Hour 2: Leaving Early & The List

Summary

Podcast Title: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg
Episode: Hour 2: Leaving Early & The List
Release Date: July 16, 2025
Hosts: Don, Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg
Description: The first voice of ESPN New York and New Jersey legend Don La Greca, long-time sportswriter and New York Knick broadcaster Hahn, and highly opinionated Hip Hop veteran and WWE personality Peter Rosenberg discuss New York sports and beyond.

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1. Introduction to the All Star Game Controversy

The episode kicks off with a heated discussion about the recent controversies surrounding Major League Baseball's All Star Game, specifically focusing on the practice of star players leaving early to rest. Don Hahn and Peter Rosenberg delve into the implications of this trend, analyzing its impact on the integrity of the game and fan perceptions.

Notable Quote:

Don Hahn (09:48): "I'm more mad at baseball for it than I am judging Ohtani."

2. Commercial Critique and Player Responsibilities

The hosts critique a recent All Star Game commercial that features non-athletic actors mimicking baseball players, which has sparked backlash among baseball purists. They argue that such commercials disrupt the authenticity of the sport and alienate dedicated fans.

Notable Quotes:

Peter Rosenberg (03:04): "It felt so much like a Broadway rendition of baseball."

Don Hahn (05:24): "If that commercial was on during anything I watch, I wouldn't see it because I'd either flip the channel or fast forward through it."

3. Star Players Leaving Early: Judge and Ohtani

A significant portion of the conversation centers on Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani, two of baseball's biggest stars, who reportedly left the All Star Game early. The hosts debate whether allowing such departures is fair, considering their contributions to the sport and the potential message it sends to fans and other players.

Key Points:

• Fairness and Obligations: Hahn questions the fairness of allowing star players to leave while others remain, suggesting it creates a double standard.

• Impact on Fans: There's concern that fans feel cheated when pivotal players are absent during key moments like the Home Run Derby.

• MLB Policies: The discussion highlights possible shortcomings in MLB's policies regarding player obligations during the All Star break.

Notable Quotes:

Peter Rosenberg (12:15): "The best home run hitter in the sport was not available when it came down to home runs to win the game."

Don Hahn (14:53): "Major League Baseball needs to put a stop to that. You either in or you're out."

4. Listener Feedback and Suggestions

The episode features several listener calls providing perspectives on the All Star Game and potential solutions to the ongoing issues.

Highlights:

• Felicia from Mississippi (40:56): Expresses frustration with the "swing off" concept and its applicability to regular-season games, drawing parallels with the NHL's shootout.

• Marvin from Long Island (47:37): Advocates for implementing a curfew rule for extended games to prevent overnight finishes, enhancing viewer experience and maintaining game integrity.

Notable Quotes:

Marvin (47:37): "Baseball is in an existential crisis. Fans skew older. I feel like this gets casual fans in."

Don Hahn (48:17): "I want to check this out. I want to see something that compels you."

5. Proposed Solutions for Enhancing the All Star Experience

Don Hahn and Peter Rosenberg brainstorm potential methods to make the All Star Game more engaging and fair:

• Swing Off Incentives: Hahn suggests that if players are allowed to leave early, there should be corresponding incentives, such as participation in the Home Run Derby.

• Credit for Losses: Introducing a point system where losses in the swing-off have different weights, similar to the NHL's regulation and shootout losses, could provide a balanced approach.

• Enhanced Player Commitments: Proposing stricter enforcement of player commitments to the All Star Game, ensuring all selected players participate fully unless medically exempt.

Notable Quotes:

Don Hahn (17:30): "If you want to leave early, then you gotta be in the Home Run Derby."

Peter Rosenberg (22:48): "He didn't have to do media after Aaron Judge didn't. Apparently didn't have to do media after this game."

6. Transition to "The List" Segment: Celebrating Will Ferrell

Shifting gears, the hosts introduce "The List" segment, celebrating actor Will Ferrell's 58th birthday by ranking his top five movie characters. This segment provides a lighter, comedic break from the intense sports discussions.

Top Five Will Ferrell Movie Characters:

1. Ron Burgundy from Anchorman

   • Don Hahn (29:08): "Ron Burgundy was also an anchorman too. I'm in a glass case of emotion."

2. Buddy the Elf from Elf

   • Don Hahn (30:07): "Buddy the Elf. What's your favorite color?"

3. Frank "The Tank" from Old School

   • Peter Rosenberg (30:29): "Frank the Tank was a household name in comedy."

4. Ricky Bobby from Talladega Nights

   • Don Hahn (30:43): "Ricky Bobby: I wake up in the morning, I piss excellence."

5. Brennan from Stepbrothers

   • Don Hahn (29:07): "Brennan from Stepbrothers. They just become best friends."

Notable Quotes:

Don Hahn (31:45): "Buddy the Elf from Elf. What's your favorite color?"

Peter Rosenberg (34:24): "He's played Chaz in two different movies. Like Chaz in Wedding Crushers."

7. Conclusion and Final Thoughts

The episode wraps up with reflections on the discussed topics, reinforcing the need for MLB to address the concerns raised to maintain the sport's popularity and integrity. The hosts emphasize the importance of balancing player well-being with fan expectations.

Final Notable Quote:

Peter Rosenberg (49:53): "If you talk it out, maybe there's ways to make it work. I don't think there is, but the more you talk about it, the more you start to think maybe there is a way."

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This episode of Don, Hahn & Rosenberg offers a comprehensive exploration of significant issues facing Major League Baseball's All Star Game, blending in lighthearted segments to keep the conversation engaging and informative for enthusiasts and casual listeners alike.

Transcript

[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Don Hahn]

You can Venmo that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Visit Venmo Me Debit to learn more. The Venmo MasterCard is issued by the Bancorp bank in a pursuant to license by Mastercard International, Inc. The card may be used everywhere. MasterCard is accepted. Venmo purchase restrictions apply.

[Podcast Announcer]

This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don Hahn]

That sounds like heaven to me.

[Podcast Announcer]

Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers 401.

[Don Hahn]

Of the big city. Don Hahn and Rosenberg here on ESPN and I want to let you know game time is brought to you by Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey. Because when it's game time.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I like when he holds it.

[Don Hahn]

The Liberty hosts the fever at 7:30 and the Red Bulls welcome in New England at 7:30 on and NYCFC will visit Orlando at 7:30. So 7:30 is hot.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

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. Haven't gotten the ratings yet. Do you think that you think they're going to be good for some reason? I feel like they're going to be good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. Just based on the fact that what else was there on. Right. I don't, no, they don't compete with anything.

[Don Hahn]

That's why I think it should do worse.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. It should do well. So if the, if, if the Home Run Derby got just under six, would you double it or is that too much? Can you get, can you get 10.

[Don Hahn]

Doubling it is strong.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. Can you get 10 million? Yeah, I, you peak, peak at like peak at 12 or 11 and yeah.

[Don Hahn]

I think you're in the vicinity.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think that's, I think that's what you're looking for, you know. But you did have your 6 million. That's your bet, your base. Anyway, they're going to be there. So you're just going to see how many more people would have tuned in. I guess you're right. Another 6 million is too much. Four is even asking a lot now.

[Don Hahn]

It helps that you had Dodgers and Mets and Yankees in the starting lineup because that's two of the biggest television countries. So yeah, that's certainly gonna move the needle for sure. But yeah. And again, I didn't take A look to see what it was up against. But there's usually not much on network television. And something.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What was I watching? It was like during commercials.

[Don Hahn]

I was flipping. America's Got Talent was on NBC, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, that usually wins. Yeah, that does pretty well. The fact that.

[Don Hahn]

And it also tells you. The fact that NBC doesn't have a problem putting on something major against it. Tells you that they're not afraid of it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Not afraid of it? No. I'll tell you what though, the one commercial with the dancing baseball people.

[Don Hahn]

Yes, that's a problem.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That, that's. You talk about baseball purists. You want to complain about something?

[Don Hahn]

The Jordanians commercial you're talking.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, yeah, complain about that commercial. What the hell was that?

[Don Hahn]

Well, I'm not exactly who you're. Who you. What's your target audience there now? Obviously.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Do you know what that product is?

[Don Hahn]

What is it again? Is it for.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's, it's lowering something. Because that's, that's. I know that's part of the song. Just the whole dancing around, playing baseball with non athletic people. Very well. Yeah, it was, it felt so much like a Broadway rendition of baseball.

[Don Hahn]

And we got to put them in baseball uniforms because it's the All Star game. But I can't imagine that that was going on.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's. That's not a new commercial.

[Don Hahn]

No, no, no. I've seen it a lot, but the.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Fact that like it was, it felt like it was almost every break. I had to see this and I just was like, like, what the hell is this?

[Don Hahn]

There was the one where I feel terrible, but you brought it up.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What did I do?

[Don Hahn]

So there's the guy. They're all in baseball uniforms.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Don Hahn]

And they're pantomiming like him hitting the ball.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No. When he was what he was doing warm ups or stretching or something.

[Don Hahn]

Right. Well, that. But then he's like in front of the dugout, he swings and then his face reacts to. As if he hit a home run. But it's. None of it really actually happened. And it was like, let's put people in uniforms that never even seen the.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Game that have no idea what they're doing.

[Don Hahn]

So I. And we're going to baseball today.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We're baseballing.

[Don Hahn]

They spend. Yeah, exactly. They spend a lot of money.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, it's. First of all, it's a pharmaceutical. They print money. Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

So. But so they know what they're doing with these commercials. They weren't for us. No, but the swing that he gave was very reminiscent. If you remember, in a League of Their Own, when they make the cut, they've got the teams and the coach from Racine or whatever is saying, and these are going to be the uniforms. I think they look. And then they got, like, a model on top of the dugout, and she sticks out her butt and, like, swings, you know, like, it just looked like I've never swung a bat before. But here's how I think it would be if I were to do it. Very. It's just, it's. That's the one thing with sports I never watch. If that commercial was on during anything I watch, I wouldn't see it because I'd either flip the channel or fast forward through it because I'm DVRing it. But sports, you got nothing to do. But you got to watch the commercials. And there was nothing else to flip to unless you wanted America's Got Talent.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I went somewhere else, and I might have gone to, like, you know, Turner Classic Movies or something.

[Don Hahn]

Really something.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All I know is that the first time I watched that commercial, just, just the whole thing, I, I. There's a lot of things that I really don't want to say. It just was. It's just. That was a tough watch.

[Don Hahn]

That was. Yeah. But again, they know all the people.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That are baseball purists that are so mad about things. I was only imagining. Like, remember the callers you used to get on the K show? Like, again, baseball was religion to them. Yes. Just picturing how they would react to a commercial like that.

[Don Hahn]

It was. But you know what? It got us talking. Although, again, I don't know what it does. And besides, you know what? I don't want to make some kind of statement here. I don't think I'm gonna get myself in trouble.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I know what it doesn't do. It doesn't make you athletic.

[Don Hahn]

I go to the doctor. The doctor writes the script. I go to the pharmacy. If I got to suggest to my doctor what I should take, I should go find another doctor. Right. I kind of rely on the doctor to tell me what to take.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Ask your doctor about this.

[Don Hahn]

You know what? No, I'm not. No, he's gonna be telling me. I don't ask that. I asked the doctor, how do I feel? Better. And he says, here, take this, take this. Well, I was thinking about that, but then I got a list of other things. Oh, really? What's your expertise? I don't really have one. But did you see the commercial with the Yo Yos trying to pretend to play baseball? It looks like they make a good Drug. Can you give me that? He's like, but it's not for what ails you. No, I know, but I want to take that drug.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They look happy.

[Don Hahn]

I want to be that guy. I want to pretend to hit home run and have a look on my face like, I've never done anything like that before. 4. Can you make that happen?

[Peter Rosenberg]

The only thing that was believable was the dog as the bat boy. That works.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, that. Yeah, that. That. That could work.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know, anytime there's a commercial, you're losing whatever it is. Just throw a dog in the commercial.

[Don Hahn]

That just always irritates me. They're spending millions of dollars on commercials. I want that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Did you hear about that? There was the one commercial of the. You know, the woman, she's heavyset, she's dancing around and stuff like that. Right. And. And whatever it is that's going on in the commercial, it's like the whole town starts following her and she's dancing around. This whole town. Apparently, this woman has gotten like, like terrible social media response because the commercial was on so much. People got sick of it and got sick of her. And it's like, you know, again, almost like what we're doing. But yet they started attacking her.

[Don Hahn]

But I wouldn't attack any of the people in the ed. They're just actors. They're doing what they got.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Absolutely.

[Don Hahn]

For all I know, they all love baseball, but in the script, it said, pretend you don't.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm good. Yeah. I was going to go out on a limb and say, I don't think they do.

[Don Hahn]

I really don't. For all we know, that heavyset guy, he loves baseball, but he wanted to get the job. And the script clearly says, act like you've never done this before. And he's really good at what he does.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Let's go to Adam Pyre does the moonwalk.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, I know. It's so bad. Adam in New Jersey. You're on ESPN New York. What's up, man? What's going on, fellas? How are you?

[Caller]

I'm good. Congrats on the new gig. Even though I'm not happy that you're leaving the Ranger family, but congrats.

[Don Hahn]

Thank you.

[Caller]

Now, you do an awesome job with the Knicks, of course.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Let's hope they do an awesome job.

[Caller]

I honestly can't believe that judge. No one's giving him business for leaving. This to me is embarrassing. I know he wasn't playing the game, but could you imagine half the guys leaving on the basket? What's going to be next? To the NBA guys going to leave.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know, Adam brings up a good point. Don, we kind of glazed over. You even said a rod got criticized. We kind of just like, dismissed it. Like, oh, Ohtani and Judge, they. They were allowed to leave early. And we're like, yeah, that's fine. But Adam brings up a great point. If this in the. If NHL or NBA, now we know the Pro bowl, nobody wants to go. The guys don't even want to go to that. So they don't even bother. But imagine if in one of these All Star Games, like, like, imagine that. Connor McDavid's like, all right, my three on three team lost, right? So I'm good. I'm out. Like, imagine that. That. That LeBron James, like, this is Aaron Judge now. LeBron James is like, all right, I played 20 minutes. The game's a blowout. You're not putting me at the end. I'm checking out. But didn't have to do media after Aaron Judge didn't. Apparently didn't have to do media after this game.

[Don Hahn]

That's what's. But I don't.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We are letting him skate. Is that the right message?

[Don Hahn]

But here's the thing. I'm more mad at baseball for it than I am judging Ohtani. And here's why. Why I understand why they'd want to leave early. Because it's a long season. It's a long day. They did. They made their commitments. As I was. I was hearing Rick today, and Rick admitted he wasn't on the level of a. Of a Wayne Gretzky, but when he went to his one All Star game, they asked you to do a lot of things. This is supposed to be the All Star break, but because you're great at what you do and you were selected to the All Star Game, you got to do a lot of stuff, a lot of media.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Before I've told this about NBA, like, that's the thing. I've said this. The NBA gets it wrong because their guys come in on Thursday. Contrary, Towns was telling me, we got in on Thursday night. He said we couldn't leave Sunday night because the game was so late. They had to wait till Monday. And they. He's like, and I had to be back at the facility by Wednesday, right? So they got one day off. Now everybody else, you know, 90% of the league was off from Thursday until Wednesday, and the All Stars got one day off. They're the best players in the league, and all they got was one day to catch their breath. Because those days, Rick's Right. And I've lived it. You're. Because you're going to all the events that they have. You're going to charity events where players are available. You're going to the first day media day. You're going to the practice media day. You're going to the before the game media. The. The all star Saturday media stuff. Then you go into the actual game, pregame, then post game. It's like, how much more could you possibly.

[Don Hahn]

It's a lot.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It is a lot. But if everyone else has to do it, how come you're allowed to skate?

[Don Hahn]

Because. Because obviously they are allowed to, because nobody's making them stay. And. And if they are true to their word that it was determined before the game who was going to be in the swing off. I mean, it makes no strategic sense for the National League not to have Ohtani and the American League not to have Judge. Of course, but obviously they were not included because they had allowed them to leave.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right.

[Don Hahn]

Because they're star players. And not every. Never every player.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Everybody okay with this? The question, though, is, Don, is every. You and I were quick to just dismiss it. We were quick. We were quick to say, oh, that's okay. Right. Is everybody else in agreement? Well, does everybody feel this way? Do fans feel cheated?

[Don Hahn]

That probably do.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The best home run hitter in the sport was not available when it came down to home runs to win the game. And it wasn't Aaron Boone who said, oh, I just didn't put him on the list. No, it was Aaron Judge who said, I left early. Is everybody okay with that? That's. We can't decide that.

[Don Hahn]

Well. And did the.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You and I both just think it's okay because he's a nice guy and we understand that these are busy weekends. But if everybody else has to stay, why are you okay to leave? Why is that? Right. That goes against everything. He's about no Jeter leave.

[Don Hahn]

Right. But Aranda got to do it. I mean, he wouldn't have gotten to do it otherwise.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Jeter didn't leave that a rod left. Jeter stayed. But is that the right thing?

[Don Hahn]

No, it's not the right thing to do before. All I know is Jeter wasn't going anywhere. Maybe Alex needed to be someplace and they're like, okay, not everybody. I'm sure Jeter did. But I'm sure that a lot of players don't have a private jet or a way to get out. But Ohtani and Judge do because they make 40 plus million dollars a year and they got a chance to get the extra day and they're allowed. Baseball should put their foot down and say, go to the All Star Game. I have no idea. Honestly, I don't even know if Judge left. I mean, he wasn't there. I mean, there's speculation he left. For all I know, he was just in the clubhouse relaxing. I don't know. But he wasn't available to do.

[Peter Rosenberg]

To do the job postgame media, and.

[Don Hahn]

He didn't do postgame media. So the speculation was that they left, but they were allowed to leave. It's like, hey, during COVID we got a lot of heat from some of our listeners that we were working from home when a lot of other radio stations were coming back into the studio.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay, all right.

[Don Hahn]

It's like, don't get on me. If you had a chance to work from home, you would. We were given. We were allowed to do it, and we took advantage of it now. So it's the same with Major League Baseball. Judge hasn't has a chance to get out on Tuesday to make more time for Wednesday and Thursday before the grind kicks up again on Friday. So I understand where he's coming from, that he wants that chance. And if Major League Baseball gives it to him, I'm not going to kill him for taking advantage of it. Where I'm going to get mad is, why is baseball. Give them the opportunity, hey, you're at the All Star Game. This is the obligation. And now we've instituted. And the Players association agreed to it. Player association wanted it. We're gonna have a swing off, and you have to be available until that game is over. You know, we'll get you a helicopter to fly outside the building, whatever, but you commit to the All Star Game. Part of the All Star Game is to be there till the game is over and meet with immediately after, and then you can do whatever you want. But. So I'm more mad at baseball for giving them the opportunity. You know, they didn't kill him, the player, for taking advantage of something that I think. I think if all of us were given that opportunity, you would take advantage of it. If your boss says you can leave an hour early, I completely. Are you gonna say yes or no?

[Peter Rosenberg]

These are two different conversations, though, because again, you know what most people do in the world, you're not involving an audience that's watching and paying to watch you.

[Don Hahn]

True.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So.

[Don Hahn]

But I. If you want to be mad at Judge and Ohtani, I'm not gonna. I'm not gonna be mad at you for it. I mean, I think there's enough evidence there. I'm just personally gonna say Major League Baseball needs to put a stop to that. You either in or you're out. And the reason they probably don't, because maybe a lot of players will go, all right, then, I'm out. I'm not going. If you're not going to let me leave early, then I'm not going to go. And do they want that headache of now, the best players in baseball not wanting to go or faking some sort of an injury so they don't go night?

[Peter Rosenberg]

So, yeah, Bobby Witt Jr. Wanted to be in it, and he wasn't asked. Yeah. Which is strange.

[Don Hahn]

Which is very strange. But. And the fact that some of these players didn't know just makes you wonder, was the whole thing made up about them predetermining the list before the game anyway? Because how were they not asked? Like, it just. It's very strange.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Remember, you have alternates, though, so you can ask who you want, and if they're not available, you go to your alternate.

[Don Hahn]

Right. But. But for somebody who wanted to do it and wasn't asked.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, I'd love to.

[Don Hahn]

I finished second in the MVP last year.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'd love to hear Boone talk more about this, because we don't know. All we. All they keep saying is wasn't available or wasn't at the park. One of several reasons. And it was Ohtani and Judge that were the two that were named as not available for something that. In the. In the sports moment like that, if you're like, if I'm Rob Manfred, let's. Let. Let's. Let's really break it down. Put yourself in that role. I'm the commissioner. I always go to David Stern because I always feel like he was the greatest commissioner in the history of sports. And David Stern, in that moment, would be livid.

[Don Hahn]

Wait, she would be.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This is. This is a grand stage showcase for our sport, and the two most compelling stars are not available in something like that. I got a problem. You know, where are they? Get them back. Like, whatever it is. You know, that would. That would set a guy like David Stern off. No way are they leaving the building. So this is something that. If I'm Rod, man, if I'm Rob Bamford, I am. Well, I am red hot.

[Don Hahn]

I will. I will say this then, because how.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Great would that have been if it's Judge and Ohtani one after the other?

[Don Hahn]

To your crazy. To your point. All right, guys, you want to leave early? I get it. Then do the Home Run Derby. You got to give me something back. All right. Like, all right, I'll let you leave early. I understand your time is important. Then everybody else's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Not more important than everybody else's.

[Don Hahn]

I've got to figure this out because you're two of the biggest stars in the game. All right, I let you know Judge has already won a Home Run Derby, like so. But if you want to leave in the sixth inning and get out of Dodge before everybody else because you're Aaron Judge or you're Shohei Otani, okay, then you gotta be in the Home Run Derby. I mean, you got to give it to me in the front end if you want to leave early. I just.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You're too important to the sport. A sport that needs you to be its face. Both of you.

[Don Hahn]

Hey, it's a cool moment. And the reason the Judge and Ohtani were getting called out is because it's completely ridiculous to think they wouldn't be doing it. Of course, you know, you're putting your best foot forward and not available. Now, I'm not going to kill the managers.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Six nothing. You don't know that there's going to be.

[Don Hahn]

You don't know. That's the last thing you're thinking about.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I get it.

[Don Hahn]

But it's six four. It's six four in the eighth. It's six four in the ninth with a runner in scoring position. Can I at least have Cal Raleigh get in his uniform again? Like he's there? He didn't leave. He's in the dugout. He said more home runs than anybody on the planet the first half of the season. I can't tell him to put his uniform back on.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He already showered. He's all clean. I can't do it.

[Don Hahn]

Well, maybe, maybe if the first shower didn't take, he would have done it. But unfortunately, shower took and. And he's done. Oh, Mack on Long island, you're on espn.

[Peter Rosenberg]

New York missed out on the broadcast. Just talking more about his ass, though.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, there you go. What's up, Mac?

[Caller]

Hey, how you guys doing?

[Don Hahn]

Good.

[Caller]

Good. So, first and foremost, I just want to say that segment yesterday you did around this time with the wife during the game, that was one of the funniest things I've ever heard you guys talk.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Don had one of the greatest mic drop moments in that segment. So, Mac, I play. My wife just got home from. They were away, the girls, and I just picked her from the airport. I played it for her and she was cracking up, laughing at Don. Because that line. Well, he goes, I get it. And I go, do you? And he goes, no, like. Like, she started. She was dying at that line. She always felt bad for dying. Yeah. I might get some sympathy now.

[Caller]

We're all turning off the tv, right? We're on the same page.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, you might leave the TV on, but I'm not focused.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, your attention has been diverted.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. You know, like.

[Caller]

Yeah, Undivided attention.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Caller]

I feel like, you know, that'd be a nice thing to do. Anyways, guys, that All Star Game was, I think, the key, the best part of the All Star Game was the Hank Aaron tribute right there. That was beautiful. That was cinematic. I want to see that more often. That was probably the best use of modern technology I've ever seen at a baseball game.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well said.

[Don Hahn]

Yep.

[Caller]

Yeah. So just this swing off. Everyone has their own I, you know, opinions on it. Yeah, it was a big disappointment. We didn't get to see the big stars. It was a waste of an opportunity that MLB definitely could have used to get, you know, some extra clicks on social media. It didn't happen that way. That's okay. But I think that it could be implemented in the regular season in a very rare occasion. And I'm thinking if a game goes to, like, the 12th or 13th inning, you know, you don't want to see any more extras and you guys aren't scoring, then.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, let's.

[Caller]

Let's see them. Let's see the big guys.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What do you think of that, Don? If you say, all right, because we're like, I say this. If we're at midnight, okay, after this inning, we go to the. We go to the spring off.

[Don Hahn]

Well, that's the whole idea.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Midnight.

[Don Hahn]

Like put a curfew on midnight, 15th inning. Because the whole reason you have the man for man is because to avoid it, they want to avoid the long games.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And most of the time, you probably.

[Don Hahn]

You're running out of pitchers. It really has nothing to do with ratings or how long the game is. It's that you run out of pitchers.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right, so if I gave you a curfew.

[Don Hahn]

Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Midnight. We can't have baseball after midnight. We just can't. We can't do it to the fans in the building. We can't do it on the viewers.

[Don Hahn]

We.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We like. We need the game to end local time. Midnight. So if we go to 12th or whatever it is, the inning that it gets to and we're a hit. Midnight. Okay. This is the last inning, and after this, it'll be decided. Would you be okay with that?

[Don Hahn]

I would be okay. With it. But I still feel like something has to be credited to the loser. You got to give him a little something. You can't have that loss be the same as a 10 nothing loss the next day. Okay, so I don't know how you do it because we're not going to do a point system. But is there in a tiebreaker situation, say, okay, that loss has less value. So if you have the same record as another team, the tiebreaker is who won less games in the swing off.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What does it turn into? Does it essentially turn into a tie? So now you have a three column record, but the tie.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, you would have to institute like, so, you know, maybe you put in parentheses like they have, they have 62 losses, but you know, there's one that was lost in the swing off.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So then you use that in the tiebreaker if necessary. Yes. If there's a tiebreaker for like a playoff position, the, the amount of losses in the swing off, it's are credited to you.

[Don Hahn]

It's what they do with the row wins in the NHL regulation loss as opposed to regulation or overtime or shootout loss.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

Meaning that loss is less valuable.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay, you know, here's another, here's another one for you. On Twitter, Jeff Haas, he suggests something along the lines of a point system just for the swing off. And we're throwing everything out against the wall. We're going to see what people can agree with because it's at least worth discussing because it is that compelling. He said this. If you catch one of the hit balls, it doesn't go out. That's a point for the defense. So your team gets a point. Home runs are a point. If you steal a home run, like, you know, catch it at the wall, two points.

[Don Hahn]

Interesting.

[Peter Rosenberg]

If you hit one 500ft or more, two points. If you hit the foul pole, game over. You want.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, man. We used to play that like when we just had like one on one, like station to station, like wiffle ball or stickball.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

It was just two people, so there was no way to field it. If you hit it here, it's a double, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

You hit it here, it's automatic. There would be a home run. Like we had a tree my backyard and then we were corner property. So there was a street and then across the street there was a tree in the yard of our neighbor. If you hit that tree on a fly was like worth four runs. Because not only was it a far home run, but just the fact that you had the aim to be able to hit that tree that brings back some memories that you brought that up. That was actually, that's why when you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Talk about baseball purists, you just said something that I think a lot of kids in America grew up doing because we did it. We played street ball, you know, the stickball. It was, there was a, there was a wire that went from pole to pole across the street. That wire might have been 20ft in the air. But if you hit it over that wire, automatic home run. We always, little things like that. We always be always, always something that if you hit, if it landed on a fly past this, past the fire hydrant.

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's a double. And it was. So when you say, oh, that's not the purest of baseball, a lot of kids grew up playing in that way. So it's all, again, all things to consider when you think you might have found something that could be fun. And also, let's keep in mind on.

[Don Hahn]

Viral moments, and if you didn't have enough kids, sometimes hitting the runner, they were out, you'd be able to take the ball and peg them. Yeah. You pegged them, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

1-800-919-3776.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Not a word we should use these days, though.

[Don Hahn]

No. And last time I used it, I got in trouble.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, but that's what you'd say.

[Don Hahn]

That's what I used to say. And then you did, too. We both grew up in different areas of the metropolitan phrasing. Well, that's all right. You get over it. That's a you problem.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's right.

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[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Podcast Announcer]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

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[Podcast Announcer]

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

[Don Hahn]

You just made it this buddy.

[Podcast Announcer]

This is the list with Don Hahn and Rosenberg.

[Don Hahn]

Time now for the list, which is brought to you by bet365. I. I gotta give Anthony Pusick a lot of credit for this idea because do you know who turned 58 years old today? Somebody by the name of Will Ferrell. Maybe one of the funniest actors of our generation. Although he's not everybody's cup of tea, our pinhead suit, John Winthrop doesn't find him funny. My wife does not find him funny.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right, that's doesn't find him. He's funny.

[Don Hahn]

I agree.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You might not be into his kind.

[Don Hahn]

Of funny, but the kind of funny that makes you laugh because that's what he does.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Do I amuse you?

[Don Hahn]

So in celebration of his 58th birthday, how about Will Ferrell's top five movie characters? And the reason I want movie is because if I bring in Eastbound and Down, which was a TV show on hbo, then I got to bring in his skits on Saturday Night Live, and that opens up a whole.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Exactly.

[Don Hahn]

But just this top five movies. And I gotta tell you, I kind of took the bull by the horns with this one because I really was excited to do it. It was tough, man, to narrow it down to five. Guy's been in some really good movies and he's been. He's been some really great characters in movies, too.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And not main characters sometimes. A lot of his. A lot of his. Like where he's just an accessory in the movie, but not necessarily a main character. He still steals scenes.

[Don Hahn]

He does steal scenes. Okay, so we've got it going on here, and I'm gonna go from five to one.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay.

[Don Hahn]

And I am gonna go with number five, Brennan from Stepbrothers. Yes. What? We just become best friends.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yep.

[Don Hahn]

So there you go. Yeah, well, because I don't think they had faith that I knew how to play my own sound. So for people that wanted the real feel for it, here it is again. What, did we just become best friends?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yep.

[Don Hahn]

They're so. I think it's an underrated movie.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's very underrated. Now. It does get. At times you're like, all right, all right, come on. Like, you know, they do have that, but still. The Catalina Wine Mixer and that whole moment, like, there's nothing better than that. All of that Fergie and Jesus, it's such a. It's just so much.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, the stuff that we can't even repeat. But it just. It's so. It's so good. We could do all kinds of activities. Number four, Ricky Bobby from Talladega Nights. I wake up in the morning, I piss excellence.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The scene where he gets interviewed for the first time and he's like, I don't know what to do with my hands.

[Don Hahn]

Yes. There's nothing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like. It's so subtle, but it's so great. Obviously, the tiny, little, tiny baby infant Jesus, you know, Jesus did grow up that whole. There's so many little scenes in that movie that are just quotable and funny and. Yeah, that's. That's very good, too.

[Don Hahn]

His name has been commandeered by somebody that's been walking around the Tri State area. But we know Frank, That's Tank from Old School.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We're going streaky. So good.

[Don Hahn]

So many lines from that as well.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And that's not a main character now.

[Don Hahn]

No, he's not.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Not.

[Don Hahn]

Not a main character there. It's like as soon as it. It touches my lips, Snoop.

[Peter Rosenberg]

A loop.

[Don Hahn]

Snoop. Snoop number two. Just because of just how amazing he's in it. And. And I wasn't a huge fan when it first came out, but now, you know, the kids love it. It's become an institution, certainly during the holidays. How about Buddy the Elf from Elf? Buddy the Elf. What's your favorite color?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Put that down. Put that down. I asked Anthony, James Kahn was so good in that movie, right?

[Don Hahn]

I asked. Yeah, he's. He's such a great straight man in the movie. And I asked Anthony, when we were going to put the quotes together, I said, will that quote translate into a drop? Because to me, it's the funniest scene in the movie. I laughed harder when I saw him dive across the desk. What's your favorite color, so definitely the visual of it. But I think anybody that's seen that movie just knows that quote.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Do you know, by the way, in that movie, they. They actually had him out, you know, in the wild.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They had him dressed up and walk around and randomly walk up to people and just react to them. Like, I believe when he thought there was Santa, that was just a guy walking by on the street who had the white beard and the whole thing, and he went up to Santa. Santa, and, you know, like. But some of that stuff was. Was done sort of impromptu, which showed you just his genius as a comedic actor.

[Don Hahn]

He is so hilarious. And Jon Favreau directed that movie and did a tremendous job with it. My Jon Favreau story is at one time. I don't know if it was to promote this movie or something. Before he came in studio, back when we were at Tupan and he sat in for an hour talking sports me, which was amazing because he's a Queens guy, he's a local guy.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Mm.

[Don Hahn]

And I don't know why it happened, but Al Gattullo, God love him, was my producer, and he had to go get him, bring him into the building off the elevator. So we're in commercial. Al swings the door open, and John walks in, and Al goes, ladies and gentlemen, Vince Vaughn.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, no.

[Don Hahn]

And all of a sudden, like, Fred Flintstones. Like, he shrunk down to, like, 2 inches tall. I was like. Because we were both huge fans of Swingers and even made. Was a really good. I thought, a fun movie, but, like, no, no, no. That's. That's Jon Favreau. It's not Vince Vaughn. He felt terrible, but it was. It was funny. And Jon took it in stride, but it was a tough moment. But number one, I don't think many people will argue. Ron Burgundy, anchorman. I'm in a glass case of emotion. So much there, too. Milk was a bad choice. Right. There's just so much that's jogging or.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yogging that escalated quickly.

[Don Hahn]

It's so many good. So those. That. That. That's the top five for me. Brennan from Step Brothers, Ricky Bobby from Talladega Nights, Frank the Tank from Old School Buddy, the Elf from Elf. And number one, Ron Burgundy from Anchorman. Of course, Ron Burgundy was also an anchorman too. Now, other ones that I considered. Now, I'm sure people are upset about. This was Mugatu from Zoolander. Not a big part.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Not a big part. But, my God, like, again, stealing scenes.

[Don Hahn]

He was. He was very, very good in that And Jackie Moon from Semi Pro.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, that was. That was good. There were moments. Woody Harrelson was in that movie. He was very good in that. I was gonna say, like Chaz from Wedding Crashers.

[Don Hahn]

Yes. It's a small.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like, there's just.

[Don Hahn]

Well, who are you taking out, though, Scene still.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, no. Who you're taking out is exactly it. Some might take out Buddy Elf. Some. Not all. Some.

[Don Hahn]

So everybody's got preferences.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He played Chads in two different movies. So Chaz in Wedding Crushes. You know the other movie where his name was. His actors. The character's name is Chaz. Did you ever see Blades of Steel? Yes, I did, but I'm Blades of Glory. Blades of Steel video game Blades of Glory.

[Don Hahn]

I knew what you were talking about. It didn't love it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What is. That's what a real man looks like. Drink it in Shirtless.

[Don Hahn]

Another one that I like a lot and I didn't include it was Alan Gamble from the Other Guys. Oh, wow.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Remember that movie from 2010? He's in the movie with Mark Wahlberg. And one of the funniest scenes for me in that movie is the. Remember the beginning of the movie where it's all set up around the two cops that end up dying? Right. So it's the Rock.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Mm.

[Don Hahn]

And Samuel L. Jackson. And they decide to just jump off the building to catch the bad guys and just splat on the street. And then after they're dead, they go. They're at the cemetery and they're like, there wasn't even an awning. Like, what were they. What were they thinking? And just the facial express. Like, how did he get here?

[Peter Rosenberg]

They were just so shocked.

[Don Hahn]

Michael Keaton's funny in that one too, but I just could. But I just. Who you taking out? So I'm sure there could be people that are gonna argue about their favorite character. And we didn't get into Saturday Night Live. There's so many.

[Peter Rosenberg]

There's a million there.

[Don Hahn]

But.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But his. George Bush, when he played. When he would do George Bush, they were kind of. Those were funny.

[Don Hahn]

I just thought, he's hilarious. He was great in the office, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, He's. He's just. Again, it's a talented guy who's made us laugh a lot, who's played different characters. And even when he's not the main guy, though, when he comes on the screen, he just has that. That ability to still, like, not steal the scene, but just. He can compete at the highest level.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. Because if you. If you think of his. What we were all introduced to him on snl.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

And it didn't would take much like the, the cowbell.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh my God.

[Don Hahn]

All he's doing is hitting the cowbell. But iconic takes the scene away.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's got, he's got everybody. Was. It was. Who was? It was Christopher Walken.

[Don Hahn]

Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. And wasn't Jimmy Fallon in that? And Fallon just, he cannot keep a straight.

[Don Hahn]

That's the thing about Fallon is, is they could never keep a straight because the other, the other one that I think is in Saturday Night Live and I don't remember the character's name, but they're, they're working in the mall at the clothing store, like the hip clothing store. And he's like the boss and he's, he answers the little tiny cell phone and again, he doesn't have many lines, but he's just, he just. Jimmy Fallon can't get through the skit.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, isn't that SNL that I drive a Dodge Stratus? Right, the line we use a lot in the show.

[Don Hahn]

Yes. It just, he sees he's iconic. I don't understand people not liking him. No, but it's my wife, so I got Stratus.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's out of context. But if you watch the skit, it's just priceless. That's a good list. I like it.

[Don Hahn]

That is the list brought to you by BET365. Whatever the moment, it's never ordinary. At BET 3651-800-919-3776. Your thoughts on that? Your thought on the all star game. Second half of the season's coming up. We're gonna have ENN at six as well. Don, Han and Rosenberg. It'll seven o' clock here at ESPN New York.

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[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Podcast Announcer]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

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[Don Hahn]

Don Hana Rosenberg. Hanging out beautiful seven o'. Clock. Enn's coming up at six. Tons of calls to get to at 1-800-919-3776. Let's dive right back to the phones and talk to our friend Felicia down in Mississippi. You're on ESPN New York.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Hey.

[Don Hahn]

Hey, Felicia.

Hey guys. So yeah, just wanted to chime in on the, what do you call it? Swing Off. I can't say that name either. If they do something with this, it's got to change. But I like, I really like it for the All Star game. I think that's that's really cool. But under no circumstance would I want this in, in any form in the regular season. And you guys know hockey is my favorite sport, and I can't stand the shootout. I hate it. So I'm 34, so I guess I was a teenager, like 15 or so when it. When it first started, and I never liked it. So I'd be curious to see. I know you guys kind of brought up, like, would this, if they introduced the swing off in baseball, would it, like, help younger crowd, you know, enjoy baseball? And I would just be curious. I know there's really no way to, like, count it at this point. Did the shootout make a difference in young fans? Because I know me as a teenager, I never liked it. I've always. I hate ending a game on a skills competition. And then the thing is, you don't even do it in the postseason, so it's like you just change. You change the game for the postseason and just. It drives me insane.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The only thing, Felicia, and I think you know, the reason why you're smart enough to understand that it's just because we just don't need games going till 3 o' clock in the morning, especially with the travel schedule in the middle of the regular season.

[Don Hahn]

And they didn't like ties, I guess.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And for some reason, yeah, hockey just didn't like ties. The only, the only thing I would suggest to anybody that really feels that much against it is there's probably a lot more in hockey for. For understandably how many games. Now, I. I proposed that this wouldn't be something you do after nine innings, but I would say a midnight curfew and then you just do it. Now, if. If it's. If it's a rain delay and you're still in the seventh inning and it goes to midnight, that's a different story. Then you just got to keep playing. But I'm just saying it just keeps you from having the rare occasion that the game goes, you know, beyond five hours. It doesn't happen often. That's all I'm saying. Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

And the shootout is tolerable because of what the alternative was. The alternative was just get to overtime. Five on five was boring because they were playing for the point. Right, because back in the old days, for people. No, because the shootout has been there for 20 years, so there's an audience that probably doesn't remember the overtime was instituted in 1983. So before 1983, you played 60 minutes. The game ended in a tie. Teams would have like 20 ties in a season.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yep.

[Don Hahn]

It's ridiculous. So then they would play an additional five minutes, and then if you ended up in a tie, each team would get a point. So what would happen in the final minute of overtime? Nobody would try to do anything. They wanted the point in their back pocket. So it just became Ice Capades for five minutes. And they thought it was boring.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

And they went to four on four, open things up a little bit. And then they instituted the shootout because the 4 on 4 got a little boring and they didn't want any more ties.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

And they figured, all right, well, in.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Overtime, teams did the same thing.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, it was the same thing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Even try to score. Just play defense. Just hold it and hold the puck. Rag the puck. What was that time, who was Laviolette coaching, when he would have them just sit in their own zone and not. Not skated out and let the clock just melt away?

[Don Hahn]

The Islanders or Carolina?

[Peter Rosenberg]

It wasn't the Islanders. It wasn't the Islanders because it was after the lockout.

[Don Hahn]

It had to be Carolina.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And it was like fans were booing and all the defenseman did was stand there and let the clock melt away because it was like under a minute to go, and he let the clock melt away.

[Don Hahn]

So they come out of the lockout and they want to try to boost up interest in the sport. So they do this. And then the shootouts just became too many. So they decided, let's try to see if we can get it done in overtime.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, first, you remember Marek. Malik did the fancy between the leg shot and that became where. Oh, this is awesome. Like, can you imagine, like, just the players being able to show off their skills and, you know, they were Robbie Shrimp type players who weren't great five on five, but just had incredible. They knew how to do it and that. You thought, oh, this is gonna be off the charts. Guys are gonna be pulling off Michigan's and stuff. And then it just. It did not become that. And so guys weren't willing to take risky, high level, high risk type shots because you were so. No, you got a score, so you need to do shots. Became important.

[Don Hahn]

Those points.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Don Hahn]

But again, all of this was okay to do because nobody wanted the alternative of ties. And you already had a point, so why not have a shootout? Because the old way, we would only be getting a point. So we're going after a point that really didn't exist anyway. But now we're talking about deciding a win and a loss. And how would that look if that was the way game 162 is decided? When Both teams. If the Mets and the Phillies were tied going to the last game of the season and they happen to be both playing each other, people would go nuts. Just like they went nuts when Philly and the Rangers had their regular season game decided in a shootout.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The Islanders made the playoffs off of a save. Off a shootout.

[Don Hahn]

Right. Against the Devils.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes. Yeah, that's right.

[Don Hahn]

At the Metal Lands.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What was that goalie's name?

[Don Hahn]

You know what when you say it because he be with a D. Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Something like I can't remember him now. He was a one hit wonder. But.

[Don Hahn]

But then he was at the Meadowlands and I remember that Dublowitz. Great, right? Absolutely. I knew it was with a day. Great job by you remembering.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I of course Kofi again Laviolet when he was coaching the Flyers.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. Okay. So they even even deeper into it because then was the Flyers after he coached Carolina, you know. But. But we're. It's too drastic a change. But I. I think you bring up something interesting. If it's late in the night, we've played 18 innings. You're you run out of pitchers. Let's just get this over with. Maybe people wouldn't mind but it'll be.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I say it's a curfew rule, not a after nine innings rule. That's the one thing I think should be somewhat palpable.

[Don Hahn]

But. But what if you ran out of pitchers a curfew rule or hey, we've ran out of pitchers. I am now going to have to use a position player and that mocks the game because I've ran out of pitchers because it's the 18th inning and I and I only have so many of them anyway. And that's the reason they put the man for man in there because they didn't want to tax these guys arms. They didn't want to have position players. I remember Mets played the Cardinals. It was a Saturday game of the week and they played like 20 innings scoreless and Jose Okindo had to pitch for the Cardinals because the Tony LaRussa ran out of pitchers. It's like we can't have that happen anymore. It would be a bad look. So that's why they decided to do this. Marvin Piscataway wants to give it a try. You're on espn New York. What's up Marvin?

[Caller]

Hey, how you guys doing? Appreciate you taking my call. I think that I am a pretty good person to give my opinion on this because I'm a casual fan. I wouldn't consider myself like an avid baseball fan. That was the most excited. I've been watching a baseball game in a long time, and baseball is in an existential crisis. Fans skew older. I feel like this gets casual fans in. It gets younger fans in. Because I'm thinking, like, let's say after like, 12 innings, nobody scored. You post on social media, hey, there's a swing off. People are watching the game. I'm gonna tune into the game. Even if I wasn't watching any of the game, I'm watching the game.

[Don Hahn]

I think Marvin, right, though, with the stuff that you're saying. Marvin, everything that you're saying is exactly what was being talked about coming out of the lockout for the NHL. We need to do something that's going to get the casual fan to want to watch our sport. And now with the advent of social media, which came around that time, right? 05 06.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, it was still in its early stages, but it was still, like, not what it is now.

[Don Hahn]

Hey, I don't care about the Rangers and Islanders, but they've got a shootout. I wasn't watching the game, but I want to. I want to check this out. I want to see something that compels you. It just. But again, you're only competing for a point that didn't exist anyway. You got to find a way to reward the team that loses. Yeah, I don't know how you do that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Baseball doesn't have a point system, so it's a lot harder to say you get nothing if the other team hits more home runs than you, off their own pitcher, off their own batting practice pitch or whatever. Like that. That I agree. Makes this. Like, if we're in it, if we have a committee and we're in a room and we have to decide, okay, we're going forward with this, how are we going to do it? That's the hardest one to figure out, if you ask me.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, that's very.

[Peter Rosenberg]

How do you. How do you still justify that? This is a win, win, win.

[Don Hahn]

But what we've seen in the two hours we've been doing the show and we're gonna take you for another two hours, is that if you talk it out, I don't want to disregard it, but maybe there's ways to make it work. I don't think there is. But the more you talk about it, the more you start to think maybe there is a way to kind of make it happen.

[Podcast Announcer]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

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

[Podcast Announcer]

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

[Don Hahn]

You've seen the headlines, heard the debates. Some say the three point ball has created a monotonous rhythm to the game. Has the three pointer ruined basketball? And how did we get here? The rise of the three point shot can be partially traced to an eccentric Kansas genius, namely Martin Manley, whose story didn't turn out quite the way he imagined.

[Peter Rosenberg]

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

[Don Hahn]

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