Hour 3: Knicks Expectations

Summary

Podcast Summary: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg

Episode: Hour 3: Knicks Expectations
Date: October 15, 2025

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Overview

This episode dives deep into New York Knicks expectations leading into the 2025-26 NBA season, shaped by a city desperate for a sports winner after disappointing years in football, baseball, and even hockey. Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg, and Don La Greca discuss the pressure on the Knicks, what a good start means, the impact of a new coach and system, and the city’s collective hope for the team. The conversation then veers off into classic show banter — from music rankings to actor debates — with enthusiastic audience participation and their trademark humor.

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Main Theme

Knicks Expectations in a City Starved for a Winner

With New York's other major teams faltering, the Knicks carry the city's hopes into a highly anticipated season. New coaching, a roster with depth, and optics around other contender's injuries mean pressure — and expectations — have never been higher. The hosts debate what a “good start” should be, how fans might react to early adversity, and whether the Knicks can take control of the Eastern Conference.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The State of New York Sports and the City’s Focus on the Knicks (00:44–02:16)

• Don La Greca lays out the gloomy status of New York teams: football stinks, baseball was a letdown, hockey struggles, and thus “there's a tremendous amount of excitement around the Knicks. ... This Nick season is probably as anticipated, a season that we've had in New York in quite some time.”
• The city is “counting on this to be the best that sports has to offer in New York after everything that’s happened... I think a lot of people are counting on the Knicks.”

Quote:
“If this team gets off to a slow start, how do you think people are going to be? … You're gonna have to start talking people off a ledge, if this team is 500 through the first 20 games.” — Don La Greca (04:24)

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2. The Pressure of a New Coach, New System, and Why Patience Will Be Thin (02:16–05:00)

• Peter Rosenberg reminds listeners that a new coach and system mean adjustment time, but “nobody wants to hear the part though that... it's a new coach and a new system — you gotta give it.” (02:16)
• High-profile opening stretch: Cavs, Celtics, Heat, Bucks, Bulls, Wizards; realistic expectations debated.
• Alan Hahn, Peter, and Don agree: logic takes a back seat when it comes to New York sports emotions.

Quote: “You're making a lot of sense... but that's not what anybody wants to hear.” — Don La Greca (03:47)

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3. The City’s Sky-High Hype and the Burden of Being Favorites (05:00–07:55)

• Don: “This year they're the favorites to come out of the East. ... It’s no joke here. All right. ... Everybody and their mothers predicting... it's like a fait accompli.”
• Eastern rivals’ injuries: Boston (Tatum), Indiana (Haliburton), Milwaukee (Lillard), Philly (Embiid uncertainty), Cleveland (Garland & Strus injuries).

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4. What Record is Good Enough for the Start? Instant Reactions and the Need for Home Court (07:55–13:32)

• Peter: “Five and two at worst” for the opening seven games; “Four and three, if one... is like just a great game.” (06:15)
• Alan: “It's even less about who they're playing... It's just what's your record the first seven, eight games?”
• Peter’s Hot Take: “They must get the top seed in the east this year. ... Especially if in the conference final they end up playing a team like the Cavs. ... The pressure to win was day one.” (10:39–12:02)

Memorable Moment: “You’ve got to get off to a good start. You’ve got to establish top seed right out of the gate and establish supremacy.” — Peter Rosenberg (11:01)

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5. The Knicks and City’s Emotional State — Why This Year Feels Different (12:31–13:32)

• The failures of the Jets, Giants, Mets, and Yankees push all eyes — and hopes — onto the Knicks.
• “Perfect storm” of anticipation: “There are Jet and Giant and Yankee and Met fans that are also Knick fans... they can't wait. ... It just adds a perfect storm. ... Thank God the Knicks are coming.” — Don La Greca (12:49)

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6. Lighthearted Banter and Audience Phone Calls (14:10–21:02)

• Caller Eric’s hockey story about his father switching allegiances for practical reasons (Sabres vs. Sharks) sparks comic riffs on aging parents and New York sports fandom.
• Hosts joke and reminisce about San Jose, their own parents watching habits, and generational honesty.

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7. Movie Star Debate: DiCaprio, Pitt, Clooney, & Hanks (26:06–39:45)

• Spirited, humorous back-and-forth analyzing the staying power and “heartthrob” status of George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and Leonardo DiCaprio.

• Favorite Leo movie debate: “Departed,” “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” “Wolf of Wall Street,” “Basketball Diaries,” etc.

• Quote:
  “Every movie he’s in is basically good. ... He basically has only hammers his whole career.” — Natalie (relayed by Alan Hahn, 26:11)

• Where does Tom Cruise fit as the other generational “biggest movie star” compared to DiCaprio? Hanks as a different category.

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8. Snoop Dogg and Youth Football (40:31–42:19)

• Snoop Dogg’s impressive youth football program has yielded “over 40” NFL players.
• Joking surprise and respect for Snoop’s reach and commitment to youth sports.

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9. Yacht Rock Call-in and Musical Debates (43:37–48:44)

• Caller Dan: Yacht Rock band ranking — 10cc, Ambrosia, Paul Davis — fuels hosts’ critiques and playful corrections.
• Deep dive into what constitutes “real” yacht rock and which artists invented the genre (Steely Dan, Doobie Brothers, Toto, etc.).

Quote:
“The term yacht rock is so stupid. ... It really should be called soul rock or rock and soul, but instead it’s yacht, because there was no good name for it.” — Alan Hahn (47:49)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Knicks Expectations:
  “Optimism's through the roof. Baseball disappointed us, hockey disappointed us, football's disappointed us for a decade. And if this team gets off to a slow start... you're gonna have to start talking people off a ledge.” — Don La Greca (04:24)

• On Fan Patience:
  “Nobody wants to hear it. ... That's not what anybody wants to hear.” — Don La Greca (03:53)

• On the Need for Early Success:
  “You got to come out of the gate. You got to get off to a good start. You got to establish top seed right out of the gate and establish supremacy.” — Peter Rosenberg (11:01)

• On Movie Stars:
  “Every movie he’s in is basically good. ... He basically has only hammers his whole career.” — Alan Hahn, relaying Natalie’s point about DiCaprio (26:11)

• On Yacht Rock:
  “The term yacht rock is so stupid. ... It really should be called soul rock or rock and soul, but instead it’s yacht, because there was no good name for it.” — Alan Hahn (47:49)

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Timestamps Guide to Important Segments

• 00:44–02:16: State of NY Sports, all eyes on the Knicks
• 02:16–05:00: New coach/system, city’s patience, pressure of expectations
• 05:00–07:55: Eastern Conference competitors, burden of being the favorite
• 07:55–10:22: What opening record counts, discussion of “must-win” starts
• 10:39–12:02: Peter’s “must get top seed” take
• 12:31–13:32: City’s perfect storm of hope — why this year feels different
• 14:10–21:02: Callers, aging parents and sports fandom humor
• 26:06–39:45: Movie star longevity: DiCaprio, Pitt, Clooney, Cruise, Hanks
• 40:31–42:19: Snoop Dogg’s NFL impact
• 43:37–48:44: Yacht Rock arguments and musical banter

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Tone & Language

The hosts maintain their classic blend of New York sports passion, humor, and cultural commentary — mixing deep Knicks analysis with friendly roasting, nostalgia, and music/entertainment detours. Listeners unfamiliar with the episode get an accurate flavor: big-hearted, informed, always with a side of silliness.

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Conclusion

This episode captures New York’s pre-season Knicks fever, examining both the logic and the emotion behind sky-high expectations. As always, Don, Hahn & Rosenberg serve it up with a mix of smart sports insight and the kind of banter you’d expect from old friends — plus more than a dash of New York attitude.

Transcript

[Alan Hahn]

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[Alan Hahn]

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[Don Hahn]

This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don La Greca]

That sounds like heaven to me.

[Don Hahn]

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

[Don La Greca]

Game time is brought to you by Tullimore Dew Iris Whiskey. Because when it's game time, guys.

[Alan Hahn]

It'S Tyler time.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Wilma.

[Don La Greca]

It's the only time coverage of Game 3 of the American League Championship Series right here on 880 at 7:30 Tullamore Dew. The original triple distilled, triple blended and triple cast matured Irish whiskey. Be sure to grab a Tullamore Dew or try the new Tullamore Dew Honey during today's action. Glasses up to enjoying Tullamore do responsibly. So you got the football of it all. Hockey. Islanders don't have a win. Rangers don't have a goal at home in three games. The Devils just lost their starting goaltender, Jacob Markstrom for what they're saying is could be weeks. So you got that. Although the Devils are off to a 2 and 1 start and the Rangers, even though they've Owen 3 at home, they're still 2 and 3. So they played five games, just four points. But I think they're playing well. Islander is a bit of a mess and despite the Brogdon news, I mean still a tremendous amount of excitement around the Knicks. I got to tell you, I because of how the football has been and how disappointingly the baseball ended up going, especially how hyped the baseball season was that this nick season is probably as anticipated, a season that we've had in New York in quite some time. And you hope it lives up to the hype. You do. Because I think a lot of people are counting on this to be the best that sports has to offer in New York after everything that's happened with the football and the baseball and even the hockey's been, you know, disappointing with the Rangers missed the playoffs last year. I think a lot of people are counting on the Knicks.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Nobody wants to hear the part though that says it's a new coach and a new system so you gotta give it. And the. And the. I think you're hearing the players kind of hinting to it, like, hey, like this is going to take a minute. Like we all want 15 and one out of the gate, but I'm not sure you're going to get that. Especially, you know, the top of the schedule is loaded because the networks all want to see the good, good teams play each other early on. Now I'm not making excuses, I'm just saying it's a different, it's a different coach and it's a different style and it, I don't know if you're going to get like the hot start that gets everybody excited and you really like now you buy in.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, that's what you need. Basketball, that's what you want. Basketball's like baseball though. It, you need a hot start for there to be like early excitement. Otherwise it's kind of like, all right, let's wait and see.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You could give yourself, if you give yourself a 8 and 2 start, you could play 500 ball for, for a month and it still looks pretty, you're still six games up, right? So I think, I just feel like, Remember last year the Cavs came out of the gate and they were like 20 and something like a ridiculous record. Like that's what I think every fan wants because it's. Now I can sit back and say, okay, but if there wasn't a coaching change, I might have said how I could see them coming out of the gate hot. But if Tibbs teams never did, will this team do that with this up tempo system that's going to be at adjustment.

[Don La Greca]

You're making a lot of sense.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't know.

[Don La Greca]

You're making a lot of sense, but.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Nobody wants to hear it.

[Don La Greca]

That's not what anybody wants to hear.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I know.

[Don La Greca]

You know how it works in New York, guys. You made the coaching change, a lot of people were on board, a lot of people were not. But you do something you hadn't done 25 years and the coach is gone, you bring in a new coach, optimism's through the roof. Baseball disappointed us, hockey disappointed us, football's disappointed us for a decade. And if this team gets off to a slow start, what do you, how do you think people are going to be not figures, you know, well, they're.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Going to be annoying, you know, why did they fire the coach now?

[Don La Greca]

He's not the right guy. We're so excited about this team. Everything you're saying is logical, Allen. But if you're going to have to start talking people off a ledge, if this team is, you know, 500 through the first 20 games of the season. I don't.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't.

[Don La Greca]

It's. It that's going to. That's not going to be.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Can I at least say I don't expect that?

[Don La Greca]

Okay.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right. I do not.

[Don La Greca]

5 and 5. Even Peter. 5 and 5. You've been around New York long enough that people are going to be like what's going on with this team?

[Alan Hahn]

Well, I just think it'll be Nothing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They were 5 and 5 last year to start they were 12.

[Don La Greca]

And this is not just hype around this year was hype.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Wait, wait.

[Don La Greca]

Last year was not like this, man. Come on.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I agree. I agree.

[Don La Greca]

Last year there was hype. But this year they're the favorites to come out of the East. It's no joke here. All right. This is not Nick fans being of all the New York teams clearly the most positive and sometime is really talking out of their rear end about their team. Let's be honest.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Don La Greca]

Team is never as good as the fans think they're going to be or want them to be. Now you got this year where everybody and their mothers predicting almost. It's like a fait accompli. They're coming out of the East. Boston took a hit because of what happened to Tatum. Indiana who beat you last year takes a hit because of Halberton. Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Milwaukee doesn't have.

[Don La Greca]

Milwaukee's not. Doesn't have it. They just lost one of their best players in Lillard. Yeah. All right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Sixers embiid. You don't know when he's going to play.

[Don La Greca]

Even if he does play that process.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Paul George is not playing right.

[Don La Greca]

And I don't think Detroit or Cleveland.

[Peter Rosenberg]

By the way, let me point out Cleveland Garland hurt.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Streuss hurt.

[Alan Hahn]

So they've.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They've got a couple of guys early in the season injury wise that they.

[Don La Greca]

Got to deal with the optimism. That's legit optimist.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So we start next week. A week from today we start. All right. So I'll give it to you. So this is the. We know in the NBA the good teams play the good teams early because that's the way to get, you know, people watching. These are good matches.

[Don La Greca]

New national television, Amazon, all that and it's everywhere.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So you've got Cavs at the Garden to open the season. A week from today. We'll be at stout from 3 to 6:30 doing our show live. We want everybody to come out and hang out with us because we're already lining them up. We got some good guests coming in. We have a great time. But Cavs Nicks that night. And the Cavs number one seed last year. Like, you know, that's, that's a significant first game to play. And the Knicks couldn't beat the Cavs last year if they tried. Couldn't beat them. Then they play the Celtics on Friday night after the, after the home open. They stay home. They play the Celtics now the Celtics again. No Tatum Porzingis gone. Roster looks like a team that's taking a gap year because Tatum's out. But you know, don't tell Jaylen Brown that, right? Like don't tell some of the other guys there. They're be careful, right? You know, a guy like Missoula is going to tell them, look, they embarrassed us. Let's, you know, make sure we, we come in there and set a tone so, you know, that's a game as well. Then the Knicks go to Miami and play the Heat. I don't know what Miami's going to be, man. They're missing their best player as well. Another guy injured, hero. They've gone through some changes. So you got that. Then they play the Bucks, they go to Milwaukee, play Giannis. After all the rumors and all the talk, right. So there's that. Then they play the Bulls in back to back games. I don't know what the hell the Bulls are going to be. But the Knicks had struggled with the Bulls in their up tempo system. Right. Then it's the Wizards. So there's. What is that now? That's 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 for your first seven games. Five and two at worst. If you're, if you're a good team. Yeah, right. Four and three. If, if one, if, if one of the losses is, is like just a great game.

[Alan Hahn]

But it's. To me it's even less about right who they're playing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This five and two. Do you get movement?

[Alan Hahn]

But, but the thing is five and two, a little bit of movement yet. Four and three, one game difference.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No movement, right? None.

[Alan Hahn]

It's like, oh, okay.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And what if one of them is like, you played the Bulls twice and one loss to the Bulls, like double overtime.

[Alan Hahn]

No one cares.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Doesn't care.

[Alan Hahn]

It's just. What's your record the first seven, eight games?

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's the problem with the start of the season sometimes that it does like you, you. It's kind of fugazi. The great starts sometimes don't turn into anything. And a bad start or a slow start. Look, I don't think they're going to be a bad start team because they're Just way too talented. But I don't think it really catches. I don't think it hits maybe until we get into, like, you know, around Thanksgiving. Because this offense does have the. Like. Brian Windhorse has talked about this. He was in Abu Dhabi with the team, and he was watching him in person, and he was saying it was.

[Alan Hahn]

Windhorse and Abu Dhabi.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Does not bring to it.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah. I don't think.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don La Greca]

You can't say. That's another way to say it.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't want to reach Windy and Dobby.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, hold on. Is Abu Dhabi? And where's Abu Dhabi? Is it uae?

[Don La Greca]

Where is it?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think so.

[Alan Hahn]

You know. You're not sure, though.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't go.

[Alan Hahn]

I like how you're just honest about not even a clue.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, I didn't go. So I don't know the details.

[Alan Hahn]

I need to know what country it is.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Never mind. So he. He sees. A lot of people see it. This offense does have a chance to be epic. And let's not forget the Knick offense was top three in the league last year.

[Alan Hahn]

It is uae. So it could be wind horse. Uae.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No.

[Don La Greca]

Sorry. We gotta let it go.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

You sure? Yeah, I kind of like that one.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You do? No, no.

[Alan Hahn]

Wind Horse. UA.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Let's get a 20. Come on. Let's get a 20. We'll discuss. Sure.

[Alan Hahn]

Everyone's good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think we take a knee.

[Don La Greca]

Confident. All right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But I like. I like the effort we're gonna patch.

[Don La Greca]

On the other ones. Work so well that you can't see it now.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. That's why we.

[Alan Hahn]

I like to win horse on Zoom. We came up with that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Zoom is fun.

[Alan Hahn]

Win horse on Zoom. That hits.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So this offense could be amazing. We have to see this was a great offense last year. Now, their defense was the part that everybody was concerned about. They couldn't guard the three, all that stuff. And they had trouble with teams that played fast. So that's what I'm curious to see this year. Will their defense get worse? Because without Tibbs and there's more focus on offense, will the defense have an issue or not? I have to see it. I have to see it.

[Don La Greca]

Well, to my point about expectations, you lose opening night, people are going to.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Get well to the Cavs, and then they'll say, oh, you can still be the Cavs. Right.

[Don La Greca]

I'm just saying, I think it's a combination of this town and the expectations being legitimately high.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Can I give you a take?

[Alan Hahn]

Go ahead.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Out of the gate for free. This one's free. On the house.

[Alan Hahn]

Thank you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think they must get the top seed in the east this year.

[Don La Greca]

Okay.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think they need home court throughout. Especially if in the conference final they end up playing a team like the Cavs. I think home court will matter dramatically for them.

[Don La Greca]

And I'm not. I'm not mad at that point.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So I'd play for the top seed. I, you know, there. I wouldn't do this thing about how if it. It's going to take 20 games. No. You got to come out of the gate. You got to get off to a good start. You got to establish top seed right out of the gate and establish supremacy. Like where the team to beat chase us. The Knicks have the second shortest odds to win the championship going into the season. The last time they had the second shortest odds going into the season to win the championship was 30 years ago.

[Alan Hahn]

Wow.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Coming off the year they got to the final and that.

[Don La Greca]

That was legitimate because they had gone to the. To the final the year before.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well. Well, all right. I'll take it a step further.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The year before that they were plus 200 to win the title. Shortest odds of any team in the league. Michael Jordan went off to play baseball and so the Knicks were considered the favorite to win the championship. Pat Riley put him on the court. First ones on Midnight man is practice. And he wanted to set that tone right from the beginning of we want to be the best team in the league and we want to be the last team off. First one's on. Last one off.

[Alan Hahn]

Of course it ended with them winning a champion.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They were the second to last team off.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, right there.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But 10 points. But what I'm trying to say is the pressure to win was. Was day one on that team and that team got out of the gates fast. Now, no coaching change. The roster was still pretty much the same and they knew the mission. This roster is pretty much the same with better depth. They also know the mission. Will they get off to a strong start and establish the supremacy of we are the team to beat in the east by getting the top seed out of the gate and never letting it go.

[Don La Greca]

And I also think the combination of the focus is going to be on them. Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yep.

[Don La Greca]

If this season started any other year but the jets and Giants are both really good and they're playoff teams, well then there's going to be a lot more conversation about them.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right? Right. You get kind of lost or there's.

[Don La Greca]

There's other things going on where you're just not the. I. I think people are hungry for this. There are Jet and Giant and, and Yankee and Met fans that are also Nick fans that just. They can't wait. I saw it the second the Yankees were eliminated. Thank God the Knicks are coming. Yeah, Mets were eliminated. Thank God the Knicks are coming. Jets and Giants stink. When's basketball season start? So. And that's not their fault, but it just, it just adds a perfect storm of everybody. Everybody. You know what everybody wants, wants it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The 93, 94 season. They started 7 and oh, and the. They started like 26 and 9. You'll take that, right?

[Alan Hahn]

Absolutely.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Every single rush, you put that right in your pocket.

[Don La Greca]

That's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's what you're looking for. That's what you want if you're a fan because it allows you to kind of just exhale. Okay. Okay.

[Alan Hahn]

26 and 9. You're putting it more than your pocket.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

I'll tell you where Dave Rothenberger put it.

[Don La Greca]

He would told you.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. Based on what I heard on that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Promo, I don't want him to put it there. He wants it, but I just don't want him to put it there.

[Don La Greca]

But what he wants and who's putting it there, I don't know.

[Alan Hahn]

He's an adult.

[Don La Greca]

Nor care. 1-800-919-3776 let's go. How about this? Eric in Brooklyn's got an update if you remember his dad, big Shark fan. Remember that story. Well, Eric's got an update.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What do you got, Eric?

[Caller Eric]

Hey, guys. First of all, I just need to tell the three of you guys are just grooving. I mean, you've had me in stitches last couple days. So congratulations on the teamwork. Dad spent six months in the hospital in the Bay Area and we just moved him up to Ithaca to a senior assisted living home. And he's now going to be a Sabres fan because he sees sabers hats everywhere. And the Sharks play too late for him to stay up. West coast hockey.

[Don La Greca]

But the Sabres took care of him, didn't they? Why would they? The Sharks? I mean, why is he betraying the Sharks?

[Caller Eric]

Well, so this. That's a good question. For Fraud Friday.

[Don La Greca]

Out of all the places that go, the Buffalo Sabres have made the playoffs 15 years.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I know it's a good question. For Fraud Friday it is.

[Alan Hahn]

We'll save it for Friday.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Nice.

[Caller Eric]

They have the same playoff success as the Shark, so maybe there's a similarity there. And Anthony warned me, but he can't stay up that late and the assisted living home doesn't have cable. So he's like, he's totally, you know, wedded to local broadcast. I'm trying to get him to stay with the Sharks.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. Plus right now, really, really tough to watch that Buffalo team. Really.

[Caller Eric]

Hey, and Peter, I just want to say I sent you guys something in email to the dhre ESPN on Gmail on Monday because I could feel your heartbeat through the TV when the commies were having their struggles. But I think you're going to be okay. They've got. So I'm doing this thing called trench power rating. So we look at football through the trenches.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, wow.

[Don La Greca]

Only.

[Caller Eric]

And I'm doing it in partnership with Syracuse University sports and data department. And you guys, you're the Beast of the East. So I think you're going to come out, you're going to be fine and you've got a balanced attack.

[Alan Hahn]

Need a little more defense though, buddy. I like what you're saying. I just worry about the defense.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Interesting test for that defense Sunday against Dallas. So we'll see. But I appreciate the link. Open it up, take a look at it.

[Don La Greca]

Awesome. You got it, Peter.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don La Greca]

That's very nice of you. And please tell your dad we said hello.

[Alan Hahn]

It's really cool.

[Don La Greca]

I will. And our condolences to him. Moving on to the Sabres because it's. He's not going to see any playoff hockey.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Not great.

[Don La Greca]

It's not good. And listen, he's. He's in assistant living, you said. Right. He can make his own hours. So why can't he just make hours in which he. He, you know, gets up at 10:30 and watches the game and I mean, it's kind of a vampire life, but he can make it work.

[Caller Eric]

I know. You tell me he's 90. I was like 90. Doesn't like to change. So I got to work on him slowly. I'll try to get him to the Sharks by All Star break.

[Don La Greca]

I think you let the Sharks know about this, maybe they can change their game times. Get a nice 4:30 local start time, get the college kids involved a little bit. That's a great. You've been to San Jose. That's it. That's a really cool arena.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's Shark Tank.

[Don La Greca]

Such. It's such an underrated area too, because.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It'S not the arena area, but the downtown.

[Don La Greca]

The downtown area, I think. Sounds great. Just very cool. You know, it's. I don't know if you've been to San Jose, Peter. Do you know the way San Francisco, but. But San Jose, you know, it's far enough away.

[Alan Hahn]

It's where the football Stadium is football.

[Don La Greca]

Stadiums in Santa Clara.

[Alan Hahn]

But it's, it's not that far moments though, right?

[Don La Greca]

Downtown San Jose area's got a really cool.

[Alan Hahn]

You know what I do, Don? I go on the old iPhone. I go to, I go to photos, you know, I'm going here.

[Don La Greca]

I don't know.

[Alan Hahn]

And I type in San Jose and I see. I've been there. I think I have.

[Don La Greca]

Oh, they'll tell you.

[Alan Hahn]

There you go. San Jose. Sure, I have because it is near the stadium. WrestleMania was there.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don La Greca]

Santa Clara.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, it's.

[Don La Greca]

It's. But it's the. Actually 2015. Wow, that was fast. Dan Rusanowski's their radio play by play guy was telling me that like that that's actually more. San Jose is more populated in San Francisco. Like that, that it's a much bigger area. Really people. Because it's, it's the suburbs and everything. Like a lot of you work in San Francisco, you know, and it's, it's a really cool vibe there. But listen, their games start at 10, 10:30. And I know my mom said my mom can't stay up for my games. I called her 10 minutes before the game in Columbus, 6:50, just to let her know what channel it was on and everything. She said she was going to bed.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, like mada son's still up.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, you know, hold on.

[Alan Hahn]

So you went to bed. What time did you say the game was?

[Don La Greca]

But at least seven.

[Alan Hahn]

She was going to bed.

[Don La Greca]

It was 6:50.

[Peter Rosenberg]

She's tired.

[Don La Greca]

I don't even think it's tired. I just think it's.

[Alan Hahn]

You know what?

[Don La Greca]

At least your mom, they get up so damn early.

[Peter Rosenberg]

At least she's going to bed. You know what my mom says? Well, I'm sorry the Rangers are playing tonight.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, that's tough too.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And I'm like, I'm on, I'm calling the game. I know. I'll check in during commercials.

[Alan Hahn]

Wow, she's a fan.

[Don La Greca]

There is something.

[Peter Rosenberg]

She just loves the Rangers.

[Don La Greca]

There is something to when our parents get older where like it honesty comes first. Like, listen, I reared you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They let you know you are enough.

[Don La Greca]

I've made sacrifices already. You know what? I don't feel like watching.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm done, you know, but no, I.

[Don La Greca]

Didn'T feel like taking you to soccer practice. But you know what? I did it. Now it's my time.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I know what you sound like.

[Don La Greca]

Listen, I don't think I know what you sound like. I know you're gonna kill it. Do I have to confirm?

[Alan Hahn]

But sometimes my stories are on they get too honest. Let's be honest. Oh, it's too.

[Don La Greca]

Oh, yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Don't get me wrong. I know you took care of him as a baby. That doesn't mean, you know, to remind him that you don't need to care anymore.

[Don La Greca]

I know, but it does get to the point that this shows you how aggravating Alan and I and you were growing up, that there were times they wanted to say as to the 8 year old, to the 10 year old, to the 15 year old, and they said, no, no, no, now to the 57 year old, 54 and 46 year old. You know what I'm gonna tell you. Don't feel like doing it. Not turning it on. I'm good here. I've seen Maya. Okay. I can look at pictures.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right?

[Don La Greca]

Don't come to the house. And if you're gonna call the house, make sure it's after, you know, the equalizer.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Although you got to give me a minute. If the equalizer's on, I might have.

[Don La Greca]

To stay with that.

[Alan Hahn]

No, but in the case of Maya, it's the opposite. In my current life, if I call my mom without FaceTiming, she answers and goes, where's the picture? And I go, mom, I'm just calling you to say hello.

[Don La Greca]

I don't know Maya.

[Alan Hahn]

She's just waiting for the Maya FaceTime. She doesn't care.

[Don La Greca]

She doesn't understand. Otherwise, I get it. Polarizes. It could be, you know, you're bothering me. I'm going to bed. Or I don't call and then she's calling hospital. She thought we all died. There's no in between.

[Alan Hahn]

Can't win. Can't win. No, I'll tell you, but one thing you be sure of, if puck drops at 7:30, she's going to bed at 7:15. Oh, yeah, that you could be sure.

[Don La Greca]

If that's the time she wants to.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Go to bed, she's going to bed. Seven. Oh, you know, the puck's dropping at seven. I'm actually going to bed now.

[Don La Greca]

And if she feels like at least.

[Peter Rosenberg]

She'S going to bed, like I said, my mother's making an actual choice. I'd rather watch the Rangers. Damn, that's tough. That's hurtful.

[Don La Greca]

Very tough.

[Alan Hahn]

Work so hard to get here.

[Don La Greca]

And now that's how Anthony's gonna be with his kids. His kid might be playing for another team in the NHL. He's still gonna watch the Rangers.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Anthony's like we have found, by the way, the one team, though, that he does bleed for. It's Clear. No, it's in the chat.

[Don La Greca]

Oh, my God.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And God forbid you just say one little thing. Very, very defensive. He's jumping in front of bullets and arrows for that team, right?

[Don La Greca]

Yeah. And God.

[Peter Rosenberg]

God forbid, all I said was moral victory again. And, oh, goodness, he's.

[Alan Hahn]

He's a very.

[Don La Greca]

All I know is, is that if Stuart Skinner turned up missing last night, Anthony would be a suspect.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We'd know why.

[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Han and Rosenberg podcast.

[Alan Hahn]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don Hahn]

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

[Don La Greca]

So a pretty cool moment today. I don't know if you follow this on social media, and I mentioned it in passing yesterday on the air that I did a guest DJ spot, thanks to Alan Hahn, on Ozzy's Boneyard on SiriusXM.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What did I do?

[Don La Greca]

Well, you set it up, man. I mean, you introduced me to Adam over there at SiriusXM.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You wanted to do it.

[Alan Hahn]

Adam Shine? You didn't know him.

[Don La Greca]

No, I do, but. So I go in there to tape it, and they're gonna air it probably in a couple of weeks. So my. My 10 favorite metal songs, and it's going to be on the app, and once. Once it starts to air, I'll let you know so you can listen to it. But I go there today, and I had worked at series years ago. I hadn't been there in, like, 15 years, so I ran into people that I'd known. Zig for Cossey and Adam Shine and John Hein from the. From Howard Stern and Gary Delibonte was there, and I hadn't seen him in years. I haven't seen him since the last time he went to a Super Bowl. And how long ago was that?

[Alan Hahn]

Did he. Did you. Did you recognize you?

[Don La Greca]

Yeah. It was cool. I think more through the K show than when I interned there in 1990 was 35 years ago.

[Alan Hahn]

Sure. But he. But you had a little chat.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, because he's a big Islander fan and he was asking me about the Devils and stuff, and. And John Hein is a big Penguin fan, so it's a big hockey bacchanal.

[Alan Hahn]

Wow.

[Don La Greca]

And then I. I go upstairs, and who would I run into? Chris Russo.

[Alan Hahn]

That's. Hey, Donnie. Didn't know you did so much on the show. Yeah, I thought you were more of an update guy.

[Don La Greca]

I never confronted him about that. Just because I don't think.

[Alan Hahn]

Think he doesn't. It would take. He doesn't.

[Don La Greca]

I don't Think the conversation would take? No, but the great thing about Russo is he. He interviews you.

[Alan Hahn]

That's not a devil's job.

[Don La Greca]

So you get to fly with the team. How's the food? What's the best arena in the NHL? What's the worst arena? Like, it's like I feel like I.

[Alan Hahn]

Want you to love with me.

[Don La Greca]

All right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, he's taking the glasses off.

[Don La Greca]

I love.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And he closing them and closing them.

[Don La Greca]

Like a Cronkite moment.

[Alan Hahn]

Just be honest here. In your estimation, is Christopher Russo a complete psychopath? Wow. Honestly, he. To me, when I. The limited time I've been around him, I've only been around a couple of times. He's lovely, but he comes off as he is not home. A complete and utter lunatic roaming the streets. Anything could happen any given moment in.

[Don La Greca]

The best way possible.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, but it's the real deal. It's not a put on.

[Don La Greca]

No, because this is the compliment I paid him because I think he's killing it on first take. Yes. And he's given us a lot of great content because he'll say something outrageous. Now, I don't know if people have noticed or not, but outrageous things get said all the time in sports and everything else. And most of it is performative. I don't think people mean as much as they do. They're just trying to get the clicks, trying to get the reaction. That's not Chris. As crazy as his take might be, he's completely genuine. He can't help but give opinions. He can't help but to be himself 24 7. That's who he is. I'm telling you. I've known him for 30 years. That's who he is. There's not an ounce of performance there at all. And that's what makes him so genuine. But people that don't know him might just think this is all just an act. Which would make sense, right? Who would be that one?

[Alan Hahn]

A lot of the stuff on TV these days, in the 24 hour news cycle, a lot of people are putting on an actual. To the point of my question, Russo is a legitimate psychopath. That's what makes it so good.

[Don La Greca]

I'm sure he would be diagnosed as someone that is, in the best way possible. Psychopathic. Yeah, like.

[Alan Hahn]

But him not being chopped up into a thousand pieces.

[Don La Greca]

No, he's not Dexter, right?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, he's not. That's not gonna do that. Fade you to the poor.

[Peter Rosenberg]

To the poor. Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

What's the feature to the poor? Reference.

[Don La Greca]

Just as great as a movie is. Departed is the act Boston accent.

[Alan Hahn]

I've heard you wax about how bad.

[Don La Greca]

That'S what he said.

[Alan Hahn]

Everyone sounds like Mayor Quimpy.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. Chop me up and feed me to the poor.

[Alan Hahn]

Right?

[Don La Greca]

With the Chinese in 20 odd years. Now we have fun on this show.

[Alan Hahn]

So this you saw. You saw Mad Dog also. You wanted to chop me up and feed me the poor. Is that what you guys want?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I love it.

[Don La Greca]

And again, that doesn't sound that bad. But it's Leonardo DiCaprio.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, it's Leo.

[Alan Hahn]

Like, by the way, I got to see that movie. The Leo movie is supposed to be incredible. The Coen brothers Leo. It's supposed to be.

[Don La Greca]

It's not a Coen brothers movie.

[Alan Hahn]

It's not?

[Don La Greca]

No, it's a Paul Thomas Anderson.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, sorry, sorry. Pca. Pca Apologies.

[Don La Greca]

He's good.

[Alan Hahn]

He's very good. Are you gonna see it? Yeah.

[Don La Greca]

Because it's got Leo in it. Yeah. There's not many bad things. He's. By the way, Paul Thomas Anderson is.

[Alan Hahn]

You know, by the way, it's. It's begging. Top five. Begging for a top five. Top five Leo movies. Because Natalie made the point the other day. She loves Leo. She was like, every movie he's in is basically good. Like you. He basically has only hammers his whole career. You can argue.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Very fitting.

[Alan Hahn]

From a percentage. I'm sorry?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Nothing. Just keep.

[Alan Hahn]

From a percentage wise started that way.

[Don La Greca]

If he did that Five minutes to seven where we begin and close. But still It's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, it's 5:30.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, she actually. She also did do a great job breaking down. I thought Natalie and I totally understood it. Even though I'm not a woman or someone who's attracted to men. I understood what she meant. I think she nailed it. She was talking about the looks of Clooney, Pitt and DiCaprio. She said when she was young, like when she was practically a teenager young, DiCaprio was the hottest. Right? Okay, right. Like, like. But like looked like a little boy practically. But she was young too. You know what I mean? Then she said in his, like adult age, you know, 20s, etc. 30s, up to 40 even Brad Pitt is the number one spot. He's the guy. 20s, 30s into early 40s. It pit modern day. Now Clooney, he aged. Each one has had their era.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He has age, but he's aged. The best Clooney has.

[Alan Hahn]

I love the guy. His movies are great. He doesn't look the same.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No.

[Alan Hahn]

A young woman wouldn't see him and go, I get why he's the biggest heartthrob well. And even Pitt is starting to show a little.

[Don La Greca]

He's getting a little longer than he's over 60 now. Right.

[Alan Hahn]

And Whereas. But Clooney is too. Yeah, but Clooney's cruising.

[Don La Greca]

Clooney is Cary Grant.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, right.

[Don La Greca]

Very good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Very good.

[Don La Greca]

He's the comp.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like he's always looked the same age.

[Alan Hahn]

It's real.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's only like again, the early. The er. Stuff like where he still had. He looked young. Ish. He had a matureness about him.

[Don La Greca]

They all became old actors at some point. Right. Where it's like now they're just. They're. They're gonna play older gentlemen. They're not attractive anymore. Like, Jimmy Stewart got to an age where.

[Alan Hahn]

What? Don't.

[Don La Greca]

Henry Fonda. Same thing.

[Alan Hahn]

Don, please, for the love of Christ. We're having a conversation about great actors. They're already older actors. Don's going, Alan, help me out. Don's going straight. Cary Grant.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Who did you say after that?

[Alan Hahn]

Hold you after Cary Grant.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart.

[Alan Hahn]

What is our audience? 110. And who do you have? Jimmy Stewart.

[Don La Greca]

Henry Fonda. Henry.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh my God. Not Henry Fonda.

[Don La Greca]

Anthony.

[Alan Hahn]

Jacob. We wouldn't recognize them if they all walked in the room. Come on.

[Don La Greca]

Well, that's on you.

[Alan Hahn]

I mean, but Henry Fonda.

[Don La Greca]

Because I woke you up.

[Alan Hahn]

I mean, Jane is 80 and that's her dad. But you're pigeonholed. 50 years old.

[Don La Greca]

Pigeonholed me into. I've got an outbind actors that aged.

[Alan Hahn]

No, we nailed it already, though. We nailed it. And even Cary Grant. I gave you Cary Grant.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

You know, I know he's the standard of handsome Gary Grant.

[Don La Greca]

Great. But we get to Henry Fonda trying to make a point.

[Alan Hahn]

Go ahead.

[Don La Greca]

That all of these iconic actors at some point got old. They were no longer good looking. They played grandpa. They were elderly. Cary Grant is still an attractive man.

[Alan Hahn]

Why'd you skip over Edford? Redford was staring you right in the face. You didn't have to go full old timey. And Redford stayed handsome.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes, but Redford is more pit.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes, Redford is Pitt.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They're very. That's. That's. That's your parallel.

[Alan Hahn]

But Redford did la Redford. Keep in mind, Redford played the part in the Demi Moore vehicle in his.

[Don La Greca]

Early 60s indecent proposal.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Which is unreal.

[Alan Hahn]

Now, I'm not saying pickle it off to some degree, but not as well as Redford didn't deserve. You sure not Red. Go look at Redford in that movie right now. You'll want to hook up with him. All right. He's unbelievable. I just watched it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't know. I think.

[Don La Greca]

All right, more modern day, like the guys that are in the Clooney aging well would be Warren Beatty. Oh, right. That's very good, Richard.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Did I modern it up for you?

[Alan Hahn]

Yes. Jimmy Stewart and Henry there were grandparents.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Don't you know me, Mary?

[Don La Greca]

No, I'm saying on Golden Pond. He's an old. He's an old man and he's playing an old man. He's playing. George Clooney's never going to play grandpa. Well, George Clooney's gonna play or he's.

[Alan Hahn]

Gonna play the grandpa.

[Don La Greca]

That's, you know, all the dating. Dating a 20s year old. You know, when they make the Belichick. Belichick. Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Which I think is coming.

[Alan Hahn]

Let me tell you one thing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You're staying up. I think it was. What is it? Friday night, UNC at Cal till 10:30 Eastern kickoff on ESPN.

[Alan Hahn]

I can't wait. By the way. She's still trotting around the sidelines. That's still happening.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Why not? There's nobody else going to those games.

[Alan Hahn]

I cannot believe the way this guy is going out.

[Don La Greca]

Can you believe it?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, I don't like it.

[Alan Hahn]

It's really. I mean, even if you dislike the guy and I never enjoyed it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I hate all.

[Alan Hahn]

But it's so bad.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Everything about it sucks.

[Alan Hahn]

And Brady and him are still good now, right? Brady and him, we believe are good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

If you're Brady, are you like.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, if you weren't good, you'd be laughing so hard at this. Oh, he won't.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

He can't be next to him in public.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don La Greca]

By the way, Brady's falling.

[Alan Hahn]

Brady walks down the hallway at Fox. If he sees Belichick coming from one direction and Mark Sanchez the other one, he doesn't know which way to run.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Hey, Mark.

[Alan Hahn]

Hey. I just can't be near either of you people. You're both making me sick.

[Peter Rosenberg]

How about when they took. They have to put him through the perp walk out of the hospital.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And then they put him in a raptor. Did you see that?

[Alan Hahn]

That was the car he got in.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, the lawyer took him home, took him wherever. He took him in a raptor.

[Alan Hahn]

It doesn't feel like the right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's just a little bizarre.

[Alan Hahn]

That's not the right aesthetic in a raptor. That we're doing a nice little sedan.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I love a raft.

[Alan Hahn]

No, it's not the right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's not. But I don't know if that's even a word.

[Alan Hahn]

Raptor isn't the right.

[Don La Greca]

I'm not familiar with a raptor.

[Alan Hahn]

It's like. It's like a big, aggressive truck. Yeah, you don't want to. You don't want a big, aggressive truck named after a dinosaur when you basically just behaved like a complete animal. Give me a nice little sedan.

[Don La Greca]

Would he, like, be, like, getting into it? Like a cyber truck?

[Alan Hahn]

That would have been even more aggressive.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That might be worse.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, that's the only thing that could be worse, would be a cyber.

[Don La Greca]

At least I don't want to make any.

[Alan Hahn]

How about the back? How about the back of just, like, a black Suburban, you know, something simple.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Can we just get an Escalade right down the block, Then we'll give it back?

[Don La Greca]

I'm not making a political statement when I say this. I'm not.

[Alan Hahn]

Go ahead.

[Don La Greca]

I don't get the cybertruck. It looks.

[Alan Hahn]

Who get. Who gets it?

[Don La Greca]

Well, people are buying it.

[Alan Hahn]

It's. It's people.

[Don La Greca]

I mean, it's not attractive. It looked. It's ugly.

[Alan Hahn]

People are out of their minds.

[Peter Rosenberg]

George Jetson wouldn't drive that.

[Alan Hahn]

No, no.

[Don La Greca]

I've seen Teslas that look nice.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, a regular Tesla's fine, but don't, Don't.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Don't pick up Russo in a Tesla. Mad dog doesn't like that. Did you see that whole rant called. He called out Bob Iger because he had to get picked. I guess he was getting picked up. The car service. And so he tells the story on first take live, and he's calling out Bob Igers. I'm blaming Iger, and he goes. The car service comes up, and he goes. This Tesla pulls up, and they're like, are you. Are you Chris Russo? Yeah. What do you want, an autograph? He says, because it was his. No, I'm your driver. No, it was a Tesla.

[Alan Hahn]

A regular.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Just a regular black Tesla.

[Don La Greca]

And he's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And he goes, no, I'm your driver. He goes, what? He goes, I get in this thing. He's like, it's dirty. There's newspapers. He said there was dog poop in the back.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay, He's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He just went on.

[Alan Hahn]

He's making.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You gotta see. He went crazy.

[Alan Hahn]

You just got through telling us how the man's never made anything up. And this story has to say immediately, I'm proven wrong. Although I will tell you this. There is a thing going on, and this is a big first world problem that you. If you get a Uber black, you want to get the nicest Uber. Like, let's say, because, for example, if you get to JFK and you try to do an Uber X, you can't pick it. They can't pick you up at the no terminal.

[Don La Greca]

No.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You have to go to the pickup station.

[Alan Hahn]

It's so it's only meant for the privilege. You have to get an Uber Black if you want to get picked up curbside.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

So you splurge. You go. I'm gonna get the. I'm gonna pay $130, 150 bucks, whatever it is. I'm gonna get the Uber Black. They include the regular black. Tesla sedan can be included in that category. And when that thing comes and picks you up for your expensive ass car service ride, you do go. This isn't what I just paid.

[Don La Greca]

Like, what is this?

[Peter Rosenberg]

What are you doing? Why did you pick me up in this?

[Alan Hahn]

This is an X. Yeah. This is an Uber X. Yeah. This is not an Uber Black.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

So you know what, Mad Dog, I see you.

[Don La Greca]

But.

[Alan Hahn]

But the, the go. The set of stones on that guy calling out on the head. Right on top.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Having a, Having a blast with it. If you're. It's getting back to DiCaprio just right off top of your head. His best movie is.

[Don La Greca]

It's.

[Alan Hahn]

That's so hard. Honestly, you can't.

[Don La Greca]

Three.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Give me three.

[Alan Hahn]

Departed.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Alan Hahn]

The, The Django.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You like that one?

[Don La Greca]

That's really good. I mean, I love the character.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Real. You gonna go Titanic or. No. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

[Don La Greca]

No, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood would be my favorite.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood's tremendous.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay, so wolf not on the list. I mean, wolf is crowd up on real.

[Alan Hahn]

Wolf is phenomenal.

[Don La Greca]

You know, it's underrated. Exception.

[Alan Hahn]

Shutter Island.

[Don La Greca]

I came so late to Shutter Island.

[Alan Hahn]

Shutter Island's fun.

[Don La Greca]

It's really good.

[Alan Hahn]

Shutter Island's fun.

[Don La Greca]

I would describe it as fun. Fun.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, you know what I mean. It's you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Do you like entertaining gangs in New York?

[Alan Hahn]

You know, I've never seen Yang's New York all the way through. I, I, I did.

[Don La Greca]

It's a bit much.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's much.

[Don La Greca]

It's a bit much. All right.

[Alan Hahn]

I, I recently saw part of it and enjoy.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now one that I thought this is an early one, and it's one that.

[Alan Hahn]

I was eating Gilbert Grape.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, not that one. He's way too early.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Around that time, though. Basketball Diaries.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh. Natalie's favorite movies of all time.

[Don La Greca]

Great movie.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Seriously, what he does as his character for a young kid and what he goes Through.

[Alan Hahn]

Great movie. How about tremendous recently, in the last couple years. Don't look up.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Have not seen that.

[Alan Hahn]

Don't look ups. Tremendous.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I've heard about it.

[Alan Hahn]

You mentioned Wolf of Wall Street's tremendous. Yeah, that's really Blood diamond.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, my God. That's right.

[Alan Hahn]

The guy's done the guy. It's nothing. But. Oh, if you want to go back to the teenage years, you're talking diaries. Romeo and Juliet was fit for the teeny boppers.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Didn't love it, but.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, I like. I like what they tried to do there.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don La Greca]

It's. Now, I'm not putting. The Titanic was just a. I haven't.

[Alan Hahn]

Seen J. Edgar mistake. That's Rose's fault, not his.

[Don La Greca]

Titanic was a mistake. No, no.

[Alan Hahn]

A mistake for who? For just society. Let me tell you what Leo's. Leo's business manager wants to have disagrees.

[Don La Greca]

Mistakes. You can make a lot of money mistakes. I've made mistakes.

[Alan Hahn]

There's no mistake.

[Don La Greca]

I've had rants that I like, I'm not happy with.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's bought an island just with the. With the.

[Don La Greca]

Just from my eyes and for just the cine. It's a mistake. All right.

[Alan Hahn]

Catch me if you can. Good one.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Also, he was actually good in Romeo and Juliet too. I said I love on the phone.

[Don La Greca]

I love.

[Alan Hahn]

But by the way, Don and I are of a different age, so I was like, 17 when Titanic came out. Saw with my high school sweetheart, cried. Loved it. I love Titanic.

[Don La Greca]

To mistake. Aviator. Yeah, Aviator's good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He plays.

[Don La Greca]

Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

By the end of the movie when he's going crazy, like, really? I haven't seen.

[Alan Hahn]

There are a few here I haven't seen. I haven't seen Body of Lies. I haven't seen Revolutionary Road. He was in the Woody Allen vehicle Celebrity. I enjoyed him in that as well.

[Don La Greca]

The Beach.

[Alan Hahn]

I didn't see the Beach.

[Don La Greca]

Howard Hughes is who you were.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Howard Hughes.

[Don La Greca]

Has there been any actors that have. Because you look at. You look at, for me, like the big directors, right? So you got Scorsese, you got Tarantino. And I would put Paul Thomas Anderson there now that he's doing the Paul Thomas Anderson who's been with all.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All three like that.

[Don La Greca]

Like he's picking some of the biggest directors of all time. Now, he can obviously pick and choose.

[Alan Hahn]

But Killers of the Flower Moon was tremendous.

[Don La Greca]

Didn't see that.

[Alan Hahn]

You should see it. Great Gatsby. I mean, the man.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I thought he was good, but not great in that.

[Alan Hahn]

He's not. Well, that's ironic. That's why I call it the Good Gatsby.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's the Good Gatsby.

[Alan Hahn]

Inception, of course, a huge Inception.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

The guy, he's up there for like, listen, everything he does is big. They're not all perfect, right? No one is big, but everything he does is big. Is he the number. Is he the true biggest movie star of the modern era?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Tom Cruise.

[Alan Hahn]

But it's more modern than that. And honestly, I think Leo's bigger.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I do Tom Cruise.

[Alan Hahn]

I think Tom Cruise is, is, is, is. He got it weighed down by the fact that for the last 25 years, you mostly just Mission Impossible. Mission Impossibles. I'm sorry. Like legacy wise, it's a bit of a.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So he.

[Alan Hahn]

He got hold you back.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He got a character and he leaned into it. He's just pocketed real quick.

[Alan Hahn]

You hear about a Mission Impossible come out and be like, oh, I can't wait to see the 5th, 6th, 4th.

[Don La Greca]

I've never seen any of them.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I love them.

[Don La Greca]

Last Mission Impossible I saw is the.

[Alan Hahn]

TV show you never saw anywhere between you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The way they're shot, I'm not making. And he's doing. You know when you know he's doing this, you're watching it going like, this.

[Alan Hahn]

Is not like non Mission Impossible. The last thing I think about is like Jerry Maguire and.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, I guess so.

[Alan Hahn]

And that other movie. What was that other big movie?

[Peter Rosenberg]

He did that.

[Alan Hahn]

That was so.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, not break. He didn't do.

[Alan Hahn]

He didn't do break.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What are you talking about? I think he would have break.

[Alan Hahn]

He would have, but he definitely wouldn't have gone Leo versus Tom Cruise in terms of bigger movie stars. A great argument, but it's probably them too, right?

[Don La Greca]

Where was Hanks?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Hanks.

[Alan Hahn]

He's. I consider Hanks to be a different category, but he's not a heartthrob. He was never a heartthrob. No, not the same thing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know, he did like. He also has jumped into movies with a character that isn't the main guy, but it's still like, he still steals it. Like Rock of Ages, Tropic Thunder.

[Don La Greca]

Jake said like thunder was.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He gives you like a character that like.

[Don La Greca]

Oh, well.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, that's. That. That's Tom Cruise. Like Rock of Ages, which Have a fun. It was. It was better on Broadway, but a great movie. He was. He was hilarious.

[Don La Greca]

I still believe Titanic was a mistake.

[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Alan Hahn]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don Hahn]

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

[Alan Hahn]

You want to talk about a dog with some dog?

[Don La Greca]

Dog.

[Alan Hahn]

Snoop Dogg got that dog. Have you guys seen the stats, by the way, that it's been getting mentioned more this year of how many players Snoop has put in the NFL? It's over 40.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Out of his program.

[Alan Hahn]

Out of Snoop's program. 40 NFL players.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right, here's. Here's a development. Football players coming out of California. I know. Stunning.

[Alan Hahn]

Can you believe it?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Wait, next you're going to tell me there's a guy in Texas that's, that's turning on a lot of NFL players. You realize, like 80% of the league is from Florida, Texas and California.

[Alan Hahn]

But still, the fact that Snoop started this thing and he has turned out.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That many players, I'm crazy. He legitimately does coach.

[Alan Hahn]

He 49.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He has a real passion.

[Alan Hahn]

What's the biggest star?

[Peter Rosenberg]

C.J.

[Don La Greca]

Stroud. Yeah. Romeo Dab.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

But by the way, little.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And write a little checky check to Snoop.

[Don La Greca]

Little chickadee check.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm sure the relationships are all very mutually beneficial.

[Alan Hahn]

I think Snoop's okay.

[Don La Greca]

Right. Whatever happened, his son was gonna be. Was a big time process.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, I don't think he wasn't that good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't think he was all right.

[Don La Greca]

But he just. Didn't he go to sc?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, I think he did go to sc.

[Don La Greca]

But didn't he just like walk away? Like he just quit? Like.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, in that reality show. You saw him all the time on that.

[Alan Hahn]

And that's it. Again, he's gonna be all right too. I'm not worried about anybody.

[Don La Greca]

But if he had a dream of playing in the NFL and didn't get there, it would stink. But I didn't know what the story.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's hard to eat when you're full. A lot of these guys find that out. Just. It's hard to eat when you're full.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah. But when you're from somebody else, like, you want to make a name for yourself. Right. And be your own man.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But when you really don't need happens where it's like, you know what? I'm good. You want to get up at 5am and run those sand dunes. That's cool. I'm good.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah. But I think it also could drive you to say, I don't want to be Snoop Dogg's son my whole life. I want to be my own guy.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't know.

[Alan Hahn]

That's always been so impressive.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Snoop Dogg's son is not. Is a pretty good job.

[Alan Hahn]

It's not bad.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's pretty good.

[Alan Hahn]

But. But that's what's so impressive about the people who are, you know, kids of stars and really find a way, you know, to push. I agree. I imagine I'd be a slacker. That's why I'm impressed by Bronny and Bryce James. Like to continue to work that hard. It doesn't matter whether you're. You have that athleticism or not. You got to work your tail off.

[Don La Greca]

But I just think you want. At the end of the day, you want to be your own man. And that might drive you, but your.

[Alan Hahn]

Own dog, if you will.

[Don La Greca]

That's right.

[Alan Hahn]

You know, you need to have in you, though, if you want to make it that dog.

[Don La Greca]

That dog in you. Dan and Saratoga, you're on ESPN New York. What's up, Dan?

[Caller Eric]

Hey.

[Caller Dan]

What's going on, guys?

[Don La Greca]

Everything's going on.

[Alan Hahn]

It's all happening, apparently.

[Caller Dan]

So. Yeah, we all know Wednesday's Friday. Jays so confirmed.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I like that.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah.

[Caller Dan]

I had a Giants point, I think, by the way.

[Alan Hahn]

By the way, you got it wrong, though. Wednesday's Thursday, Jace. Because Thursday is Friday.

[Don La Greca]

Jason. Yes.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm just being honest.

[Caller Dan]

So I actually have a good feeling about this week with the Giants. I actually think we have a good shot to beat Denver. And if we do, I really think that'll propel us not to. I think we're going to lose in Philly, but I think we can have, like, maybe just under 500, maybe to a 500 record. But besides that, we all know this is a music show, right? I do have a music question if I can again.

[Don La Greca]

Yes.

[Caller Dan]

Do you want to go yacht rock or singer song R. Do you tell me.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Y rock.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, why not? Might have.

[Caller Dan]

I got three of my favorite yacht rock bands, and I want you to rank them in order. One one being the best, third being go. I'm gonna get the ambrosia.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Good one.

[Caller Dan]

10Cc. And I'm gonna give you my guy, Paul Davis.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, wow.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Paul Davis. 65 love affair.

[Alan Hahn]

Who is. Who? Who is the middle one?

[Don La Greca]

10Cc.

[Caller Dan]

10Cc.

[Alan Hahn]

I'd like to.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm not in love that song. I'm not. Don't forget.

[Don La Greca]

You know the song.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You'll know the song. I've never heard they had two songs, though. That wasn't their only hit. They had two.

[Caller Dan]

Dreadlock Holiday.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. Dreadlock holiday is a very weird song.

[Alan Hahn]

This is the. This is. Are you being serious? This is your favorite group.

[Don La Greca]

Like, punch up the 10cc.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't badan. They're not in the conversation for best.

[Don La Greca]

Of anything to him.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It is.

[Alan Hahn]

I know. That's a bad choice.

[Peter Rosenberg]

These are his favorites. All right, so I think that's very.

[Caller Dan]

Rafferty, if you want.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, well, that's one for me. Yeah, because you got steelers wheel, right? And then everything. No, he's. He's. He's amazing. But I would probably have 10cc. 1.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Really?

[Don La Greca]

Ambrosia 2.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Wait, wait, wait. Paul Davis, Ambrosia 1.

[Caller Dan]

Thanks, guys.

[Don La Greca]

All right, thank you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Ambrosia.

[Don La Greca]

That's. That's a huge song from 10cc. Punch it up there, J.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It is a big song.

[Alan Hahn]

Never heard of it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It was actually covered in the 80s.

[Don La Greca]

He's heard it.

[Alan Hahn]

I said never heard of them. Of the them.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You didn't know.

[Don La Greca]

But you know the song. You know the song. Do I?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes. Yes, you do. Everybody knows it.

[Don La Greca]

I'm leaving if you don't.

[Alan Hahn]

All right, well, let me hear it. I'm looking at Paul Davis now to see if I know who Paul Davis.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Paul Davis had two hits. One in the 80s, one in, I think in the 70s.

[Alan Hahn]

But this. This guy's trying too hard.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean, you got the. The beard and the long hair. No, no, no.

[Alan Hahn]

Not Paul Davis. The caller's trying too hard.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Maybe.

[Alan Hahn]

Come on. He just has his favorites. No, but you're not naming the great groups of the era. Can you at least. You don't want to start with the groups of the era that actually are considered the best groups of the era.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean, Ambrosia, actually 10cc had three hits. Things you do for love.

[Don La Greca]

Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Forgot about that one, but.

[Don La Greca]

And he knows that, too.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, you would know that one, too.

[Alan Hahn]

10Cc. I've been collecting records my whole life. I can't even picture a record.

[Don La Greca]

I'm surprised you don't have it in your. This ambrosia. You know, there.

[Peter Rosenberg]

10Cc.

[Don La Greca]

Number 10cc.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. I'm not in love.

[Don La Greca]

Play that 10cc.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, he needs to find.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It starts out slow. I just found. You know this song.

[Alan Hahn]

Don't tell me what I know.

[Don La Greca]

I think it's jukebox. You don't know.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I grew up on this song.

[Don La Greca]

You grew up on it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So don't forget.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay. Yeah. Do this.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Don La Greca]

65 love affair. And I go crazy, by the way.

[Alan Hahn]

But my point doesn't change.

[Don La Greca]

No, it does.

[Alan Hahn]

Great, great song. Him saying best yacht. It's his favorite.

[Don La Greca]

He gave his favorites he wants.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay, you're right. I'm trying to like this.

[Don La Greca]

Like a cottage industry where we could. Just give me your three favorite things.

[Alan Hahn]

And we'll write them for you. Yes, okay, sure.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Sure.

[Don La Greca]

You know, pay us. I don't know. What's the fee for something like that?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Kind of like that. You give us your three or four favorite things, we'll tell you who you.

[Alan Hahn]

Should listen to instead. Go get Best of the Doobie Brothers.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don La Greca]

If you want to see the very.

[Alan Hahn]

Best of hall of Notes is you're doing yacht rock.

[Don La Greca]

You know, it's hall and Oats, Doobie Brothers. I think Christopher Cross would be in there. He's. Sure.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean, listen.

[Alan Hahn]

Ambrosia's in the Conversation.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They're in the Conversation.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don La Greca]

Ambrosia.

[Alan Hahn]

Toto.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, my God. Toto invented it. The genre player. Well, that's.

[Alan Hahn]

That's tough Argument players. A couple.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. No players. Got some. What would you say? Steely Dan.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, that's invented that. Invented it. That's it. I think. I think Kenny Loggins, Michael McDonald and Steely Dan the Godfather are kind of who. He's arguing that. Invented it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay.

[Alan Hahn]

And hall of Notes maybe stumbled into it because it's just kind of who they are.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But they were soul. That fell into that. Because there is a little bit of soul in yacht rock, believe it or not.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, of course. Believe it or not, that's half the.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Thing when you hear y. But those.

[Alan Hahn]

That's the yacht.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know this.

[Alan Hahn]

That's why the term yacht rock is so stupid.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Alan Hahn]

Because it really should be called, like, soul rock or rock and soul, but instead it's yacht, because there was no good name for it. And a funny video was made in the early 2000s calling it yacht rock.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And that's. Now, does it sound like music you would listen to if you owned a yacht?

[Alan Hahn]

But, you know. But some of the patron saints of the culture hate the term.

[Don La Greca]

It just seems weird. It seems like they're highbrow or a. But it's. I can understand.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, no, it makes them feel, like, stupid. Like, at a concert, you know, you're dressing up, you're wearing a stupid captain's hat. Like that's a thing.

[Don La Greca]

They have these parties.

[Alan Hahn]

Like it's Captain and Tenille. But these people have parties for yacht rock. They'll have yacht rock parties.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

And you wear a captain's hat.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But you remember at our beach bash, the band that opened for us was a yacht rock band. They were giving out those hats.

[Alan Hahn]

See, see, that's the thing. Donald Fagan's disgusting.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. He. Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Spit in your face.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That was great. In the documentary where he hung up on the guy.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

He's disgusted by the idea of it. I get.

[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't want to know how the.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Sausage is made, but I just want to know it's good.

[Don Hahn]

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.