Loading...
About this Episode
Venezuela win the WBC for the first time ever. Is the Aaron Judge slander too far? And Ken Daneyko stops by!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Hosts & Guests
Transcript
5 a.m. I'm up with a crisp Celsius energy drink, running 12 miles today. Grab a green
juice, quick change, and head to work. Meetings, workshops, one more Celsius, no slowing down.
Working late, but obviously still meeting the girls for a little dancing.
Celsius, live, fit, go. Grab a cold, refreshing Celsius at your local retailer or locate
now at Celsius.com.
This is Don, Han, and Rosenberg.
The best place in my neighborhood.
On ESPN, New York, and streaming live on YouTube.
And we are live at Kalandras, Italian Village, here in New Jersey and Peter and I are already
in a food coma.
No, stop, stop. I'm going to get into a food coma later. That was a teaser.
You think so?
Dude.
Well, I forget you're advertised much different than mine.
No, listen, I just, that was a, that was just a little warm up.
I don't, I don't want to botch because Anthony will yell at me if I say the wrong dishes.
Anthony, can you tell us which specific pasta we had here?
He knows just, come on, like a proper Italian gentleman, the spaghetti, pesto, delightful.
The bolognese was slamming, but I don't know what kind of pasta it was.
He thinks maybe pop our down, but we're not 100% sure.
I'll, I'll go with pop our down.
I'll also go with delicious.
And it was just, and this is not just, I'm not just saying this because Kalandras had
us out here.
I get Kalamari a lot of places and a lot of people can give you an average or made Kalamari.
This, not mad.
No, the crispiness.
I had to FaceTime my wife and say this is Kalamari literally.
Did you weep?
No, but it's like you dream about Kalamari and you wept.
This is beautiful.
So we're super excited and as you guys know, the man who this event was sort of made
it his image.
Donald Marco LaGrecca sadly can't be with us today.
Right.
His heart exploded while he was, no, change the entire, no, no, sorry, he's sick and can't
be with us.
But I know he's listening.
Yep.
I know he's very excited.
And we're going to have the great Kendanico and Rick D. Pietro join us instead.
That is right.
Dano, come in here.
The devil legend will be here shortly.
I'm going to spend the night with us.
This is where I was going to have a watch party here as well for Rangers devils.
I bet you're ace.
After, and this is, I mean, talk about like this is a cool setup.
We are.
And we appreciate everybody for coming here early with us.
Eat drink.
Be merry.
We're going to have some fun today.
Well, I got a driver.
So I am going to at least drink and be merry.
Once we go off the air, John went through up the watch.
Yeah.
John, we go watching here.
He is.
That's right.
Certainly watching you.
So yes.
Don Hahn and Roosevelt live from Kalondra's bakery in Caldwell, New Jersey and not bad
to get here by the way.
No, not bad at all.
Not bad.
Not bad.
Not easy trip.
Especially because we're so used to how the cross Bronx can be for those of us coming
from that side.
That's right.
So once you got through that, it was actually a delight.
Kalondra's bakery in Caldwell, fresh bread, classic Italian pastries.
Oh, I can't believe that's what's in that box.
No, I'm having one during the break.
It's also all of this.
The bread, the pastries, baked daily taste of tradition today.
Tradition, the WBC.
Oh, the tradition, the rich tradition of the WBC.
Right.
Yeah.
Well, listen, it's becoming.
It's on.
Congratulations to Venezuela.
Let's start there because you saw the passion.
You saw the performance by that team.
How much it did matter?
We're not going to get into the, does it matter who it matters to and all that stuff?
Because it mattered.
That, that, that, that, that question was answered by the players and coaches who were
there last night.
Who got to play it matters.
There was some who didn't play.
Just say, okay, that is a fact and that does exist.
But that's a different.
But the people that were there, we know the level of passion, we know the level of
care.
And I.
How about the building?
I kept looking at it going, wait a minute.
This is March.
It's not October.
The weather feels the same, but it's not October and I'm sorry.
I got to say it.
When we get down back, hopefully tomorrow, I think he may owe Aaron judge an apology because
I do not think it's an exaggeration to say that that atmosphere was at least world
series like I, the, when you turn on TV, if I turn on a Yankee game on the, yes,
network to hear Michael during the summer, I know the energy and vibe I get from the
television.
I know what the smattering of applause sound like.
I know what the air feels like.
When you turn on the TV for a playoff game or a world series game, the constant murmur
grows as the playoff goes on.
The buzz, if you will.
Yeah.
The legitimate out loud buzz.
I turned on the game for the first pitch.
It did have a legitimate world series loud buzz the entire night and let alone what's
something happened.
And I give full credit to the Venezuelan fans, just like you give full credit to the
Dominican fans.
Yeah.
You give to me.
That was not a home field advantage.
That did not feel like it was played on American soil.
That felt maybe 50, 50 or worse for the home team, quote, unquote, that was U.S.
Now when Harper hit the home run, the place went nuts, up for grabs, some might say some
would say.
And I don't know why.
That's what they would say.
I don't understand it.
But that's what they'd say.
But so you had all those moments, but all that aside, so we're not going to have that
debate anymore.
We all agree.
We were drawn in.
We were caught up.
I was at it.
I did the Nick game last night.
So I didn't see it live.
But I for sure was following all you guys were texting like crazy.
And then this morning I watched the thing back because I'm like, I need to feel this and
see it and understand why the guys last night on the chat.
By the way, a quick talk.
Because the first six innings, I flew by, I had nothing was happening.
Yeah, of course.
A lot of strikes.
Yes.
Speaking of nothing happening, there was something that I was worried about as we were
discussing yesterday, I think this is the bigger story.
The bigger story coming at us from a local perspective because again, nationally overall,
we can all agree.
This was a great spectacle.
It was a lot of fun and it was a good way to kick off the season for if you're a baseball
fed.
Great.
Good for you.
You have pulled me in.
Everybody convinced me you have pulled me in.
And over my takeaway, though, from a local perspective is what we were talking about
yesterday when it comes to Aaron Judge, Captain America, because there were two things that
could happen.
He could come through in a big spot.
And you could say, there he is in a clutch moment.
And this can be the first chapter of the championship DVD for the Yankees 2026 season.
And we presented two versions of that DVD.
I said, or, and I can't believe I actually said this.
But I did say it.
You can, we will find and play it back.
He could also go over four with three strikeouts and we could go, see, he's just not clutch
when it matters most.
What was his stats yesterday?
It was over four with, was it three, it was three strikeouts and I mean, a huge moment
too.
Yeah.
A brutal strikeout early, Harper then hits the home run.
He's up now.
Buildings going crazy.
There's Captain America.
There's your moment.
Right there.
And the beauty is just tied it now.
Take the lead.
So, so, so here's the thing.
I mean, how bad did you know, listen, listen, I watched, I watched this moment in the
game.
Anthony is exciting.
Mike will be very excited.
I literally watched this portion of the game, wait for it, folks, in the nude.
That's right.
I had to shower.
I had to shower.
It was time to wrap up the night.
There are people eating.
I understand.
They need to picture it.
Eating.
I brought the cell phone in the shower.
People do it.
Stop.
And I put the cell phone up.
Something little thing.
And I set the cell phone up while I'm doing the shower.
And here we go.
I'm up.
Judges on dead.
Judges in the hole.
He's going to get a shot.
Oh, judges on deck.
Here we go.
Let's see what Harper does.
Yeah.
Because I'm thinking Harper gets on.
And that's a chance for the three run homer to win this thing.
That's, that's true.
That's what I was dreaming of.
We're anticipating something great happening.
Instead, Harper hits the home run.
Which, but now the pressure's off.
This is beautiful.
You think the pressure's off.
Well, I, that's how I thought it's even higher.
Because now you're back in the game.
You got the building on your side, which you didn't have for most of this game.
Now here's your spot.
To not only we just tied it, now we're taking the lead.
See, I view it totally different.
I felt like that didn't take a different shot.
Oh, I thought it was almost like now it's your turn.
Pass the baton.
Your next, another big star coming up in a big spot.
I don't know.
And instead, with either way, we landed in the same place.
Same pitch.
He always strikes out on.
And the same kind of it bat too when he ends up in that spot.
And Judgy ends up in those spots.
It's always like a rusted bat, fouls one off, swings it one, looks it one.
It's quick.
So it's like the moment feels too big.
That's the frustrating part.
I hate that.
I Michael spent some time on his show before us using stats that Twitter accounts were using
to defend judge.
Because I'll tell you what.
And I hadn't, again, didn't have a chance to watch the game yet.
This is last night.
I go on social media.
The judge slander was through the roof.
I'm sure it was.
And again, I wasn't rooting for this.
I was just kind of forecasting.
Get ready for this.
If you're a Yankees fan, if you're a judge fan, if he doesn't come through in the US loses,
this is coming.
People can't wait to take down the giant literally.
He's a giant.
They can't wait to do it.
And they were going to find some other reason.
And you know anybody who's either a Metz fan or a Red Sox fan, they were going to dial
it up as well.
Just keep twisting the night.
But the what happened on social media last night.
So if other accounts now are trying to say, wait a minute, career wise, he is clutch.
Seventh inning or later, Michael was given all these numbers that show historically in
his career.
He has come through in big spots.
Yes.
But why is it though that the eye test that we've watched him, especially in the World
Series run two years ago, the eye test tells us not that kind of a big spot because the
biggest spots are where he's come up lame.
It's not that he comes up lame in every spot.
It's that it's the biggest spot.
And last night, what's really frustrating is the only thing there would have been chatter
either way.
I said on the show yesterday, he was damned either way.
If he came up big, you know, have Yankees fans complaining, oh, he doesn't have the WBC,
but he doesn't do it for the Yankees.
If he comes up in a big spot and fails, they're going to kill him there.
But there was one other option we didn't talk about.
What was that?
That he just has a pretty good game.
Then he goes two for four.
And yeah, that spot yesterday, if he goes two for four yesterday, that spot hurts, but
it looks so much worse that he was over four yesterday.
One for eight with five strikeouts in elimination games.
That's the problem.
He could have done kind of gotten away from it without it being that bad, but instead
by coming up so bad in the two big games, it furthers the narrative for the people who
already hate on him.
By the way, look at Peter.
Look at Peter.
What?
Quote and stats.
That's right.
Thank you.
He's giving you analytic perspective.
That's right.
Thank you.
On what happened?
Thank you.
In a sports event.
Wait, wait.
Last evening.
Hold on, hold on.
I mean, hold on.
You went too far.
He could have went.
Thank you.
Like this matter.
This matter really was.
I'm right now his home coughing probably, but also tier by the way here because he can't
be here.
You know, it makes you a bad guy.
He's watching you going.
There he is.
There he is.
Look at him go.
You know, it makes Alan a bad.
Why am I bad?
I'm giving you props right now.
He could have stopped it saying a baseball game.
He had to say a sports event with teammates like you.
You know what I mean?
Where's the lie?
Who needs?
Who needs enemies?
That's true.
Nightly sports events.
Well, listen, we're almost getting.
When's football coming back around?
The drafts.
No, we have the NBA playoffs right around the corner.
We do.
At least 12 games to go.
And you know that every, every afternoon after Nick playoff game, I'll be locked in
with the analytics every day.
Yeah.
Well, every other day.
Every other.
You get the idea.
That's how we're certainly looking forward to it.
We're looking forward to calls.
A lot of times when we do, you know, outings, live events, it's hard to take calls because
we like to talk to the people who are here.
We certainly will do that because you made the effort to come see us.
We want to make the effort to talk to you.
And we're going to talk to Ken Danikos to be here at 3.30.
Ken Danikos coming momentarily.
He'll be fun to talk to certainly.
Yeah.
But we do.
This feels like a heavy call day because of the W's BC angle, the judge angle for sure.
And so I do think I want to encourage people 800 now and 937, 766.
I look down.
I noticed that the calls are coming in fast and furious.
Let's get them.
So we will get to them.
And I know let's do some calls now.
Yeah.
Danikos comes in great perspective from him, by the way, when we can talk about clutch
in sports because he, he want to Stanley Cup, but he also played with one of the great
clutch goal tenders in the history of the sport in Martin Brodoord.
That's right.
If anybody can talk about clutch and what it is in the clutch gene, it will be Ken Danikos.
Absolutely.
So I think that would be a great addition to the conversation.
But we have people that want to talk to us now.
So let's do it.
800 now and 937, 766.
Nick in New Orleans is going to start us off with a little significance of the WBC.
Hello, Nick.
Hey, guys.
How you doing?
I was locked in last night.
It was really great.
I think, you know, one reason why it kind of is popular is because of the timing of it,
you know, the time of the year when, first of all, games don't matter.
We're also star for baseball and also, you know, games aren't really going to matter at
this level until September.
Right.
I think somebody is going to say that.
Right.
But also the timing of it also kind of presents like another issue.
We're never going to, if it stays right now, we're never going to get a dominant gutsy
full game pitching performance for somebody.
I forget the guy's name.
Unfortunately, they got from Venezuela with a dealing.
I would have let the team go into the sixth, seventh, you know, but because the guys aren't
very ramped up, we don't want to put a advantage of the advantage long in season.
We're never going to get that kind of, you know, gutsy performance that we know from
the playoff.
Right.
Now, like I said, the whole thing is going to get him out of someone who's just on fire,
you know, getting an eight inning gem.
Of course not.
And that's why, as much as I know, everybody's going to cringe when I say this and Michael
kept hammering this home during his show, it is an exhibition.
It's not a curse word, everybody.
It's just what it is an exhibition, but doesn't mean it can't be incredibly fun and incredibly
engaging exhibition of baseball.
Absolutely.
For the sport.
And, and, and you're talking about not similar to World Series because you can let it all
hang out.
And the closer wouldn't, couldn't pitch.
Uh, you're going to let it.
Right.
You're going to let a pitcher go.
There's going to be guys who like wouldn't normally have played today.
I'm playing.
I don't care.
Like when it's.
And while we're up Rodriguez went four and a third yesterday and gave up one hit.
Not normally the time when you're pulling the pitcher in a World Series.
All right.
Today's baseball.
Yeah.
Yeah.
All right.
Yeah.
You know how it is.
Thanks for the call.
It's a great.
But I always wonder too.
That crowd.
That crowd was electric.
Uh, you know, but I wonder if it just means more to, uh, you know, foreign, born players,
right?
You know, it's because we're supposed like American players.
This is another well than it is to Americans, you know, now Nick, you're this is a great
call by the way.
Way to start off the day.
But that is the other point that I think it's also worth getting into at some point about
this is it does seem to mean more because, and it's just why when it's, when it's hockey,
why do we care so much because we're not the best in the world?
We think we could be, but we're not right.
We think we can measure up with the best.
And so when you play Canada, it becomes a little different, right?
So think about it.
Venezuela, again, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, uh, Japan, all of them.
Look at the US as this world power.
We're going toe to toe with you.
And it means more to them when they win because what does it say is that we can go toe to
toe with the US.
All isn't it funny, though?
Because you look around at the teams, Venezuela, obviously, who won the whole thing.
Yeah.
Uh, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Japan, who I'll just mention, these, these teams are,
are within a whisker of being as good as the US.
You could argue some are as good.
So it's funny.
But hockey's the same way.
But not unlike hockey where the US is really right there.
Right there.
Swings right there.
Finland's right there.
There's no Russia.
But they would be right there.
If they're there, they'd be right there.
Yeah.
So it is interesting that these, the lineups you're seeing, they're all filled with big league
ball players.
The whole tournament.
Right.
But, but, but, but, but you know the, it's just different, the visual, it is a different
visual.
Easily the visual.
Why did it matter when, in 1980, when a bunch of college kids beat the Russian powerhouse?
Why did it matter?
Right.
Because those are a bunch of kids that are playing as pros, like it mattered.
Did you hear what they said, though, on the broadcast last night?
They, it just, just to summarize how big a difference it was.
They let kids out of school early in the event as well, I guess you know, okay?
This was a huge, huge, huge deal, and I think I really needed to feel good about something.
I, I think, I think that this is the US losing a heartbreaker to a team like vet as well.
I said this yesterday and I feel the same way today.
We'll do more for the betterment of the WBC than had the US beaten vet as well as seven
nothing yesterday.
This, that was kind of, I think it was kind of the best case scenario for the building of
this tournament.
I think you saw the celebration, man, it's just going to mean so much more on me.
And guess what?
I got news for you.
The American players are going to be jealous seeing the vet as well and celebrate that
much and go, hey, we got to win this thing next time.
You know what I mean?
I completely agree.
I think it does put pressure and that's good.
And again, this all goes back to Captain America.
It goes back to Aaron Judge and that's where the local people calling him Captain America.
Is that just, I'm just using it because that's what it was.
So people are wanting to talk about this.
So our good friend Griffin and Connecticut is up next because he's already tired of
this criticism of judge.
Griffin.
Yeah, because I am, I understand that he's the guy, he's the person, but there's no
I in team.
And last night, not one person in that whole entire lineup is up for Bryce Scherring,
how to hit it to all put out that other single and that was it.
And then he had that home run hope by Harper.
It was huge, but they had three hits all game.
They weren't able to put any pressure.
They weren't able to do anything.
Nobody even sat foot on second base.
For a moment, I thought we were going to get no one in runners in running squad, but
in squad position.
We finally did.
So I understand he's the guy, he's the person, but there's no I in team.
It everybody let the whole entire everybody was down yesterday.
And that's why I almost feel like, is there a point where this tournament, I know what
happens every three years.
Is there a point where we could have this in the middle of the season when guys are
at their best, because this is pretty crazy for a bunch of these guys, and you're not
having the best out of Cal Raleigh, the best out of Bryce Harper, the best out of Kyle
Swerver, the best out of Aaron Doug, the best out of all that.
Well, Griffin, I agree with the timing part of it, because I do think, and if you want
baseball and the Olympics with the major league players, you're going to have to halt
your season like the NHL does and let the players go play, which could be good for the
sport long run, like it was good for the NHL.
And therefore, you'd want to play the WBC the same kind of way, and maybe it will look
different, but other teams might be like, wait, I don't want to lose this guy, we're
in August.
I can't lose this guy, where it gets hurt.
So that's one thing to think.
But Griffin, thanks for the call.
Here's the difference, because I've heard this already, you know, everybody else had a bad
game.
Name me anyone else on that team that's considered the best player in the sport.
You can.
He is the one.
He talked about with Otoni as the best player in the game.
He's going to have to carry more of the criticism than anyone else.
Don't you agree?
100%.
Like they're what when they say, why aren't they criticizing this guy with Schwarber or
anybody else?
Because they're not, they're not talked about as the best.
You are the best.
And by the way, not only the strikeout that he had after the Harper home run, the ground
that like the one time he did make contact and he brings it down the third baseline.
And now it's that, that's it.
Like that was not really, there was no, if he hit one to the track, he'd be like, I,
you know, he just missed.
If he put, if he sent a couple out that looked like maybe the win knocked it down or maybe
it just couldn't, whatever it is, at least you'd say boy, he sent a few out there.
They just didn't cross the well, it would, it would, it wouldn't make the moment look
too big.
If the lack of contact almost seemed right, it almost seemed meek.
The one time he made contact, it was basically a bounce the third out.
So that's why people are looking saying, this is your king.
This is your champion.
This is your best player of the generation, I hate that it had to be Bryce Harper who
was the guy to, but the salute was pretty cool.
Not a fan.
I got admit.
No, he's, it was pretty cool.
Well, by the way, I don't want to hear anyone talk about like, did anyone bring up
the level of bet flip that that was to give him, we give him Bryce a pass because of
the moment.
Literally didn't run at all, stopped, shocked the bad.
I don't hate it.
No, it was great.
But by the way, because guess what, I'm all for it.
That's awesome.
That's what baseball should be.
You have to be all for that kind of stuff.
We're all for you at 800 now at 93776, tons of calls will get to them.
Kendanico, Mr. Devil, going to join us here, coming up next.
Oh, that's right.
We got a big crowd here at Kalandras Bakery in Caldwell, New Jersey.
And we will have a watch party tonight, Devils Rangers.
You bet your ace.
Well, to this.
So come on down if you've got some time and hang out with us, Peter.
That's right.
And right now, Fandals dropping bonus bets into everyone's account for the tournament.
All you have to do is opt into claim your bonus.
Use them on your bracket picks, moneyline spreads, totals, game props, or even same game
parlays.
But don't wait.
These bonus bets are only available for a limited time.
Just visit Fandals.com slash local to learn more, 21 and over.
Physically present New York bonus issue is not a trouble bonus bets that expire 70s
after receipt.
And tax bonus 500 bucks less otherwise specified restrictions apply.
See terms of sportsbooks.fandals.com for help with the gambling problem called 877-Hopen-Y.
Or tax open Y467-369.
Rich eyes in here.
The tax deadline will be here before you know it.
And you just want to know your taxes are actually being handled.
But the old way, you hand everything off and then silence, days pass, weeks pass.
You start wondering, should I send another follow-up email?
It feels like you're chasing updates and getting nowhere.
Now, taxes are different because your taxes are done for you by a TurboTax full service
expert.
With into a TurboTax, you can match with your dedicated tax expert and hand off everything
right in the app.
And while your expert checks for every deduction, you'll see real-time updates on your phone so
you always know exactly where things stand.
Suddenly you're not refreshing your inbox, you're going for a run, grabbing a coffee, scrolling
anything other than a just checking in message.
Because your TurboTax expert is handling it and keeping you in the loop.
So this tax season, get your best possible outcome and every dollar you deserve without
the guesswork.
Visit TurboTax.com today to learn more.
Real-time updates only in iOS mobile app, only available with TurboTax full service experts.
Protein is now at Starbucks and it's never tasted so good.
You can add protein, cold foam to your favorite drink or try one of our new protein lattes
or matcha.
Try it today at Starbucks.
Spring is here and the shopping list is long.
Time to make a lows run.
Buy three bags, get three free, stay green, one cubic foot garden soil.
Plus right now, members can earn four times the points on an eligible purchase.
Start spring off strong with these deals and more.
Our best lineup is here at Loads.
Balance is $3.25, while supplies last.
Soil offer excludes a last-gen who-why.
loyalty program subject to terms and conditions.
Sealows.com slash terms for details.
Subject to change.
Point boost is subject to exclusions and more terms apply.
One time we'll only offer.
Fresh bread, classic Italian pastries, baked daily, taste the tradition today.
Don Hahn-Roseberg here with you all day long and we are proud to be joined by you.
Talk about a champion.
That's right.
We are doing a watch party time after the show here at Colondras and it's Devils Rangers.
So we thought if you're bringing in anybody from the Devils, you're bringing in Mr.
Devils.
Of course, the great Ken Donaco.
Yeah.
Hell of a softball player as well.
I've seen it many times.
I'm a baseball guy.
That was 1A.
I played baseball growing up left-handed pitch.
I loved the game.
People think because it was pretty cold where I grew up that we didn't play.
I mean, that was, I was a die-hard baseball guy and sports guy in general.
But if you didn't come out of your mother's room with hockey skates on where I come from,
you didn't have a whole lot to do.
So yeah, hockey took precedent.
See you guys.
It was going to end.
I love it.
This place is great.
Yeah.
This place is special.
It really is.
They keep saying like, do you want anything?
I'm like, everything.
I'll try it all.
Well, you know, don't even stop me.
And with Don not here, there's more for us to get.
You know, I look at it that way.
So you've been working with Don this season.
So before we get into all the sporty stuff.
What has been the experience?
Because we work with Don every day.
Yeah.
For a long time.
He for a long time now.
You for a long time.
I've known Don though for over 20 years.
But for you, as in what in the booth, calling games,
let's get a little critique of your new play play partner.
Well, he's passionate.
And that's what you love, right?
I mean, he was watching me back in 88.
At the Continental Airlines Arena way up in the rafters there forever.
He was a diehard devils fan growing up.
And that was the big controversy going into this job with the devils.
And he'd worked so long for our travel, the Rangers.
It's business.
Business, business, business.
I don't know if, and he did what he had to do.
And then got great experience and had a good time on the radio covering the Rangers
for so many years.
And with you guys obviously new Peter.
But yeah, it was a dream come true job for him.
You could tell I knew Don for 30 years as well.
He was at my 2000 Stanley Cup party in Mendham.
I invited him to.
I had over 1500 people come through the door.
Wow.
I wanted everybody to celebrate.
The cops, the Mendham Township Police where I lived at the time controlling traffic.
It was crazy.
But that's what it was all about.
And Don was one of those guys there.
So he has fond memories of that.
But he's passionate.
He loves his team.
We all want their success.
We've got a job to do.
I get it to call a game.
But you know, I do get a kick out of sometimes.
We want to throw things and get after it too.
But I want to relay right now to fans is to understand.
I'm sure they do.
But the ones they want you to hammer them or say.
Yeah.
Because we didn't meet expectations or hammer player.
I go.
A couple of things.
I've been through it.
Don't get me wrong.
I'm not naive.
I've been in the game 40 years.
I know when they're playing like dog.
You know what?
Yep.
Or an individual makes a huge mistake.
Sure.
I travel with them.
I'm on the plane with them.
It's not about sugarcoating it.
It's about encouragement.
Encouragement.
I want their success.
So I don't have to yell out the name.
That's a bad pass.
That's it.
I always wanted to relay it to fans.
Get.
I'm going to use the line.
I forgot more hockey than a lot of you have ever known.
I never know.
I never could know.
But they'll DM you and tweet you and saying,
oh, you're being too political too.
So I'm going, no, I'm not.
I see everything.
I get it.
But it does them no good to rip them.
When I'm.
Part of them.
Kind of deal.
Yeah.
But also the thing that I think that.
I had to go on that rant because.
No, I'm glad you did.
I can join you.
Yeah.
Exactly.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And here's the thing.
The thing that's hard for them to understand is.
Whether you were to rip them.
Or compliment them profusely.
What that makes you.
Is a fan.
And while you love the team.
You also are a part of the.
And they know.
You can't be a fan.
Whether that's to compliment them too much and say,
Oh, my God.
Jack uses my hero.
Or whether that's to critique them too much.
Your job is to call it straight.
Yeah.
You guys do a fantastic job.
Was Don.
First of all, did you know that Don was getting the job.
Prior to him getting it.
Hmm.
This is the time.
Prior to.
That's a.
That's a good question.
I.
I had heard.
Rumblings.
You never know what's going to transpire.
But.
Had heard along the way.
I mean, he was.
Well, I did the auditions for the final six.
Initially a few years prior.
Yep.
And I love bill spawning.
It's.
This part of the business.
We all know it's.
Not my.
Call to make.
And they decided to go in a different direction.
Yeah.
Along the way.
And Don was a finalist back then.
At the time.
And did a great job.
And he was right there.
I guess.
As well.
So.
Yeah.
I had assumed.
Possibly.
It could be.
It could be.
I didn't know.
Was he nervous.
Could you see his nerves.
I'm not in the early games.
Early going a little bit.
Yeah.
He was excited.
Like, like, anybody.
And that's what you love.
I mean, I mean, obviously.
You start.
You're starting to call games for the team that you grew up.
A rooting for along the way.
And you're going to have some nerves just like a player, right?
So.
But as he's settled in and we all want their success.
We.
I am a fan for sure.
No question about it.
Yes.
There's a job to do.
And you try to separate that.
When we don't call the games and I go to games with national TV.
Does it like tonight.
I really enjoy watching from that perspective.
So I'm a lunatic like the fans.
Of course.
I really am.
And they see it.
They know my passion.
I've been there 42 years.
Of course, it's in my DNA.
But.
But I just want to want it to preface.
I understand what's going on.
Everybody.
Trust me.
Just because I'm not ripping them when they lose three in a row.
Or ripping an individual.
I'll say it at home under my breath.
There's just doesn't do that many good.
Right.
And there's always a time and place forward as well.
And you always know as somebody who played like when there's a moment where it's none of this needs to be said now.
Yeah.
Versus this isn't the time to say it.
And viewers are supposed to trust you with that because again, you have the body of work.
As a former player.
I made plenty of mistakes.
If they were ripping me 24 seven.
Number one.
You know, wouldn't be too comfortable going on the playing with them anymore.
That that that's certainly a part of it.
But I get it.
It's you've got to be better there.
But it's not about there's a way to preface it.
And there is some encouragement that you can use a long way.
Because I've been through it.
I've been where I've been an absolute terrible for a five game stretch.
And if guys are ripping me all the time, that's tough.
Again, just to put a bow on that.
What's most important.
And I think that's how everybody loves like you.
Former player, you know, you see Paul O'Neil, you see Clyde.
Like guys who have been there, done that have rings.
Is you will know when to say what to say.
Yeah.
And you put out there the analysis.
It's up to those watching.
To again, the credibility of your voice and what you have to say in your experience.
Then you're the ones that decide whether you want to scream and yell.
Or back off.
That's for you to do.
That's great point.
For you yourself, like Donald, your job is not to be the one that's pounding the table
and yelling so that the viewers are going, yeah, I'm with you.
And you put it out there and let them decide if they want to be mad or not.
I love the work.
I love the way you preface that because don't get me wrong.
I love the passion of fans.
And certainly my new Jersey Devils fans and been around it forever.
And we don't win all those championships alone.
The fans are what it's all about.
But and they have the right to rip them.
Say what they want through what they want on social media.
But the way you preface it's good.
And when they DM me, stop being politically correct.
No, I have a job to do the way I have to do it.
But don't think I'm naive to not understanding what's going on.
I don't think that's the way that's the way you're you're taking it because you're a passionate.
Because they want to satisfaction.
And that's okay.
I'm saying I support you too.
I love you guys.
But yeah, I sometimes I'm dying to answer back and say.
Please.
Now you're doing the right.
You're doing the right.
You're doing the right.
From the top two guys.
I get it.
I take it from two guys you know.
This is therapy for me right now.
If you guys can understand totally yelling because it gets to me.
Fighting back on Twitter doesn't really ever.
I'm still learning that over after 20 years.
But let me ask you this Ken.
Have you noticed any sort of change in young Jack Hughes post that gold medal game?
Yeah.
I think it's really an exciting opportunity for him to grow into a different level of leader
on this team.
Is there a different swagger to him when he's in the building?
Have you noticed anything?
Well, for sure.
I had said it in the first game he was back with Donnie that he was a kid before the Olympics.
He came back a man.
Really?
And that's on and off the ice.
You know, I mean the swagger that you need to be a leader.
The swagger you need to take your team to another level.
Now you need supporting pieces and it's been a disappointing year this year.
We all know that and part of that was because Jack Hughes had a freakish injury accident because he is our best player.
He's always had the talent.
I'm just broke the all-time record for reaching 400 points faster than any New Jersey devil.
Let's let's say in some of his teams been around 50 years with a lot of great players and teams that are one Stanley Cups.
But you still have to learn those other elements.
Everything you're talking about as far as how to win, how to encourage your teammates, how to bring them together.
And yeah, I definitely noticed a different mentality and swagger and understanding what it takes.
Because he was surrounded by guys as good as him or better all around and understanding what it takes with the best players in the world.
But then you can kind of come back to your team and see the role player and what he means to your club and understanding.
Because those star players, it's a collection of stars, had to take on different roles as they won that gold medal.
And I think for any young player like a Jack Hughes trying to become a champion or get to that next level, we know it's not easy to win.
They won the gold and he's always going to be etched in hockey history for that.
It was awesome. He took some pressure off of us in the disappointing season.
We're talking about for the Devils just from the standpoint we had something to cheer about.
It was fantastic. It was a joy to watch him. But yeah, he's learned so much.
I feel it. That swagger, that self-confidence, always had it on the ice.
But just in his...
Taking ownership of the franchise as a leader and now you're the guy.
And you're the guy.
And you're like all those things.
Yeah, and that takes, that's not easy.
And that's what you hope sometimes from a younger player when they come back from an experience like that is what you take from that and how can it change you and how can it change us because of your experience there.
With that in mind, and we're talking with Kendanico, Mr. Double here, is the WBC had Aaron Judge Captain of the team.
He's arguably the best player in baseball.
If not, right there would show heo attorney.
And he had some moments last night winning moments that he did not come through.
Criticism of him because of the World Series two years ago.
And the fact that there's this sense about him that is great as he is the player.
He doesn't come through in the clutch.
And it makes us think when you have that much talent.
And again, you were at the highest level three times.
You played with one of the great clutch goal tenders in the world in the sport in Martembro door.
And others, of course, on that team that were great in clutch moments.
You've seen it though.
What is the clutch gene?
What does it, does it even look like something?
And when do you know that a player has it?
Yeah, great question.
And look, I'm a big baseball fan, but I have no idea what it's like to hit on our mile in our fastball.
Sports, sports, sports, sports.
To compare, I'm just prefacing that.
So, and I understand the pressure.
You're under as top dog to come through in big moments, right?
Whether it's the World Series, whether it's the World Baseball class, whatever it may be,
or the Stanley Cup Champions.
Stanley Cup finals where you got to go four growing rounds.
And I guess, looking for me, look, I was a guy in the trenches.
I just had to run over people, get rid of that angst and block some shots.
And I would do whatever it took.
And if I had to take one of them off, I was going to do that.
I felt that was a lot easier than what Marti Broder had to do or the top goal scores.
Or Scott Needham, I had to do because they were so talented, so gifted.
Now, the goal tenders, the most important position.
And I just know when Marti Broder came in as a young guy, I mean,
it's something you can't touch.
You feel it because your goal tenders scrutinize the most.
He's the most important guy because he can win or lose you a series.
You can have great teams, but if your goal tender doesn't show up, it'd be tough to win.
So I remember, save your ass if you don't show up.
When we make mistakes, he covers it up time and time again.
Or makes us look real bad after we get beat if he doesn't bail you out once.
But I just noticed, I'll use a prime example, when he was young coming in second, third year.
You know, the 94 great series against the Rangers where we end up losing.
And during that playoff run, I think it was only his second year really in the national ocular
or taking over as the number one goal tender.
And you always wonder how they're going to handle my pressure.
And I'll remember, I think it was in round two.
I think we played Buffalo and it was tense and it was a tight game.
And that series went seven and I'm a nervous wreck.
I mean, I'm just wound up like a top and it's right halfway through the game.
And I come back to face up, but I was very vocal and crazy and would say things that would off the cusp.
And I go, well, Marti, if it is to me before the before the puck was dropped, it's up to you and me.
And I just threw that other, he started to chuckle like I knew it was a lot more up to him.
But I was nervous. I was uptight.
And he just chuckled and says, I got this down.
Very calmly.
I'm like, he's like 20 years old.
Yeah, 21 years old.
I was just, I go, look at this kid.
Nothing phases him. Nothing.
He's not feeling that pressure.
He's just going to go use his athleticism and his talents.
And he's not going to make the pressure situation or moments any different than a regular season game.
Easier said than done.
Right.
Yeah.
Another guy I'll throw out there is a Claude Lemieux.
He was a clutch, clutch, clutch.
And Scott Stevens was great.
And I'd go on down the list and Neetamar was, but they were all great talent in all world.
Guys that just were leaders and would do whatever to take.
But Claude Lemieux, he'd be up and down during the regular season.
One playoff here.
I think he scored 13 goals during the regular season.
Had a bad year for him.
You know, and he's a 25-30 goal score.
Come playoff time.
The guys won four Stanley Cups.
Two of the Devils.
Two, two.
One with Montreal.
One with the Colorado Advance.
Wherever he goes, he's a winner.
And those guys have that clutch gene of, in the big spot, put the puck on his stick.
He's going to bury it.
The more important the game or the time of the game, playoffs, you could just feel it.
You sense it.
Claude Lemieux wanted the puck before the game.
He's in the dressing room, smiling, laughing, fired up.
You knew he wanted a big moment.
Sometimes the regular season bored him.
Does that make any kind of sense?
And I just say, I think the nicks are going through that right now.
Yeah.
But in a funny way.
The regular season is starting to bore them a little bit.
When we talk about judge so much, though, and comparing him to Jeter, for example,
it's interesting because when you think about the Yankees,
there's so many other names in the Jeter years.
Right.
Tino.
Bernie.
Yes.
Pasada.
That all had big moments.
That all delivered so many big moments.
And it just seems like with this Yankee team, it's been heaped on judge every single time.
When are you going to be the one to do it?
And as you pointed out, it might be a Claude Lemieux.
Who is that guy who does it?
And look, going to my arch rival, Mark Massey, one of the greatest leaders of all time.
I grew up with him.
He was a mentor of mine.
A lot of people know that now.
And we used to, he was a big reason why he taught me how to be a pro.
I know him since 12 years old.
I went to his hockey schools and then became great friends.
When he was with the amateur and others and those great teams, I was around those teams watching how those guys carried themselves.
And how they were pros and gretzky and Messier and Yuri Curry and Paul Coffey.
Not only great talents, but they were a different breed.
And even their role, guys of Cementco and Dave Hunter and Lee Fogland watching how they handled them.
I was 17, 18 year old kids.
Being around that was amazing for me.
And saw Mark's leadership at 22 years old and just how they handle those clutch moments.
But when he, and we joke, when Edmonton, when we play Edmonton, we'd pass notes before the game.
They'd wink at me, Kevin Low as well.
I was close with all of them, used to travel the world with them, have some fun.
Crazy fun when we couldn't know social media and not getting taken.
Different era.
But the days we joking, when Mark went to New York and what was in 91, 92, whatever it was, we didn't talk for two years.
That's how intense the rivalry was.
And it was just French, all friendships were off because both teams were good.
Both teams, it was arrival, proximity, six miles apart from the metal ants in New York and had some epic playoffs series.
But I watch guys like that grow up and go, man.
Like, you learn so much.
And I, I don't know, didn't know it during my career.
You realize five years after you retire, I'm going, I know I'm my team's one because it's the margins are so slim.
But the core group hated to lose more than the like to win.
I love that saying because it means something.
And then being around a guy like Mark and his dynasty years in Edmonton, watching how these guys carried themselves and how they were together and how just nothing phased them.
It's sometimes you can't don't know what's exactly what is, but if you're around it enough, you know, you know, you know, we're good.
We're quietly confident.
How great is this, by the way?
Like the storytelling alone, like just that part of it, the experience of winning and what you know and the perspective that can really transcend all sport.
And now guess what?
Everyone here kilometers gets to watch the game with them tonight.
Yeah.
I'm leaving for a little bit.
I kind of jam packed my schedule.
Unfortunately, fortunately, but I'll be back 10 that it's into the first pair.
I'm going to watch it with the fans.
I love it because I get to be a fan.
So now you might hear me.
We need to see a curse word or two.
I love it.
I still always encourage don't rip guys, but I do at home with my wife and dogs on the couch.
What's with the dogs?
You don't even mention the dogs reacting.
Well, we'll all get this experience coming up later on after the show, but Dano's got a run.
He's going to come back though for the watch party.
So again, we're at Kalandras in Caldwell, New Jersey.
Come join us if you can during the show or of course for the watch party as well.
Dano, thanks so much.
We'll see you later on.
Real pleasure being on with you guys.
Donnie, get better.
My partner.
Love you.
And thanks for having me, fellas.
Thank you.
All right.
Now when I 3-7-7s, we'll grab some calls from you next.
Stay with us, Donald Rosenberg, ESPN, New York.
America leads the world in medicine development.
It matters.
We get new medicines first, nearly three years faster.
Five million Americans go to work because we make medicines here at home.
And not relying on other countries keeps us safe.
But China is racing to overtake us.
Will we let them or will we choose to stay ahead?
When America leads, America cures.
Let's go to Washington to keep us in the lead.
Learn how at AmericaCures.com.
Pay for it by Farma.
So good, so good, so good.
Spring styles are at Nordstrom Rack stores now.
And they're up to 60% off.
Stock up and save on Ragnbonne made well.
Vince, all sings in more of your favorites.
I didn't allow no rack as the deed is.
Why do we rock?
For the hottest still.
There's so many good brands.
Join the Nordy Club to unlock exclusive discounts.
Shopping with rivals first and more.
Plus buy online and pick up at your favorite rack store for free.
Great brands, great prices.
That's why you rack.
Get in the game with the college branded Venmo debit card.
Record your team with every tap and earn up to 5% cash back with Venmo stash.
A new rewards program from Venmo.
No monthly fee, no minimum balance.
Just school pride and spending power.
Get in the game and sign up for the Venmo debit card at Venmo.com.
slash college card.
The Venmo master card is issued by the bank court bank NA.
Select schools available.
Venmo stash terms and exclusions apply at Venmo.me slash stash terms.
Max $100 cash back per month.
We are live at Calendras.
Calendras bakery in Calendras.
New Jersey.
Fresh bread.
Classic Italian pastries.
Big daily.
Taste the tradition today.
I am noticing that our pen head suit John Winthrop is tasting just about everything that comes out.
Hold on.
What you said.
Everything in the box was open.
We're walking away with pastries.
Hold on.
There was a plate here with food.
That's gone.
Yeah, the plate of food is gone.
I don't know where that went.
Which one did he get after?
Oh yeah, he cut right back in the back row.
I don't know how he got to the back row.
I don't know how he got to the back row.
Look at this face.
He's like, yes, it was really.
Oh, here's no notice.
He didn't touch the little fruit cup.
No, the shock.
The little fruit pastry didn't make it.
This tiramisu may have to bring one of these back to the wife.
That's her number one suite of choice.
This tiramisu.
Yeah, but this stuff is beautiful.
It really is.
You know, Calendras brought these to the Rosenberg nuptials.
Oh really?
On people's way out of the wedding.
You add something on the way out.
On the way out.
They were like tables set up with Calendras.
Oh, wow.
Well, I'm sure people didn't just take a piece and leave.
Like maybe somebody else did.
I'm just saying.
You're going to take it.
You just eat the whole thing.
Yeah, John, the fact that he reached to the back row
and cut out some and left it.
And it's like, oh no, you can have the rest there.
Like, I don't want to because that's your fork that was in your mouth.
This is giving Oreo cheesecake energy.
Oh, wow.
Oh, use the knife.
It didn't just go in with the fork.
All right.
All right.
I don't know this though.
I didn't see it.
Do it.
You don't know.
Some people might have done that.
I could stare at this dessert all day.
You could.
It's really.
Are you a sweet guy or not?
I am, but I, you know, try to be.
You fight it.
You fight it.
I fight it.
But like left.
Left your devices.
Like, let's suppose you accidentally.
But you see me last week with the donut.
Remember that?
Oh, yeah, you went to town.
I told everybody don't touch it because I'm eating the whole thing.
You accidentally, if someone accidentally slips some bubonge into your, like, breakfast.
Yeah.
And so you all of a sudden realize you're just completely starved.
Where would you go savoury?
Would you go sweet?
Great call.
Um, pendant the time of day.
Late night.
Late night?
Sweet.
Sweet.
Yeah.
That's the tough one.
Very.
You guys know.
That's right.
Anything.
Anything chocolate and peanut butter?
Oh, God.
Anything Greece is like.
God bless.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Get ready.
New York soccer fans.
I know you love that.
I love it.
Night night tonight.
New York City FC is back at Yankee Stadium for a massive showdown against Inter Miami.
On Sunday, March 22nd, with kickoff set for 1 p.m., you don't want to miss this huge matchup.
Be there when the boys in blue take the field against Miami.
For your chance to be there in person, enter now at espniork.com or through the espniork app,
which everybody year has, right?
The espniork app.
Everybody.
Of course we do.
It's available now at ticketmaster.com slash NYC FC.
Monika McNutt coming up in the four o'clock hour talk some Nixon NBA.
But first we have your calls on judge and the WBC and more.
So let's get to call here that I'm interested in talking about this top.
All right.
Specifically, because I was feeling the same thing that Eric in Connecticut was feeling.
Eric.
Hey, what's up guys?
You know, watching the game last night felt like to me watching a Yankee playoff game
for the last 15 years.
It's so true.
It's so true.
I'm curious.
Is this just, are these teams the way they're built?
Look, you got, you got all, it's an all-star team.
But are these teams just binary?
Are they just on or they're off?
You know, is there no gray area anymore?
Or is you winning the gray area?
It just felt like rinse and repeat.
And I know it's a spring training tournament.
But boy, I've seen that game before, right now.
It was giving Yankee playoff because why?
A murderous roll lineup couldn't hit.
Think of, right?
How maddening that was in a big spot just was able to neutralize.
And what did the other team do?
Small ball, effort stuff, right?
It's not like they didn't tear the ball off the cover either.
No, they didn't.
But the things they did was more of just, you know, get on the base and make things happen.
And, you know, what did it take?
A home run.
What did it take to win the semi-final?
Home runs.
It very much was giving Yankee playoffs.
It really did.
It's lived by the home run.
And then judges doesn't come through.
And then you get the one home run.
You hope that's enough.
And guess what happens?
Next half inning immediately lose lead again to a team that can somehow put it together,
even if it's not with the home run.
It is incredibly familiar.
Jaden and Harrisburg.
Jaden, you're up next.
Jaden, great name.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I just want to talk about something that Michael was talking about in show,
to start when he's saying how judge his clutch numbers are a lot higher than fans and make it.
Yeah.
You're right.
The segment.
Yeah.
He's quoting a lot of stats.
I did hear.
Yeah.
Yeah.
But just from like you talked about like the eye test.
And I think context matters too.
Like Aaron, Jaden's also saying next week on opening day.
He gets a two on home run.
And I think it could be Yankee to lead.
I guess that's going to go into the clutch stats.
But it's opening day.
It doesn't really matter that much for his game of season.
But it seemed like a lot of the times in the playoffs.
That same moment you would have come through.
And he was talking about like, yeah, he's the only one getting the blame.
Like what about Harper or Schwarver or those other guys.
Well, those other guys are like World Series champions and they come through in those big spots.
Like most men hitting the game winning home run.
Harper's in game seven.
Yeah.
Harper.
Harper.
Like those guys always come through.
And even like for Yankee, Stanton has done that too.
He's even done it at WBC himself.
Yeah.
Yeah.
It just seems like when Judge gets in those moments where all the eyes are on him.
And he can dictate whether or not the team can win something meaningful.
He kind of like fumbles himself a little bit or shrink.
That's what he will ever be like that.
Jane, that's a great point.
No, the specifics.
I like that because it's it's your you there.
Michael was referring to analytics.
But there's another analytic because you can say clutch.
But playoff clutch season determining clutch is different than late in a game in May.
It's not the same thing.
Yeah.
And that's unfortunate.
I don't I don't recall if Michael was quoting playoff stats only or just overall since.
I think it's overall clutch because I agree.
Like a game in May doesn't have that same weight as a game in September even.
Not even October.
Just give me September like a push down.
Yeah.
Down the stretch.
The judge was going for the home run record.
He was just mashing home runs and all of a sudden it felt like the end was a crawl just to get to 62.
No, no.
It got to about it.
It got just 55 56 right now about 55 56 is started getting like where every day we were talking about it.
We were waiting and they just started.
And he knew everybody was watching everybody was waiting for it.
One every couple to it became every couple days every two three days instead of every night.
Yeah, although we talked about this briefly with Danico.
It's something fun to get into anytime.
When you talk about like pressure and clutch though.
I do not think there's any comparison in all of sports.
I don't think there's anything like an at bat in a in a pressure situation.
I think that is the highest pressure thing in all of professional sports.
I think that's very fair because every other sports it's not you and one other in a team concept.
Right.
The benefit is golf it could be but in baseball.
The team is there sports.
It's a few versus a pitcher and the pitcher is the one trying to get you out.
That's different than even just doing the hardest thing that there is to do in all of sports.
I completely agree.
The best thing to do in all of sports talk radio is talk to Monica.
No, we love Monica.
And she's going to join us next Don Han Roseberg live from Kalandras in Caldwell, New Jersey on ESPN, New York.
Thanks for listening to about Don Han and Rosenberg.
I don't want to know how the sausage is made.
I just want to know it's good.
Here more of Don, Alan and Peter, weekday afternoon starting at three on 880 ESPN, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers.
Every March are brackets the only thing you can think about.
Do you have symptoms such as constant bracket obsession or moderate to severe bracket related distractions?
You may be living with bracket brain.
Thankfully, there's ESPN Tournament Challenge.
The number one proven way to treat bracket brain right at the source.
So this March, download the ESPN Tournament Challenge app, fill out your women's bracket and get you and your brain in the game.
ESPN Tournament Challenge play the number one bracket game presented by Capital One.
