← Don, Hahn & Rosenberg
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- [00:01]
Announcer
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- [00:28]
Podcast Host
This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
- [00:32]
Don Hahn
That sounds like heaven to me.
- [00:33]
Podcast Host
Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers.
- [00:41]
Don Hahn
403 in the big city. Don Hahn and Rosenberg take you up until 6:30. Then it's Mets baseball, Mets and the Dodgers from Citi Field. Time now for the weekend weather report, which is brought to you by Neutral. It's going to be a beautiful weekend, big time. We're looking ahead to the shore. You want to definitely be down there for that tomorrow because it's going to be sunny with a high of 78 and Sunday, some clouds but a high of 81. That was your weekend weather report brought to you by Neutral. Keep it tasty with neutral vodka seltzer made with real vodka and real fruit juice. Enjoy responsibly. Alan Hahn's been on vacation, but when you get a basketball story as significant as LeBron James going to Philadelphia, you know damn well he's going to want to be a part of it. And he joins us from the road. Welcome to Don on and Rosenberg. You're familiar with our work?
- [01:31]
Alan Hahn
Yeah, I love the show. It's a great show. It's actually exceptionally better this week than usual. How is that?
- [01:38]
Don Hahn
Stop that. We miss you.
- [01:39]
Alan Hahn
No.
- [01:42]
Don Hahn
Peter says hello from beyond. I think he'll be joining us shortly. Oh, there you are.
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Co-host/Producer
No, no.
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Don Hahn
Is that a drop?
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Alan Hahn
That was probably.
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Commercial Announcer
Sure.
- [01:51]
Don Hahn
Okay, I, I've been saying it again. I'm not hanging on the rim because I didn't predict it, but I said I thought the sexy option would be Philly. You and Peter didn't think so. Didn't think it was going to happen. And here we are. He's a member of the Philadelphia 76ers. Your thoughts?
- [02:09]
Alan Hahn
Yeah, I'm, I'm disappointed. That's my first thought is I'm disappointed because I was kind of looking forward to just the spectacle of LeBron and Steph Curry. I know everybody's going to roll their eyes at that, but for me as a, as a NBA guy, basketball junkie, just that that would have been fun just to see what they could do with it, you know, The Expendables. But you know, it wasn't going to be. What you said about him wanting to go to Philadelphia was about the idea of winning a championship in a place that hadn't won in a long time and leaving an impact. You were right about Philadelphia being a best option for him. I don't know if your reasoning, though, is accurate, and here's why. I think what we've learned about LeBron is that he had it in his head that before I retire, I'm going to go play in New York. I'm going to go live in New York. It'll be good for business for me to live there, be there full time. And I'm going to play for the Knicks at the Garden and I'm going to help them win a title because they're close. And then they won a championship. And he even admitted that once they won a championship, there's not much I can do. Not going to help them now. And so he still wants to live in New York and follow that plan. And he's. It sounds like that's what he's going to do. J.J. redick did it when he played for the Sixers. He lived in the. In Brooklyn now and he would commute down to Philly regularly.
- [03:34]
Don Hahn
It's really not.
- [03:35]
Alan Hahn
And where it is, LeBron. And for LeBron, when you can have a helicopter at your service, you know, it's about a 45 minute trip. It's not that bad at all. In fact, he'll probably get the Philly faster than I can get into our office half the time. But what it turns into, Don, is for him an opportunity to still do what he wanted to do, which is be in New York, but instead of playing for the Knicks, which now for him probably would, it just didn't make sense for either party. He can still play for a team that's going to be very competitive. They're going to play in that building twice in the year and be on a team that does have a chance to be a formidable team. That would be certainly in the conversation of winning the East. So that's why it all made sense to do that.
- [04:20]
Don Hahn
I think there's a lot of boxes that it checks.
- [04:23]
Alan Hahn
Yep.
- [04:23]
Don Hahn
I still believe that even though maybe it's not as major a reason. It's the sexiness. We saw how big the ratings were for the Knicks. A lot of that had to do with the fact they hadn't won in 53 years and similar situation. It'll be 44 for the Sixers, but the other thing too. Alan, I wanted to get your thoughts on that. Is the travel like even down in Miami.
- [04:42]
Alan Hahn
Great point.
- [04:43]
Don Hahn
You got a lot of flights. Even though you stay in the East. You got two games at the Garden, two games in Brooklyn, Washington, Boston. Still a stone's throw away for a 41 year old body who's trying to squeeze a second year out of this contract. The travel is going to be very good in Philadelphia.
- [04:58]
Alan Hahn
That's a great. You know what? I didn't even think about that. That's a great point. When you consider, you know, New York, Boston, Washington, Brooklyn, these are close proximity type flights. You're in and out. And that's the thing about the west is the west is definitely the more competitive side and you get, you know, the better teams and you get the better weather. The travel in the west sucks because of all the different places that you have to travel to. You're going, especially if you're in la, Minnesota, Portland, like, think about Memphis, think about for New Orleans, like you're playing these places twice in a year on the road sometimes. And so it is, it does wear on you. And when you're an older guy like him, the, the ease of travel is the most important thing. And so, yeah, that, that's, that's another reason why it definitely checked the box and another reason why I think for him, I do strongly believe, and I know Rich Paul has actually hinted to this and I know people that have told me this and all along LeBron's belief was, if I'm going to keep playing, I'm going to go do the New York thing that everybody, you know, has been asking me to do for years. I'm going to go do it because that team's close. And he has Leon Rose, he has a respect for Jalen Brunson, obviously Mike Brown. So when you put all those, you know, all that together. If the Knicks had lost at any point in this run on a championship, I strongly believe LeBron James would be a knickknack. But because the Knicks ended up winning the championship without him, all right, that option was gone. And he first thought, no, I guess I'll retire. But he didn't want to. And that's why he's decided to make this move. And it's really making the East, I mean, look at it, Donnie. I mean, Boston looks different. Philly looks dramatically different. Miami looks dramatically different. Let's not forget that Indiana is now going to be healthy. And the last time we saw them, they were in the NBA Finals. So the east suddenly has, like an appeal to it when it comes to teams that have star power and talent. And this should be a hell of a season when it comes to Eastern Conference.
- [07:04]
Peter Rosenberg
Do you think, Alan, that because the Knicks essentially didn't need LeBron and because them winning the championship kind of made it null and void, there maybe will be less vitriol. Because my initial feeling was, oh, my God, can you imagine these? If there are playoff games in the guard the way this crowd's going to hate LeBron. But is any of the Heat removed? Because people know LeBron actually wanted to come to the Knicks this time around.
- [07:32]
Alan Hahn
Hello, Peter, and happy birthday.
- [07:34]
Peter Rosenberg
Thank you.
- [07:35]
Alan Hahn
Yeah, I don't think. I don't think you're going to get the same reaction. If he had turned down the Knicks one more, you know what I mean? Like, one last time said, no, I'd rather go to somewhere else, then I think it would be. It would be pretty ugly. I think LeBron's going to hear it in Miami and in Cleveland. That's where I think he's going to hear it when he goes to play there. I think those two places are both going to feel away that he chose to go to Philly instead of either back home to Cleveland or back to Miami, you know, where you had a chance to win one more and they were trying to put something together, he might hear it more there. Here in New York, I don't think anybody's going to give a damn, honestly. You know, look, it's still LeBron, so you're still going to get the. The visceral response that he's going to draw. But I don't think there's that anger that it used to be, because I think if any Nick fan out there has to feel the satisfaction of knowing we didn't need you to win, and all this time we thought we did, but we didn't. And that's, I think, going to take away a little bit of the sting. But it doesn't mean that these games, I mean, boys, I think opening night is going to be sixers at Knicks, banner, banner raised, LeBron there, make Jaylen Brown watch it. You know what I mean? Like, it's. That's the drama. If you're abc. That's what I want. I want that for opening night. And so I imagine that's going to be the game that we get.
- [08:58]
Don Hahn
Talking to Alan on On Vacation. Joining us on the LeBron James to Philadelphia Story here on Don Hahn and Rosenberg. All right, so where does Philadelphia sit now? I still think that the Knicks are the favorite. They are slightly. I think it was a +3.30 for the Knicks, +350 for the Sixers. But, you know, there's a team that made it to the second round with a compromised Embiid. No Jalen Brown, no LeBron James. You add those two factors, and I guess the possibility is as slim as it may be of Embiid staying healthy. How big of a problem is Philadelphia for New York?
- [09:34]
Alan Hahn
They're a big problem. They definitely are. Embiid is a bigger problem for the Sixers than he is for the Knicks. I just feel like that's the biggest story to watch. Like, I'm wondering. Look, we all know LeBron James and his low tolerance for BS, right? Like, we've seen him say to love fit in or fit out. Jalen Brown, as we know, is another guy, too, that is not afraid to share his opinions publicly. Do you think by Thanksgiving they've had enough of Joel Embiid and his antics of I'm in tonight, I'm not in tonight. I don't feel like practicing today. Like, how are those two? Like, because, you know, Terry's Max, he's a young kid. He's going to keep it to himself. Paul George was a pro and a vet. He didn't really say anything, but I'm telling you, man, these two dudes, you think they're going to put up with that crap, that's going to be the biggest thing to watch in that town. But that all being said, they have the best starting five when it comes to the east, as far as talent goes, there's no question about it. The Knicks have the most experience and chemistry, which I think that stuff always weighs more than talent. And so that's why I'd still put the Knicks ahead. But I think the Sixers are right there, man. And the biggest question is going to be, as it was during the playoff series, what does their bench look like? Because the Knick bench beat the hell out of the Sixer bench in that series, and that was a huge factor. And I don't know if they've got a bench that can really handle what the Knicks can bring. And you got to get to May or April with a team that Embiid doesn't stay healthy. And LeBron James is 42 years old, so that's the other part to watch as well. But on paper, yes, they're right there.
- [11:24]
Peter Rosenberg
I'll say this, though, if one of the reasons I like the east so much more than the west was that if you go to the east, whether it had been Cleveland or Philadelphia, one little thing breaks your way, and you all of a sudden are the favorite to come out of the conference. And I think that is still the case. And I think even Allen, if they didn't get a fully healthy embiid, which we know is so unlikely, if, God forbid, someone at the top of the Knicks went down, all of a sudden it's the Sixers conference to lose.
- [11:55]
Alan Hahn
Yes.
- [11:56]
Peter Rosenberg
So.
- [11:57]
Alan Hahn
And that's the gamble you. Absolutely. That's the gamble that you always go with.
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Co-host/Producer
It's.
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Alan Hahn
It's why in the west, you've got to also be that way. If you're Denver and you're Minnesota, I mean, you're looking at OKC and the spurs and you're saying you're one injury away to open the door for everybody else. That's what you're kind of hoping for. Anytime there's a. There's a year where you've got like the one just runaway favorite, the biggest equalizer is health. And in NBA, as we've learned it, all it takes is one injury to turn the fortunes of a team. Look what happened to okc. I mean, they lost Jalen Williams, and that changed everything for them. It was easier to guard SGA Chet couldn't do it. And so the spurs were able to beat them because their second most important player, who is an All Star, just could not physically play in the series. And you can't tell me, even though it went seven, you can't tell me that that wasn't a deciding factor when it comes to the Thunder. So here in the east, same thing. The Knicks have played guys a lot of games in the last two, three years in the playoffs. Remember, they went to the. They went to the conference finals the year before they went to the NBA Finals. They haven't played a lot of games. They swept a lot. They didn't have to play. They only had to play 19 games. But they still have had to play late into a summer, twice.
- [13:21]
Co-host/Producer
Yeah.
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Alan Hahn
How much does that wear on you when you're a team that's now hitting 29, 30 years old, and the NBA cup, too.
- [13:27]
Don Hahn
Don't forget that.
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Alan Hahn
The extra game.
- [13:31]
Don Hahn
Well, the extra. Not just the extra game, but they wanted to win that. You know, when everybody else was taking a break, they were breaking their back trying to win that title. And it certainly, I think, helped them win the title, but it does catch up with you. I mean, look at the Florida Panthers in the NHL. All the injuries they suffered after, you know, that was three straight Finals, but you start playing a lot of games. It does kind of build up on you, even for it gets you.
- [13:56]
Alan Hahn
Which is why this year was. Remember I was saying that, guys, it was so important to get it done this year. To get it done this year was so important.
- [14:05]
Don Hahn
No, it certainly was. I wanted to ask you, while we have you, I was saving this for Peter for later, but Frank Isola is going to join us at 5, and we got a lot going on. All right. It's obvious. Knicks lose, they go. LeBron James is a nick. So let's say the knicks lose and LeBron James. So obviously you didn't win a championship. You lose in the conference final, or you lose to San Antonio, You're a good team. You got close, but now you got LeBron James and you accept LeBron James because you couldn't win the title before. And would you trade the title you have right now, not knowing you'll ever win another one, to get LeBron James for two years and win two titles?
- [14:55]
Alan Hahn
Absolutely not. I agree with absolutely not.
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Don Hahn
Because it's just.
- [15:00]
Alan Hahn
Because I want, I want the burden hand. I want the burden.
- [15:04]
Peter Rosenberg
And this one's sweeter. The one without him.
- [15:07]
Co-host/Producer
So sweet.
- [15:07]
Don Hahn
It's not the burden. Peter's right. I think two titles with LeBron do not equal this run because of the memories, the way that they did it, doing it without LeBron in the dominance and the stories and, you know, the OG put back. Like, you don't trade any of that because Maybe there are two pedestrian titles with LeBron which you then had to sell your soul, you know, because of LeBron. And even though it'd be double the titles, I don't think you would for anything.
- [15:36]
Alan Hahn
Ask, Ask any Miami Heat fan which title meant more to them. The two with LeBron or the one that Wade won with Shaq as a sort of co host? But that, that Wade team was that. Oh, that was different. Right. However, like, which one was. Would be your favorite, if you're old enough to remember. It's just the way it goes. It's the reality of it. Right. So that's, Yeah, I, I, I think, I think you're absolutely right. I've got a question, though, that I would flip to callers. Okay, then. The Knicks had a roster spot open. They had a veterans minimum to offer. Knowing that he might choose. There was three eastern teams that he was thinking about. And you since kind of had that conversation about, yeah, no, we're all set. Would you, would you have gone to Rich Paul and said, hang on a Minute we want to win back to back, let's get him. We have a strong enough locker and we're not worried about anything that comes with it. We know he's a good guy and you know, he knows all of us. He wants to be here. If he wants to be here, we want him here.
- [16:48]
Don Hahn
I.
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Alan Hahn
And now you're not fence and making sure no one else gets them. Your thoughts?
- [16:55]
Don Hahn
Well, that, that last part is intriguing as well, which is a positive to doing it. You know, I was against LeBron from the get go pre championship. But post championship, there's almost the opposite feeling. Well, now he needs us. You know, we needed him before and that feels different. But now the fact that he needs us, that we're not Alan him the
- [17:17]
Peter Rosenberg
favor and then Allen throws in the extra sauce. That's the thing I like about the question is that I didn't want him here either. But now that he ends up in Philly, you already have your championship and you keep him from Philly.
- [17:29]
Co-host/Producer
Yeah.
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Don Hahn
You keep you playing four corners against the rest of the East.
- [17:33]
Alan Hahn
That's it. Yeah, but you knew he wanted to be here. He's going to, he's going to live. He's going to live in Manhattan. Fellas. Is that real wanted to be here. Oh, no, I've heard that. Yeah, I heard that. That was part of the like one of the things is he want. Because he loved living in la. He does have. He has an office. You know, he's got office space here. Right? They have office space here in New York. And I, I just like he'd easily be able to move his, you know, all of his business stuff, but he'd live here. And I just, all I kept thinking was, or I kept waiting for like that surprise report of, you know, LeBron's going to the Knicks. Huh. Nobody, nobody saw that coming because Rich Paul kept saying no one knows anything. And it's like I, I would definitely think about it because I don't want him going somewhere where now I got to deal with them.
- [18:30]
Don Hahn
Because you're the alpha male now. You're. You're the one making the decisions. You're not waiting for him, you know, with a bunch of, a bunch of kids of the boys and girls club, you know, sitting there hoping, praying he chooses you. Now you're kind of like, I don't know now and gruel, please.
- [18:53]
Peter Rosenberg
Now listen, it's, it's a moot point, obviously at this point. Before we let you go, Alan to back to enjoy your vacation, I said something earlier about me And Don and you. And I want to say it when you're here as well. The one thing I think we do have to admit is, is that as much as this whole thing started to feel really mundane in the end with him choosing Philly, the LeBron thing felt, it ends up feeling not at all like Aaron Rodgers to Pittsburgh. It turned out to feel like a pretty damn big deal, right?
- [19:27]
Alan Hahn
Yeah, yeah. Because of what's happened. And if you look at the east now, you've got so many teams that have scrambled because it almost feels like. And that's why I was trying to tell you, like when we were, when I was always saying, like, hey, we got to stay on this LeBron story. It's not really about LeBron. It's more about the impact it's going to have here. And it feels like team said, wait, the freaking Knicks won a title? Oh, if they can do it, we need to do this. Like, yeah, as if they, the Knicks made it look so easy that they like, everybody, their team started getting like pissed off about, Hang on a second, what are we doing? Like, we gotta. And they started making crazy moves. Miami just went crazy. Boston, they're doing cost cutting moves because they, they, they overspent and they, they got themselves in a bad situation financially, obviously. You saw Philly, Philly, look, look what Philly has added this off season, fellas.
- [20:24]
Don Hahn
No, it's a big.
- [20:25]
Alan Hahn
They have added pieces that has completely transformed their starting five.
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Co-host/Producer
So.
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Alan Hahn
But the only problem is, and that's what we're going to learn is that next season we're all going to, we're all going to make a vow. We're not going to Yankee this thing. We're not going to freak out about a three game losing streak in December. We're not going to overreact because we know with the title in your pocket, what matters is April, May and June. And this team with its chemistry and experience together is still a factor that will outweigh some of these other teams that are going to be spending the regular season trying to figure it out and trying to find, like, how's Bam and Giannis going to play together? How's LeBron? How's Jaylen Brown going to be. Is he going to be the alpha? Is he going to have to defer? How are they going to handle Embiid? And then. And Maxi suddenly has to become a guy that is off the ball. Not really a factor. There's a lot that has to be figured out in all these different markets.
- [21:21]
Commercial Announcer
Yeah.
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Alan Hahn
And for the Knicks, it's just stay healthy, fellas, because when we get to the playoffs, we already know what we got to do. They're still figuring it out. That's what's going to make this season so compelling.
- [21:32]
Don Hahn
Enjoy the rest of your vacation. We'll talk to you in a couple of weeks. And thanks for joining us, man.
- [21:37]
Peter Rosenberg
We miss you, Terry. Fellas, enjoy.
- [21:41]
Alan Hahn
Thank you.
- [21:42]
Don Hahn
That is the great Alan Hahn. He's got another week's left of vacation. He'll be back in August.
- [21:47]
Peter Rosenberg
Hell of a phone line.
- [21:49]
Don Hahn
Yeah, really good.
- [21:50]
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- [22:20]
Don Hahn
I'm Archmanning.
- [22:21]
Red Bull Athlete
I'm Madison Skinner. I'm Eva Jovic.
- [22:23]
Alan Hahn
I'm Decoria Moore.
- [22:24]
Don Hahn
Wanna train like a Red Bull athlete?
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Red Bull Athlete
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- [22:34]
Peter Rosenberg
Think you have what it takes?
- [22:36]
Red Bull Athlete
This episode is brought to you by Facebook. So you were scrolling on Marketplace, and there it was, the bike you'd been searching for. You sent a message and. And it turned out the seller was super chatty, kind of funny, and an avid cyclist. The next thing you know, you're in a cycling crew. Well, a community cycling group. The thing about Facebook, you might find more than what you're looking for from a browse to a bike ride this summer. Find more on Facebook.
- [23:07]
Podcast Host
Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
- [23:10]
Peter Rosenberg
I didn't listen to anything you just said.
- [23:12]
Podcast Host
Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. Did you or someone you know participate in fraudulent fan behavior?
- [23:27]
Don Hahn
I'm a fraud with a capital F.
- [23:28]
Podcast Host
Is your friend a fraud?
- [23:30]
Peter Rosenberg
I have been a complete and utter fraud.
- [23:32]
Podcast Host
Are you a fraud?
- [23:34]
Alan Hahn
What is fraud?
- [23:35]
Podcast Host
Let's ask Dom McGregor. Screw.
- [23:38]
Peter Rosenberg
Go scratch yourself.
- [23:39]
Podcast Host
Brought to you by Dagustino Law.
- [23:44]
Peter Rosenberg
Ah, ladies and gentlemen, it is time for Fraud Alert Friday. Brought to you by d'.
- [23:51]
Alan Hahn
Agostino.
- [23:54]
Peter Rosenberg
That's right. Welcome aboard, ladies and gentlemen. You know the deal. You send your emails to dhrespnmail.com and you end up right here on the big fraud Alert Friday program. We have Judge legreca. Don, do you have your. Do you have your gavel
- [24:14]
Caller Joe
right there?
- [24:15]
Peter Rosenberg
I want to hear it. No, I want to hear it though.
- [24:19]
Co-host/Producer
Yeah.
- [24:20]
Peter Rosenberg
Oh yeah, baby. Yeah, that's, that's what you're looking for. So we go to the emails right now and see who, who is here. Ned wrote us, Don. This isn't related to Fart Alert Friday. He said nobody wanted to hurt Don's feelings. Uninspired song choice. Band sucked and was out of tune. Gonna be hard to ever match. Mama Said Knock youk Out. Oh my God.
- [24:47]
Don Hahn
Now that. There were two things that were fair. One that was not. And going after the band was.
- [24:52]
Peter Rosenberg
That's not right. The band was tremendous.
- [24:54]
Don Hahn
Band was very good. They're signed to a record label and
- [24:57]
Caller/Kevin
it'll never happen again. So don't worry about it.
- [24:59]
Don Hahn
And it's over.
- [25:00]
Peter Rosenberg
Oh, that's right. Wait, by the way, could we start to make Don, we need to make a list like a pile of things that we throw into the Fire Drop Madness. Don performing all of the things that were burning alive as we go on.
- [25:15]
Caller/Kevin
And when they come back.
- [25:24]
Don Hahn
We'll just keep throwing things in and we'll turn around and look to throw something else. And there's nothing else.
- [25:29]
Peter Rosenberg
That's right.
- [25:30]
Don Hahn
We just threw everything out.
- [25:32]
Peter Rosenberg
All right, let's keep going here. Through the. It was unfortunate, but it felt like it had to be read. Your Honor, I don't know if it was ever been brought up before, but Spike Lee, a fraud Yankees fan. This is a video from Fanatics fest and at 6:15, Spike digs himself quite a hole. I look forward to hearing it. We don't need to watch the clip from Fanatics Fest where he spoke on a Yankee panel. Don, we've heard the story of Spike Lee and I think you've decided that while he's the ultimate Knicks fan, he's a complete Yankee fraud.
- [26:06]
Don Hahn
Oh yeah, absolutely. There's even some Nick fraud in there as well. As much as we love the guy, the whole Steph Curry picture after he broke the three point record, the dabbling with Brooklyn when the Nets move there, there's some evidence that maybe the Knicks are a bit little on shaky ground too. But his football and baseball fandom, from the Brooklyn Dodger jersey to his love affair of the 69 Mets, stories of going to see them play fraudulent and then certainly I see some, a lot of Jet and Giant stuff as well. His True allegiance is with the Knicks, but even that on a bit of shaky ground. Sorry.
- [26:49]
Peter Rosenberg
So just. But this is a perfect time to remind people, people how much Don can respect you as a person and still consider you a fraud.
- [26:59]
Don Hahn
Yeah, I told you some of my best friends are frauds.
- [27:06]
Peter Rosenberg
You hear that? Best friends, folks?
- [27:08]
Don Hahn
Yes, still.
- [27:09]
Peter Rosenberg
Still frauds. All right, the emails continue and here's one for the Judge. Judge Agreca fraud question for you. When we were very young, my mom was a Yankee fan. Definitely not to the level of me, but she knew Jeter, a Rod Cano and most of the notable players from the early 10s. When they retired, she started to not be as interested until Ohtani came to Major League Baseball. Now naturally she is from Japan and she started following the angels because of him. Now he went to the Dodgers as well as Yamamoto. It seemed like she was much more focused on the Dodgers. Now, she has never declared that she is a Dodger fan, but I asked to hypothesize hypothetical question. If Aaron Judge was up with the bases loaded against Ohtani for a chance to win the World Series, would you rather have Ohtani strike Judge out for the Dodgers to win or Judge hit a home run and the Yankees would win it all? She said she would have a tough time choosing Judge Legretka, I leave it to you. Is my mother a fraud?
- [28:07]
Don Hahn
It's very difficult to call somebody's mom a fraud. So I will say this. It sounded like she was a casual to begin with. All right, she was a Yankee fan. But oh, she Peter. Oh, give her credit, man. She's a die hard. She knew Jeter, she knew Mo, she knew Canoe. Like she really, like she really took the deep dive on the roster, right? Sounded like it's just something she did. She's not really that passionate about it. Then Ohtani comes in a lot sexier with the pitcher and the hitter. And she's from, from Japan. It sounded like she was a casual. Casuals are just another way of saying fraud, but in a very, very nice way. She never was passionate about the Yankees
- [28:46]
Peter Rosenberg
to really be casual fraud, true fraud.
- [28:50]
Don Hahn
I don't think like casual suggests fraud, but not really because there's no passion. There's no. You're not throwing your heart into it. It didn't sound like she was all in on the Yankees. He admitted that he's a bigger die hard than she was. I think it was just kind of a family that I don't. It doesn't sound to me like there was a lot of Yankee passion. There and it was up for grabs to begin with. So to be kind to mom, I'll say no fraud.
- [29:14]
Peter Rosenberg
If you want to get a question on the phone lines, by the way, 1-800-919-3776, you can get in and talk to Judge Legreca like this email or Judge Legreca. I'm reaching out to the court to see if I'm a double fraud. Look, okay, I'm 50 years old and have been a Notre Dame fan for about 40 years, but I did not go to the school. I was at a friend's house when I was about 10 or 11. His dad was watching college football and I asked him who's playing? He said, some team. And then he said, the Fighting Irish. I said, I'm Irish, they could be my team. I voted for them. Ever since. If I remember correct for past rulings, I believe the court feels you need to have gone to a college to be a fan. The second part of this is I am a Jets fan. A long suffering jets fan. After they traded sauce and I realized I wasted money on yet another jersey, I decided I was no longer giving my money to support the team. What I want to do instead is buy jerseys for my favorite Irish players in the NFL. Would this make me a double fraud in the court's eyes? Thanks for hearing my case, Nixon. 5.
- [30:21]
Don Hahn
All right, I gotta get over the whole, you gotta go to the school to root because I, I, I'm, that's a losing battle for me. So if since the age of 10, it didn't sound like he even went to college, I'm not gonna call him fraud for being an Irish friend. Now he's not buying jerseys for the jets anymore. But is he still rooting for the Jets? Because you can go buy jerseys for whoever, as long as it's not anybody within your division.
- [30:49]
Peter Rosenberg
All he said was, is he was done spending money on the team.
- [30:55]
Don Hahn
But really, are you spending money on the team? Peter, when you buy a jersey, doesn't that all go into the same hopper anyway? Like the money that he's spending on the Jet jersey goes to the same place for the Irish jerseys for players that are Irish.
- [31:09]
Peter Rosenberg
Well, no, that's not exactly true. You're still, still, if you're buying a Jets jersey, they're getting a piece.
- [31:14]
Don Hahn
Yeah, but again. But they all share it. That's all revenue sharing.
- [31:18]
Co-host/Producer
Right?
- [31:18]
Announcer
True.
- [31:19]
Peter Rosenberg
Yeah, true.
- [31:20]
Don Hahn
So, I mean, it's semantics. But the point is, is that I need, I need more information, Peter, because does that mean if there's an Irish Player on the Patriots. He's buying that jersey because if he is, he's a fraud.
- [31:29]
Peter Rosenberg
Well, he said other teams. He didn't say specifically rivalries.
- [31:33]
Don Hahn
I gotta be honest with you. From. I can only go by the information
- [31:36]
Peter Rosenberg
I want to present. I want to present one last thing on his behalf.
- [31:38]
Don Hahn
Go ahead.
- [31:39]
Peter Rosenberg
You're talking about where the money is going. Let me. Let me explain the best part. If he decided to buy himself a Rick Myra jersey, where did Rick Meyer go?
- [31:53]
Don Hahn
Well, he went to Notre Dame, but I know.
- [31:55]
Peter Rosenberg
That's why I said, well, where did he play in the NFL somewhere?
- [31:59]
Don Hahn
No, he played briefly. Seattle. Played for the Jets.
- [32:01]
Peter Rosenberg
Oh, yeah, the jets too. Bad example. If he had bought a Rick Meyer a Seattle jersey. And the logic is simply, I don't want to keep buying these jets jerseys because even when I think they're a forever player, they end up gone like Sauce Gardner. I'd rather spend the money to say, hey, it's just a Notre Dame player in the league. I do see why that could be a better value for you.
- [32:23]
Don Hahn
Yeah, but that's why I need to find out. Like. But, but is he at least sticking to being a Jet fan and not buying Irish Bills and Irish Patriots and Dolphin jerseys?
- [32:32]
Co-host/Producer
Fair.
- [32:33]
Don Hahn
So I need more information, but based on what I have here, it doesn't sound like any fraud, but it's not anybody I'd want to hang with.
- [32:39]
Peter Rosenberg
Dagostino, that's not very. Not very nice
- [32:46]
Don Hahn
that is going on there.
- [32:48]
Peter Rosenberg
Well, yeah, I mean, listen, I understand, though, wouldn't you? I'll just say this. I totally understand a Jet fan who no longer wants to spend money buying Jet stuff. The Sauce one was a tough one. You really thought in Sauce you got a jersey that you could have for five years. What it would it last three?
- [33:05]
Don Hahn
No, I get it. But look at all the draft capital they got that might end up landing them the quarterback that wins them a championship. Then he's back on board again. We got to stop with that stuff. Sounds like a good. Here's what I'll say. I'll rule no fraud. But it sounds like he's teetering on fraud. He's about to go.
- [33:21]
Peter Rosenberg
I got another email here from a guy who says, hey, guys, I had one random non fraud note. Not sure why I waited this long to write in, but last summer. Last summer, Don mentioned playing high school baseball with a guy named Hansi Hernandez.
- [33:40]
Don Hahn
Yeah, Hansi.
- [33:40]
Co-host/Producer
Yes.
- [33:41]
Peter Rosenberg
Sorry. Handsy.
- [33:42]
Don Hahn
Sounds tough when I may have mispronounced some of those names in there.
- [33:48]
Announcer
I hope not.
- [33:52]
Don Hahn
Good Use of the drop. Great use of the drop.
- [33:55]
Peter Rosenberg
Great use of the drop. And Hansi Hernandez, I'm gonna start using. I'm gonna start using that for other things. But anyways, he said Hansi suffered a devastating knee injury.
- [34:10]
Don Hahn
Yes.
- [34:11]
Peter Rosenberg
And he said. Well, I have a quick update. I used to work with Hansi.
- [34:14]
Don Hahn
Okay.
- [34:15]
Peter Rosenberg
He's a great guy. We played on the intramural softball team together for a few years. And I can confirm this dude can still pick him at second base. Matt from Hoboken.
- [34:27]
Don Hahn
Matt, I would. I would love for you to maybe send an email. Give me a phone number. I'd love to reconnect with Hansi. I'm glad he's not.
- [34:34]
Announcer
Not.
- [34:35]
Peter Rosenberg
Not handsy.
- [34:35]
Don Hahn
Not Hansy.
- [34:36]
Co-host/Producer
No.
- [34:37]
Don Hahn
Hansi Hernandez is another guy that lost his job. The softball team kicked him off because he was too handsy.
- [34:45]
Co-host/Producer
Yeah.
- [34:45]
Peter Rosenberg
There are a lot of. No, there are a lot of people who I would refer to as Hansi Hernandez, but not this guy. That'll do it. That'll do it. For today's fraud alert Friday, brought to you by D' Agostino Law. 35 years. 35 years getting accident victims and Social Security disability clients. Every dollar they deserve. Offices in New York and New Jersey. 1-800- Bite back. 1-800-248-3222, Dagostino law by back.
- [35:08]
Announcer
You know when you're locked in, focused and fearless. Welcome to the wnba. Your vision narrows. You can't look away. Every assist, every stop, every logo. Three from beyond the logo, every. Did you see that moment?
- [35:25]
Alan Hahn
You bet.
- [35:27]
Announcer
What records are going to be broken this season? All of it. Right here. Lock in. It's the WNBA on ESPN all season long.
- [35:39]
Podcast Host
Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
- [35:43]
Peter Rosenberg
I didn't listen to anything you just said.
- [35:44]
Podcast Host
Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.
- [35:52]
Don Hahn
Thanks for joining us on a Friday here on Don Han and Rosenberg Wolf pack next week as well, because Alan's gonna be off. We'll have lots to get into that much closer to the trade deadline, which is August 3rd. So we do have a little bit of time before that does happen. But LeBron still in a lot of people's minds, including Joe in Chappaqua. You're on ESPN New York. What's up, Joe?
- [36:15]
Alan Hahn
Hey, guys. Thanks for taking a call.
- [36:16]
Caller Joe
Happy Friday.
- [36:17]
Don Hahn
Happy Friday.
- [36:19]
Peter Rosenberg
Thanks, man.
- [36:20]
Alan Hahn
So one.
- [36:22]
Caller Joe
One thing that Han said that kind of resonated with me was chemistry. Now, I correct me if I'm wrong. Didn't Lebron when he first went to Miami. Didn't he lose that first year? Even though they had the Big three, they lost to the Mavericks, right?
- [36:38]
Don Hahn
Yeah, but they lost in the final. So I mean, it took a little bit, but they still won three rounds.
- [36:46]
Caller Joe
Right, so. But my thing is, you already know you have a team that's played together for years in the Knicks. They know each other. They played even longer because of Villanova connection. You know, I still have my money
- [36:58]
Don Hahn
on the Knicks, of course, and I think that's why they're the favorite. But they're a slight favorite for a couple of reasons. Number one, eight straight years of no repeat champion. Eight different champions in eight years. So it's not even repeat champion, Peter. It's eight different champions in eight years. So Parity's kind of struck this league. It's very difficult to repeat. Not only do you have Philadelphia, but, you know, what's Indiana going to look like with Halliburton? They were good enough to go to the final and then they lost out because of the fact that Halliburton was out and looks like they didn't really care about playing. They're going to be back. You know, what's, what's Detroit, what's Cleveland like? There's still a lot of pitfalls. Plus, Peter, whoever comes out of the west is probably going to be the favorite, especially if it's the spurs, because, you know, people might think, hey, they learned the lesson, they've been there. And I still, I'm still betting on the Knicks, Peter, But I think it's foolish to say that they're the clear cut favorite, that they're, they're automatically going to repeat. It's. You're going to have a target on your back. It's tough to repeat. And Philadelphia is much better than they were last year. They went to the second round last year, came back from 31 down against Boston. Granted, Boston had their issues, but now you've added Jaylen Brown and LeBron James and the potential of a healthy embiid with Maxey already there. And that's a real Peter, that's a really good basketball team that might take time to gel, but guess what? The regular season doesn't matter as much anymore. You can, you can take all regular season to gel, be a four or five seed and still make a run in the playoffs. Now the way the NBA is presently constituted, especially in the East.
- [38:35]
Peter Rosenberg
Yeah, listen, again, this is not the first call we've gotten like this where people are just going right to the default. And I'm Taking my Knicks and I. I feel you and I. You should have that energy. Right? You just won the championship. Don, to your point, if this. If this Cleveland team is healthy, even without LeBron, they presented a major problem here. So I absolutely think the Knicks can. Can battle and maybe win another one. But if you're looking at it like you're some sort of prohibitive favorite because you happened to win last year, I'm sorry, Don, I don't see it that way. They are going to have to absolutely battle with. With again, even if you don't get full Embiid, just because you have the. The lineup that they currently have, minus, without any sort of expectation that Embiid plays a. You know, is 100% because that doesn't happen.
- [39:33]
Co-host/Producer
Right.
- [39:34]
Peter Rosenberg
But just between. But just between Edgecomb, Maxi and the aforementioned, you know, LeBron James, you're already talking about a really, really challenging team.
- [39:48]
Don Hahn
Well, the thing is, is that after you had the hiccup of losing two of the first three games against Atlanta, you lost one game the rest of the way. I mean, do you think it's gonna be that easy next year?
- [40:01]
Caller Joe
No.
- [40:02]
Don Hahn
So now maybe you're playing a game six, maybe you're playing a game seven. And when you get deeper in playoffs, things can happen. Pitfalls could take place that now, all of a sudden, you don't make it out.
- [40:12]
Peter Rosenberg
But do you realize, Don, that the lineup of the Sixers last year, I don't even remember, but, like, I remember Richard from Manhattan, for example, and maybe it was Spike also sort of waxing poetic about Edgecombe, Maxi and Embiid. The other two starters in that lineup are LeBron James and Jaylen Brown. This doesn't happen like, this is a freak.
- [40:34]
Podcast Host
This is.
- [40:35]
Peter Rosenberg
Don, you don't often add. Let's be realistic. In LeBron, in Jalen Brown, you added a top 10 player in the league and a top 20 player in the league.
- [40:46]
Co-host/Producer
Right.
- [40:47]
Peter Rosenberg
With, by the way, both with championship pedigree to your starting lineup. So they're a problem. There's no problem.
- [40:53]
Don Hahn
And Alan brought this up to you. Actually, you brought it up, too, about, okay, you're the favorites, and I agree. I would bet on the Knicks.
- [41:00]
Announcer
And.
- [41:01]
Don Hahn
But now, instead of sweeping a series, now maybe you're playing into game six, Game seven, and all of a sudden you suffer an injury or something happens that now you don't repeat. Like, it's that you're not head and shoulders above everybody else anymore. And so now the gap has definitely thinned to the point where now there's Less margin for error. I could. It happened, sure. But I don't think you're going to face Philadelphia, sweep them and beat them by 30 every game. Now, maybe, maybe you go six and now, you know, and now you're in overtime in game six, and then it ends up being a game. I'm just saying that the gap has been closed. The Knicks are still the favorite, and you should be competent after watching this team go 16 and three. Okay, and what, 15 and one after. After dropping two of the first three.
- [41:52]
Caller Joe
Whatever.
- [41:52]
Announcer
Right.
- [41:54]
Don Hahn
Of course you should feel invincible. But it's. It's hard, man. It's. It's hard to have the same thing happen. How are you going to replace Mitch? Like, there's. You're not exactly the same team.
- [42:06]
Co-host/Producer
It's.
- [42:07]
Don Hahn
A lot goes into going there. Repeating as champions is very, very difficult to do, especially in this NBA. Let's go to Lou in Palm Bay. You're on espn, New York. What's up, Lou?
- [42:18]
Co-host/Producer
What's up? Happy birthday, Peter. Happy Friday. Don't.
- [42:21]
Don Hahn
What's up?
- [42:22]
Co-host/Producer
Hey, this LeBron signing. It's fine. All it means is that we have. We're not going to sweep the 76ers next year. We'll beat them in six or seven. We'll still get to where we gotta go. We can match up toe for toe with them still. OG on LeBron, cat on EM bridges on Brown. Like, we can still go toe to toe for them.
- [42:47]
Don Hahn
Yeah, but think about what you just said, Lou, and thank you for the phone call. Six or seven. All right. Well, if you're playing into game seven, that means you could lose,
- [42:58]
Co-host/Producer
right?
- [42:59]
Don Hahn
Where is that game? We don't know. Is that in Philly, you think? Let me ask you this, Peter. Do you think you're taking over the building next year in Philadelphia?
- [43:10]
Peter Rosenberg
I would think not.
- [43:11]
Don Hahn
I think they'd be a little bit more engaged in Philly with where they're going right now. Not saying Nick. Fans won't get in the building. They get in every building, but they're not going to take over a building. I feel like I'm cheating on a spouse. Like, where I'm like. I believe the way these callers do. I'm just trying to play Devil's Abbott because, like. All right, let's pump the brakes, man. I mean, I agree with you. I think you are the favorite. I think you are going to still win. You've got an excellent chance at least to go to the final. I think. I think the west is going to be a problem because I Think the spurs have learned a lesson and the Thunder could be back, too. Just. Just acknowledge the fact that it might be a little harder and it might not go the way you think might. That's all I love.
- [44:01]
Caller/Kevin
I don't think you're going to get that. Less. Less than two months removed from a championship for the first time in 53.
- [44:05]
Don Hahn
No, I get it.
- [44:06]
Caller/Kevin
I'm just saying, like, that's why I'm not.
- [44:08]
Don Hahn
I'm not arguing. I'm just. I'm just saying that this is where it gets to the point. Then what? So if it doesn't go, like, are you going to turn on them?
- [44:16]
Caller/Kevin
I think we had this. I think that. That Nick. Fans can start to have that feeling or conversation in, like, I don't know, January or February. I think that people are going to enjoy this and listen and.
- [44:25]
Peter Rosenberg
Right, but those are two.
- [44:26]
Commercial Announcer
Hold on.
- [44:26]
Peter Rosenberg
Those are two separate things. You should totally enjoy it. I'm just saying there's a line between I totally enjoy it and saying, I don't care who the Sixers get, but you get the right.
- [44:39]
Caller/Kevin
Peter, you have the right to say that because you won. That's what a fan is.
- [44:43]
Don Hahn
No, I get it.
- [44:43]
Peter Rosenberg
I know. But listen, be a fan. I'm just selling you as a. As an actual take. It's a yo, yo take. Say whatever you want.
- [44:50]
Podcast Host
Say you don't.
- [44:51]
Peter Rosenberg
Don. I'd rather you say, I don't care if they win or not. I'm too busy celebrating the championship. But you.
- [44:56]
Caller/Kevin
One guy's rooting for LeBron because the Knicks won.
- [44:58]
Don Hahn
Everybody's got.
- [44:59]
Peter Rosenberg
Well, yes, people have obviously lost their mind.
- [45:00]
Don Hahn
Yeah, people have lost their minds. But I just think, like, Alan said it best. It's like, listen, there could be a problem. I think it's a problem the Knicks can handle, but it's going to be a problem. I think there's nothing wrong with saying, I think the Knicks will be fine. I think the Knicks are going to beat the Sixers. But if you're just ignoring that they just added two top 20 players to their roster and just that it's nothing, well, then I think you're kind of living in denial. I think the both worlds can exist. That you're confident the Knicks will win, but also acknowledge the fact the Sixers got a hell of a lot better and could be a problem.
- [45:34]
Peter Rosenberg
Both true.
- [45:36]
Don Hahn
And if you're going to completely disregard them being a problem, then I have to wonder, are you really putting any logic behind it, or are you just so in love with the team and that I get. That's why I think it's forgivable, because you are riding a high and you believe anything can be accomplished. But as somebody that is rooted for teams that have won and have never repeated that, you can be as confident as you want. When you turn the page to a different year, things are different, things change, and something big time changed in Philic.
- [46:05]
Podcast Host
Thanks for listening to the Don Han and Rosenberg podcast.
- [46:09]
Peter Rosenberg
I don't want to know how the
- [46:10]
Podcast Host
sausage is made, man.
- [46:11]
Alan Hahn
I just want to know it's good.
- [46:12]
Podcast Host
Hear more of Don Allen and Peter Weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers.