Hour 3: Knicks Fans Celebration

Summary

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Don, Hahn & Rosenberg — Hour 3: Knicks Fans Celebration (June 15, 2026)

Episode Overview

In this celebration-charged episode, the Don, Hahn & Rosenberg trio revels in the New York Knicks’ long-awaited NBA championship, unpacking the emotional highs, the fan experience, and the narratives around the team’s title run. Through energetic calls from fans across the city, the group explores what this win means to New Yorkers, discusses player conduct (notably Victor Wembanyama’s postgame demeanor), and considers whether a Knicks dynasty is possible. The conversation stays light and authentic, filled with personal stories, iconic moments, and genuine New York sports banter.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Emotions of Knicks Fans: Shared Experiences and Generational Moments

• Caller Reflections: Multiple callers reminisce about sharing the Knicks championship experience with family members, underscoring decades of fandom, struggle, and hope.

  • Flavio in Bushwick talks about missing his grandfather (01:32) and relates the bittersweet joy of this first championship without him:

    “The first person I thought of was my grandfather who's no longer here with us, broke down crying...”

  • Ron in the truck (11:49) encapsulates the end of suffering for Knicks fans:

    “Saturday night is the end of suffering for Knicks fans. That's when I felt like Tony Soprano coming out of the coma...I’m ready to take on the world.”

  • Tommy in Connecticut (32:19) recounts how Alan Hahn told his young son in 2019 to stick with the team:

    “Stay with it and it will be worth it one day. And on Saturday night, I was crying, sitting on the floor...it is worth it.”

• Theme of Intergenerational Fandom: Several listeners recall painful moments (Ewing years, 1994 finals, years of losing), making the current joy richer and more profound.

• Celebration Across NYC: Stories abound of fans celebrating late into the night. Ron details a wild citywide celebration, saying (14:46):

  “The whole city was wild, man. I didn’t get home till 7:30 in the morning. We weren’t doing anything illegal. We have fun in the city.”

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2. Victor Wembanyama: Immaturity or Flaw?

• Wemby’s Post-Game Behavior (03:21–08:21):
  • Discussion centers on whether Wembanyama’s refusal to shake hands and his “walking off” showed immaturity or a deeper character issue.
  • Alan Hahn (03:31):

    “How did you feel about how he composed himself throughout the series and...at the very end?”

  • Rosenberg (04:30):

    “You can’t say it’s classy. It’s not...But you can’t say he’s not a sore loser.”

  • They reference sports traditions (hockey handshakes), and compare Wemby’s conduct to older sports figures like Billy Smith and Ed Belfour.
  • Rosenberg on "arms folded" during the anthem and media avoidance:

    “He just rubs me the wrong way. He just does. And I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt because he's young and a lot's been thrown at him early, but I don't think he really showed his best side during all…his image took a real hit during these finals.” (07:32–08:21)

  • The group predicts Gregg Popovich will address Wemby's character and media persona (08:36):

    “That needs to be the next thing…because they caught him slipping a lot this year.”

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3. The Mindset of Champions: Can the Knicks Repeat?

• Killer Instinct:

  • Ron celebrates Jalen Brunson’s leadership and focus (12:24):

    “He just looked at Wemby and said, they might call you the alien, but I'm the predator.”

  • Rosenberg affirms, “The last thing I worry about is him [Brunson]. …he’s somebody that's always going to have that killer instinct.” (13:00)
  • The crew ponders repeat championships: Especially difficult in the modern NBA, mentioning eight different champions in eight years (13:21).

• Fan Psychology: How Long Does the Glow Last?

  • Discussion explores whether joy outlasts future losses (17:07–24:28).
    • Don Hahn:

      “How long can you ride on this? ... Does it end there or can you float on this cloud for more than just the following year?” (17:07)

    • Rosenberg:

      “26 is always your feel-good space...But once the season kicks off, you’re going to want to show everybody, hey, let’s do this again. Let's prove everybody that last year was no fluke.” (19:36)

    • Peter:

      “It doesn’t even hit me...to care about a narrative that people who didn't win are saying.” (20:32)

    • Rosenberg:

      “If you lose in heartbreaking fashion in a game seven...you're not going to shut the TV off and go, I’m cool with it. They won last year. No, you’re a fan.” (23:22)

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4. The Nature of Fandom: Loyalty, Bandwagoning, and the Citywide Party

• Inclusivity & “True Fans” vs. Bandwagoners:

  • Don Hahn welcomes new fans but stresses knowing Knicks history (35:36):

    “...It's fine. Be part of the fun. It's okay. Come on in. But don't act like you've been here. Like, you think Langston Galloway is a poet from 1940.”

  • Personal history and suffering are key to the depth of emotion.

• Unique Energy of New York:

  • The sense of citywide unity and happiness is described as infectious—even transforming casual or non-basketball fans into celebrants.
  • Bobby in Hoboken (42:17) shares the communal euphoria in Queens:

    “We walked out onto the intersection of Broadway, and there was a Jeep parked in the middle...with about 1,000 people surrounding it… horns honking, everything…it was just absolutely amazing…this city deserves [it] after everything it's been through.”

• Non-Knicks Fans’ Perspective:

  • Peter reflects on how difficult it is, as a New Yorker, NOT to be swept up in the Knicks’ joy, even as only a casual fan (44:43):

    “I believe it's rarefied air at this point to be living here, like, living in New York and hate this team.”

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5. NY Sports Rivalries & The Future

• Rivalries and Outsider Reactions:

  • The group dives into Sixers and Celtics fans' reactions and discusses the rivalry heat specifically with Philadelphia (45:08–47:28).
  • “There’s zero reason to hate on the Knicks unless you have...unless you're a Sixer fan or a Celtic.” (47:13)

• Season Outlook:

  • The crew mentions other Eastern teams (Boston, Indiana, Cleveland, Orlando), the prospect of repeating, and the new targets on the Knicks’ backs (16:04).
  • Bet odds are discussed: Knicks are favored, but not by a wide margin (16:47).

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6. Behind the Scenes: Alan Hahn’s Perspective as Fan and Broadcaster

• Professional Achievement & Fandom:
  • Rosenberg congratulates Alan on calling the title run (37:26):

    “I'm congratulating you on being in the right place at the right time to do killer work. Okay, you did killer work when they were winning 19 games.”

  • Alan deflects, saying he just “chronicled this thing”—not a contributor to the actual win.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Wemby’s Composure (03:31–04:47)

  • Hahn: “How did you feel about how he composed himself throughout the series and then especially when the series ended, walked off the floor?...So how do you feel about how this future face of the league...conducted himself?”
  • Rosenberg: “You can't say it's classy...But you can't say he's not a sore loser.”

• On Shared Knicks Joy (32:19–33:10)

  • Tommy: “Alan, we bumped into you on the way out and you said to him, kid, I know this stinks…But stay with it and it will be worth it one day. And on Saturday night, I was crying, sitting on the floor...it is worth it.”

• On The City's Vibe (42:17–44:43)

  • Bobby: “We walked out onto the intersection of Broadway, and there was a Jeep parked in the middle of the intersection with about 1,000 people surrounding it…It was just absolutely amazing…and this city deserves [it].”

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:22] Flavio’s emotional call (missing his grandfather, generational fandom)
• [03:31–08:21] Discussion on Wembanyama's demeanor and broader debates about sportsmanship
• [11:49] Ron: "End of suffering for Knicks fans" and cultural references ("Alien vs Predator")
• [13:00] “The last thing I worry about is [Brunson]."
• [17:07–24:28] Length and meaning of the fan “championship afterglow”
• [32:19] Tommy’s story (Alan’s words to his son about fandom paying off)
• [35:36] Alan discusses “bandwagon fans” and depth of true fandom
• [37:26] Rosenberg praises Alan for his broadcast contributions during the championship run
• [42:17] Bobby in Hoboken’s picture of celebration in Astoria, Queens
• [44:43] Peter discusses the rarity of New Yorkers not joining the Knicks joy
• [45:08–47:28] Rivalries: Sixers and Celtics fan reactions

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Tone / Language / Style

• Genuine and celebratory, interspersed with classic New York sarcasm and banter.
• Personal anecdotes, fan stories, and emotional openness are encouraged by the hosts.
• Occasional friendly ribbing between hosts about work quality, loyalties, and “true fandom.”
• No pretense: The hosts show their joy and vulnerability as lifelong fans and professionals.

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Conclusion

This episode captures a rare moment of collective joy in New York sports—the Knicks championship—and explores it from every angle: emotional, historical, psychological, and cultural. Through engaging callers and heartfelt host perspectives, it stands as a time capsule of what it means to suffer, celebrate, and belong as a New York fan. The Knicks' title run, the city’s response, and the ongoing narratives about player conduct and future prospects give plenty for fans to savor—and plenty of fuel for the city’s ever-passionate sports discourse.

Transcript

[Don Hahn]

So good, so good, so good.

[Rosenberg]

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[Don Hahn]

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[Rosenberg]

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[Don Hahn]

This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Rosenberg]

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.

[Rosenberg]

Game time is brought to you by Tullamore du Irish Whiskey. Because when it's game time, guys,

[Peter]

I like that it's tolly time.

[Rosenberg]

Mets start a series with the Reds in Cincinnati. Coverage immediately following us on 880 at 6 30. Yankees. Yankees have the night off. Tullimore Dew, the original triple distilled, triple blended and triple cast matured Irish whiskey. Be sure to grab a Telemore Dew or try the new Tullimore Dew. Honey, during today's action, glasses up to enjoying Tullamore Dew responsibly. All right, let's hear from you on the events of the weekend. 1-800-919-3776. And let's go to Flavio in Bushwick. You're on. Don Hanna, Rosenberg. What's up, Flavio?

[Flavio]

Hey guys. Alan, I want to say I'm glad that you don't have to deal with a game seven on your birthday. One can only imagine the nerves that would have brought to you.

[Don Hahn]

You and me both, baby.

[Flavio]

But yeah, and then I just want to say, like, you know, I was really excited when we ended up winning. You know, the first person I thought of was my grandfather who's no longer here with us, broke down crying because this is the first championship that I ended up experiencing without him. So I kind of relate to you, Don, when you said, when you talk about your dad, when the Giants ended up winning the super bowl, right. And it was, it was really, you know, it was really good to see because, you know, no, nobody would have ever imagined that, you know, the Knicks would have, you know, won with this type of roster. You know, if you look back a couple years back. But I wanted to talk about Wemby and I wanted to talk about like how, yeah, like I think this guy is going to be really great. But I feel like the immaturity and you know, maybe it's just also the spurs had way too many young players on that team and they needed a couple of veterans and maybe that could have been, you know, better for them. But I think the immaturity aspect, you know, with him and I, I actually did a little bit of research while waiting on the phone. I realized this guy has been in like seven, like finals or title games. Out of those seven that he's been a part of, he's. He's lost six out of seven. So I don't know if he just crumbles during pressure and like he's a bat, he's. He's a good hammer, but he's a terrible nail. And when, I mean that, like when things are going great, like, you know, he's flexing, he's, you know, screaming into Mitchell Robinson thing, I mean, in your head. But then when, when things are going bad, like this guy runs away and can't even acknowledge the Knicks and shake hands with them. I mean, it's just a glow class, in my opinion.

[Rosenberg]

Well, what's interesting is he did win a game seven on the road. He beat the defending champions, he. The Spurs. But he's the leader of the team and had a good game.

[Don Hahn]

He had a good game. The other. Some other champagne. He went nuts from three.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Like he. A couple of guys that really hit some big threes late.

[Rosenberg]

I don't question the immaturity. Yeah, but to win a game seven on the road against the defending champions, that not. That's not nothing.

[Don Hahn]

All right, but, but let, let's go here because I've been waiting for your take on this.

[Rosenberg]

Okay.

[Don Hahn]

I was thinking of you this morning when we were doing it on get up and I was thinking to my leg, like, what would Donnie say here? Honestly? Because how did you feel about how he composed himself throughout the series and then especially when the series ended, walked off the floor. Brunson went to shake his hand just like in the NBA cup game. Brunson went to shake like to give him a handshake when the game was over and wemmy just brushed him off and so Brunson had to pat him on the chest this time. He, he wouldn't, he couldn't even get to him. He was already walking off the floor. So Mitch Johnson came up to him, they shook hands, he embraced and then Brunson went to his teammates. Brunson didn't celebrate when the game ended. He went right down the line. He did to go find everybody on the spurs side to just be, you know, offer whatever you do like in. Again in the, in hockey, they get in line and they shake hands. So how do you feel about how this future face of the league, at 22 years old, conducted himself throughout this series, even throughout the playoffs. And then at the very end, I didn't.

[Rosenberg]

You can't say it's classy.

[Ron]

It's.

[Rosenberg]

It's not. Now he's a kid. We had Patrick Ewing on.

[Peter]

I said, is it.

[Rosenberg]

Is it. Is it immaturity or a character flaw? He's like, how can you say it's a character flawless. Kid's 20. He said 20, but he's 22 years old, and it's probably immaturity. But you can't say he's not a sore loser.

[Flavio]

Right?

[Rosenberg]

I mean, just be there, shake hands. It bothered me, but then I thought back. If you remember, Billy Smith never, never, never shook hands.

[Don Hahn]

But he had a reason, though.

[Rosenberg]

Well, his reason could be the same as.

[Don Hahn]

I'll tell you his reason. Billy Smith felt like, I don't shake hands because I just took money away from you. He felt weird about that shaking hands thing because he didn't feel it was right because of the bonus money that was involved in winning a playoff series. That was the story he would always tell.

[Rosenberg]

I know, but he said it was weird for him. Listen, I got to know Billy Smith when we did the Island. That's. Stop it. He didn't want to shake hands because, really, it's part of the job, man. Everybody else is shaking hands. So did he think everybody else on the team's a hypocrite, or did he just not want to do it? I respected it because he never did it. Belfor occasionally. I remember when they lost to Detroit and he was playing for the Blackhawks, didn't want to shake hands.

[Don Hahn]

Remember, Smitty did it while winning. Right. He didn't shake hands after losing like that. He wouldn't shake hands after winning.

[Rosenberg]

I get it.

[Don Hahn]

Because he felt weird.

[Rosenberg]

I know we've never seen him lose in the. But still. But I understand that money's being taken, but come on, your rest of your teammates are doing it. Just shake hands. I mean, I'm not saying you got to be in love and embrace and everything. I like the fact that they get together and they shake hands, but I never got mad at guys that didn't want to do it because I understood, like, all right, I don't want to do it. Like, you know how competitive I am. I can't fathom. I mean, this is why I was never a professional athlete. When a guy misses a foul shot, oh, yeah, he high fives his teammates. I couldn't do that because it feels like you're Selling. I just missed the shot. I'd be so mad. I wouldn't be like.

[Don Hahn]

But it's not a celebration.

[Rosenberg]

But that's the way it feels. It's a pat on the back.

[Don Hahn]

Come on, get the next one.

[Rosenberg]

I. I wouldn't be able to do it. I just.

[Peter]

I.

[Rosenberg]

But that's me. I understand. That's a character for me.

[Don Hahn]

You wouldn't be able to accept it, or you wouldn't be able to give someone like a. A.

[Rosenberg]

If I missed the foul shot, I couldn't. I couldn't be doing that. I. I would. I would not have problems. Missed it.

[Don Hahn]

Peter. I thought he meant if you missed a free throw.

[Rosenberg]

I. I'm not giving. I'm the one that failed.

[Don Hahn]

Slap in the back.

[Rosenberg]

I don't want that. Remember? I just. I know it's not celebratory. It's supposed to be. Hey, let's pick you up, man. You got this. Don't worry about it. But I told you how I feel about it. I got this. I don't want you to tell me I have no shot at doing it. I would tell my teammates, you're gonna choke on this shot. You suck, and then I drain it. But if you start telling me you got this, you could do it. That's when all of a sudden my knees are knocking like everybody expects me to do it. I thrive on people giving me no shot.

[Peter]

Well, you're a very psychic institution. You should know until around the clock.

[Rosenberg]

Michael Case should be in an ICU every day.

[Peter]

I should be examined by FRE 24 7. But it's not what you want to teach your kids. It's a weak.

[Rosenberg]

I don't like. Again, it doesn't bother me that much. But, like, the arms folded during the anthem. And the one thing that bothers me, too, about the excuse, well, he's from France. But you're in America now. They got the anthem. Just be a little bit more respectful, okay? I understand that most of these guys just want to get the game going. He just rubs me the wrong way. He just does. And I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt because he's young and. And a lot's been thrown at him early, and he's a phenomenal player and he's fun to watch, but I don't think he really showed his best side during all. Walking out of the press conference at the end of Game 5, not talking to the media at the end of game five against the Thunder. I'm sorry, man. If you could be the face of this league. There's some things you have to do to be able to get through it. And I think he will get better. But I think his image took a real hit during these files.

[Don Hahn]

It just did.

[Rosenberg]

And that doesn't mean he can't get up from it. A year from now, he can be celebrating a championship. We'll talk about the turnaround. So I'm not going to hate on the guy, but there's a lot of things that I think he can do a lot better. And the spurs can handle it better, too, because they should be in his years now.

[Don Hahn]

That needs to be the next thing. And you think Greg Popovich, who you. If you remember after the game when he threw the elbow and was suspended for a game, they were in Minnesota. So they fly back. Sorry, he got kicked out of the game. They fly back to San Antonio, and Popovich drove onto the tarmac and sat there waiting for Wimba Yard to get off the plane and said, get over here. And he went over to the car and he had words with him. And so I'm curious if Pop does spend a little time on him about his character and how important it is to make sure that whatever you are behind the scenes, just make sure that all these cameras that are now going to be on you for the rest of your career, they don't catch you slipping because they caught him slipping a lot this year.

[Peter]

Yeah.

[Rosenberg]

And again, I'm willing to forgive like Patrick because he's just 22 years old. He's a kid.

[Don Hahn]

But Shaq did things, you know, when he was younger. Guys had to go through it. Look, not everybody was Tim Duncan, who just handled everything, you know, with maturity.

[Rosenberg]

Do I think he an egg deserved to be thrown in his head?

[Bobby]

No.

[Rosenberg]

But I do think that there's a. With all that comes a lot of responsibility, and he's gonna have to learn, and I think he will. But it did rub me the wrong way.

[Don Hahn]

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[Rosenberg]

hubdelivery Now, I was mentioning how if I missed a foul shot, I wouldn't want to high five with my teammates. This is what Rick sent about Peter.

[Don Hahn]

Should I read it?

[Peter]

My man's up to you.

[Rosenberg]

It's not filthy. It's just very disrespectful.

[Don Hahn]

I mean, I don't think this will bother him.

[Rosenberg]

Okay, here it goes. So this is what Rick texts me.

[Tommy]

Peter.

[Rosenberg]

So Peter isn't getting any high fives after a baseball segment then.

[Peter]

That's just not.

[Rosenberg]

He's better than that. But you understand where I'm coming from. I just didn't know if you wanted

[Peter]

to hear it, but I'm okay with it. I mean, I didn't think it was laugh out loud funny, but I didn't say that either.

[Don Hahn]

It was amusing. Very amusing.

[Peter]

I was very strong. But you guys.

[Rosenberg]

Well, he's on that.

[Don Hahn]

I'm really like, I love exaggerating.

[Rosenberg]

It was the best digging record ever did.

[Peter]

Come on.

[Don Hahn]

Are you kidding me?

[Rosenberg]

Let's go to Ron in the truck. You're on. Don on a Rosenberg.

[Don Hahn]

This is the best water I've ever had.

[Ron]

Don Allen and Peter, man, I just want to say a Saturday night, I just wanted to be alone and because I didn't know if they were going to win or not. But I said, if they win, I want to be by myself. And I knew I was going to cry because all these years and suffering, I said, Saturday night is the end of suffering for Nick fans. That's when I felt like Tony Soprano coming out of the coma. Season five. That was, I'm ready to take on the world. This is over finally. And when I saw the look in Brunson's eyes, I said, you know what? He just looked at Wemby and said, they might call you the alien, but I'm the predator. And I got the big head and the braids.

[Peter]

To prove it.

[Don Hahn]

I like it.

[Ron]

So this is Alien versus. Yeah. Why did I think of that?

[Rosenberg]

So good, Ron. Really? That was really good.

[Don Hahn]

He has the braids.

[Rosenberg]

I want to call him.

[Don Hahn]

Love it, man.

[Ron]

I hope you make that name famous. Alan, go on there. And with the big head and the braids, he is the predator. And that was Alien versus Predator, and he took him back to the mothership. So I was happy about that. And. And all the people worried about Brunson and worried about what's going to happen next year, or is he going to have the same hunger? That killer instinct is not going away. Don't worry. He got us.

[Rosenberg]

No, the last thing I worry about is him. Ron, we'll get into the conversations. Can they repeat and all that? It's really hard to do, especially in the NBA now, eight straight years, a different champion. So it's going to be tough. But he's somebody that's always going to have that killer instinct. But they were on a mission.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Rosenberg]

And maybe they'll make the mission. Hey, let's make this a dynasty. But there are going to be some pitfalls along the way. I think the east will be better. I think at some point, the spurs are going to win a championship, and it's going to be. It's going to go back to. What just happened is maybe the reason why I think the Thunder can regroup. Joker's not going anywhere in Denver. Where's Giannis going to end up? But that all that's for the offseason and leading up to next season. But enjoy this, man. But the one thing I don't have to worry about is Brunson's still going to be Brunson. Phil's and Queens. You're on, Donjon.

[Ron]

What's going on, guys? What's going on? You already know. I am ecstatic. I am excited. I feel like. I feel like I'm the luckiest man in the world right now. Saturday night was crazy. You know, my wife was watching the game with my daughter. I was in Queens. My boy had come from North Carolina, so my goddaughter's birthday, so I had to celebrate. I had to watch the game with them. But seeing my daughter cry, watching the Knicks, this reminded me of how. How lucky I am to have a dad who made me a Knicks fan.

[Rosenberg]

Well, you were saying that for a bunch of years, I'm sure, Right? You're probably. Dad, what'd you do to me?

[Ron]

No, no, no.

[Flavio]

Yeah, Yeah.

[Ron]

I mean, to be fair, I was a Knicks fan, you know, with Ewing. Right. So Ewing was my dad's favorite player. And he brought. He brought us, you know, he brought us some good. Some good years.

[Don Hahn]

Right, of course.

[Ron]

But I mean, look, after that game, we went to the city. We weren't doing anything illegal.

[Flavio]

Right.

[Ron]

We have fun in the city. They went to Brooklyn. They went to after hours in the Bronx. The whole city was wild, man. I didn't get home till 7:30 in the morning.

[Flavio]

It was.

[Ron]

It was a wild, wild, wild night. And I just want to say this championship makes, you know, because we've been hearing that New York is the Mecca. Madison Square Garden is a Mecca. But it was losing a little lesser because we weren't winning anything. But now we're back. Now the Knicks are back, baby. The Knicks are back. And we're going back to back next year. Let's go. Wow.

[Peter]

Strong.

[Ron]

Let's go, Nick.

[Rosenberg]

All right.

[Don Hahn]

Okay.

[Rosenberg]

Goes on record. Can't rule it out. Oh, why? They just did it. Why can't they do it again? I mean, there's a lot of. It's going to be harder just because of how the NBA has changed, but

[Peter]

it is really the point made earlier by Greenie. You have no idea what the Celtics are doing like we do. If they could tinker with the entire thing, we have no idea. And then after. And then, you know, Halliburton will come back and we'll see what Indiana is. But none of us are sure. That's a perennial thing with the Pacers.

[Rosenberg]

Well, and here's something, too, and I guess you could say that going back, but like, since 22, the loser of the conference finals in the east has gone to the final. Are you prepared to say the Cavaliers are going to the finals next year at all? But what's Orlando going to be? Are they going to. Are they going to be the new Detroit? Are they going to take a step forward?

[Don Hahn]

Detroit?

[Rosenberg]

What do they learn?

[Don Hahn]

They learn. They need more.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah, right.

[Don Hahn]

You can't do it with one.

[Rosenberg]

There's not. We were talking to Monica. There isn't that player out there that you want to sign.

[Don Hahn]

It's Boston getting healthy that you really got to watch. It's Indiana with Halliburton getting healthy that you want to watch. Right? Like, that's. To me, those are the teams that you got to keep an eye on. Of course, because, you know, in Boston, they're going to be maniacal now about making sure that this Nick thing doesn't, you know, doesn't become a thing.

[Rosenberg]

No, it's.

[Don Hahn]

It's just.

[Rosenberg]

It's a lot harder to win in the NBA now. You know, we've seen dynasty that's gone away. We're going almost a decade since last time we've had a repeat champion, you know, so. And if the Knicks are going to buck that, we'll see the spurs. As you said, they're probably going to be the favorite. I didn't look to see if they are.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Rosenberg]

So no surprise there.

[Don Hahn]

They are like 6. Like I think it's like either it's 630 then 650 for okc and knicks. Not too far off. But they're no Boston, then the Knicks. I'm sorry.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah. So it's going to be, it's going to be fun, but it should be next thing. Enjoy the summer. Then on opening night, how long is that banner?

[Don Hahn]

Another question for you because I was thinking this as well as again, floating in costume egos in the pool on Sunday just trying to figure it out. Trying to just process everything is how long can, how, how long can you ride on this? Can you just sit here and just float on. Because defending champs is all the way up until you're eliminated the following. If you are eliminated the following year, you are always defending champs until you're not in the game. So with that in mind, does it end there or can you, come on, can you float on this cloud for more than just the following year and then it becomes stress and anxiety again.

[Rosenberg]

I'm going to tell you this, I'm going to look at it as somebody that when I saw my first championships with my team. So like I told you, the Mets won. That was the first time.

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Rosenberg]

In 86. Missed the playoffs in 87. And I was devastated because it almost felt like I was 86. I think they couldn't even follow it up.

[Don Hahn]

That was 97. When they lost to Cleveland, it was like.

[Rosenberg]

But you went to the playoffs. The Mets did not go to the playoffs. The Giants did not go to the playoffs after 86 on 14 and 2. And you had the strike and everything kind of messed things up a little bit. And then when the devils went in 95, if you remember, that was a 48 game schedule because of the lockout.

[Tommy]

Correct.

[Rosenberg]

The Devils missed the playoffs the next year.

[Don Hahn]

Hard to believe.

[Rosenberg]

So the whole feeling was, oh, that was a fluke 48 game schedule because of the lockout. And then you missed the playoffs the next year. That's going to be, I think how Nick fans are because I'm already seeing it on social media. Oh, you know, they didn't they didn't beat anybody. It was a fluke run. So you might have a chip on your shoulder as a Knicks fan to prove everybody wrong. Go do it again. And so you're going to be really conscious of that. They're going to raise the banner. And I think for Knick fans, it's going to be hot. Prove that it was no fluke. Remember, you were a three seed last year or this past season, so you. I think you're going to take it seriously. And then once you get to the playoffs, man, that's when it's over. To me, as a fan now, it's like, all right, let's go repeat. And I think it'll bother you if you don't. Not as much as over the recent years, but I think if they go to the playoffs next year and don't repeat, it's going to bother you.

[Don Hahn]

Like for me, because it bothered me for how long. I feel you're going to be the hunted. I'm talking about from a fan, not from the players. The players.

[Rosenberg]

No, I'm talking totally as a fan.

[Don Hahn]

Like, how much can you just sit there and bask in it and just, you know, lavish in it?

[Peter]

Because you've never had, I think, 15, 20 years.

[Rosenberg]

But see, that's the. Like I had mentioned it earlier for a Knick fan and the players. You always hear players say, I'll relish all this once I'm retired. Once they get the camp it's on, I think that they're going to realize the target's on their back. Players say, from a fan standpoint, 26 is always your feel good space. You know, if you're ever at the gym and the trainer's talking to you, or it's like, find your happy place. Your happy place is going to be 26. You're going to think back to that run. But once the season kicks off, you're going to want to show everybody, hey, let's do this again. Let's prove everybody that last year was no fluke. Oh, you didn't play anybody. You caught the Spurs. If you played the Thunder man, they would have beaten you. But you took on Wemby and they were young, right? You're going to hear all that.

[Don Hahn]

Deal with the Pistols.

[Rosenberg]

You already hear the noise and then you don't want to stick it to them and go, how you like me now?

[Peter]

So I don't. I heard Dave. Dave was talking about something similar yesterday and how glad he was that they won it when they did, so Wemby wouldn't have been suspended and there would have been any of the excuses to be made.

[Don Hahn]

We haven't even touched on that yet.

[Peter]

And I hear all of that. And maybe I don't relate to it because I haven't had a team in adulthood really, you know, win titles like that. It just doesn't cross my mind, though. Like, I truly do not care about a narrative that people who didn't win are saying, we don't like your path. It doesn't even hit me.

[Rosenberg]

But still, even if you ignore all that, to be able to do it again, like, as I'll tell you, as a. As an Eli supporter and sometimes defender, that second super bowl was even more special to me because it's like, now, what are you gonna say now? He did it again. Like, if you'll go out and do it again, It's. I'm sorry, didn't there. There's no such thing as a nicer. Like, you shouldn't pay attention to him anyway. But I'm just telling you as a fan that got to see it at adulthood, you want to try to follow it up so it doesn't have to be right away.

[Don Hahn]

See, again, the Knick stuff In the early 70s, they didn't get there in 71 or 72. Well, they got. They got the 20s, they lost in the final, but that was Jerry west finally breaking through, by the way, in 72. But 71 was Alcindor, and the Bucks were just too freaking good, and you just couldn't beat them. And you also had. Willis Reed was hurt, but they got back to the final in 72 and then got back again in 73 and won it. Now they made additions in 73 that just made them so freaking unbeatable. But. But that's the thing, is it doesn't have to be immediate. Like, it's not.

[Rosenberg]

No.

[Don Hahn]

Like when Cinder and Robin and Oscar Robertson with the Bucks, they went to the final, they knocked out the Knicks. In today's world, it'd be like, well, that's it for the Knicks. It's over. Because you never beat El Cinder.

[Rosenberg]

You've never beaten Robertson.

[Don Hahn]

I don't think that has to be the case here, but this is a team that's 28, 29 and 30. You're not looking at. You know, you can still get back in the next five years, but still has to be pretty quick.

[Rosenberg]

But what I'm talking about is that I don't want fans to think, listen, maybe they'll be different than I am, that if you lose in a Frustrating way. Next year you're going to go, no, we won in 26. Who cares? No, once it's on, it's going to be back on again. When the giants won in 86, I was disappointed and missed the playoffs. It still hurt when they lost to the jets in 88 and missed the playoffs. The Flipper Anderson game still killed me in 89. Like, just because you won doesn't mean you're not going to feel pain again.

[Don Hahn]

What happened after that?

[Rosenberg]

Then they won a Super bowl, but I was still, I was still red hot when LT got hurt against the packers in 92 and then they got destroyed by the Niners in 93. You're still going to get back to where there's going to be pain again and you're going to want to win again. Again. 26 is your happy place and that'll never be taken away. But for me, and I think for a lot of fans, is if you lose in heartbreaking fashion in a game seven in the conference final next year, you, you're not going to shut the TV off and go, I'm cool with it. They won last year. No, you're going to. You're a fan. You're going to get bothered by it.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. I will say this, though, for me, like I used to. I know this sounds so corny, but when I was in high school, I always watched Rocky 3 on a game day.

[Peter]

Just.

[Don Hahn]

I know it's not the best Rocky movie, but there was just something about.

[Peter]

I love three.

[Don Hahn]

Just the. All the speeches and all the things. It was just something that would. Just got me hyped, right? Like watching game five, especially just the fourth. Like just isolate the fourth quarter, give me the fourth quarter. That'd be my next type thing. Like if I wanted to get. Oh, yeah, I would put that on and watch that over and over again.

[Rosenberg]

Well, let me ask you, when did you take that long bike ride when the Yankees lost? When was it?

[Don Hahn]

97.

[Rosenberg]

The year after they won. You still were disappointed. It still kicked you off. So the days of being angry at the Knicks can still happen again. Right. So it's not a get out of jail free card, but when you're at the dentist, when the trainer wants you to do that high plank for 30 more seconds, you're going to think about that comeback. You're going to think about the championship, you think about the parade, and that's going to get you. I can do more crunches.

[Don Hahn]

The Knicks guy came back from down 29. I could do more crunches today.

[Rosenberg]

I Had to do two and a half minutes of sit ups. Punch the bag, sit ups and punch the bag. And I thought we were, we were gonna be done because it was 10, 30, 30 seconds. Give me two and a half minutes more. And I'm like, oh. And that's when he said, go to your happy place. Two and a half minutes more.

[Don Hahn]

What was your happy place?

[Peter]

It was like Happy Joe more.

[Rosenberg]

I don't.

[Peter]

It was his wife. It was Nancy holding two pitchers of beer. A little person.

[Rosenberg]

I don't want to, I don't want to get too corny. I don't think I should reveal my happy place.

[Peter]

Keep it, keep it happy.

[Rosenberg]

My happy place didn't have anything to do with championships or sex. It was something else that it just, it's corny. Interesting, but happy place interesting?

[Tommy]

Really?

[Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

I thought it'd be something intense like a skull with eyes bleeding.

[Rosenberg]

That's my happy place. Nobody had this site. I was telling Peter, Peter thinks it's AI. I don't know, maybe if anybody else knows. Apparently there's, there's a Cypress Hill where they do training songs.

[Peter]

Yeah, it sounds like AI, but it really was good.

[Rosenberg]

It was aggressive and it got me through.

[Don Hahn]

I say, well, that's what I mean because happy while you're training is not really what you want to be. You want to be intense.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah. But sometimes you just. When I'm doing the low plank on the big ball and my battle, I. You're just, you just want to get out of dodge. It's not like, it's just like, please let me think of something else besides the pain that's radiating down my lower back. And you just want to go to the Happy Gilmore place.

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[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg Podcast.

[Peter]

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.

[Rosenberg]

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[Peter]

He's the best.

[Rosenberg]

He is great. Now that's a little closer. It's still hyperbolic, but still it's closer to the point.

[Peter]

Because he's a better person than JJ is what you're saying.

[Rosenberg]

I don't listen. If I had to guess, yes, but I don't have any answer. What is that? Because RJ is a is an absolute gem. I Never, you know, J.J. didn't strike me as an absolute gem.

[Peter]

Oh, he is a J. You Maybe you didn't get.

[Rosenberg]

You ever talked to him. Quite a bit. And I'm a fan.

[Peter]

But not a gem.

[Rosenberg]

Not to the level of RJ Santillo, sure.

[Peter]

I mean, to the level of human. Nice quality human being.

[Rosenberg]

I'll tell you something off the air, and then you'll agree with me.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, my God.

[Peter]

It's getting.

[Flavio]

It's not.

[Rosenberg]

He didn't do anything wrong.

[Peter]

It's getting.

[Rosenberg]

He didn't do anything wrong. But I wonder what your opinion would be once I tell you it was perfectly legal. It doesn't make him a bad guy.

[Don Hahn]

Legal.

[Peter]

But I don't.

[Rosenberg]

I'll tell you something that will rub you the wrong way.

[Peter]

Let's see.

[Don Hahn]

All right, we'll find out something illegal that's gonna rub.

[Rosenberg]

Legal. Something legal. Perfect. Perfectly normal's a stretch, but he did something. And you'll be like,

[Peter]

so now the truth comes out.

[Rosenberg]

No, it's just.

[Peter]

You're now backing it up. You're doubling. Understand? This is what I'm showing you.

[Rosenberg]

I think he's a good enough guy. I'm not gonna say it.

[Peter]

That's not. This is like a double down. I don't.

[Rosenberg]

I'm going to tell you what he did, and you.

[Peter]

He. Go ahead. We're all waiting.

[Rosenberg]

He went to Francesicon.

[Peter]

I know that.

[Rosenberg]

I remember that.

[Peter]

He's a. He's like a true New York sports.

[Don Hahn]

Now I see. Like, yeah, yeah. Loyalty. One way is stupidity.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah, I. I know. I'm just saying that, you know, has

[Peter]

not ever been loyal to J.J. devading.

[Don Hahn]

No, but.

[Rosenberg]

No, I never claimed I like him, but I just. I, I. And that's not why I'm saying, okay,

[Don Hahn]

you made your choice. That's.

[Peter]

Don't say he drew a line that

[Don Hahn]

you made your choice.

[Rosenberg]

I mean, this was right.

[Peter]

Something.

[Rosenberg]

No, but this was right in the heat of the rivalry. And so that kind of set the tone of, like, all right, he's a good guy. But you know what?

[Peter]

You know what?

[Rosenberg]

Now I understand you're not going to

[Peter]

believe what I'm saying, because I still love the man. Don's point's been proven.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, that's a good point because it's.

[Peter]

Even though it doesn't affect how I feel about him at this point, it totally justifies Don going, he's not short

[Rosenberg]

of the best because what are we negotiating here? We hold him in a high regard. You said.

[Don Hahn]

You said I did not know. Yeah. You're saying I was not Privy to this information.

[Peter]

You're saying you might say he's a great guy, you might say you love him. Don't say the best though, because he did go to Francesca Con in the middle of our rivalry.

[Bobby]

Right?

[Peter]

You're not wrong.

[Rosenberg]

You're not wrong. And I didn't want to reveal it, but I felt cornered.

[Peter]

So you did what you had to do.

[Don Hahn]

I understand. I get why you'd feel that way.

[Rosenberg]

Let's go to Tommy in Connecticut. You're on ESPN New York. What's up, Tommy?

[Tommy]

Hey, guys. I honestly still, I'm not sure that it really happened. It doesn't feel real yet. Like everybody else, I've been a Die hard since I was a little kid. The first time I fell in love was with the Ewing Knicks. The first time my heart was broken was in 94. But March 3, 2019, I took my five year old son Walker to his first game. We were losing by 36 points at halftime and he was five years old. And we left and Alan, we bumped into you on the way out and you said to him, kid, I know this stinks. I know this team stinks right now and I know this game stinks. But stay with it and it will be worth it one day. And on Saturday night, I was crying, sitting on the floor, my son was next to me, my 8 year old daughter Rose was with me, who's now more of a Die Hard than I know. And all I could think of was it is worth it.

[Rosenberg]

That's what makes it. That's why you feel the way you feel, right?

[Don Hahn]

It's all you could ever tell yourself that one day, you know, this one day something will happen and it'll all be worth it. And you just have. You'd see other teams celebrate, you'd see other. Like when the Bucks won a couple of years ago and they ended a long drought. Like there's so much of that that goes through your head and you just constantly ask yourself, will that ever be us though? Like, will it ever happen? And there's time, like I said, 2019 felt a long way away.

[Rosenberg]

Things can flip on a.again. two years ago it was, well, Dolan got it right with the Rangers and just can't get it right with the Knicks. Now you flip it and it feels like he's gotten it wrong with the Rangers, got it right with the Knicks, right? And we just. There's two years, it just flips to where now the Knicks win a championship and it feels like the Rangers are so far away and people calling for Drury's job. And who knows what it's going to look like two years from now. But I've told this story on the air before. I give. It was like 1979, so I'm like 11 years old. We took a family trip to Cooperstown, went through all the. Everything went on the field next to the museum. Great trip. Recommended highly. Especially since we're in driving distance at Cooperstown. And I remember being in the car driving home. We're not even off the main street that the museum is on. And I. And this is 1979. The Mets, awful. Giants awful. It's like, dad, are the Giants and the Mets ever gonna win? And he's like, no. He's like, one day. He said, one day these teams are going to be good. Now, remember, my dad saw a championship with the Giants in 56, which wasn't. It was less than 20 years from the time. A little over 20 years when I'm having that conversation. He saw the mets win in 69, saw them go to the World Series in 73. So he's speaking from experiences. One day they'll turn it around, and one day they're going to win. And when they do, it's going to be that much more special because you stuck with them when they were losing, and that always stuck with me. That set the foundation for my fandom is that it's going to be special when they finally. It'll make it all worth it. You don't know it. That's why I do the fraud thing. Because the easy way out is just pick another team or just not follow them anymore.

[Peter]

That's right.

[Rosenberg]

Why go through that pain and suffering? And unfortunately for some, they never see. They never see it. They never get there. But if they do, it's gonna be so special. And that's what Nick fans are going through right now.

[Don Hahn]

This is definitely much sweeter for somebody that's been through the worst of times. There's no question. And it's okay. I'm not somebody that doesn't welcome. I know we had this conversation, like, when. Oh, those are Bandwagon fans. That's fine. That's fine. Be part of the fun. It's okay. Come on in. But don't act like you've been here. Like, don't. Like I saw a funny video where it's like, you think Langston Galloway is a poet from 1940. You know what I mean?

[Peter]

Sounds like.

[Don Hahn]

Like you're not. Like, if you're a fan, like, you get. You get it, and it. It hits Different. Which is why grown men were crying, right? That's a real thing. Others were celebrating and rollicking because, hey, New York team won a championship. Let's have some fun. Because it's New York. That's different than, guys, the Knicks won the NBA title. And no, that's not a joke. It's a real thing. And so many of us have had a hard time, really. For a little while, there was nobody home. And I went in the park. Floated. Just sat there, floating, quiet. Just trying to figure, like, thinking about it, thinking about it, thinking about it. And then it just kind of, like watching the tv, it just kind of hit me. And I'm going to.

[Rosenberg]

Yes, this really did happen. And that's. And that's why I'm envious of you. Because even though I've seen championships, the fact that you're floating in that pool, basking in the glory of your favorite basketball team, winning a title, and also admit it, basking in the glow of a job well done. I mean, you got to follow it. You got to document it in real time. I mean, you should really be proud of yourself, man. There's the fan. There's the fan in you that got to see them win a championship. But for you to be a part of it, to work it, that. That's well deserved, man. You did a great job.

[Don Hahn]

I appreciate you saying it. And I'm not trying to be that guy. I'm being honest. Like, I don't understand that stuff. Like, I don't understand when people say to me, congratulations. I'm like, I didn't do a damn thing. I chronicled this thing. That's all I did. But you, Tyler and Monica called every game.

[Rosenberg]

And they should be proud, too.

[Don Hahn]

Absolutely. No, no, that's different. Because they were. They were front lines. Doesn't feel like I'm just.

[Peter]

I just.

[Don Hahn]

I'm not.

[Rosenberg]

You did.

[Don Hahn]

I'm being dead serious.

[Peter]

Well, okay, fine. You could be dead serious. And wrong.

[Don Hahn]

This is not like.

[Peter]

Sounds crazy.

[Don Hahn]

I just happen to be on the periphery.

[Peter]

You're right.

[Rosenberg]

No, I'm not congratulating you on helping them win a championship, because you didn't. You had nothing to do with the championship.

[Don Hahn]

Exactly.

[Rosenberg]

I'm congratulating you on a part of the thing during this.

[Ron]

Champ.

[Rosenberg]

See it through. I mean, I. I got closed. I've never. I've never had it with my teams because I. I did the Jets. I was not a Jet fan. A Giant fan to the championship game. I respected the work that I did, and I wanted to see it through and see them win a Super Bowl. Same with the Rangers winning a Cup in 90 in 2014. I was hoping that they'd win. But to have the combination of being able to be a part of a championship, of a team you grew up rooting for and doing the work. I'm congratulating you on being in the right place at the right time to do killer work. Okay, you did killer work when they were winning 19 games.

[Bobby]

Right.

[Rosenberg]

All right, that was real heavy.

[Flavio]

So.

[Rosenberg]

So you deserve that, too, because not every. There are people that do a job and they're like, yeah, he did a good job.

[Ron]

This guy.

[Rosenberg]

This guy.

[Don Hahn]

Somebody said to you, you know, killed it. You know, Alan, he's the best. And you'd be like, yeah, is he, though? Like, is that what you're gonna do?

[Peter]

Right?

[Don Hahn]

Like, you would do that if you didn't think I was like, I did a good job. Is he, though?

[Rosenberg]

I'm congratulating him on the job that he did.

[Don Hahn]

And this is for me, right, Alan.

[Rosenberg]

Alan. Han, during this run, did the best work anybody has ever done in the history of sports. Peter would be allowed to say, let's sell. Now he probably wouldn't because you're in the room. I would kill them all.

[Peter]

I would not.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah, but J.J. devaney is one thing. Going after Allen's a completely different, different animal.

[Don Hahn]

I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

[Rosenberg]

No, I was. I ruined it.

[Don Hahn]

I suck it.

[Rosenberg]

Come on. You gave us some. You gave us a nice hearty.

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[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Han and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter]

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.

[Rosenberg]

The ESPN New York Beach Bash is back Thursday, July 2nd at Bar A in Lake Como, New Jersey. Head down to the Jersey shore and join the Michael K Show and US Live starting at 1pm and an appearance from D. Pietro Rothenberg, Bart Carlin and more. While plenty of giveaways for fans in attendance, a soccer watch party, and a chance to test your skills by trying to score a soccer goal past Rick DiPietro. Plus music from surfing for Daisy. Gotta get in touch with them so I can figure out my song who will be playing an hour before and after the shows. It's all brought to you by Spiked Aid, Boost Mobile, Miller lite fanatics fest NYC and the New Jersey lottery must be at least 21 years of age to enter. All right, last call crew 1-800-919-3776. Let's go to Bobby in Hoboken. You're on. Don Hanna, Rosenberg, Bobby.

[Bobby]

Hey guys, thanks for taking the call.

[Rosenberg]

Always.

[Bobby]

So I called you guys at first. This is just, this is amazing. Like I can't believe what this feels like. And I called you guys a couple days before the finals started of being happier for the people that actually have quote unquote, blood in the ground with this fandom than someone like me who isn't a die hard basketball fan. I mean, Alan, you probably remember this best. The first Nick game I ever watched was right around Christmas in 2010, Amari's first year. And it was Celtics at the Garden and he went for, I want to say like 40 and 10 and the Knicks ended up losing and I was the buzzer that.

[Don Hahn]

Was that the shot at school. Was that the shot at the buzzer that they took away?

[Bobby]

I think so. I think, yeah, I'm pretty sure that's exactly what it was. I think Pierce had a big number in that game, but it was a great game. But you know, it's like my first experience of like, oh wow, this is really cool. And then, you know, Mello shows up and the Mike Woodson Year. My older brother was actually childhood teammates with Lance Thomas growing up in New Jersey. So when Lance was on the team, that was a big. A big magnet of attention to want

[Rosenberg]

them to do well.

[Bobby]

But this has just been. You can't help but be pulled in by this. If you live in this area and you love sports. And ever since Jalen showed up, this has just been amazing. But, you know, Saturday night, I was in Queens. I was with my girlfriend, who, born and raised on the Upper east side. Her and her dad were going to games when it was Stephon Marbury and Nate Robinson and David Lee. And, you know, she's been waiting her whole life for this and to be with her and to be in an environment where there was that much pure euphoria. What I saw with my own two eyes were people celebrating responsibly and joyously. And I think the lasting image that I'm going to have is we were in Astoria in Queens, and we walked out onto the intersection of Broadway, and there was a Jeep parked in the middle of the intersection with about 1,000 people surrounding it, and a dude on the top was wearing a Knicks Derrick Rose jersey, waving a flag back and forth. And the whole street, for blocks and blocks is just screaming, horns honking, everything. It was just absolutely amazing. And, you know, it's. It's something that this city deserves after everything that it's. We've been through. And I just hope everyone never let this feeling go, because you never know when it's going to happen again, and hopefully it does. But just unbelievable.

[Peter]

And you tapped into something, Bobby, that about, like, the contagiousness of it, you know, like, even me, I have to keep making sure to, like, State, like, I'm not a fan because I never want to be accused of fraudulence in that way. It. I believe it's rarefied air at this point to be living here, like, living in New York and hate this team.

[Ron]

Like, I was.

[Peter]

I was actually amazed by how much Gunling hates them. Like, he hates them. Sixers fans. And that's what I was saying about Sixers fans. They're a little different because, a, there's a recent playoff rivalry, and the Sixers have been such a disappointment. There's also a weird projection happening where Philly fans actually have the nerve and audacity to accuse New York fans of acting badly. Like, that's a real thing that's happened.

[Rosenberg]

Oh, yeah.

[Tommy]

So.

[Peter]

But I think besides that, besides, like, the hardcore Sixer fans and maybe some pockets of Nets fans, as you mentioned, pockets Small. I think most people, if you live here, man, the way this team plays, you'd be totally fugazi for me to be running around like I'm a Celtics fan. I can't stand. I'm so.

[Rosenberg]

I want to get to Blanderson, but I got, I got to address this. So let's say you got a job at a radio station in Philly. They paid you 100 times more than you're making here in New York. You gotta do it. Gotta move to Philly. Gotta do it. Is there a world where you can fall in love with an Eagles team?

[Peter]

Honestly, I would say no. But of course I can't say right now. I say no of course. I can't even imagine not despising them. But I can't also realistically, I know this is a cop out answer, but the truth is no one can say how you'd feel after 20 years living in a market and because you've now

[Rosenberg]

you haven't let go of the commanders. You've been in New York for 20 years. Yeah, but I never fallen in love with any Giants team. You were here when they won in 2011. Did you fought and that was a likable team. You became friends you didn't love.

[Peter]

No, I did. Weren't happy. Not at all.

[Rosenberg]

But.

[Peter]

But what I'm saying is. But I also didn't hate them. I did not. I did not. When Eli won the title and that's a divisional thing. I was. And granted the commanders and the Giants have the least. The smallest.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah, that's why I said Eagle.

[Peter]

But still, I mean, you know, I'm sorry. The Sixers, Knicks have a good rivalry. It's not Lakers, Celtics. It's not. It's not like the Pistons. It's not Pistons, Bulls. It's not. It's a good rivalry. But the level of hatred I've seen from Sixers fans is different than every

[Rosenberg]

other fan base I've seen.

[Peter]

People are just kind of accepting.

[Rosenberg]

You're right. Unless you got a dog in the fight. If you're just, I'm not a big NBA fan or I'm a cat, there's no reason to hate on this team. There's zero reason to hate on the mix. Unless you have. Unless you're a Sixer fan or a Celtic. Like I'm a Celtic fan.

[Peter]

But I'm telling you, I have not met the Celtic fan who's besides Dave Portnoy, who's doing it performative in real life. The Celtics lead the NBA in championships. As I've pointed out in my adult life, I always argue with this. There hasn't been this huge Celtics Nick fan in my adult fans.

[Rosenberg]

But they're. But the six are thing and the proximity to New York and all.

[Peter]

Now it could get here.

[Don Hahn]

Boston, the Celtic Nick thing. Trust me, from what I know, I mean this isn't sitting well with the Celtics at all.

[Peter]

Well, it shouldn't. I mean it shouldn't, but.

[Don Hahn]

And that's a good thing.

[Rosenberg]

I want to get the Blanderson Hooper because we only got a few seconds. Blanderson, the floor is yours.

[Flavio]

What's going on guys? How are you?

[Tommy]

Good.

[Bobby]

So I have been on a constant high since Saturday as you can imagine. I hope that I never come down from it. I was up until like 2:30 in the morning watching Alan and Wally and Bill Peto and all that mom and Steve on the post game. Like I finally just forced myself to go to bed and you know, it was incredible. When people talk about the greatest moments of their lives, obviously you know you're

[Ron]

obligated to say the day you got

[Bobby]

married and we're up again.

[Rosenberg]

I just, I wanted to give you the floor for a few seconds. Unfortunately, we've got to go. We'll be back with you tomorrow at 3 o'.

[Tommy]

Clock.

[Rosenberg]

Mets baseball next.

[Don Hahn]

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

[Rosenberg]

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[Peter]

Okay, one judgment anyway.

[Ethos/Ad Speaker]

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[Rosenberg]

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[Peter]

See full [e-mail].