Hour 3: Don Calls In

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 3: Don Calls In Date: March 17, 2026
Podcast: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg
Host(s): Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg, (call-in) Don Le Greca
Theme: The intersection of New York sports—especially the WBC, Knicks, and fan perspectives—with classic banter and personality-driven sports talk.

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Episode Overview

Hour 3 centers around fan reactions to the World Baseball Classic (WBC), evolving perspectives on international tournaments, and a deep dive into ongoing frustrations with Knicks player Mikal Bridges. The episode features Don Le Greca calling in sick but still joining the conversation, and lively engagement with callers about the Knicks, Jalen Brunson, and broader themes of sports loyalty and criticism. The trademark banter and chemistry among the hosts is on full display, balancing humor with candid analysis.

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Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. The World Baseball Classic: Cultural Meaning vs. American Apathy

• Cultural Value of WBC ([01:32]–[06:08])

  • Caller Rob from Nyack highlights how, for players from Venezuela, Cuba, and other countries, representing their flag on a world stage is profoundly emotional and meaningful.
  • The hosts note that for many in the U.S., MLB’s dominance and the privilege of sports leads to less emotional buy-in for the WBC than in other countries.
  • Quote:
    “...the ability to wear that flag on your shoulder in that country across your chest is once in a lifetime.” – Rob [02:42]
  • The U.S. team’s perceived lack of passion and organizational seriousness initially diminished their own interest in the tournament.
  • Emphasis is placed on the fact that passionate criticism from U.S. fans often stems from a place of wanting more from their home team, not disrespect for the international event.

• Changing Attitudes: Getting “Hooked” by the WBC ([08:03]–[09:20])

  • Alan Hahn and Laura Rosenberg reflect on how they grew interested as the U.S. team finally showed heart and urgency in later rounds.
  • Quote:
    “...we did that thing that a lot of people do... gathered round a laptop, watching the last at bats of that game. And that, that’s the moment, I said, okay, I’m in. I’m in.” – Laura Rosenberg [08:57]

• Debate: Is the WBC Just an Exhibition? ([09:51]–[14:04])

  • Don Le Greca (calling in despite illness) clarifies his stance: never called the WBC “a joke,” but resists putting it on the level of World Series or Olympics.
  • The hosts debate whether it’s fair to “dump on” or just offer perspective about the tournament.
  • Quote:
    “I do think there’s a certain amount of pressure... they probably feel a little bit of pressure to kind of keep this momentum going... but it’s not the Olympics, you know, and that’s fine.” – Don Le Greca [11:54]
  • The issue of American sports fans feeling pressured to “like” tournaments they don’t instinctively support is highlighted, with comparisons to fans from other backgrounds or sports.

2. Knicks Deep Dive: Mikal Bridges & Asset Management

• Live Callers Vent about Mikal Bridges and the Knicks ([23:59]–[26:07])

  • Multiple callers express frustration with Bridges’ lack of aggression and physicality, questioning the hefty price paid (five first-round picks).
  • Suggestions include limiting his minutes, benching, or even exposing him in a future expansion draft to offload his contract.
  • Quote:
    “[Bridges] is not physical at all defensively. Teams know it... He allows himself out of the game... it's maddening.” – Alan Hahn [26:29]

• Potential Solutions & the Expansion Draft Idea ([27:07]–[28:45])

  • The hosts debate the realistic options for the Knicks to recoup lost assets if Bridges fails in the postseason.
  • They humorously consider leaving him unprotected for a hypothetical expansion draft.

• Accountability on the Knicks ([29:05]–[29:46])

  • Emphasis on the need for veteran leaders (Brunson, Hart) to push Bridges to elevate his game.
  • The hosts underline the importance of “grabbing somebody by the jersey and saying you’re not doing enough for the team.”
    – Laura Rosenberg [29:27]

3. Jalen Brunson, Stephen A., and Knicks' Playoff Prospects

• Jalen Brunson’s Value and Media Critique ([33:49]–[35:44])

  • Caller Manny defends Brunson against Stephen A. Smith’s critiques, noting the team’s rise in playoff wins since his arrival.
  • The hosts discuss the pressure and expectations facing both Brunson and the Knicks overall as the playoffs approach.

• Mikal Bridges' Accountability & Mental Game ([36:15]–[39:24])

  • Steve from New Fairfield and the hosts analyze Bridges' inconsistent mindset, referencing earlier comments about being "more coachable."
  • Comparison made to other players like Anunoby and Towns who have embraced roles and improved.
  • Quote:
    “Mikal Bridges has to understand, like, just be elite at what they need you to do… fight through screens, battle through screens, stay in front of people.” – Alan Hahn [39:06]

4. Frank Banter: Behind-the-Scenes and Media Culture

• Don Le Greca Soldiering Through Illness ([09:47]–[17:44])

  • Don calls in while under the weather, leading to comedic concern from the team.
  • Running jokes about his nasal congestion and commitment to defending his opinions.
  • Quote:
    “He sounded like just one giant nose on a neck.” – Alan Hahn [18:14]

• Birthday Shoutouts and Michael Kay ([46:10]–[49:10])

  • The team discusses peculiar birthday practices among New York broadcasters, slyly wondering about the motivations behind birthday wishes.
  • Jokes about being left out of shoutouts and the social politics of sports media.

• Technical Difficulties and On-Air Resilience ([44:17]–[45:45])

  • A glitch with the commercial bed/music becomes a moment to praise Peter Rosenberg’s ability to ad-lib on-air, contrasting with other radio personalities who might “freak out.”

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Memorable Quotes & Moments (With Timestamps)

• WBC as a lifetime opportunity:
  “...the ability to wear that flag on your shoulder in that country across your chest is once in a lifetime.” – Rob [02:42]

• Being ‘won over’ by the WBC:
  “...that’s the moment I said, okay, I’m in. I’m in.” – Laura Rosenberg [08:57]

• On perspective and criticism:
  “An opinion like this is simply, do I like it or do I don’t like it? And in the beginning, I wasn’t moved because of what I said.” – Alan Hahn [07:49]

• Defending a nuanced stance:
  “I never called the WBC a joke. You're painting a picture... I'm just trying to keep it in perspective, okay? It’s a fun exhibition.” – Don Le Greca [10:51]

• On Bridges’ struggles:
  “He allows himself out of the game… it’s maddening.” – Alan Hahn [26:46]
  and
  “You have every right to be frustrated.” – Laura Rosenberg [27:07]

• Player accountability:
  "There are times, though, that you do need to pound the table and grab somebody by the jersey and say you’re not doing enough for the team." – Laura Rosenberg [29:27]

• Team camaraderie in illness:
  “He sounded like just one giant nose on a neck.” – Alan Hahn [18:14]
  (after Don called in sick, still weighing in fiercely)

• Birthday politics:
  “But a 7am birthday wish to someone who he’s met, I think one time to me suggests he’s trying to get something out of it. What is he trying to get?” – Don Hahn [48:02]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• WBC Cultural Significance & Critiques: [01:32] – [14:26]
• Don Le Greca Calls In (Sick): [09:47] – [17:44]
• Knicks/Mikal Bridges Caller Discussion: [23:59] – [28:45]
• Knicks Leadership & Accountability: [29:05] – [29:46]
• Brunson & Knicks Playoff Talk: [33:49] – [35:44]
• Bridges’ Mentality & Role: [36:15] – [39:24]
• Technical Difficulties Banter: [44:17] – [45:45]
• Birthday Shoutout Debate: [46:10] – [49:10]

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Tone and Style

The episode is marked by straight-talk, humor, and real-time reactions: balancing sharp sports analysis with the kind of relatable radio banter and inside jokes that make Don, Hahn & Rosenberg a go-to for New York fans. The hosts are candid, occasionally opinionated, and always ready to poke fun at themselves and the sports culture around them.

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Summary Takeaway:
If you missed Hour 3, you missed a freewheeling yet passionate run through what animates New York sports radio—intense debates about what the WBC means, tough love toward underperforming Knicks stars, and some classic behind-the-scenes media intrigue. It’s the full spectrum of fandom: pride, frustration, hope, and a lot of laughs.

Transcript

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[Podcast Intro/Outro Announcer]

This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg Podcast.

[Laura Rosenberg]

That sounds like heaven to me.

[Podcast Intro/Outro Announcer]

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

[Don Hahn]

All right, ladies and gentlemen, Don Han Rosenberg, ESPN New York. A lot to get to, including an idea to prevent tanking. I love this idea that Alan Hahn is extremely excited to bring to the table here. It's something that was moving around Twitter earlier and we want to bring to you guys. So, Alan, we're going to get to that in a minute. Let's take a couple more calls. A lot of people have been on hold and then we'll move forward. How's that sound?

[Alan Hahn]

Yep, that works.

[Don Hahn]

All right, we start with Rob in Nyack. What's up, Rob?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Hey, guys. How's it going today?

[Monster Energy Announcer]

Good, man.

[Donald Marco Legreca (Don Legreca)]

How are you?

[Spike]

Good.

[Donald Marco Legreca (Don Legreca)]

The other day, World Baseball Classic.

[Manny]

Oh,

[Don Hahn]

try again.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Andres]

All right.

[Donald Marco Legreca (Don Legreca)]

My bad, my bad. Okay, so back to Don's point the other day. Like young Aaron Judge, he's not picturing playing in the World Baseball Classic like me. World Baseball Classic, he's like me. We all thought game seven of the World Series. And Peter, you were close to the point before, and I understand if, like, you wouldn't want to go there. We don't want to show our cards. But luckily in this country, like, our kids are able to dream of playing in the World Series. Some of these kids in these other countries, they're not thinking about Major League Baseball or the World Series. They're thinking about digging their families out of a community with the type of poverty that we don't even have in this country. So the level of excitement among those players. And again, if you're from Venezuela, how often, like how many athletes from Venezuela have even just the chance to wear their flag on their shoulder on a global stage where people in Japan and all across North America are watching? So I can't imagine the pride that would come along with that. So I just Think like, you know, if we put ourselves in other people's shoes, we could see while we might not value this tournament because we have so much going on and we're a pretty privileged country, we are a great country at the end of the day, despite some things, some of these other people, like, this is it. Like, the ability to wear that flag on your shoulder in that country across your chest is once in a lifetime.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. No, Rob, listen, there's a few things. I think that's a really compelling point that you make. But also, like we said earlier, there's. The fact of the matter is the way sports intersects with culture. Family fun is different in other places and cultures than it is here. And like Alan said, it's like here we literally root to win, whereas in other parts of the world, while winning is a huge deal, the entire experience is about having a good time. And so you see that party in the players and in the fans in a way. Like, and Don said this yesterday, and I think we started getting there as the show went on. I think, Alan, everyone is taking our criticism of this conversation in this conversation and thinking it's us dumping on the wbc. And I think, if we're being honest, were more dumping on the way the US has been involved in the wbc because that's.

[Alan Hahn]

That's my interest.

[Don Hahn]

And they've kind of ruined your interest.

[Laura Rosenberg]

I can't ask for that. No, because that's what it is.

[Alan Hahn]

My country. Right. Like, I'm interested in my country.

[Laura Rosenberg]

So when, if you want to know, like, and this kind of goes to another conversation of I'm not allowed to have an opinion about my country because you're mad that it sounds like I'm being critical of your country having fun.

[Alan Hahn]

And that's not what it's about.

[Laura Rosenberg]

It's not about you. It's about me and how I feel about my country and my country. What didn't look like they were really that all in and they weren't having fun. They weren't doing things like the other. And again, the Italian team, come on, like, come on. Like, that's like, you would say Italian to Jace team.

[Alan Hahn]

Like, but, but.

[Laura Rosenberg]

And that's fine. But like the Venezuela team, every single

[Alan Hahn]

one of them dreamed to play in the World Series.

[Laura Rosenberg]

There's only three players on the roster

[Alan Hahn]

that aren't on a major league team.

[Laura Rosenberg]

So like, like, let's. We're not talking about. They took kids out of villages and put a team together. These are all guys that have made it. So, yes. When you get To a level like a lot of these guys do, where they know they've got a chance at the show. They all want to be in the show and they all want to win World Series. They all want to. And they all want, of course, like everyone else in the world, make money to help my family so I can get them out of whatever they're in. Everybody has that dream. Everybody does. That's why it's called the American Dream, because it's possible in this country, which is why you see Cuban players do the most incredible things to defect from their country just so they can play. I mean, the, the. Again, the El Duque and Levon Hernandez story is unreal. Unreal. And we all saw it happen and unfold right in front of us. So I just, I don't want this to start to become a thing of. Why don't you love this thing like we all do? When I can tell you? Because for me and my rooting interest in it, my interest in it is my country. And until the semifinal, my country looked like they didn't even know. What are we supposed to do? How are we supposed to win this thing? How does this work? And they almost didn't even get to

[Alan Hahn]

the quarterfinal because of a clerical error. That's kind of. If that's not typical, I don't know what is.

[Laura Rosenberg]

So that's why I don't want it to become this thing where it's like you're, you're, you're crapping on something that I love. I'm sorry you love it for the reasons you love it, but I wasn't into it until recently because I wasn't

[Alan Hahn]

given a reason to be into it.

[Laura Rosenberg]

Isn't that fair? And shouldn't you consider my point of view? Or is mine not valid?

[Alan Hahn]

That's the part that I get a little frustrated about.

[Laura Rosenberg]

Why isn't my point of view valid here?

[Don Hahn]

Cuz they, they're taking it at. No, it's not that they don't think it's valid. I think it's that they don't understand the view because, because you're.

[Laura Rosenberg]

I tried to explain it.

[Don Hahn]

You did.

[Laura Rosenberg]

But remember, guys didn't look like they gave a rip. The guy went back to his team. You know, I'm good. No, I want to be with the boys. We're gonna go. I want to win this thing.

[Don Hahn]

But remember, Don was not just there. Don was very much on. This whole thing has no history. It's just an exhibition there. We can't ignore that on this show where we're all talking. Alan, we. There was another point being made loud and clearly about like, this whole thing's a joke that was there. And then you have the people who are rooting for other countries that care, and they're going, what do you mean? It's a joke.

[Anthony]

But.

[Don Hahn]

But, Alan, you're stuck going, well, my interest point is the US and they're making it a joke.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

So I think it's not that people don't respect your opinion. It's that it's been a confusing sort of smash of thing.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, it's not. It's not. The respect part is you look, like I said, with anything, opinions are based on your point of view. So a lot of times opinions aren't wrong. You could say some are misguided, some aren't. You know, they lack a depth in information that can happen.

[Laura Rosenberg]

But an opinion like this is simply,

[Alan Hahn]

do I like it or do I don't like it? And in the beginning, I wasn't moved

[Laura Rosenberg]

because of what I said. And so I'm noticing the last two

[Alan Hahn]

days, and maybe it is more Don, I don't know.

[Laura Rosenberg]

But I was on Don's side. But this notion that just because the way I can. My relatability is the American team. And the American team was a juggernaut that was kind of like batting the bunny. And the manager was kind of clueless

[Alan Hahn]

on something, and that didn't come off great.

[Laura Rosenberg]

And I got Aaron Judge telling me that this is like, oh, this is bigger than a World Series. I'm like, dude, like what? Like, there's a lot of things that I couldn't understand. And then I watched and I told you I did the Nick game the night of the, you know, the Drus game. And Santiago, Ray, Santiago, he's a great

[Alan Hahn]

producer in the morning. He also does an amazing job on Nixon Rangers coverage as well. For the radio broadcast.

[Laura Rosenberg]

He was working. I was working the game with Tyler

[Alan Hahn]

Murray on Sunday night.

[Laura Rosenberg]

He had that game on his laptop, watching it closely.

[Alan Hahn]

And I had an eye on it with him. And we had fun.

[Laura Rosenberg]

We did that thing that a lot of people do. Like, you know, it used to be in the old days, you stand in front of the black and white TV in the store window. We were doing kind of that gathered round a laptop, watching the last at bats of that game. And that when that's the moment, I said, okay, I'm in. I'm in. Right? Like, saw the replays of the Judge throw, saw the moments, all right, I'm in. Like, now we see some Passion.

[Alan Hahn]

Now we see, like a.

[Laura Rosenberg]

Want to win this thing. Now I'm in. So it took me a little longer than it took the rest of you, but it doesn't make me. I just. I don't like this idea of.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, you don't really like baseball. You're a hater. It's ridiculous.

[Don Hahn]

I have a bit of news here. We have the breaking news sound over there.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, this is big.

[Don Hahn]

From an undisclosed location, perhaps inside an iron lung. I don't know.

[Laura Rosenberg]

Don.

[Don Hahn]

We have our very own Donald Marco legreca. Who wants to weigh in?

[Donald Marco Legreca (Don Legreca)]

Wow.

[Laura Rosenberg]

Wait, is he okay? Can he speak?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't know.

[Don Hahn]

Let's hear him. Don.

[Alan Hahn]

Bubble boy.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, let me hear you.

[Don Hahn]

Let's hear. Let's hear you for a second.

[Donald Marco Legreca (Don Legreca)]

Hello?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm just really nasally.

[Alan Hahn]

You are really very nasally.

[Anthony]

I told you,

[Peter Rosenberg]

it's not good.

[Don Hahn]

No. Yo, and by the way, you couldn't have turned on your Comrex. You may be too nasally to even hear you on the phone. It's all nasal.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, I'm not gonna go down. I'm in bed.

[Laura Rosenberg]

You're asking.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm with fever. I'm with fever. I might not even be conscious. I might not even actually be on the phone. Right. Not gonna go down and hook everything up. So I just called in a call. I. I just. I've been listening. Fantastic. By the way, I think maybe you should move on from me.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, if you don't like it, you

[Laura Rosenberg]

know, we might have to. This might have to.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's on the table. It's on the table. You know, but no, I never. I never called the WBC a joke. You're painting a picture. I just. I was being very harsh at the fact that we're being told that this is so important, and yet five minutes ago, the manager didn't know the rules, so I'm just trying to keep it in perspective, okay? It's a fun exhibition. I'm not telling you not to be into it. I'm not telling you not to get excited about it. I'll be watching tonight. But it is what it is. You know, I don't want people think that. Peter, you said that. I said it was a joke. I never said it was a joke, and I believe, you know, it is. Whatever. I don't think I'm telling tales out of school, but if there's, like, a big game on ABC or espn. Hey, guys, when you get on the air, you know, talk up that we've got the. The college basketball, the college Football championship game, or you talk up, we got this or that. And I think they've been told, hey, guys, talk this thing up. Especially after what happened to Rose. That was embarrassing. So now you've got Judge saying what he's saying. I'm not saying he's lying. I'm not saying he was prodded into it. I just say that I think, remember three years ago, you want to play in this game.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So I do think there's a. There's a certain amount of pressure. Like they all came in today. I don't know if you guys saw it with the USA Hockey jerseys on. And that kind of just feeds into my thought that, like, they probably feel a little bit of pressure to kind of keep this momentum going and I'm all for it, but it's not the Olympics, you know, and that's fine.

[Don Hahn]

I think the word exhibition. I think the word exhibition, but that's what it is. I know, I know from a literal standpoint, it's not part of their professional, you know, record or anything, but I think when you throw it all, it's just an exhibition. It does sort of zap the meaning for the people who care deeply about it. Maybe that's what they're feeling.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, the question is, where will this end up on the resume of these guys? Like when Aaron Judge goes to the hall of Fame, is it going to be mentioned on his plaque that he won, you know, the, the 2026 World Baseball Classic? Probably not, but it's a fun thing to do because what else are we doing? We're going to be watching, you know, load management basketball. We're going to be watching exhibition, spring training baseball. That doesn't mean anything. I just think just putting it in perspective, that's all. I mean, you made the point of the show so far when you said about how Judge can't win tonight because if he goes over four and four strikeouts, he's going to get killed. And if it's a grandson home run to win the game, the Yankee fans are going to go, well, why do you do that in the World Series?

[Don Hahn]

It's a tough spot for him. He better just hope he doesn't get a clutch moment, just play the game and move on.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, but once we hit the baseball season, you know, then, then it's going to be a different thing. But I don't. I'm not killing it. I'm just trying. I do think Alan made the point yester because I go through this and Alan goes through it too. And you might go through this with wrestling, sometimes in certain pockets of, you know, please. Like my sport, you know, So I think there's a lot of baseball fans out there. Like, why are you loving this? Why aren't you? Because I know what it is. You're a Die hard baseball fan. You love it. Bob Costa said it a couple of weeks ago. That's kind of what he figured people would be into trying to win other people over. I think it is what it is. I think it's fun. But I'm not saying it's a joke. But I'm also not comparing it to the Olympics or comparing it to a World Series game. I'm sorry, I just can't do that.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, that's exactly it. But, you know, like. Like you really have to be all in or not. And I don't understand why it's okay. It's not okay to just. I have my perspective on it. Why is this wrong and I'm not? But I think it's a matter of, well, then, you know, don't dump on it so much. Instead, I don't know, don't talk about it at all.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, why is putting it in perspective dumping on it? Like, well, we gotta. All of a sudden. I asked you guys on Friday if you're into it. You both said, no, we just be honest.

[Laura Rosenberg]

I wasn't over the weekend.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And we got kind of hooked.

[Laura Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And it's fine. That's the way it is.

[Alan Hahn]

And Don, isn't that how it's supposed to go? That's literally how it's supposed to work.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Exactly.

[Laura Rosenberg]

It's those who aren't. I've always. Again, the Die Hards, you are the users, the pushers don't go to you because they know you're gonna come to them. What you're trying to do is get new customers. You're trying to draw people in who aren't normally there. They're not gonna show up because they've got other things to do.

[Andres]

But.

[Laura Rosenberg]

And that's what happened to me, is that I had other things to do.

[Alan Hahn]

And now I'm like, wait a second,

[Laura Rosenberg]

this has got my attention. I want to check this out.

[Don Hahn]

But again, this could be somewhat perspective, though. It could be somewhat perspective in the sense, like I mentioned, like, like, Don, there could be more. And Alan, there could be more casual fans whose, you know, whose backgrounds are from these other countries. They're not normally locked into Major League Baseball. They are coming on board because they want to watch this thing. And maybe that will make them more excited when the Season starts.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Listen, there's no question about them. I like the World Cup. Nobody is ever going to question the general interest of the World Cup. But will Americans be as into it as they are in other countries? That's a great thing about the United States. Everybody's got, like a background. So I understand if you're from Venezuela, if you're from the Dominican Republic, that if you're really fired up about this. But we as a Americans, it's. It's our sport. We don't feel like we've got to prove anything to anybody.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And we're gonna have a whole 162 game season that's going to start in 10 days. That's going to be able to take up a lot of our attention. So, hey, I felt the same way about the four nations. I rolled my eyes. Like, this is going to be kind of corny, you know, for the four countries. Russia's not in it. You know, Switzerland's not in it. And all of a sudden, there's a blind blow in the game between the United States and Canada. And I was hooked up. Yeah. You know, all of a sudden I'm watching the game on. When I came back on Friday, I got into Canada, US And I got into the game the other night. But I don't think there's anything wrong putting it in perspective. We took every single day, guys, we had us. We tried to bring something up about the wbc. It gained no traction. And now people are slowly getting into it. But don't kill us that we weren't. Don't kill us that we weren't on board from the very beginning, because I think a lot of people weren't on board in the very beginning.

[Don Hahn]

Well, Don, listen, I hate to do this to you, but. Wow, he sounds too sick.

[Laura Rosenberg]

Guy is on his death.

[Don Hahn]

No, I'm doing. You know what I'm doing. I'm saving his life.

[Laura Rosenberg]

He's giving us.

[Alan Hahn]

He's given us effort.

[Laura Rosenberg]

He doesn't have the cough button, so if he's got to let one out,

[Alan Hahn]

he's going to do it.

[Don Hahn]

We love you, Don.

[Manny]

I suck.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I feel terrible about tomorrow.

[Alan Hahn]

No one feels more terrible than Peter. And I don't. Yeah, believe you.

[Don Hahn]

Believe me. It's the Don. Don, you had to get sick when we're literally having an event that should be called the Don Legreco Live show from New Jersey, a celebration of the

[Alan Hahn]

Don Lagreca Hockey Palooza in New Jersey.

[Peter Rosenberg]

However, and however, Peter will appreciate this. We did do a Michael K show Beach Bash without Michael.

[Don Hahn]

That is a great point.

[Alan Hahn]

That did happen.

[Laura Rosenberg]

This is that.

[Don Hahn]

All right, Don, get better, though. We love you.

[Alan Hahn]

Please get better.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I love you guys. I saw, brother. All right.

[Don Hahn]

Get better. You know, the only one thing I have playing him out, though, that was helping him. That's called love you.

[Alan Hahn]

Playing him out.

[Spike]

He's.

[Don Hahn]

I'm looking at our group chat. Everyone in the group chat was going, don, please rest. What are you doing? Please hang up. Please rest. So I played him out, because when you listen to Don talk, the only question you have is, wait, turn my sound back on.

[Anthony]

That timing would go perfect. I was concerned. When I picked up the phone, he didn't sound good.

[Alan Hahn]

No, no, no. He sounded like just one giant nose on a neck.

[Anthony]

But you know. You know what? You know why that encourages me, though,

[Alan Hahn]

how you live it? What?

[Anthony]

Because he felt good enough to pick up the phone and call.

[Don Hahn]

He can't.

[Anthony]

He can't help it.

[Laura Rosenberg]

He has to do it because he,

[Alan Hahn]

he, he again, he does not like hearing his name besmirched by other callers. So he feels like, I got to stand up for myself.

[Don Hahn]

He felt besmirching?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

No, he felt a besmirching of some sort. I didn't sense besmirching. I didn't feel besmirch. I wasn't.

[Laura Rosenberg]

No, there was. There was some smirch, but not.

[Alan Hahn]

It wasn't be smirch.

[Don Hahn]

No, it wasn't be smirch. Maybe a C level smirch.

[Laura Rosenberg]

D smirk. B minus.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. Yeah. Maybe a C or D level smirch. At best, he was dsmirched. He wasn't besmirched. 1-800-919-3776. Are you hyped? What level of excitement? Like, do people have bar plans for the WBC tonight? Like, also, I thought, well, it's St.

[Alan Hahn]

Patrick's Day, so you got St. Patrick's Day. No other. No other bar.

[Don Hahn]

And I want. And I bet there are Venezuelan fans out there. I guarantee you there are going to be a few Venezuela bars tonight that are absolutely on fire for the game. I'm curious. We're curious about that. Plus, your thoughts on what Stephen A. Had to say about Jalen Brunson and Mikhail Bridges. We got Ian at 6. It's Don Hahn and Rosenberg on ESPN New York.

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[Podcast Intro/Outro Announcer]

Thanks for listening to the Don Han and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don Hahn]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Podcast Intro/Outro Announcer]

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

[Don Hahn]

I'm gonna give you game time. Yeah, why not?

[Laura Rosenberg]

Game time.

[Don Hahn]

Game time. Brought to you by Tell More Do Irish Whiskey. Because when it's game time.

[Alan Hahn]

Good still.

[Don Hahn]

Nick's.

[Alan Hahn]

That'll be in next year's tournament.

[Don Hahn]

You can put it. You can mark it down, right?

[Manny]

I suck.

[Anthony]

Carlin lost gas in Iowa with Courtney.

[Jake]

Sorry.

[Don Hahn]

Now you got the Knicks and the Pacers with coverage following us at 7 on 880 and then the Isles and the Leafs at 7. Also Tullamore due the original triple distilled, triple blended and triple cast matured Irish whiskey to go grab a Tullamore Dew or try the new Tullamore Dew. Honey. During today's action, glasses up to enjoying Tullamore Dew responsibly. I think my guy, Gary from Elite Auto, you know, I'm a big fan of Elite.

[Alan Hahn]

Did he reach out?

[Don Hahn]

I think Gary's going to get me a ride to the Calandras.

[Alan Hahn]

You know, I considered it because we love Gary. We love Elite.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, they are Elite.

[Alan Hahn]

They are Elite. I think I'm gonna. I think I'm gonna.

[Don Hahn]

You're so far though, Alan. You're so far. It is, it's like. It's like it's getting a ride to

[Laura Rosenberg]

Detroit, but you know, when it's that long of a ride.

[Don Hahn]

Oh yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

And you know, I mean, it's not like it's the middle of the week. I'm not gonna be drinking like it's a beach bash or something.

[Don Hahn]

But you might want to have a 1:1 adult soda.

[Alan Hahn]

I mean, adult soda at 6:30 is not going to affect me when we leave after the game's old.

[Don Hahn]

That's true.

[Alan Hahn]

So I just thought this is one of those, you know, that late at night I just could drive myself, take

[Don Hahn]

it on the chin.

[Alan Hahn]

I would probably put it a different way.

[Manny]

I suck.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, I hear you.

[Anthony]

Carlin lost gas in Iowa with Courtney.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Sorry.

[Alan Hahn]

It's so good.

[Don Hahn]

Let's talk to Andres in Lyndhurst. What's up, buddy?

[Andres]

Hey, what's going on, guys? Hey, guys, I just have a, you know, a question here for you guys here in relation to the Knicks, right. I heard the caller's point earlier in relation to Macau Bridges. I can call myself. I don't like to call myself a Macau Bridges hater. You know, I know Mello personally and I spoke to him about this before the last time I seen him and I. I'm just not a Mikhail Bridges fan, man. We trade away five first round picks for this guy and he's a role player. That's one, two. He's soft every time he drives to

[Manny]

the basket, turn around, jump shot, fade away.

[Andres]

He doesn't go into that contact. His best game this season, he drove to the basket, drove to the basket for contact, got to the line at least six times. Eight times in that game. He's averaging one free throw game this year. His last five games, he's a minus 25. We just gave him an extension. How can Leon Rose recoup his assets? And this question is for both of you. How can Leon Rose recoup his assets this offseason? If we're a first round exit and trade away Macau and possibly even if Mike Brown wants to, he can go ahead and probably start Landry. Landry, Shametake, bring McCall off the bench for at least 20 minutes a game towards the end of the season. So he could avoid burnout because it's probably burnout because this guy's an ironman, but he's just not a good player. Ever since he put on the orange and blue. You know, I want to get your, your thoughts and your take on, you

[Manny]

know, what we can do to recoup

[Andres]

our, recoup our assets if he's such a liability in the playoffs.

[Laura Rosenberg]

It's going to reach a board.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. Andres, it's going to reach a point right where like you, the problem is not something you can ignore anymore or just keep saying things like you're hearing. You just got to keep trying. You know, there are times he helps us. He's done some. Like he had a big three late in the game in Indiana.

[Laura Rosenberg]

You know, there's, there's things that you point to because you're trying to find

[Alan Hahn]

positives within the weeds of a lot of things that are frustrating you about a player that you invested a lot

[Laura Rosenberg]

in and to trade for him and then to sign him to an extension. And he was one of the loudest people about a coaching change. And so there's a lot of things here that is not working in his

[Alan Hahn]

favor when it comes to that.

[Laura Rosenberg]

So that's why I think the patience is running thin. I'm just glad that it's not just

[Alan Hahn]

Towns that is getting some of the vitriol now. I think it's important that it is spread out now.

[Laura Rosenberg]

I also want to see what he

[Alan Hahn]

does in the postseason because that is the time that matters most. I hope he's not saving himself, but

[Laura Rosenberg]

everything Andre said is right.

[Alan Hahn]

He's not physical at all defensively. Teams know it.

[Laura Rosenberg]

He doesn't fight through screens as much

[Alan Hahn]

as you need him to. In today's pick and roll offense, how much point of attack is critical?

[Don Hahn]

Okay.

[Laura Rosenberg]

And offensively he isn't aggressive enough. He doesn't.

[Alan Hahn]

He allows himself out of the game.

[Laura Rosenberg]

Maybe not running the floor as hard

[Alan Hahn]

as he should all the time.

[Laura Rosenberg]

There was earlier in the season he would break out, leak out a ton, get easy buckets. He was out on the run a lot. That's not there anymore either. Is this fatigue? Is this him hitting the wall? Or is this him just sort of just doing what he does, which is kind of float in, float out.

[Alan Hahn]

It's maddening.

[Laura Rosenberg]

You have every right to be frustrated. And there's one potential solution that goes beyond taking, you know, taking the hit.

[Alan Hahn]

Trade him for nothing, that kind of thing.

[Laura Rosenberg]

They are talking about expanding the league. What happens with expansion, Peter?

[Alan Hahn]

What do they usually do for expansion teams?

[Don Hahn]

An expansion draft.

[Alan Hahn]

That's correct. You have to protect certain play.

[Laura Rosenberg]

You protect your players and then there's some you have to leave exposed so

[Alan Hahn]

that they could draft. Would you just leave him exposed?

[Don Hahn]

If that. You know what I mean?

[Alan Hahn]

For a team that would just take

[Laura Rosenberg]

him and now they take him in

[Alan Hahn]

his contract and now you don't.

[Don Hahn]

How many player, how many keepers do you get?

[Alan Hahn]

Like out of a 50 man roster? Yeah. Is it like half the rock? Yeah.

[Jake]

Only eight protected?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. So if you, if you're protecting players, is he one?

[Laura Rosenberg]

And I think there's something about how you can't protect all of your road.

[Alan Hahn]

Like you have to leave someone useful available. It can't just be, you know, a bunch of G leaguers. Is there a motivation in some way to leave him unprotected with the hope that someone takes him and takes whatever's left of the contract? Now it's not gonna be next year because you're not adding a new franchise in one year. They're gonna vote on this thing and it might not be for another year or two, but that's like, what else can you do? If you try to trade him,

[Laura Rosenberg]

you're

[Alan Hahn]

not getting back what you gave up, number one.

[Laura Rosenberg]

Number two, you might end up having

[Alan Hahn]

to take back a contract that you don't want either.

[Laura Rosenberg]

So I don't know.

[Alan Hahn]

Right now his value is not anywhere near where it was before you traded for him. Nowhere close. And it's not great.

[Laura Rosenberg]

And the only one that can fix it is him. This is not on Mike Brown. It's on him.

[Alan Hahn]

It's on Brunson and Hart. Who are his, you know, his Boys, his Villanova guys, they know him best.

[Laura Rosenberg]

It's on these guys, dude.

[Alan Hahn]

You like, they need more from you.

[Laura Rosenberg]

You got to be more. And it's not unfair to say this. It's a real thing. Because this is not a bad player. Look at his career. He's a good player.

[Alan Hahn]

He's not a great player, but he's

[Laura Rosenberg]

a good player who has made big plays. He's made some big plays in a Nick uniform.

[Alan Hahn]

Not for you, but you gotta like,

[Laura Rosenberg]

accountability is okay sometimes. I know we are all careful with being critical of players and we're very careful about saying things that might upset someone. There are times, though, that you do need to pound the table and grab somebody by the jersey and say you're not doing enough for the team.

[Alan Hahn]

And it's getting to that time right now with him.

[Don Hahn]

Let's go to spike in St. Pete. What's up, Spike?

[Spike]

Hey, boys, Real quickly, just a comment on the wbc. I'm not a big baseball fan. You know my name. You know, this is a great country because we have free will. But I listen to you a lot, Peter, and obviously you. Alan, put the Sports aside for 10 seconds. We wind up trying to separate good from evil. And that's the problem. It's as simple as that. If you take a, you know, step back and. And you have Maya. I just had another granddaughter, Emma. Finally me that I couldn't because of my situation.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And.

[Spike]

And Alan has four kids. And I heard. Was it. Emma just turned 10 or 11.

[Alan Hahn]

Cali.

[Spike]

Oh, Cali. Okay. So it's tough. It's tough to, you know your other show in the morning, Pete. I listen to it. You know, it's tough. It's tough to be a parent today. All right, let me get to Bridges. Sorry for the segue. He plays this. My buddy tells me this. He plays pretty. He's often matched up against the guys. Given 20, 25 pounds too. I didn't like to trade at the beginning because I didn't think he was tough. He gave away beat the Senzo because they would take Randall without the sensor. We got rid of Randall, open up the floor. And I still got a major beef on two issues. And Alan, you'll answer one for me when I get off. And thanks for the time with the layoff. Not anyone I'm talking to lay off a cat. But he's so easy to pick on. And he's played for the last 20 games as good as anybody in the league. And I'll close in my case with that. Alan, did Scott Forster get 30 days, no pay because he missed goaltending calls.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't know.

[Spike]

I just read it. I'm worried about AI. It's a week suspended. February 23rd Lake of Boston game. Scott Bossler. I'm afraid of AI and if anyone would know, it'll be you. He got 30 days no pay. He missed four goaltending calls in the Lakers Celtic game.

[Alan Hahn]

Yikes. I'll look for that.

[Spike]

I'm afraid that.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay.

[Spike]

Anyway, I'm gonna listen to. The show's great. I think the Knicks. I think Cleveland's gonna knock off the Pistons. They don't have enough secondary scoring. And I think the Knicks are gonna wind up playing Cleveland, get out of the east, and then it's a crap shoot. That's my opinion.

[Donald Marco Legreca (Don Legreca)]

Now.

[Spike]

I don't care about Bridges. I don't.

[Donald Marco Legreca (Don Legreca)]

We gotta.

[Spike]

And Brunson's getting beaten up like before Tyson.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, well, yeah, he's. By the way, he's doubtful tonight. Brunson, it says doubtful.

[Don Hahn]

And what exactly is that about tonight?

[Laura Rosenberg]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

Ankle injury management. Which means something. Maybe in the warriors game, you know, affected him and he just, you know, might need a game. Which this time of year guys do. You play in the team with the worst record in the league, but they play hard against you. But they also have a ton of guys that are questionable tonight as well. So I don't know who Indiana's playing,

[Laura Rosenberg]

but we learned Sunday night you can't

[Alan Hahn]

take anything for granted, no matter who's lining up. I see nothing about Scott Foster in this. This thing. By the way.

[Don Hahn]

It's a very. It was a very, very spike question, though. Let's.

[Alan Hahn]

Let's over the Internet. But you're not seeing is like I'm.

[Laura Rosenberg]

Didn't.

[Alan Hahn]

It never came across my. It didn't come across my way. My eyes.

[Don Hahn]

Let's go to Manny and Flushing. What's up, Manny?

[Manny]

Oh, thank God.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Hey, guys. How y' all doing?

[Don Hahn]

How you doing, buddy?

[Laura Rosenberg]

How are you?

[Manny]

Good, good, good, good. Listen, look, look.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All the noises of all the big Kill Bridges stuff and.

[Manny]

And all the brushes stuff. I mean, I'll get to Stephen a later. The Knicks are 19 7, by the way. You imagine get to a 7 and 19, all hell will break loose around here. That's just me. I mean they're 30 east. I. I think they'll be five. This has got to play better. I mean they got happens particularly with damn first quarter. For me it's not.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But. But I want to say about step.

[Manny]

I mean, listen, needs to be very Careful what he says about Im dray blessed. If it weren't for Jalen Brunson, we wouldn't be the decision we are to now because like prior to Brussels arrival, the knicks have won one playoff series between 2001-20, 22, 21 years.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay. Since Brussels arrival, we've won four playoff

[Manny]

series in the Eastern Conference book. He needs to get, I mean Steven needs to get out of his head to, to, to, to, to. To be. Like I said before, he will go

[Peter Rosenberg]

out there and Brussels.

[Manny]

Listen, I'm not saying Brussels, I mean doesn't have. Probably he has but point the finger on him. I think it was total, unnecessary, unfair.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And I thought it was. It.

[Manny]

It was a dangerous thing to do because he needs to be very careful of what he said. I mean, yes. For the camp practice.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Manny]

He has to play better. I mean he. Listen, he will never be like a superstar or so. Yes. Or a star. But he has to be understand his. Well, listen, the next trade five traded five picks because they believe in you, you, you. Because you were part of. And people forget in Phoenix he was part of that team that got to the finals. And he was a defensive player of

[Peter Rosenberg]

the year candidate back then.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes, he was again.

[Manny]

When he goes to New York, unfortunately his role got changed. I mean, yes, in Brooklyn he was asked to beat the guy, but he wasn't really. But he wasn't really the guy.

[Spike]

He.

[Manny]

I mean he was pretty much on a team with, you know, they all used to say these, these invisible numbers players. He has some great numbers, but hasn't. But, but that's not, you know, be a part of the winning team. But now he's in the Knicks and listen, if this team do not get far in the playoffs, unfortunately the criticism is going to be not just on him, but Leon Rose. And yes, they may make a change and we've got. But it'll be very hard for me. Hard for me to say. It'll be hard to say. I don't think it's good. It's going to change. That's who he is. That's it.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. He hit that at just the right time.

[Don Hahn]

I would say he hit it about two and a half minutes too late.

[Alan Hahn]

But we got it right. He hit the. He hit the. That's it.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, I hit the. That's it. About even.

[Alan Hahn]

But you could tell even he knew.

[Don Hahn]

That's it.

[Alan Hahn]

It's time to play it out.

[Don Hahn]

Let's see. He had to know this was, this was really going.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Good Lord. Let's Go to Steve in New Fairfield. What's up, Steve?

[Alan Hahn]

Steve.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right, man.

[Don Hahn]

A lot of words in the last five minutes. What do you got for us?

[Peter Rosenberg]

The Oscars. So very timely. Mikhail has been there long enough to establish a body of work that I think we know what he is. I mean, we thought we were getting an elite defender, a solid three scoring punch and obviously that's not the case.

[Andres]

The thing is though, like Al, you

[Manny]

put it very well.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He floats in and out of season. He has his moments. The thing I like, I think he really does care. You'll see him get worked up, get on teammates occasionally about defense. I think he really cares.

[Andres]

But when I want to go back

[Spike]

to how did jp, I find it go back to the statement he made

[Peter Rosenberg]

like a month ago.

[Spike]

Don't you find it still a little odd?

[Andres]

No one really knew what that was about or about.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I had to look at myself, be more coachable.

[Andres]

I mean that relating to now is difficulties.

[Spike]

I don't know.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, it's a great point. I brought that up earlier, Steve. Is that like it was about a

[Laura Rosenberg]

month ago where he was putting it

[Alan Hahn]

on himself, like I wasn't in the right place, I wasn't being coachable, I

[Laura Rosenberg]

needed to be better and all that stuff. And he really. And it was revealing and it was, it was actually endearing because it's okay. This is cool. Like he's having a moment of truth and we thought maybe, I don't know. But now when you ask him like,

[Alan Hahn]

what's up with you? Because you know, he's shooting. His, his shooting percentage over the last five, six games has just got awful,

[Laura Rosenberg]

especially from three and he's not even shooting. See, he's hesitating to shoot. And, and so when you ask him about it now, he's like, you know,

[Alan Hahn]

well, sometimes the ball doesn't find me. I'm trying to find ways to stay aggressive.

[Laura Rosenberg]

And that doesn't sound like a guy that's holding himself accountable anymore. That sounds like a guy that's starting to blame the system or other people are shooting.

[Alan Hahn]

So I'm not part of it.

[Laura Rosenberg]

And it's weird.

[Andres]

He's not going to be that elite

[Peter Rosenberg]

defender that we thought we were getting. I mean, I mean, Josh, at different

[Laura Rosenberg]

points, like, think about this, Steve. When you got Anunobi, Anunoby's an elite defender and so you've got Anunoby and there are games where Anunoby's not shooting

[Alan Hahn]

the ball well, you got games where

[Laura Rosenberg]

he's not getting the ball. But does he like Let up. Does you ever see him play soft defensively?

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Laura Rosenberg]

You never see him.

[Don Hahn]

No. When he's playing, he's going well.

[Laura Rosenberg]

And when he's going offensively now all

[Alan Hahn]

of a sudden his defense goes to another level, which is human nature.

[Laura Rosenberg]

But that's the problem for Mikhail. You just look at him going like, bud, this is something I give Towns

[Alan Hahn]

credit for, for all the crap we give him him is that he said after the all Star break, you know what? I want to be a star in my role. I'm going to be elite at what this team needs me to do. And he's been one of the best rebounders in the league and his three point shooting has now gone up where it was bad early on.

[Laura Rosenberg]

Mikhail Bridges has to understand, like, just be elite at what they need you to do.

[Alan Hahn]

And that is fight through screens, battle

[Laura Rosenberg]

through screens, stay in front of people, don't get beat easily.

[Alan Hahn]

Don't.

[Laura Rosenberg]

If, if like somebody just bodies you, don't just fall off and then let the guy make a layup and just

[Alan Hahn]

kind of go, oh, well, he just bodied me.

[Laura Rosenberg]

Like, no, you're like, you got to go harder. And if you're just, if you're worried about getting hurt because you don't want

[Alan Hahn]

your streak to be broken, we got to have a conversation.

[Don Hahn]

1-800-919-3776, some more calls in the WBC to get to and stuff on Bridges as well. Plus we got Enn coming up right around the corner at 6 o' clock right here on Don Hahn and Rosenberg. Right, Alan?

[Laura Rosenberg]

Yeah, that's true.

[Alan Hahn]

And hey, you know, I want to tell everybody about Ring's End. This is one of my favorite new partners that we have here on the

[Laura Rosenberg]

show because as I've told you, we got some work getting done at the house. They're going to be part of it.

[Alan Hahn]

They're coming to do some measurements.

[Laura Rosenberg]

This is the exciting part. Now the anticipation starts to build.

[Alan Hahn]

In a couple of weeks they're going to come and start measuring for not only replacement windows, but also adding windows as well.

[Laura Rosenberg]

Now, this is why you go with

[Alan Hahn]

a company like Ring's End because they work with pro contractors who build and

[Laura Rosenberg]

remodel for a living. So the pros trust them. And that's why I can too.

[Alan Hahn]

And you should as well because they

[Laura Rosenberg]

have premium brands and all kinds of things, not just windows, windows and doors, decking, paint, lumber, kitchens, all the things

[Alan Hahn]

to improve your home. They're a big part of it.

[Laura Rosenberg]

They have built to last high end

[Alan Hahn]

product lines that contractors rely on. See, they do it right, they don't do it over.

[Laura Rosenberg]

Now they're not a national chain. They have regional expertise with eight full service lumber yards in Connecticut and Westchester county. And they have 12 freestanding paint centers. Rings and his family owned and operated since 1902.

[Alan Hahn]

That's 124 years in the business to you and me.

[Laura Rosenberg]

Deep Northeast roots. They know your house, they know your area, they know what it needs.

[Alan Hahn]

They also support local builders and communities. And you gotta love that.

[Laura Rosenberg]

If you can't make it to a store, you can shop online. Ringsend.com that's ringsend.com Rich Eisen here.

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[Podcast Intro/Outro Announcer]

thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don Hahn]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Podcast Intro/Outro Announcer]

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

[Don Hahn]

Clown show. Clown show. Clown show. Clown.

[Alan Hahn]

What are we doing here?

[Manny]

I suck.

[Don Hahn]

I don't know. I think. I don't think it's what he planned. I think something happened.

[Alan Hahn]

What happened?

[Don Hahn]

Jacob, just. Let's just. It's 551 for God's sake. We're going to Calandra's tomorrow. Just tell us the truth. What the hell happened?

[Jake]

So I had Snoop Dogg lay low instrument already. That's what I really wanted to come in with. But my problem was I searched it without clicking on the video and having to add pre ready. So you know when I clicked on it, by the time I got back before break, I had like 15 seconds to add. With 5 seconds left on commercial, I gotta make a decision.

[Don Hahn]

For the record, I just want you to know this because there are other hosts at this station where this would. I'm just being honest. I'm not the most talented person at the radio station.

[Manny]

Agree,

[Don Hahn]

well done. But. But I will tell you this. I am the number one person at this radio station that you could go, peter, I got no bed. Just talk. And I'm not gonna freak out. I'll just start talking. So just so you just know because they'll give you like Michael K might be the best broadcaster at the station, but if you hit him with just a Michael Go talk, the level of Flummoxed and headphone flying and screen breaking.

[Jake]

I've been there. Panicking. Well, I'm meant to talk to either you or Don in your ear.

[Don Hahn]

And then Michael talked to Michael. Then he goes, what's happening?

[Jake]

Exactly. It just derailed.

[Don Hahn]

Why? What's happening? I don't understand this. Whereas, like, you know, Michael can. You know, he's one of the great talk shows I've ever heard in my life, but if he's like Ron Burgundy, if something goes off, he gets very flummoxed.

[Jake]

But also, what was worrying me, because I see Anthony, who's the guy is not usually on the board, was creeping over, looking at the board, worrying. That had me a little.

[Don Hahn]

That made you nervous.

[Jake]

I was like, you know what? Let me come in and do my job before this guy loses his mind.

[Don Hahn]

You know, Speaking of Michael K, do you guys find it interesting that today is Ebro's birthday?

[Anthony]

Okay.

[Don Hahn]

Do you guys find it interesting? That's Ebro's to you and me. Do you find it interesting? When I saw ebro Today at 8am we went on the air on the Ebro Laura Rosenberg show, which you can subscribe to on YouTube. It's a great listen live every day.

[Alan Hahn]

Ibrah Rosenberg.

[Don Hahn]

Ebro Laura Rosenberg.

[Jake]

That's right.

[Don Hahn]

It's three different people.

[Alan Hahn]

I know.

[Don Hahn]

It's the Laura Rosenberg show, and we go live every day, eight o', clock. And Ebro starts the show by going, hey, you know. You know. You know who I got my first birthday wish from this morning? Michael Kirk. And I wrote him and Hebrew said. He wrote him back and said, like, thanks. Kind of like, why? Or how did you know it's my birthday? He said, how do you know it's my birthday? And Michael said, birthdays are very important to me. Or something like that. Well, what's going on here? I mean, first of all, you know, how did he know at that time? Like, why would he have known at 7am it was Ebro's birthday?

[Anthony]

Well, you know, him and Kenny have that game, but when they try to beat each other, I guess Michael takes it to another level and does it to everybody he knows.

[Don Hahn]

Even when it's not your birthday. I mean, Michael's birthday is Groundhog Day, and ebro's birthday is St. Patrick's Day. But how did he know? And also. And then the next question is, what does Michael believe Ebro can do for him? That's the question. Is he trying to get a laptop?

[Alan Hahn]

Seriously?

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, Apple.

[Jake]

I mean, that's not a bad.

[Don Hahn]

I mean, Ebro you know, Ebro's the. You heard his voice on the. The super bowl halftime for Apple. He just hosted the 50th anniversary for Apple at Grand Central Station with Alicia Keys.

[Jake]

He.

[Don Hahn]

I saw pictures of him hobnobbing with Tim Apple, AKA Tim Cook. So my, my point is, Alan, I love, I love Michael. He's a great guy. But a 7am birthday wish to someone who he's met, I think one time to me suggests he's trying to get something out of it. What is he trying to get?

[Alan Hahn]

Just trying to win.

[Don Hahn]

Just win. Right. Just surround yourself with more cool people. Add to. Add to your collection of good contacts.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

No, I think it's a great point.

[Jake]

It's either that or I just think he knew that you were going probably live with your show probably like in the next hour after that.

[Don Hahn]

But that wouldn't change.

[O'Reilly Auto Parts Announcer]

How would he know?

[Don Hahn]

Know? Cuz like it wasn't someone that he followed. Like, it doesn't make sense that he would have known it at that time. Ebro was like, do you think he put it in his eye calendar? I was like, he doesn't know how to put birthdays in the eye calendar.

[Jake]

Yeah, but sometimes when you wish somebody like a happy birthday one year, it usually pops up with that birthday. Oh yeah. So that could possibly be it.

[Anthony]

And we know Michael keeps score like that.

[Don Hahn]

Why would you?

[Alan Hahn]

Why?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Why would you.

[Don Hahn]

So you're saying don't. What?

[Alan Hahn]

No, I see what you're doing.

[Don Hahn]

What am I doing?

[Alan Hahn]

No, not you. Jake. Jake wanted to. Jake pointed out like it really wasn't in his, you know, good heart. No, it was something else.

[Don Hahn]

Well, we know that. We know it wasn't in the good of his heart.

[Laura Rosenberg]

Why not?

[Don Hahn]

Why couldn't it be because Michael's rooting for him?

[Alan Hahn]

Okay.

[Don Hahn]

Jacob, do you get a text on

[Jake]

your birthday for Michael? No, he also, he also did a birthday shout out with everybody who shared the same birthday as me. And then Ray said it off air, like, Michael, you. You forgot somebody. Jokingly, like Jake was kind of mad

[Don Hahn]

at you and did he include you after that?

[Jake]

Not on air. But he, he did wish me happy birthday off air, so.

[Don Hahn]

Sorry.

[Alan Hahn]

Wait, but that, that doesn't carry that. Yeah, no, that doesn't mean anything.

[Don Hahn]

Anthony. Anthony, do you get a K text on your birthday?

[Anthony]

I believe so.

[Don Hahn]

Okay, just checking. I just want to make sure everybody's.

[Alan Hahn]

I believe so. Peter. How much?

[Anthony]

Well, listen, we can't talk about Peter because we all forgot.

[Don Hahn]

Who, me?

[Anthony]

Yes, you.

[Don Hahn]

That was, that was unspeakable. What happened to me? I didn't get, I, I didn't get a birthday shout out from the, from the, from the ESPN New York channel.

[Anthony]

That was, that was very trouble.

[Jake]

They took off that week. Anthony took off that week. It was me and like five characters of producers.

[Don Hahn]

I, I got, I got nothing.

[Anthony]

We all looked and said, what's a good week to take off? How about Peter's birthday week?

[Don Hahn]

No, not a network, not from our show account, not from the station account.

[Alan Hahn]

Nothing.

[Don Hahn]

Now thank. Thankfully 46 was a nothing birthday. But if that had happened on like you said, eggs, eggs, that's just not what you want. You know what I mean? It makes the people ask the question. Tournament update brought to you by Schweppes. The first four starts tonight in Dayton. Like you dream about.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, what's the matchups?

[Manny]

Let's hear.

[Laura Rosenberg]

Well, how about this?

[Don Hahn]

One of the most magical underdog teams of all time, UMBC facing Howard. Wow, that is a real battle of the DMV. All right, now, I don't quite consider Baltimore the DMV, but you get the idea. UMBC and Howard to determine the 16 seed in the Midwest. That's at 640. Followed by Texas and NC State to determine the 11 seed in the West. I still think that like the 11 seed plays their way in. Has always been dumb to me. It just, it's got to be 16 and 15. Like if you're not there, you're not there. I don't care what reasons you're not there for, you shouldn't be playing for the 11.

[Laura Rosenberg]

I don't make sense. If you are in the first four,

[Alan Hahn]

it should be for the 15th of the sixth.

[Don Hahn]

See, that's got all it's got to be. Anyways, that's your tournament update brought to you by Schweppes. Schweppes delivers above the rim. Refreshment. Feel the madness and refresh your game with the Schweppes Seltzer. Schweppes ginger ale to David, Tessa J. Matt and Gill. We will get to all of you. Apologies that we didn't get to here. And we rambled about Ebro's birthday and Michael K instead. ENN is next. Then you guys will start us off for the last call crew as we get you ready for Knicks basketball WBC baseball tomorrow. We're at Calandras. You bet your ace. It's Don Hanna Rosenberg on ESPN New York.

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[Podcast Intro/Outro Announcer]

Don Han and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don Hahn]

I don't want to know how the

[Alan Hahn]

sausage is made, but I just want

[Laura Rosenberg]

to know it's good.

[Podcast Intro/Outro Announcer]

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.

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