Hour 2: LeBron & Stephen A

Summary

Podcast Summary: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg — Hour 2: LeBron & Stephen A

Podcast Information:

• Title: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg
• Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
• Episode: Hour 2: LeBron & Stephen A
• Release Date: March 27, 2025
• Description: The dynamic trio of Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg dive deep into New York sports and beyond, offering insightful and engaging discussions on the latest happenings.

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1. Introduction to the Episode

The episode kicks off with a brief banter between Don La Greca and Peter Rosenberg, touching upon music and personal anecdotes. Despite a few interruptions from dismissive advertising segments, the hosts quickly transition into the main topics of discussion.

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2. The Stephen A. Smith vs. LeBron James Controversy

A significant portion of the episode delves into the escalating tension between Stephen A. Smith and LeBron James, particularly focusing on Stephen A.'s recent remarks about LeBron's son, Bronny James.

Stephen A.'s Critique: Stephen A. Smith aired a strong critique on his show First Take, targeting LeBron James for his handling of Bronny's entry into the NBA. He emphasized that Bronny was not ready for the pressures of professional basketball at the time of his draft.

Stephen A. Smith ([04:24]): "I am happy to talk to you anytime you want to. I offered LeBron James that opportunity in his camp years ago. They passed."

Smith argued that LeBron leveraged his influence to secure a favorable draft position for Bronny, potentially undermining the meritocratic principles of the NBA.

LeBron's Response: While LeBron hasn't directly responded on air, his actions and implied sentiments suggest discomfort and frustration with Stephen A.'s public criticisms.

Stephen A. Smith ([04:48]): "LeBron James lied. He said that I have no problem with you talking about the game. What did I say about Bronny James other than at the time, he wasn't ready."

Stephen A. further accuses LeBron of "never addressing" the critiques and suggests that LeBron's concern revolves around his status as the "greatest of all times," which Stephen A. does not agree with.

Stephen A. Smith ([06:05]): "This man is in his feelings. I wonder why. Could it be because I don't believe you're the goat?"

3. Hosts' Perspectives on the Feud

Don La Greca and Peter Rosenberg provide their takeaways on the situation, offering a nuanced view that neither party is entirely in the right or wrong.

Don La Greca's Insight: Don emphasizes the complexity of the feud, suggesting that there's more beneath the surface than mere personal disagreements.

Don La Greca ([08:09]): "I think there's a little bit more to it. I do think there is some nuance here."

He also highlights Stephen A.'s role as a powerful media personality who has become a celebrity in his own right, blurring the lines between journalism and personal opinion.

Peter Rosenberg's Analysis: Peter discusses the unique position Stephen A. holds within ESPN and the broader sports community, noting that his celebrity status allows him to influence narratives more powerfully.

Peter Rosenberg ([12:19]): "He's doing his job, but unfortunately, it's blurry what your job is to players."

Peter points out that Stephen A.'s approach may lead to unnecessary conflicts, urging both parties to focus on their respective roles without letting personal biases interfere.

4. Broader Implications on Media and Personal Relationships

The conversation extends beyond the immediate feud, touching on the responsibilities of media personalities and the impact of their words on personal lives and professional reputations.

Media Influence: Both hosts agree that Stephen A.'s commentary goes beyond typical sports analysis, venturing into personal territory that complicates his relationships with athletes.

Don La Greca ([15:58]): "When you distinctly call other people the greatest, people who believe they're in that conversation will hold grudges over it in a way that would surprise you."

This sentiment underscores the potential fallout when media figures blend personal opinions with professional critiques.

Personal Stakes: LeBron's position as a father adds another layer, as the discussion centers on the balance between parental support and professional aspirations for his son.

Peter Rosenberg ([19:38]): "What triggered all this was Stephen A's comment of, come on, Bron, as a father, you're hurting your son."

The hosts debate whether LeBron's actions have unfairly placed Bronny in challenging circumstances, questioning the ethical implications of leveraging professional influence for personal reasons.

5. Audience Reactions and Social Media Sentiments

Don and Peter touch upon the public's divided opinions, ranging from believing the feud is orchestrated to acknowledging genuine grievances from both sides.

Don La Greca ([08:27]): "I feel like Stephen A is a lot closer to right to me than LeBron James."

This reflects a portion of the audience that sympathizes more with Stephen A.'s stance, seeing it as a necessary critique rather than personal animosity.

6. Additional Topics and Light Banter

Throughout the episode, the hosts intersperse discussions about other sports topics, including MLB updates and college basketball, providing a well-rounded listening experience. They also share personal stories and engage in humorous exchanges, maintaining an engaging and relatable tone.

For instance, they discuss the Maryland Terrapins' performance and coach Kevin Willard's rumored departure:

Peter Rosenberg ([28:33]): "And I don't believe that A happened or B, there isn't some excuse for him not being there. Like was he sick?"

This segment showcases their ability to pivot between serious analysis and casual conversation seamlessly.

7. Conclusion: Insights and Takeaways

The episode concludes with the hosts reiterating their thoughts on the Stephen A. Smith and LeBron James situation, emphasizing the need for clear boundaries between personal opinions and professional responsibilities.

Don La Greca ([30:24]): "Hear more of Don Allen and Peter weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 880 ESPN..."

As the conversation wraps up, listeners are left with a deeper understanding of the complexities surrounding media influence, personal relationships in sports, and the ongoing debate about meritocracy versus nepotism within professional leagues.

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Notable Quotes:

• Stephen A. Smith ([04:24]): "He continues to lie to the world about what I said and who I was pointing the finger at."
• Don La Greca ([08:09]): "I think there's a little bit more to it. I do think there is some nuance here."
• Peter Rosenberg ([12:19]): "He's doing his job, but unfortunately, it's blurry what your job is to players."
• Stephen A. Smith ([06:45]): "But one thing matters to him and one thing only, and that's him being recognized as the greatest of all times."
• Peter Rosenberg ([19:38]): "What triggered all this was Stephen A's comment of, come on, Bron, as a father, you're hurting your son."

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Final Thoughts: In "Hour 2: LeBron & Stephen A," Don, Hahn, and Rosenberg navigate the intricate dynamics between prominent sports figures and media personalities. By dissecting the conflict between Stephen A. Smith and LeBron James, the hosts offer listeners a comprehensive look into how personal opinions can influence professional landscapes, the responsibilities of influential voices in sports media, and the broader implications on athletes and their families.

Transcript

[Don La Greca]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Don La Greca]

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[Don La Greca]

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[Don La Greca]

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[Don La Greca]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

Sounds like heaven to me.

[Don La Greca]

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

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know it is.

[Don La Greca]

I know of it more than I sounds familiar and I like it's not my favorite Boss Gangster.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You were in and out yesterday. So you never got to hear the the Golden Earring song?

[Don La Greca]

No.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So we don't know if you know that one either.

[Don La Greca]

If. Do you have that one over there?

[Peter Rosenberg]

If Jacob's got a second, we can not the radar. Love the other song. What was the other Twilight Zone.

[Don La Greca]

Can I hear Twilight Zone when you get a second, Jacob? We were debating whether or not I knew the song. I didn't think I did.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But you didn't. I don't know Lido.

[Don La Greca]

I recognize it. Well, I recognize it from seeing it on records, but I don't. It doesn't hit my ears as soon.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Interesting.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, well, Boss Skaggs has like a few big hit like hip hop breaks that were sampled, but I don't remember that record in particular.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Then he's also got the look what you've done to me.

[Don La Greca]

I like Lowdown.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Not a fan. But it is one of their biggest hits or his biggest hits. I'm not a fan of. The Lido Shuffle is my favorite.

[Don La Greca]

That's the one for you. This all this all came from the fact that I think I want to order Lidos tonight when I take in the Maryland vehicle.

[Peter Rosenberg]

If you get a chance to.

[Don La Greca]

If I get a chance.

[Peter Rosenberg]

If your parents can all of a sudden rekindle. They did. They did help rear two children.

[Don La Greca]

It's by the way, though, it's. It's like. And not only that they helped with my my niece and nephew, but my niece and nephew. You have to remember my niece and nephew are 17 now. My parents were 60 then. They're like 77 now. It's a different ball game. Things change. Listen, just to be totally blunt, my mom's older. Her hands like she has like some hand pain and stuff like that. So I know my mom's never gonna want to do anything that makes her uncomfortable. So, like, she has to wait and wait till she gets here and make sure she feels comfortable, like, picking up the baby and moving her around and, you know, so we just want to make sure we get everyone comfortable in rhythm. And mom's gotta be. Mom's out in Hawaii. She needs to be comfortable with everything that's going on.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, that's where mom is.

[Don La Greca]

Mom's in Hawaii.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I had no idea that it was that far away.

[Don La Greca]

She's in Honolulu.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Good for her.

[Don La Greca]

She said, let me tell you, by the way, she said the judgment. She said the second she landed, the first conversation she had with someone where she was like, yeah, I'm only two months postpartum. The woman she talked to, her jaw dropped. She goes, where's your daughter? She goes, she's. She's with her father. She was. Are you okay? I mean, how do you just leave her? She's like, yeah. No, I've been dealing with a lot. I've been with my daughter every day since she was born, and I needed a few days.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Was Sounded judgy.

[Don La Greca]

Oh, no, that's what I'm saying. Oh, Don. The judgment that people have, when it comes to the way you choose to do it, everyone does it, right? Like, you have your own. And it's hard, man. Like, I'm sure even with my parents, I'm sure over the next couple of days, when I'm instructing my parents with what to do, there will be moments of, oh, come on. But like, when you're a new parent, you do the stuff, the way you feel comfortable and you want people to follow the same thing. By the way, last night, Maya with one of the. Just a classic full poop up the back. You lift up the baby and you go, why are my fingers wet? I'm holding her back. Why are my fingers wet?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, this is what happens. They're explosive.

[Don La Greca]

It's got to go somewhere. When she was sitting down, and if you're sitting down, it's got to go somewhere. And it goes up. It's very troubling. I just want to say that beautiful child. The smell was strong.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. There's like a week where everything is just so tremendous. And then think. Then odors come and texture comes, and it's like, this is a pain.

[Don La Greca]

It's still. But it's still fortunately very like, you know, it's all soft. It's not real.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's what they're eating.

[Don La Greca]

She's only on formula. Yeah. What else is going to happen now. All right, we'll get more into formula and poop later. Sure. 1-800-919-3776. Phone lines open on whatever subject you want, but we promise we want to talk about it, and I think we should. Stephen A. Smith went on his show First Take today, and he reacted to what LeBron had to say about him on Pat McAfee yesterday.

[Stephen A. Smith]

He continues to lie to the world about what I said and who I was pointing the finger at. To regurgitate an obvious point when I talked about Bronny James early in the season. And I highlighted the fact that at that particular moment in time, he simply was not ready. I was calling out LeBron James. LeBron James never addresses that with anybody. And for some reason, no one ever asked him about that. Wasn't it you who said that Bronny James was better than some players in the NBA right now before he was even drafted? Wasn't it you who said, if you want me, draft my son because you wanted to play with your son for one year? Wasn't it you who literally circumvented meritocracy within the National Basketball association and got the entire media world in the NBA and of course the Lakers organization to buy in on that? LeBron James did all of that. That is the person I was about as a father. Not the father in Brentwood or Bel Air, wherever else he has homes. I'm talking about the father that shows [e-mail] arena. Last time I checked, Bronnie James is a professional basketball player. LeBron James went on national television yesterday and lied. He said that I have no problem with you talking about the game. What did I say about Bronny James other than at the time, he wasn't ready.

[Don La Greca]

Now Stephen A. Then gets into what he thinks LeBron's really upset about.

[Stephen A. Smith]

This man is in his feelings. I wonder why. Could it be because I don't believe you're the goat? Because I'll never believe you're the goat. Because I have you number two at all times. Do I have to have ESPN and first take. Put up the ticket tape right now and say, yo, could you put that up there, please? Great father, great husband, great philanthropist, great businessman, great director, great producer, great host, great basketball player, great leader. I mean, my God, I have done everything thing but put diapers and a bib on this brother. But it ain't enough. Because one thing matters to him and one thing only, and that's him being recognized as the greatest of all times. Well, you're not in my book. That belongs to Michael Jordan.

[Don La Greca]

Stephen A. Continuing on what his job is when it comes to talking basketball, it's very.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Unfortunate that he has tried to ostracize me amongst the NBA community and the sports world. And beyond. Talking about how I talk about. I'm pooping on the players and all this other stuff they don't bring up all the time. We praise the players. I applaud them when they win. I criticize them when they're messing up. In an effort to make sure that you don't do it again. I'm not wishing anybody to fail, but I have to call it how I see it, because I have an audience to answer to these players. I don't get paid to talk to you, but I am happy to talk to you anytime you want to. I offered LeBron James that opportunity in his camp years ago. They passed. I said, I'll come wherever you want me to come. You don't have to come on my platform. I come on yours. He passed. I said, I don't want any editing. I want the audience. I want America. I want the world to hear it live, authentic and in living color. I can say that to him right now. Ain't nobody hiding. But the bottom line is, I don't anticipate he's going to take me up on that offer just for the same reason he came up to me courtside instead of meeting me in the back in the locker room so we could talk man to man. He doesn't want a rebuttal. He doesn't want any pushback. He just wants to say what he said like he did on courtside, and then depart. But looks right up to the camera that's behind us that I never saw who was filming it all along.

[Don La Greca]

You know, I actually think this is a bit more interesting than people are giving it credit for.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay.

[Don La Greca]

Because it's like there's two camps. There's either, like, you gossip about it and you think it's really fun, or you're someone who's like, the whole thing's ridiculous. This is made up.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's fake.

[Don La Greca]

It's stupid. I hate this. These guys. I think there's, like, a little bit more to it. Like, I do think there is some nuance here. First of all, I'm gonna disagree with some other people I've seen out there, including, like, my friend Michelle Beadle, whose post I saw earlier on Social. And I know Beadle is no huge fan, I think, of either party in this situation. I don't think it's fake. I actually don't.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, I don't think it's fake.

[Don La Greca]

I do not believe either is faking the idea of being like, oh, it's an inside job. Cuz he went on McAfee. To be honest, the fascinating part about this, Stephen and Pat are the two most powerful personalities right now at espn and they have the latitude to do what they're going to do. I think the interview was completely legitimate. I don't think Pat was in cahoots with Stephen or anything like that. I think this was a legit situation. I think there are legit feelings involved. And frankly, Don, I don't think either one of them is all out wrong and one is all out right. Although I have to say, and I know many people will not like this or agree, Stephen A is a lot closer to right to me than LeBron James. I really, I never heard. I'm yet to hear a clip from Stephen A talking about Bronny in a way that was out of pocket. Like, yes, he talked about the situation. So did the entire world. And you guys know I love LeBron. I got great respect for LeBron, his team, everything they do. But when you made the decision to have Bronny come to the league and you really, obviously, to whatever degree it was from, you demanded it to, you recommended it, you had something to do with him ending up on the Los Angeles Lakers, drafted in a position he was not worthy of being drafted at that moment. You gotta be able to deal with the smoke. Stephen A's job is to get on TV and talk about the subject of the day. Don. At no point was Stephen A the only person weighing in on the LeBron Bronny situation. He's just the loudest, most influential and important voice doing it. And I feel like LeBron has taken out all of the energy that existed around the subject completely on Stephen A. And I'm yet to really hear from Stephen A. Something that I think is all out wrong. And you guys know I am apt to call out Stephen A at some points to his dismay when I think he's wrong. I don't think he really did anything here. I think he's doing his job. This episode is brought to you by Universal Pictures.

[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Don La Greca]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Don La Greca]

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[Don La Greca]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

He's doing his job, but unfortunately, it's blurry what your job is to players. Stephen A. Covers the NBA, but he's also a sports personality. He doesn't just cover the NBA, he covers boxing. He's got opinions on everything on First Take. They just don't talk about basketball on that show. But he has become a celebrity in covering the NBA, which is kind of rare for a journalist to become a celebrity. The line you walk is someone that does a talk show or covers a team. There's a wall between you and the players. I call Ranger games. I do a talk show. I'm friendly with players. I've gotten to know some players post career. But there is definitely kind of a line of demarcation between myself and the players that I cover and talk about because we don't live in the same world. And there's that understanding, listen, I'm gonna do my job, you do your job, and never the two shall meet until at some point when you decide to get into the media after your career is over. But the line's a lot blurrier for Stephen because he's a lot more recognizable and a lot more famous than some of the athletes that he covers.

[Don La Greca]

Correct.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Not LeBron James, but certainly a lot of the athletes that he covers and talks about. That's very, very rare. And what comes with that? Sometimes I believe the players believe or expect to get some sort of a soft landing from Stephen A. That they, hey, he's one of us, so he should understand. He shouldn't be calling us out. So I think that's where the line gets blurred. But clearly, to me, LeBron James feels like this subject is untouchable because he's my son, Bronny. I'm Bronny's dad. And if you start to criticize now, you're getting into my home, my private life, and I would take exception to that. No, Bronny's an NBA player on the same team as his dad. LeBron used his power to get LeBron drafted and get him on the Lakers. I don't even think that's debatable. So this is not something behind the scenes. This is something that should be covered and should be talked about. Now, where Stephen A, I think, is taking a dangerous path when he said, I think he's caught up in his feelings because I don't believe he's the goat. You think LeBron James is going after Stephen A. Because Stephen a believes that MJ is better than LeBron James. That to me, seems like it's a little bit too much of a leap. I do think LeBron is upset about this because he realizes the power that he wields and he probably feels a way about it. But do you believe that LeBron is deflecting the Bronny stuff and is really upset with the fact that Stephen A's opinion is that Michael Jordan was a better basketball player than LeBron? Steven kind of loses me on that one.

[Don La Greca]

I think it's very possible with how sensitive parents are about anything related to their kids, that this is not about that. I will say this, though, coming from, like my hip hop life, I will say when you distinctly call other people the greatest, people who believe they're in that conversation will hold grudges over it in a way that would surprise you. Like I have. There are artists who. I have relationships that have been diminished because I claimed, you know, like, Kendrick Lamar was the best out and that negatively impacted my other. My relationship with certain other people, even though it didn't seem related at all. Just because they take it as a slight, because they want everyone to view them as the best. So I do think it could be a footage.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But it's not like he's claiming that, you know, it's Michael Jordan, it's Michael Jordan. He's not claiming some guy out of nowhere. He's not saying that. He's just trying to come up with some luxury play. Yeah, yeah. That he's the greatest of all time. I mean, this is a fun debate. And he's landed on the MJ bar as a lot of 50 plus people will, because that's kind of in our wheelhouse. It's how we grew up.

[Don La Greca]

Real quick, I have to tell you something dumb. So I saw a post pop up on my timeline from a guy named Jonathan who only has like one follower. He barely posts. Right, right. Look at this. Look what he posted. This guy Jonathan, it says a day I will Never forget. And look at this.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Aaron Judge handed him a ball.

[Don La Greca]

Handing a ball to a child. I'm scrolling down to September 2024 and the same person. I'm sorry, this is May 30, 2024. A sign. We love the Michael K Show with Don and Peter. That was Jonathan from LA who did that, remember?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. Hi, guys.

[Don La Greca]

That kid who you just heard say, hi, guys, was just handed a ball by Aaron Judge today.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Really?

[Don La Greca]

I'm putting it all together.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I said that, but I didn't put it together. I saw it because it's kind of gone viral. That judge did that and think he was going to come here instead of the game yesterday. Remember, he was going to blow off going to Yankee Stadium so he can come visit the studio. And he would have missed that.

[Don La Greca]

Judge just gave his kid. That's unbelievable.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We got to hear from Jonathan at some point. I'm surprised we haven't already, because you can't call from.

[Don La Greca]

I'll tell you what, that judge is a mensch.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's pretty cool.

[Don La Greca]

That is very. That is pretty cool. 1-800-919-3776. We're talking about the Stephen A. Smith LeBron of it all.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But the reason, just one last opinion before we go to break, I guess, is the reason I think people do believe this is a work is cuz why are we spending so much time on it, man? You do your job, Let him do his job. Like, does Stephen have to every time he gets called out by LeBron, like, almost hold like a de facto press conference, like, dude, I'm just doing my job. Enough. Well, I understand he's got a show and he's got followers and he's got to entertain people. But like this back and forth, man, it's enough. Hey, you have your opinion. LeBron has his opinion. Be done with it, man. Like, it's not all that important. Let's get back to other things here. You know what? That's where I think people look at and go, like, is Stephen being a little, like, full of himself here? Like, did Wendy hold a press conference after he was called out?

[Don La Greca]

Well, that's not Wendy's style.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, it's Stephen a style, but it.

[Don La Greca]

Is Stephen a style.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's a big moment.

[Don La Greca]

Stephen A. Lives for a big moment.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I know, but that's why people are gonna start to think all this really. Is this coordinated now? I don't think it is at all, but it is something. Hey, let's take advantage of the opportunity here and let's get some attention Come on, you're doing your job, Stephen, and part of your job is to criticize players, all right? Players don't like. It's not the first player, and it won't be the last player that doesn't like something that you say.

[Don La Greca]

Let's go to. Let's go to Ruben in New Haven. Hey, Ruben. Gentlemen, I'll try to be quick.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm absolutely tickled to death that I'm speaking to you guys right now. First time caller.

[Don La Greca]

Thank you, buddy.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Glad to have you, I think. Thank you. Thank you.

[Don La Greca]

You're doing a great job on Wednesdays, too, Peter. Oh, thanks, man.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm sorry that threw me off. LeBron yesterday on the McAfee Show. He. He.

[Don La Greca]

He clearly said that Stephen A missed.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The point, and I think you guys might be missing the point as well.

[Don La Greca]

Okay?

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's not the criticism of Bronny or.

[Don La Greca]

LeBron on the floor or any of that stuff.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What triggered all this was Stephen A's comment of, come on, Braun, as a father, you're hurting your son. You're putting your son in bad position. LeBron, as a father, you have to be better. You have to do better. That's where it crossed the line.

[Don La Greca]

Same with MB down in Philadelphia when he pushed one of the reporters.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You want to criticize me, you want to criticize my knees, whatever the case may be. But when you start bringing up my dead brother. Well, dead brother doesn't mean, hey, you're.

[Don La Greca]

Not living up to your dead brother standard.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What would your dead brother think? I might punch you in the mouth, but I think that. But that was. That. His brother was not fair game. Bronny's fair game. He's on the Lakers, but he's in the NBA.

[Don La Greca]

But is it fair game to point out the parenting part but not calling out.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But not calling out. LeBron's fathering skills, gentlemen, have a great. The fathering skills. The skill you're talking about is getting an unqualified basketball player a gig in the NBA and maybe doing some damage to somebody that might turn out to be a pretty good basketball player.

[Don La Greca]

Well, but Stephen A. Was saying, and I think we said this on our show, too, to be honest with you, more importantly, doing damage to Bronny. Well, that's what.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's what Steve A.

[Don La Greca]

You're forcing him into a spot he shouldn't be.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So that's what he's saying is it's really not parenting. It's like, hey, but you're his dad.

[Don La Greca]

Like, how would you say. But he did say, as a Father.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And as A Father, if LeBron James was not an NBA player, but saw his son being thrown into a situation he wasn't ready for, as a father, wouldn't you say, hey, give my son a break here. He's not ready for this. Like, you have the power to do that. You've manipulated the situation, LeBron, to get your son that wasn't ready now to play in the NBA. And now we are criticizing him for his lack of ability to play. And the nuance of what Stephen is saying is, you know, maybe Bronny's in this situation because, hey, LeBron, you didn't do your son right by throwing him to the wolves like this.

[Don La Greca]

But in defense of LeBron, and I said that. I said exactly what you're saying, just to be totally honest. I said I thought it was a bad move by him. But that is a very specific piece. He's saying, don't tell me I'm a bad father.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's not. He did.

[Don La Greca]

He's saying, you can say I'm a bad basketball player. You could say Bronny's a bad basketball player. Don't say you're a bad father to your son.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That I think, is he saying, you're a bad father? Or like, as a father, you should see that you're not putting your son in the best situation.

[Don La Greca]

Well, but is that enough where you say to someone, mind your business on how I father my child, or are we just saying, sorry, it's all in business? You're LeBron James, and you did this. It's all on the page.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Again, we are not talking about punishing him or financial advice you gave your son. We're talking about an NBA player that does not seem qualified to be in the NBA. He's in the NBA because you are his father. And maybe you need to, as a father, look at the situation. Am I doing what's best for my son as a basketball player? Not as a human being, but. But as a basketball player. It's not like LeBron, God forbid, got in trouble off the court. And then you said, well, this is because LeBron James is a bad father. If he paid more attention to his son, maybe his son wouldn't have gotten that DUI or wouldn't have robbed that bank or wouldn't have gotten somebody in trouble. We're critiquing the basketball. The fact that he's his father is a fact. And the reason that LeBron is playing is because LeBron is his dad. So it's hard to take that off the table Peter so now we can't criticize. We can't bring anything up. He's no longer his son. Are we gonna pretend that LeBron James being his dad is not an issue?

[Stephen A. Smith]

This episode is brought to you by State Farm. You might say all kinds of stuff when things go wrong, but these are the words you really need to remember. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. They've got options to fit your unique insurance needs, meaning you can talk to your agent to choose the coverage you need, have coverage options to protect the things you value most, file a claim right on the State Farm Mobile app.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And even reach a real person when.

[Stephen A. Smith]

You need to talk to someone.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.

[Don La Greca]

Pro Savings days are back at Lowe's with limited time savings on the supplies pros need. Get up to 40% off select major appliances plus save an additional $100 on every $1,000 you spend on sel your appliances. And don't miss your chance to activate and earn three times the points on select DeWalt and Klein tools Lowe's we help you save valid the 328 selection varies by location while supplies last. See associate or lowe's.com for more details on qualifying items. Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile. I don't know if you knew this, but anyone can get the same Premium Wireless for $15 a month plan that I've been enjoying. It's not just for celebrities. So do like I did and have one of your assistant's assistants switch you to Mint Mobile today. I'm told it's super easy to [e-mail] Switch upfront payment of $45 for 3 month plan equivalent to $15 per month required intro rate first 3 months only, then full price plan options available, taxes and fees, extra fee, full [e-mail] thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast. I didn't listen to anything you just said. Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. I mean Larry was making magic to this. Larry was doing just special things right here.

[Peter Rosenberg]

A lot of people complaining that the MLB TV app's not working. Not good on opening day.

[Don La Greca]

I meant to cancel my stuff. Why do I have the mlb? I still have it for no reason. Well what am I doing? I just recently started going over my faulty subscriptions. I've wasted so much money in my life with subscriptions.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I know.

[Don La Greca]

Our whole lives. You guys don't understand the billions being taken in subscriptions from us that we're not paying attention to Rodon out a.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Couple of walks in the top of the six. So the brewers have runners at first and second one out. Fralich's going to be up, so Hill's coming in in relief. So Rodon at least is on the winning side of this game, but runners are his.

[Don La Greca]

How about this? Tom writes us and says afternoon, Peter. Enjoying the show out in Montauk on 1050. You can get the show in Montauk on 1050.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's interesting.

[Don La Greca]

I have one thing to say there. God bless.

[Peter Rosenberg]

God bless is right.

[Don La Greca]

Sean is listening on 1050.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, I got a few as well.

[Don La Greca]

So some people are listening on 1050. I assume most everyone listening today is an app person. And of course this is new territory that we're entering here as we starting to do shows even when we are in theory would have been preempted if you will now don't know if you're aware but on CBS and TBS TrueTV tonight at 7:09pm you will have BYU at Alabama and at 7:39 and I don't even think this is saying it just because it's my team. I think most people would agree probably the game of the night. Number four Maryland. Number one Florida in the West.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, there you go. So everything was. You know that just shows you the chalk that we've seen this tournament, right?

[Don La Greca]

Well, at least in the BYU Alabama you got a six two even.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's chocolate Chase.

[Don La Greca]

Wow, look at us now. The interesting thing that's happening with the Maryland Terrapins is after everyone should be talking about the incredible win. Derek Queen hitting the bank shot to get the Terps past Colorado State into the sweet 16 for the first time since 2016. Instead of talking about the Terps, I think Don somewhat legitimate chances to go on a run. They're talking about the fact that their coach, Kevin Willard, everyone is saying is a done deal and going to Villanova. And the frustration that a lot of Turpin fans like myself have is that why are we having this conversation right now? Now there's a rumor going on that I'm refusing to believe. There's a rumor going on that Kevin Willard skipped the team's dinner last night and an associate coach spoke to the team at dinner.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now that would be. But we don't have confirmation on that.

[Don La Greca]

No.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And in fact I can't believe that A happened or B, there isn't some excuse for him not being there. Like was he sick? Like even if you got one foot out the door, you still have something Going on. It's still going to be on your resume that your team can win a national championship.

[Don La Greca]

Well, no, the only answer would be, I don't care if Villanova said, we need to meet with you tonight to sign paperwork. You can't do it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No.

[Don La Greca]

If it is true that without any other sort of excuse, Willard missed the team dinner the night before the sweet 16. Don, the answer is bad guy. That's the answer.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's the only answer.

[Don La Greca]

Unless it was a family emergency or something like that. A head coach skipping dinner with his team the night before the sweet 16 down. They're all the way out in San Francisco, right? Like they're on a mission. You're 3,000 miles away from home. There's no world in which you could do that unless the answer is bad guy.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And I don't believe that Villanova would put him in that situation.

[Don La Greca]

No, all he would have to say.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Is, listen, guys, I'm signing with you, no question. But I got a team dinner on the eve of a Sweet 16 game. If Villanova didn't understand that, I'd be like, I'm wondering if I should even go to there.

[Stephen A. Smith]

But it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Let's.

[Don La Greca]

But let's go with the information that we do know, which is that he's negotiating this situation, and we'll talk about this more in the 5 o'clock hour. I just don't. This is the world we're living in now. We're with college coaches. The only thing that matters is what the next job is going to be.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Is now going on with the players now, too. I mean, that's why I'm affected by this. We could talk about this more later because we're running out of time here. But, like, I'm watching the tournament and I know that the kids I'm watching can go into the portal, go to another team because there's more nil money. Coaches are all got one foot out the door. It's. It's really sad. It's not great.

[Don La Greca]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast. I don't want to know how the sausage is made, but I just want to know.

[Stephen A. Smith]

It's good.

[Don La Greca]

Hear more of Don Allen and Peter weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers. In case you didn't know, these young men are driven.

[Stephen A. Smith]

They are prodigies, the savants, the ones.

[Don La Greca]

We'Ve been waiting for. Like Damian Lillard, for instance. He doesn't seek guidance or mentorship. He's a leader. He isn't waiting for the baton to be passed to him. He's taken it for himself. He's relentless in a pursuit of greatness, always pushing to one up himself. He is accomplished, but far from satisfied. He embodies what it means to have an unstoppable drive and are shaken up the status quo in their community and beyond.

[Stephen A. Smith]

And Damian Lillard drives a Toyota.

[Don La Greca]

A new generation of Toyota drivers are.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Here and they want you to know one thing.

[Don La Greca]

You can't stop my drive.