Hour 2: Luka's Return & Rangers Lose

Summary

Podcast Summary: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 2: Luka's Return & Rangers Lose

Release Date: April 10, 2025

In the second hour of the Don, Hahn & Rosenberg podcast, hosts Don LaGreca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg delve into two significant sports narratives: Luka Doncic’s emotional return to Dallas Mavericks and the New York Rangers' disappointing performance. This episode provides a comprehensive analysis of Luka’s tribute, exploring the underlying hypocrisy in sports team management and the impact on both the player and the fanbase. Additionally, the hosts critique the Rangers' season, highlighting factors contributing to their struggles.

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1. Luka Doncic’s Emotional Homecoming

Don LaGreca initiates the discussion by highlighting Luka Doncic’s emotional tribute video upon his return to Dallas Mavericks after being traded. He questions the appropriateness and sincerity of such gestures from the organization.

Alan Hahn critiques the hypocrisy inherent in sports management:

"The two things is that the hypocrisy that we have in sports, that a team that controversially trades you away is now going to celebrate the time you were there." ([01:19])

Hahn further elaborates on the inconsistency teams display when handling player trades and subsequent celebrations:

"But we traded them away under the pretense that we don't think you have a future because you can't keep yourself healthy... And now, we're all just going to cry and sing Kumbaya as if he left because he got drafted to Vietnam... Or was it just a business decision." ([01:28])

Don LaGreca draws a parallels to personal relationships, comparing Luka’s departure and return to a breakup scenario:

"You could leave your partner... and then see them at a function at some point later... and still just pulls at your heartstrings from a time that you spent with someone." ([03:13])

Peter Rosenberg argues that the tribute was excessive and misplaced, suggesting it diverted attention undeservingly:

"The T shirts was over the top... It felt the fans were going to do what they were going to do. You fed into it was pathetic." ([05:00])

Rosenberg criticizes the Mavericks' management for overcompensating with tributes, which inadvertently alienated fans and questioned the organization's motives:

"They gave him the option to just shut it down for the season... and they took the attention away from your current team and putting it on the opponent in a game for the Mavs." ([06:22])

2. Organizational Hypocrisy and Management Decisions

The hosts discuss the Mavericks’ organizational decisions, focusing on the general manager’s role and the ownership’s influence. Rosenberg highlights that the tribute was likely sanctioned by ownership to manage fan discontent, rather than a genuine appreciation for Luka:

"They didn't want to give him $345 million because of all the concerns that they had about Will This investment pay off down the road." ([05:35])

Don emphasizes how the Mavericks' past stability under Mark Cuban has now shifted, leading to a loss of credibility and fan trust:

"That's a bad optic. And it just shows you that that organization, which once was very, very stable ownership... that franchise now is on shaky ground." ([08:00])

3. Fan Reaction and Historical Context

Alan and Peter draw historical comparisons to illustrate how modern tributes differ from the past. Referencing Rickey Henderson’s era, they note that earlier tributes were more organic and fan-driven, contrasting with the current corporate overreach:

"In the old days... teams didn't do anything. It was completely organic." ([11:26])

Peter Rosenberg asserts that forced tributes lack the authenticity that genuine fan appreciation naturally holds:

"It just felt forced and it would have happened anyway." ([12:21])

4. Broader Implications for Sports Management

The conversation broadens to discuss the implications of such management styles on the overall team dynamics and future transactions. The hosts express concern that overvaluing tribute gestures might lead to further organizational instability:

"They are all complicit... that was so embarrassing on many levels for that organization." ([08:00])

5. New York Rangers’ Disappointing Season

Shifting focus, the hosts critique the New York Rangers’ performance, shedding light on their struggles and internal conflicts. They lament the lack of passion and commitment evident on the ice, attributing it to management decisions and player morale:

"It is just so bad. It is just so." ([31:13])

Alan Hahn expresses frustration over the team’s inability to channel anger constructively, noting a decline in traditional team spirit:

"This is one of the most frustrating seasons any team in New York has ever had." ([30:46])

Peter Rosenberg compares the current Rangers' situation to past instances, emphasizing a loss of competitive edge:

"The bodies are there, their hearts are not anymore." ([31:49])

6. Concluding Insights

As the episode wraps up, the hosts reflect on the broader landscape of sports management, emphasizing the need for authenticity and genuine fan engagement. They warn against the pitfalls of over-marketing and forced sentimentality, advocating for more transparent and sincere organizational practices.

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Notable Quotes:

• Alan Hahn on hypocrisy in player trades:

  "The hypocrisy that we have in sports... we traded them away under the pretense that we don't think you have a future..." ([01:19])

• Don LaGreca on emotional parallels:

  "If you leave your partner... you could still feel emotional about the time you spent together." ([03:13])

• Peter Rosenberg on over-the-top tributes:

  "The T shirts was over the top... It fed into was pathetic." ([05:00])

• Alan Hahn on organizational instability:

  "That organization now is on shaky ground." ([08:00])

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This episode of Don, Hahn & Rosenberg offers a deep dive into the complexities of sports management, highlighting the delicate balance between business decisions and emotional investments from players and fans alike. Through incisive commentary and candid discussions, the hosts provide listeners with a nuanced understanding of the current sports landscape, making it a valuable listen for enthusiasts seeking comprehensive analysis.

Transcript

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[Peter Rosenberg]

This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg Podcast.

[Alan Hahn]

That sounds like heaven to me.

[Peter Rosenberg]

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

[Don LaGreca]

Don, Peter, Han. We reversed the names, but you understand it's not Han and Rosenberg. And it is a Thursday.

[Alan Hahn]

I thought you were just asking me something.

[Don LaGreca]

No, no, no. Well, it's a combination. You see what I did there? Welcome to the program. If you're just joining us, big 4 o'clock hour with you till 6:30, and then we got Knicks, Pistons coverage right here. Speaking of the NBA, did any of you happen to take in the moment of Luka Doncic receiving the tribute video during his return to Dallas?

[Alan Hahn]

Not live, but I did see all of the highlights.

[Don LaGreca]

And by the highlights you mean him crying into a towel. What was your immediate takeaway when you saw the entire thing?

[Alan Hahn]

The two things is that the hypocrisy that we have in sports, that a team that controversially trades you away is now going to celebrate the time you were there. I get why they do it, because everybody does it. It would look odd if you didn't. But you traded them away under the pretense that we don't think you have a future because you can't keep yourself healthy. And we think we can be better without you. And now we're all just going to cry and sing Kumbaya as if he left because he got like, you know, drafted to Vietnam or, you know, had to make a very difficult decision to leave home. The return of the prodigal son. Or was it just a business? Make a business decision, and whether it's right or wrong ultimately will be determined by how the Mavericks play. And so far, not good. But then we're gonna like, you know, celebrate his return as if you felt bad he left in the first place. You traded him away. Now, give the GM credit. He stood for the whole ceremony, didn't hide. You know, the fans probably wanted to eat him alive for it. But don't you see the hypocrisy in it?

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, but also what do you do, though? What's the right thing then?

[Alan Hahn]

Well, in reverse, I've seen guys leave via free agency, right? Go for the bigger bucks, and when they come back, they cry in a towel. Like, wait a minute, you could have stayed. You decided to go for more money. You can't have both. And I feel like Dallas, no, you can't have both. You let him go, and now we're gonna just rejoice his return. I understand why they do it. You have to do it because everybody else has done it. David Lee got a video when he returned to the Knicks, for God's sakes. But there is hypocrisy in it. But I felt bad for him. It wasn't like he wanted to get dealt, to feel that kind of love and then to go out there and play the way he played. He had tears in his eyes at the tip of the game. I know amazing stuff.

[Don LaGreca]

So I thought it was fascinating. I certainly understand why he would be emotional. That part makes sense. You know, if you liken it to a breakup, Don, and this is deep, and I know some people may disagree with this, you could leave your partner, you could walk out on your wife or husband and then see them at a function at some point later, even though you were the one who left, and be brought to tears by it. And I know that does sound weird. Like, how could you? You were the one who decided you didn't want to be there anymore. But when you see the whole thing, still, it still just pulls at your heartstrings from a time that you spent with someone. So I do understand how a player could leave, make the choice, come back, and still feel emotional about it. But I certainly understand in the case of Luka, much more. Luka assumed he was there for life.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, yeah. I got no problem with him.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, Luka, Luka. This was where he thought he'd be forever. He was so close to a championship, and all of a sudden your life is uproot. I think in the end, it's going to play out great for Luka. I mean, I think we could have a conversation, and maybe we will Allen, about the fact that Luca could compete for a championship this year. But I think even overall, him being the guy in LA is going to turn out to be awesome for him. But I certainly understand why he's. He's emotional, I guess I do think the Mavericks already did the inexplicable. The inexplicable was letting go of a generational player. I. It's a tough spot now Allen on what they do and what the appropriate thing to do is because do you have him come back and do nothing? Then you're even worse. Like, yes, they came off as hypocrites. But Alan, how do you do nothing when he comes back?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Nobody said do nothing.

[Don LaGreca]

So what do you think?

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's. It's not that you do nothing. The T shirts was over the top. The video you expect when he's introduced. No first time out, what you're doing there, what I thought you're doing there, and this again has nothing to do with Luca, has nothing to do with the Lakers. What you're doing there is taking the attention away from your current team and putting it on the opponent in a game for the Mavs, that, by the way, it still matters. Like they're still trying to get in and give credit to Anthony Davis, who could have. They gave him the option to just shut it down for the season. Once Kyrie got hurt, he said, no, I give them credit. So they're trying to just put up a fight here. And you took a home crowd and turned it around on them. It just felt the fans were going to do what they were going to do. You fed into was pathetic. Because I want everybody to understand. While Nico Harrison is taking all the arrows, all of them. I mean, him standing out in the tunnel, I give him credit. He stood out there and faced the music while they were the whole buildings chanting fire. Nico, he didn't hide in the back. Don, you and I both know we've been in these situations where the GM just won't show his face. He'll just disappear.

[Alan Hahn]

Right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

And you know, he doesn't have to. He doesn't have to see it. He has to hear it. He stood out there and just took it. So I give him credit.

[Alan Hahn]

I do.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Here's the problem. You think he made that decision in a vacuum by himself?

[Alan Hahn]

No.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Do you think the ownership was shocked by the move? You don't make a deal like that without the new owners knowing and signing off on it. The only guy who didn't know was Mark Cuban. Why he's no longer the majority owner and he's no longer running the basketball side, which he thought he would be. They cut him out. So this was strictly a decision that the ownership signed off on. And. And part of the reason why they signed off on it, which he'll never say, Harrison will never say this publicly, is because they didn't want to give him $345 million because of all the concerns that they had about Will This. Will this investment pay off down the road? They want to do it. So that was the out. Well, if we're going to get out of the business, we got to do it now, before he becomes a free agent, before he has a chance to walk on us. So they make this decision. Whether you agree with it or not, it's a different story. But if you think he did this on his own and operated on his own, you're crazy. That's not how this business works. So the. The organization essentially then did a my bad and instant and almost wanted to respond to fans because they're so upset by celebrating the player that you literally dumped. That didn't make sense to me. If you want to honor him with a video first time out, that's usually when you do it. T shirts, though.

[Don LaGreca]

The whole stadium in T shirts, by the way.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like, come. Like, what are we doing?

[Don LaGreca]

It's 18,000 T shirts that you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's a me again. That. That was off putting. That was something that, to me, would have really bothered me because as an owner, if you. You signed off on doing this, of course. And I mean, doing the honoring him.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You went over the top with it. You were trying to like, hey, maybe this will heal. No, it makes it worse because they're chanting to fire the gm, and if you didn't agree with the trade or you're now looking back saying, you know what? This was? This was a mistake. That was bad advice from my gm. You should fire him. Should have fired him already if you wanted to, to calm the waters. That's what you do. But clearly they didn't fire him. Clearly, they still. They are all complicit on it. So why then are you having this celebration of the player that you literally said, we don't want to pay you. We don't think you're valuable enough to stay here, but we're gonna say thank you for everything. Well, like, come on. It's. It's a bad optic. And it just shows you that that organization, which once was very, very stable ownership, one of the best ownership in the NBA in Mark Cuban.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, that's done.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That franchise now is on shaky ground, if you ask me.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, absolutely. That's a. That's. There's a huge difference. And obviously they kept Cuban on, but basically in name only, that he's still around. He's not. It's not his team. I will push back, though. You're sort of. You're saying two things because in one sense, you're saying you understood some tribute, but they did too much.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Too much.

[Don LaGreca]

They had to do something, though.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's what I said. Again, you want to introduce him without the video? You don't need the video. Introduce him. Sure was a great tv. Hell, yeah. I was in the airport watching it on my little phone, and I was watching him cry and grab the towel. It was incredible theater. Incredible. But from a Dallas Mavericks point of view, that's what I was looking at as fun. I'm thinking to myself, what. What are we doing?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, because it's not like this is.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Not like, you know, a player who's in his 20th season and you want to give him.

[Don LaGreca]

He's a guy who's going to be tormenting you for the next ten.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Absolutely. Like, like. So again, you want to introduce him, like with the, with the PA Guy going a little crazy when you say his name, fine. You want to do with video, fine. But do it first time out. That's all, everybody. That's tradition, that is. Do it the way they did it. And blanket the arena in T shirts, if you're wondering.

[Don LaGreca]

By the way, Come on, what are we doing?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like, are you serious? That's amateur hour.

[Don LaGreca]

If you're wondering. Luka was 16 to 28, 7 for 10 from 3, 45 points. Then he lit you up 8.6 assists. Don, he was a plus 26 when he was on the floor. He. He had 31 in the first half. He. He went absolutely crazy last night.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The only thing he was missing, guys, was post game at his press conference, having a beer and a cigarette.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, he started. He absolutely should have cracked if he.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Sat there with a beer and like, had a little, you know what.

[Alan Hahn]

But part of it's unfortunate that we've now given tribute videos to any Tom, Dick and Harry that happens to return.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, this is.

[Alan Hahn]

Everybody says that. No, but. But now you feel like you got to do something.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, right, right. You know, if you gave one to whoever. Whoever the other person was.

[Alan Hahn]

So you, you got to do something. And then obviously your team is awful, the fan base hates you, so you're going to want to go over the top with it. That's. I agree with Alan. I think that's the problem is not that there was some sort of a tribute you had. I've heard the whole Jockerman comparison that's been brought up. You brought it up too, Alan.

[Don LaGreca]

And Richard did. The great Richard.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, that was 1975, you know, so I was seven.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And it was different circumstances, too.

[Alan Hahn]

It was way different circumstances late in his career. This was before video tributes teams didn't do anything. It was completely organic.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yep.

[Alan Hahn]

Nobody told the fans to do it. Matter of fact, the Rangers, I'm sure, were disappointed their fans turned on them, but it was just something that happened organically, and that's why it was celebrated. Didn't have to force it. They didn't give out T shirts. Maybe Howie Rose can call because he was probably in the building that day. I was not. Like I said, I was seven. There probably wasn't any acknowledgement at all. But the fans know. They're not stupid. They see Eddie Jocko sitting there, he's crying. And the fans turn on the Rangers because they were upset that this God was waived. And it just happened organically. And it's classic. And I think everybody's kind of been chasing after that. But you can't nail it if it's not something that just the fans kind of feel.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It just felt forced and it would have happened anyway.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, exactly.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And rather than celebrating Luca, the fans, instead of doing, like, know, they did have the Luca chant and that was kind of cool. But it's amazing how instead what they did was create the crucible for their general manager, which means you weren't trying to protect the guy. That's why I give Nico credit. Stood out there in the tunnel all by himself too. Don't need to be surrounded. Don't, don't. No, no. I'm not hiding. I'm not running from this. Right. Like, and. And. And instead of them. That's why I don't. I don't appreciate the owner there at all. I don't appreciate the owner thinking to himself, let's dial this down a little bit because we got to protect our guy. And our guy is the general manager who's building this thing, who has built, by the way. You know, everybody wants to forget too, because they want to kill him for this. You forget what he has built there. They got to the finals last year. He made a gutsy trade for Kyrie Irving that has worked out. Nobody was wanted to touch Kyrie Irving. He did. And it worked out. Like there's a lot of things that they did to build that team. So it's just. It's so easy for us to just go for the low hanging fruit of how do you trade a guy in his prime? But they had their reasons, their legitimate reasons. I can tell you, as somebody that follows the league but also talks to people around the league and has friends in that organization, those were legit concerns. How would that contract age over time? But there's no doubting that he's one of the best players in the league right now. But for them to like just have this celebration of a player that you literally kicked out of the building. It was so embarrassing on many levels for that organization.

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[Don LaGreca]

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[Alan Hahn]

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[Don LaGreca]

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[Alan Hahn]

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[Don LaGreca]

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[Alan Hahn]

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[Don LaGreca]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Unknown]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

Heck, you could even fall in love and create a little dependent of your own one day. Or they could just answer your filing questions. Tax Act. Let's get them over with.

[Don LaGreca]

I mean, he's also the second best player in the history of the franchise. I mean, when it's all said and done, if he, if he'd finished, he'd stayed there. He would have been the I think.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He would have been the Better you could, you know is Mark Aguirre, Roy Tarby. Like you could come up, not Rory Toffee, but Derek Harper. You could find some names. But he, he's quickly established himself as probably right there with Dirk.

[Don LaGreca]

That's what I mean.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Dirk's not. Dirk doesn't do any favors either by the way. He shows up in LA for that matchup and he's, you know, he's kind of cheering on Luca and then he show. He's at. In the building in Dallas and doing the same thing. And it's just again, are you an ambassador of the Mavericks? Like it's. The whole thing just feels strange, everything about it strange. That yeah, that organization, it's.

[Don LaGreca]

Give me the 30 for 30 right now about the moves that have been made in this NBA season. I mean what a weird year, the.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Firings of coaches this late in the year.

[Don LaGreca]

The weirdest trade of all time.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Jimmy Butler trade. And what that's done for Golden State.

[Don LaGreca]

I mean people literally it is completely, you know, people.

[Peter Rosenberg]

How about this guys? People. Because you know, everybody loves a good conspiracy theory. There are people who truly believe like this is again, this is when we get off the, we go completely off the rails. There are people that are trying to push this idea that the NBA forced this trade because that LeBron was going to retire. The Lakers were going nowhere and they were like how can we keep LeBron in this bill in this league because we don't have a next star. And so this is what they worked out and that those, those Dallas, the new Dallas owners will get what they want, which whatever it is coming, going forward for something like it's a bizarre thing. But this is what people, they can't reason that. They clearly traded him because he doesn't have a great body physically looks like he will probably break down in his late 20s. He'll always be hurt. And $345 million will. Will look like a really bad investment once he gets to the other side of 26, 27 years old. Nobody wants to believe that that's just some logic that they were thinking of and they wanted better defensive players and Anthony Davis is that nobody wants to believe it. So they'll think instead it's a conspiracy to keep LeBron in the league.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't believe those had conspiracy theories going back to the frozen envelope.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's crazy.

[Alan Hahn]

You know, and listen, the NBA kind of lends itself to that because there is a lot of WWE in the NBA when it comes to. It's a star driven sport and they Seem to always get the matchups that they're looking for. You know, we were joking about how awful a Cleveland, Oklahoma City final would be. You know, when was the last time you got a dog? NBA final. I mean, I can rattle off 12 in the NHL, I can rattle off a dozen. And you think baseball wanted Texas, Arizona, but that's a bar in Hoboken, not a World Series matchup.

[Don LaGreca]

So wait, it is a barn Hoboken. Legitimate.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's good. That was very.

[Don LaGreca]

I didn't even follow it. That's how good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The only one I would. The only one I would say that was. They were concerned about was the Giannis one, the Milwaukee Phoenix, like, who's watching that? You know, ended up being a compelling Finals, but.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, I'm not saying there hasn't been one. I'm sure they weren't thrilled with the Nets going to the Finals back to.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Back, because this league is so full of dynasty type teams and like, dynasty players and dynasty teams. You know, LeBron being in the finals a million times. The warriors had the dynasty going for a while there. The Heat had their thing. Like, I think that has helped the league. The Lakers, that always helps the league because it does seem to be the same characters and the same team.

[Alan Hahn]

It's just that these conspiracy theories are all over the place in the NHL, that's all. They want the Canadian teams in or they want the New York teams in, but none of them seem to stick. They do that. And yet there hasn't been a Canadian franchise to win a cup in over 30 years. You know, football doesn't matter because whatever the matchup is in the super bowl, it's going to do a monster rating. But you know what I'm saying, Everybody's got those conspiracy. But in the NBA, they seem to stick because they usually get the matchup. The best players usually go deep.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right. But you get what I'm saying, though, about, like, how it's one thing if he left as a free agent.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, yeah. Well, this.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This was. This was. You traded him and they turned it into like this. This prodigal son has returned. And like, let's show him all the love. What love are you showing him? You gave up on him. Just lean into it. Just don't stick with it.

[Don LaGreca]

I don't. You can't do that though, either. He is. He is too good and too important. The fan base. The fan base.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The right thing to do all that.

[Don LaGreca]

No, no, the T shirt. The T shirt was a bridge too far. I think you're right. That the ideal thing would have been a timeout tribute video.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

And maybe even a little more than that. Like maybe later in the game you do another little something, a highlight goes up at halftime that you could have done a little more than if, you know, Kyrie comes back to Brooklyn. Right. Like, this is a special return. I get that. In fact, he is more beloved. Here's the interesting part. He is more. And because of the way he left that he was exiled, essentially. Luka Doncic was more beloved in the building last night than the team. And that's also to your point, how big a problem that is? Because you have guys who are still playing on that team trying to make the playoffs.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, don't. And also, don't forget you also have the main piece you got back in. In that trade. Who's now playing, who's on the court. How's he supposed to feel? These people don't want me here.

[Don LaGreca]

Not. Not as much as they wanted him.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, you. Do you regret the trade? Is that what the whole night felt like? We regret the trade? You know what it should have said in Slovenian? It should have said, we're sorry, our bad. You know what's a great screwed up, no backsies. Can we get. Can we get a do over? Well, seriously.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, the only reason. It just shows you how tone deaf they are. They only regret it because of the reaction.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, yeah. They don't regret it bad too. It's very. It's really bad.

[Alan Hahn]

Right. And that's. Then that ultimately is. What if they didn't care or if the fans understood that, they wouldn't feel.

[Don LaGreca]

Bad about it in the nn. We'll play some audio from Luca after the game. Let's go to Steven Boonton. Hey, Steve.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Hey.

[Steven Boonton]

This is Steven Booten. Thanks for taking the call. Why was Boonton on ENN yesterday?

[Alan Hahn]

Because, Peter, why don't you give your pronunciation of this? I know.

[Don LaGreca]

Amazing you have it over there, Jacob, because this happened the other day. This authentically happened. I happened to say this from Boonton, New Jersey, so.

[Alan Hahn]

Boy, we don't let. We don't let him up for that.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, so that's how. That's. I don't remember who it was, Steve, but I did say that.

[Steven Boonton]

So just a little fun fact. It's Boot usa. Actually, you were talking about all the things that the only one spelled that in the entire United States.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, really? This is the only boot?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, because Peter's not wrong.

[Steven Boonton]

Well, there's Township, which is right next to her, but that's the Only boot. But back to what I was saying. Last night was incredible for. For Luca to see some. I come out crying and then drop 30 on somebody in the first half. But what I was. What I really wanted to say is can you think of in any sport, any sport that a player of that age and top five in the world has ever been traded anywhere and not because the team didn't have the money or he was going to hit free agency. He wanted to stay there. He wanted to be a maverick. I can't think of one player I think Carlin brought up today. Seaver, but I don't know about that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Seaver was older when. When that helped. And that. That's as close as it comes to ripping the heart out of a fan base because an owner was listening to a sports editor who had an ax to grind. What a bizarre situation. And like that whole Sea. Let's talk about a 30 for 30, Don. Somebody should do one on just the Seaver trade. And then them bringing him back like that whole. That whole story. When you really get to the. To the nuts and bolts of it, the fact that was it Dick who was it that was scheming? It was Dick Young, right. Imagine that in today's world, like that would be. Think about with social media. That would be unbelievable.

[Alan Hahn]

But there.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But even though he was deeper into his career at that point, Luca. But I wouldn't say Luka was dead set on staying there forever. I would not say that.

[Alan Hahn]

I mean the biggest trades in the history of sports that you think of the Seaver.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

You think of Wayne Gretzky to Edmonton and that was orchestrated by Wayne.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And he cried at his press conference.

[Alan Hahn]

He cried his press conference. But he knew. But I think both could be true. Right? He knew he was going and Edmonton, you know, could. Couldn't afford the contract anymore. And he. He was in on it, but still felt sad to leave Edmonton. But you know, he still understood the situation. Pockington wanted to be able to get the money. And so that's the biggest deal. But it's still not where you to this shock. Like Gretzky was a shock, but you knew it was coming and Seaver you knew was coming. If you were following and reading the tea leaves, this was. Came out of no. I don't know what else. Football doesn't make trades. So I mean Nolan Ryan became a big deal, but it wasn't at the time because, you know, the Mets basically traded a relief pitcher. It felt like at the time. And then it went south. But at that moment it wasn't nearly as big. It's a great conversation, but yes, Seaver and Gretzky are the two that pop to mind.

[Don LaGreca]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don LaGreca]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Peter Rosenberg]

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

[Alan Hahn]

Listen up New York City soccer fans. New York City FC is back and coming home to Queens and Citi Field for the first time this season. Come watch the boys in blue take on Eastern Conference rivals Philadelphia. That's the Union this Saturday in a can't miss matchup. Get there early for Fan Fest with music, games and family fun for supporters of all ages. Enter for your chance to win free [e-mail] or on the ESPN New York app, which you can download right away. Just find the contest tab and submit your entry. Don't miss the action. Grab your seats [e-mail] NYCFC and be there this Saturday at Citi Field. Didn't want to spend a ton of time on this, but dude, I know we buried the Rangers yesterday, but come on, man. Philadelphia is the worst team in the Eastern Conference. They just fired their coach. They had lost three games in a row. You're mathematically still alive. It is a Hail Mary, but you're mathematically still alive. Entering the third period tied at two and you get out shot 16 to seven. Nine goals are scored in the third period and six of them against Philadelphia.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Six is a wild number for now.

[Alan Hahn]

Two of them were into the empty net. But the point is, dude, I'm sorry, man. And maybe I'm wrong about this. I never played on a professional level, but at some point, can. Can we hear something about somebody throwing a chair across a room or just somebody getting mad instead of it doesn't.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Seem to exist anymore.

[Alan Hahn]

I know, but you know what? Be mad.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's too late for mad. No, no, no.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm not talking about getting mad and having it turn into something. I'm just talking about being pissed off. This is one of the most frustrating seasons any team in New York has ever had from a competitor to the Stanley Cup. Where do you know if things break wrong and I don't know if they're going to win another game, Allen. That they could finish like seventh in this division.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

I mean, Buffalo could pass them, Pittsburgh could pass them.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They don't care. Don, there was a thing. I can't remember who told me this originally, but it was a thing about back in the old days. In the old days of hockey, especially in the minors, it might have been Buzzy Dechant. You remember Buzzy, right? Oh, yeah, yeah. I think Buzzy tell this story when he played in the, the. The Eastern League. The, the Long Island Ducks. By the way, everybody, yes, they. They actually was a team. Even though in Slap Shot, you saw it, that Slap Shot's based on that league. In fact, Buzzy used to say that we knew the season was done when the French Canadians would ship the cars.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Meaning they ship the cars home. Right. Like, okay, like, we're going home, we're done. And that was sort of where they're at. Like, like, because, you know, again, your French Canadians were your better players. Like, the whole thought was, all right, if they're checked out, we're. We're not winning another game. Like, we're not making the playoff. And it just feels like the best phrase to use with the Rangers right now is they have shipped the cars, they've sent them home because they're going home for the summer. Mentally checked out physically out there. The Flyers are bad enough that you can score a bunch of goals as well, but you're not really trying defensively. The guys you need to make an effort aren't. They're making business decisions in the dirty areas. And your goalie, who we all know is an all world goalie, they're making him look worse than he really is, which I think is unfair. But that's what they're doing right now. And it's because deep down they don't care. The bodies are there, their hearts are not anymore. So you can't be surprised as a fan. They all know this whole thing's getting blown up, so they don't care, but they.

[Alan Hahn]

Did they ever. Because I'm just even a month ago, you know, where is somebody just getting mad? This is inexcusable. This is garbage. We got to do better. It's always like, yeah, we didn't get the breaks. It was just a couple of things that went wrong. And then you've got, you know, Adam Fox saying, you know, we're not on the same page. And then, you know, very emphatically after the game, Laviolette talking about. No, there was no confusion. Just it's execution. It's so bad. It is just so. For a team that was there. And you could say, well, maybe last year was Fugazi was more about the power play. They were still up 2. 1 in the conference final against the Florida Panthers, and I didn't expect them to win the President's Trophy this year. Maybe they'd take a bit of a step back. But right now they're 12th in the conference. Buffalo. Buffalo, who hasn't made the playoffs, you know, since the Kennedy administration, is only three points back of you with two.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Games in hand, which is amazing, is that they weren't even in existence when the Kennedy.

[Alan Hahn]

So, yeah, came in in 72. I'm just. When Dinosaurs Walked the Earth. I use that one too much, but. And I'm pretty sure they weren't there for that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You could. You could say, though, that they haven't made the playoffs, like, since. Since. Since Twitter started. I think that's about accurate right there. There's. There as long as the Jets.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. 2010.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right? The Jets.

[Alan Hahn]

What was 2010? We were like Facebook, basically. Right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. Well, no, Twitter was gone.

[Alan Hahn]

Little Twitter.

[Don LaGreca]

Twitter sounds.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't know.

[Advertiser]

Sorry that it's anywhere now.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Instagram. What else we got?

[Alan Hahn]

I think there were. There were people that you knew in 2010 that still had a MySpace.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

No, it's still fine. It was the last days of my space.

[Alan Hahn]

And they might pass you. I know. I don't want to aggravate Anthony any more than he's already aggravated and we're beating a dead horse here. But I just thought, you know, being at the Garden last night was just watching a funeral and it was just. It was just disgusting. And then they're going to be out of ubs. And I'm sure the Islanders just be motivated to just dig the grave deeper for the Rangers. And they're. It's.

[Don LaGreca]

It's not good.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, Sam deserved better, by the way.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah. That's a fact.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Sam and JD Together. Yeah. Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast. I don't want to know how the sausage is made, man. I just want to know what's good. Hear more of Don Alan and Peter. Weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 880 ESPN the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers.