Hour 2: LegaCCy & That Guy

Summary

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Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 2: LegaCCy & That Guy

Date: February 26, 2026
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Theme: New York Sports, Yankee Legacies, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Fan Frustration, and the Art of Being “That Guy”

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Episode Overview

This hour of the Don, Hahn & Rosenberg show hits a signature mix of big-picture sports questions and classic New York radio banter. The hosts dig into the legacy of CC Sabathia in Yankees lore (with his number being set for retirement), unpack the lines between musical genres in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, relate to the highs and lows of New York sports fandom (especially for Jets and Devils fans), and cap things off with the always hilarious “That Guy Thursday” segment. Listener calls drive home fan sentiment, creating a fast-moving, character-filled hour.

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Major Segments & Key Moments

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1. What Belongs in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?

Timestamps: 00:44 – 04:53, 12:08 – 13:18

• Genre Blending:
  The crew debates the expanding criteria for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame:

  • Don wonders about the inclusion of hip-hop and other genres, questioning if it's losing focus or simply a business/inclusivity move.
  • Alan contends, “Rock and roll’s roots are what, blues? Which is R&B, you know what I mean?” (01:22)
  • Discussion of Beastie Boys as a crossover act; their evolution and racial dynamics in music radio (“Is that because they're white? Right?” – Don, 03:17).
  • Peter points out how hip-hop got less play on rock radio, even when songs like Jay-Z’s “99 Problems” were sonically rock songs:

    “Rock radio would actually play Eminem records but did not play… 99 Problems by Jay-Z. And I went, how are you not playing 99 Problems by Jay-Z? … Jay Z made a rock record. Eminem makes rap records, but he's white.” (03:29)

• Beastie Boys' Albums:

  • “That's a no skip album.” (Paul’s Boutique) – Don Hahn (04:32)
  • Pete advises listeners to “get away from the License to Ill stuff… get into the later stuff and you'd be surprised.” (12:41)

Memorable Quote:
“It's a no skip. Very few of those in the world. That's one no skip.” – Don Hahn on Paul’s Boutique (04:34)

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2. Jets Fan Dilemma: Stuck Between Hope and Pain

Timestamps: 05:02 – 08:48, 13:24 – 16:18, 51:10 – 53:04 (recurring theme)

• Caller Gene from Jersey City expresses existential Jets despair, suggesting the team is in “no man’s land” with no clear plan at QB or coach (05:06).

  • Don responds that the “best thing to happen to them would be to be the worst team,” but it creates more coaching instability.
  • Alan: “The more you fire coaches, the less desirable this job becomes. And the last I checked, no one wanted the job. Right. You can't keep doing this.” (06:28)
  • The hosts debate whether Aaron Glenn deserves more time and the impact of “tanking” on future prospects.

• Jets as an Eternal Fan Dilemma:

  • Root now, or hope for a top draft pick later? “It is a vicious cycle… a year for a fan who doesn't know how to feel or root.” (08:48)

• Listener Steve calls for optimism:

  • “Say you get like a Cousins, the offensive line is very solid… I could see seven, maybe eight games.” (13:24)
  • Don quickly tempers hopes, reciting the brutal road schedule (15:14):

    “Here are their road games: At Buffalo, at Chicago, at Detroit, at Kansas City, at the LA Chargers, at the Dolphins, at the Patriots. Okay? Your home games… Denver, Green Bay, Minnesota, Tennessee, Cleveland, Arizona and Vegas. So you got four games where you're like, yeah, they got a chance to win those four there.”

  • Alan, wryly: “Don, the gentleman turned 60, okay? Give him a break.” (16:18)

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3. Jack Hughes & Devils’ Unique Moment

Timestamps: 09:10 – 12:08

• Caller Bobby from Lower East Side describes the rare pride and energy around the Devils, sparked by Jack Hughes' Olympic moment:

  • “The way Jack did it, it's gonna forever, forever—that’s Jack Hughes.” (09:49)

• Don La Greca, who called the game, relates:

  • “There was an energy in the building… Every time Jack touched the puck, a roar… for a game that usually wouldn’t have a lot of meaning… it was sold out.” (10:35)
  • The hosts reflect on the rarity of such an atmosphere in late February for a non-playoff contender.

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4. Yankees Retire CC Sabathia’s #52: Saints in Monument Park?

Timestamps: 17:41 – 25:18, 48:33 – 52:36 (with follow-up discussion)

• CC Sabathia's Legacy:

  • Big news: Yankees to retire Sabathia's #52, honoring him before a September game. “He'll be the 24th man to have his number retired by the Yankees, the first since Paul O’Neill… in 2022.” (17:41)
  • Post-Core Four Yankees: “After the core four, there is only CC Sabathia. There really isn’t anyone else. The next guy is 99 and he’s still playing.” (18:10)
  • Alan: “He might be the last Yankee that actually, you know, played with some cubes.” (19:33)
  • Peter: “Is there any more heart and soul that represented the Yankee brand, the Yankee standard?” (19:15)

• Was CC’s performance enough? Is ‘beloved’ the key criteria?

  • Don: “Not all for what he did with the Yankees… but more games with the Yankees. Although, you know, again, compiled as well, there’s a lot of tough seasons down the stretch…” (21:01)
  • Alan and Peter say “beloved” means more than just stats, comparing CC to Mike Mussina, who was less loved despite similar achievements and more postseason play.
    • “Monument Park… is to celebrate… someone special, beloved. Like, there’s names in Monument Park that you probably don’t have to say the full name… with Sabathia, you say CC, and everybody knows who you’re talking about.” (23:02)
    • “But a beloved Yankee he was not. That’s a real thing.” – Don, on Mussina (25:18)
    • Alan: “If the fans want it, they should get it… There is no numerical thing to come up. Statistical thing.” (22:10)
  • Frequent listener pushback about “they’ll run out of numbers” is dismissed by the team (“You don’t know how numbers work, man.” – Don, 49:38).

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5. That Guy Thursday: Embarrassment & New York Moments

Timestamps: 28:14 – 41:45

• Don’s That Guy:

  • Rick Pitino, for vanishing and giving only 76 seconds to media after St. John’s is blown out by UConn.

    “You gotta give me more than 76 seconds, man… you can’t just slough it off and say there’s no difference between losing by a bucket and losing by 32. That’s an embarrassment. You gotta own that, man. I’m sorry. That’s A [perfect] that guy.” (30:19)

• Peter’s That Guy:

  • The ultra-discreet (or sly) hotel doorman who refused to spill about which celebrity paparazzi were staking out at a nearby “foofy” hotel. The discussion morphs into whether Peter himself became “that guy” for asking, with Don and Alan ribbing him:
    • “Why am I that guy? I just asked a question.” – Peter (35:14)
    • “Now you’re making him that guy for not answering. That makes you the guy.” – Don (35:16)
  • The moment typifies the show’s DNR (Don, Hahn & Rosenberg) dynamic, poking fun at each other and at everyday life in New York.

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6. Listener Calls & Classic New York Banter

Through the hour; see timestamps throughout segment outline

• The hosts riff with listeners on everything from Giants/Jets pain to music taste (e.g., longtime hip-hop fan who “never got the Beastie Boys” – 12:15), to sports schedules and increasingly high uniform numbers, highlighting generational sports divides and the quirks of being a New York fan.
• Don jokes: “Eight wins? Are you nuts?” (15:08)
• Alan, on fans: “If you want Mike Pagliarulo up there so bad, then by all means, throw it up there.” (51:25)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Peter Rosenberg (on racial disparity in radio playlists):
  “Rock radio would actually play Eminem records but did not play at least where I was… 99 Problems by Jay Z. And I went, how are you not playing 99 Problems by Jay Z?” (03:29)
• Don La Greca (on Monument Park):
  “When you make a Monument… it's not just, hey, he did this really well. It’s… this guy was special, beloved.” (23:02)
• Alan Hahn (Yankee tradition):
  “He might be the last Yankee that actually, you know, played with some cubes.” (19:33)
• Don (on NY pessimism):
  “Don, the gentleman turned 60, okay? Give him a break.” (16:18)
• Caller Bobby (Devils excitement):
  “The way Jack did it, it's gonna forever… That's Jack Hughes.” (09:49)
• Don (on Rick Pitino):
  “You gotta own that, man. I'm sorry. That’s A [perfect] that guy.” (30:48)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Rock & Roll Hall of Fame / Beastie Boys debate: 00:44 – 04:53
• Jets QB/coaching dilemma with Gene: 05:02 – 08:48
• Devils / Jack Hughes Olympian pride: 09:10 – 12:08
• CC Sabathia’s Yankee legacy: 17:41 – 25:18, 48:33 – 52:36
• That Guy Thursday (Pitino, Rosenberg vs. Hotel Doorman): 28:14 – 41:45
• Jets schedule / fan hope vs. reality: 15:08 – 16:22
• Listener calls, New York fan culture: Interspersed throughout (notably 13:24, 51:10+)

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Tone & Final Impression

With a blend of sharp sports analysis, cultural riffs, and classic New York ball-busting, Don, Hahn & Rosenberg keep listeners hooked and laughing. The hour is full of sharp observations about sporting legacies, what fandom means in the darkest times, and the quirks of city life. The show’s connective tissue is the authentic, familiar rapport between the hosts and their audience—whether they’re debating Yankees saints, sorting through pop culture, or just playfully making each other “that guy.”

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For a detailed play-by-play, refer to the timestamps above for each major discussion. This summary skips ads and promotional content, focusing on the heart of the show’s unique sports commentary and banter.

Transcript

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[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Don]

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[Don Hahn]

Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers. I mean, there's this.

[Don]

Oh, yeah, this one.

[Don Hahn]

It's one of the great shade songs. Coast to coast, LA to Chicago. I know it's not like the definition of rock and rol, but I defy you to find me a more sultry voice than this.

[Don]

It's interesting, the decision that they made. It's the Rock and Roll hall of Fame. And then not saying it's the wrong decision, but, you know, allowing hip hop in and some country artists and punk and metal, it's. It's a choice. Right? They probably did it because it's a business decision.

[Don Hahn]

It's also, it's as inclusive as you can. Plus the fair criticism that, hey, rock and roll's roots are what, blues?

[Don]

Oh, yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Which is R B. You know what I mean? Like you, if I have a rock

[Don]

radio station, I'm probably, yes. Not going to play.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, but that's format. That's format.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Don]

But I guess you just, for lack of a better name. But I, I, I, they broaden their horizons. But you can't say Music hall of Fame because you're going to put, you know, Beethoven and Mozart in there.

[Don Hahn]

Now you're getting crazy. Right?

[Don]

Just, it's too, it's too eclectic, but it, it's, it's interesting.

[Don Hahn]

Well, it doesn't have to be voted in either. People can just say, no, eligible. But I wouldn't put this act in a Rock and Roll hall of Fame. You can do that, too. It's not like. Did you play football? Yes. Okay, then you're eligible for the Football hall of Fame. It's different.

[Don]

You know what? You know what I find interesting, too? It's, it's all, I guess, in the eye of the beholder, but to me, and Peter would be able to answer this better than anybody. The Beastie Boys, to me, that's, that's rock.

[Don Hahn]

That has rock roots always.

[Don]

It has rock roots, but it's, it's hip hop Right. I mean, it is, but it's what it is.

[Don Hahn]

Well, what's. I know what you're saying, but.

[Don]

But the reason I'm bringing it up is, is that I listen to satellite radio and Lithium.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don]

Which plays 90s alternative and rock. They play the Beastie.

[Don Hahn]

Of course they do. Because a lot of their stuff after, you know, the License to Ill.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's after Paul's Boutique.

[Don Hahn]

After Paul's Boutique. Right. Then they really started putting more. They were. They. They did. They played their own instruments.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yep.

[Don Hahn]

They were in the studio.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, and when you. And by the time you get to check your head. Oh, it's. It's now a rock album with hip hop vibes and, you know, like, so what you want is hip hop but rocky. And past the mic is hip hop, but rocky. And then by the time you get to Sabotage, forget it.

[Don Hahn]

That's straight.

[Don]

Even open to that with. With Fight for your right. Fight for your right. Because they had Carrie King from Slayer on guitar, like, so they were always open to that. I found it funny that they kind of get thrown into the alternative and I always thought it was. Is that because they're white? Right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like, no, it's definitely a factor. That's always one of the. One of the things that drove me the most nutty in my life was how rock radio, because I was. I was on hip hop radio and on rock radio in the around 2000, and rock radio would actually play Eminem records, but did not play at least where I was, but was not playing 99 problems by Jay Z.

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And I went, how are you not playing 99 problems by Jay Z?

[Don]

That's a rock.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You're playing a random Eminem song.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, you're right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It doesn't make any sense. Jay Z made a rock record. Eminem makes rap records, but he's white.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So. So your point is fair. But the Beast. Well, the Beast boys are in though, right?

[Don]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Don Hahn]

They're in.

[Don]

Several years ago.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean, if you haven't ever spent time with Falls Boutique, by the way. And I only recently have gotten to appreciate, like, I always thought of Licensed Ill as kind of like, goofy because of the big hits on it.

[Don Hahn]

Sure.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like girls being so goofy and brass monkey and. But now when I like, every song's a hit on the whole album. It's insane.

[Don Hahn]

That's a no Skip album.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's a no skip.

[Don Hahn]

Very few of those in the world. That's one no skip.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's a. It's a crazy.

[Don Hahn]

Gotta be in the Right. Mood.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. Because you may not feel like hearing brass monkey every day of your life,

[Don Hahn]

especially over and over again.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. But on the right day. And it's really the other ones, though. It's really the slow and low and no sleep till Brooklyn. And, man, they got hammers on there.

[Don Hahn]

They do. We got calls. 800 now, a 93776. Gene in Jersey City on the jets guy. Gene. Hey, Gene.

[Caller/Listener]

Hey, guys. How's it going?

[Don Hahn]

Good.

[Caller/Listener]

Oh, yeah, man. So I wanted to talk about Glenn, man, because I kind of feel as though I think we got a solution to the jets issues, man. I feel like if Glenn, inspired by, like, week three of the season coming up, we could probably get an interim and that new coach could probably build with a new quarterback that we have coming in. Because besides that, we're looking, we're kind of like stuck in a situation where I feel as though we don't have a coach at the moment, man. Like, last season showed us nothing at all. And we're just praying with the picks that we have that is going to work out. And it's kind of like that's not really, like, a good answer, a good solution for our problems that we have right now with the jets, man. Like, I kind of feel like we're in no man's land like this season right here. Like, I'm just mailing it in. Like, I'm just sending this whole 20 this new season coming up because I feel as though it's like nothing to look forward to. There's no quarterback coming this year.

[Don Hahn]

Crazy delusion. That's what Gene is, delusion.

[Don]

On the top of the fact that that's probably the best thing to happen to them would be to be the worst team. But now. But that solves one problem, but it creates another.

[Don Hahn]

Yes.

[Don]

Coaching this mess, that's what it's created a greater right.

[Don Hahn]

It's created a greater conflict if you're a Jets fan.

[Don]

But there could still be potential in Aaron Glenn. I don't want to throw him away. I don't want to base him on his first year. Well, I want to see 312 and one in his first year and look what happened. But, you know, like he said, bring in an interim. I think that's the last thing you want.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, God. Again, you know, the more you fire coaches, the less desirable this job becomes. And the last I checked, no one wanted the job. Right. You can't keep doing this.

[Don]

You know, if you got. If you're. If you pick Arch Manning in the first round and You've got all this cap space. Can it become an attract.

[Don Hahn]

Well, you have cap space now. You don't have it.

[Don]

Well, I don't think they'll spend $92 million this year in a season where they're not trying to win. But they should have tons of cap space. They should have a potential franchise quarterback. That could make it attractive.

[Don Hahn]

It could, you're right. But I just. To me, it's not. It's not about what they can do a year from now. It's what a Jets fan has to live through this throughout this year, the idea of we got to get better, we got to see progress. I want to see the team do better. So I feel better about, you know, the chances of this thing finally turning around and then realizing midway through the season, okay, things are better, but we're about to play our way out of getting our franchise quarterback. Like, it's an incredible dilemma and it

[Don]

sucks to save the coach. You're hurting the quarterback.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don]

You know, to get the quarterback, you're hurting the coach. But the fans are all going to root for. Because I don't think they love Glenn. No, they fell out of love with. But I'm not ready to say he can't coach.

[Don Hahn]

Well, let's see him as a play

[Don]

caller, but let's see it. But that's what I'm saying. You're going to have to look beyond. Because is there a world, honestly, where he did a good job, but the team stolen 1, 3, 4 games if their roster stinks and they've got no quarterback, I think that's on the table.

[Don Hahn]

How could there be a world where he does a better job and the team is still a three.

[Don]

Because if you. But if you don't have a quarterback, if the quarterback. Let's say they bring in Geno Smith and Geno Smith has the same year that he had in Vegas, which was awful. And what did you Vegas win? Three games.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They were a disaster.

[Don]

All right. And you don't spend any of the money because you want to lose games. So you don't have very much talent. They fire their coach then, but might as well fire Glenn now. You're not going to win more than three games. But can you watch and say, I don't think we lost because of coaching. I think we lost because we just didn't have any good players.

[Don Hahn]

But that's on Darren Muji, who's supposed to spend this off season building a roster that looks more capable than the one that didn't last year with other. Other People's property.

[Don]

And now that hurts you getting your quarterback, like, so it's.

[Don Hahn]

I told you, that's the cycle. It is a vicious cycle of a year for a fan who doesn't know how to feel or doesn't know how to root. And that's all I'm saying is where, like, where can you possibly go mentally as a fan other than what the caller said was, is to just check out Bobby in the Lower east side wants to talk some Devils. Bobby.

[Caller/Listener]

Hey, what's going on, guys? I heard you talking at the top of the show, and, Don, this. This is going to mean the most for you as a fellow Jersey boy. But, you know, the politics work their way into it. But just for the Olympics as a whole, I just put that stuff to the side and was like, I'm rooting for the country for these two weeks. And for Jack, to top it off the way that he did, I mean, my girlfriend and I were literally doing cartwheels in the apartment.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I want videos of the cartwheel.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, we need to see video in an apartment. In a New York City apartment. We need it in the Lower east

[Caller/Listener]

of athleticism unlike no other.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Seriously.

[Caller/Listener]

But. But no, Don, you were there last night, and, like, just the way that Jack has carried himself, how he really seems like he is proud to represent New Jersey and play for New Jersey. You know, like, Don, we've won Stanley Cups, but we don't get that a lot. You know, the Rangers get the. Get the lion's share of the. Of the attention. The Yankees, the Knicks, the Giants. So, you know, I'm just so proud to be from New Jersey, be a Devil fan. And the way Jack did it, it's gonna. Forever. Forever. That's Jack Hughes.

[Don]

I'd like to see.

[Caller/Listener]

It's really. It's really great. It's really special.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, that's a good point. Put the Devils in a new. In a new light.

[Don]

It felt different last night, you know, than. Than it's ever felt before.

[Don Hahn]

When you say different, like, how does it feel? What do you. What do you mean? What did it feel like?

[Don]

There was just an energy in the building and for, like, a buck. Well, think about it, right? It's late February. The Devils are 11 points out of a playoff spot. They can't score. All right? Nobody has seen hockey for three weeks. It's not like the Buffalo Sabres are a huge draw, even though they're having a great season. It's not like you're playing the Penguins or the Rangers or, you know, you know, a big Time team coming to town like the Colorado Avalanche or something, and it was sold out. There was an energy, there was a buzz, like warm ups packed. That's when you know it's a big game. When in warmups and you're 30 minutes from face off, people aren't getting food, People aren't in the parking lot, they're in their seat. Every time Jack touched the puck, a roar from the crowd. Every time they did anything for. For a game that usually wouldn't have a lot of meaning. I'd be interested to see what the rating was last night because you saw a lot of people were invested because of what happened on Sunday.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don]

Now that won't last if the team continues to lose. But ultimately it's. It's. There's. There's just going to be a tension around this team that hopefully they can take advantage of. But listen, I've been there for playoff games. That's easy. You know, when you got a playoff game, a game seven, you know, or one of the locals are in town like the Rangers, there's always going to be a buzz. But you know, for a game in late February, for a team that's out of the playoff home hunt, to have that kind of energy, I thought was. It was tremendous. It was a fun game to call because of even. And it was a close game and, you know, they weren't scoring or whatever, but there it was palpable in that building. For a game that usually wouldn't have any energy, to have that kind of energy was a pretty cool moment.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. Yeah. Again, you could just tell it was different. It was special. Steven, New Fairfield. Steve, you're up. Next stop, Steve.

[Caller/Listener]

Hey, what's up, boys? It was Combat the Jets, but just one thing. I grew up on 80s and 90s hip hop, everything else, but hip hop was my wheelhouse. I never got Beastie Boys. It always seemed like they were just always goofing, fooling around. And I tried so many times. I don't know.

[Don Hahn]

Just.

[Caller/Listener]

I never.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I do under. I do understand it. Like. Yeah, yeah, I do. Like it's worth.

[Don Hahn]

Give short a chance.

[Caller/Listener]

I'm sorry.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. Like. Like you got to go get away from the license to ill stuff.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Maybe that was them being clownish and get into the later stuff and you'd be surprised. Dude.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Sure Shot's a great song.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All of Paul's Boutique is musically just phenomenal. But I. I hear you though. I do get.

[Don]

But he's. He's right. Like. Like Sabotage is a really, really good song. But the video is just so off the wall. 70s cop stuff. Like. Not.

[Caller/Listener]

Yeah, it kind of takes away from the.

[Don]

But if you just listen to the music, it is really, really good.

[Don Hahn]

Sabotage.

[Caller/Listener]

And to say they're in already a move for Vandross isn't.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't know. You don't.

[Caller/Listener]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You can't make sense of the timing. It doesn't make sense.

[Caller/Listener]

I'm sorry. You got. You got me fired up a little. Believe me, I'm the one suffering. Not. Not a lot to be optimistic or happy about over these years. But they just naturally say they're not going to win more than three or four games. If Breeze is back, Garrett's back. They draw draft a good receiver. Say you get like a cousin. See, offensive line is very solid. And if they build that D up, say they. Reese, they got the big boy in the middle. They build that up. I mean, I. I could see seven, maybe eight games to just naturally be resigned.

[Don Hahn]

But that's the whole thing, Steve. This is what the. Like, so you and I were simpatico, right? We. We have lived through this. We've lived through. How old are you?

[Caller/Listener]

I'm 59.

[Don Hahn]

All right, so we're in the same.

[Caller/Listener]

I forgot last week I just turned 60.

[Don]

Wait, how did you forget that?

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, that's all right.

[Don]

So does Kenny's delay on the call ruin gold medal for you too?

[Don Hahn]

Stop it.

[Don]

How do you forget 60? I'm optimistic about.

[Don Hahn]

I'm.

[Don]

I'm dreading two years, but he just

[Don Hahn]

forget you're used to. I'm fine.

[Caller/Listener]

I don't know.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But.

[Don Hahn]

But George, we've lived through so much. We've lived through the mud bowl. We've lived through, you know, Marino. We've lived through Vinnie, you know, popping his Achilles. We live through it all. All right? We've done it. We've been there. We've done that. So, you know, right now you and I are thinking the same thing. It's impossible for them to not be better. Next year. They're going to be better. But the problem is this goes into a quarterback draft where there's actual franchise caliber quarterbacks available. And do you, like, don't you feel conflicted about playing your way out of that? It's a terrible place to be.

[Don]

Guys, wait a minute. Eight wins? Are you nuts?

[Don Hahn]

Have you seen this?

[Don]

We don't. We don't know the order of the sketch. Here are their road games. At Buffalo, at Chicago, at Detroit, at Kansas City, at the LA Chargers, at the Dolphins, at the Patriots. Okay? Your home Games, obviously, the. The Patriots and the Bills and the Dolphins. Denver, Green Bay, Minnesota. Now you got Tennessee, Cleveland, Arizona and Vegas. So you got four games where you're like, yeah, they got a chance to win those four there.

[Don Hahn]

And if you can get. Steal three from those others, you stealing

[Don]

with it, with a rifle. I mean, are you going to Chicago? You're lucky somebody doesn't die.

[Don Hahn]

This is the NFL, come on.

[Don]

No, you know, I know it's the NFL.

[Don Hahn]

It changes year to year, Don. This is the Jets. They're gonna. They're gonna win their way out of a good quarterback.

[Don]

See, now, now that's different. That different take, but that. He was talking optimistic. If this happens, we can win a game, dude. Yeah, you could. Because the NFL is kind of goofy that way sometimes. But when you take a look at that schedule, do you see eight wins?

[Don Hahn]

Don, the gentleman turned 60, okay? Give him a break.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But how could he have even said that? Honestly? How could he have been up that up?

[Don Hahn]

He's already forgetting his age.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, he's lost. Great.

[Don Hahn]

He still thinks Gastono's playing on the front.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, listen, he's a great guy, but he's lost.

[Don]

No, but, no, I. I take it as that he's so optimistic that he just. 60 wasn't a big deal to him. Maybe he's hot about it because he's gonna live for. Why are you worried about 60 when you're gonna live to 140?

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, that's a good point. He's already. I'll tell you what, he's almost halfway. He's already halfway. You know, we're close to though too. Rickleball madness.

[Don]

Sure.

[Don Hahn]

Friday, March 20 ESPN New York taking over Pickleball Heaven. There is a pickleball heaven, Pete.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I've heard that.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, it's in Medford, New York. Right. If you didn't know, Pickleball Heaven is in Medford. Of course it is.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Of course. But I think heaven is this. Is this heaven? No, it's Medford.

[Don Hahn]

It's Bedford, New York. You can catch a live broadcast of D. Pietro and Rothenberg, two angels, of course, starting at 6am Then stick around for our social. Social ladder Pickleball tournament. We'll crown our champions and roll right into a college hoops watch party. This is a long day. Sign up now on the ESPN New York app. Spots are limited, of course. Rickleball Madness. It's brought to you by Pickleball Heaven. The new standard of indoor pickleball.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's your ace.

[Don Hahn]

So before we get back to calls and we do have. This is Thursday, right? That guy Thursday. That's right. We do have some great news. CC Sabathia, his number 52, will be retired on September 26th by the Yankees. They're going to dedicate a plaque, of course, in his honor in Monument park before the game they play the Orioles that day. He'll be the 24th man to have his number retired by the Yankees, the first since Paul O', Neill, if you remember. That was back in 2022. So 23 numbers, actually, if you want to, you know, do the technicality, because number eight retired twice, right? Yogi Berra and Don Yogi and Peter. Was Yogi a real player? Yes or no? Fact or fiction? It's hard to. Bill Dicky also. So Sabathia, this. It's great. Like, look, when you consider the next generation, right, for Yankee players, after the core four, there is only CC Sabathia. There really isn't anyone else. The Next guy is 99 and he's still playing. So when you think about honoring someone from your last championship, which as we've all keep, you know, the clock keeps ticking. About the years that have gone by since 2009, was there anyone more front and center than him? Well, the ALCS and beyond performances, beyond

[Peter Rosenberg]

front and center, heart and soul. Is there any more heart and soul that.

[Don Hahn]

That represented the Yankee brand, the Yankee standard that I know, Don, you scoff at, but he had carried that from those guys, and he was one that upheld that to a point where he even left a half a million dollars on the table.

[Don]

I get it.

[Don Hahn]

To set up, to set that precedent. Say, this is what we do. We stay. We take care of each other. He might be the last Yankee that actually, you know, played with some cubes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, you know what I mean?

[Don Hahn]

Like. Like. And represented it in that way, like as if it was his blood. This is my family. And that when he left, that. That kind of feels like it went right now. They became very buttoned up, very IBM. It's a lot different now with Cece gone. So he had great moments early on. He had great moments. That 2017 run, he was a part of that. You remember 19 strikeouts and 19 innings. He was still very good towards the end and a leader in that clubhouse. I defy any Yankee fan to have any problem with that. I can't imagine. I know people get upset because it's. Of course, that's the cathedral and only saints are allowed in there, right? But I gotta feel like CC Sabathia. St. Cece, to you admit.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well said.

[Don Hahn]

How could there be a Yankee fan that disagrees with this?

[Don]

But the question I had for you is, when you saw it, were you surprised? Were you like, yeah, it's about time? Like, what was your initial reaction when you saw it?

[Don Hahn]

He's a first ballot hall of Famer. I was like, yeah, makes sense.

[Don]

Not all for what he did with the Yankees.

[Don Hahn]

Well, he. But he was the majority of his careers with the Yankees.

[Don]

Yeah, more. More games with the Yankees. Although, you know, again, compiled as well, there's a lot of. A lot of tough seasons down the stretch. He was always a leader. Fans loved him. But there was a lot of conversation like, he's killing this man. Paid a lot of money for this guy. And it's kind of towards the end, you know, so there was that, too. Those first three, four seasons were spectacular. He led the league and wins his first two years as a Yankee. But it didn't age all that well. I. You know how I feel about retired numbers guys. If the fans want to do it, you know, it's not for an outsider to decide. I'm just saying, as a baseball guy, you know, if you're gonna put CC in, you got to consider Mike Messina. Mike Messina is also in the hall of Fame. Didn't spend as many years, so that's

[Peter Rosenberg]

a big part of it. But he still.

[Don]

He still spent. How many years was Messina. Messina was a Yankee for eight years.

[Don Hahn]

Was Messina a loved Yankee? Was he a beloved.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's the thing.

[Don Hahn]

Yankee. Because I can tell you that for this generation, cece Sabathia was a beloved Yankee. Yes, there was the. I can't deny he struggled and there was. Look, frustration is frustration. It doesn't mean we don't love you. You know what I mean?

[Don]

He loved him because he was a leader and he's throwing at guys and all that stuff. So that's why I don't have a problem, all right, with him being. No, if the fans want it, they should get it. There is no numerical thing to come up. Statistical thing. Like I said, Ken Danico's numbers retired by the Devils. He's not a Hall of Famer. He doesn't have great stats, but he was there forever. The fans love Mr. Devil, and his number deserves to be retired.

[Don Hahn]

Okay?

[Don]

So it's not for me to say, but if they don't like Mike Messina. Mike Messina was a really good pitcher for eight years. He won 20 games as a Yankee.

[Don Hahn]

But don't you think that winter World

[Don]

Series, if CC doesn't win the World Series. But that's not getting his number. Such a huge.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean, that's everything.

[Don Hahn]

I mean, but it's one World Series. We have a firm grasp of the obvious.

[Don]

You're talking about the standard of being a Yankee. Won one World Series in over a decade, and he gets acknowledged. And, you know, Mike Messina probably pitched in more postseason games, didn't win. And now he's not telling you.

[Don Hahn]

Look, Don, when you. When you make a Monument. Monument park, when you put somebody somewhere, it's not just, hey, he did this really well. It's. This guy was special, beloved. Like, there's names in Monument park that you probably don't have to say the full name. And every Yankee fan know who's you're talking about. And with Sabathia, you say Cece, and everybody knows who you're talking about. You know what I mean? Obviously, you could say, well, if you say Moose, I don't think every Yankee fan knows. Yeah, I just know that's his nickname. I don't think every year.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But also Don, I think that has

[Don Hahn]

to do with this when you make this decision.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But Don also included a lot of information when he was saying, like, well, you know. No, no, no. He said a mouthful when he goes, well, yeah, but he has the one World Series. And just because, you know, Moose was more gruff and not loved. These things all matters super loved and has a World Series.

[Don]

It's a lot.

[Don Hahn]

Hall of Fame, different story. Because hall of Fame is based on your career. What you did a Monument park thing is to celebrate number. That's more of a somebody that is beloved. You mentioned Danico, who's more loved than him.

[Don]

I understand that's part of the equation, but when you look at the guys that are there, they're all great players. Of course, you know, Paul o' Neill was a great player. Paul o' Neill was also on a team that, you know, won four champions.

[Don Hahn]

Paul o' Neill was also loved.

[Don]

He was loved. And he loved the warrior and all that. You know, not a Hall of Famer, but loved.

[Don Hahn]

Right. He got there because of that.

[Don]

And, you know, listen, I'm no fan of Mike Messina for all the reasons I just said. He was very gruff. He was. It was tough with him.

[Don Hahn]

Yep.

[Don]

But he was. He was a really good pitcher here. And the reason why he was never really loved is because that was during a span of time, even more so than now. Championship or bust.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don]

Let's blame the guys that we went out and got to win us a championship and blame them for not winning us a championship. But meanwhile, while he was a Yankee was.123 and 72 a.631 winning percentage. He was a terrific pitcher. Yeah, hall of Fame pitcher. But a beloved Yankee will not get a sniff at getting his number retired.

[Don Hahn]

But a beloved Yankee he was not. That's a real thing.

[Don]

I get it. But I. Okay, I kind of blame the fans for not loving Messina.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Wow, Rich Eisen here. You know that feeling of handing off your taxes and then hearing nothing? Total radio silence. Well, not anymore. Now your taxes are done for you by a TurboTax full service expert who checks for every deduction and keeps you in the loop with real time updates on your phone. Just match with your dedicated expert, upload your docs and go live your life confident you're getting every dollar you deserve. This is how taxes should be. Visit turbotax.com today to learn more. Real time updates only in iOS mobile app only available with TurboTax full service experts all right, here's some breaking breakfast news as we start the new year. Everybody's talking resolutions, eating better, staying on track, and this one's actually easy. Kodiak Frozen Power waffles and flapjacks are a quick win. Heat neat, no prep, no excuses. I they're packed with 12 to 14 grams of protein per serving, a good source of fiber and crafted with 100% whole grains, not refined white flour. You have plenty of options too. Classic buttermilk and vanilla blueberry chocolate chip, even gluten free. And it doesn't stop there. They've expanded their roster to include French toast sticks, flapjack puffs and brand new breakfast sandwiches. So whatever your game plan is, there's something that fits. Breakfast that works. Snacks that work.

[Don]

Resolution friendly.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Find Kodiak frozen waffles and flapjacks in the frozen aisle at your local grocery store. They're the ones with the bear on the box. And a proud partner of US Ski and Snowboard, O'Reilly Auto Parts can help take the guesswork out of your check engine, ABS or maintenance light with O'Reilly Veriscan. The service is free and provides a report with solutions verified by ASE certified master technicians. O'Reilly Veriscan can identify the most likely problem with just one scan. If you need help, O'Reilly Auto Parts can recommend a shop for you. Don't ignore a check engine, ABS or maintenance light. Ask for O'Reilly Veriscan Today, a free service exclusively at O'Reilly Auto Parts.

[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything.

[Don Hahn]

You just Said catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. We all have that one friend.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm talking about the Yo Yos who

[Don]

set themselves on fire and bathe in pork and beans.

[Don Hahn]

Or know that one person I'm here with, my family who can't help but be. He's not cool.

[Peter Rosenberg]

His voice is weird. He's kind of a dork. His brother's a tool. His girlfriend's annoying.

[Don Hahn]

That. That guy.

[Don]

I didn't know it was banner night. We won't be out for that.

[Don Hahn]

It's time for that Guy Thursday. Hey, guys. Anyone want to play some ball with Don Hahn and Rosenberg?

[Don]

He's just being that guy.

[Don Hahn]

Well, usually that guy Thursday, we're like, ready to go, right? We have somebody.

[Don]

Well, I got one.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I got one. Oh, oh.

[Don Hahn]

Go ahead. Go ahead. Jump right in.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No. Go for it, Don.

[Don Hahn]

Well, no, because I. I was just going to say I've had a pretty good week.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Good.

[Don Hahn]

I haven't had an issue with anyone where I'm like, you're being that guy. Good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You always have a guy.

[Don Hahn]

So you know me, so this is always a moment. I'm like, you're being that guy. Didn't have one. But you guys do.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We both do.

[Don Hahn]

Take it away. Donnie, how about you go first? Since you first said you had that.

[Don]

I'm going to. I'm going to that guy being Rick Patino.

[Don Hahn]

Okay.

[Don]

They've listed 13 straight wins for St. John's before last night's utter embarrassment against Yukon. Me scored 40 points.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, not good.

[Don]

Not good, Bob. And listen, I like Rick Pitino and he's a talker when they win. He did not go to the podium after the game. Spoke outside the locker room after they were embarrassed and spoke for 76 seconds. I'm sorry, man. You gotta. You gotta get any more than that after that kind of a disgraceful performance. And then he says, well, it doesn't matter if you lose by a point or by 32.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, it does.

[Don]

It does matter. And we know you lose by 32. What did they score, four points in the second? That's something ridiculous. I forget what the stat was like,

[Don Hahn]

they missed like the last 23 shots.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I gotta tell you, that is an all time bad line. Doesn't matter how, like, oh, you're saying losing by a buzzer beat or would have been the same as losing by 35.

[Don]

Right? I mean, listen, if you want to say losing by 10, what's the difference? The loss is a loss. But sometimes not every loss is equal. And when you get embarrassed like that, you gotta. You gotta give me a little bit more than 76 seconds. I know you're upset. I know you're ticked off, and you have a right to be. But correct me if I'm wrong, guys, when things are going well, you know Rick. Rick goes out there, he likes to stick out his chest and show off and talk. He's a talker. He's a New Yorker. He does that.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, yeah.

[Don]

That means when you get embarrassed the way you got embarrassed and one of the worst losses of your career, whether it's meaningful or not, down the stretch, because they can meet again in the Big east championship and. Or maybe in the NCAA Tournament and win and won't matter. It'll be forgotten. But you got to give me more than 76 seconds, man. You got to give me more than that. And you can't just slough it off and say, oh, well, there's no difference between losing by a bucket and losing by 32. That's an embarrassment. You got to own that, man. I'm sorry. That's A.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Perfect. That guy. Because that is that guy.

[Don Hahn]

Listen, you probably have to feel like A, embarrassed. B, Livid. Right. Frustrated. That. Remember that Yukon game at the Garden was an unreal Garden with a great atmosphere. Big win. Yukon coming off an embarrassing loss to Creighton at home, which knocked them out of the top spot in the Big East. You knew you were walking in. You were walking into a fight like you knew they were. They were coming for blood. And his team clearly wasn't ready for it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean. And that's what you're here for.

[Don Hahn]

Yep.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Your job is to always be ready.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. Yeah. But, yeah, you. You. You're supposed to face the music, good or bad. And that didn't happen. So that guy. I mean, you do.

[Don]

I. I know there's a lot of fans who are like, what does it matter? What does he have to talk to you, the media for? Hey, it's your job as a coach that you're supposed to speak after games. You got. You got to give me something when it's that historic.

[Don Hahn]

Okay, okay.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now mine is. Is not. Is not. It's.

[Don Hahn]

That's.

[Don]

It's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's not a lot. It's just a small thing that happened. You guys might say, I'm that guy. Or you would say, the person that I'm talking to is that guy. But somebody's that guy driving by our pulling up. I should say to our lovely radio station, there's a Sort of a somewhat foofy hotel on our block. A lot of black cars out there. A lot of. A lot of big shots.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, I'm aware of the hotel.

[Don]

And pulling up, I say the name of the hotel.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The Dominic.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, okay.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right, so.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, there it goes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, I mean, you can look up where we are and see that it's the closest hotel. It's not hard, but that's where they

[Don Hahn]

would put me if I needed to stay.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So you think people are going to be waiting outside if.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, but they could just come right

[Peter Rosenberg]

here to the radio station and find

[Don]

the opinions of Peter Rosenberg are not necessarily those of Don Hahn and Rosenberg.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, it's not an opinion.

[Don Hahn]

It should be said before every show.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And also, Allen didn't have to reveal immediately after. That's where I stay, by the way. Because who. No one's assuming he's ever staying anyways.

[Don Hahn]

I'll show you the bedbugs next time.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now you're besmirching.

[Don Hahn]

No, no. This is what's going to happen. So.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So I run me out of it. I'm walking by and I see it's not hot anymore. Tons of paparazzi, like maybe 15 standing with their cameras outside the front door.

[Don Hahn]

Okay.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And I got to work early today, coming back from Bristol, and I said, you know what? This could be good fodder for the program. I'm going to go ask who's over there. So I walked over, and by the time I got there, all the paps were gone.

[Don Hahn]

Okay.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So I say to one of the door guys, who are all these psychos waiting around for? And the guy just looks at me like I'm pure, unadulterated trash and goes, I don't know.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, wow.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He no sold me. He completely treated me like I'm a stalker lunatic.

[Don]

Well, maybe he didn't know.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, there's no. Let me tell you something. There's no chance that there were three guys by the door who all worked for the hotel. They had all just been standing there while 15 paparazzi were standing with the big old Don. I think I saw a guy wearing a hat with the press sign sticking in it. Okay.

[Don]

I love those guys.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So there's no. It was like a scene. It was a sign. It was an absolute scene of paparazzi. At the very least, you know, the guys at the door had talked about who it was. They were aware. In fact, I would go as far as saying it's possible one of them leaked it to the paparazzi.

[Don Hahn]

He. Yeah.

[Don]

So I think you found the guy that did.

[Don Hahn]

Exactly.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So now you're going to become that guy and look at me like I'm dangerous and I'll just be going, rihanna's here. Or, oh, so and so. Like, they already know the people are already here.

[Don]

That's one of those.

[Don Hahn]

So you. If you don't know. None of your business.

[Peter Rosenberg]

None of your business.

[Don Hahn]

You know who's here. None.

[Unknown (brief interjection)]

Exactly.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now these 14 weirdos. I mean, listen, on some level, I do.

[Don]

I think it's his job, man.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don]

Like, let's say he's not the guy that exposed it. Like, he's not his job to add to the chaos that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, that's why I sort of respect it also because, like, I guess you don't know. Right. Like, I could be a real danger. So am I that guy?

[Don Hahn]

Just for simply asking.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You're not here for.

[Don]

Yeah, you're the guy for making the security guard. That guy makes you that guy.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But why am I that guy? I just asked a question.

[Don]

I know, but now you're making him that guy for not answering your question. That makes you the guy.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So now it's. It's a double whammy and I'm the guy.

[Don]

I just.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I just. I'm so curious. It was such a high amount of them guys. Let me just say this. I'm in New York. I'm around my. You know, I go to my share a little things here and there. That number of paps meant we were talking about a very high level. Like, this could have been a Kardashian situation.

[Don]

Who was on the View today. Or.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, no, there was a big.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Or Tamron Hall.

[Don Hahn]

There were.

[Don]

Yeah, it's right across the street.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don]

Or.

[Don Hahn]

Or there were two dressing rooms. Kelly and Mark, or green rooms. Two green rooms in the, in the. In the studio this morning that were loaded with all kinds of. It looked like a Broadway show or something. Like they had costumes on. It was. And it was a lot of cast. So they. There must have been something on one of the shows this morning, if anyone

[Peter Rosenberg]

knows what was on, because this was later in the day.

[Don Hahn]

So it would have been.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It would have been. No.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So Don. It probably wouldn't be Mark and Kelly or Kelly, whatever the hell the show's called. Kelly, Mark, Mark and Kelly. Kelly and Mark, Regis and Kathy Lee. All right.

[Don Hahn]

Like, it ought to be like you dream about.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's more likely an after a Tamron hall situation, perhaps.

[Don]

Well, I'll tell you, you know the thing we call at espn, the car wash. Sure. I do Somebody significant comes in. That's an ABC thing that or a Disney thing. That's not necessarily ESPN, because I watch a lot of Channel 7, as you know, because I'm a big company. Oh, you're the guys that are on Kelly and Mark. They'll go on the View. They'll go on Tamron. Like, they'll make the whole run and nothing's more hilarious than when like. Like, they'll tease. Like Kelly and Mark will be on. Then they'll go to the news and tease what's coming on the View, and they'll say, oh, somebody that was just on the show before. So sometimes they go through. So it could have been somebody that was on two or three different shows there. Especially if it's somebody significant enough to get that kind of paparazzi signif.

[Don Hahn]

Well, you know, I saw somebody significant today.

[Don]

Who?

[Don Hahn]

Your guy.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, Mr. Tessa Tour.

[Don Hahn]

Joe Test.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's right. Big Joe Test.

[Don Hahn]

He did an appearance on get up, like, promoting Help me Out, Peter. Sorry.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Elimination.

[Don Hahn]

Elimination Chamber. I just want to make sure I had it right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, you got to get. Listen, I have zero.

[Don Hahn]

So many things here.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Zero expectation for people to adjust to the onslaught of WWE that has happened.

[Don Hahn]

So many events.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I just said today. I just said to Mike Brownshaw in the hallway because I was in Bristol today shooting my. The special. It's airing right now, I believe, again, the. The Elimination Chamber preview show with. With Joe. With Joe Fart now and my guy, Biggie.

[Don Hahn]

Wait.

[Don]

Wait a minute.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Sorry.

[Don Hahn]

Joe Fort. It's Fortin Ball.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, but. But you know. You know, Richard said.

[Don]

Yes, we know. Richard says a lot of things.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, Yeah, I was. I got to tell Fort Bob about that. If he knows that he's. That nicknames challenging, sure.

[Don]

It's got back to him at some point.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So, yeah, I was up there today, and I can only liken the WWE ESPN relationship is like, you're at your wedding and you see your cousin, your first cousin, who, like, is your, you know, you party with and you love him.

[Don Hahn]

Yep.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But he's talking to, like, your boss at work, and you're like, why are you all friends?

[Don Hahn]

You're horrified.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's like.

[Don]

This is weird.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I just don't know. I know. I'm not even horrified. I just don't know what to make of it.

[Don Hahn]

It's like world colliding. Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So, like, to me today, being with Justin Craig while doing WWE stuff.

[Don]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's just all very. It's exciting. It's just very different because there was

[Don]

a lot of Time like Justin Craig had to take you aside.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Enough with the wwe.

[Don]

Why are you talking all this wrestling? I don't get it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's just, it's very. It's just so funny, man. You hang out, you hang around long enough.

[Don]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And it's just, it's now it's normal. Every time I've looked at the TV this week, Finn Balor is being interviewed. Trick Williams is being interviewed. Javon Evans.

[Don Hahn]

It's the Infiltration. Full on infiltration.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And I have been. It has been confirmed, folks, the pre and post show on Saturday night at the Chamber at the United center in Chicago. Outside, outdoors. I will be outdoors out of doors, getting that lake breeze. Like you dream about Saturday night.

[Don Hahn]

Like you dream about black turtleneck.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Although. Although Friday, the high in Chicago is 58.

[Don]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Low at 25 on Saturday.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But Saturday, it's right back down to Chicago.

[Don Hahn]

Turtleneck, make sure you do it. I think I'm doing turtleneck just to finish what I was saying. Sorry. I thought Joe Tessador would find it funny and know the reference. When I said, well, you got Peter in a lot of trouble with Michael K. Of course. And he just stared at me.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh boy.

[Don Hahn]

He was like, what did I do? Well, this sounds like. I said, well, Peter said that you were the best play by play man he's ever worked with.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, I didn't say that exactly, but you're close enough.

[Don Hahn]

Close enough. And he like right away was humbled and thought it was very nice of you to say and oh, it's such a nice guy. And it's great working with him. He was given all kinds of point

[Don]

guard, I think, is what.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I said, maybe the best.

[Don Hahn]

We understand, bottom line is you gave him flowers. And I said, well, Michael, who worked with Peter for 10 years, you might know, was in a word, furious.

[Don]

None too pleased.

[Don Hahn]

And they had beef. And he just like. The way he reacted was sort of like a great. And then kept like. We just kept it moving.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm like, was it uncomfortable?

[Don Hahn]

No, it just as if he was just sort of like, I don't care and just kept like. It doesn't. It didn't register with him. And he felt like, like instead of just trying to figure out what's going on here, he just wanted to keep it moving.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Just move to the next.

[Don Hahn]

I just stood there like, okay, so you don't know anything about. Nope.

[Peter Rosenberg]

See you later, pal.

[Don Hahn]

I thought he knew, so I thought he would get a good laugh out of it. Instead he. As if he didn't have any Idea what I'm talking about.

[Don]

Did he gesture?

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, that's literally what he did. He almost did a cool man.

[Don]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's great, Don. He actually did this in real life.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

It was a live straw. Straw pull. But I thought he knew.

[Don]

Well, I.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And he knew that I complimented.

[Don Hahn]

So it made me. Made me look awkward, which is, you know, but that's common.

[Don]

And I think anything he would have said was. Would be disparaging to Michael. And that's why he didn't say, yeah,

[Peter Rosenberg]

like, you're damn right I'm better.

[Don]

You know the guy.

[Don Hahn]

Well, a shot at Peter would have been great, right? A little joke, something to bring back to the show. Nothing. Here's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

By the way, here's audio of Alan being awkward at ESPN earlier.

[Don]

Get away.

[Don Hahn]

Get away.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's. You don't. You don't know that he's.

[Don Hahn]

It was.

[Caller/Listener]

I don't even know what it's called.

[Don Hahn]

That's why. That's why it's so. But we love Griff. He's so relatable.

[Unknown (brief interjection)]

The following is a paid advertisement for the wellness company.

[Don]

Today we're talking cancer awareness. And I want to bring in someone with a really unique perspective. Dr. Kelly Victory. She's a board certified emergency medicine physician with over 30 years of experience who serves on the chief medical board for the wellness company. And most importantly, she's a cancer survivor. Dr. Victory, thanks so much for being with us.

[Don Hahn]

Thanks very much for having me, Michelle.

[Don]

We've been hearing a lot lately about cancer rates rising, especially in younger adults, which is obviously pretty alarming. What are you seeing?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Without question, cancer rates are rising across the board.

[Don Hahn]

And concerningly, we are seeing more aggressive cancers in people even in their 20s and 30s.

[Don]

That's scary for a lot of people. Is there anything that can be done to help alleviate that fear?

[Peter Rosenberg]

That is what led me to develop the new product shield because it is a group of more than 12 well studied, scientifically proven supplements that help to supercharge your immune system. The first line of defense against cancer.

[Don]

To learn more, visit VictoryAgainstCancer.com and use promo code SMALLS to save $25 on SH.

[Unknown (brief interjection)]

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[Don Hahn]

thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don Hahn]

Catch the show on demand whenever you you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. Rebel Yell I don't know Don. I mean he's.

[Don]

He's had some hits he has.

[Don Hahn]

Just don't know. Is it enough to get in first battle?

[Don]

Maybe not right away.

[Don Hahn]

Right away. Right.

[Don]

But pretty significant. I mean, you say Billy Idol, people know who you're talking. Not nobody.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, then he's no yo Yo.

[Don]

He kind of just represented the 80s, right? That's why he was so perfect in his cameo in. In the Wedding.

[Don Hahn]

Wedding Singer. Yeah. Yeah. Well, Billy Idol gets it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Exactly.

[Don Hahn]

See Billy Idle get Don. Coming up at 5. I. I want to read to you the description of a Met prospect. Okay. And I want to see how far I have to go before your head explodes. This is gonna be fun.

[Don]

All right.

[Don Hahn]

I'm looking forward, but in the meantime, let's see. What time is it? Yeah, I probably should do a game time. Brought to you by. Tell them our Dew Irish Whiskey. Because when it's game time, it's sure is. The Rangers, they still play hockey. They're back from the Olympic break and they take on the Flyers. And coverage immediately follows dan grasser on 880 at 7:30. Why? Because the game starts at 8. Why? National. Yeah, The Islanders are back. Now you can get excited because you

[Don]

don't want people in Los Angeles to miss out on the first period of Flyers. Rangers.

[Don Hahn]

No, no. So much like you dream about. The Islanders, of course, are on the road because that's what you do. They play the Canadiens up in Montreal at seven more Devils because you couldn't get enough of Don Lagreca last night. You get more tonight. They're in Pittsburgh taking on the Penguin. That's at 7. Also 708. Puck drop. I'm sure no Sid the Kid.

[Don]

No Sid.

[Don Hahn]

And if you are inclined to watch Wemby Co. This feels like the spurs have played like back to back to back to backs. They host the spurs at 7:30. I swear the spurs are played like every night. I swear I just saw them play like three nights in a row here. But that's what it says here, so that's what I'm telling you.

[Don]

Sure.

[Don Hahn]

Telemardu. The original triple distilled, triple blended, triple cast matured Irish whiskey. Be sure to grab a Telemardu or try the new Telemurdu. Honey, during today's action, glasses up to enjoying Telemardu responsibly. Jonathan in la. Hey, Jonathan. Hello.

[Caller/Listener]

Hi, guys. Donnie, come on, man. I've been waiting all day for the first quarter of the Rangers flyer. So come on.

[Don Hahn]

First quarter, he says.

[Don]

Smoking.

[Caller/Listener]

I gotta buy new wheat.

[Don Hahn]

Guys.

[Caller/Listener]

Regarding the. Regarding the. The Yankees numbers, I Mean, I'm cool with CC Satia, but there's a lot of people that's not cool with that. So now just imagine if the Yankees win a World Series in the next two, three years, that's going to be another wave of numbers. Number 27, 45 and of course 99. I think the Yankees eventually, I mean, yeah, it is going to come to the point. There's a lot of numbers. Hell, I think if they would have won the World Series in 2012, I think they would even retire. Number. I mean, I don't blame them because all these, all these players have a memorable moment, especially with the fans. So, I mean, I don't mind that. And you know, if they do win these next few years, there's going to be another big wave of more numbers to retire. I want to see what, what you guys think about that.

[Don Hahn]

Well, you, you're saying that some people are upset about it. Who do you see? Yankee fans that aren't happy about CC going.

[Caller/Listener]

I was listening to K show and kept saying that he went through Twitter and there was a lot of people that was not happy with number.

[Don]

Oh, Twitter. Negative. Shocking.

[Don Hahn]

What a. Yeah, yeah, there's where you go to find anything positive.

[Don]

Yeah, listen there, I, I, I heard a caller on K earlier talking about like, you're going to run out of numbers. So I, you don't know how numbers work, man.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, it's a lot of numbers. And by the way, when's the next one coming?

[Don]

Right? Exactly.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We got some time, you know, you

[Don]

know, like, it's like, well, you're starting to see guys with number 70. So what, you got your best players wearing number 99. That's not a baseball number. But he's making it into a baseball number.

[Don Hahn]

Big numbers are cool.

[Don]

I, I don't think, listen, when it will be a problem 300 years from now and then.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, I worry, I spent time, I

[Don Hahn]

do, I worry about it, but I won't care.

[Don]

Like I said, ultimately if the fans want it, but you know, to reverse or to go throw back. The point to Alan about the standard of the Yankees is that it is odd because things have changed. I mean, you're talking about a guy that won a championship with the Yankees in 11 seasons, being celebrated for that championship. Because that 2009 championship is really important, man, because it's the one that they've had in the last quarter century. So they aren't coming at the same rate they used to. So this to me is an example of how things have changed. Because if CEEC pitched for the Yankees 30, you know, 40 years ago, and it was only one championship in a decade. It may be looked upon as a negative, but it's looked upon as a positive. It might actually, as much as you think, it's because Mike Messina was gruff and fans didn't like him. Fans didn't like him because they didn't win.

[Don Hahn]

Well, that added.

[Don]

That was during the standard of, like, hey, we brought you here to get us over the top, and you were here for eight years, but then you were an average pitcher in the postseason, and you're not going to get to

[Don Hahn]

go, you know, but that's part of it, Don. Part of it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

These are all factors, right? It's.

[Don Hahn]

It is.

[Don]

That's why I can't get upset, because, again, if the fans want it, they should. They should get it, right? I mean, if you want. If you want just trying to think Mike Pagliarulo up there so bad, then by all means, throw it up there.

[Don Hahn]

What do you mean?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I know.

[Don]

I'm just saying I'm not a Yankee fan. I can't say that.

[Don Hahn]

But, I mean, he's no Pat Kelly.

[Don]

I. And I. I've always found cece to be great and gracious when he's. Come on. He's a. I think he's a really nice guy, and I understand why the fans love him because he.

[Don Hahn]

He.

[Don]

He played a not so tough position. Tough. It's not a.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Usually a tough guy position.

[Don]

And. And respectfully to Garrett Cole, and as

[Peter Rosenberg]

much tough energy, it isn't on every pitcher.

[Don]

And it is interesting, Peter, like, as cosmopolitan as New York is, we love the lunch pail guys.

[Don Hahn]

Absolutely.

[Don]

We love the guys that aren't scared. And he was. He was all that. But I do remember because I was on the K show of times where Yankee Fans were complaining, CC's killing us. He's making too much money. He's not doing anything. And so there was a time where it was an issue.

[Don Hahn]

Yes.

[Don]

But I'm glad to see you can get over that. And I really do think whoever he hit on the Rays that time, like that stuff, that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That was the final.

[Don]

Yeah. And that 17. And. And that was a young team in 16 and 17, and he was the leader, and he was the guy in the clubhouse to kind of bring him together during that run in 2017. And I get it. I. I get it, but I. I just. Listen, Mike Messina was not the greatest of people to other people, but he was a hell of a pitcher, too, man. He was.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. Nobody's saying that he was.

[Don]

He. It's different for you as a Yankee fan that I can't argue.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. Again, Monument park is a place you go when you want to talk about Yankee greats and players that fans loved and want to tell those stories and pass them down from generation to generation. And that's what it's about. And so Cece Sabathia checks every box and that's why he's there. Simple as that. Don. Coming up, I'm gonna read to you about a Met prospect.

[Don]

Okay.

[Don Hahn]

That's gonna sound. And I'm gonna ask you, is it real or is it fiction? And I wanna see this.

[Don]

A Sid Finch.

[Don Hahn]

It's giving off Sid Finch.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's giving Finch is what you're saying.

[Don Hahn]

It's giving off Finch. In the meantime, may I give you a little bit of Rings in because we're about to get some work done at the house. I know everybody's excited about that. Right? You all can't wait. If I have projects around my house, you want to hear about it? Well, this one I'm looking forward to because I want to see if I get the one I want to do versus the one my wife Stephanie wants to do. This is all up to Andrew from Ring's End. He came out to the house last week. He looked at a couple of ideas that we have. He's going to put together a plan, and then we'll see who gets to do the project that they want. But we already know who's doing it. That, of course, is Ring's End. They work with pro contractors who build and remodel for a living. The pros trust them. I do now, and you can, too. They have premium brands in windows, doors, decking, paint, lumber, kitchens, all the stuff you need for around the house. All built to last high end product lines that contractors rely on. They do it right, they don't do it over. They're not a national chain now. They have regional expertise. Eight full service lumber yards in Connecticut and Westchester county and 12 freestanding paid centers. Now, Rings End is family owned and operated since 1902. That's 124 years to you and me. They've been in business with deep northeast roots, supporting local builders and communities. So they know your area. They know what your house needs. Can't make it to the store. Well, you can shop online. Ringsend.com. that's ringsend.com. thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't want to know how the

[Don Hahn]

sausage is made, but I just want to know it's good. Hear more of Don Allen and Peter Weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Calling all sightseers and selfie takers.

[Don Hahn]

Welcome to Texas, where a day on

[Peter Rosenberg]

our hiking trails will lead to a lifetime of memories and family road trips become family legends, where thrill seekers make a splash into spring fed pools and picky eaters will clean their plates. This is your invitation to visit Texas

[Don Hahn]

and see it for yourself.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Visit traveltexas.com and plan your family's trip today. Let's Texas.