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Don Hahn
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Peter Rosenberg
This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
Don Hahn
That sounds like heaven to me.
Peter Rosenberg
Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 880 ESPN, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers.
Don Hahn
Game time is brought to you by Tullimore to Irish Whiskey because when it's game time, the Mets are out in LA to face the Dodgers with coverage beginning after Dan grassa here on 880 at 9:30. Yankees have the night off Telemore due the original triple distilled, triple blended and triple cast matured Iris whiskey. Be sure to grab a Tullamore Dew or try the new Tullamore Do Honey during today's action. Glasses up to enjoying Telemore due responsibly. It felt weird yesterday to have like nothing at night. Well, you have the Yankees, Yankees, Dodgers. How dare you. There's always something else. Like there's the baseball, but there's hockey, there's basketball. There's something else.
Peter Rosenberg
This time of year we get that. We get into that rhythm when April begins of especially when the playoffs start. It's hockey and basketball playoff games just every night the baseball's in there like just as part of it all. But the playoffs, it's every night. There's intensity, there's games, there's a lot of stuff. And then all of a sudden it's gotten real quiet. Even the Western Conference finals, that ended so fast. Like the east and Western finals are supposed to be one night is the west one nights the east back and forth. But then it ended so quickly that you're right. Now it's gotten quiet. Now we've got three days before we even get the NBA finals started, which is brutal.
Don Hahn
Yeah, it is crazy. So it's going to be weird tonight. Like go home. There's nothing until 10 met at 10. And then you get then you'll get at least a couple of games tomorrow. And then Wednesday the hockey starts and then Thursday the basketball and you kind of get into the rotation.
Peter Rosenberg
How many days till the start of the football training camps?
Don Hahn
Well then let me ask Siri, hey.
Caller
Siri, how many days is it till the NFL training camp season starts? Weird way of saying that.
Peter Rosenberg
She'S not going to answer. Yeah, she doesn't even know it. No.
Caller
You're an idiot. Siri.
Peter Rosenberg
I. That's. That always works terrible.
Don Hahn
Tessa in West Caldwell.
Caller
Six to seven weeks by the way, depending on everything.
Peter Rosenberg
I think I need to.
Tessa
Hey guys. How are you?
Danny
Good.
Don Hahn
Yourself?
Caller
We want 45 day. We call 45 days. Hey Tessa.
Tessa
Hey guys. So I just wanted to just make two points. So the Yankees starting pitching for me was on a struggle bus this weekend and I was doing everything. Not the result to bust my head against the wall, but that's always been my nervousness when everybody went down and got hurt. They're doing extremely well job. They're always like a Waldo machine. However, when it comes to these like big dundata teams, it's just like that's what always happened. I feel I'm not panicking yet. I'm really not because we're getting players back. But to me that was a difference. It wasn't like, oh, they just outplayed as we made a lot of defensive errors like we did last year, stuff like that. No, the pitching just was terrible.
Howard
It was abysmal.
Tessa
So you know what I'm saying, like, especially 18 runs, like that's all pitching right there. Of course we didn't hit as many, you know, hits, but still. So that's how want to make about with that Yankees that I'm staying calm people coming back. I think we'll get them next time. We'll see what the Mets do against them. If the Mets pitching is, you know. Well, I feel like the Mets can beat them, but we'll see. It always comes down to pitching. And as far as the Knicks, again, I'm just a die hard basketball fan. I'm gonna be honest with you, like I feel like, you know, I know it doesn't make you feel better, Allen, but I feel like the Knicks did a great job. I feel like they're a really good team. However, they just got to clean up some stuff. They definitely shouldn't blow anything up. They just got to clean up some stuff. Like their transitional defense was terrible with the fast break point. That was a killer. They had an enormous amount of turnovers. That was a killer. These are things that they can tighten up next year. These are things that they can get better with. You know what I mean? I wouldn't pinpoint like, oh, Cat wasn't aggressive. He wasn't calling for Baltimore or Jalen did this or McKelbert. I wouldn't do that because the things that I feel like really killed them was a team effort. Turnovers was team. They all made a lot of turnovers. You know what I mean? Like getting back on defense with fast break transition, that's a team thing. So I feel like it's just things that they can clean up and if they gel and clean up and get that stuff right, I really think that they might could be back there again next year.
Peter Rosenberg
That has been a problem second half of the season and into the playoffs turning the ball over. It's something that obviously they've got to figure out. And it's all the different things that you go into the offseason and you identify as areas that have to get better and you have a whole training camp to figure all that out and offseason and all those things. But I'm still going to say it again. I said it early in the show for CAR Anthony Towns. You got two years left on your current deal. You have a player out and you want an extension. Do you want to be here long term? This off season is probably the most important of his career because after his first year in New York, the team had good team success. But it could have been even better and it could have been even better if he was more consistent. Later on in the playoffs he dealt with a finger injury, a thumb injury, the knee was bothering him all year. Is he ready to have an off season where he comes in maybe the best shape of his life if he comes in ready to play more consistent like the guy that is third team all NBA and not like the guy that can be frustrated, easily bottled up and missed shots. That's what I want to see. How bad you want it.
Caller
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Peter Rosenberg
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Peter Rosenberg
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Don Hahn
Learn more@paypal.com I know he's 29. He's been in the league 10 years, but only the last two years has.
Peter Rosenberg
He gotten the bulk of his playoff experience.
Don Hahn
And again, they were out in five games last year when he was in Minnesota and in six games here. Maybe he'll learn. Listen, this is what you got to do a little bit more. Maybe that will be enough for him to eventually turn the corner and be that kind of player. Let's go to Howard in Boston. You're on. Don Hanna, Rosenberg hey guys, how are you?
Tessa
Hey.
Howard
I called in the other day, did a spontaneous trip, took my family out to Indy. I don't know if Any of you have been to a gateway, I assume you have, Alan. Man, if there's one thing Nick fans should be feel good about, they are the worst fans I've ever been. And they do tell dj. Yeah. Every break in the action. You wouldn't see this on tv. Every break in the action, a DJ had to come on imploring people to be loud. And then they still had a pump noise in. It was crazy. The only noise you ever heard were really Nick fans slapping each other over. Over rose.
Caller
Wow.
Howard
Really here. It was crazy.
Peter Rosenberg
Which game are you talking about, Howard?
Howard
I was there on Saturday, game six.
Tessa
Yes.
Peter Rosenberg
So you're so the defense chance that seemed to go throughout the entire game, that was canned, piped in. You could tell in the arena.
Howard
Oh my God. It was embarrassed. I truly. I was embarrassed for them. And then look, it's the end of the game, right? The Knicks and there's. I don't know how many of us were there, Maybe a couple of hundred total. What do you think they'd be ragging on us? Nothing. Hey, good luck next season.
Don Hahn
I mean, that's Mid America, man. I experienced that.
Howard
I know, I know.
Caller
Hard to complain about them being nice at the end. I don't mind that.
Peter Rosenberg
I don't mind that. But that's, you know, but I can't believe like that.
Don Hahn
The Michael K show. We went out to Mets, Cubs league championship series. We were there for game three. That's her up two. Oh, they win game three. They're up three. Zero. Series essentially over.
Peter Rosenberg
Right.
Don Hahn
Walked out of that and people just talking, you know, congratulating us, Met fans on, you know, good luck. The rest. I'm like, if this was New York, we'd be kicking over garbage cans, ticked off. The Cubs were the favorite.
Peter Rosenberg
Yeah.
Don Hahn
You know, like people thought that they ended up winning the World Series the next year, but I just think that's. I think that's a good thing, that they're nice people.
Peter Rosenberg
That part I don't mind. But I thought the arena, like, I thought that that place was.
Don Hahn
Well, you've been there, right? Are they good fans?
Peter Rosenberg
Are.
Don Hahn
They're obviously it's a. It's basketball country out there.
Peter Rosenberg
Yeah, yeah, yeah. But. But I'm really surprised at that. Deep into the playoffs in a game six, that it was canned in sounds and, and all that stuff because the.
Don Hahn
Building on television looked like.
Peter Rosenberg
It sounded like it was incredible.
Don Hahn
And the crowd that was behind, you know, TNT in the post game, like it was.
Peter Rosenberg
Yeah. I'm surprised.
Don Hahn
I don't know. Kind of weird. Not by goes on outside. No, I buy it. I don't know why. I mean, you don't have faith that your fans are. Can chant defense.
Peter Rosenberg
I found that to be the thing that's ridiculous. When we're Orlando, they actually say defense. Whatever the can thing is. It's not just this. The bass drum, it's. You also hear it in the speaker defense. And then there's other buildings I've been in where the. The PA guy will say, come on, here we go. Say defense. And then you hear the bass drum.
Caller
Yeah.
Peter Rosenberg
And then he'll yell it as if to tell the crowd, this is what you're supposed to do during the game.
Caller
Got to trade them.
Peter Rosenberg
You got to kidding me.
Don Hahn
Like.
Peter Rosenberg
But no, the bass drum is fine. It's telling the crowd, hey, everybody. This is what they do in NBA games. So you knew.
Don Hahn
And especially again there, that's like. That's basketball.
Peter Rosenberg
No, no, no.
Don Hahn
Orlando. I guess you're probably used to having a lot of out of town fans.
Peter Rosenberg
Been a franchise for 30 years.
Don Hahn
No, I get it. But you also realize that it's if a team's not very good or it's Florida. So you're going to get it. I'm sure there's a ton of Nick fans for Orlando games, right? I'm sure there's a ton.
Peter Rosenberg
Half the building is usually.
Caller
Oh, yeah, for sure.
Don Hahn
You got that going there too.
Tessa
For the team ready to conquer the grandest stage, immortality awaits. Moments of sweat and sacrifice towards the composition of champions. An unforgettable journey is nearing its finale.
Peter Rosenberg
Four more wins to take home the trophy.
Tessa
The NBA final, presented by YouTube TV.
Peter Rosenberg
Begin June 5 on ABC. Thanks for listening to the Don Han and Rosenberg podcast.
Caller
I didn't listen to anything you just said.
Peter Rosenberg
Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.
Caller
All right, let's hear from you to.
Don Hahn
Close out the show at 1-800-919-3776. Dave in the car, you're on. Don Hanna, Rosenberg. What's up?
Dave
What's up, guys? Look, I know that Tibbs is coming back. He's a top five coach when it comes to active coaches who have the most winning records in in the league. Here's my challenge with him, okay? I'm going to assume that Rose is gonna. Gonna load up the bench, okay? But he's got to go beyond that 6th, 7th, and possible 8 guy with the way the NBA is set up, the fact that he had to tinker with the roster in the bench during the playoffs, when it's crucial, it's like these guys are basically thrown into a situation with very little to no prep. Now, if you guys remember, there was this player named Paul Mulcheski with the Bucks under Don Nelson. I was going to school in Wisconsin. His stats weren't super impressive at all, but this guy got time every single game. He got inserted at the right moment. He got coached up. He participated. So by the time the playoffs rolled around, he was able to get in there seamlessly and work with the team. I'll add one more thing to leave you guys alone. Pat Riley was very similar to the way Tibbs is with his rotation. There was a lot of times when Byron Scott threw up bricks, and at the time, Hubert Davis was third in the NBA with threes. You can't tell me as a Knick fan, when you saw Starks chucking up threes and clanging the iron that you said, wow, what if. You bet Davis would have taken half of those shots. By the way, when he sent him to the bench, the first shot that you believe Davis threw up was a splash 3. Keep Thibodeau. But everybody's got to be accountable, and he's got to stretch deeper into the roster if they build it. Let me know your thoughts.
Peter Rosenberg
Thanks, Dave. He did. That's the good sign at the end. But towards the end of the series, he was going 10 deep. And did Landry Shamut look ready? Sure did to me.
Don Hahn
Yeah, right.
Peter Rosenberg
Did the Lawn Wright look ready? He sure did to me. So, you know, they were ready. Simple as that. And he found rotations. He realized it, and he did. Now, what you're hoping is that the experience and the players even go into him saying, man, you got to open up the rotation. You got to try these guys that you hope that carries into next season. You build out the bench, and he looks down the bench at some names that he says, yeah, I want those guys in the game. It always comes to that. He'll play nine or 10, as long as those extra players are guys that he wants.
Don Hahn
Danny in Long island, you're on Donjon Road.
Peter Rosenberg
There he is.
Don Hahn
How are you, buddy?
Danny
Hello.
Peter Rosenberg
Hello, Danny.
Danny
What's up, boys? Back from North Carolina? Great trip. Everything is great except the pizza. I don't know what happens when you cross over the. I just. I don't. I don't understand it. You can get Mexican and get anything Greek. Fine. Pizza. They have no idea. So I got off the plane yesterday, went right to my best pizzeria Mesopega. Three slices. Boom.
Peter Rosenberg
Way to go. What's the place?
Danny
Frank's Pizzeria on Broadway. Been there for 30 years. When you fold it in half, it cracks in half. You hear that crack?
Peter Rosenberg
I like that.
Danny
Oh, that's what you want to hear. But listen to about Fugazi rules in softball. You remember a couple years ago where the girl hit the three run homer to win the game and turning first to second, she blows out her entire knees laying there. And they meet. Well first they made her lay there for 10 minutes so no one could help her before they came over the theory that the other team can pick her up and carry her. And not only did they carry her, but they made they. They ducked her low so her foot could touch the base as she's, as she's reading. It's unbelievable. But listen, there are different. Without sound, without ending up on one of Peter's bits. There are softer softballs they call limited flight. I've been in a lot of leagues in my youth, in my middle age where they don't want the ball to go too far because you're playing on a shorter field. So the ball is actually softer. But the big story this weekend with softballs and MLB announced that they're going to support a professional women's baseball team.
Don Hahn
Actual baseball.
Danny
An actual softball team. I mean it's gotta be a professional women's softball team softball league.
Peter Rosenberg
Yeah.
Danny
They announced that at 2 o' clock and at 201 the girls complaining they weren't making as much money as judge. So that's. That'll be the next thing. Yeah, it'll be a nice league because the only thing I see with the problem is that they play on a different sized field. So you can, you could have teams like at the Duck Stadium and at the Staten Island Yankee Stadium where. Yes, I think it's. I've watched it. I've gone to college games. It's very entertaining. It's baseball adjacent. You, you have to. If you could play right on a major league field with a minor stadium, it kind of gives it that pro feel. But I don't know what they're going to do with that. But good for the girls. I'm glad they're going to have a venue to show off their skills.
Don Hahn
It's interesting. I'm sure the ratings were not bad for the College World Series stuff.
Peter Rosenberg
Always does.
Don Hahn
Wells are going to look.
Peter Rosenberg
Always does.
Don Hahn
Well, I'm sure it does. And you listen whenever you see a charity softball game, a Yankee Stadium or something, they figure it out. They figure it out for sure. So I think it'll be.
Caller
I'm not, I'm not going to get into my thing that I sometimes get into right now. I didn't, I didn't want to. You know, Danny and I are still coming back from a few weeks ago when I gave him a hard time. So I didn't want to get into my whole thing about how the whole I can't find a good slice of pizza anywhere on earth thing is the most tired, annoying New Yorker thing.
Peter Rosenberg
He's right. Yeah. North Carolina.
Caller
No. New York pizza is its own thing and it's amazing. But to say that I can't enjoy. I guarantee you I can find you a slice of pizza in North Carolina that's delicious. It won't be New York. It'll be different. Yeah, it'll be a different thing.
Don Hahn
That's like saying crusty crack.
Caller
No interest in that.
Don Hahn
I.
Peter Rosenberg
And you want to flop. Not even you want it to be.
Don Hahn
Unless it's thin crust. I don't want it to be thin.
Caller
Though, because he wants New York pizza. But like, I had Lido's yesterday because we were in Maryland. My wife literally might as well be the New York logo. She's such a New Yorker. She still loves her lidos. It's not the same thing, but she enjoys it now. Chris Carlin, bad guy, hated leaders.
Don Hahn
Really, you know, it's a good guy. Dan Grasse, Dan Grossa. He's going to take you able to knock.
Caller
And he's horny for the. For the result.
Don Hahn
Roland Garros on 880 ESPN New York at the ESPN New York app.
Peter Rosenberg
Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast. I don't want to know how the sausage is made, man. I just want to know it's good. Hear more of Don Allen and Peter weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers.
Don, Hahn & Rosenberg Podcast Summary
Episode: Hour 4: Last Call Crew
Release Date: June 2, 2025
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Description: The first voice of ESPN New York and New Jersey legend Don La Greca, long-time sportswriter and New York Knick broadcaster Alan Hahn, and highly opinionated Hip Hop vet and WWE personality Peter Rosenberg discuss New York sports and more.
Timestamp: [01:35] – [02:32]
The hosts kick off the discussion by delving into the rhythmic ebb and flow of the current sports playoffs season. Peter Rosenberg remarks on the intense period spanning hockey and basketball playoffs, highlighting the daily excitement and the eventual abrupt quietude as the Western Conference finals concluded swiftly.
Peter Rosenberg [01:35]: "This time of year we get that rhythm when April begins, especially when the playoffs start. It's hockey and basketball playoff games just every night, the baseball's in there as part of it all... but then it ended so quickly that you're right. Now it's gotten quiet."
Don Hahn echoes the sentiment, noting the upcoming rotation of games that will soon re-engage fans.
Don Hahn [02:13]: "It's going to be weird tonight. Like, go home. There's nothing until 10... and then you'll get at least a couple of games tomorrow."
Timestamp: [02:45] – [04:53]
A significant portion of the conversation centers on the New York Yankees' pitching woes. Tessa, a caller from West Caldwell, expresses concern over the Yankees' inability to perform consistently on the mound, especially during crucial playoff moments.
Tessa [02:57]: "The pitching just was terrible... especially 18 runs, like that's all pitching right there."
Howard from Boston adds his perspective, labeling the Yankees' pitching performance as "abysmal."
Howard [03:35]: "It was abysmal."
The discussion pivots to the potential impacts of these struggles on the Yankees' postseason prospects and the importance of stabilizing their pitching lineup.
Timestamp: [03:35] – [06:01]
Shifting focus to basketball, the hosts analyze the New York Knicks' recent games, emphasizing team dynamics and critical areas needing improvement. Tessa commends the Knicks for their overall performance but points out significant issues with turnovers and defensive transitions.
Tessa [03:54]: "The Knicks just got to clean up some stuff... their transitional defense was terrible with the fast break point. That was a killer."
Peter Rosenberg underscores the recurring problem of turnovers in the Knicks' second half performance, highlighting the necessity for strategic adjustments in the offseason.
Peter Rosenberg [04:53]: "That has been a problem second half of the season and into the playoffs... but I'm still going to say it again. This offseason is probably the most important of his career."
Timestamp: [06:01] – [08:45]
Peter Rosenberg shifts the conversation to Anthony Towns, focusing on his contractual situation and performance consistency. He emphasizes the critical nature of the upcoming offseason for Towns, who is seeking a long-term extension amid injury concerns and fluctuating performance.
Peter Rosenberg [04:53]: "You got two years left on your current deal... This offseason is probably the most important of his career because after his first year in New York, the team had good team success."
Don Hahn concurs, discussing Towns' playoff experience and the potential for improvement with continued effort.
Don Hahn [08:50]: "He’s been in the league 10 years, but only the last two years has he gotten the bulk of his playoff experience."
Timestamp: [08:45] – [12:33]
Listeners share their firsthand experiences at Knicks games, shedding light on fan behavior and arena dynamics. Howard recounts his visit to a game in Indianapolis, critiquing the fans' lack of support and the ineffective use of arena sound systems to encourage crowd engagement.
Howard [09:15]: "Nick fans are the worst fans I've ever been. They do tell DJ... and then they still had pump noise in. It was crazy."
Peter Rosenberg and Don Hahn discuss the contrast between different arenas' approaches to fan engagement, with particular focus on the overuse of promotional chants like "Defense."
Peter Rosenberg [12:15]: "When we're Orlando, they actually say defense. Whatever the can thing is. It's not just this... it's telling the crowd, this is what you're supposed to do during the game."
Timestamp: [16:15] – [18:45]
The hosts shift to a positive development in women's sports as Danny introduces the MLB's support for a professional women's softball team. They discuss the implications of this move, the potential challenges related to field sizes, and the opportunities it presents for showcasing female athletes' talents.
Danny [17:36]: "MLB announced that they're going to support a professional women's softball team... it's very entertaining. It's baseball adjacent."
Don Hahn and Peter Rosenberg express optimism about the league's prospects and its ability to attract audiences by utilizing major league venues.
Don Hahn [18:28]: "They figure it out for sure. So I think it'll be."
Timestamp: [16:17] – [19:15]
Injecting some humor into the episode, callers engage in a spirited debate over the quality of New York versus North Carolina pizza. Danny humorously laments the lack of authentic New York-style pizza abroad, while other hosts and callers counter with their own experiences and preferences.
Danny [16:21]: "What's up, boys? Back from North Carolina? Great trip, everything is great except the pizza... they have no idea."
Caller [18:53]: "I'm not going to get into my thing... New York pizza is its own thing and it's amazing."
Don Hahn and Peter Rosenberg join in the banter, highlighting the cultural significance of pizza in New York.
Don Hahn [19:06]: "That's like saying crusty cc... unless it's thin crust. I don't want it to be thin."
Timestamp: [19:15] – [19:45]
As the episode winds down, the hosts tease upcoming sports events, including the NBA Finals, and encourage listeners to subscribe and stay tuned for future discussions.
Peter Rosenberg [19:45]: "Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast. I don't want to know how the sausage is made, man. I just want to know it's good."
This episode of Don, Hahn & Rosenberg offers an insightful and entertaining exploration of current sports seasons, team performances, and fan experiences, interspersed with light-hearted debates and listener interactions. Whether you're a die-hard Knicks fan, a Yankees supporter, or simply love sports commentary, this episode provides valuable perspectives and engaging discussions.