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This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
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That sounds like heaven to me.
A
Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers. All right, 403 in the big city on a football Friday. On a Friday in New York City. As we are all kind of like batting down the hatches, preparing for, by the way, tomorrow, you know, the snow probably coming, what, overnight Saturday expected into Sunday. Right. We're going to get Rich Hoffman on later. He's going to give us the very latest in the New York area. But I mean, you talk about 9 degrees is the low tomorrow, the high 18. So like prepare for that too, everybody.
C
And so are we. Are we. I know we're going to, you know, find out from the source, but it sounds like very late Saturday to very late Sunday. Is that we're looking at a full day.
A
Yeah, it feels like a full day. This is how big a day it is. I told you guys, Jim Cantore is going to be in New York. When he's, when he comes to town, then, you know, it's an event. It's a weather event when Jim Cantori's in town. I'm just.
B
Is it a positive, guys, of when this hit? Because, listen, most people have off on the weekend.
A
Yeah.
B
It's going to start late Saturday night into Sunday. Everybody's going to be home watching football on Sunday, right?
A
Yep.
B
And if they stay on top of this, they knew this thing was coming.
A
Yeah.
B
So if they just focus on the roads, there won't that many people on the roads stay in. They can work on those roads that by the time we get to Monday morning, we should be good. Even if it's still snowing a little bit. They got ahead of it and cleared the road so that we can get back to normal on Monday as opposed to it like happening during the week where people are already on the road causing problems that this may be the timing of it might actually be ideal.
A
You could, you could say that. And then the fact that we have just two wonderful football games to watch as well gives us all something to do. So it's not like anybody's gonna need to be out or any of that stuff. So, yeah, it's just today starts the, you know, the shopping panic, as Anthony was telling us as he was at our favorite shopping location near the studio and noticed that the lines were out the door. That's gonna happen because you're trying to prepare. But yeah, having it on a weekend have, especially having it on a Sunday could be as close to the best case scenario, as you could have for most people. But we'll just see where we are on the other side of this thing when it comes to Monday and the commute Monday morning. That all depends on how prepared all the towns are. In the city, of course.
C
Little. Little, I gotta say, I'd like to think that I don't like to, you know, you guys know, I don't like to delve into politics or reveal anything. I have. I have a, you know, a friendly relationship with the new mayor. And I have to say today's my first day of disappointment of his young term to find out that he said, in New York City, no kids will miss school on Monday because it will be at home learning if school is canceled.
A
Yeah, that's. That's. That's a bummer, right? Listen, one of the things that Covid gave us was the fact that our traditional snow days were like, you know, when we were kids, once you heard on the radio that your school was closed. Oh, that was it, man. Was that. What'd you do? You ran outside and just. You were in the snow all day. Right. All you did was play in the snow all day. Now these poor kids, they're like, all right, you'll have remote learning today. You're given assignments, and you have to get them done by the end of the school. And.
C
And now the parents never know what a great.
A
What a snow. To the greatness of a snow day. I don't know if these kids are ever gonna know that anymore.
B
Wow.
C
Can you imagine?
A
Imagine that.
B
But the way it's supposed to work, and correct me if I'm wrong, at least it worked in Jersey. Like, you're allotted a certain amount of snow days, like, whether it's like maybe three, five, whatever. And if you don't have any snow days, well, then school could end earlier.
A
Yeah.
B
So if that helps you maybe get to the summer quicker by having these at home learning and not taking one of the snow days. I guess that could be a good thing, right?
C
That's true. I mean, if you're gonna have a year. But, like, had there been that many snow days on weekdays?
B
No, like, literally, it is snowed. But the last time. Because the other thing I saw, I don't know if you noticed, like, the crazy storms happened every 10 years on the sixes. 06. What was it? It was like 96, 06, 16, and now 26, where we've had events where there have been more than 20 inches of snow. And in each decade, it's been a Little bit more. I think the last one we had in 16 got over 27 inches. So we'll see what this ends up being at the end of the day. But it's kind of funny how it works out. But it's been like literally like four years since the last time we've had like really significant snow in the metropolitan area. So there have been kids that have gone a long time never having snow days or having to worry about that. I wanted to just take one second, if you don't mind, if you don't mind me indulging. We lost somebody today. That's pretty significant in my life. And if you live in Jersey, very significant. I don't know if you guys are familiar with the work of Uncle Floyd. Floyd Valvino. Vivino. He was in Good Morning Vietnam. He was in Crazy People. He had done some acting, but he had a show in New Jersey on UHF when we were growing up. Eventually ended up on Channel four, the Uncle Floyd Show. And he was so Jersey. Born in Patterson, New Jersey. Stand up comedian. He had a show that was like iconic in like the North Jersey, Central Jersey area. And he passed away today at the age of 74. So if you know, you know, and if you're from Jersey, you most likely know how significant he was in anybody's life that's like above the age of 50 or 45 years old. You probably grew up with him. You probably have stories about him. He'd make appearances everywhere. Wild West City where I take the kids every summer. He did the commercial for. He was quintessential New Jersey. An unbelievable guy. Got to meet him a few times and we lost him a couple of days ago. Was announced today at the age of 74. So if you know, you know, Frank Fabino. Uncle Floyd passed away at the age of 74. I just wanted to give it a couple of moments because he was, you know, growing up for me. He was a big deal. And I'm sure there's a lot of listeners out there that probably feel the same way that I do.
A
Went to Glenrock High School from aboard in Patterson. But he had some roots in your hometown. Hawthorne, right? Right.
B
Yeah, he was. Like I said, it's. There are people I've met that are from like South Jersey or Central Jersey that weren't as aware of him. And it really depends on the age. Like, because he was like really big in the late 70s, early 80s, and then he got his chance on NBC in the mid-80s where he got a little bit more of a reach. And like, I Said he was, he was in Crazy People. He was in Good Morning Vietnam. So he definitely got some, some, some Hollywood love. But yeah, just Mr. Green Jeans, all the different. It's. Bon Jovi actually made their television debut on his show.
A
Wow.
C
Stop. That's a crazy one.
A
That's.
B
It was just, it was, it was a big deal like that. You wanted to be on his show and so it just, he will Easy hasn't performed in a bunch of years. He had suffered a stroke a few years ago, but I wasn't prepared to have to hear that he was going to, you know, that he had passed away. So I just wanted to give him some love.
A
All right. Yeah. No excellent stuff. That's very nice.
C
Man. It's Sad to hear. 74 is kind of young.
A
It, it, it definitely feels like it doesn't it? So I, it's still, that's, that's one of those things that if you grew up with it, it's personal to you. So I'm sure there's a lot of people right now nodding along with that. Donnie. So thanks for sharing that. 800-919-3776. Lots of calls to get to. I want to just get this in because I know we got a lot of football to do coming up. And as I mentioned, Knicks Sixers tomorrow afternoon. It's a national game. We don't have it on MSG, but of course we'll have it here on 880. It's a 3:30, I think tip off. Right. So we'll have coverage at 3 o' clock, but two days off in between after that record setting win over the Nets on Wednesday. And the Knicks want to get right but there's been a lot of questions about like what's wrong with the team, why are they playing this way. And a lot of it was centered on what's wrong with Karl Anthony Towns and why isn't he having a year like he did last year was all NBA and all star. For a while we thought he's definitely an all star. Now you're like, is he, you know, how are coaches going to feel about, you know, awarding him all stars? His numbers say so, but when you watch, he's been so hot and cold, he's been off a little bit. He keeps taking these offensive fouls that make sense and you get this sense again, I don't know this, but you get a sense watching like our teammates starting to get frustrated with him because you don't know what you're going to get. It's very similar To Julius Randle when he was here is like some games he'd be great and other games like what mood is he in today? Does he feel like playing today? And I want you to listen to something Josh Hart said after practice when asked about Towns. And this is a really revealing answer and a very honest one from a guy who's considered a leader on the team.
B
Yeah, I mean just try to get.
A
Him in positions to be successful, whether.
B
That'S shots or post ups and stuff like that. So obviously we need him to be aggressive, we need him to be smart, you know, first and foremost and put the ball in the basket, but also.
A
Be a hub of getting guys shots.
B
So I think we're doing that. And you know, he just have to make sure he works on, you know, being smart with offensive foul, you know, and those kind of things.
A
I mean he, he goes on to talk about how like they really need him more on the defensive end, that he needs to focus on that end and starts. He started pointing out, you know, that, that that's their biggest concern about him. And I, I did have some of the, some of what was said here. Yeah, he said he's a good offensive player. He'll figure that out. We want to make sure we focus on defense. I don't want to hear too much about his touches. I want to hear about him blocking shots. Like you get to a point in the season, right. Where when all the players say like what's got to change? Something's got to change. Where you almost got to start just being honest with each other. And it might, guys don't, you know, you might not want to hear it, but you need to hear it. Do you think this is the start of that, like what you just heard from Josh. Do you feel like it's.
C
That feels like it feels like that is the delicate beginning of a direct, you know, front facing convo to the public.
A
Yeah.
C
About what the problems may be and I mean isn't that what sort of everyone's thought. It's. What's the likelihood everyone's been wrong? The media, the fans. Like everything we've observed with Katie. What's the likelihood that that's not the biggest piece here? This is. He is not a second, he's not a role player on this team.
A
He's, he's again, he's the highest paid player on the team. He's an all NBA player from last year. He was all NBA, an all star. There's two. It was two all stars last year there were two all NBA players. Last year he was one of them.
C
And so his get into the Knicks, he would have easily been the best player on the team. This was Mavericks, Brunson, he's the best player on the team by far.
A
Yeah. You, you, you can't really overstate his importance to this team. Right. No, like, that's so. And, and Josh Hart, now, he, you know, he's. He loves to have fun. He's a funny guy. People focus so much on him and that side of him. Right. But I can tell you that Josh Hart doesn't suffer fools. He. He's not somebody that, like, he might look like the class clown, but he's also dead serious when things aren't going right. And he's the guy that sort of has to be the one. Like I've always said, like, Jalen Brunson is the captain, the leader, the standard guy. Right. And Josh Hart's sort of like the. The consigliere. He's the one that then makes sure. Like whatever the captain's saying or doing, everybody. You guys all heard that, right? Like, he's the one that makes sure everybody understands that. That this the way it goes. And anything less than that won't be tolerated. And it took a while for someone to speak up, but this is definitely the speak up kind of time of year, Right. Like, this is the time to start saying something. I'm not saying he's calling out towns, but he's definitely kind of letting everybody know. We see what you see and we need more from this guy. Yeah. And you know that I just felt like, like I said, that feels like a pretty. I haven't heard them talk like that yet. And so to hear that, that, that my antennas up on that one, well.
B
It tells you how real the situation is. And in one block win against the Nets isn't going to solve that. Turn around and lose tomorrow afternoon, you're right back to square one. And when he was struggling to make the adjustments with a new coach early in the season, had suggested is a possible trade in his head. Well, that shouldn't be the case anymore. Right. I mean, we're getting farther and farther away, I think, from a Giannis deal in season.
A
Yeah.
B
And even if we were, I mean, get used to a man. You're part of this team, because there is that juxtaposition of how important he is. But he also may be a guy that's playing his last games as a Nick. There's a very good chance that when the season is over, he's going to get dealt with in the honest deal. But at some point, you're a Nick. You're not going anywhere this year. Let's make this work. And maybe if you make it work, you'll stay here. So I can't imagine it's still that on his mind, do you.
A
I think once you heard and the reports were out there that they talked and you know you were going to be on the table. Right? I think once you hear that, it's a really tough thing to get over when you're somebody of that level. You know, guys that star players don't want to be traded for another star player. As if you. You're getting rid of me to get that guy, which means you don't want me. Right?
B
I mean, everybody knows that negative way of looking at it.
A
But that's. But that's how any stuff, like, think about it, that's how a star would feel. Like, wait, I came here. I'm all NBA. You traded for. You wanted me, and after a year, you. You had me on the table for someone else. So I guess you don't really want me. Okay, well, I guess they don't want me. And you start feeling a certain way about that. That's. That, that's. That's hard to get over for these. I'm not making an excuse. I'm telling you what a mentality is for a lot of these guys.
B
And, and that's why I brought it up earlier in the season, that maybe it's a thing. But. But at one point, as you fast forward like two months later, you realize, all right, well, you got to get over it. There's still a lot to be accomplished here. And we all agree that if this team does get to the promised land, maybe they don't pull the trigger on that deal and he stays. It's all how you look at it, right? I can't believe I'm not going to be a part of their future. But you're also getting one of the best players in the league, and you're being involved in it because they've got to get something back. Like, you should be able to understand that. It's not disrespect. You might. It's actually respected.
A
But Don, you might. But also, also think about it this way. It's not like you're sending me to a better situation. I end up going to a worse situation. I'm going to a place that they're probably clearly blown up. They might not even want me. I might end up with some other team because of what's going on there. You can go to Milwaukee. You think he wants to go to Milwaukee like that? I honestly think, look again, it's not, it's not making excuse, but when you say something that happened in August that has been reported a couple of times now, so it feels like, you know, that's not a made up story. Something definitely was discussed in August about Giannis and all the indications are that to make a deal like that happen, you'd have to put Towns on the table. And so he's now going. That plus no contract extension, which he didn't, you know, he was eligible for before the season, didn't get it. Those are two things now that for me, again, you'd have to say that's in the back of your mind. And then you get off to a tough start. You have a new coach who's telling you to do different things and things aren't going well and everybody in the building is now saying your name and complaining to you about your play. He's, he's got so much from the neck up happening to him right now that that's why when you watch the team play and you say what's happening? It's like they got to get. I've said this on the air, on msg. I said it during the game when, when he was struggling. I said they got to get his head right. Like that's. It feels like when everybody says, what's wrong with the Knicks? I keep saying they got to get Towns head right. They got to get a hard time.
C
You've been saying this all season long and that's a circumstance. It's not an easy circumstance for anyone. You're in a business situation that you're not altogether happy with. We've seen that he was unhappy with the Brown situation, Tibbs being gone, etc. One thing can your negativity can then beget bad play, which begets more negativity from the organization, which leads to more rumors of you being gone, which now fuels the idea of why you're angry at the team. And ultimately you have to make a decision about what you want to do. And I literally am in a half decent position to speak about this. I literally was just at a job where I was halfway out the door. When anyone would ask me about it, you guys know, I would complain and talk about it being a disaster. And I love my guys, but I don't like what upper management's doing. I don't really want to be here. This isn't good. And eventually rubber is going to meet the road. And either you're going to decide, you know what, screw that. I want to make it work. I'm going to stay here. This is what I need to do. Or you're going to roll the dice, see where this thing goes. And it may end up with you on playing in Sacramento, but, like, he's.
A
Going to have to.
C
To your point, Alan, it's either about getting his head right or him making a firm decision in his mind. Are you buying in completely and you want to try to make it work here?
B
Right.
C
Or you're really going to be okay with ending up somewhere else.
B
But, like, when I brought it up early in the season, I understood it was fresh, it could happen. It felt like maybe it could happen at any moment, but once you saw Giannis go down and once you saw that it most likely wasn't going to happen this season, at some point, you got to get over it. Right. At some point, you just got to say, this is the team I'm on. And it's not like it's a team that's not going anywhere. It's a team that can very well go somewhere.
A
Right.
B
So shouldn't the motivation be okay? Whatever happens, I've got to play at my best.
A
Yes.
B
I've got to make this situation work. So I get everything you're saying, Peter, in the immediate, but once you see it's not inevitably happening, it's not something that can happen any moment, that it's most likely not going to happen till the end of the season, then you got to put that aside, go out and play ball, man, because you're going to be affected in a negative way if you end up ruining this season for them.
A
Yeah. And also, at some point, you make it personal. And, okay, you want to be about your team, but you get. You feel away. Like, I don't know if they want me here, but you know what I got to do while I'm here? Win so that I'm still known as a winner. And if they do move me, people are like, whoa, he was helping you win. Right? Like, that's all you can do. Now. It's easy for us to say, but somebody like him, who his whole life he's been told how great he is, and he's never had to deal with the idea of people don't want you. He was a number one pick, then he was traded for. They wanted him. They took him from Minnesota because we need you brought him in. This would be the first time that he's. Someone says, I'm using you to get somebody we think is better. He's never lived with that in his whole life ever. Right. So that's something for him that's hard to process. But as I said, they aren't going anywhere if they can't get him right. And they got to get him right because I don't see any type of trades happening involving him before February 6th. And so this season could. He could decide how this season goes. As much pressure we put on Jalen Brunson as much as we look at some of the other players, you know, Adenobi and Bridges, all these other guys and Mike Brown. This whole season could be about whether or not car Anthony Towns decides whether you want me or not. I'm going to play my ass off because I need to show I'm a winner and I'm going to. I'm going to play winning basketball. But you know, that's, that's. Like I said, that's easy for us to say. All right. You know what's not? But is easy for us to say something. I don't know what I'm doing there. Yeah, we have Fraud Friday, though. That was very clunky. But Don, I'm expecting you to do a much better transition right now.
B
Oh, a much better transition than what I was that what you just did?
A
Yeah, because it was very sloppy, it was messy, and I have no reason at all. No reason.
C
Let me give you the. Let me tell you, let me see if you can do better than this. Time Allen just did was fumble the ball out of the end zone as he was running in for an easy score. So can you do better than that? Is the question.
B
So. So what you're saying is that there were a bunch of reasons why he fumbled. That many reasons. And there's also a lot of reasons why people buy. It's their selection is their customer service and it's their savings. Lisa Do 2025 Mazda CX 32.5s all wheel drive for 189 for 33 months. Start shopping now at Ramsey Mazda.com choose wisely. Choose Ramsey Mazda. Call 833-853-2970 for details. Fin SM 844681 MSRP $29,075 0 security deposit ends 22 26.
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A
Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
C
I didn't listen to anything you just said.
A
Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. Did you or someone you know participate in fraudulent fan behavior?
C
I'm a fraud with a capital F.
A
Is your friend a fraud?
C
I have been a complete and utter fraud.
A
Are you a fraud? What is flawless? Let's ask Dom McGregor. Screw.
C
Go scratch yourself.
A
Brought to you by Dagostino Law.
C
Oh, are you kidding me, folks? Fraud Friday, baby. Brought to you by d' Agostino Law. Play the jingle.
A
Yeah. Sing it, Dagono.
C
You know what I'm talking about.
A
We know.
B
Yes. Ah.
C
Don, you ready? You ready to give us a breakdown?
B
I am. I've been ready all week. Let's do it, baby.
A
Is the gavel ready?
B
It's gotta be back at the studio. I did not travel with the gavel.
A
Oh, wow. The gavel doesn't travel.
B
Didn't show.
A
What?
B
You sure would be able to clear customs.
C
Here we go, guys. This comes from Shlomo, not my father.
B
Shlomo.
C
Yeah. Greetings, your honor. This is Shlomo from Hillside. I have been a Giants fan since I was 7 years old and immediately fell in love with Eli Manning, whom to this day is my favorite player of all time. However, watching his older brother Peyton as a kid, I fell in love watching him as well. And to this day, he's my second favorite player. To the point that when the Giants were out at Denver out and Denver was in the playoffs, I would root for Peyton. Parentheses no jersey wearing. Am I a fraud? For rooting for Peyton to win as well as other quarterbacks I liked watching as a kid. Brady, Breeze, the Mannings, Rogers, etc. And for having my second favorite player be a non Giants player.
B
All right, hit it. We got it. I say no fraud.
A
D', Agostino.
B
I don't think there's anything wrong with having a second favorite player, especially if that second favorite player is the brother of your Favorite player at no time, whether it was in Indianapolis or Denver, were was Peyton a rival of the New York Giants. It's not like he was an Eagle, a Cowboy or anything like that. Or a Commander. Different conference both times with the Colts and the Broncos. And the Giants have been miserable for the last few years. So. Yeah, why wouldn't you maybe attach yourself during some of those losing seasons to have some other rooting interest? I say no fraud.
C
I like it. I like it.
A
So you're like a fan of the family. Yeah, but.
B
Or just a fan of wanting to follow football after the Giants are eliminated.
C
Right.
B
As long as it doesn't collide with.
C
Your, with your team, who cares?
A
Yeah.
C
Yeah.
B
He's telling me all you know. I, I, I, I was a big. My second favorite player was Donovan McNabb or Tony Romo. Well, then we'd have an issue. And he also said he didn't buy any jerseys, which I would have no problem with if he did. But the fact that he didn't buy any jerseys, I mean, just confirms to me. No fraud. Not even a combo.
A
No fraud.
C
Gentlemen, I've been meaning to call in for some time, but I finally decide to email backstory. I was born and raised in Brazil. Moved to the US in 99 when I was 11 years old. Years old. Lived in Massachusetts until I graduated. I fell in love with basketball in 2003. I'm sorry, with baseball in 2003 when I watched the Red Sox and A's playoff game on TV where Johnny Damon and Damian Jackson collided in the outfield. The next night I watched the Yankees play and something drew me to them. Maybe it was the pinstripes. All these years later, I may have chosen the wrong team since the Red Sox have won a lot more championships since then, but I will not switch allegiance because I'm no fraud. Here's my conundrum, though. A couple years later, I fell in love with football. And you guessed it, I became a New England Patriots fan. Will Don the judge make an exception? Because I wasn't born and raised here and both sports were all new to me. Or am I a fraud like anybody else that would root for these two teams? I'll accept the public scourging if I need to. John in Washington State.
B
Well, listen, you fall in love when you fall in love, right? He was not born in this country, came over when he was 11 years old. So we obviously wave the whole by eight years old, you gotta declare he fell in love with the Yankees because of the pinstripes. Whatever. And Then stuck with them. And then he was late to football, found the New England Patriots, and he stuck with them. So considering he wasn't born here, didn't follow things until he was already double digits old, I say no fraud.
C
D'.
A
Agostino. What a day we're having today.
C
Yeah, it's a hell of a day. Listen, I love getting to hear the Dagostino. I still don't understand exactly how it fits into the no fraud.
B
You don't have to.
C
But you don't have.
A
We can explain. It's. He is right. Like, he. He is a lawyer, and Right when there's no fraud, the lawyer won its case.
B
Yeah, right.
A
So he left.
B
No fraudulence. Unless, you know, fraudulence.
C
Unless. Unless, of course, he was the prosecutor, in which case the guilty verdict would be what he wanted.
B
Well, now you're defense lawyer.
A
That's what you want.
C
No, he's. No, he's not.
A
Well, I'm saying in this case, in our. In our situation, I'm sure he could do everything.
C
Let's be honest, he's biting back.
A
Well, he's Dages. Agostino. He's biting. Bagostino.
C
Well, and also Singer. Let's be honest.
A
He can litigate. There's a lot of things he can do.
B
Yeah.
C
All right, here we go. That was a good one. Let's see. Could it be three for three on a fraud Friday. Han Rosenberg. Your honorable Don. I am afraid I have been living life as a fraud. Back in my junior year of college, I found myself in a bit of a pickle with my housing situation. Long story short, I ended up in an apartment by myself. As you can imagine, I did not have financial means to afford this, so my brother agreed to come cover the rent. I'm a die hard Yankee fan. Naturally, I envisioned having my new place decked out with Yankee decor. However, my brother is a Dodger fan. Since he's footing the rent, he said, I need to get Dodger stuff, too. So there I was, living in a Yankee Dodger fan cave. This was in 2013. So I didn't really have a strong opinion about the Dodgers. Now that I hate the Dodgers, it gets me mad thinking about it, how I let it happen. Am I a fraud?
B
What's interesting. So his brother forced him to put Dodger stuff up, and he wasn't even living there?
C
No, he. I think his brother was. His brother was footing the rent with him.
B
Okay, but he was living in the house.
C
Yes. So his brother moves in and goes, hey, you can't just Have Yankee stuff. I need Dodger stuff.
B
What was he supposed to do, man? Was he supposed to do. He said he couldn't afford it by himself. He's not going to live in the street. His brother's living in the house. His brother's paying the rent. He's got the right to make it all Dodgers if he wants. But he did allow you to put up the Yankees. You weren't, like, worshiping the posters that were up. It was just sometimes that's the way you got to go to survive. Absolutely no fraud. Are we three on the street?
C
We're three for three, and I'm proud of it. I'm proud.
A
Clean.
C
No, I think these are all very clean. Let me see.
A
These are good. Jail remains empty.
C
Here's. Here's one from Ethan. He asked if Mel Kuiper is a fraud.
A
Oh, boy.
B
Okay. All right.
C
On the Morning Shore show earlier this week, Kuiper revealed that he's both a Ravens and Rams fan. He's from Baltimore, so the Ravens make sense, but the Rams are iffy. As a kid, he was a fan of the logo and the colors, and he's still a fan today, fraud or not.
B
Yeah, but how does his fandom get executed? I mean, is he going to games? I would think in the business that he's in, he's pretty neutral. And also, how big a Ravens fan could he. But how old was he in 96 when the Ravens came into being? He had to be a. Well into adulthood by then, so he never really seemed to pick up the Rams at all. I don't buy it. I don't buy he's a fan of either. But by the letter of the law, he'd be a fraud to root for both the Ravens and the Rams. And just.
C
He was 36 when the Ravens came to be in 1996.
B
So I. I don't feel like. Are you really a big fan. Fan of the Ravens because you're from Baltimore and you were 36 years old? He might not even been living in Baltimore by then either. He was probably maybe living someplace else. He was already. He was already. Mel Kuiper, the draft. Nick. I. I don't. I don't feel he's a fan anyway. I think he's kind of just fraudulent.
C
I want to add this. I want to add this. He is. According to the Internet, Mel Kuiper's base is still Baltimore.
A
Yeah, okay. Bart said like that, I believe, because Bart was an undrafted free agent out of college. Mel. Mel was very high on Bart as a talent. That was very.
C
Probably connected to. Probably has connections thing.
A
Yeah. But I, you know, again, I. I don't know. I don't know how you want to view.
C
You're the judge. You're the judge.
B
Fraud.
A
Wow. Okay. That escalated quickly.
B
Yeah, but I don't believe he's a Die Hard of anything. I think he likes the Raven, you know, I'm just saying, like, I don't know how he goes about being a fan. Mel's married to the game, but I just think the business has taken his fandom away. But he was declaring two teams. He's a fraud.
A
We have some fraud calls. Peter, do you want to get some of these in?
B
Sure.
C
Yeah, go for it. I don't. I didn't. I don't have them pulled up, so go ahead.
A
Yeah, I got it. I got it. We're here. Matt on Long island has a fraud alert Friday for you. Donnie, Matt.
B
Okay. Hey.
C
Hey, guys.
B
How you doing?
A
My.
D
My buddy Nick is actually listening to this call right now. So it's all about him making sure we got you.
B
Yes, absolutely.
D
All right. So my buddy Nick were all from Long island and he grew up a casual football fan. Casual football household. He wasn't really a huge football guy growing up. His dad, to my knowledge, was a Jet fan, but he is a Yankee Nick Ranger guy through and through. Fast forward to when he's about 21 years old, he goes to Philadelphia for a Luke Combs concert at the Link. And since he's about. Since he's about 20, 21 years old, he's now 23, he is a full fledged die hard Eagles fan. I need to know, fraud or no fraud.
B
But you said he was a casual football fan, but did he declare a team? Was he a Jet fan or just kind of followed football but wasn't a fan of a team?
A
So.
D
So he didn't really. He was a casual football fan in the sense that he's always a big sports guy, never declared a team. His dad, to my knowledge, was a casual jets fan, but he is a New York guy for every other team and he fell in love because he went to a Luke Combs concert in Philadelphia.
B
Well, it's. It's odd. It is odd to be that that's the reason you become an Eagles fan. Sounds very personal, but by the letter of the law, he is not a fraud. He did not declare a team. Very odd to be that big a sports fan. And football before fourth, Peter. That's kind of odd, right? That you're a die hard sports fan and football Is the one you're casual about? Very. Listen, you're old. Is he an oddball?
A
How old is he?
C
He's.
D
Well, I'm 23. He's 22. Maybe just turned 23. I forgot his birthday. But, Alan.
B
Yes.
D
Very personal. We've been going back and forth.
A
I could tell you declared a fraud.
B
Here's what I would tell you. Oh, I know you want it. I know you want him to be a fraud. He's. He's. He's odd. And honestly, probably somebody I would not want to get close to, but he's not a fraud.
C
Dagger.
A
No. No. Wow. I was not fraud. I was not.
C
You didn't expect it, did you?
A
No.
B
He didn't declare a team. It's odd, but that. That's how he fell in love with the Eagles. Listen, that was probably a zipper key moment, too. I am sure it wasn't the concert. It was who he was with. I'm sure that's a zipper key moment that was left out. But if he didn't declare alcoholic.
A
No.
B
Fraud. It's not. It's. It's odd that he came to football so late. It's odd that he's a passionate sports fan and football is the one he's the least passionate about, but not declaring a team. I'm sorry. I got to rule the way. I rule.
A
He needs to call in and tell his side of the story, how it all went down. In the meantime, Marcelo in Brooklyn, one more fraud Friday call. Go ahead, Marcelo.
D
He stole my thunder, Ethan. I was gonna say the same thing. I was gonna bring up Mel Kuiper. He's a fraud.
B
Oh, okay.
A
Really, Marcelo? Yeah, that was. That was quick. Yeah.
C
No love for Kuiper this week. That's sad. That was fraud alert Friday.
A
Very.
C
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A
Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
C
I didn't listen to anything you just said.
A
Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. So ABC saying already more than 2,000 flights in, into or out of the US scheduled for Saturday have been canceled already as they're preparing for this big weekend storm. The two airports in Dallas apparently have had to cancel most of it. So Saturday. My God. So you guys are all both kind of in travel mode over the Next couple of days, hopefully on the other side of this whole thing. But, you know, this. This storm definitely feels like it's going to be a significant one. And the impact it's going to have on us just goes beyond having to shovel our driveways.
B
Well, yeah, because you shouldn't be on the road. I know people have to get places. Doctors, nurses, there's. There's vital work that people have to be on the road. But do yourself a favor, stay home, hunker down, let all the emergency workers try to clear all the snow, because they can't do that if there are people on the road. And they also. Guys, what people forget is. So you decide you want to go someplace and you get stranded, well, then you call the police, they come get you. They're coming to get you because you were stupid and decided to get in the road. And now they can't maybe be someplace where they absolutely have to be a real emergency because you decided, oh, I wanted to go ignore all the warnings and go drive to a buddy's house or whatever, and then get stuck at a snow bank. And now those people can't be doing something that could really be vitally important. So, listen, we've got the technology to work from home, to play from home and all that. We've got tons of sports this weekend, including two really good championship games. Knicks, Rangers, Devils, Islanders, they all have games. So just, Just relax, and then eventually we'll dig ourselves.
C
Well, it's one of. Can I tell you something? It's. It's. I just got through talking about, you know, how living in the city in some ways is just kind of like hard living when you have a lot to do. I will say one thing. If you don't have anywhere to go and you're just in the city, it's a big win for snow days because you don't have to think about going anywhere to get. Even if you need to get stuff, you can just put on your boots and go walk and get stuff.
A
Yeah.
C
You don't have to think about driving anywhere. Generally speaking, when it gets nuts, the roads just completely empty and you kind of have, like, free reign as people who live in Manhattan to kind of just wander around. So I will say there'll be upside on Sunday. Like, we'll probably take Maya out in the snow for the first time in. In like, a real way, I'm guessing to let her, I mean, at least feel it. I mean, she won't be able to do very much, but just kind of like, see what it feels like get.
A
A sled thrower on it, send her right down, go to Central Park.
C
I guess at one can we throw her on a little sled?
A
Why not?
B
No, sit on it.
A
Put her on your lap.
B
How do you think we could sit? Stops whatever gets in its way.
C
Well, no, that's why we got to be together.
B
You get a strap her to a sled and like, oh, there she goes. Oh, there's a rock. Let's hope that she avoids it.
A
Well, no, no, you don't.
B
You get on it with her, that's a different story. But even that, that could be dangerous.
A
You think I made you throw right on the saucer and just send her down just right.
B
You send her down.
C
By the way, I'm not kidding, I swear. My guess would be, my guess would be based on her early personality, she would go for it. She, she doesn't care.
A
Fly down. Yeah, that was Cali.
C
It's, it's a time Cali.
A
Callie would fall off and just end up somewhere in a snow bank. The sled just keeps going and she's just laughing. Let's get a couple more calls in here. We'll get into a lot of the football in the 5 o' clock hour. 800 now, 193776. A lot more of the, the fraud stuff, but this is football related from Frank in Newark. Go ahead, Frank.
D
Hey, good afternoon, guys. How y' all doing? I got a question for you guys. I think I committed one of the most seven deadly sins of football. And a couple weeks ago during the end of the regular season, it was the Giants and the Cowboys and I was more or less cheering for the Cowboys so the Giants could get better draft positioning for the NFL draft. And I want to know what's your guys takes on that. Don, I know you're going to say that the draft is not secure, so you're probably going to be. I'm probably going to be a fraud, but wanted to run it to the experts first.
B
Well, it's a great question, but the reason I'll say no fraud is it's coming from being a fan like you. I don't believe in rooting against your team. I can't do it. But you're coming from a place where you want your team to benefit and get better, Right? So you're not rooting for the Cowboys because you like the Cowboys. You want the Cowboys to win because it helps their situation. You, you're coming from a place of helping your team, thus helping your fandom. I don't agree with that. But that's more of a style of fanning, if that's a word, than fraudulence, in my opinion.
C
Daggers.
A
All right, fair enough. Chris and Long Island. Now, is this the Chris that was under accusation?
D
Oh, no, this is a totally new.
B
Okay.
D
Case.
A
I thought maybe gentleman, I defend himself. Go for it.
D
No, no, never that. I have a pretty unique case coming up here.
A
Okay.
D
No fraudulence has been committed yet, but it's potential fraudulence. Okay, let me start. I've been a devout Ranger, Nick, Jed, and met fan my whole life. I'm very fortunate to have married the love of my life. She is, you know, a pretty decently active Bills fan and, you know, kind of a Yankee fan. The jets are 4 out of 4 in my rankings of the children that I love. And the most to the least, the jets, needless to say, have been giving me nothing but heartache and distraught. Now, Judge Legrett, I think I already know how you're going to rule on this, but my wife has begged me to call you to see. Can we make a trade of me becoming a Bills fan and her becoming a Mets fan? Now, I know that what the answer will probably be, however, I just.
B
Boys. Alan.
A
Pete.
D
Pete, help me out here.
A
You need to see John's face, right? Oh, boy. Oh, here it comes. We needed one today. Go ahead.
C
It's.
B
It's like you're making it like you're making. You're bargaining with God or something. Like, I. I. You let her be a Met. You're both frauds. You married a fraud. You're a fraud. Frauds.
A
He didn't commit it yet. It didn't happen yet. Don, he's asked and I don't know.
D
Let me defend myself. I don't know if I could. I could. I don't know if I could, like, physically get myself to that point of even rooting for another team, but I wanted to explore the. The Supreme Court of Fraudulence before I even begin to go down.
A
Yeah, he's not approaching the bench. He's seeking legal advice.
B
I understand.
D
I was just wondering, too.
A
Could you.
D
Could there be another type of fraud? We got vomit fraud, right? You know, you know, puke fraud, whatever. Whatever it was.
B
Could there be.
D
Could there be such a thing as inherited fraud? As in, like, your parents or someone in your life has been a fraud fan, and then you became a fan? I'm just curious. That's not how it is.
B
Fraud would be. If you made this deal, you and your wife would become fraud. Your wife's a fraud for even suggesting it. Okay, so she's done. She's a fraud. Well, suggested it. So if you had said yes, you would do it, right? If you said yes, you. She would become a Met fan and you would become a Bills fan.
D
Yeah, the Yankees. Just for me to go to the Bills.
B
She's a fraud. She's done. I don't know if I can actually. I don't. I don't know where you are in your life. I don't know if I could be able to continue to stay married.
C
Oh, my God.
D
Oh, my God.
B
You are not a fraud. Hey, listen, I'm just telling you she's a fraud.
A
Fraud.
D
You're okay with being married.
A
Petey.
D
Petey, help me out here.
C
Happy wife.
B
Yeah, he's.
C
He's. Listen, Don's. First of all, Don's lying now. Now, you know what? Hit the fraud. I want to hear the siren fraud for Don, because Don will do literally, if.
A
If.
C
If Don. If Nancy said Don's not allowed to watch any of his teams anymore.
A
Yeah.
C
He'd go, all right, honey, what else can I get from the grocery store? That's it. So don't even listen to him.
A
Nothing else.
B
No, but. But I'm just saying.
D
I knew you were my guy.
B
You're why here.
A
Let's get down.
B
You're why wife is a fraud. You are not a fraud. But your children may inherit the fraud gene from your wife. That's inherited fraud.
C
This is like. This is like, you know, back to the future, when Marty's like, got to get to the future. What, Is there something doing wrong? No, no. It's your kids.
A
That's.
C
That's what you're concerned about. It's the children.
B
Your kids are frauds.
C
Your kids may be frauds. You and Jennifer are frauds in the future.
A
You know, started slow, but it definitely picked up at the end. And I think it ended just right. Don't you think?
C
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A
Don Hahn and Rosenberg Podcast. I don't want to know how the sausage is made, man. 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, Hahn & Rosenberg — ESPN New York Podcast
Episode: Hour 2: Hart on KAT & Fraud Friday
Date: January 23, 2026
This episode kicks off with winter storm preparations in New York, a tribute to local legend "Uncle Floyd," then dives deep into challenges facing Knicks star Karl-Anthony Towns (KAT), including revealing locker room dynamics. The second half features the fan-favorite segment "Fraud Friday," with listeners seeking judgment on whether their fandom or tendencies make them “frauds” in the world of sports loyalty. The trio’s lively banter, sharp New York sports insight, and warm wit are on full display.
Segment introduced with humor and mock-legal dramatics, where fans plead their cases regarding sports loyalty “infractions.”
Josh Hart’s directness on KAT:
“We need him to be aggressive... want to make sure we focus on defense. I don’t want to hear too much about his touches. I want to hear about him blocking shots.” — Josh Hart (09:39–10:00)
Locker Room Honesty:
“That feels like the delicate beginning of a direct, front-facing convo to the public about what the problems may be.” — Rosenberg (10:54)
KAT’s Mental Struggles:
“I think they gotta get Towns’ head right... that’s what’s wrong with the Knicks.” — Hahn (16:01)
On ‘Fraud’ Swap Between Spouses (Jets/Bills for Mets/Yankees):
“If you made this deal, you and your wife would become frauds. Your wife’s a fraud for even suggesting it.” — Don (43:32)
Coping with the Storm in NYC:
“Listen, we’ve got the technology to work from home, to play from home... tons of sports. Just relax.” — Don (38:52)
Rosenberg on city’s upside in a storm:
“When it gets nuts, the roads just completely empty... you have free reign as people who live in Manhattan.” (39:21)
The conversation is classic New York: fast, opinionated, witty, and frequently playful. The crew is honest but empathetic, whether discussing team performance or the peculiarities of fandom. Their interactions, especially during Fraud Friday, are half-courtroom, half-barbershop—always keeping the conversation engaging for diehard fans and casual listeners alike.