Hour 2: Aaron Goldhammer & The List

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg
ESPN New York | Hour 2: Aaron Goldhammer & The List
May 20, 2026

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Episode Overview

Hour 2 of “Don, Hahn & Rosenberg” delivers a deep dive into the New York Knicks' thrilling comeback win, engaging cross-talk with Cleveland radio host Aaron Goldhammer after the Cavaliers' collapse, and the debut of a “Top 5” segment on New York athletes whose numbers should be retired but aren't. The trio blend passionate fandom, sports analysis, and signature humor, creating an engaging hour for NY sports fans.

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1. Knicks’ Stunning Comeback: Breaking Down the Win

[01:30–05:50]

• Recap of the Knicks-Cavs Playoff Thriller:

  • Knicks stormed back from a 22-point deficit versus the Cavaliers, executing a 44–11 run to close regulation and overtime.
  • Jalen Brunson’s heroics were front and center (“God, I love Jalen Brunson.” – Nick, [02:11]).
  • A comparison to previous dramatic Knicks wins, with callers and hosts drawing on recent series vs. Boston and Philadelphia.

• Cautious Optimism:

  • The hosts temper excitement, reminding listeners that momentum can shift quickly if the Knicks falter in Game 2:
    “If you lose tomorrow, that kind of blows up my theory that the Knicks were just rusty...Maybe the Cavs took advantage of some matchups.” — Alan Hahn, [04:22]

• Debating the Knicks' Path:

  • Pushback on narratives discounting the Knicks’ playoff opposition:
    “Or is it the fact the Knicks are making them look not good?” — Alan Hahn, [05:14] “If you’re blowing teams out...then you’re way better than everybody else in the East, which puts you closer to the West.” — Peter Rosenberg, [05:22]

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2. Cavs' Collapse: Live Therapy with Aaron Goldhammer

[08:22–25:37]

• Introducing Aaron Goldhammer:

  • Cleveland ESPN Radio host Goldhammer joins for a post-meltdown therapy session.
  • He riffs on comic misery:
    “I am here to wallow in misery while you guys do what? Make fun of me?” — Aaron Goldhammer, [09:04]
    • NY hosts emphasize empathy: "We know exactly how you’re feeling. We can talk you through it. It doesn’t get better, trust me." — Allen, [09:53]

• Cavs' Mental Lapses & Coaching Criticism:

  • Goldhammer’s withering read of coach Kenny Atkinson’s late-game time management and James Harden’s defensive failings:
    • “The Cavs just had a complete and total brain cramp. I think it happened so fast...they looked around, they were like, wait, why are all these people cheering?” — Aaron Goldhammer, [12:52]
    • Insists Atkinson may have mentally checked out when the Cavs had a large lead: “I think he was thinking about what he was going to order at his postgame meal...he was not present in the moment with his team.” — [12:22]

• Organization Talk & Cleveland Sports Culture:

  • Comparison of Cavs/Knicks as historically star-crossed teams, with Cleveland’s all-in sports allegiance highlighted: “Cleveland, probably more than most American cities, lives and dies with these teams and rides that emotional roller coaster…” — Aaron Goldhammer, [18:19]

• Carryover Effects of Collapses:

  • Detailed discussion on whether playoff collapses create emotional baggage for the next game and how teams recover.
  • “It’s 48 minutes, not 42. That’s the lesson learned, and unfortunately when you learn it too late, there’s no making up for it.” — Allen, [21:01]

• Knicks Legends on the Sidelines:

  • Lively banter about former Knicks (e.g., Marbury, Starks) being overly animated courtside:
    “Can you please let them know they’re not playing in the game?” — Aaron Goldhammer, [22:22]
    • Discussion segues into the legacy and front-row “pecking order” if the current Knicks win a title.

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3. The List: NY Athletes Whose Numbers Should Be Retired

[27:32–41:07]

• Premise: Top 5 local athletes whose numbers should be retired but aren’t; criteria: not already announced for retirement or in the queue.

• Quick Debate on David Wright and Met Numbers:

  • Clarifies Wright, Doc Gooden, and Daryl Strawberry recently had their numbers retired; this informs who is on/off the list.

• Notable Entries & Rationales: #5: Carmelo Anthony (Knicks) — [30:16]

  • “There are fans that want to see him retired.”
  • Acknowledges divisive fan sentiment but notes resurgence of Melo-support post-retirement.

  #4: Nick Mangold (Jets) — [33:19]

  • “I believe Nick Mangold is the best center in franchise history...I do believe he belongs in the Hall of Fame and I believe his number should be retired.” — Alan Hahn, [33:31]
  • Push for Jets management to act promptly on Mangold’s number.

  #3: Gary Carter (Mets) — [36:27]

  • Emphasizes Carter’s pivotal role in the ‘86 Mets and his exemplary conduct compared to other '86 Mets:
    “Great player, great guy…the one guy that stayed clean and represented himself very well during that whole period was Gary Carter.” — Alan Hahn, [37:15]

  #2: Darrelle Revis (Jets) — [33:31]

  #1: Brad Park (Rangers) — [38:16]

  • “I’m really shocked that they haven’t retired it yet, but I think that’s number one.”
  • Five times second in Norris voting (behind Bobby Orr), all-star every year but rookie season.

• Honorable Mentions & Fan Feedback:

  • A-Rod (Yankees), Pat LaFontaine (Islanders), and legacy Mets and Rangers all get shout-outs and context.
  • Invites listeners/callers to react, especially on Twitter.

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4. Mets’ Number 8 Fiasco: Organization in Disarray

[42:48–51:10]

• Backstory:

  • Rookie Nick Morabito was (insensitively) issued #8, unretired but revered due to Gary Carter.
  • Post-game, Morabito explains, “I was just given 8…It was handed to him. He didn’t demand it.” — [43:41]; he’ll now wear #55.
  • Hosts slam the Mets’ organizational cluelessness:
    “This is why the Mets are a legit clown show that have no idea what they're doing.” — Alan Hahn, [43:53]

• Broader Critique:

  • Alan Hahn launches into a classic fan tirade:
    • “You want to kick the Mets in the brain? Kick them in the butt, because that's where their brains sit. Where they sit. No idea what you're doing as an organization.”
    • Argues these small details (“Numbers are sacred.” — Allen, [47:47]) are indicative of greater management problems.
    • Peter Rosenberg agrees: “Do those things go down the ranks the way they're supposed to?” — [47:48]

• Comic Relief & Fan Lament:

  • Analogies comparing Mets fandom to a toxic, one-sided relationship:
    • “If this was a relationship, at what point would I have just gone, ‘Listen, honey, it’s not working.’” — Alan Hahn, [50:23]
    • “Fifteen years ago, Don came home from a trip and the Mets were...sleeping with three of his friends…” — Peter Rosenberg, [50:43]

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “God, I love Jalen Brunson.” — Caller Nick, [02:11]
• “I am here to wallow in misery while you guys do what? Make fun of me?” — Aaron Goldhammer, [09:04]
• “The Cavs just had a complete and total brain cramp. I think it happened so fast...” — Aaron Goldhammer, [12:52]
• “The Mets are a legit clown show that have no idea what they're doing.” — Alan Hahn, [43:53]
• “If this was a relationship, at what point would I have just gone, ‘Listen, honey, it’s not working.’” — Alan Hahn, [50:23]
• “Numbers are sacred.” — Allen, [47:47]
• “Do those things go down the ranks the way they’re supposed to?...It starts at the top.” — Peter Rosenberg, [47:48]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Knicks comeback and analysis: [01:30–05:50]
• Aaron Goldhammer (Cavs’ POV): [08:22–25:37]
• Top 5: Unretired NY Athlete Numbers: [27:32–41:07]
• Mets #8/Organizational Rant: [42:48–51:10]

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Tone & Takeaway

The hour is a blend of passionate sports expertise, raw fandom, and New York-style wit. The hosts alternate between analytical rigor and humorous lament, especially when dissecting beloved but beleaguered franchises. If you’re a Knicks, Jets, or Mets fan, the venting will hit home; Cleveland listeners will appreciate a dose of empathy amidst the schadenfreude.

Ideal for:

• Knicks fans riding high
• NY sports nostalgia buffs
• Listeners who enjoy witty, unscripted sports talk
• Fans of organizational dysfunction rants (Mets segment is a must)

Transcript

[Ian Fitzsimmons]

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[Don Hahn]

is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Alan Hahn]

That sounds like heaven to me.

[Don Hahn]

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

[Alan Hahn]

Game time is brought to you by Tullamore Do Irish Whiskey because when it's game time fellas,

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's calling time.

[Alan Hahn]

Mets Nationals continue their series and coverage will begin at 6 o' clock on 880 right after us. Also you got game two between the spurs and the Thunder. You can hear that on 10:50 beginning at 8:00 and on 8:80 following the Mets game. And then the Yankees and Blue Jays will continue their series over the Bronx at 7:05. Tullamore do the original triple distilled, triple blended and triple cast matured Irish whiskey. Be sure to grab a Tullamore Dew. Try the new Tullamore Do Honey during today's action. Glasses up to enjoying Tullamore do responsibly. Quite the night at Madison Square Garden. People still want to talk about it 1-800-919-3776 including Nick in Woodbridge. You're on ESPN New York. What's up Nick?

[Caller Nick]

Hey guys, thanks for taking the call. Just an awesome, awesome game last night. At least the last what, seven minutes and then overtime. But first three quarters were real rocky to say the least. We kind of expected the rust. I don't know that we necessarily expected 2 of 19, but at one point the Cavs had a 99.9% chance of winning that game. But what they didn't account for was Jalen Brunson. And at 0.01% was all he needed to get us over the. Over the hump and bring us back and get that win. I think when, I think back last year, those two wins against Boston, those 20 point comebacks on consecutive games, I was amazed that they were able to pull that off. And when you put that into perspective, what they did last night, it almost makes like those, those comebacks were like nothing, right? Like that was easy. You got to feel great about this team. They believe, the city believes. And you know what, man? Take it one game at a time. Go come back to the Garden tomorrow night. Let's go up two zero, take it to Cleveland and let's see what happens, man. But go Knicks. And God, I love Jalen Brunson.

[Alan Hahn]

I love the attitude.

[Peter Rosenberg]

God bless.

[Alan Hahn]

Because we could be at a different place on Friday if for some reason they were to lose game two. Because then you kind of give it all back, right? And then Cleveland account they were looking

[Allen]

for, they won one. I don't think you give it all back. Well, not giving it all back, you got to win. You already got one.

[Alan Hahn]

But you're giving up, but you're giving them home court. And. And then it just, it'll hit different, right? Like I hit now when the way I open the show is the better team won. The Knicks found their sea legs. There's really no reason to be putting themselves in a situation like they were in going into the fourth quarter last night.

[Allen]

They should go into game two with confidence rather than like, man, we got to get right. Like if, if they never found it in game one. That's your. You go into game two saying like, we got to get right. And then if they don't get right now, you're now like last year, down 02. But because they found it late in the game, they like, rhythm happened, energy, all this stuff. The defense, like it just now, they go into game two just feeling better. Not necessarily complacent, but. But more like, okay, let's take control of this thing.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, if you lose tomorrow, that kind of blows up my theory that, you know, the Knicks were just rusty. They hadn't played nine days. If you lose tomorrow, then it's feeling like, wait a minute. Maybe the Cavs were. They took advantage of some matchups. Maybe it wasn't all just the fact that the Knicks were rusty. Hey, you're right.

[Allen]

2 for 19 tells me they were rusty. 2 for 19 is not.

[Alan Hahn]

I agree. I agree with you. But you know what? I think the rust is off based on how they played in the final seven and a half minutes of regulation and the five minutes of overtime. Talking about a 44 to 11 run to close out the game. Think about that. 44 to 11. You know what? That equates to what they did in the latter stages of the Atlanta series and the entire Philadelphia series. That's absolutely embarrassing your opponent because you're better than your opponent. And there's been a lot of conversation, too, and it should aggravate Nick fans. Oh, well, your. Your road to the final has been easy. Come on. These teams aren't very good.

[Allen]

Still a roll.

[Alan Hahn]

Lana's not good. Still got to go down the road. Is not good. Cleveland's not good. Or is it the fact the Knicks are making them look not good?

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's a great point.

[Allen]

How about that? Or it's like the East. We knew the east was not at the level of the West, Right? But if you're blowing teams out the way the Knicks were and then coming back from down 20 and winning games the way they were, then it's almost like, well, then you're way better than everybody else in the east, which puts you closer to the West.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Did you.

[Allen]

Did you hear what happened, though, late in the game with Mike Brown?

[Alan Hahn]

No.

[Allen]

I saw this, and I was wondering what happened, because when Merrill's shot missed at the end of regulation, Mike Brown ran out on the court to try to get a timeout because there was still, like, tenths of a second left, but there wasn't. So he was trying to get the timeout, and when he did, then the referees came over to explain him why they didn't grant the timeout. And he was down, like, on his knees, like, hands and knees, like, bent over. And I'm like, did he get sick? Like, did something happen to him? Or is he just, like, frustrated that they wouldn't grant him the timeout with at least two tenths or something? Right. And so anyways, just goes away. Steph Bondi of the Post said, no. No, he strained his calf.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No.

[Allen]

Yes.

[Alan Hahn]

Wow.

[Allen]

So he's got to fight through it. But, yeah, he has a calf strain because he ran out. I guess something popped, and he was, like, down in his hand and knees, like, oh. Oh. Thinking He. He thought it might have been an Achilles.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's a scary feeling, by the way. And in the middle of, like, celebrating, I don't know what to do.

[Allen]

No, he wasn't celebrating. He's running out to get a timeout.

[Peter Rosenberg]

To try to get the timeouts. He thought it was in.

[Allen]

He was so, like, in that moment of, wait, we can get a shot. We can get one more shot. That he called the timeout and he. Oh, yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Because it's tied.

[Allen]

If that's the injury they're going to have to deal with, that's what you want. We'll take it.

[Alan Hahn]

This feels like your mama's so old, she blows out an Achilles trying to call a timeout.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I know. And then you realize that's called all of us after.

[Allen]

Yeah, that's.

[Alan Hahn]

You know, what I. Getting out of bed. Just the crackling sounds. It's like somebody's popping popcorn.

[Allen]

Absolutely.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, my God. I was at kickboxing today, and we had the stret. They have a sit on the bag.

[Allen]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

You know when you sit on the bag and you want to go as low as possible.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Describe what you mean.

[Alan Hahn]

You just. You're leaning. You're in a sitting position without a chair. And what's keeping you up is you're leaning against your back against the back for a little. So you want to try to get your. Your butt as low as possible.

[Allen]

Squats.

[Alan Hahn]

And I could just. My knee. I could hear them. My knees.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like.

[Allen]

That's a good sound, though. That's air.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay.

[Allen]

That's air pushing through.

[Alan Hahn]

The sounds gonna be boing.

[Allen]

No, no, no. It's not your ligaments ready to pull. It's air popping through because they're so tight.

[Alan Hahn]

All right. Wanted to get the Cleveland perspective. Things you guys all know. Can I.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Can I read something first? Before you do that?

[Allen]

Why don't you?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm sorry to interrupt you. I think it's important because I want people to enjoy us here on YouTube. Subscribe to ESPN New York on YouTube right now. Don. Stream the full weekday lineup live. Watch complete replays or catch up fast with can't miss highlights. Jump into the live chat, react in real time, and make your voice part of the Show. Subscribe to ESPN New York on YouTube now and stay locked in so you never miss a moment.

[Alan Hahn]

So you know his work on espn. He's also on ESPN Radio. His name is Aaron Goldham. Why he would want to agree to do this spot, I have no idea. But he's going to join us here in New York after one of the most crushing defeats in the history of NBA's post. Aaron, you're a better person than I am.

[Allen]

Blink. Blink if you're.

[Alan Hahn]

I would have told him to say never go. Scratch that's what I would have told.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

So. So can. Can I ask why? Who thought this was a guy?

[Alan Hahn]

I can't. I can't. I'm not at liberty to say, but,

[Aaron Goldhammer]

like, to be honest with you, I'm happy to do it. You know, you guys are friends, and some of you I know, and some of you I don't. And some of you I like, and some of you I don't.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, no, no, Please, please, tell us who.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, let's.

[Alan Hahn]

Please. I won't get mad at all. I'll probably agree with you.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

I am here to wallow in misery while you guys do what? Make fun of me?

[Allen]

Somebody.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

This was a good idea. I got a text message and I said I'd do it. But then I also mentioned to our fans in Cleveland that I was asked to do it, and they universally came out and said that I should have told you guys to bleep off.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, I get it.

[Allen]

You know, it's funny. We told ourselves that we should play. Why would we want to do this?

[Alan Hahn]

But. But while we have you people in

[Allen]

New York right now are going, why?

[Aaron Goldhammer]

And why.

[Alan Hahn]

No, no, we're not the want to

[Aaron Goldhammer]

hear from somebody miserable. Listen, just because you guys are New York sports fans doesn't mean you don't know what heartbreak is.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, that's for sure.

[Allen]

What do you mean?

[Alan Hahn]

Especially this team.

[Allen]

Like Aaron, we invented it Here, hold on, hold on.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's in Cleveland, for God's sake. They invented heartbreak.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Well, well, okay, fine. But last year, after game one of the Eastern Conference.

[Allen]

Thank you.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

What were you guys feeling?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Exactly what you're feeling.

[Allen]

We know you know what this is. I actually think this is therapy. Aaron, we've been here. We know exactly how you're feeling. We can talk you through it. It doesn't get better. Trust me.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Let me. Let me also say that there's part of the Cavs nation that has, you know, some sympathy for what the Knicks have been through. You know, you guys haven't been to the finals since 99. The Cavs have been to five finals since. The Knicks have been to one. Nick, fans were waiting around for LeBron and he never came. You had the 94 finals where you go all the way to game seven. John Starks can't make a shot. I don't have to go through all this history with you guys, you know, and what percentage of the listening audience right now was even alive in 1973 or would know Dave DeBusher if he came back and walked into the room? You know, so it's like I think that the Knicks are kind of like the Browns in certain respects.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh my God.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

That, you know, it's been, it's been a long time since you guys have. So this is not like the Yankees doing this to us, which we would hate. The Knicks, you know, there's a reason why there's such passion and energy around this team and Cleveland respects that.

[Alan Hahn]

Was there. What was the general consensus going into this series? And it's still, you know, there's still a lot of time left in the series. But what was the consensus, the feel about the Cavs chances against the Knicks?

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Cavs fans were just happy to be here, you know, to be honest. I mean, this team has been up and down like this all year. I think they came into the season with really high expectations, but they had a middling regular season where they had to make a huge trade for a superstar who's known the most for failing in big moments. Boy, did he do that last night. And I think the fact that they made it through the two game sevens, I think everybody was in a pretty good mood just to be around. With Mike Breen and RJ and Tim Legler calling the game at Madison Square Garden last night now, what ended up happening is because they took the 22 point lead, then people started dreaming. I think maybe the spurs pull the upset, Wemby's not ready for the final. Maybe there's a path here for us to actually win the whole thing. And then very quickly the Cavs reminded us, James Harden reminded us why he's James Harden and Kenny Atkinson reminded us why he's Kenny Atkinson.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So, so what is like the theorizing that you guys are doing today? And we love Kenny here, obviously from his time. Allen knows him going way back, but also he was fantastic with the net. So there's a lot of love for Atkinson here. What have you guys theorized he could have been thinking? Possession after possession after possession did not get hard.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Now, I don't know, you guys might know better than me because I wasn't in the building. I don't know how many friends and family he had there last night, but I think he had a very human but very awful moment where with seven minutes to go, I think he was thinking about what he was going to order at his postgame meal. I think he was with his family. I think he was not present in the moment with his team. And then the post game comments. Guys, I don't know how much of this you've talked about or even played,

[Allen]

but they don't make any sense keeping his timeouts. Why he did. Yeah, we discussed.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

He's out there at the podium sounding like a Browns coach. I'm like, wait a second. You're in the Eastern Conference finals. You can have real explanations for this. So I think that he, The Cavs, organizationally, what's crazy is it was like seven guys all at the same time, you know, because James Harden could have raised his hand, too, and said, guys, I shouldn't be guarding Jameson anymore. You know, at some point, I think that goes multiple directions, but I think the Cavs just had a complete and total brain cramp. I think it happened so fast that all of a sudden they looked around, they were like, wait, why are all these people cheering? How Is it a five point game? It seemed like it went from 22 to five in the snap of a finger. Like, I don't even remember what was happening and what I was thinking when it was 14, 12, 9, 8, 5, what happened on all those possessions. I think it was a tragedy, but I think it was a very human moment from people who a lot of times think act like robots, but really they're people. I think. Kenny, I don't know what his favorite Italian restaurant is. You might know.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Aaron, I got to call you out. You're being a sports talk radio guy. You think the guy was more worried about his family than winning a playoff game? A conference final game?

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Totally checked out.

[Allen]

No way.

[Alan Hahn]

Come on, Aaron. What are you.

[Allen]

Come on, dude. I know you're doing this. No way. There's no way.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Have you guys ever been on the air, but your mind is actually somewhere else? I know I have.

[Alan Hahn]

Sure. Well, I'm not going to beat you up for it because we know he's a good coach. If there were some questions on his ability, you would say, well, this is why he's not a good coach. I know he's a good coach.

[Allen]

I also know he's hyper competitive. There's no way that was part of the deal. But I will tell you, though, and you said it, this was the James Harden experience. James Harden has done this to other players throughout his career, where he finds the weak defender, creates switches, and then murders that defender over and over again until the other team decides, we can't have this guy on the floor anymore.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

James Harden. No, James Harden invented that.

[Allen]

That's what I mean. So the fact that it was happening to him was almost a ironic b. How did he not know? He had to know. And he just kept doing the same thing over and over again. I'll turn my hips once, but I refuse to do it again because that hurts too much and I'm not doing it. And you're right, he should have at some point said, I'm not switching. You better fight through that at OG Anunoby screen, because I'm not switching.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Do you guys have an explanation for Kenny in the timeouts? I mean, it didn't. It doesn't align with reality.

[Allen]

It doesn't. No, not with. Not with the. Not with the. Take it or lose it or use it or lose it. It doesn't make sense when he knows that at three minutes.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Sorry to interrupt. But also he's. He's talking about how tired Donovan and Harden are. And then he's also in the same breath saying, I don't like taking my timeouts. Well, literally.

[Allen]

That's why you take definition.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

What a timeout is, is giving your guys a chance for a break, not just to make a substitution. Sometimes you just need to catch your breath so that you can run your offense because your players are exhausted.

[Allen]

You're right about that. Now, I'm going to give you a little piece of information that knowing you, you probably know, but I'll share. We'll share it together. Is that the word, is that there's a handshake agreement that James Harden's going to get an extension from this organization?

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Of course.

[Allen]

And how does that make you feel?

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Let me ask you a question back. If you know your Cleveland basketball history, there was a handshake agreement once between Carlos Boozer and Gordon Gund.

[Caller Nick]

Oh, wow.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Blind owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers. And Boozer stabbed him in the back, you know, with his. So I don't know what the future holds for this. I gotta see the way the rest of the series plays out. You know, guys, I know it feels like it's over already. I'll just caution you to say that there's still a lot of series left here. I mean, look, it was a crazy game. I don't think the Cavs are going to come back and win this. I picked the Knicks in five before the series even began. But the Cavs exposed some things I thought with the Knicks last night. And the Knicks, just like the cat, the Knicks are a capable team of going up by 22 and blowing the lead in the fourth quarter and losing the team that I watched all year from Cleveland. So I think the exact same thing could happen in reverse in game two. These are two flawed, unpredictable teams that didn't really meet expectation as they went through the season.

[Alan Hahn]

Crazy that you're in the situation that you're in. Like, we're here in New York, and the Knicks are like the city's team, right?

[Allen]

No.

[Alan Hahn]

No offense to the Nets, but, you know, when we have the Yankees, there's still tons of Met fans, Right? When we have Giants. Giants, there's still a ton of Jet fans, you know, so. But you'll live it like baseball season, it's all Guardians. Basketball season, it's all Cavs. Football, it's all Browns. Like, so you have the unique perspective of your fans are all in on the one team. And we only really get that in the NBA. We're always split on every other conversation. So what's it like to just know that your entire city is engaged with what the topic is of that day? That must be pretty cool.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

So, you know, the community of it is special. I woke up this morning and took my daughter out to the bus stop. She's in first grade. And the yellow school bus pulled up. You know, suburban neighborhood just outside of Cleveland. Cold morning, kids wearing jackets, even though it's still May. And the door opens and the bus driver is wearing a cab shirt. And he just looked at me and he goes, I didn't sleep last night.

[Allen]

Yeah.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

And I think that just summed up everybody's feelings. You know, I mean, I. I think, you know, Cleveland, probably more than most American cities, lives and dies with these teams and rides that emotional roller coaster because this is what the city is known for the most. You know, it's a. It's like our civic pride. It's a certain level of identity. So we got calls from people who woke up their neighbors and their neighbor is mad at them. Now this morning, like, we're just going through the shared experience and the pain together. And I tried to remind everybody of this, and maybe I'm just trying to say it to myself to remind myself of this. You'd much rather be in this position today than being one of the 26 teams who's sitting at home thinking about a draft, trying to tanker debating between Darius Acuff and Kingston Flemings.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

I mean, you know, so you gotta be able to put that in proper perspective and hopefully be able. Now, what. What a great Cleveland story it would be if, instead of folding up, if they came back and won the next four games in this series. And then it would be a lesson that you could always teach your kids about resilience. And I think that's the mindset that the Cavs have to come into tomorrow night with.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, there's One little nugget I'll leave you with before we let you go, Aaron, is that you go back to 2010 Yankees, Texas Rangers, Texas Rangers hadn't won a damn thing 2010. Like what were the Texas Rangers and the Yankees of course coming off a championship the year before. And if you remember that game one, Texas had a five nothing lead going to the seventh. The Yankees scored six run of a run in the seventh, they scored five in the game, came back, won the game and everybody collectively is like, oh, the Rangers are dead. They're never going to get off the mat. They've never won anything, they never done anything. And the Yankees just came back from five nothing down and beat him. Texas Rangers got off the mat and wanted. I'm not going to say it either that you guys are going to get off the mat, but championships slaying at dragons hard. 53 years of no championship. So there will be adversity at some point. So I would not count the Cavaliers completely out just yet.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Do you think the basketball collapses though? Have a certain carryover? Yeah, I just. Because there's a clock. You know, in baseball you always know if it's a 5 nothing game, there's a chance you could put a rally together that's not a point 1% chance of happening. You know, I heard you talking about the odds, the fact that this game was on a clock and you could see like two, if two more minutes go by. How close do you think Mike Brown was to putting his bench guys in last night? Down 22 or seven minutes to go. A minute, two minutes.

[Allen]

I think, I do think there was probably like a. They had a five minute window to get it to something attainable and if they did 15. Yeah, probably would have done it. And that's when Brunson just started, started doing what he does. I mean that's, that's the reality of that moment. But once again it's also the reality of what you learn about the playoffs is it's, it's 48 minutes, not 42. It really is. That's the lesson learned and unfortunately when you learn it too late is no making up for it. And that's. I'll tell you about the carryover last year. This the exact same place, exact same situation 364 days ago. By the way, Aaron, it's amazing that the Halliburton thing happened and really Nick's never very comparable.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Both games went to overtime. Yeah, you knew they were dead man, and you knew they were overtime.

[Allen]

And the thing is though, the Knicks talked After that game, well, we were in control. We just gotta finish the game. That's on us. We'll be fine. And then that game, too, they looked like they were chasing it and they were nervous and they were tight, and Siakam had a huge game that you didn't expect. And then all of a sudden, it's two. Oh. So that's. I think there is this emotional carryover from a moment like that that they're going to have to get over fast.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Yep. Yep. I think in some ways they'd love a couple days off, but it's not happening. Can you guys do one favor today, Cleveland, please?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Perhaps.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

All right, Marbury and all the guys that are sitting down on that row, the former players, can you please let them know they're not playing in the game?

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's a lot. It's a lot.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Did you guys see Marbury almost hit Evan Mobley in the middle of the action after Landry Shamit's three went in last night? Someone plead. Now, Patrick, you know, he's not.

[Alan Hahn]

He's sitting.

[Allen]

He can't get.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

He's sitting. Yeah, he can't get.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It takes a while for him to get things.

[Allen]

Somebody help.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Patrick, you got to warm him up.

[Allen]

Yes. Starks is out there, too, jumping around.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Look, look, Steph, I know, I know. Stefan Marbury never really played in a big game during his, like, NBA in China.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He had some.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Yeah, there you go. Okay. All right. But, dude, you don't need to be touching the Cavs players while the game's going on. You get arrested for that.

[Alan Hahn]

No, you're not wrong. Obviously.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The worst part, Aaron, if you really want to go after them, here's the dirty little secret. If the Knicks win this championship, a lot of the guys who currently get seats in the front row, they probably won't get seats anymore because in five years, all the legends will be the guys from this team and the guys who didn't win championships, like Stephon Marbury. It's like, hey, buddy, had a couple good.

[Alan Hahn]

Remember we thought Marbury was a thing. Right, Right.

[Allen]

Hey, we got a seat for you up here at the bridge.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, come on up there.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

What's the line like if Steve Francis wants to sit there, does he get it?

[Alan Hahn]

We can't.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What we won't tell as a Maryland grab. What we won't do here. Does that have any disrespect for the franchise?

[Allen]

There's no besmirching. No besmirching franchise.

[Peter Rosenberg]

There's a little bit of looseness with the 2010 11, 12, 13 Knicks. Yeah, but you know, but I will say this on the flip side, the Knicks have done a really good job in welcoming in former players and making that a thing. It is just part of the coach.

[Allen]

What happens in this series now, Aaron, Does Shumpert and J.R. smith go to Cleveland and now root for the Cavs?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now that's a question.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

No, I think they have both aligned themselves with the Knicks and they cannot show their face in Rocket arena on Saturday night.

[Caller Nick]

Wow.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

I don't. I don't. And look, people here love Junior. They'll love him forever. Rode around with a shirt off. One of the big reasons why Cleveland won its only championship since 1964. But I think he has clearly aligned himself with the Knicks during this playoff run. And until this playoffs is over, I don't think Junior and Shum can come to Cleveland. By the way, you know, Channing Fry, Timo Mozgov. So many of the guys on that 16 team are former Knicks.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Mm, that's a really good point.

[Allen]

Gotta plant your flag.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't even know his name. I didn't even know his nickname was Timo. I never called him Tima. I went full Timothy.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, that's why. Aaron, I know you didn't want to do it, but I'm glad you did. Thank you for this.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

I guess I'm glad I did too.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It doesn't make it any better an idea, but it worked out.

[Allen]

Yeah.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Seriously. I want to tell Nick fans, enjoy. This is best Nick win. Since when, guys?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. Long time probably.

[Allen]

I've been thinking about that all morning and I gotta go.

[Alan Hahn]

The Larry four point play, that game, that feel, that was such. That was a moment.

[Allen]

But that was such an important win in that series. And that four point play was the reason why you were able to pull it off. And Larry Bird standing right there when it happened was even better. I'd probably go back to that. Yeah. Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

So that's 26 years ago.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

99. Yeah.

[Allen]

So yeah, it's been a minute. That's been.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. Been a minute.

[Allen]

Thanks for the reminder though. That was nice.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Bing bong.

[Allen]

There it is.

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[Don Hahn]

to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don Hahn]

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

[Alan Hahn]

Just made the list, buddy.

[Don Hahn]

This is the list with Don Han and Rosenberg.

[Alan Hahn]

Top five things that you wish you could say on the air, but you save it for the break.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, the top five things set on

[Alan Hahn]

the break so we're gonna get to in a little bit. When Nick Morabito was called up and he wore eight last nights and Met fans were a little upset and believe me, the whole reasoning behind it, it's going to make you even sicker if you're a Med fan. So Anthony and I came up with the idea was actually Anthony came up with it and I agreed. But it was a really good one. Of the top five New York athletes whose number is not retired but should be.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I love what you've done. I'm fond of it, I'm excited by it, and I'm here for it.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay.

[Allen]

I think it'll be controversial.

[Alan Hahn]

No peeking.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But you're not. You're not. You didn't.

[Alan Hahn]

You.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You didn't use Carter. You didn't put him on the list.

[Allen]

Find out oh.

[Caller Nick]

Oh.

[Allen]

See?

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right, go ahead, Alan.

[Alan Hahn]

You had one blank around and find out.

[Allen]

Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right, we will.

[Allen]

I was in. I was. I was there for the process. So I'm. I already. I'm. I'm staying out. I have to stay out because I'm. I kind of know.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, I had to check in with him, being a Yankee fan, being an Islander guy, you know, try to get some ideas, some thoughts. Because remember, the, The. The. The heavy lifting of this list is, is that you really need to talk to fans, right. And whether they believe somebody's number should be retired or not. And I'm not a fan of all nine local teams, so I used Allen as a sounding board, if you will.

[Allen]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But two of the five were taken off last year, in my opinion, Daryl and Doc. So they would have been there. And they're no longer there.

[Alan Hahn]

No. And again, some of this is controversial. Some of this is just. They haven't maybe gotten around to it yet, but they have not retired their numbers yet. Now, Cece is excluded because they've announced that Beltran is excluded because the Mets have announced that.

[Allen]

Funny, I wouldn't have put him.

[Alan Hahn]

But anyway, guys, that have not been

[Allen]

announced, I wouldn't have put Beltron on the listron. But you put Beltran on the list.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm on the. I'm on the fence.

[Allen]

I don't know if I'm doing.

[Alan Hahn]

I would. I would retire Gary's before Beltran.

[Allen]

That's my point.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, not. Number five for the New York Mets will be your type.

[Ian Fitzsimmons]

Wow.

[Allen]

Wow.

[Caller Nick]

Yeah.

[Allen]

On the table.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, no.

[Alan Hahn]

David Wright.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The numbers got numbers on.

[Allen]

They did it last year.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, they did it. Okay. Sorry, sorry. They did a lot done last year. That was fast. How did him and Daryl and Doc happened in the same year?

[Allen]

They did it early last year, right?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, it was early.

[Don Hahn]

Very early.

[Allen]

That's right. Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Steve Cohen's getting. Getting cracking on some. Okay, sorry about that. You said some controversy, so I'll just lean into some controversy. How about number seven on the Knicks?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, I got it at five, because there's a lot of people that want Carmelo's number retired. Now. I have a feeling if the Knicks win the championship, it'll be even harder for him to get up there because now a lot of the former Nets are going to be looked upon as the same. Plus you're going to be retiring like every Nick number after if they win the championship here. But no, I think Melo, he's probably the one Nick that you would have a conversation About. So I put it at 5 because I know there's a lot of Nick fans who don't believe he belongs there, but it's a great seasons for the Knicks. There are fans that want to see him retired.

[Allen]

You know, three. I think it was three times.

[Alan Hahn]

Made the playoffs, got out of that 54 win season.

[Allen]

Got out of the first round once. But then, you know, had some rough years after that. Weren't all his fault because Phil Jackson came in and decided to do some things that everybody's going, what the hell are you doing?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, and you're a Nick. It's never just your fault.

[Allen]

Yeah, there's a lot going on. But you know, while he was here, he had to carry a lot of weight. It's amazing that since he's been gone and into his retirement how much he has become loved.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Totally beloved. No, because people are full of crap and it's easier for them to stop the nonsense once someone retires.

[Allen]

Because you become the highlight film after you retire. Yeah. And people remember we don't see current anymore. We just see the highlight film and that's remember why we loved you.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't think it would be that much of a trap, but I don't think it's crazy. But I'm not. But it's all right. I got it.

[Allen]

It's not crazy.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm gonna ask my one ask that I like to do here to try to tighten things up.

[Allen]

Just.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Can I get the breakdown of sports, please?

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, breakdown of sports. I've got.

[Allen]

This is like origin of word.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I've got hockey. How do they pronunciation.

[Alan Hahn]

Baseball and football and I've got multiple football of the other four.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Give me, give me, give me number. Give me. It's naked official. Give me number 80 for the Jets.

[Alan Hahn]

A wink for BET.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's right.

[Alan Hahn]

You know what? I didn't have it just because. Well, we get to retire his number. Then you got to retire Keyshawn's number.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't.

[Alan Hahn]

I. I listen, I think Wink is

[Peter Rosenberg]

Corbett is different special, but not. Not there.

[Alan Hahn]

No, I don't have him in the. In the pond. No.

[Allen]

Right Franchise.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And I don't think there's been.

[Alan Hahn]

You're right there. You're right there.

[Allen]

Different era.

[Alan Hahn]

You're right around the pole.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's going to be where I. Good era.

[Alan Hahn]

No, different era.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Different era. Jace.

[Allen]

Different era.

[Alan Hahn]

But they both played in the same year.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, that they played in the same

[Allen]

era for the Jets.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So. So we're talking in 90s jet 2001.

[Allen]

Like later.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Even later.

[Alan Hahn]

I. I'll give you this. The best period of jets football. Oh, that we've seen.

[Allen]

That we've seen, we've seen in our lifetime.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Who would be the number from 2010 and 2011?

[Allen]

Come on. Wasn't many seasons.

[Alan Hahn]

You know it. You'll love it.

[Allen]

You like barbecue?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I like barbecue, sure.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. Or the Roscoe's Diner.

[Allen]

Yeah. Oh, yeah, the Roscoe's Diner.

[Alan Hahn]

Roscoe's Diner.

[Allen]

There's two references, Barbecue sauce and Roscoe's Diner.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Nick Mangold.

[Allen]

There's one there. Well, now, what's Roscoe's Diner?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't know what the Roscoe's Diner.

[Alan Hahn]

A lot of negotiations with were done during Hard Knocks at the Roscoe Diner.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't remember who was done.

[Allen]

There's an island. He was.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, sure, Darrell.

[Alan Hahn]

So I got Nick Mangold and Darrell Rivas. I believe Nick Mangold is the best center in franchise history. No offense to Kevin moi, but my wife didn't spend his entire career with the Jets. So Mangold's their best center. I do believe he belongs in the hall of Fame and I believe his number should be retired. And Darrell Rivas, even though he did win the championship in New England, that

[Peter Rosenberg]

can't affect what he did here.

[Alan Hahn]

But still, he was one of the best jets of world. And I do believe they'll get around to retiring those numbers.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, hold on. Before. Can I just say this, though? This goes right to the topic that we're going to get to in a little bit. As you mentioned, the Mets thing, which we do have to get to.

[Alan Hahn]

And we'll get to.

[Peter Rosenberg]

In spite of it being a huge Knicks day. That Mets top. It's too ripe for sports talk radio. Agree, we got to do it, but this is an opportunity for the jets to do something right. Do not get around to Nick Mangold number retirement. Do it next year as soon as his family would be ready. If it's not this year, totally understandable. Whenever I would go to the Mangold family and say we are retiring his number, you tell us when you're ready to do it and that is it.

[Allen]

That should have already been said.

[Peter Rosenberg]

There's no conversation to be had.

[Allen]

Season would be the time to do it. If they're ready Homecoming weekend.

[Alan Hahn]

Assuming they're good with it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Assuming they're good with it.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't think they're being conjured. They will eventually get. The jets did have a rule. They didn't retire numbers unless you were in the hall of Fame. They. They waived that obviously for Cleo And Lions and that was the right thing to do.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But hold on, but can't you make the case on their list of retired

[Alan Hahn]

and they have a ring of honor like the Giants have a ring of honor, too. Yeah, but there is a. There's a difference between.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm going to say something right now. Am I crazy? Mangold will be the best one.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, he'll be the best retired. I know it's so difficult with all. And he was heart of goal.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Joe Namath, Maynard, Curtis Martin, Kleco and Dennis Curtis.

[Allen]

Curtis Martin and Joe Namath are all time.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All but Mangold. Mangold's a better player than Joe Namath was. He's a better player career wise. That's a better.

[Alan Hahn]

You understand the history. No, no, listen, guys.

[Allen]

But it's apples and oranges when you're talking about quarterback.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I would, I would be adopted by Joe Namath if I'd be allowed to.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I love the man.

[Allen]

He's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's a gem. But in terms of the way the rest of the league viewed the player year after year, I think Nick Mangold may be the best jet of all time. He's right in the conversation.

[Allen]

Curtis Martin is pretty special.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Curtis Martin's very, very special, too. Was Curtis Martin ever the best in

[Alan Hahn]

the league or top in the conversation?

[PayPal Advertiser]

I mean.

[Alan Hahn]

No, no.

[Allen]

In the era of running backs, he was one of the best.

[Peter Rosenberg]

One of the best.

[Allen]

He was.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm telling you right now. I remember Curtis Martin's entire career. Loved him like a brother. Maybe overstating it a tad. I never thought he's the best running back in football this year. Never, not one season. But he was really great. Put up a huge number. I'm just saying Mangold's great.

[Allen]

Okay, you're making a great point.

[Alan Hahn]

So I have just, just, just to recap. I've got Carmelo Anthony at 5. I've got Nick Mangold at 4. I've got Reavis at 2. So you're looking at 3 and 1.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Let's give us Gary Carter.

[Alan Hahn]

Gary Carter I put at three.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay.

[Alan Hahn]

All right. And you could tell me about the numbers and all that.

[Allen]

Why not?

[Alan Hahn]

I can't think about. Because I'm.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

We're going to find out.

[Alan Hahn]

Because you just can't Talk about the 86 Mets without talking about the kid Gary Carter and how it turned things around. And you know what? I'll tell like it is that 86 Mets reputation is certainly sullied by the way they acted when they won. You know, destroying the plane coming back from Houston, obviously, the drugs and the alcohol and all this in the parade. The one guy that stayed clean and represented himself very well during that whole period was Gary Carter. I mean, that should mean something too, right? When you look at the grand scheme of things, Great player, great guy.

[Allen]

Like there's Steve Garvey, right? Like clean cut, you know, had that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He was the man.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. And so I got it at three. So who is number one now? I think this might be out of your circle.

[Allen]

I don't think you'll get this one,

[Alan Hahn]

but I don't think you'll get this one.

[Allen]

I could spell his name and you wouldn't get it.

[Alan Hahn]

I can make a multiple choice and

[Peter Rosenberg]

you wouldn't hold it yet. It's number. Oh, it's hockey.

[Alan Hahn]

It's hot.

[Allen]

Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And what era this is.

[Allen]

This is an era. Yeah.

[Bucked Up Advertiser]

That's not a disrespect to players hockey knowledge.

[Priceline Negotiator]

More just.

[Allen]

He's not on the.

[Alan Hahn]

He's not paying attention.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, no.

[Allen]

I just like 12 team NHL.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I just want to be clear that at this point I am no longer offended.

[Alan Hahn]

The reason. The reason 60s I have it is. And I know I'm a hockey guy, but the reason I have this number one, I'm really shocked that his number isn't up there. And it should be. His number should be retired. And obviously it's already been retired because it would be two, and that's Brian Leach. But they have retired two nines. They have retired two elevens. Brad Park.

[Allen]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Deserves his number to be retired now. Brad park did go to Boston. Brad Pack did spend a little bit more time at Boston. Became as a Ranger. Eight years with the Rangers. Think about this. Eight years with the Rangers. Five of those eight years he finished second in the Norris. And the only reason he didn't win five Norris is because somebody by the name of Bobby Orr was also in the league. It was kind of like trying to win the the Norris when Ray Bourque was in the league. Like you weren't going to do. Or when Nicholas Lidstrom was there. You're not going to do it like so. And he was an all star every single year. But his rookie year as a Ranger, I'm really shocked that they haven't retired it yet, but I think that's number one. So I've got Carmelo Anthony at five. I've got Nick Bengold at four. I got Gary Carter at three, Darrell Rivas two Brad park one. Honorable mentions. You can have a conversation about a Rod with the Yankees. I know that it didn't end well and he sued the Yankees, but it looks like they've mended fences. Certainly Major League Baseball has allowed him

[Allen]

back one mvp, one of champions.

[Alan Hahn]

But there. And Peter's talked about this a lot. There's a whole generation of fans that, that don't care about PDs. So could we get to a point where you're going to look as a Yankee fan and go, number 13 should be retired? I don't know if it'll happen, but certainly part of the conversation. How do you feel about Pat LaFontaine? He was not a part of the championships with the Islanders.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now we're having a conversation.

[Alan Hahn]

He came late. He was a part of the 84 team that lost to Edmonton. And I know he's done a lot of great things in Buffalo later on in his career, but he was an amazing Islander.

[Allen]

Yeah, he was.

[Alan Hahn]

And he's in their hall of Fame.

[Allen]

He came in in 1984 off the Olympic team. And the thinking was, wait, they got this guy and he was special talent.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Allen]

And so this is a team that had won four straight Stanley Cups and then they, this, this guy comes in, oh, my God, they're going to win four more. They're going to be great for years. And then, you know, he did all he could that the team wasn't the same, but man, he put up numbers. And then obviously, you know, it was time to move on. But not only for his career, Don. I think his numbers should be retired. The Islanders have honored him.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Allen]

But retiring 16 is not only an acknowledgment of his talent with the team and the fact that he came into the NHL with the Islanders during the, at the end of the Stanley cup era. But what he's done on Long island, what he's done in the community, that's part of the impact he's had representing the Islanders. As some. It is definitely something that you would consider.

[Alan Hahn]

So what do you think? 1-800-919-3776 well, missing anything. Also we've got. And that's why we get the calls. I'm sure we're going to get tweets.

[Allen]

Any giants got to bring up the

[Caller Nick]

cooks for Howie Rose.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, we gotta get upset with the

[Alan Hahn]

cooks and for the Bill and Bun cook because the Rangers just don't acknowledge any of the turn of the century guys. But, you know, have at it. I know Twitter, especially once we put it, we post it, we'll have some problems with it.

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[Peter Rosenberg]

You said this place was steps from the water.

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We just haven't found the steps yet.

[Allen]

How much did we save?

[Caller Nick]

Enough.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Enough to get lost.

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[Alan Hahn]

It's the Priceline negotiator.

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[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don Hahn]

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

[Alan Hahn]

So we touched on it a little bit yesterday during the remote outside the Garden about Nick Morabito getting called up and wearing number eight. And then Howie Rose tweeted out that he thought it was wrong on the 40th anniversary of the 86 Mets that Gary Carter's number eight was being put back in circulation for the first time since 2001. But it wasn't retired, so technically it was up for grabs. And I was upset about it how he certainly was upset about it. Well, we wanted to get Nick's side of the story because we weren't sure. Did he demand date, whatever? Well, in the post game, obviously was a topic of conversation and he was asked about why number eight. I think you probably heard something about your number eight. Do you know what your new number is going to be tomorrow?

[Allen]

I think 55.

[Caller Nick]

Okay.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Do you get to choose that number or what went.

[Allen]

I chose 55. Yeah, I was just given eight.

[Alan Hahn]

Have you even heard of Gary Carter?

[Allen]

Yeah.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Okay.

[Allen]

Yeah. Hall of Famer legend here. Yeah. He wore number 8, 55.

[Aaron Goldhammer]

Any. Have any meeting for you.

[Allen]

Two fives is cool.

[Alan Hahn]

This is why the Mets are a. The Mets are a legit clown show that have no idea what they're doing.

[Allen]

All right?

[Alan Hahn]

So he's gonna wear 55. And it was announced yesterday that. All right, snafu. He's gonna wear eight because it's already been sewn on. We're on the road. But don't worry, Met fans, he'll have another number on Wednesday. Today's Wednesday. He's gonna be wearing 55. And you heard from Nick. The Mets gave it to him. He didn't demand it. He didn't say, I want a. Didn't stand on a table, didn't ask for the Carter's family phone number to get approval. He was handed number eight because the organization has no blanking idea what they're doing. It's been out of circulation for 21 years, and some guy gives him eight, not realizing that was Gary Carter's number and it's been out of circulation for 25 years. Them not knowing is the same reason why they never win. Because a fish rots from the head. And if one thing doesn't know what they're doing, it probably leads to other things not being done. Well, all right. They are a clown show. And this is not some Yankee fan saying it. It's coming from a Met fan who has seen every ridiculous decision, every boneheaded play that they've made since I've been alive, been a fan since 1975 over, you know, 50 years of clown shoes. Big, fat, oversized clown shoes. Shiny clown shoes should be driven right up. Their record is where it belongs because that's where their brains are. You want to kick the Mets in the brain? Kick them in the butt, because that's where their brains sit. Where they sit. No idea what you're doing as an organization. You hand them number eight, knowing it's been out of circulation for 25 years or not knowing, I should say, right, that it's out of circulation for 25 years. That the guy that is retiring this year, the voice of the New York Mets, Howie Rose, has been a fan of that team since their inception. Calls you out on Twitter. What does that tell you? Because what does he care? He's walking out the door at the end of the season. He's already in the Mets hall of Fame. You know, this isn't Phil Mushnick ripping them. This is Howie Rose ripping him. Honestly, you wonder why they don't win. Because you don't know what you're doing as an organization. You don't. And I don't care how many billions that Cohen's sitting on or how David Stearns was able to take a Milwaukee brewers team with no money and get him to go to the playoffs every year. You don't know how to do the simple stuff, the very simple stuff. How can I expect you to know how to do the hard stuff?

[Allen]

Wanna hear something weird? Kids never worn the number.

[Alan Hahn]

No.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It was handed to him.

[Allen]

He wore two in Brooklyn. He wore four in Binghamton.

[Alan Hahn]

No, no. This is what.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It couldn't have gotten worse. It got less for it.

[Allen]

It wasn't like, that's my number.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, that's. But that's how. That's try eight, kid, from yesterday when we had this conversation.

[Alan Hahn]

Hey, you know.

[Allen]

But nobody's worn eight in a while. Throw this on.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We had this conversation yesterday, and I think we all found it pretty disturbing. And you go, well, how's it gonna get worse? And then it got worse at the end of the show.

[Allen]

Amazing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They're gonna give him a different number tomorrow. And so we made fun of them going, wait a second. They can't find a way to just give them a different number in the two hours before the game? No, they couldn't. Impossible.

[Allen]

All right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Can't get any worse than that. No, it does get worse than that. It was completely thoughtless. It was. They don't. And here's why. Don's right. Because there are people out there who could argue, and I could see even, like, John Winthrop seemed to be leaning towards that, and he didn't go all the way there. But I know a lot of people think this way. Well, it's a random person who's the. You know, the clubhouse attendant. Or it's. It starts at the top. Do you know this organization? Do you know what's important? Do you know the things we value it's based on?

[Allen]

Numbers are sacred.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Do we value the things that we're supposed to value? Do those things go down the ranks the way they're supposed to? This is. And I say this as someone who is, like, completely a fraudulent Mets fan. I really.

[Alan Hahn]

I care about.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I want them to do well, truly. And they just. It's so frustrating.

[Alan Hahn]

I want them to do well. And you hate them because they embarrass me at every turn. So. And it's a simple fix, because I always think of the natural right when he's given his uniform for the first time. And it's kind of an overweight trainer. He's got a Belly. He's got a cigar. He's got a hat that doesn't fit. What number, kid? What number we're gonna give you, kid? Let's try eight for size. Let's see how you look on that one there.

[Allen]

Look at you.

[Alan Hahn]

Ready for the game. Eight shouldn't even be an option. Not an option like it's out of circulation. When I hear out of circulation, that means it's not available. Why. Why do we not have. All right, I see there's no five. That makes sense. All right, here there's a six, seven.

[Allen]

There's no eight.

[Alan Hahn]

Why is there no eight? Oh, Gary Carter wore the number. It's not retired. No, but we take it out of circulation, which means we're kind of debating on whether we're going to do it or not. But we haven't given it to.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We're not actually doing it. So we're just sitting right now.

[Alan Hahn]

Our LoS player had it in 97, 98, what it was, but he was. That was a significant trade. He was a really good player. They gave it to a couple of ancillary players back when we were actually thinking of not retiring it. Now we're kind of debating about it. Nobody's had it since 2001, but now, here, kid. We're eight.

[Allen]

Throw it on.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Good luck.

[Allen]

Looks good on you. Oh, wait, no, we can't give you this. We got to take it back.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Sorry.

[Allen]

Hey, just say that you like this number instead.

[Alan Hahn]

All right, how about this? The Mets have been ignorant since for infinity, which rhymes with Xfinity, which, of

[Allen]

course, if you have Xfinity, you already enjoy ESPN as part of your TV lineup with live games and daily sports coverage and expert analysis. And now the ESPN Unlimited plan is available at no additional cost, giving you access to additional ESPN content in the ESPN app, on demand programming and originals to explore. And you can wear the number 8. Visit xfinity.com your subscriptions to activate ESPN Unlimited access. Then start watching in the ESPN app. More from ESPN all in One place.

[Alan Hahn]

You know, I'd be a fraud if I did, you know, gave up on the medsa. You'd call me a fraud, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's right.

[Allen]

Yep.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, especially if I went. If I just gave up on baseball, I wouldn't be a fraud. But I don't know if I can give up on baseball. If I found another team, I'd be a fraud. But honestly, I'd be a fraud. But I'd be a happy person. Like, if this was a relationship, at what point would I have just gone. Listen, honey, it's not working.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh my God. Well, I would hope years and years.

[Allen]

I would think right now you are

[Alan Hahn]

in the state of good really, really close because I you know what the equivalent announcement coming later this week.

[Allen]

You're sleeping in different bedrooms.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, we haven't slept together.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, not well. Listen, really, you have to understand.

[Alan Hahn]

We've had an open relationship.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Fifteen years ago, Don came home from a trip and the Mets were. They were sleeping with three of his friends in it with the camera on

[Alan Hahn]

the bench and he decided in contact with the ceiling fan.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They were.

[Allen]

Yeah,

[Peter Rosenberg]

I almost made such a good joke, but I'm not going to. I'm a decent human. I'll make it off the air. But it was really timely and it would have been perfect here. But I'm better than that.

[Allen]

I don't know what that means.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm gonna explain what that means to Alan during the break.

[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't want to know how the

[Allen]

sausage is made, man. I just want to know. It's good.

[Don Hahn]

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

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