Hour 2: Monica McNutt & Bill Pidto

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 2 (June 3, 2026)

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the magnetic atmosphere surrounding the New York Knicks as they prepare for their final series against the San Antonio Spurs. Hosts Alan Hahn and Peter Rosenberg passionately discuss the unique, all-encompassing energy currently gripping New York, the rarity of such city-wide unity, and the significance of this Knicks run. The episode features special call-ins and interviews, including the highly anticipated insights of Monica McNutt live from San Antonio, and veteran broadcaster Bill Pidto joins for analysis, reflection, and some inside media industry talk.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Knicks Vibe: A City United

TS: [02:29]–[07:51]

• Unprecedented Positivity: The hosts note a special, almost electric feeling taking over New York City, connecting New Yorkers of all backgrounds. Fans, schools, and even first responders are sharing in the excitement.
  • “There’s just something about what this has done to bring a lot of people together and bring some, like, enjoyment, enthusiasm.” – Rosenberg [02:30]
• Comparison to Other Runs: Alan Hahn draws parallels to iconic moments in New York sports (Giants ‘86, Rangers '94), but stresses this Knicks run feels even more unified due to the undivided New York basketball allegiance.
  • “This one hits different because of just how many Knicks fans there are. There is no other team that is going to take away from it.” – Alan Hahn [04:45]
• Single-Team Effect: Discussion of how different New York would feel if it had only one team per major sport, suggesting this year imitates that singular, focused energy.

2. Fans, Superstition, and Adversity

TS: [07:51]–[09:44]

• Will It Be Easy? Hahn reminds listeners that major drought-ending titles rarely come easily, invoking the heart-stopping runs of the Cubs and Red Sox for perspective.

  • “When you're slaying the dragon of 53 years, it shouldn't be this easy. So I just feel like there’s going to be adversity.” – Alan Hahn [09:32]

• Embrace the Ride: Rosenberg encourages fans to enjoy the optimistic moments and not get lost in anxiety or statistics about historical win rates after Game 1 losses.

3. Caller Segment: Game 1's Importance

TS: [14:10]–[19:10]

• Younger Fan Perspective: Braden from Utica (born 2002) expresses anxiety and sees Game 1 as nearly as important as Game 7, especially with Wembanyama at full strength.

  • “This might be the most important game of the series besides a game seven, because of Wemby. He’s the best player in the series." – Braden [15:01]

• Hosts Respond: The hosts counsel him not to overread statistics and remind him of the psychology and resilience teams can show across a series.

  • “For me, Game 1 is critical for them, not as much for the Knicks. And if the Knicks get game one, the whole series is flipped.” – Rosenberg [16:00]
  • They also note, however, that historically, the Game 1 winner does often win the series (about 70% of the time).

4. The Inner City Sports Rivalry

TS: [22:54]–[24:57]

• Debate: Does another local team winning championships bother a fan base? The hosts amicably spar, comparing Jets–Giants and Rangers–Islanders dynamics and what it means for identity and rivalry.
  • “What I always want is the other team in town holds a standard that I have to live up to or I’m holding the standard you have to live up to.” – Rosenberg [24:35]

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Featured Interview: Monica McNutt (Live from San Antonio)

TS: [27:28]–[40:01]

• Vibe in San Antonio: Monica shares insights into the competing moods—Spurs followers are cautiously optimistic, while Knicks fans back home are riding a wave of confidence.

  • “It’s been really interesting because I’ve been sitting with some folks … in their mind, it’s Spurs in seven. … We are in New York and can appreciate how gaudy things have looked. But then here, folks are really obviously impressed with the youthfulness and the defensive intensity around Victor Wembanyama.” [28:56]

• Knicks’ Mindset: The Knicks are “business-like” but confident, benefiting from an 11-game stretch elevating their belief in themselves.

  • “They still understand that the job is not finished. … It has only shown them how good they could actually be as a squad.” [30:17]

• Key Players/Matchups: Monica downplays concern about Mitchell Robinson’s readiness, focusing instead on his crucial role using physicality against Wembanyama.

  • “I expect Mitchell Robinson to play hard. … I’m not. I don’t think this is that big of a deal.” [31:37]

• Stopping the 'Others': She says stopping Spurs role players like Champagne and Fox is more critical than overreacting to highlight plays from Wembanyama.

• Experience vs. Youth: Wembanyama and Spurs may be “early to the party," but their youthful “naivete” can be dangerous. Still, the Knicks’ playoff “scar tissue” could be a deciding factor.

  • “There’s something to be said for the youthful naivete, if you will. … You don’t know what you don’t know. You’re just hooping. And that’s where the Spurs are.” – Monica McNutt [36:59]

• On Finals Nerves: Monica expresses excitement and gratitude for the chance to cover the team so closely:

  • “It is so incredible the way this game, like, ignites cities … I am sort of synonymous with what this team is doing with the organization. … That has really settled in for me being here for the finals. So it’s really cool.” [38:05–39:07]

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Bill Pidto Joins for Media & Knicks Talk

TS: [42:48]–[51:56]

• Who Hosts the Parade If Knicks Win? Good-natured banter about the “right” media personality to MC a championship parade, with Hahn suggesting Bill Pidto if Breen declines due to national bias concerns.

• Why Is This Knicks Team So Likeable?

  • “They’re such a positive group. They always say the right things, are such nice guys. … There’s not one unlikable guy. The coach is amazing. I just think they’re really easy to root for.” – Bill Pidto [46:04]

• Karl-Anthony Towns’ Transformation: Team-first play has changed perceptions, winning over skeptical fans.

  • “If there was ever maybe a thought that maybe he’s not a team guy, without question now, there’s no doubt that he is.” – Bill Pidto [47:29]

• Symmetry and Destiny: Discussion of how the journey—from the first preseason game in Abu Dhabi to now—feels miraculously fated.

• Roster Deep Cuts: The hosts have fun rattling off obscure former Knicks, highlighting badge-of-honor fandom.

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Memorable Quotes

1. “There’s just something about what this has done to bring a lot of people together and bring some, like, enjoyment, enthusiasm.” – Rosenberg [02:30]
2. “This one hits different because of just how many Knicks fans there are. There is no other team that is going to take away from it.” – Alan Hahn [04:45]
3. “When you’re slaying the dragon of 53 years, it shouldn’t be this easy. So I just feel like there’s going to be adversity.” – Alan Hahn [09:32]
4. “This might be the most important game of the series besides a game seven, because of Wemby. He’s the best player in the series.” – Caller Braden [15:01]
5. “If the Knicks get game one, the whole series is flipped. That’s a big deal.” – Rosenberg [16:00]
6. “They always say the right things, are such nice guys … there’s not one unlikable guy. The coach is amazing.” – Bill Pidto [46:04]
7. “It is so incredible the way this game, like, ignites cities and communities.” – Monica McNutt [38:05]

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Important Timestamps

• [02:30] – Rosenberg’s FDNY story: The Knicks’ run and a changed city mood.
• [04:45] – Alan Hahn on this Knicks run feeling different from any past citywide sports moment.
• [09:32] – Alan Hahn: Championship runs require adversity.
• [14:10] – Braden’s call from Utica; young fan anxiety and perspective.
• [16:00] – Rosenberg on the pivotal nature of Game 1 for the Spurs more than Knicks.
• [27:28] – Monica McNutt’s live segment from San Antonio.
• [31:37] – Monica’s take on Mitchell Robinson’s role.
• [36:59] – “Youthful naivete” makes the Spurs dangerous.
• [38:05] – Monica on the emotional energy of finals basketball.
• [46:04] – Bill Pidto on why the Knicks are easy to root for.
• [47:29] – The transformation of Karl-Anthony Towns.
• [49:59] – The “full-circle” Knicks journey from Abu Dhabi to the Finals.
• [51:29] – Fun with obscure former Knicks as proof of “true” fandom.

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Tone and Style

• The show balances passionate, fan-level enthusiasm with informed media insider perspectives.
• Lighthearted banter (about song choices, missed calls, parade-hosting “politics”) is woven in, giving a warm, inclusive community vibe that mirrors the episode’s central theme of city unity.
• Both hosts embrace caller perspectives, even when disagreeing—acknowledging fandom anxiety while pushing for optimism and enjoyment.

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Takeaways for Non-Listeners

If you missed this episode, you missed a heartfelt trip through what makes this Knicks run both historic and emotionally resonant—the sense of unity, the anticipation and nerves, fandom’s superstitions and debates, expert analysis from insiders, and the infectious optimism pulsing through New York. Both Monica McNutt and Bill Pidto added depth, color, and context, reminding everyone that championship runs are as much about communal emotion as they are about on-court tactics. The Knicks, for a moment, feel like New York’s heart – and, as this episode shows, the ride is worth every second.

Transcript

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[Don Hahn]

This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Alan Hahn]

That sounds like heaven to me.

[Don Hahn]

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

[Alan Hahn]

Game time is brought to you by Tullamore. Do Irish whiskey because when it's game

[Rosenberg]

time, Alan, it's Tully time.

[Alan Hahn]

Sure. Mets, Mariners going on right now, just getting underway and that is on 1050 game one between the Knicks and the Spurs. Immediately following us on 880 at 7 o'. Clock. Pat O' Keefe is going to be handling the pre game live from San Antonio. So 90 minutes before tip over the 30 and the Yankees continue their series with the Guardians at 7:05. The Liberty host the Tempo at 7:30. I've got to admit, I'm not familiar with the work of the Tempo. Where is their city? They must be new night turn.

[Rosenberg]

Toronto.

[Alan Hahn]

Toronto.

[Rosenberg]

Tempo alliteration always helps.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay, you know what the alliteration sometimes is? It's a stretch.

[Rosenberg]

It's overrated.

[Alan Hahn]

I know you need Tempo to win, but I'm good. Tullamore, do the original triple distilled, triple blended and triple cast matured Irish whiskey. Be sure to grab a Tullamore Dew or try the new Tullamore Dew. Honey, during today's action, glasses up to enjoying Tullamore Dew responsibly.

[Rosenberg]

We're going to have a lot of Tully at the parade, Donnie. A lot of Tully.

[Alan Hahn]

So you're touching the money.

[Rosenberg]

A lot of Tully.

[Alan Hahn]

No, you think right?

[Rosenberg]

Listen man, you got to feel something. You got to have a feel.

[Alan Hahn]

No, you're definitely feeling this.

[Rosenberg]

Gotta feel because nobody says, you know, you're obviously you can be wrong, but there's a lot of people that are talking about this. Not from a even X's and O's or matchup and all that stuff. There's just like something like this that has turned it like I was on the train coming in and there was a guy who drives an ambulance for fdny. His name's Rich. Really nice guy, sits down next to me and he was talking to me about something that blew my mind now. So drives an ambulance. So he sees a lot of bad stuff, right?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Rosenberg]

He's like, it's amazing. You go around the city and he drives in Brooklyn. And he said, like. And I've seen people suggest that crime is down, but he said, like, when you see people see other people wearing Knick stuff and they all just kind of shout to each other, he's like, the mood is different in the city. That there's just something about what this has done to bring a lot of people together and bring some, like, enjoyment, enthusiasm. You're seeing schools all around the area having a Knicks day today where all the kids can come in and wear Knicks stuff and they, you know, they're writing little features or little essays about Knicks and Knick players and sending them to the Knicks. The team is getting all this stuff from all these different schools. There's just something about it, right? That it's bringing everyone together. And so when you get a vibe like, this isn't. There's a party that just goes. This just feels like it's like the right way for this to end. It's the right way for this to end. Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

And it's.

[Rosenberg]

You know what I mean? Like, and I'm not saying that as an orange and blue skies guy. I'm saying it as just no matter what team this was, there just seems to be a vibe happening right now. Like, you just.

[Alan Hahn]

Now, what does that all mean?

[Rosenberg]

You know, it doesn't mean anything.

[Alan Hahn]

It doesn't mean

[Rosenberg]

it. It doesn't mean anything. But, you know, come on. You know, when something just starts to get momentum, sometimes it's just.

[Alan Hahn]

I. You know, the only way I can describe it to you was what I felt as an 18 year old in 86 when the Giants won the Super Bowl.

[Rosenberg]

There you go.

[Alan Hahn]

I felt terrific. I like, they're not losing to the Broncos now. You always have that little tiny.

[Rosenberg]

Well, there's always area of healthy fear

[Alan Hahn]

again, you don't want to jinx anything and all that, which is. That's all garbage. But this, fans, you go through that, right? Of course you do, you know, and all of a sudden they're, you know, they're. They're down 10, nine going into halftime, and it's like, oh, what's. What the hell's going on here?

[Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

And then they destroy them in the second half, you know, but there's always that apprehension. But when you see the dominance that you see out of the Knicks, it's hard not to be confident, Right? And then the Whole city. And we've seen them rally around the Yankees and the Giants and when the jets are in the championship game and. And the Rangers and all. But this one is hitting different. Listen, I've been around. I've been sports radio. I started working at WFA in 96, so that was after 94. But I worked at Sports Phone during the 94 run of the Knicks and when the Rangers won the Cup. So I've been doing this a lot. 58 years old, I've seen a lot. This one hits different because of just how many Knick fans there are. There is no other team that is going to take away from it. There's a lot of Jet fans. So they don't care about the Giants winning the Super Bowl. A lot of Met fans don't care about the Yankees running the World Series. It's the way it is. You know, the Rangers were close in 94. But you know what was interesting about the Rangers is they had to share the stage with the Knicks. It's like there was every other night. So the city was crazy.

[Rosenberg]

It was. But there was. There was nothing like that. And that also was. I go back to that one too. And this is why the momentum thing sometimes means nothing because the Rangers win the cup and the Knicks are still playing. And it's like you say to yourself, oh my God, like they're both going to win. Like this is going to really happen. You really were believing that would happen until Akeem's fingertip got in the way of destiny. So it is true that this feeling can go away quickly, but it doesn't take away from that feel. And you're right that the Rangers and Knicks every other night the city was just. Everybody in this area was so caught up in it. It was so much fun.

[Alan Hahn]

But just have the one team. And I've always wondered about this. I brought it up on the air, brought it up to people. The one thing that I always wondered what New York would be like if there was just one team per sport where if it was just the Rangers, just the Knicks, just the Yankees, just the Giants. How up for grabs the city would be if one of those teams made a run. Like how it is in St. Louis with if the Cardinals are about to win the World Series or how crazy

[Rosenberg]

it is Detroit, Chicago only has the only thing they have.

[Alan Hahn]

Two of his baseball and the White Sox apparently are just.

[Rosenberg]

They're a rumor.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, they're a rumor compared to the Cubs. That's what I'm told, anyway.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah, of course, you know but, but like Chicago is a huge town. Like Boston, one of everything.

[Alan Hahn]

They're rallying around the Celtics. Yeah, but we don't have that. But this is the closest we have to that.

[Rosenberg]

There's no split.

[Alan Hahn]

No, I, I hate saying it because I grew up a net fan, being from Jersey, you know, so. But it just. There's just not enough to stop this machine. You know, I, I remember Jim Cerny, who's a guy worked with at sports. Great guy.

[Rosenberg]

Sure.

[Alan Hahn]

About how he didn't watch the two giant Patriots Super Bowls because he hated the Patriots as a Jet fan and he hated the Giants as a Jet fan. He didn't feel any love. He was rooting. He didn't watch the game. And if the Giants were playing the Ravens, he'd be rooting for the Ravens because that's kind of Jet fan. So, you know, there'd be fans that are trying to tamper down the excitement or tamp down the excitement because they're not fans. Like, they're just not enough net fans to do that. This is a, this is a machine. Just driving through the city. I turned on the news today, as I was again when I came back from the gym, like, and the, the 12 o' clock news. They're leading with the Knicks.

[Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Alan Hahn]

You know, it's. It's a new story. It's a big. It is a. It is. It's really incredible.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

So when you see that and you see the way they're playing, I mean, it's very, very seldom is New York the juggernaut. We've seen it with the Yankees quite a bit, but usually, like. I'm sorry, you know, the Knicks were a dog in 99. They were a dog in 94. You know, they're a dog here. But only to Vegas. Like Nick fans are.

[Caller from Braden and Utica]

It's.

[Alan Hahn]

It's. So does it mean anything at the end of the day? Can we send that vibe to San Antonio tonight? I don't know, but it just. I can under. Usually I kind of get in fans faces about like, like what you said about the beret. Like, dude, what are you doing, man? But I can understand it. Why wouldn't you feel this?

[Rosenberg]

Well, you want to almost speak it into existence. Right. The more positive energy you bring, like, the better. Because I, I have learned in my old age that fretting and anxiety and all that stuff, it doesn't do any good. Just keep a positive outlook, man. Like they just, just, you know, have every reason to believe and put yourself out there and believe. And if it if it falls short, if it doesn't happen, you deal with the consequences. But it's more fun to sit there and just like, like, like, like, let's go like get into this thing. You know, you got seven. They, somebody's got to win four over seven. That's, that's what's gonna happen here.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Rosenberg]

It's not gonna be over by the weekend. Right. No matter what happens, 20 is still not over. So. Right. So to me, like, it's just like get into it. Watch the, the strategic stuff that I've talked about at the top of the show. Like that's all the stuff you want to have fun with and not get caught up in like, you know, oh my God, 70% of the time you win game one, there's want to win the championship and they didn't win game one. So that means they only have a 30% chance to win. Like, man, stop, like just, just get into this thing.

[Alan Hahn]

Just watch it.

[Rosenberg]

We don't get this enough.

[Alan Hahn]

I just know and I, I mentioned it yesterday, when you're slaying the dragon of 53 years, it shouldn't be this easy. So I just feel like there's going to be adversity, there's going to be doubt, there's going to be moments.

[Rosenberg]

Remember the Rangers in 94?

[Alan Hahn]

That again, perfect example. The, what was it? The Cubs had to come back from 3:1 down to win their first championship in 108 years.

[Rosenberg]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

The Red Sox had to come back with three nothing down to get the Yankees in the league Championship Series. To be able to go to the World Series, beat the Cardinals and then their slot. It just, that's the way that it is. It's usually not easy.

[Rosenberg]

Let's not do that though.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, let's not do that. Don't. Yeah, you don't want have to come back from 30 or don't do. No, no, you don't want to do that. ESPN New York's Beach Bash is back. I'm looking forward to this. Thursday, July 2nd at Bar A in Lake Como, New Jersey. Head down to the Jersey Shore and join Michael K. Who's going to be there. And there will also be us doing our show from three to seven and Michael will do his show from one to three. We're also going to have appearances from D. Pietro Rothenberg, Bart Carlin and more. We'll have plenty of giveaways for fans in attendance, a soccer watch party, and the chance to test your skills by trying to kick a soccer ball past Rick Dipietro.

[Rosenberg]

That'll be fun.

[Alan Hahn]

Now, when it's what's interesting. Like, when Rick was probably on, he felt like the puck was a soccer ball. Right. But that net's a lot bigger. We'll see if he can handle it. Plus, he's a lot older. Plus Music from Surfing for Daisies. I've gotten the number.

[Rosenberg]

Okay.

[Alan Hahn]

And I was told I can reach out and start talking about picking a song.

[Rosenberg]

So they generally will. How does this work again? Because I learned this last year. You can't tell them what song you want. They have to give you a list of songs that they know.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Rosenberg]

Well, then you.

[Alan Hahn]

I will give them songs, and then they'll tell me if they know.

[Rosenberg]

Oh, okay.

[Alan Hahn]

All right. Now, I've had bands.

[Rosenberg]

Got one in mind.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm. I'm bouncing a couple of ideas. I did Smells Like Teen Spirit. I was not happy with my performance. That was not one of the ones that I really wanted to do. And just the band last year, they only knew that song. The ones on my list. We're going to work on it. We're going to make it work. It's always fun that I go out there and embarrass myself. They'll be playing an hour before and an hour after the show or even after the show. Longer than that.

[Rosenberg]

Sure.

[Alan Hahn]

It's all brought to you by Spiked Aid, Boost Mobile, Miller lite fanatics, fast NYC and the New Jersey Lottery. Must be at least 21 years of age to enter. See, that's right. My voice gave out. It was not.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah, you. You really.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. Don't play that again.

[Rosenberg]

Like, you. You really did.

[Alan Hahn]

Like, think about it.

[Rosenberg]

You almost cost yourself a season of calling hockey.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. And I. And I. We don't want to.

[Rosenberg]

We don't want that.

[Alan Hahn]

I knew about the Devils.

[Rosenberg]

I hadn't told anybody. Right? Yes. Think so.

[Alan Hahn]

You would have been. You would have probably jumped on stage and said, stop, don't do it.

[Rosenberg]

If you had known I was trying to stay out of the way, but

[Alan Hahn]

I didn't let anybody.

[Rosenberg]

Boom.

[Alan Hahn]

And that's what happens when your voice isn't good and you end up s. Sounding like Howard Dean.

[Rosenberg]

And you will let me get involved. Howard Dean. You wouldn't let me get involved in picking a song. You don't think I have a good enough ear to put a voice to a song?

[Caller from Braden and Utica]

No.

[Alan Hahn]

You can suggest.

[Rosenberg]

Because it's like, I think your voice would be great for this song.

[Alan Hahn]

You could suggest.

[Rosenberg]

All right.

[Alan Hahn]

And, you know, I also had some very successful songs that maybe I can Go back in the archives to. There's some songs I haven't done for like a decade. New audience, new people, new venue.

[Rosenberg]

Hey, if you feel good, I did

[Alan Hahn]

stuff at Martell's like 15 years ago that I can bring back.

[Rosenberg]

I'm feeling this might be the year where you. You can belt out a yacht rock one. This might be the year to do it. I don't therefore a voice can, you know, like, can. Can survive.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm. I'm toying with the idea.

[Rosenberg]

It's the vibe of Beach Bash.

[Alan Hahn]

We've got a month.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah. All right.

[Alan Hahn]

There's something I might. There might be time for me to be able to work on something.

[Rosenberg]

You say.

[Alan Hahn]

So now Monica has really disappointed us because she has disappeared.

[Rosenberg]

She canceled or.

[Alan Hahn]

No, she hasn't canceled.

[Rosenberg]

I've been looking at my phone.

[Alan Hahn]

I wish she did then. I know I could pivot. But right now. Where? No Man's Landing.

[Rosenberg]

She's very busy.

[Alan Hahn]

It doesn't matter.

[Rosenberg]

She's in San Antonio. There's a lot going on. Don't care.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm busy too. I still came today at 3. I could have done other things, but I came here because it's my job.

[Rosenberg]

Well, that's a good point.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't want to get, you know, too crazy.

[Rosenberg]

Let me see if she gets back here.

[Alan Hahn]

But we're working on trying to get her. Maybe. Maybe the time change threw her off. I'm not sure.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah, probably.

[Alan Hahn]

I got a list coming up at 4:30. Bill Peto, he won't disappoint us. He's coming up at 445 as well. Now I'm going to reach out to Jacob, who's running the board.

[Rosenberg]

Coming.

[Alan Hahn]

Because he had sent me a list of guys that were on hold before Monica and they might have hung up. So I'm not really sure where we stand with that right now. Jacob. So why do we have a call that I can go to? Jacob? Yes.

[Rosenberg]

You have three. We have Braden and Utica. Who wants to talk about the importance of game one? Okay.

[Alan Hahn]

What's up, man? You're on, Don. Hannah Rosenberg. What's going on?

[Caller from Braden and Utica]

Hey. Thank you for taking my call. One, two, three.

[Bill Peto]

I don't know.

[Caller from Braden and Utica]

I think I'm. I'm not as optimistic as a lot of other Knicks fans right now.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay.

[Caller from Braden and Utica]

Oh, boy. I don't know why. I. I mean, I was. I was born in 02, so I haven't. It's been a long time.

[Rosenberg]

Now I know why you're not optimistic.

[Caller from Braden and Utica]

I don't know. Yeah. So I don't know. I feel like this game might be just as important as the Game seven would be.

[Monica McNutt]

Just because.

[Caller from Braden and Utica]

Because of Wendy.

[Rosenberg]

Wait, wait, wait. I want you to catch your breath for a minute. Stop yourself, and then slowly again, say what you just said to me.

[Caller from Braden and Utica]

Okay. I feel like this.

[Windows 11 College Deal Announcer]

Let me rephrase.

[Caller from Braden and Utica]

This might be the most important game of the series besides a game seven, because of Wemby. He's the best player in the series. And seeing how he gradually. Last series, kind of. I mean, game one of his last series was insane.

[Rosenberg]

It was his best game.

[Caller from Braden and Utica]

And then he slowly.

[Rosenberg]

He slowly got worse. No, no, come.

[Caller from Braden and Utica]

Exactly. I feel like if we.

[Rosenberg]

No, no.

[Caller from Braden and Utica]

If we can take. I know. That's what I'm saying. So if we can take this one, where he's going to be probably at his best and the least fatigued he's gonna be. I feel like. I don't know. That sets us up pretty good. I'm nervous.

[Rosenberg]

Listen. Of course you're nervous. I could tell. And I don't blame you. I understand this is new to you, and it's new to a lot of people who haven't seen this, but I'm here to tell you on the road, the team on the road has less pressure. Everybody wants to win, so the pressure is always there to win. Right. But what I'm telling you is, is that he has. I don't know if he'll feel it, but they really. For me, Game one is critical for them, not as much for the Knicks. And if the Knicks get game one, the whole series is flipped. That's a big deal. Keep that in mind. And I. Their mentality, after what they went through in game one against the Cavs, and they didn't feel like they were ready. They didn't feel like they got the rust knocked off. They didn't like how they prepared for that game. They were still able to win it, but they didn't like how they played. That tells me they're going to have a much different action, attitude, mentality, intensity, urgency, everything going into this game, because they just had it fresh in their memory. Right. That should give you confidence. See, it's about. If that didn't happen and they were just rolling teams, but they had a game that recently bothered them to a point where they were like, we can't get away with this again. And I think that's going to. That you'll see that impact tonight. I would not be. I would not have that kind of an anxiety about, you know, you got to get this because, you know, you want to get the game that Wimy might be 100%. Actually, I would disagree. He might not be at 100% in this game because he just played a seven game slug fest. Like, like, trust me, the, the more important games are coming later in the series.

[Alan Hahn]

No, I, I, I get that. But I, I understand his logic. First of all, I'm never going to tell a person to not be worried about something they're worried about. Like, I can understand him, you know, feeling away from about what's happening here.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah, yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

All right.

[Rosenberg]

But come on, like Don like to say, this is the sec. This is other than a game seven, this is the most important game of the series. That's insane.

[Alan Hahn]

But it is insane. But it is important because of the fact that now you've lost for the first time in 43 days. Scotty Bowman used to always say, sometimes, you know, getting a loss is good. We'll see if you're able to bounce back. Like, let's test the, you know, it's easy to ride the wave. How are you going to bounce back after you've lost? You know, so I think that there's something interesting about game one. The stats. 70% of teams that lose game one lose a series.

[Rosenberg]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

So now you all of a sudden historically put yourself in the, in the 30 percentile. You don't want to be there. That's not a place to be. Now you've lost for the first time in 43 days, ending your 11 game winning streak. So now you look at the team in a little bit of a different perspective. Wow, now somebody finally beat us.

[Rosenberg]

Yep.

[Alan Hahn]

You know, so, you know, maybe it starts creeping in your head, hey, these spurs aren't the Cavs, Sixers and Hawks. So of course the math tells you it's the first of four. All right, you're one behind, you get the next game. You win Friday, now you got the whole court. It's all different. But there is something about the mentality of, all right, how are you going to bounce back from that loss and what does it mean now? It puts a bunch of pressure because as much as we say hold serve, you lose the first two games. You go from winning 11 in a row to all of a sudden dropping two in a row. I'm sorry, it's gonna be panic at the disco coming back to the Garden.

[Rosenberg]

It's different energy.

[Alan Hahn]

It's going to be.

[Rosenberg]

You're absolutely right.

[Alan Hahn]

So, so I, as much as I don't agree with the caller, I understand where he's coming from. And I do think game one's important. And for my prediction, where it's going to be every other game, then the Knicks are going to have to win game one, Right.

[Rosenberg]

As the critical game.

[Alan Hahn]

But. But that's just me and my prediction and everything else. But I. I do think that there's something to what he said of, hey, this is a big game. Just explain it away.

[Rosenberg]

Understand this. And that's how series go, too. The spurs win game one and then the next four games. Right. Because two, three, and five. So three of the next four games were won by the Thunder.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Rosenberg]

Did that deter the Spurs? They won the last two. That's all that matters. You know what I mean?

[Alan Hahn]

No, of course.

[Rosenberg]

The middle of the series, one team won three out of four games. You would think, oh, my God, like, that's it, series done. No.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, but there are things involved in there, too. The thunder worn 100. Like, things.

[Rosenberg]

We don't know what's going to happen.

[Alan Hahn]

You know, who want to lose.

[Rosenberg]

You have no idea.

[Alan Hahn]

But.

[Rosenberg]

So that's why.

[Alan Hahn]

But you. But you.

[Rosenberg]

But just.

[Alan Hahn]

Just not to argue with you.

[Rosenberg]

No, go ahead.

[Alan Hahn]

But you were just talking about the vibe and the positive thoughts and, you know, riding a wave here.

[Rosenberg]

But that was fan stuff. I'm not. The players aren't feeling.

[Alan Hahn]

No, no, the players are. But. But you were just saying about wishing things into existence and all that. I just. It would be interesting to see what the reaction would be if they lost tonight. It'd be like, well, wait a minute. I didn't expect that. I think the players will be fine with it.

[Rosenberg]

But I know what you're saying me, it's. What did it look like? That's how I always. Like, if you lose and it looks terrible. Different story again. They were down 22 to the Cavs. Like, that's when you. It didn't look good. Like, they looked terrible at that point in the third quarter.

[Alan Hahn]

But you were the first to admit, not just the loss, but the way they lost to the Pacers set the tone.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

The rest of the series.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

You know.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

You don't know what it's going to look like.

[Rosenberg]

That was the game, too, that Game two at home they gave away to the. To. To the Hawks. Like, that's that game where you're like, yeah, it's not good. That's a. That's bad. The fact that they couldn't put that game away after game one. Remember, Remember they won that Game one against the Hawks. They were up in control and that Game got a little too dicey late and they weren't happy. Jalen Brunson told me after that game, he's like, yeah, we, we can't let this happen. And then it happened again in game two. So you're right, it's how it looks. But they are feeling away about how they're playing, what they found with each other and a sense of like destiny that I've heard within this team from, from the players and what they say. There's that sense of destiny that I think is in their minds and that gives you a lot of confidence. You know what else gives me confidence? What Is that when I deal with them because I know I can trust them. Because Rings End has all the best high end product lines that contractors rely on when you're doing a project at home. So we have a project going on at home and I'm going through my contractor also. We're going through Rings End. We're dealing with them. And you ask why? Well, because here's a great example. When you want to get something, when you're doing a project, sometimes you just want to be able to go and check it out, take a look at it, see it, touch it, feel it. They have showrooms for you to walk in and do that. So you can go to 8 full service lumber yards in Connecticut and Westchester county and 12 freestanding paint centers as well. They're family owned and operated since 1902, 124 years in the business. They have deep northeast routes. No, they are not a national chain. They're a northeast company. They work with the local contractors. They know what you need. So that's why I'm working with Ring's End. And if you have a project at your home where you need something like windows, doors, paint, kitchens and all the different stuff that you want to do to update, upgrade your home, check out Ringsend. And if you can't get into one of their stores or check out any of their locations, you can go to ringsend.com that's ringsend.com Jim Cerny just text me.

[Alan Hahn]

My phone is blowing up. As you recount my anger for Patriots Giants.

[Rosenberg]

I got a problem with that.

[Alan Hahn]

Super bowl nightmares for me, not much worse football wise. Say hi to Alan for me.

[Rosenberg]

J E T S again. I love jc but I have a problem with that.

[Alan Hahn]

Why?

[Rosenberg]

Because I was. I'm a Jets fan, as you know.

[Bill Peto]

Yeah.

[Rosenberg]

And the Giants mean nothing to me because they're not in the same conference. There's no. They're never in my way except for the one time with Victor Cruz. But that's another story for another day. That doesn't bother me. For me, it's the Patriots. I hate them. So if the Giants are going to beat them.

[Alan Hahn]

But you got to understand, I'm not

[Rosenberg]

cheering, but I'm like, I'd rather see the Patriots lose than the Giants lose.

[Alan Hahn]

I am in the belief that you hate the other team in town because they can take away.

[Rosenberg]

What are they taking away? They've already. They own it already.

[Alan Hahn]

You understand?

[Rosenberg]

I root for a franchise that originally named its team Titans because Titans killed giants in Greek mythology. What the hell are we doing?

[Alan Hahn]

But that just shows you that, hey, it's. It's a thing.

[Rosenberg]

Yes, I know. You know, it's already born in. I don't care.

[Alan Hahn]

You don't think it bothers. It should bother a Jet fan that there's a team in town that's winning Super Bowls and you're not.

[Rosenberg]

I mean, they've been around since 1925. They better be.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, but they've been.

[Rosenberg]

Better be good.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, but the 25 is really only when they started winning Super Bowl. They've won four to the Jets. None.

[Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Alan Hahn]

Or one. Well, since the one. They've won four straight.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

And that bothers you? I mean, do you don't think it.

[Rosenberg]

No, it doesn't bother me at all.

[Alan Hahn]

You don't think it bothered Ranger fans that the Islanders are rattling off Stanley cup after Stanley cup and chant 1940?

[Rosenberg]

It's different because the Islands were a little brothers.

[Alan Hahn]

A little brother. But the jets are a little broke.

[Rosenberg]

I know, but the Islanders were winning. You said if bother the Rangers, it should bother the Rangers because little brother started winning and we're supposed to be the big team in town. The Giants are supposed to be that.

[Alan Hahn]

Here's what I want, you know, more popular. Not winning more.

[Rosenberg]

No, here's what I want. What I always want is the other team in town holds a standard that I have to live up to or I'm holding the standard you have to live up to. The problem is when both teams suck.

[Alan Hahn]

I know. Terrible. Honestly.

[Rosenberg]

A good team. So that my franchise knows. A little fraud.

[Alan Hahn]

It's a little fraud. We're going to bring this up on Friday. It's a little.

[Rosenberg]

It's a little fraud. It's a little fraud. No, it's the right way to think.

[Alan Hahn]

Little fraud. I'll tell you. I'm red hot with Monica. I'm really ticked at her. She's now available.

[Rosenberg]

Oh, okay.

[Alan Hahn]

And now she's gonna take away the list.

[Rosenberg]

She's coming up next.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm really upset. She's gonna hear it.

[Rosenberg]

And then Peto comes up, too. Wow.

[Alan Hahn]

I really worked hard on this list. But you listen. It's all about Monica. She gets the cake. She gets everything.

[Rosenberg]

She has cake today.

[Alan Hahn]

No, she's not here. We don't get cake. So we'd only get cake if she was here. Oh, poor don't no, poor everybody, because I made a nice list. She makes me sick. Donna Rosenberg, ESPN New York Game day

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[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Alan Hahn]

I didn't listen to anything you just

[Don Hahn]

said catch the show on whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.

[Alan Hahn]

Knicks and the spurs. And Monica McNutt's gonna be on the call. And her report is brought to you by Calandra's Bakery and BetMGM. Live from San Antonio, Monica McNutt, Don Hahn and Roseberg. What's going on?

[Monica McNutt]

Hi, guys. What's happening? Happy Finals, Day one.

[Rosenberg]

Hey, Bob.

[Monica McNutt]

Hi, you guys.

[Rosenberg]

Don is. Let's just.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, let's just move on.

[Rosenberg]

Put it out, did you?

[Alan Hahn]

I was out there. It's supposed to be my list, but I'm gonna throw it out because you stepped on me.

[Rosenberg]

You know, Monica's only going, like, you know, 247 right now on different shows, including this morning. And as well as covering media, you know, media stuff, because they had a shoot around today. Can the girl catch a nap? You know what I mean?

[Alan Hahn]

Sure. At 4:30.

[Rosenberg]

Oh, wow, man. I tried. You're on your own now.

[Monica McNutt]

You know what? It's all good. Go ahead, Don. Get it off your chest. Babe, what's the issue? I'm a little sleepy.

[Alan Hahn]

It's all about you, so.

[Monica McNutt]

Oh, thank you.

[Alan Hahn]

Just listen. You were here, and then you've been in San Antonio for the last couple of days. But the vibe here, I've never seen people more positive than they are about this team. Usually there's some apprehension, especially when a team hasn't won in forever, but they've put on such a show here, Monica, that the fans are just revved up. It's more expectation than anticipation for this series.

[Monica McNutt]

Yeah. And you know, that meeting my arrival in San Antonio and bumping into new. Not new, but colleagues that cover the spurs or cover the league at large. Like, it's been really interesting because I've been sitting with some folks who have it. Either they can't call it, or it's spurs and seven in their mind, which is obviously, anytime something's got to go, seven in my mind, it's still a live ball. I think that we are in New York and can appreciate how gaudy things have looked. But then here, you know, folks are really obviously impressed with the youthfulness and the defensive intensity around Victor Wembanyama, let alone with Victor Wembanyama. So it's been interesting bumping into folks, getting various opinions. I'm excited, y'.

[Alan Hahn]

All.

[Monica McNutt]

Like, we really have walked into almost an ideal finals from a ratings perspective in terms of how Victor Wembanyama is bringing in even the most casual fan. And of course, we know that the New York Knicks are also global.

[Rosenberg]

So we've talked so much about the vibe obviously here in this city, in this market, this area, and how fans are feeling, how the outside is feeling. When you touched down in San Antonio and got around the team, what's the vibe there? Because you were, the last time you saw them, they walked off the court in Cleveland saying, we're going to enjoy this tonight, but it's back to work tomorrow. What's the vibe within the team right now?

[Monica McNutt]

You know, hon, I still think that they have a business like approach. As you guys know, historically, like finals are obviously for the team, but there's a contingent of family members and all of that good stuff. And so it's a lot more pomp and circumstance both in terms of the schedule and the mandatory media and like the traveling party. But as I've listened to these guys, when they got to the podium, they still understand that the job is not finished. They have a tremendous amount of respect for their opponent, as they should, but they also believe in one another still. And they have had the opportunity over this 11 game stretch, as OG Anunoby told me yesterday, to play their best basketball at the highest level over an extended period of time. And it has only shown them how good they could actually be as a squad. And so I think that I'm excited for Game one because I really think this one, I mean, I'll say it, I think the sweeps are over, right? I do think that this one is going to be more of an X and O chess match, like who can execute better down the stretch for both teams. And it looks slightly different in terms of the outlook for each team. But I'm really excited to get to Game one because I've had a lot of questions about what the spurs will implement in terms of trying to slow the Knicks and of course what the Knicks are going to look like trying to slow the Spurs.

[Alan Hahn]

And what do you expect to see from Mitch tonight?

[Monica McNutt]

I think I look at Texas in our like MSG group group chat earlier. I was like, am I the only one that is not? Like, I'm not even. I don't care. Like, I'm not into this at all. I don't think this is a big deal. Like no disrespect, but it's not like it's an impact. His jump shot. So like, what are we doing here? Like, I just, I expect Mitchell Robinson to play hard. I expect him to use his physicality against Victor Wembayama. I expect him to be on the glass whether it's you know, Keldon Johnson, Julian Shampani, whoever you want. Like, I think he probably will play more than the 15 minutes that we've seen him play most of this postseason just because you're going to need his size. But I'm not. I don't think this is that big of a deal.

[Rosenberg]

So we were talking earlier because I was trying to warn fans who are listening, don't overreact to Wembanyama. He is going to jump off the screen. Literally. He's going to. He's going to do breathtaking things, things we never see. Like, you and I see it all the time. I love when we do the highlights throughout the playoffs on get up and how we just watch the silly stuff that he does and Green and just get so caught up in it. Like, watch this. It's one step and he's already at the rim. And I feel like you can't overreact to that as much as you have to shut down or stop their others from getting hot. If there's a player on the spurs that you're like, look, Wemby's going to get his. Don't let this guy get going. Who would that be?

[Monica McNutt]

I think in the experience with the Knicks, it's Champagne. Yeah, you could make the argument that it's also de' Aaron Fox, but I think, you know, everybody keeps saying, oh, the spurs don't have a soft spot in their defense. Like, I think you've got tears, as you do on every other NBA team. I think you've got the Wembanyama, the Castle, the Harper, the Vassell. And then I don't know if I would put Fox and Champagne in the same category defensively. But I think in terms of, like, as you look back at the three games that we have, and obviously the Cups is the outlier because the two regular season games actually counted. Right. There was always sort of an asterisk, if you will, in terms of something being unusual around the circumstances or in the performance of the game. Right. When the spurs came to the Garden, granted, the Knicks took care of that one, got the win. But you could also say, all right, Victor was still on a menace restriction. I think Harrison Barnes might have still been in the starting lineup and they were at the end of a nasty 10 game road trip where they, I think they had rattled off like 11 wins in a row. And then you could argue, right, they were gassed by the time they got to the Garden. Okay, cool. Chalk it up. The Knicks did what they were supposed to do. I think Vegas probably offers the most balanced opportunity, but again, I think Victor is still coming off the bench at that point. And then you get 15 rebounds from Mitchell Robinson and you get outstanding performances from Jordan Clarkson and Tyler Kolek down the stretch off the bench like however you want to quantify that. But that's, you know, maybe something that counts as, you know, the Knicks bench goes deeper than anticipated. They become the champions in Vegas. And then on New Year's Eve, Champagne, who we just mentioned, 36 on 11 threes. And you don't have Josh Hart in that ball game like, okay, so what are we supposed to take away from this one as well? Not to mention that that was like the post cup malaise, if you will, and it is attached to that nasty 11 game stretch to start the count, the calendar year for the Knicks. And we know they're a very different team since then. Now, I think the spurs are a different team from the regular season as well. They have been battle tested to this point. I think the Knicks, obviously, we've talked about it a ton. They are a different team in terms of how they approach and what the productivity has looked like up and down the board. So I'm really excited for this one. But I think Fox and Champagne are probably the guys that if they're just getting loose, then there's a little bit of an issue.

[Alan Hahn]

Talking to Monica McNutt, her weekly spot here on Don Han and Rosenberg, you just, you know, you mentioned them coming back against the Thunder. The general feeling is the Knicks have the scar tissue from those two losses to the Pacers the last couple of years and the spurs might be a little early to the party, but the Wins in Game 6 and 7 of the conference finals, what does that mean for them going into this series?

[Monica McNutt]

I think Victor Wembanyama has been so unique, not just as a player, but how honest he's been. And it's refreshing, right? And he talked about it yesterday in terms of his team facing the challenge of coming down from the emotional high of the achievement in the Western Conference finals and knocking off their foe in the Thunder and being prepared to play against the New York Knicks squad. And so as I look at that, yes, there's an emotional curve. I also though I think of all of the coaches or teams who could say momentum in our case is a good thing, they just want to keep playing. I think it's probably most applicable to the Spurs. When I think about the Sixers saying that earlier this season, like, oh my God, your team's kind of old, bro, you sure you want that? And we saw how that panned out. Like, that's not the case for this group. And so I think the only way to play through, or I guess to come back to earth from that high is to get to the next basketball game, especially when you have a young group. I have been one who has questioned their experience all season. I've had to throw that out, if you will, because here they are. But I do think that the Knicks sort of grizzled experience for them is going to serve them well in this one. But I, you know, there's something to be said for the youthful naivete, if you will, like, you don't know what you don't know. You're just hooping. And that's where the spurs are.

[Rosenberg]

Right. That's what makes them so dangerous. Exactly. That the Knicks feel like a team that has an urgency about them, as if they know, like this, this is our best, this might be our best shot. So we got to go for it because they are, you know, that veteran group in their prime right now. So, Mon, with all that in mind, you touched down in San Antonio. It's real now. Like, you walk out, you see the Larry o' Brien on the court, you know, all the stuff, the media that's there. How about for you? You. You got butterflies about tonight?

[Monica McNutt]

You.

[Rosenberg]

You fired up about tonight? What's your feeling as you're. You're going to make your first call of an NBA Finals?

[Monica McNutt]

I just want to play ball. Like, I want to get to it. I have been fortunate to cover the Finals not with either team, but like nationally for espn. So that's cool. But I think when you're on the ground with a team, one, I've been rolling with these guys all season, so there's a different level of investment, just both in terms of the market, the opportunity, what the opportunity would mean for me potentially, because I've already said Knicks with a championship. I'm giving TED talks on championship culture who want to book me. Like, let's go.

[Caller from Braden and Utica]

Right?

[Monica McNutt]

But like, it is so. It's just so incredible the way this game, like, ignites cities and communities. And we obviously live in New York and we've seen it there, but like, you drive, you can't drive past a building that, you know, starts to enter the high rise category without seeing a Ghostbusters go sign here. Even this morning we were doing first take. Like the way those fans showed up and the energy from their fan base is commendable and respectable as well. I'm super super excited just to get to it. And I'm so thankful, like, for sort of the comradery that we have as a broadcast team. Like, Tyler's super excited. We have a lot of fun together. Our whole MSG operation. It is. It's sort of surreal for me. Like, I put up my question today on Instagram to talk to fans, and it like, this is by far the most engagement I've ever gotten on one of these questions. And so I just appreciate the way folks have, like, I am sort of synonymous with what this team is doing with the organization. And that has really kind of settled in for me being here for the finals. So it's really cool.

[Rosenberg]

We also have Bill Peto here sitting with us. He's up next.

[Bill Peto]

Monica. What's up, Monica?

[Monica McNutt]

Nothing much. Man, this time zone's messing me up. I gotta apologize to Don for being a little sleeping beauty, but it's fine. I'm here. I made it.

[Rosenberg]

He was napping during the segment.

[Alan Hahn]

But we're so happy for. For you.

[Rosenberg]

Enjoy it.

[Alan Hahn]

And, you know, I. I expect this series is going to be a long one. We'll obviously talk to you next week and get an update because if you come on next Wednesday, that's setting us up for what, Game four, right?

[Monica McNutt]

Yeah, that'll be game four.

[Bill Peto]

You better not sleep through your pregame hit tonight. We got pregame.

[Monica McNutt]

You bet. Go here with the radio boys and start showing off. No, I don't want to hear it.

[Alan Hahn]

Hey, just be ready to go and you'll be back in New York.

[Monica McNutt]

Have I ever not been ready to go? Come on.

[Alan Hahn]

About four o' clock today. Other than that. Other than four o' clock today. All right. Enjoy it, Monica. We'll be listening.

[Monica McNutt]

All right, guys, talk to you later.

[Alan Hahn]

All right. That's the Monica McNutt report. It's brought to you by Calandra's Bakery. Calandra's Bakery. Just four simple ingredients and still made by hand since 1962. Available daily at your local supermarket. And BetMGM. Own the moment. Make it legendary. Download the BetMGM app today. Please gamble responsibly. Gambling problem. Call 1-800- gambler Bill Peto. Coming up next. Hold on.

[Bill Peto]

Monica's got her own segment.

[Rosenberg]

Oh, yeah, yeah. She gets cake. What is going.

[Bill Peto]

What the heck's going on? Where's the.

[Rosenberg]

Where's the producer for this show business?

[Alan Hahn]

We will talk to you. We'll bring Anthony and find out what's going on. Don on a Rosenberg till 7 o' clock here on ESPN New York. Save $2 when you buy two cans of superior products. Cover all tire dressing plus receive four times o rewards points now at O'Reilly Auto Parts Coverall delivers long lasting shine. Visit your O'Reilly Auto Parts store or

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[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Alan Hahn]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don Hahn]

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

[Alan Hahn]

It's always a pleasure to welcome in the great Bill Peto who got me in a little bit of trouble earlier, but I was just being honest. We were talking about who would host the parade and immediately my answer was Bill Peto.

[Rosenberg]

Yep.

[Alan Hahn]

And the reason why is Because. No, because the reason we talked about it is I don't think Breen. I don't think Breen would do it. Why? Because he's calling it nationally. And I'm not saying it was right or wrong, but Joe Davis got A ton of heat last year when the Dodgers won the World Series and he hosted their parade. They're like, wait a minute. He's the Fox announcer. He's a national guy. And I don't think Breen would do it. So either way, if Breen didn't do it, that's why we were talking about who would do it if not for Breen. And I said, bill, Peter, I've been here a long time. I'd love to. Al were here. If Al Trout Wig were here, he'd probably be doing it.

[Bill Peto]

Maybe Alan. Maybe Alan does.

[Alan Hahn]

But then Alan was. In a way.

[Rosenberg]

I wasn't. In a way. I made a joke.

[Alan Hahn]

We were. Luckily we were in the same room. Otherwise, I think he might have taken.

[Rosenberg]

You can't make a joke. All I did was all he said, who would do it? And I just put my hand up. You could do it. And then he started going, bill Peto. And I. And I put my hand down. And then I'm like, you didn't even. Didn't even pause and think. Me. You went right to Bill. And I'm just teasing him. And now he thinks that I feel away about it.

[ServiceTitan Advertiser]

It.

[Rosenberg]

Of course you would do it.

[Bill Peto]

Well, it would be an honor.

[Alan Hahn]

I mean, we got a long way

[Bill Peto]

till that, but that would be fantastic.

[Rosenberg]

I know, I know, but it was one of those conversations, because he's right. The whole thing that happened with the Dodgers, you really didn't go over well.

[Bill Peto]

I think people really pay attention to. Look, we're in the media.

[Rosenberg]

They pay attention to.

[Bill Peto]

Now we're in the media, so maybe we would notice. You think average Joe fan wouldn't?

[Rosenberg]

You think. You don't think everybody in the league that's watching this game knows that Mike Breen calls no games. Everybody knows that.

[Bill Peto]

I know, but do you think if he were to host a parade, you really.

[Rosenberg]

I wouldn't care.

[Bill Peto]

I mean, I would think he's our vintage Gully.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes, I would have no problem with it. Listen, Joe Davis. I only brought it up because Joe Davis got a lot of heat.

[Bill Peto]

Right. From who, though?

[Alan Hahn]

Well, them. What is any heat? Right? I mean, but I think people. And Mike Breen's not on social media. He probably wouldn't even hear about it. But it was just. That's where we got to the bait. I hope he does it. I think he deserves it.

[Rosenberg]

But, Bill, you pay attention to a lot of that stuff in our business. And the criticism.

[Bill Peto]

I didn't notice that.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah, that was. That was something at the time that people were Calling him out, saying that it was like it was bad form because you're the national voice and now you're looking like you're interesting, like more of a, you know, team guy. Now again, I would think the obvious choice would be Mike Breen. Of course it would. Right. But Don was suggesting maybe he wouldn't because of that. Like you, you've been care. Clyde. Clyde. Introducing people. Glad to be good as a Clyde.

[Alan Hahn]

The traffic copy. Let's not jump to my. He does a lot of things well.

[Bill Peto]

That video on. On social. Social media about getting. Getting ready for the finals.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Bill Peto]

Getting the.

[Rosenberg]

That he's getting the suit done. Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Bill Defense. You know, in sports radio it's usually very negative. Fans are worried and I've been around a lot of teams, a lot of championship runs. We had the Rangers 12 years ago. Yankees, Mets were in the World Series fairly recently. I've never seen a fan base as positive that they're going to win than the Knicks right now. Have you.

[Bill Peto]

You know, I think you watch Media day yesterday. Obviously I don't know how many people

[Alan Hahn]

have to watch all of it, but

[Bill Peto]

we talked about this a little bit. They're so easy to root for. They're such a positive group. They always say the right things are such nice guys. And now, you know, there are comparisons to the championship teams and the way they're playing everybody. How can you not root for this team? There's not one unlikable guy. The coach is amazing. I just think they're really easy to root for and I think that has a lot to do with it.

[Rosenberg]

It's the fact that you know, they're cerebral. Right. So when you get answers from them, you're getting answers that are thoughtful. A lot of times what they say, even when like because Jalen's famous for never really giving you an answer but even in doing that it's still semi thoughtful like what he's doing. You could tell he's being know he's sharp, he's witty, he's funny. And I think you're seeing that. I mean Josh Hart is a guy that's so quick to make a joke but also self deprecating as well. I loved his line about if. If a unanimous defensive player of the year is guarding me that says I'm pretty good. Right. Like I love that. Like he. But they that I think that's what this group's kind of become. And the most remarkable thing I think has been the transformation of Karl Anthony Towns as amount of experience he ever reached. Pariah status. But there was a lot of fans that still had a hard time embracing him. And there was this talk about how the Knicks got softer when they moved on from Hartenstein and Julius Randle and Dante DiVincenzo. And you know, Towns wasn't really that guy. And you start to learn that the more engaged he got, I think the tougher he got. Would you agree?

[Bill Peto]

I. I think a lot of it is when fans see a superstar willing to facilitate pass the ball and do the things that he has done here lately, I think that changes. And he's always going to rebound and he's maximized his shot totals, which aren't through the roof to get his points. And I think if there was ever maybe a thought that maybe he's not a team guy, without question now there's no doubt that he is a team guy. I think that's really helped people's opinion of him.

[Alan Hahn]

Talking to Bill Peto, you can see all the MSG coverage led by him with Allen, of course, coming up.

[Rosenberg]

One hour pregame, 30 extended post games and every on the off night, we

[Bill Peto]

also have Knicks Talk Live at 8.

[Rosenberg]

Live at 8.

[Bill Peto]

As long as it's not a weekend night. Because Alan needs a day off, you know, I mean.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, he does. You don't want to get burned out because I think he's always doing it.

[Bill Peto]

He's only doing 12 shows a day.

[Rosenberg]

But these guys checking their watches last night when I walked in the studio.

[Alan Hahn]

But you bring up a great point about the likability. Like you go back to the 94 team, as, as great as that team was there. You know, Patrick, you can understand people not liking Ewing or Oakley or Mace, right?

[Rosenberg]

There's.

[Alan Hahn]

There isn't anybody. They all play hard, but I think they're all likable. I can't speak for outside of New York how they feel, but really I think that, listen, you hate the opponent, but they, they're very, very likable group. I think Mike Brown's story is a great one too.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah, it's very interesting.

[Alan Hahn]

And Alan brought it up again. Everything is just so much symmetry around the scene. It's the one year anniversary of them let it go with tips. I know that crazy.

[Bill Peto]

I know it is amazing. And I actually was in the studio exactly a year ago and we were at work, we were doing one of our summer shows and we're like, is this true? We were absolutely shocked exactly a year ago. We like, where did this come from? Right? It was just. Absolutely. And then, and then you go with Mike Brown. And, you know, one thing that I know we didn't address, I'm just curious what it was like for him to beat the Cavs team that let him go twice. Yeah, I'm sure he would have said the right thing.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah, he would have.

[Bill Peto]

But I personally, that had to mean a lot to him.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Bill Peto]

And now he's going against a Spurs team that as a head coach of the Cavs, he lost to in the 07 finals. So he.

[Rosenberg]

Greg Popovich. Right, Right.

[Bill Peto]

And he was. You started his career, one of his first jobs was an assistant to Greg Popovich.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah. So. No. And it's. There's a lot of. Obviously a lot of that stuff story that's going on here. And it's also sort of the journey of the season. You were in Abu Dhabi to start the year. Think about this. They were one of the first two teams to start the season. They played the first preseason game in the league. They're going to play the last game.

[Bill Peto]

Right.

[Rosenberg]

Whether they win or lose it, they're going to be one of the last two teams. So they were one of the first two on, they're going to be one of the last two off.

[Bill Peto]

I think I'm don. I'm headed to be a scout because I texted these guys and Gershon Yabiselli, I said, he don't have it.

[Rosenberg]

You know what?

[Bill Peto]

From Abu Dhabi. It was the only thing I've ever gotten right. I texted these guys, I said, they got a problem.

[Rosenberg]

It was the first quarter of the first preseason game. He's in Abu Dhabi. He's like, this isn't it. We're like, no, it's a great signing. He's like, no, no, this is not happening. He was right.

[Bill Peto]

You know, sometimes, not often, but, you know, you can see how a guy moves. And what's amazing is they were able to get out of that and get Alvarado here out of him.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Rosenberg]

Crazy for cheaper money. Yeah. And they got a useful player right in the rotation.

[Bill Peto]

I mean, Yabuzelli goes and they. Who was a guy. Alan, the whatever.

[Rosenberg]

Dylan Terry, Chicago. Yeah.

[Bill Peto]

They got Yabaselli to waive his player options somehow. And then they swing the deal for Alvarado.

[Rosenberg]

Alvarado's been a key piece.

[Bill Peto]

No, he's good. He's important.

[Alan Hahn]

Really important.

[Rosenberg]

So you say Yabu Selly. That's going to one day be a strange pull. Nick, you know what? Who was a Nick that you could name? That was. You know, nobody remembers him. We play this game with fans all the time because I think this has been a fun thing about this run.

[Bill Peto]

You're gonna go down old, old rosters.

[Rosenberg]

Yes. So. So there's old.

[Alan Hahn]

Aldridge, please.

[Rosenberg]

All right. There you go. I was gonna ask you because it seems to be this rite of passage now, this badge of honor. I'm walking around, I come out of Penn Station. I'm walk going to our studio downtown. I came up to our city here, whatever it is, wherever I am now, a fan will see me.

[Alan Hahn]

Kadeem Allen.

[Rosenberg]

Kadeem Allen. This is what they'll do. No, I'm not kidding. People will come up to me and then they'll say, I'm a Nick fan. And then they'll just come up with a name. And it's almost like to prove like, this is how long I've been watching this team that I can say, you know, Lavar Postel, you know what I mean? Like names like that, out of the blue. And that's when I go, all right, all right. You've been a fan since 2001.

[Alan Hahn]

Clearly, fans certainly deserve this and they deserve all the, the coverage you're giving. Thank you for coming over. It was really nice.

[Bill Peto]

Anytime.

[Alan Hahn]

Appreciate it.

[Bill Peto]

See you guys soon.

[Monica McNutt]

All right.

[Bill Peto]

Thank you for having me.

[Alan Hahn]

Coverage for all the game days. 7:30 on off days at 8 o'. Clock. There'll be extended post game coverage as well after the game on MSGs big five o' clock hour. I'm gonna move the list to 5:30. And at six, Don Hanna Rosenberg live from stout until seven and then it's Knicks coverage right here on ESPN New York.

[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Rosenberg]

I don't want to know how the

[Don Hahn]

sausage is made, but I just want

[Rosenberg]

to know it's good.

[Don Hahn]

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.

[Alan Hahn]

Have no fear.

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[Rosenberg]

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