Podcast Summary: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 1: Closest To A Championship?

Podcast Information:

• Title: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg
• Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
• Episode: Hour 1: Closest To A Championship?
• Release Date: July 17, 2025
• Description: The first voice of ESPN New York and New Jersey legend Don La Greca, long-time sportswriter and broadcaster Alan Hahn, and highly opinionated Hip Hop vet and WWE personality Peter Rosenberg discuss New York sports and more.

1. Introduction to Championship Contenders

The episode kicks off with Don Hahn and Peter Rosenberg delving into the current landscape of New York's major sports teams, focusing on their proximity to winning championships.

Don Hahn [02:59]:
"Is there something that could make you rethink their potential to win a championship?"

Peter Rosenberg [03:14]:
"We never used to, it was always Yankees and then everybody else."

2. Spotlight on the Knicks

The New York Knicks take center stage as the hosts analyze their performance in the summer league and their prospects for the upcoming NBA season.

Don Hahn [02:01]:
"The Knicks are almost closed for business now and unless something dramatic happens, which can happen in the NBA..."

Peter Rosenberg [05:11]:
"So this is the Knicks, this is who they are. They have their coach. And now you start to decide whether or not you think this is good enough to get to the finals and win a championship."

Alan Hahn [22:46]:
"They're going to be different."

The discussion highlights the limited roster changes for the Knicks, with speculation about potential veteran additions like Chris Paul, who ultimately remains with the Lakers.

3. Yankees vs. Mets: MLB Championship Race

Transitioning to baseball, the conversation shifts to the New York Yankees and Mets, evaluating their chances in the MLB postseason.

Don Hahn [06:19]:
"And then when you got the Mets and Yankees, they're both second place teams, season ends today. They're both in the postseason..."

Peter Rosenberg [13:53]:
"I always say Yankees first because they're the Yankees."

Don Hahn [07:34]:
"I think the Yankees are probably better than the Knicks."

The hosts debate the Yankees' potential to secure the World Series, considering possible trade moves such as acquiring Suarez and the strategic implications of these transactions.

4. Trade Deadlines and Team Strategies

A significant portion of the episode explores the strategies surrounding MLB's trade deadlines, focusing on how teams like the Yankees and Mets might maneuver to strengthen their rosters.

Peter Rosenberg [09:03]:
"You could say that they made the Rangers aren't in that conversation anymore."

Don Hahn [10:29]:
"The word is they're looking for a high-level prospect because they know they want to see who's desperate enough to do it."

Peter Rosenberg [11:03]:
"That's the word."

The discussion emphasizes the Yankees' potential acquisition of key players and the Mets' need to bolster their pitching staff to enhance their championship bids.

5. Evaluating the Championship Odds

In assessing which team stands closest to winning a championship, the hosts weigh the strengths and weaknesses of the Knicks, Yankees, and Mets.

Don Hahn [13:53]:
"I think you would have to say that a guy that is on his way to hitting 50 home runs right is going to be impactful."

Peter Rosenberg [19:36]:
"I think both are open in the same way. Relative."

Don Hahn [22:17]:
"But the point is, I think the Yankees are going to the World Series and I think the Knicks are going to the NBA Finals. When I give the Knicks the nod, it's marginal. It's marginal."

Hahn posits that while the Yankees have a strong chance to reach the World Series, the Knicks' path to the NBA Finals is less certain but still plausible.

6. MLB Draft Discussion

Transitioning from active season analysis, the hosts briefly touch upon the MLB draft's scheduling and its impact on team strategies.

Don Hahn [33:06]:
"If you listen, you're not going to get much of a bump because there's nothing going on."

Peter Rosenberg [34:23]:
"But the MLB draft is not like the NFL or NBA or NHL. It like we don't know who these people are."

The conversation underscores the limited immediate impact of the MLB draft compared to other major sports drafts, citing future potential rather than current excitement.

7. Listener Engagement: Strategies and Suggestions

Listeners' ideas are discussed, including innovative strategies like changing batting orders during innings to influence game outcomes.

Alan Hahn [35:55]:
"I think instead of having a ghost runner, what they should do is at any time in the game, at the start of an inning, you can change who you want to start your order from."

Don Hahn [36:43]:
"Here's what I would say. Just one inning. I'm going to do it in the ninth inning."

The hosts debate the feasibility and impact of such strategies, comparing baseball's rigidity to the flexibility seen in other sports like hockey and football.

8. Closing Remarks and Final Thoughts

As the episode wraps up, Hahn, Rosenberg, and Hahn briefly revisit the central question of which team is closest to a championship, reiterating their assessments.

Don Hahn [39:12]:
"At least I'm down to run. I got the leadoff batter on, right? All right, so I walk them."

Peter Rosenberg [50:08]:
"But still, fans love their guy and they're always gonna take up for him."

The discussion concludes with a reflection on the dynamic nature of sports and the ever-present possibility of unexpected turns leading teams closer to championship glory.

Notable Quotes:

• Don Hahn [02:59]:
  "I think the Knicks are going to the NBA Finals. When I give the Knicks the nod, it's marginal."

• Peter Rosenberg [05:11]:
  "So this is the Knicks, this is who they are. They have their coach. And now you start to decide whether or not you think this is good enough to get to the finals and win a championship."

• Don Hahn [13:53]:
  "I think the Yankees are going to the World Series and I think the Knicks are going to the NBA Finals."

• Peter Rosenberg [19:36]:
  "I think both are open in the same way. Relative."

• Don Hahn [22:17]:
  "But the point is, I think the Yankees are going to the World Series and I think the Knicks are going to the NBA Finals. When I give the Knicks the nod, it's marginal. It's marginal."

Conclusion:

In this episode of "Don, Hahn & Rosenberg," the hosts provide an in-depth analysis of New York's key sports teams, debating their current standings and potential to secure championships. Through strategic discussions on trades, team dynamics, and future prospects, Don Hahn, Peter Rosenberg, and Alan Hahn offer listeners a comprehensive look into the competitive landscape of sports in New York and beyond.