Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 1: Giants & Announcer Beef (Nov 11, 2025)

Main Theme & Purpose

The episode kicks off with the trio reflecting on Veterans Day, personal stories, and the immense gratitude for service members. The main sports focus centers on the ongoing New York Giants management turmoil, the challenges of hiring in New York, and the uncertainty surrounding GM Joe Shane’s future. The latter half becomes a lively debate and breakdown of an announcer “beef” between Don LaGreca and Islanders broadcaster Brendan Burke over catchphrase territory in hockey broadcasting, featuring playful banter and participation from Michael Kay and a call-in by Burke himself. The tone throughout is classic New York—humorous, sharp-edged, and always direct.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Honoring Veterans Day (00:54–04:44)

• Don and the crew reflect on the significance of Veterans Day, appreciating those who have served and sharing personal family connections.
  • Alan shares his father’s Navy story, underscoring the different eras of military service.
  • Peter humorously imagines how disastrous it would be if the three hosts had to defend the country themselves.
  • The trio jokes about “cosplaying” as sports fans versus comic fans—“Look at these nerds dressed up as stormtroopers…yet you’ll be basically everything except stirrups to go to a Yankee game” (Alan Hahn, 04:14).
• The deep gratitude is sincere, but the banter remains light and classic to the show’s tone.

Notable Quote:

“We don’t have to do that [serve in the military] because of people like my dad, people like your grandfather, people like all the veterans out there that didn’t have a choice.”
— Alan Hahn (02:07)

2. Opening Show Banter & Technical Difficulties (06:10–08:12)

• Alan arrives late due to Veterans Day parade traffic and jokes about his tardiness and camera issues (“You know what you look like right now? The one picture of Chernobyl after it melted down.” – Don LaGreca, 07:00).
• Lighthearted compare-and-contrast regarding the in-studio camera versus remote feeds.
• Rosenberg (from studio) jests about not getting proper credit for his commitment from online critics.

3. Harsh Reality of Coaching in New York (08:17–09:25)

• The hosts discuss the brutal media/fan scrutiny faced by recently fired Giants and Jets coaches, especially the invasive New York Post coverage.
• Peter quips about the “schlubberoo” look of dismissed coaches, captured in sad paparazzi shots.

Notable Quote:

“Does anybody tell you about this attractive moment when you come coach a New York team, the day after you’ve been let go you’re on the front page of the New York Post walking in the snow with a sweatshirt on, looking like a complete schlubberoo?”
— Peter Rosenberg (08:29)

4. The Giants’ Front Office Uncertainty (09:25–25:24)

Giants GM and Head Coach Controversy (09:25–21:11)

• Don and Alan refer to an article by Ian O’Connor (joining later) questioning GM Joe Shane’s job security, despite public statements about his ongoing role.
• Debate whether the Giants’ instability is worsened by owner John Mara’s illness and the lack of clear leadership.
• Discussion frames the front office as feeling victim to bad coaching (Don: “I’d be annoyed at the coaching because I’d be mad at what should be a better record with the roster management that we have had over the last couple of years.” – 11:41).
• The group critiques the potential dysfunction if the GM is hiring his replacement or a coach who may in turn fire him.

Notable Quote:

“It’s all going to get blown up at the end of the season…Shane is not on stable ground…can make even more rash decisions down the road?”
— Don LaGreca (10:55)

Memorable Exchange—Role Playing “Coach Hiring Call”:

• Alan and Don improvise a classic uncertain front office recruitment call, highlighting the awkwardness of unclear leadership.
  • Alan: “Are you going to be the GM?”
  • Don: “Right now, I’m that guy…but as you know, some things do change.”

Key Point: A head coach candidate will want to know who the GM is, and may be deterred by instability (“You want to know stability.” — Alan, 23:41).

Larger NFL Context (18:33–21:11)

• Giants are one of the first teams to fire their head coach this season, which gives them an advantage in searching for top replacements, but only if they act decisively.

Ian O’Connor’s Insight (19:40–20:06)

• Alan reads Ian O’Connor’s tweet: “I don’t believe Joe Shane is certain to be the Giants general manager next year…Ownership will make the final call on the coach in January, when I’d expect Shane to be reviewed again.”
• The group is unsettled by the implication that Giants’ organizational dysfunction could scare away prime head coach candidates.

5. Announcer “Beef” – The Broadcast Catchphrase Debate (29:31–44:50)

The Incident: Brendan Burke’s On-Air Line (29:31–32:30)

• Michael Kay brings up that Islanders broadcaster Brendan Burke “took a shot” at Don by using a version of Don’s “put the pitchforks away” Devils broadcast catchphrase after an Islanders win.
• Michael, Don, and Alan debate if it was an homage, a playful jab, or a stomp on brand territory.
• Don is bemused but finds the acknowledgment flattering, while Michael frames it as “turf war.”
• Peter suggests it’s a New York thing: “You want to be confused. Why can’t you just defend yourself?” (33:30)

Notable Quotes:

“Put the pitchforks away. This one belongs to the Islanders. Kick right in the cubes. Wow. I love me some Brendan Burke, but you can’t go against Don.”
— Michael Kay (31:02)

“It’s a moment, preplanned…This is: I’ve been doing this a lot longer than you, hold the catchphrases, my friend.”
— Michael Kay (31:25)

“I was totally honored by what you did. I got the biggest kick out of it.”
— Don LaGreca, addressing Brendan Burke (42:46)

The Debate Gets Meta (33:08–35:05)

• Michael and Alan push the “defend your turf” angle, while Don and Peter argue it’s an acknowledgment and good-natured.
  • Michael: “Don’t pee on my head and tell me it’s raining, okay? Just don’t.”
  • Alan: “The truth is, it was a great acknowledgment, him showing his respect.”

Brendan Burke Joins the Show (41:27–44:50)

• Burke calls in from the airport, defusing the tension and clarifying: “Don has come in, in year one for a franchise that’s been around since 1982 and done something unique and original, and it works and it’s great and it’s caught on…but it was in my head when they lost for the first time at home.” (41:41)
  • He jokes about the backstory and the inside rivalry.
  • Michael playfully says “I think he pumped you. That’s what I think.” (41:13)
  • Brendan: “This was a really long play to get to this one moment.” (44:45)
• The segment ends with everyone agreeing the back-and-forth was fun and a sign of professional respect, but with a classic NY radio edge about competition and territory.

Analogies & Banter on Broadcasting Rivalries

• References to how other NY sports broadcasts would feel if rival announcers “borrowed” signature phrases, e.g., Michael’s hypothetical “Put that in the books” after a Yankees win.
• Emphasis on the competitive but collegial nature of New York sports media.

6. Behind the Scenes: Show Culture, Callers, and NY Media (44:50–End)

• The episode closes out with some inside baseball on how Alan and Michael, both former newspaper guys, see competition in media—even when you’re friendly with rivals, you still want the story.
• Discussion of frequent caller Danny, who made jokes about Peter’s Halloween costumes across multiple shows, triggering a debate about listener boundaries and “yucks.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “You know what you look like right now? The one picture of Chernobyl after it melted down.”
  — Don LaGreca (07:00)

• “It’s all going to get blown up at the end of the season…Shane is not on stable ground…”
  — Don LaGreca (10:55)

• “It’s a moment, preplanned…This is: I've been doing this a lot longer than you, hold the catchphrases, my friend.”
  — Michael Kay (31:25)

• “I was totally honored by what you did. I got the biggest kick out of it.”
  — Don LaGreca, to Brendan Burke (42:46)

• Brendan Burke: “Don has come in, in year one for a franchise that’s been around since 1982 and done something unique and original, and it works and it’s great and it’s caught on.” (41:41)
  Michael Kay: “So, this was done out of jealousy. You ripping them.” (42:07, playfully)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:54–04:44 – Veterans Day reflections & sports fandom cosplay
• 06:10–08:12 – Parade traffic, camera banter, Rosenberg’s studio “effort”
• 08:17–09:25 – Coaching in NY, aftermath of being fired
• 09:25–25:24 – Giants’ head coach search, GM front office dysfunction, O’Connor’s report, role-played GM/head coach call (21:22)
• 29:31–32:30 – Announcer catchphrase “beef” introduction: Burke’s call
• 33:08–35:05 – Defending “broadcast turf” debate
• 41:27–44:50 – Brendan Burke calls in; meta-discussion and respectful resolution
• 44:50–End – NY sports media competition, closing banter

Tone & Language

• Authentic NY sports radio: irreverent, fast-paced, playful/combative, full of local color and inside jokes.
• Direct, sometimes self-deprecating, with an undercurrent of deep respect for the craft and the city.
• Episodes blend sports analysis with network and media personalities’ inside stories, making for lively listening even when discussing serious sports turmoil.

Summary for Listeners New to the Show

This episode offers a quintessential slice of New York sports radio life—mixing serious Giants turmoil analysis (with a focus on front-office uncertainty), a hilarious (but pointed) inside battle over broadcast style and catchphrases in hockey, and classic personalities clashing and connecting. Even if you’re not closely following the Giants or the Islanders/Devils media scene, you’ll get a masterclass in New York sports culture, where nothing is ever taken too seriously and everyone is always ready to defend their turf. The guest spot by Brendan Burke, navigating “catchphrase etiquette,” is must-hear radio for fans of broadcasting inside baseball.