Hour 2: Jon Heyman & Fraud Alert Friday

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg Podcast Summary

Episode: Hour 2: Jon Heyman & Fraud Alert Friday
Release Date: July 18, 2025
Hosts: Don LaGreca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Guest: John Heyman

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1. All-Star Game Recap and Opinions

Discussion Highlights:

• John Heyman joins the show to discuss his recent experiences and thoughts on the All-Star game.
• Anthony (John Heyman) shares his positive view on the swing-off format, expressing admiration despite some criticisms from others and even his own publication.

Notable Quotes:

• "I like the swing-off. I like the challenge system. I like the team uniforms. I thought it was a hit." — John Heyman [01:06]
• "It's a game that counts. This one doesn't count anymore." — John Heyman [01:29]

2. Trade Deadline Strategies: Yankees vs. Mets

Discussion Highlights:

• The hosts delve into the upcoming trade deadline, focusing on the Yankees' potential moves and the Mets' strategic needs.
• Anthony provides insights into the Yankees' considerations for acquiring third basemen like Suarez without overpaying.
• The conversation shifts to the Mets, emphasizing their bullpen as the primary area of need and discussing potential trades involving key players.

Notable Quotes:

• "I doubt they would do Spencer Jones. I think I suggested Schlitler... they could look at other minor leaguers." — John Heyman [04:46]
• "It's gotta be bullpen. I think that's huge in today's game." — John Heyman [09:20]
• "I feel better about the Mets going into the second half. I feel better about the Mets than the Yankees." — John Heyman [18:17]

3. Evaluating League Strengths: National vs. American League

Discussion Highlights:

• Anthony assesses the current state of both the National and American Leagues, noting that the National League may be more competitive than initially anticipated.
• The hosts discuss standout teams and players, mentioning the Astros' impressive performance and the Red Sox's winning streak in the American League.

Notable Quotes:

• "The National League is stronger. It's maybe not as much stronger as I anticipated." — John Heyman [13:42]
• "San Diego has had some injuries. Arizona has been decimated by injuries." — John Heyman [13:42]

4. Fraud Alert Friday: Debating Fandom Loyalty

Discussion Highlights:

• In the recurring segment "Fraud Alert Friday," the hosts entertain listener questions about the legitimacy of their sports fandom.
• Listeners share humorous or questionable reasons for their team loyalties, which Don, Alan, and Peter rigorously judge as "frauds."

Notable Quotes:

• "Screw. Go scratch yourself. Well, it's Fraud Alert Friday let's line them up." — Don LaGreca [23:05]
• "He was the definition of a fraud. He's a fraud liar." — Don LaGreca [31:15]
• "I remain neutral until I went to a game at MSG and Prudential... Am I a fraud for not hating the Islanders?" — John Heyman [28:26]

Listener Examples:

• Mike Ferrara: Claims allegiance to both UConn and North Carolina but refuses to watch the game if they play against each other.
  • "Am I a fraud?" — Mike Ferrara via John Heyman [23:23]
• Russell: Wears his wife's Mets raincoat despite being a Yankees fan.
  • "Am I a fraud for not hating the Islanders?" — John Heyman [28:26]

Hosts' Verdicts:

• Don LaGreca consistently rules listeners as frauds based on their explanations.
  • "He's a fraud Tar Heel fan because he didn't go there." — Don LaGreca [23:37]
  • "You're a fraud with a bunch of weak ass excuses." — Don LaGreca [29:13]

5. Concluding Thoughts on Team Dynamics and Future Prospects

Discussion Highlights:

• The hosts reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of both the Yankees and the Mets as the season progresses.
• Anthony expresses concern over the Yankees' rotation and optimism for the Mets' improved chances with key players returning from injuries.

Notable Quotes:

• "With the Mets getting Senga and Mania back and the Yankees losing Schmidt for the year, I think we got to feel better about the Mets' chances." — John Heyman [19:08]
• "I do think they have a good shot at Suarez." — John Heyman [05:57]

6. Advertisements and Promotions

Note: Advertisements and promotional segments were present throughout the transcript but are excluded from this summary per instructions.

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Final Remarks: The episode provided a comprehensive discussion on recent MLB events, trade strategies, and a humorous segment dissecting listener fandom authenticity. The engaging dialogues, coupled with insightful analyses, make this episode valuable for fans seeking in-depth baseball conversations.

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Listen to the full episode on ESPN New York App or your favorite smart device.

Transcript

[Don LaGreca]

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

[Peter Rosenberg]

This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don LaGreca]

That sounds like heaven to me.

[Peter Rosenberg]

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

[Don LaGreca]

Now for the weekend weather brought to you by Schoenhoffer. Tomorrow, cloudy with a high of 82 and sunny, thunderstorms and a high of 81 on Sunday. And well, that's the weekend weather brought to you by Schoenhofer. Schoenhoffer Grapefruit in. Here comes the happy. He's John Heyman and he joins us here on Don Han and Rosenberg. How are you, sir? Happy summer.

[John Heyman]

I'm good.

[Anthony]

How are you guys doing?

[Don LaGreca]

You enjoy your break or did you have to work?

[Anthony]

I worked. I enjoyed my work. I went to Atlanta, of course. We had the All Star game. I got to go, got to see the All Stars. I liked it. I thought it was good. I like the swing off. I like the challenge system. I like the team uniforms. I thought it was a hit. I know maybe some others didn't think that. Even my own paper I saw, but I liked it.

[Don LaGreca]

No, I thought, can we stay there real quick? Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Because Don and I talked about it the next day. I know a lot of people did, but Don, I talked about the next day. You said you like the swing off. Yeah, I know it would take, you know, we'd have to come up with all kinds of ways it could work. But because, because hockey has a shootout, you know, during the regular season. Is there anywhere in your brain as you're watching it, did you once think, how could they use this in the regular season? Did you ever see hockey as a.

[Anthony]

Shootout in the regular season? When did that start? I missed that 20 years. That sounds a lot more something to complain about to me. It's a game that counts. This one doesn't count anymore. It didn't bother me. You know, they don't want to go long in All Star games. They have a limited number of pitchers. I'm not even sure why you have 14 pitchers for a nine inning game. It got ridiculous with the pitchers that ended up making the team. But they do. And I enjoyed it. I thought it was good. It's unfortunate that it has to be the substitutes who are, you know, they're not that they're bad players, but, you know, I would have liked to have seen Ohtani and Judge in that swing off.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, that's the thing that bothered me. I thought it was a home run literally for Major League Baseball. But to have those guys not be available and the Players association signed off on it. Like if the players wanted it, John, then why wouldn't the players want to participate in it?

[Anthony]

Well, I mean, it's been a long standing tradition that the starters leave in the middle of the game. I will say this. I think Lindor was hung around. All the Tigers were still around. But, you know, I was in the National League clubhouse and I didn't see any starters that were still there at the end of the game. So, I mean, that's been allowed forever. That would really take some change to do that, to make them stay for the whole game. It was six to nothing. I don't think anybody expected it would end up in a swing off. But you know, I do agree that it would be better with Judge and Ohtani. But Schwaber was pretty good, though. He was pretty good.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah. That was a cool show that he put on. I didn't like the idea he's the mvp. I'd rather give the MVP to Alonzo, actually hit the ball that the pitcher intended him to miss instead of a batting practice ball. But listen, I'll live with it if the Mets, you know, Mets have bigger fish to fry. But I didn't like the fact that they gave him the mvp.

[Anthony]

Yeah, I'm with you. I think Alonso should have been the mvp, but Schwaber did technically win the game and he was our back page in the New York Post, so obviously did some in something that impacted something. But I'm kind of with you. Three run homer in the middle in the game. I think Alonzo should have been the mvp.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right, so it only gets busier for you now these next couple of days with the trade deadline coming up and you've been a couple.

[Anthony]

I got almost two weeks to go. I wish it was a couple.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Feels like, I mean, it feels it's fast approaching or maybe we're just trying to get there sooner rather than later.

[Anthony]

Yeah, I'm with you on that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm all over it, though. And that's why I love following you on social media because you, you, you have a lot of the names and all the things to keep an eye on and the one area actually for both teams but I'm going to focus on the Yankees is the third base spot. Is. Is Suarez a real option when it comes to the cost? Because I've seen you suggest that it could cost as expensive as a Spencer Jones and would they do something like that for what would be a rental?

[Anthony]

Yeah, I doubt they would do Spencer Jones. I think I suggested Schlitler who did a nice job, came up and pitched a nice game. But they may not want to trade him. They've got other minor leaguers, they've got Hess and other guys who are ranked even higher than Schlitler they could look at. I mean I would say with the guys who are available, these rental players, a lot of relievers, I think they hold on to Spencer Jones and George Lombardo. Well at the All Star game I ran into some scouts who said it feels like the Yankees are going to do something big. Spencer Jones does have a 1200 OPS in AAA. I understand it's only been 60 at bats or so but you know he's a left handed hitting outfielder. They've got those. Unless they traded Grisham maybe and Grisham. I guess Grisham will be a free. Is a free agent. But yeah, I don't think you'd have to give up Spencer Jones to get a. Even though Suarez is going to be huge interest, the Cubs should be interested and other teams. Seattle, I think that that's an overpay and Yankees are not famous for the overpays at this time.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah. So that doesn't feel like it's something that they would do. So ultimately when we get to the 31st or before, how do you think the Yankees will change?

[Anthony]

Yeah, I do think they have a good shot at Suarez. Right. They have pretty good prospects as do the Cubs. They obviously have the huge need. They got two guys sharing their position batting.149. So you know they're going to do something at third base. I mean I think it's going to be something bigger than IKF or Renifo or. I mean a guy to me would just be, you know, an upgrade of what they got. But certainly not a starting third baseman for the New York Yankees. You know, they've got a few options. You've got Suarez, you've got McMahon, you've got Key Brian Hayes. I mean is Minnesota willing to trade Royce Lewis? There are a few others out there. It doesn't feel like they're interested in Nolan Arenado. With 38 million or so to go through the end of next year and right up against that big Steve cone tax Yankees got to pay, even though it's called the Steve Cohn tax. So I think they'll come up with somebody. Probably Suarez, McMahon, Key Brian Hayes or somebody in that category. I mean, Suarez is a higher category than Hayes, but these are starting third.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Basemen for the Yankees on the Mets side of things. Actually, before we go to the Mets, I did want to ask you about something that Don, I talked about earlier, and the Yankees decided to go with an opener today. Before we get into the Mets, let's just finish up on the Yankees. They're going. Ian Hamilton, they're going with an opener. It seems like, I guess Freed in the blister is something they want to avoid. Radon pitching one inning in an All Star game. I don't know how that pushes him off this start, but it does. What do you know about why they're going in this direction? Are they just setting up to play the Blue Jays next?

[Anthony]

Yeah, that's an excellent question. I mean, I just saw that myself, so I really couldn't give you a better answer than you've speculated on. I never thought they needed an opener. You had two off days. Radon had one inning. Nobody else had any innings. It is very, very weird. I hope somebody explains it. There are people covering the team right now in Atlanta, so hopefully, hopefully somebody comes up with an explanation of why this needs to happen. I mean, all the guys who are in the rotation now, whether it be Schlitler or Strohlman, you would think they're available. And Rodin as well. Right. It was Tuesday. Right. So we're talking Friday. So it's three days. So I really don't know why they're doing this. I don't like the opener, particularly for a team with a pretty mediocre bullpen. Don't like it at all.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah. And I guess the easy answer is they're trying to set up the rotation for the bigger series coming up against the Blue Jays starting next week. But the Blue Jays are taking on San Francisco. Not a bad team. I mean, you want to win the games that you're supposed to win, try to see if you can kind of catch them and give yourself a bit of a margin for error. So even if it is to set up your best pitchers for the Blue Jays, these games this weekend are important, too.

[Anthony]

Yeah, I don't know why you would need to. After two off days, you think you'd be able to dive right into a rotation. I get Freed, obviously. He's got the blister, so he's not quite ready yet. So I get that one. So the ace wasn't going to be able to go and you know, maybe you're right. Maybe they're thinking more about Toronto, but the Yankees can't afford to overlook anybody at this point.

[Don LaGreca]

I don't think I agree for sure. Even though Atlanta's 11 games under.500 still could be a dangerous team. Talking to John Heyman here on Don Hahn and Rosenberg as we're getting closer and closer to the trade deadline. All right, the Mets I find interesting too. They get Mania Montas and Senga back here for the second half of the season. So this is the rotation they thought they were going to have at the beginning of the year. So is it bullpen? Is it a bat? What do you think the biggest need for the Mets is right now?

[Anthony]

Oh, it's got to be bullpen. I mean those guys are worn out. They did a great job in the first couple months, even more than that, but they are exhausted and I guess most of us saw that coming with basically all the starters were doing great. They led the league in starter era for quite a while, but they were throwing five innings, maybe a little bit more than five innings, but basically about five innings. And the bullpen just got worn out. And you know, Reed Garrett was fant. Rosabon was fantastic early and they dropped off. And they're not the only ones. Stanek as well, you know, Edwin Diaz is the only one who's really been great all the way through. It's got to be bullpen. I think that's huge in today's game and you know, I think they'll get maybe more innings with Senga now fully back and Manaya back. Maybe they'll get some six and seven inning starts. Peterson can give you those on occasion. But it's gotta be Bulpa and that's gotta be it. I'm sure they're looking at center field and I think they were probably Dix disappointed that Buxton said he's not going to accept a trade anywhere. I do think Minnesota is a team to talk to. I know they're interested in Colomb, the lefty reliever for them who's been great. Joe Ryan certainly would interest anybody that would take big prospects. And I don't think the Mets are really interested in giving up certainly from the top three from Tong McClain and Jett Williams. I think they're very much, I don't want to say adamant, but they're resolved to try to Keep them as best that they can. Doing well with the prospect. Last year, remember, they were all hurt or having off years, and now their prospect status looks great. You've got those three. Sproat has now been very good recently. Clifford's been good. Mauricio was up, has done a nice job. So they're actually in very good situation to get a big player, not just a reliever.

[Peter Rosenberg]

How surprised were you about Buxton? Because that kind of is surprising. A little bit too, right? When you have a chance where he is now, I know he's been there forever, and he probably just wants to stay settled in, but you have the opportunity to join a team that's got a chance to win a championship. You would think you'd want at least leave your options open, but he closed that door pretty quickly. Did that surprise you, or is that expected?

[Anthony]

No, I mean, it doesn't shock me. Most guys say they'll think about it or they're open to it. I mean, he is just. He loves it there. They've been very patient with him. He's rewarding them now this year with a fantastic season after so many years of injuries. You know, people. He's a very nice guy. Fits in very well in Minnesota, where they're all nice, allegedly. And, you know, I think I've seen guys decline before. I believe Carlos Delgado had a chance to go to the Red Sox in 2004, didn't take it. And, you know, you can look back on that and say, oops, that might have been a good one. But, you know, he's not the first. And, you know, a lot of these guys are traded to guys who are, you know, teams that are also on the cusp. You're not necessarily getting traded to the Dodgers, right? You might get traded to, you know, a team that's three games better than the Twins are right now. So, you know, I'm not shocked. I do think Ozuna is open to it. He's got the 105 rights. I think most guys generally are open to it, particularly if you're a free agent. If you're a free agent to be and you get traded, then you won't get the qualifying offer, which obviously impacts free agency. We saw how it affected Alonzo Suarez. To me, is a guy good enough to get that qualifying offer. So I think he'd be open, you know, more than open to come to the Yankees. You know, he didn't say, I don't like it in Arizona, but he certainly said nice things about the Yankees. And I think Ozuna would too. I don't think Ozuna would get the qualifying offer, but Suarez would. I think Gallon would. Some of these guys who are free agents would get the qualifying offer and I'm sure those guys are have that bonus. Feel happy not getting a qualifying offer.

[Don LaGreca]

I still believe the Mets road is tougher in the National League than the Yankees in the American League. But as we've seen the season progress, John, with San Francisco and San Diego somewhat underachieving the way that Houston now 16 games above.500, the Tigers off to the best start of any team in Major League Baseball. Is it starting to balance out a bit or do you still think by far the National League is the tougher test for the Mets than the American League is for the Yankees?

[Anthony]

Yeah, it's looked a little closer than I thought it was going to be going into the season. I thought the National League was far superior. And if you looked at the All Star lineups, I mean the National League All Star lineup was an all timer with Pete Crow, Armstrong betting ninth and Lindor eighth and Tucker seventh. Never mind the rest of that lineup. They've got certainly more superstars and even the guys who are home, Trey Turner and Soto and the guys with the Cubs, you know, pretty good players as well and feels like the National League is stronger. It's maybe not as much stronger as I anticipated. San Diego has had some injuries. Arizona has been decimated by injuries. I thought Arizona would be great and they are decimated by injuries. Atlanta, most people thought they'd be a playoff team or at least bordering on the playoffs, and they've been not good. I mean, they're not as bad as their record, but they've not been good. So, you know, I don't think it's that the difference is as great as we thought it was going to be. I really don't.

[Peter Rosenberg]

John, should Soto have been an All Star this year? Did he?

[Anthony]

Absolutely.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Anthony]

Yeah, I think he did. I mean, he's got a.900 OPS. I mean, that's pretty darn good. It was a little tougher in the National League probably among the outfielders and it's a little surprising he didn't get the vote from the players. I'm really not sure what they were thinking about, but I do believe he should have been on the All Star team. Yeah, I mean, you want to see the stars and he did qualify at 23 home runs. Right. So that's pretty good. The halfway point. Well, it's a little past the halfway point, but you get the point.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Do you think. Do you think this leads now? Again, I don't know about motivation of not making the All Star, but he did have a great June. Does do you expect now that he's settled in in at least at Citi Field as a Met? He's been in New York now well over a year, but it's more like settling in with a new team and all that. Can you see him having a Soto like second half? That could really be a big part of the story for the Mets.

[Anthony]

Well, he did it in June, so I don't know if he's going to do quite that well. But I expect what happened in April was completely unexpected. Right. He did hit a little bit of bad luck, but he certainly was not himself. And I do think there is an adjustment period. We saw that with so many different guys who went to the Yankees. Now he'd been in New York for a year, but certainly there are changes and different things that go on. His life changed. He's got different boss, different teammates. He's got living in a different area and you know, for whatever reason it took time to adjust. But I think he's in now and you've got a great trio in that lineup with Lindor and him and Alonso and obviously Nimmo's not bad. I expect more out of the lineup in total than we saw in the first half.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, and the kids too. I want to see a little bit more out of them. Vientos obviously in the second half. Mauricio has been kind of up and down, not bad, but still sometimes real frustrating to watch. And then there's Alvarez. How do you think it's going to play out with him? What kind of future do you think he's going to have with this team?

[Anthony]

Well, I do think he will likely be called up fairly soon unless something changes because he's hitting with power now and he's doing things on defense that they'd wanted him to do. So I do think he'll get be up fairly soon and get another chance to prove himself. I mean predicting the long range future, I can't be sure, but certainly this is a major disappointment. You guys mentioned it, Alvarez and Vientos. Vientos looked like he'd established himself as a borderline star player. Certainly was in October. And he hit a little bit better at the end of the first half, but overall quite a disappointment for Pientos as well.

[Peter Rosenberg]

John, we'd been talking about just his overall sports thing, how this, this, this has to be the longest drought that New York as a market has Gone without a championship of the major four leagues ever. And we always debate who's closer, Right. And we try to think who's. Who's the team that's going to end this drought since the Giants won the Super bowl in 2011. So obviously, the two baseball teams are contenders this year to get to the World Series and try to win one. They both. Both teams are right there. If I was to ask you, who could you see winning it first, who would you pick?

[Anthony]

Well, I'm not. I'm really not an expert in the other areas, but the Knicks were pretty good, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. No, no, no, no. I'm asking you from the baseball perspective.

[Anthony]

Okay.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Because they're the next up. Right. Thank you.

[Anthony]

I feel better now. I feel better about the Mets going into the second half. I feel better about the Mets than the Yankees. The Mets are not starting an opener, for instance. They do have a third baseman. In fact, they have three of them. I think one of them will probably pan out. I don't feel the same about Vivas and Peraza. I mean, the Yankees have a very positive run differential. They have Aaron Judge. You've got Freed once he's back with the. And Bellinger has been terrific. He was probably deserving of the All Star team as well. They clearly have stars. I'm concerned about. They're more concerned about the rotation without Schmidt than I am now at the moment. With the Mets getting Senga and Mania back and the Yankees losing Schmidt for the year, I think we got to feel better about the Mets chances even though they're in the National League.

[Don LaGreca]

Interesting, John, always great to talk to you. Have a great second half of the season. We'll talk to you probably after the trade deadline before we get to the postseason.

[Anthony]

All right, Anytime, guys.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Thanks, John.

[Don LaGreca]

That's John Heyman. Interesting, you know, because I was even thinking about it as I was asking that question, you know, we've kind of said, and I even said it the other day, that there's just so much to navigate through the National League for the Mets. And I respect Philadelphia, and they won the division last year, so why wouldn't I be concerned about them this year? But when you look at the American League, the way Detroit has gotten hot. Astros are 16 games above.500. Red Sox coming into the second half of the season have won 10 in a row. Blue Jays are in first place. So I guess you have to respect that. I still think the National League is tougher, Allen, but the American League does have a few obstacles, more than we thought.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. The Yankees certainly have their demons. There's no question about that. When you think about the teams that are good, you know, if you would have told me that the two best teams next to the Yankees in the American League were the Twins and the Guardians, then I would tell you I'm not worried about that. But because of the, like, just say the names, right? Red Sox, Astros, like those are names where you just, as a Yankees fan, you get, you get tight. Now right now that Red Sox streak is, is on the line. It's top of the seventh. The Cubs have a 41 lead over Boston, so certainly keep an eye on that. But as I, as I said, I'm not going to score, but watch. But what am I doing? Yeah, but, but no, that, that is, that's something to keep in mind. And I also had pointed out to you before, so that's why I'm glad John said the Mets, Don, the Mets kind of went toe to toe with that Dodger team in the NLCS than.

[Don LaGreca]

They did in the regular season.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They went toe to toe with them. That was not yet. And then the regular season so far this year, how they looked against them. So, you know, you've got to feel pretty confident if they are, if their starting rotation can be healthy for the second half of the season, they got to get some bullpen help. And he clearly has told us that that's what they're going to do. And their offense, especially if Soto can build off of that player of the month June and have himself a strong second half, which is more Soto like than what he did the first month and a half or of the regular season, you know, how could you not look at the Mets and think, boy, that's a team that could do it?

[Don LaGreca]

No, that was good stuff that he brought up about just where the Mets are compared to the Yankees. But he also said that he looks like the Yankees really could get Suarez without having to give up Lombard Jr. Or Jones. So that's going to make you excited if you're a Yankee fan, to possibly get a guy who's got 31 home runs and not have to give up the farm. And that'd be a good thing to add to your third base defensively and also add another big bat for your team moving forward.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So can I also, the line that really stood out to me, a couple of notes I took down, but the one line that stood out to me, that now I'm gonna, I'm gonna sit on this, you know, all the way through July 31, he said that he's had scouts tell him that the Yankees are planning to do something big at the deadline. And I know John. I've known him for forever. I used to be a clerk at Newsday when he was a big star, a sportswriter columnist at Newsday. And I know one thing he doesn't do is dabble in hyperbole. Like, he just. He gives it to you straight. And so when he says that, that said that. That got my attention right away.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, that would be it. I would think Suarez would be the big splash that you're talking about.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, it's pretty big.

[Don LaGreca]

And then that. And I think that's the one needle mover for this team moving forward.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don LaGreca]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want.

[Anthony]

Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Did you or someone you know participate in fraudulent fan behavior?

[Don LaGreca]

I'm a fraud with a capital F.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Is your friend a fraud?

[Don LaGreca]

I have been a complete and utter fraud.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Are you a fraud?

[John Heyman]

What is fraud?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Let's ask Tom McGregor.

[Don LaGreca]

Screw. Go scratch yourself. Well, it's fraud alert Friday. Let's line them up. Anthony, what do we got, man? I'm ready. I got the gavel in hand. It's Friday. It's a beautiful day outside. Let's do it. Let's. Come on.

[John Heyman]

Well, regardless whether it's a beautiful day or not, the court is always in session. So we do have some frauds to get to. Somebody actually asked us for one on Twitter as well, so I was gonna get to that one first. It is Mike Ferrara on the Greca. I grew up a diehard North Carolina basketball fan but ended up going to UConn for school. I consider myself a fan of both and take claim to both of their titles. That said, if UConn and North Carolina play, I go for the Tar Heels but refuse to watch the game. Am I a fraud?

[Don LaGreca]

Well, here we go. So he's a fraud Tar Heel fan because he didn't go there. I don't understand rooting for a college you didn't go to. Doesn't make any sense to me. So he went to UConn. He became a Huskies fan. That's it. Done. So I only acknowledge him as a UConn fan.

[John Heyman]

And he says, because I guess he grew up there. I guess he roots for the tar heels over UConn.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So he's got I need more con.

[John Heyman]

Well, no, it says. I see. This is the interesting part. I don't Know, it says, I grew. I thought he lived there.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Lived where?

[John Heyman]

In North Carolina. But he just said, I grew up a die hard North Carolina basketball fan. Doesn't say he lived in North Carolina. I thought he lived there.

[Peter Rosenberg]

See, I can understand if he grew up in, like, the greater triangle area of Raleigh, Durham, you know, carry that whole area there. And that you became a Tar Heel fan as a kid because that's just in your blood. Right? Chapel Hill is right there. Whatever. And then, you know, school for. For whatever you wanted to major in. UConn was like the best, so I went there. I get that. But if you grew up a Carolina fan and you're from the Northeast and you just went to UConn, why didn't you just go to North Carolina? Like, what stopped you from going there?

[Don LaGreca]

I understand where you're coming from, Alan. We need more information.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, there's not enough context. But I'm with Don right now. He's convicted.

[Don LaGreca]

But I just don't. I never understood it. Listen, maybe I'm in the minority of people, but I've always felt. Why would you be a die hard fan of a school? You didn't go to the school, and now you're going to a school that's got a big time basketball program. That makes sense to root for that Jordan fan.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Perhaps he doesn't sound old enough.

[Don LaGreca]

We need.

[John Heyman]

It's true.

[Don LaGreca]

We need. But. But I'm gonna just err on the side of fraud.

[John Heyman]

Guys. This is a first.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, no.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This is just so you know. Let's go back to that one. He's allowed to appeal. He has to give us more context.

[John Heyman]

I'm so glad you said that, Allen. And it's perfect. This is how in sync we are today. We have an appeal.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh.

[John Heyman]

If you remember, the tattoo fraud that grew up in central Jersey got a devil's tattoo on the center of his chest and now he's a Rangers fan.

[Don LaGreca]

Yes, he.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Remember, he got the tattoo not for the girlfriend. No. I thought he said it was because it was just New Jersey.

[Don LaGreca]

No, he wanted something that kind of represented New Jersey.

[John Heyman]

Got a devil's tattoo. Yes. As just like Iron man, just for New Jersey.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right, Right.

[John Heyman]

My ex girlfriend made me a hockey fan. Now I love the Rangers. He would like to appeal his decision of fraudulence.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay, let's hear. Give it. Give. What's his. What's his reason?

[John Heyman]

I remain neutral until I went to a game at MSG and Prudential. Going to a Devil's game was a terrible experience from ticketing Issues getting around. Felt like driving through the Holland Tunnel. And I live in North Jersey by the path. And it was still more enjoyable going to MSG than Newark with Don there. Now I think that will change after multiple visits to each arena, despite my ex being the catalyst. It just feels hard to convert back to the Devils when the experience is not something that makes you want to be a fan, in my opinion. Sounds like you just had a bad experience here.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Can I just. I need to. Again, I know Don's going to rule, and I just. But I just want to speak here. I have never heard anybody tell me going to a Devil's game at the Rock was a bad experience. In fact, my son has gone for Islander games. He's gone to the Devil. He's gone there. Other people have. Good. I know have gone there for. Not to root for the Devils, but just to go to a game. And they've all said like, it's great, but it's a great building. It's awesome. It's easy to get to. It's this. It's that. Like, I've never heard anybody say that. It's a terrible experience. So I'm. That. That right in there. I think you're finding reasons.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, you're finding reasons, and it just.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Sounds to justify your decision.

[Don LaGreca]

He wasn't a Die Hard Devil fan to begin with.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The whole.

[Don LaGreca]

The whole tattoo on the chest was more for Jersey than it was for.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The Devils Iron Man.

[Don LaGreca]

Now he found a girlfriend. He's a casual, casual fraud.

[John Heyman]

I think, honestly. I'm sorry, because obviously there's no public record here of the fraud court. This probably wouldn't have even been brought to the chambers. After reading it, I'd feel like this really is. I had a bad experience and I wasn't a Devil's fan to begin with. So Don was right originally. Fraud. And fraud stays. I like this just makes me laugh. The email is your kitten. Me K I T T E N. That kind of makes me laugh.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay.

[John Heyman]

Hey, Dhr Thomas here. I want to know if I'm a fraud. I was born in. I was born Bon jeez in New York. That's a Brooklyn thing. But my father was a Twins fan growing up. I was a Twins fan as a kid and grew up watching Cudi Maurer and Tory Hunter, who was my favorite player. Me and my dad went to see a Twins game when I was 11 and I wanted to get an autograph from a couple of my favorite Twins, but Hunter missed me and then told us he'd be back and Never came back. I was really turned off by this and renounced my fandom of the Twins. Knowing what I know now. He was a diva anyway. I think it's diva. He spelled it D, E, V, A, but then saw the Yankees play and fell in love with Jeter and Tex. To the chagrin of my family, I've been a Yankees fan ever since. Am I a fraud? Don legrecord, Let him have it.

[Don LaGreca]

You're a fraud with a bunch of weak ass excuses.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, thank you.

[Don LaGreca]

He was a Twins fan because of his dad, and he made up this whole Torry Hunter's a diva. He walked past me, and now I'm gonna go root for the team that's on the verge of winning four championships in five years. Give me a break. The Tory Hunter thing, I don't even think happened. And even if it did, was he supposed to sign every autograph for everybody outside the state? He's eventually gonna. Oh, he didn't. He broke a promise, Al. He said he'd come back. Oh, yeah. How many times you waited? Because usually when you get on the bus to go back to the hotel, he grabs a cab and then comes back and signs autographs. Stop it. You were a Twin fan, and then the Yankees own the Twins. And you're like, why am I bothering rooting for this, like, mid team that's halfway across the country and I got a team winning championships with Derek Jeter. Sorry, dad. Love you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Hunter came.

[Don LaGreca]

He didn't come back.

[John Heyman]

But.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, no, but Tory Hunter was like, the end of that run. He wasn't in the league. Like, he wasn't a 90s player. He was a 2000s player. Torry Hunter. So while I agree with you that he was just looking for a way out.

[Don LaGreca]

Wait a minute.

[John Heyman]

Wait a minute.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't think Torry Hunter was like, oh, he, he, you know, he rejected me. So now I wanted to jump on the 1996 bandwagon because Tony Hunter wasn't a major league player until, like, the 2000s. No.

[Don LaGreca]

Torry Hunter's first year in the league was 97.

[Peter Rosenberg]

97.

[Don LaGreca]

So he established himself so he. He was a full time player by 1999. All right, all right. Okay. So let's take a Look at the 1999 Minnesota Twins. The 99 Minnesota Twins finished a respectable 63 and 97.

[John Heyman]

It's not what you want.

[Don LaGreca]

And then the Yankees were coming off winning like a billion games in 98. This is a made up story. He is the definition of a fraud. He's a fraud liar.

[John Heyman]

You think it's a fraud story?

[Don LaGreca]

Listen, it may have happened. Here's the thing. Best case scenario, that situation did happen, but he exaggerated it to the point he was butthurt. So he had a perfect excuse to go root for the team that's in the middle of a dynasty at fraud.

[Peter Rosenberg]

With a capital F. Does he break his father's heart by turning on the team? He also. Defamation of character of Torry Hunter.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, he didn't come back, Alan.

[John Heyman]

He didn't come back.

[Don LaGreca]

What a filthy piece of garbage. The ballplayer didn't come back. I'll come back.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, I'll be right back.

[Don LaGreca]

I'll be right back. Sure.

[John Heyman]

Going on the bus. I'll be right back. Where's he going?

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's a good one. That's a really good one, Don.

[John Heyman]

This is interesting. This is from Russell. I'm a big Yankees fan, but my wife is a Mets fan. And when it rains and I'm running errands, I wear her Mets raincoat.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Wait, we had this before.

[John Heyman]

We did.

[Don LaGreca]

We did.

[John Heyman]

It's an old one.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, dear God.

[John Heyman]

All right, we have others. Don't you worry about it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, no, that's the date on that email.

[John Heyman]

Oh, it's an old. It's an old one. I thought I have. I had purged. I thought I had purged. We had. We have a clerical issue.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We already called him a fraud in the court.

[John Heyman]

We have a clerical issue in the court.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay, no worries. It's fine. But. But we.

[Don LaGreca]

We.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know, this is all a flashback. This is to anybody that missed it. Here's all you need to know.

[John Heyman]

By the way. Apparently me, because I remember it so.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But anybody listening understand that. So this guy would wear the raincoat and feel like, you know, he's out in public. And Met fans would say, like, hey, how about those Mets? And he would just go, whatever. And he thought like, is it okay? Is it okay for me to do this? And Don said, no. If you're a true Yankee fan, get your own freaking raincoat.

[Don LaGreca]

Or just man up and just get wet. What the hell's going. You made assault.

[John Heyman]

It's raining. Dear God. We have a drop.

[Don LaGreca]

Seattle.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The Yankees do have umbrella giveaways, bobblehead.

[John Heyman]

Beach blanket, all of it.

[Don LaGreca]

I should just soak his head.

[John Heyman]

Our good friend Brian writes in. This guy gets right to the point.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right.

[John Heyman]

Senators fan until they move to Texas. So I think we're talking baseball.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, so this is an elderly gentleman.

[John Heyman]

Oz fan until they let Messina go.

[Don LaGreca]

No. Here we go.

[John Heyman]

Then jumped On Gnats, lived in va. Did not miss a Natson.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, I love that. Oh, Mike, you can't. Dear God, I can't keep moving for the team. They lost Mike Messina. Listen, he's a Hall of Famer. I get it. But I love those. I was a fan, like the Carlin, the other Fraud, that fan. And then they traded Mookie. Oh, I'm out. You know, I'm gonna go become a Texas Rangers fan. Stop it.

[John Heyman]

This was. And by the way, now at the end of it, you didn't even hear it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Joe Shablotnik got traded. I'm out.

[John Heyman]

He asked, am I a Nats fan? Fraud, with his wife being a big Osman, missed plenty of both teams pitches.

[Don LaGreca]

Now, listen, I'm not gonna miss you, Fraud. Next.

[John Heyman]

Let'S hear from.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He was very free with his fandom, wasn't he?

[John Heyman]

He was down, sleeping around.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Absolutely. Just sleeping around.

[John Heyman]

Let's hear from Michael. I grew up on Long island, but my father never watched hockey or taught me about it. We didn't even have the ch. My aunt took me to a few Islander games as a kid at the Coliseum, just as something to do. She didn't know anything about the sport either. How'd she get tickets? I attended so few games, I can count them on one hand and only remember one player from my childhood. Ironically, Rick, I have his collectible puck. That's nice. In 2009, at age 12, my family moved to Arizona. Without streaming capability, I lost track of what little I knew about hockey completely for a few years. In 2011, I rediscovered the sport. Watching the 2011 Rangers playoff run, proud of my New York roots, but never feeling tied to the Islanders. I pledged my allegiance to the Rangers and never looked back.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Didn't he say he lost touch because no streaming services. No streaming, so he couldn't really keep up with the New York teams is what he was suggesting.

[John Heyman]

Well, in 2011, he found a way. And remember, play out well. Playoff games, most all are on playoffs.

[Don LaGreca]

And that's why.

[John Heyman]

So here we go. We're not done, by the way. Fast forward to 2022 now. We moved 11 years.

[Don LaGreca]

Okay.

[John Heyman]

I fell in love with a girl from Minnesota and.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, look at him.

[John Heyman]

A title of his third book. And hockey became a favorite sport to follow and consume. Shout out, game is conduct. Wherever you get your podcast. That's sad. I now watch every game, both Rangers and Wild, and we often travel to new stadiums to see our teams. I'm confident my Rangers fandom isn't fraudulent, though. I leave the Final verdict to the great Don Lagreca. My question is this. Am I a fraud for not hating the Islanders?

[Peter Rosenberg]

How old was he with the Islander thing? What did he say? He was young.

[John Heyman]

He was young. He said in 2009 he was 12.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay, so those were games he went through. He's 12, so it's past eight years old. So already past.

[John Heyman]

No, that's when he moved to Arizona. So it's pre 12. He was going to games that he didn't know what was going on, and his aunt didn't know what was going on.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Anyways, okay, so now.

[John Heyman]

So he didn't change from. After going to be a Rangers fan. If you think he was an Islander fan at all. He didn't switch. It's just that his girlfriend. His girlfriend is now in Minnesota.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We're seeing a condition with fraudulence, and the condition is a girl is affecting your ability to be a fan. Meaning when you meet a girl, whatever she likes, you like. And that is an affliction that is very, very hard for us to treat.

[John Heyman]

Dom, what say you?

[Don LaGreca]

Now? Here's what's interesting. I got a lot to say about this. All right? He was never an Islander. No. Okay. He didn't know anything about the sport. He was taken to a few games. Sounded like just on a. On a whim. Never felt any attachment to the Islanders at all. Didn't get into hockey.

[John Heyman]

Agreed.

[Don LaGreca]

And it took him to 2011 because the Rangers were in the playoffs. Fell in love with them, became a fan. All right. Of the team. Now he moved to Minnesota. And listen, I've seen these Nordic women in Minnesota, and they are to die for. Right. So she goes to wild games. And now. And so that's a way for him to go to the game. He's still a Ranger fan, but, you know, there's no rivalry there between the Wild and the. And the Rangers. And. And he's in love. And she goes to the wild game. But he still. I shows it how big a fan he is. He hasn't given up on the Rangers and became a Wild fan. He just go. That's how he consumes hockey. But he keeps tabs on the Rangers as best he can and still stays a fan. So no fraud.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No fraud.

[Don LaGreca]

No fraud. You agree there was no Islander fan?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, there's no. There's no Islander fandom there. What I feel like is that he's a bigger fan of something else and has nothing to do with hobby.

[Don LaGreca]

Right. And I'm. And I'm on board.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay.

[Don LaGreca]

That's okay.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But we are. See, Aren't you noticing this, though? There's a lot of that. Same with the Jersey guy with the. With the Iron man tattoo of the. Of the Devil's logo. Is that. It's just. I met a girl, she liked that team, and I'm like, all right, I like them too, Don.

[John Heyman]

Remind me. The Jersey Devil is a thing, right? It's a mythical creature. But, like, there is. But there is a visual. There's a visual that you could have tattooed.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, without question.

[John Heyman]

That wasn't the NJ logo.

[Don LaGreca]

No, there is. I mean, then it's pretty cool looking, too. It's kind of. Right. It's a. It's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's.

[Don LaGreca]

I don't even know what you would. It kind of looks like a devilish creature with wings. It's. If you could look it up. Jersey Devil living in the Pine Valley, he could have found a more creative tattoo than just the. The.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, wow. That's Jersey. Actually, that looks more badass.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, it's badass.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So it really does look that. That's a. That. That's a. A heavy metal album cover.

[Don LaGreca]

Absolutely. Now, the only thing is, being a Ranger fan, should he automatically have hatred for the Islanders? And the reason that I say at his age no is because he did feel something for the Islanders as his way. Kind of a gateway to hockey. Maybe he has memories of. Of his family from back in his Long island days. And let's be honest, Alan, if he was 12 in 2009, that makes him like a 90s kid. He's. There's no rivalry. I mean, there's a rivalry from a geography standpoint. They. But they haven't played in the postseason during his lifetime, so him not hating the Islanders, I got no problem.

[John Heyman]

I hate the Devils more than the Islanders.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. Yeah. See, that makes more sense from Anthony's perspective.

[Don LaGreca]

So no fraud. So good job. I thought that was fun. Hope you enjoyed it. We had a few frauds, we had a few non frauds, and we had a few people that should just reconsider sports in general. This is an ad by BetterHelp. Workplace stress is now one of the top causes of declining mental health. With 61% of the global workforce experiencing higher than normal levels of stress. To battle stress, most of us can't wave goodbye to work, but we can start small with a focus on wellness. With over 30,000 therapists, BetterHelp is the world's largest online therapy platform, having served over 5 million people globally. And it works with an App store rating of 4.9 out of 5 based on over 1.7 million client reviews.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's convenient, too.

[Don LaGreca]

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[John Heyman]

With the Venmo Debit.

[Anthony]

Card, you can Venmo everything.

[Don LaGreca]

Your favorite band's merch. You can Venmo this or their next show. You can Venmo that. Visit Venmo Me Debit to learn more. The Venmo MasterCard is issued by the Bancorp bank and a pursuant to license by MasterCard International Incorporated, the card may be used everywhere MasterCard is accepted. Venmo purchase restrictions apply.

[Anthony]

Hey guys, it's Ceedee Lamb, wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys. I'm partnering with Abercrombie this season to tell you all about their viral denim. All you need to know is denim should fit like this. My jeans need to check a lot of boxes fit first, trend second. They need to go with whatever I'm feeling, and Abercrombie Denim has it down whether I'm throwing on a tee or putting the whole fit together. Shop Abercrombie Denim in the app online and in store. Gatorade is the number one proven electrolyte blend designed to hydrate better than water so you can lose more sweat and raise your game. Gatorade is it in you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Not all meals are created equal.

[Anthony]

For instance, breakfast has the spicy egg.

[Peter Rosenberg]

McMuffin for a limited time, and lunch doesn't. McDonald's breakfast comes first.

[Don LaGreca]

After Zumi's at the dog park, it's time for Drive up at Target. In goes a big bag of kibble and one squeaky chicken toy for the good boy. Drive up. That's ready when you are. Only in the Target app. Just tap Target.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don LaGreca]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want.

[Anthony]

Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Did you or someone you know participate in fraudulent fan behavior?

[Don LaGreca]

I'm a fraud with a capital F.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Is your friend a fraud?

[Don LaGreca]

I have been a complete and utter fraud.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Are you a fraud?

[John Heyman]

What is fraud?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Let's ask Don McGregor.

[Anthony]

Screw.

[Don LaGreca]

Go scratch yourself. Well, it's Fraud Alert Friday let's line them up. Anthony, what do we got, man? I'm ready. I got the gavel in hand. It's Friday. It's a beautiful day outside. Let's come on.

[John Heyman]

Well, regardless whether it's a beautiful day or not, the court is always in session, so we do have some frauds to get to. Somebody actually asked us for one on Twitter as well, so I was gonna get to that one first. It is Mike Ferrara on the Greca. I grew up a die hard North Carolina basketball fan, but ended up going to UConn for school. I consider myself a fan of both and take claim to both of their titles. That said, if UConn and North Carolina play, I go for the Tar Heels, but refused to watch the game. Am I a fraud?

[Don LaGreca]

Well, here we go. So he's a fraud Tar Heel fan because he didn't go there. I don't understand. Rooting for a college you didn't go to doesn't make any sense to me. So he went to UConn. He became a Huskies fan. That's it. Done. So I only acknowledge him as a UConn fan.

[John Heyman]

And he says. Because I guess he grew up there. I guess he roots for the Tar Heels over Yukon. So he's got.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I need more con.

[John Heyman]

Well, no, it says. I see. This is the interesting part. I don't know. It says, I grew. I thought he lived there.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Lived where?

[John Heyman]

In North Carolina. But he just said, I grew up a die hard North Carolina basketball fan. Doesn't say he lived in North Carolina. I thought he lived there.

[Peter Rosenberg]

See, I can understand if he grew up in, like, the greater triangle area of Raleigh, Durham, you know, carry that whole area there, and that you became a Tar Heel fan as a kid because that's just in your blood, right? Chapel Hill is right there. Whatever. And then, you know, school for. For whatever you wanted to major in. UConn was, like, the best, so I went there. I get that. But if you grew up a Carolina fan and you're from the Northeast and you just went to UConn, why didn't you just go to North Carolina? Like, what stopped you from going there?

[Don LaGreca]

I understand where you're coming from, Alan. We need more information.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, there's not enough context. But I'm with Don right now.

[Don LaGreca]

He's convicted, but I just don't. I never understood it. Listen, maybe I'm in the minority of people, but I've always felt, why would you be a die hard fan of a school? You didn't go to the school, and now you're going to a school that's got a big time basketball program. That makes sense to root for that Jordan fan.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Perhaps he doesn't sound old enough.

[Don LaGreca]

We need more information.

[John Heyman]

It's true.

[Don LaGreca]

We need. But I'm gonna just err on the side of fraud.

[John Heyman]

Guys. This is a first.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, no.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This is just so you know. Let's go back to that one. He's allowed to appeal. He has to give us more context.

[John Heyman]

I'm so glad you said that, Allen. And it's perfect. This is how in sync we are today. We have an appeal.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh.

[John Heyman]

If you remember, the tattoo fraud that grew up in central Jersey got a devil's tattoo on the center of his chest and now he's a Rangers fan.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes. He remember he got the tattoo not for the girlfriend. No. I thought he said it was for. Because it was just New Jersey.

[Don LaGreca]

No, he wanted something that kind of represented New Jersey.

[John Heyman]

Got a devil's tattoo. Yes. As just like Iron man just for New Jersey.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right. Right.

[John Heyman]

My ex girlfriend made me a hockey fan. Now I love the Rangers. He would like to appeal his decision of fraudulence.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay, let's hear. Give it. Give. What's his. What's his reason?

[John Heyman]

I remain neutral until I went to a game at MSG and Prudential. Going to a Devils game was a terrible experience from ticketing issues getting around felt like driving through the Holland Tunnel and I live in North Jersey by the path and it was still more enjoyable going to MSG than Newark with Don there. Now I think that'll change after multiple visits to each arena. Despite my ex being the catalyst. It just feels hard to convert back to the Devils when the experience is not something that makes you want to be a fan, in my opinion. Sounds like you just had a bad experience here.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Can I just. I need to again. I know Don's going to rule and I just. But I just want to speak here.

[Don LaGreca]

Here.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I have never heard anybody tell me going to a Devil's game at the Rock was a bad experience. In fact, my son has gone for Islander games. He's gone to the Devil. He's gone there. Other people have good. I know have gone there for. Not to root for the Devils, but just to go to a game and they've all said like it's crepe. It's a great building. It's awesome. It's easy to get to. It's this, it's that. Like I've never heard anybody say that. It's a terrible experience. So I'm that that right in there. I think you're finding reasons.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, you're finding reasons, and it just.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Sounds to justify your decision.

[Don LaGreca]

He wasn't a Die Hard Devil fan to begin with.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The whole.

[Don LaGreca]

The whole tattoo on the chest was more for Jersey than it was for.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The Devils Iron Man.

[Don LaGreca]

Now he found a girlfriend. He's a casual, casual fraud.

[John Heyman]

I think. Honestly, I'm sorry, because obviously there's no public record here of the fraud court. This probably wouldn't have even been brought to the chambers. After reading it, I'd feel like this really is. I had a bad experience and I wasn't a Devil's fan to begin with. So Dom was right originally. Fraud. And fraud stays. I like this. Just makes me laugh. The email is your kitten. Me K, I T T, E N. That kind of makes me laugh.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay.

[John Heyman]

Hey, Dhr Thomas here. I want to know if I'm a fraud. I was born in. I was born. Born. Jeez, in New York. That's a Brooklyn thing. But my father was a Twins fan growing up. I was a Twins fan as a kid and grew up watching Cudi Maurer and Tory Hunter, who are my favorite. Who was my favorite player? Me and my dad went to see a Twins game when I was 11 and I wanted to get an autograph from a couple of my favorite Twins, but Hunter missed me and then told us he'd be back and never came back. I was really turned off by this and renounced my fandom of the Twins. Knowing what I know now. He was a diva anyway. I think it's diva. He spelled it D E, V, A, but then saw the Yankees play and fell in love with Jeter and Tex. To the chagrin of my family, I've been a Yankees fan ever since. Am I a fraud? Don Legrecor, Let him have it.

[Don LaGreca]

You're a fraud with a bunch of weak ass excuses.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, thank you.

[Don LaGreca]

He was a Twins fan because of his dad. He made up this whole Tori Hunter's a diva. He walked past me, and now I'm gonna go root for the team that's on the verge of winning four championships in five years. Give me a break. The Tory Hunter thing, I don't even think happened. And even if it did, was he supposed to sign every autograph for everybody outside the stage? He's eventually gonna. Oh, he didn't. He broke a promise, Al. He said he'd come back. Oh, yeah. How many times waited. Because usually when you get on the bus to go back to the hotel, he grabs a cab and then comes back and signs Autographs. Stop it. You were a twin fan, and then the Yankees own the Twins. And you're like, why am I bothering rooting for this, like, mid team that's halfway across the country and I got a team winning championships with Derek Jeter. Sorry, dad. Love you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Hunter came.

[Don LaGreca]

He didn't come back.

[Anthony]

But.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, no, but Tory Hunter was like, the end of that run. He wasn't in the league. Like, he wasn't a 90s player. He was a 2000s player. Tory Hunter. So while I agree with you that he was just looking for a way out.

[Don LaGreca]

Wait a minute.

[John Heyman]

Wait a minute.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't think Tory Hunter was like, oh, he, he, you know, he rejected me. So now I wanted to jump on the 1996 bandwagon because Torry Hunter wasn't a major league player until, like, the 2000s.

[Don LaGreca]

No, Torrey Hunter's first year in the league was 97.

[Peter Rosenberg]

97.

[Don LaGreca]

So he established himself so he. He was a full time player by 1999.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right, all right.

[Don LaGreca]

Okay. So let's take a Look at the 1999 Minnesota Twins. The 99 Minnesota Twins finished a respectable 63 and 97.

[John Heyman]

It's not what you want.

[Don LaGreca]

And then the Yankees were coming off winning like a billion games in 98. This is a made up story. He is the definition of a fraud. He's a fraud liar.

[John Heyman]

I think it's a fraud story.

[Don LaGreca]

Listen, it may have happened. Here's the thing. Best case scenario, that if that situation did happen, but he exaggerated it to the point he was butthurt. So he had a perfect excuse to go root for the team that's in the middle of a dynasty.

[Peter Rosenberg]

F. Fraud with a capital F. Does he break his father's heart by turning on the team? He also. Defamation of character of Torrey Hunter.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah. He didn't come back, Allen.

[John Heyman]

He didn't come back.

[Don LaGreca]

What a filthy piece of garbage. The ball player didn't come. I'll come back.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, I'll be right back.

[Don LaGreca]

I'll be right back. Sure.

[John Heyman]

Cohen, on the bus. I'll be right back. Where's he going?

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's a good one. That's a really good one. Down.

[John Heyman]

This is interesting. This is from Russell. I'm a big Yankees fan, but my wife is a Mets fan.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay.

[John Heyman]

And when it rains and I'm running errands, I wear her Mets raincoat.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Wait, we had this before.

[John Heyman]

We did.

[Don LaGreca]

We did.

[John Heyman]

It's an old one.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, dear.

[John Heyman]

All right. We have others. Don't you worry about it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, no, that's the Date on that email.

[John Heyman]

Oh, it's an old. It's an old one. I thought I. I have. I had purged. Oh, I thought I had purged. We had. We have a clerical issue.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We already called him a fraud in the court.

[John Heyman]

We have a clerical issue in the court.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay, no worries. It's fine. But. But we.

[Don LaGreca]

We.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know, this is all a flashback. This is. To anybody that missed it. Here's all you need to know, by the way.

[John Heyman]

Apparently me, because I remember it so.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But anybody listening understand this. So this guy would wear the raincoat and feel like, you know, he's out in public. And met fans would say, like, hey, how about those Mets? And he would just go, whatever. And he thought, like, is it okay? Is it okay for me to do this? And Don said, no, you're a true Yankee fan. Get your own freaking raincoat.

[Don LaGreca]

Or just man up and just get wet. What the hell's going. He made assault.

[John Heyman]

It's raining. Dear God, we have a drop.

[Don LaGreca]

Seattle.

[John Heyman]

The Yankees do have umbrella giveaways, Bobblehead, beach blanket all.

[Don LaGreca]

It should just soak his head.

[John Heyman]

Our good friend Brian writes in. This guy gets right to the point.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right.

[John Heyman]

Senators fan until they moved to Texas. I think we're talking baseball.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, so this is an elderly gentleman.

[John Heyman]

Oz fan until they let Messina go.

[Don LaGreca]

No, here we go.

[John Heyman]

Then jumped on gnats, lived in va. Did not miss a Nats.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, I love that. Oh, Mike, you can't. Dear God, I can't keep moving for the team they lost Mike Messina. Listen, he's a Hall of Famer. I get it. But I love those. I was a fan, like the Carlin, the other Fraud fan. And then they traded Mookie. Oh, I'm out. You know, I'm gonna go become a Texas Rangers fan. Stop it.

[John Heyman]

This was. And by the way, now, at the end of it, you didn't even hear it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Joe Shablotnik got traded. I'm out.

[John Heyman]

He asked him. I am a Nats fan. Fraud with his wife being a big O fan, missed plenty of both teams pitches.

[Don LaGreca]

Now, listen, I'm not gonna miss you, Fraud. Next.

[John Heyman]

Let'S hear from.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He was very free with his fandom, wasn't he?

[John Heyman]

He was down sleeping around.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Absolutely. Just sleeping around.

[John Heyman]

Let's hear from Michael. I grew up on Long island, but my father never watched hockey or taught me about it. We didn't even have the ch. My aunt took me to a few Islander games as a kid at the Coliseum just as something to do. She didn't know anything about the sport either. How'd she get tickets? I attended so few games, I can count them on one hand and only remember one player from my childhood. Ironically, Rick, I have his collectible puck. That's nice. In 2009, at age 12, my family moved to Arizona. Without streaming capability, I lost track of what little I knew about hockey completely for a few years. In 2011, I rediscovered the sport. Watching the 2011 Rangers playoff run, proud of my New York roots, but never feeling tied to the Islanders. I pledged my allegiance to the Rangers and never looked back.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Didn't he say he lost touch because no streaming services.

[John Heyman]

No streaming.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So he couldn't really keep up with the New York teams is what he was suggesting.

[John Heyman]

In 2011, he found a way. And remember, play out well. Playoff games, most all are on playoffs.

[Don LaGreca]

And that's why.

[John Heyman]

So here we go. We're not done, by the way. Fast forward to 2022 now. We moved 11 years. I fell in love with a girl from Minnesota and a title of his third book. And hockey became a favorite sport to follow and consume. Shout out, game is conduct. Wherever you get your podcast. That's sad. I now watch every game, both Rangers and Wild, and we often travel to new stadiums to see our teams. I'm confident my Rangers fandom isn't fraudulent, though. I leave the final verdict to the great Don legreca. My question's this. Am I a fraud for not hating the Islanders?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, boy. How old was he with the Islander thing? What did he say? He was young, right?

[John Heyman]

He was young. He said in 2009 he was 12.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay, so those were games he went to and he was 12. So it's past 8 years old. So already.

[John Heyman]

No, that's when he moved to Arizona. So it's pre 12. He was going to games that he didn't know what was going on and his aunt didn't know what's going on.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Anyways, okay, so now, like.

[John Heyman]

So he didn't change from. After going to be a Rangers fan. If you think he was an Islander fan at all. He didn't switch. It's just that his girlfriend. His. His girlfriend is now in Minnesota.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We're seeing a condition with fraudulence, and the condition is a girl is affecting your ability to be a fan. Meaning when you meet a girl, whatever she likes you like. And that is an affliction that is very, very hard for us to treat.

[John Heyman]

Dom, what say you?

[Don LaGreca]

Now? Here's what's interesting. I got a lot to say about this. All right? He was never an Islander. No Okay. He didn't know anything about the sport. He was taken to a few games. Sounded like just on a whim. Never felt any attachment to the Islanders at all. Didn't get into hockey.

[John Heyman]

Agreed.

[Don LaGreca]

And it took him to 2011 because the Rangers were in the playoffs. Fell in love with them, became a fan. All right. Of the team. Now he moved to Minnesota. And listen, I've seen these Nordic women in Minnesota, and they are to die for. Right. So she goes to wild games. And now. And so that's a way for him to go to the game. He's still a Ranger fan, but, you know, there's no rivalry between the Wild and the. And the. And the Rangers, and. And he's in love. And she goes to the wild game. But he still. I. I shows it how big a fan he is. He hasn't given up on the Rangers and became a Wild fan. He just go. That's how he consumes hockey. But he keeps tabs on the Rangers as best he can and still stays a fan. So no fraud?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No fraud.

[Don LaGreca]

No fraud. You agree there was no Islander fan?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, there's no. I don't see. There's no. There's no Islander fandom there. But what I feel like is that he's a bigger fan of something else and has nothing to do with.

[Don LaGreca]

Right. And. And I'm. And I'm on board.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay.

[Don LaGreca]

That's okay.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But we are seeing. Aren't you noticing this, though? There's a lot of that. Same with the Jersey guy with the. With the Iron man tattoo. Of. Of the. Of the devil's logo. Is that. It's just. I met a girl, she liked that team, and I'm like, all right. I like them, too, Don.

[John Heyman]

Remind me. The Jersey Devil is a thing, right? It's a mythical creature. But, like, there is. But there is a. There's a visual that you could have tattooed.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, without question.

[John Heyman]

That wasn't the NJ logo.

[Don LaGreca]

No, there is. I mean, and it's pretty cool looking, too. It's kind of like a devil, right? It's a. It's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's.

[Don LaGreca]

I don't even know what you would. It kind of looks like a devilish creature with wings. It's. If you could look it up. Jersey Devil living in the Pine Valley. He could have found a more creative tattoo than just the. The.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, wow. That's Jersey. Actually, that looks more badass.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, it's badass.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So it really does look that. That's a. That. That's a. A heavy metal album cover.

[Don LaGreca]

Absolutely. Now, the Only thing is, being a Ranger fan, should he automatically have hatred for the Islanders? And the reason that I say at his age no is because he did feel something for the Islanders as his way. Kind of a gateway to hockey. Maybe he has memories of. Of his family from back in his Long island days. And let's be honest, Alan, if he was 12 in 2009, that makes him like a 90s kid.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's.

[Don LaGreca]

There's no rivalry. I mean, there's a rivalry from a geography standpoint. They. But they haven't played in the postseason during his lifetime. So him not hating the Islanders, I got no problem.

[John Heyman]

I hate the Devils more than the Islanders.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. Yeah. See, that makes more sense from Anthony's perspective.

[Don LaGreca]

So no fraud. So good job. I thought that was fun. Hope you enjoyed it. We had a few frauds, we had a few non frauds, and we had a few people that you just reconsider sports in general.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don LaGreca]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want.

[Anthony]

Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Cover. Yes. You found it.

[Don LaGreca]

Just does it kind of straight, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's real good. I wish more covers were like this, where you just. Just do it. Don't. Don't put my twist on all that crap. Just do it. Because if you've got the voice, you can make it sound really good and you can make it sound new.

[Don LaGreca]

I'll say this one, I do like when they put their own twist on it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Not too much, though.

[Don LaGreca]

I guess it's. You want it to be recognizable. So he kind of kept it with the same vibe, but clearly that's his voice and does it a little differently. So I think he's. You know, it's. It's very good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Mike Patrick, the best singers. I'm sorry. The best singers, to me, the ones that have real voices, not, you know, the studio voice, are the ones that can, like, no matter what genre you're from, can sing vocal jazz because it's the heart. To me, it's the hardest thing to sing because it's the purest. Right. The purest form of it. So. And that's a lot of that. That's. Come on. That's like a vocal jazz kind of song.

[Don LaGreca]

I remember. I think it was. Michael told me he went and saw, like, the Zach Brown band.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

I'm not that familiar with them.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They're good.

[Don LaGreca]

And he said they did a cover of Billy Joel Piano Man. He's like oh, it was, it was. It was as if Billy was doing. And I'm like, well, then that's a bad job. He said, what do you mean? I was like, I don't need you. You're not doing an imitation. You're gonna do like a spin on the song, like Zach Brown doing Billy Joel. I don't want to make it think I'm. It's a Billy Joel song. Then I don't think you're doing your job. So I understand what you're saying. You don't want to completely make it something different. You want to know the song, recognize the song, but put your own spin on it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, no, that's true. Of course. Yeah. I mean, I'm not saying that, you know, it should sound literally the same, but I don't like when it's. It's, it's a little bit not recognizable or you just, you do too much with it. That's all I'm saying. There are many that do it, but.

[Don LaGreca]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like, that's a great example of. That's right there.

[Don LaGreca]

Like, it's, it's, it's so honoring the spirit of the song. You know, that that's Mike Patton doing the song, which is pretty cool.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's good.

[Don LaGreca]

The 1-800-919-3776. Let's go to Stephen Holmdel. You're on ESPN, New York. What's up, Steve?

[Anthony]

Hey, guys. Great to talk to you, and it was a pleasure meeting you guys a few weeks ago down at Baray in Belmont.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. How you doing, Steve?

[Anthony]

Very good, Very good. You know, bottom line is Aaron Boone always likes to make these moves that he feels he's smarter than everybody else, but everybody else is scratching their head. I want to make one comment regarding tonight's opener, but before I do. When he chose the guys to participate in the con in the home run hitting contest to decide the game the other night, he said he didn't want to bring anybody in who had been sitting after they played already. He want the people to come in who he knew would still be in the flow of playing. Yeah, and to me, that is such a weak explanation. Obviously, Judge left the park. That's fine. Cal Raleigh was still there, but Cal Raleigh hadn't played the last few innings. So he has to outsmart himself and put in ariando, who's got 11 home runs.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But Steve, it's the guy. When you're talking about a couple of innings, a couple of innings in that. That game was four hours, like you're talking about a couple of hours since a player even took a swing or did or any movement at all. And you know, as an athlete, you tighten up. It does happen, whether it's an All Star game or not. You're moving around, you do all your stuff in preparation and then once you're done, especially when you're showered and done, you know, you're not. It's going to take you a minute to get loose again, but. So you're not doing that for an exhibition.

[Don LaGreca]

And Steve, but here's the thing. Now we're hearing that it was determined before the game who was going to hit. So that tells me there were guys saying, don't put me in there. I don't want to do it. And Baboon's not going to say that because Boone's going to want to protect his players, including Judge, who's on his team. So he's going to own it and he's going to give you something. There is something to, hey, a guy's been sitting there three hours, he's already out of uniform. I'm not going to make him run and then swing as hard as he can to win a meaningless game. There is something to that. But don't you think Boone's protecting the athletes instead of saying they didn't want to do it or they wanted to go home or Judge is right now on a flight, you know, back to New York or wherever? He's not going to do that. Thank you for the call, Steve. That's just picking on Boone because you don't like Boone. Boone wants to win the game. He's the manager of the team. But he's not going to throw his players under the bus, Alan. So he's going to own it. And this is why I didn't like it. Same thing with Roberts on the other side. Like, why do these guys have to take the slings and hours from the fans? The players didn't want to do it.

[Anthony]

Right?

[Don LaGreca]

I mean, I guess Cal Raleigh could have went back in. He saw it was 64 in the 9th inning and got dressed. He didn't because he didn't want to do it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And then you heard John Heyman say that the tradition of it's been going on for a long time where players, you know, who have starters in the All Star Game game have left early. It does happen. Although we do also know that some don't leave. Like again, Jeter didn't leave that time. And that's. We've talked about how that just might not be a good look when you're the face of the league. But as Heyman said, it does happen. So those guys aren't even around. And when you're a starter, you think Boone is going, hey, you know, just in case we need to do this swing off, I want you in it. And it's like, but I'm leaving. If you take me out after the first three innings, I'm leaving. Like, I'm not sticking around for that, so don't put me on that list. But do you think Boone's gonna go? Well, I want a judge out there, but he told me he was leaving early so I couldn't do it. No, he's never gonna do that because you don't do that to a player. You show that player respect. 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.

[Anthony]

Weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8.

[Peter Rosenberg]

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

[Don LaGreca]

You've seen the headlines, heard the debates.

[Peter Rosenberg]

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

[Don LaGreca]

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

[Peter Rosenberg]

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

[Don LaGreca]

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