Podcast Summary: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 1: Football is Back (September 4, 2025)

Brief Overview

The trio—Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg—return for an energetic episode marking the beginning of the NFL season. The show’s central theme revolves around the excitement and nervousness of football’s return, how fandom shapes the experience, and what’s at stake for New York’s football teams, especially the Giants, Commanders, Eagles, and Cowboys. There’s also lively discussion about broadcast personalities, viewing habits, NFL Sunday Ticket vs. RedZone, and the sacred personal rituals of watching the big game.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Football Is Back! Office and Fan Shenanigans

• The hosts observe the office buzzing with football jerseys, highlighting local enthusiasm—even when rooting for out-of-market teams like the Dolphins.

• Why Are There Dolphins Fans in NY? The guys debate how fans are born of winning eras (Cowboys, Niners, Lakers, Dolphins with Marino) and the enduring pain when those teams falter.

  • Don (03:14): “The Dolphin fan became a fan because in comes Dan Marino—greatest quarterback who ever lived... And now 40 years later, still waiting.”

• Uniform Hot Takes: Alan and Peter rib on each other’s tastes, especially the “disgusting” Jets green.

  Key Quote:

  • Peter (03:53): “Whenever you see a Dolphins thing, you just go, ‘What happened?’ It’s jarring, right?”

2. Standing Out in Sports Media

• The trio lampoon media personalities (Field Yates, Cam Newton) for cultivating visual gimmicks to get attention.
  • Alan (06:39): "Take a look around—who generally does the best? ...Every day I’m going, what the hell’s he wearing?"
• They joke about their own on-air personas and discuss why being memorable on TV sometimes comes down to looks or quirks.

3. Week 1 Matchup: Eagles vs. Cowboys – Giants and Commanders Perspective

• Rooting Interest Debate: Each host debates whom to root for with no skin in the game, but major indirect ramifications for their teams.
• Don’s View (09:03):

  "If you’re a Giant fan, you want to see the Eagles wipe the floor with the Cowboys... If the Cowboys beat the Eagles, that means their ship is righted... now there’s a very good chance you’re starting 0–2 on the season. Give me a Cowboy loss. Make them look bad.”

• Peter and Alan discuss if the Giants or Commanders might actually have a shot, and if the Cowboys’ potential early demise could open the division.
• Consensus: The NFC East is wild—no repeat champion in 21 years (11:43).
• Alan reflects on Giants’ “dream scenario”:

  “The real hope would be splitting these first two [games]. Can you get one of these? The Dallas game being the more likely one.” (17:07)

4. Brian Daboll and the Giants’ Brutal Start

• Can the Giants survive a meat-grinder opening schedule (at Washington, at Dallas, vs. Kansas City, vs. Chargers)?
• Is it fair to judge Coach Daboll’s job security after such a tough slate?
• Don (20:31): "It’s five games of a 17 game schedule…football fans, we overly simplify everything based on the record. How it looks doesn’t matter. Just win.”
• Peter’s counter (21:27): "That’s part of the stigma with Daboll…they couldn’t close the deal. If you told me they were down 14-0 at the half and come back, lose 21-17, at least they showed fight.”

5. Football Viewing Rituals: Why Real Fans Watch Alone

• Don laments group viewing:

  • “I want to be by myself. I don’t want to hear your opinion and your filth.” (33:59)

• The trio agree that for big games involving their teams, isolation beats parties. Alan is okay watching with one diehard friend.

• Peter recalls the lure of parties (like DiPietro’s legendary spreads) but admits real fans avoid distractions.

  Memorable Story:

  • Don (36:12): “The only time my father spoke to me [during Giants’ Super Bowl] was when Norwood missed a field goal. And I’m jumping up and down, the fish tank almost fell over, and he says, ‘Watch the fish tank!’”
  • Alan (36:26): “That deserved more than Marvel.”

6. NFL Sunday Ticket vs. RedZone and New Broadcast Changes

• Don laments YouTube taking over Sunday Ticket; Alan discusses rising costs, making the purchase less justifiable as national games proliferate.
• Don (30:00): “RedZone ruined the ticket for me ... these touchdowns never overlap, it’s amazing. ... The games are all in commercial at the same time!”
• The crew reassures listeners that commercials on RedZone won’t ruin the experience, despite social media panic.

7. Listener Calls: Division Rivalries and Playoff Picks

• Chauncey (41:11) prefers the Cowboys win so the Giants can beat a team coming off a high; Don and Peter argue the Cowboys must look bad early to give Giants a shot at escaping the NFC East “basement.”

• Griffin (45:25) calls his Super Bowl shot: Bills vs. Packers, highlighting expected improvement from Jordan Love and an ascendant Buffalo. The hosts break down who’s likely to make the playoffs in the NFC, the sneaky depth of competition in the NFC North, and whether Kansas City is “fading” after so many years of dominance.

  Notable Quotes:

  • Don (46:32): “All we’re asking you to be is probably a nine-win team.”
  • Peter (49:35): “If you had to choose right now, Alan, is it Buffalo and Kansas City in the AFC Championship? No—Baltimore.”

Timestamps of Important Segments

• 00:50 – Show kicks off, discussion of football vibes at the station
• 03:07 – The origin of Dolphins fans, Dan Marino nostalgia
• 06:39 – Sports media personalities' visual gimmicks
• 09:00 – Rooting interest in Eagles vs. Cowboys—impact on Giants/Commanders
• 12:15 – NFC East pecking order and wild card aspirations
• 18:25 – Can Brian Daboll survive a tough Giants start?
• 27:45 – What changes with fatherhood and fandom? Alan’s personal view
• 30:00 – NFL Sunday Ticket vs RedZone viewing habits
• 33:40 – Why sports fans hate parties for big games
• 36:12 – Don’s “fish tank” Super Bowl story
• 41:11 – Chauncey’s caller segment: who should Giants fans root for?
• 45:25 – Griffin’s Super Bowl call: Bills vs Packers & playoff breakdown
• 49:35 – Peter backs Baltimore in the AFC

Notable Quotes

• Don La Greca (03:14):
  “The Dolphin fan became a fan because in comes Dan Marino—greatest quarterback who ever lived. ... Now 40 years later, still waiting.”

• Peter Rosenberg (11:43):
  “21 straight years, never repeat [NFC East] champ—that’s crazy.”

• Alan Hahn (20:03):
  “You’re not gonna feel that way if you go 0-3 and they’re all close and you haven’t beaten the Chargers yet.”

• Don La Greca (33:59):
  “I don’t get people watching big games with other people.”

• Don La Greca (36:12):
  “The only time my father spoke to me was when Norwood missed a field goal. ... He’s like, ‘Watch the fish tank!’”

Episode Tone & Takeaways

Engaging, irreverent, and full of genuine sports angst, this episode gives a raw look at the mentality of deeply invested fans and sports media insiders. The opening of football season brings excitement but also anxiety, especially in a city used to more heartbreak than glory. The hosts’ authentic voices—honest, passionate, occasionally exasperated—make clear that football is much more than a game for New Yorkers: it’s a weekly ritual, a source of identity, and often, a test of emotional durability.

Perfect for:
Fans prepping for Week 1, New York sports diehards, anyone wondering how true football obsessives process the yearly rollercoaster.