Podcast Summary: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – "Hour 1: Harbaugh Sweepstakes"
Date: January 8, 2026
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Podcast: ESPN New York
Episode Overview
The trio kicks off the hour with a deep dive into the swirling rumors around John Harbaugh's next move, especially the reported competition between the New York Giants and the Miami Dolphins in the so-called "Harbaugh Sweepstakes." The conversation blends in candid Giants analysis, listener calls with trademark banter, some Knicks and pop culture digressions, and lively discussions about sports media, movie-watching habits, and more.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Don's Trip to Pittsburgh and Personal Updates
- Don checks in from Pittsburgh, discussing the weather and his routine ahead of the game. Alan and Peter tease him about staying healthy and reminiscing about now-defunct local papers.
- Alan’s looking forward to a “yacht rock” night (02:01), with humorous confusion about what “yacht rock” actually means.
2. Knicks Victory Recap
- The hosts react to the Knicks' much-needed 123-111 win over the LA Clippers, highlighting Jalen Brunson’s return to form and Karl-Anthony Towns’ performance.
- Alan: “Towns is the real story. He… looked like the start of the fourth quarter, really, the game turned because he turned it on.” (03:08)
- Some wry banter about Towns’ attitude and shot selection, with Alan and Peter poking fun at his postgame comments.
3. The Harbaugh Sweepstakes: Giants vs. Dolphins
- Miami Dolphins Enter the Race (04:29)
- ESPN's Jordan Rana joins, emphasizing the strong connection between John Harbaugh and Miami owner Stephen Ross, citing their Michigan ties and the potential for Harbaugh to select his own GM.
- Jordan Rana: “The Miami Dolphins entered the chat and they are now probably considered the front runners.” (04:29)
- Major pull for the Dolphins: Harbaugh could have “carte blanche” on rebuilding, including choosing a new quarterback ((05:06)).
- Giants’ Dilemma and Organizational Philosophy
- Alan and Don mull over whether the Giants should “clear the decks” and allow Harbaugh his choice of GM, with Don noting that Giants’ tradition may be at odds with making such a move.
- Don: “If you want John Harbaugh, then you got to play ball. And if you’ve got other teams that are willing to give him the farm, then you’ve got to think about the farm plus, don’t you?” (08:18)
- Discussion of Giants’ past decisions, whether Joe Shane should be blocked or dismissed as GM if Harbaugh insists on his terms.
- Alan: “If that’s what it takes, I think that’s gotta be on the table.” (08:28)
- Alan and Don mull over whether the Giants should “clear the decks” and allow Harbaugh his choice of GM, with Don noting that Giants’ tradition may be at odds with making such a move.
- Optics and the Giants’ Reputation
- The crew dissects the importance of optics versus results, noting that the Giants haven’t extended Shane, leaving flexibility for a Harbaugh move.
- Don: “How foolish would it be that Joe Shane’s gonna stand in a way of you getting your head coach when ... you didn’t even give him an extension?” (09:53)
- Debate on whether the Giants’ “dignity” and tradition still hold sway after years of poor results.
4. Is Miami an Attractive Job?
- Peter voices skepticism about the Dolphins, calling them “very unattractive” due to being stuck with an uncertain quarterback and a long history of underperformance.
- Peter: “I sort of like that the Giants aren’t the ... ‘Oh my God, we’ll give you anything you want’ kind of franchise.” (13:36)
- Don counters, urging a middle ground between rigid tradition and desperation.
- Alan observes that the Giants need to do more to “sell” their value to candidates at the interview stage, given the competition across the league. (16:14)
5. Lively Listener Segment: Harbaugh Name Mishaps & More
- Callers rib the hosts (and sports radio culture) for the notorious mispronunciations (“Harbaugh” as “Harbog”), with a string of jokes and Long Island references.
- Peter: “Harbog sounds like a town in Long Island.” (17:28)
- Gilberto’s Call brings comic relief, mixing correct pronunciation, zany speculation about Harbaugh’s wife not wanting to move to Miami, and show inside jokes. (20:02)
- Peter on Gilberto: “Nothing that he said in that call respectfully made sense.” (22:08)
6. Pop Culture Sidebar: Yacht Rock & Don's Technical Difficulties
- Post-call banter as Alan shares the likely “yacht rock” gig setlist for his evening.
- Don is lampooned for forgetting his mic stand on the road, drawing parallel to Phil Donahue’s onstage presence. (24:38)
- Alan: “I can count the boogers in your nose. Okay, like we—you definitely need it at home. Straight up.” (46:52)
7. Movie-Going and Guilty Pleasures
- The hosts get into which movies they've watched compulsively. Don claims to have watched Goodfellas 120+ times and Reservoir Dogs “at least a hundred.”
- Peter: “Don has spent 18 days watching Goodfellas.” (43:12)
- “Guilty pleasure” fess-ups: Don's is Biodome, Alan’s is Pretty Woman, Peter loves romcoms like Fools Rush In. (47:19-49:02)
- Don: “I acknowledge that...everything is—it’s awful, but for whatever reason, I get caught up.” (47:34)
8. Fun with Pronunciations & College Football Coaches
- Extended riff on how callers and relatives mangle famous sports names (Coughlin/Coglin, etc.).
- Peter: “Is there a more unlikable group percentage wise than big time college football head coaches?” (32:33)
- The idea of “Top 10 D nozzle coaches” is floated, with Lane Kiffin as a favorite villain (33:42).
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Giants’ rigidness:
“If you want John Harbaugh, then you got to play ball. And if you've got other teams that are willing to give him the farm, then you've got to think about the farm plus, don't you?”
— Don, (08:18) -
On Miami job's appeal:
“There are several things that make Miami very unattractive... you're locked into a quarterback who is very unsure, the history of the franchise now for a very long time not being very good...”
— Peter, (13:36) -
On watching movies: “Don has spent 18 days watching Goodfellas.”
— Peter, after calculating Don's obsessive viewing, (43:12) -
On guilty pleasure movies:
“If you pay attention, I always use it as my example. It’s my go-to. And that’s Biodome…The writing, the casting, the plot, everything is—it’s awful, but for whatever reason, I get caught up.”
— Don, (47:34)
“Pretty Woman’s on. I’m never not gonna watch that.”
— Alan, (48:04)
Timestamps for Major Segments
- Don checks in/banter: 00:00–02:11
- Knicks recap: 02:47–04:10
- Harbaugh to Giants/Dolphins; Jordan Rana segment: 04:10–06:55
- Giants management philosophy, optics talk: 06:55–14:45
- Is Miami really that attractive?: 13:36–16:14
- On the Giants’ “sell” job: 16:14–17:04
- Listener call: Harbaugh pronunciations, Gilberto: 17:04–22:55
- Pop culture banter, ‘yacht rock’ setlist, Don’s mic drama: 24:28–27:30; 38:01–41:00
- Movie-watching debate and guilty pleasures: 41:00–48:08
Recurring Themes & Tone
The conversation is loose, meandering, and loaded with inside jokes—a mix of informed New York sports talk and comedic radio rhythm. The hosts balance sharp commentary (especially about Giants ownership and coaching searches) with pop culture digressions and a self-aware slacker wit.
Useful For...
- Keeping up on the latest in the Giants’ coaching saga and NFL hot seats
- Understanding New York sports fan sentiment
- Enjoyment for fans of sports radio camaraderie, inside jokes, and nostalgia
End of Hour 1
(Skip to later hours for Knicks deep-dives and more listener interactions.)