Hour 1: WBC Final Preview

Summary

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Don, Hahn & Rosenberg

Hour 1: WBC Final Preview

Date: March 17, 2026
Hosts: Don LaGreca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Theme: Anticipation and debate surrounding the World Baseball Classic (WBC) Final, with a focus on Aaron Judge and the cultural weight of the event.

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Episode Overview

The first hour of this lively ESPN New York broadcast is dedicated to previewing the WBC Final, centering discussions around Aaron Judge’s legacy, “clutch gene” narratives, and what’s at stake both for him and for fans’ perceptions. The hosts examine the cultural significance of international baseball, the uniquely American ambivalence toward the WBC, and how fan enthusiasm varies across backgrounds.
Callers and hosts alike passionately debate what a “clutch moment” in the WBC could mean for Judge and for baseball itself.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Show Logistics & Don’s Absence

• Don LaGreca is out sick and won’t attend the live ESPN New York Calandra's event, but the show will go on with “double the hockey content” via special guests Ken Daneyko and Rick DiPietro ([02:00-03:20]).
• The team expresses disappointment, emphasizing how much Don was looking forward to the hockey/ESPN event.
  • Peter Rosenberg: “It sucks because… this was a celebration of Don as much as it was a celebration of hockey…” ([02:50]).

2. Setting the Stage: WBC, Aaron Judge, & Narrative Pressure

• The WBC Final is framed as a high-stakes, playoff-like environment, especially for Aaron Judge, who’s yet to be universally labeled “clutch.”
• There’s broad banter over whether a heroic Judge moment in the WBC would finally “erase” criticism that he can’t deliver under pressure because it’s not a Yankees World Series.
  • Peter Rosenberg: “To me, I need Aaron Judge to give me something tonight...” ([05:12]).
  • Don LaGreca: “If he gets up in a huge spot and he blows it, Alan, to your point, that reinforces the narrative...” ([06:34]).
• The “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” dynamic is dissected, with hosts questioning whether fans will ever truly celebrate Judge’s clutch performance outside pinstripes.
  • Rosenberg: “If you don’t have haters, you ain’t popping. And that’s what I think you have with Aaron Judge.” ([07:41])
  • LaGreca: “The most valuable thing is the clutch gene. It’s what makes you great, and he doesn’t show that yet. Can he do it tonight?” ([09:00]).

3. How Much Does the WBC “Matter” to New York Fans?

• Hosts and callers wrestle with whether the WBC deserves World Series-level hype or should remain a “fun exhibition.”
  • Caller Eric: “You guys have, like, a combative tone still about the whole WBC... it doesn’t need to be compared to the Olympics.” ([13:18])
• Hosts defend their growing excitement, particularly after the tense US-Dominican Republic semi, while acknowledging they aren’t “baseball-first guys.”
  • LaGreca: “I haven’t been locked into watching games live... but I’ve been super impressed by the amount of people who’ve been into it.” ([15:30])
• Culturally, the US lacks the fervor international fans bring to the WBC due to baseball’s deep American roots and the “taken-for-granted” element.
  • LaGreca: “The US is simply behind… because the level of pride in USA Baseball, it’s just not really a thing...” ([15:30])

4. International Passion vs American Coolness

• Callers from various backgrounds (Puerto Rican, Venezuelan, Mets/Yankees fans) highlight how, in Latin American countries, the WBC is both party and cultural catharsis.
  • Caller Armando: “In other countries… they actually put these giant screens so everybody could come and see the TV games... It’s a party, party, party.” ([31:23])
• The hosts contrast that with a more subdued, individualistic American fan experience.
  • LaGreca: “I’m never going to pretend that we are the masters of having fun... when it comes to good, organic, like, partying…” ([36:03])
  • Rosenberg: “We’re up, we score five runs in the first inning... For other countries, we’re down three runs... we’re trying to encourage... It becomes communal.” ([36:45])

5. Judge, “Clutch Gene,” and Fans’ Selective Memory

• The hosts probe whether Judge’s hypothetical WBC heroics would shift his “not clutch” story, or if skeptics would still insist, “Do it in the World Series.”
  • LaGreca: “He’s successfully avoided... people talking about [injuries]... It’s the clutch gene. He’s not Jeter because he’s not clutch.” ([20:17])
• Classic Jeter-Judge comparison: Multiple callers and hosts agree, “If you have to win a game, you take Jeter over Judge,” regardless of overall talent.
  • Rosenberg: “If it’s to win a game, you’re taking Derek Jeter. Right?” ([22:42])
  • LaGreca: “You’re not going to convince us that [Jeter’s] a better ball player than Aaron Judge.” ([22:22])

6. Baseball’s Emotional Timetable & Temporary Magic

• Some fans and hosts acknowledge that, while the WBC “matters,” it’s not as gutting as a Mets/Yankees World Series loss: “If the American team loses, I’ll be sound asleep within about 10 minutes.” ([49:26])
• There’s appreciation for the fact that, with March Madness looming, this might be the last genuinely meaningful baseball game for months ([50:23]).
• The stakes, excitement, and community generated by the WBC evoke “how baseball used to feel 30-40 years ago,” per a nostalgic caller ([39:53]).
• Rosenberg: “That’s the part I think from the US side... has been missing is the too cool for school thing versus, for some of these countries… on this stage, we can go toe to toe.” ([33:15-34:39])

7. Public Enemy & Hip Hop Sidebar

• Brief, engaging tangent where Rosenberg and LaGreca discuss Don’s missed connection with golden era hip hop, specifically Public Enemy. They reminisce about essential albums and how music history parallels sports fandom and generational culture ([27:19-29:44], [43:01-43:06]).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Rosenberg (on Judge’s predicament, 06:19):
  “I need Aaron Judge to have a stamp, a footprint, if you will, on this game.”
• LaGreca (on Judge’s critics, 06:34):
  “Will you, insane Yankee fan, truly celebrate the moment for Judge or will you actually be like, ‘Well, of course he does it there. Is he gonna do it in October?’”
• LaGreca (on WBC’s significance, 15:30):
  “The US is simply behind in that regard because the level of pride in USA Baseball, it's just not really a thing because baseball has been dominated by all things American for so long…”
• Caller Armando (on international excitement, 31:23):
  “In Puerto Rico… there’s people that don’t have access to TVs. They actually put these giant screens so everybody could come and see the TV games... It’s a party, party, party.”
• Rosenberg (on fandom, 36:45):
  “For other countries… we’re down three runs… we’re trying to encourage, like they’re about—No, no, no, come on, let’s bring them back. It becomes communal and I just. It’s a different mentality.”
• LaGreca (on how narratives persist, 20:12):
  “We know how it works. When someone has a narrative, you feed it in any way.”
• LaGreca (on American fun, 36:03):
  “I’m never going to pretend… we are the masters of having fun… when it comes to good, organic, like, partying…”

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Key Caller Contributions (Selected)

• Eric (13:03): Advocates for embracing the WBC “for what it is” and not constantly comparing it to other international competitions.
• Jose (16:28): Balances pride in Judge as a Yankee with enjoyment of the international spectacle; emphasizes Judge’s recent big defensive play as meaningful.
• Armando (30:28): Delivers cultural perspective, drawing a stark contrast between American and Caribbean fandom.
• Danny (48:30): Shares that, as a baseball diehard, the WBC final feels huge but, emotionally, still can’t compete with a World Series loss.
• Steve (37:13): Offers perspective on how much more “regional and tribal” baseball fandom used to be, evoking nostalgia for the sport’s earlier communal spirit.

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [02:00-03:20]: Calandra’s live event plans & Don’s absence
• [05:11-09:00]: Judge’s WBC moment as “chapter one” of his legacy; clutch gene debate begins
• [15:30-16:28]: Discussing US vs. international baseball pride & cultural attitudes
• [31:23-32:30]: Armando’s powerful description of Latin American WBC fandom
• [36:03-36:45]: Hosts riff on American vs. international approaches to sports “fun”
• [48:30-50:23]: Danny, a diehard, breaks down WBC significance vs. MLB and why this night means something special

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Tone and Style

• Language: Spirited, jocular, filled with New York bravado and sports talk exaggeration but self-effacing and inclusive of fans’ emotional diversity.
• Style: Conversational, sometimes combative, always obsessed with nuance and narrative in sports; quick-witted and eager to engage callers.
• Memorable Running Jokes:
  • Repeated ribbing of “insane Yankee fans” versus “sane” Alan
  • Jeter-Judge comparison as an eternal fandom battleground
  • Banter over Don’s absence becoming the “clutch gene” of their own show

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Final Thoughts

This episode captures the mix of anticipation, insecurity, and energy that marks New York sports radio at its best. The WBC is a vessel for deep debates—not just about talent, but about meaning, memory, and what it means to truly “show up” for your team and country. Whether you’re a diehard or a casual, this hour is a testament to why baseball and sports talk continues to spark such passionate, complicated love.

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Transcript

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[Peter Rosenberg]

Don cool man.

[Show Producer/Announcer]

Han Don holding his hammer and Rosenberg rappug.

[Don LaGreca]

Don doesn't hold a candle to that pumpkin pie haircutting freak. This isn't North Dakota. This is New York.

[Show Producer/Announcer]

This is Don Hahn and Rosenberg.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The best threesome I've ever heard on

[Show Producer/Announcer]

ESPN New York and streaming live on YouTube.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, ladies and gentlemen, here's the thing about that, the whole Don Hahn and Rosenberg thing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Somebody's missing.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, yeah. No, listen, it's still Don Hahn and Rosenberg.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Mm.

[Don LaGreca]

However, I don't know. I don't know if you could hear it. Yesterday in the program, I.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He.

[Don LaGreca]

I think he may have made mention of it. And when Allen. When we were leaving, Don said he didn't feel great. Yeah, well, now he's full on. Come down with something. And according to Anthony, who spoke to him today, I didn't. Sounded horrible. And as you could imagine, Alan, the timing of this illness, given tomorrow's event, the big event at Calandra's big event, it's not what you want. Okay, now here's the situation, though. So tomorrow, ESPN New York is taking over Calandra's Italian village in Caldwell, New Jersey. Yeah, 3:00pm Special happy hour. You're not going to want to miss no hang out talk sports. We're still going to be doing it. How about this? We still have the great Ken Danico stopping by. But hold on, keep waiting though. There's more.

[Peter Rosenberg]

More.

[Don LaGreca]

That's right. Not only now will Danico come hang out with us. We have the great Rick D. Pietro coming through as well.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Stop it. So much hockey.

[Don LaGreca]

And both Danico and D. Pietro will hang out for the Watch along party after the show with me and Alan. So it's still all going down. We are bummed out that Don will not be there. And obviously he's very bummed out.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes, but we still got.

[Don LaGreca]

We got big screens, we got incredible food, great atmosphere, a lot of hockey fans, Devils, Rangers, myself, Allen, Ken and Rick all going to be there. You can still get reservations. A couple are left. 973-226-8889. If you want to hang out live at Calandra's Italian Village in Caldwell. So, Allen, a little bit of a bummer. We're going to make this thing awesome. Anyway.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, it sucks because our guy, you know, won't be able to be there. And it's really, you know, this was a celebration of Don as much as it was a celebration of hockey that we wanted to do. Don was so into this, wanted to do this, but, you know, like, life happens, man. Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other.

[Don LaGreca]

Wow.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The great John Lennon once said. And so, you know, like, like, we're going to. We're going to push through for our guy. And what we decided to do was tell you what, we're doubling down on hockey. We're loading up on hockey.

[Don LaGreca]

That's right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

For all of you hockey fans.

[Don LaGreca]

That's right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That want to come through. We said, we know, you know, you don't want a couple of Jam Oaks like me and Peter talk to you about this stuff. You want real live hockey players who

[Don LaGreca]

have dropped gloves, who have scored goals,

[Peter Rosenberg]

who have done great things. You want to sit and watch hockey with guys like that.

[Don LaGreca]

That's right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's. We're bringing you. Well, Peter and I. Irish exit at some point during the first year. No, we're just kidding. So we'll be there, too.

[Don LaGreca]

We're going to hang with the people.

[Anthony Pusick]

That was last week.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It was last week.

[Don LaGreca]

So, no, we're going to hang with the people and have a good time. Obviously, it's a letdown that says no, Dom, but it's going to be fantastic. So the next thing we're working on is a WrestleMania watch party that I'm going to get sick before. That's the plan.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And then the next playoff game party that we do, I'll. I'll find something that'll happen.

[Don LaGreca]

So that's our. That's our plan moving forward. Now, before we get to that, though, Alan.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

We have some baseball tonight.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We do, yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

Like you dream about.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And. Well, and speaking of dreams, the dream story, the Cinderella story, if you will. That. That did not come to fruition.

[Don LaGreca]

No.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So instead, of course, it's the US And Venezuela. And of course, because Venezuela is a great team, loaded, and there's a lot of New York angles on both of these teams. So because so many of our audience, I think, convinced us that we need to take this a little more seriously that we need to, you know, put a little more into this. And maybe it's because the US Team hasn't shown the same enthusiasm for this tournament that some of the other countries have shown that I'm looking at tonight. And I'm saying, you know what? This is chapter Don likes to say the dvd. This is chapter one to me in the dvd, the Yankees championship dvd.

[Don LaGreca]

All right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

And this chapter one will be when Aaron Judge was in a big moment, pressure situation, big spot and came up huge in a playoff like winner take all atmosphere to show he is once and for all a winner, that he can be on the level of the guy he's compared to a lot Derek Jeter. To me, I need Aaron Judge to give me something tonight. He had a great throw. That throw he had in the semifinal, take out Tatis at third base in an inning that felt like it was about to blow up on the US that was a hell of a throw. That's a big time play. I need it in a game like this. I can't have Aaron Judge give me an 0 for 3 or, you know, with a walk and nothing really happens. I need Aaron Judge to have a stamp, a footprint, if you will, on this game. Take away the drop fly ball in the World Series and all the stuff that people mock him about. I need an Aaron Judge moment tonight. That is chapter one in the Yankees World Series DVD for I love, I

[Don LaGreca]

love the setup here. And here's the question I want to ask. And we'll open the phone lines, of course, 1-800-919-3776. We're going to get to a whole lot Knicks talk as well. We have Knicks basketball tonight. We got to play Stephen A. Smith's interesting comments about the Knicks. We'll do all that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

But here's my question for you Yankee fans. I want a moment of honesty, please. If Aaron Judge is a hero tonight and leads Team USA to victory in the WBC and he has it like the most clutch way possible, just be honest with me, will you, as a Yankee fan. Not you, Alan, because I think you're sane. But to the more insane, will you, insane Yankee fan, truly celebrate the moment for Judge or will you actually be like, well, of course he does it there. Is he gonna do it in October? Like, I really wonder, Allen. I think they'll cheer in the moment and then I worry they'll use it and throw it right in his face. Like it puts even more pressure on him. Now it's kind of damned if you do damned if you don't. Because if he gets up in a huge spot and he blows it. Alan, to your point, that reinforces the narrative people have built about this guy, and that's coming off of a postseason in which he batted like.500. It wasn't like, you know, the most insane, clutch moments from Judge, but it was a really good playoff performance, the best of his career.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes, he performed in the playoffs. His team didn't. And look, all great players are going to have the critics. In fact, I think if you're a great player, you're gonna, you have to have critics. You know, if you don't have haters, you ain't popping. And that's what I think you have with Aaron Judge. You're going to have those people. And the one thing you can find about him, because there's really. He's as close to perfect as you can be when it comes to a player, a batter personality, the way he is as a leader. He's. He's really everything you can appreciate in an athlete. Right? But we have to nitpick and find the bad. The bad is he is not at his best when his best is needed. And when he did have success, it didn't contribute to team success. It's so what you're at bats, it's like, it's like a rod. You always, you know, you, yeah, you got hits, but it didn't help anybody win. And I think he's dealing with that. I don't know if a Yankee fan should be like, oh, yeah, you do it now, but you don't do it in the World Series two years ago. I would say, well, maybe he has now conquered the clutch gene, which is my. Maybe the. Of all the great things he's made of, clutch gene is not one of them.

[Don LaGreca]

Not that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And that's probably the most valuable thing, the element of every great player, the most valuable thing is the clutch gene. It's what makes you great. And he doesn't show that yet. Can he do it tonight? In a moment. And if he does, how is it celebrated? Is it celebrated as, wow, that's a big spot. That's impressive because he even said, this is the atmosphere is even better than a World Series. Which means there's some juice to this. But if people tell me tomorrow, if he gives me a three run home run or a big hit in a big spot, something happens and it's a clutch moment, don't call tomorrow and be like, so what? It's wbc. It doesn't mean anything. Not after Yesterday, after yesterday we were told that we're the ones that don't get it, that this is big, that it does matter. So if it does, yeah, this is the time that Aaron Judge needs to have a moment and maybe it sets him up for a year in less talking about him and how home run records and everything else and more talk about him being a guy who is a catalyst for winning.

[Don LaGreca]

Can I throw something at you? And we'll talk to you guys. 1-800-919-3776. Where you at, Yankee fans? I do want to know, I want to know how in you are tonight and how you will react if Judge

[Peter Rosenberg]

has a clutch Yankee fan baseball fans who were telling us yesterday how big this is.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, that too.

[Peter Rosenberg]

How much is this for, for arguably the best or second best player in the sport, how big is it for him to have a moment on this stage?

[Don LaGreca]

Let me throw this at you, though. Now, I don't want to throw off the whole point that you just made because I totally felt it and it's, and it's profound. You know, I'm, you know, I'm a wrestling fan. I'm into storytelling.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Of course.

[Don LaGreca]

That's what we do.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's what we do.

[Don LaGreca]

You know that for that dvd.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

The Yankees win the World Series. You know, there's only one story better than him coming up huge in the clutch in the wbc.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I know what you're going to do.

[Don LaGreca]

It's just complete disaster, complete failure in the wbc.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All of the strike three.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah. Call strike three. And not on the shoulder moment and not like six inches below the strike zone. Like what happened the other day to Dr. I'm talking about right down the pipe and Judge looks at it and then everyone, you know, and then you get there.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But well, well, it remains the sports talk radio host in you, I know, is rooting for the ladder. Not because you're an evil guy who wants to see bad things happen to a great athlete in New York, but because I think we all know the vitriol will be a lot hotter than the praise because I'm like, my, my prediction is if he doesn't come through and they lose, he's going to get grilled. But if he comes through and they win now all of a sudden those who are telling us how great this event was, they're going to tamp it down. Well, it's not that. Come on. It's not the World Series. He still has to do it for the Yankees in the World Series. He hasn't proven Anything yet. I think it's a prove it moment for him. It's an early but important prove it moment for him. That's what I think.

[Don LaGreca]

Listen, him Judge more than anyone has set the table for how important this event is. He is Aaron Judge, the number one hype machine around the wbc. He's the best player and most famous and popular player in the game. And he is the one who has been saying as recently as two days ago, these are the best crowds I've ever seen. Better than the World Series. He's the one who sort of set the table. So Allen, he really did now put himself in a spot where he's got to deliver. Now listen, we don't know what's going to happen in this game. Obviously, you know, listen, maybe he's 2 for 4 and he has a great day but doesn't end up in that clutch spot, does enough and they win or lose and this ends up being kind of moot. But should he end up in that spot, he has really put himself in a situation where it's going to be a lot of eyes and a lot of pressure. 1-800-919-3776 let's start talking to the people about the WBC. And so far Alan and I have been impressed, man. People have wanted to talk about it. Let's go to Eric in Long Beach. What up, Eric?

[Caller Eric]

Hey, guys, what's happening?

[Don LaGreca]

How you doing?

[Caller Jose/Armando]

Good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You guys are great.

[Caller Eric]

Love the show. I gotta say though, I know that you guys kind of went out of your way yesterday. To clarify, you do like it. You just don't want to put it on the same pedestal as Olympics or anything like that. Fine, I get it.

[Caller Danny]

But it's weird.

[Caller Eric]

It still has like, you guys have like a combative tone still about the whole wbc. Like it has just been fun.

[Caller Danny]

It's been great.

[Caller Eric]

Every person I know that likes baseball has loved it. It doesn't need to be compared to the Olympics. It doesn't have to have these kind of like, well, it's not this, it's not that.

[Caller Danny]

It's just, it's great.

[Caller Eric]

And I know you guys are awesome and you love baseball and everything, but even in all of the walking back and clarifying it, it seems like there's

[Peter Rosenberg]

a combative tone to the whole W

[Don LaGreca]

can I, can I Yesterday, Eric, I want to remove myself from that. I, I, I really have not been Don and I Don and Don the most, Allen second most. And I haven't been combative about it at all.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like, I think But I will, yeah, I will tell Eric. Eric, honestly. And I'm. And I'm not. This is not performative. I really did buy in yesterday, first of all, because that semifinal against Dominican Republic was a really compelling game. And because the amount of callers that told me, hey, this is really a lot of fun. Hey, it's not, you know, but I'm now looking at tonight's game and thinking, okay, so everybody is into this and we all, we all know what, you know, the, the. What's the knock on Judge? What's the. So I said, if we all think this is big, let's see what he does. Let's see if he has a moment. And what I don't want is to hear the next day, it's not that big of a deal. It's not that important because I don't want to hear that if you were telling me that this is a big deal. That's all I'm saying. I'm not trying to. I'm not. I'm not. I guess I'm sounding combative. Maybe I'm just energized. I'm excited for it.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, I think Don, I think Don was very strong on, you know, this isn't that much of a thing. Let's not pretend like it is. And then also, you know, really coming. I mean, Don went as far as saying, and I don't think you joined him all the way here. Don went as far as saying, I don't believe Aaron Judge even feels that way. He was put up to say, yeah, that it was.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I, yeah, he feels like that.

[Don LaGreca]

I said in the meeting, you sound like a conspiracy theory nut. I don't think anyone told Judge, you have to represent. Hey, you know what? Say you like it so much that you put down the World Series.

[Show Producer/Announcer]

I do not think.

[Don LaGreca]

I don't think that happened. And you know what? Allen's exactly right, though. Anyone who had any doubt, and I admit it, I haven't been locked into watching games live. I've more been score following and highlight watching on Instagram. But I've been super impressed by the amount of people who've been into it. And in my being outside just walking around New York over the last several days. Yeah, I just seeing the amount of Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico hats, you see the amount of pride that people have in watching this thing. And we talked about this some yesterday. The US Is simply behind in that regard because the level of pride in USA Baseball, it's just not really a thing because baseball has been dominated by all things American for so long that you just don't have sort of that common ground feeling that all these different fan bases seem to have. But there's no knocking the level of excitement that people have. Let's go to Jose and in Queens. What's up, Jose?

[Caller Jose/Armando]

Hey, guys.

[Caller Jose (continued)]

Good afternoon.

[Don LaGreca]

You too, man.

[Caller Jose (continued)]

Enjoy the show. So I'm one to start by saying I'm happy we got Judge's arm is

[Caller Jose/Armando]

back that throw at third when he got that piece.

[Caller Jose (continued)]

We know his arm is back for

[Caller Jose/Armando]

the season, so that's good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, it's true. That's a great point. About last year, right? At the end of the year, we were worried about that elbow.

[Caller Jose (continued)]

Yeah. So now if he performs well today or not, you know, I'm a Yankee fan, so I root for the Yankee team. The whole team. Not only Judge, right? But if he has a bad game, it's okay. It's an exhibition game.

[Caller Jose/Armando]

It's exciting.

[Caller Jose (continued)]

I was born here, my parents over South America, so Venezuela, South America is going to be. It's going to be a good game of you. If you're a baseball fan, you have to enjoy the game, I think, you know, like. But it's. It's South Americans and a lot of country, you know, they. They have the flag on their shoulders or on their heart, so they play. You know, they want to represent. Represent the team to the fullest, right? It's. It's good for baseball. It's good for. It's exciting games. But I don't think that this game should. If he has a bad game, a good game, we know judges. He's a bad player, he's not a bad player. He's one. He's the best player.

[Caller Jose/Armando]

But he has that every day.

[Caller Jose (continued)]

You know, you can't perform.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know how this goes. Like. Like, the thing is, Jose, you know how this goes. No matter what, I think if he doesn't. If he has a bad game and they lose, it's not going away. The critics are always looking for something. And when you're one of the best players in the sport, the critics can't wait to come at you. It's just the thing. It's heavy is the head that wears that crown. And that's just a real thing. It's not something I'm encouraging. I think us as a show, we're trying to, like, set you up for it. Like, hey, keep this in mind. You know what's coming. And that's why I want to see a moment that I think it'd be great. Because a moment from Judge, like that throw, but especially at the plate, because, look, that's what we all know him for. If he's got a moment at the plate, man, that's one of those things that he. And that's what would make this tournament special before the season. Because you could take that momentum, you could take that. Whatever it does for him, that little extra it gives him, take it into the season. And now you're talking about, does this now kind of help fuel what has been a long awaited run to try to win a championship? You got to tell me the Yankees team's not good enough to win a championship. That when this pitching staff gets healthy, which, by the way, Garrett Cole's pitching an inning today. An inning. How about that?

[Don LaGreca]

How about that? So whole baseball inning.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, for a guy that's coming off ucl, that's pretty damn impressive this early.

[Don LaGreca]

No, it's a step. It's a big step. It's important. So.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So if, when you get this pitching staff healthy, there's no reason why you can't make the case that they could finally break through and win a championship. And why not have a moment to start the year where Judge sort of just kind of stakes his claim? Like, I know what you said. I know, you know, everybody believes it's Ohtani, but look what I'm doing in a clutch moment. And there's gonna be more to come this year. As a fan of the Yankees, I would be excited about that tonight. Judge coming through in a big spot. Oh, this is setting us up, baby. Here we go. That's why if it doesn't happen and the Yankees and the US Wins, it's probably nothing. But there'll always be one or two people that's like, yeah, Judge did nothing. You'll get that. But that's quieter. But if they lose and he has a moment where he could have come up big and he doesn't, I promise you, as much as I hate it, these people are going to get louder and louder about how he's a great player, but he doesn't win.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, let me listen. We know. We know how it works. When someone has a narrative, you feed it in any way.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes, you do.

[Don LaGreca]

And listen. We. And also just remember the nature of sports talk and filling a 24 hours, you know, 24 hour entertainment cycle. And Alan just alluded to it, even we as hosts tend to go negative because it's just naturally easier to grab onto negative stories rather than hype up every little positive thing that happens. So if you have Someone who has a really intriguing negative storyline. And the negative storyline around Judge has only been the clutch thing. That's really it. He's. He's successfully avoided. Even though he's had his injury moments, he sort of successfully avoided people talking about that being a recurring thing. It's the clutch gene. He's not cheater because he's not clutch. That those people, they're always looking for more. Let's go to.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Wait for it right here.

[Don LaGreca]

Let's go to Dave in Westchester. What's up, Dave? How you doing?

[Caller Ryan]

Peter's right by Chad saying all this

[Caller Eric]

stuff about this is big and this is big, and this is big. And your screener immediately said, oh, you're. You're the Judge hater. I don't hate the guy at all. And the Clutch thing, it is a big thing to me. It's a big thing. I mean, Jalen Brunson is a clutch player. This guy. I mean, it just. I just don't see it. Like, I'm. Hopefully he comes through tonight. He came through maybe one time in his life. Last year in the playoffs. That's it. I. I think if.

[Don LaGreca]

I think that

[Caller Eric]

I can say whatever he wants. Dave, Peter is a better baseball player than.

[Anthony Pusick]

And here we go again.

[Don LaGreca]

Dave, we can't do this. No, but you, Dave, you do this all the time.

[Caller Eric]

You do it because.

[Don LaGreca]

God bless you, Dave. Dave, I love you. Dave, I love you. But you've done this 50 times. And he's not a better baseball player than Aaron Judge. Derek Jeter's your guy. He's clutch. We get it. One of the most clutch ballplayers of all time. We are not going to convince.

[Caller Ryan]

According to Bill James, he's the fourth

[Caller Eric]

clutch player in the history of baseball.

[Don LaGreca]

There you go. Amazing. It's an amazing stat. You're not going to convince us that he's a better ball player than Aaron Judge. You're not going to.

[Caller Eric]

Well, I'm not taking Baron Judge over Derek Jeter. Neither is any other 50 person who's over 50.

[Caller Jose/Armando]

Nobody.

[Caller Eric]

Not a lot of walking down the street with a Yankee fan not to win a game.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But Peter, go ahead. Right. What Dave is saying is what I will. That's the part I'll agree. If it's to win a game, you're taking Derek Jeter. Right?

[Don LaGreca]

Of course. And I get that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And that's why I think, like, for Judge, what, Like, people will say, what's left for him to do? Win a World Series. Okay. But if he wins a World Series and it's not really on his back but maybe because Garrett Cole wins, you know two games in a seven game series or, or something else happens like that then it'll that will not get away from it will continue. But if Judge has a run, builds off last year, has a run where in the division round in the ALCS and in the World Series. He's just mashing impossible to get out, right? Couple of throwouts as well, some good base running and he's the MVP of the World Series. It's over now. Now Dave can't call and say that stuff.

[Don LaGreca]

I know. And that's, that's all we can even with just one.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Even though Jeters had several with just one he can't do that anymore. You got what I'm saying?

[Don LaGreca]

100%. I couldn't do more, believe me. Dave may be the exception.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Anyway, game time is brought to you

[Don LaGreca]

by telling more to Irish Whiskey because when it's game time, it's Tully time. The Knicks and the Pacers immediately following us on 880 at 7. The Isles and the Leafs at 7 as well. Tullamore dude. The original triple distilled, triple blended and triple cast matured Irish whiskey. Be sure to grab a Tully or try the new Tullamore Dew Honey during today's action. Glasses up to enjoying Tullamore. Do responsibly. Phone lines jammed. We'll talk to you guys more about this. Got to get into the Knicks as well. Talk about it Tuesday. Some things to revisit from the Drop Madness brackets. If you missed the reveal we do. There was some controversy that we're going to get into about Drop Madness. It is Don Hanna Rosenberg on ESPN

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[Show Producer/Announcer]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don LaGreca]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Show Producer/Announcer]

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

[Don LaGreca]

It's Don Honda Rosenberg, ESPN New York I wonder if Don you'd feel like Alan Don would have spent like a little more time when he goes into hip hop. Wouldn't you have thought Don would have spent more time with Public Enemy?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I always tell him that if there's ever a hip hop band that fits him the most, it's Public Enemy.

[Don LaGreca]

But isn't it? It's already it's weird that he missed it though, because he was of the right age gotten it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But I don't know how he missed it. I mean again, even he did a

[Don LaGreca]

song with Anthrax, the Collab with Anthrax

[Peter Rosenberg]

is what I was thinking of, but I. I don't know. I mean, you know, even Onyx, like, those are things to me that are right in his wheelhouse. And. But this especially. Especially the. Those. Those. Those middle two albums that PE Made back then.

[Don LaGreca]

It Takes a Nation of Millions and

[Peter Rosenberg]

welcome to the Terror Dome. Like. Like those. Those two fit exactly the sound that. That Don, you would think loves. But. Yeah, we'll get him there. We'll get him there.

[Don LaGreca]

I think he'd really.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think everybody's got homework, right? He gives everybody homework about watch this movie and watch that. Maybe he needs to. Maybe I need to give him my two. Those two. I think it takes a nation a weekend.

[Don LaGreca]

It takes a nation of millions and fear of a black planet.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, fear of a black planet. I guess those two. But I would probably add welcome to the terrible Terror Dome, too, though.

[Don LaGreca]

No, welcome to the Terror Dome is on. It Takes a nation and millions.

[Caller Jose (continued)]

Right?

[Don LaGreca]

I believe that's what you're thinking of.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Is that what I'm thinking of?

[Caller Jose/Armando]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So many album names at this point.

[Don LaGreca]

You're. Listen, you're. You've been around a long time. Okay.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

Let's see. It Takes a nation and Millions is to. To those paying attention, bring the noise. Don't believe the hype.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right? That's the classic P.E. that's the. That's the one.

[Don LaGreca]

Base heads, black steel. In the hour of chaos, Rebel without a pause.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right, Right.

[Caller Jose (continued)]

All.

[Don LaGreca]

All for on there.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. So.

[Don LaGreca]

So party for your right to fight. Don't forget about that one, too. Fear of a Black Planet.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. Fear of a Black Planet has the great intro. Just an insane intro.

[Don LaGreca]

Fear of a Black Planet.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't know why I always call that album. Welcome to the.

[Don LaGreca]

You got brothers gonna work it out. 9 One's a joke. Welcome to the Pteran.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

Meet the G that killed me. Burn Hollywood Burn with Ice Cube and Big Daddy Kane.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Big Daddy Kane. That's really good.

[Don LaGreca]

Can't do nothing for you, man.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Can't do nothing for you, man.

[Don LaGreca]

Flavor flavors got problems of his own. And of course, after the do the Right Thing soundtrack, they put Fight the Power on there as well. So, I mean, that one's got a lot of hammers.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

Don Don and Public Enemy. Makes sense.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They. They really would.

[Don LaGreca]

Great. Let's talk to the people, though, right now, man. I got it. We got to give it up. You got to give it up to the WBC every day. The last few days, it's been jamming our Phone lines non stop.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We have the lineup, by the way, so if you're a Mets fan. Nolan McClain.

[Don LaGreca]

That's right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Starting pitcher. Not to say that's not a big, you know, he didn't have a great outing last time out. What? Didn't pitch well. But this is a big spot for the young guy as well.

[Caller Danny]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

If you're a Mets fan, you want to see if your guy can, you know, can hold up in a big spot. Judge batting third, by the way. Whit Harper, Judge Schwarber, Bregman, then Anthony Smith, Charang, and then Buxton. So, my God, that's a murderous row.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, no, it's. It's. It's heavy hitters tonight.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, man.

[Don LaGreca]

Let's go to Armando in Harlem. What's up, Armando?

[Caller Jose/Armando]

Hey, what's up? How's it going, guys?

[Don LaGreca]

Yo, yo, yo.

[Caller Jose/Armando]

Good. Yeah. I want to make a quick point. I wanted to get on yesterday, but you guys were busy. Busy. The point I wanted to make was it looks more like, I think we take it as Americans. We almost take it like we're too cool for school. And the point you were making about Judge, when we look at it as well, if he loses, just the wbc, if he wins, hey, we won it all. And I think that's because we have options of doing other things. We could go outside, have a drink, do whatever. But in other countries, I'm gonna use example of the one I'm more familiar with. I'm Puerto Rican, but I'm familiar with the odds. I have people over there right now in El Capitolio, which is like their White House, I guess, and the monumental. There's people that don't have access to TVs. They actually put these giant screens so everybody could come and see the TV games.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I get it.

[Caller Jose (continued)]

It feels.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Caller Jose/Armando]

That's why I say, like these other countries. Look at Venezuela a month ago, whatever happened, regime, I think they got other more important things going on. But I think baseball takes that away of real life and you go, how you guys call it, to the candy shop or factory, whatever you guys, Candy

[Peter Rosenberg]

store, whatever that thing is.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, that place.

[Caller Jose/Armando]

So when you go there, I. I think that's why it means so much to other countries.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think you're right.

[Caller Jose/Armando]

Personally. Gone. I've gone to. I've gone to playoff games. Never gone to a World Series. I got a playoff game here. After a while, you could have fell asleep, honestly. Yeah, it was loud, but it's not serious. Iana in Dominican Republic, I went to WBC game And I went to. This year, I went to WBC in Ambison, Puerto Rico. And I went. I'm trying to go to Japan, but anyway. For baseball game. But anyway, the point is, the atmosphere is completely different when you go to the city of Caribbean. The guys next to us, the road next to us, you couldn't take a water bottle into the stadium. But these guys came in with an orchestra. So all these things they came in with, they came in. It's a party, party, party.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's a good point.

[Caller Jose/Armando]

Once my meds go down, once my Mets go down three runs, we can hit crickets.

[Don LaGreca]

It's so different.

[Caller Jose/Armando]

If you allow me.

[Don LaGreca]

Go ahead.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You earned it. Go.

[Caller Jose/Armando]

I have a beef with Don with what he was saying. So I'm going to ask Peter what he was saying. Well, the world.

[Caller Danny]

The world.

[Caller Jose/Armando]

Soccer, whatever. Soccer dudes.

[Caller Ryan]

It's.

[Caller Jose/Armando]

It started in 30, so it's important. Peter, do you love your daughter? I assume so.

[Don LaGreca]

I do. I'm very into my own.

[Caller Jose/Armando]

Yeah, but how? She's only a year old, so with dog's logic, you shouldn't really love her until she's an adult.

[Don LaGreca]

I don't know if the kid comparison is exactly where I'd go.

[Peter Rosenberg]

May I say this?

[Caller Jose/Armando]

I went to the stream.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But yeah, I was gonna say, you have such a great call till that. Because I can say that a daughter. And, Peter, you will learn this. All right. My daughter just turned 11. My other daughter's about to turn 18. Oh, yeah. I absolutely love them way more than I did when they were a year old, almost. I know more about them. So it's different. There's more history there. So that bad example for a great call because he's right. Think about it. These are also. These aren't world powers we're playing against. This is not France and Spain and, you know, and the Great Britain. Like, this is Venezuela. This is Puerto Rico. This is all the different countries that right now are going through a lot of stuff, man. And we are the world power who's like, yeah, we're into it if we want to, but we got other stuff going on while they're like, this is personal. I mean, Dominican Republic and how proud they are, their baseball stars, and they want to feel like we can walk on a stage with the United States and go toe to toe with them. That's a different feel. So I totally understand that. And that's the part I think from the US Side of this tournament probably has been missing is the too cool for school thing versus for some of These countries who are going through stuff, and they know their size in comparison to the US but on this stage, we can go toe to toe with them. Yeah, that's got to hit different.

[Don LaGreca]

Totally. But I do think he made a fantastic point. The earlier point, though, about how. Just how different other countries receive the game and deal with it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You ever see basketball in Greece? They have bonfires in the stands. It's insane, but it's their way of firing up the team, literally, if the team is just not having a good start. Like, imagine the other night, Knicks were terrible in the first quarter against Golden State at home. Imagine if the Knick crowd, instead of groaning, started, like, loud chants and somebody, like, lit like a Roman candle. And now the Knick players are like, damn. Like, all of a sudden it's gotten hot in here, you know, and that picks up the play. Sometimes a crowd can do that. You just, you know, you're a little worried about it being out of control.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah. I mean, also. But I just have to say something. This isn't going to be popular again. I'm taking a risk. There is something you do have to remember, though. We're not America in general. I love the United States. And assuming. Assuming we do our best to stick to the ideals that we have on the paper, I plan to stay here for the rest of my life. I plan to. I'm never going to pretend, though, that we are the masters of having fun. Like, when it comes to good, organic, like, partying, like, turning a thing into a party. I don't mean turning it into a riot. No, I don't mean turning, like, violent. And I mean, like.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I know you mean.

[Don LaGreca]

You know what I mean.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

Like, you. You watch how. How soccer games are in a lot of countries.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's just something. It's more joy. There's less angst.

[Don LaGreca]

We're and. And remember.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But you know what else?

[Don LaGreca]

Those are countries that don't focus. We have been taught in our country, you work hard. Work hard, work hard. One day you'll retire and you can relax. Other countries, it's like, no, listen, work hard, but take a nap during the day, Come home and relax. Party on a Wednesday, smoke a cigarette, drink some wine. We don't really do the fun thing. So it's not surprising, Alan, that in a game like baseball, other places are able to make it more of a fun thing. And it's a little more business. Like, for us, it's kind of who we are.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. The fun thing is also for us, of, what did you do for me? So we're up. We score five runs in the first inning.

[Caller Eric]

All right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This is fun, right? For other countries. We're down by. We're down three runs. We're not groaning. We're trying to encourage, like they're about. No, no, no, come on, let's bring them back. It becomes communal and I just. It's a different mentality. It's a great way to put it.

[Don LaGreca]

Let's get one more. Here we have Steve in Queens. What up, Steve? Wow.

[Caller Eric]

I don't think I can follow what all you guys been talking about, but that gentleman who just called about the bands in Argentina or in South America, Remember they had the Dodgers symphony in Brooklyn, New York. That is one of the places. I was only four years old. I don't really remember the dodgers. I was 4 years old when they left. That was a big deal. It was all these immigrants came in. They wanted to be Americans. They loved baseball, if you ever read the stories about it. They used to hang ropes outside of the windows of Evans Field when the Dodger management tried to stop them from bringing the stuff in. And they weren't. A lot of them weren't even really musicians. But that's about the celebration, about the

[Caller Ryan]

corporate stuff

[Caller Eric]

that you guys mentioned. I think baseball got a lot more corporate over the past 30, 40 years when it became so expensive to go to games. And it did become more corporate. Something that Don said yesterday that the American team is expected to win. Kind of like the Jeter teams were supposed to win during that period. And as a Yankee fanny, I guess you can identify with it sometimes.

[Caller Ryan]

I just didn't want them to lose.

[Caller Eric]

I didn't really. Maybe because I was middle aged at that point. I just wanted Jeter and Mariano not to get embarrassed. And it wasn't so much about the enjoyment of winning, but I didn't want to get them, see them getting browbeated in the papers or hate to say it on. On sports radio or places like that. I don't know. It's a completely different feel. That wasn't the real reason why I was calling. If I could just add one last point. I didn't. I'm kind of a lapsed baseball fan. It seems stupid after all the things I've said. I loved when I saw that Italy was playing Puerto Rico. I'm half Italian now. If Puerto Rico is playing anybody else except the United States, I'm rooting for the Puerto Ricans. I came from Brooklyn, still live in Queens, love Puerto Rican spirit. When I played ball with them, I was going with them. But hey, Francisco Cervelli is the manager for the Yankees. Posada was on the team. I really got into it. I feel sorry that they lost last night, but it was a great run and it made me a fan of the wbc. And the WBC feel makes me feel like baseball was 30 or 40 years ago and I'll keep my mouth shut. I talk too long anyway.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But it, but still, Steve's saying is part of I guess what it used to feel like in all professional sports where because now that sports has become so much consumable around like you have fans who are fans of teams that aren't even in your market. There was a time it was provincial. You know, again, these are like Brooklyn Dodgers are the example he brought up. I watched a great documentary on all them and the best thing is, is like calling them bums. And it was, you could, only Brooklynites could call them bums. If you, you know, you lived in Manhattan and you said all them bums. Oh, it was a fight. Like it was something personal and provincial. We've kind of lost that in a lot of sports because it's, you know, now you're consuming it in different ways and obviously you can have fans from all over the place. It's not as. But, but when you have a WBC or just like the four nations or just like the Olympics, it goes back to that feel of our boys, our team, us feels a lot different than I think professional sports feels these days.

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[Show Producer/Announcer]

Thanks for listening to the Don, Han and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don LaGreca]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Show Producer/Announcer]

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

[Don LaGreca]

I have to add that Don texted us.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yep.

[Don LaGreca]

And made clear that he is a fan of Fear of a Black Planet.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Good.

[Don LaGreca]

So I apologize to Don Lagreca. Now, if you're late to the program, you may not realize that Don Lagreca is sick and will not be joining us tomorrow at Calandras. We are all upset. We are all disappointed. Disappointed. But we will all still be there.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes, we will still be there.

[Don LaGreca]

And Alan, guess what else?

[Peter Rosenberg]

We've got more.

[Don LaGreca]

Come on.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Not just us.

[Don LaGreca]

Rick D. Pietro is coming to the Watch party.

[Show Producer/Announcer]

Yay.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I know him.

[Don LaGreca]

Ken Danico. What? Gonna be a guest on the show. But then he's coming back for the Watch Party.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Stanley cup champion to you and me. Damn right.

[Don LaGreca]

Veteran of this. Of the Sasso softball game, Ken Danico.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And by the way, broadcast partner of Don Lagreca. Which means with Don not there, we can get Dano to tell us some Don stories.

[Caller Eric]

Mm.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know what I mean? Can't wait for that.

[Don LaGreca]

So, it's gonna be awesome. We're bummed that there's no Dom, but we're gonna have a fantastic time tomorrow. We hope you'll come. If you don't have a reservation, don't play yourself. You do not want to not have a seat. So call 973-226-8889. And we're gonna get time to hang out with everybody. It's gonna be a fantastic time. Anthony Pusick's even coming. Can you believe it?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, he Likes hockey.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah. The Rangers are even entertaining them these days.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

How was Hockey Ranger last night, Anthony?

[Anthony Pusick]

It's probably their worst game that they've played since the break, which is saying a lot because they really haven't lost. But it was one. One bad period. And in the third, they looked much better. And the kids still look good. So really, when you're taking a look

[Don LaGreca]

at it that way, we love the kids.

[Anthony Pusick]

I feel pretty good about that, that I don't think they're gonna win every game.

[Don LaGreca]

They shouldn't.

[Anthony Pusick]

They do. Something went horribly wrong in the beginning. We have to find out why.

[Don LaGreca]

Let's. Let's go to Ryan in Schenectady. Hey, Ryan. Ryan.

[Caller Eric]

Hey, fellas.

[Peter Rosenberg]

There he is.

[Caller Jose (continued)]

How you doing?

[Don LaGreca]

What up?

[Caller Ryan]

Listen, I wanted to call. I was hoping Don would be there today. You better don't.

[Caller Eric]

Peter.

[Caller Ryan]

Yeah, I just wanted to give you. I wanted to give you your flowers on your list.

[Don LaGreca]

Thank you only.

[Caller Ryan]

Very good. The only thing I would say is Eve, Love is Blind with Mary J. I believe

[Don LaGreca]

I'm not a love is blind guy, but. But I know the story is very sad and like, it's a very emo song. I just don't love Love is Blind, but I respect the call. Thank you for. For contributing. Ryan, what else you got for us?

[Caller Ryan]

I just want about the World Baseball Classic. I think that because Don, Peter, Allen, none of you guys are baseball first guys.

[Caller Jose/Armando]

Okay.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Is that fair to say baseball first?

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, I'd say none of us are baseball first.

[Caller Ryan]

Exactly. So my point is this. Those of us who love baseball, bleeding cry, live baseball. The WBC actually does hit different for us, so it's a little different. I understand why it doesn't mean as much as you guys to. To you guys as it does to us. But I think that's. That's the disconnect. Especially with Don. Don's a hockey guy, you know, he loves baseball, but he's a hockey first guy.

[Peter Rosenberg]

See, I'll jump in and say that. But part of, I guess what the WBC is created for, and don't take this the wrong way, because like any sport, they're not selling to the diehards because they already got you guys, right? You guys are addicted. So we don't need to sell to you. You're coming to us. But what they're trying to do is draw in more people, some non traditional fans, some people that might just like the allure of international competition. For whatever reason, whatever it is, they're trying to bring in another audience. And so that's why, like someone like me who will, you know, the minute the Yankee season starts, I'm there front and center watching as many games I can until the Knicks are done. And then I'm watching every game. And that's different when this time of year, it's like you're introducing this and I'm waiting for something that's drawn me in. And I didn't get it until the semifinal. I got it there, but I wasn't getting it until there. Is that fair to say, Peter?

[Don LaGreca]

No, totally.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's kind of how it works, right?

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, I think that's a reasonable. Whether you're a baseball first guy or not.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like four nations. Well, I'll use that as an example again because it's very similar to wbc, very similar. It's an international competition for no reason other than to just do it. And what you needed was a draw because you had the hockey fans, they were coming in. Hockey fans were always coming to that. But how can we get more eyeballs on this thing? The players made it happen with that game between the Canadians and Americans. That was a just round robin game and they. You could see the passion and the. There were fights right away and it became a viral story of this game opened up and we had a brawl, line brawl the minute the game started. It makes people lean forward who maybe weren't paying attention. And that's kind of what, you know, for a lot of us. I think that's what he was trying to say. I can't deny that it's a real thing, but I'm leaning in now.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, it's getting the people right now, getting the people going. Let's go to Danny on Long Island. What's up, Danny?

[Caller Danny]

Danny, who's been to Calandras many times. It's definitely going to be a high calorie event. Guys, skip lunch. I'm all in. And I've been all in for about a week. And you know, this tournament picks up steam as it goes along because there's so many fagazi teams, the Italian team, we laugh about it. But then when it gets down to the final four or six, you have six, basically MLB all Star teams playing and they care. The Japanese team, the Venezuelan doctor America. These are professional baseball players, top of the line, best in the world. And they're playing an exhibition, but they care and the fans and the crowd care. So you're watching game seven of the World Series tonight. Now, if the American team loses, I'll be sound asleep within about 10 minutes. If the Mets lose Game 7 of the World Series, I would walk around my house like a zombie for about a week. I'm not emotionally invested like it would be if the Steelers are heading into overtime.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But.

[Caller Eric]

But when.

[Caller Danny]

Baseball is the single best sport when it gets to the final moments, because it goes on for an hour. If you're in a tie game in the top of the fifth inning, for the next hour and a half of your life, which is almost the length of an entire football game, every pitch, you're looking at people having nervous breakdowns, both in the field, on the stands. A single moment can take forever, and then the guy fouls off five pitches in a row, and you think you're gonna have a nervous breakdown. So when baseball is at its best, it is more compelling at the moment. But the sad thing is, as a baseball guy, is that once this game is over and March Madness starts, by the way, that wasn't an accident that it's scheduled the day before March Madness begins. We won't have this until September because I'm watching the March Madness, then I'm watching the Islanders, and I'm not watching Mets game five. You know, like, it's. Like it's the end of the world. So we have a do it, die, real baseball game tonight, and we won't have another one for six or seven months. No, let's enjoy it.

[Don LaGreca]

Thank you, Danny. I agree with you. And I'll tell you what. So much of it is about how the game ends up playing out. If this game's a dud, either direction, it has a major impact. Like, even the United States. I would argue, Alan, the United States losing a classic would be better for the WBC than the United States winning in a blowout.

[Peter Rosenberg]

In a blowout.

[Caller Jose (continued)]

Yep.

[Don LaGreca]

You want this to be a battle tonight that everyone's hearing about it and flipping the channel going. You got to be watching this.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. Like an eight nothing or something crazy.

[Don LaGreca]

That's not. That's not doing anything for. For anyone.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I agree. I do agree. But I still say if it's eight nothing and Judge has two home runs, well, it'll still.

[Don LaGreca]

That'll make tomorrow interesting for us at least.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Conversation just gets louder and louder about him and Ohtani.

[Don LaGreca]

Also, guys, the conversation getting louder for Rickleball madness this Friday. ESPN New York taking over Pickleball Heaven in Medford, New York, live broadcast of DNR starting at 6am Then stick around for our social ladder pickleball tournament. We'll crown our champions. Then we'll roll right into college hoops to cap off the day. The tournament is officially sold out, but the event is open to the public. Come on down, enjoy the action, be part of Rickleball Madness. Brought to you by Pickleball Heaven, the new standard of indoor pickleball.

[Show Producer/Announcer]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podc.

[Don LaGreca]

I don't want to know how the

[Peter Rosenberg]

sausage is made, but I just want to know it's good.

[Show Producer/Announcer]

Hear more of Don Allen and Peter weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 880 ESPN, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers from 30 for 30 podcasts.

[Caller Jose/Armando]

Did you say someone got shot?

[Don LaGreca]

Brian Pata, senior defensive lineman for Miami.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Miami gunned down the key to this case. It's Brian.

[Don LaGreca]

An hour before he died, he was

[Caller Jose/Armando]

on the phone arguing with somebody.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This might be a hit. You want the truth? They just want a conviction.

[Caller Eric]

Being placed under arrest.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We had a killer amongst us.

[Don LaGreca]

Murder at the U. Listen now.