Hour 2: Knicks Concern & Fraud Alert Friday

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg Podcast – Episode: Hour 2: Knicks Concern & Fraud Alert Friday

Release Date: May 2, 2025

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Introduction

In this lively episode of the "Don, Hahn & Rosenberg" podcast, hosts Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg delve into the New York Knicks' recent performance, their upcoming playoff series against the Boston Celtics, and engage listeners with their signature segment, "Fraud Alert Friday." Combining insightful sports analysis with humorous fan interactions, the trio offers a comprehensive and entertaining discussion for sports enthusiasts.

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Knicks Performance Analysis

The episode kicks off with Peter Rosenberg celebrating the Knicks' latest victory:

Peter Rosenberg ([00:14]): "Knicks win. Knicks win. The Knicks win. And will face the Celtics now starting on Monday, and a best of seven."

However, beneath the celebration lies concern about the team's offensive strategy. Peter critiques the Knicks' inconsistency on offense, especially when key players underperform:

Peter Rosenberg ([01:50]): "This is not a good offense. There are just so many periods, Allen, where they cannot get any offense that looks like anything."

Alan Hahn responds by contextualizing the Knicks' struggles against a strong defensive team like the Pistons:

Alan Hahn ([02:15]): "This is a Pistons team that in the second half of the season was one of the top five defenses in the league... They know what you're running. Do you execute better than they can?"

Discussion highlights include the Knicks' offensive efficiency during the regular season versus their playoff performance. Despite finishing fifth in offensive rating and being top 10 in scoring, the Knicks falter against elite defenses:

Alan Hahn ([04:18]): "Open threes are critical and when you miss them, they're even more critical because you don't get a lot of them in the playoffs."

Peter adds concerns about turnovers and bench depth:

Alan Hahn ([06:34]): "The Knicks really had a bench issue in this game... They have to figure out how they run their offense and not allow Carl Anthony Towns to completely disappear."

The hosts also discuss specific player performances and the need for strategic adjustments against the Celtics:

Alan Hahn ([12:14]): "It's about shot making and I know that sounds like a cop out, but I'm telling you, open threes are critical."

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Fraud Alert Friday: Assessing Fan Loyalty

Transitioning from the Knicks' performance, the podcast enters the humorous "Fraud Alert Friday" segment, where the hosts evaluate whether certain fan behaviors qualify as "fraudulent." This segment features real-time interactions with listeners, blending sports talk with playful banter.

Listener Interactions:

1. David's Call ([09:04]): David commends Peter for maintaining gentlemanly behavior despite being a Celtics fan.

   David: "Peter, I want to give you your flowers because you're a gentleman."

2. Tom's Debate ([16:45]): Tom challenges Alan's alleged favoritism towards the Celtics, sparking a spirited exchange about fan loyalty.

   Tom: "You just accused Peter of being a Homer with the Boston Celtics."

3. Michael Grodsky's Inquiry ([26:13]): Michael questions whether wearing a "Fanatic" shirt while being a Mets fan constitutes fraudulent behavior.

   Michael: "So basically, it's impossible to find one. Am I a fraud for loving the Fanatic while being a Mets fan?"

Hosts' Responses:

• Peter Rosenberg ([15:57]): "Sometimes there is something that happens that is bigger than your team allegiance. And I think when those moments happen, I can't call that a fraud."

• Alan Hahn ([31:52]): "He is a five. That's a five. Five alarm fire, no doubt."

The hosts introduce the "Wahlberg scale of fraudulence," humorously rating fans' loyalty based on their adherence to team allegiance.

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Notable Quotes

• Peter Rosenberg on Knicks' Offensive Issues ([01:50]):

  "This is not a good offense. There are just so many periods, Allen, where they cannot get any offense that looks like anything."

• Alan Hahn on Defensive Challenges ([02:15]):

  "This is a Pistons team that in the second half of the season was one of the top five defenses in the league... They know what you're running. Do you execute better than they can?"

• Peter Rosenberg on Fraudulent Behavior ([15:57]):

  "Sometimes there is something that happens that is bigger than your team allegiance. And I think when those moments happen, I can't call that a fraud."

• Alan Hahn on Fan Consistency ([36:52]):

  "The fraud behavior, the first evidence of it is the lack of consistency and commitment."

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Conclusion

The "Don, Hahn & Rosenberg" podcast masterfully balances in-depth sports analysis with entertaining fan interactions. By dissecting the New York Knicks' playoff challenges and engaging listeners through the playful "Fraud Alert Friday" segment, the hosts deliver a compelling episode that caters to both passionate fans and casual listeners. Their blend of humor, insight, and genuine discussion ensures a rich and engaging listening experience.

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For those who missed the episode, subscribing to the podcast on your preferred platform ensures you stay updated on all things New York sports and more.

Transcript

[Don Hahn]

This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That sounds like heaven to me.

[Don Hahn]

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

[Peter Rosenberg]

Rosenberg and Alan Hahn on a beautiful Friday in the Tri State. Knicks win. Knicks win. The Knicks win. And will face the Celtics now starting on Monday, and a best of seven. Also, if you're the kind of person who might be interested, incredible weekend of boxing, including a fight card tonight in in the City in Times Square for the first time ever. And the card has Ryan Garcia in action, Devin Haney and a title fight for Teofimo Lopez for Teofimo's junior welterweight title. And Tfimo is from Brooklyn as well, so that's going to be on the zone. Canelo has a fight from Saudi Arabia tomorrow as well. So a lot of fights this Cinco de Mayo weekend. But right now, of course, we are talking Knicks and I teased it before, Ellen, you know, if, if the Knicks lose this series that they, that they pulled out, if they, if they had lost it, no matter how you feel about it, the conversation around Tibbs would have gotten very loud. And after last night, I did come away just feeling like this is not a good offense. There are just so many periods, Allen, where they cannot get any offense that looks like anything. It just so often turns into isoball for Brunson, you know, who shot the ball like 40 times yesterday, God bless him. But that it's ideally, I think, in a great offense, not what you're looking for. And then frankly, when he's not in the game, like last night, Allen, when Detroit went on that 20 to 2 run, some of which he was out for, they just look completely lost offensively when he's not on the floor. Am I, am I missing something there, to me, seems to be a bit of a problem with this Knicks offense.

[Alan Hahn]

How much of the problem has to do with the Detroit Pistons? Like, you do have to weigh that part of it. This is a Pistons team that in the second half of the season was one of the top five defenses in the league. They, they match up a certain way, they play a certain way. They were trying to take the head of the snake out, which is what everybody tries to do. And it does make your offense clunky. And they get sticky. And in game two and in game five, the same things happen where Brunson missed some early shots. He got in his head and he even blamed himself where he started looking for his shot just to get himself going. And then everything falls apart around that. You so so along with looking at the team and saying what's wrong with this offense? You do have to also say what's wrong with this offense is you're playing an elite defensive team that is that knows your scouting report because they had a week to prepare for it and they've played you for six games. By the six, like by the fourth game everybody knows what you're running. Right. There's nothing new. They know what's coming. It's a matter of do you execute better than they can. So to be fair, you do have to give credit where credit's due. And that Pistons team plays really hard defensively, physical. There was a lot they were allowed to do physically this offense this year, as I've tried to tell many people for most of the season, was a top three offense. They ended up finishing. They're still top 10, but they were fifth in offensive rating, top 10 in scoring. One of the highest scoring seasons the Knicks have had in a long time. Again, efficiency, wise shooting assist, the highest assist they've had in forever. So the offense during the season was very good. But I'm not denying the fact that they, there is clearly something they've got to figure out when it comes to how they run their offense and not allow Carl Anthony Towns to completely disappear. So going forward, you're playing against another elite defensive team in the Boston Celtics. I don't think it's going to get better, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

That would be my next question.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, it's. I can't possibly get better. It's about shot making and I know that sounds like a cop out, but I'm telling you, opened open threes are critical and when you miss them, they're even more critical because you don't get a lot of them in the playoffs. When you get them, you got to hit them. And the Knicks have struggled to hit open threes in the playoffs against the Pistons for whatever reason. I don't know if you sped up, if his guys are a little tight, I don't know. But those are things that are going to be a lot more exposed when you're playing against the Celtics. And then the last thing I'll answer is this. They were, they had the fifth lowest turnovers per game in the season. But in the playoffs, while they limited turnovers, some of them were God awful. It's like Kyp, know your personnel. Why are you throwing the ball to Mitchell Robinson as if he's, if it's Michael Irvin, like he's never catching passes like that. So like they don't Know you can't throw the ball to him in certain situations and he's just going to catch it and finish. It's not who he is. So there's a lot of passes that you saw that were high risk kind of plays that make you say why would you throw that? And then you think that, boy, they're really playing dumb. But it's more of they're trying to make the big play rather than play under control again. Is that playoffs? Is that discipline? Is that. I don't know what it is, but those are things that against the Pistons you can get away with. Against Boston, oh, they'll make you pay. So it is something certainly to watch going forward.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What, what other? Just, just to stay here for a moment before we talk to the people again. What other moments were there last night that if it didn't turn out the way it did and after the Knicks were down seven, if Brunson didn't become Superman again, if instead they lost that game, what are the moments you're. You're talking about? Because there were a couple of spots, one that I know I thought was just nasty. I mean two things for Cat. The hesitation on the three and then throwing it away again instead. Passing up the wide open 3. Throwing the ball out of bounds.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Then of course missing the game tying free throw and immediately fouling out.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Couple of rough sequences for Cat.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That we'd be talking about. What else? Anything else stand out to you in that way?

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, yeah. No, no, no. In, in this game. What I kept saying to myself, and I might have said in the group chat as well, is the Knicks really had a bench issue in this game. It was really bad at times that the minute Brunson went to the bench to get just to catch a breath, you could see the pistons saw Deuce McBride and said we're going at him and they would attack him. And he just, he looks small. He looked small in this series. And I love the kid like he, he has obviously grown up as a Knick. He was a really good find as a player. He has developed slowly. They have tried to as after they traded Emmanuel Quickley who is, you know, was a six man of the year candidate. They were thinking that Deuce could develop into that role that quickly had and he just hasn't gotten there. And a lot of it is, you'll see the Celtics do it. They're going to be smote him when he comes in the game. You'll see Peyton Pritchard and others will look right at him and they will drive right over him, like. And that's something that I think is hurting them. And then he does not make it up by, you know, getting knocking down some threes. You know, like, just at least when you're out there, do something that is going to help the team if your defense isn't. He was 1 for 4 in the game. He was a minus 6 in his minutes. Only 17 minutes. Like I said. Oh, if they don't get out of this series, I know everybody's going to come for Tibbs head, and I understand it. But another thing you really got to think about is what they. What they need to do to improve the benchmark and get a bigger and more talented bench. That stood out to me. And in this Boston series, you know, it's going to stand out even more because I've seen it. They. They do try to pick on certain players. McBride is going to be one. You know, if Shamet plays, which he didn't play much in this series, he's small, even though he's very good, like in certain roles, he's a smaller player as well, they'll go at him. You know, they're going to try to exploit things about this team that are the weaknesses. And all season long, we've all known one of the weaknesses is a lack of true depth on this team.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Let's talk to the people. And we got a phone line open. 1-800-919-3776. Knicks fans, this is the day to celebrate and think about what could be. Let's go to David and Elizabeth. What's up, David?

[David]

What up, Rosenberg? What up, Hollywood Hunt? Hey, yo, Rosenberg, you got to bring back the bang bang drop. I missed that, man. So far.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I forgot about bang ban double bang, if you will.

[David]

Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. You already know. Real quick. I just got two quick points for you guys. Number one. Peter, I want to give you your flowers because you're a gentleman. I know you're a Celtics fan and you could be a homer about this and be like, oh, no, we're gonna watch you next. But you're being a gentleman and I love it. That's today, you know.

[Alan Hahn]

Listen, David, that's today. Wait till Monday. He's gonna be insufferable. I know it.

[David]

Oh, yeah?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, not oh, yeah.

[David]

The beef will begin. Hollywood. Han, man, you keep stealing all my stuff, but you know, you're a professional. That's why you always got all the great. This is the point I want to make. I think the Celtics are definitely going to go at campaign and they're going to definitely go at McBride. McBride, I'm not going to hold you. We really need you to be on your A game. And I wish he was instant offense. Like, the way Quickley was like, man, if he was like that with the team we got now, I think we could be really dangerous. Yeah, we lost some toughness, and I wish the big Ragu was still with us, but, you know, it is what it is. And the last thing I want to say is this. It's so much slander that people try to put on my man Brunson. But you guys saw what he did yesterday. He closed the game out and he shut down that whole detois. And not for nothing like what Bart said earlier, I think that Thibodeau should really zoom in on the way the Magic. You know, the way the Magic played the Celtics defensively. And I think we should take a page out their book and hopefully we can stop and, you know, slow them down.

[Alan Hahn]

Great point, David. That's. That's exactly what I will be focusing on on Monday is while. While Orlando did lose in five, and, you know, although they were five minutes away from forcing a game six, they had played that. That Game four. I mean, sorry. They played that game five very well, and it felt like there was a. They had a chance. No, I'm sorry. It's game four at home. That. That series, though, gave you a look into. You're gonna have to be physical. You're gonna have to play nasty with them, like, do things that are going to bother them. They were going after Tatum's wrists. They were doing all kinds of stuff that were. Maybe the Celtics were saying about it. But, hey, it's a playoff series. Like, watch tonight. Tonight you got Houston and you got the warriors, and Houston's playing for Dave. They're trying to force a game seven back at their place. The warriors don't want to. They don't want to mess around. They want to win this game at home and move on. But Steph Curry's got a bad thumb, and he has been playing through it. And the warriors are saying that the Rockets over the last two games have been hitting it a lot extra going, like, targeting it. And the answer is, is that dirty or is that strategy? And in the playoffs, sometimes when you know a player's got a weakness, you try to exploit it. And so that's something if you're the Knicks. Keep in mind. That's all I said. Drew Holiday's got hamstring issue. He hasn't played three games. You Know, Porzingis, you know, is a guy that at one step and he's going to miss a game because he just gets hurt a lot. And Tatum is dealing with that. The risk now after that hard fall against Orlando, Jalen Brown had a knee issue late in the season. Are these things that you, you know, you're not. You're certainly not trying to take a player out, but you're also going to keep in mind if it hurts, make it hurt more or make them flinch. Those are things that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Whether Houston's doing a. Steph, you got to do it.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes. I think it's all things to keep in mind.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Let's. This is. Alan could yell at me later. I'm going to take a risk.

[Caller]

Allen?

[Alan Hahn]

Yes, Peter.

[Caller]

Hi, fellas. You guys are doing the fraud. Peter.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And we're doing what?

[Caller]

Floor check. Are you doing a floor check?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Sure, sure. Why you jump in.

[Caller]

I'll give it to you at the end. I think you're better than Don for this. This is kind of sophisticated. Okay, Allen, I don't give the Pistons any credit. They lost three games at home. That is terrible. Including an important game. Six Knicks haven't done this in their 80 game history. Win three road playoff games. That's unbelievable. So the Pistons get no kudos. Nothing. That was bad. Now, Allen, this is setting up to 1984, 40 years ago. Exactly the same. Look at the parallelism. Brunson as King beat the Pistons in six games, averaging over 30, I think. Okay, now we go on to Boston.

[Alan Hahn]

King averaged over 40. Richard over 40.

[Caller]

King then went against four hall of Famers. Bird, D.J. mcHale and Robert. That's what Jalen is going against. Now listen, Brown, Holiday, Tatum, and believe it or not, Horford, who won two college championships, will be a Hall of Famer. So that's going to happen. Now the Knicks have done something. This has never happened in the history of the four major sports. Listen to this. Four years ago, they played Atlanta. Two years ago, Miami, then Indiana. Then last year, Miami and then. No, Cleveland and then Miami. Last year Philly and then Indiana. This year, Detroit and then Boston. They've played seven different opponents consecutively in the playoffs. That's never happened in the four major sports. Never. Never. Okay, fellas. Now you want my floor check?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Caller]

Peter, this is for you and I think you can handle it. Let me. It's all. I'm good. There are three different instances. So they're all the same question. But let me give you the three. You're a kid, Jewish kid growing up in the Bronx. 1963, you're 17 years old. You go to the Dodger, and Sandy Koufax leads the Dodgers into Yankee Stadium. October 63, you're a Yankee fan, but yet you find yourself rooting for the dodgers. Koufax. Okay. 1949, you're an Italian kid in Brooklyn. You're a big, big Dodger fan. You go to Emmits Field, and the Yankees come to Brooklyn. Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra, Phil Rizzuto. And you find yourself rooting for the Yankees. Lastly, you're a black kid from the Bronx, big Yankee fan. 1954, and the new York Giants come to Yankee Stadium. Willie Mays and Monty Irvin, of course, into Yankee Stadium, you find yourself, even though you're a Yankee fan, rooting for the New York Giants in these three instances. Is this fraudulent behavior by the fans? Can you tell me that, Peter, I think you can handle a question like this.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, I don't think Fraudulent behavior. Sometimes there is something that happens that is bigger than your team allegiance. And I think when those moments happen, I can't go. I can't call that a fraud.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay. Fraud.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay. Did you hear what Richard said, by the way?

[Alan Hahn]

There was so much going on there at the beginning.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He said something like, you're better for this than Don. This is very complicated.

[Alan Hahn]

We definitely need to play this back on Monday.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think we should actually agree to not play it for Don.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, no. Oh, no. We definitely need.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think if we play it for Don, it'll mean he won't ever deal with Richard again.

[Alan Hahn]

We cannot hide this from our colleague. We can't.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Anthony, don't you agree that could go really bad?

[Alan Hahn]

I think it'd go really good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean, you're right. You're right.

[Alan Hahn]

Let's go to take Tom. Go ahead and take Tom.

[David]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay. There you go. You know, I was tempted, Tom.

[Alan Hahn]

Let's do it.

[Tom]

Hello?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Hey, Tom.

[Tom]

Peter, how are you?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Hey, pal.

[Tom]

And I like to speak to Homer. That would be you, Alan. I'm calling because you just accused Peter of being a Homer with the Boston Celtics. Now, I've been listening to this show.

[Alan Hahn]

Since when did I call you a Homer? And when did I say Homer?

[Tom]

You said it, like, five minutes ago. You were saying how on Monday, when he'll be.

[Alan Hahn]

He'll be insufferable.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, he said I'd be insufferable. He said I'd be insufferable.

[Alan Hahn]

That's not a homer. That's a guy who. He's a fan. He's a Fan.

[Tom]

The wrong term.

[Alan Hahn]

He's a fan. That's what you want to say this.

[Tom]

I've been listening to this show for a very long time.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Go ahead.

[Alan Hahn]

This show's only been around since January, so you. It's only.

[Tom]

Well, I've been listening to the Michael K. Show.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, this isn't the Michael K Show anymore.

[Tom]

I understand.

[Alan Hahn]

He's on. He's on though, at one. You can catch him at one now.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, it's a great show.

[Tom]

I get it. But for years he is. He was accused of being a Yankee homer, a Yankee fanboy. But I will say this. In the short time that you have had this, this vehicle, I haven't heard another person be such a Yankee fanboy. Your take on the Yankees yesterday and the Juan Soto situation is so off base. You're just trying to stir up controversy for no reason because you're hurt that you did not get the number one player in baseball at free agency just like every other time the Yankees were able to do it in the past.

[Alan Hahn]

Tom. I'll tell you what, Tom. If you've been listening to sports talk radio in this town for as long as you say the mistake you're making in your words is calling me a fan who's sad instead of a really good radio host that knows how to generate a conversation that creates a response like yours. Thank you.

[Tom]

Okay, I'll give you. I'll give you that. That you got me to respond, but I think the pig is horrible. I'm a long time met fan. Yes, I am.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, I was a shock, by the way. You just shocked me with that one. I didn't see that one coming. That you were a Mets man. Fair enough.

[Tom]

But what I'm saying is, is that you know Wayne, Juan Soto was drafted. Yes, he did. He was on the Yankees last year for odd for a hot second. But I was more happy that we were able to get the top free agent. Then I was happy that we were get. We were able to get them from the Yankees, you know.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, that makes sense. But Tom, that makes sense. Of course it's. But. But both things made it better, right? Like the one part was great. You finally, with. With your daddy Warbucks, you finally were able to land a big fish. That was important. But then to add to the fact that you ripped him from the Yankees, which is unprecedented, that just makes it sweeter. Right. Like to. So, so what you're saying is you want to play. But you're telling me I'm right though.

[Tom]

But I don't. I Don't see it that way. I just think that.

[Alan Hahn]

I think you just admitted to me that the second part was able to.

[Tom]

Get the top guy. Last year we were competing against the dog, the top guy. This year it was the Yankees.

[Alan Hahn]

Right?

[Tom]

We want it.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, we want it. See, again, you're. You're proving me right. You're saying we won it. That's important, and I wish that. But, Tom, I really want Mets fans. By the way, if you've been listening, you know that most of my family are Yank are Met fans, right? So I deal with this on a daily basis. I understand the thinking of Mets fans because I live with them. But I'm just letting you know that it's okay for me to say that. It's awesome that in New York we have this Star wars kind of thing going on. Judge on one side, Soto on the other. The Mets are relevant and really good. The Yankees are relevant and really good. I love this. I revel in this. And I'm looking forward to a summer of this versus a summer of angst and boredom. And when are we going to finally get the training camp for our bad football teams to start? I love this. I want this. And that's why I'm juicing it. That's why, Tom. Not because I'm a fan who's upset. I could give a rip about Juan Soto. Aaron Judge is proving he doesn't need him in the lineup. I'm fine. Honestly. This is more about a story that I love. I think this is great and it's fun because I grew up at a time where, when you had a guy on your team who was a star and your team was good and somebody else in this city had a team and a star, and you would argue about it and debate about it, and every day, if one guy was better than the other, you felt like I won the day. It makes it fun. That's all I'm trying to do here.

[Tom]

And you know what? That's all I'm trying to do with this phone call. Just stir it up.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Love it.

[Alan Hahn]

I love it. I love it.

[Tom]

But listen, I just want to say this. Peter. Yeah. We've met a few times. I. I've called before. I've told you I'm a big fan of yours, but I'm telling you right now, you start rooting for the Celtics next week, you knock down a few pegs. I can't. I will not be able to take.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What about. I would know. I wouldn't be knocked down a few pegs if I All of a sudden started rooting for the Knicks next week.

[Tom]

No, no, you don't have to root for the Knicks. But in my mind, I just can't.

[Alan Hahn]

He's telling you to root quietly.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I get it. Listen, a lot of people, you're not the Tom. You're not the first person in my life. I'm not going to lie to you. Like, my, my wife is. Is no, like, obsessive sports fan. But I'd say if she has a favorite team in sports, it's probably the Knicks. That's probably the only, like, there's. It's consistent. The only team she's ever like, really rooted for, except she was a really big Kobe fan, but the only team she's ever rooted for is the Knicks. At first she really was like, I don't like that you're a Celtics fan. Like, I hate the Celtics. She was. I hate Paul Pierce. I hate the Celtics. Like, that was the era of basketball she was most into. And I know for some people, like, they think of the Celtics the way there's a Yankee red sock thing. I truly don't think of the Knicks and Celtics that way at all. But I know there are people that do. So I understand it. I've heard it. But what I will not do next week is be a fraud. And that's what we'll do next.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, no.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Fraud Friday, baby.

[Anthony]

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[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Han and Rosenberg Podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don Hahn]

Catch this 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?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm a fraud with a capital F.

[Don Hahn]

Is your friend a fraud?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I have been a complete and utter fraud.

[Alan Hahn]

Are you a fraud?

[Peter Rosenberg]

What is fraud?

[Don Hahn]

Let's ask Tom McGregor.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Screw. Go scratch yourself. All righty. It's Fraud Friday. Dhre s p nmail dot all right. That's how you get down. Or you can call us 1-800-919-3776. Of course, Don is off today, but we're going to do our best to determine fraudulence on this Fraud Friday. And our first email comes from Michael Grodsky. He says, hi, DH And R. Been a fan for you all for many years, and I want to know if Don thinks I'm a fraud. I'm a big Mets fan and grew up on Long Island. I have lived in Philly for a few years. Of course I hate the Phillies, but I love the Fanatic. I want to get some type of fanatic shirt or hat to wear, but will not buy one if it says Phillies or has the Phillies logo. So basically, it's impossible to find one. Am I a fraud for loving the Fanatic while being a Mets fan? Have a great day. Well, Michael, I can tell you. Listen, I think you're a furry. I don't know if you're a fraud. You may definitely be a furry. That is a conversation to have.

[Alan Hahn]

That's exactly what this is.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You may be a furry. And by the way, that's fine. No judgment here. You know how I feel. I'm a fan.

[Alan Hahn]

Whatever makes you happy.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I will say this. Are you a fraud if you love the Fanatic? No. Are you a fraud if you buy clothes to represent the fanatic? Yes. Alan, how do you feel about that take?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, he'd have to find a Muppet version that. That is agnostic, that there is no.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Phillies, but his name is the Philly Fanatic.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, but that could also be, like, the town. Like, you could just. You could sell it that way if you really wanted to. Like. If you just like the character, that's fine. As long as you're not. You don't like the character that he's the team he's associated with. It's just a Character. You could like the character. It's all right. It's like liking a player on it on a team, you know? Like, I don't like the team, but I like the player. Right? Like I hate. You know, I guess the great example is what would be a great. Like, I'm trying to think of when I was a fan and there was a player on another team. I just. I just like that player. Like, I like. Even though I hate the team, the player I like. It's the same kind of thing, I think.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Listen, I have the perfect way to describe this. I am legitimately a fan of Benny the Bull. I think he's hilarious.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, I thought you. Okay, good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Benny the Bull. No, he's not going to kill or anything. Benny the Bull.

[Alan Hahn]

You mean the Chicago Bull is the.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Chicago Bulls mascot, YouTube or watch a compilation. He's a comedic genius. Yes, I love Benny the Bull, but I'm not buying a Benny the Bull shirt because that would make me not only weird, but a fraud. Hit the siren. It's fraudulent behavior.

[Alan Hahn]

You say?

[Peter Rosenberg]

So let's go to Troy's email. Troy says, is my brother a fraud? In my family, we all grew up Giants, Knicks, Yankees and Rangers fans.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay?

[Peter Rosenberg]

My brother decided that since the Giants didn't play in New York, that didn't count, and he moved on to the Bills.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, I know people like this.

[Peter Rosenberg]

After the Bills let him down, time after time, he went up the coast to New England. He's been a Patriots fan ever since. Isn't he a fraud? I will say he's still with New England after Brady and Belichick have left Troy. He's not just a fraud. We were just talking mascots. He's the fanatic of frauds. He's. He is the logo. Hit the siren immediately.

[Alan Hahn]

That's a life sentence. Fraud. Oh, yeah, Death row. He's on death row. There's no coming back from this. Because it's one thing to say because we all have these people in our lives. I do. Where they're Captain Literal man, which is. I know a character you created back in the day.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's right.

[Alan Hahn]

Because you go, well, you know, the Giants don't even play in New York. Okay, great. The only New York team of the Bills. Okay, great. So I'm rooting for the Bills. Fine. That's what you want to do. You want to be territorial, provincial, whatever you want to call it. You know, the state line thing, fine. But then you go to New England. All right, so now your reasons for rooting for the Bills is now completely fraudulent. Right. Like, so you're telling me that I can't. I'm not rooting for the Giants because they're in New Jersey, but it's okay for me to root for the Patriots?

[Peter Rosenberg]

How? How?

[Jorbit]

How?

[Alan Hahn]

Because they were winning, Peter. That's why. Because the Bills were letting him down and he made himself a free agent. So now your reasons for not rooting for the Giants with the rest of your family. No, that's all fraudulent. And really, all that was is you hate your family. It really starts there, rooted in, I'm disgusted with my family. I want my own team. And that's now.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I wanted to mention this to you. Ballard reached out. He's loving fraud Friday. And he reached out. He reached out a couple weeks ago and suggested that we use the Mark Wahlberg scale of fraudulence. But do you know what that's based on? I didn't know.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't either.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Anthony, do you know the story?

[Caller]

I do.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Not that Wahlberg left the super bowl when the patriots were down 28. 3. So he was saying, oh, I think I remember that. You come up with a scale. Like, you know, how many Wahlbergs? Like, three out of five Wahlbergs, which I think is potentially a fun thing to explore.

[Alan Hahn]

Fun, he said.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I read about it. Wahlberg said afterward that one of his kids was feeling sick and then later said one of his kids was throwing a temper tantrum. By the way, there's video footage of him leaving the super bowl with his kids. No one looks sick or like they're having a temper tantrum. So is there anything more fraudulent than leaving the Super bowl down 28. 3. But I did say I. In their defense, though, Alan, I said by that. By the Falcons, Patriots, Super Bowl, Mark Wahlberg going to a Super bowl isn't like a normal person going to a Super Bowl. A. He goes to anything he wants to be. The Patriots did 10 Super Bowls in that run. It was just like going to a football game.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, but it is kind of cool because, first of all, he is a. He's a fan. That's a real thing. You know, Donnie's at every Celtic game.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Donnie's a real fan.

[Alan Hahn]

He's a real Celtic fan. But I just think for fun and maybe even marketing potential, we probably should do a scale of five Wahlburgers. Five being you are an absolute fraud. One being like, you're, you know, fringe fraud.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It is fun to call someone a Wahlberger, too.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, I think we do.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You're.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. You're On a scale, on the Wahlberger scale, you're a like for example the.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Guy we just talked about, he's a five.

[Alan Hahn]

That's a five. That's a Five. Five alarm fire, no doubt.

[Peter Rosenberg]

1-800-9193776. Do you have a fraud in your life? Let's go to oh good old Corinne. Corrine, you have a fraud. A potential fraud question.

[Corrine]

Yeah. So what's up guys? I need you guys to settle a week long debate. I already know my verdict is fraud, but the fraud in question doesn't seem to think that. So basically two of my friends entered a cornhole tournament. One of them is a Philly fan, one of them is a Yankee fan. The Philly fan was going to wear her Bryce Harper jersey. The Yankee fan who is also a collector of jerseys sends a picture to us of a judge jersey and a Harper jersey and says which should I wear? To which me and a couple of my friends went what are you doing? You're a Yankee fan. You can't wear a Philly jersey. So my question is, is he fraud for wanting to wear a Philly jersey even though he ultimately didn't but just for throwing it out there. And, and also he wore a Zach Gallon jersey yesterday when Zach Gallon started. So this isn't a new thing for him. He just wears other teams jerseys.

[Alan Hahn]

So I think it's like a, that's a three because he might just like jerseys but like why would he behavior like, you know what I mean? Like, like, like Peter, don't you think this is sort of the gateway to full on fraud? He's sort of suggest he's giving off fraud but it's not, he's not all in yet. He hasn't fully committed to being a full on. It's, it's to me I give it tendencies.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'd give it to Wahlbergers if I was going to for example. Because here's my issue. I am totally fine with wearing like throwback jerseys of all time great players. I have many jerseys.

[Alan Hahn]

It was Harper though.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But like in football, like if you're obsessed with one team, I as a commander fan would never go buy a contemporary opponent's jersey. Never. Now the truth is as I got older I won't wear any other football jersey. I ended up getting rid of all my old non commander football jerseys. They're gone. But like for example, when it comes to basketball, oh, I've got, I've got Magic Johnson all star. I have the Jordan 45, I have a yellow Kobe jersey. Like, I, I, I think you can wear legends jerseys if you consider them iconic.

[Alan Hahn]

Wait a minute. A Celtic fan wearing a Laker jersey? No.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, No, I know. No, I, I, I might, I would, I would wear. It's a Mitchell and we might have.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't care, I don't care who made.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You're hitting the side.

[Alan Hahn]

Betsy Ross sewed that jersey.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Why would that even be possible?

[Caller]

Alan, let me explain something to you. I've, I've come to this conclusion long ago and I think Peter agrees with me.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You don't know.

[Caller]

Peter is a commander's fan.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Caller]

Everything else is pretty much up.

[Alan Hahn]

You think, you think he's. Yeah, he's sort of on the fence of everything else.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, I'm not on the fence. Listen, I'm not on the fence.

[Alan Hahn]

He really hates, but he doesn't exactly buy in.

[Caller]

He took a, he took a truckload of clothes at a UBS arena. So he's kind of an Islander fan now a little bit. And he.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, listen, I got the Celtics. The Celtics are in terms of my fraudulence, obviously Commanders. There's not an ounce of fraud in me.

[Alan Hahn]

You're a card carrying member.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Not yet. There's nothing died right. Legitimate ride or die next would be probably the Celtics in that I've rooted for them nearly my entire life. I've shed tears for this team. I've definitely been through the ups and downs, really bad, dark times. But there is a precipitous drop off after commanders as evidenced by like, yeah, I wouldn't wear an Emmett Smith jersey, but I would wear. Now listen, I'm not wearing a Kobe Bryant jersey to a basketball game, but I would wear it to the beach. Like, I don't care. Like I would wear. I don't need you to know if I'm a Celtics fan when I'm walking at the beach. If I, if you see me in a Kobe Bryant jersey, I don't, I don't care. The main thing you're thinking about is Rosenberg. You're wearing a basketball jersey. Did you shave your back? That's the only thing you're concerned. All right, let's read one more email. And of course we can hit some more throughout the day on this. So we good people want it. People want to judge fraudulence. Aaron writes us and says NBA fan for about 20 years now and need a ruling from Don and the Tribute Tribunal. I've been following LeBron throughout his career, during the good times, in the bad, and when he switches teams, that becomes my new team. I follow probably watching around 40 games a year, plus the playoffs. What say you? By the way, I got a cameo video a few years ago from the mage, Peter Rosenberg. Aaron Harrell. Aaron, thank you. You're a great guy.

[Alan Hahn]

Give me that again. Break it down again.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm happy. I'm sure it was a great cameo. I'm on there, everyone, if you want to find one. He's saying. He is saying essentially he doesn't have a team he roots for wherever LeBron goes. I don't consider that fraudulent. I just think you're not a huge basketball fan. What do you think, Alan?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, I think you're a fan of the player.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You're.

[Alan Hahn]

You're a celebrity player, like the fan. You're not a team fan, which is. There's nothing wrong with it. You're just a fan of the person.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And so, like, he openly admits that.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like you're not trying to pretend you're anything else.

[Alan Hahn]

So I don't think that's fraudulent. I think you're very. Neither you. Because you show consistency. The fraud behavior, the first evidence of it is the lack of consistency and commitment. And what Aaron's doing is it's. It's absolutely consistent and committed.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yep.

[Alan Hahn]

So I have no issue with it. 0.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You are who you are.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You're Popeye. You know, I don't love it.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't love it, but it's. I can't call him a fraud.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, no, no fraud there. I think Dom would agree as well. We'll take more of your fraud calls as the day goes on and as well as your [e-mail] and now I want to talk to you guys about FanDuel. It's the first sportsbook app where you can bet the Kentucky Derby. And right now, all customers can get a no sweat derby bet. That means you'll get racing bonus back if your bet doesn't win. The app is super easy to use and you don't have to be a horse racing expert to get in on the derby day action. So bet America's number one race with America's number one sports put. Just visit FanDuel.com Peter for your chance to get a no sweat bet for the Kentucky Derby. That's FanDuel.com Peter 21 and over in fiscally present New York. Option required Verified FanDuel Racing Account required refund issues non withdrawables racing site credit that expires nine days after receipt. Max refund 10 bucks unless otherwise specified restrictions apply. Seat [e-mail] for the gambling problem. Call 877-8-Open Y or text Open Y 467-369.

[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don Hahn]

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

[Peter Rosenberg]

Ah, that's the. It's the right energy. It is the right energy for a day like today. New Yorkers feeling good. And let's keep it going tonight with the Yankee starting lineup brought to you by Certa Pro Painters. Been looking forward to this all day long.

[Alan Hahn]

All right, you're doing the lineup. I love you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Ready?

[Alan Hahn]

You ready for it, old timey? Come on, old timey, let's go.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I can't do it like I believe in you. I don't even know what the lingo would be.

[Jorbit]

All right, starting off in centerfield, Trent Grisham, AKA Grishy. He's ready to go. And he'll be right in front of.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The big dog himself.

[Jorbit]

That's right, Aaron Judge, the judger. The right fielder, number 99, batting second, which leads to the youngster Benny Boy Rice, number 22, DHing and batting third, which makes room for the savvy vet, Paul Goldie Goldschmidt, who will be playing first and cleaning up. And speaking of cleaning up, one who's always sure to clean up the mess left in front of him, the great Cody Bellinger, who'll be playing left and batting fifth. Another youngster coming in the sixth spot, the six hole. The six harangue. Anthony Volpes playing short. He's batting six. Behind him, Austin Augie Wells, catching and batting seven, Oswaldo Cabrera, the third baseman.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Who'Ll be batting eight.

[Jorbit]

And of course, the great Horbit Vivas, whatever you are. He's batting ninth and he's playing second.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But first in your.

[Jorbit]

But first in your heart, the Yankees youngster debuting. That's your bit, Vivas. And of course, on the hill, Max Free, the lefty. And that's your Yankees starting lineup.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You give good lineup. It was brought to you by our friends at Certapro Painters. When choosing a painting professional for your home or business, the choice is simple. Choose happy. Choose Certapro Painters. How did I deliver?

[Alan Hahn]

I need you to do that more often now. It's. It's the way we need to do it. All of us have to come up with our characters. I'm now you're gonna make me spend the weekend now working on my own old timey. Baseball announcer character to do it because that, that I loved it. I love the nicknames, the old timey nicknames. Absolutely. Nailed it. But on the, on the Yankee front, which is not as fun or funny. Aaron Boone did just tell everybody that Jazz Chisholm will not. He. They just put him on the 10 day. He's going to miss extended time now because of this oblique injury. Four to six is what they're looking at here with that. That's a tough one there for Jazz. Jazz.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's not ideal.

[Alan Hahn]

It's, it's. I know the bat wasn't exactly consistent. He does show you power, but just that consistency at second base I found to be important. So he. Look at four to six now. So if we're looking at he'll miss the Met series. This will take us into June, even into late June now if you really think about how long he could be out. So that's a tough one. Those obliques, you know those obliques. I know you probably can't feel or see yours, Peter, but they're very important in baseball.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So. You know what, so I've heard DJ.

[Alan Hahn]

DJ lemayhue, by the way.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

While Jazz is on his way out, DJ could be working his way back in, in his rehab assignment and he's getting closer and closer. So they're, they're pretty optimistic about DJ and how he's looking and feeling as he's going through rehab.

[Caller]

We all knew what it was when they called it right flank right.

[Alan Hahn]

You know, like the flank thing. Come on. What do we. What is this, a steak? Like, what are we talking about?

[Caller]

He grabbed aside. What could it be?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. High grade strain, of course, is what it is. And Boone's quot is it's going to be some time.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So. So I didn't know. I don't know. I. I don't know.

[Alan Hahn]

By the way, did you call him Jorbit?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. Your bit. I didn't know.

[Alan Hahn]

It's so good, though. It's all right.

[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don, Han and Rosenberg podcast.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't want to know how the sausage is made, man. I just want to know. It's good.

[Don Hahn]

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.