Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – "Back Together" (Hour 1)

Episode Date: September 2, 2025
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Podcast: ESPN New York

Overview

This episode marks the reunion of Don, Hahn & Rosenberg, who are broadcasting together for the first time since late June. The trio dives straight into catching up, sharing memorable stories from their summer breaks, and then focus on New York sports—specifically the critical stretch in the MLB season for the Yankees and Mets, and shifting discussion to the New York Jets’ fanbase, their upcoming season, and the nuances of being a sports fan in New York.

Their conversation blends humor, storytelling, and debate, maintaining the bantering and slightly irreverent tone that defines the show.

Main Topics & Discussion Points

1. Back Together: Summer Recap & Team Dynamic

[00:53 – 07:54]

• The hosts joke about the last time they were all together, recounting their June “Beach Bash” and infamous post-show dinner where Alan allegedly “stormed out” because he doesn’t wait for tables.
  • Memorable moment:
    "I don't wait for tables. It was more the statement than the actual part." – Alan Hahn [02:07]
• Peter details his summer trips to Paris, including a humorous Disney Paris anecdote involving a failed attempt to get an employee discount and a FaceTime snub from their program director, John Winthrop.
• Rosenberg gripes about parents putting their older kids on their shoulders at Disney fireworks, leading to playful banter about tall people at events.
  • Quote:
    "If your kid practically has his driver's license, he doesn't need to go on your shoulders." – Peter Rosenberg [06:40]
    • Leads to comic riffing on “height segregation” and event etiquette.

2. Shifting Gears: MLB Pennant Races – Yankees & Mets

[08:13 – 23:04]

• With football season imminent, the baseball conversation intensifies. The hosts outline the standings and stakes for the Yankees and Mets as the playoff stretch begins:
  • Yankees: Rivalry matchups with Astros, Red Sox, and Blue Jays become crucial.
    • Don emphasizes the importance of series vs. Toronto and Boston for playoff positioning.
    • Hahn and Rosenberg counter, highlighting optics ("do the Yankees look like contenders?") and the psychological impact of repeatedly losing to Houston in big spots.
      • Quote:
        "I've been waiting for this team to show one ounce of heart, one ounce of life against Houston in a big spot." – Peter Rosenberg [15:29]
    • The discussion debates whether performance against Houston/Detroit matters for October, or just direct games against division rivals.
  • Mets:
    • Pitching struggles dominate. Veteran arms like Manaea and Senga can’t get through innings; the rotation is buoyed by promising, but very young arms (McLean, Tong, Sproat).
      • Quote:
        "The Mets...they can't pitch. When kids are the only thing that is helping you, keeping you alive, you're in a lot of trouble." – Don La Greca [16:03]
    • Optimism about rookie pitchers is tempered by realism about asking three young guys to carry a playoff run—a historical parallel is drawn to Doc Gooden.
      • Quote:
        "How am I supposed to compete for a championship if I got three kids in the rotation?" – Don La Greca [21:13]

3. Jets Season Opener: Ticket Sales, Fan Apathy, and Expectations

[27:23 – 50:43]

• Callers and hosts debate the news that nearly half of MetLife Stadium will be filled with Steelers fans for the Jets’ home opener.
  • The economics and psychology of season tickets are discussed, with many fans opting to sell their opener tickets to Pittsburgh fans at a hefty markup.
    • Discussion centers around whether this is smart business or a sign of fanbase apathy.
    • Quote:
      "You know, I pay a lot for the tickets. If a guy wants to make some money back, he's not going to miss the game. He's going to go all the other home games but this one...sometimes it's a business decision." – Don La Greca [34:48]
    • Many fans cite the long commute, diminished hopes for the season, and chance to recoup costs as main reasons.
  • Listener calls provide both support for, and gentle ribbing of, Jets fans for selling those seats.
    • Memorable call:
      "When he scores a goal, he's looking for Papa Dan, and if Papa Dan is not there, Aaron Rodgers won't notice that I'm out of the building." – Danny in Cincinnati [35:09]
  • The hosts reflect on the emotional state of the Jets fanbase: is there any true optimism, or just resigned caution after years of disappointment?
    • Quote:
      "There's a lot of extenuating circumstances around this team. All right, that even when everything's working, what's going to go wrong? I get Jet fans being pessimistic." – Don La Greca [49:34]
  • Callers challenge and affirm: some are “cautiously optimistic,” but there’s recognition that apathy and smart economics are ruling early season decisions.

Highlight Quotes

• On the Yankees’ narrative:
  "We could celebrate a team that has four 30 home run hitters on this team...But optics tell you what to expect in the postseason." – Alan Hahn [12:16]
• On hope and realism:
  "These moments happen. Now, can it happen two or three times with three guys?" – Peter Rosenberg [23:26]
• On Jets fans’ psyche:
  "The temperature of the fan base...It's Luke Doo Doo. Yeah, we know. This is what it's been." – Peter Rosenberg [40:30]

Key Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | |------------|------------------------------------------------------| | 00:53 | Show proper begins, reunion stories | | 03:29 | Peter’s Disney Paris tales | | 07:54 | Football season imminent, baseball talk heats up | | 08:13 | Yankees vs. division rivals arguments (Astros, Mets) | | 15:08 | Repeated Yankees futility vs. Houston | | 16:03 | Mets pitching crisis (youth vs. experience) | | 27:23 | Callers on Jets opening game ticket resale (apathy) | | 34:22 | Fan economics, rationalizations explored | | 40:09 | State of the Jets fanbase, caller optimism debate | | 45:22 | More calls: is selling opener tickets “real fandom”? | | 48:13 | Jets' on-field prospects assessed |

Tone & Style

This episode balances sharp, good-natured banter with insightful analysis and a touch of sardonic New York realism. Every sports topic is colored by the hosts’ personal experiences and humor, especially where sports pain and city life intersect. The hosts encourage debate with both each other and their listeners, engaging directly and honestly with calls and divergent viewpoints.

For Listeners Who Missed It

Catch this episode for:

• Classic Don-Hahn-Rosenberg camaraderie and humor after a summer apart
• Honest, in-depth takes on what matters for New York’s playoff-hopeful baseball teams
• A very real, sometimes cutting but always relatable, examination of what it means (economically and emotionally) to be a New York sports fan, specifically if you’re a long-suffering Jets supporter