Hour 3: Bob Costas & Ty Simpson

Summary

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Don, Hahn & Rosenberg

Episode: Hour 3: Bob Costas & Ty Simpson
Date: March 2, 2026
Podcast Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Main Guests: Bob Costas

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Episode Overview

This hour delivers a nostalgic yet insightful conversation focused on the intersection of sports television history and current events in basketball and football. Legendary broadcaster Bob Costas joins the trio to discuss NBC’s NBA throwback broadcast, the evolution of sports coverage, and the legacy of great NBA eras. Later, the hosts dissect the NFL Draft, Jets’ quarterback prospects, and how teams should approach high-stake selections. The episode is peppered with the hosts’ trademark wit, pop culture tangents, and lively debate, offering both hardcore sports insight and humorous nostalgia.

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Key Segments & Takeaways

1. NBC’s NBA Throwback Night & Broadcast Nostalgia

(02:31 – 13:38)

Bob Costas on Reuniting the Old NBC NBA Team

• Throwback Coverage Excitement: Bob Costas shares his enthusiasm for NBC’s NBA “throwback” night, bringing together iconic NBA on NBC personalities for a nostalgic broadcast.

  "We lucked into a great era... our first year, 1991, is the first of the six Bulls championships... Shaq and Kobe and Michael Jordan and the first Dream Team. Just everything fell into place."
  — Bob Costas (03:07)

• NBC’s Broadcasting Legacy: Costas reflects on NBC’s signature dramatic openings, strong production values, and memorable voices—Marv Albert, Hannah Storm, Ahmad Rashad.
• The return is limited to regular season and special games, not high-stake playoff scenarios, to properly lean into nostalgia.

The Magic of Classic Broadcast Openings

• Legacy of The Big Intro: Alan and Bob discuss how NBC’s narrative-driven, essay-style openings made every game feel significant.

  “If it’s good, then people’s attention span can be extended... sports is drama, sports is theater. It’s not all analytics."
  — Bob Costas (05:30)

• Evolution in Broadcasting: Today, the belief is that shorter attention spans have led to the disappearance of detailed intros and pregame storytelling.

Load Management & Basketball Then vs. Now

• Stars Always Played: Costas notes that during NBC’s heyday, stars were nearly always on the court; today’s load management trend undermines that consistency.

  "The number of players who played all 82... last season there were only about 25 or 30 who played more than 80 games and only 11 played all 82."
  — Bob Costas (07:23)

• Fan Disappointment: Home fans might attend a marquee game only to see superstars resting, a problem unheard of in previous decades.

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2. Victor Wembanyama: Generational Talent?

(08:33 – 12:09)

Is Wemby the Next Kareem?

• Alan suggests Wembanyama could rival Kareem’s legendary status if he stays healthy. Costas praises Wembanyama’s unprecedented skill set but notes how unique Kareem’s career really was.

  “You could be incredibly great, inner circle Hall of Famer, and still not touch Kareem's career. But Wembanyama's skill set is extraordinary.”
  — Bob Costas (08:56)

Historic Impact Without Rule Changes

• Alan and Bob reflect on “rule changes” made to slow dominant big men (e.g., Wilt Chamberlain) and believe Wembanyama’s impact won’t face such regulatory hurdles.

  "They won't do that to this player. I think obviously you want to enhance anything that makes a superstar shine even brighter."
  — Bob Costas (11:25)

• Free Throws & Versatility: Wemby’s ability to hit free throws and his “condor-like” defense are highlighted as major assets.

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3. Broadcast Intros, Generational Viewing Habits & Media Change

(14:06 – 19:47)

The End of the Grand Intro?

• The crew debates if classic long-form game openings are gone for good or simply on hiatus due to shifting media patterns.

  "People’s attention spans… will they allow a big grandiose open, or is it ‘just get me to the damn game’?"
  — Don La Greca (15:07)

• Alan and Peter reminisce about old TV theme songs and compare sports broadcast changes (e.g., “skip intro” on Netflix) to the declining presence of elaborate sports intros.

Emotional Resonance & Pavlovian Triggers

• Don credits the emotional power of theme music (“da na na na na” from hockey coverage) as a Pavlovian trigger for fans, acknowledging younger viewers may not have the same patience or sentiment.

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4. NFL Draft Deep Dive: Jets QB Options & Draft Board Philosophy

(31:01 – 41:02)

The Ty Simpson Dilemma

• Alan unpacks rumors linking Alabama QB Ty Simpson to the Jets and Browns, noting Simpson's connections to Browns coach Todd Monken.
  • If the Jets want Simpson, must they reach at #2 overall, or risk losing him to Cleveland at #6?
• Don takes a philosophical stance on draft boards:

  "If you love [the player], you love him. If you don’t, you don’t. You can’t be motivated by anything else."
  — Don La Greca (34:11)

• The panel discusses the perils of reaching for a quarterback based on fear rather than conviction, referencing historical QBs like Daniel Jones and the importance of sticking to your board.

Draft for Need or Best Available?

• Alan and Peter note this draft class lacks generational talent at premium positions, so teams must weigh the value of selecting a potentially “forever” player at less glamorous positions against reaching for a need.

Notable Exchange:

"Never draft for need at quarterback; draft because you believe that’s the guy."
— Don La Greca (36:06)

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5. Sports Broadcasting Legends & “The Czar”

(22:04 – 23:21)

• Nostalgic shoutouts to voices of the NBC NBA era: Doug Collins, Mike Fratello (“the Czar”), and the dry wit of Marv Albert.

  "When I think of the czar and... Marv... he sounds like he's being straight, but the sarcasm... an underrated thing."
  — Peter Rosenberg (22:40)

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6. Classic Music & Pop Culture Tangents

(27:41 – 49:24)

• The crew takes a fun detour, riffing on Jon Bon Jovi’s birthday, Don’s (distant) relation to Richie Sambora, and the era-defining stars like Heather Locklear and Claudia Schiffer.
• They joke about the segregation of music genres in their youth and debate the merits (or lack thereof) of late-80s pop.

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7. Listener Call & Franchise QB Trades

(50:39 – 53:48)

• A caller proposes trading multiple first-round picks for a “solidified” franchise quarterback, prompting the hosts to recall the conviction behind the Giants’ trade for Eli Manning.

  "If you have that kind of conviction, nothing should stop you... If he does turn out to be Patrick Mahomes, you’ll be kicking yourself."
  — Don La Greca (51:41)

• Alan questions whether any team would pass on an obvious franchise quarterback, underscoring the importance of organizational leadership and self-awareness.

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Notable Quotes

• “Sports is drama, sports is theater. It’s not all analytics, it’s not all breaking down every single play.”—Bob Costas (05:30)
• “If you love [the player], you love him. If you don't, you don't. You can't be motivated by anything else.”—Don La Greca (34:11)
• “If I was a general manager, my board’s God.”—Don La Greca (38:53)
• “If you have that kind of conviction, nothing should stop you...”—Don La Greca (51:41)
• “You want to enhance anything that makes a superstar shine even brighter and more appealing to the casual fan.”—Bob Costas (11:25)

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Memorable Moments

• Bob Costas recalling his first year at NBC, covering the ‘91 Bulls and the “Dream Team” era. (03:04)
• Debate over the decline of lengthy sports broadcast openers in the streaming/internet era. (15:07–19:47)
• Alan’s comedic lament about the dearth of good music in 1989, reading off Billboard hits with mock horror. (46:55–48:56)
• Rosenberg and Hahn’s “deep pulls” about forgotten NBA bench players and 90s pop culture icons.
• A caller’s tongue-in-cheek idea for the Jets to “go Mel Bridge style” and trade a bounty of picks for a proven QB, sparking a discussion about franchise-defining boldness and risk. (50:39–52:28)

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Important Timestamps

• 02:31 — 13:38: Bob Costas interview: NBA on NBC throwback, broadcasting legacy
• 08:33 — 12:09: Wembanyama discussion: comparisons with Kareem, unique talent
• 14:06 — 19:47: Broadcast “big open” nostalgia and generational changes in viewing habits
• 31:01 — 41:02: NFL Draft segment: Ty Simpson, Jets’ strategy, draft philosophy
• 22:04 — 23:21: NBC NBA legends & Marv Albert’s dry wit
• 27:41 — 49:24: Music and pop culture sidebar
• 50:39 — 53:48: Listener call: Draft capital and the “conviction” to secure a franchise quarterback

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Conclusion

This episode masterfully blends sports nostalgia with sharp contemporary analysis. Costas’ appearance brings authoritative, heartfelt perspective on how sports broadcasting used to elevate games, while the hosts challenge each other (and their audience) to embrace both history and the realities of today’s sports landscape. The football talk is deeply process-oriented, providing fans with an honest look at how hard it is to draft and develop a franchise changer amid pressure, hype, and organizational self-doubt. And as always, Don, Hahn, and Rosenberg keep it fun, throwing in plenty of culture and humor for listeners of all ages.

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Transcript

[Don La Greca]

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[Alan Hahn]

This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don La Greca]

That sounds like heaven to me.

[Alan Hahn]

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

[Don La Greca]

All right. I asked these guys to be better. We'll see. Game time is brought to you by Tullamore. Do Irish whiskey because when it's game time, guys, it's Tully time.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I still didn't like it.

[Don La Greca]

You know what? I don't like it either. And we're not doing this again. We're going back. But he tried to make an executive decision.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But he tried.

[Don La Greca]

We are going to just go back to the old sound bites.

[Alan Hahn]

Give me an example of what you're looking for.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, what do you want?

[Alan Hahn]

Like what do you. What? What do you want?

[Don La Greca]

Something that people go, you know. That was entertaining.

[Bob Costas]

Yeah,

[Don La Greca]

it's teletime.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, that one. That one's could be the one.

[Alan Hahn]

I mean that's. That's the yabba dabba do. I get it. But it's too long.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It is the abide.

[Alan Hahn]

I thought we see this Chili time. No, that was. That was Jacob.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't like that one.

[Alan Hahn]

That was Jacob.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That was Jacob's. That's horrible. In fact, burn the drop. What else? Yeah, what else do you have over there? Tell them or do the original triple distilled, triple blended and triple cast matured Irish whiskey. Irish whiskey.

[Alan Hahn]

Irish whiskey.

[Don La Greca]

Well, you can't play that.

[Alan Hahn]

It's tonic time.

[Peter Rosenberg]

How about that?

[Don La Greca]

That's not bad.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't like that.

[Don La Greca]

It's Tony time.

[Alan Hahn]

Big Rod, sounds like you're hurting.

[Don La Greca]

It's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I like that one.

[Alan Hahn]

That's fine.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And what about that McFly you always got? McFly.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah. No, wrong.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's Dolly time. I mean, that's. That's what it's supposed to be in its essence.

[Don La Greca]

I like that.

[Alan Hahn]

All right.

[Don La Greca]

Rangers host the Blue Jackets with coverage immediately following us on 880 at 6:30. And that's all we have locally Telemore do the original triple distilled, triple blended and triple cast matured iris whiskey. Be sure to grab a Tullamore Dew and try the new Tullamore Dew honey during today's action. Enjoy Tullamore do responsibly. Bob Costas is nice enough to join us. We'll hold the jet conversation off. Oh, this is happening. It's all happening. He's a friend of the show.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Friday I reported during ENN that they're doing this awesome throwback for NBC's and Peacock's coverage of the NBA. I got so excited and I said we got to try to get Bob on the phone. And Anthony managed to pull it off.

[Don La Greca]

He managed to pull it off. Bob. Bob, Don on in Rosenberg. Thank you for giving us a couple of minutes. Really appreciate it. Hey, Peter.

[Bob Costas]

Hey. Don't.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And Alan Hahn, of course.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, no, no. I'm just here to watch.

[Bob Costas]

Alan. Alan. Sorry.

[Alan Hahn]

That's okay.

[Bob Costas]

Amber. It.

[Alan Hahn]

Sorry.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Thanks for. Thanks for doing this, man. When did they. When did they first approach you about this throwback night and how genuinely excited are you to do it?

[Bob Costas]

Very excited. It was a few months ago. Rick Cordella and Sam Flood, who run NBC Sports, had the idea they want to lean into the history of. Of NBC with the NBA. And we lucked into a great era. Our first year, 1991, is the first of the six Bulls championships and we had, you know, Shaq and Kobe and Michael Jordan and the first dream Team. Just everything fell into place. And between the producers, the directors, the broadcasters, both in studio and on the games, you know, I think we did about as good a job with the NBA as it's possible for network TV to do with any sport that could possibly be covered. With all due respect to others who have done an excellent job with the NBA, there's a hall of fame play by play guy and the studio show that was on Turner and now is on espn, everybody knows how great that is. But I think overall production, the dramatic openings that were part of the signature of NBC's coverage of the NBA. Marv on the play by play, Hannah Storm in the studio, Ahmad Rashad on and on. I'm going to leave people out. I just think from top to bottom, that was about as good as it gets. So we're going to lean into it a little bit. We've already done parts of it. Marv and Tom Hammond and I have done some of the narrative openings, you know, off camera just to bring it on the air. I brought the All Star game on the Air and Celtics, Lakers a week ago. And so this kind of fits with that. We wouldn't do it in the playoffs where there's high stakes, but to have one night where we just sort of lean into that history. As I said, there's an hour long pregame show on Peacock that Hannah Storm is going to host and there'll be lots of flashbacks to more than a quarter century ago now. And then the game itself, you'll recognize the voices and the faces. Maybe easier to recognize the voices than the faces after all these years.

[Alan Hahn]

That's the idea, Bob. It just, for me, as somebody that grew up with it, right. Every game felt like a big game because of what you said, the production, the intros, right. Just doing the essay to begin a matchup in the history behind it, whatever it was like, it just felt big. Do you, do you wonder why that went away? As we've gone on over the years and some of that stuff has gone away, the graphic introductions and all that, and we just kind of get right to the, you know, welcome to the game. And here we go, tip offs coming.

[Bob Costas]

You know, maybe it's a belief, a general belief that the audience's attention Spanish is less than it once was because of a variety of societal factors, media chief among them, perhaps. But I think if it's good, then people's attention span can be extended. The response to just a handful of those narrative openings that we've done this year, the response to that is so overwhelmingly positive. And what we did wasn't hype. We identified the real drama, the real individual stars, the real theater, the real, the narration, especially the narrative that ran through a post series. We identified that and then we framed it and heightened it, but we didn't make it up. You know, as long as it's legitimate and it's not over the top. Sports is drama, sports is theater. It's not all analytics, it's not all breaking down every single play or every single pitch in a baseball game. I don't care how astute that analysis is. You know, Vin Scully didn't need any of that. Marv Albert back in the day on the Knicks didn't need any of that on the radio. The idea is to capture the environment, the feel and the excitement of and drama of an event. Now, not every regular season game lends itself to that. But the big games, which are generally the games that are on network television, if you're able to do it, you should do it.

[Don La Greca]

We're talking to Bob Costas here on Don Han and Rosenberg and the other thing you didn't seem to have to worry about, Bob, was load management. So you knew the stars were going to play because to me it's not just how great you guys were. And every sport has the team that everybody thinks about. But is it also a referendum that maybe basketball was in a better place?

[Bob Costas]

You know, you cut out a little bit. I know you were talking about the load management. Can you restate it?

[Don La Greca]

Was basketball in a better place at that time than it is now?

[Bob Costas]

Yeah, I think certainly the stars and the matchups were. It seemed to be more identifiable. I'm looking for a stat so I can give you the exact stat and now I can't find my notes. So I'm just going to generalize the number of players. The first season that we did, the number of players who played in 80 or more games was over 100 and more than 50 of them played all 82. Last season there were only about 25 or 30 who played more than 80 games and only 11 played all 82. Now the stark is the most stark example of that would be a big star from the other conference comes to your arena only once during the regular season. For example, the spurs tomorrow night will make their one visit the 76ers of the season. And if a superstar sits out that game either because of load management or a very minor injury, just a tweak and you're a season ticket holder or maybe you saved up money to go to this particular game because you want to see this guy and this team, that's pretty disappointing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now speaking of that game and obviously the star that you'd be talking about on the spurs side is Wambuyama, right? Of what you've seen of him. Bob, we were just discussing this. Allen made the assertion that if he is able to stay mostly healthy, he could have a Kareem Abdul Jabbar like career. Do you see a healthy Wembayama having the potential to have that kind of career?

[Bob Costas]

Well, you got to consider what Kareem's career was in its context. Three NCAA championships and what did he lose? One game, lost that one game to Elvin Hayes that broke a 47 game winning streak and then they avenged that in the Final Four. Three NCAA championships would have been four if he was freshman eligible at that time. Six NBA championships, six Most Valuable Player awards until LeBron recently passed it. The all time leading scorer in the league. So you could be incredibly great inner circle hall of Famer and still not touch Kareem's career. But when Banyama's skill set is extraordinary. And he handles the ball like a guard. He'll take it to the basket. You see that one dunk he got

[Alan Hahn]

from the elbow yesterday? From the elbow.

[Bob Costas]

Ridiculous. Out below, right?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Bob Costas]

Unbelievable, right? And then he'll back up on the next possession and shoot a three. And it's not an awkward three. He has that kind of touch. And he plays defense. And I said to Doug Collins, we'll talk about this tomorrow with Mike Fratello on the game. Is he necessarily guarding a guy like, I've got this guy, or is he just roaming all over the place like a condor?

[Rich Eisen]

Right.

[Bob Costas]

Does he have the whole team? You know, how many times do you see, even though the Knicks won the game, how many times yesterday, just see a guy score, start into the lane, see Wemby and back out?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. Yes, that happened. It happens a lot because of what you just said. His reach, his wingspan is enough. Where, you know, kind of hyperbole here. He could high five a player on his bench and a player and a fan in the first row on the other side of the court. He really does. Right?

[Bob Costas]

Or Larry David or Ben Stiller.

[Alan Hahn]

Right, right, right. I was thinking of who would be sitting there. But what's also, to me, remarkable about him and why I said what I said. And with all of the. All of that you have seen over the years, there was a time, and I love this Wilt Chamberlain quote, they had to change the rules so I couldn't dominate. They changed the rules so you could. And it used to be like that. Oh, no more dunking or whatever it was. I mean, going all the way back to the key being wider so that George Mikin couldn't dominate. And we have now three seconds.

[Bob Costas]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

They won't do that to this player. And that's what I think is different. When you think about over the years, how they kept changing rules because of big men dominating, I don't think he'll ever have to face that, do you?

[Bob Costas]

No, I don't. Because obviously you want to enhance anything that makes a superstar shine even brighter and more appealing to the casual fan. You know, it's another thing he has going for him. He can make free throws like Kareem. Kareem was like a 72% career free throw shooter. You hack a Shaq. Because he couldn't make free throws. Wilt shot barely 50% from the free throw line for his career. I think it was 51%. And one of the most amazing stats in the history of any sport is the night that Wilt scored 100. He was something like 28 of 34 from the line.

[Alan Hahn]

They were fouling, which is ridiculous. They were fouling him on purpose.

[Bob Costas]

He was making them. Yeah, it was that one night in his life. He was making them.

[Don La Greca]

Bob, I know you gotta run, but just one quick last one. Of course, you're gonna be part of NBC's coverage for Sunday Night Baseball as well. And we've got the World Baseball Classic, and it's tough to be on the heels of what happened with the Olympic hockey team. The Olympics are just something different. But can the World Baseball Classic maybe get to what we saw with the four nations? Can it. Can it grow into something that can be special like that?

[Bob Costas]

I don't know if it can get to the four nations, but if you think back just in the most recent World Baseball Classic and the way it ended with Ohtani striking out his then teammate, Mike Trout, you couldn't ask for better drama than that outside of a postseason game, World Series game. You know, I think it's built in excitement and in interest, but I really think that it's still more hardcore baseball fans that are interested in it or fans of a particular country that are interested in it outside the United States. I think US Interest in it is significant among people who would call themselves avid baseball fans, but I don't think it reaches the level of, you know, a postseason baseball game.

[Don La Greca]

Bob, you've always been kind to us. Thank you for giving us a couple of minutes. Best of luck in everything that you're doing, man. It's so good to watch.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We would love to bother you and have you pop on again every once in a while, man. It's always a treat.

[Bob Costas]

Happy to do it every once in a while. That's the key. Every once in a while, I try

[Don La Greca]

to spread it out.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Bob Costas]

As long as you bring me on and send me off with apparently a standing ovation, how can I.

[Don La Greca]

That's it exactly. Bob.

[Alan Hahn]

Thank you.

[Don La Greca]

Have fun tomorrow. All the best.

[Bob Costas]

See you guys.

[Don La Greca]

We will.

[Bob Costas]

Thanks.

[Don La Greca]

Bye. Yeah, he's. He's awesome. I remember because he was. He's very close to Mike Lupica and then of course, with K. So he'd always be a regular on either one of the two shows that I was on. And, you know, to get.

[Alan Hahn]

He just.

[Don La Greca]

He's great to talk to. He just has a wealth of information, and it's nice to see him back, you know, that temporary with basketball, but also with NBC's coverage of baseball on Sunday Night Baseball tomorrow.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The actual booth tomorrow is Bob, Doug.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And the czar.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. I mean, that's just unreal.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Who doesn't want that?

[Alan Hahn]

It's unreal. Now, what he said, though, I'm curious about, you know, obviously the new generation audience, because we grew up on the narration to open the big open. Right. The obviously the John Tesh thing was something that caught on. But there's a reason why it caught on. Not because it's a great jingle, but. But because you knew it meant, oh, have we got a good game? Like we got a game. Right? And so you have that. You have the narration. You have the setup from game to game. It felt big time now. Did it take a minute? It's almost like a great example is sitcoms or TV shows that used to have the theme song.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

And the theme song comes on and you see all the little bits. And now on Netflix you have skip intro. So you don't have to see the same theme song anymore.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's right.

[Alan Hahn]

You know what I mean? Like, is it just. That got played out and people just want to get. To get me to tip off. I don't need to hear all this stuff. Or do we need to go back to that? Is that something that we miss in the broadcast because it just feels bigger.

[Don La Greca]

Well, the reason why you want to just get to it is because people's attention spans. Will they allow a big grandiose open or is it just get me to the damn game.

[Alan Hahn]

How do you feel, Don? Do you like the big grand intro?

[Don La Greca]

Because it makes it feel like it's big. It makes it feel like it's important. Like, Like I thought one of the great things that ABC and ESPN did when they got hockey back a couple of years ago was bringing back the song Da na na na na. Like, it's Pavlovian, right. You're taken back to a certain time. But I think the younger generation. It's not to sound like an old man.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's just a fact.

[Don La Greca]

Younger generation has so much else to do. So much else to distract them. They're coming for the game. Are they even going to watch the pri. Are they going to watch the open? They do this with sitcoms, too. I mean, you don't have those long intros. Remember Speed was on the other day, the original. Yeah. With. And there was like five minutes of opening credits of the elevator going up the building, showing the credits. It's like, dude, people are going to be off the movie by that now

[Alan Hahn]

with James Bond movies.

[Don La Greca]

Like, no, I'm not going to take.

[Alan Hahn]

To get to the first scene in James Bond movies.

[Don La Greca]

I know. Or you know, there'd be movies with like an animation to start. Yeah, like the roll credits. Now it's just like, let's get that. Let's have an explosion in the first 30 seconds. Otherwise the people that are watching on the app aren't going to flip to something else. Like. So that's where it is. I've had program directors tell me, let's not have an opening song. Let's just bang, come out with a really hot opinion three seconds into the show and let's get rolling. Right.

[Alan Hahn]

No answer.

[Don La Greca]

If you start messing around, you're going to lose people. What were you losing 30 years ago? There were half the channels. There wasn't a computer to distract you. So you got into, all right, this is what I'm going to do.

[Alan Hahn]

Settle in kind of thing at three

[Don La Greca]

o' clock on a Sunday. This is what I'm going to do at 9 o' clock on a Monday for Monday Night Football. It's different now and I'm not saying it's better, but I just think that now people have other things to do. I watch my kids. As much as Marco loves sports, Skip intro. I can't get him to watch a whole game. Even the gold medal game. I got him the third in overtime. You know, you can make him sit there two and a half hours. He's got his tablet. There's other things going on. He wants to run around, do it. And that's an 8 year old. But when I was 8 years old, I sat in front of the TV and watched because there was nothing else to do.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, that.

[Don La Greca]

Or go outside, not watch tv.

[Alan Hahn]

Are you? Yeah, but I don't know. Well, Peter, how about you? Like, are you. Do you like the idea of the big intro narration? Tell me about this game and what it means.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Give me a little history about national TV games. Isn't that the point? You know, to me that's what it's about. I, I like when I get to watch my team on national tv, that the upside is I get to see the way a national perspective is of my team. Right. So no, like I don't need it every night when you're watching.

[Commercial Announcer]

Not every night.

[Alan Hahn]

But for me though.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Why would.

[Alan Hahn]

You know back in the day when NBA and NBC always meant the song and then. And then a explanation of what's. Especially in a playoff series. But it's always in the playoffs.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I love it.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, but it's, it's. Even the big matchups were always a Little history between two teams you're playing tonight or you're seeing tonight or something that just kind of. It to me, again, spoken word narration with the right kind of visuals. It feels epic.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah. And I felt.

[Alan Hahn]

And it's. They're also writing. Good writing draws you in. Cost is a great writer.

[Don La Greca]

Oh, yeah. And, and, but here. And this is, this is no disrespect to, you know, the Jim Brown on James Brown on, on Fox and Kurt Menefee. We know their work. They're tremendous at what they do. But do you feel they're a part of the coverage the way you felt Greg Gumbel was on NBC and Brent Musburger was on cbs because you sat there, invested, you watched the whole pregame. He set you up. You are looking live at Giant Stadium. They were a part of it.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don La Greca]

And now because everybody and their mother's doing a pregame, you're watching, you know, ESPN starts at 8:00 in the morning, right up until 1:00 clock now. It's like, just get me to the game already. But when we were kids, like, all you had was, you know, 2, 4, 7, 9, 11 and 13. And if you wanted to watch Sesame Street. So I remember my, my coverage of football when I was a kid was noon.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don La Greca]

Now when, as I got older, it was kickoff, you know, And I just don't know if any pregame can hit like that where you feel like they're part of the coverage.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, all right, so that open thinking is, is that those days are over. Is that what you.

[Don La Greca]

I think they're over for a certain generation. But what we're gonna see tomorrow is a whole generation of people that are gonna watch this and be completely hooked. It's gonna take them back. It's a nostalgia moment.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It is.

[Don La Greca]

And I did my top five during COVID You know, you would have, you know, Musburger as the pregame leading into Madden and Summerall. That was a big deal. And as much as Buck and Aikman are a big deal for us or, or all the other guys and all the different coverage, it's a little bit different now than it was back. And people consume differently. There's just too much else going on. So I think this is a nostalgia thing. But as far as moving forward, I think if you found yourself to be a program director or a sports director of a tv, you would probably be thinking, all right, how do we get to it? How do we get to the coverage? But, yeah, to hear what they had to say to open it was you know, Costas was.

[Alan Hahn]

It wasn't like it was a 15 minute soliloquy. It was it just simply a 30 second right scene set that brought you back, like caught you up with what. Why this game matters.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Don La Greca]

Because. And the other thing too, the dirty little secret is he didn't have to worry about Jordan sitting out. Right.

[Alan Hahn]

That's true too.

[Don La Greca]

You know, if Magic and Bird were playing a game, you didn't have to sit there and have your open be like, well, birds on load management because his back's been barking on him.

[Alan Hahn]

Fred Roberts starting tonight for Larry Bird.

[Don La Greca]

And now you're trying to hold on.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Hold on.

[Don La Greca]

The regular season's different.

[Bob Costas]

It just.

[Don La Greca]

It's just different than it was.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Red Roberts, you just took me.

[Alan Hahn]

I mean, wasn't that good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You unearthed a core memory.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

One of the first true scrubs I remember from my childhood sports fandom.

[Alan Hahn]

Darren, make my day.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But Fred Roberts had the look.

[Alan Hahn]

Fred Roberts was.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I believe he was Mormon.

[Don La Greca]

Was he.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Was he a Utah guy?

[Alan Hahn]

I think, I think you're right. Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Or am I just like speaking Oral Roberts? But he felt Utah and he was.

[Alan Hahn]

He was definitely drafted like in that same vein of what those Celtics were supposed to look like.

[Don La Greca]

Yes, for sure.

[Alan Hahn]

And back in the day, you mean very white.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Hold on.

[Alan Hahn]

Fred Roberts, Utah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Bring them young universe. I knew, I knew, I knew your Mormons.

[Alan Hahn]

You know, you know you're.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I know my Mormon people.

[Don La Greca]

Maybe the greatest are strange polls.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, that was up there. Fred Roberts out of nowhere was that

[Don La Greca]

he stole the lounge thunder. But I think he'll take it. Bob Costa is a nailist celeb to get on.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So I'm excited to hear from Doug and the czar too. Although I do think I have to like mentally prepare that like bo. I haven't seen Doug Collins on the czar in a while. Like they are going to feel older.

[Alan Hahn]

Sorry.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So Bob's forever young.

[Alan Hahn]

Mike Fratello still does games like the Clippers and another team. But I have actually it wasn't this year, but last year I think I was. We were in the same and doing the same game and I might have been a Clipper game. Had a chat, nice chat with him.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Look the same ish.

[Alan Hahn]

Ish, you know, older version of himself, but still very much.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But I do, I will say this,

[Alan Hahn]

what you'd expect and still very witty.

[Peter Rosenberg]

When I think of the czar and I think of like him being teased like the nickname, kind of teasing him as the tsar. He's the czar of the telescope. I think Marv and that that's the gear. Respectfully to guy who just had one of the great calls of all time in Kenny. That's the gear Marv had that Kenny doesn't have the same of is he sounds like he's being straight, but the sarcasm of mocking the people around him.

[Alan Hahn]

Dry sarcasm.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The super dry Marv sarcasm.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Was like such an underrated thing. If you weren't paying attention, you were just like a very straight shooter yourself. You might not realize that he's like

[Alan Hahn]

kind of clowning for throwing, but he is.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's just, he's just messing with everyone around him all the time. Yeah, they were so good, man.

[Don La Greca]

All right, Allen's we're in honor of Allen's tease.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Bet your ace.

[Don La Greca]

That is. Coming up next, we've got Ian at 6 and then at 6:30 it's Rangers hockey on ESPN New York.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now I want to talk to you guys about college basketball because it's nonstop. Big games, tight spreads, tight spreads, big games. It's all there. Momentum swings every night now. FanDuel's giving you a way to turn that energy into bigger wins. All right, cuz, how about this? With a college basketball parlay, profit boost. Listen to this. You can build any hoops parlay you want. The early tip, the rivalry game, the right matchup, the late night west coast shootout, mixed spreads, totals, props, whatever fits your read of the slate. Then just go apply your profit boost and instantly bump up that potential payout. All right? So you can go safe, you can go spicy, you can go with the team you've been with all year. I'm not petting my terps, that's for sure. It's your parlay, your style now with more upside behind it. Head to FanDuel.com local to get started. FanDuel play your game 21 and over. Physically present New York opt in required minimum 2 late parlay required. Bonus issued is now withdrawable. Profit boost tokens Restrictions apply including any token expiration and max wager amounts. See [e-mail] for help with a gambling problem. Call 8778 Hopeny or text openy467369 want

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[Don La Greca]

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[Don La Greca]

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[Don La Greca]

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[Alan Hahn]

I like things my way. My coffee, my schedule and my treatment. So I talked to my doctor about self injecting with the Vivgard Hytrulo pre filled syringe which contains fgartegamide, Alpha and hyaluronidase qvfc. It's injected under your skin. Subcutaneous. It means I can inject in my space on my time. It's my treatment my way. Visit vivgardmyway.com that's V Y V G-A-R-T myway.com and talk to your doctor about Vivgard Hytrulo Brought to you by Argenics thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg Podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Alan Hahn]

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

[Don La Greca]

See us live from the Irish Exit of Moynihan train station, Friday, March 13 before the semifinal round of the Big East Tournament. Stop by before heading into the Garden or before your commute home. Don Han and Rosenberg live from the Irish exit of Moynihan Train hall, starting at 3pm Friday, March 13, just steps away from Addison Square Garden Penn Station. Brought to you by Schweppes above the Rim Refreshment. Feel the madness and fresh your game with a Schweppes Seltzer or Schweppes ginger ale, Sam Adams and Sun Cruiser vodka Iced tea available at Bourbon and Branch and Taylor pub. Must be 21 or older to purchase. Please drink responsibly.

[Alan Hahn]

Jon Bon Jovi's birthday today. Can you guess his age?

[Don La Greca]

I would say he's 62.

[Alan Hahn]

Higher, Bob.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah. Yeah, probably right.

[Alan Hahn]

Will you still need me?

[Don La Greca]

Will you still feed me when I'm 64? So I wasn't that far.

[Alan Hahn]

No, you weren't that far.

[Don La Greca]

64. Bon Jovi.

[Peter Rosenberg]

64, huh?

[Alan Hahn]

64.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Man, that makes me feel old because I certainly remember when I was a kid and he was the cool young artist.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Rocker.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, kind of the cool rocker.

[Don La Greca]

How about my distant cousin, Richie Zambora? How old is he?

[Alan Hahn]

He's a cousin if he's a cousin.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Cousins. Cousins are one thing.

[Don La Greca]

Cousins. I. Dan. Yeah, I think I told the story. I was like. I don't know. I was like, sophomore year, high school. Sure. My mom said, can you mail these letters for me? Little older, I thought. So I'm walking. There was a mailbox right on the corner of Ray and 9th Avenue.

[Peter Rosenberg]

As you live.

[Don La Greca]

Nosy. I took a look, and apparently there was a birthday card for somebody Zambora. I'm like, you know somebody Zamboya? It's like. I forget. It's like, my mom's sister's. My mom. My mom's cousin's sister. What? Whatever. And so I'm related to Richie Zambora. Like, maybe he's my fourth cousin or something. I've never met the man.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, when you were young.

[Peter Rosenberg]

How old are you when this happened?

[Don La Greca]

16.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, so you were dropping it to everyone, though?

[Don La Greca]

Oh, yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean, that was.

[Don La Greca]

But I had never met him.

[Alan Hahn]

That got you into places.

[Don La Greca]

But it's an icebreaker, right?

[Alan Hahn]

I think so now, this July. July, he'll be 67. That doesn't make sense.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't have as much of a visual picture of Richard Sambor. So dated.

[Don La Greca]

Share. Good for him.

[Peter Rosenberg]

God bless.

[Don La Greca]

Cher is not 67.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, she's 82 if she's a day.

[Alan Hahn]

Heather Locklear, right?

[Don La Greca]

Yeah. Listen, he.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Wait, he's married. Heather Lock.

[Rich Eisen]

Clear.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What's she, about 60?

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, probably. Maybe a little older.

[Alan Hahn]

Probably. This is where Anthony T.J. hooker, you know you guys are. It's 30 years ago.

[Don La Greca]

I wish we were talking 90s, Anthony.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, yeah.

[Don La Greca]

What's the.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What's the line?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, and we're not even talking 90s now.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This is the episode of Wayne's World where they meet Heather Locklear. Yeah, they loved Heather Lockhart. She was such. Heather Locklear is an interesting moment in time. Right? The definition of Pam Anderson A Jace.

[Don La Greca]

T.J. hooker.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What's that?

[Alan Hahn]

That was the show she was on with Will Shat.

[Don La Greca]

That's not what.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I know that before my knowledge of her.

[Don La Greca]

What was your knowledge of her?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Melrose Place.

[Don La Greca]

Okay. I didn't watch Melrose. Well, I didn't either.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But that. That was the era which was huge.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, but she was.

[Rich Eisen]

She.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The Wayne's World era in which she was huge. 1991, that time was metaphorically huge. But they probably had been. Their characters would have been into her from.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But I was young. I'm 12 at the time. I don't even.

[Alan Hahn]

So you were. You were ready to go.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And the other.

[Don La Greca]

And the other.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know who else was big? Remember they held the sign up over in the movie of the era. Who can get this poll? It's borderline strange at this point.

[Don La Greca]

It wasn't from snl.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's those. I think this one's in the movie.

[Don La Greca]

The first one.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes. They reference her.

[Don La Greca]

She's not in it when they do the swing. Oh, great.

[Alan Hahn]

Not, not, not. Not Bo. No one.

[Don La Greca]

No, not Bo Derek.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Claudia Schiffer.

[Alan Hahn]

Claudia Schiffer.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It is kind enough strange pull.

[Don La Greca]

Right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean, many people had a strange pull with Claudia Schiffer, but you know

[Don La Greca]

what I'm saying, That's.

[Alan Hahn]

That's.

[Don La Greca]

I think for many of those people, it wasn't strange at all.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And very familiar. Yeah. Familiar poll. The most familiar for some people. The only poll possible.

[Alan Hahn]

But give them that at least they had.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They had no. With Elsie. God bless.

[Don La Greca]

God bless.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I understand it.

[Alan Hahn]

All right, so now kids had AI. All right, well, let's. Let's now. Yeah. Let's now just change the conversation completely and get everybody to calm down because we got to talk football serious. It's real. And it's about the NFL draft. Just to recap, earlier I told you about how our NFL people were talking about an interesting relationship that Ty Simpson has. Now, remember, the jets have two first round picks. Simpson, the quarterback out of Alabama, who people feel like potential could be higher than Fernando Mendoza. But right now, coming out of the draft is not grading as high. Mendoza is sort of like somebody that is going to be okay like comp is like Kirk Cousins or even Matt Ryan who was good. Those are very, I mean but that's, that's where they think he is.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's what they think. Mendoza.

[Alan Hahn]

Mendoza. Yeah. Simpson does have higher level potential, but he cannot there yet.

[Don La Greca]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

And so they don't grade him as a first round pick, although the mocks now have him going late first round. For teams that need quarterbacks, the jets have two picks. They have a number two pick. The reason why I'm asking Jets fans how we feel about this is because the numbers. So if you're thinking the jets don't have to take a quarterback at two and if they wanted to get Simpson before somebody say the Steelers gets him at, you know, 21, would you take him at 16? The question of course is did you need to take him at 2? Because at number 6 lies the Cleveland Browns. They have a new head coach in Todd Monkin. Why does that matter? Todd Monkin, when he was at Georgia recruited Simpson to Georgia. But that's not the only thing. Monkin and Ty Simpson's father Jason are very close friends. In fact, Simpson talked about it saying my dad and Coach Monkin go way back. They talk often. And then of course he said it would be a dream come true to get to play for Coach Todd. They have Shador, they have Dylan Gabriel, they have desean Watson. But as we all know, when a new regime comes in, those aren't my guys. I want my guy. And especially if it's somebody that you know really well. Now again, Ty Simpson's dad, Jason Simpson is a college football coach as well at Tennessee Martin. So there's a lot of there there. And why, if you're a Jets fan, should you be watching if you think Ty Simpson is worth your time this year? Do the jets feel pressured to take him at 2 so that the Browns don't take him at 6? And now you have no options at quarterback in this draft.

[Don La Greca]

But you bring up something really interesting. If you, if you love the player, you can't stray from how you feel about Ty Simpson. If you think Ty Simpson is a guy that I take at 16, but I don't really think I don't value him any higher than that. That means you're kind of on the fence. But because you have two first round picks and you're willing to take the chance at 16, you can't be swayed by him not being there and all of a sudden jump to 2 and use your 2 pick on a Quarterback that maybe you think is only worthy of a 16 or worthy of a second round. You know, if you love him, you love him. If you don't, you don't. You can't be motivated by anything else.

[Alan Hahn]

The only problem is, Don, if you think he's got potential to develop into something special, which some people do. And now what you're saying is, okay, I'm willing to let a quarterback go off the board this year and not even take one, which I've said from the beginning, that's what you should do, right? Don't even think about quarterback this year unless you want to take one late rounds to take a shot at one of those guys that didn't quite blow up like they thought he would in college and maybe just see if something happens and then wait till the following year. The only problem is, as we've been saying on the show, is now you've got to be really bad for two consecutive years. That's something that doesn't always happen. Especially if, you know, if Aaron Glenn and his very unique skill set of calling plays, if that's something that changes your team and now you're, you're winning more than four games because you're just better. You're still bad, but not bad enough to be in the place that you can get one of the better quarterbacks next year. Now you're out of the quarterback.

[Don La Greca]

I understand. I understand.

[Alan Hahn]

So it's hard to say, just play for a quarterback next year when.

[Don La Greca]

No, I get that means.

[Alan Hahn]

But guys can lose their jobs and everything changes.

[Don La Greca]

But to me, it's two separate questions. I understand that you can't.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, it's one, isn't it?

[Don La Greca]

Well, it's two and one that leads to another. It does. But you can't worry about next year because again, you don't have that much control to know unless you just decide, I'm going to tank and lose every game, secure the number one spot and have all these guys. If you're going to play it out, you got to play it out to where, hey, I might not be in the position to draft a quarterback, okay? It's got to be, how do I feel about these quarterbacks? You can't be swayed by other people's interest. You can't be swayed about what could happen next year, and you cannot be swayed by need. There used to be a theory, never draft for need, always draft best player that's changed. But the one position it hasn't changed is a quarterback. Never draft for need at quarterback draft because you believe that's the guy. Okay, now, you said project. Project is a nice way of saying you're a long shot, that I'm hoping that at some point you could develop into being a good quarterback.

[Alan Hahn]

Project could also mean not ready yet, but could be ready.

[Don La Greca]

Right. But you're still kicking the can down the road.

[Alan Hahn]

Was a project. Right. Like. Like there's. There's certain that you could turn into something if you give.

[Don La Greca]

And Mayfield turned out to be a project. Not knowingly. It took a while for him to get going. Same thing with Sam Darm. Yeah, but if I look at a guy and I think he could be a project, I'm. I. My odds of him not making it are much bigger than somebody who I think is a can't miss. All right, now I move up to two. So now I'm gonna. I might have to make a decision to pay this man while he's still in the midst of being my project. Right. And then you get into a situation he did with Sam Darnold, like, all right, he's not where I would need him to be. I've got the second overall pick. I'm now gonna let him go so I can start again. So do you want to be in that situation where I draft ty Simpson at 2? You kick to four years later, he's starting to show something, but now I gotta pay him, and I don't know if I want to pay him. Now. I'm in the Daniel Jones world. I'm in a Sam Darnold world. Do you see the problems that happen? If you think Ty Simpson is the next Joe Namath, then you do everything you can to draft him, take him at 2. Who cares? I've always said, as bad as the decision it was for the Giants to take Daniel Jones at 6, you like the commitment. That was the conviction that he had. He was wrong, but that was the conviction. What's your conviction on Ty Simpson? It can't be I like him, but, oh, my God, Cleveland might take him. So now I need to like him more, or I don't know if I'm going to be able to take quarterback. I need to like him more. How do you feel about him?

[Alan Hahn]

Well, all right, again, you like him. And first think, I don't have to take him until 16 because no one really is going to do it. And I could get. I can get a great player, too, and still get this guy. And then you realize I might have to take him first because he could be off the board, and I want this player. Right. Yeah. But that's what we need to know. We don't know if they're there. See, we don't know if they're there.

[Don La Greca]

Here's the thing about. And I don't know what their board is, but your board has to be God to me. If I. If I was a general manager, my board's God. I pay my scouts a ton of money. I've got assistance and I've got my abilities. I've created my board. And my board says that Ty Simpson is a 16th overall pick in the draft. I gotta honor that. Otherwise, now I'm letting everybody else dictate what I'm thinking. I gotta honor that. And that means if he's not there, he's not there. You know, But I can't make him into something he's not because I'm afraid somebody else is gonna take him. Okay, if I've got him at 2, then maybe I can play the game of maybe I'll roll the dice and see if I can get him at 16. But that's stupid, because if you really believe he's two be damned what everybody else thinks, right, Peter, don't you think you just gotta honor your board? You put all the work into it. You, your knowledge, other people's knowledge. You can't let other people poke you around like that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But if you honor the board, the board is not going to have Ty Simpson at two.

[Don La Greca]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Even. Even if you like him a lot, it's going to have someone else there, and you're going to have to roll the dice at 16 and say, we're going to get him before Cleveland.

[Alan Hahn]

This is a draft that a lot of the football people at ESPN are saying is not a premier position, draft. Quarterback, edge. Right. It's more of, like, other pieces that you really need. Safety, corners, defensive lineman, offensive lineman. Like, there's no left tackle, there's no quarterback, there's no edge, rush rusher. In this draft that is like generational. There's really good ones, but not generational. So this is the draft that you kind of pick players for positions that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, but you hope to get a job, need, but you hope to get a generational safety.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Or I heard for the commanders. Some people talking about Mike linebacker. Like getting a linebacker that they think run the middle of the field.

[Alan Hahn]

Running back.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Those three positions that we know are really valuable. Safety, linebacker, running back, that are really valuable, but seem to be undervalued in money and draft picks in this version of the NFL. But if you can get one that's a forever one versus a mediocre position that's super valued. Why would you force yourself?

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, it's an interesting question for sure.

[Rich Eisen]

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[Alan Hahn]

thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Alan Hahn]

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

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh yeah. Happy birthday, baby. I still maintain the start of this no matter how you feel about where the song goes. And we all have a right. But this first 30 seconds or so.

[Don La Greca]

No, relax.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, you can't, you can't hate on this. You got to enjoy this. That part, it's all right. No, it's nice. And then it gets very cheesy. But I still love it. It hits my childhood bones.

[Don La Greca]

I know, I get it. You worked in a different place. It's very nostalgic.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You were already. If you were the man you're supposed to be, you were already spitting on this song when it came out.

[Don La Greca]

I'm going to tell you.

[Alan Hahn]

Once upon a time where I was

[Don La Greca]

eight, you got to realize something. Now I'm really, I'm. I'm actually like, I tell Nancy and she just looks at me like why do I care? But I wanted to tell somebody. I was really excited.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Do it.

[Don La Greca]

I listened to the end of the. The 80s countdown on 80s on 8. From, from. It was late. It was.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You don't say.

[Don La Greca]

It was Friday night. Go ahead. And I listened to the. It was 1989, which is pure filth. All of it.

[Alan Hahn]

Just a God awful year of music.

[Don La Greca]

God awful.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's tough.

[Don La Greca]

So. But I listened to the end because I wanted to find out what next week's gonna be. And next week is gonna be March first week of March 1981. So you're talking about late 80 into early 81. Now technically the music's no better but I love it because that's when little like 13 year old don Lagra was listening to music, you know, in the backseat of my parents car driving to school. Like hearing those songs, it's different and I love it. So I can understand how you feel because that was a time where. But, but I was already the metal snob like these long hairs trying to be hard rock, metal, you know, I. And even though they were from Jersey and I didn't hate all of it, but.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, but it made you.

[Don La Greca]

But I was very conceited with music because when I grew up at a time. Oh, yeah. Where great music. Rolling Stones, David Bowie. If it wasn't metal, I had no use for you. You know what I'm saying? Like, I got into a time where I was growing up. Like, I'm a metal guy, so I'm not listening to any of the yo

[Peter Rosenberg]

yo stuff you were missing. Incredible.

[Don La Greca]

What I'm saying is that when I was growing up in the early 80s, late 70s, early 80s music was very segregated in the sense that I'm a metal guy, so I don't listen to anything else. Or I'm a classic rock guy. I don't listen to anything else. I'm a country guy. I don't listen to anything else. Then as I got older, I realized I'm missing out on so much. I wanted to go back to my youth when I was a kid and whatever popped on the radio.

[Alan Hahn]

Angel.

[Don La Greca]

So it takes me back to a different time. So it's mostly nostalgia really. Has nothing to do with equality. Like, some things we know are good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like, I know that that makes me feel good to hear. And yet when I just heard the Whoa, this is you.

[Alan Hahn]

You were objectively burping into the mic.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But I love.

[Alan Hahn]

Can I give you a. Just. Absolutely. You talk about an awful. Yeah. This was my high school graduating year 1989, and it's the worst music in the history of music. Like, this is the top 10 of that year. Ready?

[Don La Greca]

Listen to this. Get ready.

[Alan Hahn]

Chicago, look away Love Chicago. Look away, baby, look away Terrible.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't want to miss much.

[Alan Hahn]

Not. Not awful. Bobby Brown. My prerogative. Not a terrible song.

[Peter Rosenberg]

More than not great.

[Alan Hahn]

It's not great.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, in retrospect, it's my prerogative, man.

[Don La Greca]

Was that on the album?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like, don't be Cool.

[Alan Hahn]

Don't Be Cool was a better song.

[Don La Greca]

But. But don't be just. That's corn. Poems.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, no, Bobby was. Yeah, the.

[Alan Hahn]

But my prerogative was really, like, kind of goofy.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I. I loved it at the time, but again, it's the same as Bon Jo.

[Alan Hahn]

It gets. It gets worse. Every rose has its thorn. Poison.

[Peter Rosenberg]

By the way, every stop. Now we're into. I stop. I was eight.

[Don La Greca]

Poison made me sick. I'd rather take Poison.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, it's horrible.

[Alan Hahn]

Paula Abdul, straight up.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But this is the best year of Music I've ever heard in my life.

[Don La Greca]

You know what's interesting though? Like, disgusted by it when it came out, but that I do like it now, cuz I can appreciate it more. Straight up.

[Alan Hahn]

Straight up, yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, straight up.

[Alan Hahn]

Miss you much, Janet Jackson.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right, now we're having.

[Alan Hahn]

It's okay.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, no, no. We're having a conversation about these.

[Don La Greca]

The biggest songs.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But I'm just saying miss you much

[Alan Hahn]

is at least its own thing. It's well produced. Big year for Paul. Forever your girl Cold hearted oh, that

[Peter Rosenberg]

you want he don't play by rules get worse girl, don't play the fool

[Alan Hahn]

He's a lover boy at play

[Peter Rosenberg]

I was in love with Janet. This is what I was in love with. Janet, Paul, Abdullah, Madonna, all at the same time.

[Alan Hahn]

I understand. I'm 10 years old. Were you in love with Bette Midler?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Win beneath my wings.

[Alan Hahn]

Win beneath my.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean, listen, it is what it is.

[Don La Greca]

It's.

[Alan Hahn]

And then let's top it off. I'll end it.

[Don La Greca]

Beaches, right?

[Alan Hahn]

Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's a big song.

[Alan Hahn]

I will.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That song. That song did well for me.

[Don La Greca]

I like it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, it's hard.

[Don La Greca]

At the time I didn't. But I look back.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, it's. It's a. It's a moving song.

[Alan Hahn]

Here you go. This is all you need to know, girl, you know it's true.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's. That's tough.

[Don La Greca]

That's. The whole thing's tough.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That. The whole thing. Stuff. I would.

[Don La Greca]

What is that, two?

[Alan Hahn]

That's. Well, that's number eight for the year. But there's. It gets uglier and uglier. But I'm not going to bore you anymore.

[Don La Greca]

Please.

[Alan Hahn]

All I know is that the examples that are in this list. This will make you quit music. This will make you quit music. I'm good. I will say I think music's awful and I'm never listening to it again.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's all. 89.

[Alan Hahn]

89.

[Don La Greca]

That's. This is when I was like, you know, hip deep into like thrash metal and everything is like. I had to count.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, that's why it's able to exist, because of how poppy the pop was.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah. But I need to let you know, just like the New Jersey Devils protect their home ice.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay.

[Don La Greca]

Viking Pest Control protects your home. Sure. And I know because I use Viking at my own place as the pest control provider and proud partner of the New Jersey devils. Viking brings 45 years of trusted experience and expert service to keep ants, cockroaches, stinging insects, rodents and even mosquitoes out of Your zone. Their local team builds a personalized game plan that actually works. And when you bundle pest control and mosquito services, you score big savings. I did this myself. One call, one company, total peace of mind, not to worry about anything. Vikingpestcontrol.com protecting your home and inside and out. It's getting that time of year, guys. So you want to make sure that you are protected. 1-800-919-3776 let's squeeze in a couple of calls before E and N and let's go to. Hey, our friend Jay Scott in Daytona Beach. You're on ESPN New York. How are you, buddy?

[Bob Costas]

Good evening, gentlemen.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Hey, Jay Scott.

[Bob Costas]

How art thou, huh? Solid show per usual, boys.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Thank you.

[Don La Greca]

I want to weigh in on your guys's debts concept here.

[Alan Hahn]

Sure.

[Bob Costas]

If you had the draft capital that the jets have, why wouldn't you go

[Don La Greca]

full blown counterpart of your city, AKA New York knits and go Mel Bridge

[Bob Costas]

style and trade the five ticks to

[Don La Greca]

get a solidified decent quarterback. And if you could possibly do that, what tier level quarterback conundrums?

[Bob Costas]

A five first round pick trade, you

[Don La Greca]

know, a Patrick Mahomes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You.

[Don La Greca]

You said it yourself. Well, what was the word you used to describe the quarterback? I. I need franchise brother.

[Alan Hahn]

No. Yeah, I think that's what Don's saying.

[Bob Costas]

If I. If I first get Patrick Holmes and they're not on the phone already.

[Don La Greca]

The thing is these. To me it's a great question, but it's all reindeer games. I don't know what Muji's thinking about these guys, but all I know is, and I keep always using this example, Ernie. Of course he believed that Eli was the next great quarterback and he was going to get him no matter what. He would have settled for Roethlisberger, he would have settled for Philip Rivers. But he wanted Eli. If you have that kind of conviction, nothing should stop you. Because if he does turn out to be Patrick Mahomes, you'll be kicking yourself. You won't be thinking about those stupid picks. The Giants won two Super Bowls. You think they're worried about Sean Merriamman? They could have Sean Merriam. Who cares, right? Nate Kading. They could have Nick Kading, one of the best kickers at the time. Who cares?

[Alan Hahn]

They believed in who they wanted.

[Don La Greca]

But I don't know. But this idea, maybe we get a decent quarterback. You have to love Mendoza.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's, it's.

[Don La Greca]

And I don't know anybody could love Mendoza. But you know what?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Do it.

[Alan Hahn]

To get the number one pick and to get the Raiders to. To say, you know, we could get a lot of draft picks and this guy, you know, we could do better at quarterback. You have to make the call at least see what would it say?

[Don La Greca]

Is there any world even if you completely disrespect the Raiders? And why wouldn't you? They're a terrible team, right? Poorly run.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, but they have Tom Brady.

[Don La Greca]

But they don't have a quarterback.

[Alan Hahn]

No, they don't.

[Don La Greca]

And if they pass on a quarterback, can you imagine an NFL team passing on a quarterback that you think is the next great thing? Or does everybody kind of collectively know this is.

[Alan Hahn]

I think everybody knows, you know, if

[Don La Greca]

they have a quarterback, then that's a different story. If this was Tennessee. So, you know, but really, one NFL team you're going to pass and another one has a complete 180 feeling on a quarterback. Yeah, I guess it's possible it is

[Alan Hahn]

when you have like one poorly run organization and one well run organization.

[Don La Greca]

But you do have two teams that one's poorly run and one we don't know history tells you. Yeah, probably not going to go well.

[Alan Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast. I don't want to know how the 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. It's a season two playoff race with TGL.

[Commercial Announcer]

Presented by SoFi.

[Alan Hahn]

Sunday at 9pm Eastern Jupiter Links versus Boston Common Golf Monday at 7pm Eastern Los Angeles Golf Club versus New York Golf Club Tuesday at 9pm Eastern the Bay Golf Club versus Jupiter Links.

[Commercial Announcer]

Keep up.

[Alan Hahn]

It's Golf Watch on ESPN ESPN2 and the ESPN Applied.