Hour 2: Who Do You Root For?

Summary

Podcast Summary: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg - Hour 2: Who Do You Root For?

Episode Information:

• Title: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg
• Host/Authors: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
• Episode: Hour 2: Who Do You Root For?
• Release Date: January 24, 2025
• Description: Featuring New York and New Jersey sports legends Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg, this episode delves into team loyalties, rivalries, and the essence of being a fan in the bustling sports landscape of New York.

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Introduction to Team Loyalties and Rivalries

The episode kicks off with a lively discussion about team preferences and the intense rivalries that define sports fandom in New York and beyond. Don, Alan, and Peter share their personal biases and the reasons behind supporting or opposing certain teams.

Key Topics:

• Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Teams: Don expresses his disdain for the Philadelphia Eagles, primarily due to their fan base rather than the team itself.

  • Don (04:20): “I'm going to root against Philly because they're pretty… the Philly fans, the Philadelphia fans, some of them can be pretty crazy.”

• Cowboys’ Fanbase: Don elaborates on his dislike for the Cowboys, again focusing on the obnoxious nature of the fanbase rather than the players from earlier decades.

  • Don (05:09): “I hate it because the fans. The obnoxious fans that all of a sudden came out of the woodwork because of the cheerleaders and they won all the time.”

Greatness in Sports: Individual vs. Team Achievements

The hosts delve into what defines greatness in sports, comparing legendary figures across different sports and the impact of individual achievements versus team success.

Notable Discussions:

• Patrick Mahomes vs. Josh Allen: Alan highlights Mahomes' rising status and MVP potential, likening him to all-time greats like Tom Brady and Peyton Manning.

  • Alan (02:01): “Alan Mahomes is up there, right? I don't think it's Brady, Manning close.”

• Basketball Equivalents: Peter draws parallels between football quarterbacks and basketball stars, discussing rivalries like LeBron James vs. Stephen Curry.

  • Peter (02:23): “What would LeBron's. I mean, who was… I guess Curry. Curry. LeBron.”

• Historical Comparisons in Hockey: The conversation touches on Alexander Ovechkin finally winning the Stanley Cup in 2018 after numerous attempts, comparing it to basketball legends overcoming rivals.

  • Don (03:02): “Ovechkin couldn't beat Crosby and then he did.”

Quotes:

• Peter (03:22): “If he wins the MVP this year, I mean, it certainly does start to climb into that spectrum.”
• Alan (03:39): “I think it's... to a lot of people if he wins a younger generation. This is it. Alan and Mahomes.”

Fan Fatigue and Overexposure of Dominant Teams

A significant portion of the episode addresses the concept of fan fatigue, particularly regarding teams that dominate the landscape year after year, leading to diminished excitement and engagement.

Key Points:

• Chiefs Fatigue: Don expresses his exhaustion with the Kansas City Chiefs’ repeated successes, longing for a more diverse set of winners.

  • Don (10:34): “I just can't. I've got Chiefs fatigue. That's all. Like, even when the Patriots are winning all the time.”

• Impact on Rivalries: Peter and Don discuss how dominant teams can overshadow other competitors, making the league less exciting.

  • Peter (19:35): “They couldn’t get it done in a big spot. You know, they just weren’t winners.”

• Comparisons to Other Sports: The hosts compare this phenomenon to other sports, such as hockey and basketball, where dominant teams eventually face fatigue from fans.

  • Alan (20:36): “Game seven. I’m just sick of them. It's time for somebody else to win.”

Quotes:

• Don (08:21): “I'm tired and tired and tired of the Chiefs. And it's because I dared of seeing the same team win over and over and over again.”

Evaluating Player Accomplishments vs. Team Success

The conversation shifts to evaluating players based on their individual accomplishments rather than merely team success, highlighting the complexities of measuring a player's impact.

Key Discussions:

• Josh Allen's Career: Ray, a guest caller, critiques Josh Allen’s hype compared to other quarterbacks like Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson, emphasizing the lack of individual accolades.

  • Ray (14:13): “Josh Allen doesn't have a Heisman, Rookie of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year, first team All-Pro, Super Bowl appearance.”

• Lamar Jackson's Potential: The hosts discuss Lamar Jackson’s career trajectory, suggesting that he is destined to achieve significant milestones similar to Peyton Manning.

  • Don (15:38): “Lamar is going to have his day. Did you see that stat that his first seven years are almost identical to Peyton's?”

Quotes:

• Ray (14:32): “Efficiency deserves it. Yeah. So, you know, nothing compared to Allen. He’s got himself in MVP conversations every year. That's why I think he's really excellent.”
• Alan (16:02): “But this could be the year.”

The Significance of Championships and Playoff Performances

The hosts explore the importance placed on championships in American sports, debating whether reaching the finals repeatedly without securing a title diminishes a team's legacy.

Key Points:

• Super Bowl Success: Peter argues that consistently reaching the Super Bowl, even without winning, should be seen as a testament to a team's excellence.

  • Peter (16:40): “It's like, yeah, but you didn't win it, so none of that matters.”

• Comparisons to Other Sports Championships: Don and Alan debate the disparity between regular-season success and playoff outcomes, highlighting iconic moments where teams fell short despite strong performances.

  • Don (17:53): “That's a dynasty in itself.”

• The Pressure of Final Games: The hosts reflect on how the high-stakes nature of final games can sometimes overshadow the achievements leading up to them.

  • Alan (19:56): “You get all the way there, which takes everything you've got in your body to get that far. And then you get to that game and it's like, yeah, but you can't win the big one.”

Quotes:

• Alan (17:07): “It's not like they were blown out. They were embarrassed. Like they lost on a miraculous play.”
• Don (19:35): “They couldn't get it done in a big spot. You know, they just weren’t winners.”

Final Thoughts: The Essence of Being a True Fan

Wrapping up the discussions, the hosts emphasize the essence of true fandom—appreciating both the triumphs and the trials of supporting a team, understanding that sports are as much about passion as they are about outcomes.

Key Insights:

• Appreciation of Effort: Despite frustrations with dominant teams or recurring losses, the hosts acknowledge the dedication and effort of teams and players.
• Balancing Critique with Support: While expressing fatigue or criticism, there's an underlying support and respect for the sport and its athletes.

Quotes:

• Peter (22:11): “But again, when you need, you need a power play, you find a guy that can and you find him for cheap.”
• Don (21:53): “He deserved. I have no problem with him being back in the league.”

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Conclusion: In "Who Do You Root For?", Don, Hahn, and Rosenberg engage in a candid and spirited exploration of sports fandom, rivalries, and the nuanced definitions of greatness. Through personal anecdotes, critical analysis, and passionate debates, the trio offers listeners a comprehensive look into what it truly means to support a team amidst the ever-evolving landscape of New York sports.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[A]

That sounds like heaven to me.

[B]

Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 880 ESPN, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers moving into the 4 o'clock hour. Don Hanton Rosenberg, 880 ESPN and the ESPN New York app, which you must have by now. And if you don't, what are you doing? 800 now we're 93776. Of course, the number will be part of the conversation. Speaking of Peter Rosenberg, he will be joining us today on the show, taking a little break from baby daddy time. And he'll be joining us for ENN in this hour. So look forward to having Peter on with us.

[A]

So Anthony, is he doing ENN or just making an appearance in enn? No, I think this is a full Peter Letty Inn.

[B]

Oh, Rosenberg vehicle.

[A]

Oh, yeah.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Wanted to get that straight.

[B]

Yeah. Okay, we do have it straight. So we have championship Sunday. Great matchups all around. Again, Commanders, Eagles, Eagles favored by six so far. Last I saw an ESPN bet, that's the 3:00 game on Fox and then the AFC championship game. Once again, the headliners, Josh Allen versus Patrick Mahomes. Can Josh Allen finally slay the Dragon? Bills and the Chiefs at Kansas City. That's just a one and a half spread in favor of Kansas City. 6:30pm on CBS. I guess we get Romo in that one. Right? So we get a little Brady and some Romo.

[A]

Now I, Alan Mahomes is, is up there, right? I don't think it's Brady Manning close.

[B]

I mean it's getting there.

[A]

Is it?

[B]

If Alan wins the MVP this year, I mean it certainly does start to climb into that spectrum.

[A]

Yeah, I think so. And then the other one that I was thinking of is Crosby Ovechkin.

[B]

I like it.

[A]

And eventually Ovechkin got the better of CROSBY and finally 2018, they won the cup. So you can do it. What's the basketball equivalent?

[B]

Oh, well, it was, I mean, Bird magic is the standard, right. So I guess Kobe LeBron that we didn't, we never got Kobe LeBron. We were robbed of it in 2009. So what would LeBron's. I mean, who was. I guess Curry. Curry. LeBron. But because Curry did get the better of him. And then LeBron had that. The epic comeback series at, you know, the 73 win team that failed to win the championship. So I guess they have their rivalry. They're going to play each other this weekend.

[A]

But it's not just rivalry, Allen. It's. It's just one. One greatness. Well, it.

[B]

But.

[A]

But also where one hasn't been able to get over the hump until they do.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Ovechkin couldn't beat Crosby and then he did.

[B]

Yeah, LeBron didn't have a person, you know, like LeBron. Like, look, for LeBron, it was always a team. It was the Celtics. He couldn't get by them. He finally did. Right. Like that was kind of it. So, you know, we didn't really have it this time around and you know, Michael just beat everybody. So. But still like Bird magic is the standard.

[A]

Yeah, but. But they did go. They had a little bit more back and forth. But yeah, I'm with you. That there's the. The true greatness. And I think it's. I think it might be there and to. To a lot of people if he wins a younger generation. This is. This is it. Alan and. And Mahomes.

[B]

Yeah. Well, again. And Joe Burrow wants to have something to say about it because he'll remind everybody. I beat that dude. Like, you know, Lamar's. Lamar. You could. You can't do it. You know, Josh, you haven't done it yet. I beat him. Right. Like there's the one thing he's got. Afc. I mean it's so compelling when you think of all the quarterbacks in the AFC and the talent that there is in the AFC when it comes to.

[A]

Quarterback, they can't all win.

[B]

And. Right. They can't. But they all. But the funny thing is all he does is win. So. 800-919-3776. Adam Schefter in the 5 o'clock hour. You certainly want to stay around for that. He's got a lot of little, you know, news and nuggets to share with us as well. But let's get some calls going here. Continue to Tom and Staten island, you're up next. What's up, Tom?

[A]

How you doing? My take on the football is I worked in Philly and Atlantic City, so the Philly fans, the Philadelphia fans, that's in football, some of my son weren't so being in New York I'm going to root against Philly because they're pretty.

[B]

Some of them can be pretty crazy.

[A]

The Philly fans.

[B]

Oh, yeah.

[A]

So I'm going to. I'm going against the Eagle. Yeah. They're nuts. So I have a. I have a thing on that. So I guess the Eagles then, right?

[B]

So no matter what, it's just because it's Philly. You've had to deal with that. So Tom already knows. Like, I don't. I never want to see Philly win because they're obnoxious.

[A]

It's weird. Like, why you hate. Right? Like, I honestly. Because my hatred for the Cowboys was more spurred on by their fans. And I'm not talking about the Irvin, Emmett, Troy because they were hateable.

[B]

You mean going back to the 70s.

[A]

But. But, but go. But back to 70. Landry wasn't hateable. Stalbach wasn't hateable. Dorsett wasn't hate.

[B]

That's when they were America's team. And.

[A]

But I hated it because the fans. The obnoxious fans that all of a sudden came out of the woodwork because of the cheerleaders and they won all the time, you know, so, hey, I don't hate the Eagles because of their fans. Matter of fact, the few Eagle fans I know are dreams. My. My friend Phil, of course. Andrew Gunling Gems, Salt of the earth people. It's the team. I hate the team.

[B]

Yeah. Is it. Is it Sirianni and the team or is it just franchise in general?

[A]

Well, the franchise in general. But this goes back to. You're probably. Maybe. No, we're about the same age, but yeah.

[B]

What. Give me.

[A]

Give me some defensive back. Andre Waters. He's no longer.

[B]

I remember him. Yeah.

[A]

Filthy dirty player.

[B]

Yeah. Well, it's just. It's also just the. To me, that's. It's more about the fan base and the attitude, you know, the cliche of the booing Santa Claus, but also just how you've heard people are treated. I just think like you treat people like that, you should never win.

[A]

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[B]

Yeah, he was a mess.

[A]

He was a mess. So they. I don't mind. They're. Pat. Listen, they're whack jobs. I get it. But.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

You know, you could say the same thing about New York. And we've had our.

[B]

Oh, we're all nuts, too. Absolutely.

[A]

Jim Rice was hit by, you know, batteries, for God's sake.

[B]

So let's relax and let's also, you know. But I. Mookie Bets almost had his gloves stolen.

[A]

No, but I hate Buddy Ryan. You know, you hated. You know, I hated Reggie White.

[B]

Reggie White?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

The. The minister, the pastor. You can't hate him.

[A]

Oh, why not?

[B]

Well, you hate God, then.

[A]

It's a man of God. That's what it takes.

[B]

Griffin and Connecticut. Griffin.

[C]

Hey, guys.

[B]

How you doing?

[A]

Wow.

[C]

I agree with Don with the part of the Eagles.

[D]

I.

[C]

It's. It's. To me, it's more of the team. I don't think it's the fans, because there are some fans that are wonderful, like Aaron Boone. Don, He's a phenomenal.

[A]

Another one. Good. That's a good call. Very good.

[C]

Alan. Yeah, I know. Yesterday you talked about this over and over and over again. I'm tired. I'm with Don. I am tired and tired and tired and tired and tired of the Chiefs. And it's because I dared of seeing the t. Same team win over and over and over again. It's like Groundhog Day.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

I don't get a care. It's time for somebody else to win. It's time for somebody else to enjoy it.

[D]

Cool.

[C]

Mahomes wins again. Andy Reid wins another Super Bowl. Whoopi do. But that's what happens.

[A]

That.

[B]

That's greatness, though. But. But Griffin, you have to slay the dragon. You have to beat them. And I think it's more telling when they lose in the big game than they lose in the championship game. I think it means more if the Eagles and Jalen hurts and Saquon Barkley face the Chiefs in the super bowl, and they beat them. I think that just matters more if, now, if Josh Allen wins this game. This is a memorable game. In a memorable moment. It could be a seminal moment. I agree, But I always like to watch greatness, and that, to me, is something that I don't get tired of it. I don't remember as a kid saying, I'm sick and tired of seeing Magic Johnson in the Lakers in the NBA Finals. I never said it, but. Never said, I'm tired of seeing Larry Bird in the Celtics. They're always in the Finals. Never said it. It was compelling. Michael Jordan. I was so tired of seeing Jordan defense. No, because they were great.

[C]

Alan. I am a UConn men's fan because I'm up here in Connecticut with basketball. There are people that want us to lose this year because we won the last two years.

[B]

Yeah. The women's team people couldn't wait for the women's team to lose. No, they're great.

[A]

But, but again, I've said, thank you, Griffin. Not even really about the winning. Like, I'm just sick of the calls, and I'm sick of the commercials. I'm just sick of just. I'm just sick of them. I. I've got chief fatigue.

[B]

Here's the funny thing about the thing about Travis, right? It's Eagles and the Chiefs, and you got to see two of those two knuckleheads on every commercial.

[A]

I just can't. I just. I've got Chiefs fatigue. That's all. Like, even when the Patriots are winning all the time. I didn't Bill Belichick in a commercial going, vomoruski.

[B]

Hey, that's great. But who are the chefs? Great googly moogly.

[A]

It's like, enough. I'm just, enough, enough. You know, maybe, listen, maybe JET fans think differently about the Patriots. I get it. And, And I'm a guy that actually rooted for a team to beat the Patriots twice. I, I, I understand. I get.

[B]

Yeah, I understand.

[A]

And again, this has nothing to do with, like, a Giants Chiefs. That's no kind of rivalry. I'm, I'm just, I've got chief fatigue. You're right. I never, I never got. You got warrior fatigue eventually because you just got to be a little too much.

[B]

And I just look at it differently. Like, again, I love greatness, and if a team's great, I just love to see them perform. And then I like to see, can someone knock them off the throne? That is, to me, compelling.

[A]

But don't you feel like the Texans kind of got robbed of the opportunity a little bit by those calls. Now, again, they don't have a kick coming because of the special teams play. Yes, I. I get that. But, you know, it's almost like, God, they were 15 and two, but it just. So they didn't twice only scored 30 points and it was exactly 30. They just caught a bunch. I just. You're talking about this great and they are great, but I do think it's been a tad bit exaggerated if they. If they went a third straight. Yeah, of course. It's one of the great, if not the greatest, because nobody's ever won.

[B]

You got to witness history. Think about how hard it is in the cap era to do this.

[A]

They're not as good as the Patriots then.

[B]

You're telling me that the league itself isn't as good as it used to be.

[A]

Oh, that's a fact. That is a fact. When you've got a 14.3team like the Minnesota Vikings go out the way they went out.

[B]

Oh, we've had.

[A]

Come on before.

[B]

We've had that, right? Crown them. You want to crown them? Crown them. Like we've had that before.

[A]

God. God rest his soul. Tennis green was one of the best.

[B]

Like you. You being a classic ranter must have loved that.

[A]

You know the other thing too, but the problem with it is I don't even know what he was talking about. You want to crown him crowd. I don't know what he's talking about.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And also a God love him too, the Herman Edwards. You play to win the game.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

If you really get made no sense, like the. The basis of his argument. What is he talking about? You play to win the game.

[B]

Well, that was. That was a response to your play, you know, like the season was slipping away and making sure your players, you know, are trying to, you know, that.

[A]

Whole thing, I don't know if I'm trying to remember what it was about, but it just ended up morphing into something that just. Like they blacked out like, like, like the tank in old school. Like I do sometimes I listen back to my rants. I'm like, was that me? Did I black out? Well, but I remembered every syllable. I'll be licking the television screen, licking it like it's ice cream. Because that came from my soul. That came like that from the Gerds.

[B]

I love it. Absolutely love it. Ray is in East Orange. What's up? Right.

[D]

Hey, what's going on, fellas? Big jets fan here. Just wanna talk about how if the Bills win I don't want them to win. As a Jets fan, I take pride in having them going to four Super Bowls and losing every one of them. I'm not rooting for them as much as I don't want to see Kansas City winning a three peat. At least it's history, you know. So that's how I look for the Bills at all.

[B]

Nope.

[D]

Josh Allen, I want to know what's the hype behind it. This dude compared to Burrow, Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes, they all have trophies on their mantle. Josh Allen doesn't have a Heisman Rookie of the Year, offensive Player of the Year, first team all Pro, super bowl appearance.

[A]

Oh, wow.

[D]

Super bowl mvp.

[B]

Maybe this is the year. What if this is the year though, right?

[D]

I would not say. I would not say nothing about his talent. Trust me, he's top four. But I just don't get the hype. People hang they had on a lose, great losing effort against Kansas City.

[A]

I mean, honestly, Stefon Diggs was probably the best weapon he's had during this run. You made the case they got better when they lost.

[B]

Yeah, yeah.

[D]

That's why I said Josh Allen is really great. I'm nothing about his talent. You know, even as a Jets fan, this guy is all world. But I think just the height compared to Jackson, Burrow and Mahomes, he's fourth. He's. Honestly, he's fourth at all four of them because all of those extra guys mvp Heismans, lead the league and something. You know what I mean? First team off. Josh Allen doesn't have nothing on his resume besides being pretty good. That's like Philip Rivers, I mean. Yeah, not yet. I believe Lamar Jackson probably don't win the mvp. Just my opinion deserves it. Yeah. So, you know, nothing compared to Allen. He got himself in MVP conversations every year. That's why I think he's a really excellent.

[A]

Lamar is going to have his day. Man. I think Lamar is going to have his day. Did you see that stat that his first seven years are almost identical to Peyton's and neither of them had won a Super bowl in their first seven years.

[B]

Wild.

[A]

So Lamar's going to have his day. He's only 27 years old. He's going to. He's going to have his day.

[D]

Even Josh Allen, I believe he's going to have his day.

[A]

Well, it's going to be. It's going to be tomorrow, it's going to be Sunday. It's going to be glorious.

[B]

Getting a little too much with the background going on there.

[A]

That's my fault.

[B]

No, no, it was. Was great. Like, whatever was happening behind him, he was a little noisy, but he made. He. He brought up an interesting point. It's. It's. Josh Allen hasn't done anything yet when it comes to, you know, accomplishments that you can list, but this could be the year. And then now he's into the conversation.

[A]

So now everybody. Everybody is going to take the one ring, then going.04 in the Super Bowl. Four straight years, right? Because you want the ring, but going to four straight Super Bowls, that, when you really look at it, probably a bigger accomplishment than just winning one Super Bowl.

[B]

Well, this goes back to the problem I have with American sports, right. Is how much we put on one game rather than the body of work. Right. Like, again, the Patriots had a perfect season, but they lost in the super bowl on a helmet catch. Right? Like, it's not like they were blown out. They were embarrassed. Like. Like they lost on a miraculous play. Right?

[A]

Right.

[B]

And yet that's considered a failed season. Again, I mentioned the warriors of 73 wins. Like, we go through this as if you did something for. For four months, five months, you know, the. The hockey season, the NBA season. That's what's talking about. Seven months of work means nothing. But these two months that we played this little tournament, this is the world. And if you don't win this little tournament, your whole season meant nothing. I don't get that. So you're right. You go to a Super bowl four years in a row, four straight AFC Championship games, and it's like, yeah, but you didn't win it, so none of that matters.

[A]

Well, it's a joke. It's a punchline.

[B]

It's like.

[A]

Wait a minute. It's not a punchline. I mean, that's a hard two, man.

[B]

That's a dynasty in itself. Yes.

[A]

And. And listen, that's why I think it's really lame and lazy when you're just like, oh, this guy's better because he's got more rings than this guy. You know, that's lazy.

[B]

The rings argument. Yeah, that's a. That's a millennial thing that started in the 2000s, the rings.

[A]

We like to dress up things that kind of aren't there sometimes, like, really? Well, that team just knows how to win. You know, they just can handle the pressure when sometimes, you know, maybe. Maybe you won because it just wasn't your day. It's kind of a fluke, especially the one and done. So like, in the best of seven series. All right, you don't really have much of a kick coming because you had seven games to prove yourself and you didn't do it. And. Okay, you know, like the whole thing with. Oh, I think the Yankees were better than the Dodgers. They just had that one bad inning. Well, you did. And you had other games too, and you had seven games and you lost in five, so.

[B]

Right.

[A]

But in one game, like you said, the helmet catch is a great catch. But listen, I'm a Giant fan. There's a. Almost a little bit of an act of God, you know, and then the Welker drop in the second super bowl.

[B]

By law, like, I mean, it's never happened.

[A]

And Bill Parcells, God love him. All right, if Norwood makes the kick, he's got one Super Bowl. You look at him, completely different than. And he's got two Super Bowls. And listen, and listen. The Giants did a great job on defense to make it a 47 yard field goal. So it wasn't a chip shot or anything, but still, you know, a little bit more to the left and it changes everything. Like, so sometimes it just wasn't your day or it was an act of God or just kind of a fluky thing that now makes you the champion and the loser is, well, you just don't know how to win. You know, you just. You're just not good enough. You can't handle the pressure. Is it that or is it just.

[B]

You know, damn crumbled when it mattered. It's such a great point. You get all the way there, which takes everything you've got in your body to get that far. And then you get to that game and it's like, yeah, but you can't win the big one. Wait a minute. I got all the way here. I got here. Somebody's got it. Like, like, this is a fight to the death. Somebody's got to die.

[A]

The best. The best one you'll appreciate this is when, when the, when, when the Canucks lost Game 7 to the Bruins, the narrative was, well, you know, yeah, the Sadie twins, you can't with. When the. You can't win with these European stars, you know, they don't play physical. Boston was more of a phys. Dude, they. Game seven. I know all of a sudden that lack of that little. Like, they were fine all the way up to game seven, then it all just fell apart.

[B]

Then it's like, yeah, but when you get to a game seven, these Swedes, they, they, they crumble. It's so true.

[A]

There's not winners. They're just not winners. Alan, the twins are Just not winning. I'm not a win.

[B]

What's funny though? Here's the funny part. Right. Right. So they can't do it. Who raised the cup over is. It was the highest the Stanley cup has ever been raised in its history.

[A]

Sedano Chara.

[B]

Yeah. Six, nine. Sorry, Is he Canadian? No. No. So like this whole notion you can't do with a European player who is the captain of the guy who won the damn team. He won the. Whatever.

[A]

They don't play defense. Allen. But you know. Meanwhile Sergei Fedorov, another sorry.

[B]

Seeing that don't play defense. The Islanders have Tony D'Angelo now, so that'll be interesting.

[A]

I've never seen a signing it would be usually normally to like. Oh my God. People got opinions on that.

[B]

Oh yeah, they do. But again, when you, when you need. You need a power play, you need some help running a power play, you find a guy that can and you find him for cheap. And that's what they're doing.

[A]

Honestly, his time with the ran, he was. He was always a really nice guy and I never had any problem with him at all. So forget about the politics and everything. My biggest problem was he punched his goaltender in the face. That's why he wasn't a Ranger anymore. Had nothing to do with his policy. He punched.

[B]

Or that he was a bad defensive defenseman. He was bad defensive. He has a defensive doing it.

[A]

No, it's not a goalie.

[B]

That's a problem.

[A]

Yeah. You know, he, he got. He got canceled for his politics. Not the fact that he. He punched a teammate in the face.

[B]

Yeah, well.

[A]

And. And he was a pylon.

[B]

Well, was. No did. Did he. He did finally come around and say, yeah, that was probably not a good thing I did. Right.

[D]

He.

[B]

He regretted it later.

[A]

He deserved. I have no problem with him being back in the league. And he paid his dude and he. And listen, he's a really good offensive defense. It's. It's not bad for the Islanders the breadth of goals that you get a little something.

[B]

But you just. Somebody's got. Make sure. Somebody's got to stay back though. I mean, again.

[A]

Oh yeah.

[B]

Adam Pellick, you better just don't even bother trying to get into the offensive zone. Just. Just sit at center ice and just be ready for the two on one that's coming. The Dennis Green thing I just looked up because you're right, it is a famous thing. But if. Unless you're an NFL, you know, you're deep in entrenched in NFL stuff, you know, you kind of Lose the reference of it. This wasn't even a playoff game. It was week five, the 2006 season.

[A]

It was a Monday or Sunday night game.

[B]

I think it was a Sunday night game.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah. And wait, no, it was an ESPN game, so it must have been a Monday night game.

[A]

No, at that time was probably a Sunday night game.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Because I think it was. I think this was early 2000, 2006. Okay.

[B]

Right. And Dennis Green was the coach of the Cardinals. Arizona Cardinals. They, they were 1 and 3 coming into a game against the Bears, who were 4. No. And they were up 20 nothing at the half. In this game at home, they blew the lead and lost.

[A]

Right.

[B]

And Dennis Green lost it. Like this was the comeback of the year. This is one of the great comebacks of all time. The Bears went to five and. Oh, and that's why he said, you know, basically his whole thing was, you know, we, they were who we thought they were and we let them off the hook. It's such a famous rant. But amazingly it was so early in the season to be that mad about a loss. But it led to one of the epic rants of all time and one.

[A]

Of the coach of maybe the greatest football team to not win a Super bowl outside of New England. That 98 Minnesota team.

[B]

Oh, the. Yes.

[A]

15 and 1 lost into Atlanta in the championship game on a missed field goal. Not good.

[B]

They put up a ton of points that season.

[A]

That's right. But you know what? The team wasn't ready. See, you know, that's it. They just weren't ready to win. They just, just had a kicker decided to miss his one kick in the championship game.

[B]

They couldn't get it done in a big spot. You know, they really, they just weren't winners. I want winners. There's another one. 800-919-3776. So many calls to get to. We got some Ranger fans. I want to talk about the Rangers there, Donnie. So we got to certainly get to that and more. We have ENN coming up. Peter Rosenberg's going to join us, but Don first has something from Mazda.

[A]

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[B]

For listening to the Don Han and Rosenberg Podcast. I don't want to know how the sausage is made, man. 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.