Hour 3: Love The Winning

Summary

Podcast Summary: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 3: Love The Winning

Release Date: March 10, 2025

---

Introduction

In the third episode of "Don, Hahn & Rosenberg," hosted by ESPN New York's Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg, the trio delves deep into the current state of the New York Yankees, exploring team dynamics, fan expectations, and the broader landscape of Major League Baseball (MLB). The episode, titled "Love The Winning," provides an engaging analysis of the Yankees' prospects for the season amidst notable roster changes and shifting fan sentiments.

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Yankees’ Season Outlook

Alan Hahn initiates the discussion by highlighting the absence of key players like Stanton and Cole, juxtaposed with the introduction of new talents such as Bellinger and Goldschmidt. He observes the general pessimism among Yankee fans, stating:

“My Yankee fan friends... they're like, this is going to be an awful season.”
[00:40]

Peter Rosenberg echoes these sentiments, noting that unlike previous seasons where fans could revel in the team's performance, the current climate is laden with skepticism. He remarks:

“I can't remember a season where the fans have just been this out on a team to where maybe you can actually sit back and enjoy yourself.”
[00:52]

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Fan Expectations vs. Team Performance

The conversation pivots to the unrealistic expectations placed on the Yankees. Don Hahn critiques the brand's perceived invincibility, especially after the disappointing World Series appearance:

“After coming off last year... the brand has definitely taken a beating.”
[01:19]

Anthony Pusick, the producer, adds perspective on the team's resilience despite setbacks:

“At least they were winning so big in Game 5... you started dreaming.”
[02:39]

The trio discusses the delicate balance between holding high standards and acknowledging the team's current challenges. Don Hahn emphasizes the unpredictable nature of the season:

“I expect them to perform at a high level and win at a high level, because that's just how I am as a fan.”
[29:00]

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Shifting Focus to Individual Performances

The hosts shift their focus to individual players, examining how emerging talents could influence the Yankees' success. Don Hahn highlights Dominguez's unexpected offensive prowess:

“Did not know Dominguez could have an epic offensive season...”
[01:19]

Peter Rosenberg underscores the importance of player development and the potential impact of injuries on the pitching rotation, expressing concerns about Garrett Cole's availability:

“Without Garrett Cole, and without Heel... I don't have a great amount of faith in Marcus.”
[05:54]

---

Expectations of Winning and Brand Identity

A heated exchange arises regarding the intrinsic link between being a Yankee fan and the expectation of winning. Peter Rosenberg challenges Don Hahn's perspective, arguing that fandom tied solely to success lacks depth:

“You don't love the team. You love the winning.”
[09:25]

Don Hahn defends his stance, asserting that the Yankees’ legacy naturally fosters high expectations:

“Because they're the Yankees, that's why.”
[06:22]

The discussion delves into whether such expectations constitute arrogance or a natural outcome of supporting a storied franchise. Peter Rosenberg contends:

“Why are you placing Yankee expectations on this team when it's not?”
[08:19]

Don Hahn maintains that maintaining high standards is inherent to the Yankees' identity:

“It is a standard of winning.”
[15:06]

---

Listener Engagement and Perspectives

The episode features calls from listeners, providing varied viewpoints on Yankees fandom and expectations. Corinne from Manasquan shares a more balanced perspective, emphasizing loyalty beyond just winning:

“If you're a die-hard fan... you've got to be with them whether they win or lose.”
[28:43]

However, Don Hahn clarifies his initial comments, reiterating his commitment to the team despite challenges:

“I will live through this year, whatever it's going to be, because that's what you do as a fan.”
[29:45]

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Broader Reflections on Sports Fandom

Towards the episode's conclusion, Peter Rosenberg reflects on sports fandom across different New York teams, comparing die-hard Yankee fans to fans of teams with less consistent success:

“It's pretty easy to be a Die Hard Yankee fan when the team's good every year.”
[32:02]

Don Hahn acknowledges the relative nature of fandom, suggesting that dedication varies among supporters:

“It's all relative.”
[32:49]

---

Conclusion

"Hour 3: Love The Winning" offers a comprehensive exploration of the New York Yankees' current season expectations, the pressure of maintaining a winning legacy, and the nuanced relationship between team performance and fan loyalty. Through candid conversations and listener interactions, Don, Hahn, and Rosenberg present a multifaceted view of what it means to support a storied franchise in today's competitive MLB landscape.

---

Notable Quotes

• Don Hahn on Yankees' World Series experience:

  “Getting to the World Series was like an exhale...”
  [01:19]

• Peter Rosenberg on the difficulty of maintaining high standards:

  “It's harder to win now than ever before.”
  [34:11]

• Anthony Pusick on fan loyalty:

  “You got to be with them whether they win or lose.”
  [28:43]

---

Note: Advertisements, intros, outros, and non-content sections have been excluded to focus solely on the episode's substantive discussions.

Transcript

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[Don Hahn]

This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg Podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That sounds like heaven to me.

[Don Hahn]

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

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now to go from, hey, we can go back to the World Series to now. No Stanton, no Cole, no heel to start the year. You got new faces like Bellinger and Goldschmidt. I just, just my Yankee fan friends, which I have quite a few, including Anthony Pusick, our producer, and social media that Yankee fans are just ready to punt. They're like, this is going to be an awful season. So I can't remember a season where the fans have just been this out on a team to where maybe you can actually sit back and enjoy yourself because if they do actually exceed expectations that you can have some fun.

[Don Hahn]

It's the weirdest thing, right? Because you don't expect it and maybe some other resource, like, emerges and wow, like, did not. Did not know, like, Dominguez could have an epic offensive season and you'd forgive, like, a couple of missed, you know, pop ups in spring training. But if he just hits the way, you know, if he's the Martian, if he hits the way everybody thought he was going to hit and he has that kind of offense and you have him in judge, and suddenly now you found a combo that you didn't know existed. Because everybody told me that, wait till you see this guy. He's an unbelievable offensive talent. You know, those are the little things that you're hoping to grasp onto. But there's still a part of you that after coming off last year, getting to the World Series, being embarrassed in the World Series, being mocked after the World Series, you know, the brand has definitely taken a beating. And then Juan Soto deciding, I don't really want to be a Yankee, I'd rather be a Met. Like, there's like, this has not been an off season of pounding your chest. Like, here, we're back. The Yankees are back. I got to be honest with you, getting to the World Series was like an exhale and what did it take to just to get past Cleveland? Like that wasn't an easy. Like that was. You had to have some epic at bats to get to the World Series. And then you get there and you just knew you were being outclassed. You knew it.

[Anthony Pusick]

Yeah, but at least that. At least. Even though you knew you were being outclassed and in the end you just lost in five.

[Don Hahn]

That was a fun World Series.

[Anthony Pusick]

At least it was life wrenching though. No, at least it was completely. At least at the end. At least they were winning so big in Game 5 that I don't care what any Yankee fan says, you started dreaming about like, wait a second.

[Don Hahn]

Of course.

[Anthony Pusick]

Are we about to do this?

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, of course.

[Anthony Pusick]

Because that's how good they happened to us.

[Don Hahn]

Means we can do it too. Was your feeling of all we need is a rhythm is the rhythm. But then that inning happens. That inning. We will not speak of an inning that.

[Anthony Pusick]

Which number does not exist.

[Don Hahn]

It does not exist. And it really does. Like, it does just make you sick. And I'm telling you, Anthony could jump in if he wants as a Yankees fan as well. But I think he and I have talked a lot about this team and we both agree there was nothing about this off season that made me feel like I can't wait for this season to begin. Knowing Soto left, getting Freed was nice. I mean, yes, that's good. Okay, so you did something with the money that you didn't spend that on. On Soto. Great. And now almost thank God that Soto didn't resign because you'd have nothing in the cupboard if you didn't have Max Freed. At least you have him. But no, I gotta be honest, I don. I never really felt in this off season a great anticipation of we're going to get back there and we're going to shove it up there. Like, I never felt like that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, you know what? Here was the problem you had because you made it about the Dodgers.

[Don Hahn]

Could we beat the Dodgers now?

[Peter Rosenberg]

You had to feel like you can get back to the World Series. The American League's not great. I still think the Yankees will make the playoffs. And if they make the right moves, who knows they can go back. I mean, who's the legitimate threat? Is Houston still good? Seattle? Are they going to take the next step? I know the Red Sox got a little better, but are they a threat? Baltimore? I'll see when I believe it. Out of the Central Division. Who like, so it's not going to take 100 wins to get out of the American League, but I think every Yankee fan set their sights on getting back to the World Series and beating the Dodgers, which I think is kind of fool's gold, because it's baseball. Maybe the Dodgers aren't there. Well, you wouldn't take a championship if you go to the World Series and, you know, played the Phillies and maybe beat them, like so. I think the National League is better. I wouldn't say the Yankees are winning a World Series, but I think they're going to be. Even with all their injuries, they could be still very much in the mix in the American League. And why not have some fun with it and see what happens?

[Don Hahn]

Well, that's. Again, if you can get there. Yes, that's the fun part. And maybe, just maybe this is that year where you can sort of just take the pressure off and just watch and just see what happens versus, you know, every game matters, because if we don't win 105, you know, we won't have a top speed and we'd have to play on the road and all that other crap that goes on. You know, I think all that now goes out the window, and you're just watching to see what develops. And I think all eyes would be on Jazz Volpe again, Dominguez, you know, and to see what does he turn into this year and what does Goldsman have left? What does Bellinger give? You can judge. Have another one of these epic seasons. I'm watching more individually now than I am about the team success, because I don't have a lot of faith in the pitching rotation without Garrett Cole, and especially if you have. Without Garrett Cole and without Heel, I don't have a great amount of faith in Marcus. I'm going to see Marcus Stroman every five days.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Are you kidding me?

[Anthony Pusick]

Like, you dream about, like.

[Don Hahn]

Like, maybe in the first half. He was good last year in the.

[Peter Rosenberg]

First half, but still, why can't you go into the season with less expectations and have fun and see where it goes? All right.

[Don Hahn]

No, no, that doesn't exist in the Yankees. It doesn't exist.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Stop that. Why? Because it doesn't exist, obviously. No, wait a minute. Why, why. Why are you placing Yankee expectations on this team when it's not?

[Don Hahn]

Because they're the Yankees, that's why.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, Peter, help me out here.

[Don Hahn]

That's my expectation.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You lose cold, they're good, you're not supposed to hold.

[Don Hahn]

They're good, you're good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But sometimes you get injuries and. And then those types of seasons happen, right?

[Don Hahn]

Then you figure it out. You Coach some guys up, you go out and make a trade or two. You find somebody, somebody in your system. That should be good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Telling you, Will Warren.

[Don Hahn]

I've heard about Will Warren for a year now. Can you. Can you show up? Can we get. Can we get a guy that shows up? And now you're like, I did not know he was going to be ready this year, but look at that. He was. So that's great. Like Luis Steel. Nobody knew what Luis was going to be.

[Anthony Pusick]

What's your realistic? Let's just go on with what's going to happen. And we're getting bad news on Cole. What's your expectation for this team now? Give me a record. No, no cold.

[Don Hahn]

No Cole.

[Anthony Pusick]

Which I. Which we all agree is likely to.

[Don Hahn]

Like I said, if I can get to low 90s, you know, that'd be. That'd be really nice.

[Anthony Pusick]

That's a highly high expectation.

[Don Hahn]

Well, I don't want to. I don't want 82 wins. Like we've seen that. That didn't look good. So I still want to get to 90. Something like low 90s.

[Anthony Pusick]

Don, Don. Can you imagine surviving a summer where you only had 80 wins? Can you imagine? What would it be like, Don?

[Peter Rosenberg]

It'd be like every summer of my youth.

[Anthony Pusick]

It would be like, not for me. Because growing up an Orioles fan, if they broke 60 wins, I thought you were just 100.

[Don Hahn]

But there's a different standards, different expectations, different.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's on you. You have a problem. You should go.

[Don Hahn]

I'm not lowering my standards because you think I'm supposed to. That's ridiculous.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Poop comes out the same end as everybody else's body. All right, that stinks just as bad.

[Don Hahn]

But that's what.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You're not above anything. You're not above anybody. Stop yourself. No, all right, you are. No, no, no.

[Don Hahn]

When organizations lose their standard, then they are, oh, we had a 60 win season, but the Yankees haven't had one of those in a long time for a reason.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right, but you know what? It's a different world now, man. The four championships in five years. A Hall of Famer had every position. Those days don't exist anymore.

[Don Hahn]

The Dodgers somehow figured.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The Dodgers have one and a half championships since Ada. I'll give them the half during COVID Okay, so they ain't exactly been rattling off championships. They've gone to a bunch of World Series, but it's not like they're winning in any kind of an amazing clip. All right? They won last year. They won in 2000 and nothing since. 1988. So stop it. You're good every year. You're a well run organization for the most part, but stop holding the Yankees to a standard that, quite frankly, doesn't exist. You've been to one World Series since 2009. You've won one championship since 2000. So stop with the whole Ruth, Garrick, DiMaggio and championships left and right, and Jeter and Mo and four championships in five years. They don't. That standard doesn't exist. They don't even expect to have that standard. The Yankees don't hold themselves to the standard you're holding them up to, which is sad. They're not just any team, you know.

[Don Hahn]

What, without that, but they're still a.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Lot closer to the pack than they used to be.

[Don Hahn]

Without that, then, like, what's the use of rooting for a team with that brand? Like, what's the use?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay, so it's the winning.

[Don Hahn]

Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right, so. So what am I rooting for?

[Don Hahn]

Because I like pinstripes?

[Anthony Pusick]

No.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Also so.

[Don Hahn]

Because they win.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No. They have a high standard.

[Don Hahn]

They expect to win. They don't have losing seasons.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now I know why you're a Yankee fan. So you're really no different than the New York Laker fan or the New York Cowboy fan.

[Don Hahn]

How dare you?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, how dare you? You didn't get. You don't get called a fraud if they happen to be in New York. Right? But you root for them for the same reason the guy in Jersey roots for the Lakers.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. I was six years old. Chris Chambers changed my life. I watched that. I watched that trot.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So you don't like knocking people out. You like to win.

[Don Hahn]

Dugout. And I went, I love this team.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right, you don't. You don't. You don't love the team. You love the winning. If that's what you fan, what would.

[Don Hahn]

You love a team for?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Ah, I don't know why you love a team. Because you start off as a kid and like, my dad handed me the Giants.

[Don Hahn]

My dad was a Mets fan. How'd that work out for him?

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know? Or maybe something sparks your interest and then that becomes your team.

[Don Hahn]

Chris Chambers.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But you're not a fan of the Yankees. You're a fan of the winning. And the second they have the audacity not to win, the winning was your hemorrhage from the eye.

[Don Hahn]

Peter Discovery. Now stop yourself. I got through the 80s. I got through the 80s.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But not watching, by the way.

[Anthony Pusick]

No, no.

[Don Hahn]

What do you mean I'm not watching? I had to go through Dave Winfield, hold on. I had to go through Don Mattingly, I had to go through Danny Tarnable. I've been through it.

[Anthony Pusick]

Danny Hawkins, as we all know, the 80s, relative to what real bad teams do, they had winning, they were. They had won more games than any other team in baseball. What? They didn't win a World Series.

[Don Hahn]

That during the 80s, they didn't make the playoffs.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, yeah, but. No, they went to the World Series.

[Don Hahn]

They went to the World Series. 81. In a split season, they got to the World Series that year. Fernando Valenzuela destroyed them. And then they didn't make the playoffs again until what, 96, 95.

[Anthony Pusick]

They ran off because they gave him a wild card.

[Don Hahn]

You guys, man, you don't want me.

[Peter Rosenberg]

To lower my standards with the Steve Balboni jersey. Let's go Yankees.

[Don Hahn]

Well.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, you decided that's when you fell in love with the Knicks. You started falling back. You started focusing on your college and women and your life. And then all of a sudden the Yankees got good again. And all of a sudden it's like.

[Don Hahn]

Did I just tell you, Andy Hawkins, I sat through that game. I sat through that.

[Anthony Pusick]

I'm going on IG Live so people can see you guys do this and see the new studio Rosenberg Radio on Instagram. Just give everyone a quick few minute taste.

[Don Hahn]

Don't throw out mine though. Don't do that. Well, you're not.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I forgot my password to Instagram. I've got an issue with Instagram. I just, I've lost it. So you have Instagram, these really cool things and I can't get in because I forgot my password. It' really is.

[Don Hahn]

Let's get some calls in here. 800-919-3776. Let's go. Let's see. We got a lot of Yankee calls to get to here. How about we go to Tom in Staten Island? What's up, Tom?

[Anthony Pusick]

Hey, Tommy.

[Don Hahn]

Thomas, Thomas, Staten Island. What's happening, Tom?

[Anthony Pusick]

There he is.

[Don Hahn]

Thomas, Staten Island. How you doing, guys? What's up, Tom? These guys are picking up.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I got a question. I got a question for Don. Yes.

[Anthony Pusick]

All right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What? Why? Why? Why play a season? What do you mean why play a season? Because you enjoy watching your team play. You enjoy the sport. You follow your team. Don't you want them to win? Of course I want them to win, but I'm just not guaranteed. And it's not like I give up, quit and stop being a fan of the team if they don't win. Yeah, but that, like you want your team to win. You want your team to do well. So, like, I don't understand what you're saying. Why, why are you saying to your partner there, why his name is Alan? And I said, because we're the New York Yankees and we don't do this.

[Don Hahn]

But you.

[Anthony Pusick]

But teams do it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Teams do it.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, but that's. I don't root for those teams. Yeah, you do. I have a standard. What do you mean?

[Peter Rosenberg]

You play to win? Yeah, of course you play to win.

[Don Hahn]

Tom. Tom. They don't understand it. Tom. They don't.

[Anthony Pusick]

They don't understand it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So are you a fan of the. Are you a fan of the winning? What happens if the team doesn't win? Both. You're a fan of the team because you want them to win. Of course, you should be disappointed when they don't win. But the idea is that we're the New York Yankees. We're supposed to win every year. Tells me he seems to be more of a fan of the winning. He's still a fan of the jets even though they haven't won. Still a fan of the Knicks even though they haven't won. So, yeah, you hope.

[Don Hahn]

I need one team. I need somebody.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Seems like, oh, well, all of a sudden a couple of guys get hurt and you're, you're, you're, you're crazy. Well, why, you know what? I didn't, why can't you lessen the expectation?

[Don Hahn]

I didn't tap out.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Is it so wrong to listen?

[Don Hahn]

I said I was going to enjoy. You asked me the question, am I going to enjoy it? I said, yes. I will probably take the pressure off a little bit and I will try to enjoy it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But, but the, but the idea of where your Yankees. We don't do this. Well, yeah, you kind of do.

[Anthony Pusick]

And Don, it supports the theory that you and I have had that basically, for most Yankee fans of a certain age, meaning if you're less than basically like 55, there's no such thing as a Die Hard. They don't know what a Die Hard is. You've never died hard. So, Don, they win frequently enough. They don't know what it is to be a Mets fan, really. They don't understand the life of a Jets fan.

[Don Hahn]

Peter, they had the second best record in baseball in 1994. You know what happened?

[Anthony Pusick]

What happened?

[Don Hahn]

A strike. Oh, are you kidding me?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right? They've had the weight of two years.

[Anthony Pusick]

In 96 in the world.

[Don Hahn]

Nobody stood in 94. You didn't know that was coming, but you had no idea that was coming. But it Came and then they made created wild cards that helped you get in. Thank God for that. But no, 94, that's painful because those earlier years, 91, 92, they were awful. They were terrible.

[Anthony Pusick]

But how'd it work out since then?

[Don Hahn]

Well, it worked out great, but there was no guarantee it would. You had to live through it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm just saying you're the New York and you meanwhile, the Mets won a.

[Don Hahn]

World Series in 86. You had to watch everybody else.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What is the game?

[Don Hahn]

Having a great time, bandwagon, Met fans. Suddenly everybody was a Met fan.

[Peter Rosenberg]

When you say we're the New York Yankees, what does that mean?

[Don Hahn]

I don't understand what that question is.

[Anthony Pusick]

Well, you say it. You say, what does that mean?

[Peter Rosenberg]

You've set a standard.

[Don Hahn]

It is a standard of winning.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right? They have not had a losing season since the early 90s.

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It is a brand. But you look at baseball, you look at the landscape of baseball, it's way harder to win now. They stay competitive every single year. And if this happens to be the one year where maybe you've got a lesson. Expectations. Boo hoo. And it's not like because of bad moves, it's because of circumstances. Guys got hurt.

[Don Hahn]

I don't understand where. I said, where did I disagree with you on that? I agreed with you. I said, you're right. Like my expectations are lower. And then you asked me how many wins and I'm like, I still expect to win at least 90. Right? Like, can I get to 90?

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's when you said, because we're the New York Yankees.

[Don Hahn]

Well, because you're like, oh, well, wow. Yeah. 80 would win the season now. Would be on my team. I don't want to go to a.

[Peter Rosenberg]

70 wins on my Met team. You know, I would sign for 90 wins. That probably means we're going to be able to make the playoffs.

[Don Hahn]

Of course.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But even with all your injuries, like, well, at least got to win 90 games with the Yankees. And I just don't know where the arrogance comes from.

[Don Hahn]

It's not arrogance.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It is. Just admit that it is.

[Don Hahn]

You really think it's arrogance?

[Anthony Pusick]

Of course it is.

[Don Hahn]

I don't see it as arrogance. I see it as. This is what I'm used to. I'm just used to this.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right.

[Don Hahn]

This is what I expect.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And I'm just telling you to get used to something like the jets you got.

[Don Hahn]

When you say to me, what do you expect is going to happen with Justin Fields? I'm going to say, I don't know. He's probably either going to be awful or he's going to be really good and they have to sign him to.

[Peter Rosenberg]

An extension and that'll be bad. I'm just reading the tea leaves. You got used to winning World Series and you haven't done that in 15 years. And your own organization doesn't seem to conduct itself the way the fans expect them to because there's no accountability with the gm, there's no accountability with the manager. It seems like everybody but the fans have gotten on board with the fact, you know, that the Yankees have kind of come back down to earth because it's hard to win. It's very hard to win. When was the last time the Cowboys won? When was the last time the Canadians won? Like there's a lot of these dynasties. Even the Celtics have the one title since what, 2008? Like it's hard to win now, man. But yet for some reason, Yankee fans hold themselves to a standard that I don't think any team can win at that. The Chiefs did it good for them. Patriots before because now football's all become the dynasty sport. But in baseball, no repeat championships. The Yankees did it 20 years ago. So what does that tell you?

[Don Hahn]

Click Tells me they're too welcome to.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The club tells me they're too when.

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[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Han and Rosenberg podcast.

[Anthony Pusick]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don Hahn]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. I had a little Californication this weekend.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Why? A couple of days, but then did your wife wait.

[Anthony Pusick]

But your wife wasn't on the trip.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, that's what, that's what it suggests.

[Anthony Pusick]

Fornication does.

[Peter Rosenberg]

FaceTime.

[Don Hahn]

California. California? Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Anthony Pusick]

No, no. A Californiacation.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, like a vacation.

[Don Hahn]

No, not a fornication.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I've listened to the song. That's not what you meant.

[Don Hahn]

You think it's not what that's about? Well, first and foremost, you know that's not what it was about. I'm just saying, just a couple of days in California and you know that song. Tony, Tony, Tony. It never rains in Southern California. Lies.

[Anthony Pusick]

Hey, Raphael Sadiq, you lying sob.

[Don Hahn]

Seriously, man.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The one day.

[Don Hahn]

The one, the one gig because we didn't have the Laker game, so I, I, we did our show and then I was supposed to meet up with with some friends in Hermosa beach, hang out, little, you know, a little dining, little Bev. Yeah, yeah. And no pouring. Yeah.

[Anthony Pusick]

When it happens, it happens.

[Don Hahn]

That was it.

[Anthony Pusick]

By the way, I got we gotta mention. I'm sorry, I don't know what the company policy is, but I don't care, okay?

[Don Hahn]

I mean, who cares about company?

[Anthony Pusick]

The Stephen A. LeBron thing was very interesting incident. And can I just ask you a question?

[Don Hahn]

Do you really think that was all by accident?

[Anthony Pusick]

You're suggesting chance. You're suggesting it to work.

[Don Hahn]

LeBron. LeBron made sure everybody saw it.

[Anthony Pusick]

Oh, but you're not saying Stephen was in on it.

[Don Hahn]

No, no.

[Anthony Pusick]

You're just saying.

[Don Hahn]

You're just saying LeBron, he caught Stephen A. Off guard, right? And he wanted everybody to see it for sure.

[Anthony Pusick]

Oh, that. I agree with that. That didn't get caught.

[Don Hahn]

This was him doing his whole like, I'm a dad, you know, like that.

[Anthony Pusick]

By the way, I gotta tell you, it hasn't. It hasn't doesn't feel like it's played great for him. No, it feels like most people have been like. And let me ask you a question real quick before we discuss it for people who don't know. I'm sure you saw it. LeBron James approached Stephen A. Smith at the Laker Nick game the other day Thursday night. Clearly, they, you know, had a heated exchange. And then this was during warmups, too.

[Don Hahn]

Like, everybody was out on the court. Stephen A. Was courtside.

[Anthony Pusick]

Yeah. He's with Ari Emanuel and Larry David.

[Don Hahn]

He made sure everybody knew that, stood up, and because LeBron was nearby, and LeBron walked up to him, and, you know, whenever, like, a player will come to you, you're usually ready to just give a quick hello during warmups, and instead, he just had him out with him.

[Anthony Pusick]

Now, let me ask you a question.

[Don Hahn]

And then walked away before he could get a chance to say anything.

[Anthony Pusick]

But was. Did Stephen say anything about the Bronnie situation that others didn't say?

[Don Hahn]

What was the.

[Anthony Pusick]

What was the real point of contention from LeBron?

[Don Hahn]

It was. I think, at one point, he was trying to appeal to him as a father. Like, don't do this to your son. Don't keep pushing him out there. Like, it's not. It's not the right thing to do. And I guess LeBron took that personal. Like, don't tell me how to parent.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I get that, but that's a part I get.

[Don Hahn]

You know what that is, though, honestly, That's a private conversation.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Don Hahn]

That is not something you need to do on the court. You know, where Stephen A. Status in the world. LeBron knows how to get in touch with him for sure. Okay, like. Like, it's not like Rich Paul doesn't know who he is. Like, they know how to get in touch with him. So that easily is handled privately. Like, hey, you want to. You want to, you know, rip on me, whatever. Don't bring him up. Like, leave him out of it. And then I'm sure Stephen will be like, all right, but do it. That was a show. It was theater, and there was a reason for it. It was sort of, I'm gonna bigfoot Stephen A. And then everybody's gonna see it and think, yeah, somebody finally told him what it. And, you know, that's not how it is. Not like that. Because you walked away before Stephen A. Had a chance to respond, to give you a verbal lashing.

[Anthony Pusick]

Well, it's also. I understand. Let me just say that from an understanding part, I get where LeBron would feel like, hey, man, you want to be critical of Bronny. You want to be critical of me? Cool. Don't talk about how I parent. But to your point, that can so easily be a private phone call where you say it's kind of more like a favor. Like, hey, dude, I know you got a job to do.

[Don Hahn]

You don't have to be a favor. It's just a personal level. We've connected on a personal level many other times in the last 20 years. Here's one where I'm just like, yo, like, I just want you to know this is kind of crossing the line, and it bothers me, and you have it out privately. Not like that. In that scene where you want everybody to see it. Life is a reality show for this guy.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And that's the problem. Because to me, his parenting, as far as how it's being handled in the NBA with his son getting drafted with his son in the G League and not traveling for road games, and now being with the team, that's up for discussion. This is not a private parenting moment, like disciplining your son or having a private job. This is out in the public. And Bronny's a grown man. He's 20 years old. He's in the NBA. He's collecting the contract.

[Don Hahn]

So fair game is what you said.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So LeBron's not helping. He's creating even more the narrative that his son's not his own man, that this is all just for LeBron James and staging. Just leave it alone, man, because he's in. He made it. However he made it. Nepotism exists. Fine. Bronny took advantage of it. Now he's got to live and die on his own abilities right now. Not very good. He's averaging 1.4 points a game. All right? He's a grown man. He's 20 years old. He's in the NBA. The criticism is very fair. And if you're going to go public with. Don't, you know, keep your son's name out of my name, out of my mouth.

[Anthony Pusick]

I can't do that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's in the league now. You're just making it. Like, is he now? It is about LeBron, and it is propping his kid up. Let him go out there. Let him make it or not make it. Bronny's not seven. All right? Bronnie's 20 in the NBA. He's here. And now what? Now he's up for the same criticism. Every other player in the NBA's up.

[Anthony Pusick]

Yeah, that's why I thought it was a misstep. From LeBron. I think he thought people would sort of like, yeah, give him the way to go. But most people are like, no, dude, you can't keep Bronny's name out of your mouth. His name is in the stat sheet. Like, I mean, he plays for the Lakers.

[Don Hahn]

But what you just said, though, right? Like, he thought it would be received by people was the exact wrong motivation to do what he did. You see what I mean?

[Anthony Pusick]

Yeah, yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Like, I want.

[Anthony Pusick]

If you're gonna do it, do it because you mean it.

[Don Hahn]

Just.

[Anthony Pusick]

And then how would that be handled?

[Don Hahn]

Probably with genuine purpose, not for a show. And that's the problem. I have. First of all, when this whole thing was going on last spring, we were talking about it on Get Up Again. This is on national tv. You're talking about all the people that had criticism about it and criticizing the kid and saying he can't play and all that stuff. I never had a problem with it. Never. Because this is a dream for anybody. If you can get in the league any way you can, you get in the league.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Sure.

[Don Hahn]

No matter what. And so what? And you know what? It's probably the best thing for him at his age, needing development to go where you know what he'll be taken care of. He's not going to be one of these kids that gets drafted and lost in the system because nobody's coaching him and teaching him. You got LeBron there, who's going to make sure that you're handled the right way. I thought, this is great, great for him. Good. But let him be in the G league. Let him travel. Let him be one of the guys. Let him just learn.

[Anthony Pusick]

And furthermore, you could understand the other side. You could understand the other side of people who go, I don't think this is the best thing. I think they're heaping an immense amount of pressure on him. I think he should have to figure.

[Don Hahn]

Out on his own the name on the back of the jersey was always going to have pressure. Right. It doesn't matter what. I just never. People that had the vitriol about this, I felt like, don't take it out on the kid. And as far as LeBron goes. But if you could do this for your son, you would do it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Like you would. I would do whatever I can for myself, anything I can to help him out. If I have a connection with a scout or with someone to help him, you don't think I've reached out to help him, to get him where he got, the prep school, where he's gotten, where he is right now. Whatever I could do, if I knew someone that could open a door, I would do it because that's what you do. So I have no problem with it. But this part I have a problem with because now your son is back in the headlines for all the wrong reasons because you wanted to put on a show. It was about you. Not about you being a dad. It was about you trying to just knuckle up against one of the biggest, baddest media people in the business. And you thought you were going to have your mic drop moment and instead the problem is it is disingenuous. And that's what I don't like. It's just as bad as the fake flop that he had in potato. Like, what are you doing, man? Man, like that's the problem that people have when everybody does the Jordan vs. LeBron argument. It's never about basketball. It's about that stuff. And that's the problem I have with it. So I'll defend Stephen A. To the end on this one.

[Anthony Pusick]

Yeah, I thought it was very interesting. The, the flop was not what you're looking for.

[Don Hahn]

It didn't look good.

[Anthony Pusick]

I'm watching it again right now. I was pretty checked out.

[Don Hahn]

The elbow comes nowhere near his face. Like nowhere near.

[Anthony Pusick]

By the way, the elbow doesn't really come near anything. It's not even like it hits another part.

[Don Hahn]

It's really another. And now for the Lakers, who had just been one of the hottest teams. One of the great stories in the, in the NBA, a 40 year old player has a groin injury. Like that's not something that it's like give him two weeks and he'll be fine. You don't know what this is going to be now for him.

[Anthony Pusick]

Now let's see. Now let's see what it's like with just Doncic running the Lakers going to.

[Don Hahn]

Look a little different. 800-919-3776 how about back to the calls. We go. Corinne is in Manasquan. Hey Corinne, how are you?

[Caller]

Hey, what's up guys? How are you?

[Anthony Pusick]

Hey there.

[Caller]

So I just wanted to talk about this troubling. Take that we heard from Alan Hahn like 20 minutes ago. I mean if you're a die hard fan of a team, of any team for that matter, you got to be with them whether they win or lose. And to hear that, you know, you're kind of just with them because it's winning doesn't just doesn't sit right with me.

[Don Hahn]

I never said that, Corinne. Don said that. Don said that. About me. I never said it, but that's. I never said I'm not. I never said that I'm not in it for the team. He asked what. What was the thing about the Yankees that drew me to them? I said they were the winning. I was a little kid, and they were like. The Chambliss home run was one of the first sports highlights I can remember as a child. And just the, you know, the aggressiveness of the whole thing, it just. I was like, wow, that's awesome. And I just started to. My parents were Mets fans, and I just got into the Yankees and I stayed with it, but I lived through a lot of bad Yankee years. I will live through this year, whatever it's going to be, because that's what you do as a fan. But when you ask me, what do you expect? I still expect them to perform at a high level and win at a high level, because that's just how I am as a fan. I expect that.

[Caller]

Hey, fair enough. So I definitely misheard that a little bit, but I mean. I mean, I guess a little bit then, because you got to get used to it a little bit, though. I mean, it's never going to be like a dynasty where the Yankees are winning four in a row anymore. I mean, you kind of just got to get used to some years that are a little less than average. And even so, with these injuries, I mean, Yankees are still going to be in the postseason. You still got stuff to look forward to. I mean, look at the Mets last year. No one thought they'd be anything, and they were so true. You know, it's not over yet. You just got to stay with them.

[Don Hahn]

You know, Corinne, everything was great there until you made me think, hey, the Yankees could be just like the Mets. And that kind of. I don't know, that kind of made me throw up in my mouth.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You're just so. All I'm saying is I just wish Yankee fans would just understand how fortunate they are that this is the team that they root for. But I always think, and I really, I'm staying, maybe Peter can help me out, too. We live in New York, so we see a lot of fans of the Cowboys and the Raiders and different teams. Obviously, all of a sudden, the Golden State warriors became popular, Lakers, Bulls, when Jordan was winning all the time, because people get captivated by winning, and then when that team loses, they move on. And I do think there are a lot of people in New York, maybe not you, but a lot of people in New York, that they are a Yankee Fan because of the winning. And when the winning stops, they'll go root for somebody else. I mean, I'm old enough to remember when the Yankees were drawn flies back in the 80s and the Mets owned the town and had over 3 million fans. I think there were a lot of people that were in game seven. 86 were also at Yankee Stadium for games six and 96 because they kind of go with the wind.

[Don Hahn]

I think you're right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I have heard people like that. And they don't get accused of being frauds because they happen to be in New York. But it's the same reason why New Yorkers root for Lakers and why they're Celtic fans in New York and why they're Cowboy fans in New York.

[Don Hahn]

Some of us, though, don not to get too existential, but some of us, not some of us, there are people who aren't sports fans at the level that we and a lot of our listeners are. There are people that just like to be entertained and sports is part of it, right? And so when teams are winning, I'm in. And when they're not, I got other things to do. But there aren't people that just read every story and every headline every single day. There's people that do parachute in and out when a New York team is doing well. That's why you see the numbers go up the way they do. Because there aren't people who care every day about it like a lot of our listeners and us.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And that's why I respect the Knick fan, I respect the Ranger fan, the Jet fan who's had seen a lot of losing and no winning. And yet you cannot question how Die Hard fans they are. I mean, it's pretty easy to be a Die Hard Yankee fan when the team's good every year.

[Anthony Pusick]

You never die.

[Peter Rosenberg]

If you go a decade without winning, is it going to.

[Don Hahn]

But that's our Die Hard. Hang on, that's. See, that's what I mean. There's levels to it. Our Die Hard is that. Is that it's been 14 years is that. Is that. There was a year where we. We put 500. We don't do this. That's our team.

[Anthony Pusick]

So basically your version of Die Hard. If it was the Bruce Willis movie, instead of them taking over the tower and killing tons of hostages, it would be like a little stick up at the bodega where no one gets hurt and they take 20 bucks from the register. It's not really Dying Hard.

[Don Hahn]

It's all relative.

[Anthony Pusick]

It's all relative.

[Don Hahn]

It's all relative. But what if you. Pleasantville. Right, the bodega in Pleasantville.

[Anthony Pusick]

Right, exactly.

[Don Hahn]

Got held up, and I'm in the back, and I'm Bruce Willis in the back trying to, like, stop this.

[Anthony Pusick]

And by the time you get out, the guy's already left.

[Don Hahn]

He's already going with the money, call.

[Anthony Pusick]

The police, and right.

[Don Hahn]

Chief Wiggum shows up. That's it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Everything's fine.

[Don Hahn]

But you understand, though, there's levels to it. Crime never happens in this town, and that's a crime. And it happened, and we're all affected.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But you've seen the standard change. We've seen the standard change. It's changing, you know, to where you routinely went to the World Series. Now, you don't go as much. You're always above.500. But what happens if they all of a sudden hit something where, you know, three of the next five years, they finish under.500?

[Don Hahn]

Oh, God. Well, that's when, as fans, because that's the whole idea is holding your team accountable. Just as much as you cheer for them, you cheer for the players, you hold the organization accountable. And I do think there reaches a point, and it's gotten louder and louder and louder. The owner doesn't want to hear it, but we're going to get to a point where they're going to realize that the status quo is not acceptable if it doesn't get better.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And I also believe that in the stages of sports and just take a look at it, it's harder to win than it's ever been. They keep adding teams, they keep adding rounds. It makes it harder. So you can't really hold it to the standard of 20 years ago. It was easier to win 20 years ago, 30 years ago, 100 years ago.

[Don Hahn]

That part is absolutely true. All right, more you calls coming up. Peter, you got a message for us? Yeah.

[Anthony Pusick]

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[Don Hahn]

Reynolds here from Mint Mobile with a message for everyone paying Big Wireless way too much. Please, for the love everything good in this world, stop with Mint. You can get premium wireless for just $15 a month, of course, if you enjoy overpaying. No judgments. But that's weird. Okay, one judgment anyway, give it a [e-mail] Switch upfront payment of $45 for three month plan equivalent to $15 per month required intro rate first three months only, then full price plan options available, taxes and fees extra. See full [e-mail] it's time for basketball.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And Uber Eats is dropping deals on game day favorites to keep you locked in on the action. Like when you're craving a buzzer beater but also Buffalo wings or when an upset makes you want to ugly cry into a pizza. And right now, Uber Eats has game day deals from McDonald's, Popeyes, Pizza Hut, Wendy's and hundreds more local favorites so you can keep your eyes on the ball and your hands on a hamburger. Order now only on Uber Eats. Product availability varies by region. See app for details.

[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Anthony Pusick]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don Hahn]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. All right. Don Hun Rosenberg 880 ESPN ESPNY app 800-919-3776 Don Lost weekend for the Rangers. I know you got a point in Ottawa, but should have had two. And there were moments where they looked brilliant. Two goals, two shorties yesterday. What a. What a wild second period that was. But you called both of the games. Where. Where is this team?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, it's. It's lost. They can still make it just because I don't know if anybody's going to take control. Detroit's lost five in a row. We'll see. Columbus has been kind of up and down since their outdoor game last Saturday.

[Don Hahn]

They looked awesome yesterday.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They were very good but the Devils, they're banged up. They did beat Philadelphia, but they're a mess. So two of those teams have to make it. So the Rangers are right there. But it was a great weekend to kind of see where you are against two of the teams you're competing with for position. And you blow a two goal lead in the third period, lose in overtime. That should have been two. So not only do you not get two points, you gave them two. And then you get the two shorthanded goals on the same power play, which you never see.

[Don Hahn]

That was wild.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And it's three. Three. The building's up for grabs and then next thing you know, you end up losing 7 to 3. The problem is, as good as I think the Rangers can still be, and I think Chris Drury had a great trade deadline. You watch Ottawa now. I'm not going to say Ottawa's better than the Rangers up and down. They don't have a Brady Tkachuk, they don't have a Tim Stutzler, they don't have a Jake Sanderson. Like there's some players, like high end players on Ottawa that you saw just take over the game. And in Columbus, you know, they're not household names. But Marchenko is healthy, Veronkov's healthy. And Warinski, we saw him in the Four Nations. He is a special, special player. These guys have a tendency to just take over games and, and they were overwhelmed the last two. And now you gotta go Winnipeg, only one of the best teams in the NHL. Minnesota is a pain in the butt. And then you gotta play Columbus on Saturday and oh, by the way, come back home to take on Edmonton on Sunday. Second of back to backs. Schedule doesn't get any easier and they still have a west coast trip at the end of the month. Not that the Kings, Ducks and Sharks are any great shakes, but you know, you go out there and expect to get six points, that's going to be tough to do. They put themselves up there, man, if they get there, it's probably just going to be by default because that was a really difficult weekend to watch that kind of fall apart on them.

[Don Hahn]

How much of it was quick?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I tried to defend him during the broadcast because I don't think any one goal was that egregious. But you're talking about seven goals on 27 shots. You know what? You got to come up with a save.

[Don Hahn]

Well, remember, one of them was. Was one an empty net?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, no, one of them went off of Jones's glove. It was kind of a fluke goal.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. There was two weird bounces that went against him, but wasn't there one a short side? I don't know. Like I'm asking. That's a lot of goals to give off.

[Peter Rosenberg]

There was a lot of goals.

[Don Hahn]

Were they that bad defensively?

[Peter Rosenberg]

They just gave up some really. The. Really. I guess Rowinski made a couple of plays like, oh my God, that's amazing. And Fantilly, who's another player that nobody knows that very good for them at the hat trick.

[Don Hahn]

His second goal was insane.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Really.

[Don Hahn]

Where he pulled it in. It was huge. He pulls it in and like it's defended well. He's just. His hands were magical.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Dean Everson's done a great job with that. It is really one of the great stories in sports after what happened with Johnny Goudreau. For that team to still find a way to be able to get into the playoffs would be unreal. So we'll see. There's 18 games left. I still think they can make it. But Rick Carpinello used to cover the Rangers forever. Brought up something on social media. I didn't think about it, but then I. Then he had me thinking, should. Should Igor have played yesterday? You come off a tough loss. Wasn't his fault. And he went. Cole think Hank would have demanded the play. I don't know. I think that's kind of theater. But when you need these games so desperately and God love Jonathan Quick, but he is what he is the backup goaltender at this stage of his career. Should Igor have played now, I don't know if that was his decision, but you're getting to a point now where if Jonathan Quick's going to play that way with all these important games, you.

[Don Hahn]

Got to start your horse like you've got.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And then you got a back to back this weekend.

[Don Hahn]

You said right after the trip this.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Weekend against Columbus and I'd have to think about it. You're going to have to think about it. The Edmonton Oilers. But dear God, the way the Rangers played yesterday. If that's. If It's. If that's McDavid and dry. Oh, my dear God. You know, they'll. They'll put a 14. It's. It's amazing. So I don't want to be down on them. They played so great at times against Ottawa. You can't lose a game up two goals in the third. You just can't.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, that one looked worse. I mean, three. Three in the second. But you were. You already felt like they were hanging on in that game because it was so up and down. Little fire wagon, second period. But that Ottawa game, I was, you know, I was watching. Keep an eye on that. That Ottawa game was that. That was rough, that, that one. To give up the two goal lead, you still get the point. But to lose in overtime, you just felt like they were going to lose in overtime. You just knew it, especially the way it went one way to the other.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But I think Keandre played so well. Throws it, throws a bad pass to jt and then Stutzler, who's in that same draft with Lafreniere, he's. He was kind of a late bloomer and now he's become a really special player again. I don't see him every single night to know if this is like the usual or whether it was just that day where he was out of his mind, but he seemed like he's a pretty special player to me. Winnipeg, they've got pretty much things wrapped up for a playoff spot. They're battling Washington for a president's trophy. They did get beat up in Carolina last night. They're just coming off a long road trip. Maybe you catch them at the right time. Minnesota's been kind of up and down. You just got to get some wins, man. But that's a. That's a. Bruno, Winnipeg, Minnesota and then Columbus. Right. Winnipeg and Minnesota kind of close to each other right there. Right, but then go to Columbus.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And then go back home to play the next day.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, well, you know what? This Four nations has a lot of condensed schedule, I think. I was telling you there was a game where Winnipeg played in Ottawa the next day in Nashville. That's tough, peter. The airport's 40 minutes away. You got to go through customs.

[Don Hahn]

You get to your hotel, it's easily 2am Nashville's not.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Nashville's not far, but it's not around the corner. And you lose the hour.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. Still. 800-919-3776. You know what I saw, too? One thing I noticed you keep talking about, like Miller and how he brings a little bit of an edge and stuff like that to this team that they were missing. I remember after one shift yesterday, after they had tied at three, and then it was all of a sudden it was five, three in a blink. And he went to the bench after his shift and it was like it was a bad pass, was on whatever it was. They had another one of those terrible turnovers just because of a pass that didn't hit the tape. He goes to the bench, slams his stick against the boards before he goes into the bench and he just looked angry and it's like, yeah, you need.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Certainly more of that. Yeah, for sure.

[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast. I don't want know how the sausage is made, man. I just want to know. It's good. Hear more of Don Allen and Peter Weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers. Are you ready to build your company's dream team? Just like in sports, finding skilled players is essential for success. With Robert Half's winning combination of specialized recruiting professionals and award winning AI will help you find the mvps and key role players who will have you hanging banners in the rafters. Because in business, it's all about having the experienced team on your side. At Robert Half, we Know Talent. Visit roberthalf. Com today.