Hour 2: John Starks and Greg Buttle

Summary

Podcast Summary: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 2: John Starks and Greg Buttle

Release Date: July 21, 2025
Host/Authors: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Location: Colonial Springs Golf Club, Farmingdale, Long Island

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1. Welcome and Setting the Scene

The episode begins with lighthearted banter among the hosts, interspersed with short advertisements. Don Hahn welcomes listeners from the Colonial Springs Golf Club, noting the pleasant weather and the arrival of co-hosts and guest John Starks.

Don Hahn [00:29]: "Don Hahn and Rosenberg with you here on 880 ESPN. We are live at the Colonial Springs Golf Club in Farmingdale, Long Island."

2. Golf Adventures and Anecdotes

The conversation quickly shifts to golfing experiences. Rick DiPietro shares stories from the golf course, including memorable shots and interactions with fellow players.

Rick DiPietro [02:19]: "We did not bogey one hole. That's a good sign."

John Starks recounts his impressive achievement of a hole-in-one during a golf round.

John Starks [04:20]: "After 31 years of playing golf, I got a hole in one on number 17."

3. John Starks on the New York Knicks Offseason

The discussion delves into the recent changes within the New York Knicks, particularly the coaching transition from Tom Thibodeau to Mike Brown. John Starks provides insights into the impact of Thibodeau's departure and the positive aspects Mike Brown brings to the team.

John Starks [05:20]: "Change probably was needed at the time... Our future is bright. Coach Brown brings championship experience."

Starks reflects on the team’s mentality during the 1993-94 season, drawing parallels to the current era.

John Starks [07:18]: "We was one step away from the championship... These guys have a lot to build on."

4. Broadcasting and Overcoming Challenges: Matthew Welling’s Story

Matthew Welling discusses his journey in broadcasting while managing a visual impairment. He elaborates on his condition, osteopetrosis, and how it has shaped his career aspirations and approach to overcoming obstacles.

Matthew Welling [28:02]: "I have essentially no vision in my left eye and only central vision in my right. Broadcasting requires me to explore alternative paths within the industry."

Welling emphasizes the importance of versatility and adaptability in the broadcasting field, aiming to inspire listeners with disabilities.

Matthew Welling [29:56]: "My main goal is to bridge listeners with other disabilities and have them partake in sports like normal fans."

5. Garden of Dreams Foundation

John Starks highlights his involvement with the Garden of Dreams Foundation, emphasizing its impact on children and families in the Tri-State area. He shares personal anecdotes about witnessing the transformation of kids through the organization’s efforts.

John Starks [23:10]: "Garden of Dreams is everything... It’s been life-changing for a lot of kids and families."

6. Honoring Greg Buttle and Don Hahn’s Broadcasting Journey

The hosts reminisce about their long-standing relationship with Greg Buttle, sharing stories that highlight Don Hahn’s dedication and professionalism in sports broadcasting. They discuss the chemistry essential for a successful broadcasting partnership.

Don Hahn [40:06]: "I didn’t know who Greg Buttle was initially, but he became a major part of my life and broadcasting career."

Matthew Welling [42:29]: "The chemistry between Don and Greg was vital for making shows entertaining and respectful."

7. Current Sports Discussions

The conversation transitions to current sports topics, including the performance of the New York Knicks and Rangers. John Starks provides his analysis on recent team dynamics, coaching changes, and player performances.

John Starks [47:12]: "Aaron Glenn setting a new culture is a positive move... The Jets have a good defense and can compete."

8. Social Media and Player Conduct

The hosts discuss the challenges athletes face with social media, particularly focusing on quarterbacks like Justin Fields. They explore how player behavior online can impact team dynamics and public perception.

Matthew Welling [47:46]: "Social media is so invasive... Players need to be very careful about what they say."

9. Closing Remarks and Teasers

As the episode wraps up, the hosts engage in playful interactions, discuss upcoming guests, and promote future segments. They maintain a lighthearted tone, emphasizing the camaraderie among the hosts and guests.

Don Hahn [38:25]: "Enjoy your cigar, get a bite to eat, enjoy the day. More to come, including Matthew Welling next."

Rick DiPietro [42:53]: "The importance of chemistry is undeniable for making a show successful."

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• John Starks [05:20]: "Change probably was needed at the time... Our future is bright. Coach Brown brings championship experience."
• Matthew Welling [28:02]: "Broadcasting requires me to explore alternative paths within the industry."
• Don Hahn [40:06]: "I didn’t know who Greg Buttle was initially, but he became a major part of my life and broadcasting career."
• Matthew Welling [47:46]: "Social media is so invasive... Players need to be very careful about what they say."

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

The episode of "Don, Hahn & Rosenberg" successfully blends personal anecdotes, professional insights, and engaging sports discussions. From golf tales to crucial analysis of the New York Knicks' coaching changes and inspirational stories of overcoming personal challenges in broadcasting, the hosts provide a comprehensive and engaging narrative. The inclusion of notable quotes with timestamps enriches the listening experience, making it informative and relatable for both regular listeners and newcomers.

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For more episodes, subscribe to the "Don, Hahn & Rosenberg" podcast on 880 ESPN, the ESPN New York app, or your preferred podcast platform.

Transcript

[Don Hahn]

With the Venmo debit card, you can Venmo everything.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Your favorite band's merch.

[John Starks]

You can Venmo this or their next show.

[Rick DiPietro]

You can Venmo that.

[Don Hahn]

Visit Venmo Me debit to learn more. The Venmo MasterCard is issued by the.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Bancorp bank and a pursuant to license by Mastercard International Inc.

[Don Hahn]

The card may be used everywhere. Mastercard is accepted. Venmo purchase restrictions apply.

[Rick DiPietro]

This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don Hahn]

That sounds like heaven to me.

[Matthew Welling]

Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3.

[Rick DiPietro]

On 880 ESPN, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers city.

[Don Hahn]

Don Hahn and Rosenberg with you here on 880 ESPN. We are live at the Colonial Springs Golf Club in Farmingdale, Long Island. A little overcast now, but it's actually nice. Pleasant, cooled things down. So it's really been a nice day. I see your co host is making his way over. I think my time here is about done. Decided to show up to work here. It's after four. It's nice. So Alan, Hans here. Rick D. Pietro is here. I see John Starks is over here. He got bias. He got I don't know how he must. We said they have to come through here. The circuitous route. I never thought him to be a sneaky SOB but apparently he was able to get to the veranda over there without having to come by. I almost feel it is a moral imperative, John, for you to come here and make it his way over now. And I don't mind the cigar. I'm not scared of that. We'll guilt people to come on. I don't whatever, you know, whatever you have to do, you have to do. See, Alan's tempted me with a cigar. I've not had a cigar since Halloween of 2013. Break that streak and it's been going on 12 years. But I'm going to go, I'm going to hand over to Dave. Thank you so much. This was a lot of fun, Buddy. Anytime, bud. I love you. Dave Rothenberg, everybody. Thank you for he was able to hold down the fort for an hour here as we waited for Mr. Golf here to show up. And John Starks is coming over to say hello as well as he kind of snuck by us. But nothing completely sneaks by us. You want to say hello to him as we've got tons of celebrities here at the ESPN Tee at Up Golf Challenge. Alan, hello.

[Rick DiPietro]

Pick one. Donnie what do you mean?

[Don Hahn]

John?

[Rick DiPietro]

Which one you think this was the better one? Give Donnie.

[Don Hahn]

I always liked it a little lighter. It's been 12 years, so you're gonna bring back an old vice. How are you?

[John Starks]

I'm good. How you doing, Alan?

[Rick DiPietro]

How are you? I'm good.

[Don Hahn]

Thank you for gracing us with your presence here on your own show.

[Rick DiPietro]

Listen, I mean, they. They told me I had to go play. Like, I was really surprised that I had to play. Like, I had to go through, but it was fun. We had a good time. We had a good time. I don't think we're going to win, but we're. We did not bogey one hole. That's a good sign.

[John Starks]

That's a good sign.

[Rick DiPietro]

At least we're par. We had a handful of birdies. I just wanted to aim for that gong in the middle of the pond. I. Do you know what that is, John?

[John Starks]

I don't.

[Rick DiPietro]

So I asked the guy working here. I was like, what is that thing? And he goes, if you hit it with the ball, it makes a loud noise. And I'm thinking, that sounds like fun.

[Don Hahn]

How long did it take to do that?

[Rick DiPietro]

Oh, my God.

[Don Hahn]

Now. Now before we start, we talk to John. Is that so? I was. I was flying around the golf cart, trying to say hello to as many.

[Rick DiPietro]

People as I could. I didn't see you.

[Don Hahn]

But Bart was driving. So Bart stops, he sees somebody, and then talks to him for half hour. So he got to see as many as we wanted to. But we did show up, and one of the guys from Good Karma is like, don, why don't you drive the ball? And I drove it right on the green.

[John Starks]

Oh, wow.

[Don Hahn]

But it was the. The hole next to us. It wasn't the. Wasn't from the tee box.

[Rick DiPietro]

I don't know if you.

[Don Hahn]

Bart's got it on his phone, so we'll see if it sees the light of day.

[Rick DiPietro]

I don't know if you've heard this yet, but there's. There's a group of listeners. A group of four listeners. There's a lefty. I think his name was Mike. Okay, maybe not Mike. It might have been it. It's a. It's a common name. Yeah, he hit the. The par four, 290.

[John Starks]

Yeah.

[Rick DiPietro]

Hold it.

[John Starks]

Oh, get out of here. Really?

[Rick DiPietro]

And I was there. We were there to see. We saw it come in, and they're looking for the ball. Albatross and the guy. Yeah, Albatross. And the guy's like. He's like, look in the hole just for the hell of it. And it there. What? He lost it.

[Don Hahn]

What do you get for that? You get something for that, don't you.

[Rick DiPietro]

You get a high five?

[John Starks]

Yeah.

[Rick DiPietro]

No, no, it was not on the. So he didn't win a call.

[Don Hahn]

But I'm. But, but, but he did.

[Rick DiPietro]

He. He did. How much?

[Don Hahn]

Like something like a free rap.

[John Starks]

I remember, I remember that hoe.

[Rick DiPietro]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Don't you get like a T shirt, something?

[Rick DiPietro]

I don't know, but I don't know.

[John Starks]

He's probably going to pro shop and ask.

[Don Hahn]

Have you ever had one?

[John Starks]

No. Oh, no.

[Rick DiPietro]

I've been holding one.

[John Starks]

Holding one? Yes.

[Rick DiPietro]

How many?

[John Starks]

I got one.

[Rick DiPietro]

You did one. Okay.

[John Starks]

Believe it or not, I got it in my course. Engelbrook this year.

[Rick DiPietro]

This year?

[John Starks]

Oh, number 17. Yes. After 31 years of playing golf.

[Rick DiPietro]

Now, those are the things you want to have on video, but you never know when they're coming.

[John Starks]

And the crazy thing about it, I was by myself and it was a found ball.

[Rick DiPietro]

So nobody believes you.

[John Starks]

Actually, the group in front of me when I walked up there to the hole and I just so happened to look in. I like hole in one. I'm looking around, I'm like. Then the group passed me, I said, I got a hole in one. They start clapping.

[Rick DiPietro]

All right, all right.

[Don Hahn]

John Starks is with us. And we're here at the Tee It Up Golf Challenge here at the Colonial Spring Golf Course here in Farmingdale, Long Island. And the Knicks had a very eventful offseason, did very well in free agency. But you don't normally see a team come off their best run in 25 years and change the coach. So how strange it that to see Tibbs gone and Mike Brown here?

[John Starks]

Well, it was tough. T is obviously did a great job while he was here. I think change probably was needed at the time. You know, it's tough in this business as a coach knowing that, you know, situations may happen. And unfortunately, you know, for the last two years we've been favored against Indiana and we lost both series, you know, and that's tough. It's hard for a coach, even of Tibbs caliber to hold on, you know what I mean? But, you know, our future is bright. I think he established a culture here and, you know, we can't thank him enough for that. But now we under Mike Brown now, and I think Coach Brown brings a lot to the table. Championship experience, obviously been on some great teams, two time coach of the year, so he brings a lot to the table. So I'm excited about, you know, the upcoming season.

[Rick DiPietro]

John, you probably remember this, and I feel like this is the first time since then. Do you remember? First team on, last team off, Midnight Madness Practice, 1993. College of Charleston.

[John Starks]

College of Charleston.

[Rick DiPietro]

Yeah.

[John Starks]

Yes. Yes.

[Rick DiPietro]

Now, that's the mentality that. That. That team. And obviously for Pat Riley, as the coach had that year, was Michael Jordan retired.

[John Starks]

Yes.

[Rick DiPietro]

For the first time.

[John Starks]

Yes.

[Rick DiPietro]

And the east suddenly looked like it was there to be had.

[John Starks]

Yes.

[Rick DiPietro]

Was that the feeling that you guys had? Like, again, you know, you always want to believe you could have beaten him, but when he steps away now, the east this year, it's no Tatum, no. No Halliburton. There's a lot of things going on in the east that make you say there's opportunity here. Did you have to have that. That mentality going into training camp that year? 93, 94, saying it's here for us now?

[John Starks]

Oh, no question, no question. You know, we felt that we was one of the top teams in the east at that time. You know, Chicago was a hard, hard team to get past. But once Michael retired, obviously we was next up. And we felt that way going into training camp. And our training camp was excellent down there. Everybody came back in with a renewed spirit, especially after getting beat by them in Eastern conference final in 93. Yeah. Being up 2 0. And we knew that we had the team and we had the guys to get us over that threshold. And I feel that this team feels the same way. We was right there, and I felt this was our year. You know, as a fan and being a part of the organization, I felt that this team could get to the championship. And it was just disheartening when we didn't make it this year. And so. But these guys have a lot to build on. I feel like, you know, they can come back and understand that we was one step away from the championship. And so I know that they should be excited. Their workout during the off season should be, like, as hard as possible. And to come back with that sense that we're the better team in the East.

[Rick DiPietro]

Do you remember that practice? And was it really a practice? I know the. I've only heard the stories about it, but I don't know if you guys really actually put in a practice.

[John Starks]

No, we put it. You know, Coach Ralph. Every time we step on that court, it was practice.

[Rick DiPietro]

Real.

[John Starks]

It was practice.

[Don Hahn]

How do you think?

[Rick DiPietro]

But as pros, though, I'm sorry, but I just. Because I've always wondered about this. When he. When you saw the schedule and it was midnight in the gym.

[John Starks]

Yeah.

[Rick DiPietro]

Were you like, no, like what? Like, we're not doing this. Like, what was that like?

[John Starks]

Ralph was one that he always comes up with something to get you motivated and that. That's going back to college days. Yeah, you know. You know, the midnight madness and all of that. And I think he wanted to get us in that mindset, and, you know, it worked. Things that he came up with always. He knew what buttons to push in order to get us going. And so, you know, I can't thank him a lot for my time underneath him now.

[Rick DiPietro]

Mike Brown tries to pull that these days.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, good luck. They'll get a phone call.

[Rick DiPietro]

Agents will be calling.

[Don Hahn]

Definitely get a phone call. Talking to John Starks here at Colonial Springs for the ESPN Tee it up challenge. Sounded like there were players involved in the discussion on whether to move on from Tibs and what the team should do moving forward in those exit meetings. Do you recall during your career anybody asking you about a coach or about the future as a player? Did you ever find yourself involved in any of that when the season came to an end?

[John Starks]

Not really. I think the only discussion I had, far as once Riles left, is what coach to come in. Because I remember Dave check it, brought me in and asked me about Coach Nelson, and I gave him my opinion about him.

[Matthew Welling]

And.

[John Starks]

And that's probably the only discussion that I ever had with, you know, somebody in the front office about a coaching.

[Don Hahn]

Can I ask you what your opinion was of him?

[John Starks]

No, we leave that.

[Rick DiPietro]

I think, judging by how long he was here, we all kind of know. You know, what's amazing is the different eras that everybody plays in and the different style. Each era is a different style, so we always have these. These debates. But I'm wondering, as a former player and somebody that put in the. The amount of years that you put in and also the amount of games you play, you know, like, that was a different time.

[John Starks]

Yeah.

[Rick DiPietro]

To see LeBron James going into, like, year 20.

[John Starks]

Yeah.

[Rick DiPietro]

40 will be 41. He was second team all NBA. Do you look at. I'm wondering if you look at it well, in this era, it's a little bit easier to do. Or do you still marvel at just seeing someone play at that high of a level for that long?

[John Starks]

Yeah, I think it's just his commitment to being excellent, and I think him taking care of his body is the number one thing, is what can get you to play that many years? And plus, he came in the league a lot younger, you know, at 18 years old. So that helps too, obviously. But he's amazing, obviously. You can't take anything away from him. He has that mindset to go out there and. And make sure that he's ready each and up and coming season and the money that he spends on his physical training. A million a year.

[Rick DiPietro]

Yeah.

[John Starks]

You know, and look what it. The windfall from him. It's worth it. Great investment.

[Rick DiPietro]

When did you discover I got to put in extra in the off season to get myself ready for the current season. Was there a part of in your career where you started to do a little more? Did you learn about that later or earlier?

[John Starks]

Yeah, earlier. You know, playing on Coach Riley.

[Rick DiPietro]

Yeah.

[John Starks]

Yeah. I can't think of a guy that have played underneath him that don't still keep themselves in shape because he ingrained, you know, physical training during the off season. He used to run these, have these 17s, you know, you heard about those. And everybody used to. I think he. He did that to keep it on people mind knowing. Yeah. That, you know, you got to stay in shape during the off season. So. But I think sports training was really started to come into effect back in the early 90s and guys started to keep themselves in shape. You know, normally back in the 80s, guys wait to training camp and play their way in shape.

[Rick DiPietro]

Having a six pack at halftime.

[Matthew Welling]

Exactly.

[Rick DiPietro]

Even Vladi Divach is still like ripping.

[Don Hahn]

A couple of cigarettes. It doesn't feel like it's going to happen. Although there was a little bit of a murmur early in the summer. Would you want to see LeBron James come here?

[John Starks]

He's not coming here. I don't. You don't get your hopes up about that. I don't think LeBron, me personally, I don't think he's leaving LA. I feel like him opting into the. This last. This year. Last year of his contract. I feel like this is last year. I really do, because he never let it get to this point. And. And so I feel like this is his last year in the league. And, you know, I guess, you know, he probably want to play it out with his son, you know, And Bronny actually looks good.

[Rick DiPietro]

Summer league.

[John Starks]

Yeah, summer league. He looks good in summer league. So that's my opinion.

[Rick DiPietro]

Tyrese Halliburton became a villain. The Pacers have been now that team that have gotten in the way.

[John Starks]

They've been that that team feels like it.

[Rick DiPietro]

Like, I imagine for you, it's like Dej. Like this. We does this freaking team. But. But the. The similarities with him and Reggie in so many different ways, including the fact that they both embrace it.

[John Starks]

Yeah.

[Rick DiPietro]

When that shot goes in in game one.

[John Starks]

Yeah.

[Rick DiPietro]

And he points to Reggie and he's doing all the history. I know you're a court, sir.

[John Starks]

Yeah.

[Rick DiPietro]

Your blood had to have been boiling. Had to have been boiling.

[John Starks]

It was. It was. That shot was crazy. I was right up underneath the basket and on the sideline and, you know, on the baseline, I should say. And I'm watching that ball go up, I'm like, I ain't gonna say what. I see it in my mouth. This ball getting ready to go in the basket. It was. It was crazy. It was some of the. That's playoff basketball. It's kind of like March Madness. Anything can happen during the playoffs. And, you know, you watch that team and, you know, you have to give Rick Carlisle a lot of credit because that team plays to the buzzer, and that's what coaches teaches players, you know, play to the buzzard. And, you know, they went on to, you know, play in the championship, unfortunately.

[Don Hahn]

How do you think the Knicks would have done against the Thunder?

[John Starks]

I thought we was done very well against him, to be honest with you. I thought we would have matched up very well against him. And so. But we never know now.

[Rick DiPietro]

So I called the game in Oklahoma City. It was, I think, in January. It was right after the holidays. And I remember that, like, there were three and a half quarters.

[John Starks]

Yeah.

[Rick DiPietro]

There was one point during the game where, you know, with Mike Breen and I. And I looked at Mike and I just said, I'll take seven of these.

[John Starks]

Yeah.

[Rick DiPietro]

And he said, well, if you. You know, it would be in the NBA Finals. And we both, like, just nodded like, oh, yeah, this is really. Now, that game didn't end great. The Thunder had one of the kids off the bench for them, I think it might have been Wiggins came and just couldn't miss.

[John Starks]

Yeah.

[Rick DiPietro]

Put the game away.

[John Starks]

Yeah.

[Rick DiPietro]

But the game at the Garden was a blowout. That wasn't great. But that game made me feel like, oh, boy, this could be a fun series. One we won't get to see this year, which you never know.

[John Starks]

Yeah.

[Rick DiPietro]

That Thunder team certainly doesn't look like they're going anywhere.

[John Starks]

Yeah. They not.

[Rick DiPietro]

And if the Knicks can be what I like again, I feel like the expectations are going into this season are the highest I can Remember since your 93, 94 team that got there.

[John Starks]

Yeah. No, I agree with you 100%. And these guys should feel good about, you know, their chances this year. You know, the east is obviously wide open, you know, with those injuries that happened. And. And so they for sure feel comfortable knowing that they are probably the best team in the east right now, in my opinion. And so they. But they Just have to come out there and improve it.

[Don Hahn]

Right now, Cleveland seems to be the obvious threat because they did win north of 60 games and were the 1 seed. Anybody else? Magic, can they take a step?

[John Starks]

Magic? Yeah, this is a couple of good young teams out there. Magic, definitely one of them. Detroit, obviously they pushed us to the brink this year in the playoffs. Good young team. You know, everybody stepped up, you know, this offseason. So it's not going to be easy task, you know, and we have to understand that, you know, that's why the.

[Don Hahn]

Feeling was at least early that maybe LeBron would decide to come here. The easier path to a championship. There's just so many good teams in the West. That's why the conversation happened. But you spoiled it by saying the wrong way. Now we kind of. I don't think John wants it.

[Rick DiPietro]

John remembers the time where in 96 when Michael used the Knicks's leverage to get. He doesn't want something like that.

[Don Hahn]

I said it and see if you follow him. Yeah, the reason, the negative I said about LeBron coming here would be Knicks have a once in 73 and if they ever won with LeBron, it would be LeBron slit laid the dragon. LeBron's Knicks want. As much as you'd be happy you won for the first time in 50 plus years, don't you feel like it would almost be like the Knicks were a role player in this amazing LeBron James victory? And I think that would take a lot away from you. You take it. But wouldn't you rather do it without him?

[John Starks]

Well, championship is a championship. I don't care how you done, you know, at the end.

[Rick DiPietro]

That's right.

[John Starks]

You know, but like I said, I, I don't think he's coming. And you know, like I said, I just feel like this is last year. I really don't.

[Rick DiPietro]

So you're, you're, you love golf. Yes, I do follow it closely.

[John Starks]

Yes.

[Rick DiPietro]

Did you see what Scotty Scheffler said about the, like, it's not fulfilling, like winning and all that stuff. Can you, can you understand that? Like we were trying to like reason it and think. Has he reached a point in life where golf has gotten not easy, but just the point where I'd have won a lot? Like, yeah, whatever. Because he just wins last weekend and it's almost like, does he care? Does it matter? Like when you saw that stuff you do you say, I get what he's saying or do you have. What is he talking about? Because you were such a competitor.

[John Starks]

Yeah, no, I get. I Get what he's saying.

[Rick DiPietro]

Okay. What does he say?

[John Starks]

I really do. I think that he. He don't put everything. Like some guys just put everything into what they doing.

[Rick DiPietro]

Yeah.

[John Starks]

And that's not him. You know what I mean? Like he said, his faith, his family, then golf is second. And that's a good perspective to have because that makes you go out there and it frees you up to go out there and play.

[Rick DiPietro]

Okay.

[John Starks]

You know what I mean? And obviously it frees him up. Clearly, he's amazing and. And, you know, he just got a simplicity about his game and his approach in the game that I love. And you get to see. He just like a machine out there, you know, no emotions. He. Every now and then he may say something, but other than that, he just, you know, right down the middle, you know, he just keep marching along. But I can understand where you're coming from. You know, some guys, it's kind of like David Duvall when he won the British Open. He thought, this is going to be this, ah, glorious moment.

[Rick DiPietro]

Yeah.

[John Starks]

Then he just dropped off the.

[Rick DiPietro]

And he just realized, yeah, he just.

[John Starks]

It didn't do nothing.

[Rick DiPietro]

But yet Rory finally wins the Masters, and it looked like the world came off his shoulders. And he just. At that point, now all the. Because he used to get so much criticism. He always would play with so much pressure. How many times did he break late and it just. He would fall apart. Yeah, that's the opposite. It's almost like the breakthrough finally means. Now I can exhale and everything just. I don't care anymore.

[John Starks]

Yeah, exactly.

[Rick DiPietro]

Different feel.

[John Starks]

Exactly, exactly. And he kind of let his. He kind of let that go. Like, with Scotty is more as, like, tiger mentality. You know, we came, we could, we saw, we conquered. Going to the next turn. That Scotty mentality, Rory, is like, for all these years. Yeah, it was a great master. I love. That's probably one of the.

[Rick DiPietro]

That was a great story.

[John Starks]

Oh, it was a great story.

[Don Hahn]

I appreciated what Scotty said. I just don't think you say it because it just doesn't. Doesn't look good to the sponsors. Doesn't look good to the people that pay all the money to see you play. I get it. Maybe you say that after you retire, but if you're gonna still keep taking my money, you know, maybe you keep it to yourself.

[John Starks]

He. That's not Scotty, though.

[Don Hahn]

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[Matthew Welling]

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[Don Hahn]

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[John Starks]

After Zumies at the dog park, it's time for Drive up at Target.

[Dave Rothenberg]

In goes a big bag of kibble and one squeaky chicken toy for the good boy.

[Don Hahn]

Drive Up.

[John Starks]

That's ready when you are. Only in the Target app. Just tap Target.

[Rick DiPietro]

Ryan Reynolds here for Mint Mobile.

[Don Hahn]

With the price of just about everything.

[Rick DiPietro]

Going up, we thought we'd bring our prices down. So to help us, we brought in.

[Matthew Welling]

A reverse auctioneer, which is apparently a.

[Rick DiPietro]

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[Matthew Welling]

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[Rick DiPietro]

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[John Starks]

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[Rick DiPietro]

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[Matthew Welling]

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[Rick DiPietro]

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[Dave Rothenberg]

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[Don Hahn]

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[John Starks]

See, Mintmo just, he's just an honest dude, you know, he's given an honest opinion, I think, you know, he just goes out there and he's, and he does his job. He's kind of like Joker, you know. That's a great comparison at the Joker one.

[Rick DiPietro]

What do you want to do? You want to go home with his.

[John Starks]

Yeah, he said, I did my job. Now I can go home and rest.

[Rick DiPietro]

Yeah, leave me alone. It's true. It's so you, you've been out in these outings with us and you know a lot of things for us here at ESPN New York, but obviously we're here to support the Garden of Dreams Foundation. I'd be remiss because you do so much with it to not ask you about, number one, your involvement with the Garden of Dreams. But what you've seen and what it.

[John Starks]

Means for you, Garden of Dreams is everything. You know, being involved, as many years as I've been involved and sitting on the board and being a part of this great organization that's the charitable arm of the Garden, has been incredible. It's been life changing for a lot of kids, a lot of families. And what we do in the Tri State area has just been a beautiful thing over the years. And you know, we have kids here that grew up in the Garden of Dreams and now working with the Garden of Dreams. And that's the most rewarding thing is to see us help kids get to their, to their dreams. And so for me, being a part of it has just been awesome, you know, because I do so much in the community and to be able to be a part of the garden and give back to the community that has shown so much love to me over the years, it's just been a beautiful thing.

[Don Hahn]

One of those kids, Matthew Welling, is going to join us next.

[John Starks]

Matthew, he's the best.

[Don Hahn]

John, sorry to guilt you over here, but it was worth a lot of fun talking to you.

[John Starks]

I was wondering when you was going cob.

[Don Hahn]

Enjoy your cigar, get a bite to eat, enjoy the day. More to come, including Matthew Welling coming up next. So no NFL binge. We'll try to kick that maybe a little bit later on in the show. Don Han and Rosenberg hang out until 6:30. Then it's Mets baseball here on ESPN New York.

[Matthew Welling]

Thanks for listening to the Don Han and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don Hahn]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Matthew Welling]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want.

[Rick DiPietro]

Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.

[Don Hahn]

Matthew Welling, and he joins us here on Don Hanna. Rosenberg, how was your freshman year?

[Dave Rothenberg]

Good, thank you. No, yeah, it was, it was amazing. A lot of snow, very cold. As I was just telling Alan before they, they. It was called like the golden snow globe. So they had the most snow in the entire country this year. It was crazy. But of course you still go to class, so. But had a lot of fun.

[John Starks]

Awesome.

[Rick DiPietro]

I love the fact that you chose Syracuse and I'm gonna say it's probably because of the hair color.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Yeah.

[Rick DiPietro]

I mean, I imagine you fit right in.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. Right.

[Dave Rothenberg]

I feel like when I was talking to an admissions rep, they were, I was like, I was Bo, I was going to come.

[Don Hahn]

I'm supposed to be armed.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Yeah. I'm supposed to go here. Supposed to go here.

[Rick DiPietro]

Like so the whole. You've been in the Garden of Dreams foundation for 10 years. And I, we have, we have met several times.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Yeah.

[Rick DiPietro]

Whether it's with ESPN Radio or with MSG networks. And I've watched you come along and I've always said, every time. I've always said, this guy's coming for my job. And I say that out of respect because you already, at a young age, understand the idea of enunciating, speaking clearly, all the different things that come in. Broadcasting, for sure. And that's all important.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Yeah.

[Rick DiPietro]

But now that. Okay, I mean, you're at Newhouse, I mean, you know, you're there, you're in it now. It's competitive life, as you know.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Exactly.

[Rick DiPietro]

You step into school and you realized what right away when you walked into a. That's a big time.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Yeah.

[Rick DiPietro]

Sports, journalism school, broadcasting school that a lot of big time people have graduated from.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Exactly.

[Rick DiPietro]

So you get there. Did anything suddenly change? Did you have like, that, that realization that. That sort of like, okay, this is real. What was it?

[Dave Rothenberg]

Yeah, no, I felt like that was, that was kind of it. But they, they, from the get go, they were saying, look, you have to think of it as your own path, and you kind of can't really get seeing other people's opportunities get into your head. So it was kind of just. You pave your own path and you have your own little thing. Yes. It's great to see your friends and congratulate them for what they're doing, but at the same time, you're over here trying to do that exact thing. So, I mean, yes, it's very competitive. It's almost competition esque, but they kind of, they kind of trained you that way, so you're kind of just thinking about yourself the whole time.

[Don Hahn]

Not the way it should be.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Yep.

[Don Hahn]

How much they let you do as a freshman.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Yeah. So a lot of it is. It's very open. You're. You're kind of allowed to just go and train wherever you feel. I felt like that I didn't want to overbear and overdo it a little bit. So I kind of stuck with the radio. Whereas a lot of these other kids, they're doing two, three, maybe even four or five things a day. And I'm just like, look, I want to be a student for one year. I want to just. Just get my bearings and, and then catch myself for a little bit. But next, this coming August is gonna. I'm gonna ramp it up a little bit.

[Matthew Welling]

I love it.

[Rick DiPietro]

Like, again, that's a smart approach, you know, because you, you sometimes you want to do too much too Soon. And instead of understanding that, let me come in and just kind of see, like, get the landscape. I understand where I am and what everybody does and how they do it. You observe first and then you figure out, okay, this is where I want to go. And that's a smart way to do it instead of just, you know. You don't want to sprint.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Yeah, you don't want to sprint because.

[Rick DiPietro]

You'Re not going to get that far ahead. And that's smart.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Exactly.

[Rick DiPietro]

Now, now, something that we have talked about before on the air, so I know you're comfortable with it, is your visual impairment. And that is something that also makes you incredibly unique.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Correct.

[Rick DiPietro]

So tell for the listeners who don't know, what exactly do you deal with? Because you, you can see.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Correct.

[Rick DiPietro]

But there is some impairment. And how does it affect the way you choose what you'll be able to do in broadcasting?

[Dave Rothenberg]

Right.

[Matthew Welling]

So.

[Dave Rothenberg]

So I was diagnosed. So back when I was 1 years old, or 1 year old, excuse me, I was diagnosed with something called osteopetrosis, which is the opposite of osteoporosis. So the bones in my skull grew thicker instead of thinner, and it kind of crushed my optic nerves. So the only way to treat it was a bone marrow transplant. But so because of that which saved my life, the bone marrow of a stranger, I have, I still have vision. The doctors were saying that who knows what I would have had if. If it, if it prolonged or whatever. So. Yeah. So right now, today, I'm lucky. I have basically no vision in my left eye, no peripheral in my right. So basically it's all central. Central vision or whatever. So what Alan's getting at is, yes, I'm. I'm in Syracuse. I'm at Newhouse. To do broadcasting, that would be the dream, to do play by play. But just to understand my visual limitations, there's a road that I have to go through and kind of just put my eggs in other baskets to see if something else can come up in this industry. I know I want to be a part of this industry one way or another. But the dream, obviously, is to be a play by play guy. But you're just trying to go at it as I can and see what comes up and what opportunities arise.

[Rick DiPietro]

Let me tell you something again, incredibly mature. But your perspective is, to me, inspir, because you understand it. And instead of you calling it a limitation, what you're saying is, okay, this just allows me now to figure out what's best for me. Like I mentioned to you, off air.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Yeah.

[Rick DiPietro]

You could Easily be a studio host.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Exactly.

[Rick DiPietro]

By the way, they make good money. But again, you understand, like there's a lot of things that you can do. Exactly that that should be easy and right in your wheelhouse. So it does give you that feeling of there's something here for me in this business and I promise you there is. But it also doesn't mean try to play, you know, you never know.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Exactly.

[Rick DiPietro]

You never know.

[Dave Rothenberg]

But I think what the main goal that I'm looking for is to have listeners and viewers of sports like myself with other disabilities try and bridge that together and, and have them all partake and participate and view sports as a. As a normal fan is probably the goal that I'm looking for.

[Matthew Welling]

That's pretty.

[Don Hahn]

That's awesome. And to Alan's point, you know, my dream was always to do play by play, but those opportunities few and far between. So for 16 years I did the pre and post for the jets and then the pre and post for the Rangers led to the play by play. But be even being involved in that way in the pre and post and intermissions is, you know, closeness and knowledge of the team because that can't be taken away, you knowing the team. So yeah, yeah, yeah. Do all the things that you can do. And that would my recommendation, anybody going to school.

[Rick DiPietro]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Be a student because you got to get your grades, you got to be able to keep up that way.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Yep.

[Don Hahn]

But don't be afraid to do everything because the more versatile you are, the more opportunities present themselves. When I was working at the radio station at Ramapo, I was the news director, sports director, and you know, bulk carts. I did music shows. Just do everything that you can.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Everything. Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

And you get that opportunity to take advantage of it because that is a tremendous school.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Totally in agreement.

[Rick DiPietro]

The radio aspect in sports, what we've never realized. And I know Don, you've probably heard this, I know you have. You guys on the other, on the case show had listeners. We still have those listeners too. There are sight impaired listeners. The only connection they have to sports is to listen, is to listen and you be descriptive in what you do. And that just gives you that extra importance to what we do and why radio will always be important because the, the necessity to describe way more than a TV announcer would. And I imagine for you, again, there's another part of it that for you would probably extra special is to have that ability to make sure that those who can't see still get the descriptions from you who understand how much they need.

[Dave Rothenberg]

That's exactly what that's exactly where I'm going. Totally. Totally.

[Don Hahn]

That's awesome.

[Rick DiPietro]

All right, well, let's get some sports out of this.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Heck, yeah.

[Rick DiPietro]

All right, enough about him. Like, you could tell he loves to talk about himself, but let's go. I mean, come on.

[Don Hahn]

All right, so, so, so.

[Rick DiPietro]

So let's see.

[John Starks]

Would you.

[Rick DiPietro]

I'm gonna give you three topics.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Okay.

[Rick DiPietro]

Like, because you told me you went to the Knicks playoffs, so I know you want to go there.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Sure.

[Rick DiPietro]

So I believe, you know, I forgot the three topics. Let's just go there. Because he. By the way, Don, what Matt's telling me is he was at game six, which means he was also outside.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Outside. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Rick DiPietro]

So it means he was probably climbing one of the light poles on seventh.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Are you? No.

[Rick DiPietro]

You know, like. But you were there, though.

[Dave Rothenberg]

I was there. You probably couldn't see me because everyone's like, six, seven feet.

[Rick DiPietro]

But at that point, are you thinking, all right, they just beat the Celtics.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Yeah.

[Rick DiPietro]

Did you feel like the Finals was the destination? Like, how did you feel the season ended for the Knicks?

[Dave Rothenberg]

I felt. Yeah. I felt like we. What? What? After. Afterwards, when we weren't really taking Indiana seriously, how quiet Indiana was. We're like, oh, we want Indiana. We want Indiana. They didn't say a word. So our. The. As. As Knicks fans, our mentality is, yeah, we want to go to the Finals. I felt like they. That was a team that could totally have made the Finals, and then they just got totally outmatched. No one knew a single thing. They never said. The Pacers fans never. They never lashed out on social media, whatever, what have you. And so, yes, it was disappointing, but you can't shy away from the fact that they had a great season. And even with the departure of Thibodeau, I think the fans are. They don't. I really feel it. Feel like they shouldn't take Mike Brown as a downgrade. Even if he wasn't the first or second or third option, he still has his accolades. He still won Coach of the year once or twice.

[Rick DiPietro]

Twice.

[Dave Rothenberg]

So, I mean, there's. There's. I don't think it. I don't think of that as a downgrade at all.

[Don Hahn]

All right. How about the other team at the Garden, the Rangers, going through it? I. I like to call a reimagining rather than rebuild.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Right.

[Rick DiPietro]

But Don uses big words. I don't understand what I'm imagining, but I feel like we're. It's a Disney product.

[Don Hahn]

Well, he should know, because they never said they remodel they reimagine what they're doing with the Rangers.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Yeah. I think the first thing I want to mention is Chris Kreider was literally my childhood. So that kind of. That kind of took a blow to my heart a little bit. I still love the guy almost. I might buy a Ducks jersey. We'll see.

[Don Hahn]

Wow.

[Dave Rothenberg]

But yeah, I mean, that's a different situation. I know Mike Sullivan, he's again, another experienced coach in the business. Knows what he's doing. He's won a cup. Won a cup, few cups. So it'll be interesting to see. Obviously, the roster is not going to be as strong as it once has been, but you never know with that team. I mean, the year they made the Eastern Conference finals, no one expected them to do that. So it'll be interesting to see.

[Rick DiPietro]

Yeah.

[Dave Rothenberg]

What happens.

[Don Hahn]

The Ducks have kind of become the range, like. Well, like the way the Lightning were.

[Dave Rothenberg]

For a while or the Panther. Not the Panthers, the Hurricanes.

[Rick DiPietro]

But you know what? We do a thing on this show Fraud Friday where Don Don will. He is the. The. The judge, jury and execution. Even has a gavel and everything.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Heck yeah.

[Rick DiPietro]

And so what we try to do.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Judge kind of thing, we.

[Rick DiPietro]

We try to figure out like, is something. Fraudulent behavior by a fan.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Right.

[Rick DiPietro]

Okay, done. I mean, he's a. He's a. A Rangers fan. He. If he buys a Duck's jersey and wears it. Are we talking fraud?

[Dave Rothenberg]

No, that's a Chris Crider.

[Don Hahn]

If he gets a. It would go great with the hair.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Yeah. All right.

[Don Hahn]

And. And if the original. There's a range of reason for it.

[Rick DiPietro]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

He would go out and get the jersey fighter. That's his childhood. There's no rivalry between the two teams. Right. So.

[Rick DiPietro]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

That's completely.

[Dave Rothenberg]

It's not like he went to go play to Boston. If I. I feel like I wouldn't do that like Boston or Pittsburgh or any of those Devils or Islanders. Exactly.

[Rick DiPietro]

Okay.

[Dave Rothenberg]

It's the Ducks.

[Rick DiPietro]

All right. Not a fraud. It's not a fraud. It's official.

[Don Hahn]

No gavel, but no gave. It is official for sure. So what are you getting ready for. For as your rising sophomore year?

[Dave Rothenberg]

Yeah, I feel like just, just, just building up the. As dad calls it, the Rolodex. And just in getting the networking going smart and kind of just dipping my toes into more stuff at cues and just kind of getting a little more involved is the plan.

[Don Hahn]

There's two Rolodexes. Right. There's the Rolodex for the career and then there's the roller decks for A single softboard.

[Rick DiPietro]

The little black book.

[Dave Rothenberg]

The little black book that my dad was.

[Rick DiPietro]

What is your generation like?

[Dave Rothenberg]

Yeah, that's your phone. What do you have?

[Rick DiPietro]

Is it, is it Snapchat? Like, what is it?

[Dave Rothenberg]

It's the contacts app, is what it is.

[Rick DiPietro]

Yeah. Okay. O.

[Dave Rothenberg]

So much. Like he was drilling it into me so much. Dad was trying to buy one, but on Amazon they were like 50 bucks. He's like, I'm good, I'm good, I'm good.

[Rick DiPietro]

Well, it's, it's great to see you. Oh, I'm always thrilled for you that you're there. You've got that year in. We're just going to keep tabs on you because like I said. I know. And thankfully, by the time you're ready, I'll be. I'll probably be ready for retirement. So. But, but, but good luck this year. You know where to find us. Of course, if you ever need any type of advice. But I think you're on your way.

[Dave Rothenberg]

I appreciate it, guys. Thank you. Sounds good.

[Rick DiPietro]

Okay.

[Don Hahn]

Maybe on the road.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Sounds good.

[Don Hahn]

All right, man.

[Rick DiPietro]

Thank you, man.

[Don Hahn]

That's Matthew Welling from Garden of Dreams.

[Rick DiPietro]

Yes.

[Don Hahn]

Greg Buttle gonna join us coming up next. You ready for some bottle?

[Rick DiPietro]

I can't wait.

[Don Hahn]

I don't care.

[Rick DiPietro]

I need some bottle.

[Don Hahn]

We're gonna get it going on here on Don Hanna Rosenberg on 880 ESPN New York. The McDonald's snack wrap is back.

[Rick DiPietro]

You brought it back.

[John Starks]

Ranch snack wrap.

[Don Hahn]

Spicy snack wrap.

[John Starks]

You broke the Internet for a snack?

[Rick DiPietro]

Snackwrap is back.

[Don Hahn]

This episode is brought to you by Liquid IV.

[Rick DiPietro]

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[Matthew Welling]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don Hahn]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Rick DiPietro]

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

[Don Hahn]

One of my best friends in the world, Greg Baldwin, and he's here today.

[Rick DiPietro]

That sounds amazing.

[Matthew Welling]

You know, thank you.

[Rick DiPietro]

It really was. I mean, and the fact that it.

[Don Hahn]

Ticked off, man, made it that much better.

[Rick DiPietro]

Thank you, everybody.

[Don Hahn]

But when the bosses would say, you can't smoke cigars, and what would Craig do? The jets said, it's okay, and we're doing it.

[Matthew Welling]

That's right. Woody, can I smoke a cigar? Yes, you can.

[Rick DiPietro]

Okay. That's all I need to know.

[Don Hahn]

You look good, man. I'll tell you what.

[Matthew Welling]

I feel good. It's like. It's. The years pass, as you know. I mean, you know.

[John Starks]

How many.

[Matthew Welling]

How old are your kids now? Eight, ten.

[Don Hahn]

Gonna be eight December 5th.

[Matthew Welling]

Eight years. It's been eight years since you dumped me like a. Like a bad habit.

[Don Hahn]

I did, you know, dropped. But you've. You've upgraded.

[Matthew Welling]

Oh, I crossed across. I agree.

[Don Hahn]

You were slumming with me for 16 years, and now you got an upgrade. You did.

[Matthew Welling]

Well, the slums. The slum started in the beginning when. When I really didn't know you, but it was. It was a. A great run of. What do we have there? 18 years together.

[Don Hahn]

16.

[Matthew Welling]

16 years together. Boy, I'll tell you, that was awesome. And I learned a lot from the guy. Can I tell you something? I really learned a lot from him.

[Rick DiPietro]

Learn anything about broadcasting?

[Matthew Welling]

Nothing but patience. I did learn patience.

[John Starks]

And.

[Don Hahn]

And I. You come to the Sasso every year. You're coming again this year, and I don't know if I told the story on the air, but the story. The story when I first met Greg Buttle was they had me go out and do a show before the jets played the Bills, like during the 2000 season, before I even knew who he was. And he comes over and I. I. The show hadn't started yet. Greeny was doing a show with. With Freeman McNeil over at the ESPN Zone. And when that show was over, I was gonna go on the air, like at noon or 11 or whatever, and they were gonna bring alumni over. And, you know, me growing up a Giant fan, I didn't know a lot of the jets alumni by faith. And here comes Greg Buttle storms on to set. So who am I talking to? I said, you're gonna. I'll be interviewing you. We're gonna do the interview now. I said. I said, we're not on the air yet.

[Rick DiPietro]

Who are you?

[Don Hahn]

It's like, I'm Greg Buttle. Let's do the interview now. I said, well, Mike Greenberg's on the air. Will you get Mike Greenberg on the phone and tell him to get off the air? We're doing it now. And he was being Craig, but not knowing Craig, I'm like, who is this a giving me all this crap? And I didn't remember who he was. So whenever I would tell the story, I would joke around and say, I don't know, Randy Beverly or somebody like that. So I tell the story before the sasso last year when I'm doing the introductions. So we jog over to the first base line for the anthem. And Marty Lyons goes, you do know that Randy Beverly was black. But it was uphill from there, really, because they were downhill from there because it was. It was a great introduction of, like, who is this guy? And then you become a major part of my life, man. I miss you.

[Matthew Welling]

You know, and it's a funny thing from being with you. It. It. I think you got married at one point in our career.

[Don Hahn]

No, you were at my wedding.

[Matthew Welling]

That's right.

[Don Hahn]

Don't forget that.

[Matthew Welling]

Oh, you had kids. Kids. And no, the.

[Don Hahn]

The water broke during. During Jets Chiefs.

[Matthew Welling]

That's right. That's right.

[Don Hahn]

Pre Patrick Mahomes. So it wasn't as important.

[Rick DiPietro]

No.

[Matthew Welling]

Yeah. Well, I will tell you something that there we. To think back that. That's 25 years ago almost, right?

[Dave Rothenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

You were 47 when we.

[Matthew Welling]

Yeah.

[Rick DiPietro]

Jeez.

[Don Hahn]

And I'm 57 now. I'm 10 years older than you were when we met.

[Matthew Welling]

Well, all I can tell you is I think that a lot of time has gone by and we did have a lot of. A lot of fun every single year. And despite the fact whether the jets won or they lost, it was a lot of fun because you made it fun working. It was like, there's a lot to talk about and there's a lot of things that are nebulous. And some of the nebulous things to people and to fans become interesting because of my relationship with you. And we're able to bounce it off of each other for so many years and do it in a fun and respectful manner. And I thought that was great.

[Rick DiPietro]

The importance of chemistry.

[Matthew Welling]

Yes.

[Rick DiPietro]

Like, that's something like when I jokingly said, did you learn anything about broadcasting? That would have been the one thing that I would sig. I would say that probably developed over. That is how important chemistry is to make a show, especially when it's not a Good team and a bad season and yet you can still find ways to do a post game to have that interaction to make it entertaining. But that's. You can't make that up. Like that has to be a genuine thing. And you guys clearly had that.

[Matthew Welling]

No. And I think one of the really good things that we got early on was the ability to understand what I wanted to talk about and what he wanted to talk about and how it mixed and how you could mix it and how it just flowed. And I think that that was the important thing of my relationship with Don doing the jets pre game, post game shows all the time. And that it's almost like he knew what I was thinking and vice versa. And that was so neat that you could just flow band time flew 2 hours pre 2 hours post flew all the time. Yeah, it really was.

[Rick DiPietro]

But I'm trying to get there with him. I'm trying to get there with him. That's six months and we're still trying to get there. But that's the chemistry part is the important part. But you were saying something to me when Don went off to get a soda and it's about the fact that he got an opportunity to be the Devil's play by play guy. And no one knows more than you. This just because of where you guys started, how far back you go with Don in broadcasting, what this opportunity means to him.

[Matthew Welling]

You know, when you think about, you know, Don, Don is a. I use consummate professional and I don't use that lightly. And, and I do that because Don worked the Jet stuff with, with me and I'm a Jet and he's a Giant fan. And then Don does the Rangers games and he sits in for Kenny Albert and then he does Ranger games and he's a Devil's fan. And I mean he's got the devil's tattoo on his, on his, on his calf. And you know what, and he grew up that, that kind of thing and now it's so wonderful he gets to live what he watched for for 30 years. And I think that that is so great for you, Don.

[Don Hahn]

Thank you. I appreciate it. It really is reached out. It was, you know, it was a dream come true. But yeah, the 16 years doing jets being a giant fan, you know, 20 years doing Rangers being a Devil fan and then having to work with Michael K for 20 plus years. He's a Yankee guy being on yes and all that. So it was definitely tested. But you know, when the Giants flew that lead against the Eagles, we're doing the pre game and he kept going, don't worry, they got this done. They got this done. Didn't have to pop on the microphone or you know, and just do the job because it's a, it's a job, right? I mean you love doing it, but you got to do the work because the audience wants to hear it.

[Matthew Welling]

That's right. And, and Dom was as up to speed on everything that the jets were doing and the opponents were doing with the jets and he was able to look at it in a non biased look at it, you know, because if you were a Giant fan, you hated the Jets. I mean that's. If you listen to Don Le Grec out there, you can't love both of them, you know. Oh no, no. You're not a fan if you like both, you know. So here the guy is living his, what he says and he's living it. And he did it in a very respectful and, and gracious manner all the time.

[Rick DiPietro]

Can we talk about the current Jets?

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, sure.

[Rick DiPietro]

And the. Now that we. Because you know, you had two years of a lot of Aaron Rodgers, even though didn't play a lot, but it was just so much Aaron Rodgers and, and a lot of a team that maybe the expectations were way higher than they should have been. But now I, I keep saying this, I just, it just feels like it's gotten quiet again and it's, it's not as turbulent and it's a lot quieter and it feels like that's by design. With the organization, with the hiring of Aaron Glenn, with the moves that they have made, do you sense that, that, that a lot of the noise has kind of gone away and it's just more about can they build a team, you know.

[Matthew Welling]

You know, it's like anything else is that first of all Aaron Rodgers unto himself is Aaron Rodgers. And you know, with player like that comes social media. That's ridiculous. And how do you handle that social media? And you can't control, you know, guys doing social media, they say dumb things or they say smart things and you have to live with the good and the bad. When it comes to social media, unfortunately in New York you're under a microscope. That is incredible. When it comes to media, whether it's the radio media, it's newspapers, it's television or it's social, it is so it is so invasive on people that are in or on social media. And so you have to be very careful about what you do, what you say. And then all of a sudden it can explode on you. And now you have to handle that in house, and you can't handle it in house because the media wants to know everything. So very difficult. But I would say that as the jets look here with trying to set the culture or a new culture with Aaron Glenn doing that, I think that that's a good idea. Listen, this is how we're going to do it here. This, this time we. I think we got it out of hand, so let's keep ourselves, you know, close to the vest and let's see how we can do without everybody talking about everybody else behind everybody's back and everything.

[Rick DiPietro]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

So you like Justin Fields.

[Matthew Welling]

I do like Justin Fields. And. And I don't say that because I do. Jets radio is that. I mean, with the Steelers, he was 4 and 2 and I watched him play and I thought, he's pretty good. And then they set him for Russ, for Russell Wilson. They sit him down and I'm going to. The kid really, really didn't have a chance to grow into that job because they put Russell Wilson in. And I look at that and I'm going, this may be the perfect opportunity for him because he's veteran, quote, unquote. You know, he's been in the league, he's got some experience and he has talent and he can throw the ball and he can run around with the ball, too. Now the question is, is everyone is going to say, well, he's never played a full season. He's never done this, he's never done that. I give the kid a chance.

[Don Hahn]

He's 26.

[Rick DiPietro]

You could really hit almost like a draft.

[Don Hahn]

You could hit on this draft pick adjacent, right with. With NFL experience, he's still young enough. You can mold him into what you want.

[Matthew Welling]

That's correct. And let me say this. Last year, I think I'm going to. I believe the stats were simple. You know, the jets had a quarterback that threw 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. And, you know, nothing happened with him. So you have to take a look at that. You got to say, okay, not that Justin. Justin Fields is going to go do that, but certainly if you have a quarterback that can do those things and you have a defense with expectations, the jets have a good defense. I got to tell you something, you know, far be it from injury, you know, you can compete. And I will tell you something. I'm looking for the jets to go out there and compete, and the big deal will be just like it is every single year. Donnie, we've talked about it and Alan, you know it. It's the last two series in. Whether you're either going to win by a score or you're going to lose by a score. And the bounce of the ball sometimes bounces your way. You've got to understand it. They bounce the wrong way one time, but it means nothing because you got to go to the next game and now make it ball bounce for you. And I think that that's what Aaron Glenn is trying to create here and what he means in a culture of. Listen, just because this happened one time, it's not going to happen again. You cannot keep repeating those bad things to be able to win in the NFL.

[Don Hahn]

Did you shoot okay today?

[Matthew Welling]

I hit the ball pretty good today, yes, but I, you know, we're not going to win anything today here. 6 under doesn't do anything for you.

[John Starks]

Hold on.

[Don Hahn]

What did you. Would you shoot out?

[Rick DiPietro]

We ended up four. I think we were three or four under. Did you see the guy who Albatross?

[Matthew Welling]

No. He knocked it.

[Rick DiPietro]

290. The 290 par four lefty.

[Matthew Welling]

Oh, sure.

[Rick DiPietro]

Right in the hole.

[Matthew Welling]

Really?

[Rick DiPietro]

Yeah. And we were there. We. Because they were behind us. They went crazy. He couldn't find it. And he's like, he goes, let me just look in the hole just for the hell of it. There was.

[Don Hahn]

That's awesome.

[Rick DiPietro]

Unreal.

[Matthew Welling]

You know, and the funny part is if, if he was Tiger woods or somebody like that, they put a plate down there with his name on it. Hey, knocked it in for an albatross, right? No, they're not going to put anything. No one knows who the guy is or they're going to care. Right?

[Don Hahn]

You got a free meal.

[Rick DiPietro]

But he had his day. He had his day.

[Don Hahn]

I will see you on the 23rd, my friend.

[Matthew Welling]

That's awesome. I appreciate it, Alan. Nice to see you too. Good luck.

[Rick DiPietro]

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.

[Matthew Welling]

80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers.

[Don Hahn]

You've seen the headlines, heard the debates.

[Rick DiPietro]

Some say the three point ball has.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Created a monotonous rhythm to the game.

[Matthew Welling]

And has the three pointer ruined basketball?

[Don Hahn]

And how did we get here?

[Rick DiPietro]

The rise of the three point shot can be partially traced to an eccentric.

[Don Hahn]

Kansas genius named Martin Manley, whose story didn't turn out quite the way he imagined.

[Rick DiPietro]

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

[Don Hahn]

30 for 30 podcast presents a brand.

[Rick DiPietro]

New original series Chasing basketball heaven, available July 22.

[John Starks]

Wherever you get your podcasts.