Hour 3: Knicks Clinch

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg Podcast: Hour 3 - Knicks Clinch Release Date: March 28, 2025

In this engaging episode of the "Don, Hahn & Rosenberg" podcast, ESPN New York's Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg delve deep into the New York Knicks' impressive performance this season, culminating in their clinching of a playoff berth. The trio navigates through team dynamics, fan expectations, and the broader implications for the franchise's future.

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1. Knicks' Consistent Playoff Appearances

Alan Hahn sets the stage by highlighting the Knicks' achievement of securing a playoff spot for the third consecutive year, a feat accomplished under the guidance of Leon Rose and Tom Thibodeau. He emphasizes the rarity of such consistency in the franchise's history, comparing it to the success seen during the late '90s under Jeff Van Gundy.

[00:21] Alan Hahn: "This season already has accomplished a playoff berth, meaning top six, which means you don't have to play in the play-in. You are going to play in a playoff series this year. It's the third straight year. It's four out of the five years that Leon Rose and Tom Thibodeau, since they have taken over, this team has been in the playoffs."

2. Fan Expectations vs. Team Achievements

While celebrating the Knicks' progress, Alan expresses frustration over the fanbase's reluctance to acknowledge this success, pointing out a pervasive sentiment that merely making the playoffs isn't sufficient.

[04:16] Alan Hahn: "How quickly do people forget? ... It's like now you're demanding better food."

Peter Rosenberg echoes this sentiment, labeling the attitude as unreasonable.

[04:29] Peter Rosenberg: "I'm with Alan on this. I think it's pretty whack, Don."

The conversation underscores a critical juncture where the franchise has moved from perennial underperformers to consistent playoff contenders, yet some fans remain fixated on past shortcomings.

3. Building a Sustainable Winning Culture

Don La Greca and Alan discuss the importance of recognizing the foundational work laid down by the current management and coaching staff. They argue that the franchise has shattered decades-long droughts and established itself as a formidable team in the league.

[05:39] Don La Greca: "I don't understand the celebrating. What are you talking about?"

[07:25] Peter Rosenberg: "That's such a silly way to approach it."

The hosts advocate for a balanced perspective, appreciating the strides made while simultaneously aspiring for greater achievements.

4. Impact of Key Injuries and Roster Depth

The dialogue shifts to the potential hurdles the Knicks might face in the playoffs, notably the absence of key players like Jalen Brunson due to ankle sprains. Alan mentions the limited depth at the point guard position, which could pose challenges in high-stakes games.

[17:22] Don La Greca: "The Brunson injury is that moment... you just know, like, oh, it's real close."

Despite these setbacks, the hosts maintain a cautiously optimistic outlook, believing in the team's resilience and capability to overcome adversities.

5. Historical Comparisons and Future Outlook

Drawing parallels with other sports franchises, the hosts discuss how initial successes can sometimes lead to complacency. Alan likens the Knicks' situation to that of the New York Yankees, suggesting that with sustained success, expectations naturally escalate.

[15:08] Peter Rosenberg: "Doesn't feel like that the Knicks are now in a weird Yankee-ish spot."

However, they caution against allowing the team to become complacent, stressing the necessity of continued improvement to transition from contenders to true championship contenders.

6. Addressing Fanbase Sentiments

In response to listener calls, Don and Alan address the varying perspectives within the Knicks' fanbase. Don emphasizes that long-term fans, who have endured years of struggle, understandably have heightened expectations now that the team is consistently performing well.

[34:29] Alan Hahn: "It's not that it's not good enough. I get what Alan's saying, but I also get the fans saying..."

The discussion highlights the emotional investment of fans and the delicate balance between celebrating current successes and striving for future greatness.

7. Building Momentum Towards Championships

Concluding the episode, Alan and Don reflect on the Knicks' journey, affirming their belief that the team is on the cusp of something significant. They express confidence that, with the right pieces in place and maintaining team health, the Knicks are poised to challenge for championships in the coming years.

[13:53] Alan Hahn: "I've never been that confident about it, but I just feel like this group, with what they have, I firmly do believe that it's close."

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Notable Quotes

• Peter Rosenberg on Fan Attitude:

  [04:29] "I'm with Alan on this. I think it's pretty whack, Don."

• Alan Hahn on Building a Sustainable Team:

  [05:39] "How quickly do people forget?... It doesn't happen overnight."

• Don La Greca on Recognizing Progress:

  [07:23] "You have to look and say, you know what? Three in a row is not something we just kind of dismiss it."

• Alan Hahn on Future Expectations:

  [13:53] "I've never been that confident about it, but I just feel like this group, with what they have, I firmly do believe that it's close."

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Conclusion

This episode of "Don, Hahn & Rosenberg" serves as both a celebration of the Knicks' recent achievements and a critical examination of the evolving expectations within the fanbase. The hosts skillfully navigate the complexities of sports fandom, team development, and the quest for championship glory, providing listeners with insightful commentary and a hopeful outlook for the future of the New York Knicks.

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For more discussions and in-depth analysis, subscribe to the "Don, Hahn & Rosenberg" podcast on ESPN New York, the ESPN New York app, or your preferred podcast platform.

Transcript

[Alan Hahn]

You don't wake up dreaming of McDonald's fries. You wake up dreaming of McDonald's hash browns. McDonald's breakfast comes first.

[Don La Greca]

This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg Podcast.

[Alan Hahn]

That sounds like heaven to me.

[Don La Greca]

Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers. All right, here we go into the 5 o'clock hour with Don Ler Greca and Peter Rosenberg. I'm Alan Hahn. 800-919-3776 is the number. We'll get back to your calls here momentarily. As you can hear in the background, I am not in the studio. I am again on the road. I'm with the Knicks. They play the Bucks tonight here in Milwaukee. And it's interesting, guys, because as we were talking earlier this week, some fans pushing the idea of maybe finishing third is not a good idea because you want to avoid the Celtics. But finishing third right now would put you in the first round against the Milwaukee Bucks, who, if you're not paying attention, Damon Lillard's out indefinitely now because he ended up with what's becoming a thing in sports, a blood clot issue. You know, Wembanyama's out for the season with this now. Lillard's out. They're treating him right now. Who knows when, if or if they get him back this season. Bobby Portis is out. He's been suspended. And Giannis for tonight at least, has a left foot sprain. He's listed as questionable. He missed their last game. The Bucs have not really been great all year. They've been kind of inconsistent and if you're looking for, you know, like the first round matchup. So tonight's game, very interesting. Now, no Brunson tonight, no McBride again. He's listed as out as well. So the Knicks and Cameron Payne also out with the ankle sprain that he suffered in the last game. So the Knicks are down to their fourth and fifth point guards. They got Delon Wright and Tyler Kolik the rookie. So, you know, this is an interesting game tonight, but one thing that I can tell you with certainty that this season already has accomplished is a playoff berth, meaning top six, which means you don't have to play in the play in. You are going to play in a playoff series this year. It's the third straight year. It's four out of the five years that Leon Rose and Tom Thibodeau, since they have taken over, this team has been in the playoffs. And I don't know, I. I feel like it's at least should be Acknowledged that since, as I mentioned, Rose and Tibbs have been here, this team has been a playoff team four out of five years and three straight. That is not something that you could have said in this century about this franchise. They haven't done that since the Van Gundy years at the end of the 90s. And then it was 2000 and 2001 were the last that run. That's it. And so I feel like it should be acknowledged that with everything else that everybody's anticipating about this team, guys, this is still something to say and. And consider. Like, this is showing you the difference in this franchise since these guys took over. Do you know what the majority of the responses are? So what? Some of them are like so many people in their replies to this little just simple point is negative. And I don't understand. Doesn't matter. One person said. One person just making the playoffs doesn't matter in the NBA. Another person said, who cares if all that's going to happen is you lose in the second round Again, who cares? How quickly do people forget? I just. It drives me crazy that fans get so fat so early. So you get a little bit of food because you've been starving for years. You get a little bit of food now you get fat now it's like now you're demanding better food. Hang on a second. When you build something into something sustainable, winning, that takes time. It doesn't happen overnight. And so you go through a year or two where you're figuring it out, then you go through another year where you take a step, and now they're at the point that's the hardest part. That's the next step to the. To elevate yourself into true contender status. But last I checked, they have the fifth best record in the entire league. The entire league. You were at a place you've never been before, you know, should be bleeding. You're so high. And yet you're telling me, so what? How dare you?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm with. I'm with Alan on this. I think it's pretty whack, Don.

[Alan Hahn]

I mean, like, I kind of get it, though.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But you're not the Yankees.

[Don La Greca]

What do you get?

[Peter Rosenberg]

You don't. They were 27 years.

[Alan Hahn]

I know, but. But take a bow for functioning.

[Don La Greca]

Who's saying take a bow?

[Alan Hahn]

When did I say it?

[Don La Greca]

No, I did not. It's called acknowledge it.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, acknowledge something. But are we beyond that now? I mean, the thing is, is that, yes, it was really bad that you haven't done something you haven't done for like 25 years. I mean, it shows you the dark ages this, this fan base has been in. But at some point, when are you going to acknowledge that you've arrived already, that these are the little things that aren't supposed to affect you anymore? You've got a legitimate president, you've got stars on the team, you got a legitimate coach. Now these are things that are supposed to be expected because now you're finally functioning as a franchise with the fifth best record in the NBA. So to acknowledge, hey, we made the playoffs three straight years. I can understand the fans saying, okay, we get that, but now we want to take that next step. Okay, so let's move on from, hey, we're finally figuring it out. But to sit there and celebrate making the playoffs four out of five times, I don't understand. 20 of the 30 teams make it.

[Don La Greca]

I don't understand the celebrating. What are you talking. And. And 20 do not.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And again, yeah, they're not fighting for 10.

[Don La Greca]

They're battling just to get in. And I'm telling. Nobody was celebrating. It's an acknowledgment. The team didn't put out anything to do this. All I did was retweet and say, hey, you know what? Think about it right now, this place, this. They're in a good place, and they're, in fact, not trying to fight their way in. They are in a good place, and this is sustainable. And it is something that is still part of the climb. But just take a look for a minute. Every now and then, you climb the mountain. Just take a look back and look at the scenery and remember how far you've come. Because there was seven years, Don. Seven. This time of year, late March, NCAA tournament's going on. You know what Nick game. You know what the Nick games were about tanking.

[Alan Hahn]

I.

[Don La Greca]

How do you get the highest draft? This is what they did.

[Alan Hahn]

But. But now it's kind of. You've done that all right, like three years. I get it. But. But. But you have to admit, though, it's not surprising since Leon Rose has come in, since they got Jalen Brunson, I mean, it's not surprising now they're expected to make the playoffs. So when you saw that they. Three years ago, when they made the playoffs last year, when they make it to the second round, like, the expectation is we're going to make it a third consecutive year, heck, we're going to go even farther. So I just think they're in it and they are acknowledging it. So I'm not saying you got to Disrespect it and spit on it like a lot of people on social media did. But at the same time. All right, fine. We've already shown you what we are as a franchise, so now let's focus on taking the next step instead of, you know, sitting there, maybe not taking bows, but acknowledging, hey, look at us, we made the playoffs. 3. It does look kind of weird, though, because you're. You're built to make the playoffs now. This isn't. You now have to live with the expectations, Alan.

[Don La Greca]

Oh, that's all right.

[Alan Hahn]

This franchise is supposed to do. Now.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's such a silly. Real quick. That's such a silly way to approach it. It's as if. Because on social media they put that out. It's as if Leon Rose called a meeting and went, well, guys, mission accomplished.

[Don La Greca]

I.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Nothing to focus on here.

[Don La Greca]

I put that out. Peter, that. That's. The Knicks did not do this.

[Alan Hahn]

No, this is just you saying, I.

[Don La Greca]

Retweeted their just clinch the playoffs, you know, graphic. And I just said, hey, that's four out of five. That's three straight, which they haven't done since 2013. And it's four out of last five, which we haven't seen in 25 years under this current regime, which means you have got a good. This a good thing going here. And yes, they continue to build forward, but this is part of it. You do have to look and say, you know what? Three in a row is not something. We just kind of dismiss it. You just say, we're not used to this. This hasn't happened a lot. And you've got this right now, but.

[Alan Hahn]

It'S not a surprise either, so.

[Don La Greca]

Well, it's not a surprise.

[Alan Hahn]

It's just igniting. Yet they're like, okay, great. But you know what? We're kind of focused on that. That's. That's super that we've done that. But, you know, that's not going to be satisfying. Like, am I supposed, God forbid, if they get knocked out in the first round, am I supposed to go, well, hey, look, you know, it's not 20. It's not like it's been when we were a lottery team, we made the playoffs three straight years.

[Don La Greca]

No, I say it today only because last night with a haw you clinch a top six. It's the only reason I wouldn't say this in May you say it now on the way.

[Alan Hahn]

And, and what I'm saying is I get the fans who are like, all right, but I, I'm. I'm focused on Bigger things now. Yeah, we're supposed to make the playoffs. Big deal. This is.

[Don La Greca]

But that's not what they're saying, though.

[Alan Hahn]

Finally up right now. Yay. We're finally upright. Where the.

[Don La Greca]

What you're saying? What they're saying is who cares if you get knocked out? Like you're going to get knocked out in the second round? What does it matter? Making the playoffs doesn't matter in the Allen.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Here's the reply.

[Don La Greca]

Down playing it here. That's my point.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Here's the appropriate reply. Friend of, friend of ours, friend of the New York Knicks, great rapper, producer, etc. J Live responded to your thing.

[Don La Greca]

Love J.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Promises made, promises kept, jobs not done. But we really can't complain. That's. That's the fair way to view this. They're delivering on what they said and now you hope they can achieve at the next level. But it doesn't make sense for me to poo poo this as if you're just used to like, oh yeah, all we do is. All we do is end up a top six seed in the playoffs. That's not the way things had been.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, but it was the expectation going in. You're living up to the expectation. This is what the fans expected of this team this year.

[Don La Greca]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

So you're living up to the expectation and that's. That, that's great to do. I don't know. I, I hear what you're saying, Alan. I'm not, I'm not saying you were wrong to tweet it out and, or, or. But I just, I can understand the fan base like, all right, great. But here's another great report here already.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Let's get another great reply out from a.

[Don La Greca]

More like a so what response. A so what response. That's what I'm.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Every, every time I want to pick at the flaws of this team, I'm reminded that I'd have to pay US Currency for a graphic like this for most of the 2000s. That's from Terence. That's a good. That's a good response.

[Don La Greca]

And that's all I'm trying to say. That's all I was like, for me, it was such a benign little post that I put out. It wasn't like, these are the things guys that leads me to. Every time I'm always like, I have delete up on my account and I'm way I want to tap it so bad and I always talk myself out of it, but it's just because it's. It's again, Peter, I joked with you earlier about getting a fresh one. You know, I wish along with a, like, there was also like a slap button. I know that I could dog on tweets that you could just like smack somebody in the face because it's like you just being that guy and you need a, you need a fresh one. I would literally give you a fresh one right now. No doubt, no doubt. Anyways, I just had to get off my chest because it's, you know, you talk about wet blanket. Stop being a wet blanket. Just. Can you just at least say, you know what? Yeah, this is a functioning good franchise in a good place, heading in the right direction and that's a good thing. Not like Memphis, who just fired Taylor Jenkins. They tired, they fired their head coaches. There's two weeks left in the season and they fired him. Memphis is in the fifth spot in the West. They have had an up and down season. There's a lot of people that couldn't wait to get rid of him because everybody wants to blame the coach when, oh, by the way, your superstar John Morant has been the reason why things have gone wrong there because he went through everything that he's gone through off the court stuff. He couldn't act right, then he comes back, then he gets hurt, then he hasn't been the same this year. He's been a little off this year. And so let's fire the coach and that'll fix everything. Be careful what you wish with that stuff, but you know, that's. Look at there and then look at your situation and you tell yourself things are really good here. And every now and then just take a minute and breathe that in for a second. Yeah, you know what, this is a good run right now and this is a place where you hope they can continue to build. I've told everybody this is not the year that is not a negative. It's just reality. They are still in the climb. They are still trying to build something. It's going to take more, but you're waiting for that one magical year, just like Giannis and the Bucs had in 21, right? They've been good. The Bucs, they've been good and Giannis been one of the best players in the league, but they had that one year where it just came together and that's like, Jalen Brunson is one of the best players in the league here and he's been on a good team. But you're looking for that one magical year and you feel like for the first time I can say in a long time, I Feel like they're close. Things have to work out. Pieces have to still be figured out on this roster. But in the next two years, would I be shocked? Could I see it coming? I do. Guys, like, I don't know if you guys know me well, but I don't know if you've paid that much attention to how I talk about this team. I have never felt this confident about the potential to win a championship in my years in the media about this franchise. Never. The last time I felt like this was literally 94 after the 93 season. That was it when. When Jordan was going to be out of league. And I'm like, you know what? They can get this next year. And then they almost did. I've never been that confident about it, but I just feel like this group, with what they have, I firmly do believe that it's close, but it's not going to happen overnight. It's probably not going to happen this year.

[Alan Hahn]

And you just talked about why they've arrived. So I can understand fans being like, why. Why are we. Why are we looking back at what was. We're now, we belong here. You know, the velvet robe hasn't opened up because we won some sort of a prize. And we walk into the Studio 54 in 1978 and go, I can't believe I'm here. You belong here. You're here now. You've arrived. All right, so it's nice to acknowledge, hey, three straight years making the playoffs, great. But you know what? You've shed all that garbage. That's all gone now. And now it's time to accept what you are and who you are. And that is a borderline elite team in the NBA that is ready to take the next step. So I can understand a fan out there going, okay, it's nice to acknowledge three straight years in the playoffs, but that. That's now a given. Now, I don't want to have to keep apologizing for what happened 20 years ago. Apologize for the triangle and Phil Jackson and all the embarrassment that this franchise went through. Leon Rose has changed it now. We've arrived. We didn't win some kind of gimmick prize to get here. No. Fluke got us through the velvet rope. We belong here. We're on the list. And now it's time to stay there and take the next step. So you want to be nice and reflect back, great. But I can understand a fan saying, okay, we've been there, done that. Now it's time to take the next step.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right, well, I hope it works out for you because it doesn't always happen right away. So try to, try to enjoy it a bit. And also it does. The weird thing is, doesn't it feel like that the Knicks are now in a weird Yankee ish spot?

[Don La Greca]

Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Where like, they should compete for the whole thing, or at least close to it. But the question is, can they stay healthy? I mean, guys, this is basically a bizarro repeat from last year where as we were closing in on the playoffs, we were speculating on what they could do, but it was all under the guise of who is going to be available. It's great that they clinched yesterday. Everyone's excited for the playoffs. Will Brunson be good? Will Mitch be good? Where will this team actually be and how frustrating it'll be again if you don't get a real look at the complete team when the playoffs come.

[Don La Greca]

I think you're right. And that's what, again, the Brunson injury is that moment that. And, you know, we'll see when he comes back. Supposed to be evaluated again this weekend, so we'll see. But he did on his podcast say that he's, you know, three days, three times a day he's doing rehab and he's doing some things, but he can't do too much running and all that stuff. He did say that on the podcast. But all I'm saying is, like, I agree with you. That is the concern going into the playoffs and the injury is another reason why it just feels like, yeah, it's just this never felt like the year it felt like though it was close. And it's like, you know, when you got to fine tune it, like, you just know, like, oh, it's real close. It just one little piece here, one little piece there. And then I think it's, you know, you'll see it, you'll know it when you see it. And I just, I can't help but feel that way. This is not me being Yankee boy, I'm telling you. This is just my 20 years of being in the NBA and around the NBA. I'm telling you, I know what I see and I've looked at all the teams around the league and it's just, it's there, it's just got to come together where there isn't a Brunson injury this late in the season where, where you don't have that kind of stuff going on. And that's all I was trying to say when it comes to that point. But I had to get it off my chest, boys, when you think about.

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[Alan Hahn]

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[Don La Greca]

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[Alan Hahn]

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[Don La Greca]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Don La Greca]

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[Alan Hahn]

Check responses for accuracy.

[Don La Greca]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don La Greca]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. All right guys, let's do a tournament update. Peter brought to you by Schweppes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh sure.

[Don La Greca]

Last night. Alabama. That. That was a fun game. Alabama. What they hit 20? Was it 24. Three pointers. That's a tournament record. Duke Cooper flag look like? I mean not that he hasn't yet, but he's the real deal, 30 point. What a performance he put on as Duke and Alabama won their Sweet 16 games. Peter, unfortunately, your terps, yeah, they fell to Florida. Florida is a favorite. I have them picked to win the whole thing, so no shame in that game. But Florida wins. Texas Tech, by the way, big comeback. So Arkansas, Cal, Perry's Arkansas. They were up 11 with, like five minutes to go. ESPN had them at a 90% probability to win that game. They lose in overtime instead. So Texas Tech, the 2 seed, moves on and Calipari's Arkansas. They are out. What a. What a tournament this has been so far. That was a tournament update brought to you by Schweppes. Schweppes offers above the rim refreshment and is proud to sponsor the Big East Conference. Enjoy the madness. Take a break from the hoops action with a Schweppes Seltzer or Schweppes ginger ale. So, Peter, are you. Are you going to continue to watch the tournament or when your team. I don't know this because you know my. We never do this. But do you keep watching? Do you care or are you, like, I can't watch now. My team is out.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Um, no, it's not like I can't watch. That's for sure. I'm not, like, that upset about it. Will I be less interested? Yes. Like, at this point, what are the stories that I'm particularly locked in for to watch? Like, when I'm home, Like, tonight, my parents are here hanging out with me and Maya. So I'm mostly just gonna be sitting around the house tonight with the baby, my parents. So it'll be on, but I'm not, like, I can't sit here and act as if, like, my parents said tomorrow they wanted to watch a movie. I'm not gonna go.

[Don La Greca]

No, no.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I have to watch the Elite Eight that I'm. That's probably gone.

[Don La Greca]

All right, you guys want to get back into calls here? We got tons of them. 800-919-3776. So let's go right through them all. Steve is in Middle Village. Hey, Steve.

[Caller]

Wow.

[Don La Greca]

Thank you for taking the call, guys. I appreciate it.

[Caller]

You were talking about broadcasters before, about national broadcasts and how some people sometimes think that the national broadcaster is prejudiced against the. Your team, etc. Etc. I'm an old Yankee fan. The guy that I never liked, and I'm pretty old was Kurt Gowdy because he was fired by the Yankees. He was the Boston Red Sox announcer for a long time, but. And after the Yankees Went under in the 60s and I remember that tremendously. He never really gave me their due. But then I was a teenager, so who knows if I'm right. But about the broadcast themselves, as a Yankee fan, I can't tell you the last time that I watched an entire ESPN Sunday night game with the Red Sox and the Yankees. It's too late. It's a Sunday night. When I was working full time before I retired, I couldn't stay up that late. You know, it's, it's not financially good, but I'd rather have the games on earlier and maybe less national broadcast. But that's not going to happen. I know financially that's not going to happen. I'm going to leave it up to you to comment and thank you for taking the call and I appreciate you guys.

[Don La Greca]

Thank you, Steve. I am of the belief though if there's ever a time to get away with a Sunday night 8 o'clock game, it's got to be the summer. I mean it makes those Sunday night football games are difficult because of the same reason. But yet Monday night and Sunday night, Sunday Night football has done well. Monday Night Football has been a franchise forever. So no matter how late people are tuning in. So you know, but baseball, just because I guess of the pace, is it harder to watch like a Sunday night game because it's slower, it's longer?

[Alan Hahn]

Well, you know when it's gonna end like a football game, you know, is gonna end.

[Don La Greca]

Good point.

[Alan Hahn]

So the game starts at 8:35, you know, all right, maybe it'll go to overtime, maybe it's exceptionally long, but you know, by the time you get to like 11:30 you should be done. But for all you know, this could be a 12 inning game at last four hours and now it's past midnight and listen, I, I just know, I remember always John Mara saying that his season ticket holders despised Sunday night games because they just want to go to the 1:00 game. They want to have the rest of their day free.

[Don La Greca]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

You know, baseball to me on a Sunday, I hate when the Mets and Yankees are playing on Sunday night. It's like I want to be able to make it part of my Sunday afternoon and to now know I'm going to have to invest like late at night. It's a regular season, it just, I don't know, I. And plus the other thing with the announcers is, is that when you watch a Yankee game, watch a Met game, they're skewing it towards their audience. They're speaking to the room Right. And that is the Met fan of the Yankee fan. They've got to talk about the other team. That's why everybody thinks, oh, they hate my team. Yeah. Because 50% of the broadcast is going to be about the other team. You're not used to that when you're watching. Yes. Or sny, you know, you get the lineup. They might tell you a couple of stories about the Padres, but otherwise you don't, you know, you're not getting very much. But on the national broadcast, if it's Mets, Padres, you're going to get 50% Mets, 50% Padres. And the audience get all ticked off about it, you know, so I get that. I understand that.

[Don La Greca]

Let's take Megan in the Bronx. Megan, I'm from Pittsburgh.

[Caller]

I'm a huge Steelers fan.

[Alan Hahn]

I live in New York now, and.

[Caller]

I've watched Aaron Rodgers cause chaos for two years in New York, and he's not been a real asset to the team.

[Alan Hahn]

So I want to get your opinion. I need your help understanding why an.

[Caller]

Organization like Pittsburgh would want Aaron Rodgers.

[Don La Greca]

Is it literally just because there's no one else?

[Caller]

Just please help me to understand. Thanks for taking my call.

[Don La Greca]

Thanks, Megan. I. I would. Guys, I do think it starts with, there aren't great options. Just look at the Giants. Look at the options the Giants had to settle with. And I will say settle, because it's true. The Steelers also don't even have a pick near the top 10. So it's not like they could say, we'll get our next guy in the draft, get one of the top. This is not a great quarterback draft. There's a couple of guys that people are interested in, but we're. I think we're blowing them up just because they're quarterbacks. But I do think the Rodgers thing has to do with. They saw Russell Wilson and said, there's nothing left there. Justin Fields, they wanted to sign him. He was. I'm all done. He left. I do believe that if Field signs at Pittsburgh, Rodgers is not part of the equation at Pittsburgh. I just think that there's. The music's getting. It's starting to. It's about to stop. And there's not many chairs left, but.

[Alan Hahn]

You make it that it's a bad chair. It's a chair that I think on Pittsburgh, with Metcalf there, he can go out there, if he's healthy, throw 30 touchdown passes after. After Wilson, you know, threw 16 touchdown passes in, what, nine games. How many touchdown passes they get from the. How many did Fields have last year? You know, the as much of a nozzle as Aaron Rodgers was, what did he do off the field that led to the jets winning five games last year?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, nothing.

[Alan Hahn]

Zero. What led to the jets winning five games is a complete dysfunction from a yo, yo owner that felt like he had to get his fat hands and things. Fire Robert Sala went from bad coaching to zero coaching and still won five games. Now, you got to go to a franchise with stability, with some talent, with some. With, I think a future hall of Fame head coach. I think he win 10, 11 games with him at quarterback. Maybe not enough to win the division. They're probably not going to win the championship. But this whole idea, this whole narrative. I don't want Aaron Rodgers. He's going to dismantle my team. Come on. He is going to do better than worse in Pittsburgh. What is he going to do that's going to dismantle this team? They need a quarterback. He's a guy that threw 28 touchdown passes last year on an uncoached football team. And now you go to. As much as Steeler fans are going to puke in their mouth, a brilliant future hall of Fame head coach. So, yeah, I don't. I really don't get the whole. He's going to ruin our frame. What is he going to do? What? Go on Pat McAfee. What's he going to do? Talk about vaccines?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. Nothing's going to ruin your season.

[Alan Hahn]

You know what? The jets ruin their season. They ruin their season now. They always do.

[Peter Rosenberg]

If you want to have the argument that he's just over the hill and you don't believe he's going to make your team much better, and that's a reasonable conversation. To say that he's only nominally better, if at all, than Russell Wilson, I think is a reasonable argument to have.

[Alan Hahn]

Peter, have you heard?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't see what he's going to do to your team.

[Alan Hahn]

I always feel like I'm beating up on Wilson. But haven't you heard from people that think Wilson is kind of not the greatest teammate?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I have.

[Alan Hahn]

Have you heard that about Rogers? No.

[Peter Rosenberg]

His teammates tend to love him, you.

[Alan Hahn]

Know, so that's a good thing. That's a positive thing.

[Don La Greca]

Right?

[Alan Hahn]

Listen, I know he's in. Peter, how much did we talk about what a nozzle Aaron Rodgers can be, but if you let it bring your franchise down, you got to look in the mirror and why that was the case. And last year they won five games. And Alan, you're a Jet fan. Of all the nozzle ways of Aaron Rodgers, did that have anything to do with him winning only five games?

[Don La Greca]

No. I thought the beginning of the season he was bad, the offense was bad. And I don't know if it was him or if it was Nathaniel Hackett, but when you talk about the reasons why they were bad at the start of the season before Salah was fired, it was not defense, it was. Their offense was horrifically bad. Like, so that's the part I'm looking at. Then when the season ended, you had. The defense was a struggle because as you mentioned, they were uncoached, which I love that phrase. But offensively, you started to see him do things that look more like Aaron Rodgers. And that made you wonder, is this just the after effects of an Achilles injury that does take a little time to get confidence and rhythm back in your body? We'll find out. Because I do think he's going to. He's going to play for Pittsburgh. Like, we know this by the way. He's going to play for the Steelers. It feels like it. I love the scenario that Peter pointed out about McAfee having a show in Pittsburgh in two weeks or whatever it's going to be. And that's when it all come to fruition. It's setting up for it. You know, he loves the big entrances. So that, that's, that's the show we're looking for. And let's not forget too, as the jets were uncoached and Robert Sala being a nice guy probably was over his head. Dealing with a personality like Aaron Rodgers, it felt like it. Anyway. Rogers is not going to pat Mike Tomlin on the head. He is not going to dismiss him. He's not going to patronize him. They have already built in a mutual respect. There's already something there, the two of them. So I do think it's going to be a very compelling and interesting scenario. So everything you say I agree with, but here it's. A lot of Steelers fans are concerned about it, but he is one of the last options left. That's a real thing. And I don't think he was there first.

[Alan Hahn]

I know McAfee's really high profile, but like, come on, does Brunson and Hart having a podcast affect the Knicks at all?

[Don La Greca]

But have you read comments lately? Well, there. Oh, that's coming now. How about less podcast and more working on your game?

[Alan Hahn]

Most people look at it, it's. It's a cool thing. Their owner, you know, the owner was on it. It's not an issue. The Knicks don't have an issue.

[Don La Greca]

With it. No, they do not.

[Alan Hahn]

You know, Cowboys don't have an issue that their best defensive player, one of the best defensive players in the league, has a podcast or Travis Kelce having a podcast in Kansas City. This is the new world, man. Like, if you're going to get annoyed that your star player is on a podcast or does a weekly show, come on, man. Yeah, honestly, is it? I just think that they don't like the things he says on the show, probably. And I think a lot of that negativity with the Jets, I still believe came from after he got hurt. There wasn't much attention on him and he felt like he had to say some things on McAfee every week he's going on. Can't talk football because he wasn't playing. I think if he did not get, I'm telling you, the Aaron Rodgers experiment would have aged much better had he not gotten hurt. Now, I'm not saying they would have won a Super bowl, but they would have had a much better chance. Things would have looked a lot different. The worst thing that Aaron Rodgers did with the jets is Terror's Achilles.

[Don La Greca]

Let's continue with the calls. 800-919-3776. Dan is in Old Bridge. Hey, Dan.

[Caller]

Hey, what's up, boys? Just to circle back real quick on the next conversation.

[Don La Greca]

I love Don.

[Caller]

I love you. You're one of my favorites and I get your point. But I just think when you've suffered, and this is more to Alan's point, when you've suffered as long as you have as a Knicks fan, I think it has to be acknowledged. It's almost, I mean, you guys might roast me for this, but it's almost comparable to the Jets. Obviously we're talking a seven year difference in terms of, you know, the playoff things, but if they took the next step and make the playoffs and then a few, a few years later, everyone was like, oh, well, so what? They made the playoffs. Like, like those are only the truly passionate and those who have, like, long suffered, I think you truly understand. So I can't personally relate to the Knicks fans that are saying, like, oh, well, we made the playoffs, so, you know, we're not going as far. It'll be a second round exit. Like, are you guys kidding me? Like, do you guys remember the name Kevin Knox and Frank Milaquina? Like, when we were an absolute joke and laughing stock, like we would talk about on the station, I remember it, I used to call in and be like, oh, I'm excited for Kevin Knox. Like, it's it's insane. And here we are years later and it's like it's, it's still not good enough for some fans. Like I just, I, I really don't understand that.

[Alan Hahn]

It's not that it's not good enough. I get what Alan's saying, but I also get the fans saying, okay, great, but now, now we're focused on that was before. That was before Leon Rose. That was before Thibodeau. We've, we've shed that. We moved on. It's like the Mets. If the Mets make the playoffs this year, it'll only be the third time in franchise history they would have made the playoffs in back to back years. It'll be the first time in franchise history that they have gone to the playoffs in three of the last four years. So if I were to tweet out in September, if the Mets clinch a playoff berth, hey, let's look and just be really happy. First time ever. People would be like, we got Juan Soto. Shut up. We're supposed to be this good. I think just embrace what you are. Don't. You're supposed to be better.

[Caller]

I get that, Don. Yeah, no, context is extremely important. Right. But I'm just saying as a long suffering band who's watched it, like maybe you know what it is guys too and I'll wrap up, maybe it's some of the newer fans that have this kind of thing. Like maybe I think we can appreciate it. I've been watching the team for 15, 20 years.

[Don La Greca]

You guys longer the ones that haven't.

[Caller]

Some of the newer fans.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, exactly. Definitely ones that have never bled. Dan, thanks for the call. Right, that's what I think. Yeah. I'm sorry, but that's what I think it is. Don, again, it wasn't celebrating. So here's how, here's the context I'll give you.

[Alan Hahn]

All right.

[Don La Greca]

If I told you when, when Darren Mugi and Aaron Glenn got the job and I said three years from now, I'm gonna tell you that this team made the playoffs three straight years and I can't remember the last. Did the jets ever make the playoffs three straight years? I can't remember, but I'm going to tell you that and you'll look at me going, how can you say that's ridiculous? Three years. And in three years we'll be so used to it that we'll be like, yeah, but so what? They got to make a Super Bowl? Like think about it. How bad it has been for the jets is pretty close to as bad as it was for the Knicks for a long time after Carmelo Anthony, right? That at 2014 all and forward was painful to experience. And so if I told you that as a Jets fan and three years from now, not only are you going to make the playoffs every year, you're going to be so used to it that you're going to feel like the only thing that matters now is winning a Super Bowl. What a place to be. So all I was saying was if I had told you in 2021, right, this is going to happen four years, five years from now, this is where you're going to be. You'd be pretty, you'd be pretty happy about it. But how fat we get so fast when the food comes. Easy. That's the only point I was trying to make. Not celebrate it, not feel like you accomplished something. No, it's just for me, a perspective of how things have changed. And don't forget that. That's all More rewards, more Savings with American Express Business Gold earn up to $395 back in annual statement credits on eligible purchases at select shipping, food delivery and retail subscription merchants, including the $155 Walmart plus monthly membership credit and $240 flexible business credit. Enjoy the benefits of membership with the AMEX Business Gold Card terms apply. Learn [e-mail] MX Business Gold Card Built for business by American Express.

[Alan Hahn]

This episode is brought to you by Universal Pictures. Today's the day.

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[Don La Greca]

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[Don La Greca]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don La Greca]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. All right, let's continue with the calls. 800 now, 3776. Let's get Tessa and Wes Caldwell in on this. What's up, Tess? Hey, guys.

[Caller]

Thanks so much for taking my call. I appreciate it. So I just wanted to make a Yankee comment, and all week I've been away, so that's why I didn't call in for the Giants, but the Yankees is what I really wanted to say. Even on your old, old shows, Peter and Don and your old show, Allan, I've always said that I was very happy and grateful that Soto was with us, because if we can win now with him, why not? But like the other caller said, I never was sold on him. I knew he wasn't invested in it. I just felt like it's a dream to play for the Yankees. If I can win with him, why not? After that, I'm gone. So for me, it doesn't bother me that, you know, he's right next door. That doesn't bother me. It's not like it's a Saquon thing. Somebody that grew up with us and, you know, he's amazing and we let him go. It's not like that for me. So I'm not that type of fan, that disgruntled Yankee fan that's just saying crazy things about him, like, I don't care. Of course I wouldn't want him to beat us, or I don't want him to make us look, you know, a certain type of way, but I don't care what he's doing. Like, I was like, okay, but that's. Whatever they lost, who cares? You know, that's how I felt. But for the fans, that's just going crazy about him and just, who cares? Like, we. We should have known that he wasn't staying with us anyway. And I used to always tell y'all that, like, I don't care if he leaves. Like, I knew he wasn't.

It's.

I knew it was about the money.

[Don La Greca]

It was.

[Caller]

To me, it was the mistake.

[Don La Greca]

It was the mystique, Tess. I think the Yankee reaction, like I said, I think, like Don said at the start of the show, and I did notice this, too, Yankee fans. There were a pocket of Yankee fans that seemed more. More. More pleased with the fact that Soto came up small in a big spot for the Mets in his first chance, than they were pleased that their team won their opener. And that's a weird place to be. So this is not about. I don't think this is about Soto and rooting against Soto and all that stuff. He's going to hear boos when he comes to say we know that's all coming, right, because that's what fans do. But like Donnie, I don't think this was about Soto, like Tess is saying. And because I, I'm with Tess, like, I felt the same way. I was like, all right, you know, he didn't have blood in the ground. I, I, he leaves. He didn't, he never felt like a true Yankee. So I, I'm not hurt by it. I don't care. But I think it's more about the Mets and their fans for these, some of these Yankee fans that wanted to rub it in their face like, ha, you can't get it. You can't get a chance to enjoy this yet.

[Alan Hahn]

But here's this, the sad reality for both sides. Money won. Of course, you know, the, the idea. I know, I know there's a lot of traction. While he liked the family and he liked Alex Cohen and Steve. And listen, he went to the Mets because they, they treated him the way he wanted to be treated and they paid him more than anybody else. And that would have gone if the Padres paid him the most money, if the Texas Rangers paid him the most money. So the Mets really didn't win and the Yankees really didn't lose. You know, he didn't pick the Yankees. He didn't care about the mystique of the Yankees. He didn't care about Queens and the Mets better chance to win over the next five years. That's all bs he was about the money. That's all that it was. So Met fans shouldn't pop up their chest and feel like they want. They did win because they paid more money, not for any other reason. And the Yankees lost because they decided not to pay as much money and go as go the extra nine the way the Mets did. So that's really what the ultimate win was. The winner is Soto and the money that he made, of course. But he didn't choose one team better or like the uniforms better. No, no.

[Don La Greca]

But caught up in all that. Nobody's caught up in that. Don. This is about me and you. This is about you and I. The next morning on the bus, when I see your face and the first thing I want to do is say he sucks. You gave him all that money. He can't even, he can't come through to you. I am needling you as long as I can because I just love to do it because you, you were putting it in my face that he left my team, the sign with your team. And so I had to hear you just crowing about it all spring and now I'm like, I get that chance to get my get back. That this is only about that level, that sophomoric goofiness of being a fan.

[Alan Hahn]

But nothing really want to be honest. Like, if he chose, if the Yankees offered more and he chose the Mets, well, then the Met fan can really get into it because he chose the Mets. Like, Yankee fans are like, upset that. So what you're really upset about is that he decided not to give you a discount. So he disrespected your franchise, but you're getting caught up in it. It never like, Allen had it right. He didn't have blood in the ground, and it wasn't any disrespect. That's why he didn't have anybody's numbers. He was here. He's a free agent. He was going to test free agency. He was going to go to the highest bidder. Didn't care about legacy, didn't care about how many championships, didn't care about women, what championships in the future. He wanted the most money and good on him. He got it.

[Don La Greca]

That's it. Right, Tippy Cap, look again. He was literally a mercenary. He never had blood in the ground. He's now playing for the Mets. And the only joy I will get in again in the goofiness of being a fan is just if he doesn't come through in big spots is just to know how miserable. Because you know it's gonna Don admit it. But he swung and missed. There's a part of you that just were like, you know, you let out an expletive because it's a no. Like, come on, man. Like, really?

[Alan Hahn]

Of course. Because, you know, you came. Yeah, it was a great. Would have been a cool moment. It's not the. It's not the end of the world, but in the moment, you wanted to see him win. But here's the thing. I've always been a fan where I don't like the other team in town. So didn't matter if I, if I, if I were a Yankee fan, if Soto had gone from the Padres to the Mets, I would have pumped my fist just as hard because I, I would want the Mets to lose and vice versa. So I get that. That's the fun of it. But don't, don't create false narratives around it. Just say, hey, I hate the Mets. I'm glad they lost. You know, like, why can't it just be about that?

[Don La Greca]

No, because it's not fun. It's better to just keep needling you until you finally Break. That's all this is about. That's again, like we said earlier, this is the sweet spot of being a sports fan. In a city like this, where you have two of everything, it's the sweet spot. Spot when both teams are good. It's not as much fun when one team sucks because you don't feel it the same. It. It goes back to my days when the Rangers and Islanders were two of the best teams in the league. Not. Not two good teams. They were two of the best teams in the league in the mid. Like. Like 82, 83, 84. Like, they were really good. Both teams were really good. And there was just something special about knowing that. And you have that right now with the Mets and Yankees. And I'm telling you, Joe, Judge vs. Soto is a thing. And it's going to be all year. And Judge won day one without having a big hit. He won day one. You know why? Because he gave a ball to a little kid, and that went viral. And the other video that went viral was Soto swinging and missing on strike three days.

[Alan Hahn]

But I. I just feel bad for those two girls that didn't get a ball. What a piece of garbage. Judges. Oh, my God.

[Don La Greca]

But.

[Alan Hahn]

But I gotta be honest with you, though. It's fun, but if it's gonna be every single day, boy, it's gonna get.

[Don La Greca]

A chance to be very exhausting to.

[Alan Hahn]

Live and die every second, every pitch. Oh, my. And listen, it's not just this year, because Judge has, what, another seven years after this? And then Soto's got another 14 years after this. At least for the next almost decade.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Every pitch for the next 14 years, I'm locked in it.

[Don La Greca]

Every at bat, we break in live. That's what we should do. Tonight, we're breaking in live on a Soto at bat. Every time.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's only six or seven thousand at bats for Soto, so. Yeah.

[Don La Greca]

All right. We got a lot more to get to in the 6:00 hour. 800-919-3776 for the call. So stay with us. And first, Peter, another message.

[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Don La Greca]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg Podcast. I don't want to know how the sausage is made, but I just want to know it's good. Hear more of Don Allen and Peter weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers.

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