Hour 3: Harbaugh Update

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg — Hour 3: “Harbaugh Update”

January 14, 2026 | ESPN New York | Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg

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Episode Overview

This hour mixes breaking New York Giants coaching news with classic Don, Hahn, and Rosenberg banter: rapid-fire calls, music debates, NBA hot takes, and the recurring theme of sports media personalities and their egos. The central sports topic is the Giants’ ongoing high-profile interview with John Harbaugh for their head coach position, while the show also spirals into lively discussions about music history, basketball culture, and sports fandom.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Giants Coaching Search: John Harbaugh Update

• Breaking news: John Harbaugh is in an extensive, hours-long interview with the NY Giants.
• Details from reporters Mike Garafolo and Dan Graziano:
  • Giants’ young quarterback Jackson Dart was involved in the meeting with Harbaugh.
  • Eli Manning and Brian Daboll have both reached out to Harbaugh to vouch for the Giants.
  • Harbaugh will fly home to Baltimore after the meeting; no official interviews with other teams yet, but Tennessee and Atlanta are interested.
  • Green Bay could be in play “if it came open.”
  • Expect Harbaugh’s decision within a week.
• Hosts’ reactions: They analyze why team figureheads (especially Daboll, who coached the Giants last year but is no longer with the team) would advocate so strongly.

Memorable quote:

“As of 5pm Eastern Time here in New York, John Harbaugh remains in New Jersey meeting with the Giants, and he has spent a lot of time at the facility and they haven't let him out yet.”
—Alan Hahn (05:16)

Don’s take on why coaches vouch even after parting ways:

“It's such a small community, and you never know whose path you're going to cross down the road. So why...burn bridges that you might need down the road?”
—Don La Greca (02:40)

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2. Sports Media, Ego, and the Michael Kay Debate

• Rosenberg’s “dead to me” moment with Michael Kay:
  • Rosenberg praised Joe Tessitore on his wrestling podcast for being the best on-air “point guard” he’s worked with, causing (semi-joking) offense from Michael Kay, his ESPN colleague.
  • The hosts riff on sports media personalities’ egos—needing to be the “bride at every wedding and the corpse at every funeral.”
• Comparison to basketball roles: Kay = Stockton, Don = Malone, Rosenberg = (jokingly) Mark Eaton.

Notable exchange:

“Michael is the bride at every wedding and the corpse at every funeral. Everything has to be Michael.”
—Peter Rosenberg (10:15, about Michael Kay)

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3. Listener Calls: Music History & Debates

• Topics:
  • Best solo careers from group members (e.g., Lionel Richie, Neil Young, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Justin Timberlake).
  • The controversy of whether Tupac counts as an official Digital Underground member.
  • Is Ronnie James Dio as influential in heavy metal as Big Daddy Kane is in hip-hop?
  • The Beatles vs. NWA: Group members’ solo careers compared.
• Standout moments:
  • Don expresses his distaste for synthesizers in rock (e.g., Van Halen’s “Jump” and its impact on 80s rock).
  • Alan gets a local bar recommendation live on-air.
  • Callers defend Lionel Richie’s solo legacy with detailed chart statistics.

Memorable exchange:

“Synthesizer is what killed music...if you're a metal band & all of a sudden you see, like, keyboards on it…”
—Don La Greca (13:46-13:57)

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4. NBA State of Play: Diva Tendencies & League Critiques

• Conversation starters:
  • Giannis Antetokounmpo booed by home fans, “boos back,” and the hosts question his sensitivity and connection with fans.
  • LeBron James’ focus on “haters” even as a celebrated legend and the “23 seasons” jersey patch.
• Bigger issue:
  • NBA stars are increasingly obsessed with adoration, unable to handle criticism, and this is alienating for many fans.
  • The regular season is seen as devalued because of the league’s marketing of star personas and the prevalence of “drama.”
• Listener Jay in Elizabeth’s concerns:
  • Load management (debunked by Alan—league now fines teams for illegitimate rest)
  • Pace of play reduces star dominance
  • Too many teams make the playoffs (playing tournament makes regular season less meaningful)
• Hosts’ responses: Fast pace creates “layup line” games, non-star players scoring big, but stars still decide games.

Giannis quote:

“When I get booed, I boo back. I’ve been doing it all season...I play basketball for my teammates. I play basketball for myself and my family. When people don't believe in me, I don't tend to be with them.”
—Giannis Antetokounmpo (34:49)

Host reactions:

“Does this to me feels very bizarre to operate this way instead of owning the fact that the team has not played well...and that you’re losing by 30 at home...”
—Alan Hahn (35:46)

“You want out? I mean, are you tone deaf?...How do you expect the fans to react?”
—Don LaGreca (36:10)

“It just...continues to be, ‘You have to love me. That's the only thing I accept.’ And that—from the biggest stars—that's what it seems like.”
—Alan Hahn (39:29)

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5. Music Debates: Deep Dives and Generational Gaps

• Big Daddy Kane vs. Ronnie James Dio:
  • Don and Peter rib each other for not knowing the other's influential artist.
  • Alan: “Big Daddy Kane is not...just because they both have three names.”
• Bob Marley & The Wailers:
  • Questions over solo/group distinction.
  • Rosenberg: “If there was a period where it was The Wailers and he didn’t have his own separate delineation, then I think he would easily become top five.”

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6. St. John’s Basketball Management Scandal

• Brief news segment: GM Matt Abdel Massie fired amid allegations of furtive financial deals, despite a statement of innocence.
• Hosts: Note the bigger context with college sports’ lucrative “general manager” positions.

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7. Game Time and Upcoming NY Sports

• Knicks & Rangers schedules
• Alan Hahn has the night off from Knicks broadcasting

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Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• Don, on sports coaching brotherhood:

  "It's such a small community, and you never know whose path you're going to cross down the road. So why...burn bridges that you might need down the road?" —Don La Greca (02:40)

• Peter, on media egos:

  “Michael is the bride at every wedding and the corpse at every funeral. Everything has to be Michael.” —Peter Rosenberg (10:15)

• Don, on synthesizers in hard rock:

  “Synthesizer is what killed music...if you're a metal band & all of a sudden you see, like, keyboards on it…” —Don La Greca (13:46-13:57)

• Caller, defending Lionel Richie:

  “You have to have Lionel Richie in there...more number one albums as a solo artist than any of the other people he mentioned, except for Michael Jackson.” —Caller Rob (22:20)

• Giannis Antetokounmpo, on fan boos:

  “When I get booed, I boo back...I play basketball for my teammates...for myself and my family...” —Giannis (34:49)

• Alan, critiquing Giannis’ reaction:

  “Does this to me feels very bizarre to operate this way instead of owning the fact that the team has not played well...and that you’re losing by 30 at home...” —Alan Hahn (35:46)

• Alan, on NBA’s star culture:

  "It just...continues to be, ‘You have to love me. That's the only thing I accept.’" —Alan Hahn (39:29)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:04–05:25] Harbaugh-Giants interview updates & reactions
• [05:26–14:00] Sports media egos, “point guard” analogies, and Michael Kay debate
• [14:01–24:36] Caller debates: Van Halen, Purple Rain, Lionel Richie, Digital Underground, NWA vs. Beatles, Neil Young
• [27:52–33:13] Ronnie James Dio vs. Big Daddy Kane, Bob Marley/Wailers debate, St. John’s GM firing news
• [34:49–39:57] NBA diva culture: Giannis and LeBron reactions, hosts' critiques
• [48:02–51:15] NBA fan call—load management, pace of play, playoffs structure
• [45:16–47:55] NY sports game time, Knicks, Rangers
• Throughout: Callers prompting deep dives into music/sports history and generational knowledge gaps

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Tone & Vibe

• Authentic, fan-driven, good-natured ribbing: The trio mix hard sports news with plenty of humor, pop culture references, and playful jabs.
• Unscripted, conversational: Listeners feel like part of an extended barstool chat—chaotic at times, but always engaging.
• Sharp opinions, open debates: Whether sports, music, or media, the hosts and callers engage in lively, often passionate debate, pulling from decades of sports/music history.

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For Listeners Who Missed The Episode

• Get the latest Giants coaching search scoop, including why John Harbaugh is the #1 target and how the franchise, past and present, is rallying to attract him.
• Dive into classic Don, Hahn, and Rosenberg energy: candid conversations about egos, teamwork (in both sports and media), and what makes a good “point guard” in broadcasting.
• Enjoy deep-dive debates about music legends, solo careers, and whether genre icons from different musical worlds deserve equal respect.
• Hear a sharp critique of modern NBA culture—why star “diva” behavior and league policies are turning off lifelong fans.
• Join in on the jokes, ribbing, and punchy banter that make the show feel like a hang with old friends.

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A quintessential DHR hour: news you need, tangents you love, and the debates that carry over into the group chat.

Transcript

[Alan Hahn]

This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don LaGreca]

That sounds like heaven to me.

[Alan Hahn]

Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers. 502 in the big city, as Don Lagreca would say. With Don Lagreca and Peter Rosenberg, I'm Alan Hahn. 800-919-3776 is the number. We got tons of calls to get to, and we will momentarily. We want to update you as best we can as all this is going on with John Harbaugh meeting with the Giants today. There's some. Some tidbits here from a couple of people. The first one, Mike Garofalo of NFL Network who said the Giants meeting with John Harbaugh included Jackson. Dart. You like that? Yeah. I mean, they have him involved in this. They had everybody. It's a lot.

[Don LaGreca]

Best foot forward.

[Alan Hahn]

And Dan Graziano has a whole bunch of stuff here.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I guess. I guess that means they think, though, that Dart would make a good impression.

[Alan Hahn]

And also, why don't you guys get. Let's get on the same page. Dart's an impressive kid. I know at the podium there's things we didn't like.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right, right. But he.

[Alan Hahn]

But he really is an impressive kid who's incredibly competitive, and they obviously think.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That that would make an impression. It's not that they think Dart is it. I'm just saying it's not because they think Dart is in the power position at the franchise already that he needs to approve.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, this isn't like Lamar Jackson.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

But it's not an approval. More of a.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's like a, hey, get excited.

[Alan Hahn]

Hey, here's our kid. What do you think of our kid?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Got it.

[Alan Hahn]

But also to point out, too, I still can't. Let's not overlook something that happened yesterday or at least was reported yesterday that we mentioned, but I feel like it does deserve a little more attention, and that's that not only did Eli Manning reach out to John Harbaugh, but Brian Dable did to vouch for the franchise. That says a lot, man. Brian Dable. Brian Dable could like, first of all, whoever asked him to do it, unless he maybe said, do you guys want me to reach out? I'll reach out. Because I can't imagine you're sitting in the Giant organization going, hey, do you think Dave's will reach out to him?

[Peter Rosenberg]

You don't think that was stable? Was Dable in Baltimore before Buffalo or something? Well, what's the real.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't know if I don't know what the Connection? Yeah. I don't know. I don't know.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But I'll tell you what.

[Alan Hahn]

For him, he had to have offered. That says a lot about Brand. A lot. And it also says about how he feels about the Giants.

[Don LaGreca]

I thought it was more about dart. Right. That he could explain to Harbaugh how good dart is. I mean, so maybe he's looking at it as, I just want to help the kid out.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, that still says a lot about him, Don. Well, you could say, go scratch. I wanted to be this guy's coach.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, this Peter will attest to this. The. We always have this conversation on the K show because K never understands things like that, like rooting for the team that fired you and all that. I don't. I just think it's. It's such a small community, and you never know whose path you're going to cross down the road. So why. Why not just, I understand you got fired. You'd be bitter about it. But why burn bridges that you might need down the road?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, I'll tell you one thing I've learned since things came to an end for me at Hot 97. It seems that my wife falls more on the Michael K side of things.

[Alan Hahn]

She just hopes the whole thing falls to pieces.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, yeah. She wants it to burn to the ground.

[Alan Hahn]

This is like, delete P1 done. We don't even follow you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

She did it.

[Don LaGreca]

That's a good wife. Because there are people that I have forgiven that Nancy still won't talk to.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's how it works.

[Don LaGreca]

And I like that.

[Alan Hahn]

Isn't that. Isn't that what a wife does, though? Because Stephanie's like that. She holds grudges, but she's like, she. Stephanie, seriously, like, you're dead to her if you cross me.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right?

[Alan Hahn]

Dead.

[Don LaGreca]

And you can forgive that?

[Giannis Antetokounmpo]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

And I'm like, well, I work with him.

[Peter Rosenberg]

She's like, no, I just want everyone to know. Allen secretly, plenty of people are dead to him, too. There's a little Michael K. In this guy as well. He keeps it. He covers it way better, though. Michael has the laminated list in his pocket all the time. Allen just memorizes it. It's. It's back in there, though.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now, real quick, I don't want to.

[Alan Hahn]

Do I finish the Graziano stuff?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes, go ahead.

[Alan Hahn]

We tease everything at a time. So here's Dan Graziano. What he's hearing, per sources that he's still. Now, this is. So just a few minutes ago, Harbaugh is still in New Jersey meeting with the Giants Extensive interview touring the facility. Told he has spoken to Jackson Dart Hard Dog. As of now, plan is to fly home to Baltimore tonight, speak with other teams in coming days. Currently, Harbaugh has no formal meeting set up with other teams besides the Giants, but Tennessee and Atlanta remain in the picture. Still could speak with him tomorrow or Friday, I believe. Green Bay, he says, would be a spot to watch if it came open, but as of now, it's not. And then he said, I would expect Harbaugh to have a new team by early next week and he could be the first of the coaching dominoes to fall, though if other teams have been told they're out, they could obviously move on to other options in the meantime. So that's the very latest, which means as of 5pm Eastern Time here in New York, John Harbaugh remains in New Jersey meeting with the Giants, and he has spent a lot of time at.

[Don LaGreca]

The facility and they haven't let him out yet.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So so far, for the people who said he cannot get let out without the building, he's still in the building.

[Alan Hahn]

All right, so. So before we get back to calls.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, I do want to talk to a lot of people here. 1-800-919-3776, but Michael K. And you have more beef. I posted this yesterday on my Instagram and I can't believe when he texted me and wrote, wow, you're really dead to me. And then when he said what it was, I went, oh, God. I actually did know when I said it that it would do this. I guess I just hoped he wouldn't see. This is from the Cheap Heat podcast.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, boy.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Which you can hear on Pro Wrestling Nation, SiriusXM, channel 156 every Friday noon to 2. I've been watching Tessitore on TV for years. Always thought he was a really great broadcaster. Came to wwe, he did the impossible. They have brought really good broadcasters in to try their hand at wwe. And as we know, guys, it did not work. But no one has pulled off what Tessa Tour pulled off in going from the sports guy to wrestling guy completely seamlessly. And then just from a working with him standpoint, he is the best point guard that I've maybe ever worked with. Yeah, he empowers me and Big E so much. And like, man, he just.

[Alan Hahn]

He's flawless. Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The guy's constantly flawless.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. No getting back. There's no.

[Don LaGreca]

There's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's over, right?

[Don LaGreca]

My God, Michael, please.

[Alan Hahn]

What do you mean?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I know it's a joke.

[Don LaGreca]

Given an honest moment. And let's Face it.

[Alan Hahn]

Wait, wait. How many years not getting the ball.

[Don LaGreca]

Much on the K show?

[Peter Rosenberg]

If. So you see that now Don wants to tell the truth.

[Alan Hahn]

Wow.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I love. So here's the thing.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm laying out.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I said, yeah, lay out.

[Alan Hahn]

Lay out here.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Be safe.

[Alan Hahn]

This is old family stuff.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I said.

[Alan Hahn]

I said new family.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I said to Michael, I said, michael, you're more talented than anyone, but when it comes to point guard, meaning pass first, the man likes to dish and set you up.

[Alan Hahn]

That's pass guard.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's a pass card, not a point guard. No, Michael puts the point in point guard. You know? And listen, I have always said I think Michael's an iconic sports talk. I've told both of you guys separately all the things that I think make him very special as a talk show host, however, do. I wasn't exactly the shooting guard that he was feeding all the time. He let me get my. He let me get my moments. I'm saying when I'm on TV with Tessator, I. I think he does an excellent job propping me up. And if I ever come to him and say, hey, I'm feeling. Blah, blah, blah, he goes, done. I'll set up the spot for you. Go.

[Alan Hahn]

All right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's all I'm saying. K's amazing at it, but this is a different sort of situation.

[Don LaGreca]

All right, go ahead. Here's the analogy that I'll use. Michael was Stockton. I was Malone on the k show. You were Mark Eaton.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now, that's hurtful, Don. Now you went too far.

[Alan Hahn]

No, but.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, I'm not comparing. How about hornisette? Well, I mean, you went to Mark Eaton. The man had took 12 shots in his career. I'm just four points a game.

[Don LaGreca]

I'm giving it to you. This is not the reality. I'm giving it to you. From Michael's perspective, There's a lot. There was a lot of Stockton to Malone.

[Alan Hahn]

Malone back to Stockton.

[Don LaGreca]

Stockton and Malone. Malone back to Stockton. You're right. Shot. Score.

[Alan Hahn]

No.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So. So here saying, it's not that I was eaten, it's that he viewed me as eating.

[Alan Hahn]

He was. Maybe he did too much eating. Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The problem is Michael did too much eat. See, I was gonna say Michael is more like, you know, an Allen Iverson, a John Moran. Whereas when I play with Tessator, he feels like a Stockton. He wants to pass me the rock and let me get my shots up.

[Alan Hahn]

I am taking notes here.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Try to take.

[Alan Hahn]

Because as you guys both know, I pride myself and being a point guard the. Throughout my entire radio Career. It's mostly been as a setup man. Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

And just taking notes that. Okay, so when Peter has a point he wants to make.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yep.

[Alan Hahn]

He generally voices that to someone.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Not always.

[Alan Hahn]

Not that we have to guess.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No. But a talk show's different than one of the. You know, than a pregame show. You do. You do pre game shows. It's a different thing. Hey, I'm thinking I'll hit this part.

[Alan Hahn]

Yep.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know, unlike our meetings, where we sit before our show and literally talk about pure nonsense, everything but the show, in a TV pre production meeting, you talk over what you're actually going to do. Because tv, let's be honest, is real business. And radio, I love it. It's my craft. Is. Yo, yo, bumpcho.

[Alan Hahn]

All right, so then Michael Cade doesn't factor into this equation.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Not really.

[Alan Hahn]

Because it's apples and orange.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Exactly.

[Alan Hahn]

If you were on the Yankee pregame show and he was hosting it, then he should feel away.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Correct.

[Alan Hahn]

That's what you're trying to say.

[Don LaGreca]

Yes, because let's not lose. And let's also not lose the whole fact of.

[Alan Hahn]

Think about it.

[Don LaGreca]

He's mad at Peter because Peter doesn't think he's the best at something. He didn't disrespect him in the sense of. I didn't include him in the conversation. You didn't make him the best.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I just said testimony.

[Don LaGreca]

That's ridiculous.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But that's everything. And he has to be mad about. He has to be. As my mom would say, and I've said it before, Don, it's perfect. Michael is the bride at every wedding and the corpse at every funeral. Everything has to be Michael. And you know what I said to him? And I. And I think he should respect this more than anything I said. Furthermore, Michael, you can't do anything for me anymore.

[Alan Hahn]

Wow.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean, I'm sorry. That's how Michael would look at it. He would look at it as, oh, yeah, you might as well praise Tessator over me publicly. Testator and I still work together in wwe. Me and Michael. It's over. There's no going back. He's my friend now. At least I thought he was my friend.

[Don LaGreca]

But you didn't consider him the best.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I should have said you didn't respect.

[Don LaGreca]

Him by saying, hey, Tessa tours one of.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Because in the case of Michael K. If you are not pleasing him in every way possible, he's. Then he thinks you think of him as garbage.

[Don LaGreca]

There is a line that I have that I can't use that perfectly describes this situation.

[Alan Hahn]

What happened? I thought the bride and corpse line was pretty good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Nailed it, though, right? I'll tell you. Hold on, I'll tell you the other one. Off the air.

[Alan Hahn]

It's really good. All right, in the meantime, let's go to the people. How about we have some calls to get to, please. 800 now at 953-776. You guys want to hear from a great voice guy?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

I mean, this. Where is it? I got it. I know where you're going. Here we go.

[Caller John]

You're lonely, she's waiting.

[Don LaGreca]

Call now.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, that would be John. He's on YouTube. John.

[Don LaGreca]

Hi, John.

[Alan Hahn]

How you doing?

[Caller John]

Hey, listen, I wish I had my hemorrhoid commercial set up here.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I wish, too.

[Caller John]

So the thread of my original phone call. And you brought up the rock group. You brought up a couple things. I had Lionel Richie. I had Beyonce, Clapton. You gave an honorable mention to the other one. I wanted to get an honorable mention, Don. How about Dio?

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, I guess, you know, Dio had a great. Because he was in Rainbow when he was in Black Sabbath. But. Yeah. And I, I mean, nobody else, you.

[Caller John]

Know, Heaven and Hell. I just think in Rainbow, you, you.

[Don LaGreca]

Mentioned, but I just think of these big names. Who you taking out?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, I, I, I gotta say, John, that if I didn't love you as much as I do. Feels like you're sucking up the dun. Oh, Ronnie James, Dio and Dio.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't even know who that is.

[Alan Hahn]

That is it like, like, that is.

[Peter Rosenberg]

A. I'm not proud of it, but.

[Alan Hahn]

That'S a strange pull, actually. Yeah, that feels strange Polish. And it also feels like you're sucking up the Don. Yeah.

[Caller John]

So now I'm gonna go after Don and I'm gonna. I have a bone to pick with.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, let's go pick bones.

[Caller John]

He brought up, he brought up Sammy Hagar as. That's when Van Halen went pop. I agree with him that it was pop a lot with Hagar. But Jump, which is the penultimate Van Halen song, was David Lee Roth. And that was actually I Believe, a dance chart song.

[Don LaGreca]

I hated that song. And it was one of the. It was so depressing. If you remember, they launched the Jump video at like, midnight on MTV going into 1984, and that was the name of the album that it was on. And they premiered the video, and I was sickened when I'm seeing the greatest guitar player ever at a keyboard playing synthesizer. I was completely disgusted.

[Alan Hahn]

And it was all, Eddie, I want that.

[Caller John]

It killed Rush as well. Don, you Remember Rush? I love Rush. And they went through this synthesizer era in which they got, I believe Atlantic dropped them.

[Don LaGreca]

Synthesizer is what killed music.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, that's a, that's a television.

[Alan Hahn]

Wow. That, that's a.

[Don LaGreca]

Like hard rock. If you, if you're a metal band, all of a sudden you see, like, keyboards on it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like, oh, no, no. Yeah, for metal, it's different.

[Don LaGreca]

They've jumped the shark.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, metal. It's different to pull out the synthesizer.

[Alan Hahn]

So do you know that Jump was nominated for a Grammy in 1984? Rock performance by a duo or group with vocal. Do you know who it lost to in 84? And what song this is relevant to our show?

[Caller John]

Prince.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes, it lost to Prince.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But Purple Rain.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, no, if it was 84.

[Alan Hahn]

It was. It was Purple Rain. Don hates Purple Rain.

[Don LaGreca]

No, no, no, no, no.

[Alan Hahn]

Don loves Purple Rain.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Loves Purple Rain. No, I said, yeah, it was me. I said, I don't have it in my jukebox. And don't you.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, it's. I got it backwards.

[Don LaGreca]

I said Purple Rain's the best song on the album.

[Alan Hahn]

That's it, right? That's right. Sorry, I confused both of you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, I, I, and I like, I, I love Purple Rain. I just found that to be a very.

[Alan Hahn]

Let's see how we brought all that together.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Circle, huh?

[Alan Hahn]

Full circle on purple.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Doesn't that sum up, John?

[Alan Hahn]

Thank you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Doesn't that sum up the Grammys, though, Don? And why they're all nonsense. Like, you know, Purple Rain is like a masterpiece. And Jump is basically an attempt at pop crap. And they're in the same category because they're both huge smashes.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. And all that video was, was David Lee Roth doing gymnastics.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

It's really all it was.

[Don LaGreca]

He was, he was a lot.

[Alan Hahn]

Did not know that he was that bouncy. Patrick and Huntington. What's up, Patrick?

[Caller John]

What's going on?

[Alan Hahn]

How we doing?

[Caller John]

Good.

[Alan Hahn]

Good.

[Caller John]

So, two things. Congrats to Don and Rosenberg for finally getting the name on the show and getting rid of the nozzle. I think three of you guys together. Alan, if you're ever in Huntington and you want to drink low key spot, go to Bar Petite, see John or Eric for a drink.

[Alan Hahn]

I live in Huntington, so I'm there all the time, every day. So I will look for Bar Petite. I'm going to check it out. Thank you.

[Caller John]

It's right down by the Mandarin Gourmet.

[Alan Hahn]

I know it.

[Caller John]

The reason for my call, Don.

[Alan Hahn]

Who am I asking for at Bar Petit, by the way?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, he's writing it Down. He's dead serious.

[Caller John]

John or Eric?

[Alan Hahn]

John or Eric. Okay, will do.

[Ad Voice]

Awesome.

[Caller John]

Main point of it. How is Tupac left off the list? Digital Underground?

[Don LaGreca]

Just ignorance.

[Alan Hahn]

Was he a member of Digital Underground?

[Peter Rosenberg]

So, yes and no. I mean, it's. I'm gonna. I'm gonna say.

[Caller John]

Now you're gonna answer. Semantics, Peter.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, I know it is semantics. It is semantics.

[Alan Hahn]

Semantics.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But he wasn't. He was a dancer and he was a. And he rapped. He rapped on the song. Same song. But, like, he was an official 5, 15 goal. He was an affiliate of Digital Underground. You can't. If he was on one song, you can't really say he was in the group.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

Now, if you were hip hop, wouldn't you go Dr. Dre?

[Alan Hahn]

No.

[Peter Rosenberg]

See, now we're having a conversation.

[Alan Hahn]

That's a real one. Thank you, Patrick.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean, Dr. Dre, there's no question. He surpassed NWA as bad. As big as. As big as NWA is.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And. And.

[Alan Hahn]

And Cube.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And now you could say Ice Cube also. Except he wouldn't beat out Dr. Dre.

[Caller John]

No.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Who's in the same group? Although that's an insane. Now, that's a separate list. Most iconic solo artists to come from the group.

[Alan Hahn]

That's a really. From an iconic group.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Dude, easy. Not a great artist, but a huge artist.

[Alan Hahn]

He was first. Didn't he really? Wasn't he first?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, yeah, he was the first one out.

[Alan Hahn]

That was huge.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Ice Cube.

[Alan Hahn]

Huge, Dre.

[Don LaGreca]

Huge.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Three members of the group. I mean, Ren had a career, but wasn't big.

[Alan Hahn]

That's like the Beatles.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The Beatles. They're up there. Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You can't really argue.

[Alan Hahn]

Very similar to Beatles.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. I mean, in this case, George Harrison becomes Easy.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't like that because Lennon's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Lennon's. Well. But McCartney has the best solo career, right?

[Alan Hahn]

McCartney would have her best post Beatles career.

[Giannis Antetokounmpo]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Don.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, just because of the extensive.

[Alan Hahn]

We just don't know the catalog. Right. We don't know what Lennon.

[Peter Rosenberg]

John would have done because Paul kept going.

[Alan Hahn]

Interesting.

[Don LaGreca]

And what was George's first solo?

[Alan Hahn]

My Sweet Lord?

[Don LaGreca]

The one with My Sweet Lord was All Things Will Come. I forget. But that. That might be the greatest of the solo albums of all of them.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. Early Harrison stuff is awesome. Awesome.

[Alan Hahn]

Let's see. How about John. Why does it say John Lennon? Are you guys really doing this? Did we just say that's unreal?

[Caller John]

That's my name, brother.

[Alan Hahn]

No, no. I turn my head as we're talking about John Lennon, and I see on the call screen, John Lennon. So it just blows my mind because.

[Caller John]

Your guy working the phones is awesome.

[Alan Hahn]

He is awesome. Wow. We know this.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, man.

[Caller John]

How you guys doing? Listen, so this is the first time I ever got through. I love you guys. And Don Han Rosenberg. You guys are awesome, all three of you. You remind me of me sitting around talking with a bunch of buddies of mine, a bunch of knuckleheads talking sports and everything else.

[Alan Hahn]

That literally is the goal. So. So we're achieving it today.

[Caller John]

Yeah, no, you're. You're killing it. And. And Don, you're actually. I mean, dude, if you're not me in 10 years, I don't know who you are, man. Everything that comes out of your mouth, I just laugh. Like, I did. I say the same exact type of stuff you say. Oh, you kill me. I love you, brother. But. So I called when you guys were doing the lift and I was calling for Clapton. And then you guys, right before he answered the phone, I got emailed about Clapton. How about Steven Winwood?

[Don LaGreca]

Well, I. I did bring him up.

[Caller John]

Oh, I didn't hear him. I'm sorry.

[Don LaGreca]

Faith and. And obviously the Spencer Davis group.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But I was thinking.

[Don LaGreca]

I was thinking during the break about Clapton. Like, you name a great Clapton song. Layla. Oh, that's Derek Nadomino's White. Well, that. That's Cream.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like, look at his soul.

[Don LaGreca]

Like, he had. He had solo hits, but I. I don't know. His best music, I think, still came from.

[Caller John]

Is in the band.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, it's about this solo. I think that's fair. And the Unplugged album almost kind of gave him a feel of its solo, but he was doing Unplugged of past hits, so it wasn't like anything new.

[Don LaGreca]

Right.

[Caller John]

I'm gonna say I disagree with Peter. And you guys are gonna go through, though, with the Drain, the Ice Crew, and Drave Bigger, like, overall, like money, producing all that beat maker music. Like verbal music, like lyrical. Better than Dream, better than Drake.

[Alan Hahn]

So you'd put Cuba out of Dre. That's fine. I don't. I think it's debate. It's like Peter was talking at that moment, so I don't think he heard.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Sorry, sorry.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, he's disagreeing. So John is basically saying that Cube, when it comes to music, he did not. The fact that Dre also produced and came up with no solo artist.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Cube way better.

[Alan Hahn]

All right, so. All right, so you agree with.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Dre is such an iconic music maker.

[Don LaGreca]

The icon side of it with the beats and all that. But, yeah, producing. But I Think the better music came from Cube.

[Alan Hahn]

All right, now, Jimmy in Connecticut disagrees on another one of your top five. Jimmy.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, boy.

[Caller John]

Hey, guys. So, yes. You're gonna ask me who I'm taking out, so I'll get to that. First, Justin Timberlake is definitely a huge mega star, but is his music career with. As a solo artist really bigger than what he. NSYNC was gigantic in the late 90s and early 2000s music alone. So, yeah, here's who I would consider sliding in there. Did you consider Neil Young?

[Alan Hahn]

Interesting.

[Don LaGreca]

I'm a fan.

[Alan Hahn]

I know what he's. I know what you're saying.

[Don LaGreca]

Crosby, Stills, Nashley still is nasty and.

[Caller John]

Then still a career.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, he did have some, you know, Harvest.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, that's Harvest movement.

[Don LaGreca]

Bad. But I still think Crosby, Stills, Nashing Young hits bigger than Young solo.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay.

[Caller John]

I mean, it's a subjective list. It was just something I thought of.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, no, Jimmy, it's. It's. It's one that I think would be honorable mention, because I do. I don't think you'd put him in for Timberlake. I think either Ozzy or Lionel Richie would move in. And those are big stars, too.

[Caller John]

They can't argue with that.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, but that's a good night. Look, the Timberlake thing, though, is something that we probably should have discussed a little further. Robin, Long Island Rob, our last one.

[Caller John]

Hey, guys. Hey, Donnie. Been a while. About hockey. I could talk to you about hockey, but I was talking to my good buddy Dave Starman in the gym today, and we both are convinced that you were the reason that the Rangers suck this year. Because you left the team.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Wow.

[Caller John]

I just want to mention that. But as far as your list.

[Alan Hahn]

Go ahead.

[Caller John]

It's Donnie's fault. Donnie, Donnie, look. Music is my second love. After hockey, you have to have Lionel Richie in there. I'm going to give you some stats because I used to be a dj. Lionel Richie's song, hello, was the number one, was the charted. Number one. More weeks on the pop charts than any other song in the 90s. He had a song, say you, say Me, which was a major single from the movie against all Odds. He had more number one albums as a solo artist than any of the other people he mentioned, except for Michael Jackson. You have got to put the guy in that top five. I'm sorry. Bigger than Phil Collins. He's bigger than Peter Gabriel. L. Richie is much popular.

[Alan Hahn]

Commodore Rob nailed it. Thank Rob.

[Don LaGreca]

But the cop. But see, remember, the list also says, like, surpassed. And you could say, listen, Lionel Richie certainly had more hits than the Commodore. But the Commodores are. Are pretty massive, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes, they're. They're very big.

[Alan Hahn]

But I think Lionel Richie did overshadow them.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean, at least the.

[Alan Hahn]

They had one hit after he left.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He. But I don't know. How many hits did Lionel Richie have? I thought we would know more. Commodore.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, come on.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He.

[Don LaGreca]

I'm just saying the Commodore, you know.

[Alan Hahn]

You know, just as many. If not.

[Ad Voice]

You sure.

[Alan Hahn]

One of Richie songs. All right, tell you what, you're gonna have to. We're gonna take a break here. I would like, if you'd indulge me, a basketball conversation we need to have about why the sport while it's still thriving in other ways. It's not what it's. We have a major problem developing within the league and it has to do with diva tendencies.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Diva tendencies.

[Alan Hahn]

We need to discuss.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And just to respond to a couple of things in the chat before I forget them, Shannon said Cube was the first one out. Peter, come on, man. I thought incorrect. Eazy E was a soloist. No, no, no. Easy. He was a solo artist while the group was still together.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, right, right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Easy does it came out when they were fully NWA that cd. So, Channing, you were completely wrong about that. Drew says ask Shock G if Tupac was in Digital Underground. Well, of course everyone would claim Tupac A, Shock G is dead, God rest his soul, and B, of course they would say he's Digital Underground. But as a fan, he's not on enough songs to say he was a member of the group. It's an unrealistic thing. You suck Chat. Wow.

[Alan Hahn]

Today it's usually fun.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, I mean, there are great people there, but the loudest ones are usually the most annoying.

[Alan Hahn]

Isn't that how it goes?

[Don LaGreca]

Isn't that Quick break.

[Ad Voice]

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[Alan Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Han and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Alan Hahn]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. Ain't no half stepping word.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm ready.

[Alan Hahn]

Come on Top five.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like top five rappers or songs?

[Alan Hahn]

No, no rappers.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't want Don to get Phil left out and yell at us.

[Don LaGreca]

Never heard this song.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh my God.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No Don. No, no man.

[Don LaGreca]

No, no.

[Alan Hahn]

Ain't no half stepping.

[Don LaGreca]

Never heard Him.

[Alan Hahn]

Big Daddy Kane.

[Don LaGreca]

I've heard of Big Daddy Kane.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, what else? Big Daddy Kane.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Would you.

[Don LaGreca]

But, hey, listen, I didn't rip Peter for not knowing Ronnie James Dio.

[Alan Hahn]

I am not putting them in the same basket.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Thank you. I. I didn't want to say Don, I love you. I can't be Ron.

[Alan Hahn]

Not Big Daddy Kane is not. Just because they both have three names.

[Don LaGreca]

No, no, no. From the. I. Listen, I know I've heard of Big Daddy Kane. I. I think Ronnie James Dio in the metal basket is as significant as Big Daddy Kane is.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Hip hop Basket.

[Alan Hahn]

You think?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No. Ronnie James Dio's in what genre now?

[Ad Voice]

Metal.

[Alan Hahn]

That would be metal.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No. Well, if. I don't know, I don't think you can't. Like, what's the role that Ronnie James Dio occupies as one of the great.

[Don LaGreca]

Vocalists in the genre? He was in Rainbow. You've heard of Rainbow, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Never in my life heard of Rainbow.

[Don LaGreca]

You never heard a rainbow.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Never. Not even a little bit. Is that bad?

[Don LaGreca]

He didn't. He wasn't the singer on that. But you've never heard of Stone Cold, the song Stone Cold?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, I don't think I have. Don't try to be. I'm not proud of it. So he was in.

[Don LaGreca]

And then he was in. He was in Black Sabbath.

[Ad Voice]

He was.

[Don LaGreca]

He was on.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He was a part of Sabbath.

[Don LaGreca]

He was singer. Black Sabbath for the Heaven and Hell album and Mob Rules.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's pretty big.

[Alan Hahn]

All right. With the.

[Don LaGreca]

I mean, he was a huge. The band Dio.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Have you ever met?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, don't do. You'd have to.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Anthony, you heard of Dio?

[Alan Hahn]

Dio was a name that was sure. In the. The heavy metal in. Surprise you in heavy metal's glory. The do is definitely a name to know that I will say.

[Ad Voice]

Really?

[Alan Hahn]

Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What year are we talking about?

[Alan Hahn]

Early 80s.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Early 80s, yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

The name to know.

[Don LaGreca]

The early 90s.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Are they. Are they. Is this Ronnie James Dio fellow.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, my God. He died of cancer. And I was a friend of him. He used to always come on the show.

[Alan Hahn]

There we go. I do shows.

[Don LaGreca]

He was a big hockey guy, big Ranger fan, big Yankee fan.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, then you know what? I don't want to.

[Don LaGreca]

Cortland, New York, believe it or not.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay, so you've touched enough. You good now you happy?

[Don LaGreca]

But I didn't jump. I'm sick to my stomach, but I didn't jump him.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He didn't jump.

[Don LaGreca]

But all of a sudden, Big Daddy can. It's like, oh, well, yeah. Hey, all Right. I know my role on this show, and it's nerd, but I wear it proudly.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, that's not true.

[Don LaGreca]

If you told our audience, they'd be disgusted. You don't know Ronnie James Deal and they never heard a rainbow.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The same people who would feel the way I feel about Kane, though, also won't know rjd, as I call him. Or Dio.

[Alan Hahn]

This is why I'm stuck in the middle.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You're stuck in the middle of the.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, yeah, I am. I'm gutless. No, I'm literally in the middle.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, you're in the middle because you can't choose because you gut.

[Alan Hahn]

There is no chew. You're missing a point.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, Alan chose. He said RJD is not on the level of bdk.

[Alan Hahn]

It's not. It's not Big Daddy Kane. And I would know because I know both. But I'm stuck in the middle because I know both.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He gave an answer.

[Alan Hahn]

I understand both sides of this thing, and I get the passion for both sides. So I'm stuck in the middle of it. I can't say I don't know this or don't I know both.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, that's perfect. You are the person inside. You're the.

[Alan Hahn]

But Don doesn't trust me.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's not right.

[Alan Hahn]

And I don't care.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Bob Ballard suggested.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, here we go.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The Wailers and Bob Marley or Bob.

[Alan Hahn]

Marley and the Whalers.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Was there ever a time when they.

[Alan Hahn]

Were just the Whalers?

[Don LaGreca]

I honestly don't know what. What is his solo and what's Whaler?

[Alan Hahn]

Maybe nobody does.

[Don LaGreca]

And I'm not being disrespectfully.

[Alan Hahn]

No, no, I think you're being very.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But here's the question. If there was a period where it was the Whalers and he didn't have his own separate delineation, then I think he would easily become top five. Because Bob Marley's maybe a top five in terms of success. Solo artist in the history of music.

[Alan Hahn]

And it reminds me, never saw the movie. And I really wanted to.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I haven't seen it.

[Alan Hahn]

You haven't seen it either. Okay. So I don't feel that bad.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I heard mixed. I heard mixed it not that great.

[Alan Hahn]

It seemed that the trailer looked amazing. A little bit of news here locally. See this came out yesterday. St. John's who've had such great success rebuilding the program. Right. And we know there's a lot of money. Micropoli and others. But their general manager, which that's what you have now in college basketball. People that handle the Quote, unquote, contracts and who gets money and all that stuff. Matt Abdel Massie was fired and there were some rumors that the school is looking at. Actually, it's being reported the school is looking at the financial deals that he made on the side.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, no.

[Alan Hahn]

Kind of like messing with the money.

[Don LaGreca]

Money.

[Alan Hahn]

And he put out a statement, say, no, that's on New York Post. It's not7eleven.com.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What'S going on here, Anthony?

[Alan Hahn]

Very upset with me all of a sudden. The hell's going on New York. It's everywhere. The Daily News has this news day. But anyway, he put out a statement saying that he operated honestly and transparently, working within the parameters I was given.

[Don LaGreca]

No, apparently they disagree.

[Alan Hahn]

So this. But this is. This is kind of a scandalous for a franchise. A franchise, a program, right. That has reached heights they haven't seen in a long time. And a lot of it has to do with the fact that there's been a lot of great investment in the program, including bringing in Rick Pitino. So just something to keep an eye on there. Yeah, this is. This is, by the way, just in case you're concerned, Anthony. This is Reuters, this is the Post, the Daily News, Newsday, Sports Illustrated. There's a lot of this being reported out now. And he put out a statement denying it, so we'll see where it goes. But what I wanted to get to just on the NBA side of things, just a couple of things that's happened recently. That is why when people criticize the NBA, they're criticizing the fact that I think the star players only want to be treated a certain way. Not all now, but a lot of them do. Did you see Giannis last night? They get smoked by the Timberwolves at home. And they're under. They're still under five or like six games, under 500. And fans in Milwaukee were booing because you lose them by 31 at home, what do you think fans are going to do? Well, here's Giannis, who during the game, in the second half, as fans were booing and stuff, he was doing what? Now everybody seems to go to the thumbs down and the yelling at his own fans and all that stuff. So here's Giannis after the game about his home fans booing.

[Giannis Antetokounmpo]

I thrive through adversity. I thrive when people don't believe in me. Doesn't matter if I'm on the road, if I'm at home, if I'm on my family dinner, if I'm at, you know, the practice facility against my teammate, it doesn't really matter. When I get booed, I boo back. I've been doing it all season. You guys haven't been with me on the road. Whenever I get booed, I boo back. It does not matter. It doesn't matter. I play basketball for my teammates. I play basketball for myself and my family. When people don't believe in me, I don't tend to be with them. I tend to be against them. I tend to do what I'm here to do, what I'm good at. I think I'm like a maverick. I'm always being that way. So it won't change now. It doesn't matter if I'm at home away. But yeah, I've never been a part of something like that before and I don't think it's fair. But everybody has the opinion to do what they want to do. I'm not going to tell them what to do and how to shoot to act when we don't play hard or when we lose games or where we not where we're supposed to be. And I don't think anybody has the right to tell me how I should act on the basketball court after I've been here 13 years and I'm basically the all time leader in everything.

[Alan Hahn]

When I get booed, I boo back.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't know what that means.

[Alan Hahn]

Like, do you, like, does this to me feels very bizarre to operate this way instead of owning the fact that the team has not played well, that you're losing by 30 at home and that's. You're the face of the franchise who says, I'm never going to ask to be traded. But everybody knows that you have the last part. It's so bizarre.

[Don LaGreca]

You want out? I mean, are you tone deaf? I, I know he's trying to own that I've never asked him traded. And he's going to try to create a narrative that he always wanted to stay in Milwaukee. Everybody knows he wants to be a Knick. And you're only there temporarily and oh, by the way, you're not playing well. How do you expect the fans to react?

[Alan Hahn]

So there's that and now there's LeBron James. And LeBron James is now wearing a patch on his jersey for 23 seasons commemorating that. And it just suddenly just happened middle of the year. And this is something the league's doing. This is like, you know, this is.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And I bet fanatics is in on it.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, everybody, you know, collectible stuff.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's all part of it, right?

[Alan Hahn]

So I don't have A problem with the Pats like this is this happens that you do these things. These are lifetime achievement things. LeBron James has earned all of it. But what I don't understand is why LeBron James still talks about haters more than he talks about the glorious career he's had. So listen to this. I would never disrespect the basketball gods. I understand that. It's a real thing, and I would never disrespect the basketball gods when it comes to playing this game. So I put the time and the effort and the commitment in it, mentally, physically, spiritually. You know, every time I hit the floor or I'm at a practice or whatever the case may be, trying to set the example for my teammates and a younger generation that's watching me or watching me throughout my career. I mean, my son is right over there, so I can afford to cheat the game ever. And I would never do that. And I got to set an example for him over there, too. So, as Jay Z would say, I mean, if you can't respect that, your whole perspective is whack. Maybe you love me when I fade to black.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I just gave.

[Alan Hahn]

Maybe you'll love me when I fade to Blake. LeBron, like, come on, man. So when? Now? So basketball fans love basketball. And I've always said this. The game isn't selling to you. You're the user already. They've already got you. What they're trying to get is new addicts. This type of stuff is why people that aren't really into the NBA will point and say, that's why I'm not into the NBA. What is this behavior? I don't understand these things. The best player in the sport, second greatest player in the history of the game. And this is the stuff that we're focused on. I don't know. I just. I don't get.

[Don LaGreca]

Because that's what they sell. That's what they market. The reason the drama is popular as it is is because of the drama. It's because of selling the stars. A lot of people that are in the NBA, are into the NBA, are into it. For the stars don't necessarily have a team. That's why I love the Knicks and the whole vibe around the Knicks because they. They care about the team, and it's all about the team and the team success. But there are a lot of people that just watch because they watch the stars and they attach themselves to whoever their favorite player is. And so they love LeBron or they love Durant, or they love Curry, and they let's face it, they love the drama because they sell the drama. Because the regular season doesn't have a lot of meaning in the NBA. It doesn't. That's why they came up with the, the mid season tournament, because they're trying to keep people compelled in the 82 games. And this is the stuff that they sell. And then once they get to the point playoffs, everybody's excited and they're all in. But over the 82 games, is it, you know, rah, rah for your team or is it just, hey, let's just sit back and watch these stars be stars. But it's more, that's really what they market.

[Alan Hahn]

It's more to me, Don, that it just, it continues to be, you have to love me. That's the only thing I accept. And that from the biggest stars, that's what it seems like because they're so used to being adored that any type of criticism, like for Giannis, your team sucks. You lost, you lose my 30 at home, fans are going to be upset. You have every right to boo and instead you're gonna fight them. It doesn't make sense.

[Don LaGreca]

That's the disconnect the players have because it's all about them. So instead of Giannis saying, well, yeah, we're down 30, the team stinks right now, I've got one foot out the door. It's like, how dare they boo me? I'm the franchise. I'm the whole reason people are here in the first place. What are you booing me for? Like, LeBron James has to understand you're very hateable when you're a Laker, because there's a lot of people that hate the Lakers because the Lakers are really good and they beat your team. So whether it's Clipper fans or Warrior fans or whoever, they're probably not gonna like you. Not, it's nothing to do personally. It's just they don't like you because you're a Laker and they don't like the Lakers. He's thinking, he's not thinking about team, he's thinking about why not like me? I'm the greatest of all time. I'm a good guy. Why are you booing me?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Because they're so self absorbed.

[Alan Hahn]

This is the again, as great as the game is, this has been a problem that has grown in this league over the last 10 years easily. Your call's coming up. Don Juan Rosenberg, ESPN New York.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now, I want to talk to you. I don't, I don't feel like going to break yet I want to talk for a second about the playoffs and about playoff mode. On FanDuel all customers get a Profitability Boost pack every NFL playoff game day. That's Saturday to you and me, and Sunday each game day during the divisional round, you'll find a pack loaded with multiple profit boosts waiting for you in the app. More boost means more ways to level up your playoff bets. Pick the matchups you believe in, take your shot on upset, whatever works for you, or build a parlay that fits the moment. The Rams Bears line makes no sense to me. The Rams 3 1/2 in Chicago? Show some respect. I remember the first time I saw Jim McMahon, so I might play with the dogs a little bit. All right, apply your profit boost and go after even bigger payouts while the playoffs keep rolling. So visit FanDuel.com local and grab your Profit Boost pack every NFL playoff game day 21 and over. Physically present New York Opt in required bonus issues Non withdrawable profit boost tokens Restrictions apply, including any token expiration to max major amounts he [e-mail] for help with the gambling problem, call 8778 Hopeny or text openy 467369 watching someone close.

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[Alan Hahn]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Alan Hahn]

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[Alan Hahn]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Alan Hahn]

Stores [e-mail] Let us surprise you. Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Alan Hahn]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, Chris Stapleton's All American Roadshow is coming to Northwell Health at Jonesboro beach theater on Wednesday, August 26th and ESPN New York has your chance to score tickets on the ESPN New York app. Just find the contest tile. Submit your entry. It's brought to you by Live Nation. Tickets go on sale this Friday [e-mail] you know what I think is a good time for what's that? Game time. Brought to you by Telemardu Irish Whiskey because when it's game time, it's teletown. Sure is. Knicks and the Kings tonight. We got some late games coming up here. Coverage follows Dan Grasse on 880 at 9:30 10:00 clock tip.

[Don LaGreca]

By the way, what's your role?

[Alan Hahn]

I am off tonight.

[Don LaGreca]

Good for you.

[Alan Hahn]

I'll be on this tomorrow though when they play the warriors in a back to back. Because you know when the Knicks get two days off we got to slam them with a back to back right away to end a road trip.

[Don LaGreca]

Punish him.

[Alan Hahn]

Why not Rangers? Speaking of punishment for Anthony, they host the Senators tonight at the Garden coverage at on 1050 at 7. So not a 708 puck drop tonight. It's a 7:30.

[Don LaGreca]

I think that's because they're playing Ottawa. And it's part of TSN's doubleheader 7:30.

[Alan Hahn]

The Devils welcome in the Kraken. Yes. As you hear the organ gloriously playing behind Don Lagreca. That's at seven, however, and you can see that on msg. And the Nets face the Pelicans in Orleans. That rivalry that you dream about at 8pm Telemardu. The original triple distilled, triple blended, triple cast matured Irish whiskey. Be sure to grab a Telemardu or try the new Telemardu, honey. During today's action, glasses up to enjoying Tullamore du responsibly.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Speaking of. Well, I'm going to wait till start of yn. But you mentioned the Nets. Yeah, and I can't wait for the start of enn. Oh, there's a Nets related drop.

[Alan Hahn]

There's a Nets drop.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, you'll. You'll hear.

[Alan Hahn]

I can't wait.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Let's talk to the people, though.

[Alan Hahn]

Let's talk to the people.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And by the way, I'm done with the rock. They don't hold a candle to Pittsburgh.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, the. The music. At least it's Oregon now. At least it's somewhat.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's better in Oregon. But they just. I mean, come on, dude. They've been doing for 75. I'm going to put. I'm going to make a call.

[Alan Hahn]

You think that the pregame rehearsal by this. How many games? Don, where are we at home? Game number?

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, that's a good question. Okay, put everything away.

[Alan Hahn]

Look it up. Eric is in Brooklyn and he's with Don. Eric.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Hey guys.

[Caller John]

Love the show. I'm just calling to back Don up on the rainbow. Call out. They have a song since you've been gone that not only did was it my first mad makeout session as a teenager.

[Peter Rosenberg]

There you go. God bless you.

[Alan Hahn]

That's.

[Don LaGreca]

It can't happen. Here, here. Stone Cold.

[Alan Hahn]

That's. That's personal for Richie Blackmore.

[Don LaGreca]

Have you ever heard of Richie Blackmore?

[Caller John]

Oh, yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, I'm talking to Peter. No, he was in Deep Purple, brother.

[Don LaGreca]

You heard of Deep Purple?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I've heard of Deep Purple and I've heard a couple songs by Deep.

[Alan Hahn]

I want to hear more about Eric's makeout session. Yeah, don't name names, but place and situation and base.

[Caller John]

Oh my God. It was just London sophomore year. I was a late bloomer and she was not.

[Alan Hahn]

That's usually how you want to start, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

God bless.

[Alan Hahn]

Thank you for the call.

[Don LaGreca]

Yes, God bless is right.

[Alan Hahn]

Me bless Jay in Elizabeth. Jay.

[Caller John]

Hey, how are you? Thank you for taking my call. So you guys were just talking about the issues in the NBA and Alan, I would love to hear your opinion. Something that's been bothering me a long time.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Time.

[Caller John]

So I think there's three issues, three particular issues with the NBA and what's making it kind of unwatchable almost even as a big fan. Number one is you still have players sitting out, stars sitting out. I know that's something that's been going on for a long time.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Caller John]

But that's still continued. And you still have national TV games that you have stars that just. They don't play. They don't play the back to back. So that's something that's been going on for a long time.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, that's. No, that's not going on anymore because stars can't sit out. If they do, then they. The team gets fined. You have to have legit injury. No, they don't. No, no. The league is cracked down on that.

[Don LaGreca]

Okay.

[Alan Hahn]

That's the one thing they have fixed because they have fined you for doing it if you don't have a legit injury. So you can't do load management on a national game. That's a, that's a fact.

[Caller John]

Okay. Two other points that I would love to hear your opinion on. Number two is what do you think about the pace of play? I know a lot of people talk about the three pointers that are being shot, but in my opinion, the pace of play has created basically that the game does not run through the stars anymore. It's basically a layup line up and down. And you can have a guy like Jock Landale or Santi Aldama, just as a random example, over 25 points on a regular night.

[Don LaGreca]

I know that's.

[Caller John]

That's kind of cool, but I want to see the stars own the game. And that's usually how it works in the playoffs. And that's something. I just feel like that's something that happens that kind of killed the regular season a little bit.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Caller John]

And number three, and I think this is the key point is that there are too many teams that make the playoffs at this point. The playing game is not a smart idea. It's a terrible idea. I know they make more money on it because they have more games. The regular season means nothing. There's too many teams that make the playoffs. If the regular season was. If there were six teams that made the playoffs, the regular season would mean so much more. And the stars on a regular night would be. Take it so much more seriously. They don't feel like they have to. Who cares if they're an athe? They don't care.

[Alan Hahn]

It's funny.

[Caller John]

Why should they take it seriously?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, and Jay, and thanks for the call. Here's the thing. 20 out of 30 teams make the play in at least, right? And they did that because they didn't want tanking to become as big as it started to become where teams were giving up. They wanted to have more teams engaged. They thought it would help the regular season. It still kind of does create a big better finish to the season. But I understand what you're saying about the regular season in general. The other thing, though, about the style of play, guys, he's not wrong. No, it's the pace is off the charts fast. It becomes sometimes some of these games is just who's more athletic, who's got energy tonight? And there are no name not name brand players who are dominating at times. But the end of these games still.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Involve the stars and no games ever over in this league, for better or for worse.

[Alan Hahn]

That's true too, because of the three point shot.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So a 25 point game, you can't quite turn off the way you used to.

[Alan Hahn]

No, you cannot. Not initially.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What's the number where you're fully comfortable? 30 if it gets beyond 30.

[Alan Hahn]

Fourth quarter. If it's 20, you're not comfortable.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's not safe.

[Alan Hahn]

If it's 25, you're not comfortable. You got to be over 25 in the fourth quarter to be comfortable. Yeah, even, even 30 points in the third quarter. Quarter you could cut that down to.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The teens and then all of a sudden you're out 17. Let's see what happens.

[Alan Hahn]

It's hard and it's rare, but you could thanks for listening to the Don Han and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't want to know how the.

[Alan 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.

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