Hour 3: Close is Not Enough

Summary

---

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg — Hour 3: Close is Not Enough

Podcast Date: September 24, 2025
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Network: ESPN New York

---

Episode Overview

In this episode, Don, Hahn & Rosenberg dive into the emotional rollercoaster of being a New York baseball fan in late September. The hosts debate what it truly means to "be a fan" — is it blind hope or honest criticism? Using the recent performances (and collapses) of the Mets and Yankees, the crew examines the concepts of hope, joy, accountability, and the dangers of "fool's gold" in sports. The show weaves in listener calls and playful banter about upcoming events (notably the ESPN New York Couchcast), blending passionate sports debate with classic sports radio camaraderie.

---

Key Discussion Points

1. The Mets and Yankees: From Disaster to Destiny?

• Mets Comeback Sparks Hope: The Mets staged their first comeback from five or more runs down in 80 games, reigniting hope among fans and the hosts.
  • Impact: This rare win leads to renewed belief in a potential playoff run, despite months of poor play.
• Yankees Suddenly in the Mix: Yankees, left for dead in the division race, are now only one game behind the Blue Jays.
• Fans' Emotional Whiplash: The hosts highlight how quickly fan sentiment shifts after even one win, reflecting the eternal optimism and frustration unique to New York fandom.

---

Memorable Quote:

• “They pull me back in.” — Allen, reacting to the Mets comeback win ([00:52–01:37])

---

2. What Does It Mean to Be a Real Fan?

Complaint vs. Hope

• The Right to Critique: The hosts argue that being a critical fan — pointing out flaws, expressing frustration during slumps — is not disloyalty, but part of the experience.
  • Allen: "If I can't complain about my team losing eight in a row... then what are we doing? Why am I watching?" ([04:11])
• Is Blind Hope Required?: The show pushes back against the idea that “real fans” must always believe, even when evidence says otherwise.
  • Don: "The thing about being a fan is going through the ups and downs. ...when you see the worst, you appreciate the best.” ([08:20])

The Dangers of ‘Fool’s Gold’

• Miracle Runs Can Deceive: Don and Allen caution that a late-season surge can mask deeper organizational flaws, leading to years of disappointment if changes aren’t made.
  • Don: “What did they accomplish, Don? What have they accomplished? They took a step back as a franchise this year...” ([07:36])
  • Allen: “I’m tired of the runs. I want to start seeing a team that could consistently win.” ([10:43])

---

Notable Quote:

• "Winning is the best deodorant." — Don ([11:56])

---

3. Accountability in Sports

• Holding Teams Responsible: The hosts stress that fan accountability is how organizations are pressured to improve—even after a run.

  • Don: “How do you exact change by just...cheer for our team. ...You really think that’s going to do anything to a franchise? … You have every right to hold the franchise accountable. As a fan, that’s what you do.” ([11:23])

• Past Examples Used: The 1973 Mets’ “miracle run” is cited as a caution—near-misses can lead to complacency and longer-term failure if flaws aren't addressed.

  • Allen: “They doubled down on a team that really wasn’t that good, and that led to literally a decade of awful baseball because they didn’t fix the problem...” ([12:06])

---

4. Listener Calls & Community Voice

• Caller ‘Al’ (Bronx): Defends embracing both criticism and celebration as a fan; argues that joyless sports-watching is pointless and that expecting perfection is unrealistic. ([16:36])

  • Al: “We need to stop with the joyless sports. Watching ... everything doesn’t have to be a complaint. … The baseball season goes in ebbs and flows.”

• Allen and Don Respond: Agree that some critique is necessary, but push back on normalizing complete collapses as “just ebbs and flows.”

  • Allen: “It can’t be a roller coaster.” ([18:08])

---

5. Meta-Sports Radio: Banter & Upcoming Events

Couchcast Preparation & Banter

• Couchcast Preview: The team discusses the upcoming Monday Night Football Couchcast — who will be the most annoying, how the format will work, and what food will be served.

  • Allen jokes: “As a quality talk show host... I had to name somebody [most annoying].” (Implying either Don or Alan, with plenty of light-hearted ribbing) ([25:07])
  • Peter: “If anyone...tries to take it seriously...they’re getting booted off the couch!” ([30:04])

• Food Tangents: Extended debate on party food, regional sandwich names (the “American hero”), and favorite menu items at Jacob’s Pickles.

  • Peter describes a chicken sandwich with sausage gravy: “...a huge biscuit sliced open with two gigantic pieces of fried chicken breast on it. ...You have a side of sausage or mushroom gravy...” ([35:52])
  • Don, on deviled eggs: “Anybody bringing deviled eggs to this Couchcast... by the second half we clear out.” ([36:58])

---

6. Additional Listener Discussions

• Long Island Danny asks: Who would Peter least want to sit between at the Couchcast? Peter responds diplomatically, but jokes about space between large co-hosts. ([39:57])
• Fan Frustration with Mets Pitching: Callers analyze the failed pitching reclamation projects; Allen and Don reflect that you “can’t keep having reclamation projects”—sometimes you need to build a stable roster instead of patching holes. ([42:22])
• Quick Hits: Talk about former Jets coach Lou Holtz’s infamous quote and brief, troubled tenure; nostalgia for old NFL quirks like the Bucs’ Saturday night games due to Florida heat.

---

Notable Quotes (with Timestamps & Attribution)

• “They pull me back in.” — Allen, reflecting on being drawn into Mets optimism ([01:37])
• "If I can’t complain about my team losing eight in a row... then what are we doing? Why am I watching?” — Allen ([04:11])
• "The thing about being a fan is going through the ups and downs. ...when you see the worst, you appreciate the best.” — Don ([08:20])
• "Winning is the best deodorant." — Don ([11:56])
• “They doubled down on a team that really wasn’t that good, and that led to literally a decade of awful baseball because they didn’t fix the problem...” — Allen ([12:06])
• “Anybody bringing deviled eggs to this Couchcast... by the second half we clear out.” — Don ([36:58])
• “If anyone...tries to take it seriously...they’re getting booted off the couch!” — Peter ([30:04])

---

Key Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | |----------------|------------------------------------------------------| | 00:52–01:37 | Mets comeback, renewed optimism | | 04:11–05:17 | Allen’s rant on the right to complain as a fan | | 07:36–09:06 | Discussing ‘fool’s gold’ and what was really achieved| | 11:23–12:06 | How fans create accountability, miracle runs | | 16:36–19:42 | Caller Al on "joyless sports-watching" | | 25:07–30:09 | Couchcast most annoying host debate & rules | | 35:52–36:58 | Jacob’s Pickles food segment | | 39:57–43:20 | Listener challenge: Mets pitching and team building | | 44:07–48:12 | Lou Holtz, NFL historical quirks |

---

Episode Tone

The tone is classic New York sports talk: passionate, candid, sardonic, sometimes exasperated, but always rooted in love for the game and the city. The hosts are unapologetically critical (when warranted), never shying from hard truths, but their camaraderie and wit keep the episode lively and fun.

---

Takeaways

• Being a fan is about investing emotionally, which means you get to celebrate and complain — neither makes you “less of a fan.”
• Caution against allowing late-season runs or miracle moments to justify complacency; organizations and fans need to hold teams accountable for sustained success.
• Sports radio thrives on debate, self-reflection, and a shared (if tortured) optimism.
• The Couchcast promises chaos, strong personalities, playful ribbing, and, most importantly, plenty of food.

---

Transcript

[Don Hahn]

I'm NFL linebacker TJ Watt and this is my personal best. YPB by Abercrombie is the activewear I'm always wearing. That's why I reached out to co design their latest drop. I worked with designers to create high performance activewear that holds up to my toughest workouts. Shop YPB by Abercrombie in store, online and in the app because your personal best is greater than any. This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Allen]

That sounds like heaven to me.

[Don Hahn]

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

[Allen]

Game time is brought to you by Tullamore. Do Irish Whiskey because when it's game.

[Peter]

Time, it's Tolly time. It's tolly time.

[Allen]

Mets Cubs after Dan Grassa at 7:20 right here on 880 while the Yankees continue their series. The White Sox at the stadium at 7:05 and NYC FC takes on Miami FC at Citi Field at 7:30. Tullamore due. The original triple distilled, triple blended and triple cast mature at Iris Whiskey. Be sure to grab a Tullamore Du. Try the new Tullamore Du honey. During today's action, glasses up to enjoying Tullamore due responsibly. So the Mets have their first comeback from five or more runs down since 23. That's like 80 consecutive games that they were down by five runs. Didn't come back and win again until last night. And so it's giving you that, that tingly magic feeling again, right? Like here it comes just at the right time.

[Don Hahn]

Look at you.

[Allen]

Starting to happen. They pull me back in and the Reds lose to the lowly Pirates. So you got the game lead on the Reds, game lead on the Diamondbacks, and you're back to controlling your own destiny. And the Yankees, when it looked like no hope of winning the division, now are just a game back of the Blue Jays who are playing the Red Sox. And the Blue Jays have not been good over the last few weeks and the Yankees have taken on the White Sox. The White Sox getting a game was supposed to be last night. Yankees were awful and they, that was a boring game.

[Don Hahn]

It was, it was eight innings.

[Allen]

It was boring. And. But the heel was all right.

[Don Hahn]

Gave up the, you know, again, they gave up the tour and home run. That's when you're like, oh my God, like they're going to lose this freaking game.

[Allen]

And then. But first two runners get on in the ninth and then Bishop hits into the double play and you're thinking, oh they're going to leave. They're going to leave the tying run at third. They walk Judge, which is the right thing to do. And then the wild pitch to Bellinger ties the game.

[Don Hahn]

Bellinger, great at bat. He's so. I'm telling you, he's so good.

[Allen]

He's very, very good.

[Don Hahn]

You don't. I don't think he's appreciated nearly enough. He's really good.

[Allen]

And. And so the Yankees win, and now they're just a game back, and I'm listening to Michael K in a car, and Michael's like, wow, how do you feel? All those Yankee fans were killing the Yankees for looking terrible. Killing the Yankees, that they had no chance to win the division. Fire Cashmere. Fire Boone. I hope they lose out. How you feel now? Then he says, met fans. How you feel now? Thought the season was over. They lost eight in a row. They're going to choke it away, which they still may. Well, how are you going to feel if this team gets in the playoffs, makes another run? What are you going to say then? Well, what you're saying then. I wanted to call Michael, but I always feel weird calling shows because then you feel obligated to go on like, no, because, like, Michael doesn't mean maybe doesn't want to talk to me, but he's not gonna tell me no. Like. So I feel like I'm infiltrating this. I called the morning show the other day. I got a complete vibe that that was the last thing they want.

[Don Hahn]

Really?

[Allen]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

What'd you call him?

[Allen]

No. Well, I missed it.

[Don Hahn]

I used to.

[Allen]

Not because they don't like me, but they loved it. It was close to break, so they. They had to have me on hold. And then it was the last segment of the show they didn't want.

[Don Hahn]

Problem. That's the problem. They got to do their three thing or whatever it is.

[Allen]

Text Rick, can I call? And he said yes. So I asked, but that's the last person to ask because he. I'm sure he doesn't know clock and everything. I should have text Dave, and Dave probably would have said yes, but it would have been awkward.

[Don Hahn]

Mm.

[Allen]

It was something about the Giants and. And it was before Dart was named the starting quarterback, whatever. But I wanted to call into Michael. So. Michael, what you're telling me is the regular season doesn't mean it. And just. Let's just. I'll get up on September 30th, see if my team's in the playoffs. If they are, we'll have fun. If they're not, hey, I saved myself some anguish. That's what you're telling me. Because if I can't complain about my team losing eight in a row down the stretch, if I can't complain about my team going from 21 games above.500 to a 1.4 bowling four games over, then what are we doing? Why am I watching? So I got to apologize to the Mets if they go on a run that I ripped them when they lost eight in a row. Like a Yankee fan supposed to apologize to Cashman and Boone when this team looked like they couldn't get out of their own way. They couldn't field, they couldn't move runners, they couldn't run bases. They look like a joke. But now they got hot and now I'm. What, I'm supposed to apologize. Then explain to me what that philosophy. I'm yelling. I shouldn't because of my voice, but it's really. I'm yelling at Michael of. So what you're saying is, Michael, the 135 games you do on. Yes, don't even bother watching. Yankees are probably going to go to the playoffs. So I'll just turn it on. Because if I can't evaluate in real time what's going on, wait until October. Then what am I wasting my time for?

[Don Hahn]

I'm with you. And I don't. I don't think that's the right way to tell people how to fan. First and foremost, because you're watching it, you're going with them throughout this journey of a regular season, you're learning more and more about your team. And if they go on stretches like both of these teams have gone on, you do reach a point where you start saying, I remember I told you, I kept using what phrase? It doesn't look right.

[Allen]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

Right. It doesn't look right. And that was in June. And people were telling me, you're overreacting, but something doesn't look right. And so then it got really bad. It got bad. But I also think there's a bit of fool's gold happening right now because for the. Like, what are you supposed to believe the majority of literally a half a season of baseball? The Mets were one of the worst teams in the sport.

[Allen]

They were right.

[Don Hahn]

They were one of the worst. So you're. That's. That's a bigger sample size than a comeback win last night that suddenly pulls you back in. So the Mets are going to circle the drain all the way to the last game of the regular season, but get in because they're not nearly as Pathetic as the teams below them in the standings that by the way, in July, quit on the season, pulled the plug. So they're going to get in with one, let's say by one game and they're going to celebrate in pop champagne. And because as a fan, your team achieved something, they made the playoffs. So you're going to have this feeling of, I believe now the four letter word hope. But that's kind of fool's gold because you're ignoring what they have been for the majority of the end of the season and this idea that, hey, what if they get hot? What if they figure it out? The problem is there's no evidence that that's going to happen. None. But you're being told, fold your hands, keep it on the desk, say nothing and let it unfold, and hope that it just suddenly miraculously turns around, that your bullpen suddenly can get guys out, that you're starting pitching, can get out of the fourth inning, that the bottom of your order can actually produce something. All those things don't exist with the Mets, but because they're going to clinch a playoff spot, put on a T shirt that says ready for October and pop champagne in a clubhouse in the next couple of days, you're going to have this sense, this feeling of accomplishment. What did they accomplish, Don? What have they accomplished? They took a step back as a.

[Allen]

Franchise this year and. But they might make a run.

[Don Hahn]

What's this might.

[Allen]

They might make a run, might lose.

[Don Hahn]

Two games in the wild card and call it a day.

[Allen]

But, but the idea is if they do make a run, so, So I guess the way to fan, as Michael is saying, is I'm always supposed to believe, even when I don't believe.

[Don Hahn]

But that's not what a fan does, right?

[Allen]

I'm supposed to just believe. But no, but see, that's what's interesting.

[Don Hahn]

You always hold out.

[Allen]

No, but you just said something very, very interesting. A fan supposed to have hope. So I'm a bad fan. If I realistically look at a team that I say I don't think this team's winning, but I'm supposed to just, oh, I still believe that. Just sad that just that's. I can't do that.

[Don Hahn]

The guy you call out is the one that sees the team going bad and jumps ship, right? Pulls the chute on the season, I'm not watching anymore. But then in September when they clinch, I'm going to watch. Now, that's the guy you can call out because as I said, it's new addition. Can you Stand the rain. The thing about being a fan is going through the ups and downs. Going through the pain is seeing the worst.

[Peter]

That's the fan part.

[Don Hahn]

Yes. Because when you see the worst, you appreciate the best. That's the whole thing about it. So, yes, you stuck with it. Even though you were disgusted with how they played baseball over the last three months, you stay with it because that's.

[Allen]

What you do as a fan.

[Don Hahn]

And when the playoffs begin, you sit there and watch going, maybe something good can happen here. Waiting for it. But to say that I don't expect it, is not being a bad fan.

[Allen]

But, you know, B. Dilly says there's a huge difference between not being able to complain and fans. Call him in, Jude, and say the season is over. Well, but wait a minute. What I'm saying is I still watch the game.

[Don Hahn]

Yes.

[Allen]

Right. There was. There was video that I just. I didn't like the headline. Well, Don's giving up on the Mets. I gave up. I don't believe they're winning a championship. So make me a bad fan. If I look at that team and I say, I don't think this team's winning a champion, I'm going to watch every game and I'm going to root for them. And I hope to be wrong.

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Allen]

But that may be a bad. Am I supposed to sit there and go, I still believe, man. I still think they can do it to me, that just. That there's something wrong. If you're lying to yourself, that's not a fan. That's Pollyanna being a psycho.

[Don Hahn]

Yes.

[Allen]

Like I looked at last night, I was happy that they won the game, and I'm happy that they get. They took a step closer to the playoffs. But I could also be disappointed that David Peterson did make it out of the second inning. They don't have the starting pitching. I think. I think both could be true. I don't believe this team's gonna win a championship. I hope they do. But to sit there and make that I'm less of a fan because I call out the warts, that Allen's less of a fan, as he was accused of being earlier this year because he said something's wrong, I don't see it. Now, you did say you were checking out a little bit, but that was more as a talk show host, because the Mets at that time, you said that were playing bigger games and maybe were a bigger story at that particular moment, but you still. You're not.

[Don Hahn]

Did I say I was checking out on the Yankees?

[Allen]

Well, you. Yeah. Because you were saying about what's gonna be on the big screen and fans playing. Cause you're a Yankee fans.

[Don Hahn]

I was comparing it to other things I was watching. I thought the Mets were playing a significant role.

[Allen]

Anything wrong for a Met fan to sit there and still be critical of where this team is instead of, oh, you gotta believe.

[Don Hahn]

No, you gotta.

[Allen]

I'm calling it what it is. This is a flawed baseball team that's not supposed to be in this situation. Yes, they might be able to go on a run, but like I. The rant from last week that I had, I don't want to repeat myself, that I'm tired of the runs. I want to start seeing a team that could consistently win.

[Don Hahn]

Nobody likes to run.

[Peter]

The only, the only way, Don, the only way the run thing justifies itself is with the championship. And even then you might say, hey, I wish we didn't do it that way. But let's be honest, that happens.

[Don Hahn]

It doesn't matter, you know, it doesn't matter how you get there.

[Peter]

It doesn't matter how you got there, you got there. If they don't win, Don. But anything short of the actual World Series validates exactly what you're saying.

[Don Hahn]

But also, you have every right, though, to hold the franchise accountable. As a fan, that's what you do. That's exactly. How do you exact change by just every. We show up every year and cheer for our team. And if they don't win, get them next time, boys. Well, you really think that's going to do anything to a franchise and do nothing? Steve Cohen is a fan. You think he's sitting back going, everything's fine. Everything's great. He's not doing Kevin Bacon in front of the crowd, right? He's not doing that well.

[Allen]

That's why he knows that it's a problem if there are examples, Alan. If you win, all's forgiven, right?

[Don Hahn]

Of course.

[Allen]

But we have seen.

[Don Hahn]

Winning is the best deodorant we have seen.

[Allen]

When a team goes on a miracle run, it ends up doing more damage.

[Don Hahn]

Than good because you start buying into things that really aren't there.

[Allen]

We saw the 73 Mets go all the way to game seven of the world Series. If they had beaten the A's, if they, if, if they had not pitched, Tom Seaver on short rest in Game 6 won that, it would have been amazing. And nobody would have cared about how bad the rest of the decade was. But they didn't win. But they doubled down on a team that really wasn't that good and that led to literally a decade of awful baseball because they didn't, they didn't fix the problem, they didn't fix the glitch. Like this team is flawed. This team needs to make changes. But what ends up happening, and I'll root for it to happen, is they go on a run and then what I want is a good organization to say I went on a run, but I'm tired of this. We still have to fix it. Now, if you win the championship, different story. But these teams don't buy into being close. Rangers bought into being close. Hey, we're in the final four. Two out of three years.

[Don Hahn]

Sports purgatory.

[Allen]

Guess what?

[Don Hahn]

Oh, it's the worst.

[Allen]

You weren't that close. All the jets back to back championship games, we're close. You weren't that close. Knicks just went to the final four Conference final. What happened? They fired their coach. I give them credit, I guess. Good. They, they felt something needed to be fixed and they weren't going to allow the win against the Celtics and almost beating the Pacers into what they felt was the right thing to do. They might be wrong about it, but they didn't let the run cloud them. So let the Mets go on the run. I hope they go on the run, but hopefully Cohen and Stearns sees through all that and still makes the necessary changes because I'm tired of it. This team should be better, more consistently. Great Yankees, the same thing. They're a flawed team too. So if they don't win the championship, hopefully those issues will get addressed because if they're kicking the ball around in the postseason, Allen, nobody's going to care about your 90 plus wins. They're going to be care about 60 years in the postseason. So hopefully you see through. Let the fans get excited, but let the organization see through the pap of these miracle runs that aren't really reality because sometimes it's not the reality of who you really are.

[Don Hahn]

And isn't that kind of our job here too is to help open your eyes to some of the things that as fans you fall in love with and you just want to always believe and you want to have that blind faith. You know, I've had people say this to me where they don't like listening to sports talk radio because it's always so negative. You know, you really should just support the team. It's like, come on. No, what we're doing is we're showing you some things that maybe you aren't seeing because as a fan you just want to always believe good things are going to happen. And we're trying to explain to you why maybe this is fool's gold. And I'll. I'll say it one more time. The Mets will clinch a playoff spot some sometime this week. And it will. It'll be the. What do you guys used to say? I wash. Right. It'll. It'll be that for. For what has been a really bad second half of this season. But you'll feel like you achieved something when in June you weren't saying to yourself, boy, I hope we squeak in on the last day of the regular season. You're not saying that what you were doing in June made you believe you can get to a World Series. Remember, they already played the Dodgers twice. I mean they can handle the Dodgers like they like now it's just the Phillies. How can they do with the Phillies? Well, we know they can beat the Phillies. You really started to believe they could be a team that gets to the World Series. That's how well they were playing. So what they are now is way below the standard of what you expected. But because it feels like an achievement, you will celebrate it. And then that four letter word hope comes back and then you just want to see what's the matchups and all. But the Mets have not given you enough evidence over the course of the second half of this season to believe there is a run in them if they somehow do it. That's the magic you keep talking about that you can't stand.

[Allen]

Yeah, but those are.

[Don Hahn]

That would be.

[Allen]

They usually don't result in championships. What they result is masking the true problems that you're.

[Peter]

Don't worry. Let me just point this out. Don't worry. This conversation will change tonight when they are terrible again. And this is literally. This happens after one exciting victory.

[Don Hahn]

You call it. People start going, well, are you calling it?

[Allen]

Call it.

[Don Hahn]

Are you calling it? He's calling it.

[Allen]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

It's not.

[Peter]

It's not. It's not going to continue.

[Don Hahn]

Wow.

[Peter]

That's not happening this year. I'm sorry. I hope I'm dead wrong. I hope they don't lose another game. I hope he doesn't play and I hope they win everything. But I'm not feeling it.

[Allen]

I like that. That was good.

[Peter]

The impression.

[Don Hahn]

That was a very good impression.

[Peter]

I've heard it many times.

[Allen]

Let's go to Al in the Bronx. You're on espn, New York. What's up, Al?

[Caller Al]

Hey, what's going on, fellas? Person first. Let me start off by saying, Don, you're my sports uncle. I hate to have to get on.

[Allen]

You okay?

[Caller Al]

Only person I've been hearing on radio long longer than Michael is you. I'm talking about the other radio station with Imus in the morning, back in the days, and Steve Summer hosting overnights, I'm still forever. But you guys gotta calm down. I mean, you guys are actually making a point that people should be able to complain and then making the point that people shouldn't be able to celebrate. The baseball season goes in. Ebbs and flows. You have these ups and downs. As a fan, you know, I'm 50 years old, been a Yankee fan for 42 years. I understand baseball perfectly. And I don't have starry eyes. Allen, this one is for you. We need to stop with the joyless sports. Watching everything doesn't have to be a complaint. I get frustrated when I see bad baseball. I get upset. But I'm not gonna, you know, just constantly pile on the team. And then when we go to pop champagne, I'm saying it's a bad thing. People don't win championships like that anymore. You know, every year. One more thing and I'll let you guys go. Tell me the teams in baseball over the last 15 years that were good from start to finish and won the World Series. Thanks. I'll let you guys go.

[Allen]

But. Okay, but we're not talking about a team that had ebbs and flows. We're talking about a Met team.

[Don Hahn]

Weren't the Dodgers that last year that.

[Allen]

Went from the best in baseball to almost the worst in baseball in the second half of the season? Yeah, I understand there's ebbs and flows.

[Don Hahn]

That's not an ebb and flow.

[Allen]

Hey, listen, Philadelphia lost. That's a collapse. Well, the Tigers in the season. Listen, the Tigers are going to blow it. So what do they. When the season's over, are they gonna look in the mirror and say, we need to be better, we need to get more depth in our. In our bullpen? Or are they gonna say, ah, just ebbs and flows. We just unfortunately got cold at the wrong time. There's gonna be ebbs and flows. I get it. But you can't have huge spikes where it's the Empire State Building and then you're in hell. And then you jump back up to the Empire State Building in. And then you're in hell. It can't be a roller coaster. There's ebbs and flows. I get it. You're on the ocean, and sometimes you're a little up and sometimes you're a little down, but it can't be falling. Off a cliff and then climbing back up the mountain just to fall down the cliff again. And that's what the Mets have done. June 12, best team in baseball the rest of the way, fourth worst team in baseball. That's not ebbs and flows, man. Al. Sorry. And if my team is in a pennant race trying to win the division and that's to settle for a wild card because of an eight game losing streak, I should be allowed to complain about it. I should be allowed to moan and groan about that.

[Don Hahn]

Well, let me add too, it's not joyless sports watching, it's to me, I watched this team. And last year getting to a World Series was a lot of fun. There was nothing joyless about that. I wasn't with you guys then. So on the show I did previous, I had a great time during that run. The problem was, is that how it ended and what it looked like. And knowing going into this season, because I've seen teams do this in my many years of watching sports, not just covering, but watching, is that usually these teams are the ones that come back with a chip on their shoulder. A little pissed off.

[Allen]

Mm.

[Don Hahn]

Because we're embarrassed about what happened in the World Series and you don't want that stuff to come back again and you make sure it doesn't. And then we got to June and what happened. That stuff started creeping back into them and that's the part that, that turned me off because I thought, oh no, you cannot become that team again. And then for a block of games they did now, the Yankees had a great 12 game run. I think if I'm not mistaken, I was on record of saying these 12 games against all contenders. I want to see how they do. I'm excited about this block of games because this will tell me a lot about this team. They came out of it seven and five. We were hoping for eight wins. Seven and five, fine. But that was, to me, that is what got them back on track. And now, of course, what you want to see is how they carry it forward. But I'm not celebrating after nine times in the last 10 years of making the playoffs, I'm not celebrating just making the playoffs.

[Allen]

And also if you don't win the division and you get bounced early, how's that celebration going to look?

[Don Hahn]

Exactly. It's not what we're here for.

[Allen]

And if you do, and if you do come back and beat the Blue Jays and win the division, you'll celebrate. And then when you win in the divisional round, I promise you, if they.

[Don Hahn]

Come back and win the division by Monday.

[Allen]

I'll be celebrating something was actually accomplished. Yes, There's a lot of reasons why people buy at Ramsey Mazda. It's election, it's their customer service and it's their savings. 1.9 financing on a new Mazda 2025 CX50 released for 249 for 33 months. Start shopping now at Ramsey Mazda.com choose wisely. Choose Ramsey Mazda. Call 833-853-2970 for lease details then SN 354688 MSRP 3020009450 Security Deposit APR 17.48 cents per 1000 finance it ends 93025.

[Peter]

This is an ad by BetterHelp. We all turn to some funny places for support, but not everyone is a therapist. Not everyone is the one Find your right match with betterhelp betterhelp does the initial matching work for you so you can focus on your therapy goals. A short questionnaire helps identify your needs and preferences and their 10 plus years of experience and industry leading match fulfillment rate means they typically get it right the first time. If you aren't happy with with your match, switch to a different therapist at any time. From their tailored racks, you can join a session with a therapist at the click of a button, helping you fit therapy into your busy life. Plus switch therapists at any time. As the largest online therapy provider in the world, BetterHelp can provide access to mental health professionals with a diverse variety of Expertise. Find the one with BetterHelp our listeners get 10% off their first month at betterhelp.com timeout that's betterhelp.com timeout.

[Allen]

When did.

[Don Hahn]

Making plans get this complicated?

[Allen]

It's time to streamline with WhatsApp, the secure messaging app that brings the whole group together.

[Don Hahn]

Use polls to settle dinner plans, send event invites and pin messages so no.

[Allen]

One forgets mom 60th and never miss a meeting or milestone. All protected with end to end encryption.

[Don Hahn]

It's time for WhatsApp message privately with everyone.

[Allen]

Learn [e-mail] this episode is brought to.

[Don Hahn]

You by State Farm.

[Allen]

Checking off the boxes on your to do list is a great feeling. And when it comes to checking off coverage, a State Farm agent can help you choose an option that's right for you. Whether you prefer talking in person, on the phone or using the award winning app, it's nice knowing you have help finding coverage that best fits your needs. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.

[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don Hahn]

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

[Allen]

Get ready for the new Monday Night Football experience with the ESPN New York Couchcast, when the jets take on the Dolphins for the Week 4 divisional matchup. Settling on the couch and join the alt cast with all of your favorite ESPN New York personalities for instant reaction, unfiltered commentary and behind the mic banter. Stream live on our YouTube page. From kickoff to the final whistle, Grab your snacks and watch the game with the pros. It's the ESPN New York Couchcast, presented by Calandra's Bakery, Jacob's Pickles and driven by the All American Ford group, the number one Ford group in the tri state area. Shop all American Ford group dot com. That's coming up Monday, September 29th. This Monday, right around the corner, starting at seven on ESPN New York YouTube channel. Really looking forward to it. Rick reached out to Alan to confirm that the reason there was also awkwardness when I called the morning show is because I. My line dropped, which I felt disgusted about.

[Don Hahn]

Well, that's a big problem. No wonder why it was awkward. I mean, when you drop that, the show's almost over. You call in now, your line drops out. What do we do there?

[Peter]

You know what Don would do? Alan in reverse.

[Allen]

That's an.

[Don Hahn]

I'm good. Well, you might be banned from the morning show. I'm just saying.

[Allen]

Well, banned is strong now. And just because I'm not scared of anybody. Okay.

[Don Hahn]

They asked me, I'm not as scared.

[Allen]

Who is going to be the most irritating person on the couch cast? They asked me that.

[Don Hahn]

And your answer?

[Allen]

You. Let's listen.

[Peter]

Who do you think will be the.

[Allen]

Most annoying at the Couchcast on Monday night?

[Caller Al]

Most annoying on the couch cast?

[Allen]

Alan. Oh.

[Don Hahn]

Why?

[Allen]

Well, because Alan's a Jet fan, right? Rick's a Jet. And I just can find. No, I know, but I. I just have a feeling of the two, Alan will be a little bit more annoying. Interesting, because I think Rick will be a fan. I think. I think Alan's gonna break it down.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, God.

[Allen]

And that.

[Caller Al]

That'll be annoying to me.

[Don Hahn]

That'll be.

[Allen]

When you say break it down now.

[Don Hahn]

You mean I'm gonna go into it analysis mode.

[Peter]

I thought you were just gonna say Alan's gonna talk the whole time. No one else could get a word.

[Don Hahn]

Which is very possible.

[Allen]

No, because here, that's. And then. And then my line dropped, so they accused you of cutting my line.

[Peter]

That's. That's strong.

[Allen]

And then they Said that this is gonna be awkward for you on the show, but yesterday's show was crazy. I was here, then I had to drive to the Rock and we weren't together and In Greenie was on. So it was kind of a wacky show. So I figured I'd bring it up. And the reason I said that is because. And see if you follow me, Peter. This is going to be fun, right? It's going to be a fun good time. And Rick is a fun guy. And you, Alan, as a Jet fan, are not fun. You're fun. But I think you're going to. You're going to want to. I have a feeling that if anybody breaks it down, it'll be you.

[Don Hahn]

Breaks it down.

[Allen]

Yeah. Because you're a fan and you and your run. Running point on this, if I'm not mistaken. Right.

[Don Hahn]

I mean, that's a suggestion. I can't imagine with all these personalities anybody's gonna be in any kind of control.

[Allen]

I had to answer a question.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Allen]

And as a quality talk show host, I won't say good, but quality.

[Don Hahn]

Right. You chose.

[Allen]

I had to name somebody.

[Don Hahn]

You chose violence.

[Allen]

Peter, I'm not asking you to back me up or agree. I'm just saying, do you see where I'm coming from?

[Peter]

Oh, no, I agree. I think he will be the most annoying. Let me go over the list here. Hold on. Let me go over who's gonna be on it. You got me. Got me. I definitely won't be the most annoying. I'll check out by halftime.

[Don Hahn]

Halftime, sure.

[Peter]

You're right. You're late in the second quarter.

[Don Hahn]

Your phone battery might be dead by the end of the first quarter.

[Peter]

So, okay, so you have. You have me. I don't think Michael will be bad. I think, you know, him and Rick will do their little thing for a.

[Don Hahn]

While, but they'll canoodle.

[Peter]

Yeah, they'll canoodle, but won't be crazy. Now, Dave could be annoying if. Because we're going to see him in the flesh, this game has no meaning for him at all. And if he is somehow, like, really over the top attentive, I will find that annoying. Like, if we really see that he cares that much about a Dolphins, that would be annoying. Yes, that could be annoying. I can't see Carlin being annoying.

[Don Hahn]

He'll be funny. He'll be entertaining.

[Allen]

But I had to answer.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, yeah.

[Allen]

Not that you're annoying, but who's potentially the most annoying?

[Peter]

By the way, it's between you two. I think you two. Don and Al. And it's for the same reason there's a chance that you two don't let anyone else get a word in. It becomes. It's like, this is the new ABC booth. It's Don and Allen, and everyone else is fighting to be the side. I just want to be OJ I'm fighting to be on the sideline with the isotope.

[Don Hahn]

You know, I think Don and I both would love for you to be OJ what do you mean? But I. I take that so many ways.

[Allen]

Only one way you should take this to be.

[Don Hahn]

To be. To be honest, I am the guy that did fully admit that I am not emotionally involved in this season whatsoever. Right.

[Allen]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

So I honestly, like, I've thought about this couch case. Like, what are we supposed to do? It's a camera on a lot of very, very egotistical people. Like, a lot of narcissists all sitting on a couch. Oh, my God, you think so? So I can imagine the performative things that will be happening throughout this thing. There really won't be a place for someone to sit there going, like, why you throwing it there? Come on, get. Like. Nobody's doing that. Me especially, because I don't care. I honestly don't.

[Allen]

I know. But.

[Don Hahn]

But.

[Allen]

But how about this?

[Don Hahn]

And I'm not gonna. I'm not gonna go play by play, because I don't think they're good.

[Allen]

No. When you make. You're not laugh now. You won't let me. If it were to go off the.

[Don Hahn]

Rails, which it will. I promise you, this is going off the rails.

[Allen]

Of all of us, who's the one that's most likely to try to rein it back? It would probably be you.

[Peter]

I don't think so. No, I disagree.

[Allen]

Michael's gonna be. You know, I love off the rails.

[Peter]

Alan loves off the rails.

[Don Hahn]

Five years I did with Bart Scott.

[Allen]

Well, yeah, Alan.

[Don Hahn]

HR Called me three times a week.

[Allen]

I love off the rails when there's no way to get it back on the rails.

[Peter]

But that's. That's the point.

[Don Hahn]

No reason.

[Peter]

Why does he need to get it back on the rails for our couch cast.

[Don Hahn]

Thank you, Peter. It's a host.

[Peter]

This is great for Alan.

[Don Hahn]

This is what we want. We don't want any rails.

[Peter]

Yeah. What rail? If anyone. You want to hear annoying anyone who tries to take it seriously. Like, we're really not just.

[Don Hahn]

All right, let's get back to football. Whoever does that is getting booted off the couch.

[Peter]

By the way, we should have a way. You should get voted off the couch.

[Don Hahn]

Voted off the Couch penalty box or you get.

[Allen]

Now how much do you want to bet that the interactions.

[Don Hahn]

So you have a separate seat behind the couch. You got to sit in.

[Allen]

If you get kicked off the couch, penalty box. Now, I think there's going to be the reaction. Michael, do you think Volpe should be the starting shortstop for the Yankees? We got to stop that.

[Don Hahn]

Are we doing that?

[Allen]

They can probably Michael's case there. What are you going to be asking him? Should the jets go for it on fourth down?

[Don Hahn]

Why are we asking anything? Aren't we just going to watch it?

[Peter]

We're not doing it. This shows we're not doing it.

[Allen]

Wait a minute.

[Producer Anthony]

Chat will be involved.

[Allen]

Yeah, I just did the read. I just did right here.

[Producer Anthony]

There'll be questions. They'll be vetted. We'll pass them along to you guys.

[Peter]

They're going to be vetted. They're going to be vetted. And you see how well we vet things. Everything will be fine.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, yes. Very fine.

[Peter]

Anthony, are you vetting the questions?

[Producer Anthony]

Anthony, I don't believe that I'm going to be in charge of that, but if you'd like me to be, I can. I can do whatever you need me to do.

[Peter]

So who do you think would be doing that?

[Don Hahn]

Who's the question?

[Peter]

Vetter.

[Don Hahn]

I believe we're going to have promotion.

[Producer Anthony]

Staff is going to be a big part of this production.

[Don Hahn]

Great.

[Allen]

They're all then, you know what Very.

[Producer Anthony]

Two very different reactions.

[Peter]

That was hilarious.

[Allen]

They do. Yeah, but they love themselves some. Michael, if there's a Volpe question, they'll. They'll be sprinting to see who'd be the first person to give it to him.

[Peter]

Hey, Michael.

[Allen]

I know, I know it's football, but we got 715 questions about the Yankees postseason matchup.

[Producer Anthony]

I don't think non football questions are off the table. Somebody might want to know, Don, who's going to have the most goals for the Devils.

[Don Hahn]

But you know what I think we should do instead?

[Peter]

Save that too.

[Producer Anthony]

If it was a music question, Peter.

[Don Hahn]

Will be all over it.

[Peter]

Music's different.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Producer Anthony]

Oh, that's different.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. I just think we just react to stuff. Riff like whatever it is. I don't know.

[Allen]

I love the jets and the Steel Battles.

[Don Hahn]

Don't do.

[Allen]

Love them.

[Don Hahn]

Don't do that.

[Allen]

Love them.

[Don Hahn]

Don't do you on three pointer.

[Allen]

Can't. Can't go three because I already got a three.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, wow.

[Producer Anthony]

It's must be Thursday.

[Don Hahn]

It's not, though. Oh, you mean it must be Thursday's game.

[Allen]

Yeah. No, at Least I don't think it's Thursday.

[Producer Anthony]

No, I think you'd know if it was Thursday. You'd go from, I have no interest in this game till I have a lot of interest in this game.

[Don Hahn]

But in all. In all reality, while Don's looking up his game that he feels so good about that he doesn't even know what.

[Allen]

Day it's on, can we figure out what the format is?

[Don Hahn]

What's the format?

[Allen]

This is what's annoying.

[Producer Anthony]

What would you like to know?

[Allen]

Because when it goes off the rails, you think anybody's asking about format.

[Don Hahn]

I just was told we got to answer questions.

[Allen]

Nobody said, gotta we.

[Producer Anthony]

No, no, no.

[Allen]

This is what I want.

[Producer Anthony]

Look, we use the chat here, and they're awesome. Very lively right now. Steve Brzezinski's in it. I saw that.

[Don Hahn]

Stevie B.

[Allen]

He's drunk.

[Don Hahn]

Probably. Yeah, it's gone. It's 5:30.

[Peter]

Of course he is.

[Producer Anthony]

I think halftime is a appropriate time for YouTube questions.

[Peter]

I like it.

[Producer Anthony]

I think that's. I think that's a good opportunity. There could be impromptu lists that arise.

[Don Hahn]

I don't mind that. See, that's what I mean when I say format. I don't mean like a structure. I mean, like, throw out ideas of lists. Just random lists.

[Producer Anthony]

A wide receiver makes a catch in Miami. And we asked Dave where he went to college. He's very good at that.

[Allen]

Very good.

[Don Hahn]

That's not bad.

[Producer Anthony]

Like, that's. That's something that I'm really.

[Don Hahn]

An impromptu stump. Rothenberg versus Don Legreco.

[Producer Anthony]

I think that the YouTube chat would be great with something like that.

[Don Hahn]

Or us.

[Producer Anthony]

We're all very.

[Allen]

Am I wrong? Just. I'm praying this is an awful game because it'll be more fun, you know.

[Don Hahn]

It'S gonna be a terrible game because.

[Allen]

If it's compelling, Carlin's a little concerned.

[Producer Anthony]

About the food situation.

[Allen]

How can you. What?

[Don Hahn]

Just. That's a stunning development.

[Producer Anthony]

He wasn't.

[Allen]

He.

[Producer Anthony]

He wanted to be involved in the food situation. He had John come on the show to be. To express his concern.

[Don Hahn]

I actually would have. I would have voted for Carlin to be the caterer.

[Allen]

Well, we got calandras and we got Jacob's pickle.

[Don Hahn]

That's actually not bad.

[Allen]

It's gonna be a potpourri.

[Don Hahn]

What are we doing?

[Producer Anthony]

So this was actually interesting.

[Allen]

Alan.

[Don Hahn]

Yes.

[Producer Anthony]

Question for you. Have you ever heard of an American hero.

[Allen]

As opposed to an Italian?

[Don Hahn]

Correct. So the greatest American hero. Oh, yeah. Yes, of course.

[Producer Anthony]

So Bart Carlin and a bunch of people outside had no idea what John was talking about. And I was like, every block party I ever went to in Brooklyn, there was the Italian hero and it was the American hero.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Producer Anthony]

So, okay, so it's definitely like maybe a Jersey thing that people don't know about.

[Don Hahn]

What do they call it in Jersey?

[Producer Anthony]

They said they've never heard of an American hero. What would that nonsense be?

[Allen]

I don't. I didn't. I didn't hear.

[Producer Anthony]

See, it's got to be a Jersey.

[Allen]

Heard of it, Peter? No, no, I've heard of the Italian sub.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, sure.

[Producer Anthony]

So the Italian. Obviously the Italian hero. The six foot Italian hero you get for catering.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Producer Anthony]

Is more for. Is more the Italian meats.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Producer Anthony]

Where an American hero could have turkey, roast beef.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. American cheese.

[Producer Anthony]

American cheese. Lettuce, tomato.

[Allen]

I just never named it.

[Producer Anthony]

So there we go.

[Allen]

I don't like cold food.

[Producer Anthony]

We learned stuff today.

[Allen]

I don't like cold food or sandwiches usually. And in those types of settings. I want wings. I want nachos. I want steak. Steak burgers.

[Don Hahn]

Look at you, Don.

[Allen]

Not a pulled pork guy. Not a pork.

[Don Hahn]

No.

[Allen]

Not a fan.

[Don Hahn]

Doesn't dig on the swine.

[Allen]

What's the best thing at Jacob's Pickles? Peter?

[Don Hahn]

Pickles.

[Peter]

No, honestly, the fried pickles are not my favorite thing at Jacob's Pickles. I wish I could have a conversation about, like, what the order situation. The whole Jacob pickles thing is interesting, guys, because I am like the Jacob pickles connect.

[Allen]

That's why I asked you.

[Peter]

Been going for years, friends with Jacob. Like, literally, you know, been pretty, pretty tight with. Wore the shirt. I don't know how this thing happened and came together. And I know nothing about a menu conversation because I would be. I would say I should assess. I should assess the menu before ordering. There. There are a couple of sandwiches, chicken sandwiches that are fantastic. One that comes with a sausage gravy. One that comes with a mushroom watch. Gravy.

[Don Hahn]

Sausage.

[Allen]

Sausage gravy.

[Peter]

Yeah, it's the sausage gravy. What it is, is a huge brisket. Brisket, sorry. A huge biscuit sliced open with two gigantic pieces of fried like chicken breast on it. And then you have a side of either sausage or mushroom gravy that you either drench the sandwich in or do what I do, which is essentially, first of all, you have to share this thing. Or a complete psychopath. This could be three people who eat this and you just sort of slice it into pieces and eat it with the gravy, the grits, the biscuit.

[Don Hahn]

My right bicycle just collapsed.

[Allen]

Yeah. But this is. Oh, no, no.

[Don Hahn]

You're dead.

[Allen]

I have to have this.

[Peter]

If you were gonna get triple bypass. If you were thinking about Don. What your dad had quadruple.

[Allen]

Yes, you could.

[Peter]

You can do quintuple with this.

[Don Hahn]

This is the last meal. Like honestly. I'm going to the chair. Get me that.

[Allen]

No.

[Peter]

You know what else anymore and the. The best app I think they have. I don't know if it's your guys cup of tea, but it's to die for. Is their deviled eggs. Their deviled eggs are insane.

[Allen]

I'm not a big egg guy making sick your stomach well cold again. I don't. I'll eat scrambled egg but like hard boiled eggs.

[Don Hahn]

Anybody bringing deviled eggs to this couch cast by the second half, we clear out.

[Allen]

Really?

[Peter]

You don't want a couch full of large men eating too many eggs.

[Don Hahn]

I'm good.

[Allen]

No, very good.

[Peter]

I'm gonna. I want to find out what's going on.

[Allen]

Scratch and sniff.

[Don Hahn]

Oh.

[Allen]

Oh, my God.

[Don Hahn]

Especially this crew. Yeah.

[Allen]

All right. 1-800-919-377-6. Off the rails. You got a sense of it in that segment.

[Don Hahn]

I'm Scott Hanson, host of NFL Red Zone. Lowe's knows Sundays hit different when you earn them. We've got you covered with outdoor power equipment from cobalt and everything you need to weatherproof your deck with Trex decking. Plus with lawn care from Scotts and of course, pit boss grills and accessories, you can get a home field advantage all season long. So get to Lowe's, get it done, and earn your Sunday Lowe's official partner of the NFL.

[Allen]

There's a reason Chevy trucks are known for their dependability. Because they show up no matter the weather, push forward no matter the terrain, and deliver. That's why Chevrolets earn more dependability awards for trucks than any of their brand in 2025, according to J.D. power. Because in every Chevy truck, like every Chevy driver, dependability comes standard. Visit Chevy.com to learn more. Chevrolet received the highest total number of awards among all the trucks in the J.D. power 2025 U.S. vehicle Dependability Study Awards based on 2022 models. Newer models may be shown. Visit J.D. power.com awards for more details. Chevrolet together, let's drive. Imagine fast hydration combined with balanced energy. Perfect flavored with zero artificial sweeteners. Introducing Liquid Ivy's new energy multiplier. Sugar free, unlike other energy drinks, you know, the ones that make you feel like you're glitching, it's made with natural caffeine and electrolytes. So you get the boost without the burnout. Liquid IV's new energy multiplier. Sugar free hydrating energy. Tap the banner to learn more.

[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don Hahn]

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

[Allen]

Bon Scott. I like ATBC more. Bon Scott to Brian Johnson. A lot of people think that's controversial.

[Don Hahn]

You have made that clear.

[Allen]

This is such a good song. Back in 1955.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, let there Be Rock in the.

[Allen]

Beginning song that another one of those songs sounds better live than in studio. But still, the studio version is killer. Let's get some calls, shall we? A lot of people want to talk and. Oh, we lost. There was a guy that said, Lou Holtz, that was a really good bad coach. He quit on the jets, but he still hates him. Yeah, so that was a good one. So unfortunately, he talked about rattled in New York.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, completely rattled by that job.

[Allen]

Buttle still talks about that to this day. Danny on Long island, you're on ESPN New York. What's up, Danny?

[Caller Al]

Well, I'm finishing up my four mile afternoon hike. I left dinner on the stove. And you guys start talking about the food that's being delivered. And make sure there's plenty because call is gonna be there. My question to Peter is who would you would like to be sitting between? Or who would you least like to be sitting? What is your optimal scene? You don't want calling anyone near you. Let's just be honest with that. Okay?

[Allen]

Well, don't put words in his mouth.

[Peter]

Let us be about now.

[Caller Al]

I think we all know why it's, you know.

[Peter]

You know, Danny, that's very unkind. I would say I don't want to be between. Between Carlin and Dave. That would be a lot of space taken up. Or Carlin and Michael, who, while he's not fat, he is a large man.

[Allen]

He looks fantastic, by the way. He's lost a ton of weight. They look great.

[Caller Al]

Listen, I love Carlin. I love Carl. But listen, I love to see Mike start breaking down the Mets pitching staff in the middle of a tight game where everyone's trying to. He's going on about like, who's gonna be the number one starter when the game is actually in some kind of a suspense of moment. But I want to talk about the Mets because I'm listening to all the fans, all the things as Mets fans. We do not have a kick with the owner. We do not have a kick with the General manager. And we do not have a kick with the manager because you have to rewind the thing. The great thing about living in 21st century is that people say things and then a couple years later or six months later, if they try to deny they said it. I called up, I was ready to put the pitching coach into the hall of Fame second year in a row. Okay, we got Soto, we got this, we got the pitches. We all love this team. We had deficiencies. At the halfway point, we went and made signings of relief pitches that we all loved completely on the starting pitching staff. And they said to the screener, if one of these clowns were to perform to the back of the baseball card, we would have five to six more wins. We would not be in it. Just one. Not all of them. Not two of them. One. If one of them would have performed to the back of the baseball card the second half of the season, we walk in the door this. There's no way that either Cohen or the general manager could have foresaw this massive collapse that was going to occur. They spent the money they gave us. They did everything. In Mendoza, you know, you got to feel bad for. I mean, he knows what he's got. Peterson can't get out of second inning last night. The manner in which they won the game was an amazing game. But I'm with Peter. Like, who's available to pitch tonight after using everybody last night?

[Allen]

Well, you know, Diaz isn't going to be able to close. He got a six out save last night.

[Caller Al]

But you either got to win this big or lose it big, where you throw in some clown so you can have both heads for the next day.

[Allen]

But. So if you want to blame Hefner, but the thing with that is you can't keep having these reclamation projects. Right? Like, MacGyver was a show that they every. Everything he. Jimmy switched worked. But in real life, yeah, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. He was able to fix Mania last year. Can't fix them this year. How about getting some pictures that don't need to be fixed? How about not trying to find reclamation projects? So Hefner was getting, you know, carried out as a hero last year in the first half of this year. But you know what? The. The bubble gum and straw and elastic band doesn't work all the time. And that's what, like, was happening with this pitching stat and that. But he's right. That's been the problem. You cannot have your starting pitcher give up runs early and expect to be able to win all the time. And sometimes when the bats are hot and things are working out, you'll come back and you win a game and you'll feel good. But that's no way to make a run in the playoffs. Getting zero starting pitch.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. Four innings most of the time. And. And your bullpen, which got completely overused in the first half of the season, ran out of gas. You had to rebuild it and it was rebuilt poorly.

[Allen]

And Tong's going to be interesting tonight because he. Of the three that we've seen, he's the one that's maybe showed you the least of the three. Yeah. But if I'm relying on kids, that.

[Don Hahn]

Should be his song, right? Warm up song.

[Peter]

Has to be.

[Don Hahn]

It should.

[Peter]

Let me see that to let me see the video.

[Don Hahn]

Don. Don's missing it.

[Allen]

But I'm with you.

[Don Hahn]

I'm picking up what you're putting down.

[Peter]

He knows it.

[Don Hahn]

The Thong song.

[Peter]

The thought knows the Thong song.

[Don Hahn]

You know the Thong song?

[Allen]

I. I know of it.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter]

But you don't know what it sounds like.

[Allen]

I don't think so. No.

[Don Hahn]

That was it.

[Allen]

Okay. Wow.

[Peter]

To not know the Thong song. What would that life have been like? Probably better. Probably a better life.

[Don Hahn]

But it's a life of a man with a lot of pent up energy.

[Allen]

Yeah, that's true. All right, Paul.

[Peter]

I hate it. Hated playing that song.

[Allen]

Paul from Bloomingdale is back with his Lou Holtz comment. I wanted to give you some love because. That's a good one, Paul.

[Caller Al]

Yeah, I thought so. Early 70s for the Jets.

[Allen]

Was that 76, right? That was. That was bottles rookie year.

[Caller Al]

Yeah, it was earlier. I don't remember if he even made the whole year. I never lost the locker room like early on. And was it.

[Allen]

I think he quit.

[Don Hahn]

He claimed like he had some kind of illness. Right.

[Allen]

He got Puddles still screams that he quit on him.

[Don Hahn]

No, I know, but he used like some.

[Allen]

Yeah. Oh yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Something physical that was happening and he had to walk away.

[Allen]

I got to look it up. Paul, I want to say there were. Because that was a 14 week season back in 76. I want to say he. Three weeks left in the season. Maybe I got. That was not good.

[Don Hahn]

December 12th.

[Caller Al]

I just remember how bad they look.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, awful. They were 13 and 10. Resigned now he went to become coach of Arkansas. His is. I'm trying to read the New York Times story from that day. Remember Eskenazi? He wrote this.

[Allen]

Wow.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Allen]

Well, Jerry's was around forever.

[Don Hahn]

Let's see. One of the assistant coaches is trying to discern the Real reason why he suddenly quit the job. 25 million New Yorkers will probably say the man's crazy.

[Allen]

Yeah, he quit the last week of the season. Yeah. You were 3 and 10. Mike Holovac took over the last game of the season.

[Don Hahn]

Sure, of course.

[Allen]

Lost 42 to 3 to Cincinnati. Lost their last four games. Holtz lost his last three and just walked away. And that team total, you know, they were, they were, they were three and 11 team.

[Don Hahn]

Do you remember there was a time that the jets couldn't play home games at Shea if the Mets were still playing? So like September, they never played in September. Like there was a rule that they couldn't play at Shea if the, if the diamond was still down. Now I remember seeing video of games where the, the like.

[Allen]

Yeah, because it will never went away.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Allen]

It's just that they couldn't play while the Mets.

[Don Hahn]

But if the Mets were series was.

[Allen]

Like on October 6th, so it didn't matter.

[Don Hahn]

It wasn't much of the season, but still there was like a big thing about like all their preseason. Couldn't play there.

[Allen]

You want to know another oddity about the schedule? I brought this up years ago. Peter probably flat out does not know this.

[Peter]

An oddity about the schedule.

[Allen]

Yeah. When the Buccaneers first came into the league, also in 76, 77. Take a look at their home schedule.

[Peter]

Saturday, 8 o' clock starts every game.

[Allen]

Because early in the season, because they felt it was too hot in Tampa, so they played their games on Saturday nights. Can you imagine that happening today? And it wasn't like it was nationally televised.

[Don Hahn]

No.

[Allen]

Football's whack, man. In a good way. In a very good way.

[Peter]

In a good way.

[Allen]

Because, you know, because they're gonna, they're gonna be doing a Talk show like 30, 40 years from now, going over the NFL schedule back in 2020. And go, they played a game on a Tuesday. They played a game on a Wednesday. What?

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Allen]

Then they explained to him, Covid.

[Don Hahn]

And they go, what I'm trying to find. There was. There's a crazy Lou Holtz quote that I keep seeing, but I can't get the full. Here it is. After he quit on the Jets. God did not put Lou Holtz on this earth to coach in the pros. Was his quote?

[Allen]

No. All right, well, he identified the police.

[Peter]

At least he stuck with it. Can I ask you guys a question, police? I'm embarrassed to ask you, but I only know my, my, my life with Lou Holtz. What job did he have before the Jets?

[Allen]

That's a good question.

[Don Hahn]

He was hired out of college. Now he went to Arkansas, but Notre.

[Peter]

Dame was after so what was before.

[Allen]

Just before the jet job? NC State. He was at NC State as the as the head coach from 72 to 75 head ball coach Head ball coach Lou Holtz. And then he was head coach of William and Mary and then he was on TV for the next 93, 117.

[Don Hahn]

Years 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.

[Producer Anthony]

This isn't just another ESPN fantasy football.

[Allen]

Season, it's your shot at greatness.

[Producer Anthony]

With a refreshed design, the ESPN Fantasy.

[Allen]

App is sharper than ever, so you can draft like a pro and dominate your league. And introducing Gridiron Gauntlet, a new game.

[Producer Anthony]

Mode where the best compete to be crowned the number one fantasy football player of 2025.

[Allen]

One app, one shot, one champion.

[Producer Anthony]

Download the ESPN fantasy app and sign.

[Allen]

Up to play ESPN Fantasy Football today.