Hour 1: The Start of March & Drop Madness

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 1: The Start of March & Drop Madness

Date: March 19, 2026

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Episode Overview

This kickoff “Hour 1” episode sets the tone for March Madness with the ESPN New York trio—Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg—streaming live on radio and YouTube. Amid the buzz of NCAA Tournament upsets and “Drop Madness” (their annual contest of the show’s best sound bites), they reminisce, debate, and riff about New York sports, food outings, legendary broadcaster farewells, and their signature banter. If you love sports, inside jokes, and off-the-cuff energy, this is classic DHR.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. March Madness Begins: The Magic of the Tournament

• Quick Updates: The hosts keep a live eye on the early NCAA games, focusing on possible upsets (e.g., Siena vs. Duke, High Point vs. Wisconsin).
• The Allure of the First Round:
  • Don Hahn stresses how the first two days of the tournament are a “sports fan’s dream”—full of unpredictability, communal excitement, and the possibility that giants will fall.
  • Peter Rosenberg: “Thursday and Friday are so special because you really don’t have to know anything...it’s a sports fan’s dream just to see these games and these upsets.” (35:58)
• Upset Rules:
  • Don only starts rooting in earnest for a major upset after the under-16 timeout in the second half.
    • “In the first half, it’s a good time...the check-in for me is the under-16 timeout in the second half. If [a big underdog] is still close then, that’s when I really start to lean in a little bit.” (24:15)
• Comparison to the Super Bowl Event:
  • Alan draws parallels between March Madness’s communal pull and the Super Bowl’s broad appeal, suggesting the early rounds are even more universally engaging than championship games (35:58 to 36:45).

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2. Drop Madness: The Show’s Signature Soundbite Tournament

• Early Announcements:
  • The group decides to reveal the "Drop Madness" bracket at 3:20 PM instead of the traditional 4:20 slot (01:40–02:14).
  • Peter Rosenberg: “Now you got me. Now I’m in.” (01:25)
• Tournament Region Breakdowns:
  • Flubs Region, Funny Region, Troubling Region, and the Nether Region are previewed, with detailed seed matchups.
  • Don Hahn lauds the soundbite “25amonth” as a worthy 1-seed (18:11–18:33), predicting big blowouts in early voting.
  • Multiple matchups have heavy inside-joke value—listeners are encouraged to vote via Twitter/X.
• Soundbite Humor:
  • The hosts relive classic flubs, with Don mocking the use of “X” instead of “Twitter”: “Don’t ever trust anyone who says X unless they have to for some sort of legal reason.” (18:11)

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3. Food Outing Recap: Station Brotherhood

• Don and Alan reminisce about a legendary station remote and meal, humble-bragging about the experience and busting Peter for missing out and eating “everything.”
• Alan Hahn: “I'm not trying to rub it in your face when I tell you, you missed the best food remote in the history of the station.” (02:17–02:32)

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4. The 9-9-9 Challenge: Hot Dogs, Beers, and Boasting

• They debate whether anyone could finish the “9 hot dogs, 9 beers, 9 innings” stadium challenge.
• Peter Rosenberg: “I love the idea. I couldn't do it. I think I could probably do the hot dogs. I couldn't do the beer.” (04:05)
• Chatter about logistics (are beers full-sized? Will they be warm by the ninth inning?) delivers classic, animated DHR back-and-forth; Anthony Pusick clarifies the Phillies’ version is mini portions (05:11).

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5. Farewell Howie Rose: A Loyal New York Sports Voice

• The hosts respond to the announcement that Mets broadcaster Howie Rose will retire after this season.
• Peter’s Tribute: “He means so much to me, just as a Met fan and as a hockey fan...I've always felt a kinship with him because then I started to do that, you know, doing the Jets and the Rangers. And he...he was a big help to me...” (09:33–11:10)
• Emotional memories are shared—particularly Peter’s story of Howie’s kind mentorship after Peter was berated on social media for an on-air slip.
  • Peter Rosenberg: “...he calmed me down, made me feel good, and I was able to get over it...that talked me off the ledge a little bit.” (12:06–13:07)
• Discussion contextualizes Howie’s place among retiring NY sports giants—John Sterling, Sam Rosen, and now Rose—a "changing of the guard" (14:01).

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6. Live Bracket Updates & Tournament Drama

• Real-time reactions to Siena’s surprising lead over Duke and High Point’s upset of Wisconsin carry throughout the hour.
  • Don Hahn (play-by-play as High Point closes in on the upset): “So I walk around with this High Point keychain to this day...it looks like High Point’s gonna hold on for the first 12:5 upset potentially of this tournament.” (44:54–47:12)
• Excitement and confusion over live TV time delays and clock adjustments elicit classic banter.
  • “They’re making this out to be the World Baseball Classic here. Like, what’s going on here? Do we know now it’s 1.8 again?” (46:23)

Tournament Nostalgia

• Recap of famous buzzer-beaters (Christian Laettner, Villanova/UNC, Tate George) underscore why this moment of the sports calendar is magical.
  • Peter Rosenberg: “The Laettner play to me is one of the greatest, if not the greatest play that I saw live to end the game.” (48:46–49:02)

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7. Sports Format Brainstorm: Can the NBA or NHL Replicate the Drama?

• The guys pitch an idea: all NBA or NHL playoff games played back-to-back in one day, a la March Madness.
  • Peter Rosenberg: “Wouldn’t it be awesome...if the NHL or NBA did this—just for day one of the playoffs, every game is played and you have it from the afternoon until late at night?” (37:17)
  • All agree it would drum up outsized interest, rivaling the NCAA’s unique first-round buzz.

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Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• On rooting for upsets:
  • Don Hahn: “The check in for me is the under-16 timeout in the second half...if they’re still close then, that’s when I really start to lean in.” (24:15)
• On Howie Rose’s mentorship:
  • Peter Rosenberg: “He calmed me down, made me feel good, and I was able to get over it. But like, I’ll never forget that.” (12:06)
• On March Madness’ broad appeal:
  • Don Hahn: “Thursday and Friday are so special because you really don’t have to know anything...just to see these games and these upsets.” (35:58)
• On the “Drop Madness” bracket reveal:
  • Don Hahn: “Let’s get to it, guys. We start off...in the flubs region...” (18:03)
• On classic NCAA buzzer-beaters:
  • Peter Rosenberg: “The Laettner play to me is one of the greatest, if not the greatest play that I saw live to end the game.” (48:46)
• Joking about “X” vs “Twitter”:
  • Don Hahn: “Don’t ever trust anyone who says X unless they have to for some sort of legal reason.” (18:11)

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Segment Timestamps

• [00:47] Official Episode Kickoff (“The boys are back!”)
• [01:25] Drop Madness timing debate & bracket reveal decision
• [03:17] Introduction of the 9-9-9 Challenge
• [08:50] Howie Rose’s retirement—legacy and personal stories
• [17:28] Drop Madness bracket/seed announcement and banter
• [23:19] Early feedback and live voting updates begin
• [24:15] Don’s “big upset” rooting rule explained
• [35:58] First round interest vs. championship (“Super Bowl” comparison)
• [37:17] Imagining new playoff tournament formats
• [44:54] High Point–Wisconsin ending and live soundtrack
• [48:46] Best-ending moments in NCAA Tournament history

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Tone & Vibe

The show keeps up its trademark balance of quick wit, spirited debate, generous ribbing, and heartfelt sports fan energy. Don, Alan, and Peter trade the microphone comfortably, blending nostalgia, current events, sports wisdom, and the inimitable details of New York fan life.

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Useful For…

• Understanding both the gravity and humor of March for NY sports media and fans
• Appreciating legendary NY broadcasters’ impact
• Getting insider flavor about sports traditions and show in-jokes
• Enjoying the live-wire reaction to bracket-busting upsets—without knowing every roster

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For more “Drop Madness” results and inside jokes, vote at @DHRonESPN on Twitter.

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End of Summary – Don, Hahn & Rosenberg, Hour 1, March 19, 2026

Transcript

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[Don Hahn]

Don I'll be licking the television screen. Licking it like it's ice cream.

[Anthony Pusick]

Han.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, the type of music I listen to would make you cry.

[Don Hahn]

And Rosenberg, I expect to be called ball coach.

[Peter Rosenberg]

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

[Alan Hahn]

This is Don, Han and Rosenberg.

[Don Hahn]

The best threesome I've ever heard on

[Alan Hahn]

ESPN New York and streaming live on YouTube. Oh, the boys are back. Don McGregor back with us. Looking splendid, I might say as well, Donnie, with Don McGregor and with Rosenberg, I'm Alan Hahn. This is Don Hahn and Rosenberg. March madness has begun already. Some upsets happening or one at least has gone down. Another one in the works as we're just keep an eye on that stuff for you. More importantly, though, boys drop madness begins today as well.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now you got me. Now I'm in.

[Alan Hahn]

Now you're in.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I would have taken another day to be honest with you.

[Don Hahn]

And Don, a decision was just made in the. In the 10 seconds that you were off the phone.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, I was.

[Don Hahn]

And we were still talking. A decision was made. A show change was made.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What was that?

[Don Hahn]

I hope you're on board. Well, I just said. I said, why do we always do the drops at 4:20? And Don, I was thinking, does that go back to literally when I was starting on the show at 4 o'?

[Alan Hahn]

Clock?

[Peter Rosenberg]

It might have been. You know what? That's a great. That's a great. Which is another one of the really, like, stupid executive decisions that were made at this radio station.

[Don Hahn]

Well, we don't want to go all the way. Just put them on it, you know, at 4.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, exactly.

[Don Hahn]

But so as a result, we have made a decision. I hope you're down for it. We're going to release the bracket and get things started. 3:20, not 420.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know what I did?

[Anthony Pusick]

Boom.

[Alan Hahn]

Let's do it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I dig it the most.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Anthony Pusick]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Let's get after.

[Don Hahn]

Let's play these drops.

[Alan Hahn]

I like.

[Don Hahn]

And. And let's talk some hoops. Let's. There's a lot to do. We got Donnie Pucks back. Allen and I just came out of our food coma. We're not trying to rub it in your face when I tell you you missed the best food remote in the history of the station. You know, it's not overstating it.

[Alan Hahn]

I think that that might be the most accurate thing you said because it really was one of those when. When Tom came over, our wonderful server, who was great. And we shot out Kristen as well, who was such a great host with us and handed the menu and is like, all right, do you know what you want? I'm like, yeah, I pretty much want everything. Like, all of it. That sounds good to me. I didn't know that Peter was going to eat all of it, but he did. That's he again.

[Don Hahn]

He's still taking liberty.

[Alan Hahn]

It's not right. What?

[Don Hahn]

He's been on me. No, he. For two. He's become the new Rick.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, you know, it's out of love.

[Alan Hahn]

You know that. And speaking of Rick. No, no.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's what they all say.

[Don Hahn]

That's what they all say.

[Alan Hahn]

Were you pretty Don, to the. The nine and nine and nine met thing, the challenge, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Alan Hahn]

Nine hot dogs, nine beers, nine innings.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Alan Hahn]

I. I challenged the morning show because Rick was sitting with us when we discussed it, and I said, we're going to go to a game and we're going to do it and see who taps out who can't get to the nine. Nine beers, nine dogs in nine innings. Now, do you think Don, this morning? What do you think?

[Don Hahn]

Oh, they did. What were they saying this morning about it? I'm curious.

[Alan Hahn]

It kind of didn't go where I was hoping it would go. They were too busy talking about, are the hot dogs small? Is it a small beer? Doesn't matter. It's a challenge. Let's do it. And I thought it'd be a fun thing to do, a show outing. We'd have to get the day off. That's always, you know, like. It's like giving blood. But, you know, maybe we can make it happen. What do you think?

[Don Hahn]

Well, here's the Don. Go ahead. You go.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I was gonna say I love the idea. I couldn't do it. I think I could probably do the hot dogs. I couldn't do the beer.

[Alan Hahn]

Couldn't do nine beers and nine innings.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No. And the other thing, too, is the marketing idea. It's brilliant. In A way, but also nonsensical. I don't want to buy a beer. And then what's. What condition is it going to be in by the 9th inning?

[Anthony Pusick]

Not a good wait.

[Alan Hahn]

They're not handing you all nine.

[Anthony Pusick]

You haven't seen the tray.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What's a big tray?

[Alan Hahn]

No, I thought there was a graphic.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, no. It's a whole big thing that you bring to your seat.

[Alan Hahn]

Why the hell would you have the nine beers sitting for nine innings? That's dumb. Why would you be a voucher and you just go back, all right, next inning. Like, how do they.

[Don Hahn]

Maybe three maybe. Or maybe they do three and three and you go every three.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That is true. It is possible. Let's give them a break. Let's give them a break for a second. Because it is possible that at least for the picture, they had full beers for all nine. I'm sure if you purchase it. Come on. Because the beers are just not going to age well by the time you get to the ninth inning. Right. I mean, you want to. I want to be able to have a cold beer.

[Anthony Pusick]

Guys, the Billies have done this. You get the full. The full thing.

[Don Hahn]

That's.

[Anthony Pusick]

But they're not full beers and they're not full size hot dogs.

[Alan Hahn]

It's still. Forget it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It doesn't matter. What beers are we talking about?

[Anthony Pusick]

Look, I can't tell you how much they are. I'll send you guys a picture of what it looks like to me. These look like maybe four ounce beers.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, because, see, that's the.

[Alan Hahn]

See, that's.

[Anthony Pusick]

You can't do nine full beer. That's a lawsuit waiting.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We got all excited. I can't remember. I can't remember the name of the bar. Probably shouldn't even mention. Probably not even open anymore.

[Alan Hahn]

Don't name it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But the reason I remember it was because it was literally the night before Super Bowl 25, Giants, Bills. We go to Pearl River, New York, because there's a ten cent draft night. And we're like, we're going with like Dixie cups. That shouldn't count.

[Alan Hahn]

That's not a draft.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's not a 10 cent draft. I mean, it might be a draft, but it's a Dixie cup.

[Alan Hahn]

You know what I mean?

[Don Hahn]

It's so I'm looking though, this Phillies

[Alan Hahn]

thing looks like a wine glass.

[Don Hahn]

It looks like a miniature sort of thing.

[Anthony Pusick]

You guys ever go to those, like, tastings, whether it be a wine tasting or a beer tasting, and they give you that glass? Yeah, that's kind of what we're messing with.

[Alan Hahn]

Forget it.

[Don Hahn]

Now, see, this is why we can't have anything. You know, you want to do it

[Alan Hahn]

on your own, you can tell you. Well, I was. You know what, Anthony? This is why you're a brilliant producer. Because I was thinking, why don't we. Instead, let's go. Let. That's the throw down. Real beers. Yeah, Real hot dogs. Every inning we get up, we go

[Peter Rosenberg]

to that, we get part of the experience, right? First of all, who wants to sit with a big tray in their lap for nine innings, right? Come on, let's all grow up. Let's be grown ups.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay, let's do it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Let's do it the traditional way. Now, I won't, because three beers in. Forget it. I'll be a mess.

[Alan Hahn]

You think so?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I can't tell you the last. The last time I had more than three beers was probably college. I'd be shot. Shot. The hot dogs, forget about it.

[Don Hahn]

For me, guys, here's the issue. It's not like the drunkness from. From nine beers, like the blow over. It's the blow. It's. It's like. Yeah, and also that you have to add, there has to be like Rolaids or some sort of antacid. Your Tums. There has to be. But that's 999. No, I need one.

[Anthony Pusick]

Joey Chestnut doesn't get to do that.

[Don Hahn]

You know, I'm going to tell you,

[Peter Rosenberg]

all of a sudden, if we're at Citi Field doing this, right, and I. And I'm drinking all those beers and I get to like, five, six beers,

[Don Hahn]

licking it like an ice cream, I

[Peter Rosenberg]

don't think I'd be drunk all of a sudden. You would think you were at Yankee Stadium and there were two strikes on a batter. Because all of a sudden, from wherever

[Don Hahn]

we'd be sitting, you'd hear,

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'd be tearing it up. There'd be no seed left. By the time that was over, I'd be like, in a section by myself. I'd be like, with Charlie Sheehan, like, bought a whole section because he wanted to catch a home run ball. By the seventh inning, I'd be sitting in a section by myself. And every year,

[Alan Hahn]

I now want to do this even more. I think this would be a great social media experiment just starting out at

[Anthony Pusick]

the beginning, you know, that's why they're doing it, though.

[Alan Hahn]

What a mess we look like at the end.

[Anthony Pusick]

That's 100% a social thing. Some influencer is going to do that and sit it at their lap and

[Don Hahn]

just shove that Galizzy Right down.

[Anthony Pusick]

What's worse, the cold dog or the warm beer?

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's interesting.

[Alan Hahn]

That's some combo. And Don's right. You start doing that stuff, forget about it. It's. It's all over.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Warm beer is just gross.

[Anthony Pusick]

It's probably the warm beer, right? Especially if it's, like, hot. We're doing this in the middle of June.

[Alan Hahn]

Make you throw up. Sorry. That ruins that idea. But speaking of the Mets, though, how about the announcement today from Howie Rose?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I was emotional today.

[Alan Hahn]

You got emotional? Well, because listen, he's voice of a generation.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He is. He. He started with the Mets in 1987 doing Mets Extra.

[Alan Hahn]

Now before you, just so anyone who might be listening who doesn't know, Howie Rose announced that this will be his final season on the mic as the voice of the Mets.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Alan Hahn]

And it's been a. It's been a. A long and glorious run for him, and it was a message. He put out a video and all that. I know he was on with Michael earlier. And it's just. It's a pretty significant moment for a Mets fan and in New York sports.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, he means so much to me, just as a Met fan and as a hockey fan, but mainly as a Met fan, because in 1987, when the. When fan started your first all sports radio, they had the Mets, because the Mets were on whn, right? And they. They took over and got the Mets. And that was a big thing for. In 1987, coming out off the World Series, and I'm watching every game and I wanted to do what. How he was doing. So I was listening to Mets Extra, and then he would call up Steve Summers in the overnight and talk to him. And. And I was just always infatuated with this guy that was a huge fan and getting to call and being involved with the team that he loved. And 1987, I was a, you know, a freshman going into my sophomore year of college. I'm like, I'd love to be able to do that. So I've always felt a kinship with him because then I started to do that, you know, doing the jets and the Rangers. And he filled in for. He filled in for Marv, and I filled in for Kenny. So there was that symmetry. So I always felt a kinship with Howie. And then when I got into the business and we became friendly, he was a big help to me, you know, because he went from radio to television and then back to radio again. And he was a talk show host. So there were so many times I'd see him at arenas. I'D see him at the stadium, and I talked to him, and he was always so gracious with his time. And I'm a fan, but I'm also a friend. And just to see that I'm not going to be able to, you know, hear him anymore, it was just. It was tough to take. And I'll still be able to reach out to him. So from a mentor standpoint, he's not going anywhere for me. But to just not turn on the radio and hear Howie Rose doing a Met game.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Is going to be very odd. And I think there's something special about him because Ranger fans connect with him because maybe the biggest call in New York sports history, Matteo Mato Matteo was called by him. He did the islanders for over 20 years and doing the Mets for as long as he's done. So I think there's a lot of fan bases that can connect with Howie. Plus, he's a. He's a tremendous guy, tremendous human being.

[Alan Hahn]

And he's a big New York sports fan, too. He's somebody that, like, he loves all of New York sports, pays attention to all of it, consumes all of it. So.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And I never. I never told this because it just. It just happened then. It never came up in conversation. But, you know, doing the Devils, I had a moment during the season. We were in Florida, and for the second time, I slipped and said Rangers instead of Devils, and I got hammered. I mean, hammered on social media.

[Alan Hahn]

How dare you?

[Peter Rosenberg]

So I'm on the bus, going back, going to the airport. Now, I was in a bad place, and I reached out to Howie because I just wanted to know. Because he had to make the transition from Ranger guy to Islander guy, you know, and even though there's the backstory of me originally being a Devil fan, I think there was a lot of Devil fans that were dubious about that or didn't know the backstory. Here's this Ranger guy coming in, doing Devil games, and he slips a Ranger in instead of Devil. And I text Howie, and he got back to me right away, and it was just nice to just. He calmed me down, made me feel good, and I was able to get over it. But, like, I'll never forget that. That was because if he had text, listen, if he didn't see it or was busy, that'd be no big deal. But the fact that he was able to get right back to me, I mean, that was really. That was really. He didn't have to do that. And that. That talked me off the ledge a little bit. Luckily, I haven't done it again, but it may happen again. Who knows? I mean, when you do the Rangers for 15 years, you know, it slips, right?

[Alan Hahn]

Of course, but memory.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But, you know, you know how fans are not known for being very forgiving.

[Alan Hahn]

No, but.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But the fact that he got back to me tells me two things. He's a hell of a human being and he also got it. So I'm going to, I'm going to appreciate this year. He's doing all the home games, the three games at Yankee Stadium, and if they do go to the playoffs, he will be at every playoff game, including the road. And he's also going to be like Sam Rosen, where in the future he'll still come back for ceremonies, he'll still be the emcee for different events at Citi Field. So he's not going to disappear. But it's been tough, man. In the, in the last calendar year, John Sterling retired, Sam Rosen retired, Howie Rose retired. You know, we're losing Giants in this industry, Giants. So, you know, you just take a moment to appreciate them, man,

[Alan Hahn]

really, when you put it in that perspective of like a changing of the guard, so to speak, right? Like how this has been a change in era for a lot of voices that again, the older generation, us, we, we've grown up with. I mean, you know, my experience with Howie was when I was first starting covering hockey, he was the voice of the Islanders. And you know, again, like when you're, when you're young and you're new, coming onto a scene and you see people like, again, names and voices and people that you recognize and you're just hoping these are the ones you go to, to get advice to try to follow and all that stuff. And it was him. It was Joe Micheletti. We're calling the games back then, right? And because, you know, again, I was with Newsday, they traveled to every Islander game nobody else did. Because at that time, especially my first year, the team was terrible. It wasn't worth the coverage. And so there was a lot of moments that it's just all it was was me. So they would always look out for the fact that they knew I was by myself. So if there was dinners invited along to dinner, you know, if they, you know, at shooter, sorry, shooter, morning skates, part of the conversation, you know, and then that's what you love, is to under the understanding of like welcoming in, offering advice and all that stuff. And then when I made this move over to broadcasting, like, you know, those are the guys you go to as well to look for Advice. So Howie's always been that guy, always willing to help, always willing to give you advice, but I always. Just to me, it was his. He had such a passion for New York sports and such a recall of it as well, of the history and everything. He loved talking history, and I always respected him for that. I always loved that part of it. And it wasn't easy for him to make that transition because he was somebody that was known for the Rangers. So a lot of Islander fans, you know, they. They gave him a hard time in the beginning.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

But he gave everything he had. And I'll tell you what, there was no one that felt better about that 2002 season. When they finally broke through after seven years and made the playoffs, there was no one happier to call games than him. Yeah, because he knew how much it meant. He had been through so many years of the team being bad, that it was his chance to have a couple of signature calls. And of course, you know that that first year, there wasn't a lot. It was a first round, but, man, his Sean Bates, that call was phenomenal.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, it was. It was. It was a tough time for them, but it was those couple of playoff runs. When we first started the radio station, I was there for all of them. That's where we got to meet Alan. And, yeah, it was always fun. That's where I connected with Howie, and now we've been friends ever since. But since we're talking a little hockey. Just like the New Jersey Devils protect their home ice, Viking Pest Control protects your home. And I know this because I use Viking Pest Control at my own house. And they do a tremendous job as the pest control provider and proud partner of the New Jersey devils. Viking brings 45 years of trusted experience and expert service to keep ants, cockroaches and stinging insects, rodents, and even mosquitoes out of your zone. Their local team builds a personalized game plan that actually works. And when you bundle pest control with mosquito service, you score big savings. One call, one company. Total peace of mind. Visit vikingpest.com protecting your home inside and out.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, Peter, I think since we changed the rules, let's get right to it then.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Today is the first day of drop bet.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Don't even mess.

[Don Hahn]

It's a very, very special day. We didn't want to wait till 4:20. We want to get things underway right now. Voting can be done on Twitter. Is that Anthony? Is that our only voting vehicle? We stick keeping it strictly Twitter.

[Anthony Pusick]

Yeah, I'll have to come up with something better down the Road. But it's going to be Twitter the way that we used to. And if people aren't a fan of it.

[Alan Hahn]

Anthony, it's pronounced Twitter.

[Anthony Pusick]

I'm sorry. I apologize. Twitter family.

[Don Hahn]

Twitter. Twitter.

[Alan Hahn]

Twitter.

[Don Hahn]

So let's get to it, guys.

[Alan Hahn]

Let's go.

[Don Hahn]

We start off. No one says X. What are you freak. We start off in the flubs. Ebron, I have a theory.

[Alan Hahn]

Don't.

[Don Hahn]

Don't ever trust anyone who says X unless they have to for some sort of legal reason. Let's start off in the flubs region with the replacement and proper one seed, 25amonth. Don Ana Rosenberg with you until seven.

[Alan Hahn]

Well earned. Well earned. One seed.

[Don Hahn]

And I want to give credit to the committee for. For realizing the. The errors of their ways.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's never been done.

[Don Hahn]

Never been done.

[Alan Hahn]

But guess what?

[Don Hahn]

It's a new. It's a new era. And ever since we lost Andrew Gunland, God bless him, and he was still alive. Still alive. That's right. And he was replaced by the great Anthony Pusick. You know, we've seen small changes, but this is a major move and I respect it. That one seed is up against the 16.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The general public that wants his stake on ahead immediately.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, that may be one of the biggest. That may be one of the biggest drubbings you will ever see in the tournament, in my opinion.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What would the spread?

[Alan Hahn]

50.

[Don Hahn]

And Don, could that be a 9010 win?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes, easily.

[Don Hahn]

It could happen. Now also in the flubs region we have the 8 seed. Happy New Jewish New Year, not newish Jew year. Up against the nine seed Cowboys trailing the Vikings.

[Alan Hahn]

Final seconds of a divisional round playoff game. Roger Staubach.

[Don Hahn]

Staubach.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. Of course. Grande.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. A tight matchup. Sort of like the TCU Ohio State game earlier today. In the 89 we go to the funny region where some are saying it's the number one overall seed in the tournament. We'll find out. Is in action a little. Yo yo, monkey boy. He wanted me to jump up and make the jokey jokey. So the people go laugh time. Up against the Spry 16 seed.

[Alan Hahn]

Hey guys, anyone want to play some ball that's got upset potential?

[Don Hahn]

Listen, that would be huge. But I love play some ball. It's a great 16.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Wow. And then this is. This is just a really personally for me, a tough one to even to watch. The eight seed. Maya, can you say mama? Up against the nine seed. Can the polar bear upset the straw? What a battle. We go to the troubling region and this is Guys, I, I, I love this matchup. The one seed. I had diarrhea. Oh, that you dream about.

[Alan Hahn]

The O. The O.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The O is who makes it.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh.

[Don Hahn]

Up against the 16 seed, Richard. Have you ever heard of Brazzers? No. The eight seed in the troubling region.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know, maybe they can go pee on each other. That'd be great.

[Don Hahn]

Up against the nine seed. Sitting it. Sitting. You stink. Wow.

[Alan Hahn]

That's a good nine.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Wow.

[Don Hahn]

That's that matchup of Don talking about bathroom activities in both drops.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

You know what I mean?

[Alan Hahn]

Where's McNutt's drop? That should be in this, too. That's right.

[Don Hahn]

We go to the nether region, the one seat.

[Alan Hahn]

This might take the crown. Wait for the music.

[Don Hahn]

Excuse me. This is Sonic Football Radio.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, my God.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That could be our winner right there.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm telling you, I can't. This feels. This is giving like, like Lu Alcindor, UCLA vibes, man.

[Don Hahn]

It's.

[Alan Hahn]

How are you beating this team? It's gonna take a epic upset.

[Don Hahn]

That's a very, very special draw. The number one seed is up against the great Joe Namath.

[Alan Hahn]

John Peter.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Thank you, Alan. I hope you make the team.

[Don Hahn]

It's just cool that we have Namath in the. In we ever have.

[Alan Hahn]

Of course.

[Don Hahn]

Here's a great one, guys. I believe this is the tightest matchup of the day. Perhaps the eight seed.

[Alan Hahn]

Two beautiful women died.

[Don Hahn]

I'll give you them quickly. Up against the nine seed.

[Alan Hahn]

Another. Another good eight. Nine.

[Don Hahn]

I, I think it's a tough day for Richard. That's a tough day for Richard. But very excited to see what you guys do. Go on our Twitter page, ESPN New York plus, we'll all repost it right now. I'm gonna go there and do it as we speak.

[Peter Rosenberg]

A lot of votes already, man.

[Alan Hahn]

Good.

[Don Hahn]

And make sure you vote early and often. We want to see record numbers for Drop Madness.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I just thought about the famous people. You got Namath, right?

[Alan Hahn]

Yep.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Monica McNutt.

[Alan Hahn]

Yep.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Sure. Ben Stiller.

[Alan Hahn]

Yep.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Anybody else I'm missing? Paul Heyman. Paul Heyman.

[Don Hahn]

And. And I also just led you guys the wrong way, didn't I?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Don Hahn]

It's DHR on espn. It's not the ESPN New York page. It's the DHR on here.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Heavenly Father above.

[Alan Hahn]

Please just, you know.

[Don Hahn]

So sorry on this.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The holiest of days.

[Alan Hahn]

I mean, the holiest. The feast of St. Jo, and you're not going to get this right on the.

[Don Hahn]

I'm reposting them all. I'm reposting them all. Right now.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right, Garland, look, just looking at. Because we're getting a tremendous reaction here.

[Alan Hahn]

I would hope so.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What do you think the biggest blowout is so far?

[Alan Hahn]

The first one, Don's. Don jumping into 2030.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yep. That so far is the biggest. 88 to 12.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, that's, that's got to be. That's, that's, that and Carlin are really going to be tough to beat there, but they might go chalk all the

[Peter Rosenberg]

way to see if any upsets are brewing.

[Don Hahn]

Don interrupts While you're doing that, while

[Alan Hahn]

you're doing that, there is something interesting that I know Peter would love to hear as I'm looking at scores right now.

[Don Hahn]

Duke down, Duke down.

[Alan Hahn]

Siena 22, Duke 16.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh.

[Alan Hahn]

All right.

[Don Hahn]

All right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Let's.

[Don Hahn]

You guys know I have some very, I have some very strict rules about how I, how I root for upsets. Who saw this in the first half? In the first half I have fun, you know, in the first half. It's a good time.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

The check in for, the check in for me is the under 16 timeout in the second half. If we get to that under 16 and the 16 or 15 seed sometimes. But the really big ones, if they're still tied down, two down, three up, two up, then I start to like, lean in a little bit.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I like where your head's at. Because when I was at sportsphone, the rule was, because it was an AP rule. Maybe Alan knows this. You do not start notifying the public or the different wire services that there is a no hit or a perfect game until you're through five. What you think about it, that's somewhat early.

[Alan Hahn]

That's kind of around still a lot of time.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right. And that's kind of where Peter's at. The 16 timeout in the second half,

[Alan Hahn]

it's still relatively early in that second half. But you're in the second half.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But, but it's, it's time to be on alert now. It's time to pay attention.

[Don Hahn]

Well, well, for example, if I told

[Alan Hahn]

you it's now a 10 point sienna lead.

[Don Hahn]

That's early. Make you.

[Alan Hahn]

We're halfway through the first half.

[Anthony Pusick]

You just won your bet then. That's what that means. Yeah, Peter's been reading that.

[Don Hahn]

That's right. You could have already won a bet if you had that.

[Anthony Pusick]

If you bet Moneyline Pre before the game started on Siena, you get the odds if they were up by 10. So you, if you hit bet Sienna, you won. And that's great. If you're listening to Peter's fanduel that's

[Don Hahn]

right, you better be paying attention to those fanduels. Slash Local I might add Amazon Hub

[Anthony Pusick]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Don Hahn]

Quick time out Some breakfast intel you want to know about. Kodiak frozen Power waffles and flapjacks are built for busy mornings. Heat it, eat it and you're out the door.

[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Don Hahn]

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[Alan Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don Hahn]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Alan Hahn]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. I see what you're doing. Little sir Duke as the number one seed right now. The east number one. See, they right now are playing Sienna. That's a. That's a New York school that you and. You and me.

[Don Hahn]

Where's Sienna again?

[Alan Hahn]

It's close to Buffalo. Right up near Buffalo. Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So New York State, so I'm surprised we're not opening with it.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, well, no, I think in Toronto they are, though, because, you know, Buffalo, they love them some Toronto and Toronto loves them some Buffalo. But it's still. Just keep an eye on it. Peter's. Peter's strategy tells us it's too soon to call it something that is a upset watch.

[Don Hahn]

Call it anything.

[Alan Hahn]

They don't call it anything at 3122. It's not nothing.

[Don Hahn]

Wait, Anthony. It was 205 to 1. What was that?

[Anthony Pusick]

Anthony, that is gonna be the channel that's gonna get your quad box.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, thank you, my friend. Wow. What a guy. I'm saying it's too. It's too soon to call it anything right now. It's just.

[Alan Hahn]

You don't think it' to say just this is something to just keep an eye on.

[Don Hahn]

It's something fun. If you're a Duke hater, this is a fun thing to pay attention to this.

[Alan Hahn]

No, and it's. And it's Sienna. I mean, there's a lot of people in the New York Tri state area that have their kids that go to Sienna or went to Sienna, you know?

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, sure.

[Alan Hahn]

No, listen, I'm serious.

[Don Hahn]

I'll just. I'll just tell you this, all right? If this game. I just. I just said this to Anthony. If this. The. The best news for anyone listening is if this were to continue like Dom, like down to the final five minutes. I just want everybody to know, my bosses to know I will risk it all and basically do play by play. I just want everyone to know that's happening.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm into if now. I'm really hard for this.

[Don Hahn]

I mean, come on. I. If Peter Rosenberg, famed Duke hater in some circles, I'm more famous for my Duke hate than anything else. If we have the opportunity to see them really in Trouble as a 1 seed, it's taking over the show. It'll be epic if we're there.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, I go best. Go ahead. I already got a text from an old friend of mine who sent it with the screenshot of the game saying, this could be epic. So there's people that are already.

[Don Hahn]

Ballard said the same thing. So. Yeah, it's happening way too early. They're way too early. Calm down.

[Alan Hahn]

When? By 12. Don's predicting.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I said 20, but 12 sounds even better.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, I thought he said 12. Okay.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, they'll be up by 12 and a half.

[Alan Hahn]

They'll be up at 12 at the half. There's 6. 36 to go, and they're down 9.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, you'll see.

[Alan Hahn]

All right.

[Don Hahn]

But you know what, though? I'm done talking about it. And now I'm going to really pull up this game and. Because sometimes what it. What it looks like matters. I mean, there are 15s and 16s. You'll see up by 10 points, but every possession, you can see the struggle. And then there. That you turn on a 15 and 16 the last few years, like UMBC, for example, some of the other big ones, and you go, oh, they're not intimidated at all. They just bought in.

[Alan Hahn]

Mm. And sometimes.

[Don Hahn]

Now, what would. What would make me happier is the question. Sienna winning or Liu winning tomorrow? Don, I know how Alan feels, obviously,

[Alan Hahn]

but for me, Fins up. I.

[Don Hahn]

This would be it.

[Alan Hahn]

Both would be the battle of the ice teas. Long island versus Arizona.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We got. We got a dog in the fight, though.

[Don Hahn]

What did you say?

[Peter Rosenberg]

We got a dog in the fight. Rod Strickland appeared.

[Don Hahn]

I know.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Studio.

[Alan Hahn]

And he promised.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's gotta be.

[Don Hahn]

I know, but Duke losing for me is a dog. Like, it's a. It is a thing for me. I don't even know. I don't even know this Duke team. I don't even know them.

[Alan Hahn]

And I know it'll blow up a ton of Brad.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know, there's nothing to hate there yet, right? There's no.

[Don Hahn]

Well, I don't know Cam Boozer. I probably hate him.

[Alan Hahn]

You probably didn't like his dad.

[Don Hahn]

That's. Well, that's exactly right.

[Alan Hahn]

I believe. If I'm not mistaken, I think Cam was named after Cameron Indoor Stadium. Oh, God.

[Peter Rosenberg]

God.

[Alan Hahn]

There you go. Not be accurate at all, but. Because, you know, again, it sounds great. It sounds great played there and. And I think I like it. So I'm Gonna go with it, dude.

[Don Hahn]

High Point fought to make it high. High Point fighting back to a two point game again.

[Alan Hahn]

All right, so let's update. So that's a 12,5. We always know those are the ones that just, you know, you never know. And Wisconsin, it looked like they were pulling away from High Point, but now it's a two point game. Oh, you're. Now you've got it on.

[Don Hahn]

No, sorry. That was a Duke. That was a Sienna jam put back to go up 11 on Duke.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, I'm all over the guys.

[Don Hahn]

I might be back in on the 20.

[Alan Hahn]

How's Don's prediction looking? But high points within two, three and a half.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, I gotta go back.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, here we're in a TV timeout, but earlier, already an 8, 9 game. Ohio State's out. TCU knocks him off 66.64. So there's one that's not really an upset, but it's still a lower seed

[Don Hahn]

winning and a smaller program winning. Sending home a blue blood.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, a good team. And Nebraska, who has. I heard this and I can't believe it. Nebraska's never won a tournament game.

[Don Hahn]

That's crazy.

[Alan Hahn]

This is their first ever. Like, this is Nebraska now. I know it's football.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I know, but.

[Alan Hahn]

But Nebraska has been around forever. They've never won a tournament. This is their first tournament win. They win 76, 47 over Troy. So it took that kind of a matchup where they were a four seed, but they finally get. So they get that win. Louisville and South Florida are at it right now. Louisville's the 6 seed, South Florida 11. It's 77, 70 Louisville. So there's. We'll just keep an eye on all this stuff. And how about this? Another 512 Vanderbilt and McNeese again. Yeah, early, but 2112 McNeese. We get excited this time here because the upsets are fun until you realize it just blew your bracket.

[Don Hahn]

Here's the thing, though. Here's the thing. So you. What you want is like, over the past few years, what's taken me out is not only that Maryland stinks and that conference, you know, rivalries aren't the same. And all of those things are factors. But what you also need is on Thursday and Friday, but particularly Thursday, you need some of these wacky games to actually turn out wacky. When they all end up landing chalk it just you end up feeling completely let down by day one. Give us one of these. Like to be one or two, to be awesome.

[Alan Hahn]

This is a tournament update, by the way, brought to you by Schweppes.

[Don Hahn]

Good job.

[Peter Rosenberg]

See, this Thursday and Friday is so special because you really don't have to know anything. It's really not that important to know because I always felt the fraudulency of we don't talk about college basketball all year. Then all of a sudden the tournament starts and we're taking calls and we're making predictions. Stop it. I'm not into it in that fashion, but to see upsets, to see games in the afternoon, and I've been saying it for years, it is the only sporting event where it decreases in interest as it goes on. Like, the best days are Thursday and Friday. And as teams begin eliminated and brackets get blown up, then it becomes about real basketball. The diehards love it because the games become more important and a championship's on the line. But for people like me, I'm out if my brackets busted. And now there's less interest. And all the games are on at night and there's only a couple of them. But today and tomorrow, it's a sports fan's dream just to see these games and these upsets. Would you tell me you don't need to know anything?

[Alan Hahn]

Would you say, Donnie, it's basically as weird as it sounds because it's not in the same realm, but in. When it comes to interest from everyone. Are Thursday and Friday, first round of the NCAA tournament, similar to the Super Bowl.

[Don Hahn]

In terms of what? In terms of everyone in you.

[Alan Hahn]

Everyone's drawn in and paying attention, and you don't have to know it. You don't have to know a damn thing about it to just be drawn in and interested and have a rooting interest because it's an event. And then once all that stuff goes away, then it becomes more about the sport. It be. It's almost like you go backwards, super bowl to the championship game, becomes more about football, and that's like the real game. Would you say it's kind of the reverse of the. Of the football players, but in a way from a mental standpoint, from fans.

[Peter Rosenberg]

True, but from an interest level. But the thing about, like, nobody's watching for the commercials. They're watching because it just. It's sports, it's interesting, it's competitive, it's fun.

[Alan Hahn]

Right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like, there's interest in the super bowl and because the people are watching for the commercials or they're. They're checking different things out, like maybe they're not as into the competition. I think people watching this are into the competition. You don't need to know the players or the backstory, it's competitive games. And once you find out a 16 pushing a one, do you really need to know anything else but that to get drawn in, to feel the interest in that? I mean, you had me at a low at that point. Once you get upset, I always thought, wouldn't it be awesome? And I don't even know it's logistically possible. But if the NHL or NBA did this just for, just for day one of the playoffs, everybody, every game is played and you have it from the afternoon until late at night. Here's our playoffs, guys. Right here. Starts today. We'll go back to every other day off. We'll go back to the, you know, the regular times.

[Alan Hahn]

Everybody starts on the same day.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Everybody starts on this like Tuesday. We got games from 11am right up until 11 at night. Everybody's playing. Get it? I think that there. I think people would go nuts. You know, Gary's so concerned about all. The first round has to be interesting, so let's have divisional matchups. I think that would get everybody in and then maybe you keep them for the rest of the playoffs because they're just so involved in this absolute madness. Imagine the NBA, all the, all these games in one day. Wake up at 11 o' clock in the morning, games 11, you go nuts.

[Alan Hahn]

I love this idea on many levels because look, your top seeds in the east and the west are going to play the worst seed, right? And while the top seeds, always the big draw team, those matchups suck. Those first rounds are never good. So that's the team you play at 11 o'. Clock, right. Why do you do it? A. I know people are watching because it's the Thunder or it's the Celtics or whatever it's going to be. But I also know that it, it does set up to a little bit of at least a game one potential upset because it's a weird time to play that game.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, you're right.

[Alan Hahn]

Draws you in and then, and then your, your four or five game, that's your late game.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

That's still a good team or marquee teams. But you also know that's going to be the most competitive. I think it's a great idea if

[Peter Rosenberg]

you got in on the NHL side of things, if you got, I don't know, an Ottawa, Tampa matchup in the first round, whatever. Yeah, somebody might not watch that if it's at 7 o', clock, but you put it on 11, 12 in the afternoon, all of a sudden there's a little bit of interesting because there's what else is on? Let's watch it. It's interesting. We saw that during COVID Right. Remember, Peter, we have game like in the middle of the day.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And all of a sudden there's like interest because I never see a game at 3:00 in the afternoon. Oh, let's have that one court.

[Alan Hahn]

They had to do it that way.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Baseball, it doesn't matter because you, it's not crazy to see games in the afternoon, but an NBA game or an NHL game being played, being played at like noon. Listen, they will never do it because it would affect attendance. But if you just had the one, if you built it up just one day and talked about just, just the one day everybody's playing, it'd be madness.

[Alan Hahn]

It's such a great idea. It really is. It's a. Would you watch that? Would you pay attention to that? 800 now. 193776. Speaking of NBA, we'll get into that stuff in the 4 o' clock hour. Some huge news in the NBA earlier today that really could shake the east and could change perspective once again on who can make it out of the East. That was, by the way, a tournament update presented by Schweppes. Schweppes delivers above the rim. Refreshment. Feel the madness and refresh your game with a Schweppes Seltzer or Schweppes Ginger ale. The latest update on Duke, by the way, as we are under two minutes to go in the half is Siena by, by 11. They just scored 43, 32. And with under a minute to go. High point is within one. It's Wisconsin 82. High point 81. That's a five. Now.

[Don Hahn]

They're fighting, man. They're fighting.

[Alan Hahn]

They were just, they were down four.

[Don Hahn]

They were down four. Hit a three to cut it to one. I think they just turned over Wisconsin. They're. They're fighting right now, man.

[Alan Hahn]

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[Don Hahn]

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[Alan Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don Hahn]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Alan Hahn]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. Okay, yeah, you want to update it Peter, because you're feeling, I can tell you're feeling it now. You're feeling something.

[Don Hahn]

So yeah, I listen. I'm connected to High Point. My my ex brother in law who passed away back in 2011 Spencer RIP he was a freshman at High Point. So I walk around with this High Point keychain to this day and obviously have a sweet spot my heart because it's where my boy went. And so I saw there in the tournament I'm like why not let's throw. Let's go down with number 12. And they come up with the key block late and it looks like High Points gonna hold on for the first 12:5 upset potentially of this tournament. Now I'm guessing I'm behind you Allen. For me there's 1.6 seconds left.

[Alan Hahn]

It's not over yet. I have one at a time.

[Don Hahn]

It's 2.1.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh they wait a minute.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now it's 1.8.

[Don Hahn]

It's a charger.

[Alan Hahn]

Now it's a Ram.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, I saw it go from 2.1 to 1.8. I met a High Point. Missed the foul.

[Alan Hahn]

Now it's one point.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They just readjusted the clock. So originally it was 1.6 and they moved it to 2.1.

[Alan Hahn]

Can we just get.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now it's 1.8. So we're updated. But that missed foul shot could be a big deal.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So it's going to come down to this last possession here but I've got DirecTV so it's it's Tuesday, February 12th so I don't this, this game was actually like a Saturday after you're watching

[Anthony Pusick]

last year's High Point Cinderella on.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So now it's 1.4. Can we figure out the time?

[Alan Hahn]

No, no, we just.

[Anthony Pusick]

Sounds like they're calling Toronto. Don.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know what? They're, they're, they're making this out to be the World Baseball Classic here. Like, what's going on here? Do we know now it's 1.8 again.

[Don Hahn]

What's going on? Are you being serious?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm being serious. Jacob, back me up here.

[Alan Hahn]

He's not lying. I'm looking at the score right now.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They just moved it. They keep moving. That was 1.4.

[Alan Hahn]

That 4/10 of a second. Let's see if that actually matters all the time. They spent four minutes deciding over 4.4, right? 0.4 seconds.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, this is. This, this is the Christian Laitner set up here, guys. This is behind their own basket. Oh, this is all happening.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. Where's Grant Hill?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, dear God.

[Alan Hahn]

What do you got?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, that's it. It's over. It's done. High point holds on.

[Don Hahn]

That was.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That was basically incomplete.

[Alan Hahn]

Whisco.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They tried, they tried the. He gone to Laitner.

[Alan Hahn]

But you know what, that shows you how great that latener play was though, right? How improbable that play was.

[Don Hahn]

There was a similar one too, prior to Leitner. You remember the Tate, George, Nadav, Henifl. That was huge.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You're right. But, but the late Nur.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, no question. No, there's no question. It is, but it's the season of strange polls.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It might be the like the latent or play.

[Don Hahn]

Guys, that's it. High point one. I just saw it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, then you are significantly behind. We were just actually discussing.

[Alan Hahn]

So we're. I mean, as we're following all this stuff again, March Madness. This is what it's all about. With Sienna up 11 at the half on Duke, I've got. Are you guys now following South Florida and Louisville?

[Don Hahn]

We should. Right.

[Alan Hahn]

Because it's been interesting. That's a four point game. Now it feels that there's no time left. Right. I got five seconds left.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So that might be arbitrary now.

[Alan Hahn]

That might be it. But I'll tell you what, South Florida put up 52 points in the second half to make this thing a game.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, I had to flip over to high point, so I got to go back to right.

[Don Hahn]

It can grab you five points. 5.2 left, four point lead on.

[Anthony Pusick]

You still have Direct TV, right? I still have Direct 251.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Thank you.

[Don Hahn]

It didn't work for me, Anthony. On my.

[Anthony Pusick]

That's what I. That's. I trusted the Google machine. My mistake.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's set up like The Leitner play, but the pass was basically incomplete. High Point was able to intercept the pass and that was it. And we do have a final with Louisville winning by four.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But the Leitner play to me is one of the greatest, if not the greatest play that I saw live to end the game, basically, for all the reasons you said, the pass, the step back, the shot, all net.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

How calm Laitner was like, how can you be that calm in that moment? Like, it is amazing to me. And you know, here's Rick Patino still in the tournament, right. Many, many years later, because what was that? 92 so like, you know, 30 something years later, but just the calmness in which he took that shot, it's one of the most incredible things I ever saw at the Spectrum. Right, Allen?

[Alan Hahn]

Yes. Yeah, the old Spectrum, Philadelphia. And that's, it's one of the most iconic plays in the history of the tournament. And there's been obviously, I mean, you know, the Villanova shot too, right? That slingshot play to win the championship after the, against North Carolina. That, that's one of those unbelievable plays on a, on a game winning shot and that was to win the whole damn thing. But that's, that's what you love about this time of year. Not just upsets that happen, which can happen, but moments where moment of truth, shots that go down. Suggs for Gonzaga, remember that one in the semifinal, you know, like there's, there's just great moments throughout the tournament and especially when it's Cinderella's and that's, that's what's going on right here. That's why we love this tournament at this time of year because we don't know everything about college basketball. We aren't experts at it, but it is something that is worth following. And as we go along, by the time you get to a Final four championship, it's been chalk a lot lately the last couple of years and it feels like there was a time when there were a lot of one and dones. That a team that the blue bloods who did the one and done thing, maybe you wouldn't have great chemistry because you have so many guys that I'm going to be here for, you know, one semester basically, right? They don't have a lot of time. And then some of these mid majors have had guys together for three years, four years, they have chemistry, they're older, stronger, and then you can get more upsets. But I think in the nil, what we're seeing is those mid major veterans are now getting one year contracts literally to go to the Blue Bloods to give them some stability, to go around some of the young talent. And you're not seeing as many of the upsets like you used to.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, but you just see a 16 up by 11 going into the half or the story Peter just told where you know there's a connection to High Point. It's. It makes it fun.

[Alan Hahn]

It certainly does. Hey subscribe to ESPN New York on YouTube. Stream the full weekday lineup live. You can watch complete replays of the shows or catch up fast with can't miss highlights. Jump into the live chat like we all. Say hello to everybody in the live chat. As always, you can react in real time. Make your voice part of the show. Subscribe to ESPN New York on YouTube now. Stay locked in so you never miss a moment. Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don Hahn]

I don't want to know how the

[Alan Hahn]

sausage is made, man. I just want to know it's good. Hear more of Don Allen and Peter

[Don Hahn]

weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app,

[Alan Hahn]

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