Hour 3: Learn from the Knicks

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 3: “Learn from the Knicks” (May 27, 2026)

Episode Overview

In this episode, the trio—Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg—dive into the dysfunction of the New York Mets, contrasting their culture with the championship-caliber Knicks and other winning franchises. The segment is defined by cathartic Mets rants, critical discussions about leadership and accountability in modern sports, reflections on fan loyalty, and lighter digressions about Knicks fandom and upcoming guests. The passionate, sometimes comedic tone stays true to the show’s personality: opinionated, loyal, and deeply invested in New York sports.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Current State of the Mets: Culture, Accountability, and Fan Frustration

• Mets’ On-Field Struggles

  • Peter Rosenberg laments subjecting himself to another Mets game:

    “I decided to punish myself the same way somebody would put a lit cigarette out in their palm to watch the Mets last night…” (00:49)

  • Mets are significantly under .500, losing streak continues, and “May was great, they’re back to .500 in May…now 11 games under .500.” (01:51, Don La Greca)

• Celebrations Despite Losing

  • Critique of Mets celebrations (“construction vest and helmet mugging”):

    “I hate you. I hate this team.” (02:44, Peter Rosenberg)

  • Don La Greca:

    “Show some pride. Show that you care about winning games and not preening for the camera collecting your money. That's all. This is a glorified ATM machine.” (03:01)

• Broadcast Commentators Call Out Mets

  • SNY analysts (Keith, Ron, Gary) are critical of Mets management and player accountability.
  • Don:

    “These are the former champions—the analysts on your broadcast—saying, they’re not coached well, they're not managed well, they're doing dumb things. You know it’s bad when the commentators are calling you out.” (05:37)

  • Alan Hahn:

    “They have a level of pride about that jersey and about that franchise, that when they see something like that, they can’t not call it out.” (06:06)

• Lack of Accountability and Leadership

  • Manager Carlos Mendoza's weak postgame response:

    “I haven't talked to him...Obviously, there's going to be a conversation. He knows he made a mistake.” (07:04, Mendoza)

  • Alan's disbelief:

    “First, I haven't talked to him. What are you talking about? It's the first freaking thing I'm doing after a game like that…” (07:16)

  • Don’s take on analytics and modern MLB leadership:

    “All these managers are just stooges. Because it’s all analytics. It's all just pulling the strings, right? Nobody's coaching anybody, nobody's telling anybody what to do.” (08:07)

• Personal Anecdotes About Accountability

  • Don recalls a high school baseball lesson where a coach shamed him for a mistake—contrasting with the lack of such direct coaching in today's MLB (08:35–09:13).
  • Critical of Mets’ organizational priorities:

    “It’s never been about winning with this team. Let's get Soto. We'll steal him from the Yankees. Is he a fit? Is he a winner? I don't know. But I got this money. I'll throw it at him...” (09:13)

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2. The Knicks and the Blueprint for a Winning Culture

• Knicks as a Model Franchise

  • Don:

    “Take a look at what the Knicks are doing. They're sacrificing themselves to win games. Your superstar player took a discount so they were able to go out and get free agents. Because it’s all about winning. And now they've won 11 straight and they're on the cusp of a championship. Learn from them.” (09:54)

  • Contrasts Knicks’ culture of sacrifice and commitment with the Mets’ lack thereof.
  • “When I watch the Knicks...I see a team that wants to do anything humanly possible to win a championship. They may not win it, but it won’t be for a lack of trying.” (11:14, Don La Greca)

• Winning Teams: Vegas Golden Knights

  • Vegas described as a quick success story due to player commitment and correct roster construction—not just star-chasing (11:14–12:25).

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3. Organization, Leadership, and the Importance of Culture

• Managerial Constraints and Lack of Player Leadership

  • Alan Hahn on modern coaches:

    “It’s really hard for a coach or a manager in baseball to have that same effect that Billy Martin would ripping Reggie Jackson off the field...But you know what you can do? There’s no leader on that [Mets] team.” (13:35)

  • Met clubhouse described as rudderless:

    “It’s a rudderless ship.” (14:19, Rosenberg)

  • The Yankees Comparison:

    • Alan:

      “When Jazz did something goofy [...] the first guy to walk up to him was Aaron Judge and then Stanton…Boone doesn’t have to do that because he’s got guys that can and will.” (14:21–14:52)

    • Point: Mets lack peer-driven accountability.

• Legacy of Leadership: The 1986 Mets

  • Discussion about leadership presence on past champion teams (Keith Hernandez, Gary Carter).
  • Peter:

    “Keith got into a fist fight with Darryl Strawberry on picture day.” (16:40)

  • Conclusion: “There was a standard, something he believed in enough to say, I've had it with you.” (16:43, Alan Hahn)

• Culture of Not Embarrassing Yourself

  • Peter (about the Yankees):

    “They're the one organization, the only one in town, and certainly the only one of the teams that he follows that never embarrasses you. They never embarrass you. They're always good. They may not win, but they're always good. That’s part of the culture…” (17:20)

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4. Mets Management, Future, and Fan Loyalty

• Mendoza Responds to Broadcast Criticism

  • Mendoza insists accountability exists in the Mets clubhouse (18:41).

  • Peter:

    “Well, he should [sound concerned], because he sounds like a dope. You're not concerned about it? Your team's 11 games under .500. You don't know how to play the game of baseball. Your starting pitcher doesn't cover home plate. My son knows how to do that.” (19:11)

  • Don, on accountability:

    “Whatever you're doing, if you're whipping them with chains, whatever, they still go out the next day and do it again. So nothing's working.” (19:34)

  • “The Mets are the drunk old man at the bar. Not even trying. Didn't even dress well...They vomit on their shirt.” (20:30–20:37)

• Futility and Generational Fan Suffering

  • Peter, comically fatalistic:

    “When I'm dead soon and they can hang the 21:30 World Series pennant on my grave, my great, great, great grandson will put it on the grave.” (21:12)

  • Alan on family split between Yankees and Mets:

    “I'm so glad to be a Yankee fan. My parents, my sister, all Mets fans. The whole damn family.” (22:24)

• Should the Mets Fire Stearns?

  • Caller Dan asks about David Stearns’ job security if the Mets finish under .500.

  • Peter:

    “I think there's a good possibility...Now if I had to bet, I would say no just because I think Steve Cohen really waited so long for this guy. But you have to respond, right?” (28:48)

  • Discussion of Juan Soto’s opt-out clause and what it means for Mets’ future (29:12–30:46).

  • Alan:

    “How do you not—and then realize your culture is dead? It's not dying, it's dead.” (30:46)

• Excuses, Injuries, and the Nature of Winners

  • “Losers lose and winners win. Right. It seems like the losers have the injuries that are catastrophic. The winners find a way to overcome it.” (32:13, Rosenberg)
  • Pondering hiring Theo Epstein and giving him team equity to fix the Mets; discussion about Cohen’s decision-makers (32:13–33:55).

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5. Knicks Updates & Celebration

• Philanthropy: Knicks Give Back

  • Alan shares news: Knicks are donating “hundreds of free tickets to underprivileged youth throughout New York City” for the NBA Finals—specifically through the Garden of Dreams Foundation (26:38).
  • Peter:

    “They’ll be fans for life...That is such a nice thing to do...Smart too.” (28:13–28:20)

• Upcoming Show Guests

  • Announcement: Mark Ronson (Oscar/Grammy winner, Knicks fan) will appear in-studio the next day (34:18–35:58).
  • Lively conversation about Ronson’s family ties, music career, and Knicks fandom.

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6. Memorable Quotes & Comic Relief

• “Make an effort to win. How does the construction hat make you win? You know what it makes you look like?”

  “A toolbox.” (12:42, Alan Hahn)

• Peter’s comparison of Mets fandom:

  “It's like my father [handed me the Mets]. I inherited a banana...now it’s just rotten and stinks.” (21:12)

• Don’s classic:

  “Just take the L. Just take the L.” (42:57, referencing being wrong and not making excuses)

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Notable Timestamps

• 00:49: Rosenberg’s “punishing” himself by watching the Mets; starts the rant.
• 02:44–03:01: Construction vest/helmet celebration fury.
• 05:37–06:06: SNY broadcast team’s rare public criticism of Mets’ management and effort.
• 06:58–07:44: Mendoza’s weak postgame response; lack of urgency.
• 08:35–09:13: Don’s personal accountability anecdote from high school baseball.
• 09:54–12:25: Why the Mets (and other losing teams) should learn from the Knicks and Golden Knights.
• 13:35–14:50: Discussion of lack of leadership in the Mets compared to the Yankees.
• 17:20–18:09: The value of not embarrassing your fans—'Yankees don't bottom out.'
• 18:41: Mendoza's second response about team accountability.
• 20:30–20:49: “Mets as the drunk old man at the bar”—comic analogy for team futility.
• 26:38–28:20: Knicks donate NBA Finals tickets to underprivileged youth.
• 29:12–33:55: Stearns’ job security, Soto’s opt-out, and potential front office changes.
• 34:18–36:15: Mark Ronson appearance announcement and discussion.
• 42:57: Don's “take the L” catchphrase.

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Tone & Language

• Passionate: Frequent outbursts and rants, especially from Don and Peter.
• Cynical Humor: Self-deprecation about Mets fandom, biting analogies (“drunk old man at the bar,” “toolbox”).
• Nostalgic: Stories about “the way it used to be,” reverence for 1986 Mets, Yankees’ consistent dignity.
• Unfiltered: Criticism of players, coaches, and executives is direct and sometimes colorful.

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For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

• Expect an impassioned takedown of the Mets franchise and their losing culture.
• Hear real talk about what it takes to build a winning team—leadership, accountability, and sacrifice—using the Knicks and Golden Knights as blueprints.
• Enjoy humor and camaraderie as the hosts commiserate over the pains of Mets loyalty, with jokes that lighten the mood.
• Get updates on Knicks Finals ticket philanthropy and preview of high-profile upcoming guests.

This hour is a must-listen for any NYC sports fan seeking catharsis, comic relief, and a glimpse of hope through the Knicks’ current run.

Transcript

[Alan Hahn]

So good, so good, so good.

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[Podcast Announcer]

This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don La Greca]

That sounds like heaven to me.

[Podcast Announcer]

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

[Peter Rosenberg]

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

[Don La Greca]

It's tolly time.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Mets finish up their series with the Reds coverage immediately following us on 880 at 6 30. And the Yankees are in Kansas City for the Royals at 7:40. Tullamore Dew, the original triple distilled, triple blended and triple cast matured Irish whiskey. Sure to grab a Tullamore Dew, try the new Tullamore Dew, honey. During today's action, glasses up to enjoying Tullamore Dew responsibly. So I decided to punish myself the same way somebody would put a lit cigarette out in their palm to watch the Mets last night because the hockey didn't start till 9. Basketball didn't start till 8:30. So I'm watching. So get home, have dinner. I'm going to watch the Mets.

[Alan Hahn]

Why would you do that?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, cause it's my team. And again, well, you know what, you're right. My father's looking down, saying, son, man, give it up. Let it go.

[Alan Hahn]

Walk away, walk away.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But I can't. So watching a game, mets are down 6 nothing after, you know the debacle earlier where, listen, Peterson gave him innings but he didn't cover home plate. We're going to get into that in a second. They lose their fifth in a row. All right, so now this older May was great. They're back to.500 in May.

[Don La Greca]

All right, so they're 11 games under.500.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They're done or they're cooked. All right, it's over.

[Alan Hahn]

Don. Going into the weekend, I believe they had the exact same record through the same amount of game that they had two years ago right before omg and all the Grimace stuff and everything, like they were right there. But it just. It's not the same. It just doesn't have the same feel, right?

[Don La Greca]

No, it doesn't.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Because everybody's hurt. Nobody's playing well.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

It's not good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's just. It's awful, okay? And Mendoza still has a job. Although what you're starting to see now is things are going to be beginning to crumble. Down six nothing. Bottom of the sixth inning. Soto hits a three. A two run home run. Make it six two now. You're not dead. It's still early enough in the game, but still you're. You're 10 games under.500. You're losing six nothing. You make it six two, and then they do this stupid construction vest and

[Don La Greca]

helmet mugging for the cameras. And I'm just like. I'm like, I hate you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I hate this team.

[Commercial Announcer]

Hate him.

[Peter Rosenberg]

How would you do that? And that's why I could never be a manager or general manager because what I would do is I would have just taken it off of them.

[Don La Greca]

Stop it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This is ridiculous. We're losing by four runs.

[Don La Greca]

Show some pride. Show that you care about winning games and not preening for the camera collecting your money. That's all. This is a glorified ATM machine.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So does a Merc.

[Don La Greca]

Okay? Plain and simple. And I live with it. I knew it from the second he got here. I was just hoping they can win with his numbers. But clearly it's like for you to be able to do that, for you

[Peter Rosenberg]

to be the best player on the

[Don La Greca]

team and think it's appropriate to mug for the camera with your stupid vest and construction hat on, which is insulting to construction workers who actually do something.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Sure.

[Don La Greca]

And you're down four runs in the sixth inning and you're double digits under.500.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You should be embarrassed.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

Okay?

[Don La Greca]

Embarrassed.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And I've been saying this for a long time. So I'm in and out of the game. Earlier in the contest, Peterson doesn't cover home play. Gets hammered by Howie on radio. And then I find out that Ron Darling went after Mendoza during the broadcast. He says, I don't understand. Really tells me that coaches really don't have as much influence on the players as. As they think they have because someone should rip someone at some point. But they don't because they don't want to upset anyone.

[Don La Greca]

You have to back up bases every single time.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It might be, but not addressed the way it should be. Because Gary asked him, do you think it'll be addressed after the game? Because if it were addressed, it wouldn't happen. It happens every game. We just don't point it out.

[Don La Greca]

Ron Darling champion ripping the Mets on the SNY broadcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now fast forward to later on in the game. They're showing a highlight of the Soto home run that Kind of recap. It's 7:2 at this point. And they're just recapping how the Mets got their runs.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So Keith, again, champion in St. Louis and in New York, says, oh, Mike, Francesca is going to like that when they, when they show the construction. Yeah, all that garbage. And like, Gary's like, what? And he says, oh, he, he mentioned it on his podcast that he doesn't like the whole construction worker thing. And then they're going to break. They're actually playing the music out of break. And you hear, you hear Keith say, you know, he's not wrong.

[Don La Greca]

Like just a throwaway line. Like, oh, yeah, I agree with him. I agree with him. So Keith thinks you're dumb, you know, Gary, Ron thinks you guys have no

[Peter Rosenberg]

idea what you're doing.

[Don La Greca]

These are the former champions. The analysts on your broadcast saying, they're not coached well, they're not managed well, they're doing dumb things. You know, it's bad when the commentators

[Peter Rosenberg]

are calling you out.

[Don La Greca]

This isn't the media outside. This isn't, you know, Don legrack on a sports talk show. These are guys that sny bright and they're right. And they have a right to say it because they've won. They've been there 40 years ago, but it still happened.

[Alan Hahn]

Doesn't matter. And they, they have a pride. They have a level of pride about that jersey and about that franchise, that when they see something like that, they can't not call it out. And the problem is, is all you want to know, cuz you're right. Everything about this is right. That gets to a point in the season where you say, like, even I would tell the game, ops, stop with the dopey videos and the hype stuff. Stop it. Until we get right. This stuff now makes us look worse. It doesn't make us better. Get rid of the hat, get rid of the vest, get rid of this crap. Because we're not playing baseball at the level that we. We deserve this. But that's not this generation now, Don. And after the game, I saw Mendoza, like, Mendoza, like, did the usual thing a manager does. Do we have the audio? Him, after the game said exactly what people say when they really are neutered.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right, well, here's Mendoza on Peterson not backing up home plate.

[Carlos Mendoza (Mets Manager)]

It can happen. It can happen. Obviously, he knows that. There's no excuses for it. I haven't talked to him about it. Obviously there's going to be a conversation. He knows he made a mistake.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, yeah, there's that, too.

[Carlos Mendoza (Mets Manager)]

There's no excuses.

[Alan Hahn]

See, right there. Don't hate it.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

I hate it.

[Alan Hahn]

First, I haven't talked to him. What are you talking about? How had you not talked to him yet? It's the first freaking thing I'm doing after a game like that or even during the game. First thing I'm doing. Like we need to discuss this, like right now.

[Caller Charlie]

I'm not waiting.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

Not what they're doing.

[Alan Hahn]

Let's have a cool off moment. No, no, because I'm not cooled off and I got to go talk to the media. I got to have answers. I'm going to stick up for you. So we need to have answers right now. We need to understand what the hell are you thinking right there. And there's a.

[Don La Greca]

And you're right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You can't call the player out. And the dugout gets picked up by the camera. You remember what happened to the Brian Dabel when he went after Daniel Jones? Yeah, but you have a 10 minute cooling down period before the manager has to speak to the media.

[Don La Greca]

Go talk to him. I talked to him. Told him it's inexcusable.

[Alan Hahn]

It's the worst thing to say. He knows. If he knows, then why did it happen?

[Don La Greca]

Doesn't know because it. And there's no accountability because you're a stooge. All these managers are just stooges right there because it's all analytics. It's all just pulling the strings, right? Nobody's coaching anybody, nobody's telling anybody what to do. And yes, they should know by the time they get to the majors. And Peterson's not a kid. But you know what? There's a way to play the game. And if you don't play it right, you get told, when I went back to high school, I'll remember it till the day I die.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Might have told the story on the air.

[Don La Greca]

I'm at first base, ground ball to second.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This is high school.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

I remember the story.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Go ahead.

[Don La Greca]

And instead of getting in a rundown, at least making sure the guy that

[Peter Rosenberg]

hit the ball to second save it first.

[Don La Greca]

I, I try to run through the second baseman, try to knock the ball out of his glove.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm out.

[Don La Greca]

And he gets the double play.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So my father, when we went to every game, walks over to me. I'm in the dugout, but there was a fence, so he was able to talk to me. He explains to me why I shouldn't do that. He gets interrupted by Coach o' Brien who gets in my face and goes,

[Alan Hahn]

you don't do that.

[Don La Greca]

You've been taught not to. Do that right in my face.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right in front of my dad, of course.

[Don La Greca]

Made me feel 2 inches tall. I'm a 58 year old man. I was 17 years old. It still sticks with me and I'll teach it to my son. Because you still learn the game. But these guys don't learn the game because they're just collecting their money and playing for a garbage losing culture organization that cares more about the flashing lights between innings and the fireworks and a billionaire owner that wants to build a casino around the stadium and having all the bells and whistles. Since the start of this organization, it's never been about winning with this team. Let's get Soto. We'll steal him from the Yankees. Is he a fit? Is he a winner? I don't know. But I got this money. I'll throw it at him. Will he fit in the culture of the team? Will he help us win? Doesn't matter. We took him from the Yankees. We'll sell tickets. Let's get a manager that the strings are being pulled by another guy that came from a small market and he doesn't know how to build a team. He's clearly showing you that every day. But the Met fans, they're all over social media. It's still early. It's only. Stop it. The team stinks. The organization stinks. The owner doesn't know what he's doing. The general manager is way in over his head. And the manager, God love him, I'm sure he's a good manager. You're not letting him manage because they're stupid analytics. Because games are played on paper now. It doesn't mean about winning. Take a look at what the Knicks are doing. They're sacrificing themselves to win games. Your superstar player took a discount. So they were able to go out and get free agents. Because it's all about winning. And now they've won 11 straight and they're on the cusp of a championship. Learn from them. The Vegas Golden Knights are going to the Stanley Cup Final for the third time in nine years. They've existed for nine years. They're going to the Stanley Cup Final for. For the third time. The Rangers have gone to the Stanley Cafado three times since 79. The Islanders have gone 0 since 83. The Devils 0 since 03 or 1 since 03. Because the Vegas Golden Knights.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

Take a look at their roster.

[Don La Greca]

It wasn't until recently they went out and got Eichel and they went out and got Marner. They went out and got guys to block shots. They Go out and get guys that are committed to win, and now all they do is win. Oh, no, let's just get superstars. Doesn't matter if they know what the hell, if they can handle New York. It doesn't matter if they know how they. What they're doing or if they can win. Let's just assemble players off of paper and cross our fingers and hope the numbers are right instead of building a culture of winning. Because it should be in your blood, it should be in your DNA. You should want it more than oxygen to win. And when I watch the Knicks, that's what I see, Alan. I see a team that wants to do anything humanly possible to. To win a championship. They may not win it, but it won't be for a lack of trying. It's not about tickets. It's not about jersey sales. It's not about trying to one up the other team in town. It's about winning. Creating a winning culture. You just don't say it like Rex Ryan. Oh, play like a jet. What does that mean? It means nothing because you're a loser organization that doesn't know what they're doing. Start learning how to win and get players that know how to win and. And commit themselves to win and would rather die than lose. Guess what?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Then you'll start winning.

[Don La Greca]

Until then, go get your construction hat and your jacket. Think about the time it took to come up with an idea of what to do after you hit a home run instead of figuring out how to hit more home runs. Make an effort to win. How does the construction hat make you win? You know what it makes you look like?

[Alan Hahn]

A toolbox.

[Don La Greca]

Honestly, I'm disgusted by this team and I'm disgusted by the losing because it's hard to win. It's easy to lose. It's the easy way out because you don't do the work. You know when we do crappy shows, when we don't meet properly, when we're ill prepared, and then the shows are garbage and we look at each other and go, why did that show suck? You know why? Because I didn't watch the game. I showed up late for work. I didn't talk to my teammates, I didn't look at the text messages and the show is garbage. When you're prepared, the show ends up being great. It's not hard. Guys do the work and the Mets don't do the work. And all these losing teams don't do the work. And you wonder why all these teams win all the time. Because they figure out there's a formula. And most of it just comes down to the want to and the sacrifice and the commitment to win. Let's get going here, guys.

[Alan Hahn]

When. You know also that in professional sports now, it's really hard for a coach or a manager in baseball to have that same effect that Billy Martin would in ripping Reggie Jackson off the field and having it out with him in the dugout right after a bad play. It's just. You know, or. Or not. Or blowing off the sign to bunt and all those things. You can't do that today. We know that. But you know what you can do. And this is the other part of what happened with the Mets this offseason and where they are now. And I actually think it was happening last season, too, when they were tailspinning. There's no leader on that team. There's nobody to bring that up in the dugout.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's a rudderless ship.

[Alan Hahn]

And I hate to do the Yankee metcon comparison, but it's only because it's the one thing I did see. Jazz did something goofy in a game one time, and I remember when he went back to the dugout, the first guy to walk up to him was Aaron Judge and then Stanton. And it wasn't that they were calling him out. It was not demonstrative, and it was backs turned because they know the cameras are on. They knew he was going to the bat rack and they went up to him and you could tell they were having a conversation.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, because it's a joke.

[Alan Hahn]

He didn't move. And he knew.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

I got to sit here and I got to take the. It might have been. It might have been Volpe. Now it might have been Volpe, Maybe not Jazz, but I remember the moment specifically because I said, see, Boone doesn't have to do that because he's got guys that can and will. And the Mets, last year, when the wheels were falling off, you could tell there was something wrong in that clubhouse because no one was doing anything.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And what's the answer? Let's get rid of all the bad players that wanted.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, the one guy that wanted to be a leader and Brandon Nimmo, they got rid of him. He wanted to be a leader. Just nobody wanted to follow him. But you don't have that on this team. A guy or a group or a core that's going to hold people accountable. That's not going to happen. You brought up the Knicks Brunson in a huddle during a game, and I'm trying to remember. It was. I think it was game One. In fact, in that third quarter when they were losing the game, Brunson was standing up in the huddle, having it out in front of his teammates and just kind of getting everybody to stay locked in, stay locked in. He wasn't talking about winning the game at that point. He was talking about, look, we were off for a while. We got to knock the rust off. We got to stay in this thing. We can't let go. Take this to the end, and at least if we finish the game strong, we can carry it into game two. But he was not letting go. He was refusing to let anybody sort of have that bad body language of, well, I guess we're gonna lose this game. Never give in.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's it.

[Alan Hahn]

That doesn't exist on the Mets. And chasing stars and bringing up young players is not going to fix it. Again, going back, and I'm sorry, Don, but it's because it's all coming to me. Who complained? Keith. Right, Ron. Okay. Who were the leaders back then on those teams that tried to keep that clubhouse together that were up? We talked about Gary Carter only a couple of days ago. These were guys that in that clubhouse were like, this is how you're supposed to play. This is how you win.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Keith got into a fist fight with Darryl Strawberry on picture day.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, because there was a standard, something he believed in that he believed in enough to say, I've had it with you. You need to know about this. The Mets.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now, I know the Yankees haven't won, but I was having this conversation with Jake Aspen at the last Nick home game.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He came, we were both in the suite, and he was telling me that he's a Jet fan, Nick fan, Yankee fan, and an Islander fan. Those are his teams.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And I was like, isn't it nice to know, even though the Yankees haven't really only won once in his memory, Right. Because he's a young kid, they're the one organization, the only one in town, and certainly the only one of the teams that he follows that never embarrasses you. They never embarrass you. They're always good. They may not win, but they're always good. That's part of the culture of not ever bottoming out. I know Yankee fans don't appreciate it because it's all about the ring, but what Allen just talked about, addressing a non Yankee type thing, because it's about winning.

[Don La Greca]

They haven't gotten the ring yet.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But there's something to be said of all nine professional sports franchises, WNBA and MLS aside, is that every One of them at some point embarrassed you. Giants, Jets, Islanders, Rangers, Mets, they all.

[Don La Greca]

Nets all embarrass you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yankees don't, because there's a culture there they just haven't gotten over the top.

[Don La Greca]

I long for that culture, Peter. I long for my team to not embarrass me.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And they just continually get it wrong all the time. Now, Carlos Mendoza, I guess after all this stuff was talked about today, ah, now we have a new press because now, you know, he was called out by his own network about the coaching staff's message getting through to the players following the Peterson, here's Carlos today.

[Carlos Mendoza (Mets Manager)]

No, not at all. I mean, you hate to see it, obviously, you know, it can't happen. It can't happen, especially at this level. You know, that's something that physical mistakes are going to happen, but mental mistakes, especially when you're not playing well. But as far as the messaging, you know, from my end, I know for sure in the coaching staff and the way we hold people accountable, it doesn't necessarily have to be in front of the camera. But as far as the messaging is received, like, there's not concern there.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, see, two things.

[Alan Hahn]

Expect him to say it is concerned.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, he should, because he sounds like a dope. You're not concerned about it. Your team's 11 games under.500. You don't know how to play the game of baseball. You, starting pitcher doesn't cover home plate. My son knows how to do that. If the messaging is getting through them, why did they continuously do it?

[Don La Greca]

And how are they held accountable?

[Peter Rosenberg]

How does anybody get benched? I love that. Oh, I love. They always do that. Well, it doesn't have to be in front of the camera.

[Don La Greca]

Well, whatever you're doing, if you're whipping them with chains, whatever, they still go out the next next day and do it again. So nothing's working.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. And. And then you wonder why, like, it's a miracle they win. It really is. It's a miracle. But every once in a while, they run into it. 24, 22, 16, 15, 20, 86, 73, 69. That's it. Every once in a while they run into it, you know what? Kind of like a drunk at a bar. Every once in a while you go home with a woman. Every once in a while, you hit on all of them. Eventually somebody's gonna say yes. Yeah, I'd rather be the team where they're all gathered around me, interested in what I have to say. I wish I had a retort instead

[Don La Greca]

of, hey, want to come home with Me?

[Peter Rosenberg]

You're just the drunk old man at the bar. That's what the Mets are, the drunk old man at the bar.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

Not even trying. Didn't even dress well.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

Got sloshed. They vomit on their shirt, right? There's a little bit of vomit on this.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You can smell it.

[Alan Hahn]

Hey. Hey. Somebody get a cab, get the Mets home.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

No, no, we're staying.

[Alan Hahn]

Somebody make sure.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

No, we're staying. Trust me, something good's still gonna happen. Hang around to the end of the night, you know?

[Peter Rosenberg]

What's that like? Like, really, like, cheap. Yeah, they're drinking rock and rye. Like. Yeah, they're not even drinking top shelf. No, you embarrass me. And it's only because my father handed this down to me. It's like my father. I inherited a banana. It was a nice, ripe, green banana when he gave it to me.

[Alan Hahn]

Rotten.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now it's just rotten and stinks. See, I'm stuck with it because it's my team. Because I'm loyal, you know? And when I'm dead soon and they can hang the 21:30 World Series pennant on my grave, my great, great, great grandson will put it on the grave. Say, dad, they did it. Great, great, great, great. Graham. Pappy. They finally won the World Series. They didn't soil themselves. Pappy.

[Don La Greca]

Pat.

[Alan Hahn]

Pat.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Pat. Pat.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

Pat.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Pat. Pappy.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

Can you believe it?

[Peter Rosenberg]

You think we'll still be in tombs then? Or you just think they'll just genes in our bodies? I don't know.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

I don't know if baseball will be around anymore.

[Alan Hahn]

You know what?

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

It might be a different sport. It'll be like. It'll be some others we've never heard of.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What was the. What was that?

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

Did you hear the metsketball?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Did you hear basketball?

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

Did you hear the Mets won the championship? A space fart.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Space fart?

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

What's space fart?

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, you know, it's a sport they'd be good at.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

It's our. It's our Internet. Exactly. It's our international pastime. Space fart. And the number one team is the Mets.

[Don La Greca]

You know, they win every time.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You get points only when air comes out. If something else comes out, they take points away.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

No one can fart like the Mets.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Nothing. Oh, you kidding?

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

No, like you dream about. They had diarrhea like you dream about.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Nobody could clear a room like the Mets.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

Chocolate soft serving.

[Alan Hahn]

That's why I'm so glad to be a Yankee fan. My parents, my sister, all Mets fans. The whole damn family. Yeah, that.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

You were a sellout. And I think you're better than your family.

[Alan Hahn]

And I watched it going, no, I'm not doing it.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

You know who he is.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm not doing this.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

You realize that he's just the Dave legreca of his family.

[Alan Hahn]

What?

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's all Allen is.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

You're the Dave legreca.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's the cowboy fan. He was the Yankee fan.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

He saw everything his dad did and said, you know what? Big middle finger. I'm going the other way.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's you, not me. But some people analyze the situation and say that he killed my dad. I wouldn't say that.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

It's been speculated. It's been bantied about.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's been bounced around Dave.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, but yeah, with all that going

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

on, at the end of the day,

[Peter Rosenberg]

we're trying to get a ring, right? Oh, I see what you do really well.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

Or are you trying to getting.

[Alan Hahn]

We're getting a ring later, so maybe

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

you want to right now, though.

[Don La Greca]

You want to go through the Amazon right now.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, that's conversation feels like it's going into infinity.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, wait a minute.

[Alan Hahn]

But if you have Xfinity, you already

[Peter Rosenberg]

know I messed that one up.

[Alan Hahn]

ESPN is part of your TV lineup with live games, daily sports expert analysis. And now the ESPN Unlimited plan is available at no additional cost, giving you access to additional ESPN content in. Get this, guys, the ESPN app, on demand programming and originals to explore. Visit xfinity.com your subscriptions to activate ESPN Unlimited access. Then start watching in the ESPN app. More from ESPN all in One place.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's child abuse to hand this to Marco. It's child abuse.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

It is.

[Alan Hahn]

I wouldn't do it. Let him pick.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

You can't, actually.

[Alan Hahn]

If he just follows mom and goes Giants, how could you fight? How could you fight? No, they stay now.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right? But he'll see an occasional win. I just hate them. I hate them.

[Alan Hahn]

But every fiber of your being.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And you know what? It's a character. Flawless. People look at it as, oh, Don is strong. He still sticks with the Mets. No, I'm just a. I'm a walking, talking moron. You could.

[Don La Greca]

There's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

There's plenty of stuff out there that Don misspoke here. Don said this wrong. Don screwed this up. No, he's still a Met fan. That. That. That. That wins it. That. That's the drop the mic moment.

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[Don La Greca]

Yep, the whole season.

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[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

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[Podcast Announcer]

O'ReillyAuto.com thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg Podcast.

[Commercial Announcer]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Podcast Announcer]

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

[Peter Rosenberg]

Subscribe to ESPN New York on YouTube, stream the full weekday lineup live, watch complete replays or catch up fast with can't miss highlights. Jump into the live chat, react in real time and make your voice part of the Show. Subscribe to ESPN New York on YouTube now and stay locked in so you never miss a moment. Let's get to your calls at 1-800-919-3776.

[Alan Hahn]

Before we do that, Don, please, I do have some very interesting information here from the Knicks regarding Finals tickets. So the Knicks just announced they're donating hundreds of free tickets to underprivileged youth throughout New York City. Hundreds of free tickets, by the way, to the NBA Finals. The Garden of Dreams foundation youth will receive 250 tickets per game. So again, that of course, at least 500 tickets. If there's a three and four only and if there's a game six, that's 750 free tickets. That's pretty cool. So the Knicks are doing this for the underserved New York families affiliated with the Gardner Dreams foundation, which we all have worked with and we all know does great things in New York City with the MSG family companies and the things that they provide of course for the Garden of Dreams foundation that we have seen throughout a lot of the kids who have been positively impacted by this. So among all the of course wealthy and happy people that will be spending money on NBA Finals which is a rare occurrence here in New York City, you'll also see hundreds of free tickets that are given out to some kids in the area which would be again that's what you also want to see. Well, you know you're going to have the who's who sitting around that building and in that place to have some kids from underserved communities in our city being able to attend these games and to be a part of something like this, that's a really cool thing. So just wanted to get that out

[Peter Rosenberg]

there and they'll be fans for life. I mean as hot as the NBA is right now, as hot as the Knicks are right now, that is such a nice thing to do.

[Alan Hahn]

Smart too.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And they'll be fans for life. That is awesome. Let's go to Dan in Holbrook. You're on ESPN New York. What's up Dan?

[Caller Dan]

What's up boys? Don, I gotta commend you on your Mets rant just before man and you were spot. Can I preface my take with a quick question? Do you guys or Don, I guess specifically since you're the Mets. If the Mets missed the playoffs or worse finish under 500. Do you think David Sterns is gone?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think there's a good possibility of it now. Now if I had to bet I would say no just because I think Steve Cohen really waited so long for this guy. But you have to respond, right? I mean like 83 wins last year. You make all these changes.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And then you Finish double digits under 500. Missed the play. I just don't know how you can move forward and still be able to keep fans and still have any chance of being relevant.

[Caller Dan]

I know the fans will be clamoring for it but anyway my take was going to be is that and no one's been talking about this for like the past like three weeks. I've been brought bringing up to a couple friends. You can look it up on sport track. Juan Soto has a. Has an opt out in 2030.

[Alan Hahn]

He does.

[Caller Dan]

And the and the Mets can nullify it by adding I'm looking at it right now 5 million more a year to his contract for the rest of the contract.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Correct.

[Caller Dan]

So is that like, is I willing to kind of bet the house that Juan Soto is not going to play out his 15 year contract with the Mets, especially if David Stearns is gone. And then you throw in the. The wherewithal of a looming CBA negotiation next season. I don't know what to expect. But if they don't bounce back this year, I really don't know what the future.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And the funny thing, Dan, I know Soto got hurt, but. But he puts up numbers. He does. And I'm not. I'm not saying that he's the reason they're in the situation that they're in, but it's not helping. There's no leadership there. Let's not forget about the rift he has with Lindor, who's still under contract for another, what, seven years? Like, at some point you say, you know what? This isn't working. I'm not going to give you a raise. And if 2030 were not any better, you know, maybe we part ways. But he brings up an interesting point. And would Cohen fire Stearns? If I had to bet, I'd say no. I think he'd probably try to be patient. But, dude, I don't know how you look at this and go, this isn't working, man. It's just not.

[Alan Hahn]

I would think it's something like, you got to realize that you made major moves. 2 years plus a trade deadline, and none of it worked. And the only thing that has worked was the obvious one, which is, of course, soda. Yeah, that one was. I mean, you and I could have made that happen. So how do you not and then realize your culture is deep dead? It's not dying, it's dead.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know what I would do? And this is not my money.

[Alan Hahn]

This is. This is one more thing I got to remind everybody. This is not isolated to this season, Dom. This was happening August and September last year. They were a dead stick at the end of the season.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's why he made the changes.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, but that's the thing. You change the players and the culture's still the same. Something went. Something else is wrong in that place.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now they're going to tell you they had injuries. Stop at the injuries, okay? Everybody had injuries, all right? Polanco hasn't worked out. Simeon hasn't worked out. The only thing I can say that really kind of worked is it looked like Clay Holmes moving him to be a starter work, but.

[Alan Hahn]

And then he got hurt.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

Kimbrell's doing okay now, but even the things that. The thing is, you have to score those things, like when something starts to work and the one that starts to work gets hurt. It didn't work.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It didn't work.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

Right. That's the only way to score.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Let's not make injuries always.

[Don La Greca]

No.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

And we haven't with the Yankees, have we? I blame the Yankees for their injuries. I said, at a certain point, year after year, you have injuries to key players. Whether it's your training staff or the players you're deciding on, you're getting it wrong. So it is what it is.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Losers lose and winners win. Right. It seems like the losers have the injuries that are catastrophic. The winners find a way to overcome it and make it part of, you know, the allure of their season. It's enough already. Again, it's not my money. He would never do this. But if I was Steve Cohen and I really cared about winning and I'm. And I'm a billionaire. How many times over. The whole talk about why Theo Epstein is not an option to run the team is because he wants. He wants ownership. You know what? I'll give you 10%. I'll give you a piece of the team.

[Alan Hahn]

Might need more.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Help me out. Yeah. If I have to give up half

[Alan Hahn]

if I'm Theo, because I believe he's back with the Red Sox. But in. I think that's where he is. If I'm him and I'm going. I'm going there. First of all, nothing's going well in Boston either, by the way. But.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, but he's not making all the decisions there.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And he did slay the dragon in Boston. And Chicago.

[Alan Hahn]

And Chicago. The two places that. Yeah. Like, they never. They didn't win in a century.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

He's a senior advisor. You said in.

[Alan Hahn]

Part owner of the Fenway.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

Part owner of the Fenway.

[Alan Hahn]

He's part of the whole. He's Fenway sports. Okay. So he's got soccer. Team soccer.

[Peter Rosenberg]

There's a lot of stuff.

[Commercial Announcer]

I think he's got Liverpool involved in there, too.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So he's not going anywhere.

[Alan Hahn]

So he's. Yeah, that's why I said you'd have to do more than 10%.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But, you know, and the other thing, too, is he's married to David Stearns. Right. Again, no offense to Steve Cohen. He's not a baseball expert. He's not a baseball savant. Who alerted him to Stearns? He didn't fall in love with him watching. He wasn't sitting there at his satellite dish at home going, wow, this brewers team's really good. Who runs them? I want that guy. I'm sure Somebody whispered in his ear.

[Don La Greca]

Who is that somebody? And stop talking to him.

[Peter Rosenberg]

How about that?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. Who's giving him advice?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, well, who's, who's the, you know, the Isaiah Thomas in his ear, Right?

[Don La Greca]

Who, who is that guy?

[Caller Dan]

Wow.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right? Remember all those years, classic reference. Who's the guy whispered to Cohen's or go get that guy.

[Alan Hahn]

That's a classic reference.

[Podcast Announcer]

Wow.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

Guys, this, this just in officially.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

In our quest to have big time Knicks alum and fans as a part of the program. You know, I know this is going to disappoint John Winthrop, who prefer that we do a.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Can you give me a Eddie Curry?

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

He would prefer a phoner with Eddie Curry.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

But tomorrow we're going to have the Oscar winner, Mark Ronson in studio.

[Don La Greca]

In studio, you know, who's all of

[Peter Rosenberg]

a sudden interested in Don Ana Rosenberg tomorrow. Right?

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

That's right. Nancy Leg reckon.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Her husband's on at four hours a day. But you know what?

[Don La Greca]

Hello.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

He's a tall, handsome drink of water. And we know, we know how Nancy makes her choices.

[Alan Hahn]

I love it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Shut up. Marco in jail. I'm putting on 880. Be quiet for a little bit.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

Watch it on YouTube.

[Peter Rosenberg]

She's been watching on YouTube, you know, so.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

No, Ronson. Ronson is a big time, long time. Grew up in New York City. Nick fan. He's been. The other day, he, he, he actually plays right into the conversation we had. I think he posted on Instagram that he said, I'm dusting this off. And it was like his 99 Eastern Conference champions hat.

[Alan Hahn]

All right, let me take a gander at this.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

No, he's the real deal. Remember I went with him. He took me to the playoffs last

[Peter Rosenberg]

year and I ran. Well, actually, that was my big. No, it was, that was my flex moment when I left him and Peter at security and I just waltzed into the building.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Remember that?

[Peter Rosenberg]

That was, we were. That was a big moment for me. I don't get very many.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

Yeah, look at the picture. The first picture he has.

[Alan Hahn]

It's. He's got a picture of him wearing the NBA finals hat from 99.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

The 99 finals hat.

[Alan Hahn]

He said. Waited 27 years to wear this hat again.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

Told you the 90s are back. Yeah, he's wearing some sort of Knicks jersey from that. But no, he's a big, big fan.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And that must have been on my TV during COVID a hundred times a day. Kids love the video. He's sitting on the car.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

It's, it's, it's you know, listen, he's had a good. He's had a good run of it, Mark. The last lifetime he's been doing it. He's been.

[Alan Hahn]

He's the last. You know, I mean, listen, just to

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

give you like a little bit of prep and I think I've told you this stuff, but like, in. In terms of his connections to music, of things that you'd be interested to talk to about, because obviously the. This is under the guise of the Knicks. But you know, Alan, Don, when he starts catching wind of some of the things that he's like, connected to, his stepdad's in Foreigner, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, really? I didn't know that part.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Stepdad.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

His stepdad's in Foreigner.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

His mother in law's Meryl Streep.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, that's it.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

What? Yeah, his mother in law's Meryl Streep. His kids are Meryl's grandchildren.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Would she be around?

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

I don't. I'm not going to ask. Can you bring. Do you want me to say? Can you bring the mother in law to the program? And is she in on the Knicks? She could be a Knicks fan.

[Peter Rosenberg]

She could be.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

She had a lot of time here for a long time.

[Alan Hahn]

Come on.

[Don La Greca]

She actually forget what game it was she sang?

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

What do you mean?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think I. No, it might be, you know, I'm confusing her with Glenn Close.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

Oh, that's my fault.

[Don La Greca]

Oh, no, because Glenn Close sang the

[Peter Rosenberg]

national anthem in the Met game.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

It's way better than James. No, Glenn Close and Meryl Streep, fine.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's contemporary.

[Don La Greca]

Well, no, she's too busy.

[Peter Rosenberg]

She's probably still promoting the Devil Wears Prada too, right?

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

That's right. She's got a big one out there.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm gonna say that. She's not gonna join.

[Alan Hahn]

You need a little love.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Tell you what, I know our audience. They're going to see it.

[Alan Hahn]

You think this demo is watching that movie? We're gonna make them watch now. You know who's in that? Go ahead. Carl Anthony Towns.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

He has an appearance?

[Alan Hahn]

Yes.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

Really?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

We have to ask Mark about that. I wonder if he was aware of this, because he is a. He's a big fan. He. Mark Ronson. When he was a kid, his best friend was Julian Lennon.

[Alan Hahn]

Stop it.

[Don La Greca]

Well, that's.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

I mean, that's a drop by proxy, but he one night hanging out at their apartment building. Whatchamacallit. Where was the building where John Lennon was killed?

[Peter Rosenberg]

The Dakota.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

At the Dakota.

[Alan Hahn]

Central Park West.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

Hanging out at the Dakota with Julian Lennon. Michael Jackson came over, he, he threw water balloons out the window at people. With Michael Jackson as a kid, this is what his life was.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We might get to some.

[Alan Hahn]

No, we're gonna try to get Nick.

[Don La Greca]

We're gonna try to get some Nicks in.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But you know what, there's a lot of stuff.

[Don La Greca]

So what time tomorrow?

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

So we're deciding between, based on his schedule, 3:30 or 4:30. All right, so one of those times.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right, we're looking forward to that. More calls. 1-800-919-3776. It's the last call, crew guys, because at that point we got to shift gears and go over to enn. But you got something.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, it certainly rings a bell, does it not? I see what I did. You see what I did there? Yes, of course. This is the time everybody wants to update and upgrade their homes, right? You got a project you want to do at your house? I want to tell you about Ring's End. I have a project going on. It will be starting soon. You know, it was supposed to start already, but you know, there's a little thing getting in the way called the NBA finals. So you know, we have to hold off. But still we are working. My contractor and I are working with Ring's End because they work with pro contractors who build and remodel for a living. See, the pros trust them. So I trust them and I'm letting you know that you can too. They have premium brands and windows and doors and decking and paint and lumber and kitchens and everything you would need to update and upgrade your home. They have built the last high end product lines that all the contractors rely on. Just ask them. So they're not a national chain now,

[Peter Rosenberg]

just so you know.

[Alan Hahn]

They have regional expertise. They know the area well. They have eight full service lumber yards in Connecticut and Westchester county and 12 freestanding paint centers as well. It's a family owned and operated company since 1902 and rings end is a company that you can trust. If you can't make it to a store, by the way, Simply go to ringsend.com youm can shop [e-mail] from first

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[Podcast Announcer]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Commercial Announcer]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Podcast Announcer]

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

[Peter Rosenberg]

Let's get back to the busy phones. 1-800-919-3776.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

You would have thought Uptown Funk, wouldn't you?

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's what I would have thought.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

For a guy who hits it out of the park with the most random songs that make sense.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So am I playing it today or tomorrow?

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

Well, I would have thought right now, just out of the conversation, there was some. And by the way, that's not his only hit. You could have come with an Amy Winehouse record. You could have come with Shallow from from the movie. You could. You could have come with I'm just Ken from from Barbie.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, I can tell you this. I. You know what? I think Jacob doesn't like that song.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

You think he's out on funk.

[Alan Hahn]

First of all, coming From a top 40 format radio, I can't stand that song.

[Peter Rosenberg]

There you go.

[Alan Hahn]

It was too much playing everywhere but by the way.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

Or you could have gone with his first job. You could have played Ooh Wee featuring Mop. I mean, there's so many options you had there.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm gonna be honest. You forgot I don't know much Mark Ronson.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm sorry, but you don't know much.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

A lot of things. But you Google it and you come with things that are like, we'll talk about someone, an artist that he definitely heard of for the first time. Like that day, some 1940s artist that don mentions out of the blue and he comes back with a riff from you know what?

[Peter Rosenberg]

You're not allowed to meet him. But you know what?

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

There's no photo.

[Alan Hahn]

We love you.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

Yes.

[Alan Hahn]

Because of what you do. It was a slip. You got to take a crisp.

[Don La Greca]

No, that's the.

[Alan Hahn]

I think that's your first slip in a long time.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

I think, as Don legreco once famously screamed, just take the L. Just take

[Peter Rosenberg]

the L. That's fine. I'll take it.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

But like I said, we have a

[Peter Rosenberg]

can't stay in the song. I wasn't even thinking about coming in the song.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

We have a Grammy. We have a Grammy and Oscar winning musician coming on tomorrow. We just booked it right on the air in front of us.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, that's the thing. It's.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

Okay. Well, we have time to get it right.

[Alan Hahn]

Wow.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Let's go to Charlie in Queens. You're on ESPN New York. What's up, man?

[Caller Charlie]

Hey, guys. How's it going?

[Alan Hahn]

Good.

[Caller Charlie]

So I know you guys didn't talk about the Knicks, and obviously we're. I'm happy about the Knicks and finals, but absolutely. But like, I know the, the story's been resurfacing about the Becky Hammond stuff, and I'm gonna tell you, folks, she is basically about Jalen Brunson. And like, basically, smogars cannot. We can't win with smart guys. Well, a couple of things. First of all, she's a basketball equivalent of discriminator, like racist towards like, you know, small guard.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

She's anti. Anti small.

[Peter Rosenberg]

She was a small guard.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

She's a self hater, Don. The worst kind.

[Caller Charlie]

Like this. This is what it is. Like.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

Can I, can I explain what. Can I just really quickly explain why the comp doesn't exactly work is because the problem is when people use race, for example, and I know you're being silly, but when you use race as a reason to criticize people, it's based on no merit. It's silly. Skin color is of no significance to how one can perform. If a basketball coaching expert, if I have someone who literally is an expert at basketball, has an affinity for bigger players, not small. While there may be some sort of bias, it is based in the way they feel they can contribute to a team, but because height is actually a relevant player in basketball. You see what I'm saying, Charlie?

[Caller Charlie]

Yes. Yes. Like imagine Brunson was 64 or 6 5. Yeah. I mean, you talk about a different story. And that's. Right, that it's all about the team. And you got, I mean, this team. I mean, right now the Knicks have a squad like, you got the wings they needed. You got the center and pounds, you know, they got the bench

[Don La Greca]

two years

[Alan Hahn]

ago, it didn't look like this.

[Caller Charlie]

Seth Curry, for example. Like. Like. Like we know Steph Curry is the greatest shoe of all time. Like, I mean, the significance wins of Seth Curry is like a last championship. The middle two, who do they have? Like, Chico Durant. Like, those are gonna think. Like, it's not about one person in basketball. Like, you got LeBron James during his prime. You put him on the squad. He's. He's. She's damn good. You could play a title contender. Like, it's like in baseball. Like, I mean, Aaron, I don't know

[Peter Rosenberg]

what the hell are you talking about? I don't know if he's for it, against it.

[Don La Greca]

I'm not even sure what you circle, Don.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

You know what? I think I speak for everyone when

[Don La Greca]

I say

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

I. I don't. I don't know what you're talking.

[Alan Hahn]

You know. Well put.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They had an opinion two years ago. Get over it, man.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, he was just mad to be mad.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right?

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

So.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. But I don't know why. It's just a thing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't know. You know what?

[Alan Hahn]

I don't know why every Nick fan right now wants to catch. They want every receipt. This is not what we should focus on. Enjoy the first of all, when do you ever get this much time to enjoy success in the playoffs, knowing that there's still more to play? Like you have. You. You get to have eight days where you can feel good and not worry about the next game. No anxiety. Until when? A week from tonight, the anxiety comes back. You have a week to enjoy. Don't worry about receipts. Don't worry about any of that stuff. Just focus on the satisfaction that your team has reached this point when not too long ago, Kevin Durant said, you ain't cool and I'd rather go to Brooklyn.

[Producer or Co-host (possibly Dave Legreca)]

Think about that as a fact.

[Podcast Announcer]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't want to know how the sausage is made, man. I just want to know. It's good.

[Podcast Announcer]

Hear more of Don Allen and Peter. Weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers.

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