Hour 3: Knicks Slow Starts

Summary

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Don, Hahn & Rosenberg — Hour 3: Knicks Slow Starts

Date: March 16, 2026
Podcast Hosts: Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg, Don La Greca

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Episode Overview

This hour focuses primarily on the concerning trend of the New York Knicks' slow starts to games, their implications for the team’s championship aspirations, and who is to blame—players or coaching—for these patterns. The hosts also veer into discussions about NBA expansion, baseball umpiring controversies, sports culture, and a reflective moment on “In Memoriam” tributes at the Oscars. The conversation is lively, candid, and authentic, tailored to passionate New York sports fans and those intrigued by the psychology of both teams and their leaders.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Knicks’ Slow Starts — A Legitimate Concern

• Main Theme: The hosts express significant worry over the Knicks' regular habit of falling behind early, even against bottom-tier or depleted teams.
• Statistical Evidence & Eye Test:
  • In the last five games, the Knicks have "spotted the opponent an average of 7.5 points a game" after the first quarter (06:55).
  • They've given up "over 30 points a game in the first quarter," the second-worst in the league for this stretch (07:22).
  • Paradoxically, the Knicks have the NBA’s 6th-best defensive rating because they consistently "wake up" after the first quarter and play lockdown defense.
  • Despite being statistically elite, the pattern is viewed as a red flag. “The eye test keeps telling you something's not right.” – Alan Hahn (08:52)
• Coaching or Player Issue?
  • The hosts question whether the slow starts are a player motivation problem or a reflection on the coach’s inability to prepare the team.
    • "Your team's not ready to play, to start games. Emotionally, that is as much on the coach." – Alan Hahn (12:18)
    • “This isn't cute anymore.” – Steve (06:42)
  • Multiple early timeouts (within first 4 minutes in 3 of the last 5 games) indicate the coach shares this concern.

Notable Quotes

• “I'm sorry. I don't see a championship team. I'm not saying they can't win, but how many games have to look like that before we say this is a legitimate concern?” – Steve (05:45)
• “When you hear a coach start talking like this, and this is becoming a thing…” – Alan Hahn (08:02)

Timestamps

• Knicks’ first quarter malaise: 06:45-08:51
• Discussion of whether it’s on the coach: 09:10-12:18

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2. NBA Expansion — Impact and Realignment

• Potential Expansion: The NBA is expected to add teams in Seattle and Las Vegas, resulting in a 32-team league (13:06-14:04).
• Consequence for Scheduling & Divisions:
  • Discussion about which teams (New Orleans, Memphis, Minnesota) might move to the Eastern Conference for balance.
  • Hosts debate whether the quality of the league will be diluted and whether more lottery/tanking teams are healthy for the NBA.
• Financial Element: The influx of $20 billion in expansion fees could raise the salary cap, impacting team-building strategies (13:25).
• Cultural Concerns:
  • “Now you're watering down the product again, right?” – Don Hahn (17:23)
  • Expansion prioritizes profit over competitive balance.

Timestamps

• Expansion and scheduling: 13:06-17:55

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3. Around the Leagues: Culture, Coaching & Load Management

• Knicks’ Problems in Perspective: The Knicks are currently grinding through the "softest part of the schedule,” yet aren’t dominating weaker teams as expected (12:10-13:06).
• Warriors' Approach & Steve Kerr’s Future:
  • Discussion of load management; Golden State’s Draymond Green sits out at the Garden with little explanation.
  • “Do you think Kerr sticks around to try to do a rebuild?” – Rosenberg (11:39)
  • Consensus: Kerr’s tenure is tied to Steph Curry; once Curry is finished, so is Kerr.
• The Impact of NBA Money: Anecdote about Golden State exploiting a salary cap spike to land Kevin Durant.

Notable Quotes

• “They're getting away with it, which is dangerous.” – Alan Hahn (08:01)
• “They're not getting out of the play-in. They're kind of locked in.” – Don Hahn, on the Warriors (11:21)
• “They’re going to love it. Money, money, money, money, money.” – Rosenberg, on NBA expansion (17:51)

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4. WBC and Baseball Umpiring Controversies

• Juan Soto’s Comments: Flavio calls in (24:31) to discuss Dominican Republic’s performance and Soto’s remarks following an elimination, drawing parallels to Nathan McKinnon’s comments in hockey (25:19-25:44).
• Controversial Called Strike: Heated debate over a questionable called third strike in a high-stakes WBC game.
  • Discussion of how future ABS (automated balls and strikes) will end such controversies (27:12-27:50).
• Hitting Philosophies & Umpire Bias:
  • Hahn and Steve discuss Wade Boggs' refusal to swing at borderline pitches, preferring to strike out on principle rather than adjust to an umpire’s strike zone.
    • “Dude, adjust. You got to widen the strike zone ... If he's calling it every time, Alan, then it's on you.” – Steve (29:29-29:46)

Timestamps

• Flavio’s call and WBC talk: 24:31-27:50
• Hitting philosophy debate: 28:09-30:03

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5. Sports Culture: Why Can’t Team USA Just Have Fun?

• Rosenberg laments Team USA’s inability to embrace the playful, celebratory approach seen in other countries’ baseball teams (44:14-46:42).
  • “Why don't we know how to just have fun? ... The Italian team is doing a little espresso thing. The doctor team is just having fun and party. And the US Team, we have military people give the speech like it’s not war.” (44:43-45:17)
  • Cultural reasons are explored: American sports teams seen as more “corporate” (especially Yankees/Team USA) compared to the fun-loving vibes of international squads.
  • Player leadership seen as key—personalities of team leaders matter. Judge and Jeter compared; both "corporate," but Jeter had more mystique, less manufactured enthusiasm (47:08-48:19).

Notable Quotes

• “It means the world until it all sudden it doesn’t mean the world and it seems very fluid.” – Steve (45:26)
• “I think it's the personality of your leaders, man. I'm telling you, I think it's just personality.” – Don Hahn (47:04)

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6. Oscars “In Memoriam” — Reflections & Generational Icons

• Short Segment: The hosts dissect the Oscars’ “In Memoriam” tribute, parsing how Hollywood picks (and values) who gets a big moment and who doesn’t.
• Reflections on how actors like Robert Redford and Sidney Poitier define their generations (34:02-36:12).
• “I don't want to rank the dead, no. But Robert Duvall is right there.” – Steve (32:49)
• Emotional connection to Catherine O’Hara’s passing, especially for the Home Alone generation (37:37-38:08).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Knicks Effort:

• “This isn't cute anymore.” – Steve (06:42)
• “Emotionally, that is as much on the coach ... as anybody else.” – Alan Hahn (12:18)

On NBA Expansion:

• “Now you're watering down the product again, right? ... But adding two more teams only adds to the tanking teams, the bad teams, the lottery bound teams.” – Alan Hahn (17:23)
• “They're going to love it. Money, money, money, money, money.” – Rosenberg (17:52)

On American Sports Culture:

• “Why don't we know how to just have fun?” – Rosenberg (44:43)
• “The USA and the New York Yankees. Very corporate.” – Steve (45:44)

On Player Leadership:

• “Judge isn’t that different from Alonzo ... kind of nerdy. Like he's just a better ballplayer. ... He doesn't have a ton of charm. But what we can put to rest is he's not Derek Jeter.” – Alan Hahn (47:42-48:19)

On Life’s True Icons:

• “I don't want to rank the dead, no. But Robert Duvall is right there.” – Steve (32:49)
• “Home Alone... that's a movie, guys, that's hugely different for our age range.” – Rosenberg (37:54)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 05:16 – Knicks vs. G League-type teams, concerns raised
• 06:55 – Knicks’ poor first quarters, statistical breakdown
• 12:18 – Coaching vs. player responsibility; psychology of team leadership
• 13:06 – NBA expansion, scheduling and financials
• 24:31 – WBC, Juan Soto controversy, umpiring debates
• 44:43 – Team USA’s lack of playfulness, cultural factors
• 47:04 – Leadership personalities, Yankees/Team USA comparison
• 34:02 – Oscars “In Memoriam” cultural reflection

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Overall Tone

• Candid, exasperated, and analytical.
• The hosts blend statistical analysis with the “fan’s gut feeling,” alternating between sharp criticism and classic New York sports banter.

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Useful for:

• Knicks fans tracking the playoff pulse and team trends.
• NBA enthusiasts interested in the impact of league expansion, labor, and economics.
• Baseball purists who appreciate debates about umpiring and sports culture.
• Pop culture followers who enjoy sports/media crossover banter.

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To catch the hosts in action, listen live weekday afternoons at 3 on ESPN New York, or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

Transcript

[Don Hahn]

Shot clocks, big shots, upsets, aces. TGL playoffs are here. First Atlanta drives, starts their repeat run against Los Angeles Golf Club. Then Rory's Boston Common golf and Tigers Jupiter Links face off in their playoff debuts. Who will advance? Keep up its playoffs. Tune in Tuesday, March 17th at 6:30pm and 9:00pm only on ESPN and the ESPN app.

[Rosenberg]

This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Steve]

That sounds like heaven to me.

[Rosenberg]

Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New

[Don Hahn]

York app, and your smart speakers.

[Steve]

503 in the big city. It's Don, it's Han, it's Rosenberg. Take you up until 6:30, then it's Rangers hockey. Game time is brought to you by Telemardu Irish Whiskey. Because when it's game time, guys.

[Rosenberg]

Oh, yeah, sorry, my man. It's telling time at 5 o'.

[Steve]

Clock.

[Rosenberg]

No, no, we still don't get to do it.

[Steve]

We're still.

[Rosenberg]

Let's stay where we're at.

[Steve]

The Rangers host Panarin and the Kings with coverage immediately following us on 880 at 6:30. Panarin's been good for Los Angeles. 10 points in 10 games. The Devils will face the Bruins in jersey on ESPN at 7 o'. Clock. I am not doing the game. It's on ESPN.

[Rosenberg]

Shame.

[Steve]

And we'll see if it's Washoes and was shoes and did the game Saturday and then Sunday at the Rock Devil's Rangers on Saturday and then it was the Devil's Red Wings on Sunday. And so Levy threw back to Bob like for the start of the third period against Detroit and he's like. And the voice of the New Jersey Devils Bob was using. And I'm like, oh, Bob Washusin is the voice of the New Jersey Devils. That's Matt Laughlin.

[Rosenberg]

I was waiting out who they introduced him that way.

[Steve]

Well, he was kidding because he had done two straight doubles. Oh. Oh, God. And the Jersey guy didn't have to travel. You know how good that is for Washozen?

[Don Hahn]

No.

[Steve]

He could be in Edmonton on a

[Don Hahn]

flip of a coin. Hang on.

[Steve]

Two straight days in Jersey for Bob. Incredible.

[Don Hahn]

I need to understand what happened next. Did wasshozen correct him and say Don Lagreca is the voice of the Devils? But thank you.

[Steve]

No, I always believe we've had this conversation with K. You might remember, Peter,

[Rosenberg]

I know where you're going.

[Steve]

The radio guy is always the voice.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah. Because the other guy is. What do you call the other guy though?

[Steve]

Because who's doing the game tonight?

[Don Hahn]

The tv.

[Steve]

Always the radio. Mike Monaco is Doing the game with Kevin Weeks on tv and Matt and Chico are gonna be on the radio, so.

[Don Hahn]

Okay, but still, you're our voice. Don't you think the right thing there. Put yourself in that situation, do the right thing. He. He throws back to you. You're a national guy and he calls you the voice of whomever. And you're friends, close friends with a guy who's actually the guy.

[Steve]

I.

[Don Hahn]

What do you do there? I. Steve, honestly though, Don Le Greck is the voice of the Devils, but I appreciate it.

[Steve]

Well, he didn't say that. He didn't get mad either. If he gave Maddie, I'd be slightly disappointed because Bob is my guy. But he kept it straight.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, we need to.

[Steve]

And that's why he gets these gigs. Bob's doing the second game of the doubleheader, which is Anthony. You got the floor.

[Don Hahn]

Peter's Penguins versus the Avalanche with Eric Johnson, who is an analyst now for us.

[Steve]

Is that true?

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. Wow. That was a late signing.

[Steve]

Right before the deadline. So they do add people. They do bring different people in on occasion. Oh, no.

[Don Hahn]

Interesting.

[Rosenberg]

Oh, that is. That is interesting. That can happen, huh? And you're free tonight, right?

[Steve]

So the next take on the Blazers in Brooklyn at 7:30. I should swing by. My Blazers are playing.

[Don Hahn]

That's right. Like you dream about your Portland Trail Blazers.

[Steve]

Marco had to write. They call it a writing prompt. So each week he's got to tell a story and he had to tell a story about something. And I threw in my favorite player being Dame Lillard. He shoots from the logo. Try to explain to an 8 year old what that means because it's not quite half court. It's like the logo between half court and three point.

[Don Hahn]

The engine logo. No, he's not. He's got chalk, right? Get on your driveway, make a logo, have him shoot on the basket and say, stick a logo.

[Steve]

I'm not saying I'm proud. I'm indifferent. Not a basketball kid.

[Don Hahn]

Okay.

[Rosenberg]

Not into it.

[Steve]

It's not hitting.

[Don Hahn]

Not yet.

[Rosenberg]

None of it.

[Don Hahn]

No, it will.

[Rosenberg]

It could still hit.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Steve]

Hockey, baseball, Football's not really hit, really.

[Rosenberg]

Just. That's why the Eagles thing is like, yeah, maybe I'd like the Eagles.

[Don Hahn]

Because he doesn't really have a passion. He's just kind of doing whatever.

[Steve]

Football is very difficult for the young because there is a lot to have to understand. Baseball, you can sign. If you watched a baseball game, you're pretty much good, kind of understanding it on a baseball. Watch a whole football game, never see a safety. You might Watch a whole football game, not see a pass interference. Right. Like so.

[Don Hahn]

Well, I mean baseball, you're a Jets fan. You might see a whole season and not see an interception.

[Rosenberg]

Great.

[Don Hahn]

I'm sorry.

[Rosenberg]

And that season would have been last season.

[Don Hahn]

I can't enjoy that.

[Steve]

That almost beat my point I had in the meeting, which I was very proud of. You didn't remember. So I guess it was different.

[Rosenberg]

No basketball, no football for Marco so far.

[Steve]

No, I think football. We got into the Giants Cowboys game that the Giants almost won and Wilson blew it in overtime. But because he keeps saying, what's your favorite team? The Chiefs. He keeps throwing the Chiefs out.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, you must love that.

[Steve]

Well, it's better than Eagles, I can tell you that.

[Don Hahn]

That's fair.

[Steve]

So Telemar Dew, the original triple distilled, triple blended and triple cast matured Irish whiskey. Be sure to grab a Telemore. Do it rather than do Tullamore do honey. During today's action, glasses up to enjoying Telemardu responsibly. Guys, I'm tired of having this conversation, but it's worth having. I watched the Nick game last night.

[Rosenberg]

Go ahead.

[Steve]

Between that and the wbc, but the Knicks, I figured we were going to talk a little bit more about you don't know and what the hell's going on. You're down 21 points to a G league team. I mean, this is the, this is the. This is the Golden State Warriors. Back when you didn't know who the Golden State warriors were. There were, there was. The Golden State warriors used to be the Patriots, right? Oh yeah. Like then all of a sudden they became good, but you know, 20, 30 years ago, like, where's Golden State? What is that?

[Don Hahn]

Right?

[Steve]

You know, you don't know any of these players. That was like it was last night and you almost lost the damn game. This is happening too much. I'm sorry. I don't see a championship team. I'm not saying they can't win, but how many games have to look like that? Guys, do we say this is a legitimate concern? And even coach starting to talk about these starts as being a major problem.

[Rosenberg]

Obviously, especially at this point in the year, it's good to get a win.

[Steve]

But I was not happy with the

[Rosenberg]

way that we started the game and we played most of the game. Now we found a way to get a win because of the stuff we did in the game. I did not name a DPOG today. So there's no dpog. We have to figure out individually, collectively how we can start Games on based better, I thought at Indiana.

[Don Hahn]

And again, he's going to now go through all the games. Press conference.

[Steve]

We've seen them all.

[Don Hahn]

And I can, I can tell you that it, it's, it's disturbing. I mean, I.

[Steve]

No, it's a. You know, this isn't cute anymore.

[Don Hahn]

Calling. He's calling timeouts like we're talking about two, three minutes into the game. Of the last five games, he called a timeout in the first four minutes three times.

[Steve]

You know, embarrassing, that is.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. Especially when he says, you know, I'm not doing it for X's and O's. That's a problem. Right. So, yeah, they have, they have had awful first quarters. I mean, if I told you in the last five games, now they're three and two in these five games. But if I told you that they, after the first quarter were spotting the opponent an average of 7 and a half points a game, that's probably a bad start, right?

[Steve]

Very.

[Don Hahn]

And you're. You're giving. It's those, by the way, in that span, it's the second worst in the league. They're giving up over 30 points a game in the first quarter. This is, this is not. And here's the hilarious part of it. Do you know where they are in defensive rating in the NBA right now? Sixth. They have the sixth best defense in the league. Why? Because after the first quarter is when they wake up, turn it on. They always have one massive quarter that just shuts the other team down and they end up coming back to at least win, if not force a close finish. And it just feels almost like, you know, you always use the term the bat and the bunny around.

[Steve]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

It's getting this feeling when they start games that it's like, I don't want to do it. You do it like this team. I don't feel like doing this. And it's maddening. But when you hear a coach start talking like this, and this is becoming a thing now where it's. Because this is not the first time he's brought up the bad starts. He brought it up three games ago and they did it again. They're getting away with it, which is dangerous. But this also makes you say, this head coach was brought in to change things with this team and bring a different approach. Right. The previous head coach was fired because they felt like he couldn't get them further. This is as far as he could take them. This team, as much as they are statistically one of the best in the league in offense and defense and Net rating, and they have the fifth best record in the league, and they're tied in wins with Boston in the East. All these things that sound like this is an amazing season. The eye test keeps telling you something's not right. Like, Don, you saying this is not a championship team is not based off statistics. It's based off with your. I just told you.

[Steve]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

That you're playing teams like the Jazz who aren't trying to win and have a young roster and Golden State who punted the game last night to sit all their guys. And you're at home, and. And you don't come out with fire thinking, okay, let's blow this team out of the water first quarter, and then we'll all sit while our bench finishes, cleans up the mess. And instead, you're not inspired to start the game. Is that a player issue or is that a coach issue?

[Steve]

No, you know what? The coach. It's got to be on the table that it's coach's issue. And, oh, by the way, the whole load. Management doesn't matter. Tell NBC no Draymond Green in a game where you're already. Come on, man.

[Rosenberg]

Sunday night on NBC again, you talked about the. We talked about the WBC and players going home. Come on, man.

[Don Hahn]

But yet. Because the Knicks didn't really feel like showing up early on, at least you had a game. It was actually a compelling game with a bunch of young guys who were just playing their hearts out and eventually just didn't have enough skill to finish the job.

[Steve]

And Kate brought this up, so I want to give him credit. Cat's too nice a kid. Because he gets called out for not playing a game because he had a death in the family, and Draymond just decides not to play at the Garden for no reason. Catch it right after. Right up.

[Don Hahn]

After the game.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Steve]

Right up and in on it. Where's Draymond? What's going on, Draymond? Why aren't you playing? What's the matter?

[Don Hahn]

Something tells me if they won by 30, maybe. Maybe you can do that. But after a game like that, that's not a time to come.

[Steve]

I still don't think he would have done it, but he still should.

[Don Hahn]

I think you're right. I think you're right. They just don't have that element. It was his. It was Jordan. It was his wife's or future wife. His fiance's a friend of hers.

[Steve]

Right. Mother, you know, so listen, it meant.

[Don Hahn]

It meant something to Jordan. Why did.

[Steve]

Draymond said.

[Don Hahn]

Come on. What would you. Management Lower back management.

[Rosenberg]

I. I don't. I just don't. I do not understand, like, these situations, you know, on the calendar, what's coming up. I don't understand how if you're a Draymond Green, you get no. Also, how many times does he have.

[Steve]

How many guys.

[Rosenberg]

How many Garden trips does Draymond have left?

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, I don't think he cares. I don't think he cares.

[Steve]

No, clearly he doesn't. But like.

[Rosenberg]

But also, they're. They're still in meaningful game time. They're 32 and 34.

[Don Hahn]

They are.

[Rosenberg]

They checked out.

[Don Hahn]

They are and they aren't. They're not getting out of the play in. They're. They're kind of locked in.

[Rosenberg]

So they're saying, let's rest as best we can. We'll get back.

[Don Hahn]

And they chose to play against the Wizards because that's more of the guaranteed win.

[Rosenberg]

Don't you love that?

[Steve]

No, I don't love that.

[Don Hahn]

Nobody loves that.

[Rosenberg]

It's terrible.

[Don Hahn]

But Steve Kerr is telling us why it's important to play less games, while Adam Silver is telling us we're going to add two more teams.

[Rosenberg]

Can I ask you a question about Steve Kerr, too? Do you think that once it's all said and done for this group, Kerr sticks around to try to do a rebuild?

[Don Hahn]

No. He's made that clear. When Steph Curry's done, he's done.

[Rosenberg]

He is done with it.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, yeah. Yeah. And I don't blame him. I mean, that's. You want to attach to anybody, you attach to that dude. But Curry doesn't look like he's going anywhere anytime soon. Like he wants to keep playing.

[Rosenberg]

So the question is, then, would Curry stick around for an actual rebuild?

[Don Hahn]

They've been trying this.

[Rosenberg]

I know, but they're half assing it.

[Steve]

I know.

[Don Hahn]

Of course they are.

[Steve]

I will tell you this.

[Don Hahn]

They got one more ring out of it.

[Steve]

We've seen it. We're seeing it. With the Penguins. With the Penguins. I knew you were going to work in.

[Rosenberg]

But they're back in the different. For some reason.

[Don Hahn]

Right. I don't know why, but here this is again. To go back to change coaches, to go back to the expansion thing. I don't want to get off the Knick topic because 800-919-3776 it is fake. Like you're not. Your team's not ready to play at the start of the game. Emotionally, that is as much on the coach. And he. And he has said it. He goes, I got to be better. That's as Much on the coach and the coaching staff than anybody else. Your team's not ready to play, to start games. You're in the midst of. You're in the midst. You played three of seven straight games against teams with a losing record. Remember I told you there was this gamut where they were playing all these tough teams? The gauntlet, right, the gauntlet, yeah. Well, they're right now in the easiest, softest part of your schedule possible late in the year. Seven straight against losing teams. Now they're three and oh, but it hasn't looked good and they got to get it right.

[Steve]

Well, it's the same basically, but just

[Don Hahn]

on that point when it comes to the expansion is if you add two franchises, the belief is that's about $20 billion in expansion fees that go into the NBA. 20 billion 10 a team.

[Steve]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

Does that impact the cap? Will the cap go up? Will you be able to now build like can the Knicks or the warriors or teams like that that have these, you know, high priced players? Can you now all of a sudden remember the warriors took advantage of a loophole when the new broadcasting money came in and everybody got a surplus in the cap. They got Kevin Durant because of that. So that's what I'm wondering is like this for some of these teams to say, wait a minute, I can go out and get another player now.

[Steve]

I would think so. Now here's the interesting thing about adding those teams. They'll go to a 32 team league,

[Don Hahn]

which is everybody else now, right? The NFL, NHL, you got 32. Baseball is eventually going to come.

[Steve]

All right, so you're going to add Seattle, which makes sense. They need a team back there. And Vegas, everybody's going to Vegas. So who loses a game? Because what the NHL just went through this. If you want everybody to go to every building, then it means you've got to be able to play everybody twice in the west and then have your allotted games in the East. So when they add two teams, what games are going to get taken away in the NHL? Stupid divisional games. That's why the Rangers and Devils are only playing three times this year. Ridiculous.

[Don Hahn]

But that's. Yeah.

[Rosenberg]

Less.

[Steve]

Knicks, Celtics.

[Don Hahn]

Well, no, I don't think your division gets a. I think it's always four against your division. I think what you do is you rotate the Central and the Southeast and say one year you play the Central only twice. Because right now it's like four times or three times they rotate that around on the East. So I think you just do that and all right, do we really need three or four games against Cleveland or, you know, again, Charlotte. Yeah. I don't think you need three games against those teams.

[Steve]

No.

[Don Hahn]

As much as you really want to have two against the Lakers, the NHL

[Steve]

felt like they needed to take away from the division, which I thought was ridiculous.

[Don Hahn]

That doesn't make sense. You're right about that.

[Steve]

Because they wanted. Because I don't know what. What the logic was behind that, but

[Don Hahn]

I'm curious to see, because you're adding two western teams is who now gets moved to the East. Right. Like you'd need to.

[Steve]

Well, New Orleans has to go to the East.

[Don Hahn]

Adding to New Orleans, you would need to what? Move to. Wouldn't you? Because you're adding to New Orleans and Memphis. New Orleans and Memphis make the most sense. Yeah, because they seem to be closest. I mean, some people think Minnesota. Because Minnesota is not that far from some of the central teams.

[Steve]

No, that doesn't make sense.

[Don Hahn]

But you think Minnesota.

[Steve]

Well, because then you're separating them from Chicago and Milwaukee.

[Rosenberg]

That is. Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Well, you're moving one. Because I'm so good at math.

[Steve]

Oh.

[Rosenberg]

If you had two to a 15

[Don Hahn]

and a 15, you have 17 and 16. So there you go. So you're. You're. So it would be either New Orleans or Memphis. And that makes more sense than I think of Minnesota. Although Minnesota would strengthen the East a little bit.

[Rosenberg]

Minnesota is. They're literally. It's always been weird to me that they're in the middle, but so is New Orleans. I mean, they're all weird.

[Don Hahn]

I know, but what's closer to Minnesota in the West? Give me the closest city west of it. Yeah.

[Rosenberg]

Nothing.

[Don Hahn]

Nothing.

[Steve]

Well, you do have. Because the NHL went through that. That's why there was all this talk about they had to go to Seattle and the possibility one day, if they go to 34 or 36, which stop me is Portland, because you do have. You go to Minnesota. Go straight down to what, like, not Utah?

[Don Hahn]

Well, you at least have St. Louis and places like that in the NHL.

[Steve]

You look at that map, you go, you know, Minnesota down to whatever the most central team would be. So who would that be?

[Don Hahn]

Dallas.

[Steve]

But then you go all the way over, like up to Seattle with Seattle, and there's no Vancouver. You've got nothing there in the Pacific Northwest except Portland. Right. So from Portland all the way to Minnesota, and then you drop down, like there's a whole box there where there's no team.

[Don Hahn]

That's always been Portland's thing, ever since Seattle left, is they have no close game. All their games are long flights. So.

[Steve]

Yeah, because back in the day they had Vancouver and Seattle.

[Don Hahn]

But how about this for the NBA to add two teams, expansion teams. Now you're watering down the product again, right. When you add expansion teams, you're adding teams that are probably not going to be competitive. Are you really wanting to add there's 20 billion. So they're going to do it. But adding two more teams only adds to the tanking teams, the bad teams, the lottery bound teams. Right?

[Steve]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Is that going to be really healthy for this league?

[Steve]

They don't care about that. Of course they expansion money.

[Don Hahn]

No, they're going to love it.

[Rosenberg]

Money, money, money, money, money.

[Don Hahn]

And if it opens up the cap, you might see some of the high level teams. Like I said, Golden State did it with Kevin Durant that year when they got all that broadcast money and all of a sudden the cap went up.

[Steve]

Kevin Durant's money is going to pop in.

[Don Hahn]

So.

[Steve]

All right, lots on the table to talk about. 1-800-919-3776. The Knicks have joined the party. Still talking WBC 6O'. Clock. We've got the reveal for 2026 drop madness and at 6:30 it's Rangers hockey on ESPN New York. But I've got something to tell you. I pay attention to it. There's a lot of reasons why people buy at Ramsey Mazda. It's their selection, it's their customer service and it's their savings. Lease new 2026 Mazda CX50 Hybrid preferred with all wheel drive for $259 for 36 months or buy with 1.9% APR financing for 36 months. Start shopping now at Ramsey Mazda.com choose wisely. Choose Ramsey Mazda. Call 833-853-2970 for lease details. Then TN 142673 and MSRP $37,300 0 security deposit 1.9% APR at $28.60 per month per $1,000 financed ends 331.26. As you know, managing maintenance, repair and operations is never easy. But for the ones who always rise to the challenge, Grainger has your back. From professional grade products you can count on to fast, dependable delivery, they're there to help you keep things running smoothly. Plus, their technical product specialists are here to help answer your toughest questions. And because Grainger knows safety is always a priority, they're committed to being your partner in protecting both your people and your facilities. Call 1-800-GRAINGER Click grainger.com or just stop

[Rosenberg]

by Rich Eisen here. The tax deadline will be here before you know it and you just want to know your taxes are actually being handled. But the old way, you hand everything off and then silence. Days pass, weeks pass. You start wondering, should I send another follow up email? It feels like you're chasing updates and getting nowhere. But now taxes are different because your taxes are done for you by a TurboTax full service expert. With Intuit TurboTax you can match with your dedicated tax expert and hand off everything right in the app. And while your expert checks for every deduction, you'll see real time updates on your phone. So you always know exactly where things stand. Suddenly you're not refreshing your inbox, you're going for a run, grabbing a coffee, scrolling anything other than a just checking in message because your TurboTax expert is handling it and keeping you in the loop. So this tax season, get your best possible outcome and every dollar you deserve without the guesswork. Visit TurboTax.com today to learn more. Real time updates only in iOS mobile app only available with TurboTax full service experts Quick time out. Some breakfast intel you want to know about. Kodiak Frozen Power waffles and Flapjacks are built for busy mornings. Heat it, eat it and you're out the door. No long prep, no complicated game plan. They're packed with 12 to 14 grams of protein per serving, a good source of fiber and crafted with 100% whole grains, not refined white flour. So you're getting something that actually fuels you and there's depth on the roster. Buttermilk and vanilla blueberry chocolate chip. Even gluten free options. Breakfast that delivers, snack that delivers. Find Kodiak frozen waffles and Flapjacks in the frozen aisle at your local grocery store. They're the ones with the bear on the box.

[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don Hahn]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want.

[Rosenberg]

Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.

[Steve]

We've been talking about it all week. ESPN New York is taking over Calandra's Italian Village in Caldwell, New Jersey on Wednesday, March 18th. That's this Wednesday. Join us live starting at 3:00pm with a special happy hour and you don't want to miss this. Hang out, talk some sports, get ready for a huge night on the ice, then stick around for the Rangers and Devils Watch party with a 7pm puck drop. Big screens, great food, unbeatable atmosphere and the best fans in Hockey. All under one reservations are recommended. To book your table, call 973-226-8889. See Don on and Rosenberg live at Calandra's Italian village in Caldwell, New Jersey. That's this Wednesday, September, excuse me. Starting at 3:00pm here on March 18th. Hopefully some surprises. I've invited some people. Should be good time. And, and you were saying like, you know, what's going on with the Devils and Rangers? They're both out of it. They played a couple of Saturdays ago on ABC and did a huge number over a million viewers. So people want to see Jack.

[Don Hahn]

Rangers have been and they've been good interesting since they've kind of gone to the kids and kind of changed things up. It's been, it looks like Lafreniere is kind of finding himself too, which is nice. So there's, you know, with all the frustration, at least you can finish the season and there is something to watch here.

[Steve]

Some people think the reason LA Frontier is gotten hot is because Panarin's gone. That's, that's a bit of a reach. But you know, you don't know. But Empanaren's back as the Kings come to town. Finish off the road. You've kind of cool moment on Saturday. Devils win and Devils win the game. They hold on, they get a late goal and from Jack on the power play, which is cool. But Anze Kopitar, who is one of the classiest players in the NHL announced his retirement at the beginning of the season. 20 years in the NHL, two cups. He was a point back of Marcel Dion for the LA Kings record in points for career. He tied it with a power play goal and then he broke the record with a power play goal. And all the players came out on the ice and congratulated him. And at the end of the game, the Devils lined up to say goodbye because even if he hadn't broken the record, it's the last time they're going to play him, right?

[Don Hahn]

So it's cool the way they lined up.

[Steve]

Listen, is he the greatest King player? I mean Luke Robitaille had more goals. You had Gretzky there. Marcel Dion, still an amazing player, but he won two Stanley Cups, had a game winning goal in game one against the Devils in the 2012 Stanley Cup Final. Very quiet guy, but just a really class act. So it was nice to get a chance to call his last game at the Rock. 1-800-919-3776. Let's go to Rich. He's in Brooklyn. You're on ESPN New York. What's up, Rich? Richard.

[Rosenberg]

Richard.

[Steve]

Going once, going twice, three times a lady.

[Don Hahn]

Hey, guys.

[Steve]

Flavio's in Brooklyn. You're on ESPN New York. What's up, buddy? Yep, I'm here. Hey, guys. So I did want to talk about the wbc. Sure. I don't know if Juan Total drink the same Kool aid that Nathan McClure

[Rosenberg]

him ended up being out of.

[Steve]

Very similar comments, but I don't know what. What he was talking about. Yeah, love Juan Soto, but you guys had so many oppor. Dominicans have so many opportunities to win the game.

[Rosenberg]

Juan Soto should have never been the

[Steve]

person to make that. That statement. He was over four. But I did see on. On Twitter that the Venezuelans, the Dominicans and the United States did qualify for the olympics for in LA in 2028. I saw it on Twitter on. On the Olympics official website.

[Don Hahn]

Okay.

[Steve]

Yeah, it. It was.

[Don Hahn]

You see this comment?

[Steve]

Yes, I did that there. You know that they proved that we're

[Don Hahn]

the best team in the world.

[Steve]

Yeah. Listen, you weren't.

[Don Hahn]

You lost.

[Steve]

And even Nathan McKinnon's comments were taken out of context. He did say that. But if you listen to the whole thing, it's like they deserve to win. But you know, ultimately, when you look at how many shots they had on goal, he'll. He goes, I'll leave it to you to decide.

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Steve]

But you know what? This is the kind of stuff that people said they get excited about. Right. He still believes in his team. He felt they were robbed of an opportunity. They had a tying run at third. They had some big boys coming up next, and that was the deck. Right.

[Don Hahn]

So.

[Steve]

And if he had gotten on and they won the game, then they, I guess they would have proven, or at least proven they're better than the US and then we'll see what they would have done on Tuesday as they advance to the final. But isn't this the stuff that, that John called earlier and said, the having the fun and talking about your teams? Like, isn't that what's supposed to create the interest, you getting ticked off at him for saying that? And I thought that's when you're interested in something that's a statement that's going to rile you up. I guess.

[Rosenberg]

Let me ask you a question.

[Steve]

Yes.

[Rosenberg]

What was the last time you saw a cold strike that bad to determine a game of that kind of significance?

[Steve]

The only one that comes to mind is the Levon Hernandez in the 2,090. No, no, sorry. 1997 World Series against the Indians. Pitchers a foot outside that's the one that jumps to my. Doesn't happen that often and it will never happen again.

[Rosenberg]

This is at least a half a foot lobby. This is.

[Steve]

It's crazy.

[Don Hahn]

Well, I mean, it's six inches. No, no. Now from the side, though, it starts just below the knee and then dips dramatically. So it's not as egregious as it looked from the center field camera.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah, maybe you're right, but.

[Steve]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

It just drops the plate.

[Rosenberg]

That's a good plate.

[Don Hahn]

It drops off the table.

[Rosenberg]

It's a good point though, Alan. We never, we really never think about.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Rosenberg]

Because the only angle we ever have is a center field camera.

[Don Hahn]

And that one, he. It's just so below by the time it lands. But you're catching it behind the plate.

[Rosenberg]

But at the same time, that's where the umpire. How would the umpire see?

[Don Hahn]

Well, he's looking at it, coming straight in.

[Rosenberg]

So you'd have the umpire. It's happening so quickly.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, yeah, that. But I was throwing triple digits. How has he seen.

[Rosenberg]

It looks so bad though. It looks like a terrible.

[Steve]

Well, ABS is going to eliminate this because then the Dominican would have challenged and it would have been called a ball. So those days are now over.

[Don Hahn]

Continues. Right.

[Steve]

But it's awful. The other one, it wasn't a big moment. Well, it was in the World Series, but it didn't end. The World Series was Don Larson's perfect game. They show from behind home plate. That looked way outside too. But I guess he got caught up in the moment and wanted to get the perfect game call. But those, those days are now over and I think it's for the better.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Steve]

Now, Michael said something today that I wanted to get your opinion on because Juan Soto's got one of the best eyes in baseball. We know this. And he hearkened back to a conversation he had with Wade Boggs, who was also known as a guy that knew the strikes on better than anybody.

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Steve]

And before Quest Tech, you know where umpires were disciplined for getting calls. Wrong. That there was an umpire. I forget. The umpire that he mentioned was calling the pitches 2, 3 inches outside. Wade Boggs would. Would take him because he knew the strike zone better than anybody in the history of baseball and would not swing at a pitch that was not a strike. And he would strike out every time because that call, 2, 3 inches. And Michael would say to him, why don't you swing at that pitch? Every time? He's the umpire, he calls that a strike.

[Rosenberg]

Why don't you adjust?

[Steve]

He says, michael, you don't understand. It's muscle memory. I know the strike zone. My whole life, since I've been playing in Little League, I know what a ball is. I know what a strike is. I can't swing at a pitch. That's not a strike. And Michael defended Wade. And I'm thinking to myself, listen, love Wade Poggs, but dude, adjust. Yeah, like, I understand. It almost seemed like an ego arrogance thing. Like, that's a ball. I don't care.

[Rosenberg]

You're wrong.

[Steve]

I'll go back to the dugout. But I'm still right.

[Rosenberg]

No, you struck out.

[Steve]

And isn't there a time where a walk doesn't help you, where you need to drive the ball and maybe you got to think outside the box and swing at a ball just because you know you can drive it? Like, I call BS on that dude. You got to widen. They always say widen the strike zone. If he's calling it every time, Alan, then it's on you. You gotta swing.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. You would also think that for him too. If I start doing that now, all of a sudden I'm seeing the ball differently or I'm reacting differently and maybe he feels like one. One umpire isn't going to change the way I do things all the time.

[Steve]

You know what then? Load manager.

[Don Hahn]

That's interesting. Yeah.

[Steve]

Well, dead or alive.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Steve]

Wade is still with us.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, I think so.

[Rosenberg]

I think the same thought I did.

[Don Hahn]

What was the thought?

[Rosenberg]

That the right droplets play was strong.

[Don Hahn]

I don't get it.

[Rosenberg]

No. When you said dead or alive. Oh, I responded with a straw.

[Don Hahn]

Same time. What was dead or alive?

[Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Steve]

I wasn't sure whether that.

[Rosenberg]

I didn't know.

[Steve]

Neither was I.

[Don Hahn]

Okay.

[Rosenberg]

It's unfortunate though, when you have that concern.

[Steve]

It's always because I had there said. Think for a second we didn't lose him.

[Don Hahn]

No. I was worried.

[Rosenberg]

I know. After that in memoriam last night at the Oscars, I forgot how many people we lost.

[Steve]

But also. I'm sorry. Especially since he just passed now. I don't know if you get into the semantics of when it's from the last Oscars. Right. It's not in the. In the calendar year.

[Rosenberg]

No, it's from year to year, the Oscars.

[Steve]

Right. So Robert Duvall doesn't get a separate.

[Rosenberg]

I thought he would have.

[Steve]

Listen, no, no, no offense to Diane Ladd. She was. She was a great actor. But like Robert Duvall doesn't get a moment like Robert Redford did that Diane Ladd got. I mean, come on, man.

[Don Hahn]

Duvall just got a. Also ran.

[Steve]

He Got it.

[Rosenberg]

He got it in the.

[Steve]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Honorable mention.

[Steve]

Yeah.

[Rosenberg]

Up there with like, not an honorable mention.

[Steve]

He.

[Rosenberg]

His thing had a couple. A few seconds. I think they showed multiple roles like he got. There were levels. Here are the four levels. The worst level they had was at one point. To speed it up, scroll. No two people on the screen at the same time. They would go split screen.

[Steve]

Usually like a cinematographer.

[Rosenberg]

And now listen, you still get enough time where I think your family would be like, wow, there they are.

[Don Hahn]

So his face.

[Steve]

We live in an age where you could pause it if you. Sure.

[Rosenberg]

So that's the worst case scenarios. Two at a time. Then they have single but fast shot.

[Don Hahn]

Mm.

[Rosenberg]

Then they have single show multiple roles and then they have stop the whole thing down. Come and give a tribute.

[Don Hahn]

Talk about it. Show a scene which was Robert Redford

[Rosenberg]

as done by Barbra Streisand.

[Don Hahn]

Okay.

[Rosenberg]

Diane Keaton as done by Rachel McAdams. And did they do Diane Ladd?

[Steve]

They did. Who did hers? I don't remember because I didn't.

[Rosenberg]

I mean, I'll be honest, I didn't. I knew her on site. I wouldn't remember Diane Ladd's name. You know, I'm a young idiot.

[Steve]

You get it.

[Rosenberg]

Relative to some of the audience of that show. But to your point. And now Catherine o' Hara got a shout out. She got a tribute to. They talked.

[Steve]

Someone spoke.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah, Someone did speak about her.

[Steve]

Yeah. I don't know.

[Rosenberg]

I thought they just mentioned her, sort of. She had like an in between one.

[Steve]

Okay.

[Rosenberg]

And then we.

[Steve]

I'm sorry, you got to separate. I'm listening. I get Redford. I get it.

[Rosenberg]

Oh, no, he has to.

[Steve]

But of the people that I'm going. I don't want to rank the dead. No. But Robert Duvall is right there.

[Rosenberg]

He's right there.

[Steve]

Right there. Now, no one does it better, in my opinion. We look forward to it every holiday when CMT does Turner Classic Movies. Tmc. Sorry. When they do it a little different.

[Rosenberg]

But keep going.

[Steve]

They both Absolutely right. My pickup truck died and I'm going to put in memorial on

[Don Hahn]

tv. Television.

[Steve]

That's very good, tc.

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Steve]

What do they do?

[Rosenberg]

Music.

[Steve]

Usually very poignant music. And then they will show pretty much a still of. If it's a composer or a screenwriter or something. Everybody gets a footage.

[Rosenberg]

But in what's the show?

[Steve]

No, they just do it like between movies because they don't have any commercials. They usually. They will do it like between movies. So you'll see it several times during the. Getting close to New Year's so. So they do it the calendar year. The biggies get a spoken word. Like, the biggies will get dialogue. They'll show a scene where those like Cindy Poitier died. They'll show a scene and you'll, you know, it'll speak like that. Usually they reserve that for. And. And usually the last one is the biggest one. So this past year was Robert Redford was the biggest.

[Rosenberg]

Was Poitier's passing.

[Steve]

Which one?

[Rosenberg]

Not the one you did. When God did it not. Don't.

[Steve]

Don. Dude, the way you put that up makes me feel worse.

[Don Hahn]

Was he.

[Rosenberg]

Was he the last. Do you think he was the last passing of a true old school iconic legend? Like highest level giant? You mean like a giant of cinema?

[Steve]

Like Redford's?

[Rosenberg]

Not all the way old, though.

[Don Hahn]

Redford still was relatively Young in the 70s and Cartier was already old.

[Rosenberg]

You were talking about. We're talking about Poitier being. He died just now. What, in his mid-90s? A couple of years.

[Steve]

But he had been in things in the nineties. Who? Poitier? Yeah.

[Rosenberg]

No, no, I know, but what. Who's coming to dinner? When Was that movie?

[Steve]

67.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Rosenberg]

And what was. When was Robert Redford's first big movie? Right around the same time.

[Steve]

Right around the time.

[Rosenberg]

But it's funny, I think of Portier as the generation like as. Or older even. Is that wrong?

[Steve]

In my brain, he was older, but only just.

[Rosenberg]

But I guess just a few years. You think of them as the same generation of actors, though. I think them is slightly different.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Steve]

Very close though, because Poitier did have

[Rosenberg]

big, huge movies in the 70s, like Bradford did with all the President's Men.

[Steve]

Yeah. So that was what, 70? Well, had to be over after 75, right? 70.

[Don Hahn]

All right. Poitier born in 27.

[Rosenberg]

Okay, 27.

[Don Hahn]

So wait, when do you think Redford was born?

[Rosenberg]

30.

[Steve]

35.

[Don Hahn]

36.

[Rosenberg]

36.

[Steve]

Nine years apart. But, yo, look who's. Guess who's coming to dinner was 67. And what was the one which Cassidy.

[Rosenberg]

69.

[Steve]

69. And even before that, what was the. The one he did with Jane Fonda? Why is it when we just get married.

[Rosenberg]

Well, he did four because I saw Jane Fonda on the red carpet.

[Don Hahn]

Having.

[Rosenberg]

Taking a little bit of issue with not being a part of the tribute.

[Don Hahn]

I see that.

[Steve]

Well, what. Just why am I barefoot in the park? Barefoot in the park. Had to be before. That was like 66.

[Don Hahn]

So 67.

[Rosenberg]

They're contemporaries, but I guess I just

[Don Hahn]

think of this one's older yeah.

[Rosenberg]

And portier. I just think of as like an acting giant. Redford I think of as sort of a mix of big actor and heartthrob. It's kind of a he. I just think of a little differently. Wow, that's poity. I think more of important thespian.

[Don Hahn]

Raisin in The sun was 61.

[Steve]

61 and Barefoot in the park was his first movie in 67. But contemporaries the Jace Right now, real

[Rosenberg]

quick guys, I do want to let you know that FanDuel's dropped. I don't know. It's. I love this transition. FanDuel is dropping bonus bets into everyone's account for the tournament. All you got to do is opt in to claim your bonus. Use them on your bracket picks, Moneyline spreads, totals, game props, or even same game parlays. But don't wait. These bonuses are only available for a limited time. Just visit fanduel.com local to learn more. Fanduel 21 and over. Physically present New York bonus issue is non withdrawable bonus bets which expire seven days after receipt. Max bonus 500 bucks unless otherwise specified restrictions apply. See [e-mail] for help with a gambling problem, call 8778 Hope and Wire. Text OPEN yeah. 467369. I will also tell you guys that when for whatever reason my wife and I are very emo about like aging like emo Phillips and death. All of those things. And when it when the Catherine o' Hara part. There are a few parts that kind of made. I could hear an audible cry from Natalie when they showed in the Catherine o' Hara one when it cut to the shot of her as the mom in Home Alone there is like I, Natalie like audibly cried when it happened. It was like such a sad thing to see. Like for our, for my age in particular. That's a movie, guys. That's hugely different for our age range. Like I was 10 years old when

[Steve]

Home Alone came in.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, that hits me.

[Rosenberg]

You know what I mean? That hits like and she was mom.

[Don Hahn]

Yep.

[Rosenberg]

It's just. And man, I guess Catherine o', Hara, the way she passed was so sudden. Duvall was in what, his mid-80s? Don I think there is something about

[Steve]

the level of Duvall was in his 90s.

[Rosenberg]

In his 90s. There is something also for better, for worse about the level of traged that affects sort of the way that they do it.

[Don Hahn]

She was ill, right? Didn't she have something Catherine o'?

[Rosenberg]

Hara? I don't think so.

[Don Hahn]

I thought she was.

[Rosenberg]

I think it was very sudden dealing

[Don Hahn]

with something and went went fast. She was 71.

[Rosenberg]

That was Diane Keaton. Diane Keaton was dealing with something and it went fast.

[Don Hahn]

Okay.

[Rosenberg]

But yeah, it was. It was all and just shout out to Billy Crystal again. Did such a great job with the Rob Reiner and Michelle Reiner.

[Steve]

Yeah, it was a pretty interesting watch last night.

[Rosenberg]

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[Steve]

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[Rosenberg]

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[Steve]

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[Rosenberg]

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[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don Hahn]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want.

[Rosenberg]

Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.

[Steve]

Get ready New York soccer fans. New York City FC is back at Yankee Stadium for a massive showdown against Inter Miami on Sunday, March 22 to kick off. Is it set for 1pm? You don't want to miss this huge matchup. There will be boys in blue taking on the field against Miami. For your chance to be there in person, enter now at ESPN New York.com or through the ESPN New York app. Tickets are available now at Ticketmaster.com NYCFC he's an experience.

[Don Hahn]

He's Janet Jackson in the 80s.

[Steve]

That's what I'm Janet Jackson. I don't know. That's what you were going for or not, was it?

[Don Hahn]

No, that's what she said. That's why.

[Rosenberg]

And then he played the song that was Janet.

[Steve]

The things.

[Rosenberg]

80s Janet. He's an experience.

[Don Hahn]

He's Janet Jackson in the 80s. He's an experience.

[Rosenberg]

Now our whole family has imaginary crushes. Mine has always been Robert de Niro and DMX until I saw Don Don. He gives like, Michael McDonald with Tabasco sauce.

[Don Hahn]

With Tabasco.

[Rosenberg]

There's a thing about a gray beard

[Don Hahn]

and who looks like they point at

[Steve]

people and they disappear. And that's when she mentioned Frankson.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, she. Yeah, she loves the idea that you would just go, like. Like if somebody messed with you,

[Rosenberg]

that's what she sees.

[Don Hahn]

Like, you would sit back and you just go, he needs to go. And you would just like, go. Go do one of these. And then the problem is over.

[Steve]

Now, there was a little bit of discrepancy. I don't know if we.

[Rosenberg]

What do you mean?

[Steve]

I had mentioned that Carlos Mendoza said that he was kind of torn with John. With John McClain, John McClain with Nolan

[Rosenberg]

McClain and John McCl.

[Don Hahn]

Did.

[Steve]

You went Norm. You went Norm McClain. Listen, not that many people know, Norm. You would.

[Don Hahn]

No, we're coming up with all the McLeans. We know.

[Steve]

It was so worth it anyway, Nolan McLean, you know, pitching tomorrow in a championship game in the wbs. He said he was kind of torn. Now, was that torn because of the fact that he's going to have to be ready for the regular season or torn because Carlos Mendoza is from Venezuela and there's a chance that Venezuela could advance against Team usa. Well, Carlos Mendoza talks about exactly why.

[Don Hahn]

Mixed feelings.

[Rosenberg]

It's awesome. It's a great opportunity. Like, the fact that he's going to have that experience is something unbelievable.

[Steve]

We'll be praying.

[Rosenberg]

But, yeah, no, it's awesome. And as far as, like, him pitching on that environment, he just. His wire is built for moments like that. Just based on what we saw last

[Don Hahn]

year, what I've, you know, been around

[Rosenberg]

him, I've been saying that the moment is never too big for him.

[Don Hahn]

So it'll be fun and I'll be watching for sure.

[Steve]

Yeah. It sounds like he was more like it could be against Venezuela.

[Don Hahn]

Like, I don't want to root for him. Right.

[Steve]

But he will.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. It's my guy.

[Steve]

That's why International stuff makes for strange bedfellows. Right. Like if Venezuela. How often is Venezuela in this situation, right. Where they've got a chance to play for a championship in the wbs, they don't get mentioned the way the doctor does, the way Japan does internationally. So it's a big moment, I would think. Carlos Mendoza, prideful. He's not just Venezuela, he was born in Venezuela. But this is his, not his ace, but a kid that could become their ace. One of the hottest pitchers in Major league Baseball. And he wants him to do well because it's a great. He just said this is a great experience. He doesn't want the great experience to get, you know, taken out in the first inning after giving up five runs.

[Don Hahn]

He also probably has to just make sure, like he says that as you know, you don't want to. Oh, I'm rooting for him. Yeah. You know, of course. So you hedge it, you make a little joke about it. But one way or another, you win if your young pitcher pitches lights out in a very, you know, like a pressure situation type of game. Yeah. I feel good about.

[Rosenberg]

At the risk of people getting their panties in a bunch.

[Steve]

Oh, look at that.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, no. But can I just say, I know they're wearing panties.

[Rosenberg]

This, this. And who knows, if I had panties,

[Steve]

they'd be in a bunch.

[Don Hahn]

You think they'd be in a bunch?

[Rosenberg]

No, like, like why? I saw a video moving around yesterday and this, this guy did a funny commentary about it, but I don't think he was wrong. Between the Cal Raleigh a Rosa Reina thing and the fact that before USA Canada they brought in one of the Navy Seals who killed bin Laden for the pre game speech.

[Don Hahn]

That felt extra.

[Rosenberg]

Why don't we know how to just have fun?

[Don Hahn]

Like felt that.

[Rosenberg]

And then if you look at every other team, Don, the Canadian teams wearing hockey jerseys. The Italian team is doing a little espresso thing. The doctor team is just having fun and party.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. They just knew it.

[Rosenberg]

And the US Team, we have players who leave, guys who won't shake hands. And then we have military people give the speech like it's not war. Can we just have fun with our national pastime? No, we couldn't have done a fake hot dog thing. Pop cracker Jacks. Like any way to make it just

[Don Hahn]

we're weird, why don't we have fun kind of attitude. Right. We're just got a crazy outfit on.

[Steve]

It's weird.

[Rosenberg]

A weird hat, a wrestling belt.

[Steve]

It means the world until it all sudden it doesn't mean the world and it seems very fluid.

[Don Hahn]

Maybe that's the problem. Maybe that's the problem.

[Rosenberg]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

We don't. The other teams are doing fun stuff that you can get caught up in because it's outside of baseball fun.

[Rosenberg]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

And then there's IBM that shows up in the Stars and Stripes.

[Steve]

But you know what it is?

[Rosenberg]

Yeah, maybe, right.

[Steve]

The USA and the New York Yankees.

[Don Hahn]

How dare you?

[Steve]

Very corporate. Very. Hey, this is. It's like church where the other teams are kind of like the Mets. They mess around, they've got different jerseys. Sometimes you know, it's like the Casey Stengel Mets. And then there's the Yankees. Very, very Wall street. Very. Because the Yankees do have some fun, but not the kind of fun that you see with other good. I know, but like there's exactly.

[Rosenberg]

There's so many things. Like, you know, listen, it is a little bit. The international teams lean into their. The culture of their countries and the US is a weird melting pot where we have tons of cultures and in some ways no one culture. Right. It's a million things.

[Don Hahn]

But.

[Rosenberg]

But baseball has culture. There's American we. It's in there. Baseball is a great place where you can grab on to some American things.

[Don Hahn]

Apple pie and Chevrolet.

[Rosenberg]

That's right, baby.

[Don Hahn]

You know what I mean?

[Rosenberg]

Cracker Jacks, Big league chew something. Pretending to do dip, whatever the even silly thing is.

[Steve]

But there is silly. Why can't we tell you why?

[Don Hahn]

Because they don't. Because I was just thinking about the team captain.

[Steve]

Whether he's about that, whether it's the four nations or whether it's the Olympics. Canada was very corporate because they're supposed to win when the teams are not supposed to win. They can have fun. USA is supposed to win.

[Rosenberg]

Like they want to win.

[Steve]

But you know what I think?

[Rosenberg]

Dominican Republic, I think it's the personality.

[Don Hahn]

I think it's the personality of your leaders, man. I'm telling you, I think it's just personality.

[Rosenberg]

Leaders Judge and you said it.

[Steve]

Judge is one of the best players I've ever seen. Probably will go down greatest right hand there, right handed hitter in the history of baseball. But you said he doesn't line up a room.

[Rosenberg]

And you just said. And you just said it. You said they give the Yankee vibe. The reason it's that vibe, they're led by a very corporate Yankee. We're being honest. You said something. I don't know if you want to say this on the air, but I don't care. I'm throwing it right out there. So. So be it. Careful all right, inside. Loyalty be damned. Privacy be damned.

[Don Hahn]

You and me going off the cliff.

[Rosenberg]

Here we go. I think. I think it'll be fine.

[Steve]

Here we go.

[Rosenberg]

Hold hands.

[Don Hahn]

You got it.

[Rosenberg]

Judge isn't that different from Alonzo.

[Steve]

It's not that crazy.

[Rosenberg]

I told you I wasn't gonna really do it. I say a lot of things.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, yeah, no, there was a couple things that was really.

[Steve]

No, no, listen.

[Rosenberg]

Don is the one who by unplugged legreca.

[Don Hahn]

No, listen. I was hammering home one specific point that hasn't made the air.

[Rosenberg]

By the way, Don is the one of us who could actually forget a thing and not remember if it's off air or on air. I remember, but. No, it's true. We were having that conversation. Judge, he's like a taller, little cooler looking, but he's basically Alonzo too, like kind of nerdy. Like he's just a better ballplayer. He's physically so imposing, but he doesn't have a ton of charm.

[Don Hahn]

But what we can put to rest is he's not Derek Jeter. He is not Derek Jeter.

[Steve]

Well, a lot of people will agree with you because he doesn't get clutch hits. But by the way, Jeter wasn't always

[Rosenberg]

personality either, but he also clutch.

[Don Hahn]

But he also would do the whole. I'm not doing. That's where the judge is willing to do it because he just wants to please.

[Steve]

If they. If they said that, you know, again, I don't know if this happened or not, but if they said to Jeter, listen, talk up the wbc, like when you get interviewed, talk up, compare it to the World Series. He would be like, no, I'm good. Yeah, I'm here. Compared to the world. I'm just playing.

[Rosenberg]

Compared to, I've given you a lot more than you even deserve.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, I'm here.

[Rosenberg]

We gotta go, guys.

[Steve]

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[Rosenberg]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast. I don't want to know how the

[Don Hahn]

sausage is made, but I just want to know. It's good here. More More of Don Allen and Peter

[Rosenberg]

Weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app,

[Don Hahn]

and your smart speakers.

[Steve]

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[Don Hahn]

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[Steve]

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[Rosenberg]

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[Don Hahn]

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[Rosenberg]

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[Don Hahn]

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