Hour 1: Knicks Championship Parade

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Knicks Championship Parade (Hour 1)

ESPN New York | June 18, 2026

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Episode Overview

This celebratory episode centers on the New York Knicks' first NBA championship in over half a century, recapping the euphoric championship parade through Manhattan. Hosts Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg, and Don La Greca, live from Stout (a bar near Madison Square Garden), share experiences from the day, connect with fans, reflect on the franchise’s decades-long journey, and discuss what this moment means for both Knicks fans and New York City.

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Main Themes and Purpose

• Collective Joy: Exploring how the Knicks championship has united New York City across generations, backgrounds, and boroughs.
• Personal Experiences: The hosts (especially Alan Hahn, who rode the parade float) share vivid, moving moments from the festivities.
• Fan Connection: Call-ins and listener stories reinforce the grassroots nature and emotional impact of the win.
• Knicks Legacy: Reflections on suffering, loyalty, and the figures who shaped the team’s culture.
• Jalen Brunson’s Impact: Highlighting the significance of the Finals MVP’s leadership and mentality.
• Parade Highlights: The wildness, celebrity sightings, logistical chaos, and deep sense of community.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Unprecedented Unity and Citywide Joy

• A City United: The parade brought together an impossible cross-section of New Yorkers, as Alan Hahn observes, “I could not walk 2 inches without running into somebody with a Knicks jersey… This city is something that I’ve never seen in my life before. Proud to be a part of it.” (01:49)
• Emotional Comparisons: Rosenberg cites Deezus (from Deezus & Mero): “For New York City, this week has been like reverse 9/11,” a metaphor for collective healing and happiness after years of hardship. (04:41)

2. Personal Parade Stories

• Alan’s Day: Up at 4:30am, congregating with Knicks alumni and staff at MSG, surreal floats, and electric crowd energy: “It felt like a whole family getting together to go to a party.” (09:37)
• Wild Parade Moments:
  • Tyler Kolek’s live TV F-bomb and almost-arrest.
  • Alumni and icons—Larry Johnson, Walt “Clyde” Frazier in a convertible.
  • Casual chaos: “Mikal Bridges and his dog… the dog’s on the float, just hanging out.”
• Crowd Overload: Both hosts and callers describe shoulder-to-shoulder crowds, blocked subway exits, and fans climbing lampposts and scaffolding: “There are really some people who are like Spider-Man, by the way.” (16:06)

3. The Championship’s Deeper Meaning

• Long-Suffering Fans: Rosenberg addresses Knicks fans’ years of disappointment: “This is not the Isaiah Thomas era… You root for one day where it all comes together to have a day like this.” (07:13)
• Collective Redemption: “The most redeeming thing about this championship is that it was done collectively… a team effort. And that’s something we can all learn from.” (05:54)

4. Parade and NYC Logistics

• The Canyon of Heroes Experience: Surreal and movie-like; calls to move the next parade to Fifth Avenue for more space. (11:15)
• City-wide Spillover: Midtown bars, MSG, and hangouts packed. Even those who couldn’t get to the parade felt part of the event. (19:14)

5. Fan Calls and Personal Memories

• Emotional Connections: Callers share stories of getting up at 4am to secure spots, sneaking close via police connections, touching the trophies, meeting players, and sharing family Knicks moments.
  • “Today was probably one of the best days of my life.” – Ahmed in Brooklyn (25:56)
  • A fan’s story of getting on MSG’s broadcast as a kid with a new Carmelo Anthony jersey, linking past milestones to today’s triumph. (28:33, 29:13)
• Remote Pride: Some fans watched from home with family, making memories even if not in the city.

6. Knicks Legacy and Healing Old Wounds

• Carmelo Anthony’s Legacy: Discussion around retiring Melo’s number; “The timing is amazing… any fan base that had reservations about Carmelo is going to be able to let go of whatever bitterness they held onto.” (30:35)
• Forgiving the Past: Alan meets Charles Smith—“You’re clear now. Everyone got their ring, bro.” (31:18)
• Patrick Ewing’s Emotional Connection: “Patrick Ewing knows the one thing he wasn’t able to deliver is a championship… but he played an integral part in the speech to this team this run.” (32:00)

7. Jalen Brunson: Heart and Ice

• Brunson’s Leadership: The hosts marvel at Brunson’s cold-blooded, Kobe-like mentality. “He’s as close to Kobe as we’ve got in the NBA because of that attitude, the mentality, the mamba mentality part of it.” (37:44)
• Answering Doubters: Brunson’s refusal to soften after victory: “He ice-grilled all of them… never smiled.” (36:24)
• Impact on NBA Hierarchy: “Make a new list of best players… Jalen Brunson’s jump on that chart looks insane how high he is. He is a top five player in the NBA now.” (38:53)
• Building Culture Over Chasing Stars: The Knicks are now the “model” of unselfish culture.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On NYC Unity and Parade Energy

• Alan Hahn: “New York City is lit today, is it not? Damn.” (02:40)
• Rosenberg: “I’ve been alive for a few championships… this is by far the most joyous, uniting, incredible championship celebration I have ever seen in sports.” (03:12)
• Alan Hahn: “This is a party that’s going to last a whole summer. We’re going to be appropriately insufferable because that’s what we are in New York.” (05:54)

On the Parade Experience

• Alan Hahn: “It felt like a whole family getting together to go to a party.” (09:37)
• “Going down the Canyon of Heroes… I’m like in a movie right now… But when you look down the cross streets, you’re just seeing people all the way down, like they barely could see, but they just wanted a glimpse.” (11:57)
• “The last float was Jalen Brunson with the trophy. Like Santa Claus at Thanksgiving.” (15:16)

On Supporting Cast and Legends

• Alan Hahn (on Charles Smith’s redemption): “I said, you’re clear now, right? Everyone got their ring, bro.” (31:36)
• Alan Hahn (on Ewing’s role): “He played an integral part in the speech… when the 30 for 30 comes out, and it’s going to be a hell of a documentary…” (32:00)

Fan Experiences

• Ahmed in Brooklyn: “Today was probably one of the best days of my life… I got to touch the Larry O’Brien trophy.” (25:56–26:54)
• Vincent in East Windsor: “Let’s go Knicks chants on the ferry all the way… We saw Mitchell Robinson’s truck, got an Alan fist bump, ended up right in front of Alvarado’s float… It couldn’t have worked out any better.” (43:42–45:06)
• Jose in Connecticut: “I was gonna go to the parade… but the lots were full at 5:00am! Watched with my kids at home, my daughter made a sign." (34:03)

On Jalen Brunson

• Alan Hahn: “He is literally… an untradable player.” (39:30)
• Rosenberg: “He is all any organization wants… He has been the perfect player.” (39:59)
• Alan Hahn: “He surprised himself with the way he stepped into this role… He went up an entire level as a player.” (41:31)
• On Brunson's mentality: “That’s how Brunson gets back at you… you’re never beating us again.” (36:16)

On Knicks Culture and Championship Model

• Michael Rosenberg: “Maybe instead of fishing for superstars, maybe I just got to build a culture.” (49:49)

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Important Segment Timestamps

• [01:39–02:40]: Opening reactions to parade, unity in New York
• [03:12–05:54]: Most meaningful championship celebration ever, NYC’s emotional healing
• [09:37–11:15]: Alan Hahn’s behind-the-scenes parade experience
• [13:22–14:20]: Alan’s emotional moment with the Larry O’Brien trophy
• [16:06]: Surreal parade visuals—fans climbing everything to get a view
• [25:56–27:11]: Ahmed’s fan call, up at 4am, touches trophies, meets players
• [28:33–29:13]: Caller recalls Carmelo’s MSG debut, linking past and present
• [30:35–31:46]: On healing Carmelo/Charles Smith wounds and embracing the past
• [32:00–32:33]: Patrick Ewing’s crucial (secret) locker room speech
• [36:24–38:53]: Jalen Brunson’s ice-cold media attitude and on-court “mamba mentality”
• [39:30–41:46]: Brunson’s leap into the NBA elite, the perfect modern superstar
• [43:42–45:06]: Vincent in East Windsor: the ferry experience, Alan’s fist bump
• [49:49–50:13]: Championship culture: Knicks bucking NBA trends

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Additional Noteworthy Details

• Hosts encourage fans to be “insufferably” proud—after 53 years, they’ve earned it.
• Logistics & Quirks: Parade so massive the next one may need to switch routes; buildings with non-opening windows mean less confetti than hoped.
• Little Moments: Alan interviews players, mascots (like Sonny the Golden Retriever), and interacts directly with fans at Stout.
• Pop Culture & Music: Sinatra and Alicia Keys’ “Empire State of Mind” featured at City Hall.
• Historic Context: First NYC major-four championship since 2011 Giants; speculation about future 30 for 30 docs.
• Hosts maintain a joyous, slightly chaotic NYC tone—irreverent, funny, emotional, and always for the fans.

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In Summary

This episode is a living testament to just how much a single sports victory can mean to a city, its fans, and the people who have lived and died with the Knicks. With colorful stories, emotional anecdotes, and deeply personal moments, Don, Hahn, and Rosenberg capture the chaos and magic of the Knicks' championship parade—reminding listeners that sports, at its best, is about belonging, redemption, and joy that lasts far beyond a single day.

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For Those Who Missed It

Even if you weren’t at the parade or able to watch live, this episode brings you into the heart of New York’s celebration. You’ll feel the city’s pulse, the fans’ heartbreak-turned-euphoria, and understand why, for one magic summer, New Yorkers are all “insufferably” happy Knicks fans together.

Transcript

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[Don Hahn]

This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Michael Rosenberg]

That sounds like heaven to me.

[Don Hahn]

Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers.

[Michael Rosenberg]

Don, you're a filth bag. You're a sex star. Filth bag. Han, the guy's gonna be 41 flicking it.

[Don Hahn]

And Rosenberg, go look at Redfer in

[Alan Hahn]

that movie right now. You'll want to hook up with.

[Michael Rosenberg]

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

[Don Hahn]

This is Don, Han and Rosenber.

[Michael Rosenberg]

The best threesome I've ever heard on

[Don Hahn]

ESPN New York and streaming live on YouTube.

[Michael Rosenberg]

ESPN New York.

[Alan Hahn]

Come on.

[Michael Rosenberg]

Average of the New York Knicks World Championship celebration is brought to you by Tickpick, Amazon Hub Delivery, Michelob Ultra Slowman's Ziprecruiter, Nissan Calandra's Bakery, Thrival Infusion, Parisman Firm, Verizon and New Era. We're donning the hats. The celebration continues after what was an unbelievable record breaking parade in which my guy, Allen Hahn, to my right, got to be on a float, have himself.

[Alan Hahn]

He's floating.

[Michael Rosenberg]

All the fans are here at Stout.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm floating. We got confetti still from.

Oh, that's City Hall. Confetti.

City Hall Confetti boys. That's what that is. Look at that. Confetti.

[Michael Rosenberg]

This is amazing because, listen, I've been in this business since, if you want to count Sportsville 92, coming into the city since I was a kid, working in the city, since 1990. And the one reputation New York City has is we all can't be on board with the same thing. I mean, there's just too many people. You got people walking into the Metropolitan Theater or the Metropolitan Museum of Art or walking down Park Avenue who don't even know what happened the night before, what's coming up the day later. I could not walk 2 inches without running into somebody with a Nick jersey. Nick hat. And this was hours after the parade was over. It's united. This city is something that I've never seen in my life before. Proud to be a part of it. Here Live at Stout.

[Alan Hahn]

New York City is lit today, is it not? Damn.

Hold on. Hold on a second. I want to hear about Allen's Day. We had very different days. I attempted to be very much a part of everything. And I don't know if anyone else had this experience. I was not able to successfully get to anything whatsoever downtown, and yet I still had an incredible time in Manhattan today. Could not get to the Watch party. Could not get to City Hall. Ended up just mobbing through the streets. But I will tell you this right now. I've been alive for a few championships in a couple of different cities. This is by far the most joyous, uniting, incredible championship celebration I have ever seen in sports. And I put up with. I put up a tweet earlier and I said, am I too close to this? Or was that like the most beautiful championship ceremony I've ever seen? And I gotta say it right now, guys, let. Let's put all politics aside. Give it up for Mayor Mamdani for one of the great speeches in the history of sports. When you mix sports and politics, it can get ugly. That was a real fan giving a real tribute to this team. Shout out to Jalen Brunson for addressing the haters.

Did it.

Briefly but effectively did it.

Yeah, let him hear it. Yeah, let him hear it.

[Michael Rosenberg]

But this is today. Like, what you're seeing today, what you saw during the parade, what you've seen during this run is why it doesn't matter what the outside world thinks, right? Since when do we care about anything anybody says? Participation trophy, my ass. It represents this city. 25, 26. Best team in basketball, period. And you see it coming together. So anybody that's throwing any hates throwing it because they're jealous, but they don't have this.

[Alan Hahn]

It was. It was. It's been a really special few weeks. I'm guessing it's going to be a really special weekend. I got to be honest, guys, this is going to be a really special summer. Yes, this is going to be the summer of New York. You know, Deezes, formerly of Deezes and Mero, he got in some trouble for saying this, but he was on Pablo Torre yesterday and talking about it. He said, for New York City, this week has been like reverse 9, 11. It's been this absolute week of joy for a city that's gone through a lot of things over the years. And some people obviously thought, oh, you shouldn't bring that up. But the point he was trying to make was for a city that's gone through real tragedies, not just 9 11. But obviously, Covid hit this city harder than any other city in the country. We were the epicenter of the pandemic. The city shut down. So many different things have happened. And to see this level of joy from every kind of person, it's an incredibly remarkable thing. And you can't help but continuously go back to the guy at the center of the entire thing. And this is a team effort. But, guys, if Jalen Brunson doesn't pass up $100 million to start building this thing. Allen, we're not sitting here talking about a championship.

No, no. And I want to first touch on the one thing that you said about this. This is not something that's only going to last a week. This is a party that's going to last a whole summer. We're going to be appropriately insufferable because that's what we are in New York. Let them hate us. Let him be mad. That's okay. It's been 53 years. But as the mayor said, and I thought that was also appropriate, what he said is that a lot of times it takes hardship and tragedy to bring us together as a city and to blur all the other lines that don't mean a damn thing. Right? In the. In the. In the grand scheme of things. So many things that separate us, but this is the one thing that brought us together. Like, how great is the joy that's happening right now in this city? Right? It's just. It's intoxicating and you don't want it to ever stop. So this is a great example. And that team did that for us. And they did it in the way. Of course, that is emblematic of coming together. The fact that he did it as a team, it wasn't just one guy. And I found that to be. To me, that is the most redeeming thing about this championship, is that it was done collectively. And that's something we can all learn from. I love the vibe in New York City today.

[Michael Rosenberg]

No, it's great. You talk about hardship and tragedy. There was hardship and tragedy within, you know, rooting for this team.

[Alan Hahn]

That's true.

[Michael Rosenberg]

You know, for all the people that are celebrating today, are celebrating because this is not the Isaiah Thomas era. This is not a 19 win team. This is not a team that had lost its way year after year, not being able to make the playoffs. And when they did, they got swept. Or when they did, they were still out in the first round of hearing how they weren't cool. Nobody wanted to play here. Nobody wanted to be A Knick. So that's the things that you remember. That's what makes it all worthwhile. That's why when we get into the people I feel happy for. I feel happy for those people that suffered, but they stayed. It's so easy. We joke around about Fraudulent Friday and all those things because it's so easy to say, I'll go root for the Lakers, I'll go root for the Cavs and LeBron James. I'll root for the Heat, I'll root for the Bulls, I'll root for the warriors and just get out of this. And the people that didn't and they stuck with it. Those are the people you're truly happy for. Yeah, because that's why you root for one day where it all comes together

[Alan Hahn]

to have a day like this. And.

[Michael Rosenberg]

Yeah. And then everybody in the NBA wishes for at least one day they were you.

[Alan Hahn]

And there was. You know, I kept. I don't know if everybody else has had this feeling, but I kept having this feeling over the. Since Saturday, that feeling of like, did that just happen? Like, I had that moment floating in the pool where I just started to cry a little bit because I was like, no, that's for. This is really. This really happened. But it was today at city, at City Hall. Today is when. When the confetti started blasting and they were playing Sinatra, New York, New York, and everybody's singing it. When Alicia Keys sang, first of all, shout out to her amazing Billy Joel, New York State of Mind was the way she opened, which was just beautiful to go into Empire State of Mind and to have just that. That realization with that trophy sitting on. On that. That deus that. Yeah. No, this is. This is real. This happened. And. And it's. It's a moment in time that again, I don't. You will never forget this day for several reasons. And I keep coming back to the fact that how it just unified the city that just has so many differences. The one thing that we all had in common was that the Knicks were freaking good and we loved every minute of it.

[Michael Rosenberg]

So special.

[Alan Hahn]

And this team. And we've talked about that. You know, this is a city that is split. Even its sports teams are split.

Yep.

The Knicks are the one thing. It's the unified one unifier across the city. And it was spectacular. So, Alan, what was your. What was your day like? How early did you have to get downtown?

Up at 4:30. Got. We met at MSG. Everybody congregated at MSG and it was just surreal because you're just like, Milling about. And Larry Johnson comes by and he's like, what gate are we supposed to go? You know, like, it's just all alumni,

all alumni, alumni everywhere.

And just all the people that also behind the scenes that work for the team.

[Commercial Announcer]

So just.

[Alan Hahn]

It felt like a whole family getting together to go to a party. And by the time we got downtown, it was probably like 7:30. And it's a lot of waiting around, you know, it was a lot of waiting around, of course. But in that time, I got to go find Mitchell Robinson in his truck. I don't know if anybody saw the interview I did with Mitchell Robinson in his truck, but that was special. You know, talked to him a little bit. Saw Clyde in this gorgeous classic car in a convertible.

Him being driven around in the car was. Was perfect.

It's elegant royalty, right? That's what he was. It was just so many different moments. Tyler Kolek dropped an F bomb on the. On the air, live tv.

And then he was almost arrested.

And then he was almost arrested because somebody thought he was just a guy running in the parade around like crazy,

[Michael Rosenberg]

which is not crazy.

[Caller/Listener]

Like.

[Alan Hahn]

No, that guy. That guy helped him win the NBA Cup. What are you doing? Like, we just. It just. It just got wild. Mikhail Bridges and his dog, you know, just happened. The dog's on the float. Just on the float, just hanging out. Like, there was so many different moments that, you know, again, you just. It just embraced him, you know, and you just like sat there just thinking to yourself, like, this is a. This is a party. But the amount of people that went downtown to the point where not only was it the first of all, the next time we do this, it probably needs to be on Fifth Avenue. We need more space. We need more space. It is not enough space.

So that is a. That is an interesting take.

Every other parades there, but the Canyon of Heroes is obviously the championship parades and all the other celebrations.

But you're right, it's. It would. It would totally make it a different thing if you put it on Fifth

Avenue, go to the park, right. Whatever it is.

And it's this straight shot where you know exactly where it is. You can go around. Like, that's how I got.

Think about.

I got out of the subway at Fulton street today.

Yeah.

I was attempting to go to a party at 1 Liberty Plaza. The problem is it was on the other side of Broadway. When I got out of the subway, I couldn't get out at the side that would be there.

That's it.

And at that once, I was once that Was it. You're. You're basically done.

You're stuck. Yeah. And so it was a lot of that, but with all the frustration that just seemed to everybody just at. At was still happy.

Totally.

Right.

[Don Hahn]

And.

[Alan Hahn]

And what, what blew my mind was as you go down the canyon of heroes, which, guys, I'm telling you, is a surreal experience. It's really. Is one of these, like, am I. I'm like in a movie right now. This is. This is not normal. But when you look down the cross streets, you look down the cross streets, you're just seeing people all the way down, like they barely could see, but they just wanted a glimpse.

Guys, I saw.

It was amazing to see.

I was in these areas where the people. I was trying to get through areas to try to make it somewhere, and we're in a spot and I look at Natalie and I go, all right, it's completely jammed here. I'm kind of freaking out because I don't want to be stuck here. But also, these people aren't going to see anything. You know what I mean? It was just every nook. And with all due respect to the Douglas MacArthur parade that we talked about yesterday, I can't imagine there have been many parades. I don't know what the numbers will say. Has there been a number?

[Michael Rosenberg]

Not.

[Alan Hahn]

I haven't seen a number yet.

I've been never in New York.

Going to be over a million.

I've never seen easily over.

[Michael Rosenberg]

Over a million People were smaller back then in 1950.

[Alan Hahn]

That's a fair point.

[Caller/Listener]

Right?

[Alan Hahn]

We were a lot skinnier than espn.

[Michael Rosenberg]

New York's live coverage of the New York Knicks World championship celebration.

[Alan Hahn]

World championship.

[Michael Rosenberg]

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[Alan Hahn]

I, I, the, the moment that really got me where it's again, this is real. And I think that's what I said is I, I saw Rick Brunson walking up past the floats. We hadn't started the parade yet, but Rick was carrying the Larry o' Brien trophy.

[Caller/Listener]

Wow.

[Alan Hahn]

And he came by our float, and I saw him and he says, come down here. And I was like, I don't want to slow up. Cheap walk. Don't worry about. He's no. Come down here. And I came down and I stood there. He goes, come on, take the picture. And so I took video Instead, and he's. And I'm, like, touching the, Touching the Larry o' Brien trophy. I'm holding the trophy. He's right there next to me. And I'm. And I just kept saying, this is real. This is like, like, I didn't know what else to say other than, like, convincing myself I'm not dreaming, this is really happening. And that, that was, to me, like, I, I, I don't even know how that video came out. I have no idea. I haven't looked at anything on my phone. But hopefully it came out clear enough that it's a memory for me forever. Because that, that was when you knew this, this, this is real. Yeah.

[Michael Rosenberg]

And what I love about the parades is that it's. You feel more equal with what's going on.

[Caller/Listener]

Right?

[Michael Rosenberg]

You watch the championship, and even if you were there in San Antonio, you know, the guys are in uniform, they're celebrating, but it's moments after it's won. You know, these players by watching them on tv, going to the game is working. Trying to get a win, trying to. Trying to get the chip. And now you get to see them in a relaxed atmosphere. They're in skivvies, just having a good time, enjoying it as much as you're enjoying it. Don't you feel like even though you're not on the stage with them, you feel like we're all united, we're all together. And I just think that makes it so much special. That's why I love these parades. And, yeah, there is something about the canyon of heroes. And again, I don't know. Is Fifth Avenue more difficult to secure? Because I'm sure where it is and how small it is probably makes it easier for the city.

[Caller/Listener]

I don't know.

[Michael Rosenberg]

I, I don't know.

[Alan Hahn]

But something about it doesn't matter. It's just something to think about, you know, when the Knicks win another title.

Right.

Next, I need to move this thing uptown.

I like what you're thinking.

That's all I'm saying. You know, we don't need floats or anything, or, I should say blimps or whatever it is. But like the, Like Thanksgiving. I thought it was funny, too. It was set up like the Thanksgiving parade because the last float was Jalen Brunson with the trophy. And it's. I was like. It's like. It's like Santa Claus, Thanksgiving. He's the last thing everybody sees. And everybody went nuts when they saw him, of course. But no, it's. It was such a great experience. But the most, the most. The thing That I took from. From this the most was just, again, how happy everyone was once they saw players coming by and, you know, playing the music. And of course, there's. There's Josh Hart singing. I'm from New York. He's doing that, like, from when he was traded here. And that brought the house down. Everybody went nuts. Climbing on light poles up on top of scaffolding, like, out of windows.

There are really some people who are like Spider man, by the way, regularly see people just. I saw people scaling walls and poles constantly.

So how did you get up there?

I don't understand what these people are

capable of, but it is amazing just to see, just to get a glimpse, just to be part of it. It was. It was just so surreal.

[Michael Rosenberg]

And the confetti, like, I was looking at a story about the confetti, that there's only so many buildings where the windows open. So there's only so many buildings on the actual parade route that can throw the confetti out the window. Because now a lot of the buildings, the windows and buildings in New York City don't open.

[Alan Hahn]

There wasn't nearly as much as I would have expected. There was.

[Michael Rosenberg]

It's for that reason.

[Alan Hahn]

There was a time that it. There was a one little, like, one block where it felt like, okay, it's starting to come down. I didn't need the toilet paper roll,

you know, that was toilet paper.

[Caller/Listener]

Yeah, yeah.

[Michael Rosenberg]

Unless you're out of it at all.

[Alan Hahn]

Caught me in the head. Didn't need it right then. Well, it's better than a rock, you know. That's true. But it's so funny how at home I can't find a roll of toilet paper to save my life. But I got one on. On Broadway. That was helpful.

[Michael Rosenberg]

ESPN New York's live coverage of the world championship celebration is brought to you by Nissan. Hurry in and bring home a winning deal at the Nissan summer sales event. Now is the time to get behind the wheel of a Nissan Rogue Pathfinder and Forester.

[Alan Hahn]

Now, this is. This is Woodstock. This is. I love everybody. Like, there's so, like, it's. This is Woodstock. If that's what. If this is what Woodstock felt like.

[Michael Rosenberg]

Well, no mud, which is better, but no mud.

[Alan Hahn]

But you know what I mean.

By the way, let's take a moment for no rain today.

[Michael Rosenberg]

Just again, sprinkle.

[Alan Hahn]

I'll just barely sprinkle.

[Michael Rosenberg]

The Knicks won everything.

[Alan Hahn]

Everything.

[Michael Rosenberg]

You figured, all right, if I got to have a little rain during the parade, it's worth it. Look at all the things they did. They still got away. A little hot, but still fantastic.

[Alan Hahn]

It.

[Michael Rosenberg]

It was a little rain on this parade.

[Alan Hahn]

Beautiful.

Yeah. I don't know.

Let them know. By the way, this place Stout.

Yeah. Shout out to Stout. Talk about it's been a fun run here to be.

I knew this is the place to

[Michael Rosenberg]

be because there was some, like, conversation, like, how many people are going to be in Midtown after everybody who's down in lower Manhattan?

[Alan Hahn]

How many people are still going to

[Michael Rosenberg]

hang around if the parade ends at, like, noon or 1 o' clock for a 3 o' clock show? And I pulled up about 1:30 into the lot across from Madison Square Garden, and there were just tons of people that were in the city hanging out, but also you getting their cars because they decided to park up here not knowing what the situation was going to be in Lower Manhattan. They closed all the streets south of. Where was it?

[Alan Hahn]

Canal Street.

Yep.

[Michael Rosenberg]

So taking a Holland tunnel probably wasn't a good idea. So I think a lot of people took the Lincoln and the George. So they're spread out throughout the city.

[Alan Hahn]

Going home will be fun.

[Michael Rosenberg]

And before they go home, stop by Stout, and that's where we're going to be. Because what better place to be to close out the celebration than a stone's throw away from Madison Square Garden?

[Alan Hahn]

Everybody's outside. Like, people came to the Garden as if it was like, right. Like, I don't know what to do. So let me just go to the Garden. Like, it's. It's what the day has become.

[Michael Rosenberg]

That, I mean, that's what makes it special.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Michael Rosenberg]

Because they play right here. The Mecca is right in the heart of the city. So I'm walking up to Stout, and there's already a line to get in. And they eventually open up the top floor because we're on the second floor. So come up the stairs.

[Alan Hahn]

You got to come up here and see us.

[Michael Rosenberg]

The World cup games are on, so there's just a lot going on, man. In the city.

[Alan Hahn]

No doubt.

[Michael Rosenberg]

Shinnecock. We got the US Open, the World Cup. The Knicks are playing.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Michael Rosenberg]

It is just really just special. Like, we got so many people here. We're talking to a lot of people during the break. We also want to hear from you, people that went to the parade, people that watched the parade different way. I want to hear how you got here, how early did you get here, your experiences, because it's really about you, these championships. It's really about what you have accomplished.

[Alan Hahn]

You know what I want done. You know what I want? I want a picture with Every single person in this room.

[Commercial Announcer]

Wow.

[Alan Hahn]

Everybody. Don't you dare be shy. Don't you dare be shy. Come find me. Come find me. We'll get pictures. We got a lot to do here on the show. But right now I want to tell you about Ring's End because you know, season's over now, right?

You're done.

Next week the project begins. I'm looking forward to this. Rings in a big part of the project. They're going to provide a French door for me that we picked out that he's going to work. They're working with my contractor. And if you have a project around your house that you need done, and we all do, you know, windows, doors, kitchens, anything lumber, all the stuff that you need to update and upgrade your home you want to check out. Rings end they have showrooms with products you can touch, feel and try so you know exactly what you're getting. They have eight full service lumber yards in Connecticut and Westchester county and 12 freestanding paint centers, of course, as well. Rings and is family owned and operated since 1902. They are a northeast brand. They are not national. So they know the Northeast well. 124 years in business with deep northeast roots. And if you can't get any locations, you just want to see what they got. Just go to ringsend.com like I did. Go to ringsend.com Tyler Murray is here.

[Michael Rosenberg]

We'll talk to him over the air for Bill Pedo a little bit later on as well. Plus Your calls at 1-800-919-3776. ESPN New York's Live coverage of the New York Knicks world championship celebration is brought to you by Michelob Ultra. The superior game meets superior taste. Grab a Michelob Ultra superior light beer as you cheer your team on Michelob Ultra, official beer sponsor of the NBA. It's Don Anna Rosenberg live from South 35th between 7th and 8th Avenue.

[Commercial Announcer]

This episode is brought to you by Google Chrome. You think you know a browser, but Gemini and Chrome, that's new. It can help you with practically anything on the web, like restoring a vintage motorcycle from a 50 page restoration block. Or finally break down that long article you've had open for weeks. Gemini and Chrome is here for it, ready to make anything online make sense. There's no place like Chrome. Check responses. Setup required. Compatibility and availability various 18.

[Alan Hahn]

So good, so good, so good.

[Commercial Announcer]

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[Don Hahn]

thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Alan Hahn]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don Hahn]

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

[Alan Hahn]

Next stop, the Canyon of Heroes. The New York Knicks are NBA Champions.

[Don Hahn]

ESPN New York's live coverage of the the New York Knicks World Championship Celebration is brought to you by Amazon Hub Delivery, Michelob Ultra Slowman's Zip Recruiter, Nissan Calandra's Bakery Thrive well Infusion, Paris Min Firm, Verizon and New Era

[Alan Hahn]

Staying in the world FanDuel is changing the game because sometimes your player gets subbed off and your bet goes with them. Well, not anymore with Vanduul Super Sub. If your players subbed out, your bet stays in. That's right. If your player leaves the match, your bet continues on with the sub. So you're still in it till the final whistle. Visit FanDuel.com local to get started now. Let there be goals this summer on FanDuel21 physically present New York for help with a gambling problem, call 8778-hope and wire text open y467369 and of course the celebration continues tomorrow. We're not on the air tomorrow. We are all taking, I believe, a much needed respite for a moment. We're going to take a breather tomorrow.

It's your birthday tomorrow.

It is Alan Hahn's birthday. I am going to be at Calandra's in Caldwell, New Jersey. Calandra's Italian Village. We are going to have a watch party for the USA and Australia coming off the US Best World cup performance of all time. We're going to watch it together. Three o', clock, Calandra's Italian Village in Caldwell. You might want to get a reservation if you want to come through, but it's going to be a time we'll still be celebrating the Knicks and we'll Be watching USA Soccer tomorrow at Calandras.

[Michael Rosenberg]

Espn. New York's live coverage of the New York Knicks world championship celebration is brought to you by Verizon. Hustle over to your local Verizon store to learn how you could save big when you bundle with FiOS Home Internet and mobile plans. Only at Verizon. We're going to get Tyler Murray up here in a little bit.

[Alan Hahn]

Where's Tyler Murray?

[Michael Rosenberg]

Where's Bull Peto? He's supposed to be coming.

[Alan Hahn]

Said he was coming there. He threatened to come over.

They were all great, by the way.

I can't wait to watch it back.

The whole MSG team was great. Like, basically what they were doing is showing everything going on and doing their own commentary over the parade. Then they tossed to Alan, then they tossed to Monica, and then they'd come back and just show things. But everybody was tremendous in the studio today at msg. So shout out to the whole MSG networks. A big win for them. A championship for MSG as well.

[Michael Rosenberg]

Let's hear from you. 1-800-919-377-6. The lines are packed. Ahmed in Brooklyn, you're on. Don on Rosenberg, you get us started, man. What's up?

[Caller/Listener]

What's up?

How you guys doing?

Good.

I just want to say today was

[Alan Hahn]

probably one of the best days of my life.

That's it.

[Caller/Listener]

Hello.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, I got the best days of your life, baby. That's what it was.

[Caller/Listener]

I literally woke up at 4am with my brother and we got there around 6. And honestly, if we got there any later, we would have been cooked. Yeah, we got so lucky that they basically had like a city workers only entrance because my brother's a cop. So they had these, like, anyone anyone who works in law enforcement was able to bring a guest. And they had this special entrance where like, I mean, like, it was all the scny, nypd. We were there and we somehow got to the, like right at the gate, right at the front. It was around, like, close to the Battery park, like, entrance.

[Alan Hahn]

I saw that and I literally got. Yeah, yeah, that's a perfect area, right? Perfect area.

[Caller/Listener]

Yeah. It was insane. I. I have some insane, like, photos

and videos that, like, I got to shake hands with Mike Brown. I got to like, touched the Larry o' Brien trophy.

I got to touch the in season tournament trophy.

I literally, like, like got caught some T shirts. Josh Hart, like, came up to all of us. I got to see everyone up so close.

It was honestly just like unforgettable experience.

[Michael Rosenberg]

Well, that's part of winning a championship. And it's not just the pride that your team won. It's having moments like this. And it hits different in New York because the sheer number of people. It's the canyon heroes, the one place where we've seen non sporting events be celebrated going down that canyon of heroes. So it just makes it that much more special. Enjoy it, man. That's awesome. Zach is in Albany. You're on. Don Hanna, Rosenberg. What's up, buddy?

[Caller/Listener]

Hey, guys, how you doing?

Can you hear me?

Yes, how you doing? Thank you for taking my call. Alan. Great job today. You look sharp. I see you went with the blue polo.

[Alan Hahn]

Blue polo. I didn't love it. Didn't love it, but it worked.

But you had to go polo. What other way we going to go?

But you know what's funny? It was cooler early in the day and I was like, I should have went with this. Like you told me to wear the button up. And I'm like, I made a mistake. And then later at City hall, no, I'm sweating bullets. Like, okay, this was the right way to go, but it's destroyed now. I can never wear.

[Michael Rosenberg]

And then I saw that.

[Caller/Listener]

And then I saw the Huckster. And then I saw the Huckster interview interviewing you.

[Alan Hahn]

He took my mic. He thinks he's og.

I love that, by the way.

I got to see it. I haven't seen it yet, but it's on Instagram. I really don't know what I said.

[Caller/Listener]

I just have a quick, A quick story. So I'm a 26 year old kid from Albany, but my father, when I

was young, he lived in Brooklyn.

And so during my winter and summer breaks, I would spend time there with him. And I used to ask him, dad, can we go to the city? Can we go by the Garden or Times Square? And one day during the winter, we went and we were by that. That models, I don't know if it's still there by, by Penn Station. And there was a bunch of media and all kinds of commotion going on. And we went inside to see what was going on. And it was the day Carmelo Anthony was going to play his first game for The Knicks in 2011. And so my dad was like. And Modells were the first one to have the jersey. So he's like, you want it? And he bought me one. And so then we're walking around by. By Madison Square Garden and people are interviewing me, taking pictures.

And later that night, we were watching

the game and when MSG had cut back from. From commercial, it was, it was a Video of me in front of the Garden, you know, pumping up the jersey,

[Alan Hahn]

and me and my dad were like, oh, that's cool.

[Caller/Listener]

Ever since then, I was. I was a big Knicks fan and I. If I could. I don't know if you or. Or Mike Brie could pull any strings, but, like, I would be awesome if

they could put that on.

Yeah.

But, yeah, it would mean a lot

[Michael Rosenberg]

to me and my father somewhere.

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

It's gotta be. We can look that up.

You're gonna have to pinpoint maybe a little. Yeah. Oh, because you said, you know, the

day it was the. The game against the Bucks, right after coming home. Coming home. Yeah. I was on the court.

I did a stand up from the court.

[Caller/Listener]

It's not on the.

It's not on the archives.

It.

It wasn't on the archives. I tried finding it on MSG archives, but for some reason that one's not on there, so

[Alan Hahn]

we'll have to see.

Enjoy it, though, man.

[Michael Rosenberg]

Thanks for the call, man. You know, he brings up something about Carmelo. This was brought up to me, I think, by John Winthrop, who's a big Nick fan. You know, there's been a contingent of people who want to see Carmelo's number retired. Well, they better hurry up and do it because, you know, at some point, you know, this 26 team is going to be celebrated.

[Alan Hahn]

You got to figure he's a Hall of Famer.

[Michael Rosenberg]

He is. I know, but you go up, but, you know, you already got retired numbers. You got to figure Brunson's number 11 is going to go up there. Right. That is for 32 as well.

[Alan Hahn]

Do it next season. I mean, just put it up already,

you know, so actually, let me. Let me. Let me say this. I actually think the timing is amazing because the winning of the championship is so elating and amazing for this team that they will now, actually, I think any fan base that had reservations about Carmelo is going to be able to let go of whatever bitterness they held on to and just celebrate Carmelo, who did the best he could with what the team was at that time. I think the timing is great, Alan, to put that number up.

I think you're absolutely right. You know what else, too? You know who I saw in amongst, like, all the different, you know, people you run into and you see and all that stuff. I saw Charles Smith.

[Michael Rosenberg]

Wow.

[Alan Hahn]

And we've had Charles Smith. Yeah, we've had Charles Smith. Right. And we know he said he's a good guy, but he had a bad night and a bad moment that so many Knick fans never wanted to forgive him for. Right? You know what I said to him? You're clear now.

So true.

Because I said. I said, this must mean a lot to you because it means everything. He's like, I had to be here. I wanted to be part of it. And I said, you're clear now. You're clear now, right?

Everyone got their ring, bro.

[Caller/Listener]

Clear.

[Alan Hahn]

All good.

But that can end now.

By the way, you could tell. You could tell Patrick felt that way when we talked to him on Monday as well.

Too emotional, man.

Patrick Ewing knows that the one thing he wasn't able to deliver is a champion.

And it killed him. Killed him in 99.

And the fact. And the fact that not only did the fan base now get the championship, but if you know the story of this team and when the 30 for 30 comes out, and it's going to be a hell of a documentary when they talk about that speech that Patrick gave this team in the locker room after Game 3 against Atlanta. He played an integral part in the speech.

So I've been asking everybody, did someone.

I'm like, got to be someone?

Like, what? What did Patrick say? What did Patrick say? Nobody.

[Commercial Announcer]

Nobody.

[Michael Rosenberg]

So that makes it even better.

[Alan Hahn]

It's driving me crazy. But, like, come on, Cat. Well, Cat, what do you say? What do you say?

[Michael Rosenberg]

But if you found somebody's got to tell me, how cool would it be? As much as you want to hear it, you want to know it. Like, 30 years from now, we all get together on the 30th anniversary of the championship, and still nobody will let you know what was said. Wouldn't that really be money to think about it? Like, if it got. If it got released later on on social media, somebody videotaped it and it showed up, it'd still be great and we'd appreciate it.

[Alan Hahn]

We enjoy it. But it becomes of a legend.

[Michael Rosenberg]

It becomes such a legend that you never find out exactly what was said. ESPN New York's live coverage of the New York Knicks World Championship celebration is brought to you by Tickpick. Amazon Hub delivery Make a Love Ultra Slowman's ZipRecruiter Nissan Calandra's Bakery Thrive well. Infusion Parisman Firm, Verizon and New era

[Alan Hahn]

New York has a championship. It has been 15 years, never mind 53. Fifteen years since the last championship. Since the Giants won the Super Bowl. No, of the major four, the major sports, none of our teams have won one until now. This is the longest we have gone without one. Let it end now.

[Don Hahn]

Let it end.

[Alan Hahn]

Man.

[Michael Rosenberg]

Jose in Connecticut. You're on espn, New York, Jose. Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

My guys, man. What a great day.

[Caller/Listener]

I want to tell a funny story, man. Well, first of all, Alan shout out to you interviewing Sonny the Golden retriever, man.

[Alan Hahn]

That was my favorite part.

[Caller/Listener]

I love Sonny, man.

Sonny's.

That was awesome, man. I was gonna go to the parade. I'm in Connecticut. My wife text me at 5am at the Metro north, like, yo, the parking lot here is full.

Wow.

I knew I was cooked. I had to stay home. I stayed home. I was like, nope, never mind. I'll be out here, man. That's crazy.

[Alan Hahn]

It was tough, but how good was

it to watch on tv?

[Caller/Listener]

Oh, it was good, Mike. I had my kids with me, man. We had a good time. And my daughter made a sign.

Everything, man.

[Alan Hahn]

It was cool, man. That's great.

[Caller/Listener]

It was great. Yeah. Like, even. I think Peter said that, like, even, like, might be biased, but that was one of the best celebrations we had, man. Only, I gotta say, Alan, if you could ask somebody condolent, just, like, go back in the background for a while. He keeps trying to kill the vibes.

Just.

Just, like, chill out for a little while. Be quiet.

[Michael Rosenberg]

It's his toy.

[Caller/Listener]

He's an owner.

[Alan Hahn]

He can do whatever the hell he wants to do. He's an owner and a champion.

[Caller/Listener]

Come on.

[Alan Hahn]

He could do whatever he wants to do.

[Caller/Listener]

Okay. Yeah, but don't ruin it for the fans. He ain't gonna have that thing speak at the White House. You. You know that.

[Alan Hahn]

I didn't see him ruin it, man. I didn't see him ruin anything. I didn't see him ruin anything.

Listen, you're all. We're all allowed, you know.

[Caller/Listener]

What?

[Alan Hahn]

No favorite parts from the. From the thing. You can pick. What was your. Let's go positive. What was your favorite, favorite thing?

What was the favorite thing?

[Caller/Listener]

Well, that was. I was just gonna say, like, he, like, Even. Regardless, my favorite parts were obviously the. Just. Just seeing Brunson make that comment about the. Listen, if you think. Want to talk stuff about us, don't even give him the time of day. That was my third part, man. Like, we kept hearing all year, you know, don't list my. Just enjoy it, guys. I love y'.

All.

Let's go, Nick.

[Alan Hahn]

Thanks, Jose.

Thank you, man.

I did find that to be cool because he's a guy that doesn't, you know, he's been always about not responding, not answering. I remember asking about Trae Young throwing the dice when I asked him about after that game when they lost. Was it two Years ago to the Hawks. They lost in the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup. And Trey Young did the rolling of the dice on the. On the Knick logo. And after that game, I went in the locker room and I asked him about it. He shot me a look like, how dare you ask me that question? And he didn't answer it. He just said the only answer is, is to win. And that's like how he is. Right? Like, that's. And I'll point out that Trey Young has not beaten the Knicks since that moment.

Yeah, that was it.

That's that. That's how Brunson gets back at you. Like, oh, oh, oh, you're going to roll dice. I'm not going to say anything, but you're never beating us again.

It is also interesting to see from a just a personality standpoint, how Jalen handles things. He is such a friendly, sweet, polite guy. And this week, Shaq, apologetic. Was it Shaq or Charles? One of them apologized. Stephen A. Apologized. Everyone who said, we're all the pundits. He ice grilled all of them.

One. There's only one.

He never smiled.

There's only one that still needs to say something.

What's that? Who am I forgetting?

Becky.

Oh, Becky.

Becky needs to say something.

Well, when she does, by the way,

[Michael Rosenberg]

I think she already did in the sense that, listen, if they win, I feel if I'm. If they win, I'm wrong. I mean, no, I don't. I don't. I listen, you know, I've stood on this for a long time. There's no such thing.

[Alan Hahn]

You don't apologize.

[Michael Rosenberg]

You gotta take. And you're wrong. And the fact that he would lifts up the. He lifts up the trophy.

[Alan Hahn]

No, no, I'm just saying I find it. I just find it interesting, though, that when it's happened, he hasn't turned it into a fun, loving, it's all good moment. He stares straight ahead.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

He ice grilled Stephen A. He never smiled.

He was like when he made that appearance on First Take and I. First of all, there was a part of me that had a little bit of jealous because our show ended.

And then he went.

He was. He was in agreement for the View. And we came out, I was like, oh, dude, like you. We just ended the show.

Right?

So he went into first take, ended up being a better thing.

Well, that's why he's on get up.

It would have just been love and smiles and all that stuff. It was much better that he sat there and, like you said, ice grilled because that's such a Kobe thing. And I said this. People looked at me like I was crazy. He's as close to Kobe as we've got in the NBA because of that, because of that attitude, the mentality, the mama mentality part of it. Tell me somebody else in the league that's closer to it than him.

It's.

[Michael Rosenberg]

Well, because it's genuine. It's not, I'm gonna use this as fodder. It's, I'm truly offended, and I'm gonna go out and use that on the court. And if you truly were offended by the comment, you're not gonna give that up. You're not gonna let it go. If you used it performatively just to hype yourself up, then once you win, you'll be like, oh, it's all good. Think about it.

[Alan Hahn]

Think about it. When Banyama took his head and shoved it down and then laughed at him because he didn't get a call, right? And what did Brunson do? Did he try to fight him? Did he say anything post game? Did he know? What did he do in game five? He went, come here, you. Come here. Defensive player of the year. I'm going one on one. And instead of taking a jumper, I'm making a layup on your ass. And I'm six two, Mr. Unanimous Defensive Player of the year. You couldn't stop me.

[Michael Rosenberg]

Worked.

[Alan Hahn]

And that was it. That was it. That was the knife, that was the dagger. That was it.

And we're going to have to start having conversations about Jalen Brunson, by the way, now that he has the championship. And we live in a society, particularly in basketball, that's so driven by rings. Let's be real, guys. You make a new list of best players in the NBA next season. Jalen Brunson's jump on that chart, it looks insane how high he is. He is. He is a top five player in the NBA now. Because if you were to look around, if you were to look around and say, I went on DC Radio today to do my weekly hit. First of all, let me just say, I keep telling you guys, every other market I've talked to, except Philly, maybe, God bless them, they don't give up. Every other market is just kind of happy to see what this team is because of the way they play. If you are a football gm, a baseball gm, no matter what the sport is, if you are a gm, an owner, a head coach, or a fan, you are desperate to find your Jalen Brunson. He is all any organization wants from the way he performs on the floor, to giving up the money and sacrificing to put the team together, to how he comports himself off the floor. He is literally, he's an untradable player. We'll see. We'll see if he ends up getting $400 million from the Knicks or whether he sacrifices again and goes, hey, Let me take 325. We'll see what he ends up doing. But he has been the perfect player. And if you were to really make a list of best players in the league, who are you starting your team with? How do you name more than four people ahead of Jalen Brunson?

Because of all the things that you just said. That's exactly it. You're looking for the guy to talk about a face of a franchise. He represents all the elements that you need. Not just that he's a great player, but that he represents all the other things too. They're hard to find. And the Knicks have been searching for that guy for so many years and they found him. And we didn't even know when they signed him that they found him. We had to learn it too. And now here we are, four years, that's it, four years later and he won a championship for this team.

And by the way, for the, for the people who he was talking about who doubted him, the only people he's mad at are the people who out loud doubted him. He is aware that, let's be honest, every single person in this room when that deal happened, no one said, well, that's it, we found our championship. No one knew that. The only beef he has are with the people who out loud doubted it and said, you can't do it, right? He, he, even he, he mentioned this on Inside the NBA. He surprised himself with the way that he stepped into this role because in Dallas, as good as he was, he was there supporting Luka.

Yep.

As he developed into the guy, he went up an entire level as a player. And in this past season, guys, I feel like going into this past season he might have been the 16th, 17th best player in the league. He's a top five player in the league. There's no question about it.

[Caller/Listener]

All right.

[Michael Rosenberg]

1-800-919-3776 Tyler Murray joining us later. Bill Pedo joining us later to Capital six o' clock Ratta Dodge early Mets, Phillies right here on espn.

[Caller/Listener]

New York

[Commercial Announcer]

MLB TV on ESPN is your home for every out of market game, live or on demand. Catch your favorite teams and players plus MLB Network and ESPN app features like Multi view syncing your stats, key plays, bets and fantasy all in one place. Sign up now for MLB TV in the ESPN app. Separate subscriptions required. Blackouts and other terms apply. Visitors stream ESPN.com MLBTV for more information.

[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Han and Rosenberg podcast.

[Alan Hahn]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don Hahn]

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

[Alan Hahn]

Next stop, the Canyon of Heroes. The New York Knicks are NBA champions.

[Don Hahn]

ESPN New York's live coverage of the New York Knicks World Championship Celebration is brought to you by Amazon Hub Delivery, Michelob Ultra Slowman's Zip Recruiter, Nissan Calandra's Bakery Thrive well Infusion, Paris Men Firm, Verizon and New Era ESPN New York's

[Michael Rosenberg]

live coverage of the New York Knicks World Championship Celebration is brought to you by Tick Pick. Get tickets with zero fees at Tick Pick. Use code Nicks on the Tick Pick app for $10 off your order only at tickpick.com 1-800-919-3776 Number to call Tyler Murray and Bill Pedo. Join us a little bit later on. Let's go to Vincent in East Windsor. You're on ESPN New York.

[Caller/Listener]

Hey, what's going on guys? First off want to say love you guys. Second while you know on a day it started at 4:00am Head to the Staten island ferry with my brother and my saint of a wife with our 3 month old waking us up 5 minutes before my alarm goes off to take her for the day. So I go experience. This was incredible. The let's go Nick's chance on the ferry. The whole way me and my brother got out there, we got turned away at the access point at like 7:30 we're like you know what we're here. The sea of people. The experience was incredible. On the way back managed to see get caught in the staging area of all the floats manage to see Mitchell Robinson's truck.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh nice.

[Caller/Listener]

Him in the truck which was cool. All right. We got some out of it. Then that truck in the wild Alan Han walking down the street.

[Commercial Announcer]

Wow.

[Alan Hahn]

Where did you see me Vincent?

[Caller/Listener]

We were right in the staging area. You were walking. You must have been walking to the float. I saw you real quick. You gave me a quick fist bump on the way by.

[Alan Hahn]

I really appreciated that. Glad I got job. Glad I acknowledged you.

[Caller/Listener]

We saw.

We saw enough. We saw Mitchell Robinson. I got an Alan fist bump. It's cool. We ended up getting stuck in that bed right in front of Battery park area. We couldn't make it back to the ferry because we're like, oh, we'll just go home to watch. We got the experience. We managed to get stuck. We saw the empty floats. We're like, all right, we got stuck. We'll just sit here and see how it goes. Ended up right in front of Alvarado's float as everybody.

[Alan Hahn]

So it ended up working out for you.

Come on, you had a day.

[Caller/Listener]

You had a most of the parade.

It couldn't have worked out any better. And it was an absolutely incredible experience.

[Alan Hahn]

Listen, I.

That's great.

[Caller/Listener]

Amazing.

And I want to give a. I got to give a shout out to my dad real quick. He told us to take the ferry, and none of that happens on my dad par me to take the ferry.

[Michael Rosenberg]

So an incredible day.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, yeah, you know what? A lot of. A lot of little decisions went a long way today. So we were debating whether to uber downtown. Had we ubered straight down the west side, we could have jumped out at Battery park and I would have been on the right side of Broadway to be at and it would have worked out. I took the train, couldn't get out where I needed to be. And I do want to say there were a lot of people I saw frustrated and understandably. But to me, when you're doing something of this magnitude, that really has not been done on this level probably before. And I saw most New Yorkers were really cool about this and understood sometimes it just what you hoped was going to happen didn't happen, and you kind of have to throw your hands up and just have the best time you can walking around like the idea. The truth of the matter is, God willing, it seems that everything went great and there were no major disasters. That is the only real goal the city can have. Can we make sure the parade happens successfully? They make it to City hall, the speeches are done, people get to cheer them, and everyone goes home safe. Within that, there are going to be a couple thousand people who intended to do one thing and didn't get to do it. And it's unfortunate, but, like, me and my wife, and my wife was disappointed because she wanted to get her shots, take her pictures. But in the end, you go, hey, we're down here. You're seeing all the people. You're around it all. We got some delicious lunch in Chinatown and watched MSG at the table, and you call it a day. That's the ultimate New York experience is giving up going to Chinatown, having lunch and watching it on tv.

Right?

That is. That is what being a New Yorker is.

And there's still, and there's still something good about it, right?

Oh, it's great.

There's still something good about it. That's, that's so you just got to

be prepared, you know, that's how it is. And by the way, it's, it's again today. And this morning was the beginning of the celebration. Tomorrow's Juneteenth. It's a holiday. People are off. We're going to celebrate all weekend and all summer.

I'm not stopping.

You don't need to feel like if it didn't work out exactly right this morning. Go home and watch it. There's a, there's a full broadcast of it on YouTube if you haven't seen it. And it was tremendous.

[Michael Rosenberg]

Steve in Middle Village, you're on. Don Hannah, Rosenberg

[Caller/Listener]

well, I'm surprised that

[Alan Hahn]

I, that I got on.

[Caller/Listener]

Thank you guys for taking the call. I have something strange to tell you, okay? This is advice for the jets, okay? I think they should change their colors to blue and orange and maybe use some of the white kiting or whatever you call it with the Knicks because they have the bigger drought than the world champion Knicks had had. And also this will do one other thing. It will get rid of the the nickname that my wife, who's not a football fan, heard about 20 years ago, and she said, that's terrible. Why would they call the jets that? It will get rid of the gangrene curse. That's what I'm calling it, the Gang Green curse.

[Alan Hahn]

You got to get rid of that.

And one other thing, if I may

[Caller/Listener]

add, and then I'll shut up the Hammond comment about the, you know, about Bronson, the small, the small guard and all that stuff. There's a guy named Bob Koozie with the Boston Celtics. He was the lead guy.

[Alan Hahn]

There's a guy named Isaiah Thomas. More, more recently, there's a guy named Isaiah Thomas who did it. You know, like, it's exactly, it's, it's, it's, is it uncommon, Steve? Yes, it's uncommon. Is it impossible? No. And that's what Jalen Brunson proved, because in the past, you have seen it happen before.

[Michael Rosenberg]

Although the thing I take exception to is if he, if any of them said, you know, it's going to be hard to win a championship with your best player being that small, or it's going to be difficult, something when you start throwing out, it's impossible. And I know, listen, we want to be able to talk in absolutes when you're having an opinion it's never going to happen, Mark.

[Caller/Listener]

My.

[Michael Rosenberg]

Never going to. That's when you lose me.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Michael Rosenberg]

If you say, man, it's going to be really difficult. Because you know what?

[Alan Hahn]

Of course it's really difficult.

[Michael Rosenberg]

They bucked every trend. They weren't a 4020 team. They had, you know, they didn't quote, unquote, have, you know, the Batman and Robin and all the things that are supposed to be the way you win championships. Well, it's the way you win most championships. But every once in a while, a team comes along, you know, and beats the 18 oh team or wins a title in their 8th exist, 8th year of existence, like the Mets. Or they come out of nowhere and do it. Or maybe just decide, I'm going to build it a different way, I'm going to buck the trend and I'm going to do it a different way. You know what?

[Caller/Listener]

It worked.

[Michael Rosenberg]

And don't be surprised. You start seeing other teams going, well, you know, maybe instead of fishing for

[Alan Hahn]

superstars, maybe I just got to build a culture.

[Michael Rosenberg]

Maybe I just have to build a culture.

[Alan Hahn]

Love the culture, man. What do you think of Mike Brown killing the. The who let the dogs out thing? I mean, he just won't let it go. He did it again at City hall, but that's almost like now. Now it can no longer be connected to the Mets. Now it's no longer an embarrassing moment for the Mets. It's gone. Yeah, because Mike Brown's turned it into a fun thing for the Knicks.

Also embarrassing, but in a different way.

It's awkward. It's very, very cringe.

[Michael Rosenberg]

This is what, dad, do I know this? This is what. This is how the Mets would screw it up, right?

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, don't tell me they bring them back.

[Michael Rosenberg]

No, but if that happened to the. Then they would bring it back. Like I said, like the. The. The.

[Alan Hahn]

The.

[Michael Rosenberg]

The. The Timmy trumpet was great. And then they had to bring him there, you know, and then it's like, you know what? You fat hand.

[Commercial Announcer]

Great.

[Alan Hahn]

Exactly. You did too much.

[Michael Rosenberg]

Like, the cool people know when to stop.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Michael Rosenberg]

The nerds don't stop. They just keep going.

[Alan Hahn]

I have a hunch that and I have a hunch that will be Mike Brown. But that's what makes it funny.

That's what you love about him.

[Michael Rosenberg]

All right, ESPN New York's live coverage of the New York Knicks World Championship celebration is brought to you by Tick Pick. Amazon Hub Delivery, Michelob Ultra Sloman, ZipRecruiter, Nissan Calandra's Bakery Thrive well Infusion, Parisman, Firm Verizon and New Era. As I told you, we're going to have some guests a little bit later on. Tyler Murray's going to join. Tyler Murray, Bill Peto's going to join. I saw him before the show started. He's in the mass of humanity somewhere here.

[Commercial Announcer]

All right.

[Alan Hahn]

We got to get him up.

[Michael Rosenberg]

Yeah, I would have no problem doing it now. We're only got two more hours. We're trying to Dodge at 6 because of Mets baseball. So, Tyler Murray, where are you at? Don Hanna, Rosenberg, ESPN New York.

[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't want to know how the

[Don Hahn]

sausage is made, man.

[Alan Hahn]

I just want to know.

[Don Hahn]

It's good. Hear more of Don Allen and Peter Weekday afternoon starting 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers.