. There's. That's number one. Number two, why get music played cover when I can actually get the original music?

[Peter Rosenberg]

By the way, what kind of DJ are you talking about? I'm not talking about bar mitzvah. You play Coke and Pepsi. The DJs just played music.

[Alan Hahn]

Listen, I'm just saying I've been. I've been to some weddings where I have a headache.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay, remove that. Hold on, hold on.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't know what weird weddings, that whole thing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't know what weird things you did. I don't want to. I don't want to know what weird Long island things you went to. But I'm. We're not saying that.

[Alan Hahn]

No, if I had, like, the wedding singer kind of thing, that. That'd be hilarious. Like, I'd be all in on.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But I'm saying, what's better? The music.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't need the games. And what.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What the hell are you talking about?

[Don LaGreca]

Weddings? What are you saying?

[Peter Rosenberg]

We're comparing the music. Would you rather hear a band playing covers? We're not talking about a DJ talking or a good DJ selecting the great original music and just playing it.

[Alan Hahn]

Are we doing this again?

[Don LaGreca]

It was such a different show, man.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And I won it over. I won. Don walked out.

[Don LaGreca]

He went. You were right.

[Alan Hahn]

I thought. I thought it was decided. I thought we had that. We were good.

[Don LaGreca]

I know it's another show and we've got somebody that's pushing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Hey, by the way, Anthony, look at the phone calls we're getting. Let's roll with this topic for a while.

[Alan Hahn]

I was just. I was just. I was just having a conversation over here. Nothing wrong. I just. I have some trauma from days where you're just staring at the guy going, can we just not. Because Don's right about the Macarena and, like, when that stuff starts happening.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, those are bad dj.

[Alan Hahn]

Can we just not do this?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Those are bad. But a good dj. To me, a good DJ plays music.

[Alan Hahn]

And shuts the hell up.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Crushes a band.

[Alan Hahn]

Doesn't have to, like, come over and tell people.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I've never heard. I've never. I mean, I'm not saying never.

[Alan Hahn]

Very aggressive.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I wouldn't. I'm from a DJ community, so that I know.

[Alan Hahn]

Of course.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So a normal, good DJ who just plays music and then shut up and Plays amazing songs. I'd rather have that than an expensive ass band who, when it's all said and done, love everybody to join them on the dance floor together for a dance.

[Alan Hahn]

Like, it's like.

[Don LaGreca]

No, but they're just doing their job because that might be what the couple wants.

[Peter Rosenberg]

A band. By the way, a band leader is going to do that too.

[Alan Hahn]

They don't need to do that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, you do. I mean, if you. If it depends on the situation.

[Alan Hahn]

Like, if I'm at a wedding and they start playing music and the couple is dancing, do you think I need to be. Hey, you're allowed to dance too. No, there's a gigantic dance floor. I get it. I don't need you to invite me out there. I get it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I have to tell you, though, you're wrong.

[Alan Hahn]

You need to be invited.

[Don LaGreca]

Yes.

[Alan Hahn]

Like, well, what's that big space in the middle of all these tables? I don't know what that is.

[Peter Rosenberg]

People, hold on. Let's listen.

[Alan Hahn]

You really think people.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Hold on. We talk. We talk real on the show, don't we?

[Alan Hahn]

I think so. Especially at three. If you were.

[Peter Rosenberg]

If you are doing a wedding with white people, if they're not drunk yet, they have to be told to go dance. As God is my witness, black weddings, they do not need to be drunk to dance. People will just dance. At a white wedding. If you hope to get someone on the dance floor.

[Alan Hahn]

Billy Idol.

[Peter Rosenberg]

If you hope to get someone. White trash wedding. If you hope to get someone on the dance floor.

[Alan Hahn]

Wait a second. What are you saying about my background?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No. Isn't that what the song's called?

[Alan Hahn]

No, it's called White Wedding.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's not called the White Trash Wedding. No, I just made that up. Sorry. What?

[Don LaGreca]

The Billy Idol song?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

Where did you get Trash Wedding?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't know. In my brain I thought it was White trash.

[Alan Hahn]

White. White wedding.

[Don LaGreca]

It doesn't even make sense if you know the song.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, I forgot. So. So.

[Alan Hahn]

But that's the Weird Al Yankovic version of this song.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't know, but I swear you do. You have to tell people to get up and dance or they won't.

[Alan Hahn]

I also have to tell people that Dirks Bentley, the Broken Branches tour is coming to Madison Square Garden on August 28th. And ESPN York has a chance to score tickets on the ESP New York app right now. The DJ would say, just scroll down to the content. Submit your entry. Brought to you by Live Nation. Tickets are on sale now. Ticketmaster.com thanks for listening to Madonna, 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.

[Caller]

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