Hour 2: Fraud Alert Friday

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg Podcast Summary Episode: Hour 2: Fraud Alert Friday
Release Date: June 20, 2025

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Introduction

In the "Fraud Alert Friday" episode of the Don, Hahn & Rosenberg podcast, hosts Don Hahn, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg delve into a range of sports-related topics, blending insightful analysis with their signature humor and candid opinions. Skipping over the scheduled advertisements and introductory segments, the episode primarily focuses on heated discussions surrounding Major League Baseball controversies, the evolving dynamics of the WNBA, and an engaging "Fraud Alert Friday" segment where listeners' questions about fandom authenticity take center stage.

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Major League Baseball: Ohtani and the Padres Incident

The episode kicks off with a robust discussion about recent tensions in Major League Baseball, particularly focusing on Shohei Ohtani's involvement in a heated exchange between the Dodgers and the Padres. The hosts dissect manager Dave Roberts' controversial decision to retaliate against the Padres after Ohtani was hit by a pitch.

• Don Hahn expresses strong disapproval:
  "He's too important to not only our team, but this whole freaking league. Are you crazy?" ([06:00])

• Alan Hahn emphasizes the severity of targeting Ohtani:
  "You're throwing a hundred at his back... that's wrong. Total bs." ([06:13])

• Peter Rosenberg adds perspective on the performative nature of such altercations:
  "Nobody's ready to fight... Everything else is performative." ([09:38])

The conversation underscores the impact of Ohtani on the sport and debates whether the retaliation was a genuine response or a theatrical display meant to rile up the audience. The hosts agree that while passion is inherent in sports, actions that jeopardize key players' well-being can have detrimental effects on the league's integrity and viewership.

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WNBA Spotlight: Caitlyn Clark’s Competitive Edge

Shifting gears, the podcast delves into the WNBA, spotlighting Caitlyn Clark and her assertive style of play. The hosts commend Clark's ability to infuse physicality and competitiveness into the game, drawing parallels to legendary players.

• Alan Hahn lauds Clark’s approach:
  "She plays hard. It makes the league more watchable and elevates its level." ([15:25])

• Peter Rosenberg compares her demeanor to that of Larry Bird:
  "She's similar, but she's physically diminutive. Once pushed back, she flails all over the ground." ([17:00])

The discussion highlights how Clark's fearless attitude and willingness to engage physically not only enhance the game's excitement but also set a standard for leadership and resilience within the league. The hosts argue that such traits are vital for the growth and recognition of the WNBA in the broader sports landscape.

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Fraud Alert Friday: Authenticity in Fandom

The heart of the episode lies in the "Fraud Alert Friday" segment, where listeners share their experiences and dilemmas regarding their sports fandom, questioning whether their actions make them "frauds."

Listener Submissions and Host Reactions

1. 50 Cent’s Faux Fan Behavior
   A listener reports how rapper 50 Cent posted misleading images of himself supporting the Knicks on Instagram, leading to confusion and criticism.

   • Alan Hahn condemns the behavior:
     "What kind of behavior is this, Don? How should we feel about this?" ([28:13])

   • Peter Rosenberg calls it outright fraudulent:
     "He's a fraud bad guy... he's also more than anything else is troll." ([28:36])

2. Dual Fandom Dilemma
   Another listener named Russell grapples with wearing his wife's Mets raincoat while being a diehard Yankees fan, leading to unsolicited conversations with Mets enthusiasts.

   • Rosenberg harshly critiques the behavior:
     "Get a poncho. Anything. Put a hole in a plastic bag... Don't wear a Met poncho." ([31:15])

   • Alan Hahn and Peter Rosenberg echo the sentiment, emphasizing the importance of loyalty and authenticity in fandom.

3. Funeral Fandom Conflict
   Gustavo shares an experience where he refused to wear Cowboys gear at his cousin's funeral, despite his family's request, questioning if this made him a "fraud."

   • Alan Hahn vehemently disapproves:
     "Selfish, narcissistic punk, but not a fraud." ([34:56])

   • Rosenberg and Peter Rosenberg further criticize the lack of respect for familial wishes, highlighting the nuanced difference between personal preference and situational adherence.

4. Dual Team Support in Football
   A listener discusses supporting both the Cleveland Browns and the New York Jets to please divorced parents, wondering if this divided loyalty brands him as a "fraud."

   • Rosenberg dismisses the claim of fraudulence:
     "Frankly, that's awesome... Just pick a team, brother." ([37:46])

   • Alan Hahn and Peter Rosenberg continue to challenge the notion, stressing that genuine fandom doesn't necessitate dual allegiance.

5. Ownership Influence on Team Loyalty
   Jonathan from California questions his loyalty to the Lakers after they were purchased by the Dodgers' owner, pondering if abandoning his fandom makes him a "fraud."

   • Alan Hahn remains skeptical of the validity of the claim:
     "I'm not buying it. Don't believe you." ([47:18])

   • Peter Rosenberg and Rosenberg discuss the complexities of team ownership's impact on fan loyalty, debating whether external factors should influence personal fandom.

Conclusion of Fraud Alert Friday

The segment wraps up with the hosts emphasizing the importance of authenticity and personal integrity in fandom. They challenge the listeners' perceptions of what defines a "fraud," ultimately advocating for genuine passion and loyalty over superficial or situational allegiances.

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Final Thoughts

Throughout the episode, Don, Hahn & Rosenberg maintain a lively and unfiltered discourse, offering listeners a blend of expert sports analysis and candid personal opinions. Whether critiquing managerial decisions in baseball, lauding the drive of a standout WNBA player, or dissecting the nuances of sports fandom authenticity, the hosts provide a comprehensive and engaging exploration of contemporary sports culture.

Notably, their use of humor and blunt honesty fosters an entertaining yet thought-provoking environment, making complex sports issues accessible and relatable to a broad audience. The "Fraud Alert Friday" segment, in particular, serves as a unique platform for fans to reflect on their own loyalty and identity within the sports community.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Alan Hahn on Ohtani Incident:
  "Throwing a hundred at his back... that's wrong." ([06:13])

• Peter Rosenberg on Performative Actions:
  "Everything else is performative." ([09:38])

• Alan Hahn on Caitlyn Clark:
  "She plays hard. It makes the league more watchable and elevates its level." ([15:25])

• Rosenberg on Dual Fandom:
  "Get a poncho. Anything. Put a hole in a plastic bag." ([31:15])

• Alan Hahn on Funeral Fandom Conflict:
  "Selfish, narcissistic punk, but not a fraud." ([34:56])

• Rosenberg on Dual Team Support:
  "Just pick a team, brother." ([37:46])

• Alan Hahn on Ownership Influence:
  "I'm not buying it. Don't believe you." ([47:18])

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This summary encapsulates the key discussions and viewpoints presented in the "Fraud Alert Friday" episode, providing a comprehensive overview for those who haven't tuned in while retaining the essence and dynamic of the hosts' interactions.

Transcript

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[Don Hahn]

This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Rosenberg]

That sounds like heaven to me.

[Don Hahn]

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

[Rosenberg]

Time now for the weekend weather, which is brought to you by Schaeperhofer. Tomorrow, cloudy with a high of 89. And Sunday, cloudy with a high of 93. That's the weekend weather brought to you by Scheffenhoffer. Scheffenhoffer Grapefruit. Here comes the happy.

[Peter]

Oh, I can't wait to drink some on next Friday. And I hope that some people listening right now will come down to bar.

[Rosenberg]

Here comes the happy.

[Peter]

That's bar anticipation to you and me. And maybe you've never been before to the Beach Bash. This is going to be a special one. We're super excited. We go off the air at 6, but we're going to hang out and shake hands, kiss babies, meet the people and hope to meet some new people who we've never met before next, next Friday. Now, speaking of the Beach Bash preceding us, there will be the great Michael K. Of course.

[Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Peter]

And you mentioned the words dialed in a little while ago and it reminded me of Michael because I said, you want to talk about dialed in? He texted me earlier to correct me when I accidentally said the Mets had a three game set going coming up with Atlanta. And of course it's seven total.

[Rosenberg]

Four.

[Peter]

Four games set next. And Michael K. Was quick to remind me of that over text message.

[Rosenberg]

I'm glad he's listening.

[Peter]

And by the way, if you really wanted to read into that, it would have been appropriate to hit me with a name drop drop, if you're really getting technical. You know what I mean?

[Alan]

Name drop in K. Yeah, they texted me.

[Unknown Speaker]

I don't think that counts.

[Peter]

You're not going to count K as a, you know, now, now, now. Do you think I name drop him in other parts of my life? Yes, you meet the right Yankee fan. You know, like, like for example, I spent a lot of time wanting to act as if the Michael K show was my show because, you know, not literally my show but like equal parts. Don, Don, can Certainly relate. Right? Yeah. You know, I do a radio show and my co host, but then if you're in front of the right person, you're like, hey, you know, I'm on with Michael K. Because I don't know if you know, Yankee, because the Yankee fan. When you meet someone who's truly Yankee horny, it hits different, you know, like there's, there are people who love their teams. But Don, you know what I'm talking about. When you meet one of those people who, you can see their visual excitement. When you mention a connection to the Yankees.

[Alan]

Visual, visual excitement.

[Peter]

You can observe it right there, right in the pantaloons.

[Rosenberg]

Wow.

[Peter]

Right in the trousers.

[Rosenberg]

Which goes to show you. And I'm not saying that Breen doesn't get it from Nick fans or, you know, Sam Rosen back in the day with the Ranger fans and now Kenny, but that just shows you how regional baseball is, that they look at their local announcer as a part of the team, kind of the fabric of their year. And to not have them for that length of time, you're doing a disservice to the fans.

[Peter]

Well, it's such a different. It's not even comparable to any other sport. I was in on some of the Mets game yesterday, and when you listen to Gary, Keith and Ron, it's. It's like a. It's basically a radio show. It's basically a radio show.

[Alan]

I'm sorry, during the game.

[Peter]

Yeah, there's a baseball game happening.

[Alan]

But like conversation. Yes.

[Peter]

Much of the conversation, guys, I was listening to. I was listening to Keith wax poetic complaining about how busy Sag harbor is going to be over July 4th, and now he has to make other plans. And then Gelbs weighs in that it's his son's sixth birthday. This is a radio show. Like, it's such a different relationship versus a. Any other sport where really your main job is you got to be up tempo, you got to cover the game, you're in and you're out. It's a really close relationship people have with these people.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah. And I find as somebody that's covered them all and obviously covered them all on this show and other shows, is that I feel like baseball fans don't necessarily care about anybody else but their team. Like, so they're baseball fans, they're Yankee fans. And you start asking about, you start having a conversation about other teams or there's another game, I'm involving another team. I'm not saying everybody, but there's a lot less interest where in football it's, you could be a Giant fan, but you're going to watch months, you're going to watch Sunday night, you're going to watch Thursday night, you're going to talk about other teams. I find that in the basketball and hockey world, too, but in baseball, it seems like. No, I. I'm a Yankee fan. I watch the Yankees, I watch your teams care. I know about the Phillies and I know about the Braves because they're in our division. But, you know, go to a party and they're having a conversation about, you know, last night's Dodger Padre brawl. It might not intrigue them because of the fact that it doesn't involve their team. Mean. But while I was on the subject of that. Come on, Dave Roberts, you're a manager, man. What are you doing? You know, he threw gasoline on the fire for that. You know, going after the Padre manager, and then he's backing away. Come on, man. If the managers are going to get involved, then step up, throw a punch. Don't push you now. Everybody's got to. You're supposed to be stopping things. And I understand that the Padres were upset. The Machado got hit or not Tatis got hit, but have you ever seen a manager escalated?

[Alan]

They hate each other, those two.

[Rosenberg]

I know, I get it. But the managers got to think better.

[Alan]

But, Don, I'll tell you what. Throwing at Ohtani, throwing 100 at Ohtani in the upper back, that. That's wrong on many levels.

[Rosenberg]

Many. Not that.

[Alan]

No. But you know that there was a code red called, right? You know that. So that. That would piss me off, not just as a Dodgers manager or anybody in that organization. Because if Major League Baseball should be like, Hang on a second. Thrown at that dude, him. And don't tell me. Well, you hit Tatis and he's our star. Stop it. He is nowhere near the level of Shohei Ohtani. And what Ohtani means for the sport. The guy's had injuries. He's had enough. You're throwing a hundred at his back. Come on, Don. You know, like out of the gate. That's wrong. Wrong. There's another word I want to use, but I can't. But, you know, that's bs. Total bs. And if that's us, like, like throw a judge like that, I'm storming out of the dugout, I'm throwing punches. Because you can't do that to a guy like that, okay? He's too important to not only our team, but this whole freaking league. Are you crazy?

[Rosenberg]

Ohtani. Well, we're arguing two different things.

[Alan]

No, I know what you're saying, but I'm taking it like that. That, to me is like, compared to what. What they actually did.

[Rosenberg]

But Dave Roberts to go after Schilt, and now it starts back up again. And God forbid somebody gets hurt during the brawl. I mean, you're not. I understand the players got to stand up for themselves. They got to police themselves. But when. When a manager is going to lose his cool like that and escalate it.

[Alan]

That's my point, Don. That wouldn't have set you off. It's Shohei Ohtani. What are you doing? That wouldn't set you off? Like, are you kidding him?

[Rosenberg]

All right, so they retail. But. But that wasn't. He didn't come running out of the dugout after Ohtani got hit. This was after.

[Alan]

No, it was later on got hit. But you still. You still.

[Peter]

Well, that's all.

[Rosenberg]

That's the.

[Alan]

Still pissed off. You still.

[Rosenberg]

I'm saying. But that's what. See, that's what.

[Alan]

They hate each other. They've been throwing at each other for years. This is nothing new.

[Rosenberg]

Well, these two teams and. Listen, I understand.

[Alan]

Remember the Padres almost took them out in the pod.

[Rosenberg]

I'm not defending the Padres, but the pot. What he means to the sport is not on the table for the Padres. All right? He got hit. Tatis Jr is very important to the Padres. He might be not showy, but he got hit. And he might be out because he might have broken his wrist. I don't know. I didn't get the latest health update on him. All right, but that's how you retaliate. Ohtani gets hit. Now we're going to hit Tatis. That's the way it works in baseball. But now. Now you get your stupid. Clearing the dugouts. Everybody stares at each other. And now you've got people kind of going at it, and now the manager's got to escalate the situation. I'm not saying you shouldn't be ticked off, but that's how you retaliate. You're going to hit one of our guys. We're going to hit one of your guys. And it turns out that Tatis might actually be hurt. So the Dodgers win, right? Now he's got to go out there and start pushing people and.

[Peter]

Hold on, Don, you sound like a psycho. This is what. This is why sports is psychotic. Hear me out. Don's like, come on, let's be reasonable. The manager shouldn't go out there and bump another manager. You should take a baseball and pelt another player 100 miles an hour. Why is one thing so much better than the other? I don't know that I have a problem with Roberts mixing it up. Do we all scream? When Don Zimmer ran out to the. Everyone only got upset because Pedro tossed him. No one was mad that Zimmer ran out. At 80 years old, this is what they do in this crazy sport. I don't know.

[Rosenberg]

I don't have a stupid part of it. Nobody actually throws down. You know, it's not like hockey, where they're actually going to be beating each other up with fists. They all empty out of the bullpen, like jogging out there, like, here we go. And then they stare at each other and don't do anything.

[Alan]

Well, they all realize once you get out there, you got to show something. Then you realize, okay, nobody's ready to fight.

[Rosenberg]

None of them have the true boy to do it right. Darryl Strawberry, who showed something, you know, he got mad and he. He's going after Benitez in the dugout. And if you. So listen, you know me. I'm the. I'm. The way I am is if you hit me and I'm mad, I'm charging the mound. If I'm not going to charge the mound, I'm going to jog the first base. None of this pointing, none of this.

[Peter]

Hold me back catcher.

[Rosenberg]

Otherwise I'm going to beat him up. Either you charge the mound or you go to first. Those are your two options. Anything else is for show. Everything else is performative. So running out of the dugout, that's all performative. But going back to the day that they put seams on baseballs, if you hit one of our guys, we're going to hit one of your guys. That's always been the case that way. Don't be careful hitting Ohtani, because we got Machado, we got Tatis. Junior. We got good players, too. We don't want to get them hurt. Most of these. Most of these guys will go to the pitcher and say, don't. Don't throw at anybody, because I don't want to get hit. That's how you even the score, Peter. Not jogging out there like a bunch of yo yos. But now everybody's out there. Now everybody's out there and something can happen. I don't need a manager to start pushing it and then jogging backwards, and everybody's got to break it up. And inciting even more of a brawl you had. You got your pound of flesh. You hit the tease, Junior. What are you even upset about?

[Alan]

It's emotions man, because of. Because of. You're coming out and you're. You're already yelling towards the dugout. And Roberts is probably like, what, you think we did that on purpose? You think because Tatisha has been hit a million times by the Dodgers, for whatever reason, they get him a lot. And there was probably some accusations that if you, Dave Roberts, you're like, you're accusing me of calling for that. So they have it out and he's mad. Then he probably, once he bumps him, he realizes, like, what you're saying. I can't do this. I shouldn't do this.

[Rosenberg]

Well, maybe you should think before you do it.

[Alan]

Joe was ready to drop gloves, but that's just. Look, that's. By the way, can I just say, isn't this a good thing if you're baseball, like some. Some passion, some rivalry back and forth? Like, that's not a bad thing to have that. As long as it didn't, like you said, escalate. But what bothers me is the fact that they thought, all right, let's throw it, Ohtani again, like, come on, like that. Like, if you thought it was on purpose, that's fine, but that would set me off from the Dodgers. You're hitting like, this guy. Jussie's finally on the mound again. You're going to start throwing at him. It's 100 miles an hour now. You would have said, well, look where it hit him. Hit him. His soft spot is back. Whatever you want to say, but if you miss by a little bit, that's out of control.

[Rosenberg]

I'm sure they didn't mean to hit Tatis Jr. In the wrist, but you know what? It wasn't a simple thing. You know, at the end of the day, the Padres lost because they might lose to these junior. All right, Ohtani's fine. So I don't. I don't understand the fake bravado. They just. They might have lost. One of their star players got hit in the wrist. So it's not. It's not a tit for tat situation, is it? Ohtani gets to go to first pace. The teach junior might end up on the il. I'm with Peter. I don't think that should be the way it is. But that's the way it goes. That's the way it's always gone. So all the other stuff for me is performative. It's for show. Nothing ever happens unless. Unless you're really gonna throw down. But nobody's ever willing to do that. So what are you going out There for in the first place, you're not throwing down, right. So you start pushing and shoving and what everybody else is gonna have to fight your battle. Is he gonna sit there and start throwing down with Padres? I doubt it. Matter of fact, he didn't. He started back it up the second he did it, so stop it. And as far as Ohtani being the sport, Padres can't worry about that. I don't know the reasoning. I don't know the history behind throwing it. Ohtani, but you know what he means to the sport shouldn't be on their list of concerns, should it?

[Alan]

There's somebody else you could throw at. There's somebody, you know, That's. That's all I'm saying.

[Rosenberg]

I'm sure it's not going to have the impact throwing at him. I'm not even going to pretend. Why? Is it because he's showy? Did something happen when he pitched the other. I watched that first inning and I didn't see anything in that first inning that indicated that they had to retaliate. But I don't know. Again, I don't know the history. Some of these things, Allen, go back like two years prior. Like, you never know. It happens in hockey, too. Why are they fighting? Why is there a lot? Because they'll go back and find footage from like 2013 when they were on two different teams and who knows when you're going to get revenge. But you brought it up and I kind of. I just thought it was. I thought it was very performative and could have been somewhat dangerous at the end of the day, but it is.

[Alan]

It is also good to see passion and all that stuff in the spot.

[Rosenberg]

No, that is true.

[Alan]

Yeah.

[Peter]

Now, I hate to throw a left turn here, but that is kind of what I'm known for doing.

[Rosenberg]

Of course we.

[Peter]

It's my fault. Actually. I'll take blame for this. I should have hit it during E and M, but we were probably, you know, rambling on about God knows what. Speaking of fights and potentially performative. We really didn't do much on the Caitlin Clark this week at all. Alan, I didn't even hear your take on what you thought the other day.

[Alan]

I continue to say when it comes to that stuff, again, I'll say it about every sport. When it, when it feels genuine, when there's actual fire, there's nothing wrong with it. I think fans love to see passion. It could draw. It is like. Like it's not performative. Like Don says, you use that word and it's right sometimes. Some of this stuff just feels a little fake. That seems legit. What I, what I'm seeing in the WNBA is not anything that I consider a controversy. You know what I see? I see a league where the top players care, where there's a lot more of competitive fire. And I love it. And I think Caitlin Clark doesn't shy away from it. She welcomes it. And that says a lot about her too. Because if she was going to like, if she was somebody that had a, like a higher regard for herself, if she might have been a prima donna, she'd be whining about it. Right. She might have been complaining to others. She might go like, duck the smoke and all that stuff and, and wonder, why does everybody hate me? Like a lot of her fans try to create that.

[Peter]

Right?

[Alan]

She doesn't. You play me physical, I'm coming right at you. And I think she loves it. And what you like is that she's got teammates that are going to also have her back too. I don't love this idea. Well, the fever have to get an enforcer. Stop it. It's not the 80s. You don't need McPhilthy and McNasty. She can handle herself.

[Peter]

No.

[Alan]

So she's letting everybody know, you want to play me physical? Fine, I can take it. But I'm not going to just take it. I'm going to dish it back. If I think you're being a little over physical, you're going to hear from me. There's nothing wrong with that.

[Peter]

But you know what else?

[Alan]

I think it's good for that sport. I think it makes it more watchable. And it also says a lot about Caitlin Clark as a high level competitor. And it's going to rate. And it already has. It raises that league another level because when it comes to watchability, because does have a little something extra to it that I don't think it's ever had before. Not like that.

[Peter]

So the one thing that I've also noticed a bit of more recently, I agree with everything you said. I enjoy it. I enjoy that she is down to scrap. I like that the players don't treat her with kid gloves because sorry the league didn't start yesterday, guys. We're talking about 25 years of a league. These are people who are not there to just sit there. This is the Washington Generals were there to just watch her be the Harvest.

[Alan]

Globe driver talent saying, I'm not. You'd knock down 30 footers and mock me. I'm not letting it happen.

[Peter]

So. But then the other piece that I Did notice that. I don't. I don't think I noticed as much at first.

[Alan]

Is.

[Peter]

Is that not only does Caitlyn like it, she's got a little bit of d nozzle to her way of creating contact, too.

[Alan]

Okay.

[Peter]

Like, she's not quite. She's not dirty, but. But she likes to. She has a little bit of, like, soccer player in here. She's getting in. She's annoying you. She's gonna push you to getting physical with her and then scrap with you once it happens.

[Alan]

You know what it's like. You know the comparison.

[Peter]

Yeah. Who's the comp? I know there is a comp. I couldn't think of who it is.

[Alan]

It's so similar to Larry Bird. Bird came in the league talking trash, didn't like anybody, didn't want to be friends with anybody, and it got physical and he was ready to scrap with anybody.

[Peter]

But the difference is Bird, and when.

[Alan]

He made shots, he told you about it. He let you know how good he is.

[Peter]

But Caitlyn similar, but she's physically diminutive. Larry was 6, 9. Caitlyn handle himself because once she gets pushed back, she's flailing all over the ground once she gets pushed back. So it's like a different dynamic where I think the players feel the need to back her up a bit because she's not physically the most imposing player, no matter what. Leading to conversation. Man, this is great.

[Alan]

It's fun.

[Peter]

Who can really complain about it? And the fact that they're going to end up making the biggest impression they've ever made because people are sick of the way the NBA players play in the regular season. When you watch these girls actually go the first half of their season, they're actually playing hard. It's very appealing.

[Rosenberg]

I hope you're right. But the thing I have to ask, whenever we have these conversations, is it a real sport or not? Because when I hear the conversations and all the people that, quote, unquote, are really backing the WNBA and really trying to make it work, are saying things like, the league has to protect her because she is the sport. So they've got to make sure that she's okay and tell these players to not be as physical, otherwise they're going to ruin. Those are the people that think they're helping. They're hurting. Yeah, because now you're making it. Now you're making it fake. Now you're making it wrestling.

[Alan]

Right.

[Rosenberg]

You know, if you. If this is a sport, if this is really truly a sport and treated like one, then you've got to let the players play and do what they have to do. You think that she's the first bonus baby that had to pay her dues? You think it's the first time that players are jealous of another superstar and take it out on them on the court, at the ice, of the field?

[Alan]

No, stop right there. You don't have to look any further than the Jordan rules. And how Michael Jordan, who became the sensation almost overnight with the sneakers and all, you know him, high flying act and winning dunk contests and everybody loved him. And yet every time he ran into the Pistons, they beat the hell out of him, beat the hell out of them. They didn't change any rules. They didn't. Suddenly the league didn't go, whoa, this guy Michael Jordan, we got to take care, we got to protect him. No, you know what Michael had to do? He had to get stronger. He had to know what's coming. He had to be ready for it. And eventually he had to slay the dragon and he did. And that's the same thing that Caitlin's got to do. It would be better for the league for exactly what you said. It would be more genuine if she had to endure this. Because every team's gonna have the Caitlyn stopper, the tough defender who is. Your assignment is to fight through all those screens and stop her and deal with her trash talk and the shots that she can make that at times is going to embarrass you and, and you see some of these players take that matchup personal and I love it. It's great for that league to have.

[Rosenberg]

That because that's why I kind of took exception when you said about, you know, the Padres have to realize, how do you do that to Ohtani, what he means to the sport?

[Alan]

Because throwing at somebody is a lot different than defending.

[Rosenberg]

No, but my point is, is they're going to, they don't care. They care about winning the game. They don't care about what Ottoman means, winning the game.

[Alan]

Throwing at somebody is retaliation for a guy that on your team that got hit.

[Rosenberg]

It's, it's about that, that they're playing the game, all right? They're not looking at, don't hit Ohtani because it's going to hurt the sport and its television ratings. No, it's about, this is what we're going to do. Whether it's right or wrong, this is what we're going to do. Those women out there playing to win a championship aren't thinking, let's protect Caitlin because she's Our, she's our cash cow. They're competitive. They want to play. That's why, I wonder the people who think they're supporting the WNBA are, are actually hurting the wnba. It's not, oh, it's, you know, women's sports.

[Peter]

It's sports.

[Alan]

Yes.

[Rosenberg]

And this is how sports are played.

[Alan]

Yes. Overcoming no difference.

[Rosenberg]

If it is going to be taken seriously and it's going to elevate to the other sports, then it has to be the same as the other sports. And if you start compromising its integrity and start doing things that the other sports don't do, then it's not going to be taken seriously. And I don't want Angel, Reese or anybody else to now play her differently because they're worried about their bottom line. They're worried about getting their points and their wins in their championship.

[Peter]

That's clearly.

[Alan]

But that's one thing. That's two different, two different things. And all. I did not mean that the Padres as players should say, oh, we can't, we can't do that to Ohtani. What I'm saying is just in general, it's like of all people to throw at, like, like you're retaliating. That's what you're doing. That's 100 mile an hour pitch at one of the most important players in the sport. To me, if I'm Rob Manfred, like, you don't like that. Like, no, no, we can't have that. That's all I'm saying. I'm not saying that the Padres, like, that's something that, in that dugout, if they know, okay, we're going to get retaliation. If it's Ohtani, hit him in the ass. Don't throw it up high like that in the upper back. 100 miles an hour.

[Peter]

Well, and why does it mean Ohtani is dangerous?

[Rosenberg]

I don't, I don't know the reasoning. But did Ohtani do something? Again, I don't know the history and he is their best player and sometimes that's what happens. But it, Ohtani getting hit in the fanny because he's Ohtani does not make up for the fact that Tatis got hit in the wrist. It might be hurt. He may not be Ohtani, but he's still important. That's what you don't want to happen. 1-800-919-3776 climb aboard because coming up next, it is fraud alert Friday. It's all happening right here on ESPN New York.

[Alan]

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[Peter]

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[Unknown Speaker]

This episode is brought to you by LifeLock. Between two factor authentication, strong passwords and a VPN. You try to be in control of how your info is protected. But many other places also have it, and they might not be as careful that's why LifeLock monitors hundreds of millions of data points a second for threats. If your identity is stolen, they'll fix it, guaranteed, or your money back. Save up to 40% your first year. Visit lifelock.com podcast for 40% off. Terms apply.

[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don Hahn]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. Did you or someone you know participate in fraudulent fan behavior?

[Rosenberg]

I'm a fraud with a capital F.

[Don Hahn]

Is your friend a fraud?

[Peter]

I have been a complete and utter fraud.

[Don Hahn]

Are you a fraud?

[Alan]

What is fraud?

[Don Hahn]

Let's ask Don McGregor.

[Rosenberg]

Screw. Go scratch yourself.

[Peter]

How's everyone doing?

[Rosenberg]

Doing yourself?

[Peter]

Oh, I'm doing great. Welcome to Fraud Friday. Dhrespnmail.com. you send your emails. I will read them to you, to the people that is. And then Don will make a ruling. That's how I can go first Friday.

[Alan]

I'm sorry, can I go first? I'm not excited about this. I guess I need Don's ruling on this. Is that okay? Yeah, can I break. Can I. Can I break protocol for this one? Because this is urgent.

[Peter]

Okay.

[Alan]

All right. Now, you guys are familiar with the. The rapper 50 Cent? Very familiar, yes. He was seen at game six or not game six? I'm sorry. He was on his Instagram account. I think he was actually over. I think he's overseas right now. But he has a picture of himself in Pacer's uniform, hat, jersey, the whole thing. And he said. Can you say momentum? Yeah, you can't beat them when they are bawling. I know. You mad. Mad. It's okay. Blank you 50 LOL. Then in his next post, because, you know, again, 50's from Queens. He's a New York guy. We have seen him a lot at the Garden, including in April against the Detroit Pistons that Ja Rule did take note of. 50 Cent says this on the very next post with a pile of Nick's jerseys and it says, New York. Yes, I'm from New York, but I can't lose my whole life. Blank that. Take this blank back. I'm a winner.

[Rosenberg]

Oh, that's.

[Alan]

What kind of behavior is this, Don? How should we feel about this?

[Rosenberg]

That is some. Some really just fraudulent behavior and bad guy. The overwhelming majority of people that are frauds are good guys. This is a fraud bad guy.

[Peter]

Yeah. I mean, 50's got some bad guy in there and he's got some big time fraud. He just. He. He's Also, more than anything, beyond anything else is troll. He just. All that's which, by the way, I think if someone. All they want to do is troll, at some point, it just leans into bad guy. You know what I mean?

[Rosenberg]

Because who are you? Like, who is he trolling? Nick F.

[Alan]

I think he just knows because of all this, the Pacer stuff that he's gotten into, that he knows the backlash he's going to get, so he's just getting out in front of it. But what he just did there with that pile of Nick jerk, the whole.

[Peter]

Thing may be because he wanted the backlash, though, because he's a troll, but.

[Alan]

He'S also disavowing any connection to the Knicks. And here's somebody that has been at the Garden attending Nick games. He's certainly done that many times.

[Peter]

They should never give him a free ticket again.

[Alan]

Well, no, I think he made it abundantly clear. Take all this stuff back, right? He said, I'm. I. You know, I'm a w. Okay. All right.

[Rosenberg]

So was this. Is this trolling, Peter? Or is this like, he was truly a fan, but now he's had enough? He's clearly done.

[Peter]

He. 50 has never been truly a fan of anything except 50 and money. That is the. And. And. And all the people who know listening right now are nodding their head in agreement. He has shown that there's two things he roots for himself and money. He just. There's no. So this could completely be made up, Peter.

[Alan]

I wonder what Fat Joe thinks of all this, huh?

[Peter]

You know, they've become friendly recently. So.

[Alan]

They have.

[Peter]

Oh, yeah, they. They. They made up over the last few years.

[Alan]

50 was seen talking with somebody else he had. Was at war with recently, too. Right? Joe Budden. Right.

[Peter]

Yeah. Him and. Him and Joe have had, you know, pleasant exchanges. I think the only person that he's.

[Alan]

Trying to get right.

[Peter]

No, no, that's not. That's not 50's way. So we've determined fraud.

[Rosenberg]

Damn.

[Alan]

Okay, so fraud. All right, well, I'm out of the way now.

[Peter]

All right. Russell writes us and says, I like this one. This is very realist. This is very real. Okay, I'm a big Yankee fan, but my wife is a Mets fan. And when it rains and I'm running errands, I wear her Mets raincoat. Without fail, a Mets fan comes up to me wanting to talk Mets. So first time I smile, not along. After the second and third time, I felt compelled to follow the Mets. If I'm going to go out in the rain, what the hell is wrong With Mets fans. Just because I'm wearing a coat doesn't mean I want to talk Mets. And it's every time. Don, if I follow the game before it rains so I can be polite and talk about the Mets, does it make me a fraud? Thanks, Russell.

[Rosenberg]

No, he's a fraud and he's a moron because. Well, because, listen, there's other rain. Get a raincoat, man. Get. Get a poncho. Anything. Put. Put a hole in a plastic bag. If you're a Yankee fan, don't wear a Met poncho. And then what? These people have the audacity to want to talk. Mets and Met fans are passionate. They see what they think is a fellow Met fan, and you play along. You're an actor, fraud, moron. Wow. How about that?

[Peter]

I. It's a very.

[Alan]

Actor, fraud, moron.

[Peter]

He's a very. It's a very harsh take from Don. However, I cannot imagine a world in which, like, I would just know. Well, it depends. See, I would never be like, oh, I. I gotta go run out of. Run an errand, babe. Let me borrow your Eagles jacket or your Giants jacket or. I would never do that. Now, if I didn't think of the other team as being related at all to the team that I loved, would I wear it just because I wanted to wear a jacket? Maybe. So maybe he just doesn't think of the Mets. But it's the Mets and the Yankees. Come on, man.

[Rosenberg]

But, but, but the reason I'm throwing more on it, like, so he's, like, shocked that these people want to talk Mets, assuming he's a Met fan. And if it bothered you so much, why go the extra yard and start, like, following the Met? So you can answer. Why not just get another form of protection?

[Peter]

It's a great point.

[Rosenberg]

Just a dope.

[Peter]

Hello.

[Rosenberg]

I don't mean to be this harsh, but am I wrong at all?

[Peter]

No, no, no. It's, it's. It's. It's. It's a harsh. But you're not wrong.

[Alan]

There's an easy way. It's an easy fix, you would think.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan]

Instead, he just continues to perpetuate something that he thinks is someone else's problem when it really is your.

[Rosenberg]

And makes the problem is. Maybe he's. Maybe he's got a little Mets in him and he wants to find a way to kind of get his fix, you know?

[Peter]

Hello from California. Gustavo here. I have one for the fraud czar. A few years back, one of my cousins passed away.

[Rosenberg]

Oh, boy.

[Peter]

He was a huge Cowboys fan. So for the funeral, his dad asked us, the pallbearers, to wear a Cowboys jersey or shirt. I am a diehard Eagles fan and refuse to wear any cowboy gear. The other five guys, one was also a cowboy fan, so he loved the idea. Two were 49ers and two were Raider fans, thinking the rest were also big fans of their respective teams and they would all disagree too, but they agreed to wear cowboy gear. Although I was deeply saddened by my cousin's passing, I still could not get myself to wear any cowboy paraphernalia. When the day of the funeral came, all the others wore cowboy gear. And there I was with a plain white shirt. So first, am I a bad guy? And two, are they frauds? Have a good weekend, fellas.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah, really bad guy, but not a fraud. I mean, almost like going to hell bad guy. How do you do that? Nobody's gonna judge you and say, I can't, you're a fraud, cuz you're wearing the cowboy stuff. Your cousin died. It was the wish of the family. So that goes beyond like fraud and all that stuff. To be like, no, you're a maid of honor. No, I'm sorry, I don't wear green. I don't care. I'm gonna, I'm gonna wear blue. Everybody else gonna wear green. No, no. It's her day. You do what you're told and walk away. Don't go but to sit there with your white shirt. Selfish, narcissistic punk, but not a fraud.

[Peter]

But a really bad guy. No, no. He asked, are they. He asked, are they frauds?

[Rosenberg]

No, he's not. No, no. They're human beings. Sometimes you've got to put the fandom aside. Somebody died. Ass. You're playing that game. The family asked you. And like a punk, you're wearing your white. I would have dragged you out by your hair if that was. If I'm the father of the kid that died right in front of everyone during the mass, I would have dragged.

[Alan]

Him out by his hair like, where's your jersey? I'm not wearing that.

[Rosenberg]

I wouldn't even explain out and then not allowed in. Done.

[Alan]

That'd be quite a scene, though. And that does feel like a Seinfeld episode, doesn't it?

[Peter]

I. I just. That is, I don't know.

[Alan]

Seinfeld episode. I'm not wearing.

[Peter]

I don't know.

[Alan]

What do you mean you're not wearing it? I'm not wearing it. I don't like the cowboy.

[Peter]

I don't know what unlocked Don today, but I. He's in his own right now.

[Alan]

He's in his own.

[Peter]

Today.

[Rosenberg]

I want to be coached up. But when I'm. When I'm out of line, when I'm. When I'm not telling the truth, I want you guys to call me out.

[Peter]

I'll let you know. I'll keep you honest.

[Alan]

You usually do.

[Peter]

All right. Hey, guys. My girlfriend and I are huge fans of the show and have been having a debate about potential fraud activity for my entire life. I've rooted for two football teams.

[Rosenberg]

Oh, Christ.

[Peter]

The Cleveland Browns and the New York Jets. Oh, God.

[Rosenberg]

Wait, are you suicidal?

[Alan]

Are you serious?

[Peter]

A big reason behind this Browns and the jets is my mom's side of the family is from the greater Cleveland area. My dad is. My dad's side's from New Jersey. I've lived in New Jersey.

[Alan]

Double dose of cyanide.

[Peter]

I've lived in New Jersey for most of my life, but I've also found myself flying out to Cleveland for games, as well as my grandparents had season tickets since the team's revival in 1999.

[Alan]

And there's nothing like my parents. Cleveland.

[Peter]

My parents got divorced back in 2012, so it really solidified the divided household concept with fandom, and I really wanted to make all sides happy with this, so I continued to root for both teams. I have been questioned on my true fandom for many years, and I have certain rules that I've held myself to. I typically root for the home team if they ever play each other. And I'll only stray from this if one team has a better. Has better playoff odds than the other.

[Alan]

What?

[Peter]

In most cases, I don't have to ever worry about playoff implications.

[Rosenberg]

So this.

[Peter]

So this hasn't been a problem for me in my life.

[Alan]

At least mark that as red.

[Peter]

I've also been questioning about whether if. Wow. And by the way, I disagree with you. I'm calling no fraud.

[Alan]

What?

[Peter]

No fraud.

[Rosenberg]

Don, what are we doing? Like, I don't want to upset who.

[Peter]

Like, who would care?

[Alan]

What are we doing?

[Rosenberg]

Just pick a team, brother. And it's like. Like surviving Jonestown. And then, like, I don't know, jump going to Waco. Like, what are you doing?

[Peter]

But why? Why for? That's why. I'm not calling for two teams.

[Rosenberg]

And now he's made up his own little yo yo rules of I'll root for the home team or whoever's got less. Stop it. Come on. Pick a team, brother. It's not that hard, okay? It's not that hard. Pick a team. They got to be one team. You like more than the other one that has tortured you a little bit less than the other. Good luck figuring out who that is. It would take a science to figure out.

[Peter]

That's why I wouldn't call fraud, because there's no upside to what he's doing. He's not gaining anything. Fraudulence is almost always because you want something better. These are both horrible options. But he's not gaining from this.

[Alan]

He is, because he's pleasing the entire family.

[Rosenberg]

And by the way, how it works. And by the way, they don't care.

[Alan]

No.

[Rosenberg]

Nobody in the family's like, I'm so proud of my son that he's really done a good job of keeping both sides of the family happy. Actually, they're both probably disgusted with him because he can't make a decision.

[Alan]

Right. I completely agree with that.

[Peter]

Don't.

[Rosenberg]

Great today. This is. These are every.

[Alan]

They get better every week.

[Rosenberg]

These are gems.

[Peter]

Dhre s P n gmail dot com. Here we go. I'd like to remain anonymous, but here's the issue.

[Rosenberg]

Oh.

[Peter]

I was born and raised in Philly, but as a kid, like all kids do, I jumped on the Dallas Cowboys bandwagon because they were winning Super Bowls at the time. I wouldn't say all kids do.

[Rosenberg]

I did.

[Peter]

My entire family are Eagles fans. Just so you know. Fast forward 30 years later, the team sucks. Jerry Jones is insane and won't change. And the breaking point was Dallas not signing Deion as the head coach and hiring Brian with no winning in sight for Dallas. And as Stephen A. Calls them, an accident waiting to happen. Am I a fraud for putting my childhood fandom away and growing up and starting to root for my hometown team?

[Rosenberg]

Oh, boy. I'm surprised you even asked the question. I mean, it's so bad. I mean, honestly. But Frau.

[Peter]

This is the worst one, in my opinion. This is the worst one so far.

[Rosenberg]

I'm surprised.

[Alan]

I feel like, lock him up and throw away the key. That's how bad this is.

[Peter]

Do some hall of fame.

[Rosenberg]

Do some of these people actually think that there's a chance I'll say they're not a fraud like some of these. It's like, what, do you just want confirmation? Do you just want it? He's anonymous. He won't even. So he's not even getting.

[Peter]

He doesn't even want you to know because he knows how bad it is.

[Rosenberg]

Don't know it's bad. You know, I'm going to call you a. You won't put your name on it. Why'd you Bother. So I'm left to think that he really honestly thought there was a chance that I wouldn't call him a fraud because he went back to Philadelphia. He could have been an Eagles fan, but he jumped on a bandwagon like everybody else, and that's where you stay. Your only alternative is jump off the bandwagon and say, you know what? I'm not following football anymore. You don't go back to the Eagles. They shouldn't have you. So imagine if you're at a party, talking Eagles, and bunch of Eagle fans found out that that's how you became an Eagle fan. They'd throw you out of the party.

[Alan]

Oh, they wouldn't just throw you out of the party. Be worse. His. By the way, his family should not let him. Like when he says, you know, I'm going to be the Eagles fan. He's big. No, no, not. You are not accepted. We don't accept.

[Peter]

By the way, here's, here's the funniest part. And this goes back to what I was just saying about the Jets, Cleveland thing. If the person told this exact same story, but their hometown was Phoenix, I'd be okay with it. I bet. You know what? I wouldn't, I wouldn't respect it. I wouldn't respect it. But you're going to the team that just so happens to be the defending super bowl champions, who, who now is perennially a great team, who's a division rival.

[Alan]

It can't just.

[Rosenberg]

It's ironic that he didn't make this decision during the, during the Reed era where they were losing championship games. He decides to jump on right when they, you know, when go to the super bowl. Two out of the last three years.

[Peter]

All right, guys, that will do it for Friday.

[Rosenberg]

I mean, honestly, that was tremendous. We're hearing a job out of it.

[Alan]

It's getting better and better, and I'm.

[Rosenberg]

Sorry it went off the rails, but I got it. I got to speak honestly.

[Alan]

Don't ever apologize for that, Don.

[Peter]

Never apologize for telling the truth.

[Rosenberg]

I sent some kids to the electric chair, didn't want to do it. I owed it to them. All right. 1-800-919-3776. Having fun on a Friday here on Don an Rosenberg on ESPN New York. You want to get the most for your money. That's why more Mazda buyers choose Ramsey Mazda lease a new 2025 Mazda CX30. All wheel drive. Only 239 for 36 months. Start shopping now at Ramsey Mazda.com choose wisely. Choose Ramsey Mazda. Call 833-853-2970 for details. Excludes tax, title, registration 0 security deposit Finn SM 823053 MSRP 27,130 and 630. 25.

[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Han and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don Hahn]

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

[Rosenberg]

The Weaver's back for the Yankees coming off the il, of course he was a closer. Williams then took over as the closer when he was out. So now the question guys from Aaron Boone, is Weaver back to being your closer?

[Unknown Speaker]

On some nights he will be. I kind of look at with him and Devin like we got two elite guys back there obviously with with how well Devin's been throwing the ball the last month. You know I kind of with Devon, you know, usually pretty much always going to keep him to an inning with weave, you know, he's kind of that fireman kind of guy. So it's a big spot in the seventh where you need to get an out heading in. You know, that'll be kind of weaves role. But on the nights when you know they're both available and we're in the eighth inning in a safe situation, then I'll probably match it up to how I think they line up best with who's coming up in those situations.

[Rosenberg]

So the answer is we're going to have to wait and see that it's I think that's a nice way Allen of saying it's still like an audition. So he'll match up and they'll both get their opportunities to close and at some point we'll know what it looks like and then that'll be the closer.

[Alan]

Yeah. And Devin Williams, it's supposed to be his job. That's why they got him. Right. They acquired him to be the closer but he didn't show you the kind of stuff that it needed to to be a closer. And so Weaver, you already know there is demonstrated performance by him in the past that he does have that kind of closer mentality and the stuff for it. I think he wants to give Devin Williams the chance to keep the job. You know it wasn't, I don't think it was a closing.

[Rosenberg]

Right.

[Alan]

It wasn't for a save. But they brought him in the 9th, 73 and he did a nice job getting out of that. So I think the first sign of trouble it's Weaver's ball. That's what I think.

[Rosenberg]

Well, like you said, he'll match up because there are situations in the seventh and eighth inning where you're going to need to get an out and they'll match it up from there. Lefty, righty. But at some point, you know, there'll probably be a close here for Williams, a close here for wet Weaver and then eventually they'll win it back. If we, if you're not supposed to lose your job because of injury, right, Allen? That's what we always hear.

[Alan]

Yeah.

[Rosenberg]

Which I think sometimes is bogus. But you know, if he was your closer with no issues, then when Weaver came back, then Williams stays your closer. But it's still very much up for debate because he did not get the job done early in the season. Weaver's done a better job and I guess it's just kind of a live audition moving forward. 1-800-919-3776. Jonathan is in LA. You're on. Don Han and Rosenberg. What's up?

[H]

Hi, guys. I got a little drop last year on opening day in Houston. I was with my son and 50 Cent got in front of me. He was about to go take the field, first pitch I think or something like that. And he was all Houston as short up. And I'm like 50, 50. And he turned, I'm like, what up, man? One of the main, one of the reasons I go for the Yankees and I wear my Yankee because of you get rich as I train. He looked back, he smiled, he laughed and he said, they ain't paying me. So that kind of answers.

[Peter]

See, there you go. I told you.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah, the answer really quick. Done. Done.

[H]

So all right. I'm a Lakers fan, man. Well, the dog. The. I was gonna say that the Lakers were pretty. I hate the Dodgers with the passion, man. With the passion. My 7 year old son hates the Dodgers with the passion. All right, now the Lakers were purchased by the Dodgers owner. All right, as soon as that happened, that, that, that put a sick taste on my mouth. Paused and I just, I'm not cool with that, man. I don't want nothing to do with the Dodgers. Nothing at all. Now you're telling me that they, they belong to the Dodgers owner. I think my fandom stops here. It's sad, but I think I, I mean, don't, don't worry, Alan. I won't turn into a Knicks fan, you know, But I will watch basketball like a gentleman. But am I a fraud for just ending my phantom? Just because an owner of another team like the Dodgers that I hate bought that purchase, that team?

[Rosenberg]

I mean.

[Peter]

Yeah, kinda.

[Rosenberg]

Well, are you gonna Root for another team or are you done with basketball or done rooting for a team?

[H]

Like I said, I'll watch basketball like I'm watching the finals. Not a dog in it. If they win, good for them. But I just watch it. And honestly, NBA hasn't really gotten my attention unfortunately since Kobe passed away. So I watch it.

[Alan]

But you know, Jonathan, we love you. I'm not buying it. Don't believe you.

[Rosenberg]

Well, wait a minute.

[Alan]

I'm not buying it.

[Peter]

Well, no, something's not true. Either he was never a fan or this isn't happening.

[Alan]

Yeah, I'm not buying this.

[Rosenberg]

It sounds to me like he was looking for an out. Like, he hasn't really been into it since Kobe. The Lakers, I know it was a Covid championship, but they did win a championship post Kobe. He got LeBron James. Yeah, I mean, so it sounds like he was kind of out. He was like. He looked like he was fishing for a reason to be out. Now, I'm not going to call him a fraud if he just never roots for another team again, but once he chooses another team, then he's a fraud.

[Peter]

No, if he stays with what he.

[Alan]

Said, then he's not traded for Luka Doncic. I mean, this is not the time to.

[Peter]

But Don, here's why I'd push back.

[Rosenberg]

Okay?

[Peter]

He's a fraud because leaving the team is fraudulent. Like, even if he doesn't root for another team, you're a fan for that long and you're out because of ownership stuff. I mean, it's one thing if your owner is terrible. Like I think to have left the Redskins when Dan Snyder ruined. I'd go, hey, you know what? You put in 20 years, it's enough you've given up. Okay, but for. Just because they switched to the Dodgers owner. By the way, isn't Magic still part of the Dodgers ownership group?

[Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Peter]

Yeah, that can't help a little bit.

[Rosenberg]

He lost me on the whole, like, I've kind of been out since Kobe passed. Tells me that he really wasn't a Laker fan recently anyway. He was more of a Kobe fan because it wasn't like the Lakers killed him. You know, he. Pat, I understand it may be you'll lose a little interest because he was the best.

[Alan]

But.

[Rosenberg]

But he. He wasn't. He was. Maybe he wasn't all the way to begin with anyway.

[Alan]

I don't know. I'm not buying the whole thing. Not buying it.

[Rosenberg]

I love that. Like I. Once that player retired or passed away, I lost. Then you weren't really a fan of the team. So didn't it look like he was fishing for a way out? And now he's got his way out. Like ownership. Peter's right. If it's bad ownership. But come on, there's going to be all kinds of crossover.

[Peter]

What?

[Rosenberg]

I have to quit being like, if I found out that it would never happen. But if I found out Jerry Jones owned a piece of the Giants, I'm going to stop being a lifelong Giant fan because somebody I don't like owns a piece of the team. Like, that seems. Why would I do that to myself? Now? If they're bad people, they start making bad decisions. But even then, man, how do you give up on your team? Jonathan. You know what?

[Peter]

And we love Jonathan.

[Rosenberg]

It hurts because I do love him, but that was. That was a crazy day with the fraud stuff, man. Good stuff.

[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Alan]

I don't want to know how the sausage is made, man. I just want to know. It's good.

[Don Hahn]

Hear more of Don Allen and Peter weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers.