Hour 2: Knicks & Weekend Headlines

Summary

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Don, Hahn & Rosenberg | Hour 2: Knicks & Weekend Headlines

ESPN New York | May 11, 2026
Hosts: Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg, Dave Rothenberg
Main Theme: Knicks playoff momentum, NBA/NHL playoffs, and the big headlines shaping New York sports.

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Episode Overview

This hour dives deeply into the New York Knicks' electric postseason run, the unique depth and culture of this team, and the emotional resonance for Knicks fans. The hosts tackle NBA and NHL weekend headlines, analyze the NBA Draft Lottery’s oddities, discuss the legacy implications of a Knicks championship, and riff on the always-contentious primetime NFL scheduling for New York football fans. The show captures the passionate, humorous, and sometimes jaded perspectives of seasoned New York sports voices.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Media Critique: Bonnie Tyler Headline (01:26–02:39)

• Memorable Segment: The crew reacts to the Daily News headline on Bonnie Tyler's cardiac arrest:
  “Total Eclipse of the Heart. Singer Bonnie Tyler suffers cardiac arrest.”
  • Peter Rosenberg: “Can we just let people go? Honestly, can we just let people go?” (01:40)
  • Anthony: “It's a human life.” (02:06)
• Insight: News media’s desperation for clicks leads to questionable, irreverent headlines. The hosts bemoan loss of journalistic standards and press for class and empathy.

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2. Knicks Playoff Analysis & Fan Calls

Knicks Depth & Momentum (04:05–07:57)

• Caller (Blanda): “They genuinely go 10 deep and I confidently feel that any one of those 10 has the ability to step up in the moment… I haven't felt this great about the team since probably the mid to late 90s.” (04:05)
• Alan Hahn: “Their depth is the biggest thing… I don't think there's any other team out there that you could say that about, except maybe OKC and Cleveland.” (04:40)
• Peter Rosenberg: “The regular season is BS… It’s all about matchups. And the one thing we've seen is the Pistons do match up well against the Knicks.” (05:27, 06:07)
• Anthony: “J.B. Bickerstaff… their mission was to beat the Knicks… it just seems to set, it’s all part of the story, isn't it?” (06:15)
• Key Points:
  • Unprecedented optimism and depth for the Knicks.
  • Regular season records are less relevant; playoff matchups dictate outcomes.
  • The brewing rivalry with Detroit/Pistons, and the importance of psychological edges and revenge in sports narrative.

Playoff Legacies & Contrarian Fans (08:05–11:53)

• Caller (Marco) brings three points:
  1. Kudos to Mike Brown for making key adjustments post-Atlanta series.
  2. Comparing Mikal Bridges’ playoff rise to how Giancarlo Stanton delivers in clutch for the Yankees.
  3. Pettily calls out contrarian Knicks hater callers: “I want to ask him if he's entertained now.” (08:57)
• Peter Rosenberg & Anthony: Mock the mentality of chronic contrarians who engage with the team only to root against or complain.

Knicks Fans' Emotional State & The Franchise's Direction (12:02–14:54)

• Caller (Flavio): “To go from watching Luid Edmondson, Langston Galloway, and Arron Afflalo and cheering for the team at 18, 20 wins, to a team that's running teams off the floor – it's just insane, man.” (12:09)
• Significance of the week-long playoff break for recovery and the chance to install new schemes.
• Anticipation about how this team’s run is rewriting the emotional script for a generation of Knicks fans.

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3. The Brunson Debate: Knicks All-Time Great? (13:42–18:38)

• Caller asks: If the Knicks win a championship, where does Jalen Brunson rank among franchise legends? Is it worth trading stars ("Cat") for Giannis if the Knicks win?
• Anthony: “Clyde and Willis remain the greatest because they've won two championships. …But Brunson wins a championship, he's in the pantheon. …If Brunson can at least get to a Finals, we know he's one of the great Knicks ever. …There’s two things, but not the greatest.” (14:08–14:54)
• Peter Rosenberg: “This title would mean more. It's been a long time, and I just think to the city, to the fan base… it would just hit so much differently to where it would be hard not to put Brunson ahead of those guys.” (16:03)
• Anthony: “If you talk about magnitude… [the NBA] is now a global, worldwide league. …If you want to talk about magnitude, I can’t argue.” (17:30)
• Group consensus: A championship now would have historic resonance, possibly surpassing earlier titles in ‘meaning’ for the city, though not diminishing past Knicks icons.

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4. NBA Draft Lottery & Tanking Debate (24:44–27:05)

• The NBA Draft Lottery’s move to a Sunday and its “pomp and circumstance” is puzzling for the hosts.
• Anthony: “This is the convention of losers, you don’t want to be here.” (25:06)
• Analysis of the results: Wizards (with only 17 wins) land the #1 pick. Utah and Memphis jump up. Nets and Pacers drop despite tanking.
• Discussions about fairness, lottery quirks, and how overt “tanking” doesn’t assure top picks and can backfire emotionally and strategically.

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5. Weekend Sports Headlines Recap (29:03–37:55)

NBA/NHL Playoff Drama

• Wembanyama ejection: Rookie mistake and its implications for the Spurs.
• Stanley Cup Playoffs: Canes sweep Flyers, Sixers season ends—“two rough weekends in Boston and Philadelphia.” (30:04)
• Montreal’s Playoff Atmosphere: “It’s literally religion in that city.” (32:26) – Anthony
• Ducks & Knights, Colorado/Minnesota series breakdowns: Emphasis on coaching, grit, and the emotional volatility of playoff hockey.

NFL Schedule Release & Giants-Cowboys Rivalry (34:21–36:33)

• Anthony: “Eighth time since 2012… Cowboys at Giants at MetLife to open the season.” (34:56)
• The hosts playfully moan about the monotony and stress of this matchup, especially on high-profile dates like Thanksgiving and Sunday Night Football.

Other Quick Hits

• Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors: Bucks are “open for business.”
• New York-Philly cheesesteak bet payoff: Philly’s Pat’s King of Steaks owner to work at Dario’s in Knicks gear after losing a series bet.

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6. New York Football in Prime Time: The Agony & The Ecstasy (41:05–47:55)

• Peter Rosenberg: “I have terrible memories of nationally televised games against the Cowboys… I just, I have a lot of scar tissue from week one or nationally televised games against the Cowboys to where I could safely say I'm good.” (42:34)
• Anthony & Dave Rothenberg: The eternal debate—do fans want meaningful games on big holidays (Thanksgiving, MNF, etc.), or does it ruin the experience with potential agony?
• Anthony: “There’s going to be some sizzle with this team because of Harbaugh’s presence … The Cowboys are the Cowboys.” (44:00)
• Peter Rosenberg: “I don’t want to be aggravated on a holiday… I want to relax. Can I watch my team at home?” (47:12)
• The segment closes with all agreeing: nothing torments a fan quite like their team losing in prime time, especially when travel or family commitments are in play.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Peter Rosenberg (on regrettable headlines):

  “Can we just let people go? Honestly, can we just let people go?” (01:40)

• Alan Hahn (on Knicks depth):

  “They genuinely go 10 deep and I confidently feel that any one of those 10 has the ability to step up in the moment…” (04:05)

• Anthony (on Brunson’s legacy):

  “Brunson wins a championship, he’s in the pantheon. He might already be closing in on that because Patrick’s in the pantheon and he didn’t get a title…” (14:17)

• Peter Rosenberg (on a Knicks title’s magnitude):

  “This title would mean more… it would just hit so much differently to where it would be hard not to put Brunson ahead of those guys.” (16:03)

• Anthony (on Montreal’s hockey culture):

  “It’s literally religion in that city.” (32:26)

• Peter Rosenberg (on Giants vs. Cowboys):

  “I have terrible memories of nationally televised games against the Cowboys… I have a lot of scar tissue from week one or nationally televised games…” (42:34)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:26 – Media clickbait & “Total Eclipse” headline debate
• 04:05 – Knicks superfan calls in; discussing team depth and playoff confidence
• 12:02 – Longtime Knicks fan reflects on franchise progress
• 13:42 – Jalen Brunson legacy discourse; the meaning of winning now
• 24:44 – NBA Draft Lottery breakdown and tanking talk
• 29:03 – NHL/NBA playoff updates, from Wembanyama’s ejection to Montreal’s playoff atmosphere
• 34:21 – NFL schedule, Giants-Cowboys Sunday night opener lament
• 41:05 – Why primetime and holiday games are agony for NY football fans

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Tone & Language

The tone is deeply New York: humorous, opinionated, somewhat world-weary, but always passionate. Each host brings his own voice—Rosenberg’s blunt, sometimes exasperated humor; Hahn’s knowledgeable, reasoned optimism; Rothenberg’s deadpan everyman takes.

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Final Thoughts

This episode is a tapestry of what it means to be a New York sports fan in 2026: fired up about the Knicks, cynical about media and tanking, laughing through the pain of prime-time football, and always debating the meaning of greatness. If you missed it, you missed hosts at their best—armed with history, hope, and a healthy dose of side-eye for anything inauthentic.

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Transcript

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[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 Rosenberg]

Game time is brought to you by Telemardu Irish Whiskey. Because when it's game time, boys, it is challenge time.

[Dave Rothenberg]

It's tolly time.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Just one local team in action tonight. The Yankees Visit the Orioles at 6:35 Tullamore Dew. The original triple distilled, triple blended and triple cast matured Irish 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, but really quick before I honor the tease and get back to the Nick calls. This. You would think this was to be the New York Post. Okay, but this is the Daily News.

[Dave Rothenberg]

This is.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This really bothers me. And I should save this for tomorrow, but I'll end up forgetting about it.

[Anthony]

What happened?

[Peter Rosenberg]

So I don't know if you guys know Bonnie Tyler.

[Anthony]

Yeah, sure.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He did. Total Eclipse of the Heart, right?

[Anthony]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

She suffered cardiac arrest. The headline is Total Eclipse of the Heart. Singer Bonnie Tyler suffers cardiac arrest. Can we just let people go? Honestly, can we just let people go?

[Dave Rothenberg]

No, that's someone. They chose to do that. That's not an intern mistake.

[Anthony]

That was a choice. And an editor went, let's go with it.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Let's go.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean, I listen. I don't know her. I like her music. But I understand the whole. I get. I get the gag. But come on, man, don't be stupid.

[Anthony]

It's a human life.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I know. Exactly.

[Anthony]

And it wasn't like a bad person.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This is why. You know, again, I don't want to say this because there are good people that work for newspapers and all that, but really, goodbye.

[Anthony]

Trying so hard to get the click there.

[Peter Rosenberg]

1974 is over. Okay, let's all get back to normal, all right? This is why you have to result to doing these yo yo things because nobody's buying your papers because they've got different ways of getting information. It's really sad because there was a time where that was where you got your information. But now information you trusted information, you know, is a la carte anyway. But come on, can we show some

[Anthony]

class for God's sake? That's awful.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Show some class.

[Shopify Advertiser]

Awful.

[Dave Rothenberg]

And also not even really clever. It's like nothing. It's just like nothing.

[Anthony]

Yeah, right.

[Dave Rothenberg]

It's not like she has a song that's famous with the word hard in it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And also this is aging so well for me. I root against my team. Just tank. I want a better pick, you know, look. Look at the Sixers. Oh, all that tanking that Brooklyn did. Now enjoy your sixth pick. And where did Indiana pick? Where they're picking? No.

[Anthony]

All right, that's coming up in my

[Peter Rosenberg]

and even Utah didn't play anybody. I understand it's a deep draft, so they're very happy the Jazz to have the second overall pick. But I'm sure when they're resting players, they're hoping for one.

[Dave Rothenberg]

It aged well for you, don't. It did. Meanwhile, let's go whiz, you know what I mean?

[Anthony]

Back in business letting letting BAM score 83. That worked out by the way.

[Dave Rothenberg]

It is funny that. You know what maybe that moment could have been what sent them.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Is this the revenge of Kwame Brown?

[Ian Fitzsimmons]

Wow.

[Dave Rothenberg]

By the way, what even happened to Kwame Brown when he had like that resurgence in online like two years ago?

[Anthony]

Yeah, he came back for like was

[Dave Rothenberg]

bit and angry and it started like bad, but then it got like kind of good and interesting. You're like, well, he's kind of like smart and interesting, weird, but.

[Anthony]

And then just disappeared again.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Just like his talent. Because as a player, everyone knew there was a reason Jordan like Kwame Brown, the kid was obviously a player. It just wasn't couldn't all come together.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Blanderson, Hooper, you're on ESPN New York.

[Dave Rothenberg]

We love Blanda.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Love Bland.

[Han]

Good afternoon, gentlemen. So last week I spoke to you guys after the win, the close win against the Hawks, and I was flying high and I didn't think I could get any higher than that. And obviously today, today I feel great. I haven't felt this great about the team since probably the mid to late 90s. And just to touch on what you guys mentioned before, the depth is the biggest thing and they genuinely go 10 deep and I confidently feel that any One of those 10 has the ability to step up in the moment and do something that could affect the course of the game. Every single one of them, I think, has the ability to meet the moment and do something, whether it's hit a shot, get a steal, get a good defensive stop that will do something to get things moving in the right direction. And I don't think there's any other team out there that you could say that about, except for maybe OKC and Cleveland. Detroit. I don't think it really matters. I know a lot of people are afraid of Detroit because of how they handled us in the. In the regular season, but I think in the immortal words of Spike, if anybody out there thinks that we cannot beat Detroit, I say bullshizzle.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, that's. See, that's honoring the man.

[Anthony]

Well done.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Hey, I think the regular season is bs, all right? Some, especially the way things go in the postseason. But you'd also be the exact opposite feeling of saying that they're just going to run through them as well, because, as you know, as dead as they were down 3 1, the Knicks were down 2 1, and they responded. Their first loss didn't come until Game 3 in Cleveland or they had rattled off five straight wins after falling behind 31 to Orlando. It's all matchups, people. Same thing with hockey. We could talk about where you finished in the regular season and all that. It's all about matchups. And the one thing that we've seen is the Pistons do match up well against the Knicks. So I think that's going to be

[Dave Rothenberg]

a hell of a series.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Nobody should say anything about anything at this point or guarantee anything. Just that, hey, it's going to be a lot of fun to see them play.

[Anthony]

Yeah, tonight's going to be a really interesting game. That's. Well, I'm going to say that game in Cleveland, a Game 4 for Detroit, now that they know the Knicks have swept and they're there. And, you know, I'm telling you, knowing J.B. bickerstaff, they went into this season with, like, their mission was to beat the Knicks. That's all they care about. They were so mad after that series. It just seems to set. It's all part of the story, isn't it? Like, it adds to the story of, like, the drama of a team now that just wants revenge so bad. They want to play you so bad. Let's see what their focus is like tonight to see if they can take control of that series.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And I watched. I watched a lot of game two Pistons Cavs. And the Pistons blew the 14 point lead and then they won the game. And then it was a really good back and forth. I thought game three in Cleveland and the Cavs ended up holding on and getting the victory there. So it's been a good series. So I, I think that if Cleveland wins tonight, it's going seven.

[Anthony]

Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And if Detroit wins tonight, then I could see, you know, wrapping it up in Detroit.

[Anthony]

We could be done by Wednesday.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, that's the way I kind of feel. I think it's going to be a hell of a series if the Knicks play the Pistons Cavs. I just don't buy into them. But would you start buying into them if they were to come back from 20 down and beat Detroit and say, oh, maybe this team's kind of figured it out. Maybe, you know, I don't know. I just think. I think just looking at Detroit, they, they're going to win the series, and I think that's going to be a hell of a conference final for sure. So I wouldn't be. I wouldn't be a Knick fan saying, I guarantee they'll win. And I wouldn't be a Pistons fan saying, I guarantee Pistons win.

[Anthony]

I think it'd just be a repelling basketball.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It really would be. Let's go to Marco in Charlotte. You're on. Don Hanna, Rosenberg.

[Marco]

Hello, gentlemen.

[Han]

How are you?

[Marco]

Very, very exciting about the Knicks right now. I have three quick points. The first point is I have to give my kudos to Mike Brown. I was very down on him. I thought he was about to lose the. The game after the first three games with Atlanta. He rebounded, made some great adjustment the. The game play. The team played very, very well. And that led me to the second point. Do you think that Mikal Bridges might be the Stanton of. Of the Knicks where when we get to the stand to the playoff, he starts playing well?

[Anthony]

Interesting.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, that's my right, because he did play well in the Boston series last year. Yeah.

[Anthony]

Playoff kill.

[Marco]

And my third point. And my third point is I'm gonna be a little bit petty.

[Anthony]

Okay.

[Marco]

I want to be. I want to be a little bit petty. I wish Anthony had the number of the guy that called on Friday saying that he was entertained by the Knicks and, and I want to ask him if he, if he's entertained now.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, listen, are you entertained? I think that guy is, you know, doing. I can tell you what he's probably doing. Yeah, he's not entertained by anything, honestly.

[Anthony]

Was that Michael?

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's Michael in Manhattan, who's been. Who is the worst caller? He's been banned until somebody makes a worse call. And I. I can't imagine that's gonna be happening anytime soon.

[Anthony]

Doesn't mean anything.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And plea. Doesn't try.

[Anthony]

It just. It doesn't matter.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, he just doesn't like the sport. And you know what? I'm all for it. There's sports I don't like. You know what I do? I don't watch them.

[Dave Rothenberg]

It's easy.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But the rest and watching and, hey, imagine if I just did that. Like, and all I did. Because this is what he does. Like, I'm not. I'm not a wrestling fan. I don't hate it. I don't like it. I don't watch it. But what I'll do is I'll watch it incessantly and then, like, call my brother, show and complain how bad it is. That's what Michael does. He hates basketball, but he watches every game. And then he's calling to complain about how bad the Knicks are. Miserable human being.

[Anthony]

But you know what else it is, too, is people love being the contrarian because it allows you to be right. And when you're wrong, nobody pays attention.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, but, you know, it's so easy

[Anthony]

to be the contrarian.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Mike only pays attention because he's now the worst caller. And this might go decades.

[Anthony]

Can I tell you before we take the next call, please, about ring's end?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, please.

[Anthony]

I waited all weekend to get back to talking to people about ring's end. We're talking about rings. Trying to win a ring.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You were texting me all weekend about rings.

[Anthony]

I really. You know, I did tell you about the fact that this project at the house that I'm excited about is we are now in the ordering phase of this gorgeous French door that we are getting. My contractor, Michael, he's talking with the project manager, Andrew, over at Rings end. This thing is getting ordered. We've decided how we want it to open. How do you like a French door to open, Don? Out or in? You like an innie or an outie? What do you think?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think I like. I think I'd rather have it open in.

[Anthony]

Open in? Yeah, yeah, we're gonna have it open out. Out to the pool. That's how we're gonna do it. Anyway, that's what we chose.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't put a lot of thought into it.

[Anthony]

I know you didn't, but I had

[Peter Rosenberg]

to give an answer.

[Anthony]

We did. Believe it or not. It's amazing how much time that you have to go through, to process this. But thankfully, of course, Andrew helped us through this. So why rings end well? Because they work with pro contractors like my guy Michael, who build and remodel for a living. Pros trust them. So I trust them and everybody you can too. They don't just have premium brands and doors. They have windows and decking and paint, lumber, kitchens, you know, all the stuff that you want to do to upgrade and update your home. So they're not a national chain regional Expertise. They have eight full service lumber yards in Connecticut and Westchester County, 12 freestanding paint setters as well. And if you can't make it to any of the stores or the locations, you can shop [e-mail] that's ringsend everybody.com Donny Outstanding.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Let's go to Flavio in New Jersey. You're on ESPN New York. Hello.

[Flavio]

Good afternoon, guys. First time caller, long time listener.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Flavio]

Yeah, so just want to make a few points. I think with the Knicks, the weak break that they have is actually going to be a good thing. A lot to what Han has said about, you know, regards to like the offensive, offensive schemes that they want to add kind of like a mini training camp, if you will. I think it's also good for the injuries like OG and other players, Brunson, Mitch Hart, you know, with the lingering hand injury, granted it's not major, but a lot of the players tend to play quietly with these injuries. So it's, you know, good for them to get kind of back into the shape of things. And then lastly, I mean, I'm just in shock, man. I'm a Knicks fan for decades. And you know, to go from watching Luit Edmondson, Lansdon Galloway and Aaron Aflalo and cheering for the team at 18, 20 wins to a team that's running teams off the floor, it's just, just insane, man. Me and my neighbors that are around, we talk about it, we're just kind of in shock and just two points about like in the direction of, you know, kind of where the team is heading.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Flavio]

But if, if the team wins, let's say we get to that point, where would it, where would Brunson be on the list of like the greatest Nick of all time? And I don't think so. But if, is it even on the table to trade Cat if, if we get to the promised land for Giannis?

[Anthony]

I don't know why you would want to do that when now you finally figured out how to use him in a way where your offense is now a prolific offense. It Just doesn't make sense at this point to touch this if this is what it's going to look like. The Brunson thing is, I've heard this. I think Perk did this. He's like, if Brunson. If they win a championship. Brunson is the greatest Knick of all time. And I've got to say, pump your brakes.

[Dave Rothenberg]

That's. That's a lot.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He could be two.

[Anthony]

He could be up there. But Clyde and Willis remain the greatest because they've won two championships.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Understood.

[Anthony]

You can't take that away from them. Two titles, both against Jerry west and Wilt Chamberlain and the Lakers, like the game seven that Walt had in 1970 alone. But I just. I don't know how you do that. Multiple titles still, to me, wins out. Brunson wins a championship. He's in the pantheon. There's no question. Yeah, he's in the pantheon. He might already be closing in on that because Patrick's in the pantheon and he didn't get a title, but he did get to two finals. So if Brunson can at least get to a Finals, we know he's one of the great Knicks ever. There's two things, but not the greatest. Let's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Let's take it easy. Ewing's on the. In the 75th anniversary. He was on the team. Ewing, yeah. And so was Clyde, Right?

[Anthony]

Yes. Yeah. And Willis and the busher.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, they're all.

[Anthony]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know, so did they do one for 100 years or. We haven't got to.

[Anthony]

We haven't gotten the 50 and the 75.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And when's 100 gotta be coming up? It had to be over 20 years ago.

[Anthony]

I thought the start of the league was 47.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, 47 was the start of the list.

[Anthony]

Yeah. So 100 isn't for a bit.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, that's still a bit. You know, Could Brunson end up on that list? Because that's the thing, is that I don't think Brunson's appreciated the way those players.

[Anthony]

Well, he's a Hall of Famer already around the league. Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's a Hall. Yeah. There's the hall of Fame, but then there's also an all era.

[Anthony]

Like, think about it. This is in his. In his era right now. He's among the best players in the league.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Yeah.

[Anthony]

Of this era.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But what he. What you. This is going to sound harsh, okay. And you might jump me for it, but I think there's logic behind what I'm going to say to a large percentage of Nick Fans, Brunson would be number one. And the reason I don't begrudge people of that if they win the title is as big as those titles were in 70 and 73, this title would mean more. It's been a long time, and I just think to the city, to the fan base, because you're talking about a league that started in 1947.

[Anthony]

So you're doing that. You're doing the messier 94 thing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, what I'm doing is I'm looking at the 70 championship and the 73 championship. Where was basketball then? Where the games even, you know, televised live. You had maybe a second generation of fans. The league started in 47, so by the time they won in 70 and 73, a lot of people saw the Knicks from their infancy and then probably had kids that became fans, too. But we've gone now several generations. The fan base is much bigger. I think the NBA means more. So when you look at those titles, and not to begrudge those guys that won those titles in 70 and 73, but wouldn't a title this year just dwarf those and just put Jalen on an even a bigger platinum of the history of the franchise?

[Anthony]

Well, if you consider the 70 championship, the first one. Right. For the franchise, which is, you know, that's special.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's not nothing because the franchise had

[Anthony]

been around since the beginning of the league and took that long to win their first title. So think about that for a minute.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, that's not nothing.

[Anthony]

But if you talk about Magnitude.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Anthony]

I can't argue with.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Anthony]

And so because it's now a world global worldwide league versus in 70, where it was more of an A New York.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It was. It was a niche thing, but.

[Anthony]

But the team itself was. It was the first time a New York, like, got around that one team like that. They were loved in New York, but they weren't like, now it's globally loved. So if you want to talk about Magnitude, I can't.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And that's why I think this championship would hit differently. Right.

[Anthony]

For many reasons. Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Because you're talking about that first championship. The team was 23 years old. The league was 23 years old. Right. You know, it was dwarfed by baseball, it was dwarfed by football, you know, and now basketball. And it just. It would just hit so much differently to where it would be hard not to pull. Put Brunson ahead of those guys. Now, as far as who's a better basketball player and all that, you know, that's always going to be debatable. Never about that, but as far as the. The way it would hit, I just think that that's why I think there'd be a lot of people that would say Brunson number one with the ball.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Yeah, it would absolutely. Would feel much bigger than 73, right?

[Anthony]

Oh, well, yeah. I mean, I get.

[Dave Rothenberg]

I get this gap's been so long that this one's just going to. So I do hear that.

[Anthony]

That now what if.

[Dave Rothenberg]

I don't know what Brunson does after the season?

[Anthony]

Let me throw this out.

[Dave Rothenberg]

If they won.

[Anthony]

Let's just take it now to NBA. If the Knicks can win a championship this year, somehow it would be the most significant NBA championship since blank. Like the Thunder. That was nice. But let's be honest. It's like, you know, that really cause a buzz.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What is a big. What is a big franchise?

[Anthony]

I think LeBron in Cleveland. I think LeBron winning in Cleveland over that warriors team was a. I mean, that really kind of was an earthquake in the NBA. But when you think about significance, like, where would you put this?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like, well, the Knicks are one of the flagship teams of the NBA, and they haven't won in 50. Was 53 years.

[Anthony]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I would have to put that as significant.

[Anthony]

Like, what's the one that would. When it's over, you're talking about. It's on. You know, it's on Good Morning America. And they've been not only talking, just. Not just. Not just recap, but they're doing features and, like, it becomes magazine covers. It's just everyone gets caught up in it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right, right. Because we haven't had the Lakers. You can make the case that the Lakers and the Celtics are bigger than the Knicks because of the history of winning and all that. But the Knicks are as, you know, close to as popular as those. And they've gone so long without winning, they might make a movie about it.

[Anthony]

But, yeah, that's my point.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It would be a big deal.

[Anthony]

It's in the large market.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Anthony]

The biggest market. It's got celebrity following that is growing and growing and growing. I had no idea. There's. There's some celebrities I never knew were Nick fans that are now coming, like, appearing, doing stuff on social media. I was like, I didn't even know you were a Nick fan. Like, what's. What's the actor's name? Is it Jerry O'? Connell? Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, from Jerry McConnell.

[Anthony]

I didn't know he was a Nick fan.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's going crazy. I know. I think I knew he was a New Yorker.

[Anthony]

You're Seeing I'm like wow. So maybe bigger. So the point I'm trying to make is what you just said too is like they'll make a movie about this just because of the magnitude of it. And it just kind of feels like something that would resonate transcend sports. How many titles think about this have we seen in the last generation?

[Peter Rosenberg]

And we're getting way ahead of ourselves. We're only halfway there.

[Anthony]

Well but it's fun to talk.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But it is fun to talk about it from the standpoint. Look how big the Rangers cup was. All right. To this city.

[Anthony]

That was one to the.

[Peter Rosenberg]

To sports in general.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right. And that's hockey. But that was one thing. Able to do that.

[Anthony]

That one. That one lasted a whole summer.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It was a big deal all throughout. People still even around the NHL, anywhere that I travel. The 94 Rangers resonate with people.

[Anthony]

96 Yankees, 98 Yankees. Were any of those like feeling like.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, maybe because just. But.

[Anthony]

But the fact is the Yankees.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But the fact is Yankees and or the Yankees hadn't won in 18 years. They're talking 53 years.

[Anthony]

I know.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's be like the Leafs winning the cup in Canada. Like it would be like when you go that long and you're that popular. Think about the perfect storm. You're that popular a franchise and that long without winning. This would be the equivalent when the giants won in 86 or ready when the Bears won in 85. Had been the first time in a long time. It had been 20 plus years for a big franchise. But imagine if the Lakers didn't win for 53 years or if the Celtics didn't win for 53 years. They wouldn't be who they are.

[Anthony]

Think about that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The Knicks have. The Knicks aren't the Celtics and the Lakers because they don't have the titles. But from a popularity standpoint, they're right there. And they've got 53 year monkey getting taken off of their back. Or gorilla at this point. Dinosaur almost. It'd become a big deal. I mean honestly, it would be that big of a deal. But again, we're only halfway there. Yeah.

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[Don Hahn]

to the Don Han and Rosenberg Podcast.

[Dave Rothenberg]

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 podcast.

[Anthony]

What we thought was it's Monday, sure. And there's a lot of times when you get to Monday, there's stuff that happened Friday night, Saturday, even sometimes on Sunday that we might just not be able to get to, and we think that they're significant enough for us to just spend a few minutes and discuss. So I'm going to give you some headlines from the weekend. The first one, you did mention it, Don, a little bit earlier, but we can dive a little bit deeper into this. For some reason, the NBA draft lottery was done on a Sunday. That never used to happen. Never was, like during the week.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Always a week night.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I wasn't thinking about it until I saw all the pomp and circumstance before the Knick game yesterday.

[Anthony]

And it just felt like, wait, we're doing this here now? On a Sunday? On Thursday?

[Dave Rothenberg]

Never watching. Usually it's on espn.

[Anthony]

I think it was on tnt.

[Dave Rothenberg]

No, it was Thursday. I feel like on recent years it's

[Peter Rosenberg]

been espn, all right.

[Dave Rothenberg]

And it was always Thursday and it's always on a weeknight.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Always.

[Anthony]

Well, I remember going to it years ago and Donnie Walsh said to me when I said, you know, you fired up to be here? He goes, no, this is the convention of Losers, you don't want to be here. That was in 2008.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, now, tanking. Everybody wants to lose.

[Anthony]

We celebrate being in the lottery, but no, no, you're not getting celebrations now, aside from the fact that the Washington wizards, who went 17 and 65. 17 and 65. And when you watched them play, you said, how the hell did they win? 17. I know they did win the lottery, so good for them.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So how many wins can you win without trying? 17.

[Anthony]

There you go. The Utah Jazz, they had the fourth best odds. They got the number two pick, so good for them. Memphis Grizzlies had the sixth best odds. They got the three pick. And the Chicago Bulls, who had the ninth best odds, ended up four. That means some people dropped, right? Well, the Pacers and the Nets are two teams that fell and fell hard. The Pacers fell to fifth, and you know what that meant. They lost their pick because they traded it with protections with to the Clippers for Zubots, the center that they got from the Clippers that they think is going to be a big splash early on. But they purposely tanked all year. They didn't try to win. They thought they were going to get over by making this trade and then not having to trade the pick. And that didn't happen, which led to team president Kevin Pritchard sending out an apology tweet to everybody. The Brooklyn Nets, who never apologized for sucking, they ended up falling to sixth. And so for the Nets, they still get a pick that's relatively high and a very deep draft. But you're, you know, you're the Nets. You were hoping to get one, two or three at worst, because that's how good this draft is. So that is the draft lottery that if you weren't paying attention on Mother's Day, actually happened yesterday. And that's that story.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And I wonder, too, because One of the NBA's ideas was that if you were in the conference final the year before, you weren't eligible for the lottery the next year.

[Anthony]

That's starting to drop. The Pacers, there is a little bit of a twinge of did the league kind of punish some people?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, you feel like it and say,

[Anthony]

hang on a second, you shouldn't be winning this. But the Wizards, you know, like the Jazz were starting their main guys and then by the third quarter sat them to finish the game and lost games that they were winning because they wouldn't play their starters. And they were saying, you can't tell me when to play my players. You're just telling me I have to Play my players. So there was some technicalities there, but yeah, there was some curiosity about funny business with all this stuff. Did you see last night after the Nick win an epic Spurs Timberwolves game last night? Yes, Game four. This was a hell of a game. But early in the game was a big moment when Victor Wembanyama took his bony elbow and smashed Nas Reed right in the jaw. This is some old school elbow throwing stuff. Well, he got ejected from the game. Flagrant two. He gone. And that's early in the game. A key player for them. He was sitting on the bench and the cameras caught him as they were reviewing the play and then announced it to flagrant two. He says to Harrison Barnes, his teammate, what does that mean? And he said, well, it means you're. You're done, you're out. He goes, oh, I'm out. And he gets. But he reaches up and grabs. You ever have a human being do this to you, Grab you by the back of your neck and pull you down to his level? That's what he did to Barnes. His long arm reaches up and takes Barnes neck and goes, come here, I can't hear you. And brings him down. So he walks out of the building. He's now done for the night. And the spurs put up a good fight, but Anthony Edwards was just that much better. And now that series tied it to.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Yeah, they're not going to win a lot of games with Wemby watching.

[Anthony]

No, you got to have him play. So it's a bad moment for him. It's for the first time he kind of showed he's a young player and it's a moment that he's going to have to learn from because Minnesota, I don't know if anybody knows this. They're playing physical and nasty and tough. Ask Nikola Jokic about that. So this series gets very interesting. Now the league will not do any further punishment on Wembanyama. No fine. It's time served. Right. So that series gets real interesting. How about in the Stanley cup playoffs? You know what happened? It's really sad in a way. On Saturday, that was a great game. But Jackson Blake gets the overtime goal. The Cane sweep the Flyers, they move on to the conference final. So the Flyer season ends on a Saturday and what happened on Sunday?

[Peter Rosenberg]

6.

[Anthony]

The Sixers season end back to back. So week before, the Bruins season ended on a Friday and the Celtics season ended on a Saturday. Two rough weekends in Boston and Philadelphia.

[Dave Rothenberg]

When it comes to the last one,

[Peter Rosenberg]

we just need a. A Philadelphia coach to have a. They Sorted affair with a reporter. And then it'll be. Then it'll be complete.

[Anthony]

Yeah. You already fired the manager in baseball, right? The Phillies. Although I guess Dom.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, he's. They've been very.

[Anthony]

What is it with the Phillies when they fire their manager? They go on a. On a toot.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's how Thompson won his World Series.

[Anthony]

Eight and one now for Mattingly. Or am I.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, it's. It's more than. It's more than 8, maybe 10 and 2 or 9 and 2 something. But it is pretty incredible run.

[Anthony]

They've been on well, continuing with the Stanley cup playoffs. So the Canes are off to the Eastern Conference finals. Who's going to join them? Boy, the Buffalo Sabers run has been a fun one right until they get to Montreal. And now Montreal has won back to back games, 2 to 1 series lead. Now for Le Canadienne and Don. Are they. Are the Sabres in trouble? Because Montreal, we know, can score. Cole Caulfield might be the greatest goal scorer I've seen since Mike Bossi, and I don't think that's crazy to say. He finds ways to score in all different ways.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They're getting on Tage Thompson, although he did score the lone goal for the Sabres last night. But I guess a reporter asked him if he's hurt. He said, that's none of your business. And that was a whole big thing. After game two and then losing five to one, allowing whatever it was. Five two, I think, whatever it was, but like I think was four unanswered goals at one point to fall behind two one in that series. Now there's questions. Does Lyon get pulled? Do they go to Lucan? So when you start changing goaltenders and your star players, allegations that he's hurt. No, they're feeling it right now. And you know what? McAfee's been talking about it all day. I could have told him because I've known. I've been there. I don't know if there's an atmosphere better than Montreal in the playoffs. Oh, yeah. It is just unreal. Kirk Muller goes out, lights the flame and the place. And they couldn't Dobish after the game. They couldn't do the interview because everybody was like singing in the building. It is really.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Even the regular season's pretty insane because

[Peter Rosenberg]

we could talk about the popularity. And this is the problem. It's so watered down here in New York because we got so many different teams. So we're kind of split for the most part. That's why the Knicks are so special, because you know, the Nets just don't have the fan base the Knicks do. But the Canadians are part of the Montreal culture.

[Anthony]

Oh, yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know, and so when they make a run in the play, you feed it.

[Anthony]

It's literally religion in that city.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And just look at how it's. And they don't even have to ask like, where all red. It just, it is just. It's incredible there. You really felt it last night on television. Singing the.

[Anthony]

Yeah, it's special. It's special. Golden Knights and Ducks. That series tied at two apiece. That series will go back to Vegas.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Anthony's very excited about the Ducks being even. The two.

[Anthony]

A lot of, A lot of former Rangers there, right? He's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, that makes him really more excited.

[Anthony]

He's sleeping on his back. Minnesota, Colorado finally lost a game, which is, you know, which is not nothing. Minnesota, though, gets, gets a win on Saturday night. It's now 2:1 in that series. Game four tonight, by the way, on ESPN. And that's a must watch series, isn't it, Don? Like that. That feels. I think it is a lot of offense.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Quinn Hughes goal too, was, you know, was, I think on the delayed penalty or early in their power play. Just incredible stuff. That has been a fun, fun series. It's a shame it's in the second round, but with the ratings being the way they are and everybody talking NHL, believe me, Gary Bettman's taking like a victory lap on this format. I don't know. I don't know how sexy, you know, Colorado, Minnesota or Anaheim is to going, going to be in the conference final, but whatever. Good for the Ducks. I'm happy for Kreider. He's loving it there. Ducks are real. It's not about this year for them, but you could see that they've got a very, very bright future. A lot of good young stars on that team. Go jig lacombe. They're. They're really, really, really special team that I think could be very good down the stretch. Good goaltending. And then you've got. There's a lot of people upset about it. But, you know, Joel Quinville's not nothing to coach. And there's a lot of people feel like he shouldn't be back. Controversial, you know, but I thought that was the right market for him to come back. You got two really good coaches in that series, Portarella versus Quinville. And so it's even at two games apiece. Again, not a dead sexy matchup, but it's it from a hockey standpoint. It's been a lot of fun.

[Anthony]

Yeah, no, this is. It's been a good playoffs. And that's the game. Gary can say that. Told you so in the NFL. So the schedule. I know you're excited about this, Don Schedule, release week.

[Dave Rothenberg]

He loves it.

[Anthony]

You know, I can't wait to do Win Loss Win Loss on Thursday. This will be fun. But we do know the opener. NBC has decided who they want in the season opener. September 13th. Are you ready for Cowboys Giants?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I have thoughts on this one.

[Anthony]

Because we never see Cowboys Giants early in the season, do we?

[Dave Rothenberg]

No, no.

[Anthony]

Except forever. Except for always.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Every season.

[Anthony]

Eighth time since 2012 to start.

[Dave Rothenberg]

You mean at week one season opener.

[Anthony]

Eighth time since 2012. Eighth time.

[Dave Rothenberg]

And then. And last year was like week two.

[Anthony]

It just feels like it. But 2012, first Sunday night game of the season will be Cowboys at giants at MetLife. On the grass or turf by then? Probably. Yeah.

[Dave Rothenberg]

So this, this comes after the Wednesday. Is there a Wednesday and a Thursday?

[Anthony]

It's going to be a Wednesday, I

[Peter Rosenberg]

think is the Australia game. It'll be on Netflix Normal.

[Dave Rothenberg]

And then Thursday they're doing one of those too.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Sure.

[Dave Rothenberg]

And then all day Sunday. So it's the second to last game of the weekend.

[Anthony]

I've been waiting all week for Sunday night.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Are you waiting all week? It's going to be the song through 12 other games.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Are we getting? Are we getting? Because I don't think we did last year. But we did. I think it was week two. We got the double header on Monday.

[Dave Rothenberg]

I think they're done. Weren't they moving on from it?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, no, no.

[Anthony]

I think early on you get the double headers. Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And I think whether it's this year or next year, I think it's going to be where one of them is going to be on a different network because they sold it to somebody else.

[Dave Rothenberg]

I would. I would like to say that of all the Yo Yo.

[Commercial Announcer]

Pretty sure they're done, by the way.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Yeah, I think I was gonna say. I really hope so.

[Commercial Announcer]

I think that's part of the deal.

[Anthony]

I don't think there's Monday night Football

[Dave Rothenberg]

double headers, if I'm saying this. Hoping they're done.

[Anthony]

New deal.

[Dave Rothenberg]

But either way, of all the yo yo stuff that's been done, including playing on a Wednesday night in, you know, Algeria, nothing's dumber than a Monday night doubleheader. It is the dumbest. Let's take something that always feels special because everyone watches and just dilute it with like a crappy west Coast.

[Anthony]

Always A bad second game. We can dive more into that coming up. But just two more quick headlines for you guys in the NBA. Missed a lot this week. Sham Sharania reports that the Bucks are open for business on trade calls on Giannis and then Akump.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Yeah, he bet sure is.

[Anthony]

So that's all before the draft, of course, because this is a hot draft and they want to see what they can get. Last but not least, in case you missed it, you remember Dario's, our good friends from West Hempstead. Long edible cheesesteaks, like you dream of pizzas and everything else. They came to visit us. They made a bet with Frank Oliveri, who's from, of course, Pat's. King of steaks. From Pat's. Yeah, from Pat's. Right. So in Philadelphia about the Knicks and the Sixers series. Well, of course, Frank and the people over at Pat's lost. Frank has to come to Dario's and wear Nick's gear and work the kitchen for a day. And he's gonna do it next week. Pay off the bet.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right. Don't mess with the food.

[Dave Rothenberg]

That's a good payoff.

[Anthony]

Kind of like that.

[Dave Rothenberg]

So, by the way, they already make incredible sandwiches there.

[Anthony]

Yes.

[Dave Rothenberg]

You're saying the bet payoff is going to be that you're going to have Philly cheesesteaks getting made up? That's.

[Anthony]

That's pretty much.

[Dave Rothenberg]

That's so much better than like just a dumb. That's a win for.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It gets done when the mayors start doing stuff. Yeah. But when you get the actual people doing it, that's what. It's fun.

[Anthony]

So congrats to Dario's. And that's your headlines from the weekend.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Wow.

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listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg Podcast.

[Dave Rothenberg]

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]

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[Anthony]

Wasn't more. Isn't more recently though on the Giant side of things, didn't they?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, I mean the one nationally televised game you love is the blocked the the Pierre Paul block and the Giants go to the playoff. I'm not saying that there isn't times where this rivalry has favored the Giants, but like I said, the Giants Cowboys first game like an opening weekend Week one. The Giants lost seven of eight, but you got to play them twice. I just, I just. There's been Monday night games. I believe the Lawrence Taylor retirement number retirement was against the Cowboys. It was either Sims or LT Simmons. Might have been the Minnesota game. LT may have been the Cowboy game just getting destroyed on national television by the Cowboys. Now John Harbaugh's here. Giants should be better. I just have a lot of scar tissue from week one or nationally televised games against the Cowboys to where I could safely say I'm good. But we got it. But you know that schedule's coming out officially on Thursday.

[Anthony]

You know, this is, I mean again, it's all big market stuff. It's big brand stuff. If you're NBC, this is what you want to open up because it's John Harbor Boss or something new. There was some juice into the Giants last season with Dart Scatter Boo, the whole thing, right? Like there's you know, a couple of very interesting draft picks that they made. There's, you know, there's going to be some sizzle with the Giants this year, Don, whether you like it or not.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, I love it.

[Anthony]

There's going to be a lot of sizzle with this team because of Harbaugh's presence and the interest in what is this going to look like and how soon will he be able to turn the Giants in the right direction. The Cowboys are the Cowboys.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Either way it goes, there's either going to be sizzle because it starts going the right direction. Everyone goes, oh, man. Or if it doesn't go well, then the sizzle is like, wait, hold on.

[Peter Rosenberg]

His.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Harbaugh lost it.

[Anthony]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Either way it's intriguing and I will tell you, if given the choice between the Giants Cowboys Sunday night week one or Giants Cowboys Thanksgiving, I'll take week one. I hate when my team plays Thanksgiving.

[Anthony]

Yeah, so funny.

[Dave Rothenberg]

I enjoy it even. Even though, even though I like it's pressure.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think give me unnecessary agita while I've got a full stomach. You know what I mean?

[Dave Rothenberg]

You think at this stage you still feel that way? I feel like at this point you're just happy you're not a day off from the devil's injury.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's not a bad point. But if the Giants are playing meaningful games, now we're talking. It's November. Giants are battling the Cowboys for first place.

[Dave Rothenberg]

You know what's funny? I'm the opposite. I don't like when we suck and we play on Thanksgiving and we're just there to get beat up and it's like a meaningless game when we're good, we're playing meaningful football. I like get hyped to have him on Thanksgiving. It's fun, but I. Not to say it's not nerve wracking, but like I'm not like, I truly believe in my heart. Not believe. I know I love my team, the Commanders, as much as Dave Leg, Dave Legrecker. Dave Rothenberg loves the Giants.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Dave Rothenberg]

I just, it's not a thing of misery for me. It's a thing I truly still enjoy. And I'm in a bad mood for a couple hours after they lose and I move on with my life until the next day. I am able to still enjoy the whole thing. That being said, it is. I don't hate the tradition. I don't hate that you get Giants Cowboys early every year. It's a, it's, it's, it's a, it's a solid rivalry game for everybody. Locally, in both markets, nationally. It's nice and game. It's, it's it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm not like I was when I was a kid. Giants lose. I didn't want to go to school then.

[Anthony]

I, I just devastated.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But there are games where, you know, it's aggravating. Like, let's say they lose the game the way they lost to the Cowboys last year when they play great, they get to overtime and then they wet the bed and the Cowboys win. It's going to bother me and I don't want to be bothered with a full belly of turkey and alcohol or like this year, having to go run, hop on a plane to go wherever. You know, I may be watching the game in a hotel room and I got a game the next afternoon and like, and not being able to sleep because they missed a 30 yard field goal that would have won the game.

[Anthony]

The Giants really affect you like that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

If it's a bat, if it's a, if it's a game, like the game in overtime they lost to the Cowboys last year, where it's going to bother me. Well, that's an extent.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Like that one was unusual.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They get blown out 40 another night, we sink whatever. They lose a game and now they're, they're, they're 10 and 1 instead of 10 and whatever. That's all night.

[Anthony]

You're going to be that poorly coached?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, but you could lose. Listen, Tom Copple's a good coach. They lost games that, you know, aggravate you to no end because of a mistake by a player or just circumstances. The ball bounces the wrong way. You know, I don't want to be aggravated on a holiday. I don't want to be aggravated while I'm traveling. That's all I'm saying.

[Dave Rothenberg]

People feel that way. It's not an unusual feeling.

[Anthony]

I don't want to be aggravated on a holiday. So I don't want my team playing on a holiday.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What is wrong with that? I said if I had my. I'd rather have.

[Anthony]

I don't want this aggravation.

[Dave Rothenberg]

I think they know. I think it is a 50, 50 split for people. I think half the people will be like, oh, fun. I get to see my team play. The other half is like, I don't. Let me just. I'll enjoy the football.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I need to.

[Anthony]

You know what I need to know. This is good five o' clock fodder.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Go ahead.

[Anthony]

I need to know if there are fans that feel the same way Don does. Oh, because there's people that love it. My team's playing on a big.

[Dave Rothenberg]

I'm telling you, it's going to be 50, 50.

[Anthony]

You. There are fans that would rather not play play on Thanksgiving or Christmas or any of like the big national moment, national stages. Sunday night, Monday night, whatever you want to call it. Because I don't want the sacrificial.

[Dave Rothenberg]

I used to love Monday night. Now I don't enjoy it at all.

[Anthony]

Really.

[Dave Rothenberg]

No. We suck. We were so Cousins never won a game. Kirk Cousins never won a Monday night game.

[Anthony]

That's different.

[Dave Rothenberg]

So I went five years without winning on Monday night.

[Anthony]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right.

[Anthony]

That I get.

[Dave Rothenberg]

The Daniels era has been off to a better start.

[Anthony]

I don't think you could have had a worse Monday night than I did. No, you can't.

[Dave Rothenberg]

You should never want.

[Anthony]

You can't tell me a regular season Monday night game that crushed either one of you more than 911, 2024 did to me.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's.

[Dave Rothenberg]

It's a nightmare.

[Anthony]

Crushed my soul.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Can't be worse.

[Anthony]

2023, I should say.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Well, but, you know, but you know, the Giants, the Giants and jets battled that year for primetime disaster. You had the 40 to nothing blowout to Dallas with Daniel Jones just

[Peter Rosenberg]

with the soft serve in your pants.

[Anthony]

Yeah.

[Dave Rothenberg]

The head coach was laughing, going, I just want to see him out there. I think they might kill him. And that way I won't have to start Jones next week if they kill him dead on the feet. That was what they were doing. So they had that. And then the jets said, hold on one second. We can outdo that. Our quarterback can just have his leg snapped off and our dreams can end.

[Anthony]

Four plays in. Four plays in.

[Dave Rothenberg]

How about the New York Football Special? It's been special.

[Anthony]

It's. It's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Or again, this is a first world problem. Having to watch the Giant game on Thanksgiving on my iPad on a plane. I don't want to do that.

[Anthony]

Well, I mean, because you're traveling for your team, you got life to live.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, I'm saying I. But. But if I don't have to worry about that if they're not playing. I'm always traveling Thanksgiving night because I did it with the Rangers all the time. Because the o' Rangers always played in the afternoon on the. On the Black Friday.

[Dave Rothenberg]

Does every NHL team play on Thanksgiving?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Not everyone, but it's usually a pretty full boat because nobody plays on Thursday. So Thursday's usually a pretty big day.

[Anthony]

It's a Wednesday, Friday situation. Same as the NBA. NBA is a big Wednesday night and Friday afternoon schedule.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. So the Devils were in Buffalo, so I was on a plane to Buffalo.

[Anthony]

Oh, you gotta love that. Nothing like a flight to Buffalo right after.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But they were nice. We didn't leave until 6 so I still got to spend time with the family.

[Anthony]

Good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And I went with the team so I didn't have to worry about the commercial aspect, which is nice. But still I want to be just.

[Dave Rothenberg]

I want to relax.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Can I watch my team at home?

[Dave Rothenberg]

I think, I think many people will agree with you.

[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Dave Rothenberg]

I don't want to know how the

[Anthony]

sausage is made, but I just want to know. It's good.

[Don Hahn]

Here. More of Don Allen and Peter Weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80. ESPN, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers.

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