Don, Hahn & Rosenberg

Episode: Hour 1 - "Alan's Reaper Powers"
Date: November 13, 2025
Hour 1 Summary

Main Theme

The first hour of this episode is largely a tribute to legendary New York Post hockey writer Larry Brooks, who passed away at 75. The trio—Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg—reflect on Brooks' profound impact on sports journalism, especially hockey coverage, sharing personal anecdotes and discussing how media consumption is evolving. The episode then turns toward local sports, including the Knicks' recent loss, injury updates, and speculation about coaching futures for the Giants. Lively banter, irreverent humor, and the signature “New York Sports & More” energy set the tone.

Key Discussion Points

Remembering Larry Brooks

[00:52–15:20]

• Announcement of Larry Brooks’ Passing
  • Don opens the hour with a eulogy for Larry Brooks, emphasizing his unmatched stature in hockey media:

    “No one did it better than he did. No one. And he is certainly gonna be missed.” (Don La Greca, 03:25)

  • Alan and Don share that access to Brooks—him even acknowledging you—was a sign of “making it” in the New York sports media world.
  • Hahn describes Larry as “the gold standard for American hockey writers” (Alan Hahn, 07:10) and recalls Brooks’ mentorship, how he would “nod” his respect rather than offer easy praise.
• Brooks’ Style and Personality
  • Brooks is portrayed as tough, no-nonsense, but deeply passionate and protective of hockey.
  • Don: “He didn't suffer fools. He didn't talk to just everybody...he was somebody of very few words. He did his job better than anybody.”
• Notable Anecdotes
  • Alan recalls Brooks defending his reporting (“so why does Newsday have non hockey foofs doing Rangers when you're available?” – Alan Hahn, 06:20)
  • The viral run-ins with John Tortorella: “He would stand there and continue to ask Torts those questions... and Torts almost respected it.” (Don La Greca, 13:57)
• Brooks as Mentor and Fixture
  • He fostered younger writers, took them under his wing, but “would never give you the easy way.”
  • Michael Kay comments on Brooks’ reach: “It's just not common these days that you have someone who still has that old school feel of completely synonymous with the sport.” (Michael Kay, 08:06)
• Wider Reflection
  • The group discusses how Brooks transcended the authenticity and legacy of the newspaper columnist in modern sports.

The “Reaper” Banter, Alan’s Knicks Mush, and Injury Fallout

[15:20–24:33]

• Alan’s “reaper” or “mush” status is playfully dissected—hinting that his optimism is bad luck for his favorite teams:
  • Don jokes: “If you did and you realize what he did, then you would have bet heavy on Orlando last year...” (15:48)
• Discussion shifts to Jalen Brunson’s ankle injury:
  • Alan breaks down the situation, reporting Brunson’s boot is “standard operating procedure,” with no break, but “it's always about what does it feel like the next day.” (18:03)
  • They debate whether Brunson should have been in the game with under two minutes left, reviewing NBA norms for benching starters during blowouts or likely losses.
  • Michael points out, “In basketball, you're down 15 ... Five minutes left. Doable. Four minutes left. Still doable. Three minutes. It can. And also two. It's basically over.” (20:51)

The Changing Landscape of Sports Media and Journalism

[29:33–38:42]

• Don and Alan reflect on the shifting landscape of sports news—increasingly digital, less tactile, and with shrinking newspaper influence.
  • Don laments: “We joke about it, but...just where we get our information now. Are people reading newspapers the way they did before?” (29:33)
  • Alan regrets modern paywalls, popups, and the loss of print’s tangibility: “I just want to read the frickin story. Right?”
  • Michael Kay: “If you're someone who's in the world of sports and you're a blossoming opinion or tastemaker... you're also gonna be on television and radio, the world of you just being a writer ... If you're younger than 40...” (32:08)
• The group details the nostalgic pleasure of Sunday mornings with a physical paper, united in their belief that the era is fading fast.

Giants Coaching Future, NFL Spin, and Fan Speculation

[38:42–48:49]

• Discussion turns to the uncertain futures of Giants coordinators, especially Shane Bowen and Mike Kafka:
  • Jokes about Tecmo Bowl as “rehab” for bad defensive coordinators, with Michael adding, “they need to go away for a year, spend time, learn. Start from the beginning, play Tecmo Bowl.” (39:16)
  • Don lays out a scenario where Kafka could win the head coaching position if results improve, observing the dynamics between interim coaches, quarterback preference, and owner John Mara’s situation.
  • “They're giving him a Hell of a Runway. Seven games.” (Don La Greca, 47:12)
  • Lively debate over whether this is plausible and if continuity is optimal for the franchise moving forward.
• Conversation ends with a playful challenge to name more obscure NFC East coaches, and laughs over relics like Jim Tomsula and Richie Pettibone.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Don La Greca on Brooks’ influence:

  “But you didn't feel like you were a part of it unless you got the nod or the conversation with Larry Brooks. Then you felt like you arrived.” (03:06)

• Alan Hahn on Brooks’ mentorship:

  “He would show you the way without giving you the easy way.” (08:28)

• Michael Kay on Brooks’ reputation:

  “It's just not common these days that you have someone who still has that old school feel of completely synonymous with the sport.” (08:06)

• Alan Hahn’s “Reaper” moment:

  “Every time I would have enthusiasm about any one of my teams, you'd hear the song [Don’t Fear the Reaper], and I would say, you're right. And so he didn't stop me.” (16:24)

• Listener Call (Manny) on Larry Brooks:

  “Rest in peace for that, that hockey, that hockey reporter Larry, also Mike, also Larry Brooks and also recipes to Lenny Wilkins and Michael Ray Richardson.” (25:01)

• Mike Brown (Kings Coach) soundbite:

  “If we're a no excuse team, we gotta go play the right way best we can and not lay the blame anyplace else except square on us.” (26:42)

• Alan on consuming news:

  “When you grab a newspaper from the newspaper stand, it's actually relaxing, there's no anxiety or pop ups. And I'm wondering ... is the written word almost dead now?” (31:45)

• Michael Kay on continuity and change:

  “Continuity’s better. So if it works with Kafka and it works with Shane and Mara's dealing with his health stuff, we move forward for another year.” (47:44)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:52–15:20]: Larry Brooks tribute, anecdotes, and Brooks' legacy
• [15:20–24:33]: Alan’s “mush” powers, Knicks loss, and Brunson injury debate
• [24:58–29:33]: Callers, more on Brooks, and how Knicks and coaches are covered
• [29:33–38:42]: Changing media landscape: print vs. digital, nostalgia for newspapers
• [38:42–48:49]: Giants coaching carousel, Kafka speculation, NFL jokes, and obscure coach trivia

Tone & Flow

As always, the show is marked by camaraderie, quick-witted asides, and a mix of reverence and irreverence. The hosts manage to make inside-baseball sports talk accessible—even for non-initiates—by seamlessly blending personal stories, asides on life and media, and listener participation.

In Short:
Hour 1 is heartfelt and highly entertaining—a testament to a sports journalism titan, full of color and rich context for today's sports scene, laced with signature DHR humor and New York attitude.