Hour 1: Fan Hatred

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – "Fan Hatred" (Hour 1) Podcast Summary

Date: September 26, 2025 | Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Platform: ESPN New York & YouTube

---

Overview

This episode dives into the nature of sports hatred among New York fans, with spirited debate on whether Yankees and Mets fans really "hate" each other’s teams, reflections on playoff scenarios for MLB’s New York teams, and the psychology of fandom and rivalry. The trio also discusses current NFL updates and the emotional rollercoaster of rooting interests, peppered with listener calls and plenty of humor.

---

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Fraught Nature of NY Fan Rivalries

• The segment quickly turns from on-field performance to off-field emotions—do Yankees and Mets fans genuinely hate each other’s teams, or is the animosity exaggerated?
• Don pushes the theory that “you’re supposed to hate the other team in the market,” provoking lively (and occasionally exasperated) resistance from Alan.
• Fans call in to share their perspectives, revealing varying levels and types of “hatred” based on personal experience, team history, and fan behavior.

Notable Quote

"You're supposed to hate the other team in the market. Supposed to. So that doesn't make me a Met fan to say I think Yankee fans hate the Mets. You're supposed to."
— Don Hahn [30:05]

---

2. Wild Card vs. Division Winner: Who Would You Rather Be?

(09:01 – 14:54)

• The trio debates which is preferable: being the team entering the postseason hot (like the Yankees potentially as a wild card), or the cold team that wins the division and gets a bye (like the Blue Jays).
• Alan: Prefers having momentum, believing being “the hot team” is more important even if you have to play the wild card.
• Peter: Values rest and setting up pitching: “I’m sorry, I’d always rather be that team [division winner with the bye] than the team that happens to be hot at this moment.” [12:02]
• Don: Sides with Alan but acknowledges both approaches have merit; ultimate performance remains unpredictable.

Notable Quotes

"I'd always rather be the team that's feeling hot, that's rolling, rather than the team that's ice cold and now sits for a week."
— Alan Hahn [10:16]

"It’s a matter of saving arms. It's a matter of being able to set up pitching the way you want it for the divisional round. I'd always rather be that team than the team that happens to be hot at this moment."
— Peter Rosenberg [12:02]

---

3. Postseason Scenarios and Emotional Stakes for Yankees Fans

(14:10 – 22:44)

• Discussion includes breaking down playoff brackets, the Yankees’ strengths (especially pitching/bullpen), and whom fans would rather face in critical postseason series.
• Alan and Don muse on the emotional satisfaction of beating hated rivals (e.g., Red Sox, Blue Jays) en route to a championship, linking it to the notion of “pelts on the wall.”
• Don makes a bold claim:

  "If [the Yankees] beat Boston, they're going to the World Series. Boston will be their toughest." [19:09]

---

4. Debating The Existence and Nuance of NY Sports Hatred

(29:13 – 51:20)

• Several calls and tweets (especially from “Anthony in Hope” and “Al in the Bronx”) fuel the discussion on whether Yankees fans “hate” the Mets, the difference between hating teams and hating fans, and whether it’s okay to simply not care.
• Alan consistently pushes back on the idea that he “hates” the Mets, pointing instead to the Red Sox or historical rivals as targets of real animosity.
• Don counters that the act of denying hatred often masks a deeper rivalry; Rosenberg observes that hate is more nuanced and less widespread than some assume.
• They also unpack the idea that sometimes, rooting for the best story is a job hazard for sports media personalities, blurring lines between fan and professional interest.

Memorable Exchanges

"Please tell me how I feel, Don."
— Alan Hahn (sarcastic, on Don challenging his indifference) [31:25]

"But when you call a radio show to explicitly say, I don't pay attention to the Mets, that's another way of saying I hate them."
— Don Hahn [33:29]

"The true hatred, though, is like a team that has been such a thorn in your side... the Dolphins... Hate them. Nothing redeemable about them or the franchise. Nothing. We met Marino... great guy. But inside, I'm just, like, steaming."
— Alan Hahn [35:36]

---

5. Sports Hatred's Psychology & Personal Anecdotes

• Peter reflects on lingering hatred for teams/coaches based on childhood trauma (“downfall and embarrassment of Bill Belichick is one of the craziest things we have ever seen.” [36:21]), showing how sports grudges can last decades and cut deeply—team allegiances aside.
• The hosts agree that fan animosity is often less about the current rosters and more about historical slights, obnoxious fans, or signature moments—especially in childhood.

---

6. Fan Behavior—Is it About Teams, Fans, or Stories?

(41:03–49:12)

• The group and callers debate whether “hatred” is really directed at teams, or more at opposing fans’ swagger, or even at the hypothetical narratives that hit the media.
• Predominant view: dislike is more about fans’ attitudes, boasting, or social interaction than the teams themselves.
• Notable fan distinction: Many older Yankees fans don’t see the Mets as a true rival, while Mets fans might have stronger feelings.

---

7. Projecting and Defining 'True Fandom'

• Don contends that true fans should root against the other team in their market, but Alan and callers challenge this, arguing that it’s possible to care only about one’s own team.
• The episode ends with the hosts poking fun at each other’s “true fan” credentials and quirks, e.g., Alan’s family background, Don’s deep-seated Met fan pain, and Peter’s reflections on childhood rivalries.

---

Notable & Memorable Moments

• [19:09] Don’s bold prediction: “If [the Yankees] beat Boston, they're going to the World Series. Boston will be their toughest.”
• [30:05] Don: “You're supposed to hate the other team in the market. Supposed to.”
• [31:25] Alan, sarcastically: “Please tell me how I feel, Don.”
• [36:21] Peter’s passionate diatribe on Belichick’s legacy collapse.
• [41:11] “I don't hate the Mets. I hate Mets fans. The reason is one or two wins strung together and they stick out their weak chess pieces like they own New York City.” (Listener Manny, read by Don)
• [45:21] Caller: “I'm a New Yorker. I'm not going to cheer for people in LA. Can't stand New York. I'm not going to cheer for the Dodgers to beat the Mets. It makes no sense to me.”

---

Conclusion

The first hour of “Fan Hatred” explores the messy, deeply personal, and often hilarious truths about being a sports fan in New York. Through listener calls and sharp banter, Don, Hahn, and Rosenberg reveal that “hatred” is less about teams and more about shared history, fan interactions, and the endless quest for narrative dominance. The debate on whether to root for rivals, how momentum plays in the postseason, and what defines “real” fandom remains playfully unresolved—perfectly capturing the neurotic, self-aware ethos of New York sports radio.

---

Key Segments

• 09:01 – Playoff Structure & Wild Card Debate
• 14:10 – Playoff Bracket Scenarios & Yankees Hype
• 29:13 – Fan Calls: The Nature of Hatred
• 41:03 – Hating Teams vs. Fans
• 45:21 – Callers Discuss Allegiances
• 49:12 – Hosts Wrap Up Fan Psychology Debate

---

For the next hour: Expect more fun with Fraud Alert Friday, NFL picks, and deeper dives into fall sports, all served with trademark wit and sharp New York insight.

Transcript

[Don Hahn]

There's a reason Chevy trucks are known for their dependability. Because they show up no matter the weather, push forward no matter the terrain, and deliver. That's why Chevrolet has earned more dependability awards for trucks than any other brand in 2025, according to J.D. power. Because in every Chevy truck, like every Chevy driver, dependability comes standard. Visit Chevy.com to learn more. Chevrolet received the highest total number of awards among all the trucks in the J.D. power 2025 U.S. vehicle Dependability Study Awards based on 2022 models. Newer models may be shown. Visit jdpower.com awards for more details. Chevrolet together.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Let's drive.

[Alan]

Todd.

[Don Hahn]

This isn't Vietnam.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's radio Hanh.

[Alan]

I mean, he had a handful of twig and berries and Rosenberg.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Everything about it was pure, unadulterated ass.

[Don Hahn]

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

[Alan]

This is Don, Han and Rosenberg.

[Don Hahn]

The best threesome I've ever heard on ESPN New York and streaming live on YouTube. You ready to do this boys? On a Friday?

[Alan]

Hell yeah. Let's go. Football Friday.

[Don Hahn]

Big city all fired up. It's an NFL MLB Friday, baby.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, and I'm shot out of a cannon for the first time this year. Your boy, Peter Rosenberg. The Peanuts celebrate three points in the bag on a Friday. I got a game, right, folks?

[Alan]

Had it all the way, didn't you?

[Don Hahn]

Oh, yeah, by the way, 17:3 or whatever was 17:3, 70.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Two touchdowns. Yeah. Yeah, you were in great shape if.

[Alan]

You like went to bed at that point. Feeling good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, I would have known nothing better.

[Alan]

Anxiety, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

To have lived through it. And instead they said that the betting God said we can't let Peter just chill out. There was a, there was a touchdown late that would have ended the bet and came off the board instead. All of a sudden Arizona, which did nothing for three and a half quarters moves down the field like Kyler Murray is prime. Steve Young get a 2020 game and in the end they narrowly get the. And Don. That's right. I had you in my head though. When it's one and a half, you saying essentially it's, it's, it's a winner and that's what it ends up in the end when the game is tied. 2020. So I'm feeling good, guys. I finally only have two games to pick and I got three points. So my awful seat. Maybe this was the turning point. Maybe that field goal late was the moment where I will turn things around.

[Alan]

In the picks when that kickoff didn't land in the landing zone. You know, I hate when that happens, what football moment that was.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think about all the times in history when we've right thought about the landing zone, how important the landing zone is. You know all about the landing.

[Alan]

Let's be honest.

[Don Hahn]

Like all those great because the Raiders have the greatest nicknames for their wins. The Sea of Hands game, the Holy Roller game. All right. The. The Immaculate Reception. All the thing they all came down to the landing zone. If they just kicked it in the landing zone at some point during those games, everything would have turned out different. Now we're going to have at some point the landing zone game.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'd also like to give credit where credit is due to my guys. Your thoughts the other day when Dan Quinn spoke appear to have landed as accurate as now it's official. Jaden Daniels out another week against the Falcons this weekend. So. And Terry McLaurin also out. Not exactly what you signed up for when you headed into the year but guys, isn't this what we always talk about? Every team in this league, if you're going to turn out to be something at some point, has a sob story of injuries. These ones are really big. It's a quarterback. It's your number one target and that stinks. But the fact of the matter is guys, the teams who end up there at the end find a way when they lose big players to win football games. That's how, that's how this league more than any other league works.

[Alan]

Yeah, that's it really is that battle. It's cliche. Here it comes. Get ready for it. Brace battle of attrition, especially in the football season. Every, every season has that moment in the season where a key player is missing. Guys get hurt. So either somebody fills the spot and you start talking about that player or you just get through it because that's what good teams do. That's the difference between bad teams and good teams. The good teams, everybody goes through some certain injuries. The good teams can endure them and the bad teams that don't have depth can't and the whole season falls goes to hell. Now key injuries though, like Cincinnati for instance, they lose burrow. It's, you know, it's a. It's a. It's a.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's a wrap well and they did and burrows Numbers what, 10 weeks or something?

[Alan]

Yeah, like he could come back late in the season but the only way you bring him back is if you have a reason to keep playing and you don't know if they will by that point. So that's what you have to see now and you Having a good, capable backup quarterback like Marcus Mariota is that smart GMing, that's what that is. It's having a guy that probably will, will never play. But if you have to break glass in case of emergency, you know you can rely on.

[Don Hahn]

And I'm sure they're really excited on D.C. radio to open their show with that. But we're going to dive into what's going on with the baseball teams and Jackson. Dart, jets, they'll get their moment on Monday because they're going to play the Dolphins. But you know, we're going to incorporate all of it today. We got our picks at 5:45, we got ENN coming up at 6 and of course we got fraud alert Friday. We'll start it all off as far as that's concerned at 4:30. So we got to line that up today. But even the excitement around Dart, although they'll be flying planes over the building. I'm going to get into this a little bit more in depth later on. This is not the week to do that, people. All right? It's not the week to do that. And it's also a waste of money because it's not like Mara is going to sell the team. He's already embarrassed. You know how I know he's embarrassed by the product? Owen. 3. You don't need to fly a plane over the building. They're owing three. All right? They're one in. What is it, one in 15 in their last 16 games or whatever like, or it. Only the jets have done that in the history of New York football to be that bad over that kind of a span. So he's embarrassed already, but we'll get to that. But it's such an interesting weekend of baseball. Yankees know they're in, Mets don't. I think both these teams are going to get. I think the Yankees have an excellent chance to win the division, but they know they're in and they've got their rotation set for whether it's the three wild card games or whether it's going to be for the start of the divisional round. Mets, they've got it right in front of them. Right. Finally a manager can say it and it actually is true. It's all in front of us. Win the games against the Marlins and. And you're in. And it doesn't matter what the Reds do, it doesn't matter what the Diamondbacks do. Just win your games and then you're in. But Allen, it's got to feel as frustrating and up and down as the Yankee season. Has been for you. Tell me at least it feels good. Not just the way they're playing right now, but you know you're in. Yeah, it would stink if you don't win the division because you're so close, but it can't hurt that much if they go in on this role and it's wildcard.

[Alan]

You know what I'm fighting? I'm fighting that. The lament. We were doing it before. All right, what's the game now that's gonna cost them? What was the game? It's amazing that we do that, but that's what we do. Right now, all I'm thinking about is a July 23rd max freed on the mound. You split the first two in Toronto. You get this one, and now maybe fast forward to today. You're not in this. Not in this place where you need help from a bad team to beat your. To beat the. The. The. And then you have to. The Jays have to lose one and you have to sweep. So you have to make sure you take care of business. But it doesn't matter if you take care of business. If the Jays take care of business, you have no control over it. So that's the game that I look at. Did they lose control? It's. It's a waste of time. Do that. But this is what we do, because it's what we do. You asked me, so I'm battling that, where I'm worrying about what was that game? And that pisses you off. But I am looking forward. I'm looking at the last couple of weeks, what their record has been, what the bullpen has done. They haven't given up a run in a while. The bullpen's been good. The starting pitching, you're starting to see it like, you know now who you can rely on. Freed, who went through a little something later in the middle, maybe the third of the season, he's definitely figured it out and gotten over if it was a blister, if it was fatigue, whatever it was, he's been great. And I'll tell you what, Rodon, I've never really been able to fully trust him, but how can you not? He's 18 wins. He's been really good, and now you've got to see what he can be also as a number two starter in the postseason. So I'm optimistic. I told you, they pulled me back in just when I thought I was out.

[Don Hahn]

All right, now here's. Here's the $64,000 question. And Peter, you don't have a dog in the Fight. So you can be the BS meter on Alan. Okay.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right, all right. I'm almost there.

[Don Hahn]

I want. That's the role. I want Peter to play with this.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay.

[Don Hahn]

See if Alan's telling the truth.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right?

[Don Hahn]

And then you could give your opinion on what you would do. And I'll give you my opinion on what I would do. The Yankees are playing great baseball. Was it 21 and 12 and the last. Whatever. And playing great baseball. The Blue Jays are been horrendous, but the Blue Jays may still hold on to this division. And even though you got to play the extra round in the wild card, who would you rather be? Would you rather be the team that wins the division but stumbles into the postseason even though they get the bye, they're playing their worst baseball of the season, right. When it matters the most? Or would you rather be the Yankees, who are hot, playing some of their best baseball, but have to settle for the wild card and get the extra round? So, Allen, who would you rather be? The Yankees hot and the wild card or the Blue Jays cold as ice and win the division?

[Alan]

Who would I rather be?

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Alan]

The Yankees or the Blue Jays? I'd rather be the. You always want to be the team that's hot going into the playoffs, but.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It'S an extra series.

[Alan]

I get it, but I'm hot.

[Don Hahn]

But history has shown, Peter that that doesn't really matter at. Sometimes the teams that get the buy come in a little stale.

[Alan]

Look no further than last year. New York Mets. Yeah, they had to win out at the end of the season. Right. They had to play that extra game, that crazy flight of Milwaukee, flight of Atlanta, flight of Milwaukee. Right. But they got on a run. They got on to like Don likes to say, and that they rode that. So having to play the wild card didn't matter. So I'll always. I'd always rather be the team that's feeling hot, that's rolling, rather than the team that's ice cold and now sits for a week. Although the 98 Yankees, of course, would argue otherwise.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, but the 98 Yankees were an established team. But they did.

[Alan]

They did kind of stumble into the end of the season.

[Don Hahn]

But. But I'd rather. I'd rather use an example to 2000 Yankees, who really just did nothing at the end of the season, won 87 games, but still won their third consecutive title. But at least we're sitting on two straight going in. So they were playing with their food, clearly. Peter, do you buy that? And what would you feel so.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, I buy It. I believe that he's. That's how he feels. I'm not, I'm not calling it bs but I will say he's wrong, unfortunately.

[Don Hahn]

Because yes, the.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I would. If it was a matter of home field advantage, right. If the only difference you were saying, Don, was that it's whether you're the team who gets the home field advantage in the first round, then I would go with the hotter team. But ultimately, when you're talking about a full round of the playoffs, even if it's only a three game series, particularly Don with what with how much pitching can be impacted immediately based on what happens over the course of those games, the right answer can only be you'd rather be the team who's not playing.

[Alan]

You have.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's a matter of saving arms. It's a matter of being able to set up pitching the way you want it for the divisional round. I'm sorry, I'd always rather be that team than the team that happens to be hot at this moment.

[Don Hahn]

I don't think there's a right or wrong answer because I think both of you came up with logical reasons why you picked what you picked. You want to be riding the high like the Mets playing meaningful games and then you catch a Philly team that's standing still. Right. Hadn't played in a few days. Different story. But God, I want to be playing well going in. I think that's too important. I really do. I think I'd rather, I think I'd rather be the Yankees hot in the wild card than the Blue Jays who've completely lost their way. Now the Blue Jays can win out, you know, sweep their series against the Rays and win four straight. Is that enough to. To take care of how they feel about how things have gone the last month? I don't think so. It's a lousy raised team. They'll still be going in with a ton of question marks. And if the Yankees sweep their series and just have to settle for the wild card but go in with three more wins on top of it and just circumstances don't allow them to be the division winner, I think I'd rather be the Yankees. Alan, I think you're right.

[Alan]

Yeah. Again, I think you want to be the team that's feeling good. And I like look at what's always the argument too in the NFL, right. Like sometimes that that extra week off can mess with a team and it's like too much time off and it's harder to turn it back on. I don't know if Baseball is really the same way because it's not that, it's not the same kind of physicality of a sport. But I don't know, like, especially when you went through with doldrums like they went through where they were, what were they, 10 or 11 and 20 or something like that. But it's. No, it was, it was. They were 11 games under.500 on stretch. I know that. And so when you get out of a tailspin like that and start playing well and they're 29 and 12 since August 11, you, you want to almost just keep playing now because you want to, you don't want to lose whatever momentum you were building. So I just. If you're going to give me two choices, a cold team that gets a division or the hot team down the stretch, well, that has to play a wild card. I'll take the hot team.

[Don Hahn]

Now, just looking at the schedule, guys, because this is, I think, what you have to factor in, Peter, when you're talking about. I'd rather take the buy. If the Yankees were to win the division, looking at the schedule, the next possible time that they would play would be Saturday because you'd have Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday for the wild card day off and then the day off on Friday and then they would start the divisional round on Saturday. You'd have your rotation set. You're right. Everybody's rested. All the bumps and bruises of a long 162 game schedule, boy, that's going to make you feel good. But you go almost a week off, that's unheard of in Major League Baseball.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Completely unheard.

[Don Hahn]

During the All Star break, you don't take that much time off. You play on Sunday, you play the following Friday. Well, so that's going to be playing on Thursday. I mean, think about how long that is.

[Alan]

But you're.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's a different conversation, right. Like now, if you were to say to me, having the buy is a disadvantage altogether just because you're not playing ball, that to me, I totally co sign now, I would, I would argue though that if you're a team like the Blue Jays who have not been playing well, the time off is much more to your advantage than it would be. The Yankees were playing great baseball because.

[Alan]

You'Re talking about getting right, because you have a chance.

[Peter Rosenberg]

If you're the Blue Jays, take a week, start over again. But if you're the Yankees, you want to, you're. No, if you're, if you're the Yankees, you are in the exact right spot. Keep playing baseball every single Day because you've been playing great baseball, you know?

[Alan]

So you're saying there's no wrong answer. That's what you're saying.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Really not.

[Don Hahn]

There's no wrong answer because of the fact that you get to set your rotation and catch a break. But I don't think there's anything wrong with what Alan and I are saying is, is that break worth it? All right, Yankees. And you're gonna have to play the extra round.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But like I said, the break in this case is worth it because your team's playing like garbage. So why not take a break?

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Help.

[Don Hahn]

But the Yankees not getting the break. And if they take care of business against the Red Sox, who everybody assumes they're going to play, they're going to come in to their next series just with their hair on fire.

[Alan]

Now, wouldn't correct me if I'm wrong. I'm trying to figure out the bracket would work like this. Toronto would play the winner of Cleveland and Detroit. No Yankees Red. So it would be Yankees, Red Sox.

[Don Hahn]

Correct.

[Alan]

That's what MLB has.

[Don Hahn]

Yankees Red Sox would be the wild card right now.

[Alan]

Oh, I see why. Okay. Expecting Cleveland to win because they have the division winner. I just. I'm looking at it just from the six teams rather than the way the bracket should break down. Yeah. So you'd end up seeing that cold Toronto team that sat for a week. If you beat the Red Sox. Wouldn't that be something? Then really test your theory. Right. Yeah, that would really test your theory. Because now it's the team that was cold going, going in that sat for a week versus the team that's red hot, that got through the wild card round. And do they stay hot and talk about payback, too? Because Toronto owned you and they let you hear about it too, by the way. So I'll tell you what, the way that sets up Donnie, I almost might as. As a Yankees fan, that would be. How satisfying would that be? Dispatch the Red Sox and then take on Toronto, which had a lot to say to you all season, especially after what, you know, the stuff that Springer was saying.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Alan]

I kind of feel like when you want to put a run together, I like that. I kind of like that.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Alan]

That would get me fired up the.

[Don Hahn]

Way the brackets are now. Yeah. The Yankee. Yankee Red Sox winner would take on the Blue Jays.

[Alan]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Tigers guardians would take on.

[Alan]

When you sign up for that, would you sign up for that, Don? Peter, you. You got to know that's. That's that first. Test your theory. But I would sign up for that as if you're a Yankees fan. The perspective of this season and you know what we say. Remember with the Knicks we were saying, you know, pelts on the wall, right? The different teams you owe something and the Celtics were one of them. This would be one of those kind of pelts on the wall runs for the Yankees if they could do this.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I take that the only thing sexier for me was Houston being in the picture. But obviously that they're not very good right now anyway, so.

[Don Hahn]

But still as good as the Guardians have been red hot. Are you really worried about either Detroit or Cleveland at this point? Is it just same old, same old with the same.

[Alan]

Isn't Cleveland that hot team?

[Peter Rosenberg]

But how can that be?

[Don Hahn]

I know they're hot, but that's really a thing the Yankees going to lose to the Guardians.

[Alan]

Allen, I don't.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I see what you're saying, Dom, but like it just be. They always beat the Central. So like they're just, they're just going to again just because I don't know that I can believe it unless the.

[Alan]

Midges come out again.

[Don Hahn]

Well, I'll just say here's. Here's my bold statement. And this is assuming that this is the path that the Yankees don't win the division, enter the wild card. If they beat Boston, they're going to the World Series. Boston will be their toughest.

[Alan]

So that's your.

[Don Hahn]

That would be that. Because I think the way Toronto is right now, I don't believe in either of the Central Division teams. So I think their toughest test, if they have to settle for the wild card will be Boston. And if they be Boston, I think they go to the world, they go back to the World Series. Their toughest opponent after that will be whoever comes out of the National League. You agree or disagree? I know it's your team, so you don't want to talk down about a possible opponent. I don't have a dog fight.

[Alan]

What do I care? What are they going to hear me? Who cares?

[Don Hahn]

No, I'm just saying for you know how fans get. You don't want to be like, oh no, Alan was. Alan was hoping for the Guardians, what happened?

[Alan]

But I'm looking at it. I'm again, that stuff I don't care about. I am looking more at Toronto because they did give you such a hard time this year. And like I'm looking at that. That would be such an emotional plus. It's also longer, right? Wild card's two games, you gotta win four. So to me Toronto would be the more dramatic series and there'd be a lot of emotion in that. And I mean there's a. So that would feel like if they get through that then I agree with you. I think ALCS is a wash. You'll walk through that and then you'll get to the world and that'll be your toughest opponent.

[Don Hahn]

World.

[Alan]

So.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Alan]

But right now I still feel like Toronto, despite how. I know, I know they are not playing well, they've got a couple of injuries, I get it. But there's going to be a lot of juice to a series like that.

[Don Hahn]

The way we're talking right now is because right now the Yankees are the wild card team. But it still feels very good they're going to win this division.

[Alan]

You think so? You think Toronto is going to lose? They have to lose at least one to the race. What are they playing for?

[Don Hahn]

Well, no, they're. No, I could be dead wrong about this. I think the Marlins taking on the Mets, Orioles and the Rays, three under.500 eliminated teams. They will be fired up to have some say in the post playoff game. Right. As a professional athlete, you got to play the games anyway, right. I know you're thinking about the golf course, but you've been handed the gift of a meaningful game for the other team. It's a rival, right. So I'm sure the O's have no love for the Yankees. I'm sure the Rays have no love for the Blue Jays. And you know the Marlins would love to stick it to the Mets. They do all the time. Their announcer talked about it at the end of the Philly game last night. Like they're. Why wouldn't you be pumped up if you're playing Pittsburgh? You rest, you don't play. You're thinking about the golf course. You just want to go home. But you've been handed the gift of meaningful games in what has been a lost season. Why wouldn't you be fired up to try to hurt the Yankees, Mets and Blue Jays at this point? If you're those three teams, right, you played. I mean wouldn't you be fired up for that?

[Alan]

Well, think about it. The Orioles aren't sitting guys like they're not. They're not rest guys or don't. They don't want to get injured.

[Don Hahn]

And Al Contra is going for the Marlins tonight. He hasn't had a great year, but he's there like I, as a manager, as a general, as an organization, as a fan of those teams. In a meaningless year, wouldn't you just get pumped up to at Least have a say. People, eyeballs are on you. People are going to be watching those games this weekend.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And remember, the Orioles don't consider themselves to be what this season has been. Right. Like, I. If you're the Orioles, you imagine you're going to be back next year. I don't think this isn't the Orioles of one of those.

[Alan]

Well, consider after the manager move that they, you know, they fired the manager. They've actually played about.500 ball, right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They've been decent, I imagine. I imagine they believe this year was an anomaly and they're going to be back. So why would you not want to play with pride?

[Don Hahn]

I don't.

[Peter Rosenberg]

There's no chance the Orioles lay down against the Yankees this weekend. Although we're going to get. We're going to get calls later, though, of course, because we know that there's some of our callers who believe, you know, certain pitchers want to throw meatballs, you know, just grease it to people to give up home runs. But no, I don't think you'll see a lot of that this weekend.

[Alan]

I'll tell you what, we had ourselves a day yesterday with the calls, right? Like, we had a day. But everybody remembers the last crazy call of the day was from Tony Yan, who wanted to invite me to her wedding, Right?

[Don Hahn]

Yes.

[Alan]

I got messages after the fact. One from her husband, or husband to be, I guess, fiance, who said he was with. He was with the baby while he heard the call and he said that he was in tears, laughing, like, at the whole thing. But then another guy who's in media who knows the family also said that it was like, just, they really are genuine. Like, this isn't some lunatic that, you know, everybody is telling me if you go to this thing, you might not ever come back. He was like, vouching for the, like, no, no. They're great people.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They will not kill you.

[Alan]

You will survive. You might have a good time.

[Don Hahn]

I never thought of Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

[Alan]

No. You had to see some people that were tweeting me like, he'll never come back. Don't go. You'll never come back. I thought, I thought it sounded like something that could be a lot of fun. Unfortunately, it's not going to work out. Cali has hockey, but it's not in that area, so.

[Don Hahn]

Aw.

[Alan]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Well, send a gift.

[Alan]

I probably will once I get the invitation.

[Don Hahn]

That's a good I. We should all send a gift. She stays. Seem like nice people.

[Alan]

They are. They actually, I can, I can say they definitely seem like, really nice people.

[Don Hahn]

Well we're nice people because we're gonna be talking sports until 6:30. Then it's Mets Marlins here on ESPN. So let's get them on board. 1-800-919-3776. Fraud alert Friday at 4:30. We've got our picks at 545 enn at 6. It's a big day on Don Han and Rosenberg on ESPN New York. There are lots of reasons why people buy at Ramsey Mazda. It's their selection, it's their customer service and it's their savings. Lisa New 25 Mazda CX30 for 199 for 33 months. Start shopping now at ramseymazda.com choose wisely. Choose Ramsey Mazda. Call 833-853-2970 for details. Fin SM 843-629 MSRP26865 0 Security deposit ends 9 30.

[Peter Rosenberg]

25 this is an ad by BetterHelp. We all turn to some funny places for support, but not everyone is a therapist. Not everyone is the one. Find your right match with BetterHelp. BetterHelp does the initial matching work for you so you can focus on your therapy goals. A short questionnaire helps identify your needs and preferences and their 10 plus years of experience and industry leading match fulfillment rate means they typically get it right the first time. If you aren't happy with your match, switch to a different therapist at any time. From their tailored racks. You can join a session with a therapist at the click of a button, helping you fit therapy into your busy life, plus switch therapists at any time. As the largest online therapy provider in the world, BetterHelp can provide access to mental health professionals with a diverse variety of Expertise. Find the one with BetterHelp our listeners get 10% off their first month at betterhelp.com timeout. That's betterhelp.com timeout.

[Don Hahn]

This episode is brought to you by State Farm. Checking off the boxes on your to do list is a great feeling. And when it comes to checking off coverage, a State Farm agent can help you choose an option that's right for you. Whether you prefer talking in person, on the phone or using the award winning app, it's nice knowing you have help finding coverage that best fits your needs. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.

[Alan]

They got Willa. They got my daughter.

[Caller]

I need to find her.

[Don Hahn]

Willa from acclaimed director Paul Thomas Anderson. You can save that girl today experience what is being called the best movie of the year.

[Alan]

This is the end of the line.

[Don Hahn]

Not for you. Leonardo Dicaprio Sean Pan, Benicio Del Toro.

[Alan]

Tiana Taylor Chase, Infinity.

[Don Hahn]

Let's go. One battle after another.

[Alan]

Now playing only theaters.

[Don Hahn]

Experience it in IMAX.

[Alan]

Rated R. Under 1700 minute without parrot. Thanks for listening to the Don Han and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Alan]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.

[Don Hahn]

Welcome back to Don Han and Rosenberg. With you until 6:30. Then it's Mets and Marlins. Yankees also going to be playing tonight. So we got lots going on. Football, we'll get to the football. We've got fraud alert Friday coming up at 430. We're looking forward to that. And we also have guys, Ian at 6 and our picks at 545, which we don't have very many picks to make. I've already locked in my three and my two point play, my packers and Jets. Packers three point play.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yep.

[Don Hahn]

Jets two point play, Peter's three point plays already done.

[Alan]

And wow.

[Don Hahn]

Really? It's going to be the Allen Show.

[Alan]

When is it ever that it like you already called one of mine which you got wrong so I'll reveal them. But why. But Peter, you're noticing Don is, is speaking like ominously today. He's, he's putting in these pregnant pauses as if it's like leaving you on the edge of your seat like the Mets and the Marlins pause like he's leaving you hang for us.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You never know something.

[Don Hahn]

Or am I just trying to punch up teams? It could be either one.

[Alan]

The delivery man is like, I'm like, I'm like, where's he going with this?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Or is he just trying to make technology work at this?

[Don Hahn]

I'm just trying to. Telling you I'm having, I'm having the Marlin. I'm having camera problems. And now I finally got the. Because whatever happens, I tried the iPad as the camera and now I'm using the phone. The phone's the better. But the volume. I couldn't turn the volume all the way down, man. I don't know what it is about these phones.

[Alan]

You got to put headphones on it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The only way to do it is to have your. Yeah. Your iPad or phone connected to headphones and then turn the volume down.

[Alan]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's a ridiculous flaw with all of these things. It's zoom, it's Streamyard, it's. They all do not allow you to turn the volume completely down. It's ridiculous.

[Don Hahn]

Well, we're back and we're better than ever.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Are we?

[Alan]

Oh, but there's a good.

[Don Hahn]

I'm still troubling to get my call screener up. Alan, why don't you tell us who our next call is going to be?

[Alan]

How about. Well, let's see. How about we go. We start off with Anthony and Hope. Well, we'll go with some positivity to begin.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Here we go. I love this.

[Caller]

Hey, guys. I just wanted to call and apologize for my horrible call yesterday. I called about Yankee fan not hating the Mets. But, you know, I went home, I had dinner, took a shower, sobered up. I was staring at my ceiling, staring at the. Laying on my bed, staring at the ceiling. I realized, John, you're right. I do hate the Mets. I absolutely can't stand them. And I think it got exonerated more so when Juan Soto chose to go to the Mets instead of the Yankees. And then those clowns on the other station hooting and hollering, going to the.

[Don Hahn]

Red Series with the Mets.

[Caller]

It just, it pisses me off. But thank you, Don. You helped me realize it. And hopefully I'm going to be a better person for it.

[Don Hahn]

You know, I've been going back and forth with some people on social media that think that I don't want Judge to win because I'm a Met fan. Or the fact that I even think that the MVP race is close means that I'm really a Met fan. I don't have a vote, and it shouldn't matter to me or to you because Yankee fans who don't desperately want Judge to win the MVP are going to use it against him if they don't win the World series and he bats. 200 again. But whatever. But I've always said I've been consistent about this, Peter, throughout my entire years on the air. You're supposed to hate the other team in the market. Supposed to. So that doesn't make me a Met fan to say I think Yankee fans hate the Met. You're supposed to. And I just think you're in denial if you think you ignore them. Why would you ignore them? You. I'm not saying you're. You're hate watching, but you're. You're. You say, I don't care if they blow the debate. No, you do. Why wouldn't you? Isn't it just human nature to see the other guy in town fail while you succeed? Isn't that logical?

[Alan]

Hate. You'd have to have an emotion of the care. Like, I'll quote Derek Jeter. They're just the Mets. Like, I'd rather. I want to see the Red Sox.

[Don Hahn]

No, because he plays, man. I don't care. That's why he plays. Because what's the difference? He's not a fan.

[Alan]

No, but it's not about.

[Don Hahn]

No, no, no, no, no, I don't. Dude, I'm telling you, you're right on this.

[Alan]

I'm wrong about how I feel. Please tell me how I feel, Don.

[Don Hahn]

Yes.

[Alan]

Tell me how I feel.

[Don Hahn]

No, because I feel wrong. Because I believe when you say, I ignore the Mets. They mean nothing to me. Is your way of saying, I hate them.

[Alan]

Okay.

[Don Hahn]

But you don't want to admit that you hate them, so you just say, I ignore them. I don't care about them. I don't believe you. I don't believe you when you say that.

[Alan]

Admitted to you. Well, I admitted to you that it's the Red Sox that, like, that emotes, emits the hate that is the one that if things go bad for them, I'm like. A little part of me is like, you know that petty part of me is like, yeah.

[Don Hahn]

And that makes sense because they're arrived. They're in your division.

[Alan]

Them, the Astros, a little bit of the Dodgers. Like, those are the ones that. Look, when I was in my days as a fan, the team that I would hate. Well, that would be. That's easy. That was the Rangers. That was the Pacers and the Bulls. Like, that's what. Then I didn't hate the Nets again. I didn't care. There was no real.

[Don Hahn]

The Nets are harmless to you. For the most, they've got. No, see, this is why I disagree with you. I don't like to throw at you.

[Alan]

If the Mets make the wild card, I'll be like, great. Like, if they don't. Okay. Like, it doesn't do anything for me. I'm being dead. I'm being honest with you.

[Don Hahn]

Okay. All right.

[Alan]

It's the same way I feel about the Giants. I don't get happy if things go wrong for the Giant. I don't care.

[Don Hahn]

But one way or another.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And you're not saying that as a diss, either.

[Don Hahn]

You know what's different about you, Alan, than. I think I. I take it back. I. I think you genuinely do feel that way, because I've never sensed that you've even brought it up in conversation. But when you call a radio show to explicitly say, I don't pay attention to the Mets, that's another way of saying I hate them. Like, if you ignore them, then what are you even thinking about it? Why are they even on your mind? How are you even paying attention when you call up, it's like, I don't care. I don't even think about the meds. Well, why'd you call to bring that up? Unless you're using that as saying, I hate you so much, you're so insignificant. I've got to stick it to you. I by. You're so off the radar that I don't pay attention to you when you do that by telling you that you really do hate them. Yeah, but you. But, Alan, I've known you for 25. I've never heard you say an ill thing about the Mets. You honestly do feel like a guy that doesn't care about the Mets.

[Alan]

Because my whole family, fans. So I don't really. I take any animosity.

[Don Hahn]

Plus, I know you. I got mad at Michael one time for saying, you're wrong. I was just being performative. I apologize. But I do believe a lot of the people that will tweet and say, I don't even care about the Mets or quiet. If you really didn't care about them, you'd be talking about your team, not even bringing them up, which you do. But. And you bring them up. I'm saying from a fan standpoint, not a talk shows, because you got to. You got to talk about.

[Alan]

It's actually a show is a weird way about call me a fraud, It's Fraud Friday. There's a part of me that does root a little for what's best for the show. Like, what's the best story?

[Peter Rosenberg]

You can't help it. It starts to happen.

[Alan]

I can't help it. Like a tailspin almost. You go like, boy, this would be great. Like, if this gets worse, it's actually better for us. That's a real thing. But that's a selfish thing that you start to root for the story. And it's a bit of a fraud. Like, because again, once you get into this business and Don, you've explained this many times to people, but once you get into this business, it's really hard to be a fan because a lot of times you're rooting for your story. What's the best.

[Don Hahn]

You're rooting for you. Like Michael always said, you're rooting for you.

[Alan]

Yeah. Yeah. You root for extra playoff series because that's extra money.

[Don Hahn]

The way. The way this football season feels like it's going to go. We've got a ways to go before we're going to be able to talk any real basketball. Yeah, I can understand where you'd want to see the the other team do well. But I think a lot of the people say the Mets don't matter to me. I think that's just a way of disrespecting them. Because you hate them. And why can't you just admit that?

[Alan]

Yeah, yeah. Which is. That part's weird, but.

[Don Hahn]

And I should say hate them.

[Alan]

The true hatred, though, is like a team that has been such a thorn in your side, you know, again, or dominates you. The Miami Heat. Like, there's just teams that like that, you know, The Dolphins. God, I can't. I just. I. I'll never get over the mud, but, like, hate the Dolphins. Hate them. Nothing redeemable about them or the franchise. Nothing. We met Marino. Bart and I had Marino on the show. He hung out with us. What a great guy. But inside, I'm just, like, steaming. Like, just all that stuff. Like, you just nice guy. But no. If he said to me, I want to be best friends with you, let's go play golf, I'd be like, not Melissa, isn't it?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Is it funny the things that last, like, a lot, like, a really long time.

[Alan]

Monday Night Football, those games.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like, I sit here, I got to tell you guys. And by the way, obviously, I understand for a lot. You're not alone, Alan. Like, to me, it's crazy because I can't even remember the jets being good enough to have a rival, but I understand for normal 80s. I understand. For the 80s jets fan, of course, it's Miami. I totally get it.

[Alan]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's funny for me, though, which teams I can have a hatred for and which ones I don't. I am watching and we haven't even given this enough time. Honestly, I could do an hour on it every day. The downfall and the embarrassment of Bill Belichick is one of the craziest things we have ever seen. Every weekend, a photo comes out with his girlfriend in high heels standing on the field while this old decrepit. Yo, yo. Who could have gone off into the sunset as the greatest who ever did it, looks like a foolish bull bum in front of everyone. I mean, it is so embarrassing. Like, how do you tell the whole world? I've never really gotten any in my entire life like this, except I'm going to throw away my legacy at North Carolina. It is so horrible. And, guys, I have no team rivalry. And yet because of the way the 16, 0 Patriots. I'm sorry, the 17. What are the 18 and 1 Patriots beat my team 52. 7 and kept Brady in. I will never let go of it. I want Belichick. I want it to keep happening week after week after week. It's just so funny the way our sports hatred works. You never know. The thing that happens.

[Alan]

Yeah. What you are feeling is how I feel about Don Shula and how everybody, like, I want to throw up my mouth every time people. What a legendary coach. Don't, like, give me a like. I just get so fed up and so pissed off because of the mud ball and knowing. Knowing his role in ruining that field and how the league allowed it for a. Are you for a championship game? We're going to be like, yeah, don't worry about. You don't have to put the tarpon. I know. It's a deluge. We're only in South Florida. It doesn't rain that much. Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We should be fine.

[Alan]

Crazy. But this is what they allowed this man to do. So I have to live with that. Where every time people have to just, you know, wax poetic about Don Shula.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for you, Allen, that you didn't get to see Don shula date a 22 year old and go coach at Virginia Tech.

[Don Hahn]

Okay.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He just faded off into the sunset as an absolute legend.

[Alan]

Yeah. Makes it worse, doesn't it?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, much.

[Don Hahn]

I'm Christian McCaffrey, pro running back, and Abercrombie is an official fashion partner of the NFL. I'm not kidding when I say NFL by Abercrombie. Broke the Internet last year, and I think this season's lineup is even cooler. And so does my wife, who keeps stealing all my hoodies. Stay fit for the season. And Abercrombie's newest arrivals. Shop NFL by Abercrombie in the app, online and in store.

[Alan]

When did making plans get this complicated? It's time to streamline with WhatsApp, the secure messaging app that brings the whole group together. Use polls to settle dinner plans, send event invites and pin messages so no one forgets mom's 60th and never miss a meme or milestone. All protected with end to end encryption. It's time for WhatsApp message privately with everyone. Learn more at WhatsApp.com.

[Don Hahn]

Lowes knows how to help make your home holiday ready for less. Get select style Selections vinyl flooring for just $1.99 per square foot and have it installed before the festivities begin. Our team can help you every step of the way. See a Lowe's red vest associate or visit lowe's.comholidayinstall to get started. Lowe's we help you save basic, install only date Restrictions apply. Subject to availability. Installed by independent contractors.

[Alan]

See Associate for details.

[Don Hahn]

Contiguous US only.

[Alan]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Alan]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.

[Don Hahn]

ESPN New York is now streaming on YouTube. Catch all of your favorite shows. DPA, Jordan, Rotherberg, Bart and Carlin, the Michael K. Show and Don Hanna Rosenberg with live video every weekday. Watch, chat and join the conversation only on YouTube. Subscribe to ESPN New York on YouTube today and never miss a moment. Don Hanna Rosenberg with you. Take Your calls at 1-800-919-3776. Talking a little Mets, talking a little Yankees, talking a little hatred, which is always fun. Why not get into that sports hatred?

[Alan]

You know what, Don? We got a good tweet here to read about this topic. Manny said, I don't hate the Mets. I hate Mets fans.

[Don Hahn]

Well, it's the same thing.

[Alan]

He said the reason is one or two wins strung together and they stick out their weak chess pieces like they own New York City.

[Don Hahn]

Well, see, that's. That's what I'm talking about.

[Alan]

Yes.

[Don Hahn]

You know, I gotta. We're not talking about hating the. Sometimes you do hate the individual players or a coach or something. That's different, of course. But honestly, like, I hated the Dallas Cowboys growing up, but was there anything they hate about Tom Landry and Roger Staubach and Tony Dorsett?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Those were.

[Don Hahn]

They seem like really good guys now, the other iteration of America's team. They were very hateable. Michael Irvin, Emmett Smith, Jimmy Johnson, they were very hateable. But you just hated the Cowboys. You hated the team, you hated their fans. So that's what we're talking about. If you're somebody that, hey, I think the Mets are pretty likable, I don't think there's any bad guy. Maybe you hate Soto because he chose to go to the Mets. But if you hate the fans and they're barking and they're chirping after they got Soto, or if they go farther than the Yankees, coming down to whether it's hate or not, Alan, you're rooting against the Mets for a reason. Whether it's hatred for the fans, for.

[Alan]

The team, for whatever, you want to stick it to the fans. Right?

[Don Hahn]

You are rooting against them. You want to see them crash and burn. So we can get into the semantics of hating players or why fact that I don't buy Yankee fans not rooting against the Mets. It just makes sense. You'd want to stick it to Soto, of course. Right. Wouldn't you want the whole baseball landscape to yourself? Do you want. Every time we talk baseball, we also got to talk about the Mets. And it just takes some of the shine away. Like, wouldn't human nature be, I want the Yankees to own the town. I don't want it. I don't want to talk about anything else about my team. So whatever the reason, guys, can we at least just give them. Give it the phrase, if you're a Yankee fan, in all likelihood, unless you're Allen, it's the majority of people are rooting against the Mets and vice versa.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But I do think, again, we've been over this year after year. I think you'd be disappointed and surprised with how many people don't. Just don't care.

[Don Hahn]

Right. And if they don't care, I think the majority of those people. I'd have to question how die hard a fan you are. If you could very easily pivot in a year like this, say the Yankees losing the wild card and the Mets make a run. I got to question your Yankee fandom. If you're now rooting for Juan Soto in the Mets, well, that's different.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Turning and rooting for them is different than not care.

[Alan]

Really different conversation that we're having. I'm trying. I'm Peter. I am trying to scrunch down as best I can, by the way.

[Don Hahn]

Well, because you're just absurdly.

[Alan]

I don't know how much is that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Better you're getting there.

[Alan]

That look, it's not good for you.

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Basically there.

[Don Hahn]

Now, if Alan was in college, right, and they had a sit in. Like if they were protesting the, you know, the teachers at this university and they had a sit in, they'd have to keep saying, please, Alan, sit. Yeah, no, no, I'm sitting, I'm sitting. No, will you stop standing? So sit in.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We now look pretty. Now we basically look like we're all on the same level. Took us a while. Don was about 40ft away. You guys, you're low enough.

[Don Hahn]

It's all working out now.

[Alan]

So great at making me feel like a freak. So I really appreciate.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, listen, there's no. No bigger freak that I know.

[Don Hahn]

Let's go to Al in the Bronx.

[Alan]

I've been called worse.

[Don Hahn]

You're on Don on the Rosenberg. What's up, buddy?

[Caller]

Happy Friday, gentlemen. All right, so Don, Don, Don, Don. There are no true rivalries in New York sports except for the hot seats. You have to cost somebody something in order to hate them.

[Alan]

Yeah.

[Caller]

As a Yankee fan for 42 years, what the heck would I hate the Mets for? The only time that the Mets ever took anything from me was Juan Soto. And by the time he got that. Those numbers on that contract, I didn't want him either.

[Don Hahn]

So when they played, they played in.

[Caller]

Because now you can take something. 42 years I've been a Yankee fan, but that's different because you can take something from me. But as for 42 years, the net, the Mets went 86. I was like 12 or 13 years old. I didn't care. You know, I kind of rooted for Mets against Boston because it was Boston, you know? But no, there's no hate there. They don't take anything from each other. They're not playing in the same division. I could understand a Mets fan.

[Don Hahn]

You're rooting for them.

[Alan]

Would you be happy?

[Caller]

I have in the past. And no, I'm not. I'm not happy. This year is different because they took Juan Soto and we had to hear the crap. But in the prior years, I'm a New Yorker. I'm not going to cheer for people in LA can't stand New York. I'm not going to cheer for the. The Dodgers to beat the Mets. It makes no sense to me now. If the Mets and the Yankees play in the same division, there will be massive hate.

[Don Hahn]

But you. So you're telling me you'd be okay? Yankees lose in the first round, Mets go on a run to a championship, you wouldn't care? It wouldn't bother you?

[Caller]

No. You know why I wouldn't.

[Don Hahn]

But. Well, now they have one total.

[Caller]

This year is different. This year I'll agree. This year is different. But the honest truth is. The honest truth is, I wouldn't like. Well, I. Like, why would I care? I can understand Met fans hating Yankee fans, but I've experienced seven championships in my lifetime.

[Don Hahn]

Well, listen, I can't tell you how to feel. I mean, you're not. If that's how you feel. I'm just saying that you already said you were irritated by the Met fans sticking out their chest, that they got Soto. You don't think they're gonna stick out their chest if they win a championship? That they're all gonna be coming out of the woodwork now talking about how they've been Met fans their entire lives. Like, that's what would irritate me. Like, if I were a Yankee fan. And all of a sudden I've got to deal with Met fans getting strong because the team's all of a sudden good and st. I would be like, I don't want that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Do you realize how many times that me, you and Michael have had this conversation? And you and Michael, depending where the conversation goes, often Allen, you've probably heard it before, too, will get, like, very animated and almost angry that the people don't feel. And you'd say, but they're gonna rub it in your face. And you sort of push your childhood scenario onto them. But we live in an era now where don't. There's so many different people who root for. It's just not just the same.

[Don Hahn]

It may not be the same. And maybe I am coming from a place growing up in North Jersey having nothing but Yankee fans around me, that maybe you live in the Bronx and you don't know any Met fans. So it's not a big deal. But I just think. And I'm. Do whatever you want to do. I'm going to get off that whole, you have to. I just won't do it. I think it's fraudulent behavior if you root for both teams or whatever. But I just think a lot of times, maybe not Al's case, certainly not Alan's case, that when they say they don't care about the Mets, I think they actually do. And the same goes for Met fans. I don't care about the. I think you. I think you're in denial.

[Alan]

I'm going to start trouble.

[Don Hahn]

Please.

[Alan]

We should probably take calls because this is like, this is a. This is a half hour podcast, me and you doing this. Because I think. I think you're revealing a lot about how you feel, and you are almost projecting it on everybody else. Like you're supposed to. Like that. It's the. It's the idea of this is how you're supposed to fan. Like you're giving us the rule book. And I'm telling you, you're the only one that follows that constitution.

[Don Hahn]

Nobody else does, because even Al, who followed.

[Alan]

But it's. It's more about the attitudes of fans and how fans talk and the interaction. And you're right. If you're in a world that you don't interact with obnoxious other fans of other teams in this city, then you don't even know them. You don't even deal with it. And on social media, that's where you make, like, you kind of laugh at, like, what the one tweet said. You get a couple of wins and now you stick your chest out like you're going to take over the town. That's. That's something that you see and it just for a minute but I don't dwell on that like what did I just tell you? I'm more concerned with thinking about how did the Yank. What. What was the one game the Yankees didn't win that. That now is going to cost him this division versus oh good. The Mets might not make it.

[Don Hahn]

Now I can brag about it. You can multitask. But even Al said he doesn't pay them at every.

[Alan]

You.

[Don Hahn]

You listen to the little code things. He said that they stuck their chest out like right there just the. The little. They're the little bro. Like how dare they stick their chest out that they got one so.

[Alan]

Well wait a minute.

[Don Hahn]

What I'm saying is you're the guy.

[Alan]

That'S first in your mind every time your team's good it's because of some magic run and you're tired of it that you want to run of consistency. And so I'm sorry if the other side that all they know is consistency to a point where it's boring. Looks at you when you get the one magic.

[Don Hahn]

There it is there. See, that's why. That's why I don't complain, right? Because you'll want those digs in. Yo. Because you love get. Why would you get the digs in if we don't matter, you don't care, then why do you get the little digs it because we win so much it's almost boring. Like Peter. Don't you hear it like again, he's not obsessed with it.

[Alan]

Where's my. Where's the lie?

[Don Hahn]

Got to get the little dig I'm used to. If you don't care, then why do you give the little dig? Why?

[Alan]

Because I'm trying to explain it to you because you keep telling me I'm supposed to be angry, I'm supposed to hate the team. And I'm telling you I don't.

[Don Hahn]

I'm not telling you anything. I'm using your words against the reality of you do. I'm not telling you you're supposed to. I'm telling you that you do. And I can hear in the little words you say and the little words that Al said, I don't care about the Mets, but they got Soto so they stuck their chest. It's like I'm just. Peter Bay doesn't want to get involved.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, I do it. The fact is it's. It's both sides. You Mets fans seem a little bit obsessed with it as evidenced by your argument that people should be actively running against each other.

[Don Hahn]

Don't be scared.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And and Allen and the fact is Yankees care about it less because they've always been better. Of course, that's just how it is. But they care. But less.

[Alan]

Of course.

[Don Hahn]

But they still care to say they don't care.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, they're lying if they say they don't care.

[Don Hahn]

That's what I'm saying. But that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But there are. But remember, still Peter. No, now he has to break.

[Alan]

Well we will cuz on the other side we got a lot more to do. We have tons of calls. But on the other side I will.

[Don Hahn]

Explain why now it doesn't matter.

[Alan]

Thanks for listening to the Don Han and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't want to know how the.

[Alan]

Sausage is made, man. I just want to 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.

[Don Hahn]

This isn't just another ESPN Fantasy football season, it's your shot at greatness. With a refreshed design, the ESPN Fantasy app is sharper than ever, so you can draft like a pro and dominate your league. And introducing Gridiron Gauntlet, a new game mode where the best compete to be crowned the number one fantasy football player of 2025. One app, one shot, one champion. Download the ESPN fantasy app and sign up to play ESPN Fantasy Football today.