Hour 3: Monica McNutt

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 3: Monica McNutt (May 19, 2026)

Episode Overview

This episode features basketball commentator Monica McNutt live outside Madison Square Garden as the Knicks prepare to face the Cavaliers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The show balances sharp sports analysis with classic New York personality, moving from Knicks playoff expectations and broadcasting philosophy, to NBA storylines, social media chatter, and a spirited discussion about sports history and jersey numbers—plus a few lighter moments in true Don, Hahn & Rosenberg style.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Local Broadcast Experience & Monica’s Role 

(01:18 – 02:58)

• Monica describes being “privileged, and a great responsibility” to handle local Knicks coverage, emphasizing that in New York's unique market, analysts strive for professionalism while authentically riding with the fans.
• She interacts with fans directly on Instagram, soliciting game day topics, allowing fans to help shape coverage.

“To be the local person and to ride — like you, we are riding with the fans and we don’t have to cloak that. Yes, there’s professionalism… but it’s been really cool to engage.” (Monica McNutt – 02:25)

2. Broadcast Philosophy: Balancing Fan & Fairness

(03:11 – 04:12)

• The group reflects on how local broadcasters should call big moments for either team, referencing Michael Kay being criticized for calling opponents’ big plays with the appropriate gravity.
• Monica and Don recall last year’s Game 1 “doink” and praise Tyler Murray’s accurate, energetic call while also noting the importance of professionalism.

“You gotta at least acknowledge something like the player in the moment.” (Peter Rosenberg – 03:31)

3. Knicks’ Playoff Growth: Lessons from Last Year

(04:21 – 06:01)

• Monica highlights how last year’s playoff exit left a mark on the current team’s mindset; the Knicks now maintain internal accountability and have matured, with the locker room keeping each other to a higher standard.
• She points to the Atlanta and Philly series as pivotal in developing this new dynamic.

“There’s been an uptick in terms of accountability one to another.” (Monica McNutt – 06:00)

4. Cavs vs. Knicks: Key Matchups & Series Outlook

(06:01 – 09:37)

• Monica breaks down Cleveland’s threats (Donovan Mitchell and James Harden), and contrasts their size and versatility with what the Knicks have faced before. She predicts a “Knicks in six” series but cautions against underestimating Cleveland’s supporting cast.
• Discussion includes strategies for defending key players, Cleveland’s supporting cast (Streuss, Wade, Merrill), and the importance of turnovers.

“I got six [games]. ... I know we’re super excited, New York, but I don’t see this one as a sweep.” (Monica McNutt – 06:47)

5. The Jalen Brunson “X Factor” & New Offense

(09:37 – 13:59)

• Monica and the hosts agree: Brunson’s performance remains New York’s biggest variable, elaborating on how the Knicks’ new offense (motion-heavy, off-ball movement) makes it harder for opponents to key in on him.
• Monica discusses the misconception that Brunson was reluctant to play off-ball and credits the system and the need for others to step up.

“When Jalen Brunson plays well, good things happen. ... If I need to get four out of seven, that’s the one I’m looking to take out first.” (Monica McNutt – 10:40)
“A, I’m not a star. B, I want to win. This is one of the best lines I think we’ve heard from a New York athlete in a long time.” (Don Hahn quoting Brunson – 12:03)

6. New NBA Stats and Offense Evolution

(13:59 – 14:44)

• Brief digression about the stat “gravity,” measuring defensive attention drawn by a player — with Brunson rating top-10 this postseason.
• Don and Monica compare the Knicks’ current offensive movement to the Warriors, with screens, off-ball cuts, and unpredictability.

7. On Victor Wembanyama’s Rise and Changing NBA Narratives

(14:44 – 18:13)

• Monica marvels at Wemby’s game, his raw emotion, aggressiveness, and how he breaks stereotypes of international players.
• The hosts discuss how Wemby, like Sergei Fedorov in NHL, is shifting perceptions of foreign athletes, both in terms of skill and attitude.

“He’s not the sweet foreign... he’s the most dominant player in the league.” (Michael Kay – 16:26)
“When he said, ‘I’m not wasting energy trying to hide my emotions,’ I’m like, bro, that’s a life bar, let alone basketball.” (Monica McNutt – 16:36)

8. Accountability, Knicks’ Momentum, and Game 1 X-factors

(19:09 – 20:33)

• With the Knicks on a roll (seven straight wins), Monica notes there's still room for the team to play well even if their hot three-point shooting regresses.
• She emphasizes accountability and focus as differentiators in this year’s playoff run, especially after Cleveland “sparked” the important team meeting earlier in the season.

9. Traditions and Lighthearted Moments

(20:33 – 21:47)

• The crew continues the “cutting the cake” tradition from previous series for good luck (and a bit of comedy over cake anatomy and plates).
• Monica’s visit ends with the promise to check in further as the series continues.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Fan Engagement

  “My most consistent thing on game day is: ‘Hey guys, what do you want to talk about?’ And we actually get some great questions.” (Monica McNutt – 07:46)

• On Knicks Playoff Mentality

  “Internally they knew it had to happen within their locker room. Had to use the 82 to get to this point.” (Monica McNutt – 05:22)

• On Brunson's Willingness to Pass

  “A, I’m not a star. B, I want to win.” (Jalen Brunson, quoted by Don Hahn – 12:03)

• On NBA Narrative Shifts

  “He is all attitude, all aggressiveness, wants all the drama possible—and not in a way that he’s obnoxious... really, he has a chance.” (Michael Kay on Wembanyama – 16:26)

• On New Statistical Analysis

  “The new stat called gravity... it’s basically the attention that you garner on the floor.” (Monica McNutt – 14:07)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:18 Monica McNutt joins—thoughts on local coverage
• 02:58 Local radio calls & professionalism in big moments
• 05:06 Knicks’ playoff growth and mentality
• 06:01 Cavalier threats and series forecast
• 09:37 Turnovers and Cavaliers’ Achilles heel
• 10:09 X-factors: Why Brunson remains the key
• 12:03 Brunson’s self-awareness, passing, and mindset
• 13:59 Knicks’ offense evolution, new stats
• 14:44 Victor Wembanyama discussion
• 19:09 Knicks’ key to maintaining momentum
• 20:33 Superstitions: cutting the cake
• 21:47+ Monica departs; show shifts toward open lines and supporting topics

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Additional Segments & Cultural References

Social Media & Broadcasting

• Casual debate over which social apps (Threads, X, Blue Sky) are worth athletes’ attention—mostly shrugged off by the crew.
• Monica’s Instagram game day Q&As help bridge fans and coverage.

Jersey Numbers & Sports History

• The latter half shifts to the ongoing Mets “number 8” debate: should Gary Carter’s number be retired, and who gets to wear it?
• The crew weighs in with personal and fan-centric perspectives, reflecting on the meaning of numbers, history, and team tradition.

The Don, Hahn & Rosenberg Tone

Throughout, the episode maintains a mix of serious sports intellect, local flavor, gentle ribbing between hosts, and a “for the fans” ethos. Monica’s passion for basketball communications and honest player narratives meshes with the hosts’ irreverence and New York wisdom.

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Summary

This episode dives deep into what makes New York sports culture special: passion, candor, and community. Monica McNutt’s insight into the Knicks’ current chemistry and approach to media set the stage for an optimistic (yet grounded) playoff run, while the crew’s lighter moments and debates remind that history and ritual—whether the number on a jersey or a playoff cake—matter almost as much as the next big win.

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]

502 of the big city Don Hahn and Rosenberg Plaza 33 outside Madison Square Garden, the world's most famous arena. Cavs, Knicks Game 1 Eastern Conference Finals tonight. You can hear it right here. Pat O' Keefe at seven o'.

[Don Hahn]

Clock.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And then Tyler Murray and Monica McNutt will have the call.

[Michael Kay]

Oh, yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

After eight o'. Clock. It is now time for the Monica McNutt Report, brought to you by Calandra's Bakery and BetMGM.

[Don Hahn]

Oh God.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Comes in.

[Monica McNutt]

Oh, no.

[Peter Rosenberg]

For those not watching on YouTube, Monica just flew in off that breeze and landed right here.

[Monica McNutt]

Mother Nature, look at you. Hi guys.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Fantastic dress.

[Monica McNutt]

I was, I.

[Don Hahn]

Thank you.

[Monica McNutt]

Thank you. I was like really excited that maybe we were here. And then I looked at the weather for the rest of the week and it will come back down. But it's still, we're still moving towards spring.

[Michael Kay]

No, it is today. It jumps straight to summer.

[Don Hahn]

We got one day of summer, that's for sure. You get like, this is the best part for you because with, with us not getting the local broadcast anymore on the, on these games, you and Tyler are the voices and that's it when it comes to the local coverage for the game broadcast. And so now back in the conference finals again. Like, this is two years in a row with, with a run like this, what has this been like?

[Monica McNutt]

It is a privilege and a great responsibility to carry the local coverage. I'm super excited. It's funny though, because did you guys see the clip of the radio call of OKC last night when Wemby hits that shot?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, I actually heard it live.

[Monica McNutt]

I was so the guy is basically like 30 foot 3. He hit it right and he could because he's the OKC local guy. To me it was just. And I think the moment probably demanded a little bit more energy. But to be the local person and to ride like you, we are riding with this, with the fans and we don't have to cloak that. Yes, there's a professionalism about it. New York is a very unique market. We are the local team, but we are not homers. We are watching the game as basketball analysts and play by play, folks. But it's been really cool to engage. One of my favorite things is do to ask folks what they want to talk about on Instagram on game day.

[Michael Kay]

And when I just for the record, when I say I love it, what I mean is I love when we play like local, particularly respectfully mid market, they no sell it completely if their team lost. Like and it's good.

[Monica McNutt]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Michael Kay]

How do you. My favorite is how do you like that? How do you like that?

[Peter Rosenberg]

And I go through it, you know, doing the Devils or when I did the Rangers, is that. Listen, most likely you're playing to the room at okc, right? Like how many people, non Thunder fans are listening to that broadcast. But when you're in New York, you always have to realize that because it's a hub, there's going to be people that aren't fans of that team and you got to do it as honestly as possible.

[Michael Kay]

Well, also you want to winning shots

[Peter Rosenberg]

a game winning shot. I understand you got to go over the top if it's your team. But you got to at least acknowledge something like the player in the moment.

[Michael Kay]

K gets so. So Michael K always gets killed for this because if there's a big home run against the Yankees in a big spot, he calls it big. Yeah, he may not hit Sia.

[Monica McNutt]

Yeah.

[Michael Kay]

But he's going to call it like a big home run. And then the Yankee fans come at him like, oh, what side are you on? It's like, well, bro, it's a massive home run in a big spot.

[Monica McNutt]

It's because you respect the craft, right? Like I think last year's experience game one last year, the doink, right. I can't remember exactly the way Tyler hit it, but I remember like he hit it with. And then we had to just live with it. Right. Like he didn't play it down but like it's a thing that happened that we all saw.

[Don Hahn]

And I remember Tyler was. Tyler nailed the call because his eyes trained to look at the referee. Everyone thought that was a threat.

[Monica McNutt]

He sure did.

[Don Hahn]

And the referee called It a two. And he looked at the referee. He had the call immediately. It was not corrected because the pace was celebrated like they won the game. And that's also important, is to make sure you have the call correct. So, Monster, I think you were the one that was talking to Brunson. I could be wrong, but I remember him saying this in October when it's like, you know, coming off losing the conference final and, you know, having the start of season over. And he said, we can't fast forward to the conference finals. We've got to play through this whole thing. Well, fast forward. Here we are back in the same exact place. Home court advantage, Game one in your building. Do you get the sense that they. I know it's 365 days ago that they learned from that game one up double digits that you had to chase that. Do you believe that's in the back of their minds, too?

[Monica McNutt]

Okay, so you guys know we're part of the national conversation. We're talking about the other series and how the Detroit drop. Detroit drops five and seven, right?

[Don Hahn]

Yep.

[Monica McNutt]

And how Kate Cunningham immediately after that post game series said, it feels a lot like last year losing on our home floor. There is no way that the Knicks don't understand the magnitude of game one, considering how things seemingly aligned last year as well. I'll go back to October, though. Those conversations. The thing about it is those guys were fully aware of the expectation that they were going into this season. They were fully aware of the pressure that comes with wearing that orange and blue uniform. But internally they knew that it had to happen within their locker room. And so they had to use the 82 to get to this point. And I think they've done a great job doing that. To me, it has been crystallized in the Atlanta series. And then we saw, I think, the fruit of that in the Philly series, the way that they can rise or hold each other accountable in a different way. Feelings and things seem to be out the window. Are you getting it done or not? Like, there's been a. An uptick in terms of the accountability one to another.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right, what are some of the problems the Cavaliers present that the Sixers and the Hawks did?

[Monica McNutt]

Well, first you got these guys named Donovan Mitchell and James Harden.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, him.

[Monica McNutt]

And for all of the legend probably has a positive connotation, but for all of what they have or have not been in postseason, Donovan Mitchell has performed big time here at the Garden, as has James Hart. And I think they are forces with especially Harden with size that the Knicks haven't necessarily had to defend skill and size that the Knicks haven't necessarily had to fit at that position. Now, I happen to believe that this defense is clicking as well as this offense, and they will be fine, but I don't. I know we're super excited, New York, but I don't see this one as a sweep.

[Michael Kay]

Now, do you see it. Do you see it as six or harder?

[Monica McNutt]

I got six.

[Michael Kay]

Got six.

[Monica McNutt]

And to be fair, y' all heard me. I ain't get excited. Somebody tweeted at me or maybe commented on Instagram. No, it's threads. You excited now? After The Knicks went up 3. 0 because they were listening to our show, I said, I am. Yeah.

[Michael Kay]

Well, that was a very good. And also, what are you doing on Threads? I mean, it's the muck of the. You love threads.

[Monica McNutt]

Wait, are you still on X?

[Michael Kay]

No, X is horrible also, but threads is pretty rough.

[Monica McNutt]

I. Well, my algorithm's great. I get completely distracted from what I'm supposed to be doing, but I'm laughing, so.

[Michael Kay]

No, you know what? I have heard there's a good algorithm threads to be. But, like, you can't. Because sometimes what I end up doing is reading the comments and I'm like, oh, what?

[Monica McNutt]

Where am I?

[Michael Kay]

Where am I?

[Peter Rosenberg]

100am I. I gave up on threads.

[Monica McNutt]

Well, I got blue sky.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, I never.

[Don Hahn]

We all gave up on all that stuff.

[Michael Kay]

I'm done.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Where do you stand on truth Social?

[Michael Kay]

How much time do we have?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't know. Threads. Is that a good thing or Threads?

[Michael Kay]

Threads is Instagram. Twitter's.

[Don Hahn]

Twitter. Yeah. And it. It can be.

[Michael Kay]

It's a mixed bag.

[Don Hahn]

It's just a lot. It's another damn app. Who needs another.

[Monica McNutt]

My most consistent thing on game day is, hey, guys, what do you want to talk about? And we actually get some great questions.

[Don Hahn]

It's smart.

[Michael Kay]

So you do that on threads. You post a thr.

[Monica McNutt]

Hey, what? Instagram.

[Peter Rosenberg]

On Instagram.

[Michael Kay]

And you just say. And when you say, what do you want to talk about? Do you mean as. As different things to get to through or just you go back and forth with people on Instagram?

[Monica McNutt]

So we do the little question post, and today it says, cavs@nicks game one. ECF. Talk to me. And then people will populate their questions, and we get some good questions. It's fun.

[Michael Kay]

Look at you interacting with the people.

[Don Hahn]

Just talk to me.

[Michael Kay]

She's more than voice.

[Don Hahn]

You know what's funny, too? It's not even a question. It's an imperative. Right? How about that?

[Monica McNutt]

I've adopted the pedo.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What do you have?

[Don Hahn]

What do you have?

[Monica McNutt]

What do you have?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right. Monica McNutt, our weekly spot here on Don Han Rosenberg. The other thing about a sweep is that I mentioned it earlier. That would be 11 straight wins in the booth.

[Michael Kay]

It's just short.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right, Exactly. And you just got to be logical that as great as that they've played, there's going to be moments of adversity. You don't just win A championship after 53 years of not having any without having to face some adversity.

[Monica McNutt]

Yeah. I mean, and I think first of all, obviously this team getting healthy. All reports indicate that OG Anunoby is going to be healthy, so they've cleared that. I do think that when I look at the top for, for Cleveland, they might be uniquely positioned to challenge this new offense that we're seeing. While James Harden is not somebody that you get super excited about in terms of defending, if the task is to be up on the screen, bump a little bit so our health guys can get in position with Mobley and Allen, like, it might not be as abysmal as people might think. And I do think there will be opportunities to. For him to get got defensively. But when I also think about their supporting cast, I mean, Streuss gave the Knicks, I won't say fits, but he was a presence when they lost to Miami. Right.

[Michael Kay]

He's been big in big games before.

[Monica McNutt]

Obviously there's the stats floating around on how. How well Wade has defended Jalen Brunson. And if Sam Merrill is hitting threes, like, you also have to bring your best if you're the New York Knicks.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. I think this is. You're going to see two good offenses. What you want to see is whose defense is going to be more. Because the biggest story is going to be turnovers. Right. That is the greatest Achilles heel for the Cavaliers giving. Turning it over and then the points scored that they allow off turnovers is such a big number. It is something the Knicks try to capitalize on. But if I was looking at one area that I'm saying, like, is it Jalen Brunson or is it Karl Anthony Towns or is it an other in this series X Factor?

[Monica McNutt]

Let's not get too cute and too new. It's Jalen Brunson still.

[Don Hahn]

When you know that they're taking like again, every team is so locked on trying to take him out of it that taking him off the ball has now created a confusion of wait a minute, do we double him now or do we have to now worry about this. Like you, you have to pick your poison. So you're saying you're always going to pick Brunson. You're always going to pick that poison. Yeah.

[Monica McNutt]

So focus on.

[Don Hahn]

Because you just mentioned Wade, you just mentioned Streuss. Two guys that they might think like Osar Thompson did. I got him.

[Monica McNutt]

Here's what I will say to answer that. My observation of this team is for all of the new layers and the productivity up and down the roster. When Jalen Brunson plays well, good things happen.

[Don Hahn]

Of course.

[Monica McNutt]

Right. And so if I'm, if I am a team defending this group, I want that guy off kilter because he has been the clutch player of the year. He's been the most consistent at that role. Like, I'm not saying that that's the point of a team is other guys can step up when they need to, but if I got, I need to get four out of seven, that's the one I'm looking to take out first. And the rest of that will. The rest of them will navigate as they rise to the occasion.

[Don Hahn]

Well, that's again, that was Atlanta's plan. It didn't work. That was Phillies plan. It didn't work.

[Michael Kay]

Yeah, well, that's because now it doesn't. Everything's run. Ran so well through Cat and og. Everyone else is doing their job. If everyone does their job, Jalen Brunson doesn't have to be the Jalen Brunson that he was. And frankly, they seem to be a better team when he's not 32 point. Yeah. When he's 22 point. Jalen Brunson seems to be the sweet spot for this team.

[Don Hahn]

And it seems to be that not only sweet spot, but it's also the spot that like everyone, everyone feels happier.

[Monica McNutt]

Yeah, I was like, give me, I'll take the 25 to 27 and seven assists.

[Michael Kay]

Like, sign me up and you know, you know what? He'll take the dubs.

[Monica McNutt]

Yeah. For sure.

[Michael Kay]

That's all he said.

[Don Hahn]

He said it for sure. Which I, I found that to be one of the. Again, it got underplayed because it was such a long break between games, but there was the day when he was asked about, like, you know, most stars.

[Monica McNutt]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Wouldn't just easily give up the ball like that. And he said, A, I'm not a star, B, I want to win. This is one of the best lines I think we've heard from a New York athlete in a long time.

[Monica McNutt]

I adore this fan base. The one thing, whether it Be on Instagram or on the street or whatever. The one thing that we've had minor riffs about is this idea that Jalen Brunson was unwilling to get off the ball.

[Don Hahn]

Uh huh.

[Monica McNutt]

If you go back to his arrival, the systems that were in place required a guy that could go and create his own shot. He was the most consistent player that went and created his own shot. He played the way shout out to the former leadership that got us to this moment. The game dictates you or dictates what you do.

[Don Hahn]

The game will tell you what to do.

[Monica McNutt]

Right?

[Don Hahn]

Right. Yeah.

[Monica McNutt]

And that is the system, this new system. And believe it or not, y', all, if this new system hadn't been discovered, I think we'd have a lot more on ball still. Because as I look at this roster for as talented as it is, Jalen Brunson can get his own shut off. Jordan Clarkson get his own shot off. I got half deuce McBride, maybe Colin Tails, depending on the matchup after that. Otherwise you're really looking at exceptional shooters, cutters, rebounders, crashers, but not guys that I want. Here go the ball, top of the key, game on the line. Like what's up? That's just a fact.

[Michael Kay]

Totally, totally agree with you. I'd be interested to see this stat I'm sure is readily available, but I'm not very bright. Jalen Brunson's average up through the regular season for the first two games of the playoffs. Since then.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, since then.

[Michael Kay]

Yeah. I don't know what that number is, but I know one thing.

[Don Hahn]

They're 7. 0. Yeah, it's actually close.

[Michael Kay]

It's close. So it's not even that different.

[Don Hahn]

There isn't a dramatic.

[Michael Kay]

It's just how he gets the point.

[Don Hahn]

Still getting the most shots.

[Michael Kay]

That's what I say.

[Don Hahn]

But it's a different way he's getting them.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Exactly.

[Don Hahn]

ISO, it's not spread. ISO, it's more. I think Mike hasn't said it. I think this is the Golden State warriors offense. I think he's, he's running a lot of Steph Curry stuff. Not Allen Iverson cuts. These look more like Steph Curry, like running you ragged off screens, screening first, and then all of a sudden they're going, wait, where's he going?

[Monica McNutt]

Well, I, I mean, I think that's happening. I think that's part of it. I do know there's the coaching staff.

[Don Hahn]

Chris.

[Monica McNutt]

Yeah, yeah. The last stop in la and particular a lot of it has been picked off from his time there.

[Don Hahn]

Okay.

[Monica McNutt]

But essentially you put A star with tremendous gravity. Right? Oh, I should go back to that stat for this postseason. I loved it for like 10 games and I forgot about it.

[Don Hahn]

Okay.

[Monica McNutt]

The new stat called gravity, right. Jalen Brunson's got to be top 10 in this postseason. It's basically the attention that you garner on the floor. They measure how defenses are moving to you and, like, how things shift. So, yeah, a player of his gravity is going to go screen for a bigger guy. Like, everybody's on red alert. Because I know that that's not the end of this, which it has not been.

[Michael Kay]

Don, how many virgins do you think they have to get in one room to come up with the gravity stat?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Six.

[Michael Kay]

Six different versions all.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And the funny thing is, shout out to our stats. And you know, the sad thing is there's very little turnover. You have a job for a very long time.

[Michael Kay]

It's a job for life.

[Monica McNutt]

Innovative new stats all year.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We're talking to Monica making another weekly spot here on Don Allen Roseburg. What'd you think of the game last night?

[Don Hahn]

Oh, boy.

[Monica McNutt]

I wanted to go to bed so bad because we have a 6am call.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It was so hard.

[Monica McNutt]

I could not. I mean, literally, it's my job to watch the whole thing through, but I'm like, this is crazy. I need to sleep. I. There was a play in the third quarter. Wimby literally ping pongs, miss shot. Offensive rebound hits the ground, bop, bop, bop. It ends with him going to the free throw line. And he's, like, excited about it, right? I'm like, this dude is different for real. And I. In his villain story, if you will, the best villain possible and maybe an NBA champion, who knows? We'll see what happens. New York will have something to say about that. I actually think that the ejection and the middle Minnesota game is important to where he is. I love where you're going because I think it was a moment to recenter. Like, the monk story was super cute and we all love the videos. Wa, wa, wa. But that was in the summer. Like, a lot has happened since then. But I think that moment with Minnesota caused him to recenter, if you will, to go back inward to ground himself. And last night was everything he learned with the monks and beyond.

[Michael Kay]

And. And also I think to. To own a little bit of the villain role because now you're gonna have to be that guy. You can't. He's not the sweet foreign. Oh, my God. I can't believe this kid who showed up from France. He's so good. He's not that. He's the most dominant player in the league. And I was just saying to Marcus Camby, Monica, what I love about it is he completely goes against every made up, you know, idea we've had about foreign born players. He is all attitude, all aggressiveness, wants all the drama possible. And not in a way that he's like obnoxious or someone you want to root against unless you're playing against him. I'm sure, I'm sure it's getting that way, but really he has a chance. We. I always thought for the first year and change, it was about his body, what he could physically do.

[Caller]

Right.

[Michael Kay]

That was gonna be so great for this game. Now this, this I demand to be MVP era of Wendy. Not.

[Monica McNutt]

It's his.

[Michael Kay]

It's his personality that may change the game.

[Monica McNutt]

His. His heart is on his sleeve in a way that I think if you caught at the height of it, I don't know at the height of it. But now where Steph Curry is, he'll talk really honestly about what basketball has mean and what it has cost his family and him. But Wemby, at this age, I want this. When he said, I'm not wasting energy trying to hide my emotions, I'm like, bro, that's a life bar let alone basketball. Right?

[Michael Kay]

Right.

[Monica McNutt]

But to be so raw and there's no cool, like, I want to win, I want to be the best. It hurts when I lose. Like today we were. Because, you know, the conversation is still. Do they have the scar tissue? Have they had their heart broken? Mike Wilbon was on set with us this morning. I'm like, they broke their hearts in the Emirates NBA Cup. Like, that was the championship game that they lost.

[Don Hahn]

That was the one that.

[Monica McNutt]

Here they go. But even then, I remember sitting in the. Sitting in Vegas and for him, it was the biggest stage at that point of his NBA career. And he took it very seriously and wanted to lean into the opportunity to mimic what it would feel like in a postseason.

[Don Hahn]

Sometimes a player comes along and a team can come along because I'm. I'm watching Castle and Harper and Vassell.

[Monica McNutt]

So good.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, my goodness. They are, as Clyde would say, precocious neophytes to the, to the definition. And so when you have that and then the. The man who I think just effervesces with the confidence that the rest of the team feeds off of, sometimes you have that outlier. We don't need the scar tissue, bro.

[Monica McNutt]

We already are here this morning. There are some nut job on the Internet that Has. Every time I have said they're young, they find me and at me on some platform. But this morning I was like, all right, I'm out on the experience thing. I can't. I can't say experience thing anymore. Like, here we are.

[Don Hahn]

It just feels like it. It certainly does. One more thing on this series. Okay, that again, another area that was. We're almost taken for granted. You win seven in a row and things happen. But it's. It's to me, the efficiency of the offensive, the shooting and all that stuff. There's been nine days off.

[Monica McNutt]

There's rj, Tim Legler and Mike Breen.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, there they are. There's Mike Breen.

[Monica McNutt]

Oh, look at that Richard Jefferson shirt.

[Michael Kay]

Wait, no, no, no. There he unbutton for us.

[Don Hahn]

Come on. There it is.

[Monica McNutt]

There he goes.

[Bucked Up Advertiser]

Hi, rj.

[Monica McNutt]

Hi, guys.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Hi, Tim. Wow.

[Don Hahn]

RJ gave us the unbutton, by the way, Mike. Mike is very focused. No, I mean, he had no time for this riff raff stuff. That was like, I'm here for business. Let those guys have.

[Michael Kay]

Listen, it's his first night. I hope it works out well for him.

[Monica McNutt]

Hopefully he's in a big spot.

[Michael Kay]

Hopefully he can pull it together. Game one of the five conference finals. Mike, I think you got it.

[Don Hahn]

I think he'll be fine. But do you. Do you watch tonight to see if the shooting or any of that stuff is like, I think you get a half. They were shooting 40 from three.

[Monica McNutt]

Even if those numbers cut back down to earth, there's still room for them to still be playing great basketball. Like, it has been fantastic. It has been somebody in this. On the Instagram cover, I was having asked about all gas, no breaks for og. I don't know. I was like, well, guys, we're kind of getting spoiled with the starters not needing to play the fourth. So I don't know if it's gonna be all gas. Like, we'll see. I don't think that's gonna happen tonight. I think Cleveland's gonna come in here with some momentum that deserves to be respected. But what the Knicks have been doing statistically has just been such an incredible outlier.

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Monica McNutt]

There's a lot of room for them to regress and still be playing very good basketball. Now, I will say this because I remember the start of the Atlanta series, and we was all like, what is happening? And Carl Anthony Towns, very candidly, post game to my girl Cassidy Hubbard was like, we have been on for a long time. So that's a real thing. Yeah, right. I. So if It's a little funky for a half. All right, human. I, I genuinely believe, though, Hun, having rolled with this team this season, frankly, Cleveland having been the team that sparred the. The team meeting. Right. The last time they met in February.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Monica McNutt]

February 24th and this game, the experience of what happened in this spot last year, all of those things combined with what we talked about earlier in terms of this accountability one to another, this next level of focus, this veteran core that Mike Brown continues to praise and rightfully so. I think they're going to take care of business ultimately.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right. I think it's become a tradition here at the live broadcast. Are we cutting the cake?

[Michael Kay]

Cut the cake.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Michael Kay]

Here comes Anthony.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think it's the right thing to do. Kristen, you cutting the cake From a karma standpoint.

[Monica McNutt]

Okay.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, my God.

[Monica McNutt]

That's a real cake night.

[Don Hahn]

That's a knife.

[Monica McNutt]

Wait, once you. We don't have plates.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What's happening?

[Michael Kay]

We have plates.

[Monica McNutt]

Okay.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right. We're all good. Calandra's Bakery sponsoring Monica and we're gonna cut the cake. We did it in the last series and it worked out so we got to continue to do it. Really ripping his cheek, the pinky off the players.

[Monica McNutt]

I was gonna go for the middle, but I think, you know, we don't need to do that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think we tear them all up except the middle finger.

[Don Hahn]

Wait, the bone is sticking out like that. Oh, that's a great.

[Peter Rosenberg]

How's that?

[Michael Kay]

Fingers.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Monica McNut, everybody. She joins us every Wednesday here on Don on and Rosenberg, but she came here today because of the live broadcast. So we will talk to you next week as we get deeper and deeper into this series. Want to get your calls at 1-800-919-3776. How you feel about the Knicks going into Game 1? We also have ENN at 6.

[Michael Kay]

Not to mention we have to give away some cake to these people for God's name.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Novak is joining us at 6:30. It's Don on and Rosenberg live outside Madison Square Garden until 7. Then it's Pat O' Keefe right here at ESPN New York.

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[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Monica McNutt]

Harry Douglas here Game day brings the excitement. Your stay should feel just as memorable with Marriott Bonvoy, official hotel partner of the NCAA and U.S. soccer, you're connected to a portfolio of brands designed for how you travel. Some offer complimentary breakfasts, others give you room to spread out space to stay productive or extended stay comforts. So whether you're a traveling fan or part of the team, Marriott Bonvoy celebrates the moments that live on before and after the game. Marriott Bonvoy where game day checks in

[Don Hahn]

thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Michael Kay]

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.

[Peter Rosenberg]

A few things I wanted to discuss here quickly. When you were talking about European players being looked upon as soft, that was always a big thing in the NHL until a certain player came into the league.

[Don Hahn]

Who's that?

[Peter Rosenberg]

That'd be Sergei Fedorov.

[Don Hahn]

Yep.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All of a sudden. Played physical, played D. Now I'm not going to put it well. Listen, he's a Hall of Famer, so I guess he could be in Wemby's class. I think Wemby is going to end up being a better player, but sometimes

[Michael Kay]

European football came along. It felt like he was going to be.

[Don Hahn]

That sure says a lot, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Garrett Cole is going to pitch on Friday against the Rays, so there was some speculation back and forth on whether he was going to take another rehab stint or whether he was going to pitch for the big club. Considering if he's ready and that race series is as big as a May series can be considering the Yankees are behind the Rays in the division that that's the direction that they decided to go into. So he'll pitch on Friday. Why don't you get your thoughts on this now I'm the big Met fan and I'm kind of on how he side on this, but I wanted to get your thoughts.

[Michael Kay]

All right, I'm listening.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right. Nick Morabito has been called up by the Mets. So they're doing the youth movement, they're calling kids up. Obviously this is what Stearns is doing is that he's realizing that the roster's not good enough. But let's bring up some of the

[Don Hahn]

kids, shake up the room a little.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He is the 11th ranked prospect for the New York Mets and he is going to wear. He's in the lineup tonight. He is going to wear number eight. Now number eight is Gary Carter's.

[Don Hahn]

Number eight.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now Gary's car. Gary Carter's number is not retired. There's been a lot of debate on whether it should be retired.

[Don Hahn]

Do you think it should be?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes, I do. I know he hadn't. He didn't play a ton for the Mets, but he's a part of. When you think of the 86 Mets, you think you. Doc, you think of Daryl, you think of Keith, you think of Gary. I mean, Gary Carter, when they got him in 1985, it was a big deal. Hit a home run Opening day against the Cardinals. They don't win that World Series without him. I know we get length of time. Hey, Reggie Jackson spent five years with the Yankees and he's in Monument Park. Okay. So I just think it's up to the fans. The fans want to see it.

[Michael Kay]

Gary Carter's other team that he's most known for that doesn't exist.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, yeah.

[Michael Kay]

And that's a tough spot too.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And here's the thing.

[Don Hahn]

Like it. Okay, Finish it off because it bothers me.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now listen, there's been other people that have worn number eight since Gary. Gary last played for the Mets in 1992. Who has?

[Don Hahn]

Who knows?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't remember.

[Don Hahn]

No. In recent.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But it's the last time it has been out of circulation since 01. So players have worn it since he left in 92.

[Don Hahn]

But.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But since then he's been put into the hall of Fame. And this is what Howie Rose. And you look at Howie not just as the voice of the Mets, but also a guy that grew up in Queens, grew up a Met fan.

[Don Hahn]

He gets it. Yeah, he gets it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He tweeted about an hour ago. It appears that most fans are opposed to the Mets releasing number eight to call up Nick Morabito after having not issued it for 25 years. It's been a debate whether Gary Carter's number should be retired. But to release this, to release it on the 40th anniversary season of the 86 Mets seems wrong.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, and I'm glad he did that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It does feel like, come on now. The argument could be, hey, you didn't retire the number. You had opportunity. He's passed away now, you know, you haven't retired the number now. It's been out of circulation since 2001. But after he left, after he retired in 92, you, you still let people wear it for a decade and obviously they shut it down with the anticipation that eventually maybe it would be retired. It hasn't been retired. But I think the angle that Howie's talking, if you've watched the Mets this whole season, especially since it's kind of gone sideways for a while, is about the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Mets last championship. So it's a thing. The Giants are going to have their 40th anniversary for their championship this season, and they're already doing things around that. So it does feel a bit tone deaf.

[Don Hahn]

It bothers me a lot, Don, first

[Peter Rosenberg]

of all, to have it happen on

[Don Hahn]

the 40th anniversary since, since, since Carter left, three players have won the number, and one wore it just for one season. The last to wear it in 2001 was desi reliford.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Huh.

[Michael Kay]

Okay, hit the, you know, button by.

[Don Hahn]

Erica wore it for two years. And Dave Gallagher wore it for two years. But that's it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right?

[Don Hahn]

So it's not like somebody owned it. Right. It was just three. Three people. And one guy was only for one season. I, I, I don't like this on several levels. And one of the reasons why I don't like it. You said the tone depth thing. You can't blame the kid. It's his number.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

But there is a part of me that also says that someone's got to tell the kid, you know, that is, that's Gary Carter's number. You know Gary Carter, right? You don't know. Let me tell you the story about Gary Carter, right?

[Michael Kay]

And then, and by the end, you go, do you see why you wouldn't want to do this?

[Don Hahn]

Like, do you understand why you probably shouldn't?

[Michael Kay]

Like, is that what you want to

[Don Hahn]

put on your kid goes, I don't care. It's from the 90s, man. Like, it's my number. Okay? But to not do anything, not say anything, nothing. It's, it's like when neighbor. Was it neighbors that took the number?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Don Hahn]

Like, at least he met the family.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like, yeah, it was, it was A long time ago, but something. And the family said it was okay,

[Don Hahn]

something happened and that that's what matters. But this is like this to me. You said tone deaf. It bothers me on so many levels.

[Michael Kay]

But then, by the way, though, baseball

[Don Hahn]

players are by inherently about history of the game, aren't they?

[Michael Kay]

Well, they were.

[Don Hahn]

They. They should be.

[Michael Kay]

Retire the number then, though. Make this easy.

[Don Hahn]

Come on.

[Michael Kay]

No, no, retire it.

[Don Hahn]

Well, yeah, if you.

[Michael Kay]

If you don't want people to wear it, you got to retire.

[Don Hahn]

Probably in. The 40th anniversary is probably the time to do it, wouldn't you say?

[Michael Kay]

I would think it's perfect.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I just wanted to correct myself. He retired in 92. His last game with the Mets was 89.

[Don Hahn]

Right, right.

[Michael Kay]

So.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And, and Alan outlined the people. Now. Carlos Byerga came over. That was a big deal at the time. Two years, you know, and Byeger probably wanted eight. The Mets were awful that he thought he was going to turn around.

[Michael Kay]

What year was that?

[Peter Rosenberg]

And that. That was in 97, 98.

[Michael Kay]

And Gary Carter was very alive.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They're very much alive. Too soon.

[Don Hahn]

When did he go? Hall of Fame?

[Peter Rosenberg]

God, it's a few years ago. It's been a while, right?

[Don Hahn]

So he wasn't even hall of Famer then, like.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, he was not a Hall of Fame to me once.

[Don Hahn]

Once he goes in the whole hall of Fame and you understand his importance to your championship team, your last one. I don't know, man. That's a conversation you gotta have.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But Peter's point's a good one. Retire the number. Right? It's true, you know, you retired Doc and Darrell's number, you retired Keith's number. You know, Gary's no longer with us, so I guess there isn't the sense of urgency to do it right away. And you know how these things usually are. You know, let's wait to where there's a game where we figure there's not gonna be a ton of people. Let's invite him out to do it, whatever. But it is the 40th anniversary. They haven't retired it yet, but however, it's been out of circulation since 01. So obviously the organization has been debating this and didn't want it to be in circulation so there wouldn't be this awkwardness. But now you have the awkwardness because now he comes up and let's face it, if he starts the rake, he's not going to want to take the number off of his back. And it could be an issue how much. The organization has already made their decision that it's not going to be onion rings have fallen.

[Michael Kay]

Onion rings have fallen.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm a little bit more concerned about my phone. You know, no offense to the onion rings.

[Don Hahn]

They're terrific phones right there. The. But how much do you put on the kid? Does he have?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Just like with Neighbors. But here's my opinion. Doesn't waver. I don't expect players to know stuff that happened that long ago. I would be nice if they knew the history of baseball and all that the organization, like they would like. What they should have done with Neighbors is like, you don't even ask the family. The answer is no. Can't happen.

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right. Period. Once you start to. Oh, we'll ask the family. Well, now we're in negotiations. Now we're in negotiations. Which means now it could be. Now you can't say no. Now it's just a matter of negotiating the right price of calling the family, whatever of the awkwardness of that. But no, it's all right. It's retired. Or in this case, hey, we're debating right now whether we're going to retire Gary's number. It's just a matter of. Of trying to figure it out. You can't have eight. Is he gonna. Is he gonna go back to Syracuse or is he gonna play? He's gonna play tonight, right? I think. I think the organization. I was so mad at the Giants with the neighbors thing because it should have never gotten to the family, right? No, the answer is no, you can't have it. And it was the same thing they did with Carter, right? Carter wanted 56. No, it's retired. Well, I'll take 11. No, it's retired.

[Michael Kay]

That's the thing. Make it easy. Don't put it on the kids to have to ask. And we don't know exactly what. What was said to the kid because. Alan, you're right. I would hope the conversation is, hey, we heard that's your number.

[Don Hahn]

Let's tell you a story.

[Michael Kay]

Just. Just a quick heads up. Are you sure that's what you wanted? And then if the kid says, yeah, I'm sure. Anyway. Yeah, well, that's very telling.

[Don Hahn]

Let me pop in this DVD real quick.

[Monica McNutt]

Now.

[Michael Kay]

Now, you better. Now, I got news for you. If your name is an Alex Bleeping Rodriguez when you get on the field, it was a bad decision you had that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's a.

[Michael Kay]

Who's doing that?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, who is the. Who was the islander that wanted to wear 66 recently?

[Don Hahn]

Oh, hosang.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And it's like he was. He did he? And he wore it. It's not retired by the Islanders, but, like, the audacity. I want to wear 66. I mean, he didn't. He didn't exactly pan out. Like, I don't know why that pressure.

[Michael Kay]

Wait, does nobody wear. Does nobody ever wear 66?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, it's not retired, like 99, but if you're gonna wear 66, man, you

[Don Hahn]

better bring it better. You better.

[Michael Kay]

Is that so funny? Honestly, is there another 66 that you know of?

[Don Hahn]

I can't think of one.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Not since Mario. Remember any before Jose wore it?

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, he was very good.

[Michael Kay]

But that. Do you address the level of good you have to be to. It's a number on other teams, but the fact that on other teams, like, no, no, no, no. No one wears. Yeah, it would be like 42. It's like 42. You're.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, no, no.

[Don Hahn]

Nobody's wearing 66. And then you go play at Pittsburgh. How's that going to look like? Come on, man.

[Michael Kay]

By the way, speaking of 42, I had this thought yesterday, one day on a beautiful day this summer. And I know I'm saying this, and we all have busy days. We do have to do it, though. Do you realize that? Guys, we are, like, one block from the Jackie Robinson Museum.

[Don Hahn]

I've walked past it.

[Michael Kay]

I know. We need to have a group trip, though. We need to go there for lunch one day.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. Our studio.

[Michael Kay]

You mean our studio is not. It's two blocks over.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, I've walked past it. I've seen it. It wasn't open when I walked by because it was early in the morning.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I haven't seen it, but I saw it.

[Don Hahn]

I said, oh, wow.

[Michael Kay]

Well, it only opened a few. It hasn't been around that long.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Trying to make city features the Jackie Robinson Museum. So.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah,

[Michael Kay]

again, even when they try to do something good, it's. Of course it's something good, but it's also.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Why. What are you doing?

[Michael Kay]

But why you?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, because they were big Dodger fans, so I get the whole Ebbets feel like I got it. But when they first opened, that place was like, did the Mets play here or did the Dodgers play?

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, it definitely had a different feel to it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I just wanted.

[Don Hahn]

I'm glad you brought it up, though, because I don't. I still. I don't like that. I don't like that organizations don't say to their players, let me educate you on this number. You should know. Instead, it's almost like, just forgotten, ignored. Like, there has to be somebody that pays attention to this stuff, when it's like, what number you gonna take? You know whose number that was, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

And again, sure. And this is not the hall of Fame. This is retired numbers, which is personal to the fan base. And the fans apparently are in an uproar about this. So that kind of tells you, maybe. Maybe you should retire Gary's number.

[Don Hahn]

Name me a player that took a number that had been already legendary and then in itself became legendary.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm sure it's happened, but I. I don't. I can't think of anybody off the top of my head. You know, even. Even Aaron Rodgers. Even though Joe Namath said you could wear it, he wouldn't do it. Wouldn't do it.

[Don Hahn]

Respect.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Because I think there has to be a certain amount of respect to it. And again, it's not about what your numbers are, how many championships you win. Listen, if you're a Devil fan, you look up and you see number three hanging from the rafters, you're like, yeah, Ken Danico deserves to be. If a non Devil fan looked at the numbers and go, why is this number retired? Well, because he spent every waking moment with the devils and he's Mr. Devil. Like, it's just something that you can't explain if you were a fan, you know, that's why it's not about the outside world. Like, I'm asking your opinion because you're colleagues in talk shows, but honestly, you can have an opinion on whether Gary number. Gary Carter's number should be retired. But the people that really have a say are the Met fans that watched him and appreciated him and know whether he deserves to be in the Raptors or not, whether I'd be able to look up and see him with, you know, number 17 and. And Mike Piazza, like, whether they belong there or not. I think he belongs. You cannot think about the 86 Mets, which not only is probably the most. It's one of two championships they have, and it's one of the most historic championships in New York sports history.

[Michael Kay]

I just want to throw something out of.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You got to think of Gary Carter, Beltron's.

[Don Hahn]

Aren't they kicking that around?

[Peter Rosenberg]

They are kicking around.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, right. Retiring that number.

[Michael Kay]

Hold on. Do you realize, though, the fighting, the yelling, the screaming, the controversy around Daryl and Doc. I mean, this. This team is so precious about everything. Why don't you want people to have fun? There hasn't been another championship. Celebrate the hell out of 86 while people are still around who remember it. And while the players. We already lost, Gary. Do it for the guys who are

[Don Hahn]

still around, still here.

[Michael Kay]

It's. I do not understand being overly precious. If you're the Yankees and I'm not trying to be that guy and you have that many championships, then frankly I understand being a little more precious. Even though I think they should also do, do something for Sterling in Monument Park. I, I don't see the point in being so precious with the things that brings your fan base joy. People love the memories. That's what sports is about. It's about memories. Lean into it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And, and, and I love the argument. Well, what are we going to run out? Well, all these retired numbers.

[Michael Kay]

Calm down.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm just telling you that'll be my grandkids and their grandkids problem. I don't think we're all going to be alive when they fought when the Yankees finally have to bring three out of retirement because they just they triple digits.

[Don Hahn]

No, no. Now we need, we need player 101 and 105.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What else are you going to do?

[Michael Kay]

Let that be the problem?

[Don Hahn]

How about if you did like somebody wears 8.5?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, but I, I think when you do the math and you realize that everybody that watched him play is gone, then if you want to bring back the number, maybe we can have the conversation. But I don't think I'm not going to worry about that, guys. No, I guess I don't think we're going to get to that point. Even the football.

[Michael Kay]

But maybe this, maybe this moment is the perfect opportunity for them to go. Hey guys. It hasn't been in circulation for 24 years. We're having this conversation. Let's just solve this. Yeah, let's bring his family back. Let's celebrate him. Let's have a great night to celebrate

[Don Hahn]

Gary 40th anniversary as it is.

[Michael Kay]

Put him away. Yeah, Adonis. He's looking at me.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, I just, I was just trying to wonder what's going sell out.

[Michael Kay]

What are you stretching my shirt out?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, I thought. Are you actually cold?

[Michael Kay]

I'm not cold. No, no, no, I'm cold, not cold.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's give myself a little stretch.

[Don Hahn]

It's definitely not cold.

[Michael Kay]

Here, I got some, I got some fondant on my shirt.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Feel like somebody's got a blow dryer on it. The breeze is nice, but no it's not. It's a warm breez.

[Michael Kay]

I can't complain.

[Don Hahn]

This is like hot, hot breath on your neck in a crowded but that being subway and you're like dude, stop breathing on me.

[Michael Kay]

But that being said, when I got out here at first I was like, oh, my God, this is gonna be bad.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Michael Kay]

It has not been that bad.

[Don Hahn]

No.

[Michael Kay]

The only person I've seen absolute, absolute sweating like a barnyard pig is Tim Bontemps, the poor guy.

[Don Hahn]

He rode a bike here.

[Michael Kay]

No, he didn't.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, he said that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, that's.

[Michael Kay]

You know what? No, that's on him.

[Don Hahn]

He lives uptown.

[Michael Kay]

They have.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They.

[Don Hahn]

He rode his bike here. I put my arm around him. We took a picture back, and it's just back sweat.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, no,

[Michael Kay]

Tim, you. You work. You work for the four letters, buddy.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I.

[Michael Kay]

The Disney's. They're putting you on. By the way, he's here working tonight. They'll pick up the Uber now.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I want to remind everybody the Monica.

[Michael Kay]

I don't want to speak out of school.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's his exercise, brought to you by Calandra's Bakery, breakery. Just four simple ingredients and still made by hand since 1962. Available fresh daily at your local supermarket. And BetMGM. Own your moment. Make it legendary. Download the BetMGM app today. Please gamble responsibly. Gambling problem. Call--800-Gambling.

[Michael Kay]

Am I gonna have to apologize for sort of referring to Tim Bondemps as a barnyard pig? It was sweat like a barnyard.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The like, safe, John. I think I'm good with the likes.

[Michael Kay]

Did you touch him when he came in here?

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, it was.

[Michael Kay]

Was it an experience?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, it was.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, it was. It was. It was clammy.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We can confirm that touching Tim Bondkamps is a experience. 1-800-91937 killed him. Seven killed him. Don Ana Rosenberg. Take you up until 7:00 o', clock, and then it's Knicks basketball on ESPN

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[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Don Hahn]

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[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Michael Kay]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don Hahn]

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

[Peter Rosenberg]

Come six o' clock if you want the Mets you can flip over to 1050. Want to thank the Mets for moving their games to 1050 when they conflict for the Knicks in the playoffs. It's a good job out of them and that allows us to stay on until 7 o' clock and preview Knicks Cavs here live from Plaza 33 outside Madison Square Garden as we get ready for the cavs and the Knicks. 1-800-919-377-6, ENN coming up at 6:00 clock 30, we're gonna talk to Steve Novak, but let's go To Matt, Stony Brook. You're on espn, New York. What's up?

[Caller]

Hey, guys, thanks so much for taking my call.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Always.

[Caller]

I just wanted to chime in about the discussion before. I remember going to Yankee Stadium with my brother and Latroi Hawkins, when he was acquired by the Yankees, wore number 21. And as you know, at that point, it wasn't retired or anything like that, but the fan base, including myself, was just waiting for this guy to blow a game so they could jump him. And eventually he did. And eventually, I think Posada and Jeter just took him aside and said, hey, listen, do you really want the fan base to riot against you over a number? Like, maybe. Maybe. Think this through here. So I think for the Mets, they should protect this kid from himself and make his transition a little easier.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. So I don't know the whole story as far as whether he demanded it, whether he was asked not to have it, or whether Met just gave it to him. Like, I don't know. The Mets have not retired the number. I need to get the backstory. All I. I saw the Howie tweet, found it interesting, looked it up, saw that he's wearing number eight. I guess we'll get a little bit more information once he speaks to the media and all that. I'm sure it's gonna be a topic of conversation. It's possible the Met just gave it to him. It's possible that was.

[Don Hahn]

You think no one said, hey, you know who wore that number? You know, they don't know anybody. No one.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, not if they just send it

[Michael Kay]

to him and don't say a word.

[Monica McNutt]

Okay, no problem.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. You know, nobody's worn a while. Yeah. Give it to.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Because you know what Volpe wore in Somerset, right?

[Don Hahn]

No, he wore Sabbath. I did not know that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now, obviously, seven. He's not wearing seven here, seven here. You know, so you could have. You can wear whatever you want. The minor leagues. Right. But then when you get called up to the major leagues.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Even though you're the 11th top prospect in the organization, which is not nothing. I'm sure he wants. I'm sure there's a backstory, you know, I'm sure there's a story. Wore eight. That's the. You know, I don't know. Something special about that number.

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's great.

[Don Hahn]

Special enough.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Sorry. But. But. But again, if the man. Mets gave it to him, then obviously nobody would have said anything to him, because they don't have a problem.

[Don Hahn]

I get it. I get it. It's just to me, Again, it's, it's. Look, the Mets have enough problems to deal with, right? They got enough going on. You think David Stearns is worried about what freaking number this guy's wearing? He's trying to put out fires right now. He's trying to get this thing turned in the right direction. So I'm sure it's not on his desk.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Listen, this is.

[Don Hahn]

But it doesn't mean somebody else in the organization doesn't just speak up and say, hey, on a second, like, even in the equipment room, like, yo, wait, we're giving him what?

[Peter Rosenberg]

We're giving one number.

[Don Hahn]

Shouldn't we say something about that? Know.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And even it would send up red flags, I would think. Listen, this has been out of circulation since 01. So it's not a coincidence. Nobody's wanted to ever ask. It's probably been suggested, like, hey, maybe we don't want to wear this number. There was a guy here that was pretty significant, won a World Series. I don't think it's a good idea. I don't know what goes into this, man. I really don't. But this organization. I'm sorry, you don't get. You don't get the benefit of the doubt when you do so many things wrong because there's so many things that, that just seem to fly under the radar that shouldn't with this organization.

[Michael Kay]

The Tom Seaver situation is the best example of just. They always miss the opportunity to do things at the right times. So this is yet again, another, Another example. You waited too long. You mentioned when he went into the hall of Fame. I would also argue maybe when Carter passed, it was the time that you go. Or when he was sick and you knew he was going to pass the time to tell him, hey, we're going to retire your number.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Does.

[Michael Kay]

But now at this point, it's time. Let me ask you a question, and I know that there's an entire book dedicated to this by Greeny and Hemba. Is there a bigger eight than. Than Cal Ripken Jr. Ovechkin.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, by the way, that's.

[Michael Kay]

That's funny that Ovi is now going to be in that conversation in the same area.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, Yogi. Yeah. I mean, Yogi.

[Michael Kay]

But the problem with Yogi. Yogi's so tough because he's in the middle. He's between 7, 7 and 9. Who are both bigger potentially, or right there.

[Don Hahn]

But. But there was like. Think about his. Hold on.

[Michael Kay]

No, he's bigger than nine.

[Don Hahn]

His career accomplishments, though.

[Peter Rosenberg]

My God. Who?

[Michael Kay]

Yogi.

[Don Hahn]

Yogi.

[Michael Kay]

No, Yogi's. The man. But is he. But is the. Is the 8 more recognizable? Does the average person, like, fan think of 8 for Yogi or they think Cal.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I know. You know what's weird with baseball? Of course, like, baseball numbers never really resonated with me as they did the other sports, because I never needed the number to identify the player. Like, you knew their number. Jeter was two.

[Don Hahn]

I was different. The number meant everything to me.

[Michael Kay]

Because you're a Yankee guy.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, I guess so.

[Michael Kay]

But what do you mean, Don? Why did you not need the number?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, I'm not that. I didn't need the number. I didn't identify. Like, I didn't necessarily identify. I knew the player's number, but it didn't seem as identifiable as it is in the other sports where you kind of need. Like, if you're watching. If you're watching a Devil Capital game, you might need to see 8 to recognize that that's Ovechkin. Like, you know what I'm saying? In football, right? Well, you'd have. You'd have to, like, I. I knew Lawrence Taylor, but I'm just saying, you see a scrum of people. Oh, there's 56. All right. Lawrence Taylor's on the field. You don't need that in baseball. Right.

[Michael Kay]

Or basketball.

[Peter Rosenberg]

A doc starting. Do I need to know what number he is?

[Michael Kay]

Great.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know, or Keith Hernandez is at first base right now. Need to know that. That's 17.

[Michael Kay]

In other words, if the face of the player is available, the number doesn't hit as hard as it gets.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, I mean, some. Some numbers, like 42 with Jackie Robinson. I think there's some that are synonymous. Like, 99 is always going to be about Gretzky, but to a Yankee fan, 99 and Judge, because of the oddness of the number. But do you really need a number to identify where. Where. Where Judge is on the field? Like, if you, if you're. If you take Maya to a game when she's old enough. Enough to start recognizing people, are you going to. I think Judge is going to stand out. He's a foot taller than everybody else.

[Don Hahn]

But that's not. But that's not the thing.

[Michael Kay]

Uncle Boonie owns a juicer.

[Don Hahn]

It's not. He would have to come up with a nickname for Maya. And there's. There's really no way.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It doesn't work, though.

[Don Hahn]

But, like, think about it. You. It's not about identifying the player wearing the number. Well, you know him by looking at him. It's the jersey itself. And your Connection with the jersey and all that stuff. That's. The number represents the player, not the player represents the number.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Does that make sense if the player. Obviously you have to be very, very iconic. Right. But there might. I had this conversation with Michael. Michael's the same way. Like what number was so and so he, like, you know, I don't remember because you don't have to identify like the number is like obviously when the player wasn't.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, the special player is to going to be. But that's the whole thing. Gary Carter was a special player. You didn't say. I forget what Gary Carter's number was. Everybody knew was eight.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You knew it, but it wasn't like.

[Don Hahn]

No, come on.

[Michael Kay]

But you also knew his face and his hair. The whole thing.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, but the whole thing was.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right. But, but you never say, hey, you know, you never refer to him as eight.

[Don Hahn]

Well, I don't think anybody, you know,

[Peter Rosenberg]

Vetchkin's the great eight. All right, you know, you, you.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, Gary Carter was kid, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, Gary. Gary Carter was kid. That's right. All right, DNF is coming up next. It's Don Hanna Rosenberg, ESPN New York.

[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Michael Kay]

I don't want to know how the

[Don Hahn]

sausage is made, but 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.

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