Don, Hahn & Rosenberg

Hour 1: Giannis, Bingo Cards & TNF (December 4, 2025)

Episode Overview

This episode kicks off with ESPN New York’s Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg talking all things New York sports—especially the latest developments in the NBA surrounding Giannis Antetokounmpo’s injury and his ongoing connection to the Knicks. The trio also digs into NFL Thursday Night Football with an in-depth look at the Cowboys-Lions matchup, sprinkles in some classic stories and show banter, and riff about running gags—from the “bingo card” of show catchphrases to infamous sports turf woes.

Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Injury & Knicks Trade Speculation

• Timing of Giannis’s Injury (00:51–03:00)

  • Don La Greca highlights the show’s prescience on Giannis speculation: “It was almost like we were on Giannis way before anybody else figured it out.”
  • Main concern: Giannis’s calf injury could signal a more serious Achilles issue, echoing previous cases with NBA stars.

• Should the Knicks Be Worried or Patient? (03:00–06:10)

  • Don encourages Knicks fans to "embrace the madness" and not overreact.
  • Alan Hahn explains that a trade is unlikely before December 15th (when all NBA contracts become tradable)—and even then, a workable deal is unlikely.
    • "The Knicks are not in a place right now to be able to make a trade ... it doesn't make sense for the Bucks." (04:25, Alan)

• Impact on the Knicks: Good or Bad? (06:10–06:42)

  • Peter Rosenberg: “This going away, I think, is a positive thing for the Knicks. ... You want everyone who’s there to be dialed in on what this team is doing right now.”
  • The uncertainty over Giannis’s health takes pressure off Knicks role players.

• Media Hype, Leverage Games, & Historical Parallels (06:42–12:26)

  • Don and Alan discuss "reindeer games"—the media and agent-driven leaks designed to create leverage in trade talks.
  • Historical cautionary tales: Donovan Mitchell’s failed Knicks deal (went to Cleveland), Carmelo Anthony’s trade saga (with Brooklyn rumored as a fake contender to drive up Knicks' price).
    • “Did Brooklyn really think they could get him? ... Melo said years later, ‘Oh, I was never going to Brooklyn.’” (09:19, Alan)
  • Both agree this time is different: "The Knicks have become a destination." (11:31, Don)

• The Achilles Danger and Giannis’s Future (14:04–20:58)

  • The crew discusses why a calf injury is such a red flag and the impact of Achilles injuries on explosive players.
  • Peter: “I've always said Giannis is the most dominating player in the league ... but is there a world where his Achilles recovery could be more damaging than for a jump shooter like Durant?” (18:28)
  • Alan: “That's the part you really do worry about ... guys who rely so much on athleticism.” (19:08)
  • Debate about whether the injury might lower Giannis’s trade cost but raise risk for the Knicks.

2. NFL: Turf Debate & Thursday Night Football

• NFL Changes Stadium Surface Rules (20:58–26:53)

  • Breaking news from Adam Schefter: The NFL and NFLPA will restrict teams to an “approved set of manufacturers and styles” for natural and synthetic fields.
  • Don: “You have players talking about that turf as being pure evil. ... The Jets and Giants should be the front runners to try to change this so they can attract free agents.” (23:11)
  • Nostalgic and funny turf stories—including Don’s “bag of grass mistaken for weed” by his mom. (25:41-25:58)

• Recap of NFL Turf Issues (26:53–28:26)

  • Further discussion on how poor field maintenance at stadiums like Giants Stadium and FedEx Field has caused serious player injuries.

3. NBA & NHL Side Notes

• Brooklyn Nets Mini-Streak (29:52–30:29)

  • Alan: “They're well-coached. It's not a good roster. ... But that front office, they’ve gotta reconsider a lot of things in Brooklyn right now.”

• Rangers, Islanders, and NHL Mentions (28:49–29:52)

  • Quick preview of the evening’s games: Rangers vs. Senators; Islanders vs. Avalanche. Shoutout to the Nets’ recent success as well.

4. Thursday Night Football: Cowboys vs. Lions

• Preview, Picks, and Analytics (30:29–39:21)
  • The trio debates whether Dallas or Detroit is the smarter pick, factoring line movement and home-field advantage.
  • Alan: “How do [the Lions] lose another game at home, though, right?” (30:43)
  • Peter’s analysis: “The Suckers pick is Dallas and in this case the smarter play is Detroit writes the ship and beats them at home.” (31:23)
  • Discussion of playoff probability shifts for the Lions and Cowboys:
    • “Lions chance to reach the playoffs goes from 44% down to 23% with a loss.” (37:20, Alan)
    • “Dallas with a loss goes from 18% down to 8%.” (37:54, Alan)
  • Mutual agreement: “This is the best Thursday nighter in some time—this is as excited as I’ve been.” (38:30, Peter)

5. Running Gags: "Bingo Cards," Show Banter, and Inside Jokes

• Show In-Jokes & Drinking Game (32:07–36:41)

  • “Reindeer games,” Alan’s beat writer references, Don’s old stories—all have become part of the show’s canon.
  • “In the DHR drinking game, referencing my ... beat reporter line earlier.” (32:24, Peter)
  • The hosts joke about which running gags qualify for their unofficial “bingo card” and tease doing a live drinking game with listeners.

• Classic Story: Don’s Sandwich Bag of Turf (25:40–25:58)

  • “I thought, I'll grab the turf from the Giants championship win over the Vikings. ... Mom called and said, I threw your pot away ... who smokes pot with confetti?” (Don, 25:49)

6. Wrapping Up: Picks and NFC East Banter

• Official Game Picks (44:29–45:56)

  • Alan: “For my two-point play ... I am taking the detois, Leon, and laying the points.”
  • Peter: “I'm going with the Dallas Cowboys on my two-point play, getting three and a half.”
  • Self-deprecating humor on both their betting records: “We both suck. We might as well have fun while we suck.” (45:56, Peter)

• NFC East Rivalries & Eagles Hatred (46:54–48:31)

  • Don and Peter vent their deep-seated rivalry feelings: “This Eagle hatred is ... almost if not equal to how much I ever hated the Dallas Cowboys.” (47:37, Don)
  • “All hatred is stemmed in jealousy, right? ... The Eagles, now that's a problem. That's in our division, Peter. We can't have this. This can't stand.” (48:19)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Don makes the case for Knicks fans to relax:
  “Get your head out of the hole. ... The Knicks have become a destination. Giannis wants to play there. Don’t buy into it, man.” (11:31)
• Peter on why this Giannis pause benefits the Knicks:
  “You have role players on this team who don’t want to think about, am I going to be packaged up? ... I think it actually affects the Knicks most positively.” (06:10)
• Analytical warning from Alan on Giannis’s injury history:
  “He’s had two calf issues. Is the second one now a calf strain? ... Is there like you said, there's been this gateway to the Achilles injury that has to do with calf injuries.” (14:10)
• Peter’s classic, self-deprecating humor and show banter:
  “I've always said Giannis is the most dominating player in the league ... and he’s also not my favorite kind of player to watch. It's all explosiveness.” (18:28)
• Don’s story about his mother finding his “turf” from Giants Stadium:
  “Who smokes pot with confetti?” (25:58)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:51 — Show’s early Giannis coverage & Knicks situation
• 06:10 — Giannis injury impact seen as positive for Knicks (Peter)
• 08:31 — Donovan Mitchell/Carmelo Anthony cautionary tales (Alan)
• 14:04 — Achilles risks, what it means for Knicks & Giannis trade calculus
• 20:58 — Breaking news: NFL changes stadium turf rules
• 25:41 — Don’s Giants turf/weed story
• 29:52 — Nets’ mini-winning streak & Brooklyn’s outlook
• 30:29 — Thursday Night Football, Dallas vs. Detroit deep dive
• 37:05 — Playoff odds breakdown for Lions & Cowboys
• 32:07 — Show “bingo card” & running joke banter
• 44:29 — The guys make their official NFL picks
• 46:54 — NFC East rivalry venting

Tone & Style Notes

• The episode is loose, friendly, full of passionate sports debate, and loaded with inside jokes. The trio’s chemistry shines as they pivot between serious analysis (“what does Giannis’s injury mean for the Knicks?”) and playful banter (running gags, betting jokes, and show “bingo cards”).
• Conversational and candid, the hosts keep listeners both informed and entertained—whether you’re a Knicks fanatic, a turf conspiracy theorist, or an NFC East diehard.

Summary Takeaway

Hour 1 delivers a comprehensive and entertaining look at the headlines dominating New York sports. The Giannis/Knicks saga is put in perspective with cautions from past NBA dramas. The NFL gets its due, both in crucial logistical changes (turf) and in classic sports talk form (making picks, lamenting rivals). Amid the debates, the hosts’ collective wit, storytelling, and meta-show commentary make for a lively and engaging listen—even if you missed the live experience.