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- [00:00]
A
I'm NFL linebacker TJ Watt and this is my personal best. YPB by Abercrombie is the activewear I'm always wearing. That's why I reached out to co design their latest drop. I worked with designers to create high performance activewear that holds up to my toughest workouts. Shop YPB by Abercrombie in store, online and in the app because your personal best is greater than any.
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Todd. Lot of virgins working in one room together. A lot can be accomplished. Hahn.
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I just got excited and Rosenberg Alan.
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B
Just expressed theoretical arousal about the Dolly Parton puppet. This isn't North Dakota, this is New York.
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This is Don Hahn and Rosenberg.
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The best threesome I've ever heard on.
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880 ESPN and the ESPN New York app.
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B
Happy Labor Day weekend everybody. It's fun to have the four day weekend, but it's kind of sad as we close out the unofficial official time of summer. If you've got kids or you go to school, this was your last day. Basically for a lot of you that summer was the reason you didn't go to school. That the next time school supposed to be in session, which is Tuesday, you're going to be there. So enjoy the weekend, have some fun. How are you doing buddy?
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A
Good. Looking forward to it. I'm like grasping to summer to the very end. They're going to have to rip it out of my cold dead hands or my sunburn fingers, whatever you want to say. Because this the reality hits Tuesday for a lot of people, especially back to school traffic comes back because of the back to school. It's just, you know. But it's also the most exciting time of year because fall to me is the best season for a lot of reasons. The weather's the best and also because everybody's playing. You get back to where all the teams are playing and we've got football, we'll have hockey very soon. Training camps open up in September. The Knicks training camp begins in four. Less than four weeks now. Yeah, and obviously baseball playoffs, it is.
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B
All going to hit the fan come Tuesday. No, seriously, like it is kind of perfect where Labor Day is situated because you know, you get through the dog days of summer and listen, we'll get into all the baseball Volpe with a couple of hits, although he did commit an error that led to a big White Sox inning. The Mets couldn't keep the momentum going last night, losing to the Marlins and kicking the ball around the ballpark and all that. But you know, now we kind of settle in this weekend. Enjoy it, because come Tuesday we're going to be down to 25 games left for the two teams and, and the September call ups will all be there and then it's on. And I know the Devils camp opens on September 17th and you're going to start getting some preseason hockey and basketball and of course the big one, football. That Thursday we will kick off the 25 season and then it's going to become important, man. It just, it all of a sudden just catches fire. It happens. So. And we'll be ready for it. Peter will be back from vacation on Tuesday and we've got a lot of great stuff getting ready for football and hopefully the Mets and Yankees are going to be making runs. You know, both of them are going to be in the playoffs and it's going to be, it's going to be fun, man. The fall is the best. The weather kind of cools off a little bit, changing. It's, it's going to be a lot of summer because of the time off and all that. But it's going to be really cool to just have all these sports happening and all these great stories. It's going to be really, it's, it's.
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A
Time for us to get into rhythm. Back into rhythm, right, because we had, I thought we had a great rhythm going. We a show that started in January and battled through a lot of different things in the early part, the early stages of the show, some personal, some schedule and then we got, I thought, into a great rhythm, late spring into early summer as a show. And so that's why I'm also looking forward to, is getting into September and now really like kind of getting back into that rhythm at what is the busiest and best time on the sports calendar. And you know, we get, we get right to it. And that's the best part I'm looking forward to. Now here's the thing though. Is it still too soon for the, the pumpkin spice, you know, the aromatherapy, all the different stuff you get from Bath and Body Works. My wife is big on this stuff. The candles, all that stuff. Is it too soon? Because she's got one going in the house and I feel like I'm not ready yet.
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B
Yes, it's too early.
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A
Is Nancy, is Nancy about that?
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B
No, she's not.
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A
Not really.
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B
Not a big. She's not really. I mean she loves, she's a winter girl. She loves the snow and everything and she loves to hold on to summer as long as possible because she does enjoy the pool and all that. So she's a summer Winter person, so she doesn't get into all the fall stuff. I think it's too early. It's still August. Can we get through Labor Day? And then if you want to do it next week, I guess we can do that. But I've already seen there's an old. There's an old building. What was it, the Chuck E. Cheese? There was a Chuck E. Cheese we used to take the kids to when they were really young, over by the ballpark where the Somerset Patriots play. About a year ago, they closed it down. The kids were really upset. I think since like the end of July, it's been one of those Halloween places, you know, those stand up one.
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A
Where they'll spirit Halloweens. Yeah, spirit Halloween that pop up.
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B
Yeah, exactly. And it's been that like since like literally since like the last weekend of July. And I'm like, come on, man, it's too soon.
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A
Too soon.
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B
Because it. Cause I've always. Peter agrees with me. I think you will as well. Like, there's nothing that flies by more than the second half of the year. The last six months of any given year fly by. And then usually the first six months, you know, they kind of drag. And the reason why they fly so much is because of course, summer's quick. And then as soon as summer's over, it's like, get the Halloween stuff up, and then soon as the Halloween's over, get the Christmas stuff up. And we're like, oh, football started. And the next thing you know, can you believe it's week five? Can you believe it's week ten? Can you believe the playoffs have started already and Thanksgiving was like a blur? And then you're already into Christmas, then the year's over, and then everything kind of just settles back in after January and you kind of just mope along until you get to June and then it's on again. It's crazy.
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A
Yeah, yeah. But let's not. Let's not rush anything. Last weekend, unofficially, last weekend of the summer.
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B
Absolutely.
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A
Definitely enjoy it. And maybe, just maybe we start that conversation, Don, about when the hell this drought is going to end here in this city with the four major sports teams.
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B
It's a great point. And we told. We teased it earlier in the week, that Friday we were going to do this. And I got my knee checked today, so I had a long drive.
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A
Still there.
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B
The doc, Dr. Festa, took a look at it was in Wayne, New Jersey, at an hour drive. Festa Festa.
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A
Okay.
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B
Not Uncle Fest. Yeah, Not Fester. That'd be something if he was bald and put a light bulb in his mouth and it lit. That would be something.
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A
It's the first thing I thought of.
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B
It's funny, like, if that were to happen, does that mean you stay because your knees in good shape or do you run out the door? I think I run out the door. But what I've been diagnosed with, and this is very Sad, is at 57 years old, I've been diagnosed with arthritis. I have arthritic knees and that's why my knees are in bad shape. So I gotta go to physical therapy and there's some stuff. So there's no surgery. There's nothing structurally wrong. I'm just an old man and that's why I'm limping around. So I guess it's good news, bad news, but that's where we stand with that. But when I was driving back, I was thinking about what we talked about earlier in the week about like, who, what franchise is suffering more and more deserving of a championship here in the New York metropolitan area? And I thought this is a perfect day to do it because, because, you know, the baseball tongs pitching tonight, we're going to do a lot on that. A little bit later on and a little pressure on him after the Mets lost the game to the Marlins and lost the game to the Phillies. Oh my God. Schwarber. Four home runs, nine rbi.
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Almost had five, by the way.
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They're just happy they played somebody other than the New York Mets. But no, he's, he's had an amazing, amazing season for Philadelphia.
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A
MVP level.
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B
Yeah, he's, he's definitely an mvp. We're going to see a couple of guys, you know, challenge for close to 60 home runs in both leagues maybe at the rate things are going there. And we're going to have Fortenbaugh at 4:00'. Clock. Joe's going to join us to kind of talk about the week, Week zero in college football and also the MVP race and how Cal Raleigh's now the favorite. And Allen's got some interesting things from the local perspective with the college football teams with him. And we'll have fraud alert Friday at 4:30 and en@6. But I really thought this would be a good time to have this conversation because once we get back on Tuesday, as we illustrated, it's going to be pretty crazy. But Allen, there's nine professional sports franchises in New York to get followed on sports radio on a daily basis. So no offense to the Liberty, NYC FC or the Red Bulls. And if you want to join the conversation, you Can. I don't know if I'd list you as among the miserable considering nyc, FC and the Liberty have won recently. But of the teams that we talk about, the teams that get covered by sports media here in New York, of the nine knee jerk reaction to that question, who has suffered the most and who is the more most deserving to see a ring?
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A
I have been, because we've been talking about this for a couple of days and I have gone through and put together a comprehensive list of the recent achievements of all these teams.
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B
Okay. And.
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A
I, I gotta be honest, there's. There's a couple that can certainly make a case. But misery index is not just based on championship, right?
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B
No.
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A
Because obviously no one's won one in 14 years, 15 years. So we can't say it's just based on that because we've had teams have a ch. The Yankees just had a shot at a championship. And when we say a shot, we mean get to the finals. That's your legit shot at winning a title. The Yankees. And before them it was. Who else has gone that far to the championship round? And it's The Mets in 2015.
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B
The Mets in 2015 went to the World Series. The Rangers in 2014 went to the.
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A
Stanley cup final, and then The Devils in 2012.
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B
2012 went to the final. Yes.
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A
And other than that.
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B
No. That's all you got.
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A
That's all you got.
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B
A bunch of teams have gone to the final four. Islanders did it a couple of times, the Knicks just did it. The jets had the back to back years in 09 and 2010 going to the championship game. So there have been runs from teams. But here's my index. Allen, you tell me if this is fair. Obviously drought of championship would be on the list of suffering.
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A
Yes.
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B
And also overall winning, you know, have you come close? Have you made runs? How good has your team been recently? And also just suffering, you know, because sometimes the suffering comes from the level of embarrassment, you know, getting picked on. That's where I think second team in town does add some value. Like where, where the Islanders and the jets might move up just because they've also got to go through the suffering of having the big brother in town kind of looking down on them. So it's bad enough the Islanders have to lose and not win since 1983, but also have to go through the Rangers having win one more recently, although it's been a long time, 31 years. But being the little brother and having to go through that jets, the same thing. You got the Giants to look up these share the building with the Giants. Giants have won more recently, so that kind of adds to it. Where the Knicks haven't won since 73, but they're still the main team in town. Right. They don't have really anybody threatening them, nobody really mocking them. As far as like popularity is concerned, they're not the little brother, they're the big brother, the much bigger brother, you know, compared to the Nets. And that's the same thing. So not only do the Nets have to suffering never having won in the NBA, they're the only local Allen of the nine we're talking about that has not won in the league in which they're in of the local teams.
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A
Right.
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B
And also have to go through the indignity of being little brother. So when you factor all that in, who you got?
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A
Well, I think I'm going to give you right out of the gate my number one choice. And it has to be this team. And I can make many cases for this team.
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B
Okay?
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A
But this team is not only a little brother, it also owns the longest playoff drought not just in New York, but in the entire country, in the continent of North America of the four major sports. And that's the New York Jets.
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B
Yep.
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A
And you can add to the misery the fact that, you know, you have an owner that you really question his ability to, to run a franchise properly. You have had a run of trying to find the quarterback. So you've had also poor, like, like the franchise has not been run well. And then add one more thing which to me completed. This is the trifecta and that is bad luck, the Aaron Rodgers thing, running out with the flag and then four plays later limping off the field. If that is not the most miserable experience a fan could have, because that was the great honeymoon of that off. If you remember, 2023 was just, it was a glorious time to be a Jets fan because of Aaron Rodgers and Hard Knocks and just how it felt like, oh my God, it might really happen. People were starting to believe in this team winning. There were people that were saying positive things about the jets that you haven't heard in forever. And four plays into that season, Lucy pulled the football and Charlie Brown landed on his back again. You fell for it again. That has to be the most miserable moment that I can think of for a franchise and its fans of anyone else that we could talk about in the last 25 years.
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B
Yeah, I'm with you. And I, I started this whole conversation by saying earlier in the week, I, I think of all the Teams in New York, Jet fans deserve a championship more than any of them.
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A
The loyalty that they show and they have no reason to like. Like they have every reason to say I'm not doing this anymore. And yet they keep coming back and.
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B
They keep coming back and they keep believing. And even though I don't pick on them, I feel bad for them. You know, when I observe or criticize Aaron Glenn for his treatment of the media and all that and it being performative and the Ranger fans, the Jet fans coming out of the woodwork and ripping me for that just shows you like their knee jerk reaction is to defend and to believe, protect their team. Like, why do they still believe? I'm looking at it because I'm not a fan. So I can look at it objectively and say I'm not going to fall for, as Bart Scott would say, the banana in the tailpipe anymore. Until I see it, you know, I'm not going to believe it. I've seen the whole all gas, no break. I've seen all of the wrecks predicting Super Bowls. Like I've seen the bravado, I've seen the tough guy image that's supposed to change the whole complexion and the character and the culture of the team and it just fall flat on its face once we kick off or tease you like Rex did, but never finish the job. So I look back and objectively say I'm going to wait and see. But the Jet fan, because they're passionate and because they love the team so much, that's why I think the suffering has been greater for them than any other franchise because of being little brother and because they've been close, but only have it taken away. And the worst possible and no example of that is as you mentioned, Aaron Rodgers running out on the field with the flag, 9 11, the whole celebration and four plays later it's over.
- [15:48]
A
Yep.
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B
You know, you, you think, all right, it's going to be the jets going to make the playoffs and they're going to lose a heartbreaking game, blow a 20 point lead in the fourth quarter. No, no, no, don't make the playoffs. Don't even have them play the second series of the season. No, it's got to be, it's got to be the jets and it's nothing certainly to be proud of, but at least the acknowledgment that we feel your pain, we see it, we know it. So if it's the jets at one.
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A
Yeah.
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B
I think the real interesting conversation, who's.
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A
Two, who's it too this is a good debate now because I can give you a lot of cases. Now, how much are you factoring into this thing, size of the fan base?
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B
I don't think that.
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A
You don't think it matters.
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B
Well, only because, listen, you're suffering. You're suffering, right? Like matter of fact, you make the case of the misery loves company in the sense that there is something soothing to know that your next door neighbor, your family member, many different people that you know and work with are suffering equally to you, isn't it make it worse you're suffering alone that you don't have. You share it with your own fans. But like, you know, if you're an Islander fan, and that's who I'm thinking of making number two, your little brother, right? You. You don't. There's. There's not a lot of other common fans. You go to work, you probably have to deal with Ranger fans and people that aren't hockey fans who either have no sympathy for you or are making fun of you. Hmm. You know where if you're Jet fan, you probably go to work, there's two or three other Jet fans who feel your pain. Doesn't that. Does that make it better than being the only guy at work that's an Islander fan or the only guy that school at school that's an Islander fan that maybe are your brother or your father, your best friend's a Ranger fan or not a hockey fan and can't compl. Can't understand what you're going through. Does that make it worse or better? I think it makes it worse.
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A
So the knowing nod from a fellow like, you know, like defeated fan of a different franchise and a different even sport, but they can look at you go, you're not. Oh, yeah, well, I'm a, you know, I'm a Jets fan. So yeah, we can.
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B
You had a fair session. Let me ask you to. This way.
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A
Okay.
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B
You have a therapy session for being a Jet fan. And so you go to the local VFW or the basement of a church, right? And they got the coffee and donuts there, and you go in and you stand up again. I've been a jet fan since 1975. Do you want the room to be full or do you want you and some other guy and a bunch of empty chairs in the room? I want the room to be full of people like me so I can stand up and we can share stories, war stories, not stand up and. And you're the only one in a room of 30 empty folding chairs and the Other guy that's in the room just there for the donuts.
- [18:30]
A
I think that's what this show is going to provide today. We are that room in the VFW or the church basement that does have the table with donuts and a circle of folding chairs with. We are the moderators that are welcoming you in and letting you know this is a safe place. And then tell us about your misery and what you're going through and why yours might be bigger. Because I disagree with your number two.
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B
Well, I know I said I'm considering the Islanders.
- [18:57]
A
Okay, well, well I'm going to give you, I'm going to make the case for my number two. Which is why I asked you about fan base size. Because the Islanders had at least recently Nassau Coliseum, as a fan really enjoyed it and it was fun to be there and to see that team. They were a hard playing, tough team and it just, you know, Tampa just was at its peak at that point. They couldn't beat them. But those were compelling, great series and it was a good run and you felt like it was. There was a pride back from that fan base. Now what's happened since, very frustrating, but they have a new arena which to me, how could you be miserable when you have a palace like that place? And by the way, side note, what the hell are they doing with the raceway now? Because did you see they built UBS to match Belmont Parks facade so it all looked the same and beautiful. Did you see the renderings? It's going to be like this space age new look. What, what are we thinking?
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B
I don't know.
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A
Anyways, that's a whole other thing that drives me crazy because that arena is gorgeous. So you can't really be that miserable because the fear was the Coliseum was old, it was dilapidated, there was no way you could bring it into the 21st century. Brooklyn did not work. And the fear was, well, they ever going to get a building or is they going to have to. Are they going to finally have to move? They got a new building. It is a great building. So Misery, I'll give you the team that I think the fan base that has a real reason to feel like what decision did I make and why did I do this? And it's going to sound like hate, but this is more for, this is more for me. Like I am recognizing that there is some sympathy here. So the Brooklyn Nets, as you said, have never won a championship. When they were in New Jersey, they couldn't draw flies, but there was a two year run for them with Jason Kidd, that they actually reached the NBA finals and back to back seasons and that was that. That's it. That's their heyday in the NBA. That's their best back in 2002, 2003. Do you know since then they've only won four playoff series since 2003, they've only won four playoff series in the next 22 years. Done. That's unbelievable. And they had two runs where they tried to go out and get Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett fail. Then they tried to do the Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving thing fail. And now that you continue, you talk about little brother. They're like the redheaded stepchild. Yeah.
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B
The distance they are to number one, there's a bigger gap than Jets, Giants, than that's Yankees, than Islanders, Islanders, Devils and Rangers.
- [21:44]
A
All you're asking for if you're a Nets fan is to just be competitive enough to just have a make that case and stick your chest out and you're better, at least as good as the Knicks and competitive with the Knicks, whatever it is. Because you just know you're not ever going to take it over. It's like when the Islanders are winning and they were in the early 80s, they will never, ever take over what the Rangers are. But it was nice to know you were like, you were, you were either better than them or just right there with them. And the Brooklyn Nets right now after the draft they just had where they drafted five of the same people. They have no point guard. I don't know, they have a really good coach, but their roster is completely a disaster. That to me, if you're a fan, they. How could they not be number two on the misery index?
- [22:28]
B
But here's what. Because again, I'm still kind of debating myself. This is not a list. This is just kind of throwing out the candidates.
- [22:35]
A
All right.
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B
Because the Nets did go to back to back finals again. It was 25 years ago, but it's fairly recently compared to the Islanders last time they won or the last time they played in the Stanley Cup Final. But here's something to factor in too. And I don't know if it's fair or not, but when we're giving this list and we're talking about it, we're talking about suffering most people. There's a, there's the, there's the IRAs in Staten Islands that only root for the jets, right? There's, there's some people that, I'm only a Yankee fan. I don't care about anything else.
- [23:03]
A
Right.
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B
But most fans In New York root for multiple teams, at least two or three teams. Very rarely do you see them root for all four teams equally. But you have another team. Usually hockey fans are hockey fans, basketball, basketball fans. There's a few exceptions here and there, but if you're, if you're a fan of the Yankees, you probably, you know, a fan of the Giants or Jets or you're a fan of the Knicks, you have another team is what I'm saying. So of, of the Jet fans, what percentage of Jet fans is that? The jets are the number one team. I would say it's probably over 50%.
- [23:40]
A
Wow.
- [23:41]
B
Now, if you net, do you, do.
- [23:43]
A
You believe in that? There's a lot of people say that if you're a Yankee fan, you're a Giants fan. And if you're a Giants fan and a Yankee fan, you're probably a Rangers fan. Like that. All that all kind of pairs.
- [23:51]
B
Well, depends on geography, right? Because if you're a Long island, most likely you're probably a Met fan, Islander fan and maybe, you know, you know, and a. Jeff, you live on Long island, so it kind of. And Jersey, the same thing. Like I grew up in North Jersey. I wasn't that far from Yankee Stadium, even though I wasn't a Yankee fan. So it kind of makes sense, right? The Yankee, your, your dad probably followed the Giants and the Yankees when they played in the same stadium, like so. But I don't, I would think the majority, but not the overwhelming majority. But before we break, like from the Nets and Islanders, what percentage of that fan base are the Islanders and Nets their number one team? I would say it's probably a lot less. Right. So does that change the suffering, like if I'm a, if I'm a Yankee giant net fan? Well, I'm suffering from a net perspective, but I've got other things to entertain me. I've seen a Giant Super Bowl. I've seen a Yankee World Series. Yeah, but, but, but the, the person you feel bad for if the Nets are their number one team and that's the, that's the team that gives the movement and you really feel bad for them. But so we're factoring all this thing we thought to have some fun with it. The phones are blowing up. 1-800-919-3776. We'll get to the tongue of it all. We will get to Fortenbaugh. Joe Fortenbaugh is going to be joining us coming up at 4 o'. Clock. Get his picks for big college football weekend and also his thoughts on Cal Raleigh overtaking Judge as far as odds are concerned for the American League MVP fraud alert Friday at 4:30 enn at 6 it's Don on Roseberg with you until 6:30. Then it's Mets baseball here on ESPN New York.
- [25:19]
A
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- [26:16]
B
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- [27:18]
C
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- [28:59]
A
Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
- [29:03]
B
I didn't listen to anything you just said.
- [29:04]
A
Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.
- [29:12]
B
Time now for the weekend weather which is brought to you by Wild Fork Foods. A beautiful Labor Day weekend. Ahead to tomorrow Sunday with a high of 78. Sunday Sunny with a high of 79. On Labor Day, partly cloudy but still a high of 79. That was the weekend weather report brought to you by Wild Fork Foods. Wild Fork Foods is a grill season go to with over 450 meats and seafoods blast frozen for peak flavor. Visit in store or order same day delivery@wildforkfoods.com Happy Birthday Michael Jackson. So how. How old would he have been.
- [29:49]
A
Born in? 58.
- [29:52]
B
So he was 67 years old. How about that?
- [29:55]
A
That's wouldn't even like he it's amazing. He died 15 years ago. 16 years ago.
- [30:01]
B
Yeah, 2009. Right.
- [30:03]
A
Wow. Long time. But that's to me. And now I won't go too long with this Don because I'm sure this is not in your wheelhouse, but Jake and I were talking about during the break. Remember the time.
- [30:16]
B
Remember the time.
- [30:17]
A
Right. All. If you, if you. If you consider everything including video which had. I mean it had Iman, it had Eddie Murphy, it had Magic Johnson. Like, it was an unbelievable video. And if you consider that the song. And to me it's gonna sound crazy. It's the best song he's ever made. The best song he's ever made. Remember the time. I think it's his best song.
- [30:47]
B
No.
- [30:47]
A
Now everybody's gonna argue all different reasons. I understand it. And is it. Was it his most successful? No.
- [30:52]
B
No.
- [30:53]
A
But it. To me, it's the best song he's ever.
- [30:57]
B
I don't think so. But that. Listen, it's all subjective, right?
- [31:00]
A
Right. Of course it is. It's what your ear tells you.
- [31:02]
B
But obviously if you're going to go with the most successful, it's going to be Thriller on the video from the Impact. But if you want to tell me his best song.
- [31:14]
A
Yeah.
- [31:15]
B
Man in the Mirror. Yeah.
- [31:18]
A
Again, like that's. The people will use songs like that. That. I mean you are not alone. Really moved a lot of people.
- [31:23]
B
But that's the point. Right.
- [31:25]
A
Nature was not the. Not the most successful song off of Thriller, but it might be the best song on Thriller.
- [31:30]
B
But if you want to say successful, but also impactfully was probably the most successful. Billy Joel was probably. Yeah.
- [31:36]
A
The.
- [31:36]
B
Billie Jean was probably even bigger than the song.
- [31:40]
A
The video really changed everything.
- [31:43]
B
Listen, it's very subjective, but you. I. The reason I throw in man in the Mirror is because it was, it was. It was about something.
- [31:50]
A
Right.
- [31:51]
B
It wasn't just a. A goofy song or just kind of about the music. He went, he went there. I remember just how, how big that song was and who is it? Quincy Jones.
- [32:03]
A
Yes.
- [32:04]
B
Said about man in the Mirror. He's like. It's. It's one of those songs. It's. It's a weird analogy, but I kind of get it. Instead of just giving the old. The. The hair stood up on the back of my neck or whatever, he said it. It drove my big toe up in my shoe is what he said. And if you didn't even think about it, it's like. Yeah. It's like had that like. Yeah.
- [32:27]
A
The first time you see that video. Yeah. If you don't get emotional towards the end of the video, then. Then you aren't getting the song because the video to the song because it's. It's the one. He's not in it. He's not dancing. It's just. It's about, you know, the world and what's happening in the world. So I mean, again, that all inclusive, you could make the argument for, but I'm talking about listenability. Like you could just put that song on repeat and never get tired of. Remember, it's, it's. And the video is very entertaining. You know, it was very much like off of a little bit of Coming to America that he used in that video. But it was, I don't know, like I said, I'll put it there. But man in the Mirror, you're right.
- [33:06]
B
No, but it's a fun debate. The other debate we're having is who's number two? Alan and I both agree that the fan base that has suffered the most is the Jet fan base. And we're kind of debating too, is it the Islanders, is it the Nets and other candidates. You know, you look at the Mets, right? Mets went to the World Series in 15, went to the World Series in 2000. They haven't embarrassed themselves quite the way other franchises have, although no championships since 86 and only two in the 65 year history of the franchise. So not a lot of championships and only the World series appearances in 69, 73, 86, 2000 and 2015. But they've had the indignity of having to watch the other baseball team in town be so dominant and so much better in every aspect. And then you had the embarrassment with the Wil Ponds not spending money. And so the Mets certainly are in that conversation too. So. And then you bring the Knicks in because they haven't won since 73, but there has been success and they have owned the town. So that to me kind of drops them down just a little bit. Not that they haven't suffered, Alan, but I don't know if I could put them up with the other teams and those who we're talking about. The teams excluded are the Yankees and the Giants because they've won the most recent.
- [34:23]
A
If you're a Yankees fan trying to make your case, stop it. The Giants, I can. But they're the most recent champion.
- [34:32]
B
No, listen, they've had embarrassments, but you know, you got four Super Bowls. I've got, I've got their last super bowl on my DVR. I'm good.
- [34:38]
A
You gotta admit though, the last 14 years since that championship have not gone well.
- [34:43]
B
Yeah, but I think, but listen, the teams that we just talked about. Oh God, the Jets, the Mets, the Islanders, the Nets, the Knicks would all trade places with the Giants in a second.
- [34:51]
A
Misery is generational, right? If in those teams for the Giants, it's not, it's not generational. It's. It's recent.
- [34:58]
B
Now, the Giants were there before 86. I mean, they were there going 30 years without a championship from 56 to 86. The Giants certainly were in that conversation for sure. As you said, the Devils, they, they won three cups in eight years. They went to a Stanley cup final in 2012.
- [35:13]
A
They had a Yankee type runt there for a minute.
- [35:15]
B
So it's hard for them to be included.
- [35:17]
A
I am putting. I am. I will not put the Mets ahead of this franchise. I will not do it. And while, while the Islanders. I'm with you because I was front and center for some of the most embarrassing moments that franchise has ever lived.
- [35:34]
B
Flying commercial. Allen.
- [35:36]
A
I was there. I was standing in line at Don. This is a true story. Before we get to calls. My first year covering the team in 1999, I was flying because I was a sports writer. You fly commercial. I was standing in line on a Southwest Airlines flight with the team. And now you. Back then, now Southwest is going to be going to assign seats now. But back then, not only did you have, like, the group A, group B, group C, they handed you a card. You had a card in your hand that told you were B, 21 or you were a. Like, it was bingo, right? Everybody has stupid little card. And there were players on the team, guys that, if I told you, remember a guy named Jamie Rivers? Oh, yeah, you do.
- [36:21]
B
He was a car. He was a blue, too, if I'm not mistaken.
- [36:23]
A
Yes, he was a blue. Yes. But. But like Jamie Rivers, God bless him, he played in the NHL, so he was a really good player. But this is a guy that, if you, if you walked him out in the middle of Madison Square Garden, nobody know who the hell he was. If you, if you walked around with him. And anyway, Penn Station, Times Square, nobody had any clue. They don't know this guy. So we're in now some. I don't know what city we were in, waiting in line. And this poor guy was stuck in, like, C. Whatever. Like, he got one of the worst possible. That means you're sitting in the middle seat, probably in the back of the plane. He was offering his autograph to people in the A group. I'll sign the card and give it to you if I could switch spots with you. And people looked at him like, who are you? Like, felt so bad. Like, that's the lowest of the low. So that franchise had an owner who had no money, John Spano. If again, it's one of the incredible 30 for 30s you will ever watch. Big shot. You got to see it. But that's why I'd have to say with the Islanders, even though they had recent success, that I would have to argue them at three. After the Nets and obviously after the jets, the Mets can't go over the Islanders. And then I will tell you this, I don't think the Mets can go over the Knicks.
- [37:41]
B
I don't think so either. I don't think so either. Just because of the. Of the world's. The recent World Series.
- [37:47]
A
Yes. And appearance.
- [37:49]
B
And listen, they've had two more recent World Series than 20, 25.
- [37:53]
A
Yes.
- [37:53]
B
Right. So. And the next two most recent finals were 99 and 94.
- [37:57]
A
Yes.
- [37:58]
B
And. Yeah. And the Mets, listen, both teams are very equal in having embarrassing seasons and then kind of coming up and being good and challenging for a championship. But the Mets have had, I think, a little bit more success than the Knicks over that span. So that's what we're talking about.
- [38:15]
A
Yeah, Jets, Nets, Islanders, Knicks.
- [38:18]
B
Yeah, there's your top four. I think that is the top four with the Mets being right there in the middle. But you know what? We're kind of arguing for some fan bases. It's your chance to argue for yourself at 1-800-919-3776. Let's start it off with Joe in Chappaqua. You're on ESPN New York. What's up, Joe?
- [38:38]
D
Hey, guys, thanks for taking a call.
- [38:40]
B
No problem.
- [38:42]
D
So here's what I'm thinking. You know, I'm a big Knicks fan, and the reason I would put them number two is because, you know, other than the recent success, the last time.
- [38:53]
B
They were really good.
- [38:54]
D
You know, I'm thinking, you know, Ewing, Oakley, Starks, Knicks, they had Jordan in the way. Jordan in his prime.
- [39:01]
A
Yep.
- [39:02]
B
So even though they made the playoffs.
- [39:04]
D
They couldn't go to the next level.
- [39:06]
A
Well, remember, though, 94, there was no Jordan. Yeah, that was the time. That was that. Well, no, but that was the time to do it. And they went all the way to the seventh game that I'm telling you right now, Don and Joe, this coming season for the Knicks feels a lot like 93, 94. Because no Tatum, like all the injuries that are in the east, no Halliburton, it's. The door is open just like it was in 94. Same exact feeling that I've got for this coming season.
- [39:41]
B
An interesting thing with Joe, like, and thank you for the phone call, is that, yeah, there's the idea that they, they stand Alone, pretty much. They're the team, the NBA team in New York. But what kind of makes me think that they could even be higher is the fact that I know a lot of people were. The Knicks are number one for them. Right. That's their team.
- [40:02]
A
Good point.
- [40:03]
B
So they're really suffering. Where we're talking about like a net fan might have other teams and Islander fan may have other teams. I could see a lot more Knick fans saying the Knicks are my number one.
- [40:13]
A
Good point.
- [40:14]
B
So Joe sounded like a guy that doesn't want to hear about the Nets and the Islanders because. Because he's a Nick guy.
- [40:20]
A
Yeah. He doesn't want to include them. Right.
- [40:22]
B
Yeah. And he's. He's suffering a lot. And Al in the Bronx kind of agrees. You're on espn New York. What's up, Al? Hey, gentlemen. All right, so I'm going to say the Knicks as well, because just for.
- [40:34]
D
The sheer loyalty of a Knick fan, right.
- [40:36]
B
I'm talking about sold out Madison Square Gardens when Nick.
- [40:40]
D
When the team were winning 20 games.
- [40:41]
B
I'm talking about the passion of the traveling with the team.
- [40:45]
D
I got a criteria list.
- [40:47]
B
I think it's fan passion, fan loyalty, fan numbers, championship drought, and then the relevance of the team.
- [40:53]
D
And I think the Knicks check the most categories in all those boxes.
- [40:56]
A
If you add the relevance factor, it's hard to argue that.
- [40:59]
B
I think the relevance is kind of. It can go both ways. Right. Sometimes the relevance can be helpful. Just because you have other people to be miserable with. And you know what? And just because I happen to be a fan of a team that doesn't have a lot of fans, doesn't mean I'm suffering. Suffering any more or less. Right. Like I know the Islanders. You can combine the Islander and net fan base and probably come up with half the Knick fan base. Right. Doesn't mean that they're suffering any less. But I think. Al, really good call and thank you for the call. I love his criteria though, because.
- [41:31]
A
Yeah.
- [41:32]
B
Yeah. That passion, like I. The loyalty, like that's part of why the jets have to be won. Right. Like the fans still, they've had all the reason in the world. Alan. To give up.
- [41:43]
A
Yep.
- [41:44]
B
Right. And. And they. And they don't.
- [41:46]
A
I'll tell you what. What you what? When we were talking about the criteria, that is something to consider when it comes to misery. Because what you said, Don, I didn't even consider it when I was doing the pre show. You know, prep is when, when it's your. It's your top team.
- [42:03]
B
Yeah.
- [42:03]
A
How many of some of the others? How many people could say like the Nets, Islanders or even jets are there top team like my, my, my everyday life is affected by their success.
- [42:16]
B
Yeah. You look at it, you look at Dave Rothenberg, right? Like he's a fan of the Mets and the Knicks and the Rangers, but he's way more of a fan of the Giants. So when he suffers with the other teams, it stinks. When he suffers with the Giants, it cripples him emotionally because that's his team, you know. So it's a, it's a fun conversation. We'll continue it. Joe Fortenbaugh is going to join us coming up at four fraud Friday at 4:30. A lot of F's in that one. Donna Rosenberg taking up until 6:30. Then it's Mets baseball right here on ESPN New York. More Mazda buyers choose Ramsey Mazda during the Mazda More to move you sales event. Get 1.9% financing on a new 2025 Mazda CX50. No payments for 90 days or lease for 239 for 33 months. Start shopping now at Ramsey Mazda.com choose wisely. Choose Ramsey Mazda. Call 833-853-2970 for details. Vin SN 319-033 MSRP32785 0 Security Deposit APR 1748 PER 1000 financed ends 9225. This episode is brought to you by State Farm. Checking off the boxes on your to do list is a great feeling. And when it comes to checking off coverage, a State Farm State Farm agent can help you choose an option that's right for you. Whether you prefer talking in person, on the phone or using the award winning app, it's nice knowing you have help finding coverage that best fits your needs. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.
- [43:44]
A
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- [43:54]
B
Two.
- [43:55]
A
Seriously, it's $15 a month. Three, no big contracts. Four, I use it. Five, my mom uses it. Are you, are you playing me off? That's what's happening, right?
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B
Okay, give it a try@mintmobile.com Switch upfront payment of $45 for three month plan.
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A
$15 per month equivalent required.
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- [44:22]
A
So you can lose more sweat and raise your game. Gatorade is it in you? Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
- [44:34]
B
I didn't listen to anything you just said.
- [44:36]
A
Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.
- [44:43]
B
Football is back and ESPN New York is kicking off the season with an NFL watch party for the opening night division matchup between the Cowboys and Eagles. Join Bart Scott and Chris Carlin on Thursday, September 4th at 8pm at Calandra's Italian Village in Caldwell, New Jersey. Hang out with Bart and Carlin. Catch all the action, Enjoy drink specials, $5 margaritas, giveaways and mouth watering food from Calandras. It's the perfect way to celebrate the start of the season. Reservations are recommended. The NFL season kicks off with the watch party with bart and Carlin September 4th, 8pm at Calandras in Caldwell, New Jersey. Be there. Don on Rosenberg with you until 631.800.919.3776. A lot of people loving the conversation we're having. Joe Fortenbaugh is going to join us at 4. Okay, caught up for the first week of the college football season, Rutgers held on for a win over Ohio last night. Let's go to Doug in Bayshore. You're on espn. What's going on guys? Thanks so much for taking the call. What's up? All right, so here's my issue. The Islanders are the number one most suffering team and I'm going to give you a couple points, if you don't mind. I had to deal with the Nassau Coliseum. I had to deal with the threat.
- [45:56]
D
Of them moving to Kansas City.
- [45:58]
B
There are very few Islander fans to.
- [46:00]
D
Begin with, so nobody even cares that you stink. And then we had to go to.
- [46:04]
B
Brooklyn, which was a nightmare.
- [46:07]
A
Yep.
- [46:08]
D
Only then to have every single draft.
- [46:11]
B
Pick they have be terrible.
- [46:13]
D
And the one that was good, he put his pajamas on and went to Toronto. Thank you guys so much.
- [46:20]
B
Let's go Islanders. I hope.
- [46:22]
A
Well, look, listen, he made a really good case. It. He really did. I we put them, I believe, third, right?
- [46:32]
B
Second or third. Yeah, but probably third. Probably third. Yeah.
- [46:36]
A
I don't think. I just feel like he makes a really good case. As I said, everybody that knows me knows I was there. I was front and center. I was there at the press conference when the Fish Sticks logo was revealed. I was an intern. Like I I've seen it all. It's rough. It is a rough existence since the Dynasty era.
- [46:59]
B
Now, he didn't say it but was up there on the call screener that he's had nothing to get excited about. That's not true.
- [47:05]
A
See, that's where I'll fight back. Because the Barry Trots years were. That was a lot of pride.
- [47:10]
B
A lot of pride. I know it was Covid and all that. But you're playing in game seven in 2021 against the Lightning. You lose that game one nothing. So that could add to the suffering. But that's how close you were to a cup because you would have beaten Montreal because the way that was that 56 game season. So they had a Canadian division. Montreal made this miracle run to the final and the Lightning wiped the floor with them. The Islanders would have done the same thing. That game seven was for the cup and you lost one. Nothing.
- [47:41]
A
Yep.
- [47:42]
B
So again that could. That can contribute to your suffering. But don't tell me you weren't excited. I mean I was doing shows around it. There was, I was going to. I don't know if I ever told you this, Alan. We were doing shows leading up to the games were on our air, if you remember.
- [47:57]
A
Yes.
- [47:58]
B
And there was an agreement that had they made it to the Stanley cup final that I would have officially like been doing their pre and post. They got the approval. Everything was going to be done and I was going to be.
- [48:09]
A
I love it.
- [48:09]
B
The pre and post for that, that series and it didn't happen. They lost that game seven. So again, it sucks. Everything he said is 100% accurate. But you did have recent success. Back to back final four appearances. A game seven to go to the cup that you probably go out there and win. So crazy that it is, it is pretty crazy. But how much that they've suffered. For sure. Let's go to Jose in Brooklyn. You're on ESPN New York. What's up Jose?
- [48:37]
D
Hey guys. Hello, Alan. Don just wanted to definitely chime in on this conversation because it was definitely a great sports topic with me being nixed and I was going to go next with you know, the Reggie Miller, Tyrese Hallibur and all those painful moments. But when you look at the jets, they're just, you know, the, the comical of errors where we, you know, get rid of, you know, Chad Pennington was like you said, he, he, he was a serviceable quarterback. We get rid of him for the upgrade at Brett Favre. Brett, we, we go eight and three and then as you know, he gets injured. We, we lose the rest of the game. Rest of the games and then don't even make the playoffs. And then of course, you know, as Alan mentioned earlier the situation with Aaron Rodgers where it looked so great every. All the highlights look great every season. You really thought that hey, maybe this is the time. And then within four plays it reminds us of the Vinny Cheskaverde incident where in 99 after following the season where we made the AFC championship game. So it just can't get worse as a Jet fan. So that's why I think the Jet fans are pretty much. And that's our number one. Thank you for your time.
- [49:51]
A
Thank you, Don. You. You spent a lot of time around that franchise right when doing pre and post. So you certainly know it. Chapter and verse it. That's why I have them number one. Because I do feel like it goes beyond like it. You have the ineptitude of leadership throughout the years. You have also to me, the fact that they haven't made the playoffs now in what is the longest drought, not just in New York, but in North American sports of not making the playoffs. And then you have all of the bad luck, sad sack things that can happen to go on top of it. Like you just aren't. You don't get any luck. Like no breaks, nothing seems to go your way. And whenever things start to look good, something happens to ruin it. It just feels like the Jets. I don't want to say cursed, but I swear to God, I've said this before. I. Did Joe Namath make a deal with the devil back in 1968? Did he make a deal with the devil? And it was one of those, I'll give you a Super bowl, but the franchise is never going to win ever again. And you're like, I'll take it because I want the Super Bowl. And that's it. You know, you are cursed. It does have that feel. All the other franchises have had some moments and had a little magic, but this, this what this franchise, man, it just feels cursed.
- [51:08]
B
It does feel. Of all the franchises in New York, they feel the most cursed because a lot of it just is mismanagement. Just not being very good at what you do. And when you're not good at what you do, you're going to lose. That's just the way that it is. And if you hire a cr. If you, if you have a criminal by the team, if you've got an incompetent general manager, if you don't want to spend any money, of course you're going to lose. But the jets, they've had so many things happen to them. You know, the Achilles for test averti that team had a chance to go to win it all in 99 and it's over immediately. Same thing with Aaron Rodgers. I don't think they're winning a Super bowl, but they're certainly going to make a run, put themselves in the conversation. Brett Favre, they're eight and three injures his shoulder. Doesn't tell anybody about it.
- [51:51]
A
The best offense in the league.
- [51:53]
B
So believe me, they've had plenty of incompetence.
- [51:55]
A
And you know what else, too? In a cap sport where there's so much parody, they go 15 years without making the playoffs.
- [52:03]
B
Yeah, it's. It's crazy. It really is.
- [52:07]
A
Thanks for listening to the Don Han and Rosenberg podcast.
- [52:11]
B
I don't want to know how the.
- [52:12]
A
Sausage is made, man. I just want to know. It's good. Hear more of Don Allen and Peter Weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8, 880, ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers.
- [52:25]
C
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