Hour 2: MLB ASG & Talk About It Tuesday

Summary

Podcast Summary: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – “Hour 2: MLB ASG & Talk About It Tuesday”

Podcast Information:

• Title: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg
• Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
• Episode: Hour 2: MLB ASG & Talk About It Tuesday
• Release Date: July 15, 2025
• Description: The first voice of ESPN New York and New Jersey legend Don La Greca, longtime sportswriter and New York Knick broadcaster Alan Hahn, and highly opinionated Hip Hop vet and WWE personality Peter Rosenberg discuss New York sports and beyond.

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1. MLB All-Star Game and Home Run Derby Discussion

Timestamp: 1:00 – 12:00

The episode kicks off with Don Hahn sharing his impressions of the recent MLB Home Run Derby, highlighting Cal Raleigh's standout performance. Don notes, “He was just hitting bombs. They all were, but he obviously won the day” (02:04), emphasizing Raleigh's ability to captivate fans with his powerful swings.

Alan Rosenberg concurs, appreciating the initial excitement brought by players like O'Neill and Cruz: “He put on a show that got the party started... That's what I love about this event” (01:55). The discussion shifts to how the Home Run Derby serves as a platform for introducing emerging talent to a broader audience, especially younger fans who consume baseball differently today.

Don elaborates on the significance of these events in modern baseball: “You need to have these events for regional sports because unlike basketball and football... they have to consume nothing other than the team that they follow” (03:12). This underscores the role of marquee events in maintaining and growing the sport’s fanbase amidst changing consumption habits.

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2. Modern Sports Consumption and Virality

Timestamp: 12:00 – 25:00

A significant portion of the conversation centers on how sports, particularly baseball, are adapting to the digital age. Don criticizes the shift towards virality over traditional metrics of player merit: “It's no longer about... who's viral and how can we go viral too” (07:11). He argues that events like the All-Star Game are now more about creating shareable moments rather than honoring the sport's best based on performance and dedication.

Alan adds, “This is now about being in the algorithm,” highlighting the tension between authentic sports celebration and the demands of social media-driven visibility (07:11). The hosts debate the implications of this shift, questioning whether it undermines the integrity of the sport and alienates long-time fans who value traditional aspects of the game.

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3. The Role of All-Star Events in Cultivating Fans

Timestamp: 25:00 – 35:00

Don emphasizes the necessity of All-Star events in introducing players to a wider audience: “When you got a chance to catch lightning in a bottle as a commissioner, don't you... let's put him in the game again” (07:11). He advocates for leveraging these moments to boost player recognition and engage new fans, despite any shortcomings in standard performance metrics.

Alan counters by reflecting on generational differences in sports fandom, stressing the importance of balancing appeals to both older and younger audiences: “You can't just say to people, 'get over it,' because your generation's not being served anymore” (11:19). This highlights the challenge of maintaining traditional fan loyalty while attracting a new, digitally-savvy audience.

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4. Overemphasis on Player Physiques and Personalities

Timestamp: 35:00 – 45:00

A humorous yet critical segment ensues as Alan and Don discuss the overfocus on Cal Raleigh's physique during broadcasts. Alan remarks, “The guy's hitting home runs, and all you want to talk about is the guy's ass” (15:37), expressing frustration over media distractions from athletic performance.

Don agrees, advocating for better broadcast content: “If you're hammering the same thing, then just do a better broadcast” (16:14). This segment underscores the tension between entertainment-driven commentary and pure sports analysis, questioning what truly enhances the viewer's experience.

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5. Audience Interaction and Callers’ Perspectives

Timestamp: 45:00 – 55:00

Listeners contribute their viewpoints through calls, enriching the discussion on the MLB All-Star Game and broader sports dynamics. One caller reminisces about the nostalgia of traditional All-Star events: “I remember when I was a kid... it felt like an event” (43:05). This reflects a longing for the past structure of sports events that fostered communal excitement.

Another caller expresses concern about baseball's future, comparing it to the NHL’s dwindling casual fanbase: “I feel like baseball is gonna turn into one of those sports like the NHL where you don't really have a casual fan” (45:08). These interactions highlight the diverse perspectives among the fanbase regarding the evolution of sports consumption.

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6. Let’s Talk About It Tuesday Segment

Timestamp: 55:00 – End

Transitioning into “Let’s Talk About It Tuesday,” the hosts delve into a humorous and personal discussion about balancing sports fandom with personal relationships. Alan shares a relatable scenario where his wife tests his dedication to her over a game victory, sparking a light-hearted debate on priorities and personal life.

Don adds his own anecdotes, emphasizing the importance of family while maintaining his passion for sports: “I'm a human being that loves my family” (30:31). This segment adds a personal touch to the podcast, showcasing the hosts' ability to intertwine humor with genuine reflections on modern life challenges.

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7. Conclusion and Final Thoughts

The episode wraps up with Don and Alan reaffirming the need for baseball to adapt to changing viewer habits by creating engaging and viral moments through events like the All-Star Game and Home Run Derby. They emphasize the importance of reaching out to younger audiences without alienating long-time fans, striving to maintain baseball's status as a beloved pastime in a highly competitive entertainment landscape.

Don concludes, “Baseball used to be king... now basketball is threatening baseball as our national pastime” (31:03), urging the sport to innovate and resonate with the digital generation to secure its future.

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Notable Quotes:

• Don Hahn: “It's no longer about... who's viral and how can we go viral too” (07:11)
• Alan Rosenberg: “This is how All Star weekends for all these sports has become” (09:15)
• Don Hahn: “Baseball used to be king. And then slowly football has taken over everything and consumed it like a monster” (13:19)
• Alan Rosenberg: “Touching on how do you sell the game” (10:44)

Final Remarks: This episode of Don, Hahn & Rosenberg provides a deep dive into the current state of Major League Baseball's All-Star events, the impact of modern media consumption on sports, and the delicate balance between engaging new fans and retaining traditional ones. Through insightful discussions and listener interactions, the hosts offer a comprehensive look at the evolving landscape of sports entertainment.

Transcript

[Don Hahn]

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[Alan Rosenberg]

This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don Hahn]

That sounds like heaven to me.

[Alan Rosenberg]

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

[Don Hahn]

Game time is brought to you by Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey. Because when, when it's game time.

[Alan Rosenberg]

I like when he holds it.

[Don Hahn]

Coverage of the Major League baseball all star game immediately follows us on 880 at 7 o'. Clock. Tullamore du. The original triple distilled, triple blended and triple cast matured Irish whiskey. Be sure to grab a Tullamore Dew or try the new Tullamore Dew honey during today's action. Glasses up to enjoying Tullamore Dew responsible. So where do I begin? So I don't get home until almost 10 o' clock last night because of the weather. So I was able to watch the last couple of rounds of the home run Derby. And I was very impressed with Cal Raleigh. I mean, he was just hitting bombs. They all were, but he obviously won the day.

[Alan Rosenberg]

O' Neill, Cruz, he started the night. You missed this part. He put on a show that got the party started because it was like, you know, it was a little quiet. And then he steps up and it was just majestic, absolute. Just bombs. And that's when you got that. That's what I love about this event is when you get somebody like that who's got a little pizzazz about him. And then the fact that he was doing that and it got some excitement into the crowd. And then of course from there kind of fizzled. Jazz, I mean, look, do we even need to talk about jazz? Jazz just took $150,000, put it in his pocket and hit some line drives.

[Don Hahn]

That's it.

[Alan Rosenberg]

And that's it. I'm good, but. Okay. So I just wanted you to know that it started out that way where you had a little bit of a show. And then.

[Don Hahn]

And then. So Raleigh hits the home runs and I thought he put on a really good show.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

And I thought to myself, you know, going back to why Soto's not playing, Mizarovsky's in the game. And I said, you know how many people, baseball fans are literally being introduced to Cal Raleigh last night?

[Alan Rosenberg]

Wait a minute, Don.

[Don Hahn]

He leads the all the major league baseball home runs. I know you've heard him, you heard of him. I know you've seen the highlights. I know you know the story. If you're a baseball fan and certainly if you're a Yankee fan, you just saw him last week in your building for three days, go one for 11, by the way, with a ton of strikeouts. But he did hit a home run in the first game of the series. But how many baseball fans, like, literally were being introduced to the guy, seeing him, seeing his personality and going, you know what, this guy impresses me. And to me, that's why you have a Home Run Derby. Because let's face it, the younger generation, they're not watching baseball the way we used to watch it. They're consuming it. They're checking the stats, they're looking at the app. They're in fantasy league.

[Alan Rosenberg]

They're watching the sport via reels.

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Alan Rosenberg]

That's how they're consuming it.

[Don Hahn]

But they're not sitting there watching games like we did. No, you know, where we know all the players. We've seen them play.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

You know, this is the old argument where there are a lot of baseball fans that really don't have much of a working knowledge of, of Mike Trout because he plays his games at 10, 10, 30 at night and, and you really don't get a chance to see him. So that's why you have a Home Run Derby, to see these players. Now I, I know o', Neill, Cruz, I know he's a Pirate. I just watched him, you know, play the Mets. But to see him in the Home Run Derby, see his personality without a helmet, see the hair flowing, see the facial expressions, you know, see him involved, that way you get a different look at him rather than the four at bats that you see per game when he happens to be in the city of your favorite team and you get to know these players on a different type of level, that's why you have a Home Run Derby and that's why you have an All Star Game. Misorofsky is a story, and baseball fans know the story. But do they know him? Have they seen him pitch? Met fans, saw him pitch the other day? Yankee fans haven't seen him. Most of Major League Baseball hasn't seen him unless he happened to play your team in the five starts that he's had. So it seems like it's an embarrassment. Like he, he's had five starts. Why is he in the All Star Game? Well, he's in the All Star Game because he's a story. And tonight he might have a moment like Doc Gooden had in 1984, where he strikes out the side and people go, wow, I got a chance to see this kid for the first time. Maybe I'm going to follow him in the second half of the season. That's why you have an All Star Game. So I know some players butts hurt that they're not getting a chance to play in the game. And a lot of fans are upset that he hasn't played enough to be in the game. But this is why you have these marquee events. That's why the NHL had the Four Nations. Sure, it's a money grab. Sure, it replaced the all star game, but 9 million people watched the championship game between the USA and Canada. You barely got 9 million if you combined all six games of the Stanley Cup Finals ratings together. There are people that watched Connor McDavid in four nations that didn't watch him a few months before in the Stanley Cup Final and didn't watch him in the Stanley Cup Final a couple of months after. You need to have these events for regional sports because unlike basketball and football, where people seem to gravitate to the average game, in sports like hockey and baseball, they're not consuming anything other than the team that they follow. And all of these great stories get showcased in events like the Home Run Derby and the All Star Game. Here is what Manfred said about his decision to allow Mizorowski to pitch in.

[Alan Rosenberg]

The game to the baseball writers. They had the meeting, the excitement that.

[Don Hahn]

Was going to be generated, the fan interest in seeing this guy. He's a very, very good pitcher on a very, very good run right now. Do I understand five starts is short? Yeah, I do. And do I want to make that the norm? No, I don't. But I think it was the right decision given where we are. And, you know, I'm the first to hammer Manfred, but this to me is getting it. This is understanding. We've got a moment. We've got a moment right now, and I don't want to miss the opportunity. I don't want to miss the moment. Now, maybe he doesn't get into the game, maybe he gets shelled in the game, but maybe there'll be a moment where he does well and the baseball world gets exposed to this guy because too many things slip through the cracks. Alan. Even for baseball fans who are so focused on don't let Jazz play in the Home Run Derby because he might affect his swing in the second half. I only care about my team not really realizing some of the really cool things that are happening in the sport. So when you got a chance to catch lightning in a bottle as a commissioner, don't you. Don't you capture it, don't you take advantage of it?

[Alan Rosenberg]

You do if you're baseball, which is where they are right now. I. Look, the more I thought about. This is not about the kid. This is more about what it used to be. But after watching last night, there really is no more standard. Standard is what will get us clicks and likes and reaction. What will get us in the algorithm. It's no longer about. This is a showcase of our sport, of our finest players. And we reward our best players by putting them in this game. That's gone now. This is now about being in the algorithm. And so if the Miz showing up in an All Star game where we still. He's still sort of a secret. We all don't know who he really is. And the minute he comes out now, especially with all this coverage, the minute that they do put him in the game. Right. You know, the whole stadium knows it's him.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Alan Rosenberg]

They might not even go to commercial. He might even get the walking in from the bullpen kind of situation. Or if he's starting the inning coming out of the. Whatever it is, there'll be a camera on him. There'll be the clock to see if he hits 100. There'll be all that stuff, reactions. They'll cut like the director is going to be cutting me a million cuts. Cut to the crowd, cut to his family. Right. Cut to the managers, cut to the opposing players. Let's see what judge thinks. All that stuff, his reaction. You're going to show different players and their reactions. They're going to do that a lot. And that will make it cinema. And in the end, that's what All Star weekends for all these sports has become. And maybe that's what we just need to let go of. It's not about rewarding players in the standard and who deserves it and who has earned it. Who's put in the time. No, now it is simply about who's viral and how can we go viral too.

[Don Hahn]

It's a different world now. I'm gonna go back, I guess. It was 1976. I was eight years old. The big story in 1976. I know I'm an old man, but. Listen up, kids.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Bruce Jenner, Mark Fidrich. Okay.

[Don Hahn]

All right.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Oh, yeah.

[Don Hahn]

A phenom. Detroit Tiger mowing everybody down. There was no baseball package. There was no espn. So you just heard whispers, buzz, right? Yep. You heard conversation about this Wacky stork looking bird person for the Tigers. That is embarrassing. American League pitching.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

And then one night on a Monday at Yankee Stadium, he pitched against the Yankees on Monday Night Baseball and the nation got to see him and it was a big deal. That's not enough now, like, oh, he'll, he'll, Mizorowski will pitch on Sunday Night Baseball. No offense to our company. Sunday Night baseball's not, not drawing people in, not, not the way it did.

[Alan Rosenberg]

If it's Yankees, Red sox, you'll get 2 million.

[Don Hahn]

But, but I'm saying is, is that there was a time when you only had your seven channels that, hey, the All Star Game was your chance to see everything. Monday Night Baseball or Monday Night Football was your chance to see everything. Now we can see anything that we want and we choose a lot of times not to bother to watch it. Or as you said, I'm watching on reels, I'm taking a look at what's on TikTok. I've seen him pitch 12 hours after the fact, but I'm not interested in watching him pitch now.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Yeah, we're in trouble.

[Don Hahn]

So when you get that moment where the baseball world is watching, you want to be able to take advantage of it. Because back in the day, yeah, I'd see him on NBC on a Saturday afternoon or we'd see him on Monday Night Baseball. But those things don't gravitate the audience that they used to. You know, you said 2 million people might watch Yankees, Red Sox and they'll pat themselves on the back for doing it. Back when we were kids, you know, there'd be 30 million people watching it. The world would watch it. So there's too much competition, Alan, to not take advantage of a moment where you say, screw, he's only made five starts. This could be big for our sport. Let's put him in the game again.

[Alan Rosenberg]

You have to. And I want to be clear on this. When we talk about this stuff, a lot of times, I don't ever want an older generation to feel marginalized. Cuz I don't think it's fair because that does happen a lot. We have talked about this where it's, you know, well, they're not, they're not marketing to you anymore. They're not catering to you anymore. You're old, you're now the dying generation. They need the next generation because that's their new customers. And while that business wise, is certainly understandable, I also think it's disrespectful to customers that you already have, right? So you can't just say to people, well, get over it, because your generation's not the one being served anymore. You gotta serve them too. You still have to have some modicum of standard that a lot of the older generation appreciates. That's why I said yesterday the kid. The right thing to do was the kid should have said, boy, I'm honored, but I'll go, but I shouldn't be in this game. I don't deserve it. And then let the other vets go, no, kid, you deserve it. You're the show. We want you here. Let it happen that way. And now everybody's in. Instead, now you drew a line and there will be people watching going, what the hell is this kid doing here? He didn't earn it. Oh, yeah, great. So he throws 100. That's nice. Wait till he gets Tommy John next year. He's 23. Like you're gonna see that kind of a dividend. I don't want that happening with the fan base. But for baseball, it's conversation. Everybody's talking about it. Whether you love it or hate it, you're saying something about it. And if you're baseball, you need that. You need that because in another two weeks you're gonna go obsolete because football's gonna be.

[Don Hahn]

You gotta cultivate the younger generation because you might look at it as disrespecting the older generation. They know they're not going anywhere. They'll hate watch, right? So they're still gonna watch. Nobody's gonna say, I can't believe kids pitch it.

[Alan Rosenberg]

See, that's the problem.

[Don Hahn]

But doesn't matter. You're still consuming it and your kids consuming.

[Alan Rosenberg]

But I'm now annoyed.

[Don Hahn]

I'm bothered by it now, but all right, so I make the 50 something happy, but I got to make sure that 12 year old or that 15 year old falls in love with the sport so he can eventually become a guy that gets paid and uses his disposable income on the sport.

[Alan Rosenberg]

All the leagues do it. You got these YouTube sensations sitting courtside at NBA playoff games and they're showing them all the time. And you're going like, what the hell are you showing this guy for?

[Don Hahn]

I know, but.

[Alan Rosenberg]

But it's because the kids all know who he is.

[Don Hahn]

But he and Manford said, and you know, I'm not the biggest man for fan. It's not something we'll do all the time, but when you do get the opportunity, take advantage of this.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Felt like one of those, we should strike while the iron on this thing.

[Don Hahn]

Something'S going on here. Let's take advantage of it. You know, and I.

[Alan Rosenberg]

How often do you think we're going to see Livy Dunn during the broadcast? Livy Dunn's going to be the Taylor Swift of Major league baseball. They're going to show her a million times.

[Don Hahn]

But, you know, it's interesting. Football that Prince money and people will watch pap still show Taylor Swift, because you can always get bigger. You can always get a different audience as much as football owns sports right now in television, period. And they have the highest rated programs all year. You know what? We can find a way to get a few more million people watching us then.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Can I go back to the Home Run Derby for a minute?

[Don Hahn]

Yes.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Because if this is what we're doing, we're introducing a player like Cal Raleigh to the world, essentially because he, you know, he plays in the Pacific Northwest and you're not seeing a ton of him nationally. And so you, You. You might see the name if you care enough to look at stats, but other than that, most people, you're right, didn't know. And there he is just hitting, you know, bomb after bomb. And, you know, he had the. The. The. The extra few foot. Was it inches?

[Don Hahn]

What was it that decided 0.8.

[Alan Rosenberg]

So they had to use that rule.

[Don Hahn]

Which is already rucker out, which was.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Little shady, but okay, why not have just a home? Like, all right, each get five swings. Whoever hits the most, let's go just do that. Anyways, did. Did they mention his butt enough for you now? Well, was there enough mention Dumper? Do we need this?

[Don Hahn]

Probably not.

[Alan Rosenberg]

If you were him, wouldn't you be like, guys, enough? All right, I get it now. He had a towel. He had the whole thing. So he's leaning into it. I get it. But on both broadcasts, it's all they don. It's all they talked about. One of the lines was this. Look at this. One of the lines was, he puts the max in gluteus maximus. I turned. I had to turn the sound off.

[Don Hahn]

All I know is, enough already.

[Alan Rosenberg]

The guy's hitting home runs, and all you want to talk about is the guy's is his butt. Kirby Puckett had a bigger butt.

[Caller]

Give me a little bit.

[Don Hahn]

Honestly, I don't want to rip anybody.

[Alan Rosenberg]

And then the dad is out there throwing. Now the dad is built a little different. He's an older, older guy. The brother's catching, the dad's pitching. It's a great story. And then we got to go. Well, you know, clearly, when you look at the dad's physique. He didn't get the butt from his dad.

[Don Hahn]

You know what?

[Alan Rosenberg]

And now you're like, oh, here we go. I'll tell you, this is what we're going to do.

[Don Hahn]

Then find something else. If you're hammering the same thing, then just do a better broadcast. Then I'm all I'd like. I don't want to have to say the same. Yeah, funny ones. Enough.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Move on.

[Don Hahn]

Enough.

[Alan Rosenberg]

It's a joke.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, it's not perfect.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Over and over, every time the guy came to bat, it's like, can we stop talking about it? It's a funny nickname. Then we keep it moving.

[Don Hahn]

Let's hear from you. 1-800-919-3776 Jay out Long beach running ESPN New York. What's up, Jay?

[Caller]

Hey, John. What's happening? Great show. Just want to say, you were talking about, like, the All Star Game, the NHL all star game, Four nations and how no one watched Connor McDavid in the finals. Then they watched him in the Four nations and then didn't watch him again in the finals.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Right.

[Caller]

And it just, it just shows. Like they said, the author game. It. It's like, I try explaining. Feels like it's like wishing it was Christmas when you were eight. It's great because you were eight. The All Star Game to me was exciting. And again they ruined it with interleague play. Not that they ruined it, but they.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Gave me more of what I wanted. I agree.

[Caller]

Like to see Don Mattingly, maybe face Doc Gooden.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Caller]

That's what I wanted to see.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Caller]

Or see Shohei Ohtani might pitch the judge tonight. Well, I get to see that now. So they gave me more of what I wanted and then they're asking me to show up. You know, I'd like. You'd be like, like again, bring it back to the holidays. Like getting a Christmas present in, you know, mid December and then pretending to be excited on Christmas Day. Like, you gave me more presents. Baseball did a great job.

[Alan Rosenberg]

See, I'm better.

[Caller]

And we're still like, again. I get it. I'm. I'm 50 some, you know, old enough, you know, and my kid Allen, he loved All Star Games when he was a little kid. He loved the NBA All Star Game. And now he's in his 20s and it's not as big to him. Right?

[Don Hahn]

It's not.

[Alan Rosenberg]

But Jay nailed it. Jay. That's exactly it. Just baseball now. But that was. I remember when I was a kid and I watched, I watched all the games. I love The All Star Games, because. And by the way, they're going back to them wearing their jerseys now. No longer this stupid. You know, and that's great because that was also cool. Like, everybody was wearing their jerseys, but they was like home and away. And the matchups and the moments where you had even, like just double play combinations where it's just two superstars who were on opposite teams. You didn't have player movement. Like, there was something.

[Don Hahn]

That's how. But that's how. There's a novelty to that. Right?

[Alan Rosenberg]

But that's how it's gone now because of interleague play.

[Don Hahn]

And he said, I contradicted myself. I didn't get to find out exactly why I contradicted. I don't know. I'd love to see a callback. I was just kind of curious what I. How I was contradicting. That's how it hooked us. But this younger generation isn't gonna get hooked by that. They're gonna get hooked by something else.

[Alan Rosenberg]

But what is it?

[Don Hahn]

It's like moments where we're talking about, like, maybe it's the Home Run Derby. Maybe it's seeing.

[Alan Rosenberg]

You know what it is?

[Don Hahn]

A kid pitching in there and bucking the stage.

[Alan Rosenberg]

I'll tell you what it is.

[Don Hahn]

Like, maybe they'd sit there and go, oh, Don and Allen, you know, complaining that he's only had five starts and the standard. No, they don't care about the standard. They care about what's exciting.

[Alan Rosenberg]

I'm going to tell you right now, this is what I think, and this is from you. Pay attention. Enough. You know, the All Star Game for baseball, if they want it to be successful, they should play it like the Savannah Bananas. You think I'm crazy?

[Don Hahn]

Look in the crowd.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Look in the crowd.

[Don Hahn]

Marco loves that.

[Alan Rosenberg]

They love it. And I'm not talking about some of the extra stuff that they do. I mean, fly ball to right field. Here comes Judge behind the back.

[Don Hahn]

Catch, right? No, but they won't do that.

[Alan Rosenberg]

But that's. You want to do something? See, the NBA All Star Game had a moment when they were starting to do some N.1 stuff. And it was fun to watch, like the extra dribbles, the alley oops. That then it suddenly became the spectacle of street ball, that you're like, whoa, this is the essence of the game. It's fun. And I think if you want the Major League Baseball All Star Game to have any type of impact, where it's viral, where there's moments you're going to capture, that's what you want to see. You remember, was it Griffey that put the hat backwards?

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Like, it's little things like that.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, that. I mean, if you want to have fun, people when. Remember people flipped out when Torry Hunter robbed Barry Bonds of a home run in center field, like, 20 years ago, and Barry ran out to center field and, like, carried him back. And people are like, oh, I guess this is. This kid. Doesn't mean anything. Look how they're being played. I like that.

[Alan Rosenberg]

No, that's fine.

[Don Hahn]

But the problem with the behind the back, and obviously they're not going to flip because guys can get hurt.

[Alan Rosenberg]

They don't want to get hurt.

[Don Hahn]

Players don't want to embarrass themselves. Like, the reason players don't go into the dunk competition is not because they don't want to do it. It's that they don't want to lose, they don't want to fail.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

They don't want to do the twisting dunk between the legs and then miss the dunk.

[Alan Rosenberg]

You don't want to embarrass themselves, too.

[Don Hahn]

You know, it's. And for people that don't know what the Savannah Bananas are, it's basically the Harlem Globetrotters, and it's very, very, very entertaining.

[Alan Rosenberg]

They are selling out. They were starting out in Minor League parks. 10,000, you know, 8,000. They are selling out major league parks all around Minnesota.

[Don Hahn]

My son and nephew are both baseball fans, and the other day I saw them watching YouTube and they were watching that.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Now, the difference is, I bet you if you go to a game because I've gone to the Harlem Globetrotters, I take the kids usually every February there.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Yeah, they're awesome.

[Don Hahn]

They don't make every shot, but when you watch it on video on YouTube, you don't see the flip that doesn't stick.

[Alan Rosenberg]

What are you saying?

[Don Hahn]

But if you had the ball players play like that and Judge misses the behind the back, he'll be embarrassed. So he's not going to want to do it. So they're not going to play it to that extent. Have fun. I agree. But doing.

[Alan Rosenberg]

You don't think tricks. You don't think tricks.

[Don Hahn]

No, they won't do it. There's no way they would do it, because if they fail, they'll be embarrassed.

[Alan Rosenberg]

That's what you were talking about, about how do you sell the game. Now, again, I'm not saying don't go clown.

[Don Hahn]

Don't go clown, clown. But you know what?

[Alan Rosenberg]

Give the shoes.

[Don Hahn]

And I think what you're seeing is, you know, Giving the fans what they want. Introduce your special stories. Cal Raleigh and Mizorowski have been stories of the first half of the season. Here is a chance to feature those guys in the two events that you have.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Never mind that. Skeens and Scuba, these are two of the best pitchers.

[Don Hahn]

They did it for Skeens a couple of years ago when he only had 11 stars. So it's not unprecedented.

[Alan Rosenberg]

It's not totally unprecedented.

[Caller]

You know what?

[Don Hahn]

And we might go another 10 years before.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Can we, can we, can we not tonight on the broadcast. Keep talking about Cal Raleigh's ass. Can we just stop? Enough already. I feel like that's overkill now. It's not funny anymore.

[Don Hahn]

I think it's a bit of a.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Better broadcast and that's. That's. We're done there. But, but tonight. Tonight. What are you looking for? What are you looking for?

[Don Hahn]

I wouldn't mind seeing the National League win. They never seem to win the All Star Game. It's not like I'm going to watch it. It's going to be on. I'm sure Marco. Declan's over this summer. Marco. Going to want to watch it for a little while. I'll keep it on. But what am I looking for? I don't. It's not for me and I get it. I'm good. All right, you've already got me. I'm going to watch the second half of the season. So do whatever you can to get my son, who's seven and a half, to fall in love with the sport the way I did. Because I'm telling you, I didn't have much when I was a kid. I'm not talking about money. There wasn't much on, there wasn't much to do. We watched the game of the week because word are the options. I had like four other channels to watch, right? My son and my nephew love baseball, but they got a billion sports and other things that they can watch. So baseball's got more competition. I want them to fall in love with the game the way I did. So make sure that at the end of the day that he's entertained. And if the 60 year old curmudgeon screaming at the TV gets upset, baseball's got to live with that. Because in order for Marco to become the 60 year old curmudgeon, he's got to fall in love with the sport now. Because if he doesn't, then you lose that whole audience and a generation of fans that, let's face it, over the last few years, baseball has lost. I know it sounds ridiculous to a younger generation. Football always wasn't always king.

[Alan Rosenberg]

No, I know.

[Don Hahn]

Baseball used to be king. And then slowly football has taken over everything and consumed it like a monster. And now basketball is threatening baseball as our national pastime, our second national pastime. So you got to get to work and you got to get to work on that younger generation. That's going to be the future people that consume your sport. This is an ad by BetterHelp. Workplace stress is now one of the top causes of declining mental health, with 61% of the global workforce experiencing higher than normal levels of stress. To battle stress, most of us can't wave goodbye to work. But we can start small with a focus on wellness. With over 30,000 therapists, BetterHelp is the world's largest online therapy platform, having served over 5 million people globally. And it works with an App store rating of 4.9 out of 5 based on over 1.7 million client reviews. It's convenient too. You can join a session with a therapist at the click of a button, helping you fit therapy into your busy life, plus switch therapists at any time. As largest online therapy provider in the world, BetterHelp can provide access to mental health professionals with a diverse variety of expertise. Unwind from work with BetterHelp, our listeners get 10% off their first month at betterhelp.com timeout. That's betterhelp.com timeout with a Venmo debit.

[Alan Rosenberg]

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[Don Hahn]

You can use your balance in so many ways.

[Alan Rosenberg]

You can Venmo everything. Need gas? You can Venmo this. How about snacks? You can Venmo that. Your favorite band's merch? You can Venmo this or their next show. You can Venmo that.

[Don Hahn]

Visit Venmo Me Debit to learn more.

[Alan Rosenberg]

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[Don Hahn]

Bancorp bank and a pursuant to license. My MasterCard International Incorporated card may be used everywhere.

[Alan Rosenberg]

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[Don Hahn]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. Sometimes you just can't take it anymore. You're done. This is let's Talk About It Tuesday with Don Hahn and Rosenberg, Bloomberg. Sponsored by Help.

[Don Hahn]

Time now for let's Talk about it, sponsored by Better Health. Mental health is health. Why don't you start it off, Alan?

[Alan Rosenberg]

Well, this morning. This was this morning. Yes, on the. The morning show. Our pinhead suit, John Winthrop, who refused to sit in with us yesterday when we asked him, remember, we were talking about something off the air and we're like, sit down and join us. And he said, no, no, no, it's too big for that. Had no problem jumping in on the morning show, though. And they were discussing, you know, we really need to talk about Dave Rothenberg, and I need you to tell me if you think that this is real. Like, this is a BS Meter kind of thing. Like, is this an act or is he being real? Listen to this conversation that they had. They were asking Dave a question. So here's John Winthrop asking Dave about one of these, you know, how much do you really love football type things? Follow me on this one. If she was motivated to do so, wink, wink, winking at the camera. Could your wife lure you away from an important football game of your favorite team?

[Don Hahn]

There's no chance.

[Alan Rosenberg]

No chance.

[Don Hahn]

None.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Okay, yes. Let me paint the picture here.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Alan Rosenberg]

She's dusting off things you haven't seen since your wedding night.

[Caller]

I don't care.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Really. It's a great line. No, everything's on the table. Maybe even the table. No.

[Caller]

No.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Maybe even the table.

[Caller]

No.

[Alan Rosenberg]

No chance.

[Don Hahn]

What's wrong with you? A lot I feel bad for Sherry. I do. Well, you know what?

[Alan Rosenberg]

Because I. Regular season. What is just a regular season Giant game. No chance. I don't even enter the room pre wedding night.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, no.

[Alan Rosenberg]

All right, you.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, yeah, of course. He's. He's easy.

[Alan Rosenberg]

All right.

[Don Hahn]

I mean, anything's probably included in the.

[Alan Rosenberg]

So this, this.

[Don Hahn]

Now can I be doing my deed or. While the game is on. What are you, Wookie. Now go make me chocolate chip cookies. I have a question to follow up.

[Alan Rosenberg]

All right, so that's interesting.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. No, otherwise, absolutely.

[Alan Rosenberg]

I think Sherry's gonna be pretty disappointed. She's gonna tell you it won't be the first one. By the way, I ran this question by my wife last night. I know I can guarantee this season I'm gonna be tested.

[Don Hahn]

What's your answer?

[Alan Rosenberg]

She asked me that. I said, depends on the level of game.

[Don Hahn]

There's a chance that there is a battery shortage in Western football. Wow. They work. Blue in the morning.

[Alan Rosenberg]

I love it. Dvhr with the mic drop.

[Don Hahn]

And that was Matt Boombaka, right? It was. Who's talking?

[Alan Rosenberg]

John Winthrop.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, that was. It didn't sound like John.

[Alan Rosenberg]

That was John Winthrop. Yeah, John had some great lines.

[Don Hahn]

Did not sound like John.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Dusting off things you haven't seen since your wedding night. Like, he had some really good lines.

[Don Hahn]

Like John at all.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Everything's on the table. Even the table could be on the table.

[Don Hahn]

Jacob agrees with me. That didn't sound like John at all.

[Alan Rosenberg]

That was John. Very good.

[Don Hahn]

I listened to it live and I.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Thought it was boom baka. No, that was John. That's why I was annoyed, because I'm like, he wouldn't come on with us. He was great.

[Don Hahn]

He was very good.

[Alan Rosenberg]

So anyways, can we just talk about this? Are there really men out there that would give the Heisman to their wives because of a football game? And you heard what John said. Everything's like, anything's possible now.

[Don Hahn]

Can I.

[Alan Rosenberg]

She's ready to go.

[Don Hahn]

Can I rule on it?

[Alan Rosenberg]

I can't. The 2 and 9 giants are playing that.

[Don Hahn]

See, that's why I think no chance. That's why I think it's performative. Because he wants to let the world know that he's the biggest Giant fan. Now, there's no way to define that other than to say I never miss a play. I would not have sex with my wife and watch the 2 and 9 giants play because I'm a big fan.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Well, I'd be hard.

[Don Hahn]

You're a mort.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Let's be honest. If you're watching the Giants and they're two and nine, you might not be able to perform.

[Don Hahn]

I don't want to. I don't want to ruin.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Be really difficult to be what you need to be for her in that moment.

[Don Hahn]

I don't do the jets anymore. My Sundays are free to watch football. Obviously, there's other things that get in the way with family and everything. Because I'm a human being that loves my family. And they're like, Dave, he treats them like cardboard cutouts. And the evidence continues to pile up. Is at 2 and 9, I'm watching the Giants. I'm not even watching football. I'm watching, like, a facsimile of football and I think to myself, boy, you know what I'd love to be doing right now?

[Alan Rosenberg]

Anything else?

[Don Hahn]

Anything else. Never mind. Having relations with my wife.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Yeah, that'd be great.

[Don Hahn]

Where I'm gonna give the Heisman and, you know, we're getting to an age. I can't speak for Alba myself that, you know, these opportunities. If I say no, it could be 27 before I get another opportunity during the football season like that. And also, I don't want to ruin the whole thing, but we do have the technology. Just hit pause. This is not 1978, you know, this is. This is not 1989 where I got to throw in a VHS cassette. I just hit pause. And knowing Dave, you're not going to miss much.

[Alan Rosenberg]

I mean, I would be.

[Don Hahn]

I wouldn't be surprised if you don't miss a. When you hit play. There's still no huddle.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Well, think about this. Halftime. How long is halftime? 12 minutes, 15 minutes? I mean, what are you going to do? What are you going to do with the other 14 minutes and 30 seconds? Let's be honest.

[Don Hahn]

Exactly what are you doing?

[Alan Rosenberg]

Like, that's. That's why I heard this. And I'm going, are you leaning in too much? Because it's not.

[Don Hahn]

He's leaning in too much. Because that doesn't make any. It doesn't make. Listen, we're not talking about the Super Bowl. We're not talking about in. You're winning, in losing out season games. As I've said many times, like, I don't. I don't get cheerleaders.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Come on.

[Don Hahn]

Because I don't need it. I'm watching my football. I don't need any other distraction. All right? That's me. So I kind of lean on. Listen, I could separate the two.

[Alan Rosenberg]

All right?

[Don Hahn]

And if in a perfect world, maybe we'll wait till later. But the scenario that John is painting is it's now or never. And you're not going to hit pause. And the Giants are two and night. No, he's leaning into. I'm a bigger fan. I almost take offense to it because. Oh, because I took the jet job. I'm not a real Giant fan. Because I'm listening to the Giant game outside because it's a warm Sunday in September and Marco wants to throw the baseball around. And I go, you know what? I don't know. Tomorrow's not promised to anybody. I'm gonna listen to the game. That's why I know everything that, like, Papa and Banks are saying. Because a lot of times I'm consuming on the radio?

[Alan Rosenberg]

Yep.

[Don Hahn]

So I can't be as good. You know what?

[Alan Rosenberg]

I'm good. How are you a Giants fan if you don't burn your wedding album when they lose? See, that's the thing.

[Don Hahn]

I am gonna come up with things.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Kind of fan. Are you?

[Don Hahn]

I'm gonna come up with Bridges Too Far. That I'm willing to do. Because I'm such a fan that you're not. That makes me a better fan, thus makes me a better person. I'm not buying into it.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Yeah, but the look, there's. There. There are several things that are essential for a man's life. The one that John describes might be more important than food. This, to me, there's no chance that there's anything. Game 7, NBA Finals, Knicks at the Garden. If Stephanie just has that look in her eye. Good luck, boys. I got some work to do. Because my. Is my life. It's more important to me. You know what I mean?

[Don Hahn]

That's. You painted a scenario where you're going to lose a lot of people.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Why is that?

[Don Hahn]

Game seven.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Listen, you can.

[Don Hahn]

First of all, DVR is broken it. Pause.

[Alan Rosenberg]

If I'm not there, right? If I'm not in the bill, like, years later, I'm retired, happily retired, and all that stuff. And now they finally have a chance. It's the first time since whatever, 94 that they're in a game seven NBA finals and I'm somewhere home. And she just has that look in her eye. Yeah, I'm good.

[Don Hahn]

Could you do both?

[Alan Rosenberg]

Who hasn't, by the way? Hell, yeah.

[Don Hahn]

No, it's not. But something's gonna suffer. And if. And if it's that, then, you know, that's where the stamina comes in. It makes you look like a hero, Right? Some people actually think about baseball to get through. Now you can actually watch it if you want. There's also the fact that there's the. There's something about. This is so inappropriate. This is not the time where you now have to do it. You know what I'm saying? Like, anybody can just, in the middle of the night, roll over and say, hey, honey, you're in the mood. That's. That's a layup, right?

[Alan Rosenberg]

Game 5, Shea Stadium, 2000. Nobody's in the bathroom.

[Don Hahn]

And it's just like, there's no way that that would ever be asked. And then it's asked.

[Alan Rosenberg]

The look down gave me. Wait, the look Don gave me.

[Don Hahn]

Because I started thinking, you know, you had to go there.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Well, what do you mean? Who says it. It hasn't Happened. It definitely does happen.

[Don Hahn]

You're very. Being very specific.

[Alan Rosenberg]

I'm just saying.

[Don Hahn]

But, you know, you had won the previous two World Series, so.

[Alan Rosenberg]

All right, but this was three in a row. But.

[Don Hahn]

But the layer. It's hit. What if you missed the Laritz hit? Well, you've. You're just a. You're just a.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Already got an rbi, for God's sake. Already got an rbi.

[Don Hahn]

But there's something about the moment, right? Like where it's Sunday afternoon. I. I think the Giant game is on and it's going to happen now.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Like, I'm calling. But, dude, this is. This is that segment.

[Don Hahn]

This is like a night rainbow. This. This is something you don't see every day. You got to take advantage of it. There'll be other plays. And again. He wouldn't hit. Pause.

[Alan Rosenberg]

No, again. 2 and 9 in. In. In a season going nowhere. And you're going.

[Don Hahn]

That's what you're hoping for.

[Alan Rosenberg]

No, put some. Put your clothes back on. What are you doing? I'm watching the game. You think he's really gonna say that? Sorry, bro, there's no chance. You know, I'm not buying it. I don't believe it. It was a nice segment, but I'm not buying it. That's what I wanted to talk about today. I'm not buying it. I'm not buying any of this anymore.

[Don Hahn]

It's gotta be. I know John doesn't like to talk on our show.

[Alan Rosenberg]

No, he's only contractally obligated to talk.

[Don Hahn]

On the morning show. Nod. Do you think it's performative or do you think he. He really believes this garbage that he's spewing out?

[Alan Rosenberg]

Unless he had an accident years ago and he just can't perform anymore.

[Don Hahn]

Now here's the thing.

[Alan Rosenberg]

He told the story on air last week that this scenario actually played out in real life, where it was Colts, Buccaneers, Monday nighter, the epic comeback. And Sherry, his wife, turned to him and said, like, hey, can we shut off the game and have some alone time? So he agreed. Colts came back from like 21 down. Last. Last three minutes. He's in the shower the next morning, hears this happened, and he loses it goes into like, it's not even a Giant game. So he told her then never again. Never again do I turn off football for you. He's a moron. Not buying that.

[Don Hahn]

No, not buying this.

[Alan Rosenberg]

If this is.

[Don Hahn]

That's stupid. No, that's not even your team.

[Alan Rosenberg]

That doesn't even make sense. So really, it must have been really bad. Oh, boy. I'm not going there. It had to have been terrible. It had for him. He's probably like, you know, it wasn't even worth it because honestly.

[Don Hahn]

So you got, like, who looks back.

[Alan Rosenberg]

And goes, boy, that was. I wasted those 35 seconds. I could have been watching that game instead. Like, come on. Like, no way.

[Don Hahn]

I'm not buying two tongue depressors in an elastic band. I mean, what are we doing here?

[Alan Rosenberg]

Here's what I'll say. I'll steer clear of that, too. Here's what I say. Do I think it's performative?

[Caller]

No.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Because I know, as a Super Jet fan, I've already had this conversation with my wife. I was like, don't get any ideas that you're. All season. You're gonna try and test me now because I know how she is. Every Sunday. It's gonna be some kind of test of my.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, my God, I wanna live in your world. I want these first world problems. Isn't that the last time I DVR'd a playoff game? Was the Chiefs scoring that in 13 seconds, getting the field goal range. I had to pause it because Jalen's projectile vomiting. I didn't sit there and go, nancy, take care of this. Game's on. No, I paused it like a human being and cleaned the mess up. That's my world. Meanwhile, your wives are prancing around naked in the living room trying to get your attention away from a game, and it's a problem.

[Alan Rosenberg]

It's a problem.

[Don Hahn]

Dear God. It's like the Playboy Mansion. Swear to God, like, you got a grotto.

[Alan Rosenberg]

No, it's great. Well, how did we start our meeting?

[Don Hahn]

Good for you.

[Alan Rosenberg]

How did we start our show meeting this morning? I said, I came home yesterday. I said, where are all the kids? And she's like, oh, they're grandmas.

[Don Hahn]

I said, oh, I went to a.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Concert at the house.

[Don Hahn]

To ourselves. You know what I did?

[Alan Rosenberg]

I went to bed because I was.

[Don Hahn]

Able to get some sleep. Finally. You guys are just. It's like, I work with fiends.

[Alan Rosenberg]

What do you mean?

[Don Hahn]

God, I just would like to be you for one weekend.

[Alan Rosenberg]

It's.

[Don Hahn]

It's. I don't know.

[Alan Rosenberg]

That's not what marriage is. I'm.

[Don Hahn]

I don't know.

[Alan Rosenberg]

That's what I thought.

[Don Hahn]

Every two years. Not my marriage.

[Alan Rosenberg]

How do you think it happens? That's what I'm saying.

[Don Hahn]

Dear God.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Well, be fruitful and multiply.

[Don Hahn]

I. I get it.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Do you?

[Don Hahn]

No. That was. Talk about it.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Sponsored by better help.

[Don Hahn]

Visit betterhelp.com timeout today for 10% off your first month of therapy. I think Dave needs therapy. I think you guys have an. I think.

[Alan Rosenberg]

You know what?

[Don Hahn]

I'm starting to wonder if you guys have issues.

[Alan Rosenberg]

I need to know if there's anybody out there that would be like, honestly or are they more like myself and John.

[Don Hahn]

No, listen, nobody's like Dave. I want to know if you guys are more like me or like these guys. God, this is a problem for you. Nice, nice lives. No wonder you guys are always smiling. 1-800-919-3776 what am I known for My.

[Alan Rosenberg]

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[Don Hahn]

Not a member.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Join Mylowes Pro Rewards for free today and get ready to save more Lowes. We help you save loyalty programs subject to terms and conditions.

[Don Hahn]

Details@lowe's.com Terms subject to change.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Put us in a box. Go ahead. That just gives us something to break out of because the next generation 202025.

[Don Hahn]

GMC terrain elevation is raising the standard.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Of what comes standard.

[Don Hahn]

As far as expectations go, why meet.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Them when you can shatter them? What we choose to challenge, we challenge completely.

[Don Hahn]

We are professional grade.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Visit gmc.com to learn more. Hey, it's Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile. Now I was looking for fun ways to tell you that Mint's offer of unlimited Premium Wireless for $15 a month is back. So I thought it would be fun if we made $15 bills, but it turns out that's very illegal. So there goes my big idea for the commercial.

[Don Hahn]

Give it a [e-mail] Switch upfront payment of $45 for 3 month plan equivalent to $15 per month required new customer offer for first 3 months only. Speed slow after 35 gigabytes of networks busy taxes and fees extra. See mintmobile.com thanks for listening to the.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Don Hahn and Rosenberg Podcast.

[Don Hahn]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Alan Rosenberg]

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

[Don Hahn]

Got a reaction from Sir Harvey Cruz. Like the funniest segment in the history of Don Hanna Rosenberg and I can't disagree.

[Alan Rosenberg]

And we had to borrow from another show. What does that say about us?

[Don Hahn]

It shows that we have good taste, made it work as you know what, when they did it, it wasn't nearly as funny as when we evaluated it. But no it was Good stuff. Good stuff. 1-800-919-3776. That was a heck of a talk about a Tuesday.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Listen, we had to talk about something.

[Don Hahn]

Well, then, listen.

[Alan Rosenberg]

We talked about. That's something I felt we needed to talk about after hearing that. I'm not. I just. I'm not buying it.

[Don Hahn]

So there's that. There's the baseball.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Yep.

[Don Hahn]

Sauce Gardner's contract. 1-800-919-3776. So let's talk to Iron Staten Island. You're on ESPN, New York. What's up? I.

[Caller]

Hey, Dylan Allen, that was pretty funny segment.

[Don Hahn]

Where do you stand on the whole thing? Would you think you'd be able to hit pause or what would you do?

[Caller]

Well, I. To be honest with you, I get enough activity where I don't have to worry about it when the Amazon.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, good for you.

[Alan Rosenberg]

I. Good for you.

[Don Hahn]

All right, what do you got, man?

[Caller]

Okay, so as to. So we discussed it yesterday. Listen, you know, they know more than I do, of course, but I just think, you know, we had that conversation. I would have made him play on his existing contract and give him the money next year, but, you know, it's not my money. Woody Johnson just doled out $250 million. To be honest with you, if these guys don't produce right away, you're talking about the noose around Moogie and Glenn's neck. Woody's gonna have very little patience if these two guys don't produce.

[Don Hahn]

Well, I think he'll have longer patience than you think. I mean, I think they're in this regime for the long haul. Ira. Yeah. It'll look bad for Muji if, for some reason, Sauce and Garrett don't play well immediately. But it feels like for everything that the jets have done, they're basically telling you, hey, it's not about this year. It's about building a standard. It's about building a culture that doesn't happen overnight. So I listen. Woody's very unpredictable, but at the end of the day, I think that they are in it for the long haul with this team. When I say long haul, I think you're going to see at least two, three years. And in year three, if you start to see slippage, if you start to see it's not there, then the crows will be yapping. But right now, I think they're good with what they have, and they're going to want to see, at least for a couple of years, what they can do. Kadeem in Brooklyn, you're on espn, New York Man. What's up?

[Caller]

Gentlemen? Good afternoon. I usually don't do back to back, but I was as compelled with your conversation about the All Star Game earlier as I was about the Hertz combo yesterday. So forgive me, I'm done bothering you.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Love it. We love it.

[Don Hahn]

Call every day.

[Caller]

And I appreciate you. And Don, I gotta tell you the quick aside, I told, I sent my friends like the, our exchange and all they've been telling in the group chat is stop hanging on the rim. So they got a kick out of that. But yeah, no, as far as just the All Star Game, I, I remember when I was a kid growing up in the early 2000s, like I look forward to baseball tonight. Like I look forward to, you know, Sunday night baseball with Joe Morgan and Harold Reynolds and those guys. Like it was, it felt like an event. And now I feel like. I don't know, Don, because you're the NHL guy. I feel like now we're getting to the point because the world's moving so fast and there's just so much going on. I just feel like baseball gonna turn into one of those sports like the NHL where it's like you don't really have a casual NHL fan. You either are kind of, you know, you're, you're a full bore, you know, die hard or you don't watch it at all. And unfortunately, I feel like that's kind of where baseball is headed. I don't want it to be the case because I love the sport, but I just wanted to get your guys thoughts on that. I appreciate y'. All.

[Alan Rosenberg]

I think that's, I was gonna say, Don, I think sports are way more regional now than ever before.

[Don Hahn]

Even basketball now.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Yeah, but, but basketball has the national appeal of the star players, like the select five players that everybody in the country cares about. But for the most part, team to team, you know, you're not, you know, you're going to see more regional. And I think the only sport that doesn't have to deal with that is the obvious. It's football. I think that still you're going to get people watching when it's just a good game.

[Don Hahn]

But football also has the benefit of just once a week even adding the Thursday games. They're still, they don't saturate, they don't.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Over saturate you with the, with the product.

[Don Hahn]

But I think that now he, what he's concerned about it becoming. It has already become. Listen, it's about the casuals don't find enough to become passionate about baseball. But people have to Realize that the die hards of the minority, like the people that watch every game, they go to every game. Those are the minority. They're the loudest, and they feel like they're the majority, but they're the minority. What really moves the needle is when you get the casuals that watch the game and consume the sport. Of course. All right, you had for Four nations, probably 2 million diehard hockey fans. That meant 7 million were like, let me check this out.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Let me see what this is about.

[Don Hahn]

You know? And that's what moves the needle. That's what gets the ratings, is to get the casual people involved. The diehards are in the minority, and that's why you don't build your sport around the diehards, because thus the name, they die hard. They're not going away. They're always gonna stick around. How do I get the casual? Casual, by definition, is somebody. They'll come and go as they please. They're window shopping. They're easily distracted. Like a cat with the reflection of the watch.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Well, what you're doing is. It's really like, just the same as celebrity watching. It's something famous. Someone famous. There's a lot of talk about this, so I need to, like, love Island. God awful. Like, it's why it's interesting. I can figure it out. But people got interested in it to the point where it was the number two streamed show in the country.

[Don Hahn]

Then it'll go away.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Because why did it get more and more popular? Not because it was really compelling, really great? No, it was because so many people were talking about it that you started feeling left out. Right. I got to watch this now because like my son said, his girlfriend watched this, so she's making him watch it, and he starts watching. Now he's into it because he's watching it. Yeah, it's just become. That's. And that's like sports gets like that. It's Steph Curry becomes a thing. And everybody needs to know about Steph Curry.

[Don Hahn]

And then what you need to do is you need to now display that in your window.

[Alan Rosenberg]

And this is what you're saying about the kid.

[Don Hahn]

That's what I'm saying is Mizorowski is now something that people are buzzing about. And now we're going to put him in the window, because as the people are walking down fifth Avenue, they're going to stop and look.

[Alan Rosenberg]

There you go at the.

[Don Hahn]

The attraction in the window.

[Alan Rosenberg]

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

[Don Hahn]

You've seen the headlines, heard the debates.

[Alan Rosenberg]

Some say the three point ball has.

[Don Hahn]

Created a monotonous rhythm to the has.

[Alan Rosenberg]

The three pointer ruined basketball?

[Don Hahn]

And how did we get here?

[Alan Rosenberg]

The rise of the three point shot.

[Don Hahn]

Can be partially traced to an eccentric Kansas genius named Martin Manley, whose story didn't turn out quite the way he imagined.

[Alan Rosenberg]

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

[Don Hahn]

30 for 30 podcast presents a brand.

[Alan Rosenberg]

New original series, Chasing basketball heaven, available July 22.

[Don Hahn]

Wherever you get your podcasts.