
Loading summary
Commercial Announcer
This episode is brought to you by Google Chrome. You think you know a browser, but Gemini and Chrome, that's new. It can help you with practically anything on the web, like restoring a vintage motorcycle from a 50 page restoration block. Or finally break down that long article you've had open for weeks. Gemini and Chrome is here for it, ready to make anything online make sense. There's no place like Chrome. Check responses set up required compatibility and availability various 18 plus.
Don Hahn
This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
Rosenberg
That sounds like heaven to me.
Don Hahn
Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers.
Rosenberg
This is The Last Call Crew, 1-800-919-3776. Paul in Florida has been on hold a while. You're on ESPN New York. What's up Paul?
Paul (Caller)
Hey guys. How are you today?
Rosenberg
Good, how are you?
Paul (Caller)
I'm good, thank you. Before I make my point, you guys took me back with the whole Bluey talk. My kid. I spoke with you guys months ago about how my kids in high school with me now I'm a teacher and how startling it is you guys remember. So you talking about that Bluey episode? I remember it like it was yesterday.
Peter
Bluey's been around how long? So Bluey's like what, like 10, 10, 12 years?
Paul (Caller)
Something about like that. Yeah, I think my kid was right around the stage. You guys are talking about where they start to come out of it, 2018. And so anyway, yeah, it's, it's kind of interesting how they've brilliantly written it to where adults can look at it and completely relate to the adult characters.
Peter
Yeah, really.
Paul (Caller)
But my point. No, yeah, but my point about the Yankees that I wanted to make was, and you guys have been saying it the whole time. Yeah, Yankee fans can look at this stretch, especially after the June swoon, like, man, they're gutting out some wind and this and that. But every Yankee fan has been around for a few years. Can't help but see the foreshadowing of. We've seen this movie before. They're going to hang in there, they're going to get back in and unless something changes, they're not going to get big hits in the playoffs or they're going to make errors. And the hope I have is that it's almost like the Knicks, because I remember calling in towards the end of the regular season after we had beat the Hawks and I sounded like the Yankee fans like, yeah, well, I'm glad we won, but we had a bunch of unforced turnovers and we chucked up a bunch of threes, and I think that's going to catch us in the playoffs. And then when they were down 21 to the Hawks, I thought, well, here it comes. And then Mike Brown makes some changes, and the Knicks are on an amazing run. Hopefully Aaron Boone can make some adjustments and the players play a little bit better in the playoffs.
Rosenberg
And that's fair. Paul, let's just see how that happens. I mean, the foreshadowing is right. We've seen it before, but we haven't seen this before where this team has had these kind of injuries and have been able to play, especially lately. I mean, overall, their two games above.500 since June 1, when they lost Judge. But recently they have two out of three to Philadelphia. They've taken the first two against the White Sox. Peter, he just seemed to be playing better baseball, winning games, and they haven't lost any ground to the Rays. And I just think that, just being proud of that, you're right. Both things can be true. Worried about what it's going to look like once they get to the playoffs? Is it going to be the same old thing? We'll save that for November when the playoffs are over and they lost again.
Peter
That's just hard. It's hard. I hear what you're saying. Hard to do that, though.
Rosenberg
So it should be a lot easier than a Nick fan who saw the same thing for 53 years.
Peter
Yeah, but it's like. It's like if. It's like your wife cheated on you a handful of times. I know. We always go to these dumb marriage comparisons, and she's going out a sixth time this time she says, don't worry about it. I'll be coming home. And you're like, hey, listen, when she gets home, if she doesn't come home, be upset, but if she comes home, it's fine. But I've been here five times before and she hasn't come home. So you're asking people to do something, but they have done it many years, and it always goes the same way.
Rosenberg
Now, if you want to complain about the injuries, but they're kind of overcoming that. Like I said, the last time they had this many injuries in 23, they didn't even make the playoffs. They finished two games above.500, one of the worst years in memory for the Yankees. This team's going to finish, you know, probably 20 games above.500, likely win the division, go to the World Series, you know, so this is a little bit different. I understand their fundamentals are not Great fundamentals around major league baseball are not great. Relying too much on the home run. Well, most teams are like that. And the American League stinks. I get it. So that kind of tells you right there, Peter. The American League so bad that baseball is bad. There's a lot of bad teams in the National League, too. Yankees raise in the American League. In the National League, you got the brewers, you got the Dodgers, Braves. And even though they haven't played great lately, Cubs. But the Cubs, Cubs just came off of what did they have like a 10 game losing streak recently. They were miserable for like a month and couldn't play. You know, there's a lot of bad baseball being played right now. But the Yankees are finding a way to win some of those games. Need parts fast. O'Reilly Auto Parts as fast need them now.
Peter
We've got now no matter what you
Rosenberg
need, we have thousands of professional parts people doing their part to make sure you have it. We're O'Reilly fast. Just one part that makes O'Reilly stand apart.
Peter
The professional parts people. Auto parts.
Smalls (Sponsor Voice)
Smalls here. If you're heading into summer without a medical emergency kit, you're taking a risk most people don't think about until it's too late. Summer colds can turn into sinus infections that last weeks, ruining your perfect vacation getaway. And when you're traveling, finding a doctor and a pharmacy, it's stressful. That's why I ordered a medical emergency kit. It's like having an urgent care and a pharmacy at home. It includes prescriptions like amoxicillin and generic Z Pak to treat a wide range of illnesses. So if you wake up sick at home or on the road, you have what you need. No waiting for your doctor, no hours at urgent care, and no pharmacy lines. Also, no co pays. Match your symptoms to the right prescription in your guidebook or call their telemedicine doctor. Start meds sooner and feel better faster. Every home needs a medical emergency kit, so order yours online in minutes, it's shipped right to your door. Save $45 with my promo code smalls@urgentcarekit.com smalls that's promo code smalls@urgentCareKit.com smalls Prescription required.
Ethos Sponsor Voice
Always consult your doctor to determine if this product is right for you. Life insurance is one of those things that's easy to put off because it doesn't feel urgent today. But it's not just another financial box to check. It's about having a plan in place. So if life throws something unexpected at your family, they're not left dealing with the financial side without support. Ethos makes getting life insurance fast and easy. It's 100% online, so you can get a quote in seconds, apply in minutes and get same day coverage. There's no medical exam. You just answer a few simple health questions. Online, you can get up to $3 million in coverage and some policies start as low as $30 a month. Ethos has also earned strong customer feedback with a 4.8 out of 5 star rating on Trustpilot based on more than 4,000 reviews. Take 10 minutes to get covered today with life insurance through Ethos. Get your free quote@ethos.com sports. That's e t h o s.com sports application times may vary. Rates may vary. Trust Pilot Rating as of June 1,
Rosenberg
2025 let's go to Chris. He's in Hoboken. You're on ESPN New York. Hi Chris.
Paul (Caller)
Hey. Hey. How's it going guys?
Rosenberg
What's going, man? What's. Hello you.
Peter
Yo, yo, yo.
Paul (Caller)
Nothing but. So I just wanted to pivot a little bit from the baseball conversation because I'm a Twins fan and I really don't speak up when it's Yankees talk. But I wanted to pivot a little bit to basketball and kind of talk about the Knicks next season and the competition that I keep hearing from New York radio and just kind of from everybody around here. And what I seem to not hear is really nobody talking about the Pacers. And I get it, they lost Halliburton. He was out for the year. They pulled back with an idea to take. But am I missing the fact that they were the team that put the Knicks out two years in a row? The Knicks basically rebuilt their team to mirror the Pacers, realizing we can't win without a bench. And nobody seems to be talking about the fact that the Pacers are coming back full strength next year with a better center and the big kind of offensive rebounding that Mitch Robinson gave them to kind of keep the Knicks close to the Pacers the Knicks don't have anymore. So I hear LeBron on Sixers, I hear Cleveland, I hear Boston. But I don't hear anybody talking about the Pacers. And they're the team the Knicks could not get past and couldn't do it until the Pacers weren't there. I just kind of wanted to get your guys thoughts on that and kind of see what your feelings were because I feel like everybody, it's like out of sight, out of mind.
Rosenberg
Well, Chris, this show has not. I mean, correct me if I'M wrong. Peter, whenever we've talked about the east, we did mention Halliburton's gonna be back with Indiana, But I don't know whether it's, you know, the lack of sexiness or whatever. But of course LeBron's gonna get talked about. I don't think people are looking at Boston as being a threat after the loss of Brown. But, hey, Chris, if you're a Pacer fan, I think that's a great place to be. Be out of sight, out of mind, nobody talking about you. Because that could be funny.
Paul (Caller)
Beautiful. I mean, I'm. Yeah, I'm kind of expecting them to end up with, like, a six seed just because it'll take a moment for them to kind of get it back with Halliburton. But I feel like that's just a dangerous team that really. People kind of forgot about. And I'm like, we were really blown Achilles away from probably taking OKC out in game seven. And it's like, duh, who knows?
Rosenberg
It is crazy that a team that went to Game 7 of the NBA Finals have an off season because they lost their best player. What do you expect? Is kind of forgotten. Peter, how big a threat do you think the Pacers are next year?
Peter
I think it's hard. I think it's hard to say. I would assume that they're competitive, but when you have a year removed where a. It kind of is hard to believe they went as far as they did, which was essentially within, you know, a few minutes of potentially winning the Finals, it's kind of hard to believe that even happened. So much has happened since then. They were completely useless for an entire year. The Knicks have won a world title. It's like. It's hard to just be like, oh, they're going to continue exactly as they were. I think it's. I don't think people believe that will happen. Maybe some people don't believe that'll happen with the Knicks either. And how do you ignore. While I understand what the caller saying, the idea that you would give more attention to that than two of the 20 best players in the league joining the team 90 minutes south of you, it's just, well, a divisional. A divisional rival, that's just a really hard task for a fan to not be thinking about. Primarily.
Rosenberg
That is true, but I think his overall point of the Knicks never seem to beat the Pacers in a big spot. And with the Pacers gone, the Knicks win the title. So with the Pacers being back, should that be the team the Knicks are worried about, you know, like, let's see how it works in Philadelphia. Let's see what Boston's like without Brown. Let's see if Detroit can take the next step. But like, it would be interesting if the Knicks match up with the Pacers and say, the second round. Are you worried or is that all over? Now that you won the title, you don't fear the Pacers anymore? I never thought about it. Like, it never occurred to me, oh, the Knicks won the title. The Pacers weren't there. But he brings up an interesting point. They retool with a healthy Halliburton. How big a threat are they just to the Knicks, never mind the rest of the East.
Rich Eisen
Rich Eisen here. Running a small business means every hire matters. A bad hire costs time and money, but the right one helps your business grow. The challenge? Finding that person without sorting through resumes. That's where LinkedIn Hiring Pro comes in. It screens candidates so you can focus on conversations with qualified talent. With Hiring Pro, you can hire with confidence and build the team you need. Join the 2.7 million small businesses using LinkedIn to hire. Get started by posting your job for free@LinkedIn.com Eisen terms and conditions apply. Shohei Ohtani's interpreter was fired today.
Rosenberg
Ippei Mitsuhara ran up gambling debts to a Southern California bookmaking operation. The inside story of the biggest scandal in modern baseball. He was absolutely bananas. The amount of bets he was making, I've never seen anything like it. From 30 for 30 podcasts this is the Betrayal of Shohei Ohtani.
Ethos Sponsor Voice
Presented by Gusto. New episodes available now. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.
Buster Only (Sponsor Voice)
Buster Only here for La Quinta by Wyndham when you're on the road this summer, traveling for work, your routine can fall behind faster than a 30 count, especially if your hotel gym is non existent. But at La Quinta by Wyndham, every location features a full size, fully equipped fitness center. So whether it's cardio, weights or a quick workout before a long day, you can. You can stay on top of your game. No excuses, no shortcuts, just your full routine. Ready when you are. And when you book@laquinta.com you can earn Wyndham rewards points with every qualified stay. Tonight La Quinta. Tomorrow you shine. Terms and conditions apply.
Don Hahn
Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
Peter
I didn't listen to anything you just said.
Don Hahn
Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.
Rosenberg
Can I do a talk about it? An extended Talk about it. You did it late in the talk about it Tuesday.
Peter
The last six minutes of a third of a Wednesday. This is unheard of, but, yeah, I'll grant it.
Rosenberg
Listen, I could afford it, so I don't mean to complain, but it's lunch. So Nancy took Jalen out to get their hair done. It was a cool thing. So she went to ferry camp. And then Nancy picked her up and they went. They got their hair done. So they were gone all day. That's why I had to work from home, because I had to watch the boys. So I decided that I was going to take them out to lunch. And I said, you know what? They're not a sponsor. I'll take them. The five guys. Good, but good hamburgers. Marco's got a hot dog addiction that I think we need to have a conversation about. Oh, boy. So I get a burger, a bacon burger, and Declan gets cheeseburger, and Marco got a hot dog. And all three of us got shakes, because they make good shakes there. And I got.
Peter
This is. This is a real treat of a meal.
Rosenberg
And I got a regular fry, which I didn't realize was a sack. They really take care of you with
Peter
the fries, and you love a sack.
Rosenberg
How much do you think that cost me?
Peter
So real quick to run. Run down the math here.
Rosenberg
You got a burger with bacon. Bacon burger. Which is on the menu. Don't judge me. Just go.
Peter
What day of the week was this?
Rosenberg
It's today.
Peter
Wow. Right here on a Wednesday. This guy's a lunatic. He's living on edge. No, he really does.
Rosenberg
Let's ignore that.
Peter
Okay, okay.
Rosenberg
Sorry, sorry.
Peter
I want to say a bacon burger, regular fries, milkshake, hot dog milkshake, and another burger for Declan plus milkshake. That correct.
Rosenberg
And they just have a one size milkshake?
Peter
I am guessing. Okay, that's 15. It's 20. 40 bucks.
Rosenberg
This might be 60 bucks. I got 75. $62. What do we do? I don't know what five guys did over the last six, seven years.
Peter
They have exorbitantly raised their price. It's. It's.
Rosenberg
Listen, it's a good move. It's a. It's a good meal. All right. Don't get me wrong.
Peter
You said 60 bucks, though.
Rosenberg
$62.
Peter
62. Hold on. You didn't realize the fries were a sack at five guys?
Rosenberg
I'm not a five guys guy.
Peter
You've never been before.
Rosenberg
They used to just throw them in the bag.
Peter
They still do. No, they fill the cup and they drop the cup in the bag. And they pour that. That's. That's. That's the whole. It's the number one gimmick of five guys.
Rosenberg
I had it in like five years. It's been a while. I didn't know. But I went regular. But whatever. I don't even look at the. I didn't look at the prices or whatever. And listen, I paid it and it's fine. I'm just like, dude, man. Just three people going out to lunch in Jersey.
Peter
It's only one fries. It's three burgers and three milkshakes.
Rosenberg
Yes. And the one regular and one fry. Yes. I expect it to be expensive because milkshakes could be.
Peter
No. Well, I will say that milkshakes are historically one of the most ridiculously overpriced items on any menu. That's how they get you everywhere, I
Rosenberg
think at minimum, they're usually $10.
Smalls (Sponsor Voice)
So.
Rosenberg
Yeah, you'll probably get it north of $10 anywhere else.
Peter
No, they're not minimum $10.
Rich Eisen
What do you.
Peter
What do you live in? I live in New York City. There's plenty of places. They're not minimum 10. You go to Shake Shack right now.
Rosenberg
A vanilla shake, 950, like $10 roundabout.
Peter
If you tax up too a Manhattan, I would say a Manhattan Shake Shack, you're close to $10. A diner outside of the city, it could be seven for a milkshake, six. I still think 10 is not the minimum, but I. Because I'll put it this way. I've never seen a milkshake in my life. Unless you're at Disneyland. That costs more than like $12, $13. But no matter what. We're mincing words here. It's insane.
Rosenberg
No, listen, I understand. Sometimes when you're in the city, you got to pay a little extra. But I don't know, just. I was taken aback, but I mean,
Peter
by the way, that's nonsense, too. The city got to pay extra. Not just because what they do then they just taught us it.
Rosenberg
But it just, you know, listen, it was a great meal.
Rich Eisen
Just like.
Rosenberg
Come on. That's like. That's just incredible. I was just taken aback by that. But it was.
Peter
It was.
Rosenberg
It was good.
Peter
Of course it was good. It's five guys. They make a delicious food. But I mean, I just. Let me. Every one of these huge corporations has to keep making not the same money. They have to make more money. All of them have to make more money. You know who doesn't have to make more money? Any of us. And by the way, people. I mean, Us, all of us, including most talent, unless your name is the biggest of bigs. And most everyone stand flat these days. If you can, if you can keep a job in the industry. So it's just no one else is getting more money, but the price is on every single thing. Every burger, every gas trip, every airline ticket, every train. It's just went down. When does the squeeze end?
Rosenberg
I know, and honest with you, it wasn't like there was a line out the door, you know, so, you know, I just, it's, I was just taken aback by that. So I just, like I said, I could pay it, I could afford it, it's fine. But just, it's the principle. It's like freaking three lunch for three people. And listen, if I didn't go milkshake and I went like, I got, they got to drink something. So what would have been 53 people having lunch at the, you know, that's.
Peter
Yeah, yeah. If you, if you had done no milkshake and just sodas for everyone. But yeah, but what if you'd gotten two. What if you didn't realize the fries were so big? So you went, oh, I'm getting three fries, three burgers, three fries, three drinks.
Rosenberg
Now we're up to 80 bucks.
Peter
It's, it's nuts.
Rosenberg
Well, we're going to do this all again tomorrow or recap what the Yankees did in Chicago and what the Mets did in the back end of the double header with the Braves. We'll have more from training camp with the jets and the Giants. It'll be that guy Thursday.
Peter
Oh, you bet your ace.
Rosenberg
And we'll all started at 3 o'. Clock. So looks like the weather's nice. Not at least the way it was over the last couple of days. So we'll have some fun coming up on Thursday. I'll go on vacation on Monday, but then Alan comes back in. So we won't be whole for a while, but we're still going to have a good time. Enn at 6 o', clock, antics like you dream about Mets baseball. Coming up next, it's Don Hahn and Rosenberg on ESPN New York.
Don Hahn
Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
Peter
I don't want to know how the sausage is made, man.
Don Hahn
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.
Blinds.com Announcer
Uncovered windows can make your home feel up to 20 degrees hotter. Stay cool and save up to 45% off custom window treatments during the summer. Black Friday mega sale@blinds.com from Outdoor Shades to room darkening blinds, finding the perfect fit is easy. Get free samples, expert design help and professional measure and install services or DIY with confidence and support every step of the way. Shop up to 45% off site wide plus huge savings on doorbusters right now during the summer. Black Friday mega sale@blinds.com.
Episode: Hour 4: Pacers a Threat to the Knicks?
Date: July 29, 2026
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Platform: ESPN New York
Hour 4 of the "Don, Hahn & Rosenberg" podcast pivots from Yankees baseball anxiety to a passionate and insightful dialogue about the New York Knicks' true threats in the upcoming NBA season—particularly the potentially overlooked Indiana Pacers. The episode also adds signature sports radio banter about fast food sticker shock and New Yorker life, delivering both sharp sports analysis and relatable everyday observations.
(00:39 – 04:04)
“Recently...they have two out of three to Philadelphia. They've taken the first two against the White Sox...they haven’t lost any ground to the Rays.” (02:42)
"It’s like if your wife cheated on you a handful of times...this time she says, 'Don’t worry about it.' But I’ve been here five times before and she hasn’t come home." (03:35)
Even with improved performance and injury comebacks, the psychological burden of prior postseason failings looms large for Yankees fans.
(07:47 – 12:09)
“Whenever we’ve talked about the [Eastern Conference], we did mention Halliburton’s gonna be back with Indiana…But of course LeBron’s gonna get talked about...If you’re a Pacer fan, I think that’s a great place to be. Be out of sight, out of mind, nobody talking about you.” (09:17)
“It kind of is hard to believe they went as far as they did...they were completely useless for an entire year. The Knicks have won a world title. It’s hard to just be like, ‘Oh, they’re going to continue exactly as they were.’” (10:25)
“The Knicks never seem to beat the Pacers in a big spot. And with the Pacers gone, the Knicks win the title. So with the Pacers being back, should that be the team the Knicks are worried about?” (11:18)
“We were really blown Achilles away from probably taking OKC out in Game 7. Who knows?”
“They were completely useless for an entire year. The Knicks have won a world title. It’s hard to just be like, ‘Oh, they’re going to continue exactly as they were.’”
The Pacers may not be trendy, but their tough matchups against the Knicks—and full-strength return—could be the biggest under-discussed threat in the East.
(14:03 – 19:52)
“Every huge corporation has to keep making…more money. You know who doesn’t? Any of us…The price on everything, every burger, every gas trip…it’s just, when does the squeeze end?” (18:22)
Their lunch story becomes a miniature of larger anxieties about rising living costs and corporate profit expectations, delivered with humor and exasperation.
Sports Paranoia Meets Relationship Metaphor
“It’s like your wife cheated on you a handful of times…this time she says, ‘Don’t worry about it.’" (Peter, 03:35)
On the Unheralded Pacers
“That's a great place to be. Be out of sight, out of mind, nobody talking about you.” (Rosenberg, 09:17)
On Fast-Food Price Shock
“Just three people going out to lunch in Jersey…$62.” (Rosenberg, 16:27)
“Let me—every one of these huge corporations has to keep making not the same money. They have to make more money. You know who doesn’t have to make more money? Any of us.” (Peter, 18:22)
The conversation is smart, playful, and unapologetically “New York”—balancing serious sports analysis with banter, cultural references, and relatable gripes. The hosts never lose their sense of humor, even when addressing sore spots for New York fans.
This episode questions whether Knicks fans—and by extension, the broader New York sports conversation—are missing the forest for the trees by obsessing over headline teams and ignoring the Pacers, the very franchise that historically trips up the Knicks. The show’s blend of nostalgia, skepticism, and everyday frustration is both cathartic and invigorating for any longtime New York sports fan, with just enough light-hearted ranting about modern life to bring it all home.