Hour 2: Raekwon reacts to Game 4

Summary

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Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 2: Raekwon Reacts to Game 4

Episode Date: June 11, 2026
Host(s): Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Special Guest: Raekwon (Wu-Tang Clan)

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Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the aftermath of an unforgettable Knicks comeback in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, a game now etched in New York sports lore. The hosts dissect the intense emotions felt by fans, the electric atmosphere at Madison Square Garden (MSG), the role of celebrity presence—both lauded and criticized—and feature a celebratory and candid interview with Raekwon of the Wu-Tang Clan, who performed at halftime and became an unexpected part of the evening's folklore. The show blends fan perspectives with expert, passionate commentary, exploring the synergy between culture, sports loyalty, and city pride.

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Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. Celebrity Fan Boundaries at MSG

Timestamps: 00:41–05:58

• Debate on Celebrity Access:
  Don pushes back against celebrities (specifically Mariska Hargitay) running onto the court before a Knicks victory was official, questioning if fame affords special privileges and highlighting the inconsistency compared to how regular fans are treated.
  • “But because you’re a celebrity, you get to run on the damn court? Come on, man.” (Don, 02:50)
• Knicks vs. Lakers Celebrity Allegiances:
  Questioning some celebrities’ true fan status—are they Knicks or Lakers fans?
  • “We’re kind of in question. Is it Lakers? Is it Knicks? We’re not even sure.” (Don, 02:50)
• The Sea of Celebrity Faces:
  Describing the chaotic, party-like scene post-game filled with celebrities and former NBA players, including Seinfeld, RZA, Method Man, Victor Cruz, Andre Iguodala, and more.
  • “Celebrities and former NBA players… dancing on the court.” (Alan, 04:55)

2. Memorable Knicks Moments & Fan Pain

Timestamps: 05:08–13:33

• The Game’s Emotional Core:
  Listeners (like Blanderson Hooper) call in to express what the win means to multi-generational fans, particularly poignant for those who’ve endured years of heartbreak.
  • “We leapt up like lunatics and they win. And he gave me probably the longest, tightest hug I’ve ever gotten from him in my entire life. That’s what sports is all about.” (Mateo, 11:32)
• Comparisons to Classic Franchise Moments:
  The panel muses on how this comeback and game-winning play could surpass past legendary Knicks moments, e.g. LJ’s four-point play.
  • “People talk about LJ and four point… that would pale in comparison to something like this.” (Mateo, 10:22)
• “Losing hurts more than winning feels good.”
  Don encapsulates the decades-long agony and why victory is so meaningful now.
  • “It’s all the pain that makes it that much better...culminate[s] to this. This is where it’s supposed to make you be all worth it at the end.” (Don, 12:34)

3. Halftime: Wu-Tang Clan’s Pivotal Moment

Timestamps: 13:33–26:45

The Interview: Raekwon Reacts and Reflects

• Performance During Dire Straits:
  Wu-Tang performed as the Knicks trailed by nearly 30. Raekwon describes the challenge but says Knicks fans “stand” through good, bad, and ugly, crediting the crowd’s energy for staying resilient.
  • “Through good, bad, and ugly, we still going stand...The synergy in the room…just invigorated everything.” (Raekwon, 15:05)
• On Being Part of the Narrative:
  Hosts and Raekwon riff on how the Clan’s set is now cemented in Knicks history if the team wins the title.
  • “You guys are part of the sports story forever.” (Alan, 23:16)
  • “If they would have lost, you know, we would have lost too.” (Raekwon, 19:24)
• The Hip-Hop, Hoops, and NYC Symbiosis:
  Raekwon gets reflective about Wu-Tang’s cultural place in New York and how the team’s journey mirrors that of the city’s musical icons.
  • “The Knicks is part of the hip hop culture…It’s like seeing your hood heroes…this is something that was really monumental.” (Raekwon, 17:50)
• Chemistry Over Star Power:
  Don draws a parallel between Wu-Tang’s group chemistry and the Knicks’ team-first approach, which Raekwon amplifies with sports analogies.
  • “Chemistry is everything…we got to compliment each other, like in football, too. The kicker’s not as important as the quarterback, but he is.” (Raekwon, 21:48)
• Pride and Legacy:
  Raekwon shares what it means for him and his family, particularly making his Knicks-loving uncle smile.
  • “This means, more than everything to me…I have an uncle that’s been a Knicks fan…so to know that, that made my uncle smile, that was a lot for me as well, too.” (Raekwon, 23:51)
• Quick Takeaways Post-Interview:
  The panel agrees that Wu-Tang’s performance kept the crowd “in the bowl,” fueling the comeback energy.

4. Music, Nostalgia, & Real vs. “Bandwagon” Fans

Timestamps: 26:41–34:15

• The “Wu-Tang Effect” on Fans and Broadcast Team:
  Alan Hahn relates trying to balance his “halftime duties” with wanting to vibe with Wu-Tang’s set; other hosts joke about Wu-Tang versus other genres in terms of cultural nostalgia.
  • “I was not focused…If I’m into Wu-Tang, which I am…I can bop a little bit.” (Alan & Don, 29:11–30:18)
• Who’s a Real Fan?
  Running joke about which celebrities (and broadcasters like Pat O’Keefe) genuinely know or vibe with Wu-Tang.
  • “[Pat O’Keefe:] ‘Now when I hear their music, it’s very nostalgic…’” (Read by Alan, 31:06)
• Boston’s Lackluster Celebrity Scene:
  Rosenberg passionately counters Dave Portnoy’s (Barstool Sports) attacks on MSG’s celebrity crowd, defending the authenticity and history of the New York fan, regardless of fame.
  • “Just because your disgusting face and Donnie Wahlberg…does not mean that they’re faking it in New York. Those are real fans.” (Rosenberg, 34:23)

5. Celebrity and Knicks Fandom: Authenticity & Local Roots

Timestamps: 34:15–40:19

• Receipts of Knicks Fanhood:
  The hosts defend stars like Ben Stiller, Larry David, Jerry Seinfeld, Adam Sandler, and even Taylor Swift as genuine Knicks fans, pointing to years of attendance and deep-rooted connections—contrasting New York’s unique celebrity fan culture to other cities.

  • “You can’t call Ben Stiller a non-fan...You can’t call out Larry David...Jerry Seinfeld. These are New Yorkers that have loved the Knicks for years.” (Don, 34:47)

• No True “Fake Fan?”
  The panel struggles to point out any outright fraudulent celebrities among the Knicks crowd, suggesting the community is bona fide.

• Comparing with Other Markets:
  Emphasizing how LA’s and Boston’s fan cultures don’t compare—with jokes about bandwagoners and hedge-fund types not necessarily lacking passion.

6. OG Anunoby’s Quiet Heroics and Generational Fan Memories

Timestamps: 43:18–47:20

• Caller Mateo from Puerto Rico:
  Expresses admiration for OG Anunoby, a “low key guy” delivering the biggest moment, evoking memories of the 1986 Mets comeback, and reflecting on how a Knicks victory would cap a lifetime of New York sports fandom.

  • “If the Knicks can close this out, man, I feel like I had a complete life after all the suffering throughout the years...” (Mateo, 44:38)

• “Now I Can Die in Peace”
  The panel evokes the famous Rangers fan sign, pondering what ultimate victory would mean for Knicks fans still waiting after half a century (Don, 45:11).

• Ticket Economics for the Potential Decisive Game in San Antonio:
  Conversation about how high ticket resell value will attract Knicks fans to San Antonio—discussing die-hard loyalty versus windfalls for casual fans.

7. Spurs, Learning to Win, and Big Picture NBA Parallels

Timestamps: 46:00–48:42

• Drawing from Sports History:
  Alan analogizes the Spurs’ journey to the early Oilers/Wayne Gretzky Oilers facing the Islanders—how enduring heartbreak breeds future greatness.

  • “You gotta learn to win. And I think they’re learning that right now.” (Don, 47:20)

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Notable Quotes and Moments

• Don, on celebrity privilege:
  “Just because you are a celebrity doesn’t allow you to walk on the court. I’m sorry, it doesn’t.” (02:32)
• Raekwon, on Knicks resilience:
  “One thing people gotta know about Knicks fans is that through good, bad, and ugly, we still gon’ stand.” (15:05)
• Raekwon, on legacy:
  “If they had lost, you know, we would have lost too...But hey, we won. They didn’t give up. And that’s what people have to understand about being a New Yorker.”
• Alan, on Wu-Tang's impact:
  “You guys are part of the story forever...When you tell the story of Game 4, you can’t leave out Wu-Tang at halftime.” (23:16)
• Mateo, on generational fandom:
  “If the Knicks can close this out, man, I feel like I had a complete life after all the suffering throughout the years” (44:38)
• Don, distilling fandom:
  “It’s all the pain that makes it that much better. The old saying, losing hurts more than winning feels good.” (12:34)

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Episode Flow & Tone

• Engaging, conversational, and sometimes playful: The hosts blend deep emotional investment in the Knicks with irreverent New York banter and passionate defense of local fan culture.
• Heavily focused on the intersection of culture, history, and sports: Frequent callbacks to past iconic New York sporting moments, music, and the broader meaning of victory and suffering for fans.
• Raekwon’s segment stands out as celebratory yet humble: He speaks with genuine awe and gives fans an insider’s look at what it means to become woven into the city’s sports tapestry.

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Key Timestamps

• 00:41–05:58: Celebrity access, court-storming & MSG debate
• 09:59–13:33: Emotional caller stories—multi-generational Knicks fandom
• 13:33–26:45: Wu-Tang halftime, Raekwon interview, and music’s effect on the game
• 31:06–33:39: Wu-Tang nostalgia and Pat O’Keefe’s fandom
• 34:23–40:19: Defending New York’s authentic celebrity fan culture
• 43:18–47:20: OG Anunoby celebration & lifelong fan reflection

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Takeaways for Non-Listeners

• This episode captures the collective catharsis of Knicks fans, mixing funny banter and heartfelt storytelling with insider perspectives on one of the most electrifying MSG nights in years.
• The Wu-Tang Clan’s halftime performance became the symbolic pivot in Game 4 and in Knicks lore.
• Being a Knicks fan, the hosts argue, is about enduring pain and savoring fleeting triumph—and when the city wins, everyone who loves New York, from sports icons to hip-hop legends, feels like they belong to the same extended family.

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Transcript

[Don Hahn]

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[Alan Hahn]

This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don Hahn]

That sounds like heaven to me.

[Alan Hahn]

Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 880 ESPN, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers.

[Don Hahn]

Game time is brought to you by Tullamore Irish Whiskey. Because when it's game time, it's chutney time. Mets, Cardinals, it's over. It's over. Mets win 5 4. The Liberty will visit the Dream at 7:30 Tullimore. Due the original triple distilled, triple blended and triple cast matured Irish whiskey. Be sure to grab a Tullamore Dew or try the Tullamore Dew. Honey, during today's action, glasses up to enjoying Tullamore Dew responsibly. Now, I'm going to tread lightly here. But still it bothered me. I understand. We see it from Spike all the time. Like he'll get up when you have seats on the floor. There's the reason they call it floor seats. You're on the floor now, you're out of bounds, but you're like only a couple of feet away. So sometimes Spike, and I will say does take liberties. He gets into it and he's kind of on the floor. All right? And I'm sure he. It's only a few seconds. He realizes where he is, should sit down. I can understand people being aggravated with that. I get it. But I don't think he means anything but Harkitay just running on the court. No, I'm sorry. I know you're famous. I know you're a celebrity. You can't run on the court.

[Rosenberg]

When did she run on the court?

[Don Hahn]

Oh, the game was over.

[Alan Hahn]

No, it wasn't over yet. She. She ran on the court after.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, that was.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, that was.

[Don Hahn]

You got. You know what?

[Alan Hahn]

There was a timeout.

[Rosenberg]

Grapple.

[Don Hahn]

No. Dragged out. Ban. How? No, seriously, like we kill the kid for running on the court. So what we're saying is that the fan that ran on the court in San Antonio. Oh, no, listen to me. Is banned because he's not. Anybody but Harkitay, before the game is over, can run on the court, interrupt interviews, but because she's famous, it's a ha ha. It's so cute. She's a big fan.

[Alan Hahn]

Different situation.

[Don Hahn]

I understand it's situation.

[Alan Hahn]

There was a stoppage. That kid ran on the floor when they were playing the game was.

[Don Hahn]

He deserved everything he got. I'm just telling you there was a timeout.

[Alan Hahn]

Everybody was walking to the.

[Don Hahn]

Still, you don't. Just because you are SUV or whatever doesn't allow you to walk on the court. I'm sorry, it doesn't. You're not credentialed to be on the court. You're running on the court before the clock zeros out. I'm sorry. No, it shouldn't be allowed. Ow. I'm not saying banner out.

[Alan Hahn]

She gone.

[Don Hahn]

Am I wrong? But because you're a celebrity, you get to run on the damn court. Come on, man. And besides, we're not. We're kind of in question. Is it Lakers? Is it Knicks? We're not even sure.

[Rosenberg]

I mean, we are. We do need to ask about the Lakers.

[Don Hahn]

Well, the fact that we have to ask is a problem, but she could be a diehard Knick fan, never missed a game in her life, could name every Knick from 1947 to today. You can't run on the court.

[Alan Hahn]

And she.

[Rosenberg]

And she also opted for the Stevie Nick shirt, which is just a weird

[Don Hahn]

choice, I don't know. But that's. That really bothered me. Now, I didn't notice it in real time, but then when I'm seeing the video after the game and then. Thank you, Alan, for adding context, that it was actually before the game was over, and then later on, she's on the court interrupting interviews. I'm sorry. No, I'm sorry. Only people that are allowed on the court should be players and officials and credentialed media, not, oh, you just happen to be famous so you can run on the court.

[Rosenberg]

But once the game ended, everyone on

[Alan Hahn]

the court, it was every celebrity. I'd never seen anything like that.

[Don Hahn]

I don't like it.

[Alan Hahn]

Celebrities and former NBA players and not just former Knicks. Andre Iguodala, Kevin Love.

[Rosenberg]

It was just a party.

[Alan Hahn]

Detroit Pistons 04 RIP Hamilton. Okay, just. Countless NBA players were just suddenly on the court now.

[Don Hahn]

Now I. I'm friendly with a lot of celebrities, so I don't think they would have given me a beating if I ran on the court when the game was over because I. Because I know this, but they definitely would have escorted me off the court. All right? And I'd probably be reprimanded by msg, and rightly so, but whatever. Let's Just say, I'm talk show host with no affiliation with msg. And I'm known, but I wouldn't call myself a celebrity. I get dragged out and arrested.

[Alan Hahn]

Not if you are close with the star on the team. That, like, that is true.

[Rosenberg]

She is very friendly with, like, no, no, no.

[Alan Hahn]

Like, hey, we're not done yet. Like, just intercepting.

[Don Hahn]

And I don't. I don't.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, it was.

[Don Hahn]

Well, you. What about all the other celebrities when the game is over, running around on the court like they own spikes.

[Alan Hahn]

Dancing on the court.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah. I mean, yesterday is a tough example. Only because it's. It was filled after the game. Larry David, Seinfeld, rza, Method Man, Victor Cruz. Like, it just goes on and on and on.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, it's. You know what's funny? There's a great photo, I just posted it because I thought this would be funny, of Jerry Seinfeld staring up at the scoreboard in disbelief with his hands up like he had that Jerry Seinfeld look. Like, what? You know.

[Rosenberg]

Oh, my God.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. And so I just said, like, if you could use this photo with the score in it, we still 1.2 seconds left. 107, 106. And I said, outline a Seinfeld episode based on this photo. The replies are actually really funny.

[Don Hahn]

Well, the one. One I saw was the picture of Jerry and Larry David.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay. Okay.

[Don Hahn]

And the caption was, so. So the spurs know how to take the lead. They just don't know how to hold the lead.

[Rosenberg]

Right. Yeah, I saw that. That's all about the holding, and it's

[Raekwon]

all about the hole.

[Alan Hahn]

If you can't hold it, you really don't have the lead.

[Don Hahn]

Anybody can take a lead, you know. No, listen, I. I'm kind of kidding on square.

[Rosenberg]

Did you guys hear the other day. Sorry. That Spike Lee said in an interview. I didn't. I don't know who's with. But that when someone asked him after the. After game three how he felt about the series, that he said, the cat's in the bag and the bags in the river.

[Don Hahn]

Oh.

[Rosenberg]

Which is just so perfect. I never heard that the cat is not in the cat. Maybe in a bag, but the bag is gone.

[Alan Hahn]

The bag's gone.

[Rosenberg]

Which is how it felt after game three.

[Alan Hahn]

He came up to me on the court after the game stop, and he started giving me a dissertation about the Willis Reed Game seven. And I'm, like, trying to get interviews, and I'm looking at him like, huh, huh, huh. He's going through the hole. And that's when I finally said, where would you put this moment? He says right behind that.

[Rosenberg]

By the way, have we not called Spike today?

[Alan Hahn]

Should we just call? I reached out, I reached out.

[Rosenberg]

Nothing yet.

[Alan Hahn]

Did not get a reply, surprisingly, because normally he's very quick to reply.

[Rosenberg]

He may still be asleep. Let's be honest. He may have been up all night and sleeping all day.

[Alan Hahn]

He could have also been flying to LA also. You know, he could have been heading out to la. A lot of, A lot of people are heading to LA today.

[Mateo]

That's right.

[Rosenberg]

Of course, a lot of west coast people. And then I'm sure there are people who are heading to San Antonio in a day. What does he say?

[Alan Hahn]

Well, la. And then you'll get to San Antonio afterwards, right?

[Don Hahn]

I think he's 68, 69. I guess he's 69 years old. If he's a dad, the God love him, but he's like most 69 years old, year old, like your grandma, your mom, that, you know, he still has to tell you something. Got to go.

[Alan Hahn]

That's exactly what it felt like.

[Don Hahn]

Listen, I got to go, like, well, one more. Doesn't matter. I got one more thing to tell you. So you adjust.

[Alan Hahn]

You know, your father and I did this one time and you just like going, how does that relate to me?

[Rosenberg]

Alan, did you attempt to get any interviews yesterday for postgame that you, you failed in getting like any celeb interviews?

[Alan Hahn]

I only failed because they were too far away and there were too many people between. Like, I didn't make the attempt of the ask. That's right.

[Rosenberg]

Okay, you didn't.

[Alan Hahn]

But it was like there were people that I'm, I got to get him on. I got to get him. And it just, you know, like, John McElroe was right by me, but he was engaged with so many people talking that it was, you know, like, to me to walk up and just be like, hey, you want to come on with us? I, I didn't think it was the right thing to do because there were just so many excited people. It's. Yeah, I, I wanted to get whether it was, you know, McEnroe, who I thought would be great. Ben was all the way on the other side. There was no chance I was getting over to him. And of course I was thinking of, is Taylor still out here? That would be amazing.

[Rosenberg]

I would think that would be a cool get.

[Alan Hahn]

Didn't. Didn't see that. And you know, Hargitay, like, they were all. They had put up, like, not ropes, but like tape to tape off Scott Van Pelt had his area inside. The NBA had their area. And then there was espn. There was some other ESPN stuff being set up in another area. So everything was roped off to get around things you had to duck under. And I'm like, I'm not going to make these people do this. So it kind of. But I mean, getting Carmelo was great. Littrell Sprewell was nearby. Got him. And by that point, our, our postgame show was already well underway and it was time for me to get across the street.

[Rosenberg]

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[Don Hahn]

1-800-919-3776. I saw him on social media. Blanderson, Hooper, you're on ESPN New York. How you feeling, buddy?

[Mateo]

I'm, I'm feeling incredible, Don. I'm feeling incredible. Honestly, I still haven't been able to process yesterday, you know, that might have been the most exciting seven or eight minutes of basketball that I've ever seen in, in my life. And if they go on to, to win, and you know, I still say if because I, I'm not willing to touch the money just, just yet. I don't see that how that cannot be the greatest play in the history of this franchise, you know? Yeah, you know, people talk about LJ and four point, like just, I'm sorry, that would pale in comparison to something like this. But I just wanted to give you guys just like a little personal anecdote, if you don't mind. But So I have two boys, 17 and 14. 17 year old, doesn't care about sports at all. And the 14 year old, this was the first year that he really got into the Knicks, watched all the games with me and everything. And the playoffs started and I told him it was a completely different animal. And he was like I don't even know what that means. I don't know what you're talking about. And I was just talking about how, you know, this team is not one in 53 years. There's a lot of expectations and, like, the tension when we're watching and like, the way I'm going to act when we watch. This is not normal because he hasn't seen any New York team win. And as we were going through the playoffs and they're playing better and better, I could see he's getting more and more excited as the games are going on and he's really, really getting into it. And last night the comeback is happening. And right before that last time out, before the play where Anunoby scores, all I know is I feel him grab my hand. Like, I need to. I'm so tense. I need to grab hold of something. Give me your hand. I'm just so. And he hits the shot. And we leapt up like lunatics and they win. And he gave me probably the longest, tightest hug I've ever gotten from him in my entire life. And it's like, that's what sports is all about.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Mateo]

And that's what this theme is all about. Like, Pete, you could see that as things went on, he realized what I was talking about. I kept telling him, and I told you guys last week, like, if they win, I'm going to cry. And he couldn't understand, you know, why that would be or how that could be. And I think now he does. And honestly, this has been the most incredible run I've ever seen. I love this team so much, and it would just mean so much to me and to the fans and to the city for them to come through and finally win this title.

[Don Hahn]

You're the people that I'm rooting for that see it happen, because it's all the pain that makes it that much better. You know, the old saying is that losing hurts more than winning feels good. The losses that you've taken, that you suffered through culminate to this. This is where it's supposed to make you be all worth it at the end of the day. And unfortunately, there's a lot of people that never got to see it. And maybe you'll get to see it. And I'm not saying that it's going to completely wipe clean the entire history, but it's going to come close and it's going to be an amazing feeling. That's why when I. When I talk about fraud bandwagon, jumpers, you know, they'll celebrate they'll hug their friends and stuff, but it's not going to mean nearly as much to them as it's going to be to Blanderson and Allen and Spike and, you know, the people out there that have suffered for 50 plus years of watching this team year after year come up short. And that's what makes it so much fun for those people.

[Rosenberg]

All right, you know where this whole thing turned around yesterday, if we're being honest?

[Don Hahn]

Yes, it was halftime.

[Rosenberg]

It was halftime, and the vibes were not good. And all of a sudden, it turns out we learned that Wu Tang is not only for the children, but therefore the New York Knicks and the entire city. They performed. Everything turned around, and one of the people at the center of that was my good buddy Raekwon the chef who joins us right now. Chef, it's. It's. It's Rosenberg, Alan Hahn and Don McGregor. How are you, buddy?

[Raekwon]

What's going on, guys? How you doing, man? Rosie was good.

[Rosenberg]

Have you come down off the high yet from last night?

[Raekwon]

No, I have not. No, I have not. It has been crazy, crazy, crazy game, man, that this one is going to be in the books, man. This one is going to be in the book. So I'm still, I'm still. I still feel like I'm in the garden right now. Like, I just went to the bathroom real quick.

[Rosenberg]

Was it, was it, was it hard? Was the performance itself hard? Because when. When the news came out that you guys were performing, everyone was like, all right, this is perfect. We had a lot of weird distractions on Monday, but now it's Wednesday. We got Wu Tang at halftime, Everything is just right, and then you guys have to come out there and perform when the Knicks are getting absolutely blasted. Was it challenging at all, energy wise, with the game going so badly to perform at halftime?

[Raekwon]

No, it wasn't. It wasn't. I think at the end of the day, I think, see, one thing people got to know about Knicks fans is that through good, bad and ugly, we still going stand. And I think when it was time for us to perform, the crowd was still out there. It was radiant. The energy was still popping. And, you know, of course, like you said, we was down. You know, everybody wasn't happy. But I think that the synergy in the room, along with hearing the music and really seeing the energy that we coming in with, I think it just invigorated everything. You know, it pushed it back up. And, you know, people were saying, what was the lucky charm, you know, of the night, you know? You know, performing casual and, you know, bring the ruckus. You know, I blow spots like Waco, Texas, you know, not Waco, Texas, but, you know, you know, San Antonio sex. But.

[Alan Hahn]

Nah.

[Raekwon]

But I think at the end of the day, it was just that we went out there. We've been in those situations, like the Knicks, you know, we. We've been there. So it. You still march, you gotta march. And that's what we did. We went out there and the crowd was involved, and somehow, some way, we. We made it through. We. We did. We needed to do, you know, where did you.

[Alan Hahn]

Where did you watch the game from? Where were you guys at after. I'm talking about after performance. Because sometimes you guys go in the back and you miss some of that third quarter because, you know, of the cooldown, whatever. So where were you watching the game when you started to see it happen?

[Raekwon]

Yeah, I was in the back. I was in the back with my manager. And me and him was just. We had like this private area. Me and him was just back in the back because, you know, being that it was so many of us there, some of us went out for the first quarter, you know, then shifted and, you know, some of the guys went to the back, but I happened to be in the back. And when I tell you I was back there, like a little. Little shaky, can't front. But, you know, they. They were able. They were able to prevail. And. And, you know, that's what people love about the Knicks is like, you know, don't. Don't count us out, man. You know, they had to. They had to wash their face real quick. I'm gonna call it that. You know, they're hard to. Trust me, we have been in. And trust me, we have been in situations where sometimes you could be somewhere and it's. You see so many celebrities and stars and in every place in that sometimes it can intimidate your game. You know, even us as being performers, like, you know, after the show, we might be like, like, damn, everybody came. But we might feel like, yo, that wasn't our best. You know what I mean? But sometimes these things happen. And I think what the Knicks did is that they went and washed their face and came back and did what they had to do.

[Don Hahn]

How far back do you go with the team?

[Raekwon]

Oh, I mean, you know, since a kid, man. Since my first pair of Ewings, man. With Adidas, man. I mean, you know, put it like this. Patrick Gilling, you know, Patrick Ewing was possibly a young man, you know what I mean? Not an older man, but, you Know, I put it, Put it like this. The Knicks. The Knicks is part of the hip hop culture because, you know, coming up at 87, 88, you know, that was the team to go see. You know, Patrick, you know, all these, all these legends, all the guys that was down, you know, so for us, it's like seeing your hood heroes, you know, your sports hood heroes in the building. And, you know, we, you know, they always, they was all in there chilling, you know. So, yeah, man, this is. This is something that was really monumental and it needed to go down like this. We couldn't. We couldn't. We couldn't lose, man. Isn't it. Yes, it is.

[Rosenberg]

And, Ray, isn't it crazy that, like, you know, you guys get the booking to do it and. Okay, it's very cool. You know, I'm sure you've done. You guys just did the Garden, but I'm guessing you've even done halftime before, or a bunch of you have done halftime before at different times. But this, in this moment is different, right? Like the halftime situation during the finals is different. Cardi just did it in game three. It's a different animal if they end up losing the game. It's a footnote in your life that you guys did it because you've done a lot of cool things. Hell, you're going into the Rock and Roll hall of Fame this year. You guys have done a lot, but because they made the comeback in one. Ray, you guys are going to be talking about this forever now.

[Raekwon]

Yeah, it's definitely, definitely, you know, going down in the books. And if they would have lost, you know, we would have lost too, you know. Yeah, it definitely would have been, you know, something that everybody wouldn't really like. And, you know, we so used to being on both sides when it like, yo, you know, yo. Nah, it ain't it or it is it. So, yeah, it would have been. It would have been an ugly moment at that time. But, hey, we won. They didn't give up. And that's what people have to understand about being a New Yorker. You know, we can. You know, they say, they say once you from New York, you could go anywhere, you could survive. It's the same mentality when pressure's on, you know, we never give up, you know? You know, and I think that they just didn't allow themselves to get distracted. They know that they. They a team that has the ability to be better and be great and just catch yourself. You know what I mean? Sometimes when I'm on stage and, you know, I might look at one of the guys and, you know, give me a cue, let me know, yo, I mean, more energy. What, yo, nah, your energy is off, you know, so, you know, this is where the team comes in, where you have to trust your team. You have to trust them. You know, you can't panic. It's been plenty of times we do shows, and next thing you know, God's is like, nah, nah, we ain't killing. They wasn't going crazy. And then next thing you know, is somebody such as myself that might say, yo, chill, relax, yo, you know what I'm saying? Everybody ain't gonna jump up. Everybody gonna jump in the air like on some House of Pain thing, you know, they might just chill and watch the. Watch to watch the movie happen. So I just, I just know that they didn't give up. They not quitters. And, yo, man, it was, it was a dope look.

[Don Hahn]

And that's what I enjoy about sports and music is the chemistry, right? That there are no, like, super, super superstars. If you go out and draft a team in your fantasy league, you know, that doesn't necessarily mean they're gonna be able to go out there and do it. If you go out and get the eight best, you know, hip hop rappers, whoever, together, doesn't mean it'll be as great as Wu Tang Clan, because you guys mesh together, and as individuals, you guys are great, but together you become like super beings, man. And that's what this Knick team is. It's all to me about chemistry. I could draft. I could go out there and draft 15 better players than the Knicks have, but if they don't mesh like New York does, it's not going to work.

[Raekwon]

Exactly. Chemistry is everything on the field, you know, even when, you know, being in groups and all of that. And, you know, we was always taught that, like, we got to compliment each other, you know, you know, like, like it's like in football, too, you know, you think the kicker is not as important as, as the quarterback, but he is. You know, it's. When it's time to do his thing, he got to get out there and he got to be great. He got to be focused and get to it. So, yeah, all these things, they, they, they, they clash together. Of course.

[Alan Hahn]

I wanted something that, that Peter was saying earlier, though. Ray is like. I don't know how much you, you are understanding that what you guys are now in this game is part of the story, you know, like, crazy. When you tell the story of this game, which we all can agree that if they can finish the job, win the title, which is, you know, a very good chance this is gonna happen. Now, when you tell the story of game four, you can't tell the story without Wu Tang Clan. Oh, they. They performed at halftime and they were down by 29, but the crowd got lit because they saw them. And so the crowd was buzzing to start the second half because of that performance. And they stayed up instead of being flat like you, you know, in New York, you're down 29, you're not exactly getting pats on the back and cheering. You're getting people getting restless and saying, I paid eight grand to get in the building, and you guys suck right now.

[Rosenberg]

Right?

[Alan Hahn]

Like, you're, like you're, you're not getting that. But the crowd, what you guys did was get the crowd in a mood that allowed them to stay. You know what? Come on, let's do this. It's only 29. Like, you know what I mean? So you're part of that. You guys are part of the sports story forever.

[Don Hahn]

You're going to be interviewed for the 30. For 30.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, without a doubt. You're in the documentary. You're in the documentary for sure, right? What does that, what does that mean for you? That's got to mean something because musically, you guys have done everything, but this is a sports story that you guys have impacted.

[Raekwon]

Oh, no, listen, this means, this means more than everything to me at this point. You know, I have an uncle that's been a Knicks fan. You know, basketball got, you know, ever since I knew him as, as a kid. So to know that, that made my uncle smile, that was a lot for me as well, too, you know, because my uncle was a big, big Knicks fan. He was coming to the games, you know, since a teenager. So to see, you know, certain family members, even my manager supreme, you know, he's a big. He's a big Knicks fan. So, yeah, man, it's. It's something that's going to be etched out in, in, in our lives now, man. You know, and like I said, man, New York, man, it was that time. And when it's time, when it's time to shine, we gonna do it. We gonna do, do it, and we're gonna get there one way or another, you know, And I think that's what. Where it lies with me, you know, to be in the books with you guys and sports. Hey, look, I play sports all my life, you know, I wasn't a basketball player. I was a. More of a baseball player. But still, I knew. I know These sports. I know it. I know it. Because the crew that I'm around, they love sports. So. Yeah, it's a beautiful thing, man. It's like you said, man, you know, hey, tell. Tell Dolan I say, yo, man, send that Rolls Royce over here, man, you know? Yeah, I need a brand new one black picture. Tell them I need a specter, you know, let him know we just. We just was there to, you know, throw some sprinkles on. On the top of the garden for him.

[Rosenberg]

Chef. Thank you, chef. Chef. You've always been there my whole. My whole career, whenever I've called you. I appreciate you. Thank you, man.

[Raekwon]

Love you. Love you, Rosie. You know what it is, man.

[Rosenberg]

All right, brother, thanks.

[Don Hahn]

Great.

[Raekwon]

To the team.

[Rosenberg]

All right. Thanks, Ray. That was tremendous. Tremendous. But, Alan, it's such a great point. Like, they really are now part of

[Alan Hahn]

a sports story forever, right? You can't tell the story. It's. And I, I don't want to make this compare. It's not a parallel, obviously, but it's similar to the OJ game 5 is like, that's all. You can't tell the story. It's always part of it. And so I, I'm. If we're gonna say this is the greatest, that, that tip shot, unless something else happened in this finals was, please, like, enough with the cardiac stuff. But if. If that's the shot that is the memorable shot of a championship run, then you can't tell the story of this game without saying what happened at halftime. And it's not. The Knicks came out at halftime and, you know, cut the lead. It's Wu Tang Clan played at halftime and the crowd got up and they stayed up. Rather than it getting quiet, people stayed in the back and the Delta Club and other places and just said, and now I'm watching.

[Rosenberg]

I'm watching a video, a clip of it right now. A good three minute video of it.

[Alan Hahn]

Performance.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah, there's some quality ones on YouTube. The crowd really stayed in the bowl to watch, like much more than usual.

[Alan Hahn]

I was on with Pat. I was on with Pat at halftime up in the booth.

[Rosenberg]

Wu Tang. Wu Tang o'. Keefe.

[Alan Hahn]

And Pat was having a hard time keeping my attention, avoiding your unfinished home

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[Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything.

[Alan Hahn]

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

[Don Hahn]

So we batted it around yesterday. What is the interest level Pat o' Keefe has for Wu Tangling? And Allen left it open like, hey, listen, I'm a. I'm your average white guy. I like Wu Tang. Why can't Pat o'?

[Rosenberg]

Keefe?

[Don Hahn]

And I said, well, I know Pat, and I don't sense that he's anything more than a Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen top 40 guy. Now you got to sit with them while Wu Tang was performing. Do you have an update on where Pat o' Keefe stands with Wu Tang?

[Alan Hahn]

I do not.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, why not?

[Alan Hahn]

I didn't ask him. He was locked in. First of all, nobody was in a good mood at that point.

[Don Hahn]

I get it.

[Alan Hahn]

And he was, you know, he was very, you know, serious about hitting all the things that we need to get to you, Don, you've done these. You have a million reads to get to and setups and all that stuff.

[Don Hahn]

I listen.

[Alan Hahn]

So he was focused. I was not focused. So I was. I was a poor student.

[Don Hahn]

But if I'm into Wu Tang, which I am, I'm not gonna say I'm as into it as you guys are. I've got my songs, okay? And if there's one of the songs that I know and like, even if I'm doing Halftime for the Knicks. And I've been there with the Rangers. Right. I know you gotta focus. You got reads, you got people in your ear. You're interviewing somebody and you're really disappointed that the team is down by as many points as they're down. Yeah, but I think I can multitask. And I think as I'm interviewing Alan Hahn and I'm starting to feel the song, I'm going to probably be moving a little bit. I can bop a little bit if I'm into it. M E T H O D man.

[Rosenberg]

All right. Okay. Are you asking.

[Don Hahn]

If so, Alan, how do you think they're going to be able to come back from the. This.

[Rosenberg]

That's a drop now, now, you think Pat o' Keefe didn't do that?

[Don Hahn]

No, I. I don't think he. I don't think he knows who they are. And if he knows who they are, he just happened to be listening yesterday when we were talking about. I don't think there's anything wrong with that. You don't think. You know. I think he's more of a Zach Brown guy.

[Rosenberg]

I'll tell you. I'll tell you. Who doesn't know Wuang. I'm making this up completely. I'm basing this only in his voice.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay?

[Rosenberg]

I'm telling you. Who doesn't know wuang? Tyler Murray.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, no. Tyler Murray knows them.

[Rosenberg]

He knows Wu Tang.

[Alan Hahn]

All right, can now update you. All right, here we go from Pat o'. Keefe. Okay, I was in high school because I had a few. I was in high school, meaning I was a fan in high school.

[Rosenberg]

Okay.

[Alan Hahn]

Because I had a few friends from Staten island, so I guess because. From Shaolin, he knows them. Though prior to that, I did not know much about them. Now when I hear their music, it's very nostalgic. Regarding last night, I would much rather have been listening to them than talking to you. Great answer.

[Don Hahn]

I love Pat.

[Rosenberg]

Go ahead.

[Don Hahn]

Pat's come to the sasso. Softball.

[Rosenberg]

We love Pat.

[Don Hahn]

I consider him a frat. I don't buy.

[Alan Hahn]

No, I. I told you, he.

[Don Hahn]

He knows who they are.

[Alan Hahn]

He played basketball in high school.

[Don Hahn]

I'm telling you not.

[Alan Hahn]

He's a basketball guy. So you. You can't even. You can't help but not know who they are.

[Don Hahn]

Music, very nostalgic is a nice way of saying, I don't care for it, but I know what it means.

[Alan Hahn]

It means that, like, he. He knows the song. Like, you know, triumph. Like, he knows those songs.

[Don Hahn]

I get it. But I'm just And so when he

[Alan Hahn]

hears it, he's like, oh, I remember that. But it's not like he's listening to it every day.

[Don Hahn]

That's not nostalgic. You're either in or you're out.

[Alan Hahn]

You know, it is nostalgic. What are you talking about, girl? He doesn't have to listen to it

[Don Hahn]

every day because it was on all the time. You're like, I don't like this song. But. But it takes me back to 1984. So I listen to it. But you're listening to.

[Alan Hahn]

Do you have to listen to him? If you have to. Do you have to listen to it every day to not say, I liked it then? And when I hear it, I get nostalgic. Oh, I remember that.

[Rosenberg]

No, that's a normal thing.

[Don Hahn]

No, but I'm saying.

[Rosenberg]

That's what I'm saying.

[Don Hahn]

I look at Wu Tang like, I look at Slayer. I think that might be the musical equivalent. Like, what. What Wu Tang is to hip hop is what Slayer is to thrash metal. Okay?

[Alan Hahn]

Right?

[Don Hahn]

And nobody is in a car. And all of a sudden, they're flipping around Sirius XM and starting to hear ripping apart, severing flesh, gouging eyes, tearing limb from limb. And they go. That takes me back to Ms. Pepperidge class in sophomore year. No. No, that does not happen.

[Rosenberg]

You're either like.

[Don Hahn]

Or you're turning the channel. No, that's what Wu Tang is.

[Rosenberg]

But that's not.

[Don Hahn]

No, I'm standing by this.

[Rosenberg]

No, you can't.

[Don Hahn]

Wu Tang is edgy. Yeah. But they have certain vibes.

[Rosenberg]

But they have commercial. Because you're only into the one album. They have commercial hits. Like you. You could be. Literally. You just went to high school, you're not a big rap fan, and you can rap the chorus to Cream because it was a big song for kids.

[Alan Hahn]

Cream is on Fortnite.

[Rosenberg]

Cream is.

[Alan Hahn]

I bought it.

[Don Hahn]

You could do Death Is Everything Around Me. Well, no, not angel of Death. Rain and Blood is on Vice City.

[Rosenberg]

But. But I'm. But Cream, like, they'll play at a club, like, at a wedding. Like, you could hear they have really commercial songs.

[Don Hahn]

I'm just saying. Listen, I love Pat.

[Rosenberg]

No, you're just not buying it. And I hear you 100%. Now, I want to say something here,

[Don Hahn]

too, because I just think. Because Pat is salt of the earth, he's not going to say, I'm not into it. I don't like them. No, but you know how he says it in patties?

[Rosenberg]

What's that?

[Don Hahn]

Is it. I find them very nostalgic.

[Raekwon]

Now that.

[Rosenberg]

I'll give you that one. Now. I saw. By the way, I love Dave. There's a. There's an article that. That Dave Portnoy went off again. He's another person going off on the. On the celebrities. I hate the celebrities. They're all frauds. Listen, listen, I'm a Celtics fan, okay? Just because in Boston the best you can do is you. Your ugly ass and Donnie Wahlberg every night. Just because your disgusting face and Donnie Wahlberg, God bless him.

[Don Hahn]

Peter, it's a bit.

[Rosenberg]

It's. Well, I'm playing into the bit, Anthony. Dave Portnoy is an ugly piece of garbage. Why is he yelling at the fans of.

[Alan Hahn]

No.

[Rosenberg]

Boston has a bad celebro. Don't. That does not mean that they're faking it in New York. Those are real fans.

[Mateo]

You.

[Rosenberg]

It's just an annoying, lazy. Even Taylor Swift. Even as much as Taylor annoyed me to death last night, that was not her first rodeo.

[Don Hahn]

No, I did not just show up last night. It's a lazy take because you cannot call Ben Stiller a non fan. Right?

[Rosenberg]

He specifically called out Stiller.

[Don Hahn]

You can't call out Larry David. You can't call out Larry David. Jerry Seinfeld. These are New Yorkers that have loved the Knicks for years. And Allen will tell you there could be a November game against the Grizzlies. They'll be there. If Larry David's in town and it's not baseball season, he's probably in a nick game. And believe me, Larry David doesn't do things to be seen, okay? Oh, no.

[Rosenberg]

Do you see the face he made when they showed him on camera? Yeah, he literally waves it off in disgust. That's not what he's there for.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, how about Adam Sandler? You guys know Adam Sandler was there, right?

[Don Hahn]

Yes, I do, but he was. He was sitting next to somebody.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, Chris Rock.

[Don Hahn]

No, but there was somebody. A player. Why can't I think of.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, I.

[Don Hahn]

Somebody tweeted out a picture with him and he was with Tim Thomas. Yes. Yes.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. So the thing with Sandler is he doesn't want to sit in the celebrity row area over by the broadcast, which is like the main. Right, that's like the A1 seats. Right. Like he doesn't want to sit there. So he's at baseline very incognito, very chill. Chris Rock was with him. Now Chris Rock normally is over by the, the, the. The well known celebrity row, but Rock stayed with him on the baseline over by the spurs bench. So he. They were down there. Just, just again, low key, just there. But I could tell you when the shot, when the shot tipped in. Yeah, yeah. Sandler went crazy. And typical of him, he's just wearing this oversized Knick hoodie. You know, nothing special. No, no. Kind of glitz, glamour, just not this. He doesn't want everybody to know he's there, but he wanted to be there. Don't you think that's a fan?

[Rosenberg]

Absolutely.

[Alan Hahn]

And when they play, when the Knicks play in la, he's always at the game. Listen, the Knicks play the Lakers. He's there all the time.

[Rosenberg]

Listen, I get it. God bless. There are some great Bostonians in American history and New Englanders 100%. But the one thing you can't do. I'm sorry, even la, it's really hard to do any comp for the celebrity fans of the Knicks because New York is New York.

[Alan Hahn]

It's like the Lakers, but even beyond.

[Rosenberg]

Because guess what? Half the people in LA are huge stars. You know where they're from, New York. So there's no comp. The Nick fan base trumps every other select fan base in all of sports. That's not just like I'm not, I'm saying that objectively, but it's a weird

[Alan Hahn]

thing that I think it's weird energy because of you're a celebrity, you're not allowed to be a sport.

[Don Hahn]

Right. It's the theory that, well, all the billionaire hedge fund guys are there. Well, they could also be fans and also get loud. Right?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, right. And there are some that are die hard fans. They just happen to be very successful in their business. Just like you know, and then I love the fact that Chalamet has the receipts of when he was 12 years old and he pulls that the Landry Fields picture out. When anybody tries to call, call him out. Not Landry Shamit. Landry Fields, that's the guy who was a gm. That's how, that's how long ago this was.

[Rosenberg]

By the way, based on some of shamet shooting last night. I missed Landry Fields, but it's so true.

[Alan Hahn]

Struggle for two games now.

[Rosenberg]

Well, there are a couple. We'll get to that in a little bit. There are a few players who struggled yesterday throughout who really laid an egg. But. But I don't even know who I'd point out as the fake celebrity fan. I don't know who it would be.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, that's a good question.

[Rosenberg]

Because most all of them that you see, I mean like for example, I think I saw in the same article, you know, in The. In. In Dave Portnoy's PR newsletter. I'm sorry, the New York Post, they. Oh, wow. Well, I mean, they literally write about him every. He clearly pays a hefty amount to have every word he says in their newspaper.

[Alan Hahn]

We've seen. We've seen that. Right.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Other instances of stories that are constantly written about somebody that I've never heard of that clearly are right.

[Rosenberg]

Because you have a good PR person on retainer.

[Alan Hahn]

But.

[Rosenberg]

But they mentioned Scooter Braun in the story. Now, Scooter doesn't go to a lot of games and lives in la, but Scooter's another person. He's from Westchester. And I can tell because Scooter Braun and Sydney Sweeney were sitting in Allen. What's the row after the couple of courtside that are the first ones up off the floor?

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, yeah, that, that. So. So it's like the four seats, they're

[Rosenberg]

like fourth or fifth row.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, exactly. That's where like, like John Harbaugh sat there. They'll. They'll do that.

[Rosenberg]

They're very good seats.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, excellent. They're actually better seats because you can get.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Rosenberg]

And one. If you're in the front row.

[Raekwon]

Yeah.

[Rosenberg]

No one's blocking you.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Rosenberg]

But my guess is Scooter bought those last minute. Was like, I want to go to this game. You just. People are from here, dude. So there are a lot of fans here that are real, real hardcore fans. And even Taylor Swift. I gotta say, as much as I've made fun of her shirts, her and the Heim sisters shirts, which I thought were terrible, she's been going to Knicks games for years. She's written a lot of songs about New York.

[Don Hahn]

And, you know, if she only goes to a handful of games over the last decade, it might be because she's, like, touring all over the world.

[Rosenberg]

Well, you think she's busy.

[Don Hahn]

You're saying she might be a little busy.

[Rosenberg]

And you're saying busier maybe than Donnie Wahlberg. I'm sorry, he doesn't know. He doesn't deserve it. He didn't do anything. He's walking down the street minding his own business.

[Don Hahn]

He took a stray and he just

[Rosenberg]

took a stray for no reason. But I say that because the Celtics are the greatest franchise in the history of pro basketball. But their celeb crowd.

[Don Hahn]

Boston is not New York.

[Rosenberg]

Correct. And nowhere is. It's just how it is.

[Don Hahn]

Right? It's just the. It's the epicenter of everything. And in la, that. When you're an epicenter guy, what do you would you say?

[Rosenberg]

I'd say epicenter.

[Don Hahn]

Epicenter.

[Rosenberg]

Alan, where are you?

[Don Hahn]

I thought about it.

[Alan Hahn]

Epicenter.

[Rosenberg]

EpiPen, I would say. I mean epicenter. EpiPen.

[Alan Hahn]

Epicenter.

[Don Hahn]

Epicenter. I think proper pronunciation, I think both are okay.

[Rosenberg]

No, we've talked through it.

[Don Hahn]

I think we were doing. I think we did talk through it. I think everything's okay. But I think that's why LA's got all the great fans, because that's where a lot of the celebrities live too. But. All right, we'll continue with this 1-800-919-3776. Plenty of surprises as well. Don Hanna, Rosenberg. Take you up until 7 o' clock and we're hanging out with you until then. Then Dan Grossa will take over at 7 here on ESPN.

[Alan Hahn]

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[Alan Hahn]

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[Alan Hahn]

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[Alan Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg Podcast.

[Rosenberg]

I didn't listen Hannah, to anything you just said.

[Alan Hahn]

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

[Don Hahn]

1-800-919-3776 Mateo calling us all the way out in Puerto Rico. You're on Don Han and Rosenberg. Hello guys.

[Mateo]

Thanks for taking my call. Two things, two things. First of all, it feels so amazing that the most low key guy and the quietest guy on the team is the star of the game. In these times where sometimes athletes want to be a little bit of a show up, having OG Anunnoi type of athlete, I mean it's refreshing. And number two, I just wanted to say that yesterday I had a feeling that I had 40 years ago. October 25, 1986, when I felt lost. I felt my season was gone. I felt I was eliminated. I felt all the hope left out of my body. All of a sudden, week one out of nowhere. There's only two times I felt that way. October 25, 1986 when the Mets made that came back in the tenant and yesterday, June 10, 2026. Two dates I'm never ever, ever going to forget. And one last thing, I'm 53 so I was able to see the Mets win. I enjoyed the Giants winning four Super Bowls. If the Knicks can close this out, man, I feel like I had a complete life after all the suffering throughout the years became a big fan with Bernard King. I've been through all the suffering and finally being able to almost touched the trophy, almost make it to the fight, to the final game winning. I mean I felt like I lived the whole cycle of a complete life over New York sports fans. So I just wanted to say that thank you.

[Don Hahn]

And the fact that you appreciate it Mateo, I think is really, really important. I keep thinking about that Game 7 win for the Rangers and that guy that had that sign that said now I can die in peace.

[Alan Hahn]

Now I can die in peace. I love that.

[Don Hahn]

Will there be something? Obviously if they win Saturday it'll be in San Antonio. But you know some Nick fans are going to get there. We've got that scenario Allen. Right. Like we you talked about if they had won game four, especially the way the spurs lost the game. I'm sorry. If I'm a Spurs season ticket holder, how do I not if I get offered top dollar, six figures. Top dollar, not even six figures. All right, so if you're a regular

[Rosenberg]

person, because think about it, you're a regular person, right? You could put, probably still get a Spurs season ticket package in which you're paying a couple hundred bucks per game, right? And now someone's offering you 2,000 that you could. You just made it back for 20 games in one day.

[Don Hahn]

Here's the thing.

[Alan Hahn]

And also add to this, if you're a Spurs fan, you know you'll be back. You can't look at this like, I gotta go. I might not never see this again. That team is going to be there again. They're going to learn from this and they're going to be better for. You know what, Don? This. Sorry to get us off track, but I was thinking of you this morning when we were kicking around different scenarios, different things to talk about. It was in our meeting for get up and I said, this is not dissimilar to Gretzky's first experience in the Stanley Cup Final when they lost to the island, the grizzled Islanders team, it was the end of their dynasty. So it's not apples to apples here, but it was because you know the old story that he and Kevin Lowe walked by the Islander locker room after getting swept and they see not a celebrating, rollicking team, but while the staff was celebrating, the players were like ice bags and just sitting there having a beer, like exhausted. And that's when he realized, you got to take it to him. We have no idea how much harder we need to be working to actually win a championship. And so I think the spurs are going to have that same sort of thing where at the end of this, Wembanyama might finally stop being smug and Castle might stop saying we're the better team. And they might start saying, we learned a lot from this and that team taught us what we need to be next year.

[Don Hahn]

You're right. I'm a big, big fan of you got to learn to win. And I think they're learning that right now. And that's why I think you got to strike all the irons hot. I don't think the spurs are going to be giving up any opportunities. If I'm in the West, I'm thinking I don't know if I'm ever going to get a chance to get back there. I'm sure the Thunder are kicking themselves for missing the opportunity. But getting back to the ticket thing quickly before we break is that if you're a Spurs fan, diehard Spursman, what is the best case scenario if you don't sell the tickets? Well, I get to see my team maybe win a game in four seasons, six.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

But if I can make myself a few thousand dollars on this ticket and the spurs do win, then I'll get. And if there's a game seven, I'm not giving up that ticket for any, you know, so.

[Alan Hahn]

Great point.

[Don Hahn]

That's why I think you're gonna see with it being a Saturday night, you're going to see a ton of Nick fans there and they were talking about it this morning on dpa Joe and Rothenberg that apparently they couldn't find a direct flight to San Antonio. Now I don't know whether that's because there's not a lot of them or whether a lot of fans have already decided I'm doing this and they're all booked.

[Alan Hahn]

That could be too. But there aren't a lot. There aren't many direct flights. But you're. But you're right.

[Don Hahn]

Houston. And it's. I'm sure it's not that egregious.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't know if it's Houston. I think it's more like somewhere middle or, or Atlanta. Yeah, probably Atlanta. You know, stuff like that.

[Don Hahn]

But you get an early enough flight Friday night or Saturday morning, you can make it in time for what It's. It'll be 7:30 tip locally, right?

[Alan Hahn]

Yep.

[Don Hahn]

So I think you'll be able to find a chance to go. So I think you're going to see.

[Alan Hahn]

What do you think the rating for like think about the ratings that you had for game three. The ratings were probably like, you know what we have? Like it peaked at that number. The average might be low because late first half they might. Most of the country probably were like, it's a 25 point game. I'm not watching this. Tuned out. New York stayed with it, I'm sure. But once the comeback started, everybody probably got back to it. Well, I'm curious to see what this peaks at.

[Don Hahn]

Well, this is where social media comes in, right. Where you just flip it around. It's like, oh my God, closing in.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

And again they're gonna. People that check the local news and next thing you know, all of a sudden they're caught up in a, in a tremendous comeback. But Peter, you've got something to.

[Rosenberg]

I've got lots of things. I'll tell you one thing though. I'm not sure if I'm what bet I'm placing tomorrow because I'm now I'm in the middle of a losing streak, guys.

[Don Hahn]

Half point, man the hook.

[Rosenberg]

I'm happy for all my Knicks fans out there, but guys, I'm down 15 hundo the last two days now. That being said, it's the biggest stage of the world right now and FanDuel is changing the game because sometimes your player gets subbed off and your bet goes with them. But not anymore with FanDuel super sub. If your players subbed out, your bet stays in. That's right. If your player leaves the match, your bet continues on with the substitute. So you're still in until the final whistle. Visit FanDuel.com local to get started right now. All right, that's how you do it. Let there be goals this summer on FanDuel21/physically present New York for help with the gambling problem, call 877-8-Open Y or text open y 467-369 thanks for listening

[Alan Hahn]

to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg Podcast.

[Rosenberg]

I don't want to know how the

[Alan Hahn]

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

[Don Hahn]

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