Hour 2: Charles Smith, Fraud Alert & Maria Marino

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 2: Charles Smith, Fraud Alert & Maria Marino
March 13, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode of the Don, Hahn & Rosenberg show from ESPN New York features a rich blend of New York sports talk, memorable guest segments, and spirited listener interactions. Hour 2 focuses on a heartfelt and insightful interview with former Knicks and Pitt star Charles Smith, their crowd-favorite "Fraud Alert Friday" segment, and a vibrant closing discussion with ESPN's Maria Marino about women's basketball, the WNBA, and equitable pay issues.

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Key Segments & Timestamps

• [00:43] – [21:43]: Interview with Charles Smith – Knicks and Pitt legend shares stories about Mike Tyson, his mother's influence, the Knicks, and insights on the Big East and NBA.
• [25:19] – [42:44]: Fraud Alert Friday – The hosts read and judge listeners’ “sports fraud” dilemmas in a lively, engaging, and often hilarious segment.
• [46:15] – [60:42]: Interview with Maria Marino – Maria discusses her career, milestones in women’s basketball, the booming WNBA, and the crucial issue of revenue sharing during labor negotiations.

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Charles Smith Interview

[00:43 – 21:43]

Highlights

On Mike Tyson and Smith's Fearless Mother

• Smith recounts running into Mike Tyson in Los Angeles during the late '80s/early '90s.
• Memorable story: His mother, undaunted, turned Tyson around at a train station; Smith notes Tyson had the "fear of God" in his eyes until realizing it was just an older woman talking to him.
  • Notable Quote ([03:14], Charles Smith): “When [Mike Tyson] saw it was a woman, and she started talking to him... she remembers when she turned him around, that look that he had on his face.”

The Impact of His Mother’s Words

• After playing a bad game, Smith's mother chastised him for ignoring Garden workers and fans, telling him “I didn’t raise you to be that way."
• Smith describes how this changed his outlook, leading to years of connecting with fans and staff, and even unknowingly mentoring a troubled young fan:
  • Notable Quote ([05:46], Charles Smith): "From that point on... my mother told me a long time ago, owners will come and go, those union workers will always be there."

Big East Pride & College Basketball

• The pride of the Big East as a true basketball conference, its heritage, and the “send it in, Jerome!” moment.
• On St. John’s: Praises Patino’s free-flowing offensive system, says it’s tough to prepare for and hard to guard.

Knicks Analysis

• Smith is optimistic about the Knicks' championship potential but points to shot selection in key moments as the main barrier.
• On analytics and criticism of Karl-Anthony Towns: Smith stands up for Towns’ game and shooting ability.
• On team defense and chemistry: Emphasizes the importance of consistent defensive effort and tight rotations.

The Evolution of the NBA

• Smith reflects on changes in pace, training, and physicality in the NBA, crediting today’s players for being “fine-tuned engines” but questioning claims that today's game is harder.
  • Quote ([17:13], Charles Smith): “Their bodies, they’re able to take care of their bodies better… So to complain about how many games, they have more at their disposal to be able to play.”

Playoff Insight

• Explains that playoff success comes from players’ in-game leadership and adjustments rather than coaching alone.
  • Quote ([21:22], Smith): “That’s not a coach’s thing. That’s players during a timeout or on a free throw… When you get a team of unselfish guys that do that, they’re tough to beat. Tough to beat.”

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Fraud Alert Friday

[25:19 – 42:44]

Highlights & Memorable Cases

BYU–Utah "Holy War" Rivalry ([27:06])

• Listener roots for both rivals due to attending both schools.
• Verdict: Fraud!
  • Quote ([28:12], Don): “Four years at one of them… you can’t just suddenly go now, I love this school.”

Sabres Fan Bandwagon ([31:00])

• Listener “tapped out” during years of Sabres futility, returns now that they’re good.
• Verdict: Not a fraud, but not a great fan
  • Quote ([33:17], Don): “You’re not a fraud, but your fandom did suffer because you tapped out.”

Rooting Against Judge for Italian Heritage ([35:30])

• An Italian-American Yankee fan finds himself rooting for Italy—and a Red Sox pitcher—over Aaron Judge in the WBC.
• Verdict: Absolutely not a fraud—he honored his heritage and his heart
  • Quote ([38:13], Don): “How could you ever be a fraud if you honor your heart?”
  • Segment proposes naming “Fraud Friday” after listener Alessandro de Gennaro.

International Sports Loyalties

• Hosts reflect on the unique dilemmas of dual loyalties, particularly in international competitions, with a blend of humor and genuine empathy.

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Maria Marino Interview

[46:15 – 60:42]

Maria’s ESPN Story & Personal Highlights

• Tells a unique story: Played in a charity softball game, went 3-for-3, and learned she was pregnant the next day.
• The hosts heap good-natured praise on Maria and her “model” husband, Steve, sparking playful banter about partners and attractiveness.

On Women’s Basketball and WNBA

UConn & March Madness Storylines ([51:19])

• “Can UConn repeat?”: Maria says yes, but highlights the strength of UCLA, South Carolina, and Texas.
• Notes growth and “parity” in women’s hoops, not just dominance by one school.

The Explosive Growth of the Women’s Game ([52:42])

• Cites impact of Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, Angel Reese, and NIL deals raising player profiles.
  • Quote ([53:14], Maria): “Liberty are averaging over 16,000 fans per game now…they draw more than the Nets do in that building.”

WNBA Revenue Sharing & Labor Negotiations ([56:22])

• Breaks down revenue share dispute: WNBA offers players a hefty percentage of net (post-expense) but not gross; whereas the NBA’s 1983 deal gave players around 40% of gross revenue.
• Top WNBA salaries will finally surpass $1 million/year (from ~$250K max); still, calls out the need for a fairer revenue split, especially for non-superstars.
  • Quote ([59:22], Maria): “The last couple years with the boom—ratings, sponsorships, attendance has skyrocketed—these players…owners, I should say, were paying Caitlin Clark and the likes of her $75k a year. So, it’s time.”

The Stakes of Walking Out

• Maria warns, losing any games—even just preseason—could damage the WNBA’s hard-won momentum.
• She passionately advocates for a deal to be struck: “Let’s play ball…this is going to continue in the right direction.”

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Charles Smith ([05:46]): “Owners will come and go. Those union workers will always be there.”
• Don ([38:13], on Fraud Friday): “How could you ever be a fraud if you honor your heart?”
• Maria Marino ([53:14]): “Liberty are averaging over 16,000 fans per game now…they draw more than the Nets do in that building.”
• Maria ([59:22]): “It’s time. And guess what? They’re going to get it. They’re going to get paid and it’s going to be a win-win. It’s just a matter of are they going to get this gross revenue share.”

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Tone & Style

• Camaraderie & Humor: The show maintains a relaxed, fun back-and-forth marked by both sports expertise and sharp wit.
• Personal Stories: Deep dives into guest experiences (Charles Smith, Maria Marino) give an intimate feel.
• Interactive: Audience is part of the action via the Fraud Alert segment, which mixes judgment with empathy and comic banter.
• Genuine Advocacy: Particularly apparent as Maria passionately articulates the need for fair treatment of WNBA athletes.

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Summary

This hour is a must-listen for Knicks fans, Big East followers, and anyone interested in the continued rise of women’s sports. The interviews with Charles Smith and Maria Marino are as warm and candid as they are insightful. “Fraud Alert Friday” remains one of sports radio’s most engaging, relatable segments—where judgment is delivered with a perfect blend of jest and wisdom.

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For a lively, thoughtful, and authentic New York sports experience—this episode delivers from buzzer to buzzer.

Transcript

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

[C]

Don Anna Rosenberg's Big east live broadcast for the Irish exit Immohan Train hall is brought to you by Sam Adams Sun Cruiser Vodka iced tea and Schweppes. Schweppes delivers above the rim refreshment. Feel the madness and refresh your game with a Schweppes Seltzer or Schweppes ginger Ale. Very rarely do you have a guest on that feels the pressure that Charles Smith feels right now. Because we had a guest in Walter Berry that told like the story of stories. So Charles Smith, of course, Pitt Nicks. You have to have a story that could top that one from Walter Berry. Go ahead.

[D]

I don't know if I can. I didn't. I never murdered anybody.

[C]

That would be the next thing right now.

[B]

Have you ever heard that story running into Walter over the years? Have you ever heard that story?

[D]

No, no, no, no.

[B]

Can you believe he has that in his pocket and doesn't tell it to everybody?

[C]

Tell everybody.

[D]

Well, he came with it today.

[B]

Yeah, he brought, he brought the. He brought the heat today.

[C]

You would have to go there. Like the, the, like Manson Family, like, you would have to get at that level. So I stumbled into a party one day.

[A]

Oh, wait a minute, wait a minute. This man did play with Patrick Ewing and Charles Oakley. I imagine he's seen some things.

[B]

Yeah, that is, that's all. It's a very good point.

[D]

Have I seen some go back now? Did you.

[B]

Do you have. Do you just have any general memories of Tyson being around from your days in New York, though? Because those are the days when Mike was outside.

[D]

No, Tyson. My days with him, it was in LA when I was with the Clippers.

[B]

Do tell.

[D]

Because we would, you know, you go out to different clubs, different places and, you know, run into them there. And at that time, he was in the heyday of his career.

[B]

This is what your Clippers years were. Early 90s.

[D]

Yeah. It was from 88 to 92.

[B]

88 to 92. Oh, so that was literally when he's the guy. So when. When Tyson was in the club, A, would he interact with the ball players? And. And B, did he sort of suck the air out of the room in any way?

[D]

No, he didn't interact. But I do have a story with him and my mother. Well, okay, so we're going through. My mother's going through train station here. And he was coming toward her with someone else, maybe a bodyguard or whatever. And my mother just went right up to him and approached him, but turned him around, put her hand on his shoulder and turned him around. And she said when he turned, he had, like, the fear of God in his eyes and then settled back down. When my mother started talking to him,

[B]

when he saw it was like a woman.

[D]

When he saw it was a woman and she started talking to him, but she said she remembers when she turned him around, that look that he had on his face. Well, let's settle them right in now.

[B]

I want to learn more about your mother. The kind of lady who sees Mike Tyson and just goes, sir. Grabs him by the shoulder. So a fearless woman is your mother.

[D]

Well, I tell you, I do have a story about my mother in the Garden.

[B]

All right, please.

[D]

So this was. I had a bad game one evening, and she was with me that night.

[B]

Okay.

[D]

And when I came out of the locker room, I joined her. And then I went through the Garden to the car on the way home. We got in the car, and she says, charles, pull the car over. I'm like, what? Pull the car over. Like, what are you talking about? And then she yells, pull the car over. She said, I've never been so disgusted and embarrassed by you ever in my life. I'm like, what? She said, the guy at the elevator said something to you. You ignored him. The person when you came out of the locker room said, hey, you guys are one of the next one. You ignored them. You ignored every person leaving the Garden that night. And she said, I didn't raise you to be that way. Key thing. So after she said that, you act like you're not listening, but you're listening.

[C]

Yeah, that's your mom.

[D]

The next two years here I come out of the locker room, I'm signing shoes, giving them people guide to elevator, bringing a mortar. And I did that for two years. There's another guy who was retiring from the garden after 49 years, and he invited. He asked for me to come to his retirement party. So the Knicks called and said, hey, guys, retiring, we'll fly you. And I said, no, I'm in town. I'm in Connecticut. I'll just come. And he said, why does he want me to come? He says, I don't know. He just asked for you to come. So I go, the guys there, they did the retirement party behind the ticket sales booth at the Garden. And he says at the end, he says, a lot of you wonder why I invited Charles Smith to my retirement party. And I said, and I'm just standing in the back. And he says, nikki, stand up. I think his grandson was named Nikki. He said, Charles spent 45 minutes with Nikki at the end of one of the games. Nikki was about to go to jail, and he spent 45 minutes with him and turned his life around. And Nikki stood up, and the guy's balling now. I know I did it, but I don't remember.

[A]

Of course.

[D]

I don't. I didn't. I didn't remember.

[C]

Of course.

[D]

Yeah, it was an awesome thing. So from that point on, people always ask, how do you just go through the Garden and go through all the places? My mother told me a long time ago, owners will come and go. Those union workers will always be there.

[A]

That is right.

[D]

And so from the people on the floor to the seating all over, they always say, how's Dorothy? She made friends with all of them. So that was a story about my mother. And. And now, now I have a relationship with all the union workers.

[A]

But it is amazing. But that is a true story.

[D]

It's true.

[A]

Like, no matter who you are. It is. It's always the judge of character, isn't it?

[D]

When you.

[A]

When you meet somebody, it's always like, how do they treat someone? They don't have to treat.

[B]

And also. And particularly the ultimate. Because this is what your mom called you out for failing on as a kid. How do you treat people when you're not feeling it?

[D]

Yeah, exactly.

[B]

Because that's when we generally throw out our general politeness. I'm not doing it today.

[D]

Right.

[B]

But, like, that's the next level is, you know, being able to act that way when you're feeling down.

[A]

Right.

[B]

That's something.

[D]

Hey, I'm acting polite with you guys.

[B]

Yeah, look at that.

[D]

You don't want to do. Exactly.

[B]

You don't want to be here.

[C]

Right. I knew it was for gays. You had a feeling.

[A]

And you again, you know, around here, you have every right at times to be the guy that just puts blinders on and walks around, because I don't want to deal with it. But, but, but you the being that way, though, is the better way to disarm a lot of people and also to make it just put a human. You know, it didn't humanize a lot of it. So it is a great story. It is, it is a great example. Big east torment, of course, is. Is a time for you that is always probably bringing back great memories. You played at Pit, I think I remember last year asking you about, of course, the send it in Jerome dunk that you were right here to see and how that, how that became such an iconic moment. But that, that team, the teams you guys played on, but that team especially you guys, were destroying rims that year. But to see the Big east kind of where it is, you got the original four teams playing each other, knowing how big college sports has become. And we were talking to Val Ackerman about how football is really king in everything.

[D]

Right.

[A]

The fact that the Big east is kind of owning the idea of, you know what, we're a basketball conference. Is there a sense of pride for you in that?

[D]

There's always a sense of pride. I mean, the fact that how Dave Gavett and the. And the crew started it and they had the idea of going on the Northeast and just hitting every major city.

[A]

Yep.

[D]

With a team unheard of, it's never been like that. Sure, it changed today, but when you have such a staple that starts like that, it's got so much character and history. It's undeniable. It's undeniable still today.

[A]

The.

[D]

The Final Four in the Big east is. Was the most sought after ticket that you couldn't get in Garden history. Still today. Still today. Joel Fisher at the Garden always talks about that. That was the hardest ticket to get.

[A]

Final Four.

[C]

Yeah.

[D]

The semifinals.

[B]

Does it still. Does the electricity feel the same on Saturday night? Like, will it hit you in the same way? The energy in the, in the room,

[D]

you know, the energy is good at the Garden during the Big East. I was obviously here last year. This year it's going to be better, I think because of how these four teams are playing.

[B]

Yeah, they'll be able to play well

[D]

beyond the tournament, into the NCAA tournament. But one team that I absolutely love watching is St. John's why? Because Patino has him playing a style of offense that's hard to guard. He's got the guys making their own decisions within the framework of an offense. He's playing three on two, basketball all over the floor. So when the ball goes at the top, you got the two guys they make when. If he looks this way they make a decision whether they want to catch it or go set a screen down and come up. They're just playing you. You can't guard that. It's very difficult to guard. And if a team hasn't saw an offense like that all year long and you got to prepare for it, you can prepare, but you still haven't seen it.

[A]

It's really different. And what's different, too, is that I've heard with Patino, it's like he has demands on defense, on offense, do what you want to do. It's not as structured, not as much like play calling and certain things that happen which are easy, scoutable.

[D]

Right.

[A]

It is more. I'm not going to say freelance because there is a structure to it, but just what you're describing is we get a matchup and then we'll exploit it, but you don't know what's. What it's going to be at a given time. He only demands do this on defense.

[D]

Yep.

[A]

But I'm not going to. I won't be on your case offensively.

[D]

Yep. And they can have less lesser talent than their opponent because of that offense. It's tough. It's tough to guard.

[A]

I know it's coming.

[D]

It's very tough.

[C]

How far can they go beyond the Big East?

[D]

I think they can go deep. It's just, you know, again, a team that can probably stay with them and guard them on offense is going to be a team of veterans that understand how to play against, you know, down screens, up screens, switch everything. And it's got to be players on the floor that are mobile enough to switch onto any player. But if they don't run into a team like that, I think they'll beat them. If they run into a team with like two bigs that they play all the time, it's. And they're running, so they're tough. Anybody gets that rebound, three or four guys get the rebound. They're pushing it. Even the center on St. John's gets the ball, takes two, dribbles and passes it up. They're tough. That is. That's tough.

[C]

Talking to Jarrell Smith here, Don Hanna, Rosenberg on espn New York. Of course, Knicks are always a big topic of conversation on this show. We just can't seem to figure them out. You know, they'll beat the spurs and then they'll almost lose to Utah. Play awful in the first half. We're trying to figure out if they're a championship caliber team. Do you think they're a championship caliber?

[D]

I definitely think it's a championship caliber team. I think the issue is shot selection at key times, you know, you got some. They have players on the team that have offensive ability to make shots everywhere. But at key times, if you got, you know, you're in a bonus, you don't take a three, you take it to the basket. You know, you, you take advantage of what you have at that time. And I just don't see them taking those advantages that are in their favor. At key times, the shot is wide open, but still you're in a bonus, get a foul, keep the pressure on the other team. And so I just think it's a minor adjustment of shot selections by certain players at key times.

[B]

Is that, is that a player thing though or is that a coach thing? And did you see the same issue last year that you see?

[D]

It's the same. But you know what, it's hard to say whether it's a coach issue or a player issue because as a player, you got to feel that you're going to make that shot. You got to know that you're going to make that shot.

[B]

Right.

[D]

But if you miss it in a key shot like that, it can turn the game in a different direction against you.

[C]

I just wonder, is it an analytical where the analytics tell you take the three, Everybody's hoist always.

[D]

Yeah, that's. That's a problem. That's a problem that, you know, the. Obviously and I think I've been watching Carl Town since high school. He is the best shooting big man in the league. Forget that he won the all star thing. That has nothing to do with it. The guy can flat out shoot. He's been shooting like that since high school. So I don't understand, you know, how everyone has their issues with him. He's. He's playing, he's putting up the numbers. Yeah, he gets. If you want to highlight somebody's flaws and say he missed that on defense, you could do that with every player on the team. But I think he's solid as a rock and I just don't understand what he's getting from the fans, but I think he's very solid. I think they have a solid team and it's just that when they come, when they get ready to make that run, their chemistry has got to be so tight.

[A]

Yeah.

[D]

It's got to. Even their rotations on defense.

[C]

Yep.

[D]

They slack.

[A]

It's like almost as if when they want to, which I think is a dangerous thing. Okc, that game, they were phenomenal defensively. I mean, that was a terrific basketball game. What they did to the spurs, and the spurs have been killing everybody. They finally lost last night, but they, the Knicks were the only thing that beat them for like a month, a month and a half. But that game was a phenomenal defensive game in Denver. What they did to Jokic and company when they want to, it's there. The problem is it's not always there. Is that a dangerous thing to see? A team that thinks they can just flip the switch when they need to see.

[D]

I would, I would look at, you know, and some players are like this today. You know, I've heard, you know, you see players say things like, I can't understand, I'm tired. Mental health, you know, got all these different things going on. But I would look to see, were they in those types of games, did they play the night before in another city, are they a little tired?

[C]

That's.

[D]

Was it. Was it a road swing out west? Six games in 10 days. And you see these flaws. And just from the repetition of games, I would look at that. We talk about analytically, how do they play after a back to back. Yeah, you know, who plays worse after a back to back? You know, there's some things that you look at that's the dynamic. And I don't know about the San Antonio spurs game, but did they play the night before? Did they have two days in between?

[A]

They had two days. You were in New York for two days.

[D]

Yeah, you got to think about that. You got to think about that because especially when you got a lot of guys clocking a lot of minutes, you know, maybe that was two days where Brunson really rejuvenated himself and got back into it. You know, all the nagging little injuries are. Are gone.

[A]

You know, how do you. With that in mind? You know, we've seen so much talk about Steve Kerr saying you got to have less games, got to play less than 82 games too many games. Now you have LeBron James talking about how, you know, today's game with its speed and the pace and the demand, the athleticism, it's harder in the NBA now than it was in the past, that it was slower, like in your era, it was a slower game. Do you buy into. You see that, or do you feel like that's a cop out?

[D]

Well, nothing ever stays the same. I love the game. I'm not one of the retired guys that says, oh, we did this and they did that.

[A]

Yeah.

[D]

But as far as the game being at a faster pace, I don't think it's any faster pace. The Rules have changed for more scoring.

[E]

Agree.

[D]

And the rules have changed to make it harder to defend somebody.

[A]

Agree.

[D]

So those things make the game change, that make it seem faster. But overall, I think the game has evolved from a human standpoint. When I look at how much energy Giannis puts out every night, dribbling the ball, scoring the ball, playing, going coast to coast, that takes a lot of energy. What Adebayo did the other night takes a lot of energy. Right. So the reason for that, guys can go to practice, eat breakfast in the morning, the proper nutrition. They go to practice, they eat the proper nutrition right there at the facility for lunch. They can get all their training and nicks and nags taken care of. They got masseuse and therapists and all that. So their bodies, they're able to take care of their bodies better.

[A]

That's what I'm saying.

[D]

And they're like fine tuned engines by the time they're ready to play. So you didn't have that then. I think that's a big plus to them to be able to play. So to complain about how many games they have more at their disposal to

[A]

be able to play, I was gonna ask you, how many massage therapists did you have on the, on the team playing?

[D]

Hey, not one. Not one. But it's different and it's good. I mean, they're sitting in oxygen chambers and all this kind of stuff, and it's all good. You know, you hear about LeBron spending so much money on his body and his health during the off season. That's awesome because they can do it and it's, and everything evolves. But when it comes to, is the game faster, slower from the 90s, I don't think it's any different. Yeah, I think then the east coast was more, you know, a slower type of game. And physical, very physical. When out west they were running and gun and you had Showtime in L A, all the west teams would run a lot. But I think just overall, the players have evolved more so than the game.

[C]

What matchup do you worry about the most for the Knicks, the Celtics or the Pistons?

[D]

You know, I know the Pistons have had their number, as everybody says, and I think it's tough because the Pistons have some bigger guards and you got, you know, Durham is not a scorer. He can score their center, but the, the way he plays into their system really disrupts the Knicks defense because this is a guy that, he's like, he's like Reed from UConn. Reed's got good footwork, he passes the ball well. He plays good defense. He's not somebody that is going to go over the rim and dunk on you, but he's great in the play. He can move around and do a lot of things. That's. That's the center there.

[A]

He's great in his role.

[D]

He's phenomenal in his role.

[C]

Right.

[D]

And it works for the team. Yeah, I mean, I've seen him in. In the guard, Caden. I've seen them just understand those up. Up front fake and back cut and Durham's hitting them. They didn't. They work on that. You know, they had things on the floor that they're ready to do if somebody's defending it a certain way. They got the second and third option. So when I see them play, I'm like, this team is tough. You know, they work the second and third option. You usually do that in the playoffs. You don't show everything. You know, you see some players go, come out of games and not play. When you're going to play somebody in the playoffs, they do all these things, but Detroit does not. You can see that they're playing all out and they're going to continue and they're going to say, this is how we play. If you're going to beat us, you're going to beat us the way we play. They're not changing it.

[A]

And the question is, is with them already playing at a level that you would consider playoff level, as you know, when you get to April, everybody else now takes it up a notch. Can they go higher or now everybody gonna meet them because they play. I mean, Charles, they played angry in the three games against the Knicks, like they had something to prove.

[C]

Right.

[A]

And the Knicks were looking at him like, what are you so mad about? It's January. Like, relax.

[D]

Right?

[A]

But. But in April, different story.

[D]

Yeah, but that's how Pat Riley was. It didn't matter whether you're playing in the preseason. I mean, he was ready to go in preseason.

[A]

How'd you take it up a level then when you got to April?

[D]

Because it all comes down, down to the player alignment on the floor. You know, some people say to me, you know, who is your favorite teammate you ever had? And I say, Rolando Blackman. Because during that time, Rolando, during practice is on the floor saying, look, Patrick, you. You've done this all season. Roll. Don't just set the pick. Hard roll. And you see what happens. So you got players, their alignment comes during the play. Playoffs, where I talk about the second and third option.

[A]

Yeah, yeah.

[D]

Now you're bringing it out and you're doing other things. But that's talking on the floor. That's not nothing the coach can do.

[A]

It's also rose very smart. Like you have high IQ players. You can also now.

[D]

Yeah.

[A]

Play that chess game.

[D]

Yeah, but that's not a coach's thing. That's a players during a, a timeout or on a free throw. And, and John will say to Mace, hey, when I come down this time, don't do that, do this. You know, that's players coming together. And when you get a team of unselfish guys that do that, they're tough to beat. Tough to beat.

[C]

Charles Joy. The weekend man. Great stuff.

[D]

Always a pleasure.

[C]

We'll talk to you soon.

[D]

Charles Smith.

[C]

Great. Thanks, Don. On A Rosenberg's Big east live broadcast from the Irish exit of Moynihan train station is brought to you by Sam Adams Sun Cruiser Vodka iced tea and Schweppes. Schweppes delivers above the river, freshman. Feel the madness and refresh your game with a Schweppe Seltzer or Schweppes ginger ale.

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[A]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[B]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[A]

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?

[B]

I'm a fraud with a capital F.

[A]

Is your friend a fraud?

[B]

I have been a complete and utter fraud.

[A]

Are you a fraud?

[G]

What is fraud?

[A]

Let's ask Dom McGregor.

[B]

Screw. Go scratch yourself.

[A]

Brought to you by Dagustino Law,

[D]

Don

[B]

Hahn and Rosenberg live. The Big east live broadcast from the Irish exit Moynihan Train Hall. Brought to you by Sam Adams, Sun Cruiser and Schweppes. Schweppes delivers above the rim refreshment. Feel the madness and refresh your game with a Schweppe Seltzer Schweppes ginger ale. And now we get into Fart Alert Friday, which is brought to you by d' Agostino Law.

[D]

D'. Agostino. There it is. All right.

[A]

We needed that.

[C]

I was worried.

[A]

Me, too.

[C]

Don.

[B]

How you feeling today?

[C]

I'm feeling terrific. You?

[B]

I'm feeling pretty good.

[A]

Pretty good.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

We got to get you. We got to get you to terrific. How do we do that?

[B]

I might have to eat something.

[A]

Jacob's pickles.

[B]

I know.

[C]

Right there staring at you.

[B]

My guys are right here staring me right in the face.

[A]

Just saying.

[B]

I was hoping they might have the deviled eggs here, but they don't. I can't do. I can't just.

[A]

You know who wins in that one?

[C]

I can't.

[B]

I can't do a rogue. I can't do a rogue. Loaded fries. That would be Crazy.

[A]

Why not? Who says you can't?

[C]

Yeah, it's Friday.

[B]

Well, you don't have to stand next to Alan Han every day. You know what I mean?

[A]

I'm just saying, it's. Right now you got all weekend to burn it off.

[B]

That's a great point. All right, I'm gonna figure it out, though. But I am gonna. I have to eat something at some point here, but it's time for Frottler Friday. Don. The emails are running, rolling in hot and heavy.

[C]

Oh, good.

[B]

Dhresnmail.com Let me see how far back I feel like going here.

[A]

Oh, man, this feels like it's become like a. A real sensation. Like every week now. There's so many inboxes flooded that we actually, actually have to delete some saying this is not going to make the cut.

[B]

What's today? The 13th all day.

[A]

Cali's birthday. 11 years old.

[B]

So this.

[C]

Wow. Happy birthday.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

No fraud there?

[C]

No.

[A]

Oh. Oh, no. Only her dad.

[B]

Let's see. So, yeah, a lot of emails coming all the way back from last week. Here is.

[D]

Oh, God.

[B]

Sorry, guys. So many emails about different things. Here we go. Hello, everyone. I have a friend with an interesting fraud case. As I'm sure you know to at least some extent in Utah, BYO versus the byo, BYU versus the University of Utah is a pretty bitter rivalry known as the Holy War.

[A]

Really?

[C]

The Holy War. Interesting.

[A]

I did not know that, but okay.

[B]

By the way, here to let you three sports talk hosts in New York. I didn't know that, but now it does sound familiar.

[A]

Holy War.

[B]

My friend roots for both teams. No, he says the usual.

[A]

All right, we already have our verdict.

[C]

I think you know the answer. Verdict? Well, let's find out why he wants the waters of the fraud.

[B]

He got his undergrad at Utah, his law degree at byu.

[C]

Oh.

[B]

Now, considering the fact that he has blood in the ground at both schools. Is my friend a fraud?

[C]

No. I'm going to tell you.

[A]

Why are you saying no?

[D]

No.

[C]

I mean, I'm not going to, like, forgive him.

[D]

Oh, okay.

[A]

All right. So he's a fraud.

[C]

He's definitely a fraud. Is that. It's like when people tell me, I don't vote because I hate both sides. You gotta hate one of the sides a little bit more than the other and you should still vote. Yeah, it's the same here. He can't tell me he feels the same way about both schools.

[A]

Can't you? You can't. Four years at one of them.

[C]

Yeah, exactly.

[A]

Longer time to develop the early Hate for the other. So even though you went to law school there, you can't just suddenly go now.

[C]

I love this school, but maybe there is a reason why where he got his degree is not as up there as where he went to the the school.

[B]

Shorter.

[C]

There may be something you can't tell me. It's perfectly even. There's got to be one a little smidge better than the other, and that's who you root for.

[A]

He was a Ute first, right, Peter?

[C]

No, he was a BYU first by you first.

[B]

And I. I already. I'm already moving on to the next email. I believe it was. I believe it was.

[D]

I'm already ruled.

[C]

You know what? They're very fortunate I even answered fraud. We could have moved on.

[A]

We could have moved.

[C]

So consider it a gift from the we move on.

[B]

Someone emailed me on March 12 and said, Epic Pusick drop from yesterday's show. And I am. I'm just saying this out loud because it sounds like it's worth mentioning and putting on the record here.

[A]

All right, Jacob page, you said ENN

[B]

from yesterday at 2:14. So that means 2 hours and 14 minutes or 2 minutes and 14 seconds into ENN on the 11th. Anthony said, and I quote, you guys don't understand the power of the nether region. Oh, yeah, that does.

[C]

I remember. So I remember you didn't laugh when it happened, though.

[B]

You know what? Sometimes you're in the moment and thinking about something else.

[A]

But now it's gonna have to find it.

[B]

All right, Fraud Friday hockey question.

[C]

All right.

[B]

All right. Taylor from Albany, and he wants to approach the bench to Judge Legreco. I'm a lifelong Yankees, jets and Sabres fan. It's easy to say the last 15 years have been not great. The Yankees have been the only team that have kept me remotely sane. I've always been a hockey fan, though. Growing up in Albany, I was able

[C]

to go to Toolbox.

[B]

No, I was able to go to River Rats games.

[C]

RIP yeah, they were the Devil Rats

[B]

back in the day on a regular basis. I even ended up working for them in their final year when I was in college. College Dom's impressed. My NHL fandom, however, has always been for the Sabres. Ryan Miller was my favorite player as a kid. I've always been all in on Buffalo. I didn't start paying full attention to the team until the end of the last great Sabres era around 2010. I stayed with them through the rebuilds and watched most every game every year as they finish in last place. The Eichel trade Injury situation is finally what pushed me over the edge.

[C]

Oh, I'm worried about where this is going. Warm up the gavel.

[B]

Sickened by the direction of the franchise.

[A]

I always hate to be sick. That's it. Now we're sick.

[B]

And the fact that I already suffered through rooting for the Jets, I decided to stop watching, slash, pay attention.

[D]

Hold on.

[B]

But that's that. That we're not all the way.

[A]

We're not there yet.

[C]

Well, we're getting close.

[B]

No way, though. In no way, though, did I ever start rooting for another team.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Now that Buffalo is on this run, I'm finding myself getting back into it. If I'm being honest, though, it feels weird. I feel bad that I've barely paid attention the last five years. I feel fake. Am I a fraud for getting back into the team now that they're good? Even though I went through almost 10 years of my young life suffering, I turn to you, Judge Legrett. This.

[A]

This is monumental, because there's a lot here.

[B]

Because normally, if he had said, now, I root for the. The Devils, easy. We move on.

[A]

But he didn't.

[B]

There's nuance, but he left and he came back

[D]

here.

[B]

Use the. You know, use the. Use this microphone. That's what you should.

[C]

I'm sorry, what am I doing here?

[B]

Put this right. Now turn this mic on. Well, forget it. No, no, no, I got it.

[A]

All right.

[B]

We tried. We tried.

[A]

We get it.

[B]

There we go. Here he goes. He's looking.

[C]

This is very, very difficult.

[A]

Wow.

[C]

I almost want to go to my chambers and come back.

[B]

Oh, you want to come back tomorrow?

[C]

Like, is that. I'm the one. One judge that has to automatically make a decision right away. Judges around the country, the world, even. Even in England, where they got the little wigs on, sure. They go and they. They want to go to their chamber. Think about that. I like it, but I have to do it in the moment.

[B]

Okay?

[C]

And I'm conflicted because he did give up on the team. But then I thought about it, and I've always said, listen, if you want to give up, just. You can't jump on board another team. So my ruling is no fraud.

[D]

Yes.

[C]

However, not a great fan. Because I'm telling you that. That feeling, that weird feeling that he has about jumping back onto the bandwagon, now, the team is good. They're gonna go to the playoffs. If they do win the cup, he'll be happy, but it won't hit the same as if he had stuck through 15 years. 15 years of hardship. So the people that didn't give up and a lot did. I mean, I called Sabre games, like 7,000 people in the building. They were done. Especially like post Covid. They were out. The people that are out will celebrate and they'll high five and they'll remember it fondly years to come. But the guys that stood there the whole time, all that losing, they'll be able to celebrate more. So you're not a fraud, but your fandom did suffer because you tapped out.

[B]

I think that's. I can live with it.

[C]

I mean, I'm just giving you reality.

[B]

I think. I think it was fair either way. I can live with it. I love what you've done because again,

[C]

the same conversation we have about like the college basketball, college football.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

Is that the Sabre fans will all gather. The celebratory we won the Stanley Cup. It'll be fun, right? It'll be like Bruce Almighty. They take to the streets. If you remember when the Sabres won the cup. And then they're all going to gather at a watering hole someplace and they're going to be telling war stories on what they did for those 14 years they missed the playoffs and how they were able to handle dealing with that. And you're going to sit there and they're going to go, how did you deal with it? I deal.

[D]

I tapped that.

[A]

Yeah. I really don't remember those years.

[C]

That's where you're not going to be.

[B]

No, no, listen, listen. I can apply it to my life. If I were at a Super bowl celebration after the commies who are who, by the way, kind of quietly killing it in the free agency, if we're sitting there winning a Super bowl and we're all telling stories and some guys like, oh, man. I go, what was it like for you? And he goes, oh, I didn't pay attention during the Snyder era. I was kind of out. I go, well, get the hell out of here. This is.

[A]

This is mine.

[C]

Yeah, well, yeah, sorry. Die Hard fans are gathered because that's the blood.

[A]

Blood in the ground as a.

[B]

That's the blood.

[A]

That's the blood.

[B]

I didn't spill blood when they won the Super bowl in 87 and 90.

[A]

We're all human spilled champagne.

[B]

12 year old.

[C]

I. I'm not saying you. Maybe you didn't watch every second of every game.

[B]

I did that. No, no. He said he left.

[C]

He left. You leave again, you're welcome to come back because he's not a fraud. He didn't jump on the Ranger bandwagon or root for Some other team.

[A]

So he said.

[B]

But let me ask. Let me ask him this. What's he doing? So Buffalo, it's been an incredible run. They lose in the first round. 4:2, they're out. Goodbye next year, back to regular life. 30 and 52. What's my guy doing? Well, where's he at now?

[C]

Well, if he's out again, then he's a front runner.

[B]

Well, that is a fraud, though.

[A]

So is a front runner.

[B]

Worse than a fraud.

[C]

It's just a different.

[B]

It's a front runner fraud.

[C]

It's a different thing. It's like.

[A]

It's a different allegation altogether.

[C]

It's like front runner Fairweather, I want

[B]

to get to murder.

[C]

And then they're stealing.

[B]

I want to get to this.

[C]

I want to hear it.

[A]

Let's go.

[B]

I'm skipping past some of his long intro, which is that he loves the Yankees since forever, right?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

But outside of those, outside of those of his New York teams, the only team that comes close to matching his fandom of the Bronx Bombers is his beloved Azzurri, the Italian national soccer team who compete from the the World cup and Euro cup every four years. My father came to New York from Italy in his late 20s. Whole family in Italy. He's a dual citizen himself.

[C]

Okay, there you go.

[B]

A real American. Italian, okay. Or Italian American, however you want to call it. As we all know, the WBC is underway. Team Italy is being managed by Francisco Cerveli, who has dedicated himself to building baseball programs in Italy and has been vocal about needing help from the Italian government. His lead assistant coaches, Jorge Posada.

[A]

That's correct.

[C]

There you go.

[B]

Imagine my surprise. My favorite athlete, childhood idol, was named to coach Team Italy. My excitement for the World Baseball Classic instantly shot through the roof. I was definitely gonna watch regardless and root for Team Italy. But the idea of Posada wearing a Team Italy jersey was both hilarious and also felt like some sort of divine pairing for my personality. For me personally, I should say. So Italy played the US I had been paying attention to Team Italy's roster and I knew they were good, but I didn't actually think they could beat Team usa. Just thought they'd be more competitive than people expected. Fast forward to the ninth inning. Italy's up 86 after a wild game of domination. There's a runner on and who is at the plate?

[A]

Aaron Judge.

[B]

Aaron Judge, my beloved captain.

[A]

Judgy or troubling?

[B]

The pitcher on the mound was Greg Weiser, who was a very good reliever for none other than the Boston Red Sox gentleman.

[C]

Strange bedfellows. Strange bedfellows.

[B]

Awkward gentlemen. I did the unthinkable.

[A]

Oh, no.

[B]

I rooted for this Red Sox pitcher who is now wearing the clean Azuri blue, for team Italy to strike out one of the greatest Yankees who ever lived in Aaron Judge. And when Judge whiffed, I pumped my fist, I laid, let out a scream, and I was so excited for my Azzurri. The upset they pulled off is something I believe that should be celebrated by Italians, and it has made waves back home in Italy from the prime minister acknowledging the victory to them being on the front page of the major Italian newspapers. I was also equally proud for my guy, Jorge Posada. My friends, my family, I personally believe these are very rare extenuating circumstances that grant me the ride.

[C]

Don't beg to avoid.

[B]

Avoid the dreaded label of the sports fraud. But regardless, the question must be asked, don, am I a fraud in this house?

[A]

Posada is an Italian. He's a good Italian.

[C]

This is actually a lot easier than you think.

[A]

Really?

[C]

No fraud.

[A]

What?

[C]

And I'm gonna tell you why it's no fraud.

[A]

Wait a minute.

[C]

He's got dual citizenship.

[B]

Oh, yeah.

[C]

All right. So right there, he's Italian, so. But. But he's also an American and a Yankee fan. So what he did was he didn't give the easy, you know, Fugazi. Well, Judge is the better players, so I'm going to root for team us. He opened his heart, and he let the instincts take over. Where was the heart going to lead him? And the heart led him to Italy. He honored his heart. How could you ever be a fraud if you honor your heart? Not only is he not a fraud, I love the way he handled it.

[B]

I'm going to remember that quote.

[A]

I want that on a T shirt.

[C]

I love the way he handled it because he opened himself up, because he wasn't sure, because he understood how difficult that was, the juxtaposition of the different things, the strange bedfellows that international sport brings to us. And he opened it up, but his heart told him Italy. And he went with Italy.

[B]

I think there's. Not that my ruling matters. I didn't even think, but I did. Not even a little bit. But I didn't even think there was a question, like, if you're that legitimately, like you're not some random person who pays attention. The guy is very in on things. Italy, clearly the WBC picked up with the Posada thing.

[A]

He was put in an uncomfortable situation there, and he had to make A choice.

[C]

But there are people, right, Guys that can look at it and go, well, you're also an American citizen. You live on American soil. Judge is the best player on your favorite baseball team.

[E]

Team.

[C]

Jorge Posada is not a Yankee anymore. Cerveli is not a Yankee anymore. It's a red sock on the mound. I can understand people going, listen, why didn't your heart tell you to root for Team usa?

[D]

And you know what?

[C]

If his heart told him that, then I would say the same.

[D]

No fraud.

[C]

He's got two dogs in the fight. It happens. This is what happens with international sport.

[A]

This is a great example of the Utah byu.

[C]

No, it's not.

[A]

Why? How is it not?

[B]

No, he had.

[A]

He had. Because dual citizenship, didn't he?

[C]

But there was no opening of the heart. He asked some. Yo, yo, Judge. What. What am I. No, no.

[E]

What?

[A]

That's what I'm saying, though. What you're saying there is you had to choose one. As difficult as it is, you had

[B]

to choose one, right? But he did.

[C]

But this is, for example, in that.

[A]

Is that he.

[B]

But no, no, the fraud with the fraud thing, I think in this case would have been not choosing.

[A]

Right.

[B]

He did.

[A]

Which is what the BYU you talk did not choose. That's.

[C]

I'm just gonna. I'm just gonna go both.

[B]

That's what made him a fraud.

[C]

But he pumped his fist. It wasn't like he was happy, but disappointed. I feel for Judge, but I'm glad it was. He pumped his fist.

[B]

He declared, man, by the way, I told you, international sports are a thing that don't make sense. I don't pay attention to anything related to soccer. And you guys will. When World cup comes, I will be living and dying with guys I hadn't heard of three months earlier. Meanwhile, Canada plays us in hockey. If Sid play was playing in that game, I would have been actively rooting for Canada. I don't care. Come to soccer. I.

[D]

You.

[C]

No one.

[B]

No one over the usa.

[D]

It's.

[B]

It's international.

[C]

This is a guy that cared and yet still declared. I love it. How about. You know what? I'd like him to come to the studio. I'd like to treat him to lunch.

[B]

No, you know what?

[C]

I think I like to sit down. I think this is an intelligent way to pick his brain.

[B]

His name.

[C]

I would. I would like to sit down and know what it takes to be that genuine a person.

[B]

His name is Alessandro de Gennaro. Is there any world in which we could have called you a fraud for rooting for Italy, Alessandro de Gennaro, who's an Italian citizen who rooted for Italy to beat no Team usa.

[A]

But now, good. Now I want him to come in because he probably can choose a real.

[C]

I want him to come in. I want to sit down. We're going to go to flick and we're going to sit down on one of those things.

[B]

Alessandro de Janaro, are you going to

[A]

go we're going to go to flick.

[C]

How about this?

[B]

How about this?

[A]

I think you're right.

[B]

Not far from I think you should consider, like naming the actual segment or gavel after him. Like this is what the he is the essence of Fraud Friday.

[A]

He's the essence.

[B]

Alexandro de Janaro's Fraud Friday.

[C]

If God forbid, he ever passed, I would do that.

[B]

You'd memorialize.

[A]

Memorialize it.

[C]

You can't memorialize a person that's still with us. But get it.

[B]

I did it for Andrew Gundling.

[C]

He's not with us technically anymore.

[B]

That's why it's the Andrew Gunley memorial seat.

[C]

If he seriously get his information, I'd like to break bread with this man.

[B]

I'm sure he's going to hear it and we'll reach back out that will do it for Fraud Alert Friday, brought to you by Dagon Studio Law. 35 years of getting accident victims and Social Security disability clients every dollar they deserve. Offices in New York, N.J. 1-800-BBITE BACK 1-800-248-3222, Dagostino Law By.

[C]

All right, we'll get reaction to this. We've got a big five o' clock hour coming up and then Maria Moreno will join us as well. Talk a little UConn Huskies. We'll talk a little WNBA with her. And she's always fun to just talk general sports with Don. Ana Rosenberg's Big east, live broadcast from the Irish exit of Moynihan Train hall, is brought to you by Sam Adams Sun Cruisers, vodka iced tea and Schweppes. Schweppes delivers above the rim refreshment. Feel the madness and refresh your game with a Schweppes Seltzer or Schweppes ginger ale.

[B]

Quick timeout, some breakfast intel you want to know about.

[H]

Kodiak frozen power waffles and flapjacks are

[B]

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[E]

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[A]

thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg Podcast.

[B]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[A]

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

[C]

Don Otto Rosenberg's Big East Live broadcast from the Irish exit of Moynihan Train hall, is brought to you by Sam Adams Sun Cruiser Vodka Iced Tea and Schweppes. Schweppes delivers above the rim refreshment. Feel the madness and refresh your game with a Schweppe Seltzer or Schweppes Ginger Ale. Take it at 7 o' clock and then it's Knicks And Pacers here on ESPN New York. And it's always a pleasure to welcome in Maria Moreno now working for us here at espn. You might remember her days on S and Y. She always came to the mark. Sasso softball. Not this year, but things happen because you're a very busy person.

[G]

I actually have a story about this. Quick story.

[C]

Is it as good as the. The Mitch Blood Green Mike Tyson story from.

[G]

I. I cannot confirm or deny that.

[C]

All right, go ahead.

[G]

Okay, so first of all, standing in solidarity with Peter because I have an almost one year old.

[B]

That's right.

[G]

So last year I did not participate in Marque Sasso softball charity event because I was still, you know, a few months postpartum. But the year before 2024, I played. Of course I remember my stat line. I was three for three.

[C]

There you go.

[B]

Well, it's easy to remember when you're three for three.

[G]

I mean, look, I'll be honest. My defense may have left something to be desired, but, you know, offensively did what I needed to do.

[C]

There are guys that work at this radio station that have struck out. So you should be very proud. I'm not gonna say who Ray was three for three.

[B]

Oh, wow.

[G]

So we won the game. And I even scored a couple runs because luckily Don was a couple batters behind me. He's a, you know, an RBI machine.

[B]

I appreciate it really is.

[G]

Following morning took a pregnancy test. I was pregnant.

[B]

Oh, wow.

[G]

So I don't know if that's ever happened in the history of the Marque Sasso softball game of having.

[D]

Wow.

[B]

Talk about a powerful game.

[A]

Now, now, by the way, everybody's going to want to play in this game.

[C]

Yeah, right.

[A]

This is miracle.

[D]

Maybe not.

[G]

I hope that's not tmi. I thought it was kind of cool.

[B]

I'm always going to remember.

[C]

I feel honored in some way. You should. That's right. And you still should have came because we, you know.

[G]

Yeah, I was a little busy the first few months. A little rough.

[B]

Oh, yeah, it was a little.

[G]

But I hope I can return.

[D]

Yes, please.

[G]

In fact, I'm. I'm even thinking about making my return to the beach Bash. And this is another memory is the 2024 Beach Bash is the last time I had a drink. So, you know, because that was right before.

[C]

So what you're saying is that you'll.

[G]

This.

[C]

We're getting very personal here on the wagon.

[A]

We need to order you a drink. Right now.

[D]

We are at a bar.

[G]

Maybe this could be the first one.

[B]

Well, I was gonna say, I think what this suggests is not only that you are pregnant, but you're also not a big drinker.

[C]

Yeah, yeah, it's you don't miss.

[G]

Listen, I've been, I've been very responsible in my first year of parenting.

[B]

You're really.

[G]

That's what it says.

[B]

That's what it says very well.

[A]

We are at a train station. You take the train home. We do have a sun cruiser, if

[G]

you and I am taking the train home. Very nice.

[A]

You like a sun cruiser.

[B]

Do you have to work tonight? No, just talk to us.

[G]

I just have to be a, I just have to be a parent, you know.

[B]

Then give her a sun cruiser. Light cruise.

[A]

It's a Friday, it's almost five o'. Clock.

[C]

There you go. And your husband, give him a shout out.

[G]

I will. Steve, he's the best.

[C]

Not Steve's the best, but he is one of the most attractive men, like stood next to. I don't even know Ken. Doll doesn't do it.

[B]

God works. Oh, I'm aware.

[C]

No, God worked a few extra days like he made him and then said, you know what, I'm gonna get back to work. I, I, I think I can, I think I can do more here.

[B]

No.

[G]

Cheers to that.

[C]

Yeah. Amazing.

[B]

You did well for yourself. There's no question. I mean, so did he.

[C]

He should say the same thing. I'm just telling you, I was, I think it was.

[B]

Well, no, you know what I think it is? I think harness racing, I think you get used to in society, like in our business in particular, you meet attractive women and in the case of, you know, me and Don at least, you know, and Michael certainly being an example, you meet their schlubby partners, right? And you go, oh, nice. They have good personalities. So I think why it's the reason it stands out is Maria's a beautiful woman, but you meet her and you expect like some, like some fast talking whoever to come over and then the guy comes over, you go, well, Maria,

[A]

you're fighting for first here.

[B]

I mean, the man is gorgeous.

[G]

He's more than just a pretty face though. He's excellent. He's watching baby girl right now, yada. Yeah, I don't know.

[B]

Everyone always says that he's got a great personality. We know, we know.

[F]

It's true.

[B]

No, I believe it. I've only gotten a few words from him. He seems absolutely. But, but he just stands out. He's.

[C]

Alan's jealous. Alan hasn't met him yet.

[D]

Really?

[A]

I am jealous. I haven't met him yet. But, but you do notice how Much. These guys do like the fawn over other men.

[G]

Yes, I do. I've heard you guys have your sexiest man alive conversations. I mean, you put Allan in there. You put Rick in there before.

[B]

We all have friends.

[C]

Friends.

[B]

What's good for the goose is good for the gander. We all have friends. You go, oh, wow. So and so's wife. Look at her.

[D]

Good.

[B]

Good for him. This is just the reverse of that. Our friend is a woman. We're going. Good for you. I knocked it out of the park.

[G]

Thank you.

[B]

And by the way, you've been knocking everything out of the park. It's been a good. It's been a good few years for you.

[G]

I appreciate that, hasn't it? Yeah. I mean, look, I'm working for espn. Got our women's bracketology show on Monday, so I'm stoked for that. I mean, it's more March Madness. I couldn't be happier.

[B]

You're a mom. It's.

[C]

It's been.

[B]

You've been killing it.

[G]

I'm with you guys right now.

[B]

That's the biggest part.

[G]

Big deal for me. First of all, you guys know I've been a fan girl for years, but you guys have also been very supportive in my career.

[C]

Yes, for sure.

[G]

First time, I believe, on air for me, an afternoon drive. So, I mean, look, I'm. I'm thrilled right now.

[B]

All right, well, listen, I love it. You're drinking a Sun Cruiser. First booze in the last couple of years, feeling good. You don't even need a Mike Tyson, Mitch Green story. You're fine.

[A]

So what are the finishes that we might get one.

[C]

Yeah, right. No, going into the bracketology that you talk about on motto. So what are the storylines going into this women's tournament?

[G]

Can UConn repeat? You know, and I certainly think they can. They're undefeated. They're probably going to be the first overall seed. But then also, you look at ucla, they're going to be on revenge tour mode because they got smacked by UConn in the final Four last year. Then you have South Carolina and Texas. You know, there are always contenders, particularly South Carolina. So, I mean, it's another incredible year, and there's actually been a lot of parody in women's hoops, despite, you know, you hear UConn wins another one, wins again, wins 12. But that was their first chip since 16, so it had been a minute. And so, I mean, last year was incredible, and I'm just excited for more.

[A]

We had Val Ackerman on at the beginning of the show. And while we were talking about, of course, the Big east and we were talking about the college game and her background with the WNBA is we see that the W really has taken off the last couple of years because of the college game, because of the stars that came out of the college game and the brand, they become brands. We know this.

[G]

Yes.

[A]

And the fact that sponsors are following them into the W. Oh, yeah.

[F]

So.

[A]

So that has to be. I mean, it's always been the college games. Defeater of the pro game.

[G]

Yes.

[A]

But this is something different these last couple of years, hasn't it? What. What we've seen with the women's game, it has really exploded to a level like. I don't know if you even expected it to get to what it's gotten to now.

[G]

I, once I saw Caitlin Clark, I did. I, I knew, I knew as soon as I saw her. And just the way. I mean, it's bonkers. It is absolutely bonkers. The fandom behind her. I mean, I also covered Paige Beckers, who's an incredible talent. Angel Reese has insane fans. Even 2024, like I went to the Chicago sky against the New York Liberty and that was sold out. You know, by the way, Liberty are averaging over 16, 000 fans per game now. So I mean, this is, this is a thing.

[A]

They draw more than the Nets do in that building.

[B]

Oh, not even close.

[G]

But I think you make a good point in terms of like nil helped women's basketball in particular. Why all of a sudden you're seeing her on commercials everywhere. Not just, not just Caitlin, you're seeing angel, seeing Paige, you're seeing Juju Watkins, like all of these national ads, Gatorade, Stay Farm. And so they become part of the consciousness, not to mention the storyline, particularly in Caitlin Clark senior year was an unbelievable storyline. She broke a record held by Pete and Maravich for over 50 years for the top scorer, you know, the most points ever in a game. And so that you just. When you have a story like that, it's, it's, it's no surprise. Now we got to get a WNBA season to tip off.

[B]

That's important.

[C]

I was going to ask you about that.

[A]

Yes, will we.

[G]

And I'm, I'm jumping right in and doing your job for you, Don, because I think it's really important. You know, all week we have had both sides, the wnba, the players union and the league basically locked in a hotel. They're at the Langham shout out to our colleagues, some of my friends who are reporters who are literally camped outside waiting for news of a deal getting done, including our colleague Alexa Filipu for espn. I mean, they're, they're out there like, ordering pizza and like, waiting for this deal to happen.

[A]

Lockout stakeouts are the best.

[G]

Oh, man. And I mean, we're, we're beyond the 11th hour. The league had imposed or suggested a deadline of March 10th. We're beyond that. But I'm very encouraged by the fact that they've been at this for hours on end, days on end, trying to get this done. I'm very optimistic we're going to get it done asap. And hopefully if we lose games, it's only preseason games and we, and we play ball because we do not want to halt this momentum that we've hat in the wnba.

[B]

Brutal.

[C]

Now you're listening to Don on Rosenberg on WHSQ and WCBS FM HD2 in New York. Also to let you know that Don ana Rosenberg's live Big east broadcast from the Irish exit of Moynan Train hall is brought to you by Sat Adams Sun Cruiser Vodka iced tea and Schweppes Schweps delivers above the rim refreshment. Feel the madness and refresh your game with a Schweppe Seltzer or Schweppes ginger ale. Alan and I could tell you about the 94, 95 season.

[G]

Yeah.

[C]

Rangers win the Stanley Cup. There's actually a Sports Illustrated cover that says the NHL is hotter than the NBA. And then they had a lockout, played a 48 game schedule and lost all of their momentum. Still have a season, still crowned a champion. The Devils won their first Stanley Cup. But so, but it took years to get that. Don't.

[B]

Don't even.

[C]

You can't even mess with. All right, well, short the season or we'll miss preseason. You really can't afford to do it. But at the same time, you've got to solve the issue because if you kick the can down the road, you're going to have to address it again and then it can come to a head then. So, yeah, there are people that don't follow it. They go, oh, they want to get paid like the NBA player. Not true. They're being taken advantage of. But where is the line of demarcation? That is a fair deal.

[G]

I am so glad you asked because it's first of all, for someone even like me, I follow this nonstop. When you get into legal jargon and you get into the nitty gritty of the numbers, it's hard to understand.

[C]

Right?

[G]

So that's why I'm here to break it down for you all. Okay, here's, here's the crux of the argument. It's gross versus net revenue. That is essentially what the WNBA is calling it. Wnba. Their proposed deals have been we give you a share of net revenue which they are defining as revenue after expenses. So basically they decide how the pie is made and then the pie gets whatever distributed as opposed to gross, which when you look at the NBA side and again, forget the dollar amount, this is about percentages. On the NBA side they receive 50% of all basketball related income, which roughs this roughly equates to about 40% of gross revenue. So the league is trying to basically say we'll give you 70% of net revenue, but that only equates to about 15ish percent of gross revenue. So that is the crux of the argument and that is why we are where we are. I first of all, even if they don't get the gross revenue right now, it's a great deal. Their salaries are going to be upped by probably about four times. You're going to see the top players in the W, as they should, earning over a million dollars a year. I mean finally, finally.

[B]

And by the way, say that again

[A]

because most people don't know that like this is a league where the players weren't making a million dollars a year.

[G]

Too absurd. Allen. Like the salary, the max salary was like 250, 50k.

[A]

Yeah, people, people really, I know the

[G]

age old arguments, they don't apply anymore. And you know, the last couple years with the boom, with the, the ratings being what they are, the sponsorships, the attendance has skyrocketed. So these players, the, the owners, I should say were getting a major, major deal the last couple years because they were paying Caitlin Clark and the likes of her 70 ish, 75 ish thousand bucks a year. So it's time. It's time. And guess what? They're going to get it. They're going to get paid and it's going to be a win, win. It's just a matter of are they going to get this gross revenue share which by the way, former NBA commissioner David Stern enacted with the NBA. He announced it in 1983. So it was, it began in the 8485 season when revenue by the way was comparable or maybe even less even when you account for inflation to what the revenue of the W is currently. And it makes sense because the W is a 30 year old league right now. And so when you, when you look at the timeline in the history. Like that's what, that's what NBA players got in the 80s. 43 years ago. 43 years ago.

[A]

Yeah.

[G]

So sorry.

[A]

I get very passionate, but most people don't know all the details there and only.

[G]

See, that's why I know we're, we're going over time. But that's why I'm grateful for you guys giving me a platform to just lay this out and you know, hopefully there's no more questions. But again, I don't know if they're going to be honest with you. Based on the deals that the league has been proposing, I don't think they're going to budge right now in gross rev share. And look, it's not their job to. To solve the pay equity or gender wage gap. It's not their job. It's their job is to get the best financial deal possible for the owners. But that's okay. Like I said, it's going to be a win win. These, these women are finally going to get paid a respectable salary no matter what.

[B]

Well, and as most important, I would imagine for the, the women that don't have huge endorsement deals.

[G]

Correct.

[B]

We think about all the names. People are making all the money. Have been making money, some of which since nil. When they were in school.

[G]

Yeah.

[B]

Then there are like workmen players on these teams.

[G]

Right.

[B]

Who have been making money. 75 grand.

[G]

Right.

[B]

Which to live in a major city and not enough to live for some

[A]

people and then spend your winter somewhere

[B]

in Europe playing just to make love a second job.

[C]

Right.

[B]

Which is just unreasonable request for a league that is now making real money.

[D]

Yeah.

[G]

But bottom line is let's get a deal done in the next couple of days here. Let's play ball like that. And that's what's going to happen. And this, this thing is going to continue. I believe it. It's going to continue in the right direction.

[C]

All right, Maria, thank you so much.

[G]

Thank you so much, Peter.

[B]

And I said, Maria, well, great seeing you.

[G]

So great seeing you.

[C]

I'm coming for the Maria Moreno, everybody. Thank you so much for joining us. Don. Anna Rosenberg's Big east live broadcast from the Irish exit of Moynihan Train hall is brought to you by Sam Adams. Sun Cruisers, Vodka iced tea and Schweppes. Schweppes delivers above the rim refreshment. Feel the madness and refresh your game with a Schweppes Seltzer or Schweppes Ginger.

[A]

Alex, thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[B]

I don't want to know how the

[D]

sausage is made, man.

[A]

I just want to know. It's good. 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.

[E]

Shot clocks, big shots, upsets, aces. TGL playoffs are here. First, Atlanta Drive starts their repeat run against Los Angeles Golf Club. Then Rory's Boston Common Golf and Tigers Jupiter Lynx face off in their playoff debuts. Who will advance? Keep up its playoffs? Tune in Tuesday, March 17, at 6:30pm and 9pm only on ESPN and the ESPN applied.