← Don, Hahn & Rosenberg
Don, Hahn & Rosenberg
Hour 4: Weekend Warrior & Sports Villains
00:47:47
Don, Hahn & Rosenberg on ESPN NY
Loading summary
Transcript167 lines
- [00:00]
Don LaGreca
If your football team had one option in their playbook, the results probably wouldn't be great. The same could be said for your investments. CBOE index options like SPX and XSP can help expand your investing strategies with cash settlement and potential tax advantages. If you're ready for a more dynamic game plan, head to betterwithoptions.com CBO Life is Better with options. Your investments could be too. There are risks associated with CBOE Company products. Review the disclosures and disclaimers@cboe.com USDISCLAIMERS this.
- [00:31]
Alan Hahn
Is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg Podcast.
- [00:35]
Don LaGreca
That sounds like heaven to me. Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3.
- [00:38]
Alan Hahn
On 880 ESPN, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers, 605 of.
- [00:45]
Don LaGreca
The big city Don LaGreca, Alan Hannes, Don Hahn and Rosenberg right up till 7:00. Then our coverage begins for the Knicks and the T Wolves at Madison Square Garden. Allen's got some things to do for msg. He'll be back with us in a couple of minutes and we want to take your calls at 1-800-919-3776. But before I do, I just want to say that, you know, the reason why I believe Ravens Bills is the super bowl is because I do believe these are two of the best teams. Now. Kansas City went 15 and 2, but I wasn't overly impressed with them this year. And I know they were banged up and they're getting healthy. But there's a reason why nobody has ever won three consecutive Super Bowls is really hard to do. The Steelers didn't do it. The Cowboys didn't do it back in the day. The packers didn't do it back in the day. It's really, really hard. Really, really hard to do. And I just have a feeling if they get back to the super bowl, they'll probably win it. Because I think as much as I respect the Lions, I think the AFC had the better teams than the NFC this year. So I think the super bowl is coming out of the nfc. That's why I'm saying Bill's Ravens is your super bowl. Because I think the champions coming out of the AFC and I think the Chiefs right now of the four teams that are left in the AFC are third. Forget about record, forget about what they've done against the teams in the past. I just think it's really impossible to to win three in a row. And they caught a lot of breaks this year, a lot of games they very easily could have lost. And hey listen, that's what championship caliber teams do. They win close games, they catch breaks. I'm not going to get into whole conspiracy theories that the officials are in the bag for Kansas City, but they did seem to get a lot of calls go their way like a lot of winners do. But they caught some breaks that I just think are eventually going to come to roost. It won't happen this week against Houston because I don't think Houston is is in their league, but Baltimore and Buffalo are and I think that is going to be a beast of a game on Sunday night at 6:30 in Buffalo. It is going to be loads of fun to watch that game and I can't wait for it. 1-800-919-3776 Always a pleasure to welcome in Richard in Manhattan. You're on ESPN New York. What's up man?
- [02:49]
Richard
Don the problem with the longer football season is it's going to be like the Giants and Jets this year. Your bottom six, eight teams. You're waiting for the season to be over. Can you imagine the and jets playing another game this year? It was torture the last six games. So that's a big, big problem for bad teams. You know Meyer, that was the name of a TV series in the late 60s. Jay north, the kid from Dennis the Menace, he was on an elephant. The elephant's name was Maya. So I always remember that name. One of the funnier things I read in the Post today, the Fordham basketball coach was suspended for recruiting violations. 4. Now Fordham has been lousy for 40 years. They're 0 and 5 this year in the big the Atlantic 10 Conference. What kind of recruiting violation that they could have been successful with that they should be punished for? I mean somebody should use common sense there and just overlook it and say, look, it's just not working for poor Fordham. I don't understand that. And then lastly, last night, now what a game last night, the Ranger game. Three times they came back from one nothing.
- [04:02]
Alan Hahn
Two.
- [04:02]
Richard
One and three. Three to two. What a game. I mean if they went like last week, I said last week was the start of maybe something and maybe last night was something also to continue. But I just noticed Kenny and Dave, they're not at the games anymore. They do them from the studio. Is that how it works?
- [04:19]
Don LaGreca
Well, there's a lot of things that work into it, Richard. I don't want to get too much into it. It's not really. But thank you for the yeah, there's a lot of logistics that go into when you've got a long road trip and you're using two different announcers all right, so I think that's really what it's about. Obviously, television traveled, but when you get these long Western swings in which, you know, I'm on one, Kenny's on one, Alex is on one, you know, you're flying one guy back, the other guy there, it just gets to be a little bit much. And what we did discover during COVID is that games can be done remotely. But, you know, I. I don't know exactly what goes into all of those decisions, but I think that's one of the major ones. But that was a big win for the Rangers. Listen, Utah's not very good, but they're highly skilled and those types of speed teams do seem to give the Rangers a little bit of trouble. But there are no style points when you're just trying to make the playoffs. And they were down 3, 2 going into the third period. Had not come back from a deficit in the third at all this year, despite the fact they did it 12 times last year and it was a nice win. And now they've got points in six consecutive. They've got to be. I listen, I'm not going to complain, and the NHL is not, and the Rangers aren't going to complain either. But three games in four nights in which the first game is in Utah. So they left after the game. They probably got home at like 5, 6 o'clock in the morning, and then that's their day off, is basically sleeping in. You're not gonna be able to practice or anything. And then you go, you're home against Columbus, and then you got to get on a flight right after Columbus, go to Montreal. Montreal is not far, but you got to go through customs and then you play in a real hostile environment in Montreal. Then you come back from that, and then you got a day off and then you got Ottawa on. On. On Tuesday. So the league didn't do them any favors as far as the three games and four nights starting in Utah at the tail end of a Western swing. So we'll see if they'll be able to fight through that. But they're playing better. They're moving in the right direction. I think they're going to be okay. I'm not sure the Islanders are going to be okay. I guess we've got some breaking news here, Anthony, that Roki Sasaki is a Dodger. Oh, who could have thought, you know? Yeah, real shocker. But he is a Dodger. So all these Japanese players want to come over and they want to play on the west coast. And there was a thought that maybe he'd go to the Padres. No, the Dodgers. Just who's telling you these things to get a major name in Bristol. Wow. Initials. Oh, really? Wow. Wow. So that's the, that, that's the report. Talking baseball is reporting that. And that is coming from our buddy Alex Fuse, who has never stripped me, led me astray. If he did hear, then we're done. But I think he knows what he's doing. But that's out there if you want a little, a little, a little baseball angle here in the dog days of January, 1-800-919-3776. Lang in Connecticut. You're on ESPN New York High. Lang.
- [07:13]
Lang
Yeah, hi. I wanted to bring up a pattern that I've seen with the Knicks and I'd like to get really your take and then. And Alan's as well. Hopefully he'll be back soon.
- [07:23]
Don LaGreca
Yeah.
- [07:24]
Lang
The Knicks are lacking a level of mental toughness. Not so much in terms of boxing, Allen being physical. But you had the incident with Trae Young rolling dice on your center court. And then last game, if you look at the play by play, the Knicks were up, the Sixers made a shot, I think it was a three. And then the Knicks were only up by six points. And this is a team that they battled last year in the playoffs. It's a team that took down Mitchell Robinson and caused a season ending injury in our playoff run. And the Knicks dribbled out the clock, giving the ball back to the Sixers, only up six points with four seconds left. Right now at that time, Nick Nurse called timeout. All right, so you're going to show mercy to a team that doesn't like you and you don't like them. Apparently. Apparently. And you're going to dribble out the clock and take a turnover with four seconds left. And now Nick Nurse and you know, you say what you want about him. I'm not a fan. Calls timeout, substitutes a player and they shoot a three. Now had they made that three with four seconds left, all right, I mean, does Reggie Miller ring a bell? And then they get a steal and then they make another three? We just blew the game. So this team, right, they need a reckoning. They lost some tough players last year that wouldn't let Trae Young roll dice on your home floor that wouldn't do what they did last game at the end. And we don't have an identity. And I'm very upset with them, very upset with that.
- [09:00]
Don LaGreca
Well, what do you want them to do? I mean, it's not like Hockey where you drop the gloves.
- [09:05]
Lang
Don't show mercy on this. Shoot the ball. Shoot the ball. Don't show mercy.
- [09:12]
Alan Hahn
Go ahead. I picked up on this. Just, it's just a little late into the call, but you're, you're, your, your premise here is what again? That this is a soft team because Trey Young did something at center court and you wanted him to get into a fight.
- [09:27]
Lang
Last game that last. There's a pattern emerging. Last game, the Knicks took to turnover when they could have shot the ball. There was four seconds left. They're only up by six in Philadelphia.
- [09:41]
Alan Hahn
Yeah, this is in Philadelphia.
- [09:44]
Lang
Yes, correct.
- [09:47]
Alan Hahn
So you so a six point game in overtime and there was, I, I believe it was like under 10 seconds left, right? It was like four seconds. And you want them to not take the turnover with four seconds to go with this, which is a sign of respect. This is what, this, what the players do. They all do it. You want to shoot the basketball. So it's eight teams.
- [10:08]
Lang
They took down Mitchell Robinson last year in the playoffs. All right? They prematurely ended our season. You don't, you don't, don't show mercy to a team like that. And then Nick Timeout and he substituted the player and they shot a three. What if he made that? And then what do you think?
- [10:23]
Alan Hahn
What if he made that? With how much time was he gonna make me look up to see how much time? Reggie Miller. Allen.
- [10:28]
Lang
Reggie Miller. You forgot.
- [10:31]
Alan Hahn
You know what, Lang? The season's going so well, you're trying to find something to be pissed off about. It's amazing, isn't it? By the way, season has gone so well that you were, you needed to find. And the fact that they didn't score an 8th one, you must have had the, you must have had the Knicks seven and a half right? Must have. Like, like, what are we talking about? That's what we're gonna find that in the, and rolling the dice. This is, this is what I'm looking it up right now. The, the last bucket was made. He took the three with 2.8 seconds to go. What if he hit that 2.8 seconds to go, and the Knicks would have had to inbound the ball and get fouled. What are we doing? But then we have fans who complain they play too much.
- [11:13]
Don LaGreca
But I, I, because you, you joined in the middle of the call, like, all right, Trey Young rolls the die. What do you want to do, kick him in the groin? I, I, Is this hockey all of.
- [11:23]
Alan Hahn
A sudden gets suspended?
- [11:24]
Don LaGreca
I, I should, you know, Matt Rampe.
- [11:27]
Alan Hahn
That'S what we're going to do. Matt Rampe needs to sign a 10 day so that the Knicks play the Hawks again here at the Garden on, on Martin Luther King Day. Matt Rampe can come in the game and how about we send him out and then we'll set a hard screen on, on Trae Young. Punch him right in the head.
- [11:41]
Don LaGreca
There you go.
- [11:42]
Alan Hahn
He'll get suspended. Nobody cares. And a flagrant two. So they'll get a whole bunch of free throws, but everybody will get their pound of flesh. How about beat the guy? How about beat him and then he doesn't have to roll dice.
- [11:53]
Don LaGreca
Win the game again. The hockey mentality. And you're worried about. They. It was Embiid that pulled that garbage last year and he wasn't, he wasn't.
- [11:59]
Alan Hahn
Even in the game.
- [12:00]
Don LaGreca
So. But you know, real quick you bring up Rampy, right? Gotta play. Rampy's gotta play. And they've got points in every game that he's played. He's got to be there.
- [12:11]
Alan Hahn
Does he?
- [12:12]
Don LaGreca
But you nail him to the bench in the third period, you're essentially in a game that we all said they had to win. You're playing with 11 forwards in a one goal game in the third because you don't trust him out there. You know what? I don't have a problem with Rempe. I have a problem with Laviolette. Like why are you playing him if you don't trust him to play him in the third period? So if you trust him, play him and let him play his 10:12 minutes like everybody else on the fourth line or scratch them. Do you think they're nailing Jimmy Vesey or Johnny Brodzinski to the bench in the third period in one goal game? No. No.
- [12:39]
Alan Hahn
You can.
- [12:40]
Don LaGreca
So why, what is the obsession with playing him if you're not going to play him at all in the third period and be shorthanded? Essentially, because you're, I think you're looking.
- [12:48]
Alan Hahn
At what he can give you in the first two periods, which is when you, if, if you feel like you're being a little soft, you bring him in and it's kind of like wake the bench up a little bit. I don't know, like I'm trying to figure it out myself. It doesn't make sense. So you're playing three lines and you're going to rotate forward. Who was, who was double, who was double shifting?
- [13:04]
Don LaGreca
They were double shift and Cooley because they're trying to get him going. And that's what Laviolette said after the game. There's certain guys I'm trying to get going. But, but, but you're, you're also not playing a guy and, and he's not playing poorly, Alan. Like he's actually contributed. Not besides not, you know, not fighting in big checks, but he's actually involved. He was on the ice for Ed's game winning goal the other night.
- [13:24]
Alan Hahn
Can I be honest?
- [13:25]
Don LaGreca
Yes.
- [13:26]
Alan Hahn
You watch plenty of games. I, I watch him and this is not, I'm not trying to be disparaging and all that stuff. I love his story and all that stuff. He can't skate, man. He can't skate. But he reaches a lot because he moves. Like if you're playing in the third period and it's a one goal game, I can't afford to have a guy that is very slow to pivot and he has very heavy feet and he can't skate and he's going to reach. I am afraid of a penalty that he could take because he just can't. He's a big body and can't control himself and maybe there's going to be. Referees will watch him a little closer because he's known for physicality. Can I afford that? He takes a penalty even though he didn't mean to.
- [14:05]
Don LaGreca
Then, then you don't play him. Well, it's not like you have two players.
- [14:09]
Alan Hahn
He can help me, though. I get what you're saying.
- [14:12]
Don LaGreca
I just don't. I, I again against Utah. But then, but then who, who are you playing? If you're, if you're playing a game when Ryan Reeves is in it. All right, then I understand it. But there's the fuel far between those guys. The other night when he played against the Devils, you know, McDermott's in. But guess what? If Rempe didn't play, McDermott would have been a healthy scratch, like so I, I don't know. Just, I, I, you mentioned Rempe and that was something that was on my mind. And I've got more on this on the Game Is Conduct podcast, which you can get where you get your podcasts.
- [14:40]
Alan Hahn
Good, good tease there. By the way.
- [14:42]
Don LaGreca
Go to Derek and Bayshore because he wanted to support Lang.
- [14:45]
Alan Hahn
Yeah, go ahead, Derek. Yeah, I can't do it, so you do it for me. Thanks. Good.
- [14:51]
Lang
Can you hear me?
- [14:52]
Alan Hahn
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
- [14:54]
Lang
The point that last caller was trying to make about there being 4.2 seconds left in the game with the Knicks in the, in the Sixers.
- [15:01]
Alan Hahn
Yeah. Yeah.
- [15:02]
Lang
Why would you take the turnover instead of shooting the ball even if it hit the rim and they didn't get the rebound. It would have killed more time off the clock instead of leaving them with a chance to actually tie the game.
- [15:14]
Alan Hahn
That's what that call how again, the game was essentially over. That's number one. Number two, I will tell you this. You did. You're going to play the what if. I'll play the what if right with you then, Derek, what if you shot the ball, you missed, There was a rebound to get Josh Hart, went for it, lands on his ankle, bust his ankle, and now he's out. Yeah, but that's when you get off the floor. You just get off the floor.
- [15:40]
Lang
That's hypothetical, man, you're talking about.
- [15:43]
Alan Hahn
No, no, no, no, no. You just. No, no, you just did that. You just did the hypothetical with what if, so I'm giving you the hypothetical too. What if you shot that and somebody went for a rebound and gets poked in the eye or bust his ankle or something crazy happens because you're making an effort like you always do. You don't want to miss that. You definitely want to get that rebound. What are you going to shoot it? Not go for the rebound? What if something happened and a guy got hurt? Why are you shooting that ball? Just get off the floor.
- [16:10]
Lang
Because if you try, even if you truck the ball up from three point lands and it hits something, that's at least two, three seconds off the clock, now you're talking about somebody getting hurt. What are the chances of that?
- [16:20]
Alan Hahn
What are the chances of them making two three pointers in 2.8 seconds?
- [16:25]
Lang
So you're telling me you should leave a chance for the other team to have a chance to come back inside the game.
- [16:30]
Alan Hahn
I am saying I am not risking injury of my player in the final shot of the game. That's what I'm saying. Like, again, done. Done. The season's going so well. We are nitpicking the end of a win.
- [16:40]
Don LaGreca
I don't know why we're such a rush to get rid of these callers. What I wanted to ask Derek is he said we missed the point. Lang's point was they're soft.
- [16:50]
Alan Hahn
Yeah.
- [16:50]
Don LaGreca
You want to see if you want to call up and say, I thought that that was a misstep by Tibbs, well, then we can have a conversation. We can agree to disagree from a strategy standpoint. His point was this is a trend of this team being soft. They didn't do anything about Trae Young with the dice in the middle of the court. And then look what they did at the end of the Sixer game. A team that walked all in the playoffs or was really Embiid. So, though, Derek, you missed his point. His point was that they're soft. If he had a point about strategy, I think you'd agree, Alan, maybe there's a conversation to be had there. That was not the point. Lang's point was they're soft. And I want to know if Derek understood that.
- [17:29]
Alan Hahn
Oh, okay. And I missed the beginning of that call. I didn't understand the whole they're soft thing, because they are not. I guess what happens sometimes is fans get really caught up in the idea of the toughest team that is willing to go physical and battle with you. But if you're telling me last year's team was tough, then why did no one do anything to Embiid when he did what he did to Mitchell Robinson? No one did anything. Did anybody come after him? No, nobody did a thing. There was some talking. But the way. The way Lang wanted it is that. Is that Isaiah Hardenstein should have walked up to Embiid and punched him in the face. Right? That's my teammate. You grabbed him by his ankle. You heard him. Like, what are we talking about here? So tough mentally, to me, is everything. I take blame for this. When you're a team, that's resilient. That's what matters.
- [18:18]
Don LaGreca
I take blame for this because if.
- [18:20]
Alan Hahn
You remember, Lang Lang has called not.
- [18:23]
Don LaGreca
Once, but two times about how Matt.
- [18:24]
Alan Hahn
Ryan killed the Knicks. Everybody here was. Remember, he wanted Matt Ryan to play more.
- [18:32]
Don LaGreca
No. It happened once when Alan was here, once when Alan was gone. We finally ended up doing the research on it.
- [18:36]
Alan Hahn
Turns out Lang wasn't talking about Matt Ryan. He doesn't know who he was talking about. So it was my fault for letting him through again. That wasn't even Matt Ryan he was talking about. He's actually shot three threes in his lifetime against the Knicks in the regular season.
- [18:49]
Don LaGreca
So. Yeah, well, there's that.
- [18:52]
Alan Hahn
It was one of those white guys.
- [18:55]
Don LaGreca
Wow.
- [18:55]
Alan Hahn
One of those white guys that shoots threes. I am sorry. I don't understand, like, the things you want to criticize about the Knicks that are fair. Their lack of depth, a bench that is not really produced. A bench that, when it comes into games, doesn't seem to have a killer instinct. They're missing something with that group that I'm waiting for and haven't seen it. And that's the part that I think I find criticism with, that they're small. They're not a very big team. They. Without Towns, they don't have any other seven footers. And the one seven footer they have is a rookie who is a 56th pick in the draft who's going to need some development. Like that's the criticisms that are very fair with this team. Those are the things that you can say to call a team like this soft. When you see the way Josh Hart at 64 is one of the best rebounders in the NBA at anybody under 610. He's literally. That's not a made up thing. He's like. He leads the league in loose balls recovered, meaning he's the guy that dives on the floor. That's tough. Jalen Brunson at 62 taking the hit after hit after hit. Town's playing through injuries, hurting himself, fighting his way through it, leading the league and rebounding. There's a lot of toughness going on here, but. But we want to see guys throw elbows and throw punches and, and talk smack. That's going to make you feel better.
- [20:17]
Don LaGreca
Yeah, I get, I get again, it's that hockey mentality. You. Alan, you missed his hockey posted on his Instagram that he is signing with the Dodgers. So Japanese player goes to la Shocker.
- [20:31]
Alan Hahn
Wait, did. Was he the one that was. There was like three teams interested left.
- [20:36]
Don LaGreca
Yeah, it was the Dodgers, Padres and Anthony. It was the Cubs.
- [20:40]
Alan Hahn
I believe it was the Blue Jays, right?
- [20:42]
Don LaGreca
Yeah, no, it's the always.
- [20:43]
Alan Hahn
Also Rams. The Toronto Blue Jays.
- [20:44]
Don LaGreca
Yeah, Toronto, which is like anybody.
- [20:47]
Alan Hahn
And then it was down today. I think the Padres were out. How about, how about by the way, what a shock that another Japanese star wants to stay in la. It's becoming a thing.
- [20:55]
Don LaGreca
Yeah, it's becoming a thing.
- [20:56]
Alan Hahn
But it's becoming an obvious.
- [20:58]
Don LaGreca
So that's. So that's there and people are riled up because that become a new evil empire.
- [21:03]
Alan Hahn
I think you're right. I love it too because I think every sport needs one.
- [21:07]
Don LaGreca
Right?
- [21:07]
Alan Hahn
We got Weekend Warrior to do dawn, right?
- [21:10]
Don LaGreca
Yeah, I got mine.
- [21:12]
Alan Hahn
You do.
- [21:16]
Don LaGreca
Come out.
- [21:17]
Alan Hahn
Ton, Han and Rosenberg. Weekend Warrior. All right. Donnie, since you have yours locked in, you sounded pretty excited about it.
- [21:33]
Don LaGreca
I did.
- [21:33]
Alan Hahn
Who do you got for this weekend's Weekend Warrior?
- [21:35]
Don LaGreca
Well, if I've been talking them up, it's really down to just one of two people, right? It's either gonna be Derrick Henry or Lamar Jackson. I'm gonna go with Lamar Jackson in the Ravens big win in Buffalo on Sunday.
- [21:46]
Alan Hahn
That's really easy. Yeah, I, I don't. I picked Josh Allen last weekend and I felt like saying it again.
- [21:55]
Don LaGreca
Why not?
- [21:55]
Alan Hahn
But I'm not, but I'm not. You know why? Because I feel like I need to have a rooting interest in this game. I want to be locked into this game. And because I was very aggressive as a four point pick of the Eagles in this game, I want to make Saquon Barkley my weekend warrior.
- [22:12]
Don LaGreca
That's nice.
- [22:13]
Alan Hahn
I like that, that I, I think this is one I'm really interested in seeing. I mean, this is for him, you know, this is as far as he's ever gotten right in the playoffs, first time around. But he's on a team now where he can be the star. I think in a game like this, with the weather, the way it's supposed to be, the cold, the, the snow, all this stuff, I just think for Saquon Barkley, this could be one of those arrival as a megastar kind of performances. And I'm looking forward to it. So give me Saquon Bar.
- [22:40]
Don LaGreca
I like it.
- [22:41]
Alan Hahn
All right, there's your weekend warriors. Oh, and we have Peters. What is it? Yeah, it's Jaden Daniels again. That's a shock.
- [22:47]
Don LaGreca
So lazy.
- [22:48]
Alan Hahn
Wow. Are you sure that came from Peter?
- [22:50]
Don LaGreca
Not surprising. Make your next move with American Express Business Platinum. You'll get five times membership rewards points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com/ enjoy access to the American Express Global Lounge collection. And with a welcome offer of 150,000 points, your business can soar to all new heights.
- [23:14]
Lang
Terms apply.
- [23:15]
Don LaGreca
Learn more@americanexpress.com Business Platinum AmEx Business Platinum. Built for business by American Express. This episode is brought to you by Allstate. Some people just know they could save hundreds on car insurance by checking Allstate first. Like, you know to check the date of the big game first before you accidentally buy tickets on your 20th wedding anniversary and have to spend the next 20 years of your marriage making up for it. Yeah, checking first is smart. So check Allstate first for a quote that could save you hundreds. You're in good hands with Allstate Savings. Vary terms apply. Allstate Fire and Casualty Insurance Company and Affiliates, Northbrook, Illinois.
- [23:55]
Alan Hahn
This episode is brought to you by Amazon. Sometimes the most painful part of getting sick is the getting better part. Waiting on hold for an appointment or sitting in crowded waiting rooms standing in line at the pharmacy. That's painful. Amazon One Medical and Amazon Pharmacy remove.
- [24:10]
Don LaGreca
Those painful parts of getting better with things like 24. 7 virtual visits and prescriptions delivered to.
- [24:15]
Alan Hahn
Your door thanks to Amazon Pharmacy and Amazon One Medical Healthcare just got less painful. Thanks for Listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
- [24:27]
Don LaGreca
I didn't listen to anything you just said.
- [24:29]
Alan Hahn
Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.
- [24:36]
Don LaGreca
Don Allen Rosenberg take up till 7 o'clock. This is the anthrax and public enemy that Alan had talked about earlier in the show. You know, Alan teased about what's good, having a dominant team, having dynasties and or having the same, the same team winning every year. So you have something to aspire to, to kind of climb the ladder to. Or do you like different teams all the time? Well, I think it depends on the sport. The reason I think Kansas City gets sickening is because, you know, it's, it's just frustrating because they don't have any advantage over anybody else. There's a salary cap, they've got the same restrictions and they're just really good at what they do and I admire that, you know, so there's gotta be a certain respect to hey beat em. You have the same salary cap, you have the same abilities that they do to be great. Just be better at your job. So you really don't have a kick coming. The problem with baseball and the Dodgers get suzaki and it seems like the rich get richer or when the Yankees were getting all the players back in the 90s or whatever is that it isn't equal footing. Not everybody is working with the same advantages. So the Dodgers are a rich team and obviously these Japanese players want to play on the west coast of the United States. So there seem to be built in advantages. So if the Dodgers all of a sudden become a dynasty and win every year, it's bad for the sport because they're taking advantage of what they are that other teams just can't do it. Milwaukee can't do that. They can't attract Japanese players. They're never going to be able to generate the revenue the Dodgers do. They're never going to get the television and the radio contracts that they do. They'll never be able to have the same payroll. So they're going to have to be completely better at their job than the Dodgers, the Yankees, the Mets and all the other bigger market teams. So there is haves and have nots which make it frustrating and bad for the sport. In football, hey, figure it out. Kansas City did so it could be irritating, it could be frustrating. But I think it helps the sport that you, that hey, this is what you can be. You can be Kansas City too. It's not a big market, it's Kansas City. They've Got the exact same salary cap as everybody else does. You know, they're picking low every year and still finding hidden gems in the second and third round to get it done. So I have. Let's get to the calls. 1-800-919-3776. Let's go to Dave in the car. You're on ESPN.
- [27:00]
Lang
Hey, Don, how's it going?
- [27:02]
Don LaGreca
Good, it's going well. How about you?
- [27:04]
Lang
Stuck on the traffic on the belt, but sorry.
- [27:07]
Don LaGreca
So.
- [27:08]
Lang
Yeah, right. The world is right. No, I don't mind the dynasties in the sports. Like, I'm a Yankee fan. I kind of grew up. If it's your team, you love every minute of it, you cherish it. But like, I think depending on the sport, like, I think when it comes to football and the Chiefs example, it's the calls sometimes how they win games late, especially this year, you know, they could be had, but come. Some of those calls just happen to go their way and it's kind of like. Or they don't get something called against them that kind of alters the game. So I think that's what makes everyone angry there. But for the Dodgers, for me, it's. They can be a dynasty. They can try to get all the players and stuff. I just think the deferral of money and contracts and how they do the books and stuff. I remember in hockey, the Devils did that with Kovalchuk with the contract and everything. They got penalized for it because it broke the speed of the rule. Well, in baseball they don't have that. They allow the deferrals.
- [27:58]
Don LaGreca
Now everything.
- [27:59]
Lang
I think that's where it kind of gets a little dicey, where I think it's not equal. Like the Pirates can't do that.
- [28:05]
Don LaGreca
No, the Pirates can't do it. And Milwaukee said. Milwaukee. Yeah. And I think it's something that the Major League Baseball has to address. Now. Major League Baseball probably likes the fact that the Dodgers and Yankees are good every year. Look at the ratings for Dodgers, Yankees.
- [28:19]
Alan Hahn
Right.
- [28:19]
Don LaGreca
I mean, basically. And then you look at the year before when Texas was playing Arizona and it's like, all right, ho hum, who cares? Nobody watched it. All of a sudden one of the highest rated World Series in the last decade involves two of the biggest markets in the country. So I don't know necessarily if Major League Baseball has an appetite to change this. I think they like having the big market teams be good because that drives revenue, that drives ratings. But I don't think it's good for a sport to have teams that have certain advantages over other teams. You'd like equal footing and let the best general manager, let the best manager or head coach go about their business, do the job. I'm irritated by Kansas City. I'm sick of them. But you know what? Andy Reid's really good at what he does, right? Kansas City runs a really tight ship. They've got a great quarterback. So, you know, go find a quarterback. Go draft a quarterback. It wasn't like they had the first overall pick when they took Patrick Mahomes, right? They've been picking low for the last decade. They still find players. So. And Andy Reid was right there. Couldn't win in Philadelphia. And then he goes to Kansas City, a smaller market, and he ends up winning because there's equal footing in the NFL in theory, there's equal footing in the NHL and the NBA because of the salary cap. As long as baseball plays the game that they're playing, they're opening the door for the bigot market teams or the filthy, stinking billionaire owners, like what you had in Washington, what you had in San Diego recently, spending all the money because they don't care if they lose it because it's just a toy to them. Let's go to Dylan in Levittown. You're on ESPN New York.
- [29:47]
Lang
Hey, how are you?
- [29:48]
Don LaGreca
Good, buddy.
- [29:50]
Lang
The reason that. So I kind of agree, disagree, but I think that this is worse than like with the Yankees and stuff, because I don't know if you agree. This is kind of with the Sasaki thing, like with the money and the Yankees used to buy players. Like that can always be changed. Like other teams can offer more money, but this is almost coming. Like this is out of control. Like you can't control it. Like, the Yankees offered Yamamoto more money per year. He went to the Dodgers because of location. Like, we can't just have all these players coming to other teams because of where the Dodgers are located. Like, that's, it's getting out of control. Like almost collusion level. Like something has to be.
- [30:24]
Don LaGreca
But, but here's the thing, Dylan. The Japanese players prefer to play on the West Coast. They just do. Because it's, it's closer to go to their homeland. Coming from California. I mean, I guess that's what it is. But you know what? There's other west coast teams, Dylan. They're not all clamoring to play for the Angels, for the Padres, for the Mariners, for the Giants. They want the Dodgers. Because listen, the Dodgers have a cachet, right? They, they're, they're in the conversation to win every single Year, Louisiana Is a really cool place to live, I guess. I don't know what you do about it, Dylan, because if a Japanese player tells you, I'd rather play with the Dodgers, what are you going to tell them? Sorry, you can't, you can't sign with him. That's what they want to do.
- [31:05]
Lang
In your opinion, do you think there has to be some kind of orchestrated rule or something going forward? Does something have to change, in your opinion?
- [31:12]
Don LaGreca
I think these Japanese players should be putting a draft. Now. The problem with that is, is that then they probably just wouldn't come. Right. If they get drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays, then they're going to decide, all right, I'm not going to come. Okay, well, you don't come, but we're not going to have the same, the same organization or organizations landing the great players. You said Yankees offered more money. Yamamoto, he didn't want to play for the Yankees, not because the Yankees aren't great. He didn't want to be 3,000 miles farther away from Japan, from Asia. So I mean, that's just the way that it is. It's the same thing with Sazaki, same thing with Ohtani. It did. They want to be there. So I guess the only way to do is that all these international. But forget about the international money, put them in the draft and then you draft them and then you see what happens from there. And if they don't want to come, they don't come. But at least give their. Let there be an opportunity for other teams to be able to take these great players. I, I get that. That's the only thing I can think of. Let's go to Jimmy Montclair. You're on ESPN New York. Hi, Jimmy.
- [32:15]
Lang
Hey, how are you guys? Loving the show, man.
- [32:18]
Don LaGreca
Thank you.
- [32:19]
Lang
My doubles, back to back overtime losses. Something's got to be going on with this Markstrom. He's been making a difference, but again.
- [32:28]
Don LaGreca
You know, he can't do everything.
- [32:30]
Lang
But also wanted to see what you think about the rumor about Elias Patterson coming to Jersey or J.T. miller, former Ranger. And also, last thing, sorry. I believe you guys are actually going to make the the playoffs. I'm obviously a huge Devils fan, but the Rangers have too much talent not to make the playoffs. So as much as it pains me to say it, I see you guys making the playoffs.
- [32:52]
Don LaGreca
I think they will too, because I think they're better than the teams they're chasing after. But they didn't leave themselves much wiggle room. I mean, you got 38 games left sounds like a lot, but they can't really afford to slip up. There's just too many of these teams all playing each other in three point games. So it's really tough to move. Look how well they've played. And they still really haven't gained much ground against Columbus and Boston despite the fact that they've gotten a point in six consecutive games. Now the Devils listen a lot of times they're up against the Rangers, so I can't say I've watched every second of devil hockey, but when I do see them, and I saw it in the Ranger game in overtime last week, doesn't seem to be a lot of structure. There's so much talent there, but they turn the puck over. They, they don't get a lot of great opportunities. They only had 24 shots last night against the Toronto team that had lost three in a row going in. You know, I, I think they've got an immense talent, but you do have a new coaching staff there. Maybe it takes a little time for them to have that cohesion, but I just don't see a tremendous amount of structure there that's going to have to get better because you know, Jack Hughes just flying down the ice making people miss and then ultimately having a drop pass to get stolen and, and goes the other way is just not going to get it done in the playoffs. But God, he shears good. Hughes is good, his brother Luke is good, Brad is a terrific player. Mercer, they, they've got a ton of talent and the acquisitions of Pesci, getting Hamilton healthy again, having a legit goaltender in Markstrom, that is a really, really good hockey team. But I do think they can play a lot better. We got plenty to do. Alan will rejoin us just coming up in a couple of minutes. 1-800-919-3776 take you right up till 7:00. Then it's our coverage of Knicks t Wolves right here on 880 ESPN. Get ready to elevate your game this NFL playoff season with FanDuel because right now all customers can get a no Sweat NFL same game parlay for any game. Just place a three leg NFL same game parlay and you'll get bonus bets back if your bet doesn't win. Same game parlays are the perfect way to combine your bets for a chance at a bigger payday. Build your own or choose one of the popular SGPS pre built for you in FanDuel's top rated sportsbook app. So what are you waiting for? Get your no Sweat same game parlay on America's number one SP. Visit FanDuel.com Peter FanDuel, unofficial sportsbook partner of the NFL, 21 or over and physically present New York Opt in required refund issued is not withdrawable. Bonus bets that expire seven days after receipt. Max wager $5 less. Otherwise specified restrictions apply, including token expiration. See terms@sportsbook.fanduel.com for up with a gambling problem, call 877-8-Open Wire Text open wide 467-369 thanks for listening to the Don.
- [35:16]
Alan Hahn
Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
- [35:18]
Don LaGreca
I didn't listen to anything you just said.
- [35:19]
Alan Hahn
Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. All right, how's that for a football Friday divisional round? We've got four games and then we've got the national championship Monday and it's an extended weekend. MLK. Of course, on Monday, the Knicks will play at 3. So we won't have a show Monday afternoon, everybody. You'll have the Knicks game instead. So Don gets a day off. But I don't, I don't know how I feel about that. But this is a weekend, Don. You know, they always say about the start of the, the start of the NCAA tournament that first weekend, that's they always said it's the best for men. If you're going to get a vasectomy, that's the time to do it because you sit got to sit around anyway and you know, you got to rest up and heal up. You sit and watch a whole bunch of tournament games. I would say this weekend also is if you can schedule it for, if you schedule the vasectomy today, you have every excuse to sit on the couch for the next two days and watch football.
- [36:21]
Don LaGreca
What's the recovery time for a vasectomy?
- [36:24]
Alan Hahn
I don't know, because my wife, she pulled the plug on it.
- [36:28]
Don LaGreca
Oh, so she's still holding out hope.
- [36:31]
Alan Hahn
I don't know. It was weird. I was scheduled for it. I was heading to the appointment after work on a Friday and she called me and said, said I don't want you to do it. She didn't feel right.
- [36:43]
Don LaGreca
A It's true story. Jacob's got the recovery time.
- [36:49]
Alan Hahn
So Jake looked it up.
- [36:50]
Don LaGreca
Most people could return to work within a week, but it could take a few months for the procedure to be fully effective. Oh, no, no.
- [36:57]
Alan Hahn
I was not told that.
- [36:58]
Don LaGreca
A few months. Oh, well, he's talking about that you still, I guess, could have swimmers. Yeah, exactly. For a couple of months out. But I'm talking about how long, long can, how long before you go back to work. Oh, one week. One week.
- [37:10]
Alan Hahn
That's still, that's a long time. Like I thought, I thought, like I thought this was one of those things like you heal up and then by Monday you're good.
- [37:20]
Don LaGreca
Yeah.
- [37:20]
Alan Hahn
So let's say wrong.
- [37:21]
Don LaGreca
No, you're right. You're right in a sense where it says within the week. So if you go get it, let's say today and return back to work on Tuesday, you should be fine.
- [37:32]
Alan Hahn
Well, I mean, think about. You get Monday off anyway. This would have been the day to do it. This definitely would. So, Don, out of these four games, if there's one where you can miss it, you know, you get something, the kids. Nancy wants you to do something. If there's one where you're like, I'll do it at this point, what is, what's that gonna be? Because you're talking about 4:30 on Saturday, 3:00 on Sunday. So there's morning that you can get stuff done, but not a lot of time. What are we looking at here?
- [37:59]
Don LaGreca
Proud.
- [37:59]
Alan Hahn
Which game is July?
- [38:00]
Don LaGreca
I don't think there is this one. Being forced to answer. It would be Chiefs, Texans, if I had to because I like them all, but I think that's the one. Even though I think the line.
- [38:14]
Alan Hahn
You don't think it's going to be. You don't think it's gonna be competitive?
- [38:16]
Don LaGreca
No, I think it, I, I'm. I just don't find it to be that attractive a game. Like, I, I really think, I think the Chiefs, they're going to do what they do. They're going to bat the bunny around. They're going to win the game. Right. You're never going to feel like they're going to lose the game, but they're going to win the game. But it won't be overly exciting. And Houston doesn't really do much for me. Now the other game that I think could get out of hand because I respect the Lions a lot could be the Commanders. It's a nine and a half point spread. But I enjoy watching the Lions. I enjoy watching the Commanders and Jaden Daniels.
- [38:49]
Alan Hahn
Yeah. And, and that building, you know, there's something about that for that, that that's going to be. It'll be up for grabs, as they say. Right. Like that'll be, that'll be a great atmosphere.
- [38:58]
Don LaGreca
And you brought up the, the Eagles game. You know, this, this could be one of those snow globe games that you just enjoy watching that can change everything. Around too, because they are expecting. I know in my area, which is.
- [39:10]
Alan Hahn
Central Jersey, 85% Probability of snow on Sunday.
- [39:15]
Don LaGreca
Yeah. And. And they're expecting Central Jersey, which is like about an hour north of the link that we can get anywhere from four to six on Sunday. So, yeah, there could be some significant snow.
- [39:27]
Alan Hahn
That could be fun. Yeah. They say that's fun to watch. Right. That's that kind of thing. But I like. So Saturday, Saturday, if there's. If you have to pick one day to not watch, Saturday's the day. I'm so curious about Kansas City, though. Like, I just always like watching, I think watching a maestro like, Like Mahomes and like, there's something about just that it's. There's something about watching players like that and teams like that, that's kind of satisfying. So I like that. But the Washington, Detroit, like, I don't know, like, there's something about how loud that place can get and how they feel. They're right there. Like, you think about. If you're a Lions fan, think about how close you feel. Like, this is year two of. Of Rex and the Jets.
- [40:09]
Don LaGreca
Yeah.
- [40:10]
Alan Hahn
Can't, you know, like. Like when you get. Can't wait. Oh. Like, you're like your anticipation of the wait is finally over. We're really going to do it. We slayed the dragon. We beat Tom Brady. No, that felt like that's. The Lions fans feel right now like it's our turn. We lost last year, but we learned from it.
- [40:29]
Don LaGreca
That is a great analogy because, you know, I covered that 2010 team. I was in Pittsburgh for the championship game, and there felt like there was the destiny there. They got the flavor the year before. They were significantly better in the second year. They went from nine wins to 11. And let's face it, even Jet fans would admit that if Indianapolis didn't call off the Dogs in the second half of that game, the jets finish 8 and 8, don't make the playoffs. So there was kind of a. Kind of a fluke feel to making the playoffs that they were maybe a year earlier than they should be. But then they go 11 and 5 and. Yeah, and they take care of business again, go to Pittsburgh. And they got a lead in the second half, in the first half. And it's like, you know, much like they did against the Colts the year before or, you know, they kept. Actually, they came back, Pittsburgh jumped out ahead early, and then the jets fought back. But. But the point is. Yeah, like. Yeah, that is a great analogy where the Lions are going through now where Jet fans were feeling in 2010. And hopefully for lion fans, they don't have that disappointment. But listen, I love all these games, so. But you're forcing me to answer the other thing with Chiefs, Houston, Chiefs advance. All right? And if Houston advances, oh, big upset. But do I really want the Texans in the championship game?
- [41:35]
Alan Hahn
Thank you. Thank you. That's why you root for what's best and what's best, right?
- [41:39]
Don LaGreca
But still it's like, oh, it's the Chiefs again. So your heart's like, yeah, let's get the Chiefs out of there. But, you know, much like that upset, you know, in the, you know, the 215 upset in the NCAA tournament. 116. Well, like, Virginia lost that one year, it's like, okay, but now you're just going to get mauled in the second round, you know?
- [41:58]
Alan Hahn
Right, right. That was cool. But now our. Now our AFC championships game suddenly going to suck. And then you're right, Whoever wins, whoever wins that Baltimore Buffalo game, then we'll end up going to the Super Bowl. So. You know what? I had something I couldn't wait to ask you, and now I don't remember it because we got caught up in this. This is what happens. You and I just did two days, by the way. Cathartic. Greatly appreciated. I walked through the Garden just now to tape a couple of pregame things. Every fan saying something nice to me. I think we're at a point now where I appreciate everyone, but let's move on and, you know, and just start focusing on work. Don, Anthony, Jake, you guys, you don't know how much these last two days have meant to me. Thank you so much. Have a great weekend. We'll see you next next week. 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, Alan and Peter weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers.