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This episode is brought to you by Facebook. So you were scrolling on Marketplace, and there it was, the bike you'd been searching for. You sent a message, and it turned out the seller was super chatty, kind of funny, and an avid cyclist. The next thing you know, you're in a cycling crew. Well, a community cycling group. The thing about Facebook, you might find more than what you're looking for, from a browse to a bike ride this summer. Find more on Facebook.
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Todd, there's no tush push if you're not pushing the tush. Han, I want you protecting my blindside. And Rosenberg. When I was seven, I was riding shotgun and smoking cigarettes.
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This isn't North Dakota. This is New York.
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This is Don, Han and Rosenberg.
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The best threesome I've ever heard on
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ESPN New York and streaming live on
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YouTube 302 in the big city. Don, Han, and Rosenberg on a gorgeous, gorgeous Thursday. And it's not just any Thursday. It's July 23rd. Oh, wait a minute. What's July 23rd? To you and me? Just another summer day. No, it's not. It's the birthday of one Peter Rosenberg. Happy birthday, Peter.
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I'm looking for the right drop for your ace. Thank you, dog.
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Now, some, like Michael K. Didn't want to make big deals out of his birthday. Not a big thing.
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Oh, sure he did.
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Peter discovered today after 47 years on this planet, that he was something he didn't realize he was.
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Well, yeah, well, you're giving away my. That guy, but it's fine.
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All right. But no, I, I, I.
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Which now makes you that guy.
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I'll save it. Yeah, right. So we'll save it. But he's a birthday guy.
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Yeah. No, I've, I've, I've, I've. It took a little while for me to realize it, but we'll get into
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it at 4:30, because 4:30 is that guy.
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But I am happy to be. I'm happy today. It's a beautiful day. Normally it always rains on my birthday.
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Is that true?
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Always. Always.
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This is a. This is quite the opposite.
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Today it's perfect. There's no sign. Now, if it's a lot like my other birthdays, somehow it will just come along and we'll get hit with rain at some point. But right now it's very hard to picture that because it looks tremendous outside.
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I was watching the news today, and they said the next possibility of rain. Is Monday night possible?
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Not till Monday.
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Not till Monday. Today's Thursday. Between you and me. So that gives you the whole Weekend. Good for you, man.
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No, I'm gonna enjoy it. My parents are. And my parents, brother and kids all come into town tomorrow. Today I got to spend the morning with my daughter.
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All right.
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Her earring came out yesterday. She was climbing the couch or a chair and her ear got caught.
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See, that's why I don't. I know.
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That's why it's a little scary. It didn't tear, thank God. It just came out and kind of poked her and she, like, bled a little bit. Came out, whatever. So yesterday I tried to get the earring back in after cleaning her up. Could. I realized all of a sudden, and it was proven to be true today because we took her to the earring place to do it and she screamed bloody murder. Keep in mind, this isn't a piercing. She already went through the piercing. It was fine. We're just trying to put it back in the hole's there. It doesn't hurt. Don. I realized my daughter, when it comes to the ears, she is the brother in Something about Mary. You can't.
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Oh, really?
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Apparently you can't get near her ears. She's one notch away from have you seen my baseball?
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Right? Franks and beans.
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We have franks and beans in there. Yeah, we have to have franks and beans already in the system.
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There was. Because I don't want to give it away, but there was somebody that used to work here that kind of resembled the character for some of the Mount Mary. So what are we saying? Franks and Baines.
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There's someone.
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Oh, yeah.
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You know who it is? If you think about it here a long time, we'd actually. Because when I worked mornings, I. We were bored because I was doing localization for Mike and Mike. So there was a lot of downtime. And me and Joey Salvia would just like, create things and come up with bits and stuff for the K show. And the K show was on at 10 o' clock. And what we would do, we had one of those where you could the intercom on the phone and make announcements throughout the radio station.
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Yeah.
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So this was going through plj, abc, espn. You just couldn't go, frank, some beans. That wouldn't make any sense. I was like, call for Mr. Sin Beans. Frank.
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Frank or the beans. Well, how the hell did you get
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the beans above the Frank? Call for Mr. Sin Beans. Frank Sin Bean.
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Don Hahn and Rosenberg. By the way, happy birthday. Peter Rosenberg. Wow, amazing. 58. He looks great, doesn't he? God, that coloring in that beard is doing a phenomenal job. 58 years old. Peter Rosenberg. Today Have a day. Have a day, buddy boy.
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Wow. You were roasted on your birthday.
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But why would he do.
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He closed his show with that today. I heard it when I was driving in. He was so proud of it that when I saw him today, he's like, did you hear the end of the show? I said happy birthday to Peter. Like, yeah, you said more than happy birthday.
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Well, why do you do the Michael? That's the Michael move.
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Yes.
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Of lying and saying you're older. Why? Here's what seems odd about it. It's always around here, people who are, I won't say significantly older than me, but, you know, there's a little bit of a real gap in our age who keep doing it. Doesn't it come off as a little bit better? But why? It just. I can't help that I happen to be younger than me. I'm not that young anymore.
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Michael was bitter. So even though his famous line, he was kidding on the square, where even though he's wishing you happy birthday, he still had to get his little dig in, because I think he feels bad that you're younger than him, that you have more life left than him, and he wanted to give a dig. I think Carlin is just a jolly guy having fun.
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But you.
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There's no motive behind what Carlin did. He's just a fun guy. Anybody could just wish a happy birthday. But he wanted to make him an age.
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But 58 is not nice.
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Well, listen, I'm 58. What's wrong with that?
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Nothing's wrong with it. But I don't. If you woke up. If you woke up and you lose 11 years.
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Right. If I all of a sudden woke up and I was 69.
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People are announcing you as 69. And you think that's unfortunate now it's okay. I'm happy with how I look. So I can live with 47. I could.
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You know, honestly, you look better, and I'll dare I say, younger than you did when we first met, I think. So you were a pug.
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Yeah, No, I was.
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I had my rappug period. Your repug period is when you came here,
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right? Right. When you met me.
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Now, I couldn't take you aside because I didn't have anything to compare you to, but if I did go back in time, I would take you aside and say, listen, you're gonna look better 11 years from now.
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Right. I got good news for you. You won't always be this disgusted.
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No. Because you figured out the beard when I first met you.
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It was just a work in Progress. I mean, that's generous.
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You were.
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I don't want to insult you. It looked like you were 20 pounds heavier than you are now.
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I think I did look appear to be that.
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I don't know if you technically were, but you did look that way. And also you didn't make any kind of attempt with the hair either.
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No, I was putting in no legitimate effort. Think about that. That's what's sad. And I don't, you know, and I don't know who to feel bad for in my old marriage, me or my ex wife. Should I feel bad for her that she was with someone so repug or should I feel bad for me that I was with someone who didn't pull me aside? You know what I mean?
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Well, she's enabler too, because that's what she's an enabler. And listen, I don't think I'm telling tales out of school and I'm certainly not trying to be that guy, but she looked great. You were not holding up your end of the bargain in the relationship. No, but she never said a word because most women aren't shallow that way.
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Well, maybe she had an exit strategy. You know, she said I can handle this being repugged. Cause at some point I'm out.
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Yeah, but getting out cleans you up.
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Well, that's the irony of the whole thing, isn't it?
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Right.
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And Natalie, that's how I know Natalie's here to stay. Cuz she has helped groom me out of repuggery.
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Yeah, I think she has. She deserves a lot of credit for that. A tremendous photographer, better mom.
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Thank you.
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But maybe, maybe the best thing she does is being a wife.
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Yeah. I don't know because I definitely. You look now and you look back then and I mean, it wasn't. I wasn't as bad as Don. And what's the worst ERA of Don05?
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No, I was. No, listen. No, I would not insult you to say that you were my level.
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What is the worst circle? Worst?
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You ran.
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Yeah, exactly. I was in a. You were. You were higher expectations. Yeah, like think about it. The pinnacle in my situation was like people in hip hop who actually look cool. In repug don era, the pinnacle of your world was Mike Francesa. So think about what I'm saying. Like physically you weren't that far off from the guy who was considered everything.
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Yeah. And when I'd go out to cigar night, it'd be other radio people that were as repug as I was.
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Whereas I was moving around with good looking People. And I was repug. It was more. It was more stark. The contrast.
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So it's going to be the theme today, Peter's birthday. And he couldn't have picked a better
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day to be born because nothing's going.
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There's really nothing to compete against Peter's birthday for the next three hours and 50 minutes. No, we might as well, because the Mets and Yankees are off. Yankees did win last night in the second game of the doubleheader. We'll get into that. As we talked about that guy. Thursday at 4:30. We've got an ENN at 6. It's almost wrong. You do ENN on your birthday. Anthony should come in and do it. You shouldn't have to do the heavy lifting of an ENN on your birthday. I don't know if that's allowed you.
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Then I should pass baton on the ENN on my birthday.
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Isn't this a day like the present day give to you is? You know what? You sit back and you get to luxuriate during Ennis, your invention. And then you get to comment like I do on the stories of the day. Is that a bad idea?
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I don't hate it. And we don't have a sponsor.
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What do you think, Anthony?
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One day I'll ask John.
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Oh, we gotta ask. I gotta be honest with you. That's a win. I thought he was just gonna just outright tell you to go scratch the fact that he's at least going to ask John. That leaves lends to the possibility.
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Can I ask the most important question of the birthday show? At what time are we doing our most holy tradition?
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I had asked if Trader Joe's sells an Oreo cake.
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Okay.
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They do not.
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So what happened? What are you saying?
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Well, there's a couple of things.
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What the hell's going on? What are you. Wait, hold on.
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Tradition. Tradition. That hasn't happened since we've moved here.
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Yeah.
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There are far more people in this office, I don't know if you've noticed, than in previous.
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Oh, no.
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You can't kind of just bring in a cake that can only feed six.
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That didn't bother. No, not at all. That didn't bother me.
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Everyone's gone by 4:15.
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I'm sorry. Listen, I love everybody at Good Karma. You're not invited.
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Yeah, that's.
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That was not a bother. That was not the problem. The problem was we wanted to keep the tradition alive of Oreo cake. I figured Trader Joe's would have it, but Anthony made the point that they kind of keep to their own.
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I'VE looked. It's not like I didn't do the work. Peter, if you remember correctly, you got me magnolia cupcakes for my birthday last year.
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Oh, and don't even talk about what happened that day.
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It was disgraceful.
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What happened was one of the sickest, most disgraceful, heinous acts in the history of the radio.
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Me being born with the interns.
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The interns? Oh, no, I've never.
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That was me being born.
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No, we loved you being born. You sucked. But can I tell you guys just right now what's going on inside my heart at this moment?
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Utter sadness.
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Yeah.
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Pain and. No. Pain and disappointment and hurt.
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But don't feel that way, because everybody, we've been in these studios now. It's been a year and a half because we started in March of 25. It's now July, so it's been like 18 months. So everybody's had a birthday and then some. No Oreo cake. So the tradition died. It's not you. Then. There was nothing for me. There was nothing for Allen.
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Well, when's Alan's birthday again?
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It was just last couple of days.
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June.
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Tingo. Juneteenth.
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We weren't here.
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He was gone.
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He was off. So that wasn't even in the. He was gone.
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But remember also the last time we even attempted to do this in the old building? Alan's like, I don't eat cake and Oreo. And. Yeah, like, listen, traditions die, unfortunately.
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I know.
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And this is one that has sadly perished.
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This is.
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I don't even know what to say.
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Credit to me for keeping it alive as long as I did.
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Big credit. And others could have died for you.
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No, no, no. I'm saying Andrew was like. And RJ set the tone. When Andrew left, I still kept it going. Credit to me. It's dead now.
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No, it's dead.
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Turn the music back on. That was the right thing to play. I can't believe it. And not only that, this music also appropriate. Don, there's been a response to your suggestion of me not doing ENN today.
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Okay.
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You want to hear what it sounds like?
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Do I want to hear what it sounds like? Yes, I do.
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That's what it sounds like. Because I'm not doing it, apparently.
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Clown show.
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Clown show. I can't believe this. Clown show. No, I really, I. I said to my wife, I went, hey, I gotta remember when I went to Chopped and had myself a salad, right? I said, I might as well have myself a nice healthy lunch because, you know, I'm having the ice cream cake. We're gonna have the ice cream cake like gentlemen. So I'm gonna make sure I go have a salad.
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You know what? Come 4:30, you're gonna be 100% right about which.
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Oh, yeah, yeah. Of course I am. Hey, you know what? You know what? You know what I'll do? You know what I think I'm going to do? Maybe for my birthday. Since it's my birthday, Ray, can I. Maybe I can reward myself with one of the waters. That's for the guests. Can I have a can of water for my birthday?
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No, Don.
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For my birthday. Let me get a can of the guest water. I think that would be a way to honor me on a day like today.
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This is a bridge too far.
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I can't believe this.
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Because nobody else has had it since we left.
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But you have to take Allen out. Cause Allen was.
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What about me? February 20th. February 13th.
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Were we here on your actual birthday or were you off doing devils? Because there's a reason. This is her. Because there's a reason. It feels like this is like a gut punch. That's so bad, it makes me feel like you weren't here. I do not remember the time yet when it happened and we were someone's birthday. Because wouldn't this have been a whole thing, this conversation that we're having right now at this moment?
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Don, if you remember last year, no one knew it was your birthday. I was also on vacation.
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That was trouble. But I wasn't in.
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And you weren't in.
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Summer of Peter.
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February, that last year. Yeah.
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Don was probably gone somewhere, whether it be devils or across the country. And Alan is off on his birthday and doesn't like cake. In this building, we have not had to go through this problem yet.
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So this is the first time we felt it. Every moment when this has happened. So far, the birthday person hasn't been here. So this is why it's hurting so much, so deeply inside. Wow.
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Well, somebody wants to wish you a happy birthday, Peter.
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All right.
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And maybe this will make up for the cake.
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Spike and St. Pete, you're on ESPN New York. What's up, Spike, Jake and Jace.
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Hey, Peter. I. I just wanted to make sure I called and wished you a happy birthday today. I turned 80 on the 13th and I think you're 47.
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47.
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Yeah. So I'm 33 years older, but you're a lot smarter than me. And I want to thank you. I want you to have the best birthday in the world. And I want to tell you something. All right, Go ahead. You've been a wonderful to me like everybody else, and I love the encouragement. I told Anthony the same thing. It's your birthday. Nothing to do with me, but I saved my voice because it just gets affected from the medicine and I wanted to make sure. I wish you a happy, healthy birthday. Have two pieces of cake and screw the diet.
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Oh, thank you, buddy. Spike, I appreciate you go rest that voice. We know you'll be back to full strength soon. 100% now. I can't have the cake is the only unfortunate part because there is no cake.
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That.
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That's the cake. Cake has been rained out. Cake is like baseball in this town. It's not. Doesn't exist.
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Be brave. Be brave, Thomas.
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That's how I feel. I'd like to be brave. Thomas.
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Wasn't this a conversation earlier, Anthony and Jacob, when I came in about getting the cake? It was.
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What was the conversation was?
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Did they have it over at Trader
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Joe's and did anyone go look and see if they have something comparable? Maybe they have like a. I'm looking right now.
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And then.
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And then Anthony made the point. We haven't done it since we.
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So what?
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All right, I guess it's over.
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But here's the part that I'm figuring out. Trader Joe's ice cream cake. Let's see if it's a thing. They have like a strawberries and cream cloud cake.
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So what are we doing?
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They have.
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They have.
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They have. Oh, a. Whoa.
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Cake will be here by 4:30.
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They have. Nobody heard it.
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Peter's not listening.
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I don't believe them. Okay, they're not either.
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Then you get none.
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There's a cookie, butter and coffee ice cream cake.
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Did you hear what he said?
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Yeah, but how did. How did he. How can he just. Magnificent. You know, out of nowhere.
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Because I was in the process of trying to do it and he beat me. You look up Oreo cake and then you can get it delivered. That's why I would just ask Jacob what the address was. He beat me to it.
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You think the tradition's gonna live on?
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I think the tradition's gonna live on. And I think it's gonna live on during that guy Thursday. Perfect time.
B
Yeah. Because especially the theme of it. But here's the question. When it gets here, will it be frozen enough that I break minimum two spoons when trying to eat it?
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No, it might not be lucky that it's anywhere solid. I don't know why this is a burning point.
C
It's going to be partially thawed out.
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Yeah. Urination.
C
We'll Be able to enjoy it. And you know what? We've actually have a place where we're not going to be eating it with a spork out of a cup.
B
Oh, you know what?
C
We're actually going to have plates.
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Oh, my God.
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And utensils. It's going to be great.
B
By the way, I just realized that's how we know this moment has never happened, because we would have discussed it, that we finally now have a kitchen. There are bowls, there are plates. Now, listen, not a lot of food necessarily, unless you go out and get it. But there are bowls, there are knives, there are forks. You can have a whole thing like gentlemen.
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I mean, for the last several years, we've literally eaten it with like a spork out of a cup.
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This is going to be, you know what, whoever is responsible. Anthony, thank you.
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Thank you.
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I hope someone pays him back.
C
Matt And Fish Kill wants to wish Peter a happy birthday.
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Matt.
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Yes, hello, Peter.
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How you doing?
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I'm okay. I'm having a rough birthday, but I'm glad you're having a great birthday.
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Is today your birthday?
D
Today is my birthday. I'm 72 years old.
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Well, happy birthday. My friend
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and I have been following you guys from day one when you came aboard, Peter, and you guys bring me a lot of joy. And I've gone through double cancer and a lot of illnesses, and you guys have brought me through that in my life. So I want to thank you very much for that.
B
How are you doing? So right now, are you. Are you going through it as we speak?
D
It never ends.
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Sorry. I'm really sorry to hear that.
D
Well, I'm stable. I have two types of cancer. It's stable, and then I have other issues, and I just had surgery on my hand. Anyway, the most important thing is I'm so glad to be with you on your birthday and to celebrate it together. So thank you very much for having me on the air. Okay.
B
Matt, I hope that somehow your day goes fantastic and you do something nice for yourself and you enjoy it. I truly appreciate you bringing your. Your energy for sure. And thank you, man. That is a. That's a. That's really, really tough and certainly gives some perspective. So I hope you. I hope you can still manage to have a great day.
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This episode is brought to you by Google Chrome.
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That is fire.
D
Whoa, that's good.
C
This might be the drink of the summer. Okay, I like this one too.
A
I'm not going to say okay, try it for yourself. Starbucks refreshers concentrates are coming home. Find them in the coffee aisle and make it yours.
B
Thanks for listening to the Don Han and Rosenberg podcast. I didn't listen to anything you just said. Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.
C
Few more people want to wish Peter a happy birthday, including Justin in Massapequa. How are you?
D
Happy birthday, Peter.
B
Hey, what's up buddy? How are you?
D
Good. Happy, happy birthday to you.
B
I really appreciate you taking time out Justin, to reach out man. Thank you. Are you excited for SummerSlam?
D
Yeah. And I just wanted to talk about the Yankees. I think that they've been doing really well right now. They're getting back on track slowly but surely. I feel like, and I agree with like the other talk show before that they were saying that like with this pitching staff and Freed and Cole is back now it's like lights out and Blackburn and Chavi and Ben Nar is and doing really good. So I'm really excited and I think we can win the World Series hopefully and win the American League and win another pennant.
C
Well, American League I think is definitely on the table if they could beat the Dodgers. Although they hung with the Dodgers without Judge just last week. But pitching is not going to be the problem. Pitching hasn't been the problem in the postseason. The problem has been getting hitting going. So this team isn't going to go and win a championship with the offense they have right now. They're going to have to get Judge healthy. They're going to have to get Stanton healthy. Who's been Big for them in the postseason. And they're going to have to try to make a trade here between now and next week to get a catcher or at least another bat. But so far, you know, it took two out of three from Pittsburgh. It's been slow, but see Freed last night. Pitch and pitch. Well, give you five innings. Cole wasn't his fault. They had lost game one of the doubleheader. Rodon right around the corner. Schlitler has been terrific for them. They've got the best rotation, I think, in baseball. But will it be enough? We're gonna have to find out. The other thing I wanted to get into was, you know, the Jets. We talked a lot about the Giants over the last couple of days. But what are your expectations around the Jets? Geno Smith looks like he's out of the legal trouble. I never thought he was going to, you know, not play because of his legal troubles. They've got weapons offensively, pretty decent defense, really good offensive line. The question is always going to be, Peter, is Aaron Glenn the guy? The quarterback's going to have to come at some point, but with the talent this Jet team has, has, and if Geno Smith can revert back to what he was in Seattle, this could be a decent football team. But unfortunately, being a decent football team, which I think they have to do because you got to find out if you got a coach and you got to start winning at some point. You just can't keep having losing season after losing season. Now if you do, that'll put you in the running for the best possible quarterback in the draft. But you got to see if you got a coach. The two things you need in the NFL are coaching quarterback. Do they have the coach and they don't have the quarterback. It looks like they got the general manager to get this all together.
B
We think so.
C
But Peter, as much as a losing season would help them get a good quarterback in the draft, you got to start winning games. But what are your expectations? What are your hopes and dreams? If you're a Jet fan, a Giant fans open to win seven, eight games, be alive in December. But because the jets future isn't set yet, what exactly are you looking forward to? Are you a guy that's thinking just tank lose? They could fire Glenn. Let's get a better coach in here. Let's draft a really good quarterback and start over and believe that Muji could be the guy to do those things. Or are you somebody that wants, hey, let's win some games. Let's get some winning back in Florham. Park again and Geno Smith maybe help us do that and we'll, we'll address the quarterback at some point down the road.
B
See that, that's the interesting question because you can't predict what's going to happen. And, but, but it's all about your attitude going into the year. What level of expectation do you have? I mean, I don't think anyone, short of very few people that I know of, think they're going to have an extremely good season. But to Don's point, would you rather continue to be in the doldrums or would you rather take a step forward and see what it feels like to put a present, a presentable product on the field, even if it means, Don, that you're not going to get the best draft pick possible next year?
C
I, I am of the belief now there's supposed to be several quarterbacks coming out of this draft.
B
We'll see.
C
So you might not necessarily have to have the worst record in football, but one of the main reasons I'm always against the tank stuff is I believe that losing just creates such a, A diseased atmosphere again. I don't want to like, compare it to like, health issues, but listen, you're rotting when you lose. You can't move forward. You can't exist as a franchise. Fifteen years of missing the playoffs, 14 of those, 15 with a losing record, having gone through what you've gone through as a franchise in recent vintage, since the whole Aaron Rodgers debacle. You got to start winning games, man. You just got to. I'm sorry. And even if it means losing some draft capital in the process, you got plenty of picks. You could always make a trade up if you really wanted to get one of those quarterbacks at the top of the draft. But Peter, you got to start winning games. You got to start playing meaningful games north of Halloween, north of Thanksgiving, deep into December. And even if you don't make the playoffs, at least have meaningful games instead of having more fans of the other team than your fans at MetLife Stadium and just being irrelevant and having really good players on this team because they've got talent here. You know, put Breece hall through or Garrett Wilson through, another just losing season where games are meaningless after the month of October, you just can't exist. It's a franchise like that anymore, man. Eventually you just, you rot away.
B
You wither away and literally your fan base withers away every year that a team is pure unadulterated ass. Like, you're just absolutely awful for the year. I Don't know what the number is, Don, but that does. I'm sure there is a literal apples to apples cause and effect. You lose fans by nature. It's just the nature of the beast as a result of people having no interest less people are taking their young kids to get. You are. You are not growing as a franchise and in popularity. Now, obviously all these teams make money. We know that. But isn't it about more than that? Isn't it about building a real base of people that care? I saw it happen with my team. Do you remember a couple of years ago when, like when they would show inside then Redskins games and I remember you and I talked about it because you'd be like, dude, I grew up watching Giants Redskins games. And now when they do the wide,
C
it looks like a Jaguars game.
B
There's no one there. So like. And not unlike my team, you guys don't have the most appealing building. You're not just going because it's fun to go to MetLife. It's not. It's okay. But it's a pain to get there, particularly if you're a Jets fan from Deep Jersey or Long Island. It's a real commitment to go. So if you don't give a presentable product on. If I have tickets to week nine and they're. And they're one in seven, I'm selling, I'm not going. So it all matters. I'm with you on that and also
C
how it looks because, all right, let's say it goes. It goes south on them again. They're a 2, 3 win team. They fire Aaron Glenn, which you know they're going to do if they have another miserable season, they're going to fire him. And now that quarterback that you could draft, he might be like, I don't want to go there. They just fired another coach. Haven't made the playoffs in, you know, 16 straight years. It's 15 now. Going to be 16 straight years. What hell do I want to go there? They haven't had a quarterback since Joe Namath. I'm out. Like, do you really want that players not wanting to play for you? So Dexter Lawrence and the Giants haven't been nearly as embarrassing as the jets, but embarrassing. He didn't want to be here anymore. He got sick of losing. He saw Leonard Williams go and win a Super Bowl. He saw Saquon Barkley go and win a Super bowl and say, you know what? I want to get out of here. That starts to happen. Why would I want to be on the Jets? We never Win. We never have a quarterback. We never have a coach. I don't want to get drafted there. I'm not going to sign there as a free agent. I'm drafted. I want to get the hell out of here. The second I become a free agent, that's what happens. Peter.
B
All that.
C
Why would I want to be there? We're seeing these athletes now grow into business. People that take a look and say, how does this help my brand? How does being a Jet help my brand? Yeah, I'll be able to make money, but how am I going to be anything if I'm always on a 3, 4 win team? I got to get to know new coaches every two, three years. A new general manager every five years. Never play on national television. Just don't have one national TV game this year. Not one. Not even a Thursday. Nothing. Players pay attention to stuff like that, man. But you start to win, you start to get a good feeling around the team. Then all of a sudden you become a destination. We saw it with the Knicks. Oh, nobody wants to play for Dolan. The Knicks aren't cool. All of a sudden, they're winning some playoff rounds. Hey, I want to go play for the Knicks. Now they want a championship. It's like the destination in the NBA overnight, just because they started to win. Still the same building, still the same owner, still the same ravenous media and fans that get on you. But now they want to play there.
B
Don.
C
Winning does that. That's it. Not new uniforms. No, not a new building.
B
Don, think about how little. Think about how little it took from the Giants last year to re excite the fan base. Yeah, it was just a hint. It was nothing incredible.
C
There was just a snip, right?
B
Oh, this is presentable football. I remember this. It gets people excited. So I don't know, maybe they're jets fans out there who'd rather just lose and lose and lose and hope they find the draft pick of their dreams. But you never. Guys saying that. I'm 47 years old. Today is freakish, as all of these birthdays are for all of us listening for Don, for me, every you get, you get past, like, I feel like just in your 40s and all the birthdays start to sound kind of insane. Like how much of an adult you sound like. Nothing's guaranteed, man. Nothing's guaranteed. I wait all year for my football season to start. I don't want it to end by week six.
C
And I do feel that the tanking crowd, they're younger, so they haven't suffered as Much. And they figure I'm going to be a fan for the next 70 years, so I could throw a season away. But you start to get older and you're like, I don't want to throw any more seasons away. How many more seasons do I have? You know? Right? I mean, just. That's the logic of it. If you're a 70 year old fan, you're like, listen, I don't, I don't know what tomorrow's going to bring. I'm sick of losing. I'm sick of watching this team play. We always talk about Ira from Staten Island. I don't know exactly how old Ira is. I've known the guy for 30 plus years, you know, so I'm sure Ira's. Again, I don't want to insult him by guessing his age, but he's older than me and he hasn't seen a championship since 1968. Does he want to keep throwing season after season away? And this guy goes to games, this guy travels on the road. But if you notice, as he's getting older, he doesn't do it quite as often because it's harder to do. So you keep throwing these seasons away. It's like, dude, how many more seasons do I have left? Now, nobody's thinking the jets are going to win a championship this year, but maybe a foundation for a championship can be built by having a winning season or a successful season. Learning that, hey, maybe I do have a coach. Maybe my general manager is better than I even think he is. And now we're a couple of tweaks away. Instead of it being same old, same old, 1-800-919-3776 is the number to call. Want to climb aboard this conversation? The cake here.
B
Oh, my God, is that why Anthony came in and slammed something down and walked out?
C
He said, well, he's trying to get your attention, but you were too busy doing a show. Oh, that's what we call it now. And he lifted up the cake and it's there.
B
Are there, are there candles or the singing or. I'm just kidding. That's something we never do.
C
Singing. We literally got to put our foot down somewhere.
B
No, we literally. Our general celebration is we go, this is your birthday and just pass out cake.
C
Yeah. And that's enough for us.
B
And that's all we need. But happy birthday to him. But I do. I don't care. Good luck. All right, Stephen.
C
Well, unhappy birthday. I hope it's miserable. Stephen A. Smith chiming in. That's pretty good, by the way. Thank you Stephen yeah, that was nice. That was unexpected.
A
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B
You know when you're locked in, focused and fearless. Welcome to the wnba. Your vision narrows. You can't look away.
C
Every assist, every stop, every loco three
B
from beyond the logo, every. Did you see that moment?
A
What records are going to be broken this season?
B
All of it.
A
Right here.
B
Lock in. It's the WNBA on ESPN all season long. Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast. I didn't listen to anything you just said. Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever where you get your podcast.
C
But they are Red Bulls take on the Orlando City SC on Saturday, August 1st at Sports Illustrated Stadium. With kickoff set for 7:30. Celebrate Hometown Heroes Night with Red Bull New York and be among the first 10,000 fans for an exclusive beach towel giveaway for your chance to win a family four pack of tickets. Enter now at ESPN New York.com or or through the ESPN New York app. Don't miss Julian hall and also Antoine Getzman Griezmann when the Red Bulls Host Orlando City SC Saturday, August 1st. Secure your tickets at New York Red Bulls.com Harvey Cruz gonna be excited about that. 1-800-919-3776. More birthday wishes from Steve in Middle Village. Oh wow, you're on ESPN New York. What's up Steve?
D
I just want to wish Peter a happy birthday. And I was on. I was nice enough. Anthony put me on. The first reaction I had when you didn't have a cake was there's got to be a car bell store someplace right near you. My wife always gets it. Order it. It's a beautiful cake, but I'm glad you're gonna get something.
B
We got it. We already have it. I'm having my Oreo cake. Anthony and Don came through. Jake's a complete good for nothing. But these two really came through and wonderful and saved them.
D
Very happy.
B
Just kidding, Jake.
D
But I have one question.
C
Yes?
D
I listened to Carlin before. You know, whatever Carlin says, he's usually truthful. I can't believe the way you look. You're a new father. I can't believe that you're pointing to him. You're 58 years old. It's amazing.
B
I know.
D
You look tremendous for your age.
B
You know what? Here's the thing, Steve, that's hurtful about it is I really am proud of how I look for 47.
C
Right.
B
When you add 11 years to ruins the fact that I look really good. 47. I work around a lot of youngsters.
C
A lot.
B
You know, WWE in particular. No one believes I'm in my late 40s. I'm very proud of that.
C
You're very proud of that.
B
And then Carlin hits me with 58.
C
It's rude. No, it is. It's unkind and under.
B
And by the way, did he send me. Here's the important question. While he besmirched me, did he send me a birthday text?
C
Oh, you didn't see him today?
D
No.
B
Let me see.
C
So that's going to count as his birthday wish.
B
Hold on.
C
Disrespecting you like that. Double check. Make sure he didn't text you.
B
I want to make sure it would
C
be unlike Chris not to text you, especially after an insult like that.
B
He did not.
D
You know what?
B
Is it possible we're losing him a little bit?
C
In what sense?
B
Like, I always, you know, really thought of Chris as one of the good guys. Is it possible he's, you know, go in a different direction here?
C
I guess it's always possible. I have not found him to be a bad guy. I still think he's a gem, but based off of this, this, this is uncharacteristic.
B
No, no, no. And what else?
C
A mensch.
B
No. What else has he done recently? You don't, you don't remember Anthony? Want to remind Don whenever Anthony gets back. Jacob, you want to remind Don?
C
I don't think Jacob remembers. Was he the insult?
E
Me?
B
No, it's about me again.
C
What was that?
B
Whenever I'm. Whenever I appear on ESPN television.
C
Oh, yeah. Maybe he just has a problem with you. Maybe not everybody can like everybody. We also did play his coffin drop, like quite a bit during season. You know what? Honestly, I don't know if that's it, but if that's it, you really gotta lay out. I love.
B
This is college football. Excuse me? This is college football. ESPN radio. Oh, my God.
C
Now, I don't know if one has anything to do with the other, but if I were to find out that the. How often you've played that over the last year or so, if it affected them, could have affected the relationship, but would you treat him the way I treat Andrew, like continue to love and respect him even though he maybe doesn't like you.
B
I do.
C
All right.
B
Whenever I see him, I love on the big man. But, you know, it's liberating. Didn't even what to love someone, not care. It's a great point. It's a selfless love.
D
It really.
C
It's.
D
It's love.
B
You don't want anything back.
C
It loves. It's love that you feel like you deserve some credit for. It's easy to be to love somebody that loves you, but to love somebody that doesn't like you and disrespect you.
B
Do you want to go? Let's actually. This is a fun. Oh, my phone just died.
C
You got to be kidding me. Well, while you're trying to figure that
B
in the 4 o' clock hour, we let's play a little game of who from the radio station has reached out for the birthday.
C
Oh, okay.
B
What are your thoughts? How about that? Matter of fact, it could be a top five now.
C
I knew I was.
B
And you could guess, right. You're free.
C
I would think. Present company is excluded.
E
I reached out. I did not.
B
Because I know I was going to
C
see Peter in person.
B
Anthony is the only person who knew it was the birthday, knew he would see me and still sent the text. Now, John Winthrop is especially in last place in this group because John called me on my birthday about business. Did not remember it was my birthday. That's tough.
C
He flat out didn't remember.
B
Cause I go, well, this is exciting. A birthday call from John. Because I said, hey, I wanted to ask you a couple things, right?
C
When you get a call on your birthday, there's a fighting chance that person's gonna wish you a happy birthday.
B
A fight, you think? A fighting chance.
E
Yeah.
B
But although you know what? I called my mom today. I FaceTime my mom every day with the baby. I try to because that makes her.
C
Yeah, that makes sense.
B
Makes she loves. She gets very excited. And today we talked for a few minutes and I said, mom, anything you want to express to me? And she immediately said, happy birthday. And then Natalie jumped in and said, well, Mindy, happy birthday to you.
A
Aww.
B
Let's be honest. That's the real. The birthday should really just be for the mom. Mom should just get birthday over and over again. They're the ones that pushed you out.
C
Understood.
B
What did you do? You showed up.
D
Yeah.
B
But now I know your situation very well. I think you've done it, really made up for things. I think you've really balanced things out over the years. But you know what I'm saying? You hear what I'm saying?
C
No, I get it. I. That we don't do that enough. You know, Congratulate the person that gave birth to you. Yeah. Because it was a pretty special day for them as well. You don't even remember.
B
Wait, wait. Special day for them? It was everything. It was the day.
C
It was everything. But it was also. You don't even remember.
B
No idea what happened.
C
She probably will never forget it.
B
Probably. I mean, if you.
C
No, I was saying in the sense of just what it took to do.
B
Oh, yeah. We recently just relived Maya's berth. We just watched on a camera that we had not watched yet. We had like this little mini Osmos camera that Natalie has that I was holding in the. In the room. And we just recently watched it. I just saw for the first time, like my tears of joy. I just saw it for the first time. It was. I gotta tell you, if you've never done it, I gotta tell you guys, it's intense. It. And it really cannot be oversold. Like I. No one I know who's had children appropriately sold to me. How crazy the day the first child comes is. It is a wild day. I mean, it is just unlike any
C
other wild, wacky stuff. Quite the wrong wacky.
B
It is wacky, wacky stuff. I mean, that is wild stuff.
C
Peter. West side highway, you're on ESPN New York. What's up, Peter?
D
Good afternoon, gentlemen. And happy birthday to Peter.
B
Thanks, Peter.
D
The New York jets will have to show me what they are capable of this season. I'm not interested in hearing any hype. I'm not even interested in hearing what goes on Monday through Saturday during the season.
B
Respect.
D
I want to see what is going to happen on the field Sunday.
B
And are you going to back that up with the way that you carry yourself? Are you. Are what you. Are you saying, Peter, that as a fan you are willing to give them either 1 to 4 o' clock or 4 o' clock to 7:30 on Sundays? And besides that, that's all you're good for. Show me what you do in that window. I don't give a damn about the rest.
D
I actually have a job where I sometimes work in conflict with the game. But if I can put it on the radio when I can. Absolutely. But a lot of the. A lot of the slack and so forth and the conversation is just. It wears me down. I, you know, they were doing really well in 1994. It looks like they were going to go to the playoffs and then the beginning of December you get the big spike game. There's the Fitzmagic game. It looks like they were going to
C
go to the playoffs and they've, they have really, they have really beaten you. Pillar to post, but Peter brings up something that I think has to be addressed and we'll see if the jets address it when camp opens.
B
Thanks for listening to my Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast. I don't want to know how the sausage is made, but I just want to know.
E
It's good here.
B
More More of Don Allen and Peter weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8
E
80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app
B
and your smart speakers.
A
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The first hour of “Don, Hahn & Rosenberg” is a celebratory and free-wheeling episode, honoring Peter Rosenberg’s birthday. The hosts blend birthday banter, stories of personal growth, and their trademark New York sports talk. Along the way, they riff about tradition (notably their cherished Oreo cake), discuss fan expectations and struggles with aging (both for sports teams and in life), and take numerous calls from listeners who share in the festivities, offer perspectives on the Yankees and Jets, and reflect on fandom’s role in challenging times. The show maintains its lively, irreverent tone while weaving heartfelt moments and local color.
“Normally, it always rains on my birthday… Today it's perfect.” – Peter ([01:56])
“Happy birthday. Peter Rosenberg. Wow, amazing. 58. He looks great, doesn't he?” – Don (mocking Kay) ([05:01])
“Doesn't it come off as a little bit better? But why?” – Peter ([05:46]) “Michael was bitter… I think he feels bad that you're younger than him, that you have more life left than him…” – Alan ([06:11])
“I think she has. She deserves a lot of credit for that. A tremendous photographer, better mom. But maybe, maybe the best thing she does is being a wife.” – Alan ([09:03])
“You were higher expectations... the pinnacle in my situation was like people in hip hop who actually look cool. In repug don era, the pinnacle of your world was Mike Francesa.” – Peter ([09:27])
“The tradition died. It's not you.” – Alan ([12:42])
“I think the tradition's gonna live on. And I think it's gonna live on during that guy Thursday. Perfect time.” – Alan ([18:48])
On Getting Older in Sports and Life
“You look now and you look back then and… I wasn't as bad as Don… When I'd go out to cigar night, it'd be other radio people that were as repug as I was.” – Peter ([09:44])
“If you're a 70-year-old fan, you're like, listen, I don't, I don't know what tomorrow's going to bring. I'm sick of losing. I'm sick of watching this team play.” – Alan ([33:32])
On Loving Without Expectation
“It's a selfless love… It's love that you feel like you deserve some credit for. It's easy to love somebody that loves you, but to love somebody that doesn't like you and disrespect you…” – Alan ([41:13])
On Birthday Perspective
“Let's be honest. That's the real… The birthday should really just be for the mom. Mom should just get birthday over and over again. They're the ones that pushed you out.” – Peter ([42:51])
Listener Calls: Emotional Touchstones
“And by the way, did he send me… While he besmirched me, did he send me a birthday text?” – Peter ([39:08])
“Losing just creates such a diseased atmosphere… you rot away.” – Alan ([27:20]) “You wither away and literally your fan base withers away every year that a team is pure unadulterated ass…” – Peter ([28:47])
“I'm not interested in hearing any hype. I'm not even interested in hearing what goes on Monday through Saturday… I want to see what is going to happen on the field Sunday.” – Peter (caller) ([45:01])
| Segment/Key Topic | Timestamp | |--------------------------|--------------| | Birthday opener & Rosenberg’s “birthday guy” epiphany | [00:49]–[01:49] | | Peter’s daughter & earring story; banter | [02:34]–[03:43] | | Michael Kay age/roast bit | [05:01][06:11] | | Reminiscing about past looks, “repug” eras | [07:01]–[09:44] | | Oreo cake & office traditions discussion, salvation attempt | [11:03]–[19:20] | | Listener call: Spike in St. Pete (birthday wishes, encouragement) | [16:18] | | Listener call: Matt in Fishkill (showing gratitude through illness) | [19:56]–[21:26] | | Yankees pitching/hitting, fan perspectives | [23:13]–[24:03] | | In-depth Jets discussion: tanking, franchise culture | [24:03]–[33:32] | | On aging as a fan and throwing away seasons | [33:32] | | Birthday wishes tally / who remembered? | [41:39]–[42:14] | | Birthday acknowledgment should be for the mom | [42:51] | | Listener “Peter from West Side,” fan frustration with the Jets | [44:32]–[45:07] |
The first hour of this special episode balances signature New York sports discussion with genuine personal reflection and with plenty of comic relief. While the cake drama and birthday banter serve as the through-line, the show seamlessly weaves in substantial takes on the Yankees’ postseason potential and the existential plight of Jets fans. Listener calls provide heartfelt (and sometimes sobering) reminders of the show’s community impact. As always, Don, Hahn, and Rosenberg keep the energy up—irreverent, honest, and always deeply New York.