← Don, Hahn & Rosenberg
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- [00:00]
Podcast Advertiser
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- [00:31]
Don Hahn
This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
- [00:35]
Rosenberg
That sounds like heaven to me.
- [00:36]
Don Hahn
Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8:80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers.
- [00:44]
Rosenberg
502 in the big city. Don Hahn and Rosenberg with you. OL 6:30. Then it's Mets baseball. People taken aback. Not that LeBron James made a decision. We figured he was going to do it sooner than later. But Philadelphia surprised lot of people and we wanted to talk about it with one of our favorite people, Frank Isola from the YES network. Don Allen, Rosenberg. Allen is on vacation. Hopefully you'll settle for Peter and myself.
- [01:11]
Frank Isola
I'm one of your favorites because you guys were able to track me down on a Friday in the dead of summer. That's the only reason I moved up the charts.
- [01:18]
Caller Kevin
I know it.
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Rosenberg
No, honestly, Anthony, you're the only person we asked for.
- [01:26]
Frank Isola
Ah, look at that. Because you knew I'd be around on a Friday.
- [01:29]
Rosenberg
No, because we know that because we get along with you. It's always a good spot. You're knowledgeable. Stop it. Yeah, Alan forced his way on.
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Clay Holmes
Really?
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Caller Kevin
Yeah.
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Rosenberg
I mean, well, these.
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Frank Isola
Yeah.
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Peter
He didn't even give us a choice.
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Rosenberg
Yeah, right.
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Frank Isola
How you guys doing?
- [01:44]
Rosenberg
Good. It's. It's nice to have, I guess, this resolved. I thought it was much ado about nothing, just waiting. It kind of had an Aaron Rodgers feel to it for a while. Like, you know, let's get it over with already. But the fact that it's Philadelphia, so it directly affects the Knicks and the Eastern conference, and to me, I just think it was sexier than any of the other options just because they haven't won in so long. Frank, what was your thoughts when you saw it was the Sixers?
- [02:11]
Frank Isola
Yeah, I agree. Like, I thought all along he was going to go to Golden State. I thought it was going to be more of a lifestyle thing. You know, he's going to play with his buddy Draymond and became friendly with Steph Curry over the past couple of years. It's a quick flight back to L. A. So I thought that's what he was going to do. You know, Cleveland is a good storybook ending, but he probably watched the way that they played against the Knicks in the conference finals. Miami would make sense just because I think it would have been good for Bam out of our. Certainly for Giannis, if he went there and, you know, he knows Pat Riley, knows Eric Spolster. But I think going to Philadelphia, I think it's really interesting, you know, they ever won a title since 1983. It's a passionate fan base, a pretty demanding fan base. The team is. Is good. You know, the Embiid situation is a bit of a question mark, but I think a game changer for them was getting Jalen Brown. And I think Bob Myers being there is big, too. As well as, you know, Mike Gansey, who's from the same area as LeBron and worked in the Cavaliers organization. I think LeBron has a lot of trust in a lot of things that are happening in Philadelphia. I think Bob Myers and Jaylen Brown being there, along with Tyrese Max, I think that was pretty compelling for him.
- [03:15]
Caller Kevin
Obviously.
- [03:17]
Peter
Was this the most interesting option to,
- [03:19]
Frank Isola
you know, when you. When you think about it, in a lot of ways it was because he's, you know, he's been in Cleveland twice and he went back and he won there. Obviously, Miami is interesting just because it's a new team, so to speak, with Giannis being there. And he wanted to get out of the West. You know, to me, this whole idea of ring chasing, like, what's so wrong about ring chasing? I don't know. I mean, he wants to win another championship, and he probably didn't feel like he was going to win one in the Western Conference with how good a lot of those teams are there. And it's a question mark, what was now with Lucas health. So he's going to fill it up. I think it gives the, obviously the Atlantic Division a lot of juice. I think it gives the Eastern Conference a lot of juice. I mean, think about it. He's going to be in New York twice to play the Knicks, twice to play the Nets. It's pretty cool. And if you want to see LeBron James play, he's 90 miles away from New York City. So I think it's great for people in this area. I think it's great for Philadelphia. I think it's good for the NBA because it gives the Philadelphia 76ers, who had, you know, let's face it, a pretty good first round be coming back from three, one down against Boston. They were terrible against the Knicks, but there's a lot of pieces there. It makes it. It makes it for me. It makes it really interesting.
- [04:30]
Rosenberg
I all along felt the sexier place to go was Philly. Just because we saw the ratings for the Knicks, people are compelled to watch teams end droughts. We saw it with the Cubs and Indians a few years ago in the World Series. You know, we saw it certainly with the Knicks this year. There's something about that. And I think if LeBron wanted to have a great ending story, slaying the dragon, Philadelphia would be it. But Allen thought it was really more just the proximity of New York. He wanted to be a Knick. This is the second best thing. What do you think was the prominent reason why he did it?
- [05:06]
Frank Isola
Yeah, I think. I think both of you were probably spot on. And I do think if the Knicks hadn't won, it would have made all the sense in the world. And think about the feeding frenzy that we would have been going through over the past couple of weeks with him opting out of his contract in L. A and then becoming a free agent. I mean, the talk of LeBron to the Knicks, it would have been over the charts or off the charts just like it was back in 2010. I do think he'll probably spend a lot of time in New York. It's not uncommon for even guys on the Eagles to come up to New York on their off day and hang out. So I'm sure New York will be big for him the next couple of years. And I do feel they do have a history in Philadelphia. It's a pretty cool basketball history going all the way back, obviously, to Wilt Chamberlain. But, you know, when you're talking about, you know, the last time they won with Moses Malone and, of course, Dr. J and Mo Cheeks and Allen Iverson, the time that he had the last time they went to a finals, and, you know, they have a likable team. I mean, Tyrese Maxey is a terrific player who actually plays with a lot of joy, and BJ Edgecomb is a fun player. To me, I still think the biggest question mark, though. And you wonder, you know, privately, what LeBron thinks about it. Obviously, he thinks he can make it work. Would be the whole thing with Embiid, because he did play with Embiid on the Olympic team. And, you know, they. They got on him a little bit because Embiid tends to, you know, be maybe a little too casual, and it doesn't put in the amount of work that probably a lot of these great players feel you have to put in. But I'm sure LeBron feels like maybe he can get to him somehow. So Philadelphia, in a lot of ways is the most intriguing option. I think you're right. Donna mean, 1983 is a long time ago since the last one. And if he could win in Philadelphia with the Sixers, that would be a nice little feather on his cap as he's leaving the NBA.
- [06:47]
Peter
What percentage of MB do you think the Sixers team would need to legitimately compete for a title? Because, Frank, to me, they've made so much improvement that even if they don't have all of Embiid, that they can still absolutely compete for the East.
- [07:03]
Frank Isola
Yeah, I think that, you know, my thing with Joel Embiid, you know, he's obviously a very talented player. You just wonder, has he really ever been in world class shape? So we all know that he does have a legitimate knee injury and that's going to impact him. So can you get 55 games in the regular season? What if he's available to play 25 minutes a game in the playoffs? That still doesn't mean he's not going to be a liability defending the pick and roll that's still always going to be there, but you just wonder if he can get in world class shape. And I think that was the one thing about him being on the Olympic team a couple of years ago. You know, he's around guys like Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, and obviously in the case of Kevin Durant, he's dealt with some major injuries in his career. Step is missed sometimes in his career with an injury, but you know, that was a hand injury. But the point is, you know, guys do get hurt, but those guys, they put a lot into it and they try to keep themselves in tip top shape to be able to play at a high level late into their 30s. Or in the case of LeBron, he's now in his 40s, so I might. And the other thing too, about Embiid, and you know this, Peter, you know, from a Celtics standpoint, you know, Philadelphia going into Boston last year, winning three games in Boston is a big deal. Coming back from three, one down is a big deal. Winning game seven in Boston, that's a big deal. That's absolutely, it's an accomplishment. But after they get smoked by the Knicks and he's, you know, at his press conference, I don't know how great the season was, I thought it was a success. They went three and four with him in the playoffs. Like, he, he kind of made it sound like he had a Generational playoff run. Like sometimes you just wonder, like, I don't know, is he trying to fool us or is he. Or is he really that naive? It's. That's the thing that sometimes concerns me in a Dwight Howard kind of way. Remember how Kobe got on him a little bit? And then, you know, LeBron also, when they were on the Olympic team, where sometimes. Do you take it serious? Serious enough. But I even think without him beat, I still think they have a lot there. And again, you know, LeBron makes all the difference in the world. The guy is as smart of a player as you're going to find. I get that he can't do some of the things that he used to do, but in a close game in the fourth quarter, I'd be pretty confident with the ball in his hands.
- [09:12]
Rosenberg
Talking to Frank Isola from the yes Network after LeBron James signs with the Philadelphia 76ers here on Don Hahn and Rosenberg, you know, so where do you put them? I know Vegas has them at minus 350 to win the conference to the Knicks, plus, excuse me, plus 350. So it's pretty close. How much of a threat is this Philadelphia 76ers teams to the Knicks chances of repeating?
- [09:38]
Frank Isola
Oh, I think they're definitely a threat. I still would give the Knicks the edge because the Knicks, you know, the fact that that group has stayed together now for a couple of years and last year they did a good job by upgrading the bench. And I think come playoff time, you know, we know that Jalen Brunson responds and Mikhail Bridges kind of has these up and down regular seasons, but he seems to play well in the playoffs. So they, their, their starting five is solid. But you guys know this. If you look at the playoffs the last two years, injuries have been a huge factor and the Knicks have stayed healthy for the past two years, which is, which is a big part of it. I mean, look at Oklahoma City this year. You know, A.J. mitchell and Jalen Williams were hurt during that spurs series. That certainly impacted them. You know, you go back the year before, even though the Knicks were going to be Boston anyway, when Tatum got hurt, but Tatum got hurt, and then, you know, Tyrese Halliburton went down. Luka didn't play this year at all in the playoffs. So the Knicks, you know, knock on wood, have been pretty fortunate when it's come to injury. So if the Knicks are healthy, I still would think that they're the team to beat. But you don't know how this is going to all play out in Terms of, you know, the Knicks are the toast of the town. You know, it's. Look at, there's been what now eight different champions in the NBA over the last eight successive seasons. So, you know, is the motivation still going to be there? A lot of things factor in, but you have to admit, it definitely gives the Sixers a little balance to their step. And you add to it the fact that, you know, Maxey and BJ Edgecomb are real players and Jalen Brown, people can say whatever they want. All I know is that Jaylen Brown plays in, I think it's 142 playoff games in Boston. He went to two finals. He was in the playoffs all the time. He was a Finals mvp. So whatever the metrics and the analytics say, the dude plays and he wins. So like adding, adding LeBron to those three guys, he's pretty good.
- [11:29]
Peter
Yeah. That's the bottom line. I mean, on paper, this is a dangerous team. Knicks fans are understandably still bullish on the Knicks. If you're sitting here, though, just had to call it and we are way out. You talk about way too early. This is way too early.
- [11:45]
Caller Kevin
Yeah.
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Caller Kevin (continued)
Who.
- [11:46]
Peter
Who would, who would you say is in the finals next year?
- [11:50]
Frank Isola
You know what? I'd probably say the Knicks. Oklahoma City. I think Oklahoma City will find. Find their way back somehow. But at least now in the East, I do think, you know, with Giannis in Miami, Miami still has some things up their sleeve. And, you know, there are a lot of teams that are getting better. Detroit was really disappointing in the playoffs. I think the interesting one is Cleveland, because Cleveland, you know, they locked up Harden for two more years. And don't you find it interesting that LeBron didn't go there? I mean, that clearly was a viable option for him. But the fact that he probably doesn't think he can win there is, to me is really interesting because Harden needs the ball, Donovan Mitchell needs the ball, okay? But by the same token, so does Tyrese Maxey and Jalen Brown. But LeBron was. Is willing to go there to try to make it work. So it's hard to have a lot of faith in Cleveland after what happened last year. When was it a 22 point lead with eight minutes to go? Tell you what, if LeBron were on the team, I don't think they're blowing a 22 point lead with him. He'd figure out a way to usher that game out and get a W.
- [12:55]
Rosenberg
Then the other interesting thing from a Philadelphia standpoint, I'm not going to pretend I'm in the Heart and soul of Philly fans. But is it realistic, even for a Sixer fan to look at LeBron coming here as championship or bust? Or would they be satisfied? They haven't. They haven't been to a conference final, Frank, since. Since 01. So a couple of trips to the third round, maybe a finals appearance, and. And no championships. Could that still be viewed as a success for LeBron and for the fans?
- [13:23]
Frank Isola
LeBron's credit everywhere. He. Every team that he's played for, he ended up winning a championship there. I get it. The first time with Cleveland, he didn't, but he went back and won. I mean, realistically, if they get to a conference finals, I think that's pretty good. Yes. You get a guy like LeBron on your team, even at the age that he's at, you want to win a title. But I think you also have to be realistic about it. There's a lot of factors. The east is a lot better. The Knicks are really good. But. But look at what Philadelphia did. You know, they made it to the second round. You know, you got and beat on this brutal contract. You got Paul George on a brutal contract. They somehow were able to get Jalen Brown, and now they have LeBron James. So Fortina went to the second round. Like, look at all the teams that went to the second round last year. I don't think there's any other team that improved themselves more than Philadelphia did. So give Bob Myers a lot of credit. He's taken over, you know, a more active role with the team. Peter, maybe you can get him to take on a more active role now with the Washington Commanders, because he obviously has a hand in that as well. But, you know, they've. They've done a pretty good job pivoting off of what was just having two guys on these brutal contracts, and now having Jalen Brown and LeBron, not bad.
- [14:34]
Rosenberg
Also, my devil's pretty impressive.
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Peter
Yeah, that's right, that's right, that's right.
- [14:38]
Frank Isola
And, Chris, let's not forget about Crystal palace either. And I know that's one of Peter's favorite teams in London.
- [14:43]
Rosenberg
You know, I was going to bring that up because the one thing that people maybe don't know about. Frank, big soccer fan. Did you enjoy the World Cup?
- [14:50]
Frank Isola
Oh, I thought it was great. I mean, you know what happened? I ended up watching too much television for a month because I watched just about every game, except for there were a few games that started at 11, but I went to three. I went to Paraguay, France, on July 4th in Philadelphia, and literally melted. It was 100 degrees. You can't, you can't play in 100 degree heat in the, the dead of summer and the players can't play in that type of heat. And then I went to Brazil, Norway, which was awesome. And then I went to the final on Sunday, which wasn't great. Again, it was really hot and it was three in the afternoon. All these stadiums. God bless your people down in Washington, Peter. Building a stadium with a roof. I'm sorry, maybe it's an age thing. Now. Every stadium should have a roof if they want to open it up for certain games. But you should every stage have a retractable roof. So first of all the owners can afford it. So why don't they just do?
- [15:42]
Peter
Makes no sense. When I, when I see the look of the D.C. stadium, if they pull off what they're saying it's going to look like, oh man, it would truly make up for what has been a 25 plus year nightmare of a stadium in Washington.
- [15:57]
Frank Isola
I mean, Peter, think about it. You're going to get the super bowl, which would be, you know, D.C. is a great area to have that in. They're going to get the final four. The next time the World cup comes here, it'll go play in D.C. like they did back in 94. That was the problem. You know, there were a couple of days in Philadelphia where they got had a couple of bad storms for one of the France games. It's just too hot at this time of year for in the Northeast, even in New England it was too hot. I give the Buffalo Bills credit. They built a stadium that has that European model where the, a lot of like the roof covers the fans even if it doesn't cover the field, you know, So I just love the idea. You know, they build the same in MetLife. And I get it, the Mara family's great and everything, but they build the stadium where they sit in a suite when it's raining outside and then they expect you to spend a ton of money right outside the rain. Like I don't know. I mean, listen, we, we know how that is done. That's like for young people in their 20s. Can go do that?
- [16:51]
Rosenberg
No, I'm good. No, I used to, I used to get like. When I'd go to a Giant game, it starts snowing. I thought it added to the ambiance. And now I'd be like, oh please, you're killing me. I don't want to have to deal.
- [17:00]
Frank Isola
Exactly.
- [17:01]
Rosenberg
Without cold.
- [17:03]
Frank Isola
It means we're getting older, but we're Getting smarter too.
- [17:05]
Rosenberg
I think that's what happens is for sure. Before I let you go, that with the championship game. And I watched him, I watched with my son and it was. It was ugly because Spain was just so much better. But I was thinking about this as it got to the end. I was talking about it with these guys. If that game remains scoreless into kicks and Argentina had won, that would have been one of the most undeserving championship game wins in the history of sports. Am I wrong? Like, because the kicks are so fluky to begin with. If for some. Now listen, Spain wouldn't have a kick coming because they didn't score, but they're the goaltenders for Argentina was out of his mind. Like, that would be so undeserving if they had won that way.
- [17:44]
Frank Isola
Yeah, it would have been a crime, really, if they had won. Spain was just so much better. And Spain came to play. Argentina was trying to get, you know them into a fight and try to draw a red card and said it was Argentina that got the red card. But when you watch Spain play, their ability to possess the ball and basically play keep away, it's. Listen, I get it. If you don't really like the sport, you could find it incredibly boring. But what they're doing is so difficult. And what all their youth teams, their women's teams, they all play the same way. It's amazing. Everybody talks about having like a style of play. Their style of play is pretty unique. And they all play. You know, they stayed up the road here in Montclair. So we were actually there after they won. How cool is this? Norway was here. One of my buddies who, he said on his ring camera, the whole Norway team came jogging past his house one morning at seven o' clock in the morning to go for an early job. And then Harry Kane, there's a pool. They call it a beach club. It's just a pool where rich people go like you and Peter would belong. I can't afford it. But they actually called up to see if they could use the pool for a couple of players. And they said sure. And they were willing to pay, but they told the England team, no, no. As long as the players come here, they're fine with kids coming up to them. And they said, sure, Harry Kane was one of them. And they said they were incredible with the kids at the pool. And one of the lifeguards is from England, Harry Kane, actually FaceTime, the guy's parents from the pool. And the parents now, they. They were the players here. Listen, you know you come here and I think they really, A lot of the players really fell in love with the place. I think they. Everyone, as you guys know this, every time somebody from Europe comes over here, always blown away by how large the portions are on their place. But I think they. They loved a lot of. A lot of things about being here. So it was fun. It'll be back soon. You know that.
- [19:36]
Peter
Wait, how soon do you think I'll be back?
- [19:40]
Frank Isola
I know. Hopefully more, you know, 30 years. I might not be around.
- [19:44]
Peter
I was gonna say it's been.
- [19:46]
Caller Kevin
It's.
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Peter
Frank, it's been a full 94 to just 30 years.
- [19:51]
Clay Holmes
Yeah.
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Frank Isola
And honestly, I'm not gonna get political, but the only thing that messed it up, like, it would have been so much better if we had not gotten involved with the red card for the kid. Baligan does that. Like, we would have been the underdog in that game and we would have said the belt.
- [20:04]
Peter
I think, I think it was one of the big misses because people were scared to make it political. And I get, I get that. But I think you don't even have to bring up the specific politics of it to get into the fact that you cannot discount how much that whole thing threw the game into chaos in a way that will never know how it would have originally played out. There's. It's. It's unquantifiable, Frank, because we've never seen anything like it before.
- [20:32]
Frank Isola
What? Well, Pete, you also have to remember, Belgium is better than us, okay? For sure they have. Sure they have better players than we do. So they went in with an edge. They were like, well, they're manipulating. And if you heard the other managers of the teams and a couple of other players, they were like, thinking, what's going on here? This isn't how it works. You don't. You don't get your government involved to try to get a suspension overturned. It had the opposite effect. It really inspired Belgium. And Belgium came out. Remember, they had a shot where our keeper had to make a great save, like 40 seconds into the match. They dominated us from start to finish. It was really, really good. It was such a great tournament for the national team up until the round of 16. Then it was a big time bummer.
- [21:18]
Rosenberg
Frank, enjoy the rest of your summer. Thanks for giving us a couple of minutes on a busy day. Really appreciate it, man.
- [21:22]
Frank Isola
You're the best, boy.
- [21:23]
Peter
Thank you.
- [21:25]
Rosenberg
That is great. And I mean, it's not exaggeratory at all.
- [21:28]
Frank Isola
He's.
- [21:28]
Rosenberg
He's the best. I love Frank. And come on, on A Friday summer just shows you how much he cares about us and we care about him. So really good stuff that he had to say.
- [21:39]
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Rosenberg
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- [23:07]
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- [23:11]
Don Hahn
Thanks for listening to the Don Han and Rosenberg podcast.
- [23:14]
Peter
I didn't listen to anything you just said.
- [23:16]
Don Hahn
Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.
- [23:23]
Rosenberg
Now Peter, you've made it very known that you're smarter than me, so. Thought that was appropriate for people not on YouTube. I start talking to Peter and asking him a question, and that's exactly when Anthony popped on the empty chair. So I thought that was pretty funny.
- [23:47]
Peter
But what empty chair did he pop on?
- [23:49]
Rosenberg
That'll be yours. When we came back from break, I stupidly assumed you'd be there and I started asking you a question. And then instead of instead of Anthony saying he's not there, he just popped on the YouTube of the empty chair to let me know you're not talking to anybody. Don, you teased baseball. It's really on you thinking Peter would be there.
- [24:09]
Peter
Oh, that's not.
- [24:10]
Rosenberg
Oh, oh, I'm sorry. No, a self inflicted wound there, that's. That I didn't remember the team. I take it back.
- [24:17]
Peter
You know. You know what? It's too late. Enough's been said.
- [24:19]
Rosenberg
Who's Embiid in this situation anyway? I just had a question for you.
- [24:23]
Peter
All right, what was it?
- [24:24]
Caller Kevin
That.
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Rosenberg
So I was running some errands and this has not happened to me for years. But I don't know how much this happened to you in Maryland or even up here where you're stuck at a train crossing for an obnoxious amount of time.
- [24:40]
Peter
It's happened.
- [24:41]
Rosenberg
And what I do is I count the cars. Today I got stuck. I counted 120. Where are they putting all these cars?
- [24:55]
Commercial Announcer 1
What are.
- [24:56]
Rosenberg
What are you pulling into that could fit 120 cars?
- [25:01]
Peter
You counted 120 cars?
- [25:03]
Rosenberg
Yeah, I was there for 20 minutes because it was. And it was going like 15 miles an hour. And I wasn't that familiar with the area to know if there was a bridge or an underpass or something. So I kind of just waited out and I figured, excuse me. As soon as I. Bless you. As soon as I do a three point turn, all of a sudden I look in the rearview mirror and it's going to end. And I wasn't the first.
- [25:23]
Peter
So you kept waiting. So you kept waiting.
- [25:25]
Rosenberg
I kept waiting. So I'm like, I'll count the cars 120. But what I'm asking you is this is going to end up at a train yard somewhere. How big is this train yard that can fit, you know? 120. Like, you pull into the train yard, it's like five towns over is the end of the train. You know what I'm saying? I know there's twists and turns and stuff, but how big is this yard that they're going to be able to pull in? Or are these cars, like, taken on the way? Like, how does this work?
- [25:56]
Peter
I have to admit I'm not as familiar with the concept or the thought of the train yard as you are. I've never thought about the train yard.
- [26:05]
Rosenberg
Well, because I'm thinking, where is this ending up? Like, they're obviously transporting goods across a length. So I would you just do you line it up to where the very end they take. They take the cards and eventually they're all gone. And if it is the end how far ahead do you have to pull up for them to be able to take it at the end? Like 120 cars. I mean, that thing must have been like two miles long.
- [26:33]
Peter
Well, now you're having a conversation. How long is a train that has 120 cars? That's about a mile to a mile and a quarter.
- [26:49]
Rosenberg
That's what it says.
- [26:50]
Caller Kevin
Yep.
- [26:51]
Rosenberg
So I got to pull up to someplace. If they're going to take the caboose, I got, I got to overshoot my destination by a mile and a quarter.
- [27:04]
Peter
Well, that's the thing about overshooting the caboose.
- [27:06]
Rosenberg
But I don't. You know what I'm saying? And if it's all going to the same place, how big is this place that's fitting all these cars?
- [27:17]
Peter
It's wild stuff.
- [27:19]
Rosenberg
I listen, I, I'm sure there's somebody laughing at me, not understanding that show.
- [27:24]
Peter
That's a wacky, wacky train.
- [27:29]
Rosenberg
All right, David Stern spoke. Now, you've heard these, Anthony, right? Because obviously you cut them. Oh, of course. Are we doing a disservice to our listeners playing this? No, I think it's going to be great. Okay.
- [27:42]
David Stern
I look forward.
- [27:42]
Peter
You said Anthony, cut him. So are they about 90 seconds? Two minutes?
- [27:45]
Rosenberg
No. I got to tell you, I want to kiss him on the mouth.
- [27:48]
Peter
Okay, Well, I was just a joke.
- [27:50]
Caller Kevin (continued)
You'll be happy.
- [27:50]
Rosenberg
No, Jacob cut them.
- [27:51]
Peter
So you got to kiss Jacob on the mouth.
- [27:53]
Rosenberg
Whether that's the shortest one is 18 seconds. The longest one is 25. I mean, this is.
- [27:58]
Peter
Look at you.
- [27:58]
Caller Kevin (continued)
I see one.
- [27:59]
David Stern
That's six.
- [27:59]
Rosenberg
Almost. I'm almost aroused.
- [28:02]
Peter
This is good stuff.
- [28:03]
Rosenberg
I'm sorry. There's a 26. All right.
- [28:05]
Peter
Okay.
- [28:05]
Rosenberg
But still, I, I could have, I could have played a shams. That was a minute. We might as well have mon. That one I cut. Well, there we.
- [28:13]
Caller Kevin
Now we've got.
- [28:14]
Rosenberg
Now we've gotten to the bottom of it, Right? All right, you tell me under 40, I give you at least a minute.
- [28:19]
Peter
That's right.
- [28:20]
Rosenberg
All right. So David Stern spoke as he does at the start of every home stand. David, how will he. You approach the trade deadline?
- [28:28]
David Stern
I think we have to be open minded. We've been very clear. Steve's been very clear that we expect to compete in 2027. We have to keep that in mind. We also have to make moves that we believe are right for the organization. And so we're sitting here nine, ten days out for the deadline, and we're not going to close any paths down right now.
- [28:51]
Caller Kevin
All Right.
- [28:51]
Rosenberg
So nothing was said there. Just very generic. Asked if the upcoming CBA is impacting the discussions ahead of the trade deadline.
- [29:00]
David Stern
To this point, I have not noticed a change in the types of discussions
- [29:05]
Frank Isola
you would have this year.
- [29:06]
David Stern
Everyone's aware that the CBA expires. We also still have to operate all of our franchises and all of our organizations, and so I don't get the sense right now.
- [29:15]
Rosenberg
All right, well, this one should be interesting because if this question was verbatim, this is. This is troubling, Peter.
- [29:24]
Caller Kevin
All right.
- [29:25]
Rosenberg
You ready for this?
- [29:26]
Peter
Yeah, I'm listening.
- [29:27]
Rosenberg
Is there a grieving process when dismantling a roster you built?
- [29:32]
David Stern
That was not a question I was expecting today. I don't know exactly what the stages of grief are, but whatever they are, probably have to wait because we're really busy to get through this period. This season didn't go as we anticipated. It's extremely disappointed. I am extremely disappointed that we are in this situation, but I am also very aware we are in this situation. It's my job to do what's in the best interest of the organization right now.
- [30:00]
Rosenberg
I'll give you two more. That's all I can stomach. David was asked if he can rule out Lindor being traded at the deadline.
- [30:08]
David Stern
I'm not gonna rule out or in any specific player on anything. I don't think that's wise for me to do what I will do. What I will say is we've got a group of young players and we've got some potential hall of Famers, future hall of Famers, that we view as our core.
- [30:25]
Rosenberg
And we are core. Have as like Covins. I may have mispronounced some of those names in there.
- [30:34]
Commercial Announcer 3
I hope not.
- [30:35]
Caller Kevin (continued)
Shut up.
- [30:35]
Frank Isola
You're always talking.
- [30:37]
Rosenberg
David, has anything changed long term for Andy Green at the managerial position?
- [30:42]
David Stern
I think Andy's done a really nice job in this role. The plan remains the same where we anticipate him coming back to the front office.
- [30:50]
Rosenberg
So he's just there as just interim. All right. There's a couple of. Clay Holmes. He never wronged us. Would you prefer to stay?
- [31:00]
Clay Holmes
Yeah, I think, you know, I've stated kind of how I feel about, you know, the Mets and just grateful for, you know, the opportunity here, and the guys in this clubhouse get to play with them and what this organization is. And so, you know, a lot of that's just out of my control at this point. You know, I think the big thing is, you know, when I signed here, he's like, as a player, you want to leave this place better than you found it, and what that looks like, I don't really know. But I have to do all I can to make sure that no matter what happens, you know, hopefully things are better here when I leave, whenever that is.
- [31:26]
Rosenberg
And any talks of an extension?
- [31:27]
Clay Holmes
Yeah, I don't think there's been at least kind of how I feel. I don't think there's been a ton there. I think it's just one of those situations where, like I said, there's a few different scenarios that the team can go and it really boils down to what the team thinks is best for the organization, you know, long term. And so there's a few different scenarios, and I think there's some things just have to unfold before they really know more.
- [31:49]
Rosenberg
Now, he should be thankful what the Mets did for him, converting him into a starter, because that's going to make him more money. If I'm Clay Holmes, I want to get traded. I want to, if he's healthy enough to be traded, go someplace where you got a chance to pitch in high leverage situations and parlay that into a contract because you make more money as a starting pitcher than you do relief pitcher. And I think that's one thing the Mets did. Well, unfortunately, he got hurt. Is converting him from a relief pitcher into a starting pitcher just. It could have worked out, but he got hurt. But maybe, Peter, he ends up getting traded and you get something back for him, or maybe they decide to extend him. We'll see. I doubt it. But I think he is actually the one guy you're not going to get very much for Peralta, he's been awful, or anybody else in the starting rotation. He is someone, if they could prove he will be healthy for a run, you might get something for. Because he may turn out to be a very good pitcher. I think they did right by getting him to be a starter. It was the right decision to make. It just unfortunately he got hurt. But pitchers get hurt, Peter.
- [32:54]
Peter
That is. That's part of the deal. This is why. This is why I struggle to, you know, overspend in these situations, because it's not a matter of if, it's when.
- [33:04]
Rosenberg
Yeah, exactly. 1, 800-919-3776. Kevin's in Brooklyn. You're on ESPN New York. I Kev.
- [33:11]
Caller Kevin
Hey, what's up, guys? How y' all doing?
- [33:13]
Frank Isola
Good.
- [33:16]
Caller Kevin (continued)
I just want to say that I don't think everybody is now throwing it out the window that this guy Jalen Brown didn't want to be in Boston because he didn't want to be like, he wanted to be the alpha. So he wanted to leave there. He said his best season, he won a championship with Tatum. He said his best season was when Tatum wasn't there. So he don't want to now you think that he's Gonna concede to LeBron when he go, it's gonna be a problem. This guy wanted to be the alpha, so I don't see it working. I mean, yeah, they're gonna win games. Okay, yes, this standard, but I think it's going to be a problem. You got too many alphas over there, Maxi. I don't see him being an alpha. I think he would have, you know, conceded it to LeBron. But Brown is not Wade Brown is not going to say, you know what, I'm going to concede and let LeBron.
- [34:07]
Rosenberg
But Kevin, the one thing you're forgetting is LeBron's at the end. He's 41 years old. He signed a two year deal, but he might only be here for the one season. Brown's going to be here way past LeBron James. It's so. It's hard to say. It's his team. He's never played for them yet. But this is not Tatum, where Tatum is going to be there along with him for a long time. I'm not saying he'll get along with everybody, maybe he won't. But Peter, doesn't it feel like that, hey, he's got LeBron James 41. He, he's won a bunch of championships. I'm the better player. I'm clearly the better player. I'm the younger player, but there's the potential. They're going to be able to get along for what could just be a couple of years, maybe just one.
- [34:49]
Caller Kevin (continued)
Okay. Can I say one more thing, Don?
- [34:51]
Rosenberg
Sure.
- [34:51]
Caller Kevin (continued)
This guy won a championship with Tatum, right?
- [34:56]
Caller Kevin
Yeah.
- [34:56]
Caller Kevin (continued)
He said his best season. Just think of this. He said his best season was when he was doing it by himself. That's like. Let me, let me give you this example. You and Michael been doing it for years and was successful for years. Right?
- [35:09]
Rosenberg
Right.
- [35:10]
Caller Kevin (continued)
And let. Then Peter comes in and you say, my best, My best year that I had was with Peter. Right. Like, or Michael say that. Let's say Michael, he's alone right now. He said, this is my best time I had.
- [35:25]
Rosenberg
He would say it probably is, since
- [35:27]
Caller Kevin (continued)
I've been on the radio. That would be a smack in the face to you. And so that's what I'm saying. Do you think that this guy can actually Say, because I think this guy has a big ego. And I'm not saying Brown can't play everybody. Excellent play, right? But this guy. Ego. You won a championship with this dude, man. And you say your best season was when he was out.
- [35:47]
Rosenberg
Well, you know what's interesting, Kevin? You know what's interesting? Like, you hear me out here and then thanks for the phone call again. I don't. I don't know him. I don't know the situation. Peter may know it better because he was a Celtics fan, but let's take what he said at face value.
- [36:02]
Caller Kevin (continued)
That.
- [36:03]
Rosenberg
That he was prouder of that season or more successful last year. That was something. What happened last year. It was everybody. Everybody is saying, boston's done, they're out. They're not even going to be considered. And without Tatum, they were playing excellent ball. Is it wrong to take pride in that? Even though you had won a title with Tatum, when everybody counted you out, you were able to carry that team until Tatum came back to not just be a playoff team, but, like, have home court advantage. So when he came back, you had a chance to be a one seed. Is it. Is it ego? Is it wrong? Is it selfish to take pride in a season like that?
- [36:43]
Peter
It's hard to be mad at that, Don. Like, I understand why someone wouldn't understand it, because on the outside, we just go, isn't it just all about the team? Isn't it just all about winning? But, like, one thing is very clear about what happened to Jalen Brown in Boston. He was seen as second fiddle. You know, Don, I think you and I can relate to Jalen Brown's experience that, like, yeah, you're thought of as a big deal. But when push came to shove, over and over again, he was told, not you. You're the second guy. Just so you know, we can live without you. Even on the trading block, even after
- [37:15]
Rosenberg
he wins an mvp, Finals mvp, it's not you.
- [37:20]
Peter
It's. It's jt. So you're the second guy. So now JT is hurt. Everyone's expecting a season where they will just settle for a good draft pick. He becomes an MVP candidate and wills them to 60 wins, as Don just pointed out, puts them in position to get home court advantage and win playoff games as big as the championship is. There had to be something so incredibly personally satisfying about that. And that does not make him a bad guy.
- [37:46]
Rosenberg
And there are times where you're faced with adversity and you overcome that adversity, and that becomes even better than a championship because Nobody thought you could do it, you know, again, it's apples and wrenches, but like, there was that one Ranger game I did without Dave Maloney. Dave got sick. I had to do the game by myself. I had never done a game alone before. If I had walked away from that game and said, boy, that was fun. I had never done a game by myself before. It was, it was kind of interesting to get thrown into that fire of having to do a game by myself. Would, would, would that does that? Me disrespecting Dave or me just saying I was. I'm really proud of the job I did. Getting thrown into an adverse situation and coming out feeling good about it like that, that's no shade at Dave. That would be just a listen, unfortunate. There was an unfortunate circumstance and I'm very proud that I was able to do a decent job by myself. I, I, that's kind of how I, that's what I was thinking of when I was thinking of what, what Brown said that day shocked the world, man. Playing as well as they did without him. I mean, I'm sorry, there's nothing wrong with taking pride in that now. There's probably ego. And even if he had a problem with Tatum, does that automatically mean he's gonna have a problem with LeBron and Brown's gonna be the better player, right? He may not be the most famous player, but he's probably the better player, right? Heck, you know, if Embiid's healthy, he might be the better player, And I think LeBron knows that. And LeBron's gonna want to make this work. And because Brown's new to the team, he may not feel like, this is my team. You haven't even played a game of the Sixers yet. When you and LeBron on opening day play, you're both going to be Sixers for the first time. So it's not like he's coming in like, like Wade, he had been there, won a championship or hey, this is my team, or Curry, when, when Durant went to Golden State, hey, this is my team. I've been here, I won here. They're both newbies and maybe it will go sideways, but I, I don't think it's going to be a problem. But it'll be fun to watch.
- [39:49]
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- [42:00]
Don Hahn
thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
- [42:04]
Rosenberg
I didn't listen to anything you just said.
- [42:05]
Don Hahn
Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.
- [42:13]
Rosenberg
All right, let's get back to the phones. Let's talk to let's see Manny and Flushing. You're on ESPN New York. I'm Annie.
- [42:23]
Caller Kevin
What's up guys? How y' all doing?
- [42:25]
Clay Holmes
Good.
- [42:26]
Caller Kevin
And by the way, Peter, happy belated birthday by the way too.
- [42:30]
Peter
Thank you friend.
- [42:32]
Caller Kevin
He has also Happy birth. Also belated Birthday to the glove, Gary Pete. And also happy birthday to wrong zone JLo.
- [42:40]
Peter
That's right. JLo's birthday too.
- [42:43]
Frank Isola
That today, 57. Today 57 years old.
- [42:48]
Caller Kevin
Yeah, 57 years old. Yes. Listen, I want to discuss about this LeBron to the Sixers. I'm not really surprised he was going to the Philly because I think that if you look at the Sixers team, that they're very young. And also the biggest question is, can NB be healthy?
- [43:06]
Frank Isola
Because I. I'm still.
- [43:07]
Caller Kevin
Yes. So I'm not yet sold on the Sixers yet. I mean, I want to see it. I just want to see like everybody else. I mean, you know, you think about, you know, LeBron, you know, because I keep like hearing people talk about LeBron headed to the Knicks. If the Knicks didn't win, you know, the chip, I would have to expect. We disagree. I wouldn't. I don't think if he would have come to the Knicks whether they win a champion, whether they've not win the championship, because to me, I see them stay with the Lakers. In my personal opinion.
- [43:36]
Rosenberg
Well, everything's pointing to the fact that he would go to New York for all the reasons Alan said, because he wants his brand to be in New York for every reason he went to Philadelphia. Peter, it's even better to go to New York because it's in New York. And the fact is they hadn't won, so that to be able to slay the dragon. Come on, man, listen, it's going to be really cool for the Philly fans and I think for the NBA. If the Sixers win their first title since Dr. J. It's not going to hit like it did last year with the Knicks. First of all, it's not as long and it's New York.
- [44:09]
Peter
It'd be close, be close, but it wouldn't be it.
- [44:12]
Rosenberg
The only way he isn't a Nick, Peter, is if the Knicks didn't want him. LeBron wanted to come to the Knicks.
- [44:20]
Peter
I think so as well, you know,
- [44:22]
Rosenberg
and the fact that they won the championship, they lost an appetite for it. And I think LeBron lost an appetite for it because it didn't become sexy. Because he wouldn't be helping them. He doesn't want to be helped. He wants to be. He wants to be the guy that helps not be helped. And listen, the Knicks would be. He would need the Knicks more than the Knicks would need him after the title. That would not be the case had the Knicks lost. Let's go to Gabriel. And where is he?
- [44:48]
Caller Kevin (continued)
At work.
- [44:49]
Rosenberg
You're on espn, New York.
- [44:50]
Frank Isola
You're.
- [44:51]
Rosenberg
Well, where's work?
- [44:53]
Caller Kevin
Yeah, I work for the city. I'm actually driving to work. Listen, I told your guy before, I told Michael K. Before that the Knicks was gonna win the championship. And he kept asking me why the Knicks was going to. I told him I couldn't tell him because I was going jinxing. He was like, I could tell him anything. But the real reason I had told him to make the real reason I believe that they're going to champion. Don't take this in the wrong way. I have a nephew that was born when the Knicks had won the last time, and my nephew passed away this year.
- [45:20]
Rosenberg
I'm sorry.
- [45:20]
Caller Kevin
And then I had up Anthony got my. And, you know, I was sitting there one day, was like, oh, my God, the Knicks don't win. But that's not what I'm calling for. The reason LeBron went to Philly, that's the. I thought LeBron was either gonna go to Philly or San Antonio, but now if he goes to Philly, people think like, this team just got a whole lot better. All they need is Joel and to stay healthy or, like, be healthy towards the end of the season, when playoff time come, I put them right up there with the Knicks. I'm a Knicks fan, but I'm putting them up there right up there with the knees to fight for the Eastern Conference championship the next year coming up. And I will not be surprised if they go to. If Philly do end up going to the NBA championship. Because when you have a guy like LeBron James, even though he's older, but he's playing just as good as some young guys, he doesn't get hurt. You know, this guy stay healthy. He take care of his body. He's not going there to be like, you know, I'm the alpha dog. He's going there. I think he's going there. He's gonna be the point guard. He's gonna play the point guard and, you know, run the team like, you know, how the team should be running on the court. But he's not going to have no problem with Jalen Brown or Maxi or none of them guys, because he's not going to be like, yo, you gotta follow me. You know, I'm.
- [46:23]
Caller Kevin (continued)
I'm.
- [46:23]
Caller Kevin
I'm the one that said this and that. He's going there to help the team win a championship. He's not going there to be an alpha dog. It's not going to be no fighting between him, because LeBron is not going to get into no fighting or argument to prove. He doesn't have nothing to prove to anybody. But he likes to compete. So he wants to go somewhere where he could compete, you know, be able to have a chance to win a championship. So I believe that's what's going to happen.
- [46:43]
Rosenberg
He wants to win. He wants this to work. And I can't imagine he's going to derail it because of his ego. He wants this to work. He wants to win another championship. Four championships with four different teams. It's his last hope, ma'. Am. And also too, Peter, I know this is wrong. I feel like history is just not going to respect these Covid championships.
- [47:08]
Peter
Well, I mean, this one, the. The LeBron one will play better than the Dodgers.
- [47:13]
Rosenberg
Yeah. Because it. Because it was a full playoffs and everything. But I just feel like, you know what? There'll be championships, but I'm not telling people how to feel. And I'm not saying I'm not even 100% sure I feel this way, but it just. I think he wants to get one under better circumstances than, you know, what was that in late August, early September, and an empty building just. It was. It was very weird. It's still deserving that. They were still the best team that year, no matter what the circumstances are.
- [47:43]
Peter
Just.
- [47:44]
Rosenberg
I feel like they're not going to
- [47:45]
Peter
age that well, but they will count no matter what.
- [47:49]
Caller Kevin
No, they.
- [47:49]
Rosenberg
They're definitely going to count, but I just wonder how the people that won them feel about them. The Dodgers have been able to win two titles since then, so it probably doesn't matter to them if LeBron's able to get another one. It won't matter to him. I don't know if he wants his last one to be in a bubble.
- [48:10]
Don Hahn
Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
- [48:13]
Peter
I don't want to know how the
- [48:14]
Don Hahn
sausage is made, but I just want to know it's good. Hear more of Don Allen and Peter Weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers that refresh you've
- [48:28]
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