← Don, Hahn & Rosenberg
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- [00:01]
Alan Hahn
Are you ready to build your company's dream team?
- [00:03]
Don LaGreca
Just like in sports, finding skilled players is essential for success.
- [00:08]
Peter Rosenberg
With Robert Haft's winning combination of specialized.
- [00:10]
Don LaGreca
Recruiting professionals and award winning AI will help you find the MVPs and key.
- [00:16]
Alan Hahn
Role players who will have you hanging.
- [00:18]
Peter Rosenberg
Banners in the rafters.
- [00:20]
Don LaGreca
Because in business, it's all about having.
- [00:23]
Peter Rosenberg
The experienced team on your side. At Robert Half we know talent. Visit roberthalf.com today.
- [00:31]
Don LaGreca
This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
- [00:35]
Alan Hahn
That sounds like heaven to me.
- [00:36]
Peter Rosenberg
Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3.
- [00:38]
Don LaGreca
On 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers. All right, into the 5 o'clock hour we go with Don Laca, Peter Rosenberg, I'm Alan Hahn. We have your calls at 800 now we're 93776. Certainly get back to those headlines of the day. Of course, Aaron Boone getting a two year extension with the Yankees to remain as manager at least through 2027. So that is news with the Yankees. On the baseball front, the NBA back in action. They did play last night. Hornets and the lakers and actually LeBron and Luka lost to the Hornets. So that stuff is. Keep an eye on that.
- [01:16]
Peter Rosenberg
Wasn't there a team bad loss, right? Bad loss for them right before the break to Utah too.
- [01:21]
Don LaGreca
Yes, that's correct. So again, that's not an immediate fix. Making that Luka trade is a big deal, but that's going to take some time. And Luca didn't put up good numbers and they'd been. And they'd been.
- [01:31]
Peter Rosenberg
And they'd been playing pretty well prior to the Luca deal. That's sort of the funny thing. They were going the right direction.
- [01:37]
Don LaGreca
So the NBA back in action. I'm at the Garden. The Knicks and the Bulls tonight. And now the final run to the playoffs. But tonight a lot of eyes. In fact, probably all eyes in the sports world. I'm going to have it on a second screen as I'm working this game. The Four nations final, U.S. and Canada, 8:00 tonight on ESPN. And the commissioner of the NHL, Gary Bettman, kind enough to join us right now on what's been, of course a busy day and should be a fun night. Yeah, Gary, first and foremost, we just played some applause there, but this is definitely something that has been fantastic for the sport and I'm sure for you. Did you have any idea that it would be received, the four nations tournament, the way it's been received and get the amount of attention that it has gotten?
- [02:19]
Gary Bettman
Well, it's great to be with you guys. We haven't had international best on best hockey in a decade, and we've always known how important it is to the players and to the fans. Our players love to play for the countries that they're from. So when we set this up in anticipation of going to the Olympics next year and then doing a World cup two years after that, we wanted to get started and give people a reminder, albeit a little taste, as to what our best on best looks like. And it's been nothing short of incredible. We thought it would be a big deal, but it's even bigger than we could have anticipated. But that's a credit to the game and to the players and how entertaining and exciting it's been.
- [03:06]
Alan Hahn
And normally you have to be neutral. Stanley Cup Final, you can't root for a team. Gary, you're the commissioner, but tonight you're an American. Can you be an unabashed USA fan tonight?
- [03:17]
Don LaGreca
Are you watching the game? Are you making plant his flag?
- [03:18]
Alan Hahn
Don, I'm making a point. I mean, can he do it?
- [03:22]
Gary Bettman
You know, it is a great question. And since I try to represent the game and all the players, how I feel internally and what I show externally may slightly be at variance, I like.
- [03:39]
Peter Rosenberg
That'S a very good answer.
- [03:42]
Gary Bettman
Thank you. Thank you.
- [03:44]
Peter Rosenberg
Are you.
- [03:45]
Don LaGreca
What is the. Gary, what is the future of this? Because I'll tell you what, actually, before you answer that, have you heard from other leagues? Because the thing that's really the most compelling is after that first U.S. canada game and the emotion and the energy and the excitement, everything that it generated, you had fans from other sports. And I'm talking about also people who worked, players from other sports who said we need to do something like that. The NBA in particular. Have you heard from other leagues that have said, how did you guys put this together? What is this about?
- [04:18]
Gary Bettman
You know, we all know what everybody else is doing. There are no secrets out there. I've heard from a number of media executives about how great this is. I haven't heard from the other leagues directly. Some of my people have. So I haven't heard from the other commissioners, but my senior executives have heard from people in the other sports. And, you know, everybody seems to be in awe of what this has represented. But, you know, if you look at it, it goes back to the fact, and PK Sudan was pretty articulate on ESPN all day today about this. This goes to the fact that hockey players love to play the game. Hockey players love to play for their countries. When they get on the ice, they're all in. And there can't be any doubt. Look at the physicality, look at the injuries. This represents the game at an extraordinarily high level because it' some of the best players, best on best in the world. I only say some because we got a few countries not yet represented. But the future of this is we're going to go to the Olympics two years later, we're going to do World cup two years later, we're going to go to the Olympics two years later, World cup, and that's going to be our international cycle. And you may say, why haven't we done this sooner? Frankly, the players are sub. Long before I got to the NHL, which, as you know, was back in the stone Ages, it was always agreed that the NHL and the Players association had to do best on best together as a partnership and not just sharing money, but decision making and everything else. Marty Walsh came in and unlike his predecessors, he was ready to embrace this and make the decisions, some of them hard, that had to be made. And so I think in addition to everything else that's going on, everybody knows we've got a collective bargaining agreement that expires after next season. But this bodes well about the relationship we have with the Players association now, and we're working together collaboratively as partners, all to grow the game.
- [06:29]
Alan Hahn
You mentioned the injuries and listen, the players all want to play in this, and they still go out there and give 100% because they want to represent their country and they want to try hard. But I just wonder, just out of curiosity, Gary, do you hear from some owners and general managers around the league that, you know, kind of cringe, like in Boston, like, I need these games. When we come out of it, we might have lost Charlie McAvoy. Do you hear any pushback from some of the teams that, as great as this is, it does maybe put a little risk factor when we come back for the second half of the season for these teams that want to have their players healthy and for a playoff run?
- [07:01]
Gary Bettman
That's a great question, but goes back to something I said earlier on. Everybody knows when you play hockey, you're all in. When you're on the ice. And our teams get that, they understand that. They know this is good for the game. The McAvoy situation is a little bit different because I don't think the Bruins are upset with the fact that he got injured. I mean, obviously nobody wanted him to get injured. I think it's more in terms of there are some questions about what subsequently happened, and we'll have to sort that out to make sure that our clubs are comfortable with whatever happens. If unfortunately there is an injury, then.
- [07:38]
Alan Hahn
You also you brought up trying to include other countries when we get to the World Cup. So where could we possibly stand on including Russia and how you'll expand to welcome in other countries besides these four?
- [07:51]
Gary Bettman
Well, we've decided that there will be at least eight countries, maybe more in the World cup when we get to it. We try not to get involved in politics, particularly international politics. And so the double ihf, the International Ice Hockey Federation voted I think two weeks ago that Russia was still not eligible to participate in the World Championships and the other tournaments. And the IOC is going to have to make a decision for the Olympics next February year from now in Milan as to whether or not they're going to let Russia participate. You know, in that we go with the flow and we'll deal with whatever we have to deal with. But as you know, we've got a lot of great Russian players. You know, David Pastenak is unhappy that his country is in playing and so you know, we want to be as inclusive as we can be, but we have to deal with some of the realities of what's going on in the world.
- [08:51]
Peter Rosenberg
Now speaking of great Russian players, obviously besides four nations, one thing everybody is watching is Alexander Ovechkin. Do you have anything special planned yet? How can you guys try to plan for a moment like that? And how important just do you see OV being to this league overall, all these.
- [09:12]
Gary Bettman
You can't even begin to talk about or even quantify how great he's been in terms of entry. When you think of the length of his career and how durable and healthy he's been. Putting aside the Brooklyn leg he just had and he's already recovered from, he is simply a marvel, one of the all time great players. And we chronicle daily on social media platforms, on NHL.com, on the NHL Network, we have an OV Countdown. And as it gets closer there'll be more and more attention. We'll probably shift some of our national broadcast the the Great One as opposed to the Great eight. And I will probably start following him and being at every game when he's got, I don't know, four or five goals left to go. So I mean this is other than these two weeks. This has a ton of our attention and it will be going forward when we resume regular play this weekend.
- [10:09]
Don LaGreca
Talking about commissioner, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, the Four nations finalist tonight, 8:00 ESPN U.S. canada. Yes, a second time. The first time Around Gary, I know was just something compelling right from puck drop where you had three fights in the first nine seconds. And then by the way, also, I mean, the Connor McDavid goal was one of the most incredible physical feats. So you talk about selling the sport, within five minutes it felt like it was sold. Do you expect. Expect the same? Because passion between these two teams, you know, these two countries, it, you don't need to manufacture it. It's already there. But three fights in nine seconds. As commissioner of the sport, were you watching at the edge of your seat, were you watching almost like covering your eyes, like, oh my God, what is this?
- [10:52]
Gary Bettman
No, I wasn't covering my eyes. You know, we, over over 80% of our games don't have fights. It's not, we don't have this staged fights or the, or the designated fighters anymore. Most fights, virtually all fights now, if they do break out, are in the moment and the result of an emotional, passionate buildup. And I think, you know, the buildup was happening through the national anthem and leading up to the game. And I don't think anybody should ever doubt the intensity with what our players play, how much these games mean to them and the fact that they're leaving it all out there on the ice and you got to admire our players.
- [11:38]
Alan Hahn
And what you hope for as a commissioner and myself as a fan, the carryover that the casual fan or somebody that wasn't interested will now move on and watch the rest of the NHL season and be hooked to become a fan. What are the metrics that you could use, Gary, to see if there is that transition to show the success of? We were able to win over X amount of fans because of something like this.
- [12:01]
Gary Bettman
Well, you look at the ratings, you look at social media engagement, all of which we track on a daily, if not hourly basis, but you've had it right. We think we've got the greatest, most exciting, fastest, most competitive sport, period. We think our players are outstanding. What they do, you know, in terms of their physical attributes and they're doing it while they're skating, I mean, is incredible. And so the more people that maybe never really paid attention to us, that pay attention to us, I think a fair number of them are going to get hooked just marveling at what takes place on our ice.
- [12:44]
Alan Hahn
I think it also helps Gary too, that this isn't this like in the Olympics. It's different. It's bigger ice surface. It's not necessarily the NHL game. This is is the NHL game. So I'm not saying you're going to see the intensity Rangers, Sabers on Saturday that you're going to see tonight, but you're not going to see a facsimile of it. It is the same game. I think sometimes the international doesn't necessarily translate to the NHL. You don't have that problem here.
- [13:09]
Gary Bettman
Well, actually, the international game at the Olympics has switched over. I think they did it in Vancouver to NHL ice, which we think is more compelling and more exciting. And I guess the double IHF does as well because they switched over. No, what I think you will see and you constantly see is our players come to play whatever it is, wherever they are, whatever they're doing. And when you take the best, best on best, and you have players representing their countries, and again, our players have a history of that, going back to the World Juniors and other tournaments before they even get to the NHL. The amount of pride and, you know, a third of our players roughly come from outside of North America. So the, the international diversity of our player pool feeds into this on a night in, night out basis. Now we have 700 players, so you're not going to see the best hundred alone on the ice, but you're going to see NHL hockey is NHL hockey, and you're seeing it on the ice with the best on best, and you see it night in, night out. That's why when you look at our regular season, the races for the playoffs, we have teams now that actually believe that they're in the playoffs competing for a playoff spot. We, we think the way our regular season set up, sets up, the way our players play is compelling. And, you know, obviously I'm biased, but I think it's the most compelling. And you guys know, you get to our playoffs the first round, there's nothing like it in sports.
- [14:47]
Don LaGreca
Gary, let's go. I just want to go back because, you know, you mentioned the amount of how long you've been Commissioner of the NHL and it does go back to the early 90s. Don and I were, before the show, even trying to figure out the first year. So the first year you awarded the cup was 93. That's what Don said. Is that correct?
- [15:05]
Gary Bettman
That is correct. Montreal played Los Angeles and I awarded the cup to the Canadiens in Montreal, 1993.
- [15:13]
Don LaGreca
Yeah, I mean, it's quite a run. This is so. So obviously over 30 years and all the different things you've gone through and, you know, one of them being losing a whole season, something I covered, which is, you know, you would think for a sport would be almost a death knell and yet since then, what the sport has grown into. Is there one thing that stands out to you? I mean, that's when Sid came in. That's obviously OVI came in the year after that, and you had that next generation of stars. But if there's one thing from that low moment to where, again, I feel like that the other night at Saturday night, 4.7 million people watching in the U.S. you know, that feels like a pinnacle. Is there a moment aside from that that you remember that made you feel like we're back?
- [15:55]
Gary Bettman
You know, people may not know this. Game seven of the Stanley Cup Final in North America last June had over 16 million people watching. But let's go back to what I euphemistically call the year off. What makes everything so compelling now is actually our competitive balance and the system we were able to achieve coming out of that year off. Okay, we have the hardest, most fundamental cap, salary cap of the major sports leagues. We also have revenue sharing. All of our teams can afford to compete, and all of our teams do. Yeah, a couple of teams have bad years and they fall off track. But look at the standings in the east right now, and you see nobody's out of it. And so it was really the fact that we have what I think is the best system, which fosters competitive balance and is importantly, because everybody can be competitive. Everybody plays skillful and fast and emphasizes the best attributes of the game as opposed to when some teams couldn't afford to compete. Pete there was clutching and grabbing and hooking and holding, euphemistically called neutralizing skill. And so at the end of the day, while we paid the price of losing a season, I will tell you, we came back after that year because our fans, very connected, very knowledgeable, realized what we did and what we accomplished. We, we had record ratings, record attendance and record revenue. I mean, no business, I think, has ever shut down for a year in any industry and come back to that reception. And that's a testament as well to our fans, who I think are the greatest.
- [17:35]
Alan Hahn
And one last one for me, Gary reports that New Orleans a possible expansion destination. Any comments on that?
- [17:42]
Gary Bettman
We've heard from people there. You know, we've probably heard from seven or eight cities. New Orleans has generally express some interest when, when we, if we're going to look. If we're going to look at expansion, you look at ownership, you look at the market, you look at the arena, and you look at whether or not it would make the league stronger. I don't think it's any doubt. It's undeniable that both Vegas and Seattle have checked all those boxes and have made the league stronger. So, you know, we don't have, you know, a plan to expand, but if somebody puts all the pieces together or want wants us to take a hard look, then we'll do it. But we're not there yet.
- [18:19]
Don LaGreca
Okay. I just want to personally thank you for taking the time here. And I hope tonight you do get that moment where you just take it all in and realize, like, this was a brilliant idea. You're not the type of guy that likes to take a bow, but this would be a moment to do that. This was great. And a lot of people are like, the NBA should do this. Baseball should do like. It really has been a trendsetter and just looking forward to being able to watch. Although for me personally, being on the second screen. But I will be tuned in. Thanks so much, Gary.
- [18:44]
Gary Bettman
Thanks for having me. And listen, it's not just me. This is. This was the ultimate team effort in the ultimate team sport. And you should skip the basketball game and just watch.
- [18:53]
Peter Rosenberg
There you go. Work me down.
- [18:56]
Don LaGreca
Forget. I'll let him know. The commissioner gave me a hall pass.
- [19:00]
Gary Bettman
Thanks.
- [19:01]
Peter Rosenberg
Thanks, commission.
- [19:02]
Don LaGreca
Thanks, Gary. Thank you again. Like, Don, you and I have covered him a long time. We've both known him a long time. And I just feel like these are the types of things that for those who have been critical, I say, but what about these moments, stadium series and what. How smart that was. And he's right. I was there when they killed that season and it felt like, how are they going to come back from this? With all the other sports really growing and getting more and more attention, how could they possibly come back from it? And they did. And they have grown and grown and this is. This felt like, I know what he said about Game 7, but Saturday night felt like sort of a. Not just it's back, but it's got a lot of people's attention and tonight it's going to happen.
- [19:44]
Alan Hahn
Yeah. And then that had to happen, as awful as it was. And listen, I knew people that worked in the NHL that lost their jobs and never got their jobs back at the NHL. So there's. It was one thing, the players and the fans suffering, not seeing the game. But there was a lot of damage, collateral damage because of that shutdown. But it had to happen. The game was broken. And now you've seen all those Canadian teams thrive to the point now they've added that extra team, the seventh team in Winnipeg. They're talking about expansion, which I think would be a huge mistake. I can't imagine every 30, you're not going to go to 33 teams. You'd have to go in the 34. I mean, when's it going to end? I think it's, you know, ridiculous. The NBA's got 30 teams and the NHL is going to have 34, 36. It's great that these markets are interested and all the markets we're in right now are healthy, especially it looks like Ottawa getting their new building. But let's not get crazy. All right. But still, yeah, I don't think anybody dreamed going through that lockout that we fast forward 20 years that they'd be thriving on ABC and TNT. You know, it's still the fourth sport, but there were times where it was like the sixth sport. So. And it's night, it's. It's nights like this where I think as a, as a hockey fan, you can kind of stick out your chest and be proud of where this sport is. And we'll see what kind of carryover there's going to be. Because a lot of the, all the players that are in this game tonight are going to have games this weekend on NHL teams. So maybe somebody that normally wouldn't watch a game might decide, you know what, I'm going to watch a game.
- [21:04]
Peter Rosenberg
I'm curious, I would love if we heard from anyone over the next hour and a half who generally is not in on hockey at all and has been like wrapped up in this because you, you and you guys are obviously both big hockey guys. I'm certainly more hockey than the average generic New York sports fan. I'm curious to know, is there anyone out there who's like generally a basketball football guy, but all the hype of Canada, us and everything has them in tonight.
- [21:31]
Alan Hahn
Let me ask you this, and you can answer now, or if you want to use it as a tease.
- [21:34]
Peter Rosenberg
I love to tease.
- [21:36]
Alan Hahn
Is there was a big game seven just a few months ago between the Oilers and the Panthers, like you dream about, in which the Oilers were trying to come back from three nothing down to win the Stanley Cup. A game seven, and then you have what you have tonight, what game were you more interested in watching? The Game 7 between the Oilers and the Panthers or the game tonight?
- [21:56]
Don LaGreca
I tell you what I gotta feel tonight because you have a more personal stake in it, whereas Oilers, Panthers, you know, I might not be a fan of either team. And if I'm not a just a hockey fan, like, what else is drawing me in other than, of course, the Two greatest words in sports, Game seven.
- [22:13]
Alan Hahn
But the fact that I, I asked Peter because he's a guy that wouldn't be terribly upset if Canada won. So he maybe doesn't have that personal investment you're talking about yet.
- [22:23]
Don LaGreca
Did he play his flag yet, Don?
- [22:25]
Alan Hahn
I don't think he. So did you watch Oilers, Panthers?
- [22:33]
Peter Rosenberg
Yes. So, So I believe I did get down with game seven of the final. How did it end? What was the like, was it an exciting game in the end?
- [22:41]
Alan Hahn
It was. Well, it was a close game. I wouldn't call it a particular.
- [22:44]
Peter Rosenberg
It was kind of tight.
- [22:45]
Don LaGreca
Right. Oilers were out of gas at that point.
- [22:48]
Peter Rosenberg
You know what? Let me not beat around the bush. I did end up watching that, but those teams I have so little interest in. Right. I'm more excited for this because of the interest in both teams I'm obviously interested in.
- [22:59]
Alan Hahn
Yeah, and you're right. And I think the number tonight is probably going to be bigger than the number that ABC got for game seven Oilers.
- [23:05]
Peter Rosenberg
Which is exactly why Allen was, it was dead right to give Bettman his flowers there. Because regardless of anything, the fact that you're talking about a new made up, essentially All Star tournament is going to outrate your, your finals Game seven. That means you knocked it out of the park.
- [23:19]
Don LaGreca
Well, it's also the fact that even he said it. And again, I, you, if you know Gary, you know, he's, he's, you know, being as humble as he is about like, well, I haven't heard from any commissioners yet. But you know, some of my, you know, my senior manager people are getting, you know, other sports are reaching out to, to them and more importantly, hearing from media companies, media executives that are reaching out, that's a big deal for the NHL. Like, that's, you know, you can't overlook that. And so that's what, like, to me, this was more of that. I could not get over the conversation Saturday night that had so much to do with people like, like that are pro athletes and other sports that are saying, this is awesome, we should do this. That fans started saying, like, that's incredible. Incredible. Who needs an All Star? Like, we should have this instead. This is way better. You know, I, I wasn't going to ask him, you know, do you think that All Star, you know, All Star games are now, you know, in the past because they're going to have one in Long island next year. But it's, you know, like there, there is something to be said about, do you really need All Star Games? If you can just do something like.
- [24:23]
Alan Hahn
This instead, what I'd love to see and maybe I know Michael's going to be down in Florida for spring training game he's going to do on Friday or tomorrow. I'm wondering if you're a baseball player right now and you're seeing this four nations, you're seeing the attention that it's getting. Are you now maybe saying, you know, I'm going to play in the WBC next time? I wasn't interested in it. But now representing my country, seeing the attention because the WBC starting to warm up a little bit. I think when you saw Trout versus Ohtani last year, I think there's a little bit more buzz around it. That's where I would see because you do have Olympics in the NBA, but baseball really hasn't had that international thing since bringing in the World Baseball Classic. I wonder since you brought up other athletes are paying attention to that. Is there somebody looking at that and going, you know what, maybe next time I will play in the wbc. I want to get that vibe. I want to feel that kind of national pride.
- [25:14]
Don LaGreca
Yeah, I'm telling you there's something there. And you're right. WBC also got that kind of juice as we saw a couple of years ago.
- [25:21]
Alan Hahn
Get in the zone Auto Zone welcome.
- [25:24]
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- [25:27]
Alan Hahn
Thanks.
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Don LaGreca
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Alan Hahn
Yep.
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- [26:58]
Alan Hahn
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- [27:29]
Don LaGreca
Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
- [27:33]
Peter Rosenberg
I didn't listen to anything you just said.
- [27:34]
Don LaGreca
Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. So, Speaking of the WBC, which we'll get in 2026, how about Aaron Judge saying that he's open to playing in it? He hasn't played in it yet, but he said, I think it'd be pretty fun. It'd be cool to represent your country.
- [27:56]
Peter Rosenberg
As long as he didn't play a lot the year before. But we don't want him tired.
- [28:00]
Alan Hahn
But it is funny, right? Like, I think there's a lot, because in baseball, international baseball is not usually a thing. There were some guys I know, Mark McGuire and a few other players were on that 84 Olympic team that made a little noise and then, and then they dropped it. And of course they're not. Baseball's not stopping their season to have their players go play in the Olympics. So it's not a thing. It's a thing kind of in basketball, it certainly is a thing in hockey, it's certainly a thing in soccer. But you know, Aaron Judge, he's been around a while and there's been a couple of WBCs and he didn't seem to have any interest. And now you look over there. Yeah, maybe representing my country could be great. Because you see not just with what's happening with the Four nations, but seeing how compelling it was the last time they played the World Baseball Classic. No doubt that it's, it's, it's becoming a bit of a thing. And I, and I look at baseball and their World Baseball Classic as the neck, the thing that might be able to pop from this as close to.
- [28:55]
Don LaGreca
The Four nations as we've seen. And I'll Say this too. You know, in baseball, there really has, over the last, what would it maybe 20 years or so, the country pride thing has grown because of the influx of the Latin players and because they're so proud of where they're from. You know, again, the Dominicans, Puerto Ricans, all like, they really, really take it personal. And like, so when you're an American player, you see that now you're like, oh, okay. Like, you start to understand the idea of the playing for your country and the pride. And so that now becomes, I think, a little more juiced up because normally, like, you know, again, 40 years ago in baseball, that wasn't really a thing. Now it is, you know, Japanese players and all that stuff. So, you know, it's, it's, it's moved into the sport when in the past you really. Way past, you didn't have.
- [29:47]
Alan Hahn
I don't want to bring up the X, but what was Michael K's opinion always about the Olympics, Peter? What was it? Commercialism.
- [29:55]
Peter Rosenberg
Wrapped it up straight to the flag.
- [29:57]
Alan Hahn
Straight to the flag. But because he doesn't get it. Like, he doesn't get the soccer, the World cup, he doesn't get the Olympics because Michael's a baseball guy. That was always his favorite sport growing up, and it wasn't a thing. International sports was not a thing. And now maybe it's starting to grow on a lot of people where it's become a bit of a thing. And even a lot of die hard baseball fans were laughing at the World Baseball Classic. What was the big thing that came out of the last one? You know, Diaz hurts himself celebrating, and it's like, I can't believe for this worthless exhibition thing, we lost Diaz for the season to where? I don't, I don't know. People in Boston Upset about McAvoy getting hurt? Or are they like, yeah, it sucks he got hurt, but I get it because this is kind of important. He's representing his country now. They should be red hot, by the way, handled in this infection. Gary's right. I'm really kind of surprised he even brought it up that they might have dropped the ball in treating his injury. But these guys want to play. They want to block shots. So God forbid, if somebody gets hurt tonight blocking a shot, the players don't have a kick coming. They wanted to do this, you know, so. And I think play and I think fans understand that because it's kind of ingrained in our sport.
- [31:07]
Don LaGreca
Stop bubble wrapping them. It's sports. This is what we. This is what's compelling. This is what's inspiring. This is what makes you invest in it when they play like they care. So stop wrapping them in bubble wrap and let them play like they care. And these situations create them. I want to. I just want to get to this because this is very interesting. Now again on the NFL draft, which, you know, we have weeks and weeks to go, but there are a lot of stories around it when it comes to the quarterbacks. Mel Kuiper Jr. Who we all know is our draft expert at ESPN, was on with our good friend Joe Fortenbaugh and Q. Myers on ESPN Radio. And he said when it comes to Shador Sanders and some connections people are making to him and the Browns, he's not buying it. He's got other places he sees him winding up.
- [31:52]
Alan Hahn
I don't know what the heck's going on with that because I had heard anyone playing cold. Well, Cleveland's cold and Baltimore's cold and Cincinnati's cold and Pittsburgh's cold. So you're in a division with cold and colder, right? And coldest. So, you know, I hear things, you see things, and it's like, okay, some things leave you shaking your head, saying, okay. That's kind of opposite of what I thought we would be hearing. Remember, Deshaun was. Watson went to Cleveland. It wasn't his first second choice. He went there because of the money. I'm not buying that. I'm still looking at two teams for the Shador Sand. I'm looking at the Raiders and I'm looking at the New York Jets. Oh, so, huh. Now the Jets. We got to have him on at some point.
- [32:26]
Don LaGreca
Yeah, he's on in the morning a ton.
- [32:28]
Alan Hahn
That begs the question, why is he going to drop to six or seven? Is that because the other top five teams don't want him? Is it that Sanders doesn't want to go, want to go to any of those top five teams? Like, why is he going to be available to the Raiders and the jets who are drafting 6 and 7 respectively? Or does he know that they're going to trade up? Like, why would the Giants pass on? Why would the Titans.
- [32:52]
Don LaGreca
The Giants are going to take care. The Ward stuff with the Giants just feels like a collision course. It just. They have scouted him forever. I don't love it with Dable. That's all I'm saying. Everybody talks. I've talked to Louis Riddick privately about it because Lewis Riddick's put a lot of time into this and he's telling me about this guy is impressive. He walks in the Room. He commands the room. He can change your franchise. He's got that kind of magnetic personality. He perseveres, he's tough, all the stuff you love. But I also know that aside from the personality stuff, that there are questions about accuracy, consistency, making plays, that maybe he puts a little too much of confidence in his physical ability. And I. If, you know Brian Dabel, you got to think to yourself how he melts down every time his quarterback makes a mistake. And so I. I just. That's the thing. I worry about Cam Ward. I'm not saying he's going to be a bad quarterback. I'm just saying I don't know if it's the right fit for New York and for the Giants, but it does feel like that they love him and that if he's there, that's the guy. They spent a ton of time on him from everything.
- [33:54]
Alan Hahn
I know, but it's just interesting that they would have to. The Giants would have to pass on Sanders.
- [33:59]
Don LaGreca
Now.
- [33:59]
Alan Hahn
Is that because they drafted Ward or they didn't like either of the quarterbacks? You know, so you're telling me that if Shador Sanders is there at 3, the Giants are not taking him?
- [34:10]
Don LaGreca
I don't know. I'm listening to Kuiper say that the teams that. And now this goes back to what you were saying about Archie Manning when Eli was heading into the draft. He laid low till right before then. They made it known. Listen, there's two places that he'll go. Here and here. And we all know New York jets is the jets and Aaron Glenn, the other one is the Raiders, because Tom Brady's there and, you know, the relationship with Deon and Shador has with Tom Brady. So that does make sense. If Deion is sort of, you know, in the wings whispering to people, we'd rather be here. And that's something to watch. And if you. Again, if the Jet. Would you be upset if the jets took them in the draft now? Do they get him at 7? Do they have to trade up to get them? Did they jump ahead, which we know there are possibilities to do it, would you be upset? I don't know if I'd be upset with that.
- [35:07]
Peter Rosenberg
The hardest thing about debating any of these topics is that the truth is, no matter how much you can have a hunch about how great Shador Sanders is, the second we bring up and you tell me how great he is, I have my friend Ballard texting me, who truthfully probably knows as much about draft prospects as anyone I know, telling me, guaranteed, Shadow Sanders is A bust.
- [35:28]
Don LaGreca
Oh God, no.
- [35:30]
Peter Rosenberg
You guaranteed us, you say oh God no. But what I'm saying is these things are always 50.
- [35:34]
Alan Hahn
50.
- [35:35]
Don LaGreca
No, I understand.
- [35:36]
Peter Rosenberg
And you just don't know like we.
- [35:37]
Don LaGreca
Can see him as a bust.
- [35:39]
Peter Rosenberg
We can speculate on it all day, day long. But I mean, you're telling me you're so sure? I could say, well, I also just watched a guy who was coached by his dad at two different schools for a system that was exactly right for himself. Maybe he gets here and it's not.
- [35:52]
Don LaGreca
Right with no offensive line and still performed.
- [35:56]
Peter Rosenberg
Maybe that maybe him being on the run throughout, through all of college was the better fit for him. But when he gets to a real NFL team to run a real NFL on the run.
- [36:05]
Don LaGreca
Don't get it twisted. He's not a really he. He's not a two way. He's a pocket quarterback. He's a quarterback. This is not a guy that's good. He's not rag three but you know, the biggest knock is obviously his frame. He's not, he's not that big.
- [36:20]
Alan Hahn
But see, I don't even care what anybody thinks. I just don't know what the Giants think. That's all that really matters. Because everybody had Trevor Lawrence as a can't miss generational talent. He's been good four years in the NFL. Where would you rank him as a quarterback? 10th, but what? 12th, you know, four years in the league. He hasn't exactly been what everybody said they're going to guarantee Tank for this guy because he's going to be can't miss. And we're sitting here going into year five saying where exactly is he?
- [36:46]
Peter Rosenberg
But the main point that I'm making and bringing up that Ballard sees it a different way is just that getting too emotional one way or the other about a prospective player. Don, it's all right for fans like the three of us who respectfully are smart fans, it's always been folly. I'm not gonna freak out. Listen, I decided. I don't even. Do you remember when I decided, I was like, oh, I've watched the highlights. I decided Jaden Daniels, the guy I like, he's the one I want. I watched the highlights. I know nothing about these guys, but I like him more than Caleb. I like him more than Drake May. I like Jayden Daniels. If they had decided to go some other way, I wouldn't have freaked out. I wouldn't.
- [37:24]
Alan Hahn
I don't know.
- [37:25]
Peter Rosenberg
You can't know until you get him.
- [37:27]
Alan Hahn
But you know, people, they get invested. But the point Is, is that.
- [37:31]
Peter Rosenberg
And they booed when Josh Allen got drafted to go to Buffalo.
- [37:34]
Alan Hahn
Right.
- [37:34]
Peter Rosenberg
They screamed in anger.
- [37:36]
Alan Hahn
Yeah. And Donovan McNabb was booed in Philly and look how that turned out. Didn't win a championship. It's still a very good quarterback in Philadelphia, but that's why I don't care, no offense, what Ballard thinks or, you know, even Allen. Like, I respect his opinion, but it doesn't matter.
- [37:51]
Don LaGreca
Well, I'm no expert, so you shouldn't.
- [37:52]
Alan Hahn
Care if you were an expert. It you don't have the pick, so what do the Giants do? But even so, for Mel. Here's the thing for Mel to say, I think he's going to either the Raiders or the Jets. All right, Mel, have you talked to anybody at those teams to know that they're interested in him?
- [38:14]
Don LaGreca
No, no. Yes, that, that's the thing.
- [38:15]
Alan Hahn
But why would they tell Mel?
- [38:17]
Don LaGreca
Well, it's, it's. First of all, it's not like, you know, Muji or Shane is pulling him aside going, hey, by the way, we love this guy. It's things you hear from everybody that he talks to because he's at this, the Senior bowl the whole week, and he does talk to people to get a sense of. And sometimes you get the, you know, one, one executive from a, from an NFL team might say, you know, we're not in this. We're not that high in the. I, I know that they like them, right? I talked to. We, we were talking and they love them. You know, that, that does happen.
- [38:47]
Alan Hahn
I mean, I know because you got guys like Gettleman who just couldn't keep his mouth shut, how much he loves Jones or how much he loved Barkley. But unless I got the first pick overall, where I don't have to worry about anybody. I got the pick. I could take anybody in the world I want. Why would anybody even hint what they're going to do to anybody? You know, if anything, I'm probably going to try to lie to you, get everybody in the world to think I have no interest in Shador San. I actually, I think, I think he stinks that way. Everybody behind me that wants him, they're calling me, offering me the moon and the stars, and I can sit there and laugh because I want Sanders or, hey, I want Sanders, but I had no idea that Team X was going to basically offer me a Herschel Walker package for him, like, so I just don't know how it behooves anybody to give any information other than flat out lies about how you feel about Any draft pick.
- [39:44]
Don LaGreca
And then the other part, Don, is what he also said about cold weather. And what I'm hearing that goes back to one more time, but you were suggesting could happen with Deion. And so whatever Mel's hearing might not be coming from teams. It might be coming from other sources that are saying, you know, he prefers the Raiders and the jets. And we all know if he prefers it, that at some point dad's stepping in.
- [40:08]
Alan Hahn
And if I'm Deion, you know, if, like I said, if Marco becomes the next great quarterback prospect and I want to, and I want to be like Archie and I want to dictate where he's going to go. I don't want to embarrass organizations and I certainly don't want to look like I'm heavy handed and being that guy. I'm probably getting on the phone, if I'm Deion Sanders, I'm getting on the phone with the Giants and saying, listen, I don't want to embarrass you and go public that I don't want my son to be on the Giants. I respect you too much for that. But I'm just telling you he's not going there, so don't draft him. And then now you don't have to say anything. Now you could just say, I'm not interested.
- [40:44]
Don LaGreca
Yeah, the options are to stay because Nil allows it. You see, I'm going to go with Cooper Cup, Cooper Rush, Cooper Flag. There we go. I found it. I knew I had to go through Cooper's. Cooper Flag is this story's now about him? He's, he's the number one pick in the NBA draft. He is the number one pick. There's no question, there's no other player you will take other than him this June. And the stories are coming out already that he actually had said when people have asked him about next season, he has said I love it here, I want to play another year. And you know, everybody's like, that's cute. But remember, with Nil, he can. And if the lottery doesn't go the way he wants it to go, he can.
- [41:32]
Alan Hahn
Right?
- [41:33]
Don LaGreca
Because what's the difference? So you know, it's different now. It's different now in this world.
- [41:39]
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- [42:28]
Alan Hahn
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- [42:54]
Gary Bettman
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- [42:55]
Alan Hahn
Product availability may vary by region. See up for cocktails I can say to my new Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.
- [43:01]
Peter Rosenberg
Hey, find a keto friendly restaurant nearby.
- [43:03]
Don LaGreca
And text it to Beth and Steve.
- [43:05]
Alan Hahn
And it does without me lifting a finger so I can get in more squats anywhere I can. 1, 2, 3 will that be cash or credit? Credit.
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Don LaGreca
4 Galaxy S25 Ultra the AI companion.
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Commercial Speaker
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- [43:20]
Alan Hahn
So you can do you get yours@samsung.
- [43:23]
Peter Rosenberg
Samsung.Com compatible with select apps.
- [43:24]
Don LaGreca
Requires Google Gemini account.
- [43:25]
Alan Hahn
Results may vary based on input. Check responses for accuracy.
- [43:29]
Don LaGreca
Thanks for listening to the Don Han and Rosenberg podcast.
- [43:33]
Peter Rosenberg
I didn't listen to anything you just said.
- [43:34]
Don LaGreca
Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.
- [43:42]
Peter Rosenberg
Nirvana Unplug the COVID I I Jacob wanted to ask you about Kurt Cobain's birthday. I know.
- [43:50]
Alan Hahn
Yes.
- [43:51]
Don LaGreca
Yep.
- [43:51]
Peter Rosenberg
Why did you go with the Lord.
- [43:54]
Alan Hahn
Finesse earlier on his day he dropped that album.
- [43:58]
Peter Rosenberg
Wow, that is a random one. Thank you. I love that album the Awakening. I'm a big fan. Not it didn't exactly set the charts on fire, but I'm a big fan.
- [44:05]
Alan Hahn
Probably the greatest thing MTV ever did besides videos.
- [44:08]
Don LaGreca
Unplugged was the Unplugged.
- [44:10]
Peter Rosenberg
Oh, and that.
- [44:10]
Don LaGreca
And that was fantastic.
- [44:11]
Peter Rosenberg
That's the one, right?
- [44:12]
Don LaGreca
Was Clapton's the one that got everybody to want to do it? Or was it.
- [44:15]
Alan Hahn
I think so.
- [44:16]
Don LaGreca
What was the other. What was the other band with the the female lead singer. What's.
- [44:20]
Alan Hahn
Oh, what the with the Natalie Merchant cover of 10,000 Maniacs.
- [44:25]
Don LaGreca
10,000 Maniacs. She did the COVID of because the Night and that just.
- [44:30]
Alan Hahn
It went crazy.
- [44:31]
Don LaGreca
And and then Clapton's was really good and then all of a sudden everybody started doing them.
- [44:35]
Peter Rosenberg
Nirvana is the one. Nirvana is the one now, though.
- [44:38]
Don LaGreca
That's. That's the.
- [44:39]
Peter Rosenberg
There are a handful of big ones for sure.
- [44:41]
Don LaGreca
Counting Crows did VH1 also did like. It wasn't called Unplugged. It was something else Counting Crows did. It's fantastic. Really good.
- [44:47]
Alan Hahn
The one for the. The one for me is Alice in Chains is. I went out. They. They put it out in an album because they usually bring the bigger ones and. And just to hear, you know, down in a Hole, just a tremendous. That was really just amazing. But the thing with the Clapton one. I've talked about this before when, when he did the acoustic version of Layla, it was like, oh, you got a different version now. I think it's kind of ruined because people go to that too often now because of his age. That's the way it sounds when he does perform it in concert. And you lose the original because I think the original is just absolutely amazing. So it's kind of cool in the beginning, but now it doesn't do it for me anymore.
- [45:29]
Don LaGreca
I'm with you. It does feel like an old people version of Layla because people forget Layla was like, that's a hard rock song like that. That has energy, that song. It. But the acoustic version is sort of like slow and we, you know, whiny.
- [45:43]
Peter Rosenberg
You're not, you're not leaving out Rihanna today, are you there, Jacob showing over.
- [45:48]
Alan Hahn
Man, the show ain't even close.
- [45:50]
Peter Rosenberg
I'm saying it's riri's birthday.
- [45:54]
Don LaGreca
You think of all people. Of all people, you think, you think Jacob Perry is forgetting about Rihanna?
- [46:00]
Peter Rosenberg
Listen, I'm just asking, you know Jake.
- [46:02]
Don LaGreca
Like, I know Jake. I know for sure he didn't forget.
- [46:04]
Alan Hahn
Listen, I would trade in a lot of things just to be next to Rihanna.
- [46:07]
Peter Rosenberg
Well, that has nothing to do with you choosing her song here because there's no chance you get credit for it. I know that Rihanna does a lot of things listening to sports talk radio. Although I will say she is a big basketball fan. Rihanna, she's certainly a big LeBron fan. We know that.
- [46:20]
Don LaGreca
True. Hey, game time is brought to you by Tully Mardu Irish Whiskey. Because when it's game time, boys, it's tollytide time. It absolutely is. NBA is back. Knicks and the Bulls right here at Madison Square Garden. Coverage immediately follows us on 880 ESPN. Nets in the Cavs at 7:30. And then of course us Canada in the four nations final. 8:00, ESPN and ESPN plus. You definitely don't want to miss It. Peter's already turned coat on his. On his country. So sad. Rooting for Canada. Unbelievable.
- [46:54]
Peter Rosenberg
Well, listen, we got a lot of time.
- [46:55]
Don LaGreca
Just don't know how we got a.
- [46:56]
Peter Rosenberg
Lot of time till game time.
- [46:58]
Don LaGreca
You know, after everything that I explained to you and you still just. Just want to be that guy.
- [47:03]
Peter Rosenberg
It affected me maybe.
- [47:04]
Alan Hahn
Like, who do you just the. Who do you root for? Chiefs, Eagles. That was a dilemma for Peter for a while. Now Canada, US Is dilemma for Peter for a while.
- [47:13]
Don LaGreca
Stand on business.
- [47:13]
Alan Hahn
Very, very fluid.
- [47:15]
Peter Rosenberg
I mean, listen, there's new information every day.
- [47:18]
Alan Hahn
Is there a new information?
- [47:19]
Peter Rosenberg
Oh, yeah, a lot of new information.
- [47:22]
Don LaGreca
You're processing the last week.
- [47:23]
Peter Rosenberg
The last week's been an interesting week. We'll see.
- [47:26]
Alan Hahn
Because, you know, here's the mistake that you're making.
- [47:28]
Don LaGreca
Come on. Yay.
- [47:29]
Alan Hahn
I don't want to get into the politics. Well, can you not get into the pot? This is the country I live in. I'm going to root for usa. If I'm going to start doing about policies, then. Then I can't agree with everything. But I stand for my country. Doesn't mean I stand for everything. Every single thing. This is what. This is the problem with politics. It's like, well, you're left, you're right. Well, you know, I like both. No, you got to pick a side. You got to pick a side. Well, no, I picked a side. Usa. That's where I'm from. That's where. That's what my passport says.
- [48:01]
Peter Rosenberg
That's.
- [48:01]
Alan Hahn
Oh, but, no, but, no, no. That's just. That's the issue.
- [48:04]
Peter Rosenberg
Well, think about your Giants take. Remember your Giants take from a couple weeks ago.
- [48:08]
Alan Hahn
Yeah.
- [48:08]
Peter Rosenberg
You said you love the team.
- [48:10]
Alan Hahn
Yes.
- [48:10]
Peter Rosenberg
And part of you wanted to see the Eagles win the super bowl, the Commanders win the super bowl, and the Cowboys win the super bowl just to let them know how pathetic they are.
- [48:19]
Alan Hahn
But.
- [48:19]
Peter Rosenberg
But that doesn't mean you're not a great Giants.
- [48:21]
Alan Hahn
But if you're telling me that the result of tonight's game may actually change some policies in our country, then maybe that's a little bit of a different story.
- [48:30]
Peter Rosenberg
That's a good argument.
- [48:30]
Alan Hahn
I don't think Donald Trump is watching the game tonight saying, what I'm gonna decide to do is based on if we win or lose the game.
- [48:36]
Peter Rosenberg
That's a fair point by you.
- [48:38]
Alan Hahn
You've come back strong. I say leave politics out of it. Now, each individual player might be involved in it, and that might be their motivation, but at the end of the day, we're all on the same Team. And I love Canada. I've said that I would love being Canadian. But tonight, I am a member of the United States of America, and I am proud of that. Now, does that mean I side with everything that we do?
- [48:58]
Peter Rosenberg
Yes.
- [48:58]
Alan Hahn
Doesn't mean I side with everything Canada does? No.
- [49:00]
Don LaGreca
You're South American. You don't have to side with everything that goes on.
- [49:04]
Alan Hahn
That's the beauty. They're not putting me in prison if I decide to disagree. Right. It's a free country. And I've decided that this is the country that I want to spend the rest of my life. I have choices.
- [49:16]
Peter Rosenberg
Listen, everything you just said, I agree.
- [49:18]
Alan Hahn
Okay.
- [49:18]
Peter Rosenberg
This one was made a little extra complicated, though, because what started the initial. Okay, first of all, as Rick pointed out earlier on the Case show and Alan pointed out earlier on this show, don't get it twisted. US and Canada, hockey hate each other because of all the things Allen laid out earlier. Right. So you have a legitimate rivalry based on hockey, not based on geopolitics.
- [49:39]
Don LaGreca
Of course not.
- [49:40]
Peter Rosenberg
This one was made extra complicated on Saturday because we've been in a weird space where out of the blue, the President of the United States started saying things about Canada that have never been said previously.
- [49:54]
Alan Hahn
Right.
- [49:55]
Peter Rosenberg
Which naturally ruffled feathers from one of our great allies to the north a bit and made them at both Raptors games and then eventually, I'm sure, Leafs games, and then eventually the four nations led to them booing our national anthem.
- [50:08]
Don LaGreca
Peter. Peter, can I stop you a second? I was in Montreal. I think it was 2002. 2001, whatever it was, okay. They did a movie on it, but I was there. It was the game I was covering. They played the national. The American national anthem and the entire. It was called the Bell center. Then. Booed. Booed. I had media members from Montreal coming over to me and there was one other New York reporter apologizing. It was politically driven. It's why they did it. It had to do with some other thing that was happening post. Post 9 11. We made some decision to do something. This is good. This has gone on. This is nothing new. This has gone on for a very long time.
- [50:50]
Peter Rosenberg
Don, do you.
- [50:50]
Alan Hahn
Do you.
- [50:51]
Don LaGreca
So that is not something that all of a sudden things have changed because of the law.
- [50:54]
Peter Rosenberg
It wasn't just that, Peter.
- [50:55]
Don LaGreca
I'm here to tell you that is a common thing they do.
- [50:59]
Peter Rosenberg
I went to the Bell center for Canadiens. Was it Capitals game one or two? Don? Yeah. I went to a Canadians Caps game several years ago in Montreal. I don't recall. Booing. Of the national anthem. Don, no one has more experience with this other than you.
- [51:13]
Don LaGreca
It doesn't happen all the time, but I'm saying it comes to things that are political reactions to things. And it had to do with post 911 and something we got involved in. I don't remember the details, but it certainly was something that they disagreed with.
- [51:25]
Peter Rosenberg
And they let you know.
- [51:27]
Don LaGreca
And they let you know by booing the anthem. It's another compelling Garth Snow, by the way, Garth Snow was the goalie that night, an American. He started in goal and after the game he had a shutout. After the game, he said, I wasn't really focused. Then I heard that it locked me in and I wasn't giving up a goal tonight. I'm dead serious. I can look up the story and show you, but I'll never forget it.
- [51:48]
Alan Hahn
Now, you could be someone who says, you know what? I think Trump's being disrespectful about the 51st state and calling Trudeau a governor, but I still don't appreciate my anthem being booed. I don't think any major statement is being made. But that's what ends up happening in this world that really just stinks, is that I'm all in on everything, 100% on aisle right or aisle left. So what if Joe Biden or if Kamala Harris had won the election? Would tonight be any different for me or should it be any different for anybody else?
- [52:24]
Don LaGreca
No.
- [52:24]
Alan Hahn
Well, why should it matter?
- [52:27]
Peter Rosenberg
Well, it depends, I guess so. It depends, I guess, because sport. But would the booing have still been happening this last Saturday had the things.
- [52:34]
Alan Hahn
Not booing is added in element?
- [52:36]
Don LaGreca
I just told you this has happened.
- [52:37]
Peter Rosenberg
Okay, but each time it happens, it happens for a reason. No, it's not.
- [52:42]
Alan Hahn
You were in the same building, remember the Coliseum? You remember because you covered it. I covered it because it was. It was on our air in 20.
- [52:48]
Don LaGreca
When they burned the Canadian flag, the.
- [52:50]
Alan Hahn
Maple Leaf Islander Series, because there was so much going on with. It was a Darcy Tucker and Shane Corson, all that stuff going on. So what happened in Toronto? They booed the American anthem. What happened at the Coliseum? They booed the Canadian and they burned the flag because they're Canadians on the Islanders and there were Americans on the Maple Leafs. It's stupid, but you do it. That's why I don't even bat an eye by it. But you know what? If I were on the ice and it motivated the Kachuks, does that mean they're Trumpers because they were motivated that their anthem was Booed. I don't know. I would probably side on maybe. Yes. Based on some of the things that are coming out. But is that.
- [53:23]
Don LaGreca
What is that again? We're getting late. But is that what we have to do now? Don't wear USA anymore. Just wear whatever. Whatever side of the aisle you're on. You have to wear that now because apparently we're no longer. We can't just sit down and enjoy a game where it's like us versus somebody and we all agree that we want us to win.
- [53:39]
Peter Rosenberg
Listen, I like.
- [53:40]
Don LaGreca
Now it's like, well, I don't know about your politics now. That always have to be the precursor to everything we freaking do now. Listen, I just watch a hockey game tonight and enjoy it. That's it.
- [53:49]
Peter Rosenberg
I wish that, guys, I could take us all to Fun Land and change the things from the way they are, but let's just live in reality for a second. We are not united for all right now. It's just not. So, like, we can play the game tonight if you want to do that. We can all play the game. And I listen, in the end, I probably will. Am I trolling a bit? Sure. Am I pulling for Sid the kid? Sure I am. But at the same time, even if all of us feel the same way and we all root for the USA tonight. Yeah. Yeah. Guys, that is where this country is, and it's been that way for a while.
- [54:20]
Don LaGreca
Well, you know, it's funny. In 1980, not everybody was in agreement with everything that was going on, but that moment meant something to everyone personally, because we were just tired of being kicked around. We were tired of feeling a certain way of where things were headed. And for one moment, everybody was just like, hey, that's awesome. We did something collectively. And it had nothing to do with politics, but yet it did, and that meant something.
- [54:43]
Peter Rosenberg
But did it also after it.
- [54:44]
Don LaGreca
What happened after it? We still were different after it. It still had a divide, all that stuff. It still was there. But for one night, it was like, wow, that was awesome to see. But even that made you feel good.
- [54:56]
Peter Rosenberg
Again, Alan, not to rain on your parade. Even then, it was still partially political. It had to do with Russia being Russia.
- [55:02]
Don LaGreca
I just said. But. I just said it wasn't. But it was. Right, but that's what I'm saying is you just. You stopped and watched and marveled at something and then felt prideful that it was our country that did something like that, that took down a giant, that Russia. Nobody beat Russia. That was. And yes, of course, Cold War had something to do with it. But still, no one ever beat them. They never lost.
- [55:24]
Peter Rosenberg
But also, how, Don, tell me this.
- [55:25]
Alan Hahn
How big a gap is there?
- [55:26]
Peter Rosenberg
Because part of them we've talked about with US International sports. We gotta go. We're all the way over. Is this all the way over?
- [55:33]
Alan Hahn
You know what?
- [55:33]
Peter Rosenberg
Just. Sorry, just keep going. I want to ask you a question on the other side, Don, about of what? The gap in town, the gap in talent between these two teams. Because I think that is a major thing that makes people interested in US International games is are we the true underdog or not? And I think in this case it's a little bit different.
- [55:55]
Alan Hahn
Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
- [55:59]
Don LaGreca
I don't want to know how the sausage is made, man. I just want to know. It's good. Hear more of Don Allen and Peter.
- [56:04]
Alan Hahn
Weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8.
- [56:06]
Don LaGreca
80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers.
- [56:12]
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