Hour 2: WBC, NFL Binge, St. John's

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 2: WBC, NFL Binge, St. John's

ESPN New York | March 16, 2026 | Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg

---

Episode Overview

This hour of “Don, Hahn & Rosenberg” features a quintessentially New York sports conversation, traversing topics from the energy and fan culture of the World Baseball Classic (WBC), NFL free agency and quarterback movement (“NFL Binge”), to college basketball’s tournament seedings with special focus on St. John’s. Expect the typical blend of insightful sports analysis, sharp opinions, and offbeat humor as the trio debates what makes sporting events fun, the cycles of quarterback hype in the NFL, and the politics behind March Madness seedings.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Michael B. Jordan and the Evolution of TV/Celebrity Roots

(Starts ~03:00)

• Playful banter about inviting Newark native and newly-minted Best Actor Michael B. Jordan to Calandra’s for a Devils-Rangers watch party.
• The conversation shifts to Michael B. Jordan’s television trajectory and how rare it is for actors to break through multiple TV shows before stardom.
  • Rosenberg: "For me it was always Friday Night Lights. That was how I got into Michael B. Jordan." [03:16]
  • Don noting, "He was in an episode of Cosby... Parenthood... The Wire... brick by brick for that guy. Piece by piece." [03:47–04:18]
• Nostalgic riffing on old TV, channel-surfing before streaming, and how “channel laps” are a lost art.
  • Hahn: "It's like what the kids would say with reels—just keep flicking until you get to something interesting. What we did with a remote." [06:41]

---

2. “Making Baseball Fun” and the World Baseball Classic Debate

(Starts ~08:00)

• Hahn introduces a debate about fan enjoyment and the culture of “celebration” in baseball, responding to a recent caller and ongoing chatter about the WBC—“Do Americans really want baseball to be fun?”
  • Hahn: "I hate that, because to me...I understand it was getting a little ridiculous...but you can't really enjoy a moment. The taunting, that feels extra..." [08:21–09:16]
• Caller Anthony from Dallas (11:12) contends that the American media undersells the WBC, especially given New York’s diverse, passionate Latino fanbase.
  • Anthony: "With all the Dominicans and Venezuelans and Puerto Ricans in the city, there's such a thirst for this tournament...And you guys especially should be the ones...with your hand on the pulse." [11:12]
• The hosts reflect on their own relationship to the event, audience engagement, and local team involvement.
  • Hahn: "If it's in our backyard, it's more on our radar. Maybe that's part of it too...I'm not infallible...Sell it to me, man!" [16:09–16:35]

---

3. The Heart of March Madness: St. John’s Disrespected?

(Tournament update begins ~38:27, deeper discussion ~39:15)

• The hosts break down St. John’s seeding as a 5-seed in the East, while past rival UConn receives a 2-seed—sparking debate about “disrespect” and tournament committee bias.
  • Hahn: "This is exactly what you want. If you're Rick Pitino, this is what you want: they don't believe in us, they're disrespecting the Big East champion..." [39:37]
• They contextualize Big East basketball’s status and Rick Pitino’s coaching credentials, juxtaposing the team’s back-to-back titles with broader lack of national blue-blood cachet.
• They discuss seeding oddities and historical upsets (e.g., never a 5-seed winner), and the “12-5” upset narrative.
  • Rosenberg: "The 12 seed has pulled off 57 upsets since 1985 against the 5...It doesn’t make sense. That’s the thing you find irritating." [48:53]
• Endearing inside-baseball on how fans “celebrate” moral victories, covering point spreads, and what constitutes a winning “banner” moment.
  • Rosenberg: "If we were all together, Liu hits a buzzer beater to go from down 32 to lose by 30, and I send video to Strickland of Alan celebrating, he’d never come on the show again." [47:19]

---

4. NFL Binge: Trades, Free Agency & Quarterback Carousel

(NFL segment starts ~23:43)

• Justin Fields traded from Jets to Chiefs for a sixth-round pick, with the Jets eating $7m of his $10m salary.
  • Hahn: "So they get a pick and they save 3 million on the cap. Brilliant." [25:49]
  • Don: "But you still got to be a little concerned...If it's KC, Philly, Baltimore, San Francisco, you go: I don't know if we did this..." [25:54–26:14]
• Giants' signing of Darnell Mooney—"That's good, that's not nothing"—with honest self-reflection about his impact.
  • Rosenberg: "Darnell Mooney, like, why does, watching him play...not hit my cerebral cortex? Did I miss any great Darnell Mooney moments?" [27:43]
• Debate about quarterback draft “hype” vs. development, with many highly drafted QBs now on their 3rd/4th teams.
  • Hahn: "We have a quarterback hype problem before the draft—start pushing these guys..." [33:05]
  • Don: "Trust your board. If the quarterback is not there, you don't take him...Honor your board." [34:40–35:08]
  • Insight that if a QB is picked later, teams are more patient; top-3 picks face too-high expectations and are labeled busts too quickly.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Michael B. Jordan’s ascent:
  "It was brick by brick for that guy. Piece by piece." – Don La Greca [04:48]
• Baseball fun vs. taunting:
  "There's a place to celebrate, and there's a place to show out." – Alan Hahn [09:27]
• Caller Anthony’s WBC thesis:
  “There's such a thirst for this tournament…and you guys especially should be the ones with your hand on the pulse.” – Anthony, Dallas [11:12]
• Tournament Seeding "Disrespect":
  "If you're Rick Pitino, this is exactly what you want...they don't believe in us, they're disrespecting the Big East champion." – Alan Hahn [39:37]
• QB Cycle Critique:
  "We have a quarterback hype problem before the draft—we start pushing these guys." – Alan Hahn [33:05] "If you take him number three, expectation is he should be starting right away. If he’s not starting, he’s a bust. It’s amazing." – Alan Hahn [35:25]
• On ‘Moral Victories’ in college hoops:
  "If we were all together, Liu hits a buzzer beater to go from down 32 to lose by 30, and I send video to Strickland of Alan celebrating he'd never come on the show again." – Don La Greca [47:19]

---

Key Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment/Topic | |-------------|---------------------------------------------------| | 03:00–08:00 | Michael B. Jordan's roots, TV & nostalgia | | 08:18–17:00 | Is MLB “fun?” – WBC, fan engagement, celebrations | | 23:43–35:56 | NFL Binge: Fields trade, Giants' moves, QB hype | | 38:27–49:55 | Tournament Update, St. John’s seeding, March Madness history | | 47:19 | Liu, point spreads & “moral victories" |

---

The Show’s Tone and Flow

True to their New York roots, the hosts deliver a mix of sharp sports debate, self-deprecating humor, and cultural reflection. The segment transitions are marked by quick-witted back-and-forths, occasional gentle ribbing about guest invitations and insider media strife, and an openness to listener feedback (especially on the WBC calls). Their critical but affectionate style—“Sell it to me, man,” “He was on the Santa Maria, yeah”—ensures both die-hard and casual fans feel included in the mix, making this episode an essential snapshot of the week in New York sports and the minds who live it.

---

For Listeners Who Missed It

This episode is a tour through what New York sports talk does best: energetic debates on the hot topics of March sports, framed with punchy stories, local color, and that never-dull mix of sincerity and snark. Whether you want to understand why Americans still struggle with international baseball or why colleges with “disrespected” seeds may be the most dangerous in March, or you simply want to keep up with the NFL’s relentless churn of quarterbacks and “what could have been” storylines, Hour 2 doesn’t disappoint.

Transcript

[Don Hahn]

Monster Energy. Everybody knows White Monster Zero Ultra.

[Rosenberg]

That's the og it kicked off this

[Don Hahn]

whole Zero sugar energy drink thing. But Ultra is a whole lineup now. You've got Strawberry Dreams, Blue Hawaiian Sunrise, and Vice Guava. And they all bring the Monster Energy punch.

[Alan]

So if you've been living in the

[Don Hahn]

White can branch out.

[Alan]

Ultra's got a flavor for every vibe,

[Don Hahn]

and every single one is Zero Sugar. Tap the banner to learn more. This is the Don Han and Rosenberg podcast.

[Rosenberg]

That sounds like heaven to me.

[Alan]

Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New

[Don Hahn]

York app, and your smart speakers.

[Rosenberg]

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

[Don Hahn]

Call the time.

[Rosenberg]

Rangers host Panarin and the Kings with coverage immediately following us on 880 at 6:30. Devils face the Bruins in Jersey on ESPN at 7. That's why I'm here.

[Don Hahn]

No Legreca.

[Rosenberg]

Got four more of these. Wow. And the Nets take on the Blazers in Brooklyn at 7:30. Tune in Tullamore Dew, the original triple distilled, triple blended and triple cast matured Irish Whiskey. Be sure to grab a Telemore do or try the new Telemore do, honey. During today's action, glasses up to enjoying Telemar Dew responsibly.

[Don Hahn]

Tell about Calandra's on Wednesday.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah, Wednesday, Calandra's. We're going to do the watch party. We'll be there at three o'. Clock.

[Don Hahn]

Calandra's Italian Village in Caldwell. Yeah, New Jersey.

[Rosenberg]

So swing by, make reservations if you want a table because they're going fast. Get on that by several people.

[Don Hahn]

You want to be outside waiting in line going, oh, I didn't know I needed a reservation.

[Rosenberg]

I had some people I put on the guest list and Troy was telling me, do they want a table? Because it's going to be tough to get. Tell them to make reservations and you got to do that. And let me see if I've got the number here. It probably is one of our reads here, I would think. Yes, it is. 973-226-8889. To make the reservations for Calandras on Wednesday. We'll do the show there, 3 to 6:30. Then the ranger coverage begins for the Rangers and Devils and we're going to hang around for the watch party possibility that we'll have some surprise guests. I've reached out to Ken Danico and Rachel Herzog.

[Don Hahn]

That'd be great.

[Rosenberg]

And I've not gotten to know, you

[Alan]

know what we should do? What do you think we do? Let's get Michael B. Jordan in Calanders.

[Don Hahn]

Well, he's a Newark, Jersey guy.

[Alan]

He's a Jersey guy. He's hot off the best actor yesterday. Best moment of his life. You're telling me this guy wouldn't want to celebrate at Calandras with us?

[Don Hahn]

Where else would you want to celebrate?

[Alan]

I mean, maybe get Richard. Maybe get Richard on the line.

[Don Hahn]

I saw the In N Out, in and out burger. You go there.

[Alan]

But that was. Those pictures were awesome.

[Rosenberg]

But to answer honestly, I would think he would decline.

[Alan]

But no, I respect your honesty.

[Rosenberg]

You miss every shot you don't take.

[Don Hahn]

Listen, listen. Yeah, we'll put in the ask. This is how it goes.

[Alan]

I know you're in LA right now. Could you possibly be in Jersey Wednesday? Why is that? I think you can. We're doing a live show at Calandras. You want to come hang out with watching Devil's Rangers.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan]

And then if the question's. Well, really Devil's Rangers? Is that a meaningful game? Absolutely not.

[Rosenberg]

No.

[Don Hahn]

Well, it is if you're here, but if you.

[Alan]

That's a great point, Alan. It will be a threat actor.

[Rosenberg]

Michael B. Jordan.

[Alan]

That's the thing that's creates you and me.

[Rosenberg]

It would go from a. From a Devil Ranger watch party to a Michael B. Jordan watch party.

[Alan]

Oh, my God. Don and I were talking before the show started about Michael B. Jordan. He has so many roots in old television shows. Like, it's almost rare that an actor makes it to this level where you can, like, have so many different points of where you watched him along the way. Clooney did it. Yeah, Clooney had a few different TV ones on the way, but Michael B. Jordan, for me was always Friday Night Lights. The show Friday Night Lights. That was how I got into Michael B. Jordan. You were pointing out you remember him on Cosby.

[Rosenberg]

Well, I saw footage. I did not remember him on Cosby, but I saw it on social media that he was in an episode of Cosby. Was it Dougie Doug was in the second. Yeah. This is the reboot.

[Alan]

Not reboot, but it was the CBS.

[Rosenberg]

It was the CBS version. I think it was 1999. And I think it was Dougie Doug. I think that's who it was, was a teacher and he was one of the students, but he had a prominent role in the episode. And I remember him a few years after that in a show called Parenthood. There was the movie Parenthood and the show Parenthood. The show Parenthood, like 20 years later. And I hate watch that show because it was so well written, so well acted, but every single character on that show was the biggest toolbox. And I just couldn't take.

[Alan]

Makes me want to go back and watch it. So it's kind of good.

[Rosenberg]

Oh, it's outstanding. But I just felt like they were just whiny and complained all the time, and it just. It was just an irritating thing. But he was. He was.

[Alan]

He was also. Michael B. Jordan was also on a Sopranos episode.

[Don Hahn]

Yes.

[Rosenberg]

Around the same time.

[Alan]

I mean, he just. It was brick by brick for that guy. Piece by piece.

[Don Hahn]

How you do it?

[Alan]

That's. That's Brick City, baby.

[Rosenberg]

That's newer and I'm very good.

[Alan]

Yeah, it all came together brick by brick.

[Don Hahn]

This is Brick City. Wait, he's from Newark, too?

[Alan]

Yeah. Now he's the man.

[Rosenberg]

You ever watch.

[Alan]

You ever watch. Right.

[Rosenberg]

Night Lights. The show? No. Or the movie?

[Alan]

Never seen the movie.

[Rosenberg]

And I won't love the show.

[Alan]

I won't watch.

[Rosenberg]

Why? Because I've gone this long. I'm just gonna.

[Alan]

Well, that's not a good reason.

[Rosenberg]

No, it's stupid.

[Don Hahn]

You're holding out.

[Rosenberg]

It's stupid. But I get that way you never watch right now.

[Don Hahn]

Never had a chance to, but I might now. In fact, I think I will because Don won't now.

[Rosenberg]

I like this. The FBI detective.

[Alan]

I like that.

[Rosenberg]

The FBI guy in Wolf of Wall Street. The coach.

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Alan]

Yeah. That's so funny that you know him as the Wolf of Wall street detective.

[Rosenberg]

He.

[Alan]

What's. What's his name again? And he's a big time actor.

[Rosenberg]

I know he is. And so is.

[Alan]

And Connie Britton's the mother.

[Rosenberg]

I don't know what it is. Can somebody explain to me maybe if they get a second. Yeah. On how things work with the. The premium channels, on how often movies get shown. Because there could be great movies that will go decades without ever being on HBO or Cinemax or stars or whatever.

[Alan]

Kyle Chandler, by the way, is the actor.

[Rosenberg]

Yes, but Wolf of Wall Street's on every day. If I. Before I go to bed, if I take a lap just to see what's on. Wolf of Wall Street's gonna be on every single time.

[Don Hahn]

There's about five that if you take a lap, you're probably gonna. One of those five on a given night.

[Alan]

I Don't you see it that. I guess I don't do a lot of channel, like, laps these days.

[Don Hahn]

Well, just again, if you're just. You need to, like, shut it down. But you just keep it on the way.

[Alan]

The way my DirecTV app is for scrolling. I don't enjoy it for like a flipping through channels. I just not into it.

[Don Hahn]

It's a lost art.

[Alan]

It.

[Don Hahn]

No, it is nothing better than the channel.

[Alan]

No, when you, when you were at that age where you memorized all your channels like you knew some people were good. You even be good enough to send a table remote to hit the channel.

[Don Hahn]

It's like what the kids would say with reels where you just keep flicking until you get to something that looks interesting. Yeah, what we did with a remote and you just hit the up or down button and just keep going. It's just next. Next Dad's like, leave it for a second. You don't even know what it is.

[Alan]

I know what it is.

[Don Hahn]

I know what it is.

[Alan]

Great point.

[Rosenberg]

13 year old Don McGrego to the channels that we have now. I might have stroked out.

[Alan]

Well, I'm sure you would have known. And in fact I think you found a way anyway.

[Rosenberg]

Well, you had the regular channels.

[Alan]

Why did you have to.

[Rosenberg]

I'm just talking about the ability to watch all these different channels. You had to go there.

[Don Hahn]

I don't know what he said.

[Rosenberg]

No, he was.

[Alan]

I've never heard people use the phrase

[Don Hahn]

stroked out before, but in the context it does make sense.

[Rosenberg]

You've never heard the phrase stroked out?

[Alan]

No, I have not about what you're talking about.

[Rosenberg]

No, I would have a stroke at all the. Because all I had were the regular channels. Then when we got cable in 76, we were very, very fortunate.

[Don Hahn]

Wow.

[Alan]

No, he is. Don is like. It's like he's a descendant of Columbus. He's like the daughters of the American Revolution. I mean this man has been watching cable since the dawn of time.

[Don Hahn]

He was on the Santa Maria. Yeah.

[Alan]

No, he was, he was.

[Don Hahn]

No, think about it. Because there were certain neighborhoods, I thought, I know there's one on Long island that had cable first before everybody. Yeah.

[Rosenberg]

And then There was like 86 and

[Don Hahn]

it was like these were the chosen people.

[Rosenberg]

I was late 80s for cable and so 76. So you only had the one HBO and then maybe you had the one Cinemax. But like now to have like how many different HBOs and cinematics, like, it's just, it's amazing. Like if you can't find something on, there's nothing on that happens.

[Alan]

But it still does happen, by the way.

[Rosenberg]

But let's get back.

[Alan]

Oh, and Michael B. Jordan, the Wire.

[Don Hahn]

Sorry, I forgot the Wire as well.

[Alan]

So.

[Don Hahn]

So there was something the caller said though that I think we need to Touch on.

[Rosenberg]

Go ahead.

[Don Hahn]

And it's the, the whole, the whole not fun. Americans don't want baseball to be fun. And I hate that because to me,

[Alan]

you hate the take or you hate that you think it's true?

[Don Hahn]

Both, I guess, because I understand that it was getting a little ridiculous. And I know you guys always talked about how like it is, it's church. And I don't like that when it gets ridiculous, like, well, you can't really enjoy a moment. But I do think it's also misunderstood that if you take a bat and hit a home run and you know down the first baseline is the home team's dugout and you're the road team and you slam the bat down on that side of the field, you're doing more than joy. You know what I'm saying? Like, you're doing more than celebrating. Okay, that, to me, the taunting, that feels extra. Now, if it's to win a game and you throw it in the air or something like that. I saw, what was his name hit the home run yesterday. He threw it towards his dugout.

[Rosenberg]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

So he did throw the bat, but he threw it towards his. That. Okay, you're having fun. You didn't face my dugout. You're not yelling into my. You're not doing that. So let's understand that there's. There is a place to celebrate and there is a place to show out. Like we see in the NBA and we see in other leagues. Hockey score a goal. Look at the stuff that goes on when you score a goal in hockey. I mean, people go ballistic.

[Rosenberg]

I don't think.

[Don Hahn]

I don't mind it, but I don't like it when it's taunt.

[Rosenberg]

But I don't think he was going there. Maybe I could be wrong. I think he was just going to. Why can't he just enjoy the wbc? Why do you have to be so worried about what's coming up?

[Don Hahn]

Oh, I know.

[Rosenberg]

Because. You know what? Because Americans are going to care more about their regular season and their teams than they're going to care about the wbc. I'm sorry. Because all the people that are defending this, if, God forbid, Aaron Judge gets hurt tomorrow, all those people are going to be like, why are we doing this? It's an exhibition. He's got more important fish to fry coming up in a couple of weeks.

[Don Hahn]

Remember, this was the conversation after Medea and.

[Rosenberg]

Right. So all I'm saying is it's fun. Just don't make it into something that it's not. That's all now. Will it grow and become even bigger? I've seen it grow and get bigger. Excuse me, you're on the filth bag tour, but I got to be honest with you.

[Don Hahn]

He didn't say it, you did.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah, but it's a great drop.

[Don Hahn]

It really is.

[Rosenberg]

For next year. For next year.

[Alan]

But it's only next year. It's unfortunate, unfortunately.

[Don Hahn]

Next year starts now, by the way. When it comes to drop, you can

[Rosenberg]

still have fun with it, but it just feels like some of it just seems like. I'm not saying the players are lying, but let's, let's build this up. I'm sure MLB's in their ear saying, come on, talk this up, guys. Because, you know, you could talk, you want about Judge. He loves it now. Three years ago he didn't go. All right, so it's not that much time ago. So let's not forget that. Yeah, let's go to Anthony in Dallas. You're on ESPN New York. What's up, Tony?

[Caller]

Hey, guys, I'm calling because I think a little bit of the disconnect is we keep hearing from you guys whenever we talk about it that it's contrived and not a big deal, but obviously for the fans it is and the players are giving it their all. The only one that doesn't seem to have been gotten on board is kind of the media that I've been seeing. And I think especially in the New York area, I mean, with all the Dominicans and Venezuelans and Puerto Ricans in the city, there's such a thirst for this tournament and we always have to hear how it's not. It's not something else, you know. And you guys especially should be the ones with local radio being with your hand on the pulse. Hey, everything.

[Rosenberg]

This isn't.

[Don Hahn]

Here's a great. It's not the end season tournament where

[Caller]

the NBA is telling us that it's a big deal. These are the fans, the players.

[Don Hahn]

Anthony, first of all, you're in Dallas, right? So I want to tell you though, like, I appreciate this call because here's part of the problem. How do we get the pulse if no one, although today is that day, if no one's reacting, calling, telling us how big this is, how important it is to them.

[Caller]

That's true.

[Don Hahn]

Make. But they are today, though, convince us

[Alan]

the calls are kind of absolutely right.

[Don Hahn]

That's happening today.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah. Because something happened.

[Don Hahn]

If you want.

[Alan]

I did see it this weekend too. Al, Let me just say, I will say in the streets, lot of people wearing their PR and doctor hats, like, they are out.

[Rosenberg]

That's great. That's great.

[Don Hahn]

But. But again, you're. You're saying it does. I'm telling you that until last night, it didn't affect me. I wasn't caught up in it. I thought it was kind of contrived last night because I knew it's two Titans going head to head. Yeah, I'm bought in. I'm calling the game and I'm keeping an eye on what Judge is doing in that game because as a Yankees fan, it means something to me that he, in a, in pressure situations can do something important. So I'm watching that and I am interested. And I didn't leave the building until the last out was completed in that epic. In that epic battle of the last at bat. So that's where it hit for me. Just because it didn't hit for me a week ago, don't hold that against me. But if it mattered to you, and it's the buzz all around the city, the only way I can get that pulse is if you come to me with this.

[Alan]

But doesn't it make sense? Doesn't it speak to the point that you're almost making?

[Don Hahn]

I don't want to fake that I'm into hoping you'll like it.

[Alan]

But hear me out. If the team that we as three American guys who don't. I mean, Don, you don't seem particularly interested in the Italian team.

[Rosenberg]

Right.

[Alan]

If we don't have another dog in the fight, particularly, and the US Is the one team who has players that decided to go back early, doesn't it make sense that we might not be as into it?

[Don Hahn]

We're the ones that don't get it.

[Alan]

We're the ones that don't get it. And everyone else's team is treating it like the most important thing in the world, it kind of all adds up.

[Don Hahn]

How am I supposed to get that right?

[Alan]

And then Judge's comments are based on what he's feeling on the fans from these other teams. He's like, damn, this thing is intense. Where are the Americans?

[Rosenberg]

Because they don't. Because they've got the actual MLB stuff and we've got, you know, the Knicks played last night, so I don't know what the number was in. New York Knicks played a very competitive game, which shouldn't have been, but was against the Warriors. What did. A better number.

[Alan]

Yeah, but for sure. But the fans there are New Yorkers who are Puerto Rican and Dominican who are super dialed into that. And we're dialed into the next Game.

[Rosenberg]

We're going to see this come summer when the World cup is here. In here. Right here in New York.

[Alan]

That's right. But sure is.

[Don Hahn]

We're not.

[Rosenberg]

We're not doing. We're not doing 100% World cup because we're a baseball to talk about, and we're going to have football training. Cali. There's going to be a lot to talk about because in the United States, it's not going to matter as much as it does around the world. But there could be people in the United States that are not from here or have ties to other places besides the United States. They could be totally into it. But does that mean they're calling the show? Does that mean that we're going to talk a lot about it? I mean, that's what it's become. I mean, it's not the first.

[Don Hahn]

Set that tone. I mean, the World cup, you got to understand, like, we are going to be dialed in because it's in our area, and it's definitely a big event that we know we have to be dialed in on. But, you know, this is. This is definitely listener participation. Well, because there's going to be a lot of in.

[Rosenberg]

We have had the WBC on our rundown every single day of the tournament. Yeah. And we've touched on it, and we react to what you guys react today. The phones are blowing up. We've done an hour and 15, maybe more on it.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Rosenberg]

So we've got our finger on the pulse, man. I mean, you call from Dallas. I don't know what they're doing at a Dallas radio station, but here in New York, we're talking about it as much as I think we should talk about it, because we've got calls and we've got social media that tells us what's working, what's not working. And we talked about the wbc. Maybe not as much as Michael. We probably talked about it more than anybody else.

[Don Hahn]

Well, we haven't too deep into the ABS thing, but I'm just gonna add this part. If games were at Citi Field or Yankee Stadium, would it be more on the radar? Because it would be right in our face.

[Alan]

Of course it would. If you had.

[Don Hahn]

Because it's in Miami, it's in Houston. Like, it's. It's not in the backyard, and it feels distant. Perhaps that's part of it, too. Look, I'm not. I'm not infallible. I'll tell you, it's not on my radar if, If. If you tell me about it with your Enthusiasm. I might, I might buy in. That's what it took for me to buy in last night. I saw enthusiasm from the players, intensity from the players. And I said, I need to see what this is about. So instead of getting mad, sell it to me, man.

[Alan]

But I think they are. I mean, the phones are not saying they're not. Look, we're not. Still not getting all the calls, guys.

[Don Hahn]

There's.

[Alan]

Every call is basically someone talking wbc,

[Don Hahn]

which people are into it.

[Rosenberg]

I basically said I want to take Alessandro last week on Friday during Fraud.

[Alan]

Friday. Yeah.

[Rosenberg]

I want to break bread with the man I really loved. What. How he broke down Italy in the United States. And it may actually happen in a championship game tomorrow, depending on what happens with Italy and Venezuela. Alessandro from Brooklyn is on the phone.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, boy.

[Rosenberg]

And he joins us here on Don Hanna Rosenberg. How are you, buddy?

[Caller]

I am well. Gentlemen, is an honor. It is an honor to be. To call into the show and to have my email read aloud and spoken about for about 10 minutes. Made my day. And I'm, I'm obviously extremely. And happy for team Italy and where they've gone. But I would say that, you know, to the point that's being made, I think that if you're born and raised in the United States and you're not necessarily attached to your country of origin, then you're not like. Because obviously we've all originated from somewhere.

[Rosenberg]

Right.

[Caller]

That it might be a little bit more difficult for you to get involved and excited about Team usa, who's obviously the best team in the world, with the best players in the world. And I think something that's hurt the interest with maybe like American centered fans or whatever is A, the US not knowing that they qualified or that they didn't qualify rather for the organization. That was ridiculous. B, is Japan being eliminated? Because I think that Japan versus the United States in the final, that's the best team in the world versus the second best league in the world over in Japan. And I think the average baseball fan who's not necessarily dialed in every single day would have interest in that game. Right. So I think Japan getting eliminated by Venezuela, excuse me, showed up here and then Italy and Venezuela having the opportunity to face the United States has actually decreased interest in the final. And as opposed to. And I'm rambling on here, I'll end soon, but as opposed to a team like the Dominican Republic who, you know, is incredibly talented, but also has fans that might be affiliated with a team, but then also has a deep affinity for certain players.

[Rosenberg]

I think they would have been better off and thank you for the phone call and we got your information. Hopefully we'll be able to get in touch down the road. Is that if the championship game was Dominican versus the United States would be a bigger deal than Venezuela or Italy. And I would not. I don't know what the numbers are going to be but that could have been the championship game yesterday because I yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Will there feel like that's. Yeah, that's the best because you know just the game players are so freaking good.

[Rosenberg]

It was 2 to 1 and there was controversy on the, on the called strike three. Like that's always going to generate a lot of interesting conversation when you have something like to that ilk.

[Don Hahn]

I think that the judge quote is what got us right.

[Rosenberg]

That's awesome.

[Don Hahn]

And I, you know, I don't, I hate the fact that it did end up overshadowing what was an unbelievable game.

[Rosenberg]

But it did, it felt like it did. But you know what, people are bouncing back and that's why we have these shows that we can interact and get disagreement. Get ready for Rickleball Madness this Friday, ESPN New York is taking over Pickleball Heaven in Medford, New York. Catch a live broadcast of DPA Tron Rothelberg starting at 6am Then stick around for our social ladder Pickleball tournament. We'll crown our champions, then roll right into a college hoops watch party to cap off the day. The tournament is officially sold out, but the event is open to the public, so come down, enjoy the action and be part of Rickleball Madness, brought to you by Pickleball Heaven, the new standard of indoor pickleball.

[Alan]

Rich Eisen here. The tax deadline will be here before you know it and you just want to know. Your taxes are actually being handled. But the old way, you hand everything off and then silence. Days pass, weeks pass. You start wondering, should I send another follow up email? It feels like you're chasing updates and getting nowhere. But now taxes are different because your taxes are done for you by a TurboTax full service expert. With Intuit TurboTax, you can match with your dedicated tax expert and hand off everything right in the app. And while your expert checks for every deduction, you'll see real time updates on your phone. So you always know exactly where things stand. Suddenly you're not refreshing your inbox. You're going for a run, grabbing a coffee, scrolling anything other than a just checking in message because your TurboTax expert is handling it and keeping you in the loop. So this tax season, get your best possible outcome and every dollar you deserve without the guesswork. Visit TurboTax.com today to learn more. Real time updates only in iOS mobile app only available with TurboTax full service experts Amazon Hub Delivery Wants to partner with your business Help your business Help your neighbors discover a new stream of

[Rosenberg]

income for your business. When you partner with Amazon Hub Delivery,

[Alan]

you and your team will deliver Amazon

[Rosenberg]

packages to customers in your neighborhood on

[Alan]

a schedule that works for you and you'll be paid for every package you deliver. Getting started is easy. There's no delivery experience required, no long

[Rosenberg]

term contracts, and you receive weekly direct deposits. Earn more. Gain exposure for your business. Apply today at Amazon.com hubdelivery that's Amazon.com hubdelivery know a local business that would make a great partner?

[Alan]

A local coffee shop owner, florist, automotive

[Rosenberg]

shop, dry cleaner, you name it.

[Alan]

Refer a business today and earn $500

[Rosenberg]

when they successfully join the program. Visit Amazon.com hubdelivery to learn more or refer a partner.

[Alan]

That's Amazon.com hubdelivery now looking for hub

[Rosenberg]

partners in your area?

[Alan]

Quick time out. Some breakfast intel you want to know about. Kodiak Frozen Power Waffles and flapjacks are built for busy mornings. Heat it, eat it and you're out the door.

[Rosenberg]

No long prep, no complicated game plan.

[Alan]

They're packed with 12 to 14 grams of protein per serving, a good source of fiber and crafted with 100% whole grains, not refined white flour. So you're getting something that actually fuels you. And there's depth on the roster. Buttermilk and vanilla blueberry chocolate chip. Even gluten free options. Breakfast that delivers. Snack that delivers. Find Kodiak Frozen Waffles and and flapjacks in the frozen aisle at your local grocery store. They're the ones with the bear on the box.

[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. This is the NFL Binge.

[Rosenberg]

All right.

[Alan]

The NFL Binge is brought to you by your ace.

[Don Hahn]

Ah no, it's my favorite product.

[Alan]

It's brought to you by Drop Madness.

[Don Hahn]

Yes it is.

[Alan]

Bracket being unveiled at 6:00pm Eastern Standard Time right here on ENN. Like a dream.

[Rosenberg]

I'm really excited. I have not seen this. Have you seen it?

[Alan]

I so I see he's well I saw the drop page but I never like looked at the order. I just like clicked a few to hear them But I have not gone through the order.

[Don Hahn]

Okay, I know.

[Alan]

I saw a couple of Richards. That doesn't sound good either. Change those words around. You know what I mean?

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, I hear you.

[Alan]

Actually, I'm gonna say this. Tonight's Today's NFL Binge is brought to you by FanDuel. FanDuel's dropping bonus bets into everyone's accounts for the tournament. All you have to do is opt in to claim your bonus. Use them on your bracket picks, moneyline spreads, totals, game props, or even same game parlays. But don't wait. These bonuses are only available for a limited time. Just visit FanDuel.com/local to learn more. 21 and over, physically present New York bonus issued is not withdrawable. Bonus bets which expire seven days after receipt. Max bonus, 500 bucks. As otherwise specified restrictions apply. See [e-mail] for help with a gambling problem, call 877-HOPE and wire text open wide 467-369. Guys, the Kansas City Chiefs have found a new backup for Patrick Mahomes. And this is one of those moves that makes you go,

[Don Hahn]

huh?

[Alan]

Huh?

[Rosenberg]

Makes you want to revisit the whole.

[Alan]

Yeah. Wait, wait. So wait, we're sure we. Okay. Yeah. That's right. The Chiefs have gone out and sent a 2027 sixth round pick to the New York jets to acquire Justin Fields.

[Don Hahn]

Love it.

[Rosenberg]

That's right.

[Alan]

Justin Fields, according to Adam Schefter, is heading to KC to facilitate the trade. The jets are paying 7 million of fields. 10 million, 2026 guaranteed salary. So the Chiefs will pay the other $3 million. In other words, the jets paid $7 million to get rid of Justin Fields.

[Don Hahn]

Well, the other way is Moji keeps moving because the jets saved $3 million from cutting him. If they cut him, they would have had to. They would have been on the hook for 10.

[Alan]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

So they get a pick and they save 3 million on the cap. Brilliant.

[Rosenberg]

It is brilliant. But you still got to be a bit little. Little concern.

[Don Hahn]

Why?

[Alan]

Because it's Kansas City?

[Rosenberg]

Because if you make the deal with Cleveland, you're like suckers.

[Don Hahn]

Correct.

[Rosenberg]

You make the deal with Kansas City, like, well, what you think?

[Don Hahn]

What do they know that I don't know? Yeah.

[Alan]

All of a sudden, if it's.

[Rosenberg]

If it's.

[Alan]

If it's Kansas City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, San Francisco, you go, I don't know if we did this.

[Don Hahn]

Girl breaks up with a guy.

[Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Don Hahn]

Or the girl breaks up with a guy and the guy ends up dating a hot girl. And the girl who Broke up with him and goes, hang on a second.

[Alan]

Yeah, wait, wait a second. He didn't seem that great.

[Don Hahn]

Is that what you're telling me?

[Rosenberg]

You bring him back here. I need to reevaluate now.

[Alan]

Now I will remind you, the last backup in Kansas City was Carson Wentz,

[Don Hahn]

who you know will be a Jet,

[Alan]

who probably will be a Jet.

[Rosenberg]

And perfect didn't trade for him. Right?

[Don Hahn]

They just, they just signed him.

[Alan]

No, I'm just pointing out that it doesn't necessarily mean as much as you think. No, but I would just.

[Rosenberg]

It's still from a fan's perspective, it would hit different if he had been picked up.

[Alan]

Ever since what's his face retired, though, who was the longer time backup?

[Don Hahn]

Henny.

[Alan]

Since Chad Henney left, they've kind of just swapped in different ones. They're not, they don't really. Doesn't seem to mean as much, but it does make you go, andy Reid had. Andy Reid had some interest in this guy, huh? Okay.

[Don Hahn]

You looked at his completion percentage.

[Alan]

I know.

[Don Hahn]

By the way, they also got Kenneth Walker the third. That's like, that's like Saquon Barkley going to the Eagles. Like, they're gonna run, run, run, run, run, run, run.

[Alan]

That's. It's gonna be interesting.

[Don Hahn]

You know what Fields will do if he has to play run, run, run. He's gonna run too.

[Alan]

All right, well, free agent wide receiver Darnell Mooney is signing with the New York Giants.

[Don Hahn]

That's not nothing.

[Alan]

That's good to a one year deal worth up to $10 million. According to Jeremy Fowler. He's 28 years old. He'll now join the receiver court with Neighbors and Slayton.

[Don Hahn]

And that's it.

[Alan]

And. And that's it. And that's it. Oh, no, that's definitely it already.

[Rosenberg]

Oh, yeah. Don't start training.

[Don Hahn]

Don't go any lower than that.

[Alan]

I, I honestly, I got to tell

[Rosenberg]

you guys, that's why this is important.

[Don Hahn]

Calvin Austin. That's right.

[Alan]

Can I, can I tell you guys, though, Darnell Mooney, like, why does, why does, like watching him play, like, doing anything special, not hit my cerebral cortex? Like, did I miss any great Darnell Mooney moments? Is he just a decent.

[Rosenberg]

He's a decent hand. He's a guy to have.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, he's a guy.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan]

Here's a guy.

[Don Hahn]

He's had, he's had a thousand yard season. He's had a 9, 100 yard. What were those with Chicago and unless two years ago at Atlanta, he had 900.

[Rosenberg]

Okay.

[Don Hahn]

You know. Yeah. Well, Listen, like he doesn't suck. The truth of the matter, he's not a main guy. Look, he's not a. Not a big receiver. He's a smaller gadget guy. But, but still, this is. You need.

[Alan]

Well, for many years, dudes, for many years for the Giants. You know, someone in his position might be there too. So this is good. You get Neighbors back. I believe this to me will be

[Rosenberg]

the year

[Alan]

dart with Neighbors. This is going to be the year that you see Malik. Neighbors to me will be a top five wide receiver too.

[Don Hahn]

Don't forget.

[Alan]

And Scatter Boo returning will help things out. I think Neighbors is.

[Don Hahn]

This could be a fun offense.

[Alan]

Disgusting.

[Don Hahn]

This could be a fun offense.

[Alan]

Oh, super, super. I mean, we're going to have to find out, Don, as we talked about how good the quarterback is, like when he's playing every week and everyone's going for it but I.

[Don Hahn]

And we all start yelling him to slide, you know, it's coming again.

[Rosenberg]

But health.

[Alan]

You got a healthy neighbors.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Alan]

And Scatter Boo is healthy and they're able to do that little thing.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, it could be interesting. And the offensive line holds up. That's always, of course, important.

[Alan]

Now let's see. Darius Slay announced his retirement after 13 seasons. He played 13 years. 13 years.

[Don Hahn]

Feels like he's been in the league forever.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah, but it's still. I don't know, you see the number just where's the time go?

[Alan]

Yeah, time flies when you say that. When you're a good player on a random team that I hate this team. Well, you know, a team that I hate.

[Don Hahn]

Nothing random.

[Alan]

This game put me in a position to take care of my family and loved ones. And I'm forever grateful. It's hard to say goodbye, but God has a new chapter for me and I'm ready to turn the page and start my new journey. Well, listen, unless you're going to start some company that's to save the world, I don't want to hear about it. Okay. Because the standard's been set.

[Don Hahn]

Right?

[Alan]

The standard's been set.

[Don Hahn]

You.

[Alan]

If you're announcing your retirement now from the NFL.

[Don Hahn]

Lithium ion batteries fighting. Yeah.

[Alan]

Lithium ion battery fires or I don't want to hear anything from you at all.

[Don Hahn]

If I told you six time Pro Bowler. See, again, it doesn't feel the same anymore, does it? When I say Pro Bowler. I used to be a six time Pro Bowler. That sounds significant. But now that the way we look at the Pro bowl, we're like, yeah, so what?

[Rosenberg]

Yeah, but when you get to six Six. Some of them got to be legit. When you get one Pro bowl, it might have been because seven people got the flu.

[Alan]

It used to mean so much. I remember I used to like love my Pro bowl cards. I get like my Redskin player Pro bowl football cards. Like nice little celebration.

[Don Hahn]

But not with with Philly his Lions days.

[Alan]

Oh, he was all pro with the Lions.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Alan]

Well, guess what? He got a nice, got some super bowl hardware with the Eagles. So it worked out pretty nice.

[Don Hahn]

He did.

[Alan]

Speaking of the Eagles, Dallas Goddard and the Eagles a one year $7 million contract.

[Don Hahn]

He's got to love a guy named Dallas playing for the Eagles.

[Alan]

I never thought about it that way.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Alan]

And what about the fact that his name is definitely Go Dirt?

[Don Hahn]

You think it's Go Dare?

[Alan]

I mean his name is God.

[Don Hahn]

You think like his origin family pronounced it that way. Just can't be just like etn, Right. Remember our whole now it's hn.

[Alan]

Remember our whole facade and the ETN story? Yes, I feel the same way about Goddard Godare.

[Don Hahn]

Yes. So you're just going to call him good there from here on out. The Eagles, you know it's coming.

[Alan]

You know, I just also annoying that the Eagles even stumbled into him. Like it just seems like they always tight end always pops up.

[Don Hahn]

Well, you know, after a while you're not stumbling into good players. You're just a really good gm.

[Rosenberg]

You just get good gm. Last I checked, you don't have to tank for a good gm.

[Don Hahn]

No. Oh, you do not see what you did there.

[Alan]

Safety Nick Scott, who had a career high 111 tackles last season back to the Carolina Panthers on a one year deal. Great Scott, 30 years old and started all 17 games and had an interception of Matthew Stafford that led to Carolina's upset win in Week 13. A free agent QB Trey Lance agrees to a deal to go back to the Chargers.

[Don Hahn]

See, this is something.

[Alan]

One deal, $6.75 million.

[Don Hahn]

Another guy that was taken way too high in the draft that everybody's like, oh no, no, you got to take this guy. Right. You got to take this guy. This is what we do in the draft. Listen to this, by the way.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah. This you're going to blow your way.

[Alan]

All right. I'm listening.

[Don Hahn]

First round quarterback since 2019. There's several of them that are on like not just their second team, but beyond. So the Justin Fields we just talked about, kc, that's his third team, Kansas City. Zach Wilson we know is on his third. I'm sorry, no. Yeah. Justin Fields I'm Sorry, that's his fourth. Fourth team. Yeah. Zach Wilson's his third team. Trey Lance, the Chargers, back to the Chargers, still his third team. These are all top five picks we're talking about here. Kyler Murray's on his second team now. Tua's now on his second team. Mack Jones, who was more of in the teens, I think like 15, he's on his third team. But a first round Danny Dimes, he's on his third team.

[Rosenberg]

Yep.

[Don Hahn]

Right. And even, even Pickett, he's on five teams. He was a first round pick. Now again, another one that's elate, but still.

[Rosenberg]

And also tiny hands.

[Don Hahn]

All right, we forgot about that. But, but when people say that the NFL has a quarterback development problem. Oh yeah, I push back. We have a quarterback hype problem before the draft and we start pushing these guys.

[Alan]

What a quarterback desperation problem.

[Don Hahn]

Lance is a guy that came out of nowhere. He was playing like that with South Dakota State. You know, it was like sort of a Josh Allen comparison of the level he played. And they drafted him for potential.

[Alan]

And when I insist, I insist people

[Don Hahn]

thought this guy was going to be the second coming. And what Kyle Shanahan was going to do with him and all this stuff.

[Alan]

And I feel like Trey Lance. I feel like Trey Lance more than any of those other guys though, is one that you don't actually know if he could be good. I feel like we've never seen him.

[Don Hahn]

No, but.

[Alan]

Which is because he was Shanahan and we got hurt. Right.

[Don Hahn]

And that's when Brock Purdy became Brock Purdy. He got hurt. That's what I'm saying. Moving on from.

[Alan]

He never got a full look for. I know, I remember this. And then I go, all of a sudden you're. You're going to be. Fall this much in love with Brock Purdy that you're done with the guy.

[Don Hahn]

Done.

[Alan]

But it is scary that the person who decided that was the guy who can make anybody a good quarterback.

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Rosenberg]

But I think both are right. We've got a development problem. We got a height problem.

[Alan]

A third. And don't forget the thirst, because everyone believes like they're doing right now, like Rick and Dave are doing, if we, if we're bad enough, we'll get the quarterback and that'll save everything.

[Don Hahn]

But that's the problem with the draft. It sells this idea that you must take the quarterback. When you realize that no, you don't, because you'll take him too high, he won't pan out. And because you took him so high, your standard for him of what he needs to be is higher than it should be.

[Rosenberg]

Your board. I don't care what the sport is. Doesn't matter. Basketball, hockey, baseball, football. Trust your board. If the quarterback is not there, you don't take him.

[Don Hahn]

Right?

[Rosenberg]

You take him. If he's on your board. Not, oh, I need a quarterback. I think Mendoza's garbage, but I'm going to take him because I need a quarterback. No, honor your board. Take the players. Where you pay these scouts. You're a general manager and you know the players. You know the game. It's your job on the line. Trust your board.

[Don Hahn]

And don't you think Don, too. When you. If you took a quarterback, if Trey Lance was taken in the second round, don't you give him more time? Don't you say, well, we don't start him right away.

[Rosenberg]

Right?

[Alan]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

Three years and just see what he becomes.

[Alan]

And if not, maybe he'll be a backup. We just want him to get it, learn our system.

[Don Hahn]

But if you take him, number three, expectation, he should be starting right away. And if he's not starting right away, that means he's not good enough, which means he's a bust. It's amazing. If he was the third pick in the second round, you have a much different feeling than if he. It was the third pick in the first round and you probably buy him more time. Is it his fault? Is it his fault that all of a sudden the standard changes because you took him at three? Because something told you I got to take him, now I got to trade up to get him. He's that good. That's on you, not on the player.

[Rosenberg]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

But now he's on his fourth team.

[Alan]

That'll do it for the NFL.

[Don Hahn]

This is a good bitch. That was a very.

[Rosenberg]

Sorry, that's. That's an odd way to say it. What did I do? I don't. Yeah, I don't think we'll hear that again.

[Don Hahn]

Did I really?

[Alan]

Well, you could hear it again. It's not that it sounded like a son of a binge.

[Rosenberg]

I don't know.

[Don Hahn]

I never said son.

[Rosenberg]

No, I know, but the word with a female dog. But that's all right, man.

[Don Hahn]

It's a good binge. I thought I said no.

[Alan]

It was giving Jesse Pinkman on Breaking Bad. You know what I mean? Yeah, the B word.

[Rosenberg]

Well, to. I don't know how.

[Don Hahn]

At least it wasn't in Southern accent.

[Rosenberg]

You know what?

[Don Hahn]

I'm getting better. This was a good bench. At least I'm. I'm breaking that.

[Rosenberg]

Oh, believe me.

[Alan]

You're going to hear some of that coming up at 6:00'.

[Don Hahn]

Clock.

[Rosenberg]

All right, so we just had the NFL bench avoiding your unfinished home projects because you're not sure where to start. Thumbtack knows homes, so you don't have to don't know the difference between matte paint, finish and satin or what that clunking sound from your dryer is. With Thumbtack, you don't have to be a home pro, you just have to hire one. You can hire top rated pros, see price estimates and read reviews all on the Thumbtack app. Download today. As you know, managing maintenance, repair and operations is never easy. But for the ones who always rise to the challenge, Grainger has your back. From professional grade products you can count on to fast, dependable delivery, they're there to help you keep things running smoothly. Plus, their technical product specialists are here to help answer your toughest questions. And because Grainger knows safety is always a priority, they're committed to being your partner in protecting both your people and your facilities. Call 1-800-GRAINGER Click grainger.com or just stop by. Get in the game with the college branded Venmo Debit Card. Rep your team with every tap and earn up to 5% cash back with Venmo Stash, a new rewards program from Venmo. No monthly fee, no minimum balance, just school pride and spending power. Get in the game and sign up for the Venmo debit [e-mail] collegecard the Venmo MasterCard is issued by the Bancorp Bank N.A. select schools available. Venmo Stash terms and exclusions apply at venmo.me stash terms max $100 cash back per month.

[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn 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.

[Rosenberg]

Time now for the tournament update brought to you by Schweppes. The bracket is set and St. John's is a five seed in the east region, taking on 12 seeded Northern Iowa on Friday at 7:10. Also in the East, 16 seed Liu looks to upset Fins up. Arizona in the West. I think they're a 31 point dog

[Don Hahn]

after we knock off Arizona. Villanova's next fins up.

[Rosenberg]

Donnie all right, fins up. There are 31 point dog. Looks like Alan's gonna go for the COVID That'll be the west region. That'll be Friday 135, so we'll be on the air for that and then the 2 seed Yukon will face 15 seed Furman at 10pm on Friday. And that is the tournament update presented by Schweppes. Schweppes delivers above the rim. Refreshment. Feel the madness and refresh your game with a Schwepped seltzer or Schweppes ginger ale.

[Don Hahn]

Can you tell me how St. John's the 5C well. And UConn's a 2C when they just crushed St. John's just not only they smoked him twice this year. What are we doing now? I like it for St. John's you know why? Bless you.

[Alan]

God bless.

[Don Hahn]

God bless. Because I think if you're Rick Pitino, this is exactly what you want.

[Rosenberg]

You're big on that disrespect.

[Don Hahn]

But he loves that they don't believe in us. They're disrespecting the Big east champion. Oh no. Two time champion to you and me. We're back to back in the tournament and we best we do is a five seed in a loaded east regional. You see the teams in this duke, Michigan State, UConn, Kansas and St. John's the fifth team. That's a gamut, man.

[Rosenberg]

But why the disrespect now? I know that they were a 5

[Don Hahn]

but I'll use it as fuel though. If I was Rick Patino, they were

[Rosenberg]

a number five going into the season and they dropped. Then they fought back and I know that they beat UConn in a, you know, pretty much a home game. Right. Although does well at the guard.

[Don Hahn]

Are you kidding me? It's 50. 50.

[Rosenberg]

But you are playing in the place where you're used to building.

[Don Hahn]

But you're Yukon very comfortable in that building.

[Rosenberg]

I. I know people say they disrespect the Big east and maybe they don't like Rick Patino. I'm sure that's all on the table.

[Don Hahn]

The Big east champion got a fifth seed done.

[Rosenberg]

But they just don't lost in the championship.

[Don Hahn]

Got a higher seat.

[Rosenberg]

They don't believe in St. John's yeah,

[Don Hahn]

that's what I mean.

[Rosenberg]

What is St. John's done? Listen, they have been amazing. Two straight Big east titles. Rick Pitino has done an amazing job. I'm not going to go as far as Brandon Tierney says he's the greatest college basketball coach of all time.

[Don Hahn]

All time.

[Alan]

Correct.

[Rosenberg]

That was a little. But he's in. No, certainly in the conversation.

[Alan]

You know, war three.

[Don Hahn]

Well, John Wooden, Mike just have. Yeah.

[Rosenberg]

Three.

[Alan]

Yeah. You know what?

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, I mean three.

[Alan]

Three is your best three.

[Rosenberg]

Is your best three threes, I think.

[Alan]

And even then you're skipping Dean Smith, John Thompson and John Thompson. And then Roy. Roy doesn't get a sniff. And I mean he's.

[Rosenberg]

It's, it's. It's a bold statement. But Brandon's bold, let's be honest. And I did do his show. It was. It was fun.

[Alan]

So Alan, you have to now just be the last one to do it. So everyone but me gets invited.

[Don Hahn]

No, I don't think I'm on the list.

[Alan]

You don't think so? No, it was Michael and Don only.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, yeah.

[Alan]

Oh, he got. Is he going to do well?

[Rosenberg]

I think it was kind of bold to have us back to back like

[Don Hahn]

that and belly to belly.

[Alan]

You know what it is? It is interesting.

[Rosenberg]

And he's getting Stephen a. I think coming up.

[Alan]

See what I mean?

[Rosenberg]

So you'll get there.

[Alan]

So he skipped.

[Don Hahn]

So he skipped.

[Alan]

Right.

[Rosenberg]

I don't think he's going in some sort of an order. Yeah, I'll knock out the afternoon drive show on espn.

[Don Hahn]

What will get me news, what will get me clicks, what will get me ratings? This is what he wants. He's in that business. He's in the business of himself right now. And I don't begrudge him for it.

[Alan]

Right. He decided who the winner's.

[Don Hahn]

Don't. You don't have to placate me and tossle my hair and say you're next.

[Alan]

Oh, good job, little Alan.

[Rosenberg]

Honestly, maybe you're the only.

[Don Hahn]

You might get one too one day, kid. Yeah, I don't know if you make the team. Alan.

[Alan]

Alan's all set is what he's saying.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, I'm good now.

[Alan]

He's all set.

[Don Hahn]

I don't need it. I have enough going on.

[Alan]

He's got enough going on. Well, you know what?

[Don Hahn]

I'm busy.

[Alan]

Skipped right past us. Didn't need us.

[Don Hahn]

He's not totally doing well.

[Alan]

It's too late.

[Rosenberg]

I did that first.

[Alan]

Listen, I'm books.

[Rosenberg]

Like they know you're busy. You guys are both very busy.

[Don Hahn]

I gotta be honest, I wasn't keeping score. Done. But clearly you are.

[Alan]

He was. And my Frank the Tank invite never came. Frank didn't want to walk with me. I was good enough to walk with Frank the Tank.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, he's trying to lose weight, not gain it. First thing you do, three steps in, like. Can we just take.

[Alan]

Let's just pull over something. Let's be honest. Be honest.

[Rosenberg]

I gotta.

[Alan]

You know, I haven't eaten before the show.

[Don Hahn]

Do you really need that?

[Alan]

You Gotta go to Trader Joe's. I gotta get my nuts.

[Don Hahn]

You would. You would. You would. You would destroy everything that he.

[Alan]

Oh, I don't think I'd have anything.

[Don Hahn]

20 minutes.

[Alan]

I don't know what I'd have to talk about with. What did Frank the Tank talk about you? Because I didn't even consider watching it.

[Rosenberg]

Why?

[Don Hahn]

Damn.

[Alan]

Because I talked. Not because. I know. But I've watched you. Other things. Like the bt. The BT is one thing. Reading the articles about you, another thing.

[Don Hahn]

Respectfully walking with Frank, not feeling it.

[Rosenberg]

We talk about the Devils.

[Alan]

Thank you. Yeah.

[Rosenberg]

This is pre job.

[Alan]

Pre. Oh, just because he's a huge fan, right?

[Rosenberg]

He's a big Devil fan. We talked about the Giants. We just talked about sports radio in general. It was fun. It was a good time. Good talk. Yeah. You enjoyed yours, right?

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, it was nice. But I got him under £300. That was the way in after my walk. He was 299, so congratulations.

[Rosenberg]

And he's. And he's still going because that walk was.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. That before and after thing right now that you see when he first started versus now

[Rosenberg]

Dan Riley's going where I was going to go on X. He says, how exactly is St. John's being disrespected? He's been doing the same exact thing he did at Iona in this time. This time they're in. The Big east isn't as big as he used to be. On top of that, all people keep doing is waxing poetic about them. Well, it's waxing poetic because he put them back on the map. You did win the Big east for a second consecutive year. You were a top five team going into the season. Five seems a little low. I agree. Last year when they were great, I didn't think they deserved a one. And I knew even if they finished in the top four at the end of the season that they weren't going to get a top seed. I get it. It's not a blue blood. It's not a big time conference like it used to be, but still it's pretty impressive what they've done. But like you said, they'll work it

[Don Hahn]

to their advantage again. I think what Dan's missing is, of course what I'm saying is that this is exactly what you want and Tino will use this at any way he can. Because as a coach is what you want. You want that, that edge, that some way to say this is what they think of us. Because look, they're showing last year in the tournament was not great.

[Rosenberg]

Well, I think that's ultimately why they're not a higher seed, is because they're not sure it's going to translate.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. Purdue. Purdue is a two seed.

[Rosenberg]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

They were a lower ranked in the AP poll than St. John's but they won the Big Ten, so they get a two seed out of it. It's the fact that UConn got the two sheet and they didn't win that. They didn't win the.

[Alan]

You know, when we go. We get on the air on Friday. Friday, 3 o', clock, I'll be in Orlando. O town to you and me.

[Don Hahn]

Okay.

[Alan]

But when we get on the air, we will be watching Long Island University. It's Liu to you and me.

[Don Hahn]

Yes, we will.

[Alan]

135 tip. So as we get on the air, like the second half, tipping at three o'. Clock.

[Don Hahn]

Gonna keep that. It's 31 and a half.

[Rosenberg]

That's it.

[Don Hahn]

I'm fine.

[Alan]

I'm pounding it.

[Don Hahn]

I guess you're doing that when you're in Calandra's on Wednesday. We can work on that. We could discuss. But no.

[Alan]

What do you mean?

[Don Hahn]

Like, you can't. College games for the local. For teams in the state.

[Alan]

Oh, but I'll be in Florida. Member?

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, you could do it. No, I'm saying, like, we could do it on Wednesday. Peter could do it on Friday.

[Alan]

Sure. But you can't do it.

[Don Hahn]

You want to get your Florida bets in, Peter, I suggest doing it before Friday.

[Alan]

That's a great point.

[Don Hahn]

Can I ask. Can I ask the judge?

[Alan]

I'm here to answer.

[Don Hahn]

Is it. Is it. Is it celebratory? If we lose by less than 31 and a half.

[Rosenberg]

He covered something.

[Don Hahn]

No, covering is not like no banner.

[Alan]

Can't.

[Don Hahn]

No, I can't pump my fist.

[Alan]

If you put a lot of money on it, you could do every one.

[Don Hahn]

Pretty sure you'd still get a banner.

[Alan]

But in terms of the Rod Strick of it all and the rooting for your school, for your guys at LA,

[Don Hahn]

they thought we'd lose by 31. 30.

[Alan]

No, no, that. That's called. To me, the only celebration you have this Don, this is how I view has to be a situation where if you don't win, the only celebration is you really took it to, like the last. They didn't put you away till the last five minutes.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan]

To me, you can celebrate then.

[Don Hahn]

That feels like you battle victory.

[Alan]

You battled not only the first half, but in the second half. You kept it close for half of that half.

[Don Hahn]

Look, I'm new to this. This Is a new thing you do Hang banish for NCAA Tournament appearance. Well, the appearance is already there.

[Rosenberg]

But not covering a 31 point spread.

[Don Hahn]

No, I say that I'm new to this. I don't know how this works.

[Rosenberg]

Here's how I judge. Peter, go ahead. If we were all together, Liu hits a buzzer beater to go from down 32 to lose by 30. And I send video to Strickland of Allen celebrating he'd never come on the show again.

[Alan]

And there was video of Alan celebrating,

[Rosenberg]

pumping his fist and excited that they covered the number.

[Alan]

But what if he had a ton of money?

[Rosenberg]

No. No money.

[Don Hahn]

No, he can't. I can't let him know that I bet on his team to cover.

[Rosenberg]

No, but I'm just saying, if he looked it, he would be sickened by the fact that I was bringing the spread. Oh, Strickland, would that? Yes. Okay.

[Alan]

I think that you would be. No, no, you're right.

[Don Hahn]

Now, what if. What if they lose and it's under 20?

[Rosenberg]

I need to see what it looks like.

[Don Hahn]

All right. So it's all about what it looks like. See, again, I'm new to this.

[Rosenberg]

No, but I think Peter described it well. You're in the game, and then in the last five minutes, they pull away. They end up winning by 10 or 12.

[Don Hahn]

Money. I'll sell plus 5,000 money lines.

[Alan]

I'm doing it. I'm minute. I'm throwing some money now, did you

[Don Hahn]

know Hofstra's got a better shot? Because apparently Alabama's their second. They got issues. Second high score. Just got in some trouble.

[Rosenberg]

Hello.

[Alan]

Anything speeding, boys, we've lived through. There was a time, kids, when the idea of a 16 beating a 1 was absolutely impossible.

[Rosenberg]

Now it's like that time has two years now. Did you know kind of odd that there's never been a five seed to win it all?

[Alan]

There's never been a five.

[Rosenberg]

And a matter of fact, there's only been three that have gotten to the Final Fours. Let's see, it's everyone. Deep runs. San Diego State in 23, Butler in 2010, Indiana 2002, Florida 2000. Because you know why it's the 12 5?

[Alan]

You know what happened to Indiana when they got through 2002?

[Don Hahn]

We don't like the 12 5.

[Alan]

We handled them, won ourselves a title.

[Rosenberg]

The 12 seed has pulled off 57 upsets since 1985 against the 5.

[Alan]

The 125 isn't nothing. It's crazy. The 12 5, not an upset. It doesn't make sense. That's the thing that's you find irritating. This is why I always thought the best way and I know almost no brackets do this. I always thought that the best way to score the first round in a bracket should be the seeding difference.

[Rosenberg]

Right where you get points for you

[Alan]

should get seven points if a 12 beats a five.

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Alan]

One point if a nine beats an eight. And if you somehow get a 16 beating a one, you get 15 points. You got to risk something to get it. They shouldn't all be equal. Why are they all equal? So there's no ri I used to like love picking up sets when I was a kid. I once picked East Tennessee State over Arizona and I was so excited. 13 over a four. Oh my God. I was like, you know, 11. I couldn't believe it.

[Don Hahn]

You get nothing.

[Alan]

We actually got one point.

[Rosenberg]

We did it on the air Bracket challenge back in the day and Joey Salvia picked Manhattan to win it all.

[Alan]

A man who knows the game.

[Rosenberg]

That was

[Don Hahn]

thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Alan]

I don't want to know how the

[Don 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. Shot clocks, Big shots, upsets, aces TGL playoffs are here. First, Atlanta Drive starts their repeat run against Los Angeles Golf Club. Then Rory's Boston Common Golf and Tigers Jupiter Links face off in their playoff debuts. Who will advance? Keep up its playoffs? Tune in Tuesday, March 17th at 6:30pm and 9:00pm only on ESPN and the ESPN applied.