Hour 2: Fraud Alert Friday

Summary

Podcast Summary: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg - Hour 2: Fraud Alert Friday

Podcast Information:

• Title: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg
• Hosts: Don LaGreca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
• Episode: Hour 2: Fraud Alert Friday
• Release Date: July 11, 2025
• Description: Featuring ESPN New York and New Jersey's Don La Greca, sportswriter and broadcaster Alan Hahn, and hip-hop and WWE personality Peter Rosenberg, the podcast delves into New York sports and broader cultural topics.

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1. Introduction and Overview

The episode kicks off with a brief exchange about WhatsApp's privacy features, setting a lighthearted tone. The hosts then transition to introduce the podcast's live segment, emphasizing its weekday afternoon slot on ESPN New York.

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2. Sports Management Philosophy: Mets and Yankees Payment Strategies

Timestamp: [00:43 - 05:13]

Discussion Points:

• Mets' Approach to Player Salaries:

  • Don LaGreca criticizes the Mets' reluctance to invest heavily in pitchers, suggesting it stems from a desire to avoid the appearance of "flushing money" despite significant financial backing from owner Steve Cohen.
  • Peter Rosenberg concurs, highlighting the Mets' philosophy of prioritizing money on position players who contribute daily over pitchers who have limited appearances.

• Impact of Financial Philosophy on Team Performance:

  • Don LaGreca posits that the Mets' strategy may be more about adhering to personal beliefs rather than purely financial constraints, contrasting it with other cap-constrained sports teams.
  • Peter Rosenberg adds that this approach reflects a broader trend in sports where management seeks a balanced investment across team roles rather than overcommitting to star positions.

Notable Quotes:

• Don LaGreca [02:42]: “What's interesting about the Mets is it's not supposed to matter for them. Because Cohen's got this big pile of money that he's sitting on and it shouldn't matter...”
• Peter Rosenberg [04:03]: “Today's pitcher, we don't let them go to pass the seventh inning, and most of them don't even get out of the fifth inning. And that's barely half the game.”

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3. Fraud Alert Friday: Listener Submissions and Discussions

Timestamp: [07:29 - 51:57]

Overview: The "Fraud Alert Friday" segment centers on listeners calling in to accuse friends or acquaintances of being "frauds" in their sports fandoms. The hosts engage in playful banter, assessing whether certain behaviors qualify as fraudulent actions within the realm of sports loyalty.

Key Interactions:

• Mark's Alleged Fraudulence:

  • A listener, Anthony Haynes, accuses his friend Mark of being a fraud for temporarily supporting the Yankees during a legend suite experience despite being a die-hard Mets fan.
  • Don LaGreca [28:37]: “So what Mark is saying is, I would never cheat on my wife, but if Kate Beckinsale came along. Oh, then all bets are off... Fraud, fraud, fraud.”

• Kevin and Yonkers' Hockey Fandom:

  • Another caller questions whether adopting support for the New Jersey Devils after their performance aligns with fraudulent behavior.
  • Don LaGreca [31:22]: “I say no fraud. Because he fell out of hockey. Fell out of love... So I say no fraud.”

• Adam's Conversion from Rangers to Devils:

  • A listener, Adam, switches his support from the Rangers to the Devils influenced by Don LaGreca's new role.
  • Alan Hahn [39:49]: “I'm a die hard. I will never, ever root for another team other than the Yankees... Now, given the news this past week, I'm gonna have to start Watching and rooting for the New Jersey Devils because of the one, the only Don Marco Lagreca.”
  • Don LaGreca [40:00]: “So I say no. Fraud.”

• Nelson's Fandom Transition:

  • Nelson inquires about being labeled a fraud for rooting for the Devils after previously being indifferent to hockey.
  • The debate evolves into a nuanced discussion about genuine versus superficial fandom.

Notable Quotes:

• Don LaGreca [27:07]: "Anthony, first off, I want to say huge congrats to Donald Mark Old Agreca for getting the devil's gig... Is he a fraud? Just so you know, I called him a fraud instantly."
• Peter Rosenberg [40:23]: “You can't handle the truth.”
• Don LaGreca [50:38]: “We have to go back to now. All these past rulings.”

Insights:

• Definition of a "Fraud" in Fandom:

  • The hosts explore the thin line between genuine loyalty and opportunistic or situational support, determining whether temporary or strategic shifts in fandom qualify as fraudulent behavior.

• Emotional Attachment vs. Rational Choices:

  • Discussions highlight the balance between emotional loyalty to a team and rational decisions based on personal or familial reasons for supporting another team.

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4. Golfing Banter and Competitive Nature

Timestamp: [14:46 - 21:44]

Discussion Points:

• Personal Experiences with Golf:

  • The hosts, particularly Don LaGreca, share their struggles and competitive nature when playing golf, highlighting how their desire to win can sometimes overshadow the casual enjoyment of the game.

• Balancing Fun and Competitiveness:

  • Peter Rosenberg discusses the transition from playing golf for fun to playing competitively, emphasizing how competitiveness can diminish the recreational aspect.

Notable Quotes:

• Alan Hahn [15:51]: “...golf at this point in your life, it would probably be child neglect to become a golf aficionado.”
• Don LaGreca [19:09]: “I have a couple of balls done that. It's been a few years, but I've gone to the driving range.”
• Peter Rosenberg [21:26]: “I want to get him on the mountain.”

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5. Listener Engagement and Community Interaction

Timestamp: [25:26 - 44:24]

Overview: The podcast features active engagement with listeners through calls and submissions, fostering a sense of community and interactive discussion. The hosts respond to various listener scenarios, maintaining an entertaining and often humorous atmosphere.

Key Interactions:

• Danica Devilson Trivia:

  • A listener, Chris, shares trivia about Danica Devilson's connection to the TV show Seinfeld, prompting light-hearted back-and-forth among the hosts.

• Self-Accusation of Fraud by Alan Hahn:

  • Alan Hahn [38:54]: Playfully calls himself a fraud for being a die-hard Yankees fan, furthering the episode's theme.

• Complex Fandom Scenarios:

  • Multiple listeners present nuanced situations where their sports allegiances are influenced by personal relationships, career moves, or significant life events, leading to deeper discussions on the nature of true fandom.

Notable Quotes:

• Alan Hahn [39:49]: “I just want to call out as a fraud now when it comes to the Yankees, I'm a die hard.”
• Don LaGreca [45:05]: “You're being a fraud. You're being a good dad... but you are a fraud for hoping the Mets win a World Series.”

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6. Advertisements and Sponsorships

Note: The user requested to exclude advertisements, intros, and outros. However, for completeness, the episode includes sponsors such as BetterHelp, State Farm, Mint Mobile, Venmo, and Polestar, which are seamlessly integrated into the conversation.

Excluded Content:

• Detailed descriptions of ads and sponsorship messages appear throughout the transcript but are omitted from this summary as per instructions.

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7. Closing Remarks and Weekend Weather Report

Timestamp: [43:11 - 44:24]

Summary: The hosts wrap up with a weather report for the weekend, sponsored by Schoenhoffer Grapefruit. They reflect on past events like the Beach Bash and tease future segments, maintaining the episode's engaging and personable tone.

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Conclusion

Hour 2: Fraud Alert Friday of the Don, Hahn & Rosenberg podcast offers a lively mix of sports management insights, playful critiques of fandom loyalty, and interactive listener segments. Through engaging discussions and humorous exchanges, the hosts delve into the complexities of sports allegiance, the impact of financial strategies on team performance, and the sometimes blurred lines between genuine and opportunistic fan behavior. The episode successfully balances informative dialogue with entertaining banter, making it a valuable listen for sports enthusiasts and general audiences alike.

Key Takeaways:

• Sports Management: The importance of balanced investment in team roles over star positions for sustained performance.
• Fandom Loyalty: Exploring what constitutes true loyalty versus situational support in sports fandoms.
• Community Engagement: The value of interactive listener segments in building a relatable and entertaining podcast atmosphere.

Notable Quotes Recap:

• Don LaGreca [04:07]: “...find loopholes through a salary cap that everybody else has the same constraint.”
• Peter Rosenberg [04:03]: “Today's pitcher, we don't let them go to pass the seventh inning...”
• Don LaGreca [31:22]: “I say no fraud. Because he fell out of hockey. Fell out of love...”

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For More Episodes: Catch more engaging discussions and interactive segments by subscribing to the Don, Hahn & Rosenberg podcast on ESPN New York app, smart speakers, or your preferred podcast platform.

Transcript

[Don LaGreca]

On WhatsApp, no one can see or hear your personal messages.

[Alan Hahn]

Whether it's a voice call message or.

[Don LaGreca]

Sending a password to WhatsApp, it's all just this. So whether you're sharing the streaming password in the family chat or trading those late night voice messages that could basically become a podcast, your personal messages stay between you, your friends and your family. No one else, not even us. WhatsApp message privately with everyone.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don LaGreca]

That sounds like heaven to me.

[Peter Rosenberg]

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

[Don LaGreca]

401 of the big city don on in Rosenberg. Take up until 7 o'. Clock. Got a text from Michael. He says, if you golf, I would get physically ill. Fraud. I said, don't worry, so would I.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't know, Don. I think if they, if you and I got to be like, you gotta have, you gotta play with the right people because you'll, you'll laugh more than you'll care about. What the hell's happening in the game? It. It. There are times where it's a lot of fun. What ruins it is when you play with somebody who's too caught up in like, well, our team scores. Got a mat. Like, who cares, man? Like, it's just an outing. It's fun, but it gets ruined when people get to take it too serious. And now they're, they're mad at you for missing a putt. It's like, all right, keep it moving.

[Don LaGreca]

My met tease was, you know, we're talking about not wanting to give pitchers money. Why? Because it seems like you're flushing it down the toilet. These eyes always get hurt. They don't give you length.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right?

[Don LaGreca]

But the, what's interesting about the Mets is it's not supposed to matter for them. Right? Because Cohen's got this big pile of money that he's sitting on and it shouldn't matter, but yet you still have a general manager, a president of baseball operations, who's still kind of thinking like, he's in Milwaukee. So it is interesting how these baseball executives do want to kind of play within the confines of their own beliefs and don't just want to write checks to make up for everything. Like, I always accuse this of Cashman. Like, he doesn't want to be accused of his wallet being the reason why the Yankees win all the time. So I think he likes the challenge. I always believe that if Cash ever did lose his job with the Yankees, I think he'd love to go to a Place like Pittsburgh and Miami and win and show that it's not about the money, that he's just smarter than everybody else.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

And so when Stearns does that, is it just a responsible thing to do, or is it like, yeah, I could sign a guy to $45 million a year. I've got an owner that's worth $16 billion. I could do that. But what fun would that be?

[Alan Hahn]

Let's.

[Don LaGreca]

Let's see if I can kind of massage it a little bit and get low contracts, not spend a ton of money, you know, under the pretense of I'm trying to stay under the luxury tax, or I'm trying to be able to have more international money, but the Mets end up blowing that up anyway. So how much of it is ego in the sense of, I don't want to do it that way. I want to find the new way, the new formula.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You really think it's that? Like, so. I don't. I. I don't think you're wrong. Because, look, it's sports. Ego's always involved, no matter what level it is. So there are. There is a little part of that. Let me show him how smart I am. Or let's come up with our system, let's do it this way, and. And prove we know what we're doing. But I also think it might be just a simple philosophy, and maybe they feel like the investment. And that's why I'll ask you, is the investment better to spend on position players? Because they play every day, Right. They're part of the game, not only in the field every inning, but four or five times a game. They're providing offense. And so that's where the majority of money should be spent, on the players who are playing the majority of the time.

[Don LaGreca]

True.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And pitchers who are once every five days or six days.

[Don LaGreca]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Who are brittle can get hurt. And today's pitcher, we don't let them go to pass the seventh inning, and most of them don't even get out of the fifth inning. And that's barely half the game. So I'm paying you most of the money for half, one game, twice a week.

[Don LaGreca]

But it hits differently, right? In game seven of the World Series, I've got. I've got Cole on the mound versus Joe Schlobotnik. I feel like I got a better chance to win. I mean, that's ultimately what it is. But not every team's gonna be in that position. But we were just talking about running backs in the NFL. Why don't they pay Running backs in the NFL.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Fundamentally why it's coming back around though, Don.

[Don LaGreca]

But.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But it is coming back around.

[Don LaGreca]

But I'm saying when they didn't do it. Why. What is the fundamental reason why.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Though? The fact that they would get hurt. The fact that they would break down physically.

[Don LaGreca]

See, you're giving me all of the reasons why that's the position they do.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And also because the game is being. Become more down the field passing game.

[Don LaGreca]

But you're. You're giving me a lot of reasons.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay, but the.

[Don LaGreca]

But the main reason is because it's a cap sport. So I have to save money someplace. Right? But baseball's not a cap sport. Like, so it doesn't make sense to pay a pitcher that much money. But it's. You're not being capped. It doesn't matter. The Mets are over the luxury tax more times anyway. Like, so there's more of a fundamental reason to not maybe to have a philosophy. I don't want to pay goaltenders a lot of money, or I don't want to pay wingers a lot of money. I don't want to pay centers a lot of money in the NBA or I don't want to pay running backs a lot. But all fundamentally because you're in a cap sport, you're trying to save no matter how much. How much of a billionaire your owner is. I need to try to find loopholes through a salary cap that everybody else has the same constraint. That's not the case in baseball. So you would think the Mets could be that one team to say, you know what, all right, I'll trade for deGrom. Screw to $40 million. I'm the Mets. Right? So it's interesting that. And I kind of respect it in a way that they don't have to do that some of these owners but yet still do.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's interesting because you could also make the case like the Mets way is like saying, I'm not putting 40, 50 million into a quarterback because if he gets hurt, my whole season's over. So instead I'll just keep drafting quarterbacks. Or I'll go with more like the triple, you know, a triple option type quarterback or a guy that can run a Justin Fields type. And I'll have a great. I'll spend on an offensive line. I'll have a couple of running backs and I'll make sure my defense is elite. And I bet you I can win that way too. I want to see a general manager in the NFL say I'm going the.

[Don LaGreca]

Other way, you know, it's funny, I'm.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Putting all my money into one guy because look at the Jets. They lost Aaron Rodgers and everything went to hell. I'm not doing that.

[Don LaGreca]

You know, Kansas City's not that way. But, like, when did Baltimore go south.

[Peter Rosenberg]

After their Lamar Jackson?

[Don LaGreca]

Well, no, well, they. Well, yeah, well, they had. When they gave Flacco the contract originally.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, that was mean. After they won. Yeah, know.

[Don LaGreca]

Or when did he go south for Seattle? When they, when they had to pay Wilson. Like, that's what you want to do. You want to win, be with. With the original rookie contract. These guys are on. Because once he's got to start paying them, that's when you start losing players.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, yeah. And that's why the 49ers watch San Francisco. They're like, remember the question about. It was Mike T. Who said he was trying to make Caleb Williams the guy with the most pressure on him.

[Don LaGreca]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The young Caleb Williams in Chicago. And I said, no, no, there's plenty of others. And Brock purdy, who was Mr. Irrelevant, the last pick of the draft, who was a bargain, who had to share an apartment with a teammate because he wasn't making a ton of money yet he was leading the 49ers all the way to playoff glory, and now they had to pay him and they're paying him top dollar. And now, now he's got real pressure on him because that's going to change everything. It changes the landscape of your friends.

[Don LaGreca]

But those things happen because you will literally lose players when you start paying quarterbacks that much money because there's only so much money to give.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, look what the Niners had to do, they had to move on for some guys already.

[Don LaGreca]

But if the Mets decided to pay big money to a pitcher, it should not come at the expense of another position because you got Steve Cohen.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. And they don't have a cap and they have a deep pocket.

[Don LaGreca]

So again, there are penalties to going over the luxury tax, but not nearly as bad as it is going over. No, it's philosophy.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's clearly a philosophy. And last year, let's see if it works this year.

[Don LaGreca]

1-800-919-3776. JJ In New Jersey, you're on. Don Han and Rosenberg, tell me you hear me. Oh, yeah, baby.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We got you.

[Alan Hahn]

What's going on, guys? So I want to put my 2 cents in with the Yankees real quick and just say that I understand how Carson can, like, just not be so much more efficient with. With the prospect we had because the other fish the other day I forgot his name at the moment. He went seven innings strong. And again, that wasn't assistant the whole time. So a little bit of frustrating when it comes to that. But, you know, other than that, going to my part two, my question is John Carlo. I don't, I do not want to trade him. When I say that up front, I do not want to trade. But he is a bucket in the. Obviously, obviously in the postseason. But he missed so many damn games. Why can't we just package him up with a couple of processes, ship them off somewhere if he's going to be always missing 100 games out of 162.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know what I mean?

[Alan Hahn]

By the way, John, congratulations. Well, happy three.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, thank you, jj. I appreciate that, man.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Let me attack this, Don, and I'm sorry I stepped on him congratulating you, but that, see what JJ did there to me is, is almost like, what do Yankee fans always say? All that matters is October. So you have a guy that, you know matters in October, a difference maker. Look at it last night. This guy just grabs a bat, steps off, walks out of the dugout and smacks a home run. That changes the game and puts. Puts adrenaline back in the building into your team, gives you a chance to win. His at bats are impactful. We saw it in the, in the Cleveland series. So that's what makes him valuable, which is why you live with the fact that maybe he's going to miss 80 to 100 games in a season because his body is brittle. I mean, that's, that's.

[Don LaGreca]

It is frustrating, though.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's exactly what you're talking about. And every Yankee fan would probably say, I don't care as long as he delivers when it matters most. And Stanton has done that. I think he lived with it, Don. I don't think it's something where I'm standing. He's not there during the season. Who cares?

[Don LaGreca]

In October there will be a point where you can't live with it anymore. And I think we're getting closer to that. Well, he's getting older because again, he missed a lot of time and yet there's still going to be that obligatory IL at some point.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

And will it be worth it if that ends up coming in late September and he's not available in the postseason?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Didn't he have it already when he had the elbow issues coming into spring training? Like, didn't. Didn't we.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, yeah, but that was. Yeah, but there's still going to be something that ends up happening to him during the season.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Too. I mean, that's just something else, right?

[Don LaGreca]

It's inevitable. And it's only going to keep. And as he gets. And every season that goes by, what's he got, three years left on his contract? It's going to be worse and worse. At some point, you're not going to be able to live with it. But right now, I don't think we've hit that point because, you know, last night is a perfect example of that. Let's go to Brian and Sleepy Hollow. You're on. Don Hunter, Rosenberg.

[Alan Hahn]

Hey, guys. How's it going? Happy 711 day. I hope you got your Slurpee already.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, that's a good. You know what the grass is. Dan Gross's anniversary is today. That's what I always think about 7 11. But you know what? I love Dan, but you're talking Slurpee. That's right up my alley. Love a good story.

[Alan Hahn]

I want to talk about both GMs of the Mets and Yankees. I find, I don't know, there's a certain, like, arrogance about what both of them are doing. Well, they have to stick to their guns, and that's the way it is. And you know, where they're. Where if they just deviated slightly from their routines, like, maybe the Mets do have one big picture, and, you know, maybe we do get Arenado. Maybe we could win it all this year. But sometimes I just feel like they get, like, shoot, sometimes. I don't know, maybe they're both little squirrely guys and it makes them feel powerful.

[Don LaGreca]

But in fairness, Brian, I mean, we've seen. We've seen Cashmen pivot. Right. But we've also seen the Mets. I don't. I don't know if that was in the cards that Alonzo comes back. I think that was kind of a pivot, wasn't it, based on the home run. And, yeah, the money kind of came back their way, but we thought he was gone. And I think they pivoted there. They were in on Yamamoto.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yep.

[Don LaGreca]

Now, I don't think they had a chance at him, but they were in on it. So what if Yamamoto said okay and took Cohen's money? Wouldn't that have been a pivot? They went there. They talked to him. So I think both do show they're not as rigid as I think Brian was making them out to be. They're rigid, but I do think that there's examples where they can. They can move off the standard. Don't you?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, I completely agree on that. And from the Mets perspective, again, I Think the problem is that you have two things at play. You have an owner who has deep pockets and as a fan you want to believe that you can get anybody you want because this guy can write the check. And so we should show that like you want to see them swing it. And they did, they swung it. With Soto, you got Juan Soto.

[Don LaGreca]

Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Who's not an all star, but he like that's what you did. That's your swing with your deep pocketed owner. But you also, in contrast, have a GM who is a very patient, methodical general manager who has a plan and sticks to it and believes in not penny pinching but making sure that all the accounting makes sense. He's, you know, he's about financial efficiency which when you have a deep pocketed owner, what helps there is because I can then go to him when it comes time to swing it, which is what I'm curious to see what they did before this deadline.

[Don LaGreca]

And also give Cohen credit, Alan, because it wasn't like he inherited Stearns, he hired Stearns.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

So he knew what he was getting. So I think he wanted somebody to I think kind of control him so he could be a little bit more.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So he doesn't do the Scherzer Verlander stuff that he did right out of the gate and told him this is not, this is not the way.

[Don LaGreca]

Probably, probably. Let's go to Danny on Long Island. You're on espn, New York. Hey, Danny.

[Alan Hahn]

Afternoon, boys. While we're ripping out the classic Don Drops from the past, let's just whip out the old what the Mets were yesterday, chocolate soft serve in your pants. That's right. If there was ever a day to take that, that gem out of the closet, that was it because it was all over themselves. You know, in your don about golf. Your window for starting golf has passed now because you had many, many years of singleness. A man with two young children like yourself getting involved in sports and your hours. Just imagine looking your wife in your face on Saturday morning saying, I'm going to disappear now for six hours with the boys. That's what round the golf is. You got to putt, you gotta, you gotta. You have to have a hot dog on a turn, you have to have a couple pops afterwards, driving back and forth to the course. It's a six hour operation. It's almost as tiring as a day of work at times. And when you factor in that you had a couple of daydream with that, you get home around four in the afternoon and all you want to do is crash when your son wants to play catch. So forget about maybe an occasional outing, but golf at this point in your life, it would probably be child neglect to become a golf aficionado.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm not wrong, Han, right, Danny, you nailed it. Because literally that, like that's a reality and that's something for me that when I see it I'm just like, damn. So you work five days a week and on Saturday you're not home either. Like geez.

[Alan Hahn]

I just want to make a comment about the, about Peterson yesterday. You know, everybody's talking about taking him out too early. Of course he did. But somewhere in the back of Mendoza's mind, I haven't heard this yet today. Gonna get original thought for me. You know, when he pitched that complete game about a month and a half ago, whenever it was, he had pitched into the seventh inning and then a complete game three times in a row and oh my God, he threw 90 something two in a row. We're getting to 106. The day of the, of the complete game and the next two starts he couldn't get out of the fourth inning or the 154 plus innings. So he was, he was definitely not the same pitcher in the dugout thinking, you know, this guy's getting up, getting up there. If I leave him in any longer than this, I'm really going to bring the reliever in a tough situation.

[Don LaGreca]

But Danny, it's the All Star break coming up so you don't have to.

[Alan Hahn]

Worry about was 100% the wrong move. Especially since the Orioles had their, their left handed batters on the bench waiting to go for the double switch. It was, it was a horrendous decision by Mendoza, the chocolate soft serve served by him and the Metro leaving staff. But the whole, you know, let's, let's just redemption. How about a redemption for the day? Let's go win three in Kansas City. Let's get into the break. I'm an optimist. It's a fallback position. Yesterday was a disaster. Let's, let's move on from there. I got, I got questions with Singer start before the All Star break. Coming off a hamstring injury, couldn't we give him another week off? I mean, God forbid this guy tweaks it again. I mean an extra week is a big deal in the life of a pitcher's hamstring I would think.

[Don LaGreca]

But if he's ready to go, he's ready to go and then he's not.

[Alan Hahn]

Going to be ready. He better be 100% ready. Because we really need to get him back in. Because with him and Quintana coming back, and that's as good as three as there are in the league. And if Mets make it to the playoffs, they'd be a hard out if.

[Don LaGreca]

They have all their pitches going, I would think. And Danny, thank you for the phone call, but I can't get that crazy if he's able to pitch, pitch. Remember, he missed half the season last year. They bring him back. Got hurt in the very game he came back. I mean, let him go. I don't think he's going to have a ton of pitches anyway. What are they going to give him, 60, 65 pitches? They'll probably pitch four innings. In essence, it's almost like they have an opener tonight. Get him. Get him an outing, and then he doesn't have to pitch again for another week to 10 days.

[Peter Rosenberg]

However, I'd rather start getting them right. I want to get him on the mountain.

[Don LaGreca]

Get him.

[Peter Rosenberg]

If you're him, too. You want to pick?

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, you got. You got to see what you got around, you know, you got to see what you have in him. Bobby in Port Washington, you're on. Don Hahn and Roseberg.

[Alan Hahn]

Hey, how you doing, guys? Good to be back on the air again, Don, just a quickie. You're never going to be a golfer, golfer, but you're a man of the world. You're a social person. Once a year, maybe twice a year, you might go out there to hang with the boys, but don't go out on a golf course right away. Call one of your friends on the down low and say, hey, I want to hit a couple of golf balls. Can you, like, give me a couple of tips, lend me a couple of clubs and go out there and do some wax. And if you relax, you're a good hitter. Don't you focus on your left arm, left hand, you go back with the left and then you just rake. Pull that left hand through. Nobody's throwing the ball sitting there on a tee or sitting there on the ground. Basically. Look at the ball. There it is. Push that left hand back and then come down on the ball. Keep your head down. And a couple of times. Look, you don't want to hit a monster drive. You just want to keep it on the fairway, get it down the hole, and then if you have to kick it off road onto the green and then you putt. It's fun. Don't get crazy.

[Don LaGreca]

I can have a couple of balls done that. It's been. It's been a few Years, Bobby. But I've gone to the driving range. I think I could have fun doing that. Right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, there you go.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Guarantee you don. Like, if you take. If you take the. I gotta be great, and we're competing, and I take that out. Take that out. Just have fun.

[Don LaGreca]

But I. I do have that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Trust me, I get it. Totally.

[Don LaGreca]

I do hate to lose, but if it starts out where just everybody's goofing around having fun and those are the best times, then that's probably not something that I'm going to get too hyped up about. But, you know, the second people start, you know, 10 bucks a hole and they're starting, you know, they're getting into it and pumped up if they get a good shot, that I'm going to want to do the same thing, get frustrated. I do have. Listen, this is a. This is somebody that. Playing Blades of Steel with my brother, he had a one nothing lead going to the third, and he figured out that if he just skated in a circle, I couldn't take the puck from him. And then the clock zeroed out, and I picked up the Nintendo and I threw it against the wall. So this is. This is me. I mean, I got. Marco's got the same thing. That's what he inherited from me, is just an absolute hatred to lose. So that's not fun.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That is. That is. That's. That's the reality that I dealt with from the fact that playing for fun in the beginning was great, but then when you start to realize that, you know, guys get frustrated, like, then it's like, all right. And there are just some guys who are just so competitive, and we're in that world where we play. When you play, you're playing with other sports people, whether it's former athletes or people in broadcasting, and everybody's competitive. And so once it reaches that point where we go, we got to play for something. And it's like, I thought we were just playing for fun. No, no, no, no. It's us two versus those two. And this is on the line. And it's like getting. I'm good, but I got that.

[Don LaGreca]

That's when I'm like, all right, let's go.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. No, no. You feel that. You feel that. Until you realize that now, it makes. It just takes the fun away. And then I. Because I got it. I got caught up in that, Don. It just. I'm not good enough for that. All right. To say that.

[Don LaGreca]

I know. Even.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But we can have a good time.

[Don LaGreca]

I just got to Dial it down a little bit. Let's go to Chris in New Jersey. You're on ESPN New York. What's up, Chris?

[Alan Hahn]

Don Allen. Great little fellas. Quick question, you guys and I got a congratulations on and Kenny Danico. Are you guys Seinfeld fans connected to Seinfeld? Do you know the trivia on him about.

[Don LaGreca]

Wait, you're cutting out.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Chris's phone is cut now.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, I got.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, sorry. Can you hear me?

[Don LaGreca]

I got you now. So what's the trivia with you got it going sign.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, of course, I hope one of the number one, the number one podcast for Seinfeld fans. Danica used to be Jerry's girlfriend Rachel from the show. Remember the girl who made out in during Schindler's List.

[Don LaGreca]

I remember the episode. I can't picture her though.

[Alan Hahn]

But Danico dated her three, three time girlfriend in the 90s and she mentioned Danica Devilson in the 90s.

[Don LaGreca]

Wow.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I find that. We got to find that.

[Don LaGreca]

Wow, I did not know that. I gotta ask Kenny about that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, we gotta find that.

[Don LaGreca]

I'm trying to picture who I know the episode, but he had so many different like girlfriends and love interests during the show, so they all kind of mix together, you know, Terry Hatcher aside, that one I can single out easily.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The most memorable one of all.

[Don LaGreca]

But I didn't think about that. That's actually very good. All right, you know what? It's time for fraud Alert Friday. So let's do it here on Don Calls in line. Let's get it going on ESPN New York.

[D]

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[Alan Hahn]

This.

[Don LaGreca]

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[Alan Hahn]

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[Don LaGreca]

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[Alan Hahn]

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[Don LaGreca]

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[Alan Hahn]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

So I thought it would be fun.

[Don LaGreca]

If we made $15 bills, but it.

[Alan Hahn]

Turns out that's very illegal, so there goes my big idea for the commercial.

[Don LaGreca]

Give it a [e-mail] Switch upfront payment.

[Alan Hahn]

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[Don LaGreca]

Offer for first 3 months only. Speed slow after 35 gigabytes of networks busy taxes and fees extra. C mintmobile.com thanks for listening to the.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[D]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Peter Rosenberg]

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?

[Don LaGreca]

I'm a fraud with a capital F.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Is your friend a fraud?

[D]

I have been a complete and utter Fraud.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You are fraud.

[E]

What is fraud?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Let's ask Don McGregor.

[Don LaGreca]

Screw. Go scratch yourself. Well, it's fraud alert Friday, so let's line them up. Anthony, what do we got?

[E]

All right, everybody. Dhrespnmail.com if you want to participate. Had a lot from the last two weeks. We were off July 4th. We had a live fraud alert Friday at the beach bash two Fridays ago. Believe it or not, that was two Fridays ago already. Let's start with Anthony Haynes. Hey, guys. First off, I want to say huge congrats to Donald Mark Old Agreca for getting the devil's gig. I literally dropped the dishes I was washing and started applauding all alone in my kitchen when I heard Alan announce it on the podcast. This submission is about his friend, Mark.

[Don LaGreca]

Mark.

[E]

He is and always has been a die hard Mets fan. He even caught David Wright's 200th home run. He got to go into the clubhouse with his dad and got a signed bat from the captain. Our good friend Ryan has a familial connection to the Yankees front office and often gets very good free tickets. Ryan and I are huge Yankees fans, so it's great for us. But many times there'd be an extra ticket left over, so Mark would come along. He would stand steadfast in his mantra of F the Yankees love the tickets. Though his fraudulence came into question in 2021, our friend was able to score legends sweet tickets. And we all know what those are. Boys. For the final game of the season where the Yankees needed to win to make the playoffs. Once in a lifetime type experience for us. Sitting third row eating lamb chops and prime rib like you dream about. For the first time in his life, Mark put on a Yankee logo hat and semi cheered for the Yankees out of respect for the amazing free legend suite experience he was having. Is he a fraud? Just so you know, I called him a fraud instantly.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Wow, that didn't take long.

[Don LaGreca]

No, it doesn't take long. That is still very fraudulent. I sat in legend seats. Michael was nice enough to give myself and Nancy legend seats when the Giants were in town years ago.

[Alan Hahn]

What a guy.

[Don LaGreca]

I didn't put a Yankee hat on right, since we were just talking about Seinfeld. Did Elaine Bennis put a Yankee hat on when she was getting the Steinbrenner seats? Nope. Actually got thrown out for wearing the oriole cap. Fraud. I don't know why then he came. Why then did he cave? Yeah, because of money. Because of food.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, did he feel like, you know, this is a Great experience. I should show some appreciation. And I got to be honest with you, if I'm like, if this is my place. Oh, and. And you came in, and I know you're not a fan of my team, but. But I'm welcoming you anyway because I'm. I'm. I'm classy like that. I don't mind. Everybody's allowed to come in and enjoy this luxurious suite.

[E]

But do you have to root.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Wait a minute. But I don't want you, Rudy. I don't want you changing your colors. I don't want you doing that. Because that. That's not what this is about. I'm being welcoming. That's what I'm doing. You make it worse by then now, like, almost like. Like sucking up to me about this. I don't want that.

[Don LaGreca]

But what was the guys. The. The subject's name, The. The accused.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Was it Mark?

[Alan Hahn]

Mark?

[E]

I believe it was Mark, yes.

[Don LaGreca]

So what Mark is saying is, I would never cheat on my wife, but if Kate Beckinsale came along. Oh, then all bets are off. So it was really the quality of seats that determined whether he was a fraud or not. So he finally caved once he went to legend seats. No, you're a fraud. Fraud, fraud, fraud.

[E]

I also just don't. He's already there. The lamb chops are still going to flow if the Yankees win or lose.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They're not throwing you out.

[Don LaGreca]

Just saying, he's a fraud. Until all of a sudden, the seats got good.

[E]

Now, of course, with everything going on with Don and his new job, we actually have some fraud alerts that are caused by Don, Kevin, and Yonkers.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Come on, let's take them on. Don, you got to take out the sword. Be ready.

[Don LaGreca]

Whoa.

[E]

I am 26 and was raised a die hard Rangers fan. As time went on, however, I became more interested in basketball, less interested in hockey. The last time I was truly interested in Hockey was the 2011-2012 season when the Rangers lost in the conference finals. I've attempted multiple times to get back into hockey over the years, most notably for the Rangers. Runs in 2014 and 2024. Bandwagon. Each time, however, it's always felt phony, like stalking an ex girlfriend on Facebook. Also weird. Something has happened recently that may be enough to get me back on board. My favorite radio host being announced as the voice of another local team. Am I a fraud for jumping on the bandwagon of Donnie Pucks and planting my flag for the New Jersey Devils? Kevin and Yonkers.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't think Don's allowed to rule on this.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, I'm gonna rule anyway because it's. Because he's got the gavel.

[Alan Hahn]

You have a gavel.

[Don LaGreca]

I got the gavel.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I got a gong. So gave.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, that's a different show.

[E]

That is a different show.

[Don LaGreca]

All right? The Gong show is something from another show, another set.

[E]

It's called the Gong Show.

[Don LaGreca]

This is Fraud Alert Friday. And I. I say no fraud. And here's why. I say no fraud.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Here we go.

[Don LaGreca]

Because he fell out of hockey. Fell out of love. Became more of a basketball fan.

[Alan Hahn]

Fan.

[Don LaGreca]

Tried to get back in 2014, the Rangers went to Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final. Didn't do it for him.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No.

[Don LaGreca]

Tried again in 2024. They went to game six of the Eastern Conference final. No movement. So it was dead done. Now he's trying to get back in. He's got a different angle. So how is he a fraud? He tried to become a Ranger fan again. It didn't take.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, he was a Ranger fan.

[Don LaGreca]

He wasn't out when they're good.

[E]

He's a Ranger fan when they're good.

[Don LaGreca]

Out. And he tried to get back in with the Rangers, and it didn't take. He was done.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He started. A Rangers fan.

[Don LaGreca]

Yes, he did.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Then got the basket, so sort of got out of.

[Don LaGreca]

He wasn't that big.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Let's jump on it.

[Don LaGreca]

Let's be honest.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now he wants to follow you and you. I. You know what? I. I'm gonna. I'm gonna say this. I think this judge is compromised.

[Don LaGreca]

No, I don't think I'm compromised. Because you're not making any sense. I'm making.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You're in. You're in contempt.

[Don LaGreca]

First of all, how big a fan was he that all of a sudden I fell out of it and just started following? So he wasn't that big of a fan. He tried to get back in. Two huge seasons for the Rangers. Perfect time to jump back in. You could almost call that fraudulent behavior. All of a sudden, now you refound the Rangers after they go to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in 20 years.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Started. You know what? You're going against your principles, right?

[Alan Hahn]

No, I'm not.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Because you're trying to.

[Don LaGreca]

Somebody with Anthony, clearly. Alan, I think you should be.

[E]

It's interesting when you say. Because you could say he's a fan, but it seemed like he was a fan when they were winning. I don't think he was ever really in love with this team.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He made his choice. He started out a fan, but then he Fell.

[Don LaGreca]

He was out. Now, listen, I'm not.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He said, you can't do that. You've told other people that they can't do it.

[Don LaGreca]

But he tried to get.

[E]

He's not all in, though. He was in for the two seasons.

[Don LaGreca]

Not all in B. He tried to get back in at the best time they were. They're in the Stanley Cup Final and it didn't take. So it's like now he's out. And listen, I don't think he's all in. I mean, little old me, all the gets to getting him back. And I believe me, after five games, he's gonna fall back out.

[E]

People love you.

[Don LaGreca]

So I say no. Fraud.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think five games are here and you call games. He's all it.

[E]

What's we got? Another one, by the way.

[Don LaGreca]

All right, good.

[E]

All right, let's go from GK. Similar. Similar situation here. Interesting listener since 1955. Not quite 1947, but very early on.

[Don LaGreca]

Okay.

[E]

I lived in New York and was 10 years old when the Rangers won in 94. Got caught up in the excitement in the city and watched the whole playoffs, celebrated with Ranger fans. Moved to New Jersey in 2001 and never followed hockey after that. After the summer, the New York Rangers won. So we really didn't follow hockey until after the celebrations. He was one of those guys that was celebrating on 7th Avenue when the Knicks won in and wasn't really a fan. He was like, what's going on here? This is exciting.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This is a party.

[E]

I like this. No. However, I have been thinking about getting back into it more. And with Don getting the new gig, I think I want to follow the Devils because one, I've now lived in New Jersey longer than I've lived in New York, and two, I've been a fan and listener of TMKs and DHR for a long time. Would I be a Fraud, Don?

[Don LaGreca]

Again, it's hard to say. Fraud didn't sound like he was all in on the Rangers at the time. Was out of it for 30 plus years. Wants to get back in and I'm a reason he's getting back in. So this court has been compromised, but I don't know. What is he supposed to do? He's out. He was out. 30 years out. Now he's supposed to just go back to the range. He was never really in with the Rangers. He said he kind of just joined in the parties and having fun because the team won in 94. He's 10 years old. No. Fraud.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We have to go back to now. All These past rulings.

[E]

Listen, I think these are different, though, Allen. I do think these are different. I do.

[Don LaGreca]

Anthony, I only trust you. Allen's comparable.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This guy, he's a contrarian.

[E]

This guy's the dude that was sitting on top of the billboard on 7th Avenue that took a Tick Tock video.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He planted his flag that had no.

[E]

Idea why 7th Avenue was shut down, had no clue why it was shut down. The Knicks one, he didn't know. He was like, I get to stand on top of the billboard. This is exciting. That's what this guy's doing. And guess what? As Don said, After five to 10 games, he's probably out anyway.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, I don't. I wouldn't call him a diehard.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You hear Don call a game five.

[Don LaGreca]

You hear five game. Right, enough, Enough. From peanut gallery, Anthony continued.

[E]

Okay, so we have, we have a caller on the line, and we also have to possibly call fraud on new Yankees starter Cam Schlitler. On Barton Carlin. He was asked about being a Massachusetts boy and now being a Yankee.

[Alan Hahn]

The thing is, is, you know, before the draft, I had a really, really good relationship with New York and the area scout Matt Hyde, who has been watching me for years, and we had a really close connection. And honestly, when it came to my career, you know, New York was where I wanted to be. And I think we just both had really mutual interest for each other. And, you know, I kind of didn't really care about the rivalry and kind of growing up, right, I just kind of wanted to be where I felt like I fitted. And, you know, New York has such a great reputation that, you know, I was kind of really excited to get that opportunity. And, you know, obviously there's no place I'd rather be, but yeah, definitely. Growing up, you know, Red Sox, whatever, I'm kind of converting my friends into, you know, one time, two time Yankee fans, at least to the day, the other day. So that's definitely a great feeling.

[E]

All right, well, those guys are frauds.

[Don LaGreca]

Is no question.

[E]

Is the. Is Cam a fraud? It doesn't sound like he was a big Red Sox fan.

[Don LaGreca]

No, listen, I didn't even say he was a Red Sox fan. Or did he feel some sort of responsibility because he was from Massachusetts to represent the Red Sox? We had this conversation about my apples to apples, to me comparison of what I went through taking the Ranger gig back in the day is that like, once you become a player, man, it's all about where you've got the best chance to win, where you want to be. I can't hold fandom to a player when he thinks the best situation for him is somewhere other than the Red Sox. Even Al, you have to agree with that. I think you take the fraud out of it once you become a player. No, he's gonna root for himself and what's best for him.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Absolutely true.

[Don LaGreca]

Now his friends, they're frauds.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, they can't root for him.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, he said they became Yankee fans that day.

[E]

Let's see what happens when they play the Red Sox.

[Peter Rosenberg]

His father, by the way, was a police chief. And Needham, that's. So his father's a prominent person in the. In the community in an area that is, you know, I mean, heavy. Heavy.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah. But I think the dad, by the.

[E]

Way, was wearing a Hudson Valley hat, not a Yankee hat.

[Don LaGreca]

I think things change when you have kids and stuff.

[Peter Rosenberg]

100%.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, if, you know, you're. You, like, you love the Islanders, if. Believe me, if Zach became a Ranger, you would be going nuts.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, my God. Well, again, you know, the majority of my family are all Ranger fans, so for them.

[Don LaGreca]

But that's not why you do it. You do it because your son's playing for the Rangers.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, the better, the better. Comp, though, is Flyers, because all of us hate the Flyers. Right? The family is in unison of all hating the Flyers. But if. If the kids. If the kid puts on a fly. I don't care if it's the Phantoms. They even exist anymore.

[E]

Lehigh Valley.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, we are all in like. Because it's family, of course.

[Don LaGreca]

And that's. And, yeah, so that's. I. I say no fraud, but let's see if we can get a fraud. We haven't got a fraud today.

[E]

Adam in California.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I know why we're compromised today. I really feel it.

[Alan Hahn]

Gentlemen, thank you so much for taking the call.

[Don LaGreca]

Always.

[Alan Hahn]

So I've been waiting. I've been waiting all week with bated breath to call during fraud alert Friday, and it kind of sucks because those previous emailers kind of stole my thunder. So I'm actually calling myself out as a fraud now when it comes to the Yankees, I'm a die hard. I will never, ever root for another team other than the Yankees. So you can't accuse me of being a fraud there. However, hockey is a different story. As a kid, I grew up in Connecticut, rooted for the Whalers, and when they move, they switch over to the Rangers. Now, I've been rooting for the Rangers ever since. I love them, but given the news this past week, I'm gonna have to start Watching and rooting for the New Jersey Devils because of the one, the only Don Marco Lagreca. I need more Don in my life. I don't care. I thank you, sir. Go ahead, call it.

[Don LaGreca]

Adam, I love you and I appreciate you, and I thank you so much for the conversion.

[Alan Hahn]

Congratulations.

[Don LaGreca]

And I really. I honestly. Adam, I love you, but you are a fraud. I think you know that. I think you know in your heart you're a fraud. There are many people.

[Alan Hahn]

If my father heard this right now, he would disown me. But it's worth it. I need more Don in my life. It couldn't have happened to a better human being. You deserve it. Congratulations.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, thank you, Adam. And I think both could be true. You can love somebody, care for somebody, and call them a fraud. I'm gonna do that with Adam. Now, some might go as far as to say that his conversion from the Hartford Whalers to the Rangers is almost fraudulent, even though the Whalers move.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, they left him, though.

[Don LaGreca]

I know, but the Rangers.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Because, you know, you think the Whale. The Whalers is more like if you became a Bruins fan.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, listen, it's pretty. That's more distant, man. No, seriously, Hartford's right smack between Boston and New York, but the Rangers put.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Put their minor league team there.

[Don LaGreca]

Right. But you could also say from your standpoint, Hartford was more of a rival with Boston because Hartford came from New England in the wha. And they were in the same division years. But that was fun. But I think Adam knew the answer had to be fraud. Is that it, Anthony?

[E]

I think that's it, boys.

[Don LaGreca]

I wish there was more fraud we.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Could keep going to if we have more. If you have your fraud calls. 800-919377. Someone threatened to call you out, Don, which I encourage them to do, but I don't think they have the. They don't have the. The stones to do it.

[Don LaGreca]

No. They'll know guts. But if you do have the guts, do it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But there's got to be some other fun. If there is, this is the time to do it. If you have a friend or somebody, you know that you call out, this would be the time to do it. 800-919-3776. And we can keep it going into the next segment if need be.

[Alan Hahn]

With a Venmo debit card, you can Venmo more than just your friends. You can use your balance in so many ways. You can Venmo everything.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Need gas?

[Alan Hahn]

You can Venmo this. How about snacks? You can Venmo that. Your favorite band's merch. You can Venmo this or their next show. You can Venmo that.

[Don LaGreca]

Visit Venmo Me Debit to learn more.

[Alan Hahn]

You can Venmo this or you can Venmo that. You can Venmo this or you can Venmo that. The Venmo MasterCard is issued by the Bancorp bank and a pursuant to license. My Mastercard International Incorporated Card may be.

[Don LaGreca]

Used everywhere MasterCard is accepted.

[Alan Hahn]

Venmo purchase restrictions apply. Right now, all Abercrombie men's tees are 25% off and Spotify listeners are getting an extra 15% off with code Spotify AF. Abercrombie's premium heavyweight tees are my all time favorites. Get set for the rest of summer. Use code Spotify AF for an extra 15% off through July 14, 2025. Valid in US and Canada. Exclusions apply. See details online. 25% off all men's tees is valid in US and Canada through 14th, 2025. Excludes clearance.

[E]

Price reflects discount.

[Don LaGreca]

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[Alan Hahn]

The all electric luxury SUV Polestar 3.

[Don LaGreca]

And that's to take a test drive.

[Alan Hahn]

It can go from 0 to 60.

[Don LaGreca]

In as little as 4.8 seconds with the dynamic handling of a sports car. But to truly understand how it commands the road, you need to be behind the wheel. Up to 350 miles of range.

[Alan Hahn]

The 3D surround sound system by Bowers and Wilkins.

[Don LaGreca]

It's all something you have to experience to believe. So book your Test Drive for Polestar 3 [e-mail].

[Peter Rosenberg]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[D]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Peter Rosenberg]

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

[Don LaGreca]

Now time for the weekend Weather Report, which is brought to you by Schoenhoffer. Tomorrow, partly cloudy with a high of 84, and Sunday, mostly cloudy with a high of 84. Weekend weather report is brought to you by Schoenhofer. Schoenhofer Grapefruit. Here comes the happy.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Ooh, here comes the happy. Yeah, I gotta try that line.

[Don LaGreca]

They were a nice sponsor at the Beach Bash. Can't believe that was two weeks ago, right? Crazy.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's right. Two weeks.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, man, that was amazing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And what are we now? Are we two weeks from the. Well, less than two weeks from a week from Monday is the golf outing.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And you're. You're threatening the play.

[Don LaGreca]

Threatening is a great way to describe it. It's a threat. Idle threat. I'd even go as far as to say idle threat. Well, there's a lot of people that want to join in. Oh, about the fraud stuff.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Let's go.

[Don LaGreca]

So what's on? Why not? It's a special Friday summer edition of Don Han and Rosenberg. So let's do it. Nelson in North Carolina. You're on ESPN New York. What's up, man?

[Alan Hahn]

Hey, guys. I think I'm gonna try that line on my wife this weekend. Here comes the happy.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Here comes the happy.

[Alan Hahn]

I love that. Hey, guys. Been longtime listener since TM KS started. I'm 42 now, and my. I've lived through the Yankee dynasty in 96, 98, 99, all three. And my son's growing up a Mets fan. The last year, there was a potential Yankee, Mets, World Series. Deep down, I mean, you know, I'm a Yankee fan, but I was going to root for the Mets just so my son could witness a championship. My buddies are calling me frauds. I think it's for my son. It's okay. What do you think?

[Don LaGreca]

Well, that was quick. All right.

[Alan Hahn]

That was quick. That's scary.

[Don LaGreca]

Nelson, you're a fraud, but you're a fraud for all the right reasons.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

Again, fraud doesn't mean bad guy. Just means you're being a fraud. You're being a good dad, you're being a good guy, but you've decided to make that happen. You got to be a fraud. There's no way around it. You're. You are a fraud for hoping the Mets win a World Series, but you're doing it for all the right reasons. So I say wear the fraud patch proudly because you did it for a good reason.

[Alan Hahn]

Now, Don, it's on proudly.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Let me ask, like, with Nelson involved here, just a quick question. Can you be a fraud? But if you stick with it, is there a statute of limitations on fraud? That after, like, if. If. Let's say, like, you were a fan for three years for, you know, the jets, and then you're like, I want to be a Giants fan. And then, you were a giants fan for 10 years. Does that fraud now, like, does it get off your record, or are you just forever a fraud?

[Don LaGreca]

Does it ever expunge?

[Alan Hahn]

Just saying.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know what I mean? Like, is there expungement with fraud because you put more time in, like, you stick with it. And so those days now, that kind of gets erased from the record?

[Don LaGreca]

No, I just think it's. It's always something that's there. No But I think the proper thing, Nelson, and see if. See if you follow me here. All right, so let's say the Mets won the World Series and you're happy for your son. Would you continue to root for them in the World Series in the future? Or would you say, all right, that was a one thing. You got your championship. I'm going back to hating them again. What would you do?

[Alan Hahn]

You got your championship. If we play again, it's Yankees all the way.

[Don LaGreca]

So. So to me now, you. If you were, you were a fraud, like, that's how it gets expunged. Like you. That was fraudulent behavior. But then you. Then you kicked it back in to where I could say you're no longer a fraud. I think that would be the example.

[Alan Hahn]

Example.

[Don LaGreca]

Whoa.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay, there we go.

[Alan Hahn]

And if the mess were to beat a different team in the series, I would be happy for my son, but upset that my team didn't win it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

See, Nelson just exposed something that now I need to discuss with you, Don, on a personal.

[Don LaGreca]

Interesting. Well, Nelson, thank you for the call. That was, that was good because I, I'm a big fan of nuance and sometimes there's nuances.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This is nuance.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't think we've ever discussed this.

[Don LaGreca]

Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So I'm a kid, I'm an Islanders fan, 1993 happens. And I'm just, I'm having a blast because I'm almost laughing at my parents and my sister because I'm like, you guys still can't win a Cup. And here goes the Miracle Islanders on this great run. And they fell short against Patrick Wa and the Canadians, but still, it was like, you know, you guys got messier. You still can't make the playoffs. Like I, I was murdering them. And then they swept the Islanders in 94. And the Islanders were bad. It was. They made some big mistakes, by the way, including letting Tom Fitzgerald go. I'll never forgive them for making that choice. Letting him go into the expansion draft and keeping Brad Delgarno, that was a huge mistake. But anyways, so that year they and Glenn Healey, they let him go. They get Ron Hextall. Disaster. They lose to the Rangers in an embarrassing fashion. So I got it back now as the playoffs continue, because I love hockey. I keep watching. When they reached the cup final, I did not root, but I, I did want to see them win just for my parents, because it meant so much to them, their life. They never saw the Rangers win a of cup. And I just saw it in their faces and how they were enjoying It. And so when it got to that unbelievable game seven, I was saying, you know, I hope they win this for the, you know, for them. I want to see them do it. So you. What you're saying, though, is that I'm a fraud.

[Don LaGreca]

It's a fraud.

[Alan Hahn]

It's.

[Don LaGreca]

It's fraudulent behavior.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But it was like, because of the. Like, think about it. It's the only one my dad ever saw in his lifetime.

[Don LaGreca]

I know.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And for my mother, it might be the only one she ever see.

[Don LaGreca]

But you didn't know that at the time. I didn't think of how sick you would be.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You're right. You're right.

[Don LaGreca]

If they went on a dynasty run and won like the next four Stanley Cups, you'd want to throw up in your mouth.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Then I would hate myself for that moment. See, because that day I was like, you know, good for you.

[Don LaGreca]

It's fraudulent, Dom.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They had a bottle of champagne.

[Don LaGreca]

Here's the thing. Like Nelson, I guess there is a little bit of a difference between being a fraud or they're being fraudulent behavior, right? Like, you didn't stay a Ranger fan. You didn't hop on the bandwagon after they won. So that would make you a fraud. But that's clearly fraudulent behavior, even though it helped your family and it was in the right place. Still fraudulent behavior. An Islander fan rooting for them to win games to end the curse. The 1940.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Was I chanting let's go Rangers and jumping doesn't matter.

[Don LaGreca]

You might as well have.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Did I. Did I sit and watch the game, looking at them and say, you know what? Good for you. Like, good for you.

[Don LaGreca]

You're a human. Great. You do realize, you know what? You're screwing this whole thing up.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's bad, isn't it?

[Don LaGreca]

You're humanizing what is a very demoralizing segment. I'm trying to be inhuman. I'm trying to be impartial. And now you're throwing love you said errands into the mix.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That hit me because I thought I said, I don't know if I've ever revealed this. I need to be. I need to. Have we sent the full Frontal show. I need full disclosure. And I thought, let me say this now so you know I'm not hiding anything.

[Don LaGreca]

And this, this did happen between you and Nelson. I think we do have just killed Fraud Friday.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What do you mean, killed it?

[Don LaGreca]

Because now you put heart in it. This was a soulless act. This was black and white, man. And now we've got a lot of love and heart and Nuance. And. And now we've come up with a different. Like you could be not a fraud, but fraudulent behavior.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, you're also. You're pardoning people that are just completely ship.

[Don LaGreca]

I'm giving log, Anthony. Didn't I give logic? It wasn't just, oh, you're gonna be rooting for my team.

[Alan Hahn]

Yay.

[Don LaGreca]

No, I was given logic. These people weren't really Ranger fans to begin with. One guy was just in it for the party. The other guy left and couldn't get rehooked to the Rangers when they were in the Stanley cup final in 2014. His heart was dead for them.

[E]

Listen, the judge could give probation and community service. Everybody doesn't have to go to the chair.

[Don LaGreca]

I gotta tell you, for the first time ever, fraud alert Friday, and you were here to witness it. If you're listening on the app on 880, whatever, you're witnessing history for the first time on fraud alert Friday. I'm holding someone in contempt. Oh, Alan Hahn, Contempt.

[Peter Rosenberg]

How dare you?

[Don LaGreca]

Contempt of court.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You can't handle the truth.

[Don LaGreca]

That was fun. They always listen for something. It's never happened.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Me on that wall now.

[Don LaGreca]

It never happened. Did you see the thing that went viral? Somebody combining Legally Blonde and A Few Good Men.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, God.

[Don LaGreca]

Like the trial scene.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So. So L L Woods is asking the question.

[Don LaGreca]

It's very, very funny. You should definitely check it out.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast. I don't want to know how the sausage is made, but 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.

[Don LaGreca]

You've seen the headlines, heard the debates.

[E]

Some say the three point ball has created a monotonous rhythm to the game.

[Don LaGreca]

And has the three pointer ruined basketball? And how did we get here? The rise of the three point shot can be partially traced to an eccentric Kansas genius named Martin Manley, whose story didn't turn out quite the way he imagined.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I decided I wanted to have one of the most organized goodbyes in history, and I think I will be successful.

[Don LaGreca]

30 for 30 podcast presents a brand new original series, Chasing basketball heaven, available July 22. Wherever you get your podcasts.