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- [00:03]
Commercial Narrator
Kids, they grow up so fast. One day they're taking their first steps and the next they don't fit into the tiny sneakers they took them in. You blink your eyes and their princess dress is two sizes too small. And their dinosaur backpack isn't cool anymore. But don't cry because they're growing up. Smile because you can profit off of it. For real. There are a bunch of parents on depop looking for the stuff your kid just grew out of. Download depop to start selling.
- [00:33]
Don Hahn
This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
- [00:37]
Alan Hahn
That sounds like heaven to me.
- [00:38]
Don Hahn
Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers.
- [00:46]
Alan Hahn
Game time is brought to you by Tullibardu Irish Whiskey. Because when it's game time, Alan.
- [00:53]
Don Hahn
It'S time of time.
- [00:54]
Alan Hahn
It's tolly time. There's only one game, but it's a big game. Rangers playing host to the Ducks coverage immediately following us on 880 at 6 30. No. Mika, Savannah, Jad suspended for being late to a meeting. Crider and Truba making their return to Madison Square Garden. And this is very rare. I know we've got a condensed schedule because of the Olympics. Allen. The Rangers have five games this week. They're playing back to back thing. They're playing tonight against the Ducks. Tomorrow they're playing against the Canucks. Then they go to St. Louis to take on the Blues. And they've got back to back games coming up Saturday and Sunday. So it is a busy, busy week at the Garden with the Rangers. Tullamore. Do the original triple distilled, triple blended and triple cast matured Iris whiskey. Be sure to grab a Tullamore Dew or try the new Tullamore Dew. Honey, during today's action glasses up to enjoying Tullamore Dew responsibly. Our condolences to Rob Reiner and his wife. I saw that news last night and I was just gutted. I was always such a huge fan of his work and then, you know, obviously the circumstances of the story are just horrendous. But yeah, you know, so many great movies. You know, this is Spinal Tap, When Harry Met Sally, A Few Good Men. He was great and his acting roles too. He had a, he had a great, you know, the, the dad and the Wolf of Wall street, which I thought was an underrated role. And of course all in the Family and all the things. And his, his dad, Carl. It was late 90s. Just a tragic, tragic way to die as it looks like he may have been killed by his own son. But like reading the story that because of guess, the neighborhood and. And how friendly they were that the daughter had to go because I guess she was doing a wellness check and weren't identified. So she went. And the. The people that consoled her were Billy Crystal and Larry David.
- [02:44]
Don Hahn
Yeah.
- [02:45]
Alan Hahn
You know, two people that we know very well at this radio station. And I just can't imagine what especially Billy's going through because they were really close friends. They basically grew up together. Obviously, he was in Harry Met Sally with, you know, that Rob Reiner directed. He was also did a cameo in this is Spinal Tap. And Billy did one of the great lines where he's a mime. He's talking about mime is money. Was a great line of just what he must be going through. And I remember when the Giants went to their first Super bowl in 1986, which had been January of 87 inside the NFL, interviewed Rob and Billy because they both grew up huge Giant fans and talking about. And so I remember that connection. So I was always a fan, you know, devastated by the news. But when I saw that, you know, the Billy who's, you know, he lost his house in the fires last year and then losing such a close friend. So condolences to Billy Crystal as well. Just, I know there's no real sports connection, but still, he's somebody that everybody knows and everybody grew up with one way, shape or form. And me being old enough to remember him in all in the Family, I remember him as an actor and as a director and all that. So condolences. Just a really, really sad, devastating story.
- [03:55]
Don Hahn
Yeah, it was shocking as it came across, and then even more shocking when you find out, like, what happened. And all it does is remind you is people that even live the luxury life and people that live a celebrity life, they're still humans and human things happen to them. And, you know, like, it's like when you read some of the details and some of the. Like, we still don't know all the details of what happened, but it's just sad.
- [04:20]
Alan Hahn
No, it just really sad.
- [04:22]
Don Hahn
It just makes you stop and you just think to yourself about taking care of people around you and making sure they're okay and, you know, those who.
- [04:30]
Alan Hahn
Go through trouble, you know, and then clearly what happened in Australia, just all we bring these things up is to say, you know, Michael used to call at the toy store, and he's so right. So as you figuratively live and die with your teams and where they're going to draft who they did or didn't trade for who they didn't sign. Remember, there's a lot of other more important things going on in the world. And a lot of things. Right. Not every bad day is equal.
- [04:58]
Don Hahn
The jets not making the playoffs for 15 years is like a speck.
- [05:02]
Alan Hahn
But it's a little reminder, you know, because reality splashes in the face, you know, all the time. This, this two shall pass. And then the next thing you know, you're living and dying with your teams again. But it is a little reminder that there's a lot going on.
- [05:17]
Don Hahn
That's why what we do, anything is providing the distraction. Right? That's the whole idea of everything that we do here. We're well aware of it, that we know.
- [05:24]
Alan Hahn
We.
- [05:24]
Don Hahn
We come up with conversations and things to talk about, things that entertain us to try to entertain you. And we all understand it. Like what we do is. Is not the real life stuff. It's to get you that break from real life. Because moments like what the stories that happen, Brown University as well, like, those are the things that they shake you. They really do. Those are the real life things that we try to distract you from.
- [05:45]
Alan Hahn
And also, just because they happen, you know, fast and furious, it feels like that we should be numb to it. Always have an exposed nerve for this stuff. They never get numb to these devastating things. Now back to. As Michael K used to call it, the toy store. It is. We'll talk a lot about it tomorrow, maybe even break it down tomorrow for the people. But this is such a weird, surreal thing going on with this NBA cup. Because the great thing about where I'm situated at the Devil Games, fans walk right by me because I'm down. I'm downstairs. We're not up in the press box. We're down in the lower level. We're actually in section 19 at the top of section 19. And. And we saw it at the, at the holiday party.
- [06:29]
Don Hahn
Yep.
- [06:29]
Alan Hahn
Nick fans asking you questions not about the cup, but what trades they're going to make.
- [06:36]
Don Hahn
It's.
- [06:36]
Alan Hahn
I don't want to say. Nick fans don't care. I think some Knick fans do care. I looked at social media. Some are very much on board. They take on the Spurs 8:30 on prime tomorrow. If they win, they will win the third ever NBA Cup. They'll hoist a banner and everything. It is a thing. They'll hold up a trophy that some.
- [06:54]
Don Hahn
People, Brunson is the highest odds for NBA cup mvp.
- [06:58]
Alan Hahn
But there's a lot of people that are in the camp of I don't care because it's new. I don't really know how to feel about it. It's not that I'm rooting against them, but I just don't care. They got bigger fish to fry. This is not some, you know, team that's going to finish under.500 making a miracle run. They have a banner they want to raise at the beginning of next year that's going to matter more than this. Then you get people like our pinhead suit, John Winthrop, that flat out is rooting against them because he feels some embarrassment by winning this thing. And then there's other people that I think don't fully understand it. Like, they. They're probably watching basketball because I heard from a lot of people over the last three years, why are the courts different? You know, why is this game different? Does this game count in the stand? Like, there are still people that are trying to wrap their mind around this thing, and while they're confused by it, they don't know how to feel about it. So they kind of fall in the I don't care camp. So there's probably more people that will take a pass on it then are gonna be like sweating bullets tomorrow. So maybe we'll be able to get a feel more tomorrow going into the game, how people feel about it. But it is surreal.
- [08:02]
Don Hahn
My barber, Michael, he's Empire Barber in Woodbury. He loves soccer. It's all he watches. He doesn't really watch any American soccer, right? He's Russian, and so he's paying attention. Cause it's the Knicks. And so he does. For me, he pays attention. So it's what he said, Same thing. He's like, what is this tournament in season? I said, yeah, just like that. He goes, oh, like soccer? Like, yeah. He goes, oh, so you steal from soccer? Like, he makes the joke. Like, yeah, like, all the good things you take from us. Right? You know, but very proud of soccer. But he just. He says, oh, okay. So. So they went. And I said, does it matter? Like, if your team won some. Whatever they are in soccer? I don't know, what are they? Like, in the middle of a soccer season in Europe, there's a separate tournament. If your team wins, it is. There's prestige to it. And he just said, yeah, but I.
- [08:52]
Alan Hahn
Don'T know if there's prestige to this year.
- [08:54]
Don Hahn
It's just not the. No, it's. But. But I asked him, like, does it. Does it matter? He goes, but he said the most profound thing. That's what he said. He goes, winning matters.
- [09:03]
Alan Hahn
And it's like, yeah, why not?
- [09:05]
Don Hahn
So here's How I feel a lot of Knicks fans, and you mentioned John and he's one of them, he's the first to bring it up to us, which is really what caught our attention last week because I didn't think about it, if the Knicks got this far, how would you feel? And I got to be honest, the minute that game ended on Saturday evening and the Knicks won that game, and by the way, the Knicks played really well. Like that was a hell of a performance by them. Well coached game. Brunson was brilliant. 40 points. Towns was. That's the best defense I've seen him play. So you know, he's, he's in it for something. You could tell he's a little more locked in. There's a half million dollars on the line now. They've gotten all the money so far, right. The only thing left is the, is the 500.
- [09:45]
Alan Hahn
But it is hard, fan, for fans to, you know, get excited about how.
- [09:48]
Don Hahn
Much money they're gonna, they had to get something. So as we put all that together and I'm saying to myself, I'm getting texts, I'm saying to myself, like, okay, they got a chance, they can win this thing. Now. I wanted to see Oklahoma City, what do they look like? And then. And the spurs with Wemby ended up beating the Thunder. Second loss to Thunder of hat. So now all of a sudden it's. Hang on a second. Because you thought if they lose to the Thunder, you know, you'll want to see how they match up with Oklahoma City. But you know, that's. They're the best team in the league by a long shot. But now that the spurs won, it's almost like this. Well, now you're supposed to win. So what I've realized from talking to all the Nick fan friends that I have who have been texting over the last couple of days is this is literally a damned if you do and damned if you don't situation. Because like John said, if you win it and then the league gives you the banner and you gotta hang the banner, they'll mock you for, ah, it's the only championship you can win. The one that doesn't matter, right? If you don't win it, it's, look, you can't even win this thing. They'll never win a champion. So to me, if you, if you, if it's damned if you do and damned if you don't, then damn it, win it.
- [11:01]
Alan Hahn
Yeah, win it.
- [11:02]
Don Hahn
I'll be damned to win then. Yeah, right. Isn't that better?
- [11:06]
Alan Hahn
And of course I'M going to hang the banner.
- [11:08]
Don Hahn
You can all laugh, but guess who's winning? That's me.
- [11:11]
Alan Hahn
We love the tradition of it, but I think what we love more than anything, and I think this has been the problem the NBA's had and maybe when we see it, because I think a lot of people haven't paid that close attention to it. But if you do watch the game, if you see how intense it is, that will win people over, have the same thing happen, similar, not exact, but similar with the four nations. Last year with hockey, I was somebody like, whatever, it's contrived. It's not the Olympics. And then all of a sudden you watch them play and you saw the intensity and you say, wow, how do you not get caught up in that? And now you're caught up in it. And now all of a sudden, I want to see the usa. I went from not caring to seeing how much they care. So if you see them out there really busting it and it feels like a big game, then maybe that'll win some people over. It's only three years old, so there's people that don't understand it, don't care as much. But maybe this will age well. Like maybe 10, 15 years from now, this will become an even a bigger thing and something you'll. You'll proudly own as a Knick fan. Like, hey, we won one of those, right? Join the Lakers and the Bucks as the teams to have won it in the past. Yeah, you know, so I get it.
- [12:19]
Don Hahn
I think you'll get. There'll be an intensity. I don't think there was an intensity to the semifinal. I think it was just an up and like, it was an up and down game. It wasn't a lot of defense being played. Both teams were really just playing offense at a very high level. When it came to winning time, though, that's when Brunson showed up because they went on the 100 run that finally put them away, and they were able to, like, keep the arm's length for the rest of the game. And so that's the part that I want to see is like, you know, is this going to be a back and forth? And then is it, you know, when, when it's winning time, does Brunson give you the performance? Like, he just always does? I do think personally, and I've. I've heard them say it, I think this means something to this group.
- [13:04]
Alan Hahn
Okay.
- [13:05]
Don Hahn
And it's not like, oh, I want, you know, like, it's not about the title. It's not About a banner. It's more or less just sort of about this group's been together for a while and they just want something. You know what I mean? Like, does that make sense? Like it's, it's like all of us, like we've been, we work together, we spend all this time together. They put us in a competition. Like, you know what, we've been doing this together for a while. Let's go kick some ass. What the hell.
- [13:30]
Alan Hahn
It's there to win. Might as well win it because we're.
- [13:32]
Don Hahn
Competitors and we like this. It's a lot different than the teams that kind of go in and they're like, ah, whatever, this is fine. You know, they're not into it. If, if I'm more locked in than you are, I'm gonna win it. So I want to see Wemby looks like he wants it. He's got a little bit of an edge to him now. He's in a minutes restriction. But when he plays, his impact on the game is ridiculous. So will the spurs, who are very young, will they have a little bit of an edge to them and play? One thing to keep in mind with this matchup, Knicks and Spurs last year played each other twice. When we played in both games, they were both very good games. Christmas Day and the Knicks won that game. Bridges was unbelievable on Christmas Day. Then there was the game in San Antonio where, where Manana. I think he had like a 40 point triple double and Brunson went for 60 like it was an overtime. Like that game was wild. So these teams, when they play each other match up pretty well.
- [14:28]
Alan Hahn
Now listen, they can lose by 20 and you're like, I was never really into it. Or they can have a game after game like you said. Yeah, like, whoa, that was, that was fun.
- [14:36]
Don Hahn
Yeah. You know, but I'm sorry, do you think as the outside observer with no Thunder now do the. Is this like almost feel now you have to win.
- [14:48]
Alan Hahn
It'll look bad because I am sure it changed the spread. Like what's, what's the number on this? I'm sure they would have been a dog against the Thunder.
- [14:55]
Don Hahn
Haven't looked. But I do know that they're favored.
- [14:58]
Alan Hahn
Well, they're favorite. So. Yeah. Now I think you want to win it. It's not the Thunder. I don't think anybody has the spurs coming out of the west, right?
- [15:05]
Don Hahn
No, I mean maybe it's all based on his availability.
- [15:08]
Alan Hahn
Right. Knicks minus two and a half. So you know, it's close but you'd like to win it. But, you know, I'd love to get your thoughts on this at 1-800-919.
- [15:16]
Don Hahn
It doesn't matter. Does it matter now to you? Because the Knicks are in it and you're like, the hell would it win it now? Who cares?
- [15:23]
Alan Hahn
This is not a fair comparison. I'm trying to find something. It's equal, all right? Forget soccer. I don't follow soccer, so I don't have a dog in the fight there, all right? But in North American sports, the only thing I can think of of its equal, and it's not in the middle of the season like this, it's at the end of the season is the conference championships. In basketball, like you used to have those years where North Carolina's playing Duke for the ACC championship, they know they're both going to the dance. They know they're both going to get high seeds. Matter of fact, the loser of the game still might end up having a higher seed than the winner of the game.
- [15:58]
Don Hahn
That's like in football.
- [15:59]
Alan Hahn
And they don't care about the ACC championship because they've got bigger fish to fry in a couple of weeks. In the dance, is it similar to where. I don't, I don't want to win the acc. I would rather save the win for if we face them in the dance. Like, at least, I feel that's at least somewhat comparable.
- [16:14]
Don Hahn
In Nick Saban's time at Alabama, if they were on a run, hadn't lost, he would. They would be okay with losing the conference championship.
- [16:22]
Alan Hahn
Not that he wanted to, but get it out of the way.
- [16:24]
Don Hahn
But they knew they were going to be a top seed anyway. They weren't worried about the national championship. It was more or less like, I think, if I'm not mistaken, the years they lost the SEC championship, they won the national team. I think something like that was. Was a thing back then with those teams that, that's, that's kind of a similar one that you could think about, but there really isn't any other comparison because like any other sport, like World Baseball Championship, well, that's not like the Yankees and Mets. It's. It's different. Right. So that's separated. It's a different championship. Even four nations. That's. You're playing for your country.
- [17:02]
Alan Hahn
But this is the Knicks versus the Spurs.
- [17:05]
Don Hahn
Yeah, this is.
- [17:05]
Alan Hahn
It's just they're playing for different kind of championship.
- [17:07]
Don Hahn
It's a game that doesn't count, by the way, Don. Like for instance, if Brunson scores 65 points in this game, it is not a Knicks Record, because it doesn't count.
- [17:17]
Alan Hahn
The Knicks will end up playing in this season. 83.
- [17:20]
Don Hahn
83 games. Right. And so will the Spurs. That's the one.
- [17:25]
Alan Hahn
But the semifinal game that counted.
- [17:27]
Don Hahn
Yeah, 82.
- [17:27]
Alan Hahn
But this one will not count.
- [17:28]
Don Hahn
No.
- [17:29]
Alan Hahn
So they'll still play the spurs two other times this year.
- [17:31]
Don Hahn
They will? Yes.
- [17:32]
Alan Hahn
Like instead of the traditional New Year's Eve. Actually, in San Antonio, I think people don't really like new things. It's hard to get that hyped up for something that's only been around for three years. But your team's in it. They've got a chance to win it. And forget about your stupid reindeer games of how fans are going to treat me outside of New York.
- [17:52]
Don Hahn
Or they're going to make fun of.
- [17:54]
Alan Hahn
You, or this is not the championship I want. As if one's related to the other. Matter of fact, you can make more of a case that winning this game tomorrow could have more value to an eventual championship than the law of averages, saying, if I win this, then I won't win the title. No, all wins. You've been given a gift. How many times, as a reporter, Alan, have you asked the question about measuring stick games?
- [18:19]
Don Hahn
Oh, yeah.
- [18:19]
Alan Hahn
When you cover the Islanders, Knicks, me with the Rangers, Devils. Like, coach, when. When the best team comes to town, is this a measuring, sticking. Find out how good you are now, now, that would have been a better question had it been the Thunder.
- [18:33]
Don Hahn
Yes, but.
- [18:34]
Alan Hahn
And it's not even really you against the spurs, because according to Vegas, you're the better team anyway right now. But it's just the Knicks getting in a chance to play for something that kind of just tests themselves, something they want.
- [18:47]
Don Hahn
Is this team. Are they a winner?
- [18:49]
Alan Hahn
Are they a winner? Exactly.
- [18:50]
Don Hahn
No.
- [18:51]
Alan Hahn
And I think. I think there's value. And here's. Here's the cool thing. If you don't care, then you don't care. I'm not gonna try to tell you how to feel, but the idea that this has anything to do with them winning or losing a championship, I know one has nothing. One has nothing to do with you.
- [19:09]
Don Hahn
But at least one. One early on in the season gives you a feel like, could this be a special season?
- [19:15]
Alan Hahn
You have some Giannis stuff we'll say for a little bit later. But there are some people that want to chime in about this. So let's talk to Steve in New Fairfield. You're on espn, New York. What's up, Steve?
- [19:25]
Caller
Hey, what's up, boys? I was one of the cranky guys who thought this was so contrived and ridiculous. But the way I'm. I've kind of put it in perspective for myself when these games start. There it is up the bit. You could see it. The intensity is a little greater. So I'm just. Just because I'm competitive and I. I love competition like we all do. That's why we love sports. I'm just taking it for when these games go on. I'm into it as if isn't even a cup. And if it's ramped up and it's just like. Because it's a regular season game, I'm enjoying the competition. And when this is over, win or lose, we got five months. We got the longest winner ahead. It won't mean anything after tomorrow night or whatever. January, February, March, we know what the big ring is about. There's gonna be trolls, there's gonna be haters. So I'm just trying to put it in perspective that way.
- [20:09]
Alan Hahn
And the trolls and haters are going to find whatever angle they want to find. Right, Steve?
- [20:14]
Don Hahn
Right.
- [20:14]
Alan Hahn
Oh, you can't even win this.
- [20:16]
Don Hahn
Or if you win it, oh, you.
- [20:17]
Alan Hahn
Won the baby cup, whatever it is, or the baby champion. Figures.
- [20:21]
Don Hahn
You won the one that doesn't count.
- [20:22]
Alan Hahn
People that are going to troll, they're going to troll. Believe me, they can pivot better than anybody. They'll find a different angle to come after. Nick fans.
- [20:27]
Don Hahn
What are you worried about?
- [20:28]
Alan Hahn
It shouldn't bother you now. Do I lose sleep over a loss? No. Do I take to 7th Avenue if I win? No, but it's cool. And it's not your average game, right? There's so many games. And you said along with it could be.
- [20:44]
Don Hahn
No, this will have a sizzle to it because. Neutral site. Because it's. It's, you know, all eyes are on you. The whole league is off. Everybody's watching you. It's.
- [20:53]
Alan Hahn
It is on the app. It's gonna have a feel. Well, it is on the Amazon prime, but you find it for football. So I like how you say that.
- [20:59]
Don Hahn
It is on the app. Like, so it's a Thursday Night football game. Is that what you're telling me?
- [21:03]
Alan Hahn
No, what I'm saying is it's on the app, which means people get aggravated. So if you're definitely somebody on the fence, it being on the app could be the reason why you don't watch now. It's.
- [21:11]
Don Hahn
It's the most maddening thing. Like I said that commercial, whatever it is, you can't. You can't last channel. It drives me crazy.
- [21:18]
Alan Hahn
What do you got Tomorrow you got Rangers, Canucks, obviously, nobody playing in the NBA, right? So, I mean, most basketball fans are not huge hockey fans and vice versa. So what else you got? A game. And here's the cool thing is if you're not into it, it's the Knicks. You're still going to watch. The only thing. There's one thing, one little tiny thing I haven't heard brought up. One little tiny thing that could be a difference maker.
- [21:45]
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- [22:17]
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- [23:32]
Don Hahn
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- [23:38]
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Alan Hahn
To be clear, that's half price, not half the service. Mint is still premium unlimited wireless for a great price. So that means a half day. Yeah.
- [23:52]
Don Hahn
Give it a try@mintmobile.com Switch upfront payment.
- [23:55]
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- [24:01]
Alan Hahn
See mint mobile.com thanks for listening to.
- [24:04]
Don Hahn
The Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
- [24:06]
Alan Hahn
I didn't listen to anything you just said.
- [24:08]
Don Hahn
Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Catch. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.
- [24:16]
Alan Hahn
So the other thing that hasn't been brought up yet, that could be an issue with this game if somebody gets hurt.
- [24:26]
Don Hahn
Yes. So nobody wants that.
- [24:30]
Alan Hahn
I'm not even going to mention a name. Okay, don't. But somebody of significance tears something, breaks something, strains something and is out for the year. What do you think people are going to say put for this Fouquet Cup? Yep, we lost so and so for the entire year. I'm done with it. Because if they do it for all Star games, which are technically completely meaningless. So that's the one little caveat. Because the game does not matter for the standings. Like if somebody tore something against Orlando, it didn't mean something for the standings. This is not going to mean anything for the standings, not going to mean anything for the record books. Like you said, Brunson can score 100 points. In the eyes of the Lord, it didn't happen. So if God forbid somebody got hurt, that did, that happened and it does affect the second half of the season. That's the thing you don't want because win or lose on Wednesday, if somebody of significant on the Knicks got hurt really bad, that'll all anybody talk about. Why are we playing this stupid thing? It's ridiculous. You know, that's a fact. Even people that love it will end up having.
- [25:32]
Don Hahn
You're absolutely right. And think about it. How important is Victor Wembanyama to this league?
- [25:39]
Alan Hahn
Huge.
- [25:39]
Don Hahn
Immensely important.
- [25:40]
Alan Hahn
And he might be as significant as anybody. Right?
- [25:43]
Don Hahn
Yeah. Well, think about again. LeBron's at the.
- [25:45]
Alan Hahn
He's at the end, Curry's at the end.
- [25:47]
Don Hahn
Curry is heading to the end and his team's not very good.
- [25:50]
Alan Hahn
Right.
- [25:51]
Don Hahn
You know, like you're, you're really starting to see. You're waiting for who's the next star that's going to be able to carry this league. And he really does seem like that guy that he wants it. He understands It. It's all. He's all about it. And he's been hurt. He gets hurt. He came back to play in that semifinal and played really well, but they're keeping him in minutes restriction. Like, you worry about a guy like him. What if something happens to him in this game? Never mind. Like, look, locally, if something happens to a Nick player, yes, it's one that we'll be talking about probably for weeks after it. But if something happened to him, like, how many people around the whole league would start. The people would start wondering, like, what the hell are we doing?
- [26:39]
Alan Hahn
I know.
- [26:39]
Don Hahn
Putting a star at rest in a game that doesn't count doesn't mean anything.
- [26:42]
Alan Hahn
And that would. But they. But they know that.
- [26:44]
Don Hahn
Look, Giannis has played in this game. LeBron has played in this game. Shay Gilgis Alexander has played in this game. Stars have played in the NBA Cup Final in the last three last two years. This is nothing new. Fortunately, there's never been any issues like this, but you're not wrong to bring that up. And it's always a concern.
- [27:02]
Alan Hahn
Now, it's a different set of circumstances in the NHL, but you don't think Gary Bettman's not going to be in a fetal position every time an Olympic game is played.
- [27:09]
Don Hahn
Well, what happened in the four nations? What happened to the Kachuk brothers?
- [27:12]
Alan Hahn
I know that you still nursing injuries from that?
- [27:17]
Don Hahn
Yep. You know, and then what's his name? The defenseman. American defenseman. Who got hurt? Who was it that got hurt? Come on, Anthony, help me out.
- [27:28]
Alan Hahn
Yeah.
- [27:29]
Don Hahn
Charlie McAvoy.
- [27:30]
Alan Hahn
Oh, well, McAvoy got hurt this year getting taken a puck to the.
- [27:32]
Don Hahn
I'm talking about last year.
- [27:33]
Alan Hahn
Oh, yeah. No, he definitely got hurt for nation. Yeah. Yeah. But the Olympics, all of your stars are there.
- [27:38]
Don Hahn
Yeah, right.
- [27:39]
Alan Hahn
Except the Russian one. Like, everybody's gonna be there. And so Gary's like, oh, my God, I just don't need. But I need to get hurt. And that has nothing to do with the league other than just trying to keep relations. Well, he just worried something getting out of shape. This is. This is. I'm telling you, this is. This is Adam Silver's baby. It's not going away.
- [27:58]
Don Hahn
All right? Yeah. Right.
- [27:59]
Alan Hahn
You might as well try to embrace.
- [28:01]
Don Hahn
He loves this. He's all into this. They're getting. They're putting all the resources in. They're getting all the sponsorship on it. It is definitely a lot of. They want it to continue to grow. Having the Lakers, a big market team in it in the first year was phenomenal. Having the Knicks in It this year helps them tremendously as well. It'll be a huge boost for prime because it's Prime's first time. And they're gonna get a think about the number they'll get in New York.
- [28:23]
Alan Hahn
Because even though the game doesn't mean anything for the standings. Tell me, even a Knick fan hates the Cup. They're gonna watch your team's playing.
- [28:31]
Don Hahn
Yeah. And we can't do anything. We can't do pre or post. We don't have coverage. Nothing. Nothing local. This is only their. Their pregame, their postgame. They.
- [28:42]
Alan Hahn
This is, you know, an Amazon prime, and this is what they're paid for.
- [28:45]
Don Hahn
How many people you think watched it last year?
- [28:49]
Alan Hahn
Bucks. And who?
- [28:49]
Don Hahn
Bucks in the Thunder in New York. Now, it wasn't on Prime. There was no prime then it was on espn.
- [28:54]
Alan Hahn
I believe it was.
- [28:54]
Don Hahn
Yeah, but like, do you think people were really like, oh, what was the total? I never even looked.
- [28:59]
Alan Hahn
You look up, Anthony, what the rating was on. On espn. It was just espn. It wasn't abc, Right.
- [29:04]
Don Hahn
I think it was just espn. Yeah. Because if you're. If you're prime and you have New York, the New York market, and a team that unifies the town, that number's got to be unreal, right? It's going to be a good number.
- [29:20]
Alan Hahn
I don't want to say anything until I hear the number from last year. Now it is on prime. So that. That's going to affect the number.
- [29:26]
Don Hahn
It'll still limit it, I would think.
- [29:28]
Alan Hahn
Wouldn't you think?
- [29:28]
Don Hahn
Not everybody has it, obviously, Right.
- [29:30]
Alan Hahn
Yankee fans have it, right? All right, 2.9. So 3 million. So 3 million people. Watch the last year, ESPN. You know what there's a chance that you'll get. Oh, it was on abc.
- [29:42]
Don Hahn
Oh, you know, what was it, a two. What was it, a Tuesday night? It had to be. What did it go up against? It was a Tuesday night.
- [29:51]
Alan Hahn
What could it be going as The NBA shuts down, there's no football.
- [29:53]
Don Hahn
It was down 35% versus the 20. 23. 4.58 Pacers, Lakers. All right, wait, you had the Lakers and LeBron.
- [30:01]
Alan Hahn
So four point. So round it off. So it cost them 2 million because it's the Lakers. I will make this prediction now, Amazon, if this were on ESPN or abc, it would easily be the highest. New York would get a bigger number than what the nation gave it last year. You get 3 million people, New York.
- [30:17]
Don Hahn
Yeah, I think you're right.
- [30:18]
Alan Hahn
But because it's an Amazon prime, there are people that just.
- [30:22]
Don Hahn
They don't have it.
- [30:23]
Alan Hahn
They wouldn't watch their own wedding.
- [30:25]
Don Hahn
Everybody has Amazon, though. It feels like. Who doesn't have Amazon?
- [30:29]
Alan Hahn
It's almost to the point where if porn was on an app, I think people would be like, you know, I'm going to get it someplace else. There are people that just have this. Just.
- [30:36]
Don Hahn
They don't want anything extremely by it. Nothing.
- [30:38]
Alan Hahn
They're protesting it. They don't know how to do it. I mean, listen, I. I was somebody, like, I rolled my eyes, but now.
- [30:45]
Don Hahn
It'S no, you got you stuck with it.
- [30:47]
Alan Hahn
Are we that to the point where I just can't hit a couple of buttons? It is a pain, but if it's something you want to watch. And again, it's funny, but when it's football, you know, they'll stick their head in an oven as long as they can watch it, right? But everything else, like, I'm not watching that Yankee game on Friday because it's on prime, right? They're not getting my money all of a sudden, you know, a Covid Tuesday, Texans, Jaguars game, and people are severing their own foot to watch it on.
- [31:14]
Don Hahn
It is just.
- [31:14]
Alan Hahn
It is crazy. It is.
- [31:16]
Don Hahn
It is crazy. It's only in a flooded dumpster. That's the only place you can see it. I'm putting on Scuba Deer and I'm going right in the dumpster, right into the muck.
- [31:24]
Alan Hahn
Let's go to Ralph down in Florida. You're on espn New York. What's up, Ralph?
- [31:29]
Caller
How's it going, guys? I wanted to touch base on the the Knicks. And how I feel that as a Knicks fan, we've gone through a long time of watching, losing and losing, and nothing's guaranteed. A finals appearance is not guaranteed. But I can tell you what is guaranteed. A chance to win something that matters, that in a few years, you don't want to be one of those teams that is like, oh, you know, all these teams have won the Emirates cup except these. You don't want to be the except these. And another thing, I'm rooting for the park on Daddy is of this world. The big Tyler Kollik, the Ariel Portis to make some money, get some loot, some money that they don't see. You know, that's what I'm rooting for.
- [32:07]
Don Hahn
Did you see the story? And thank you, Ralph. Last year, getting to the quarterfinals, you know, the Knicks got some money. Not a lot, but still for you and me, it's a lot. Tyler Kohlik bought his mom a car. So they asked, what are you gonna do this year with it? And he's getting a lot more this year. So he said his dad. His dad's getting greedy. He wants a car and a boat.
- [32:28]
Alan Hahn
Okay.
- [32:29]
Don Hahn
He's about buying old stuff for his parents. But Karthony Towns said winning the championship, he's gonna take all the money that he gets from this and donate it to the Dominican Republic to a cause that he has there. His mother was Dominican who had passed, and he wanted to do something in her name using that money. So it's like that. That part of the money is. Is always. There's always different interesting stories about it.
- [32:53]
Alan Hahn
Louis in Queens. You're on espn, New York. Hey, guys.
- [32:58]
Caller
How you doing?
- [32:58]
Don Hahn
Good.
- [33:00]
Caller
So, yeah, I want to talk about the NBA Cup. I don't think the NBA does a very good job of promoting it well. And I think they need to do a better job of incense, incentivizing it for fans to care about it. I think they could do it as they need to figure out a way where the team who wins or the teams who at least go to Vegas gets some sort of compensation for it, not just the players. So Tyler Kohlig's dad could get a car and a boat. And it needs to be something tangible for the fans to hold. Let's say if they get a second round comp. A second round comp pick, that potential player could be potentially anything.
- [33:32]
Don Hahn
Louis, follow that play. Lewis, you had me until you. That was. That was your plan? A second round. Second round pick? Doesn't mean.
- [33:39]
Caller
That's just an example.
- [33:40]
Don Hahn
No, that's an example. Yeah. Okay. I need you to try harder.
- [33:43]
Alan Hahn
I don't think you have it.
- [33:44]
Don Hahn
You got to try hard. Harder than that. A second round pick. But even Jacob Perry's role in his eyes, man. Louis, we got to do better.
- [33:49]
Alan Hahn
What can they give back?
- [33:50]
Don Hahn
Let's go back to the drawing book because you had me. I'm like, okay, what's in it for the fans? And then you're like, second round pick. What is a fan getting out of a second round pick? I mean, you should know. Listen, what you're. You're onto something, though. Wait a minute. You're onto something. You want fans to care about it. You're absolutely right. What are the fans getting? I don't. So what he. So. So Tyler Colic gets $500,000. What am I getting? How about something? The winning team. The winning. The fans. If you're a fan of the winning team, there has to be something that the league provides for you, whether it's one game the league covers. I don't know, does like a whole section of ticket. I don't know, something. Think of something you could do where every fan benefits from that team winning.
- [34:39]
Alan Hahn
It's an extra game that doesn't count in the standings. So the Knicks are going to play 83 games.
- [34:43]
Don Hahn
Yes.
- [34:43]
Alan Hahn
All right, so I guess the NBA could say, well, you're getting an extra game to watch with your team.
- [34:48]
Don Hahn
Oh really? Thank you.
- [34:50]
Alan Hahn
And if you said, okay, one Nick Holm game in the future will be completely free, what do you do?
- [34:59]
Don Hahn
You get the money.
- [35:00]
Alan Hahn
But that's. Yeah, but they're getting money for this, right? So that maybe that's part of it. Like, all right, we're giving all this money to the players, but to give something back for the fans one game and maybe, you know, maybe it's a.
- [35:11]
Don Hahn
You know, now we're on to something. Now Lewis was a little crazy with the reward, but I kind of like this.
- [35:16]
Alan Hahn
Not Nick's not going to be Knicks, Lakers, you know.
- [35:19]
Don Hahn
But think about it like what, what would be a reasonable thing? Because you know how hard it is first of all to decipher a fan. It's not like you have, you're not a card carrying member, right? You can't just like if you said every fan gets like, you just go to the NBA store and you get a free shirt. Everybody is going to want this shirt. You know what I mean? Like it's, that's not going to help. If you say this game is free, it will sell out quote unquote in seconds on the Internet. And some morons might buy and then resell the tickets.
- [35:48]
Alan Hahn
So. And that only services, you know, like less than 20,000 people.
- [35:53]
Don Hahn
And then you're right, you do a walk up and now what if.
- [35:55]
Alan Hahn
And you don't want a mob scene.
- [35:56]
Don Hahn
You don't want to do that.
- [35:57]
Alan Hahn
You can't.
- [35:58]
Don Hahn
But what can you give a fan tangibly so they care if their team wins the championship.
- [36:04]
Alan Hahn
And you don't want to do anything that's going to affect the competitive balance. Right. Like, you know, when the Major League baseball wanted to give back for their tie in the All Star game, they decided, okay, the winner of the All Star Game, the league, that, that, that league will get home field advantage of the world. It was, you can't do that. You can't say like, well, if the Knicks win this, you know what some.
- [36:22]
Don Hahn
People said if you win it, it's a playoff berth. You lock in, at worst a play in berth.
- [36:29]
Alan Hahn
All right, how about this?
- [36:30]
Don Hahn
Yeah. But what if it's like a team like the Kings, the Hornets that win like the, and then they struggle throughout the whole season. That's not my problem. You won the league. You won it. You get, you get, you get the 8th seed or the 10th seed, I should say.
- [36:42]
Alan Hahn
I was going to say, like, if you wanted to just award each team that's in this, an automatic birth into the playoffs. Okay? So that, so that means no matter what happens, Knicks, spurs, guaranteed, spurs in the West, Knicks in the east, guaranteed a playoff spot no matter what. Now in a year like this, right, it's not going to matter, right? Because you know, they're both making the playoffs, right? But maybe if you do get a year where, you know, the Pistons are taking on, I don't know who's an also ran in the West.
- [37:13]
Don Hahn
Well, the Pistons are number one team of the east right now.
- [37:14]
Alan Hahn
No, but.
- [37:17]
Don Hahn
The Wizards.
- [37:17]
Alan Hahn
Okay, so, so Wizards, Pelicans.
- [37:19]
Don Hahn
Okay. Yeah. All right.
- [37:20]
Alan Hahn
Now if they're playing in it, well, they will just, we'll tack on extra playoff. But you can't really do that because really, when are you ever going to see the championship with two teams that can't make the playoffs?
- [37:30]
Don Hahn
Here's the other problem with that theory too, is that if a bad team, quote unquote, somehow just has an early good run and they find themselves in the championship and they get that playoff berth, they might be like, I don't want this. I want the draft pick. I want to be in the lottery.
- [37:42]
Caller
Yeah.
- [37:43]
Alan Hahn
And also you can't award extra home games because that's not fair to the team that you play. I don't know what you can do. 1-800-919-3776 if there's something tangible to get a fan to say, I want to win this because not just because my team's lifting a banner, I want something out of this.
- [38:00]
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- [39:16]
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- [40:17]
Don Hahn
Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
- [40:20]
Alan Hahn
I didn't listen to anything you just said.
- [40:22]
Don Hahn
Catch the show on demand whenever you you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.
- [40:29]
Alan Hahn
All right. This is a big segment for Alan because he's got the Giannis stuff. But I want him to open up with his idea how fans can get interested in the cup.
- [40:39]
Don Hahn
All right, so. And we have your calls too. We'll get to those because a lot of people have ideas. But, but we were just spitballing as we like to do. And so you tell me, would you do this if we said to you I'm the league and I said okay, we're going to do something new this year before the first NBA cup pool play game. So it's usually that's like early November. You have a certain date cutoff date I'm going to give, I guess it's November 2nd. There's a website for the cup. You can go to it, register yourself as a card carrying member fan of this team. You can only do one team. You can only sign up one time and we get all your information. So your name where you Live all that stuff. And you, this is it. Plant your flag. This is my team. So now we have you in the system. There could be. Now again, like Don Don was saying this. Now we have an idea of who has the most fans or who has the most people supporting them or believing in them that they can win this thing. But let's just say now we've got a couple hundred thousand people who decided they're going to register as a card carrying member, fan of the Knicks. And now the Knicks are in the NBA Cup Final. If the Knicks win this thing. All of you who have signed up and have this registry, we. You have a QR code or you have a code, whatever it is, you have some way to identify yourself that we gave you in response to you signing up. If your team wins, you can go and get free merch, championship merch, right. Like they have the championship shirts and all that stuff. You'll get that free free merch. So you get that. You go to the store, you put in your code, you get it for free. Other people to pay for it, you don't. And discount on a future game. You want to buy tickets, there's another code we give you and you get a discount on a tick on tickets to go to the. To see your team play in your arena. So Nick's at the Garden. So if you live in Spokane, Washington.
- [42:36]
Alan Hahn
And you're a Knicks fan, we're not flying you.
- [42:38]
Don Hahn
I can't fly you there. But if you get your way to New York, you can come see the. And you get a heavily discounted ticket.
- [42:43]
Alan Hahn
And this merch isn't any, just any merch. This is like free merch. They can create merch that only those fans. Yeah. So let's say, I don't know, there's a hundred thousand Nick fans that register.
- [42:54]
Don Hahn
Yep.
- [42:55]
Alan Hahn
Then we will just make a hundred thousand hats and shirts and those will be it. Maybe you can even put numbers on them like that. Just show your special like nobody else could have.
- [43:04]
Don Hahn
So when you see someone else wearing.
- [43:05]
Alan Hahn
It, you'll know, hey, you're one of the guys, you know, And I like that. So listen, is that much of a needle mover, but it's really the only thing I can really think of.
- [43:12]
Don Hahn
People like getting something, at least you get something out of it instead of, hey, your team won. All right, cool.
- [43:17]
Alan Hahn
Right?
- [43:18]
Don Hahn
Like at least you got something out of it.
- [43:19]
Alan Hahn
A lot of people with ideas, let's try to squeeze them in. But before that, there's a lot of reasons why people buy at Ramsey Mazda. It's their selection, it's their customer service and it's their savings during the more to move you event. Lisa. New 2025 Mazda CX5 2.5s all wheel drive for 229 for 36 months. Start shopping now at Ramsey Mazda dot com. Choose wisely. Choose Ramsey Mazda. Call 833-853-2970 for details. Then S0775503. MSRP $30,920 zero security deposit ends 1, 2, 6. Dave in Westchester. You're on ESPN New York.
- [43:54]
Caller
Hi, Don and Han. Big fan. I actually like the exclusive merch idea, but I was thinking maybe the winning team could have the NBA all star weekend in their city. Kind of have like festivities in there.
- [44:07]
Don Hahn
In their only issue there. Dave. It's a great idea. Except they don't.
- [44:13]
Caller
In February would be problems.
- [44:14]
Alan Hahn
No, it's just that they're the year.
- [44:17]
Don Hahn
That would be very difficult to plan out. Like these are things that they plan out years in advance. Right. They have. They already know who next year's host is in the year. Like so that's a, that's just, it's too much to do. But I like where your head's at.
- [44:30]
Alan Hahn
Yeah. I just don't know how much the fans are going to care necessarily.
- [44:33]
Don Hahn
Again, what am I getting? What do you get going?
- [44:34]
Alan Hahn
And what do you do if you know, the same team wins back to back years, then that second year, you know, I'm not going to get the all star game. So.
- [44:40]
Don Hahn
Yeah, who cares?
- [44:41]
Alan Hahn
Richard and Roslyn, you're on ESPN New York.
- [44:46]
Caller
Hello, this is Richard from Rosalind.
- [44:48]
Don Hahn
Sure, Richard, we have you. Alrighty.
- [44:52]
Caller
I got two ideas. The first one would be concept of whatever it is. T shirt is fantastic. That's totally gonna work. And when the person sends in what they want, the one T shirt that they have to make for every, for every team, you tell them what size you want, you get your free shirt. Have a nice day. But I thought somehow the season ticket holder should get maybe one game paid for. This way you could make extra shirts and then the season ticket holder would get a shirt as well as one game paid for free.
- [45:20]
Don Hahn
That's extra loyalty. Your season ticket holders, bottom, extra seats.
- [45:24]
Caller
Extra tickets are a lot of money and they're corporated out though.
- [45:28]
Don Hahn
Yeah, that again, that. Thank you, Richard. That would be more of the challenge as well because some of the tickets aren't owned by a human being. They're owned by a company.
- [45:37]
Alan Hahn
But people like exclusive merch.
- [45:39]
Don Hahn
I think that's a great.
- [45:40]
Alan Hahn
Again, selling you or sending you what everybody else can go out there and buy. But to be the select few, nobody else that.
- [45:48]
Don Hahn
That.
- [45:48]
Alan Hahn
I think that would be pretty cool if Peter were here, because Peter collects shirts and hats and stuff. I think, you know, Jacob was even. That would be. That'd be something for you, right? If there were only 30,000 of this hat and you had one of them.
- [46:00]
Don Hahn
And all you had to do was just go to the website, put your name in, and say, I'm playing my flag. This is my team for this cup run. And then there you are, you get yourself a shirt if they win. Listen, I'm rooting. I'm.
- [46:10]
Alan Hahn
I'm all in.
- [46:11]
Don Hahn
I already told Anthony I'm getting about five new signups. I'm signing my mother up, I'm signing my dad up. I'm collecting as many shirts as I could, at least opportunity to go to a game. I mean, I think that. I think it's a good idea.
- [46:24]
Alan Hahn
It's not a bad idea.
- [46:24]
Don Hahn
People die for these T shirts in arenas all the time.
- [46:27]
Alan Hahn
Listen, there's not much you can give the fans, but that sounds like something that they would actually. Something you root Terence out on Long Island. You're on ESPN New York.
- [46:36]
Caller
Hey, man, what's going on?
- [46:38]
Don Hahn
What's up, T?
- [46:39]
Caller
Hey. So I basically had the same idea. I was thinking either you sign up early, you know, when. When it starts, and then you can get like an exclusive T shirt or something like that, or even something like, what's your work per. MSG is like a matinee game. Like, it's almost like a family package. You buy one, get one other ticket, 50 off. I mean, like that when it's super expensive for, like, you know, whether it's LA or New York, you're going to a game gets expensive. It's 500 bucks to get two tickets, you know, 250 a piece or whatever. And now you're talking popcorn or travel, you know, fans. Oh, I'm gonna give cheer even extra harder now because now I get. I could bring my kids to the game. I could bring my wife, I could bring my friend.
- [47:21]
Alan Hahn
Yeah, now you got that. And here's another thing I thought of building off of this. So you have your X amount of fans that register. They can select one or a couple of those. They get something even better, like a ring or replica trophy that they. That is selected randomly. Like, you're gonna get. You're gonna get your exclusive merch. But somebody can also win a lottery of getting. So There's a ring.
- [47:46]
Don Hahn
Fifteen players on the team. You get 15. There's 15 NBA cup miniature trophies.
- [47:53]
Alan Hahn
Yes.
- [47:54]
Don Hahn
And so 15 of them signed by one player randomly given out to you might just be the lucky one one.
- [48:05]
Alan Hahn
Or, you know, or 10% of them or something like that.
- [48:07]
Don Hahn
Think about how easy is us today.
- [48:09]
Alan Hahn
Believe me, it's easy. It doesn't really cost anything at all.
- [48:12]
Don Hahn
I'm gonna tell Adam what was the.
- [48:13]
Alan Hahn
The honest stuff before we go.
- [48:15]
Don Hahn
So it's, it's being reported now that this is Mark Stein, who's very good, very well connected because, you know, we talked about like I worry about the Thunder. They have all these draft picks. Would they want to make a move for Giannis, maybe the spurs and all that stuff. He's saying Thunder do not want to make a play for Giannis. They don't want to shake up their roster. Quite happy with. They have. So there's one team out of the way. Spurs, same story. Not really looking to, to wade in those waters. Not interested. They're out. There's several teams that people thought might get involved, but teams are telling the Bucks we're not interested. We don't want to do what it's going to take a massive deal. Golden State would love to try to do something, anything, because they're a mess. So they're trying to come up with some way, but they don't really have a ton other than Kaminga. People are worried about the Miami Heat. In fact, in some places, the Heat are now the new favorite to land Giannis when it comes to odds. Knicks very much still in sort of just wait and see mode, but nothing. All the reports say that there's nothing active that they're doing. And so two things at play, the Bucks might have to take less than they hope to get to trade Giannis or they might have to wait to the off season. And last but not least, that's why now some of the reporting is that the bug John Horst, the gm, is sort of telling teams before we do anything, we might see what we can do to make our roster better around Giannis rather than blow it up by trading him. So they still control it because they don't have to trade him. And so anybody that thinks something's imminent, it does not feel like it is.
- [49:56]
Alan Hahn
And before we go to enn, James says, I know what to do. Give the winning team extra cap space for the remainder of the season. Like 3,5 million. That would get the fans excited, too.
- [50:09]
Don Hahn
Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast. I don't want to know how the 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.