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Don LaGreca
So good, so good, so good.
Alan Hahn
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Don LaGreca
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Alan Hahn
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Don LaGreca
This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
Alan Hahn
That sounds like heaven to me.
Don LaGreca
Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 880 ESPN, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers.
Alan Hahn
Knicks Spurs Game two. Knicks have won the first series first game and they've got the one nothing series lead. And no team has ever come back to win a NBA final series when dropping the first two games at home. So that's how close the Knicks might be to having to put the spurs up against the brink of history. 1-800-919-3776 Close it out with the last call crew. But Alan, I, I teased a question for you. All right listen everybody outside of the Knicks and Spurs who just want to win the damn series want to see a long series.
Don LaGreca
Right?
Alan Hahn
I mean you see those want to be entertained from game one. Nearly 17 million people watch game one. It behooves ABC. It behooves the NBA to see a classic seven game series.
Don LaGreca
Yeah.
Alan Hahn
So the Knicks are down one game to none or Knicks are up one?
Don LaGreca
None. Yep.
Alan Hahn
Now all of a sudden coincidental that you've got a officiating crew in which the Knicks have not had a winning
Don LaGreca
record with well against the spread.
Alan Hahn
Against the spread. And, and and also not very good in in wins either. So like that could feel like it's by design like hey, we're choosing who's going to be co officiating this crew. Let's make sure it's somebody that's like anti Nick so that we can get a best a one one series. But you know that not to be a fact.
Don LaGreca
Yeah. Just so anybody that wants to think that their funny business goes on here with all that stuff. Oh the crew in because they want the series extended before the finals begins is when they assign the officials to games. So I love like like they call Scott Foster the extender.
Alan Hahn
Right.
Don LaGreca
Because he, he's great at extending a series that might be on the verge you don't he like he doesn't know what the series is going to be. He just knows I'm doing game five or I'm doing game six. Right. So Tony Brothers and, and Josh Tibben and, and Tyler Ford officials tonight, they don't know that it's going to be one nothing Knicks or one nothing spurs because they. All they know is we've got game two, that's it. So it isn't like some type. Somebody's not behind the scenes twisting their mustache going, all right, let's put in Tony because he'll wreck the whole thing. No, that's not what happens here. But it doesn't mean that the officials are aware of what happened in game one and are aware of, you know, how to work the game after what they witnessed, what they watched in game one. So there is some, there is a bit of a carryover that they might see things and say, we're not going to let that happen. Like we're going to, you know, we're going to officiate that differently than it was in game one. That does happen. So it is something to watch. But there isn't this thought of the NBA wants this season to go six games because, you know, ESPN wants that. They wanted the revenue. Look at game one, look at the viewership for game one. 90% better than last year. So you think they want a sweep? They don't want to sweep guys. That's not how it works. Keep this in mind. Curry versus LeBron. You would want that to go seven, wouldn't you?
Alan Hahn
Right?
Don LaGreca
It did in 2016. It was amazing, right? LeBron finally won his championship. Three one comeback, all that stuff. LeBron also got swept by Steph Curry.
Alan Hahn
Yeah, right.
Don LaGreca
Oh yeah. So you're not going to, you're not going to control it. But the game to game officiating, because it's a different crew, will feel different and at times we'll get this sense of one team being favored over the other. One last thing, the Tony Brothers thing that we talked about, how the spurs are so, so successful apparently against the spread, when Brothers is officiated, ask spurs fans how they feel about him and his crew because he reft game five against the Thunder. In game five against the Thunder, there were memes of people were creating AI pictures of Tony Brothers hugging Shay, Gilgis, Alexander or high fiving him and things like that because the officiating was so seemingly slanted towards the Thunder and Shea, I believe Shea had a ton of free throws in that, in that game, especially in the fourth quarter. So don't fall into these things you find on social media and let it create this idea that there's some type of a machine working behind all this. These games are played on the court. They're not decided in any boardroom or any. Any back room or any officiating room as well.
Alan Hahn
Yeah. Because let's face it, nobody, I would think, at ABC were thrilled to see a Thunder Pacer final last year. So if the, if the NBA could rig it, it wouldn't be 27 years between Knick final appearances when you've got the number one market looking at these numbers.
Don LaGreca
Right.
Alan Hahn
And I think the Knicks are probably largely responsible for the number being as big as it is, I'm sure. All right.
Don LaGreca
Yeah.
Alan Hahn
I always hear it in the NHL. Well, up in Canada, I was like, oh, they want an American team to win. And in America, like, oh, they want Canada to do well. Listen, I can tell you, coming out of the lockout, this is how I knew there were never any conspiracy theories in the NHL coming out of the lockout in which they canceled an ent.
Don LaGreca
Entire season. No playoffs, no Cup. No.
Alan Hahn
Your Stanley Cup Final coming out of one of the darkest ages in the history of the NHL was Edmonton Carolina.
Don LaGreca
Yeah.
Alan Hahn
And that was followed up after Edmonton
Don LaGreca
didn't have Connor McDavid with, like, what, Doug Waite and all them, like, who was on those teams?
Alan Hahn
Oh, although there was. Was it Fernando Pasani and all that. Yeah, it was not your.
Don LaGreca
Yeah, that was. There was no star.
Alan Hahn
Exactly. And then they followed that up, which was a great series, and it went seven. They followed that series up with Anaheim Auto. All right. Then it got a little juicy when you got Detroit, Pittsburgh a couple of
Don LaGreca
years back, but that's a great.
Alan Hahn
The Rangers wouldn't have gone 54 years between cups if they rigged it. It's a great point, you know, so.
Don LaGreca
Hey, and by the way, after the Yankees miss out on 94, do you think MLB would want to see them get there in 95?
Alan Hahn
Oh, yeah.
Don LaGreca
You know what I mean? Like, like, so there's this. There's all kinds of things that we. We love the conspiracies. I'm all for them. Fun with them all the time. But I. I read that because it was about betting. It was the spread. And I know Peter has put his money where his mouth is a lot of times with this Nick team. And that's the only reason why. But I will say, though, officials do change the style and feel of a series from game to game. And that's why to me tonight, what I'm watching are the whistles. Not because if there's intent for one team over the other, it's what are you going to get away with? What is. What are the. You going to be able to do defensively and it might benefit the Knicks. Towns might get the line a lot. Brunson might get to the line a lot. He didn't get to the line of game one. So I want to see how the whistle is impacted in this.
Alan Hahn
What I do think happens in sports, Allen is, all right, guys, you let him play in game one. Maybe we should tighten it up a little bit in game two or. I see this in the NHL a lot. It's like, you know what? I watched the end of the regular season. You guys were letting a lot of stuff go with, you know, cross checks or. Or the interference calls or goaltender inter. We need to tighten that up a little bit to come playoff time. And then all of a sudden you'll see like the same thing get called a lot. Because I do think they kind of stand. And it's only human nature if I tell Allen, Han, you know, you got to do this, you're going to be really anal about it the next time you got a chance to correct it.
Don LaGreca
Right.
Alan Hahn
I mean, that just. That's logic. Yeah, but it's all human nature. There's nobody pulling any strings as much as it feels like that sometimes. And you feel like, you know, they don't want the Knicks to win.
Don LaGreca
I'll tell you what, though.
Alan Hahn
First saying, oh, they want the Knicks to win.
Don LaGreca
I'll tell you what, though, because of what happened in game Tony Brothers and the Thunder with the spurs. If the spurs don't get a good whistle tonight and the Knicks. Knicks are the advantage of free throws and you know, whatever it is, that building will be on fire. Yeah, they'll be. They'll be going. They'll be going after him hard. You got to think about that because he's coming off where that game five allowed the Thunder to take the three two series lead. And everybody thought that series was probably over at that point. And there was a lot of spurs fans and a lot of San Antonio angst about the officiating that night. And if the next time they see him is in Game 2 of the Finals, down 01, and he's not giving them a fair whistle, at least they don't feel that way. And they lose the game. Yeah, that'd be a big story.
Alan Hahn
And. And I.
Don LaGreca
Big story.
Alan Hahn
And I wonder because like in the NHL, you're separated by glass, Right. Baseball and football, there's a fair distance between where you are and where the crowd is.
Buster Olney
Yeah.
Alan Hahn
In the NBA, they're right there. Oh, man, they' right there on you
Don LaGreca
as Jalen found out in game one
Alan Hahn
and you're going to hear it. So it probably would be just human nature for him to go in there and feel away about it, you know, I don't know.
Don LaGreca
I don't know. You never know. You never know. For those just joining us that might not have heard it earlier though, the NBA investigation into those fans that were yelling at Brunson in Game 1, where Brunson was really having it out with them. Those fans have they, they were not season ticket holders of the spurs and the NBA said that they are banned from sitting courtside. They cannot if they're, if they buy courtside seats, they're not allowed to sit. So they'll have to sit somewhere else in the arena, but they can't sit near the court. So if they thought they were coming back for game two to harass him even more, that's not going to happen. Hey, soccer fans. Join us for a live broadcast presented by Milagro Tequila. It's all happening Friday, June 12th at Platt Deutsch in Franklin Square on Long Island. Get there early starting at 3pm grab a Milagrosa cocktail as we talk matchups and storylines while you get to be part of the live passionate soccer atmosphere. Don't miss this special live event with us on Friday, June 12. Is that next Friday?
Alan Hahn
Oh, yeah.
Don LaGreca
You and me at Platt Deutsch in Franklin Square out on Long Island. All brought to you by Milagro Tequila.
Alan Hahn
Lot going on. Aaron Judge out for the foreseeable future. Knicks game two World Cup. It's just a lot of stuff going on.
Don LaGreca
Last open Belmonts this weekend. Did you see in Saratoga all of the jockeys are wearing Nick jerseys?
Alan Hahn
Oh, that's right.
Don LaGreca
All wearing Knick jerseys.
Alan Hahn
And I had forgotten that Belmont's gonna be in Saratoga because they're ren the track. So a lot of things happening. 1-800-919-3776, the Last Call Crew don on a Rosenberg live at Stout. Still time to swing by, although there's a huge line, I should say that because it is just absolutely crazy trying to get in here.
Don LaGreca
But that's where you're here. Come up.
Alan Hahn
We'll be here next week as well when the Knicks return home. We'll tell you details about that coming up. Don on a Roseburg till seven. Then it's Pat o' Keefe with the extended Knicks pregame show. Nick spurs right here on ESPN New York.
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Alan Hahn
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Don LaGreca
Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
Alan Hahn
I didn't listen to anything you just said.
Don LaGreca
Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.
Alan Hahn
It's always good to see Jake Aspen worked his way in. There's a line around the block, but he started throwing names out and he
Don LaGreca
got into his way in.
Alan Hahn
He got into Stout.
Don LaGreca
I thought he just climbed up. Climbed up and climbed in a window or something, but it's. It's a long line out there, Jake. Isn't it?
Jake Aspen
Alan, it is nuts out there. But it pays to know the great Don legrecka. He just dropped the Don name that
Don LaGreca
let you write to the front.
Jake Aspen
I go, I know Don.
Alan Hahn
He said he works.
Jake Aspen
He's my father.
Alan Hahn
And he'll be right in.
Jake Aspen
And here we are. So it's an honor to be with you guys. Been listening throughout the afternoon. This is awesome, man.
Don LaGreca
He just called you old.
Alan Hahn
Listen, I get that, but he is still young enough to get away with it because it would work. Because I always. How old are you?
Jake Aspen
I'm 30.
Alan Hahn
Yeah. So I could have had a kid at 28. Right? Like most people do. I just waited till 49. Yeah, yeah. I'm a yo yo, which is the way. But you were talking about how it is outside. What's going on?
Jake Aspen
Every single bar in the area has people already starting to gather, wait online, and then you come to the Stout line and it's out of control. So everyone who's already in here was wise to get in here early because everybody. 90 degrees outside. Dicks are playing ball in June. It's. It's awesome right now.
Don LaGreca
All right, I need to know where he stands. Did you grow up? Sesame street stuff?
Jake Aspen
I was a fan of the show.
Don LaGreca
Okay. All right. So you knew about it. How do you feel about Elmo just, you know, being so down the middle once? Everybody just have fun and we all know where Sesame street is.
Jake Aspen
He's from New York.
Don LaGreca
Thank you.
Jake Aspen
So I think it's. Did you get brought on this? Yeah, Elmo's a fraud.
Alan Hahn
No, I'm not a fraud. Because he's not. He's not a fan of anything. He's just a fan of everybody being okay. He is a trophy participation guy. Like, he.
Don LaGreca
He.
Alan Hahn
Elmo is not going to ruffle any feathers.
Jake Aspen
Does Elmo want happiness for people?
Don LaGreca
Yes.
Jake Aspen
Does he live in New York?
Alan Hahn
He doesn't think of it that way. Elmo.
Jake Aspen
But the Knicks winning happiness to where Elmo lives.
Alan Hahn
They want ratings in Texas. They want ratings in San Antonio. He just wants everybody to be happy.
Don LaGreca
But you know how miserable. No, no.
Alan Hahn
He's a puppet, for Christ's sake.
Don LaGreca
I don't care. This San Antonio knows that. They've got years to win a championship with that guy Wemby. They just won five. It's. It's in New York basketball.
Alan Hahn
He doesn't even speak normally.
Don LaGreca
But you know what? Mari Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony were on his show.
Alan Hahn
They were. It's not his show.
Don LaGreca
It was on his show.
Alan Hahn
The Elmo was there when I was watching.
Don LaGreca
Who's Big Bird rooting for?
Jake Aspen
Did we cover that?
Don LaGreca
We know already. Big.
Alan Hahn
I don't even think Big Bird's on Sesame street anymore.
Jake Aspen
Big Bird's not there anymore.
Alan Hahn
I think they.
Jake Aspen
Well, back in my day.
Don LaGreca
Did they send him away?
Alan Hahn
I think they discontinued.
Don LaGreca
Did you notice they put little, like, gray feathers in Big Bird? Like, recently when my kids were little, I was watching them because when he's getting older. When did he get gray feathers?
Alan Hahn
Because he's getting older.
Jake Aspen
How do we choose which cartoons get
Don LaGreca
older and which don't I know you
Jake Aspen
turn on Family Guy. I mean, Peter Griffin still.
Don LaGreca
Nobody.
Alan Hahn
Nobody ever gets in the Simpsons. They've had, like, 5,000 episodes. And Bart's still, like 8 years old or whatever.
Don LaGreca
If only we could. If there's an age that you could stay at Jake, what would it be? Forever?
Alan Hahn
Oh, he's feeling it right now.
Don LaGreca
You think he's feeling it right now?
Jake Aspen
Well, I feel like it's either where I'm at now or you go back a lot younger to your college years if you want to relive, like, those glory years.
Don LaGreca
But you have to stay that forever.
Jake Aspen
Yeah, it's tough. I mean, I would probably say the age range I'm in right now because it's. It's good to be a fan of the Knicks right now. I love living in the city. Yeah. It's like I have a lot of friends and family that's here again. I mean, I lived in Texas for six years to try and come back.
Don LaGreca
That's right.
Jake Aspen
To New York.
Alan Hahn
That's what I was gonna ask you because Jake does great job on our radio station filling in, doing shows. And he's a future star. There's no question about it. And I got to know him going to Super Bowls because you were doing shows at the Super Bowl.
Jake Aspen
You came on with me, Don, at The super bowl, ironically, in Houston, my senior year of college, it was the Falcons, Patriots, Super Bowl. You came on in person and then, you know, let's say 16 months later, I ended up moving to Houston and was down there doing radio for almost six years.
Alan Hahn
Yeah. And so. So you're, you know, you're a big Yankee fan, big Nick fan, big Islander fan, big Jet fan. Of course, that's where you really made your bones with your YouTube show and all that, and you've really been creative with that. But how did you handle living away from New York for six years with all of your favorite teams being based in New York?
Jake Aspen
I think the key is, obviously, I'm not going to pretend like I'm a Rockets fan. I'm certainly not going to pretend like I'm an Astros fan. As a Yankee fan, that was probably the hardest because the Astros were good every year. They were in the World Series and cheaters. Yeah, I had to deal with that
Don LaGreca
as a Yankee fan also, you know,
Jake Aspen
so that was tough.
Don LaGreca
They also. They also like to bang on a garbage can every now and then.
Jake Aspen
Yeah. I mean, Oscar the Grouse probably, probably would be rooted for the Rockets if they were in the NBA Finals.
Don LaGreca
I imagine someone like you with a run like this that the Knicks are on. Like what? Like on a. On a game day, like a game nights. There's. Everybody's doing watch parties, everybody's doing something thing. What do you got going on? Do you have something going on that. That you do that, you know, is part of? I mean, you're really smart at finding ways to do either a watch party or do something on YouTube live to generate a lot of interest. What are you doing?
Jake Aspen
Yeah, tonight I'm actually going to the watch party at MSG in the Garden. So I. I was lucky to be one of the few that could get a ticket. They didn't have to pay a million bucks on the second market.
Don LaGreca
So the gentleman right behind you who still thinks Mike Woodson is coaching the team. Right. He called in and had a Freudian slip. He said he was on a waiting list. That was what was number
Jake Aspen
29,000.
Don LaGreca
That was the waiting list.
Jake Aspen
It's unbelievable. And these tickets cost $10. Originally hosted by the Garden, and they go to the Garden of Dreams Foundation. So I just think it's terrible that people.
Don LaGreca
They've raised a lot of money for the Garden of Dreams foundation and people
Jake Aspen
are taking a ticket that's supposed to be for true Knick fans, and it goes to a great cause and they're reselling it walking in here.
Don LaGreca
Alan.
Jake Aspen
I can resell these. Yes.
Don LaGreca
And they're going for 200 to get
Jake Aspen
in right now for a watch party.
Don LaGreca
200?
Jake Aspen
I went to Yankees Mets at Citi Field a couple weeks ago. I paid $148 for my tick get in right now to watch on the Jumbotronics in the finals. It is 200 to get in, right?
Don LaGreca
I didn't know that you could that that you could do secondary market on these.
Jake Aspen
Yes.
Alan Hahn
And you know what? Whoever sold them should give whatever money they made to the garden of dreams. Right? That's the only the right thing.
Don LaGreca
If I were the Knicks, I'd almost amazed now.
Alan Hahn
But before we go, I just got to mention there's like four or five guys that are to our right here. Big Nick.
Don LaGreca
They are.
Jake Aspen
Yeah.
Alan Hahn
And I was jealous. I'm starving. I'm gonna get something to eat when I get home. They brought like what? They brought like two or three pies. These guys ate it like it was a zombie movie. Oh really? By the way, no, I didn't want devoured that piece.
Don LaGreca
Thanks, boys. No, you could have asked because I
Alan Hahn
really thought there was a chance that
Don LaGreca
maybe they say, hey, hey, Don Allen.
Alan Hahn
You want to say thanks for entertaining us, we'll give you a slide. No, it was gone.
Don LaGreca
Jeez. It's not even a crumb crust and
Alan Hahn
all they just devoured it but animals. Jake, when are you going to be on again?
Jake Aspen
It's a great question.
Don LaGreca
John. John Winthrop.
Jake Aspen
I have no idea when one of you guys is sick or Michael's calling
Don LaGreca
a game right now.
Jake Aspen
Dan's doing a different show that I get the slide in for the whatever.
Alan Hahn
Enjoy it. He's gonna be in the championship.
Don LaGreca
Be ready.
Jake Aspen
I'm ready.
Don LaGreca
I don't know what condition I'm gonna be in after that.
Jake Aspen
You're taking your shirt off J.R. smith style.
Don LaGreca
I saw I might be shirtless.
Alan Hahn
You know what? I got an idea. I wonder if I'm gonna run it by John. All right, that and you're not gonna like it, but I think it's a good idea. You might do it anyway.
Don LaGreca
Involves me working more.
Alan Hahn
I remember real good. Jacob will love this. We gotta go. I only got a few seconds. When Brett Favre signed with the Jets. Yeah, they called me up. It was like 2 o' clock in the morning. I plugged in the comics. I did a show show because we just wanted to be local when Favre joined the Jets. Yeah, I say the second the clock second the Pat's done with the post game. We go on. And we do shows like All Night Long, local taking calls. Me, you, Rick.
Don LaGreca
Be in the streets with all the hooligans. Are you crazy?
Alan Hahn
Well, then bring your cell phone. We'll call you. You'll be a guest. I think this would be a good idea. All right, let's do it.
Don LaGreca
Thank you, everybody.
Jake Aspen
Thank you.
Don LaGreca
Enjoy the game tonight.
Alan Hahn
Back here next week for games three and four. But coming Pat o' Keefe coverage, Knicks spurs, game two, right here on ESPN New York.
Don LaGreca
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 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers.
Alan Hahn
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Jake Aspen
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Alan Hahn
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Jake Aspen
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Jake Aspen
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Alan Hahn
Edu Sci.
Date: June 5, 2026
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn
Guest: Jake Asman
This episode zeroes in on the heated atmosphere ahead of Knicks vs. Spurs Game 2 in the NBA Finals. Don and Alan examine the conspiracies and realities around NBA officiating, fan enthusiasm in New York, watch party madness at MSG, and the lengths fans go for tickets. The Last Call Crew segment brings in Jake Asman, a rising voice on the New York sports scene. The conversation blends basketball analysis, sports fandom, nostalgia, humor, and a playful discussion about Sesame Street allegiances.
Setting the Stakes: Knicks lead the series 1-0. The pressure is high, and history shows teams rarely come back from losing the first two games at home.
Conspiracy Theories about Ref Assignments:
Referee Impact on Series Flow:
Historical Perspective on Sports Rigging Theories:
Changing Whistles Game to Game:
“Correction” Mentality from Officials:
San Antonio Fan Anxiety:
Update on Game 1 Courtside Incident:
NBA Courtside Proximity:
MSG Watch Party Hysteria:
Reselling Furore and Garden of Dreams Foundation:
Community & Nostalgia – Sesame Street Debate:
Best Age to “Freeze Yourself At”, Sports Fan Style:
Jake Asman’s Perspective:
Massive Demand:
Playful Gripes about Pizza:
On Ref Conspiracies:
On Changing Officiating:
On the Power of NY Markets:
Elmo Banter:
NY Summer Sports Scene:
On All-Night Knicks Win Party:
| Time | Segment/Topic | |-----------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:40 | The high stakes for Knicks in Game 2, history of teams down 0-2 in NBA Finals | | 01:13 | Officiating conspiracy theories and NBA assignments explained (Don, Alan) | | 02:14 | The “series extender” refs (Tony Brothers, Scott Foster) and real officiating impacts | | 04:40 | Social media myths about officiating, Spurs/Thunder game controversy | | 05:03 | Historical proof (NBA, NHL, MLB) that leagues can’t rig outcomes for markets | | 06:42 | How officiating style shifts from game to game, what to watch for tonight | | 07:28 | “Correction” mentality in officiating, analogy to human nature | | 08:18 | Spurs fan anxiety over Game 2 whistle, potential fallout | | 09:37 | NBA bans Game 1 hecklers from courtside at Spurs arena | | 17:25 | Jake Asman on fan fever, lines for bars and MSG, energy in NY | | 22:07 | Watch party ticket resale madness ($10 → $200) | | 22:34 | Fan feast—pizza at the event, hosts playfully disappointed | | 23:26 | Alan suggests all-night radio if Knicks win |
For fans who missed this episode: Expect smart, funny, and insider talk about the NBA Finals, what really goes on with referees, New York sports culture at full blast, and a city living and breathing every moment of the Knicks' rare June basketball run.