Hour 4: Knicks in 5

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg Podcast Summary Episode: Hour 4: Knicks in 5
Release Date: April 16, 2025

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Introduction and Light Banter (00:29 - 02:35)

The episode opens with the hosts engaging in light-hearted conversation about 90s music, specifically debating the categorization of songs like Cranberries' "Zombie" and Nirvana's "Lithium." Don Hahn reflects nostalgically on his "sports phone days" listening to bands like Oasis and Soundgarden while driving on the Cross Island Parkway. Alan Hahn and Peter Rosenberg contribute their perspectives, blending humor with their music insights.

Notable Quote:

• Alan Hahn (01:00): "It just takes me right back to my sports phone days driving on the Cross Island."

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Ticket Allocation Policies in Sports (05:13 - 14:16)

The discussion pivots to the contentious issue of ticket allocation by sports teams. Don Hahn highlights how the Carolina Hurricanes and Detroit Pistons restrict ticket sales to locals, a strategy also employed by the New York Rangers. This approach aims to ensure that genuine fans attend games, particularly during high-stakes playoff matches.

Key Points:

• Alan Hahn (05:13): Explains how New York-based teams like the Rangers and Knicks have immense fan bases, leading other teams to limit ticket sales to local residents to prioritize authentic supporters.
• Josh Hart's Insight (06:02): Emphasizes the dedication of Knicks fans and their ability to secure tickets despite restrictions, likening it to the widespread presence of Lakers fans globally.
• Alan Hahn (07:21): Defends the Hurricanes and Pistons' policies, noting the high demand and limited availability of tickets for playoff games, especially at venues like Madison Square Garden (MSG).

Notable Quote:

• Don Hahn (05:27): "They don't want that. You know who else is doing it?"

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Listener Call-In: Predicting the Knicks' Playoff Run (14:16 - 18:35)

A significant portion of the episode features a heated phone call from Lang, a seasoned sportswriter, who challenges Alan Hahn's bold prediction that the New York Knicks will win their playoff series in five games. Lang critiques Hahn's optimism, citing the Knicks' lack of playoff experience and the current roster's vulnerabilities, particularly Jalen Brunson's recent ankle sprain.

Key Points:

• Lang's Critique (14:16): Questions Hahn's prediction, arguing that the Knicks lack the identity and toughness required to secure a swift victory.
• Alan Hahn's Defense (16:32): Reiterates his confidence in the Knicks' superiority when healthy, emphasizing logical analysis over mere speculation.
• Don Hahn's Reflection (17:32): Expresses understanding of the anxiety among Knicks fans but maintains that the team's performance justifies the optimistic forecast.

Notable Quotes:

• Lang (15:27): "I don't understand how you have this inflated sense of optimism and confidence...I think this is a classic case of conformity bias."
• Alan Hahn (16:20): "I thought about it and I was like, you know it logically. With everything you're looking at, at full health, which they are. They are. They should be much better than this team."

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Charlie Ward Appointed as Basketball Coach (20:06 - 23:00)

The hosts discuss notable sports news, including former NBA player Charlie Ward's appointment as the basketball coach at Florida A&M. They reminisce about Ward's dual-sport legacy, highlighting his achievements in both football and basketball, and his impactful career with the Knicks.

Key Points:

• Don Hahn (21:03): Celebrates Ward’s transition from player to coach, noting his Heisman Trophy win and NBA career.
• Alan Hahn (21:33): Provides trivia on Ward’s draft history and his refusal to play in the NFL unless drafted in the first round.
• Spike’s Call-In (23:08): Adds historical context about Ward's career and his contributions to the Knicks.

Notable Quote:

• Peter Rosenberg (22:23): "Charlie Ward was good man at both. He was a complete stud then. And then he was a stud in the NBA too. Such a, such a gritty classic."

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Listener Call-In: Spike on Knicks-Pistons Series and the Celtics (23:06 - 25:58)

Spike, another listener, shares his analysis on the Knicks versus Pistons playoff series, advocating for the Knicks despite criticisms. He also praises the Boston Celtics as the premier team in the NBA, asserting their dominance over other contenders.

Key Points:

• Spike's Analysis (23:37): Criticizes Pistons' performance and defends the Knicks' strategic advantages, predicting a Knicks victory in five games followed by a tough series against the Celtics.
• Don Hahn (24:21): Agrees on the Celtics' formidable position in the league.
• Alan Hahn (25:01): Shares an anecdote about Charlie Ward's draft experiences, linking it back to the broader discussion on sports management and player careers.

Notable Quote:

• Spike (23:15): "For anyone that don't think this time off, Thibodeau is not making adjustments. They don't know coaching."

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Closing Remarks and Final Thoughts (26:22 - End)

As the episode nears its end, Don Hahn wraps up the discussion by referencing the upcoming games, including the Devils' entry into the playoffs and the Mets' recent loss to the Twins. The hosts briefly touch on the legacy of Joe Louis Arena and the evolution of multi-sport athletes like Charlie Ward, concluding with anticipatory remarks about the Knicks' playoff journey.

Notable Quote:

• Don Hahn (26:22): "Spike Quickly done the only. I'm sorry, are we up against it?"

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Conclusion

In this episode of "Don, Hahn & Rosenberg," the hosts delve deep into the dynamics of ticket sales in major sports leagues, passionately defend the New York Knicks' playoff prospects, and celebrate the career moves of notable athletes like Charlie Ward. Listener interactions add depth to the analysis, showcasing diverse perspectives on the Knicks-Pistons series and the broader NBA landscape. The blend of humor, insightful commentary, and spirited debates encapsulates the essence of the show, making it a compelling listen for sports enthusiasts.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Alan Hahn (01:00): "It just takes me right back to my sports phone days driving on the Cross Island."
• Don Hahn (05:27): "They don't want that. You know who else is doing it?"
• Lang (15:27): "I don't understand how you have this inflated sense of optimism and confidence...I think this is a classic case of conformity bias."
• Alan Hahn (16:20): "I thought about it and I was like, you know it logically. With everything you're looking at, at full health, which they are. They are. They should be much better than this team."
• Peter Rosenberg (22:23): "Charlie Ward was good man at both. He was a complete stud then. And then he was a stud in the NBA too. Such a, such a gritty classic."
• Spike (23:15): "For anyone that don't think this time off, Thibodeau is not making adjustments. They don't know coaching."

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This comprehensive summary captures the essence and key discussions of the "Knicks in 5" episode, providing an engaging overview enriched with direct quotes and clear section delineations for easy navigation.

Transcript

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[Don Hahn]

This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Alan Hahn]

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.

[Alan Hahn]

We lost our couple.

[Don Hahn]

Yes, we did. Cranberries are phenomenal. They had themselves at least three bangers, right? Would you say?

[Alan Hahn]

I don't know if you have serious sex?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Three smashes, for sure.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

I listen to Lithium.

[Don Hahn]

Zombie is like, yeah, Lithium's great.

[Alan Hahn]

It's all 90s. It just takes me right back to my sports phone days driving on the Cross Island.

[Don Hahn]

Nice.

[Alan Hahn]

Listening to Oasis and the Cranberries, you know, Three Third, Eye Blind, all that. All that stuff.

[Don Hahn]

Now you know Zombie, right? The song Cranberry. Zombie.

[Alan Hahn]

Zombie.

[Don Hahn]

That song.

[Peter Rosenberg]

If Don didn't know that song, I would.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, I'd be shocked.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'd. No, I think there's something wrong with him.

[Alan Hahn]

I'd call.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'd call for help, but.

[Don Hahn]

But that's that song. Even though it's kind of like. You'd think it's a little slower, it's a little more grungy. That could be a metal song.

[Alan Hahn]

Easy, easy. Well, I. Listen, I could do a whole podcast.

[Don Hahn]

On this things that could be a metal song.

[Alan Hahn]

No, that grunge is basically metal. Ajs.

[Don Hahn]

Well, it's soft metal.

[Alan Hahn]

And there was a lot of bands like Soundgarden was out long before the whole grunge thing. I played them on my metal show in college.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

And then they kind of got sucked into that whole movement, you know. But you listen to like, I laugh at it. Like, Smells Like Teen Spirit was a phenomenal song. There were like people like, oh my God. What?

[Don Hahn]

It's like it was mind blowing metal song, right?

[Alan Hahn]

I mean, it's a punk. It just grunge to me just felt like a creation of the Seattle sound. It was a little different, but it was based off of, you know, punk rock and metal.

[Don Hahn]

So you think it was like packaged as such. Yeah, it just had the deeper chords. That's all it really was, right?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. But it just, it became to me.

[Don Hahn]

With A deeper voice. It wasn't a screechy. Right. Like metal got really screechy.

[Alan Hahn]

Right. It was more melodic. It was more, you know, denim and flannel. It just became like a, like the.

[Don Hahn]

Movie singles and it.

[Alan Hahn]

Right, exactly. That's. No, you're not wrong. That came right. Right around the same time Pearl Jam was in it.

[Don Hahn]

I know.

[Peter Rosenberg]

By the way, underrated. Crazy moment of the show today. It probably flew by. You know, a lot of people didn't notice it, but in the. Actually, I'm developing a segment. It's coming to me as we speak. I'm not kidding. You guys don't understand where my brain operates in this country. This radio thing.

[Don Hahn]

We're inspiring you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I, I, I need to come up with the name of it, but like the, the, the never ending quest to learn that Alan Hahn is not the perfect man that he looks like, but an utter and complete psychopath as we go on that journey. A moment happened today. Don, you noticed it and you were just like, let's just push past this.

[Alan Hahn]

Because I don't remember it. I'm not thinking about it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And I just want to say real quick, I absolutely respected the thing we were talking about. It just didn't make any sense in context.

[Alan Hahn]

We have audio.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, I didn't tell them so. No, we're talking about the great, like, sort of adult comedies. And Alan starts getting serious on Shrek.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, I did like Shrek.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And Don, I love Shrek. It's a really fun, like, sit down late at night. Maybe even more proof maybe that he.

[Don Hahn]

Writes about him and he's a genius in that movie.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I get it.

[Don Hahn]

Genius line.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But Don, it's like you and I are sitting around talking about how we love Italian food, and he just comes in, he goes, I love California roll. I mean, it's just not what we're talking about.

[Alan Hahn]

It wasn't real, like Shrek.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, but, but don't you think it's a boy?

[Don Hahn]

I was reading a list made that was a ranking list by people that were voting, but I just happened to come across it on that list. And I was like, oh, you know what?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, a little bit.

[Don Hahn]

Then I was looking at a website, I was reading the movies as they were coming up, and Shrek, was he Ron Burgundy.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He has to read it if it's on the paper.

[Don Hahn]

It's one that caught my attention.

[Peter Rosenberg]

To reference a great movie from the era we're talking about just means that.

[Alan Hahn]

There'S somebody else in the world that was thinking like him.

[Don Hahn]

Because he. No, I Didn't even think of Shrek until it came up. And I'm like, you know what?

[Alan Hahn]

But then he stayed with me.

[Don Hahn]

You could. I thought Shrek had some great lines in it that are funny and love quotable.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Very funny, very cute, Very quotable. A movie that if your kids are watching you and want to keep watching it, of course we're talking about straight up Don, R rated comedy.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. Still, there were moments.

[Alan Hahn]

The best one, I think it's from the first one because they all get mashed up together.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't think I ever saw three.

[Alan Hahn]

But do you know the Muffin Man?

[Don Hahn]

The Muffin Man.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't know if he lives on Drury.

[Don Hahn]

It's just so dopey.

[Alan Hahn]

It's a kid, you know, it's one of those movies. You could also find this out that there are kids movies that have things for adults that kind of suck them.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, dude.

[Alan Hahn]

But I definitely was.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I loved that movie when I was 25 and there was no kids in sight. I saw it in the theater. I was a fan.

[Don Hahn]

That's great. So we did this thing about Carolina Hurricanes not letting Devil's fans buy tickets. Right. Anybody from New York area have to have a certain zip code. Whatever it is, they did it to the Rangers. They did it. You know who else is doing it?

[Alan Hahn]

The Pistons.

[Don Hahn]

The Detroit Pistons.

[Alan Hahn]

How about that?

[Don Hahn]

They don't want that. What happened in Philadelphia happened. Remember last year in the playoffs? Philadelphia, that arena was. Was. They called it MSG South. Like that place was filled with Nick fans who went there. And because game one is on is. Well, that's at the Garden game. Game four is an afternoon game in Detroit. Easy flight from New York.

[Alan Hahn]

I know.

[Don Hahn]

But they're not letting anyone in the New York area buy tickets. And before you comment on it, because everybody. Nick fans are up in arms. Josh Hart was asked to comment about it.

[Josh Hart]

I mean, after Philly last year, I don't blame him. New York, you know, they have some of the best fans in the world. And I think that's one thing that's different about this fan base is how they travel. And it's cool to see the difference because obviously I played in la and the Lakers have probably the biggest fan base, you know, NBA fan base in the world. And there's Lakers fans everywhere. Maybe it's tough to see how they travel because there's just so many fans anywhere in the country. But then seeing the Knicks fans, you see and you hear about everyone's traveling and getting tickets and flights and doing those kind of things. So it's really cool to see that, you know, and knowing Knicks fans, they're going to find a way to get those tickets. So I know they're not really too stressed. Only way for them not to get those tickets. If the owner buys a couple thousand.

[Don Hahn]

Tickets, they'll find a way.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, I wanted to defend the Hurricanes and the Pistons because it gets spun like, oh, they don't have any fans. So they. So they don't know. They don't have as many fans as the Knicks do or the Rangers do. That's just, that's. And also to a certain extent the Devils and other. Because it's a big area. But the biggest thing. And I don't mean to be critical of msg, it's just the way that it is. It's New York, it's expensive.

[Don Hahn]

Yep.

[Alan Hahn]

I'll. I'll be on the road with the Rangers and I'll run in the Ranger fan. Ranger fans travel tremendous and they're always hanging out in the lobby of the hotel and you see me talk to them and on more than a dozen occasions I'll talk to them and they'll say that my trip to Carolina, airfare, hotel and tickets were less than two tickets at the Garden. Yeah, I think, well, you, you might think like, wow, you're really spending a ton of money. It's like, listen, I. I'm gonna go to the home games. This is not much different a price. So what's it there? And I get to go to her home. A road arena and I get to travel.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, you can fancy it in Baltimore. They go to Baltimore, fill up the place the same thing.

[Alan Hahn]

Baltimore is a quick ride. Philadelphia is an easy ride.

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

Turnpike. But even like a quick flight. Yeah. Puddle jumper to Carolina. It's a cheap flight. Raleigh's an underrated town. It's a lot of cool restaurants. It's a really nice vibe that I wouldn't mind.

[Don Hahn]

That whole area, the Triangle, they call it. Great spot.

[Alan Hahn]

A lot of people from the tri state area have gone to that area to retire and to live. So you know, it's. It just shows you when you're in New York and you. Tri state area, the fan base is immense and the price of the tickets are so expensive that it actually could be cheaper to go see them on the road and you. And never mind the price. It's hard to get tickets to the Garden playoff game.

[Don Hahn]

That's the other part is they're already gone.

[Alan Hahn]

And that's the. And that's really the thing. It's not really throwing shade at msg. It's that you got to go to the secondary market to get playoff games. People aren't giving up their tickets to the playoffs. How much you think you're going to pay for Game one on a Saturday at the Guard?

[Don Hahn]

Absolutely.

[Alan Hahn]

It's going to be. It's going to be a fortune. So I don't, I don't blame. And what do you want to do? Do you want them to fill up the arena with the other team, or do you want to try to find ways so your fans can get into the building? I don't. I don't really criticize them for what else should they do? This is a mini meditation guided by Bombas.

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[Alan Hahn]

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[Alan Hahn]

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[Don Hahn]

But what happened? What could happen and I wonder, did this happen with the Ranger fans in Carolina? That because you know, like in Detroit you'll get a bunch of like ticket brokers that'll buy up a bunch of tickets and then sell them.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

Whoever they want to sell them to. And they could still have a whole bunch of New Yorkers show up anyway.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, yeah, that's exactly it.

[Don Hahn]

Was it, was it noticeable in for Ranger fans in Carolina in the playoffs? Oh yeah. They were still there in numbers for.

[Alan Hahn]

The reason that you said.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, it just makes it somebody with.

[Alan Hahn]

That zip code or that area code got the tickets and then they still sold in the Ranger fans.

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

And I'm telling you, I've been, you know, pretty much every arena with the exception of Seattle and Utah because they're new. But even there you can hear it that you can hear the Rangers and Nick Fan and Giant fans too. As bad as the Giants are, you go to some buildings where they play and you can hear like a roar when there's a touchdown on the road. Jet fans too. Like because it's the sheer number of people that are in the Tri State area.

[Don Hahn]

How many people are here or started here and moved. There's a lot of that too.

[Alan Hahn]

Especially you go down to Florida.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. Oh yeah, yeah. It's a real thing and there's nothing wrong with it. But it's people get all bent out of shell. Oh, I can't believe they're doing this. But as Josh said, they'll find a way in the building.

[Alan Hahn]

But I'm just saying if you're the Pistons and you're in charge of marketing or whatever, what would you do? Would you do the same thing?

[Don Hahn]

Yes.

[Alan Hahn]

Not no choice.

[Don Hahn]

You haven't made the playoffs in forever years. Of course you want to make sure that your fans are the ones in the building.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And particularly you want your fans to be able to go. You're going to Sell out the place anyway. And by the way, New York is a wealthier market, so they can buy up all the tickets on the secondary market. And your fans won't go.

[Don Hahn]

Well, they won't be able to.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They won't be able to.

[Alan Hahn]

Are the Pistons fourth in Detroit in popularity now that the Lions have all of a sudden founded?

[Don Hahn]

Lions are clearly one and Red Wings are probably still up there. Right? It's a great hockey town.

[Alan Hahn]

I've been to Little Caesars Arena. They just built it.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, it's great spot.

[Alan Hahn]

Everything is red. The drains in the walkway have the Red Wing logo engraved in it. You wouldn't know the Pistons played there.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They do have red, though, the Pistons.

[Alan Hahn]

I know, but you wouldn't know that the Pistons played there. Yeah, you got a couple though. They'll put a Bill Lambert, you know, like in. In the by outside.

[Don Hahn]

That's very much like Joe Louis Arena, Part 2. Like it's all redwood.

[Alan Hahn]

So I was just like, I kind of curious, like the order of the. Of the four is that it's. I don't know if you've been. You've been to Detroit, I'm sure. Peter.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, yeah, a few times.

[Alan Hahn]

It's really turned around, that area.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't know it well in its worst days, but yeah, it's. It's certainly. Downtown is picking up and the area by the St. Great.

[Don Hahn]

Lang's in Connecticut and wants to discuss some Knicks here. Lang, yeah.

[Lang]

Real quick on the point of the tickets. Quasi censorship. I was at that Sixers game last year and listen, it's a free market. I don't agree with it. I understand the rationale. But moving on. Alan, I see that you made the airwaves today with your prediction. And while I, well prefixes comment by saying I marvel at your body of work, 20 plus years on the beat. Next beat writer, travel. All your insights much appreciated. I genuinely do care for it and value it. However, I don't understand how you have this inflated sense of optimism and confidence. And telling me that Jalen Brunson averages 30 points in the playoffs isn't the reason because he's never had to come into the playoffs on the heels, no pun, of a severe ankle sprain. They've looked very shaky. We've analyzed this team, we've dissected this team. I don't understand how you think they're going to win in five games. Okay. If anything, it's going six or seven. And I think there's conformity bias here because all the ESPN and the basketball analysts the 10 out there have. Have chosen the Knicks. And I think this is a classic case of confidence in a week, in a week's time, and I hope I'm wrong, in a week's time, we're going to be singing a very different tune, and it's going to be traced back to the lack of identity that this team has and the lack of toughness and grit.

[Don Hahn]

All right, Pistons in five. Then why Pistons in five? Line, you just talked me out of everything. I'm completely depressed. I wish Matt Ryan was still on the roster because things would be better. Pistons in five. Lang.

[Alan Hahn]

Wow.

[Don Hahn]

You completely convinced me with your argument.

[Alan Hahn]

Why? With the exception.

[Don Hahn]

You really sound upset. Lang. It's sports. Have fun. Get into this, enjoy it, and look at your team and say, they are better.

[Alan Hahn]

But why is he enjoying it?

[Don Hahn]

Like he can't enjoy.

[Alan Hahn]

I feel bad for him.

[Don Hahn]

He had a whole week to practice and get right.

[Alan Hahn]

Why are you taking out Allen when outside of the play in matchups that we were getting, that the Knicks are the biggest favorite of all the other matchups in the NBA? Biggest favorite.

[Lang]

I. I hold Alan to a higher standard than Vegas. This team. Yeah, yeah.

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And.

[Lang]

And this team can't turn it on and off like so you.

[Don Hahn]

Would you feel better, Lang, If I said Nixon 7 that would. That you'd be able to. You'd be able to rest. You'd say, okay, I'm good with that because you want me to manufacture reasons why they're going to lose three games in this series and be forced to play a home game as Game 7, home game in the first round against a team that has little to no playoff experience? I'm not predicting it because I want this to go this way. I'm looking at it logically. That's why I saw it and I spent a lot of time on it, because I'm not gonna go out. I'm not gonna go on ESPN national television and say something like that just for fun. I thought about it and I was like, you know it logically. With everything you're looking at, at full health, which they are. They are. They should be much better than this team.

[Alan Hahn]

So he's gone.

[Don Hahn]

I didn't hang up on him.

[Alan Hahn]

I would ask him. So. So if the Knicks win in six, is Lang gonna hang on the rim, say, I told you you were wrong?

[Don Hahn]

No, no, I can't wait for this.

[Alan Hahn]

You know, But I know it's coming.

[Don Hahn]

That's all right.

[Alan Hahn]

Lang should do is he should bet the house on the Pistons if he's that convinced the Pistons are going to beat the Knicks?

[Don Hahn]

No, he thinks it's going to be a longer series. He thinks six or seven but, but.

[Alan Hahn]

It could be a hard fought five games. I don't think you have said it's going to be easy.

[Don Hahn]

I never said.

[Alan Hahn]

I think that you're looking at a series that they are going to win. It may may not look pretty. I'm sure there'll be a game that will. Listen. Game one's gonna be very, very interesting.

[Don Hahn]

Oh yeah. Yeah. And it could worry me if they don't play well enough they can lose.

[Alan Hahn]

Game one and then turn around and win the next four. Yeah, but he doesn't want to have fun.

[Don Hahn]

No, it's, it's a lot of fans are nervous. I understand why. But I'm. I don't make a prediction like this because I'm just. I want to make everybody crazy or make you react. It's. I'm looking at it logically. This is what it should be. They are the better team.

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[Alan Hahn]

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[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

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 podcast. Let's give you a game time. Brought to you by Telemar Deux Irish Whiskey. Because when it's game time. All right, so the Mets lost to the Twins 43 in the 10th. They did make a comeback. They were down 3 nothing in the 8th inning. Scored 3 to tie it, but then could not get the win in extra innings. The Yankees, they closed out their series with the Royals here in a couple of minutes at Yankee Stadium. 7:05 first pitch. Devils and the Red Wings at 7:30. Is that game 81? There's still one more, right? Or is this game 82?

[Alan Hahn]

I think.

[Don Hahn]

All right, then the Devils finally can get into the playoffs. Playoff hockey, baby. All right, so Telemardu, the original triple distilled, triple blended, triple cast matured Irish Whiskey. Be sure to grab a Telemore Du or try the new Tullamore Dew honey, during tonight's action, glasses up to enjoying Telemore Dew responsibly. Charlie Ward, by the way, named basketball coach at Florida A and M. Pretty cool news, right? He was, he was coaching in high school for a while in Texas. And you remember he won the Heisman at Florida State, but was a first round pick of the Knicks.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

And ended up having a nice NBA career, play with the Knicks and so coaching basketball. He'll be a college basketball coach, a good fan. Cool story.

[Alan Hahn]

That's a great trivia too.

[Don Hahn]

Kylo Quinn, Norfolk State. Right, that's where he's going back a former Knick.

[Josh Hart]

Yeah, I think he's, I'm going to say executive for.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, he's going to be like a basketball program, like a gm, which is a lot of these guys are doing now. Boy, college sports guys going to complete like the direction now where you're seeing play. NBA players, current NBA players are being hired as like front office, quote unquote, people with their college basketball programs to help them raise money, bring in play. I guess there must be a title where it allows them to have a connection with the players.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, they're hiring GMs now. It's a different world. It's a professional sport now.

[Don Hahn]

Literally. Yeah, literally.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Charlie Ward was good man at both. He like really watching him as a football player. He was a complete stud then. And then he was a stud stud in the NBA too. Such a, such a gritty classic. Nick, he was the Man.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. And by the way, great human being. Yeah, like terrific human being was.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You call him Chuck?

[Don Hahn]

No.

[Alan Hahn]

Who drafted him? Did anybody.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Chuck Ward, my guy.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, NFL.

[Alan Hahn]

Draft him in the NFL.

[Don Hahn]

I don't think anybody did because he said he wasn't going to play.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, I was just. I didn't know if, like, it was later on.

[Don Hahn]

I can't remember if he was drafted.

[Alan Hahn]

Anyway, I think so.

[Don Hahn]

You can check it out.

[Alan Hahn]

Heisman Trophy winner. Nobody said, I'll just.

[Don Hahn]

Just take him to have his rights.

[Alan Hahn]

You don't like in baseball, you have so many wasted picks, right? You don't have any wasted picks in the NFL, right?

[Don Hahn]

No, I don't think. Well, you have seven rounds. Let me just. Are you looking it up?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Okay, you look it up. I'm going to get a few calls in before we call it a day. Spike in St. Pete. Hey, Spike.

[Alan Hahn]

Hey, buddy.

[Spike]

Charlie Ward's main receiver when he won the Heisman Trophy was Kevin Knox, senior at Florida.

[Don Hahn]

How about that? Full circle.

[Spike]

And. And the Knicks had a run of ACC defensive players of the years, followed by Harry Douglas's brother, Tony Trumpet. And Charlie. What? Okay, here, Alan. Listen, I. I heard some kid call before over respect. I remember his name. I. I've gone through every contact I had. Everyone's coming up with Nixon, five or six. I went through every game. The first game was a joke. Detroit looked like a high school table.

[Don Hahn]

Smoked them.

[Spike]

And then I watched. And for anyone that doesn't think this, this time off, Thibodeau is not making adjustments. They don't know coaching. And for anyone that will say he should be let go, stop watching the Knicks because you don't appreciate a great Coach. You won 100 games. What will happen is with Brunson, they're going to press him and they're going to stop pressing him and he'll get a backcourt screen. They're going to be fine. They're better than Detroit. Tate Cunningham may be the best player on the court, and if I could, I trade him right now for Brunson because of the age difference, but the Knicks are the better five games and then they play Boston and Boston will win in five or six. That's going to be it. Again, I hate to say it, but the Celtics have the best team in the NBA. Not the best record, the best team.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, I think that you won't find many people that would argue with you on the Celtics and where they are right now. Spike, just getting to that series is something I think everybody just wants. It's Almost like you'd exhale if you get to that series. And then you feel like, all right, let's see what they can do. Can they get a win over this team? But this series has every. You could tell, you could hear it from Lang. Everybody's just super anxious about this series.

[Alan Hahn]

It's a good thing because now it can't be a trap series. Everybody's talking about it, and Tibbs won't let that happen, where everybody's just, oh, we're worried about Boston. You don't even get by Detroit. All right, according to this story, he had said going into the 94 NFL draft that he would not, don't draft me unless it's in the first round.

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, and his mom was told a story that they told him he was probably gonna get picked between the third and fifth round. So he was never drafted because he said he wouldn't report unless he was drafted in the first round. How about this story that later on, I think it was 96, that the Chiefs reached out to the Knicks and asked if Ward would be interested in being the backup to Joe Montana with the Chiefs, and Ward declined.

[Don Hahn]

Was Ward 93? 94. Was 94 draft, right? Right. Yeah, maybe 94, 94 draft. And he joined draft. Yeah, he joined that team after that. It really. So two years later.

[Alan Hahn]

Actually, they didn't give the year. I'm not. Any inquiry was made during our Ward's rookie year with the knicks.

[Don Hahn]

I said 94. 95.

[Alan Hahn]

95. So probably. Probably looking. Probably somewhere like, yeah, maybe in the late 90s.

[Don Hahn]

That's that era where the two sport athlete thing was like a real thing. Obviously, Dion, obviously Bo Jackson. Right. You did see some guys doing it. And I can't imagine you. I don't think you'll ever see it again. Like, it'll never happen because it's so difficult and insurance and everything else. But what a time that was when that option was there. I did not know for Charlie Ward that option was there.

[Alan Hahn]

How about this? Ward Quickly done the only. I'm sorry, are we up against it?

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, we are.

[Alan Hahn]

All right, goodbye.

[Don Hahn]

No, it's not that important. 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.