Hour 2: Tucker, Bellinger, Let's Talk About It

Summary

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Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 2: Tucker, Bellinger, Let's Talk About It

Date: January 13, 2026
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg

Overview

This episode dives deep into the current state of New York baseball, focusing on the Mets' rumored pursuit of Kyle Tucker and the Yankees' ongoing contract negotiation saga with Cody Bellinger. The conversation extends to broader themes: modern contract structures, MLB economics, the influence of fan and media noise on ownership decisions, and the personal side of public life—highlighted during the “Talk About It Tuesday” segment.

The trio’s distinct perspectives—Don’s pragmatism, Alan’s insider knowledge, and Peter’s colorful commentary—drive an engaging conversation about how sports, media, and culture intertwine in today’s landscape.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Kyle Tucker & Mets Contract Rumors (00:19–06:13)

• Mets’ Monster Offer:
  Allen reports the Mets may offer Kyle Tucker $50 million a year in a short-term deal (00:52). There’s disbelief at the sheer annual value and speculation about where he fits in the team's lineup, noting his primary experience in right field (04:56) but considering his versatility.

• Changing Contract Structures:
  Allen points out that teams, led by the Yankees and now the Mets, are pivoting from long-term (7-8 year) deals to shorter, high-AAV offers. Owners want to avoid getting "stuck" long-term but are willing to pay premium on annual salaries (01:05, 01:19).

  "Rather than give you the years … now it's like, I don't want to be stuck for seven years." – Allen (01:11)

• MLB’s Financial Landscape:
  Peter and Allen debate MLB’s ability to support these deals, noting the league is propping up a growing number of regional networks and questioning the business viability of these massive contracts (01:38–02:25).

  “Baseball is a popular sport, but can it sustain the kind of money that's getting thrown around? And the answer is no.” – Peter (01:38)

• Owner Wealth Disparity:
  Allen compares Steve Cohen’s deep pockets to the Yankees' more conventional budgeting, highlighting how some owners are personally bankrolling teams far beyond their operational income (02:24–03:02).

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2. Yankees-Bellinger Negotiations & Agent Dynamics (06:13–13:11)

• Bellinger Wants to Stay—a Boris Game:
  Speculation flies about Cody Bellinger’s preference to stay a Yankee, hinting that his agent, Scott Boras, is drawing out talks for leverage, aiming to “squeeze as much as he can out of the sponge” (06:18–07:05).

• Negotiation Fatigue:
  There's frustration at the protracted process. The Yankees won’t budge from 4-5 years, while Bellinger seeks 7. Both sides seem dug in.

  "But at the end of the day, he's not giving him a hometown discount. Otherwise, he would have taken the offer the Yankees gave him." – Peter (12:21)

• The Boras Effect:
  Hosts agree that hiring Boras means Bellinger is chasing top dollar, not just a preferred team (08:34). They note the performative “bad guy” role Boras takes, which protects players from being perceived as greedy (12:11–13:11).

• Player Empowerment vs. Fan Expectations:
  Discussion turns to how players juggle personal priorities (money, legacy, family), resisting simplistic narratives about player loyalty or self-sacrifice (13:28–14:45).

  “Why should they have to [sacrifice]? No, hey—the Yankees: You want me, pay me.” – Allen (14:43)

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3. MLB Roster Mechanics: Where Would Tucker & Bellinger Actually Fit? (04:45–11:44)

• Position Crunch for Tucker:
  Mets’ outfield is already competitive (Soto, others). Allen breaks down Tucker’s career games by position, noting he's no real center fielder (05:00), and the group jests about the overcomplication of moving big-league players around the diamond.

• Callers Chime In:
  Caller Joe questions why Soto couldn’t be moved to left field if the Mets land Tucker, citing past outfield alignments. The segment morphs into a discussion on lineup flexibility and player ego (10:30–11:44).

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4. “Talk About It Tuesday” (23:16–39:43)

A. Personal Stories on Anxiety & Comfort Zones

• Nick Jonas’ Social Anxiety
  Alan shares Nick Jonas’ story of leaving the Golden Globes due to social anxiety, relating it to his own experiences with discomfort in the public eye, even at Madison Square Garden (27:04–29:50).

  "Everybody thinks you must love it… but there are times, and I have experienced it… you suddenly just feel this social anxiety. You feel this thing about, I got to get out of here." – Allen (28:13)

• Being Uncomfortable with Recognition
  Alan admits he hates talking about himself and can’t handle being the focus, despite years in the spotlight (29:55–30:09).

B. Book Gifting & Co-Host Dynamics

• Banter about Don never reading "Wiseguy" (the inspiration for Goodfellas) (30:58–32:11).
• Lighthearted jabs about giving and receiving gifts, and family quirks blend with deeper moments.

C. Music Takes & Family Backgrounds

• Discussion humorous reveals around Peter never owning a Michael Jackson album, and Don’s father’s music tastes—more Air Supply, less Beatles/Elvis. Friendly ribbing ensues (47:06–49:16).

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5. The “Noise” of Modern Sports Media & Ownership Decision-Making (33:35–53:45)

A. Aaron Rodgers’ Comments – “Ignore the Noise”

• Rogers’ Take (33:35):
  Rodgers’ rant, played on-air, laments the proliferation of hot takes and “Twitter experts” causing respected coaches like Tomlin and LaFleur to constantly be on the “hot seat.”

  “When I first got in the league, there wouldn't be conversation about whether those guys were on the hot seat… The way the league is covered now… it's an absolute joke.” – Aaron Rodgers (33:39)

• Hosts’ Analysis:

  • Peter argues that the democratization of opinion (from legacy media to fans, bloggers, and social media) dilutes the quality of discourse and muddles owner decision-making.

    “We are bombarded by literally hundreds of people a day that give their opinions… It’s just, who are those people? What is their credibility?” – Peter (35:42)

  • Allen and Peter dissect how “noise” is generated by new media, and question how much sway it has over franchise choices, concluding some owners are influenced, especially those less experienced or who care about public image.

B. Callers & Counterpoints

• Callers push back on the claim that sophisticated owners are swayed by Twitter, but hosts cite personal experiences where even billionaires are sensitive to online and fan “noise” (50:31–52:53).

  “There are some who even confided about how, ‘Oh, we’re just getting killed on Twitter’… The Jets are a great example…” – Allen (52:25)

C. Real-World Ownership Decisions

• Examples given: Steve Cohen’s public interaction with fans, past NFL coaching turnover prompted by uproar, and the complex “who drives the bus?” question—owners, fans, media, or superstar players (53:04–53:42).

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6. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “$50 million a year. That’s coming out of Cohen’s cash.” – Peter (01:38)
• “Rather than give you the years... now it’s like, I don’t want to be stuck for seven years.” – Allen (01:11)
• “[Boras will] work the media, okay? He’ll work some other teams. He’ll drum up some leverage.” – Alan (09:26)
• “Why should they [players] have to [sacrifice]? No, hey, the Yankees: You want me, pay me.” – Allen (14:43)
• “I just want to get this thing over with. It's got to be driving him crazy [Bellinger negotiations].” – Allen (08:28)
• “He creates reaction... and that's all you're looking for.” – Alan on frequent caller Richard (25:44)
• “When I first got in the league, there wouldn't be conversation about whether those guys were on the hot seat.” – Aaron Rodgers (33:39)
• “Not everybody in the same community is valued the same way or shouldn’t be valued the same way.” – Peter (43:12)

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Timestamps of Important Segments

• MLB’s monster contracts & Mets-Tucker rumors: 00:19–06:13
• Bellinger, the Yankees and Boras negotiation logic: 06:13–13:11
• Fan/media noise and ownership decisions: 33:35–53:45
• Talk About It Tuesday (personal anecdotes, mental health): 23:16–39:43
• Music/family/fun tangents: 46:27–49:56

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Tone & Style

The hosts blend sports nerdery with light-hearted banter, deep personal admissions, and cultural asides. The mood shifts fluidly between critical analysis, empathy (“Talk About It Tuesday” vulnerability), and the kind of teasing that only long-time radio partners can pull off.

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Conclusion

This episode embodies the multifaceted nature of modern sports talk—where baseball contracts, billionaire personalities, Twitter hysteria, and real human vulnerability coexist. Whether dissecting hot stove rumors or mental health moments, Don, Hahn, and Rosenberg offer a smart, entertaining, and deeply New York perspective on the intersection of sports and life.

Transcript

[Don Hahn]

This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

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.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Game time is brought to you by Tullimore Du Irish Whiskey. Because when it is game time, it's Tully time.

[Allen]

You Betcha.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Coverage of St. John's Marquette follows us on 880 at 6:10. The Islanders visit Winnipeg at 8. Tullamore Dew. 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. Speaking of responsibly, reports several different places that Kyle Tucker $50 million. That's $50 million. Where the hell is this money coming from, man?

[Allen]

A year.

[Peter Rosenberg]

A year?

[Allen]

Yeah. No, that's the contract. That's the average annual salary of the what the Mets are reportedly offering Kyle Tucker who will be 29 years old next week. That's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's hell of a player.

[Allen]

They're trying to keep this what we're seeing now and the Yankees are doing this with Bellinger is rather than give you the years, right. The seven years because that used to keep the annual down. Now it's like I don't want to be stuck for seven years.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No.

[Allen]

So how about we do it this way, shorter term. We'll try to meet in the middle on the money and figure it out if there's a way to opt out in the later part of the deal. So then if we want to extend, we will. That's what it sounds like is going to be the new way to do things rather than get stuck in these seven eight year deals.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But still it's a. Is Kyle Tucker that's amount of money. It's really a $50 million. No, no. But you know, to Peter's point, these owners just throw money around and it doesn't really matter whether there is any money coming from the sport itself because MLB just announced they're propping up more of these regional networks. You're going to see like at least a half a dozen teams this year where Major League Baseball is running the regional network because the regional networks couldn't afford anymore. They weren't get the ratings. Listen, baseball is a popular sport, but can it sustain the kind of money that's getting thrown around? And the answer is no. Because if the Mets give Kyle Tucker as much as you'd be excited to have him and the and they could use them. $50 million a year. That's coming out of Cohen's cash.

[Allen]

Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, and that's the problem.

[Allen]

That's the difference, though. And you've said this. This is why the Dodgers do what they do.

[Alan]

Yeah.

[Allen]

A lot of the owners now have an income that isn't reliant on the performance of the team. Right. The Yankees are operating. The performance of the team matters. They have that budget. It's a very high budget, but they have one. But you've said this. Cohen has enough money that if he wants to get a player, he can write a check and blow everybody out of the water if he wants to. Now, there he did not want to write the check for Pete Alonso. There were things he didn't want to do. Edwin Diaz, but this he wants to do, and he'll do it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And what happens is, because of the public perception is that, oh, you're cheap. Well, I mean, the Yankees are staying within a budget because Steinbrenners and the people that have bought into the franchise aren't sitting on $23 billion the way Steve Cohen is. And Michael had a guest on earlier today, ripping into the Red Sox for being cheap because they've got a $240 million payroll, but they make a ton of money with their Fenway project. But they've decided, you know what? I want to make a few extra bucks. So really, the only way to keep the fans happy is to dip deeper into your own pocket, make less profit. Otherwise, you're considered cheap and don't deserve to own a franchise. Like, if you decide, I want to be a little responsible, I want to make a few bucks. But if you do that, well, then you're. You're evil.

[Allen]

All right, well, take it. Take away all this stuff, though. From a Met perspective, though, if they can get him signed, forget how much they're spending, because, as you know, it doesn't matter. There's no cap right now. It doesn't matter. But if you're able to bring him in and add Kyle Tucker to your offense, I mean, how could it. What does that do for you?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, it does a lot. What do they have now lost a lot. They've lost a lot. Pete Alonzo's gone. Nimmo's gone.

[Allen]

Where were they playing?

[Peter Rosenberg]

He was gone.

[Allen]

Where they play him.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's a great. It's a great question. I mean, Soto's in, right. I'm just trying to figure out where he's played the most in his career. And let's not forget about the money. That Bregman got from the. From the Cubs.

[Allen]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

How ridiculous was that contract?

[Allen]

Bregman was at the Blackhawks game last night. Was. Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's Mr. Chicago now.

[Allen]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

With the money that he's making.

[Allen]

But what would you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So. But you don't. You don't have a center fielder right now. I'm just trying to see how many games has he played.

[Allen]

Well, you do have a center fielder.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Majority right field. Excuse me.

[Allen]

Yeah, but again, you have soto.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Allen]

It's 639 games in right. Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Wow.

[Allen]

72 and left and five in center. Yeah. He's not a center fielder.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, I mean, he can play.

[Allen]

He can. He can play where Nimmo was. Taylor would probably play center. Yes. Yeah, but I thought that it's run prevention upgrade center. Yeah, of course. But I thought. I thought they had somebody in mind at center field. Could he play first base?

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's played four games at first.

[Allen]

That's. That's more than zero.

[Alan]

And again, listen, every once in a while you put the fat kid at first, you could figure it out. Sometimes I really do think we make take baseball, like too seriously. And I'm like, if you've been playing baseball at an exceptionally high level your whole life and you've been like a utility guy in outfield and infield, like you can figure out first.

[Allen]

Baseball.

[Alan]

I know, I know. It's. I don't want to like disrespect the sport, but how many people have we seen train, like, it's doable thing.

[Allen]

He's played more games at first and Polanco did. And they brought Polanco in to play.

[Alan]

First base, so why not now? It's one thing to move someone to short or catcher. Who's never done it.

[Allen]

Yeah.

[Alan]

That's center field. You've never played outfield. Okay. Don't put him in center field. Yeah, but like, I really do think that you could find space for a good utility guy in right field or first base. That's how it works.

[Allen]

$50 million.

[Alan]

But for 50 million, it seems like you'd like to know what they're going to do and do it well.

[Allen]

Right? So. But at least they're doing that now. Bellinger, this, this thing, the longer it goes on, the more it feels like Cody Bellinger wants to be a Yankee. And they're like, what Boris is trying to do is just squeeze as much as he can out of the sponge before Bellinger finally says, I'd rather be here. It doesn't mean that he wouldn't take A better offer somewhere else. But something tells me he's not getting the better offer. He's not getting seven, eight years. He's. He's 30. The Yankees are pretty much steadfast of, what, four or five years at 30 million. And so they're dragging this out, but the longer it goes, because the Yankees look dug in, like, nope, this is what we're going to offer you. If you get something better, take it. And I don't think he's either getting something better or doesn't have a place that he'd want to go more than stay here.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's crazy with the Boris stuff. All right, Like. Like, read the room, dude. He wants to stay Yankee. You want to keep the Yankees engaged. Michael said it today. The Yankees are willing to go to five years. They probably would only want to give four. Bellinger wants seven.

[Allen]

But you can meet in the middle with the money.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But. But to be that far off, you.

[Allen]

Go to five and jack up the annual a little bit. What's the difference? Like, the seven years would be almost the same amount of total package.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right, Right. So, I mean, I just think, how.

[Allen]

Bad do you want to be Yankees?

[Peter Rosenberg]

But they are right on his side. But I understand. The Yankees are like, listen, I really only want to give him four, but I'll give him five. The guy wants seven, which is amazing because he's 30.

[Allen]

They only want to go to 34 with him.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now, is there a. Is there a wacky owner who's just going to be like, yeah, I'll give you seven.

[Allen]

But that's my point. By now, he would have taken. Like, if somebody said, I'll go to seven, and that's on the table. If he wanted just the money, he would have taken it. The fact that he's waiting this out and they keep pushing the Yankees to make a second offer that tells me his preference, which is not a surprise. Not breaking news. He wants to stay with the Yankees, but he's just like, Boris is saying, but you're not staying on a discount. We're going to get everything we can out of them. So we're going to just. You have to sit back and be patient and let me. Let me work. And it's. We're getting into mid January, and if I'm Bellinger, I'm like, I want to know. I just want to get this thing over with. It's got to be driving him crazy.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But when you get Boris as your.

[Allen]

Agent, you have to just let him cook because.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Can we stop with the whole. While he really wants to be a Yankee, you know, you hired Scott Boris, so obviously you were looking for top dollar, too. Otherwise, you don't hire Scott Boris. There's plenty of other really good agents that can get you the money you want and where you want to go to. But you hire Scott Boris, it's, hey, go out and get me. I want seven years. Go get me.

[Allen]

Seven years.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think you can get it better than anybody else. All right, well, the Yankees only will go four, maybe five. So you got to call their bluff, because somebody might just decide. All right, listen. All right, I'll give you a six. I'll give you some extra money. I don't care. This is just a toy to me. And now all of a sudden, you're not a Yankee anymore. If you really want to be a Yankee, go out there, take their offer, Rake.

[Allen]

Well, you want to be a Yankee, but you want to be a Yankee at the best number you can get. So that's what Boris's job is. You know where I want to be. You got to get the best. And Boris, then we'll work the media, okay? He'll work some other teams.

[Alan]

He'll tell some bad jokes.

[Allen]

He'll drum up some, you know, some leverage and try to put as much pressure on the Acres we can.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Where is the leverage?

[Allen]

Well, that's the problem. There is none. The Mets were a leverage for a while, but they'd rather give Kyle Tucker $50 million a year. And they're almost the same age. He's gonna be 29 next week. Bellinger's 30, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Allen]

And Bellinger actually can play left field.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And he can play first, which is the need.

[Allen]

Yeah, infant first. So you would think if the Mets really wanted to do something dramatic, that that's what they would do, but they're not. So that's why I feel like Bellinger always was earmarked for the Yankees. I think the Yankees kind of know it. I just feel like I will be stunned if he's not a Yankee. And there was a feeling a little bit earlier in this process that you thought he might be as good as gone? Because the Yankees don't want to pay, and they've got a couple of young guys they had to protect. Which one of them, Jones or Dominguez, is going to get traded if he ends up signing? So the more this, the longer this goes, I think the better chance it is that he stays a Yankee.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, Nick and Nutley brings up a good point. You're on espn, New York. What's up, Nick?

[Caller Joe]

Hey, guys, thanks for taking a call. I went to a Met game in Soto's rookie year, and he played left field. He was the left fielder. Harper, believe it or not. Bryce Harper was playing center.

[Allen]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's played 4, 460 games in left.

[Allen]

Soto has.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Soto has. Yes.

[Caller Joe]

Okay, so if they get Tucker or whatever, why. Yeah, well, I don't see the big thing.

[Allen]

Just put them. Put Soto in left.

[Caller Joe]

Unless Soto's. Unless. Yeah, yeah. Sodas on an egotistical.

[Allen]

That's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, that will. See that. Now that's on the table.

[Allen]

Now that's on the table.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He pretty much played the entire year in left field in San Diego in 23. And then obviously, the Yankees had a right fielder.

[Allen]

Judge played a lot of center, didn't he?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Judge moved to center.

[Allen]

Yeah, but.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Because I think he'd rather be in right. So that's where it becomes the ego thing is, is he willing to go play left field? If he is, then you figured it out. Tucker could be your right fielder. You play him in left, problem solved, Right?

[Allen]

Yep.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now, the question, Nick, is was he willing to do that?

[Caller Joe]

That's the ego part that comes in.

[Allen]

Yeah.

[Caller Joe]

One more thing. Talking about ego, Scott Boris's ego. I mean, remember Scott Boris works for Bellinger, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, I wish these players remember that.

[Allen]

I love hearing that, because you hear that and you understand that that's true. But you also know that I'm paying him to do a job, what I need him to do for me. And that's when Boris says, then you got to let me cook. You can't get in the way.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's why I'm a little hesitant. Nick, thanks for the phone call. When we're like, feel bad for these players, all we, you know, Boris is leading them down the primrose path. Whatever.

[Alan]

They.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They know. Yep. They're letting Boris be the bad guy. But deep down, it's like, yeah, Bellinger wants to be a Yankee, but at the right price. He loves being a Yankee. His dad was a Yankee. All that stuff makes for really good fodder. But at the end of the day, he's not. He's not giving him a hometown discount. Otherwise he would have taken the offer the Yankees gave him, which is one more year than the Yankees really wanted to give him. But he wants seven years. And if somebody offers him seven or six, and the Yankees aren't willing to go to six or Jimmy, switch the money around to make it equal, well, then he's going to go. Because if you really wanted to stay, believe me, you could have hired an agent. Agent would have made you a really good contract with the Yankees. You, you get to be a Yankee, make generational wealth and be happy. But no, he wants, and I'm not begrudging him that, but let's not take the fault away from the player and just blame Boris.

[Allen]

No, not at all. They know they take the heat because they don't want the player to look greedy. But that's really what this is about. Get every dollar you can. And by the way, Don, we've all been through contract negotiations. We've all know the same thing on the same exact thing. Get as much as we can. We wait till the very last minute.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Because, because at the end of the day, you want to make it work where you are. I, yes, I just got, I just extended my contract with ESPN 24 plus years. This is where I want to be.

[Alan]

Wait, that's how long the deal is.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, imagine it is a multi year deal. That would be one heck of a deal.

[Allen]

Pretty good deal. Although I wouldn't get stuck on an annual there because, you know, interest rates and all that is true.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Things concerning things will change the 24, you know, but you know what I want more.

[Allen]

He gets the business to be happy.

[Alan]

He's got escalators, you know, I've got.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Family to take care of and so I'm not making sacrifices for myself. When I was single and all I had to worry about was myself. Well, then I can make all the decisions based on how I felt about things. And unfortunately, last I checked, mortgages cost money, schools cost money.

[Allen]

So you're expensive.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You've got to make decisions that are best for your family. And it's the same thing with ballplayers. Even though they're talking about wealth that we can't even wrap our mind around, they're still making decisions for what's best for their family, what's best for their future.

[Rich Eisen]

I'm here with my family.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It is all great. And it's fantasy land. It's like, oh, it's great being a Yankee, but he's obviously not willing to make a certain fiscal put himself in a.

[Allen]

But why should they sacrifice?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Why should they have to?

[Allen]

No, hey, the Yankees. You want me, pay me.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Can I, can I interject?

[Alan]

Well, you were just saying. Well, two things. Yes, one, you were just saying the thing about how it's different now that you have a family. I have this pet peeve. It's very subtle, but like I now I, now I live it so I understand it. In reality, you Know, like, you know the thing that, like, someone has a career, whatever it may be, they're an athlete. They're a radio personality. They are a lawyer. They do whatever. And then once they have kids, they always have that thing. Like, especially if they're like, you know, their wife's gonna leave them because they're mad at them. They're never around.

[Allen]

They.

[Alan]

And everything I do is for my family. And I'm like, it's the same job you always had. What do you mean? You do that job for yourself. Now you have a family. And included in the things that you have to pay for are that family. But we as men have a tendency to go, we do this for you. It's like, well, Peter, you were always a radio personality. You run your yap and you get paid, and now you gotta take care of Maya.

[Allen]

Why, why, why you put. Why am I airing out?

[Alan]

I'm airing out our secret. It's a lie. They do the job. Cause they want to do the job.

[Allen]

And get car right now going. Peter, what are you doing? Although they act, that was very good acting.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Thank you.

[Allen]

The voice, the whole thing, that was.

[Alan]

Very good for my family.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I hope you're not taking this away from. Talk about a Tuesday.

[Allen]

That would have been good. Talked about that.

[Alan]

That would have been really good.

[Allen]

And it's gone.

[Alan]

But how about I tell you about something called fanduel?

[Peter Rosenberg]

What is that?

[Alan]

Because I would be listening to what you know is going on on this show because Don went 6 and 0 this week, I went 5 and 1 and even Allen somehow got a ton of points going. 3 and 3.

[Allen]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Alan]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

Blank this weekend, but I don't know how you think. No, I know.

[Alan]

And the truth is, I don't even know exactly how I think this weekend I'm going to find out. As we get closer to the weekend, I'd say early on, guys, if I tell you how I'm feeling the most, I think I'm probably feeling the Patriots minus Three.

[Allen]

Yeah.

[Alan]

To my early inkling right now. But you do what works for you.

[Allen]

You nervous about it?

[Rich Eisen]

No, no, no.

[Alan]

I just thought of it prepared. Yeah, I just thought of it right now. Then apply a profit boost and go after even bigger payouts while the playoffs keep rolling. So visit FanDuel.com local and grab your profit boost pack every NFL playoff game day 21 and over physically present New York opt in required bonus issues non withdrawable profit boost tokens. Restrictions apply including any token expiration, max wage or amounts he [e-mail] for help with a gambling problem, call 877-8-HOPE and Y or text open Y467 369 and yesterday we talked about what would happen if Pittsburgh were to win that game. And they, they really did not come close. And there'd been a Pittsburgh New England matchup. Where would that fall? Well, now we do have it. Official 4:30 on Saturday got the Bills at the Broncos. Little classic old school AFC clash.

[Allen]

Cbs.

[Alan]

Dan Dan Reeves versus Marv Levy. Like you dream about. That's a CBS vehicle.

[Allen]

Okay.

[Alan]

And it's the only CBS that's a hello Friends.

[Allen]

So we're getting hello Friends.

[Alan]

That's hello Friends. If you want to do a little early announced lineup.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right.

[Alan]

Eight o' clock on Fox, which is the only Fox vehicle. So this will be the Burkhart, Burkhart.

[Allen]

Brady and Brady.

[Alan]

That's the Niners at the Seahawks. And then Sunday.

[Allen]

It's a good game even though it is. Even though the Niners are banged up.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan]

But the Seahawks aren't that, you know, it's still.

[Allen]

That'll be a good one. I like that game Sunday.

[Alan]

Sunday, 3 o', clock, the Texans at the Patriots. Not a rivalry like you dream about, but an interesting matchup.

[Allen]

It is defense and more defense. Yeah. Take the under 40 and a half.

[Alan]

Now that's an ESPN ABC vehicle.

[Allen]

So. Afternoon.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan]

So I guess that's a buck and a.

[Allen]

Okay.

[Alan]

Or not.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I said why not?

[Alan]

Yeah.

[Allen]

Why not?

[Alan]

I would think so.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Alan]

6:30 on Sunday is the Rams at the Bears, which I think is the best game of the weekend. Yep. I think that's where I'm at.

[Allen]

That'll have some sizzle.

[Alan]

Freezing cold Bears are red hot. Rams are the Rams coming off that big comeback for Stafford and Co Little.

[Allen]

McVeigh versus Ben Johnson.

[Alan]

No respect for the Bears.

[Allen]

Oh yeah.

[Alan]

Three and a half point favorites on the road.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The Rams.

[Allen]

Is that an NBC?

[Alan]

That is an NBC peacock vehicle. So that is a Torico Collinsworth Yeah. So it is interesting. Was there ever a time, guys, maybe last year it happened four games, four networks.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think it's by design.

[Allen]

Isn't it always like that?

[Alan]

No, because we never used to have all of these.

[Allen]

We didn't have, you know, division, round. Well, I guess we.

[Peter Rosenberg]

ESPN was just getting division round games recently.

[Allen]

Recently?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. First time they've been in the fray because usually it was one and done wild card weekend. That's it. But now ABC's come in.

[Alan]

Well known this past weekend we had more. Was there. There was more because we had prime involved too.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Prime? Yes. Prime had the Bears game.

[Allen]

Prime had the Bears Saturday night.

[Alan]

Are you guys surprised at all the Rams three in the hook in Chicago? That surprised me. I would. I, I think that's a lot for a traveling Rams team. I would honestly probably have the Rams minus two and a half.

[Allen]

Want to do the read again? Why now you know you're feeling the how you feel.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, see, I mean you kind of gave it away.

[Alan]

Don't worry, I got another one later. But yeah, I'm a little surprised that it's over. Three points on the road for the rich Surprise.

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[Rich Eisen]

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[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Han and Rosenberg podcast.

[Alan]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don Hahn]

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

[Alan]

Oh, yeah, baby. Welcome to Talk About It Tuesday.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Sponsored by.

[Allen]

Ambassador Johnson. Ah, that can't be right. No.

[Alan]

Sponsored by I bought papers. Sponsored by nobody. But welcome, folks. Let's get into it.

[Allen]

Strawberry. Sponsored by the Straw.

[Alan]

Sponsored by the Straw.

[Caller Joe]

Yeah, you're lonely, she's waiting call now.

[Allen]

That voice is great.

[Caller Joe]

Take it off.

[Rich Eisen]

Take it.

[Alan]

Oh, is this the new Richard phone from yesterday? Yesterday? Don, after you left, I picked up a Richard call during enn. Okay, I think he made it worth it. Just hopefully it plays as bad as I remember at the time, it sounded like maybe his worst phone fumble of all time. Hi, Peter.

[Rich Eisen]

Doug.

[Alan]

Oh, wow, Alan, how many different sounds are there?

[Allen]

Did he.

[Alan]

Hi, Peter.

[Rich Eisen]

Don.

[Allen]

Like, is he. Is he just. Did he lose the.

[Alan]

Are you just slamming the phone up and down? What can be. What is it? What could it be?

[Allen]

Things in his hand that he couldn't pick the phone.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't know.

[Alan]

It's like he's ruffling papers. He's slamming the phone.

[Allen]

Oh, man, that was something.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And those hands were in somebody's mouth two seconds ago. So.

[Alan]

And then he started off the call yesterday, Don. With us having no idea what he's talking about. He goes, peter, I heard that you're going to Saudi Arabia.

[Allen]

Yeah.

[Alan]

That is incredibly ironic.

[Allen]

Ironic.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay.

[Alan]

Me and Alan are staring at each Other what?

[Allen]

Nothing's ironic about that.

[Alan]

What could be ironic?

[Allen]

Nothing could.

[Alan]

Because yesterday at this Sunday, Richard, after church, went to a local bar on the Upper west side and he decided to randomly watch the soccer game.

[Allen]

Well, remember, he said there was a lot of great football, but the best football was played there in Saudi Arabia. Yeah. And then that's when you knew this was going right off the cliff.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It was.

[Allen]

Yeah.

[Alan]

I enjoyed it. I stand firm. I stand. I really do. You know, I try not to, like, I try not to be too domineering with, like, my radio hunches on what I think works. But I maintain that the Richard calls. When I look at our chat, there's not a person in that chat who's not commenting when Richard's talking. It's either. I hate this. I love this. He just.

[Allen]

He creates reaction.

[Alan]

Reaction.

[Allen]

Yeah.

[Alan]

And that's all you're looking for.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I saw it because the second I left and I had to get the team bus to the arena, that's why I had to leave a little bit earlier. So I'm checking Twitter and everybody's reacting to the call. So I knew I missed something immediately. And I meant to ask you, what was just Richard, but also everybody else gets lost. He went to a bar. Can you imagine Richard intoxicated and he.

[Alan]

Was hanging out with some men and some women.

[Allen]

That's right. He did it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's on the prowl. He said.

[Allen]

He made that clear.

[Alan]

He said there were guys and there were some women and they were watching the football together. And he loves it. I'll say this about Richard. Said it to Alan yesterday. I don't know if I've ever met anyone who purely loves sports more than him. He loves everything about it. All types, every sport, whatever.

[Allen]

Doesn't matter.

[Alan]

All right, which of you is teeing off?

[Allen]

Alan. I'll begin with something because I kind of just experienced it on the show a little bit, but I saw this and I'm a Jonas fan, Right? The Jonas Brothers. Nick Jonas. Like, I'm a fan of them.

[Alan]

That's right. On the music.

[Allen]

The music is the music. But I mean, just. Just personality wise and all that stuff.

[Alan]

You like the Jonas?

[Allen]

I like, you know, good people.

[Alan]

Oh, so this. This is. This is so this. Daughters of an age that it made sense at some point.

[Allen]

Like you just. Yeah, you learn about things. It's like Harry Styles, by the way, gonna have. Gonna be back at The Garden another 15 shows. A residency at the Garden.

[Alan]

Wow.

[Allen]

Isn't that great?

[Rich Eisen]

I.

[Allen]

You don't care. But no, but we got into the.

[Alan]

I like Harry Styles, though.

[Allen]

Yeah. Very talented. So, anyway, so this caught my attention because there was a big thing about him walking out of the Golden Globes. Now, his wife was presenting. His wife was there, and he walks out and everybody's like, what. What happened? You know, because we all need to have.

[Alan]

His wife was on White. No, his wife wasn't on White Lotus. That was the other presenter. His wife is a big actress, right? I think his wife's a big actress. An Indian actress, I believe.

[Allen]

Yes.

[Alan]

All right, so continue on.

[Allen]

So he then explained why he looked like he walked out of the Golden Globes. And he said that. That he just went. He said social anxiety got the best of him. And he said it hit me like a gut punch and just had to get out of there. And I mean, look, talk about it Tuesday. We always talk about different topics, but it really is about talking about talking things out, right? And I don't know if you guys have ever experienced this, because you say to yourself, anybody that is seeing someone like him who is in front of cameras, who's played in front of thousands of people in an arena, right? You're used to being around people, having attention on you. And the belief is you must love it. Being in that.

[Alan]

In a room with tons of other people.

[Allen]

It's just all these celebrities and what a great thing that is. And you don't realize that there are times, and I have experienced it, where you suddenly just feel this social anxiety. You feel this thing about, I got to get out of here. I just have to get away. And, you know, but it's not appropriate for me to walk out right now. Like, I can't do that. But then you realize, but it's better that I do. Better for me that I do than to just deal with whatever's going on in my brain right now, whatever's happening. And that's like a real thing.

[Alan]

Totally.

[Allen]

And I have been there. I have been in moments where I've been at the Garden, where I've stood there and it's like the place I've always dreamed to stand on the court, microphone in my hand, ready to do a hit, do the hit. It's over.

[Alan]

And then you're looking around, you're seeing his eyeballs.

[Allen]

The hit. You work. So you're in a zone. You work, but then you're done. And then you walk and you've got to go through a crowd of people to get back to another area. And everybody's great. And they all, you know, everybody wants to talk, yell. And it just. Something happens where you just like, I gotta get out of here.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Allen]

And it's nothing about the people. It's just how you feel in that moment. So I saw that and I just thought, you know, again, we as men never like to talk about things like this because it sounds soft. But when you got. When. When. When Marvin called to say the thing about the hall of Fame, you wanted to. I wanted to get out of the studio in the worst way that you guys don't understand. And it's not anything anyone did. But the minute he said it. And I realized it was Marvin who also went to post. And he has called many times on the show. And the minute he started talking, I knew where he was going. I did not want that. I figured the school will announce it, that stuff will get announced and whatever. And for me, it just was so.

[Alan]

It goes beyond such a.

[Allen]

Like an embarrassing moment that made me like, just get out of here.

[Alan]

So. So to be. So to be.

[Allen]

And being on camera made it worse.

[Alan]

So to be fully transparent. It's not even that you're saying. You're just so modest. It's beyond that. It's actual discomfort. It's like a real discomfort.

[Allen]

Yeah, yeah.

[Alan]

Not just like, oh, hey, I'm humble.

[Allen]

You know what I mean?

[Alan]

It's like, no, it makes me.

[Allen]

I can talk about anything but myself. I have. I have the hardest time doing that. It's a struggle because it does feel a little more intrusive.

[Alan]

Right. I get it.

[Allen]

I get it. So I can talk about anything. I can talk about other things. I love talking about all that stuff.

[Alan]

So funny. Everyone's criticism is. All I talk about is myself, but.

[Allen]

That'S a real thing. And I just wanted to say, I don't know if anybody else can relate or if it's relatable, but I thought Nick Jonas story was relatable and I just kind of was feeling it.

[Alan]

I appreciate you sharing this and I also appreciate coming away from it knowing that Allen's a Jonas Brothers guy. Didn't know that. Now, I've learned a lot about my co host today. My talk about it Tuesday is I cannot believe that Don has not read Wise Guy, the book that Goodfellas is based on.

[Allen]

I'd like to get him for his birthday.

[Alan]

He's read every book on earth. He's seen the movie 120 times.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I read the book on the making of.

[Alan]

He's made the. He's read the book on the making of the movie. The movie is. Is truly Based on this book. And the characters are all in there. It's a real. It's just shocking. How did he make time for Booger and not make time for Wise Guy? I'm just.

[Allen]

Something tells me it just didn't come across how?

[Alan]

I'm flabbergasted. I'm not disappointed. I'm shocked.

[Allen]

Wasn't there also a documentary on the original? Like what it's based on?

[Alan]

I don't think there's a document.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't know. I thought there was a documentary. There was a book that I read. Well, listen, if I got the book, I'll read it.

[Allen]

It's done. Don't buy it.

[Alan]

Don't you buy it.

[Allen]

Another thing he'll do, another gift. How many gifts you get for his birthday he's got.

[Peter Rosenberg]

There's always stuff happening, so I've got to look forward to it. So, Don, have you read the book yet?

[Allen]

Yep.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I guess I shouldn't have given it to you. You haven't read the book yet?

[Alan]

You know, it's such a great point, Alan. Giving gifts, apparently, is like a grandmother giving a gift. Did you use it yet?

[Allen]

Have you worn it? I used it yet. Have you worn the shirt?

[Alan]

You like the shirt I got you, don't you?

[Allen]

Oh, I guess he didn't like the shirt.

[Alan]

He hasn't worn it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Just finishing the Charlie Sheen book. All right, I got a couple more chapters to go, and then I'll be ready to move on to something else.

[Alan]

And Nick Jonas wife, Priyanka Chopra is a huge Bollywood slash Hollywood star. Ten years his senior, by the way.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And what is he, like, 26?

[Alan]

No, no, he's 33. She's 43.

[Allen]

But she's off, though. She does not look that older than him at all. No, it's tremendous.

[Peter Rosenberg]

There's a pride of Wyckoff. They grew up a town away from me.

[Alan]

I didn't know that.

[Allen]

How about that?

[Peter Rosenberg]

The Klixies was in Wyckoff.

[Alan]

Is that true?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan]

So the Jonas brothers know Clixies?

[Peter Rosenberg]

They may. I think it might have. I think they were. They're old enough to have gone there as a kid. I think it only closed like 15 years ago.

[Alan]

God, good for that. Nick Jonas at Clixies. I didn't know. I never even picked it up.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He might have drank a Gypsy Bond.

[Allen]

I don't know.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They might have all done that. All right. What's yours, Don? Well, I'm gonna hand mine over to Aaron Rodgers. Oh. Cause Aaron Rodgers had a talk about it Tuesday today, and I Heard it earlier. And I'm like, I want to bring this up on the show because I know we kind of roll our eyes every time Aaron speaks, because he kind of speaks in code. He talks down to people. I'm the smartest person in the room, but I think this makes a lot of sense. And it was basically about how Tomlin and LaFleur being talked about losing their jobs. This was after the game last night when we didn't know Tomlin was going to resign. Earlier in the day, there was talk about LaFleur basically having to save his job after their loss to the Chicago Bears. Here's Rogers on all that.

[Aaron Rodgers]

This league has changed a lot in my 21 years. You know, when you hear a conversation about the Mike Tomlins of the world, Matt LaFleur's of the world, those are just two that kind of I've played for. And when I first got in the league, there wouldn't be conversation about whether those guys were on the hot seat. You know, but the way that the league is covered now and the way that there's snap decisions and the validity given to the Twitter experts and all the, you know, experts on TV now who make it seem like they know what the hell they're talking about, to me, that's an absolute joke. And for either those two guys to be. Be on the hot seat is really apropos of where we're at as a society and a league, because obviously Matt's done a lot of great things in Green Bay, and we had a lot of success. Mike T. Has had more success than damn near anybody in the league for the last 19, 20 years. And more than that, though, when you have the right guy and the culture is right, you don't think about making a change. But there's a lot of pressure that comes from the outside, and obviously that sways decisions from time to time, but not how I would do things and not how the league used to be.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, I don't love him going after the media and even going after, you know, the people on Twitter, they're not all morons. They're all not people that have opinions that are completely valueless. But what I took from it, and I think it's true, is that when we were growing up in all walks of life, whether it was sports, politics, just news in general, we got our information from like a handful of places. And these were people that we trusted because they had jobs for a long time and they built up credibility. But now, because of social media, because there are four or five People on each panel of each show on espn, on Fox. We've got three talking heads on this show. You know, Barton Carlin, two guys. Our morning show's got two guys with RJ and Ray jumping in and giving their opinions. Right. We are bombarded by literally hundreds of people a day that give their opinions, give their thoughts on what's happening. Then you go to social media. Now you're talking about millions of people, everyone.

[Allen]

Yep.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We can't, and I think we have just out of habit. Maybe laziness is lumping it all to the same value. You know, people on Twitter are saying that that Tucker $50 million contract is crazy. Who are those people? What is their credibility? Right. I think we have to do a better job of just not lumping everybody in. Like, that's what Rogers did was like, all these people. Not everybody talked about Tomlin needing to be fired, LaFleur need to be fired. We have to be more careful whether it's just us personally or professionally, to sift through a lot of the noise and not just give everything equal value. Right. How many people on Twitter share the same opinion? To the point where you're like, this is actually a thing. Is it 50 people? Is it a million people? Is it no one? You know, because we always throw that. Everybody's saying, peter, everybody's saying, who is it? Who are these everybody?

[Alan]

It's a great point.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know, the Cheeto Dust guys that Kay talked about in the basement or somebody that's worked in the business for 30 years. And. And it's connected. I'm sorry. Ian Oconnors thought on who the next Giant head coach is going to have way more value than a lot of people that get paid more than Ian that are on television. And there might be a guy on Twitter who does the work and his opinion should be valued, but I don't know, because we always judge it by how many followers they have. Well, the guy with 1,000 followers might be somebody should value more than the guy that's got 100,000 followers, because you.

[Allen]

Don'T know where information is coming from.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's so bombarded. And I think what ends up happening, and I really do believe, especially owners, I think general managers are smart enough to ignore the noise, but some of these owners, they pay attention to it and they make decisions based on it. One of the Keys to the Devil game last night, we're in Minnesota, and I had to read the sponsor. One of the keys to the game is, you know, the Devils have lost four in a row and People are calling for Fitz's job, and people are calling for keeps. Job and all that is. The first key was ignore the noise. And I thought about what is the noise? What's important about the noise? What noise do you value? Or is it just, hey, there's enough noise, we gotta do something about this, right?

[Allen]

By saying ignore the noise, you're acknowledging that there is noise, and that's part of the problem.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But shouldn't we ignore all the noise? Like, if I'm a general manager, if I'm an owner, if I'm a head coach, if I'm a manager, oh, I'm gonna make the decision. I'm gonna do what's right. My organization and I feel like we get so bombarded. It really sometimes, like a wave takes us in the direction that we don't necessarily want to go to, but we're almost forced to because we pay too much attention to it. And I really think a lot of these owners, because they're not professionals at what they do, they just have to be sitting on a lot of money, react to that. But does this noise really have any value?

[Allen]

Well, a couple of things, like you saying that we're bombarded by it. Again, just like what you're saying about noise, These are things that we choose to allow in, right? Like you have control over all that stuff as a person. And that's part of the problem. The latest thing that really has turned a lot of things in sports is the fact that there are so many now, podcasts, blogs, and things that don't come from traditional media. And some of it, you don't know who they are, but it creates, like, fans feel this way. And the louder it gets and the more following it gets, the more you start saying, people are saying, right, not credible. People are saying, but people are saying. And it creates this loud noise. The problem I have with what Roger said is only one thing, is that when he was with Mike McCarthy in Green Bay, did McCarthy last 12 years, McCarthy had a super bowl reign, he had success. They were good every year. What's the difference?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right? Right.

[Allen]

They were calling for his head. Rodgers wasn't going to have his back, and he got fired. What's the difference? That wasn't three years ago. That wasn't in the current state of media and sports.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think the difference is, is that guys get fired. They get fired by the owner, they get fired by their general manager, or they get fired by their quarterback. That's a reality. Or their point guard or their center or their goaltender.

[Allen]

Right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

But what I think Rogers is saying is, hey, I don't know if Tomlin's any trouble or lafleur's in trouble. Why are we paying attention to all these other people that are saying he should be in trouble, he should be fired, he should be out of a job. He's basically saying, what do I care what you think?

[Allen]

We know Harbaugh was in trouble. We know after the fact that it was right to speculate that Harbaugh could be out no matter what. How we all couldn't believe they would do that. We find out, yes, why the quarterback clearly was done and they chose us to side with the quarterback. Same thing happened in Green Bay, Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers, but not because.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Somebody wrote about it in Baltimore or the fans had some sort of an uprising saying, keep the quarterback rid of the codes.

[Allen]

I mean, it's for the last, what, five, six years. Fans have talked about Tomlin and how he should go. Danny Long island fucking be calling for years saying they should make a coaching.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Change there and he's entitled to his opinion.

[Allen]

So that's nothing new.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But, but his opinion, fan opinion didn't.

[Allen]

Drive Tomlin out of this job. Now they held off on it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, that, well, that's. Well, the paying customer sometimes can have an effect because I decide I'm not going to renew my tickets. The fans do have a voice. Of course they do, but it just, it is amazing where I wish, I.

[Allen]

Wish jets fans would have a better voice.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It does bother me sometimes when reporters will ask, you know, the, the scuttlebutt is your, your, your job's in jeopardy. Well, where is that coming. Yeah, that's it coming from you. Like if I said, you know, I think you should be fine. Yeah, well, then that's something I can. Oh, well, but if I'm like, oh, I just went on Twitter, 50 people saying, what do you think about that Deep dark. I don't think anything about that.

[Allen]

That, of course, that's exactly what you do as a reporter. You know, there's a rumor or there's. People are saying instead of you saying, you know, my opinion is I don't think you're doing a good enough job, you should be fired. I, that's a harder thing to say to, but it's really the right thing. That's what you should say.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But it is weird thing where, you know, Adam Schefter's reporting or, you know, I was talking to my mother in law who's a big Steeler fan and thinks Tomlin should be out those Things don't have equal value.

[Alan]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But for some reason I feel like they do. Maybe not mother in law to schefter, but a thousand mothers in law to Schefter, all of a sudden balances out. No, it shouldn't balance out.

[Alan]

Right. One schefter should be greater than a thousand mothers in law because one's doing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The work, gets paid to do it. But unfortunately, to Alan's point is some of those mother in laws, they have a blog, they have followers on Twitter.

[Alan]

And sometimes the person with the big voice and the check is they're pulling.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It out of there.

[Alan]

You know what?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Whenever I get asked, like whenever I speak to people about what we do and all I said, there was a time where as a talk show host, I talked to the listener and the listener listened to because they felt that I was someone that they respected or I had some sort of an authority because I was on the air. Now I'm on the air talking to other people that are also on the air. Yeah, because they've got a podcast or they express their opinions on Twitter. So I feel like we're all in the same community. But I got news for you. Not everybody in the same community is valued the same way or shouldn't be valued the same way.

[Allen]

I agree.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Because they're the guys that are connected and the guys that aren't.

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[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Han and Rosenberg podcast.

[Alan]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don Hahn]

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

[Allen]

Which record is it I'm your bit? This is I'm your baby tonight.

[Alan]

I'm your baby tonight.

[Peter Rosenberg]

A lot of good songs. I wouldn't list this. Yeah, one of them that's from X Men the that.

[Alan]

Oh you know. You know I do like this song.

[Allen]

Oh hell yeah. How do you not like this?

[Alan]

You don't like I'm your baby tonight?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No.

[Allen]

I'm gonna let it go.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No one's suing us. We're good.

[Alan]

Jacob. I'll pay.

[Allen]

She gets to the hook and then we're out. What a V.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean it's. I Could I, I.

[Alan]

No, that's a good turn.

[Peter Rosenberg]

If I was in the car, I turn it off.

[Alan]

You would turn it off.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Turn it off on something else.

[Allen]

Turn it up.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, no, didn't.

[Alan]

Didn't. Didn't. You and I get an argument though that you probably. That you said that about like some Michael Jackson songs.

[Allen]

Oh, no, you'd say you turn them off.

[Alan]

You said I weren't, I wasn't a fan. You were like, I like like some of his songs, but I'm not a fan.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No. I wouldn't consider myself a fan. I never owned a Michael Jackson album.

[Alan]

That Alan did that one. Does that hit you at all? He's never owned a Michael Jackson album that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But I acknowledge the significance of Thriller.

[Alan]

Well, thank you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean, that is a low standard.

[Alan]

I know we all live in our own reality now.

[Allen]

It's. Now it's official. Don is acknowledging he has finally endorsed it. It took all this time and what.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Was the song before? I think I like the album off the Wall. Yeah.

[Alan]

This is. It's also.

[Peter Rosenberg]

There's a couple of songs I like. I could do without either of the songs he did with Paul McCartney.

[Allen]

Yes. So could most people confirm.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But.

[Alan]

But I just. It's so the Girl Is Mine.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That is not good. That is not good. I think it was number one. It went to number one. I guess we put those two is.

[Allen]

Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I know, but still. So if they farted together would be number one, because that's almost the equivalent of that song.

[Allen]

It probably would, yeah.

[Alan]

I don't hate it as much as other people do.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I do get why I'm not big into dance music and I understand Michael's significance and there are songs I like, but to go out and buy an album, I never did.

[Alan]

Okay, so in your house, no one had it or your brother had it or.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, no, my brother didn't have it.

[Alan]

And. And your father was probably sickened by it. This pop. This disco pop music.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. Well, my, my father had zero love for the Beatles or Elvis. He didn't like things that other people liked, which I do respect. I mean, he was that guy that way.

[Alan]

But he really hung on to it. But like even into his older, you know, 40s and 50s.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Alan]

No. No Beat. Didn't like a Beatles song.

[Allen]

No.

[Alan]

Didn't like an Elvis song.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No.

[Alan]

Who was the most popular musician he even liked.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, he liked the Air Supply. He was a country music we talked about.

[Alan]

Right, right. But why Air Supply?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I know, cuz it was because it was Safe. There were no statements being made. There was no hint of drug use.

[Alan]

I have to tell you, I.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Although they might have been destroying. I don't know what they were doing. I mean, Air Supply might have been. You know, they might have been sucking on helium. I have no idea. And if you listen to their voices, it sounded like. Like America, my horse with no name.

[Alan]

Can I step out on a limb and say, I think it's possible that me and your father may not have gotten along? Oh, is that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

How do I say this delicately?

[Alan]

Go ahead. Be safe, be careful.

[Peter Rosenberg]

My father was still with us. You would be. He would be telling me how you shouldn't be on the show.

[Alan]

He'd be one of the people on. He'd have a fake Twitter account, no filter now.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And he would say to me, it has nothing to do with the fact he's an excellent broadcaster.

[Alan]

Oh, yeah, he's an excellent broadcaster, but.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I've gotten no use for him. The show would be better if he got right.

[Alan]

And think about how sick and TB by it. I do the show with Don. Don's brother got me put on his channel. I'm, like, so locked in with his.

[Peter Rosenberg]

His.

[Alan]

Oh, I mean, Jay La Greca loves me and. But he'd be completely out on me. Disgusting.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Listen, don't feel bad. There's times he was completely out on Dave.

[Allen]

By the way.

[Alan]

By the way, if you weren't gutless and if you weren't. If you were not terrified of the man even till the day he died, I think he'd probably be out on you on several.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You just wouldn't have the guts to open your mouth. I'm gonna tell you a story off the air. Joe in Princeton. You're on ESPN New York.

[Caller Joe]

Hey, Don.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Caller Joe]

I want to call you out on one of the things you said in your last shtick before the break.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay.

[Caller Joe]

And that is your claim that. That the owners are making decisions on the public noise from individuals whose opinions aren't worth anything.

[Allen]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I said some. Some may because. What. I just want to clarify. Some may just. Because they just happen to own a team and they. They're worth billions of dollars, but they're not professional in the ranks of, like, a general manager or head coach. And they. And I think they could be swayed. They could be influenced.

[Caller Joe]

Well, no, no, wait a minute. But they're very sophisticated business people. Don't. I don't know where you can conclude that they make decisions about the team. Who should coach it? Who should the general manager be based on some guy On Twitter, whose opinion, as you and I would agree, is not worth the. Well, not the one guy, but the collector.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You don't think that owners are influenced when. When fans chant that a manager or a head coach should be fired or.

[Alan]

They don't have people, Joe, who are in their ear, like in the. Hey, boss, we just want you to know everyone on Twitter is saying blank. Everyone's. All the fan base is saying blank.

[Allen]

Listen, what's his name?

[Alan]

Joe.

[Allen]

Joe. Joe. I agree.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean, listen.

[Caller Joe]

My point is not that these individuals, as sophisticated they are as business people, can't be swayed by public opinion. I was just taking issue with your assertion that you somehow know that they are. That you made a point that they are moved by these and they make decisions based on. I think that's a bit speculative on your part.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, I don't agree with your private. I've heard stories. Listen, I've gotten to know owners. I've gotten to. To know people that have known owners that, believe me, they've been influenced by a lot less. I'm not talking about the collective, but I think that there are times owners are swayed by the noise.

[Allen]

You're not wrong. I mean, we've. You've done. I have talked with owners. I have gotten to know owners really well on some occasions. And. And there are some who even confided about how, oh, we're just getting killed on Twitter. Like, they're very sensitive to that stuff. We know the jets are a great example of an organization that knee jerk reacts a lot of times to things that are said, the criticisms, to suggestions and all those things. That's a real thing. That is a real thing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. And I'm not saying all of them.

[Allen]

But I feel like Joe was another caller that is just dialing up to 100, something that you said at maybe 20. Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What I said was owners are the ones that. Because I think general managers and head coaches, they're so focused on their job and they know better. But some of these guys, these are toys to a lot of. Listen, Steve Cohen is a sophisticated businessman, but that doesn't know. He knows baseball. He happens to own a baseball team. But the guy's on Twitter. You don't think he's reading the responses to Twitter? He wants to know what the fans say, and he could be influenced by it. He could be. Otherwise he wouldn't care. He wouldn't be reaching out. He wants to know. And obviously you might take that information. I don't know if he does, but we've all heard stories on and off the record of owners, believe me, that have been influenced by a lot less than the fans thought.

[Allen]

Well, just work on your shtick next time.

[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Allen]

I don't want to know how the sausage is made, but I just want 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.