Hour 2: Judge OF & Fraud Alert Friday

Summary

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Don, Hahn & Rosenberg

Hour 2: Judge OF & Fraud Alert Friday
Date: September 5, 2025 | Platform: ESPN New York
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg

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Episode Overview

This episode dives into two main threads: Major updates in New York sports—primarily the New York Yankees’ lineup changes and the looming NFL opening weekend—and the ongoing existential dilemmas of sports fandom through the crew’s popular "Fraud Friday" segment. Personal stories, irreverent banter, and sharp takes from all three hosts tie together sports analysis with relatable real-life scenarios.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Yankees Outfield Shakeup: Aaron Judge Returns

• [02:24–05:57]
  • Judge’s Return: The main NY sports headline is Aaron Judge starting in right field for the Yankees against the Blue Jays, rather than serving as DH.
  • Lineup Implications: With Giancarlo Stanton on fire but limited to DH, Judge’s return to the outfield pushes the team toward its ideal defensive alignment.
  • Injury Concerns: While this is a boost, Judge still deals with a flexor strain, potentially making his presence in the outfield a game-to-game decision.
    • Noteworthy stat: "His defensive WAR...this year he’s actually been an above average—actually like 85th percentile—defensive player at right field this season." – Alan Hahn [04:39]
  • Scheduling Disadvantages: The Yankees arrive late from Houston while the Blue Jays rest, creating a “huge advantage to the Blue Jays” (Don La Greca [06:48]).

2. MLB Scheduling Oddities & Impact on Teams

• [05:57–08:21]
  • Late Arrivals & Unfavorable Scheduling: The Yankees’ recent travel woes draw complaints, including from Carlos Rodon’s wife who lamented on social media that he got home as the kids were waking up.
  • Questioning the League: The hosts criticize MLB for not mandating a fair schedule, suggesting financial motivations over competitive fairness.

3. NY Sports Fan’s Weekend Dilemma

• [09:17–20:10]
  • Scheduling Conflicts: With major games across NFL (Jets, Giants), MLB (Yankees, Mets), and a family event, Alan Hahn asks how to possibly juggle all obligations.
    • "So how do you juggle that? How do you deal with that?" – Don La Greca [09:17]
  • Personal Conflict Plays Out:
    • Alan’s Situation: His son’s girlfriend (college soccer player) plays nearby; should he attend her game or stay home for the Jets opener/Yankees crucial series?
    • Debate: Hahn, La Greca, and Rosenberg collectively debate where familial loyalty and sports fanaticism should land.
    • "There’s two ways to this…Risk versus reward.” – Peter Rosenberg [18:35]
    • Consensus: You go to the game for family, DVR or catch up on sports later, especially when it’s not a make-or-break season opener.

4. Fraud Alert Friday – The Weekly Court of Sports Fandom

• [23:34–40:01]
  • The hosts hear from listeners and judge their “fandom purity”:
    • Jet Fan Retirement: Is it fraud to walk away from fandom after years of misery, only to return later if the team wins?
      • Verdict: Fraudulent if you come back. "You suffer until the day it turns around." – Don La Greca [26:13]
    • Rooting for a Rival for Standings' Sake: Yankees fan cheers for Astros if it benefits Yankees.
      • Verdict: Not a fraud; loyalty means wanting what's best for your team even if it means rooting for a hated rival [28:06].
    • Switching Teams for a Favorite Player: Grows up a Jets fan, follows John Riggins to Washington.
      • Consensus: Not a fraud if change happens at a young and impressionable age, and you stick with the team for decades [30:29].
    • Dual Fandom (Jets–Bucs or AFC/NFC teams):
      • Unanimous: Absolute fraud, no “secondary” teams allowed. "You don't have the luxury—oh, that's my AFC, that's my NFC team." – Don La Greca [31:32]
    • Abandoning Team over Bad Ownership:
      • If it's due to moral reasons (as with Peter’s Commanders/Dan Snyder experience): Allowable.
      • If it’s over incompetence or losing (e.g., Jerry Jones/Cowboys): Fraudulent, per Don and Alan.
        • "You don't get to leave the fandom because your owner is bad at what he does. That comes with it. I didn't give up on the Mets when the Wilpons were messing things up." – Don La Greca [38:23]

5. Listener Call-Ins: Family, Mortality, and Sports Parenting

• [46:00–51:22]
  • A listener helps Don feel better about future family dilemmas, with banter about survivability and generational hand-offs in fandom.
  • Discussion of aging, family planning, and longevity—riffs that blend typical sports talk with amusing existential detours.
    • "Three women are going to kill me." – Don La Greca [47:24]
    • Reflections on fathers dying young and how it frames their own perspectives on life and family.

6. Bad Umpiring & Accountability in MLB

• [41:54–44:31]
  • Don and Alan dissect a blown call in a recent Yankees game, pointing to consistent officiating issues and lack of accountability.
    • "At what point does it cost you your job? I guess never." – Don La Greca [43:15]
  • Call for poor umpires to be excluded from postseason games due to repeated errors.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Fandom Loyalty:
  • "You suffer until the day it turns around. And that's why it's so much sweeter when, and if it ever does, you don't get to tap out and then come back in when it gets good again." – Don La Greca [26:13]
• On Family vs. Sports:
  • "Her game, I can't. Her game, I gotta be there." – Alan Hahn, defending his choice to skip games for his son's girlfriend’s soccer match [19:56]
  • "If it works out, this is such a valuable thing...her father in law actually saw it, was a part of it. That's a worthwhile box to check." – Peter Rosenberg [18:36]
• On Scheduling:
  • "Huge advantage to the Blue Jays. Rested and the Yankees coming in from Houston. And there's something about those Texas flights. We talk about it all the time, Alan. It feels...it's over four hours. It's just...it's a terrible flight." – Don La Greca [06:48]
• On Abandoning a Team:
  • "I'm not switching to another team. I'm just retiring as a Jets fan for now. Does that make me a fraud?" – Listener Dean [26:00]
  • Verdict: "If he comes back, he's a fraud. He's not allowed back." – Don La Greca [26:13]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Yankees OF/Judge/Stanton Update: [02:24–05:57]
• MLB Scheduling & Yankees’ Travel Woes: [05:57–08:21]
• Alan Hahn’s Sports vs. Family Dilemma & Debate: [09:17–20:10]
• Fraud Alert Friday (Various Scenarios): [23:34–40:01]
  • Listener: Quitting Jets fandom: [26:00–27:35]
  • Dual Fandom / "AFC/NFC" teams: [31:31–33:36]
  • Ownership & Fandom Breakups: [34:14–38:58]
• Bad Umpiring in MLB: [41:54–44:31]
• Call-in on Parenting & Aversion to the Future: [46:00–51:22]

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Tone, Style & Dynamic

The episode is a blend of inside-sports knowledge, tongue-in-cheek banter, and real-life reflection, staying true to the personalities of the three hosts. Don is the staunch traditionalist and vocal ‘gatekeeper’ of fandom. Alan balances empathy and logic, while Peter brings humor, relatability, and a connection to broader pop culture.

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Summary

This hour covers the excitement and complications of the current New York sports landscape, from the Yankees' critical series and lineup changes to the NFL's return. The personal stories and the “Fraud Alert Friday” segment entertain and offer sharp commentary on true sports allegiance, the impact of family and relationships, and how much moral or competitive factors should weigh in continuing one’s devotion to a team.

A lively, emblematic episode of Don, Hahn & Rosenberg, blending serious sports talk with a slice of real life from three perspectives. Great for sports fans and anyone wrestling with the importance of sticking with a cause—or team—when the going gets tough.

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Transcript

[Alan Hahn]

I'm NFL linebacker TJ Watt and this is my personal best. YPB by Abercrombie is the activewear I'm always wearing. That's why I reached out to co design their latest drop. I worked with designers to create high performance activewear that holds up to my toughest workouts. Shop YPB by Abercrombie in store, online and in the app because your personal.

[Don La Greca]

Best is greater than any.

[Alan Hahn]

This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don La Greca]

That sounds like heaven to me.

[Alan Hahn]

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

[Don La Greca]

Game time is brought to you by Tullimore Dew Irish Whiskey. Because when it's game time.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes, it's Tully time. It's time.

[Don La Greca]

Mets Red Cincinnati coverage at 6. Right after us on 880 Yankees Jays Stadium. 705 Liberty Storm somewhere out west at 10. Tullamore Dew, the original triple distilled, triple blended and triple cast matured Iris whiskey. Be sure to grab a Tullamore Dew or try the new Tullamore Dew honey during today's action. Glasses up to enjoying Tullamore Dew responsibly. I know they're in Seattle.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm just having some fun somewhere out west.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, so God only knows the baseball.

[Alan Hahn]

You gave me a little Joe Piscopo there.

[Don La Greca]

Did I like it?

[Alan Hahn]

Remember he used to the sports announcer asking questions all the time. Mets, Reds, 6 o', clock pitching like he used to do stuff like that.

[Don La Greca]

Well, he's in the video for the.

[Alan Hahn]

The. Let's go Mets.

[Don La Greca]

Let's go Mets. The big story.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The Mets.

[Alan Hahn]

That's it. Okay.

[Don La Greca]

I'm glad you're 86 was a different time.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't expect Peter to remember it, but I don't.

[Don La Greca]

He wasn't in the market and he was seven.

[Alan Hahn]

Right. But I was hoping you get it.

[Don La Greca]

And the only Coke he knew was soda in 86. It had a whole completely different.

[Alan Hahn]

Completely Coke was it?

[Don La Greca]

Coke.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Coke was it?

[Alan Hahn]

Coke was it, Baby Coke was it? Yeah.

[Don La Greca]

Just quickly with the baseball. Senga did agree to go down to the minor leagues. That's the right thing to do. So he was sent down.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So. Wow.

[Don La Greca]

I think that shows he needs to get right. So he's now out of the rotation. He's off the roster right now. So sent down to the minor leagues to get well.

[Alan Hahn]

They're getting the ultimatum of okay, you're coming in the bullpen then. Yeah. And he doesn't want that.

[Don La Greca]

He doesn't want that.

[Alan Hahn]

And go down.

[Don La Greca]

Get right yeah, get right and he hopefully will. So the rotation is set for this weekend against Cincinnati. You got Peterson going tonight, Tong tomorrow, and then on Sunday we get to see Sproat. So. So now that all three are up here, so three fifths of your rotation now are kids and we'll see how that works out for them moving forward as they try to hold on to a wild card spot. But the big story that's getting buried by the football is that Aaron Judge is in the lineup playing right field for the start of this Blue Jays series. Yankees do what they had to do. They took two out of three from Houston. So from an optic standpoint, you feel pretty good at the start of this gauntlet. But now, now it's real because every game is worth two, right? Because there's. The Blue Jays are still the first place team here, so if the Yankees could sweep, they can get into first place here this weekend. But the Judge thing is so big, guys, because right now Stanton is on fire. But you don't want to play him in the outfield and you can't DH him. If Judge is DHing, he's certainly not taking Judge out of the lineup. But now this is the way it's supposed to be. Moving forward, judging the outfield, Stanton is your dh. So there was a lot of speculation that this might not happen at all this season because not only do they get him back before the playoffs, they get him back well before the playoffs. So Allen, this is really good news for the Yankees.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, it is good news. Obviously, if he's well enough and he has been throwing and practicing before games little by little, just getting more and more comfortable with the flexor strain though, is a flexor strain, right? It's not like one of these things where you go, whatever happened to the flexor strain? It's going to be there until he gets to the off season. So you do have to worry about like do you do multiple games or consecutive games or do you give him one? How much work did he get in the field that particular day where if he had to make three plays and throw it in, you know, a live ball situation where a runner's going to second and I got to make sure I get it ahead of the runner so he doesn't go. Whatever it is, it's the amount of work he gets might decide whether or not it's a game to game situation or whether he consistently stays now in right field. The knock on Judge previously has always been like his defensive war is not great. Now his, his war overall WAR is great because he's one of the best in the league, but his defensive WAR has not been good. But this year he's actually been an above average, actually like 85th percentile defensive player at right field this season. So he's actually scored very high defensively this year. And when you factor in the. That Stanton, God bless him for whatever the team needs. But we saw against Houston that when the ball finds him, the whole game can turn. And that happened. They couldn't afford any more. They're a better team when both those guys are in the lineup. The. The record tells you that. It's not an opinion, it's a fact. So they get this in an important series and it starts tonight with Cam Schlitler on the mound and judging right field and probably the closest the Yankees have felt to Hole, although Jazz. And the knee is. He's not in the lineup tonight. Right. Did you see the lineup?

[Don La Greca]

I just was told the judge is in it. Give me one second.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, because the Jazz knee thing does concern me because that also messed both.

[Don La Greca]

Of them, apparently now.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. Because he had the, the issue at second base.

[Don La Greca]

He's in the. Yeah, it looks like he's in the lineup.

[Alan Hahn]

He had a. He had a knee bruise, so. Yeah, he, he was hoping it'd be all right. Apparently they came in real late again or real early in the morning.

[Don La Greca]

I'm glad you brought. I was.

[Alan Hahn]

Why did they didn't play an afternoon game? No sense.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, I, I know the answer to that because to the best of my knowledge, that was not anywhere on national television. Right. That wasn't like a TBS game or so. I know it was on. It was on. Yes, locally. But there's no reason why that's not an afternoon game. And not only that, but the Blue Jays were off, so they got to get into New York early. That's right. The, the, the Yankees come in late now. Just. I, I know sometimes, at least following hockey, sometimes it's not a good thing that teams get to New York early because maybe they'll. They'll party a little too hard.

[Alan Hahn]

You think the Blue jays read Tate McRae last night? What do you think, Peter?

[Don La Greca]

Aside?

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's a great. That's, you know, listen, I don't know Tate McCray well.

[Alan Hahn]

Or the after party. I mean, she's Canadian.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, so they're in.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

You know what I mean?

[Don La Greca]

So anyways, I don't know if they were at the Garden last night. They were part. Whatever. But if they didn't. And they went right to. You Know, the bed as soon as they got in and relaxed and got ready for the big series. Fact is that still, on the surface, a huge advantage to the Blue Jays. Rested and the Yankees coming in from Houston. And there's something about those Texas flights. We talked about it all the time, Alan. You know, it feels. It's only. It's only halfway across the country, but still, it's over four hours. It's just. It's a terrible flight. Game ends late. That was a long ninth inning that they had to go through. Yankees scored a bunch of runs. Astros got. Got the bases loaded at one point in the ninth inning. So a huge advantage to the Blue Jays. See if they take advantage of it tonight. But glad you brought that up. That's a tough one.

[Alan Hahn]

Carlos Rodon's wife actually tweeted that he walked in the door from Houston when she and the kids were waking up to get ready for school.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

And her line is, it's while they allow, they're allowed to do this to the team and make them play, just play a day game.

[Don La Greca]

I don't.

[Alan Hahn]

And then she said, it has nothing to do with quality of life and everything to do with wanting to win a World Series. The guys don't need to be tired. This is not the first time, if you remember, Don, I remember Michael saying it was fairly recent. I think it was the Boston Series. Actually, the last Boston Series, the Yankees got in at 5am the day of that game when the Boston Series started. Wherever they were the night before, it's the same thing. Oh, they were in Tampa, if I'm not mistaken. And it's like, there's no reason for this. So let's see tonight, if they.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So what do you think? What is the reason? What would they argue is the reason to not have the day schedule?

[Don La Greca]

I am sure. Well, no, I'm sure Houston, because I guess you got to get teams to agree, Right? So Houston wanted that to be. Didn't want it to be an afternoon game. Yankees are in town. It was going to affect the size of the crowd, and it would. But baseball's got to step in and go, sorry, you know, they're in Houston, They've got a. They've got a divisional game against the team that had the day off the day before. It's September, you know, if it's May, all right, you got plenty of time to make up for it. But if the Blue Jays win, this game sets the tone for the rest of the series. So that's a bad job. We'll see if they're going to be able to overcome it. I'm interested, guys, especially from Allen, just because he is invested in the Yankees, too, is come Sunday. Like, what do you. What are you doing? I mean, you're obviously on the Jets. It's opening day. You're not that fired up about the Jets. I get it.

[Alan Hahn]

Not.

[Don La Greca]

But you're still a Jet fan. It's still opening day. You want to. You want to be engaged in that. You got the Giants. You got to keep. Keep an eye on what's going there at one o'. Clock. And your New York Yankees have a 135 game against the Blue Jays, which is not nothing, you know? So how do you juggle that? How do you deal with that?

[Alan Hahn]

And let me throw one more thing in.

[Don La Greca]

Okay?

[Alan Hahn]

1:00 Stony Brook. Unh. Women's soccer comes down to Stony Brook. Zach's girlfriend Elena plays on that team, and so we had to show support, right?

[Don La Greca]

I don't know.

[Alan Hahn]

Stephanie and I are.

[Don La Greca]

I legitimately do not know the answer to that question.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, how long have they been together?

[Alan Hahn]

Over a year. She's a wonderful girl, and she's a senior year.

[Don La Greca]

I. I.

[Alan Hahn]

Am I supposed to tell her, sorry, I have to watch football?

[Don La Greca]

I don't.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Peter.

[Don La Greca]

I'm not being that guy. You guys are gonna get here. That's why I'm asking.

[Alan Hahn]

I have to go to this.

[Don La Greca]

I don't know the answer, and that's not the answer I want to hear, all right? I got enough on my plate now. My. My. My daughter's boyfriend or my son's girlfriend or whatever.

[Alan Hahn]

What do you mean?

[Don La Greca]

Now it's extended family when five minutes after the game could be over. They could decide the part ways. And now she's. She's meaningless to me. It's what I don't understand.

[Alan Hahn]

First of all, first of all, respect my judgment enough to know that if their relationship was that tenuous, I'm out.

[Don La Greca]

I.

[Alan Hahn]

But, I mean, I've been around him enough to know, like, how old is Zach? He's 23.

[Don La Greca]

Everything is tenuous.

[Alan Hahn]

Are you on the year?

[Peter Rosenberg]

You said a year. I need.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, I'm giving you context.

[Don La Greca]

Hold on.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I need a little more. I need. I need more. Over a year, has she. Like, how many times, realistically, have there been, like, family events, including her so far?

[Alan Hahn]

Well, she's been here a ton over the summer. She was here a ton. And when you go up to see, like, when we went up to visit him for games and stuff, she's always there. And she goes to all his games and, like, it's a big thing.

[Don La Greca]

I get.

[Alan Hahn]

He's got. Yeah, no, no, he can't be there. He's up at school.

[Don La Greca]

But now you.

[Alan Hahn]

She's on Long Island. Her team's playing on Long Island.

[Peter Rosenberg]

How far, how far from you, stony Brooks?

[Alan Hahn]

About 40 minutes, not least.

[Don La Greca]

Peter. I, I, you're telling me I shouldn't.

[Alan Hahn]

Go and I should watch football while, while she's there. And I'm going to explain that, okay?

[Don La Greca]

I, I'm not. Peter, I'm legitimately lost here. I'm listening, okay, Because I've gone through that lovely family.

[Alan Hahn]

They're coming from New Jersey, so we're going to meet them like it's a great thing.

[Don La Greca]

All right, well, now, have you met.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Have you met them?

[Alan Hahn]

Have not met the parents.

[Don La Greca]

All right, see, now you're, you're going.

[Peter Rosenberg]

To meet them without Zach?

[Alan Hahn]

Yes.

[Don La Greca]

Wow, that's, that's. No, but see, now he's built up something that now he has to go because it's a thing. What I was wondering is now that, Is she now part of the family? Because they've been dating for a certain period of time. I need to know these things when my kids get older. Because, listen, it's tenuous at that age. So one minute, one minute she's a family member, then there's a falling out, and now it's somebody that. You wouldn't even pick up your head if you crossed her in the mall because she wronged your son. Like so. I want. It's very. At least admit it's fluid.

[Alan Hahn]

It's, it doesn't feel fluid. And from my end here, here's to me, the clincher. Believe me, when, when, when we lost my sister, she came down and attended the wake, funeral, everything. She was with us the whole time.

[Don La Greca]

Did her parents go?

[Alan Hahn]

No.

[Don La Greca]

Well, that's the point is you didn't.

[Alan Hahn]

Have to do any of this. She did.

[Don La Greca]

No, I know she's a good girl. And she might end up being in your family. Right, But Zach's not there. But, but you having to represent, stand in for your son, I don't have to do. Now, if the family, the whole family came to the wake, well, then I guess then, then you got to do something. But you, I don't think even a.

[Alan Hahn]

Little bit of obligation, okay? Because it's the one time I've never seen her play other, other than watching on espn, I've never seen her live play. And this is the one opportunity to do it. And she's 40 minutes from my house. They're all the way up in New Hampshire. They play up in that NEC league up there. They're never going to be around. This is the only time.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Listen, he's doing the right thing.

[Don La Greca]

He's definitely doing the right thing.

[Alan Hahn]

DVR the games and then watch him back when we're done.

[Don La Greca]

But it's not going wrong. That's what I need to know.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, he could have not gone.

[Alan Hahn]

He think I could have pulled the I have to work thing?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don La Greca]

It's not. Don't. Don't say it like you got to be careful here. Don't say it like it's an excuse. It's real. Because on Monday, what are we going to be talking about? Jets, Giants, Mets, Yankees. And you got to be on those things.

[Alan Hahn]

I will be.

[Don La Greca]

So it's not like if you did throw it out there, that. It's like Allan's using it as an excuse. I mean, it's a legitimate reason.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But hold on now, real quick. Let me. Let me throw this back at your face, Don. Right. Right up in your face.

[Alan Hahn]

Right up in your face.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What is your plan of attack for the double 1pm on Sunday?

[Don La Greca]

What it usually is is that Giants on the tv, jets on, like on the tablet, like on the computer. And then depending on who's playing the game, that's the most intriguing. Then we'll get the bigger T, but I'm on both of them. And then like the Mets and Yankees checking on the phone. Like, I don't have this elaborate setup like Rothenberg where I got like 12 TV. I don't have that. My setup is like 1985 New Jersey.

[Alan Hahn]

But you can.

[Peter Rosenberg]

If you had iPads, then.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm curious, you can dvr.

[Don La Greca]

Why dvr? Just because there's a lot of things I need to get back on.

[Alan Hahn]

You can. So you don't have to watch everything live. Because we don't go on the air till 3 o' clock on Monday.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Can we be realistic, please?

[Alan Hahn]

A lot of time to catch up.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, you think that he's gonna watch a full day of football? And I know Don cares about his job. He wants to do the right thing. He's going to watch a full day of football. The Giants Commie game, the 4 o' clock national game, whatever it is. And then maybe at 8 o', clock, say, I'm going to skip the Sunday nighter, I'm going to start the jets game from the beginning and watch it again.

[Don La Greca]

No. And anybody that says they do that, they're lying. That doesn't happen.

[Alan Hahn]

What happens is you can skim through.

[Don La Greca]

Exactly. You get on there and you kind of, you already know what happened. Right.

[Alan Hahn]

So you just go to the park.

[Don La Greca]

But there's certain, there might be a drive, certain things that happen that you want the context of watching the play by play rally rather than getting the highlights where you kind of just fast forward to that, see what happened. Like the spitting incident last night. If that had happened during the jets or Giants. I have the context of the play before what was going on, the buildup. So then you have all that but to sit there and turn it on.

[Alan Hahn]

Instead of watching like the third down that led to the first down that led to a touchdown. No, no, let me watch the whole series and how much was on this play and what was happening before that. That's all you have to do. You don't have to watch the, the game from start to finish. But you can, you can do that in a half hour. You can do that in 40 minutes, easy.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, I'll tell you, but I'll tell you one thing though. You're going to have a tough time with. Given what you're doing, missing both local games, the double catch up on both. One o' clock is going to be tough.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes, it's going to be a challenge. Which is why I, But I.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What time's the games?

[Alan Hahn]

One o'? Clock? Oh, yeah. Trust me, the minute I, I just.

[Don La Greca]

Think you're a special human being. I just. But I was legitimately asking because listen, the twins are only.

[Alan Hahn]

No one else think I should go.

[Don La Greca]

No, I know should is strong.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, you should go.

[Don La Greca]

Do what you do.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You're doing the right thing.

[Don La Greca]

I'm just trying to find out when I'm in that situation, am I a bad guy. If I don't go now, I'll probably end up going because Nancy will tell me to go and I'll have no choice. And I love that I can pretend at least that I have some say in what goes on. Because you hear what I'm saying, Peter, like everybody knows you were married before, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's correct.

[Don La Greca]

So. So when like my and my brother, same thing. So there are people that were in our life that we spent Thanksgiving holidays together that now are gone. They don't exist anymore. Like, you know the, how fluid your family, your uncle's your uncle. Right. That's no matter what happens, that's, that's family. But you have these family that they're in and then there's a divorce and then they're out. This is a situation where they're 23, they're dating for about a year.

[Alan Hahn]

Don. If, if anything ever happens in the next months or years between them and she's no longer in my life, am I going to go. Boy, I really missed out on that Jets Giants season opener.

[Don La Greca]

Fair.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's a fair point.

[Alan Hahn]

Like what are we talking about here? What am I sacrificing? I'm not going to not see the games.

[Don La Greca]

No, I know.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm going to watch anyway.

[Don La Greca]

What I'm saying is that somebody that you are treating like family in two weeks may not be anymore. As a matter of fact, you might get by Zach for even glancing at.

[Alan Hahn]

How about, how about. How about you flip it. And it's always held against me.

[Don La Greca]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

Stay together.

[Don La Greca]

That's why I'm legit from the fact.

[Alan Hahn]

That I didn't go to her the last time she plays in the area in her college career she's. And I didn't go. And she just holds that against me forever. I'll never get over just so I can watch some dopey jets season opener. In a year they're going to win four games. Stop.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know what? It's.

[Alan Hahn]

You know what I mean? There's two, there's two ways to this.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Risk versus reward.

[Don La Greca]

It's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's making the right choice. Because even if. Let's just call it a 30% chance it works out for these kids. If it works out, this is such a valuable thing. He. True. In all seriousness, one day when she is a 40 year old mom and she's telling stories of playing in college, she gets to know that her father in law actually saw it was a part of it. That, that's, that's a worthwhile box to check.

[Don La Greca]

Right. But it could break to where she's Persona non grata for sure. But you know what?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Here. Here's the mic drop. Here's the mic drop. There's no version of which this jets.

[Don La Greca]

Game is going to matter. There's just none.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But if not one version.

[Alan Hahn]

Now, mic drop. Now I will admit this. If this is two years ago and it's Aaron Rodgers debut. Sweetie, I'm sorry. I got to work.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right, right. It's Aaron Rodgers debut.

[Don La Greca]

Wait a minute. So why didn't you lead with that? No, no, she. She's so important. She's a part of the family. You should just let. Listen, this is this sacrificeable Jet game. That's a lead.

[Alan Hahn]

It's a sacrificeable Jet season.

[Don La Greca]

Well, right.

[Alan Hahn]

That's how I feel.

[Don La Greca]

I'm just Saying, but if it was Aaron Rodgers, it was 9 11. Aaron Rodgers running out with the flag. But, Don, all the stuff you said about that wouldn'.

[Alan Hahn]

Playing at the same time. The Yankees playing at the same time and this, like, throw them all up in the air. It doesn't matter. The other three, I can always watch back. Her game, I can't. Her game, I gotta be there.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's doing.

[Alan Hahn]

That's how I'm handling it.

[Don La Greca]

This is. By the way, I gotta tell you.

[Alan Hahn]

This was riveting radio, but you guys, I thought you guys would both just shrug it off.

[Don La Greca]

No, I'm really. We're gonna be in this situation one day. You are.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes, you are.

[Don La Greca]

I want to learn. I want to know what the right thing to do is.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, listen, let me tell you, there was, there was a time when certain people in my life where they paid for the YES network so they could watch my show every day. Right now, if on a bet, you had to force them to download the ESPN New York app to listen, let me tell you, they're not. Listen, all right, Things change.

[Alan Hahn]

People change.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Things rearrange. You know what I mean?

[Alan Hahn]

I got people like that, too, Peter.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now, Now I'm on the. I'm on the Splash sports. I'm in now. I'm logged in. I'm all set. I'm in our little league here. I got to tell you, I'm not good at Survivor in general, but is it me or is even from a Survivor standpoint?

[Alan Hahn]

Tough week.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's not, it's not a super easy week.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, no, no, it's not easy.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like, I would have the Eagles actually now look like one I could have leaned towards. I really would have thought they would win last night no matter what. But you want to use the Eagles.

[Alan Hahn]

Later in the year. Like, there's some obvious ones that you want to use later that you know are going to be good versus teams that you know you'll never, ever need to use again that you want to go now. Like, keep in mind, the Colts haven't won a season opener in like, eight, 11 years. How long has it been? Like it. That feels. That's one of those that you could lean into if you wanted to and take. Who are they playing? Take that team and use that, use that stat. But that's just once you got.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right, I, I, I, I picked one. I'll tell you guys. I, I know what I'm doing.

[Alan Hahn]

All right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I did it.

[Alan Hahn]

Reveal it later.

[Don La Greca]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Alan Hahn]

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[Don La Greca]

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[Alan Hahn]

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[Don La Greca]

Do list is a great feeling. And when it comes to checking off coverage, a State Farm agent can help you choose an option that's right for you. Whether you prefer talking in person on the phone or using the award winning app, it's nice knowing you have help finding coverage that best fits your needs. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.

[Alan Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Alan Hahn]

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

[Don La Greca]

I'm a fraud with a capital F.

[Alan Hahn]

Is your friend a fraud?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I have been a complete and utter fraud.

[Alan Hahn]

Are you a fraud?

[Don La Greca]

What is fraud?

[Alan Hahn]

Let's ask Dom McGregor.

[Don La Greca]

Screw. Go scratch yourself.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I gotta ask you as we start our big old Fraud Friday on this beautiful Friday, September 5th.

[Alan Hahn]

Why'd you say it like that?

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's me. That's just me.

[Alan Hahn]

Fraud Friday.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's what I always sound like.

[Don La Greca]

Family. I'm here with my family.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Dom, what makes you happier all week? Is there anything that makes you happier than when we get to the part of Fraud Friday and you hear Marco say, what is fud?

[Don La Greca]

I do love it. And he loves it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Does he still sound that way?

[Don La Greca]

No, I'd like to hear him say fraud. What? It's fraud, but it's getting. That was a year ago probably. What is wrong? Yeah, he sound. He sounded a little more confident himself. I love.

[Peter Rosenberg]

God, I love that little kid voice. It is so cute. All right, welcome to Fraud Friday here on dhr. Now do you want to start, Alan, or you want me to get started?

[Don La Greca]

What is your.

[Alan Hahn]

Let's.

[Don La Greca]

Let's.

[Alan Hahn]

Because this is to serve the people. So let's just go through all the different. What's on the docket today, Peter?

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right, let's. We'll get warmed up here and then see where our friend Alan Ha wants to go. Here we go. Dean reaches out to us and he says, hey, guys, I am 25 years old. I've been a Jets fan for the entirety of their play off drought. Oh, very, very sad. We've been talking about this this week. I didn't really get into football until I was about 12, and then I started playing Madden and then joined a team in middle school. Because of that, I completely missed the jets playoff runs in 2009 and 2010. Over the years, I became almost obsessively delusional about the team. I even bought full season tickets to MetLife and drove from Long island to every home game on Sundays. But by the middle of last year, I started to seriously consider quitting my fandom altogether. A lot of people called me a fraud for feeling this way. But here's my argument. In my lifetime as a fan, I've always only seen the jets finish with one winning record, and they haven't even come close in other years. By almost every measure, they've been the most unsuccessful major sports franchise of the past decade.

[Alan Hahn]

All right, all right, all right, let's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm not switching to another team. I'm just retiring as a Jets fan for now. Does that make me a fraud? And if the team ever turns it around, am I allowed to come back?

[Don La Greca]

Well, if he comes back, he's a fraud. He's not allowed back. If he is going to walk away, he walks away for good. And I'm going to call him a fraud because it sounds to me like he's willing and to come back if it turns around. No, you don't get that. You suffer until the day it turns around. And that's why it's so much sweeter when, and if it ever does, you don't get to tap out and then come back in when it gets good again. Now, and listen, it's no different than what I went through. The Giants made the playoffs at 81. How old was I? Thirteen. You know, and that was the first time they made the playoffs and then missed the playoffs in 82 and 83. You know, I suffered for a long time before they got good. It's part of being a fan fraud. You know what? Go Away, stay away.

[Alan Hahn]

It sounds to me like he's trying to dance in the waters of free agency. But he doesn't want it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What he said. Maybe you're right.

[Alan Hahn]

That's like saying I'm gonna get divorced and I'm never gonna. No, no, no again. No.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm not interested in looking around, though. I'm not, I'm not ready yet.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't even know.

[Don La Greca]

I think.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And then here comes a hot chick and you go, you know what?

[Don La Greca]

I think he's gonna be ready. He doesn't want to suffer anymore. But the second if the jets got good, he would jump. He wants permission to jump back in.

[Alan Hahn]

It could be that too, but you said it, Don. It's, it's new edition. Can you stay in the rain? It is literally what being a fan is about is during the worst of times so that the. So that the best of times feel that much better.

[Don La Greca]

That's about till death do us part.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right, let's keep going, shall we?

[Alan Hahn]

Yes, please.

[Peter Rosenberg]

God, that was an easy one. I like seeing Donalist sweat a little.

[Don La Greca]

Bit.

[Peter Rosenberg]

As a Yankees fan. Does rooting for the Astros against the Red Sox or Jays make me a fraud? Mind you, that I only root for a team I hate if they can help my team.

[Don La Greca]

No, that's a true fan.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay?

[Don La Greca]

That's a true fan. You have to root for what's good for your team. So you hate the Astros, but if the Astros beating the Red Sox, the Blue Jays helps your team, then you have to root for the Astros. You got to put it all aside because ultimately it's about what's good for your team. So you can have your hatreds, but it's all based on the wellness of your team. And if the Astros winning helps your team, then that, that's the perfect.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, that's like the, that, that's Again, it's fraud with purpose because you might be cheering for a team you hate, but your their success benefits you. So it's a very selfish way to go about it. So I, I, I do completely agree with this.

[Don La Greca]

Fraud with purpose would be if I've got a thousand dollars on the game and I'm picking Houston because I want to win money. That's not fraud with purpose. When you're doing something that's going to.

[Alan Hahn]

Help your team, it's not with purpose. What's the purpose is helping your team.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, but it's not. You can't call. You're not a fraud. You would be a fraud not to do it. So we going to Root for the.

[Alan Hahn]

Red Sox and have Donnie Semantics today.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Makes no sense. All right, here we go, guys. Another Fraud Friday from Steve. Hey, guys, I think I have a good Fraud Friday question. I grew up a casual jets fan and watched Super Bowl 3 with my dad when I was 10 years old. I had not yet become a full fledged football fan until I watched the jets play a preseason game against the Giants at the Yale Bowl, 1976. That day I was introduced to a rookie named John Rigging and was just blown away watching him play. Fast forward to him leaving the jets and going to the Redskins and my fandom followed him and I became a full fledged Washington fan. I still follow the jets and root for them to do well, but I am a full fan of the commanders. Am I a fraud?

[Don La Greca]

Thanks, Steve T. I need context. How old was he when he was a Jet fan?

[Peter Rosenberg]

It says, it says he watched Super Bowl 3 when he was 10.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, wow. All right, so that's 68. And then Riggins at the Yale bowl was mid-70s, right, Don?

[Don La Greca]

So they're already in Giant Stadium in 76. So that would have probably been.

[Alan Hahn]

But he said, he said he wasn't.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Really a big fan as a kid. It was the, it was the Giants Jets, Yale ball game.

[Alan Hahn]

That, that's 15 years old.

[Don La Greca]

No, fraud. He was young, impressionable. He fell in love with a running back. That was a lot of people. A character for sure. And he has stuck with it now for 50 plus years. No fraud.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, you stick around for 50 years. It's hard, it's hard to make the fraud argument at that point.

[Don La Greca]

Right. And you were 10, he was 15.

[Alan Hahn]

Remember Riggins was on the jets, he was 15.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So you think that's too old.

[Alan Hahn]

And then. Yeah, and then Riggins move teams and you move teams. With Riggins, he became like what a lot of current fans are. Fan of a player, not a team. But here we go.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Billy writes us and says, I'm 30 years old. I grew up a diehard Jet fan. In October of 21, I moved to Tampa the season the Bucks and Brady won the title. First time in my life I was able to watch Brady without a violent hatred. It was able to appreciate his greatness. Over time, I decided the Bucks would be my NFC team and the jets afc. From there, I've really fallen.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, go ahead.

[Don La Greca]

Goodbye. Yeah, you don't have the luxury of, oh, that's my afc. That's my NFC team. Oh, my.

[Alan Hahn]

That's my National League team. Yeah. No, that doesn't work.

[Don La Greca]

How. Yeah, I think Nancy would be like, hold on. That just. That's my Tampa girl. You're mining jersey. But, ho, ho, once I get on that plane to cover a Devil game, it's on. No.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, that'll be something.

[Don La Greca]

That would be something. And it would know. It would be divorceable. And this is fraudulent. That is a fraud. Tampa's my NFC team.

[Alan Hahn]

Haven't you heard that, though? Don't you know people that say that, though, that have used that excuse, you.

[Don La Greca]

Know, it's a big fraud.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, I'm a Yankees fan, but I haven't that. They were my National League team.

[Don La Greca]

You know who's a fraud? Jody McDonald. Jody McDonald's Jet fan, but he's also a Cowboy fan. The Cowboys are his NFC team. Fraud.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don La Greca]

Great guy, knows football, tremendous talk show host. Fraud.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, I agree.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. Two teams in the same league. If you. If you think you're serious about one of the teams, is a complete joke.

[Alan Hahn]

That's my west, casual west coast team. That's my Western Conference team. That. You hear that in the NBA. I'm a Knicks fan, but I root for the Lakers. That's my Western Conference. No, that doesn't exist.

[Don La Greca]

You could like other teams. Like, I like that. Watching that team. There's a neutral game or the like.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Even if you're a Knicks, I believe you're a Knicks fan. And the Knicks get. They don't even make the playoffs, and you have a West Western Conference team you enjoy watching, and then they get to the playoffs and you're. That's the team you're definitively pulling for. I don't care. Knock yourself out. But if someone says, who's your team? Your answer can't go, well, my east coast team is this team. My West Coast. No, your answer should be one team.

[Don La Greca]

Now, you might have gotten away with it maybe back in the day with baseball when they didn't have interleague play. And the only time you'd have to worry about is in the World Series. But you know, the Bucks and the jets play all the. Not all the time, but they play at least once every three years. What are you doing? Well, I'm gonna root whoever needs it the most. Stop yourself, Fraud.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Whoever needs it. They don't mean neither of them needs you.

[Don La Greca]

All right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Let's just be honest about it.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah. Your rooting is not really gonna impact whether they don't need you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No one needs you. All right, Alan, What. Let me. Let me toss to you now.

[Don La Greca]

What do you got over there?

[Alan Hahn]

All right, so as I mentioned, I was Hanging last night with my boy Ben. I've known him since we were 12 years old together. St. Joseph School, sixth grade, right. Seventh grade. Became really good friends. Stayed, stayed friends. Tight through High School, St. Anthony's all the way through. He goes to Alabama to college. He's far away. But this dude, I need him. Yeah, he went to Tuscaloos.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He goes to Alabama from New York.

[Alan Hahn]

He did. And so. But when I need him to drop a hat, he's here. Like, this is how we are.

[Don La Greca]

Oh, that's.

[Alan Hahn]

But I found out something about him last night that I did not realize.

[Don La Greca]

What's that?

[Alan Hahn]

So I've known him as a Cowboys fan my whole life. Last night we're watching the game and I'm just expecting the fact that he's interested in this game was the fact it was the Cowboys. Now, I've told you that he lives in Minnesota most of the time. That's where his family is, is located. He and his wife live there. And he has lived there for the better part of 25 years. He told me during the game last night that he, he likes the Cowboys still, but the Vikings became his team because he lives in Minnesota. He said he's taking a break from the Cowboys because of Jerry Jones. He said he. So when I told him out front alert Friday, I said, I'm bringing this up, but bringing you to court. He said his question to the judge is simply this. Can an owner be the reason why you stop rooting for a team?

[Don La Greca]

This is going to be very rare. But I, I'll allow Peter to answer that because he actually went through it.

[Alan Hahn]

It's a good point.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yep. I believe an owner is a fair reason to end a relationship with a team. If after a very long time, like Don, you remember me saying this, I wasn't proud of my Redskin fandom. Like, I got to a point of it where, like, I continued to go to watch every game stupidly pull for. And I was kind of disgusted with myself. Honestly. I kind of thought if I was a bigger person, I would have left this mess. So I think you have the right to do that. Well, if, if, if there's. If the right amount of time and malfeasance has happened. But Donald, like you said earlier, once you do it, that is it. There's no coming back. If they sell. Here's done.

[Don La Greca]

Here's. Here's the issue for me. Peter was in a dilemma because his owner was a really bad human being bad guy. Jerry Jones is just not good at what he does. All right. When he was a bad human being with the White House. Remember that? And the party bus. Oh, they were winning. He was all for that. No problem there. Well, all of a sudden, he's incompetent. You're losing games. I want out. Stop it. Fraud, fraud, fraud, fraud, fraud, fraud, fraud, fraud, fraud, fraud, fraud. Because ask him that. When they had the White House and they were doing drugs and Jerry looked the other way. Oh, no, they're winning Super Bowls. I don't care. Michael Irvin snorting coke off a mirror is on video to now. It's all right. It's okay. We're winning, baby. But now, all of a sudden, he's trading good players, and they haven't won a play, won three playoff games in 25 years. All the owners bad. I can't take it anymore, Peter. I can't take it anymore.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, he doesn't.

[Don La Greca]

Meanwhile, there's, like, women half naked hanging out the window at the White House. When I say the White House, they called it the White House, where the players would take women and do whatever they wanted. And Jerry didn't care. He funded the place, for God's sakes. But. But they were winning Super Bowls, so whoopee. How about them Cowboys? All of a sudden, they start losing, Peter. And it's like, I'm going to go root for the Vikings, because I've lived there for 25 years, and apparently it's 1975, and you can't watch games out of town.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's Don. He never ceases to amaze me with his brilliance, because he's absolutely right. I never considered leaving. I really didn't consider leaving because we lost. I considered leaving because they were, like, a sickening thing to even. Look.

[Alan Hahn]

He's a bad guy. And all the reports that would come out just made it worse and worse with Don. With Don's bringing up, though, is that moral dilemma. And I never really considered it. Now, knowing. Knowing Ben the way I do, I can see him thinking, like, no, that's okay. All that stuff that happened, that Don explained the White House. No, no, there's nothing wrong with that. What he doesn't like is incompetent ownership and an owner that he feels like just says and does dumb things, doesn't represent the team the way I want him to, and I'm not happy. And he. He wanted out, so that's what he told me. So you're calling Ben a fraud right to his face. Right to his face.

[Don La Greca]

Next time you go out with him, invite him.

[Alan Hahn]

No, no. Well, you're going to have that opportunity. He's. He's all. All, all hockey season. He's around Rangers Devils. I'll have him because he has a season tickets to the Rangers. I'll have him come up.

[Don La Greca]

You do not. The ultimate line here is. Is that you don't get to leave the fandom because your owners are is bad at what he does. It just stinks. That comes with it. I didn't give up on the Mets when the Wil Ponds were messing things up. It just. That comes with it.

[Alan Hahn]

I didn't give up on the jets with Woody Johnson.

[Don La Greca]

That's right.

[Alan Hahn]

Hanging in. And Peter. You're right though. Peter is the poster child of all of this.

[Don La Greca]

Right. But he still never stuck up. He just, he. It affected him because it was. There was a. There was because of the moral dilemma.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don La Greca]

I'm willing to have a conversation about morals, but this is a conversation about when things and losses tough. Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No it's really true though because I had friends and family. In fact I'm here with my family who would say to me like just dude, enough. You're gonna, you're gonna keep like missing out on life events to watch this team. They don't deserve your time. And again, not just because they were losing games. You can have a team. Listen, Cleveland. Cleveland sucks. They've made a ton of mistakes. And maybe you could argue now with the Watson thing. They stepped into some immoral territory as well. But their fans didn't bail on them because the team was doing nearly criminal things. They're just bad. So yeah, you got to stick with your bad team.

[Alan Hahn]

That's not a good reason to Anthony's. Anthony, do you want to tell them what you immediately responded when I texted you this idea. Fraud. Yeah. Anthony called it right out of the gate moments after I sent the text asking him, what do you think of this? He said, oh, fraud.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And what was your logic, Anthony? Just that he's getting out because times are tough.

[Alan Hahn]

I just, I wrote exactly what Don was hashing out there.

[Don La Greca]

Just, just.

[Alan Hahn]

It's fraudulent behavior. That's right.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah. So. Well, all right.

[Alan Hahn]

This is well done.

[Don La Greca]

It's a good one.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This is what we do Every single Friday. Dhrespnmail.com if you want to find out whether you or a loved one is in fact a flawed this episode is.

[Don La Greca]

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[Alan Hahn]

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[Don La Greca]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

So you can lose more sweat and raise your game.

[Don La Greca]

Gatorade is it in you?

[Alan Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Alan Hahn]

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

[Don La Greca]

Game Time is brought to my telemardu Harry Wolsky when it's game time.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don La Greca]

Like when he holds it, it's totally time. Jacob didn't know what to do because it was the third one and we don't have a third version. We had to go back to the first one. He got caught. Love it, but he reacted well. Mets and the Reds in Cincinnati coverage begins right here on 880. After us at 6. We got a short show today. Yankees host the Blue Jays at 7:05. Liberty will be at the Seattle Storm at 10. Tullamore Dew, the original triple distilled triple blended triple cast matured Iris whiskey. Be sure to grab a Tullamore Dew or try the new Tullamore Dew honey during today's action. Glasses up to enjoying Tullamore due responsibly. Major League Baseball, they do this in the NFL all the time and they certainly do it in the NBA. With the two minute report that Andy Martino tweeted. Major League Baseball told Aaron Boone that the Ryan McMahon play should have been ruled a catch. Quite a series for that up. And that up, of course is Brian Walsh who had the terrible strike zone in game two of the series. And then if you missed it, there was a catch by McMahon that was called a trap. And then you look at it, he clearly caught the ball. I guess he caught the ball and then transferring to throw, he dropped it. And Walsh is just a bad umpire. And there's, there's evidence. Now you have a paper trail guys. Where Major League baseball had to say it should have been called a catch. And you have the box there for the strike zone. Of all the plays that he missed, they tracked this stuff. 21 missed calls in the game before. And as the third base umpire, Major League Baseball basically had to apologize for the Yankees for the wrong call. I understand they've got a union, Allen. I get it. But at what point does it cost you your job? I guess never. Because Angel Hernandez was the worst umpire ever and stayed for like 20 years. So I guess the answer is you can't do anything, but come on, man.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, that's bad. Well, look, this crew. Because you saw the bat thing last night, right?

[Don La Greca]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Bizarre. That was in the delay that the. That Tramell's bat, that had. So. I guess it. It had. So Boone called attention to it. And then they didn't. Like, they were staring at it. They were trying to figure what to do with it. It brought back memories of George Brett back in the day, but it ended up where they took the bat away. But nothing was said to the crowd, nothing was announced. And the game just resumed after 10 minutes of staring at a bat.

[Don La Greca]

They're awful.

[Alan Hahn]

Like this crew. Don, there's three weeks left in the season. This crew should not do any significant games.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, they should.

[Alan Hahn]

Anything that has any type of playoff implications, they should not be involved in it.

[Don La Greca]

I don't know how many times the Pirates play the Marlins, but they should be relegated to like every meaningless series.

[Alan Hahn]

Rockies, Pirates and I would not.

[Don La Greca]

And we should see Heidn or Harrow him in the postseason.

[Alan Hahn]

No, he's got to be banished from the playoffs. He has to have lost any opportunity to make money in the postseason. Guys, I'd like to personally apologize.

[Don La Greca]

Okay, go ahead. Because we've done three, not one, not two, three game times. And I know no one did it.

[Alan Hahn]

And no one did it. And it's on me. I blame myself. I blame America. Don, on top of the fact that the Yankees have a big series against the Blue Jays, Yankee Stadium.

[Don La Greca]

On top of the fact that the.

[Alan Hahn]

Mets are in a pivotal matchup with the Reds for that wild card spot, on top of the fact that the Liberty are out somewhere on the West Coast, AKA Seattle, we also have Don.

[Don La Greca]

And Peter with you until seven. And then we are going to have the great Brewers Pirates game coming up at 7 o'. Clock. Not on our air, but it had to be done. Yeah, the brewers are playing the Pirates tonight.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's right.

[Alan Hahn]

When they get together, it's great. And that's what I heard.

[Don La Greca]

I've told Alan, as people maybe don't remember, Alan Hahn was coming up next. And I was going to say the great Alan Hahn because he was following us at the time, back in the day. And then I glanced down to confirm it, as I already said the great, and saw that the Brewers Pirates were.

[Alan Hahn]

Going to be on.

[Don La Greca]

That's a long time ago, because that was the last time the Pirates were relevant was over a decade ago. So thank you for bringing that back. I apologize. Now, you guys know I. I don't have a thin skin. Things don't really bother me, but every once in a while, something kind of hurts my feelings. And Mike Pennsylvania is about to do that. On Don Hunter Rosenberg. How are you, Mike? Hi, Mike. Hey, guys. How you doing?

[Alan Hahn]

Hey.

[Don La Greca]

Good. Hey, Don. First of all, not a bad guy. I grew up in Jersey, lifelong Devils fan, Giants fan, so not a bad. So far.

[Peter Rosenberg]

None of these things would preclude you from being a bad guy, but keep going.

[Don La Greca]

Well, in your opinion.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don La Greca]

So second of all, I'm here to help you, Don. I'm here to make you feel better. So you're getting yourself all worked up over this whole thing with Alan and, and his kids. And his kids, girlfriends. And what are you gonna do when you get there? So, listen, I'm 49 years old and I have, I'm very similar to you. I have twin 8 year olds. Only mine are girls, so it's even worse. But by the time we get to that stage of the ballgame, we're going to be dead. You're not going to have to worry about it. Well, I feel a little bit better you included yourself in that. But if we're. I told my wife all the time, these three girls are going to be a factor. And I. Listen, we think about it all the time. Peter does, too, now. But Alan, we're going to go off of the fact that Zach is 23 years old.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don La Greca]

So you don't think it's on the table? I can make it to 72. Oh, I'm. Well, I can only speak for myself. I'm definitely not. No way. Why did you say that? You sound like, you sound like a healthy individual.

[Alan Hahn]

Mike almost sounds like he hopes.

[Don La Greca]

Three women are going to kill me.

[Alan Hahn]

Right, right. That's what it is. Like, like you need to get a dog, a male dog, something in that. Like I, I. With Zach out of the house, I.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Can'T even do that.

[Don La Greca]

My wife's allergic to dogs. They even ruined that for me.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, see, well, he's got no Other. No other testosterone in the house. Don't. It's not easy.

[Don La Greca]

Now, there's a couple of things.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, it's not good.

[Don La Greca]

There's a couple of things where, again, we're using 23, but it's possible that Jalen and Marco could have significant others at 19 or 20, where it could become an issue. But to not even give me 72 guys, I mean, I'm trying. I go to kickboxing. I'm trying to stay healthy. I quit cigars. I. I haven't drank a sip of soda since 2012.

[Alan Hahn]

You know, that's usually when it happens.

[Don La Greca]

That's the problem, is nobody makes statements to be wrong, so he's rooting to be right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What was. What did it say on the call screener?

[Don La Greca]

He said by then, oh, my.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. Which, to be fair, is exactly what he said to me and didn't give the qualifier. Listen, if you're trying to get on our airwaves knowing that the phone lines are jammed, you got to give us some shock value. You got to give us a headline that makes us go, oh, I got to take that call. Well, right.

[Don La Greca]

He hurt my feelings a little bit. Now, he could learn himself in that. But, you know, listen, my dad did die at 59, and so I'm conscious of that, but he also smoked like a chimney. A different time. So I'm trying, but I. We sit there and talk about, will Michael take, you know, 91, who died yesterday, that Giorgio Armani. Armani died at 91. So would Michael take 91? No, I would definitely take 72. 72.

[Alan Hahn]

All this just because I want to go see my. My son's girlfriend.

[Don La Greca]

Let's see what you think. Well, you. When are you gonna learn, Alan? And you're new to the whole vibe of this. Of the afternoon drive.

[Alan Hahn]

All right. Yeah.

[Don La Greca]

Is that. You never know. Anything can become a thing. There's no throwaways, clearly, you know, so.

[Alan Hahn]

Now there's a lot riding on this game now.

[Don La Greca]

Well, yeah. Not. Not. Not the game. Just Zach's decisions. Like, you don't want to put Zach in a situation where he's like, I really don't want to marry her, but look at the sacrifices my dad made. I guess I have to.

[Alan Hahn]

He's like, you know, I'm having some second thoughts. No, no, listen to me. I went to that freaking game. You're sticking with this, seeing this through.

[Don La Greca]

I keep thinking about the movie Fever Pitch.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, yeah.

[Don La Greca]

Remember when the fun Jimmy Fallon characters decided to cave, missed the Yankee Red Sox game to go to that party, and he ended up missing the, the Red Sox coming back from nine runs down in the ninth inning to win the game, and they're partying in the street, and he, you know, so if the, if the jets come back from 28 points down in the fourth quarter and you miss it, I don't want you to regret it like that, you know?

[Alan Hahn]

Listen, Don, you, Would you just tell.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Me you would take. You would.

[Alan Hahn]

Monday Night Massacre come on. Like, I'm not worried.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Did you say that you would take 72?

[Don La Greca]

No. Meaning, like, you know how Michael's just like, I'm not taking 91. I'm just saying that I would. I think I can make it to 72. No.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay, because you're not. Don't take.

[Don La Greca]

No, I'm not. Not in the sense that I'd be good. I'm just saying that I don't think it's asking a lot.

[Alan Hahn]

What is it? Like, that's one milestone along the way, Peter. Like what?

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's what?

[Alan Hahn]

Let me get there. Let me get there. I'll take, I'll get, Get me there. Like, that's, I think that's how we're doing.

[Don La Greca]

To see my kids at 23, I think that would be. I, I'd be. I, I, I, I think that's doable.

[Alan Hahn]

What's terrible, because your, your dad was 59. My dad was 61. So we're both like, I, I did. The sands are going through the hourglass for me, too, my man. I feel the same way. Yeah.

[Don La Greca]

I mean, yeah, because you, you had, you had kids younger, but, you know, you also have, you have a daughter that's nine, so you're all. We're all kind of in that same boat. But, you know, and if our caller is so sure he's going to be dead soon, then why did he have kids in the first place? I have not wet myself since I was, like, in kindergarten.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, that's coming.

[Don La Greca]

Like, like when Tony Randall had, like, had a kid at 78. Like, that's, that's not that, that's, that's a terrible thing to do. Right? I mean, you're giving, like, 78's up there. Sure. I mean, just saying, like, so, you know, the kid. You're having your kid have to suffer the loss of his father at a very young age because even it lives to 88, the kid's only 10.

[Alan Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don, Han and Rosenberg podcast. I don't want to know how the sausage is made, man. I just want to know it's good. Hear more of Don Allen and Peter Weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers.

[Don La Greca]

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