Don, Hahn & Rosenberg

Episode: Hour 1 – LIVE at The NHL Shop (Dec 2, 2025)
Location: Manhattan West Plaza, NHL Shop
Special Guest: Bill Daly (NHL Deputy Commissioner)

Episode Overview

This lively hour of Don, Hahn & Rosenberg is broadcast live from the NHL Shop at Manhattan West Plaza. The crew—Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg—mix biting New York football commentary (focused on the Giants' latest woes) with their trademark humor, before welcoming NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly for an in-depth look at the state of hockey. Discussion weaves between New York sports dysfunction, honest takes on football organizational culture, and the impressive competitiveness of the modern NHL, plus the challenges facing Olympic hockey in Italy. All takes come with plenty of banter, side-riffs on mall pronunciations (Plaza vs. Plaza), and sharp but affectionate digs at each other.

Key Discussion Points

1. Opening Banter: Threesomes & “Plaza” vs “Plaza”

• The hosts kick off with classic chemistry and self-aware humor, debating nicknames, inside jokes, and odd openers.
• Fun side chat: Is it pronounced “Plaza” (NY/NJ style) or “Plaza” (elsewhere)? Each host tries to justify their regional take, with a tongue-in-cheek mock seriousness:
  • Don: "You don’t say Garden State Plaza, you say Garden State Plaza...I could be swayed." (02:03)
  • Peter: "Well, I think we swayed you already." (02:43)
• They joke about Lake Placid, movie confusions, and whether notables have heard of “Brazzers”—setting the comedic tone.

2. Giants Meltdown: Calls for Organizational Overhaul

“It’s enough for me to just say okay, I’m cool. Let’s just blow the whole thing up. That was embarrassing in all ways, shapes and forms…”

— Don (05:01)

- Dissecting the Giants' Dysfunction

• Previous night’s game called a new low: “That was embarrassing in all ways, shapes and forms…” (05:01)
• Alan: "I feel the exact same way. I tried to look at it logic...but...I’m having a difficult time believing...there’s anything of value to come back now.” (05:21)
• Don and Peter debate where the blame lies: talent acquisition, coaching, or culture?
• Peter explains the failed field goal: “The toe caught the turf before it reached the ball. It’s like he was just kicking the ground." (06:22)
  • Alan: “Even when I did the field goal kicking contest...the ball moved every time!” (07:42)
  • Peter: “Charlie Brown is seeing this and going, ‘My God.’” (07:56)

- Accountability and Culture

• Rosenberg challenges common wisdom: “So many people now are assuming that Joe Shane, a general manager, is the guy that sets the standard in the organization when we all know that’s not how it works in the NFL…” (10:08)
• Don disagrees: “It’s beyond the talent and the analytics...Are you the kind of player that can handle it? Are you going to help us win?” (12:08)

- Seminal Culture Shift: Tom Coughlin/Beckham Era

• Don identifies a franchise turning point: Coughlin letting Odell play unchecked to “save his job” (13:16).
• Peter: “TC was so disgusted he couldn’t even shake the man’s hand...You’re choosing the players over me.” (15:02)

- Front Office vs Coaching

• Sharp debate about roles in setting culture and responsibility for decline:
  • Don: “The easier answer...is to just say, let’s wipe it clean and let’s start over.” (17:48)
  • Hahn: “What you’re describing is more than just a ‘let’s try something new.’ It’s a new ownership group…We are changing.” (18:41)
  • Peter: “When you bring in a resume coach...the GM kind of works for him.” (22:28)

- Mike Kafka Hot Seat

• Kafka is ruled out as future head coach. The crew is unified: “That team was not prepared. They were not prepared physically. They were not prepared game plan-wise. Nothing was right.” (19:55)

3. Live at the NHL Shop: Welcoming Bill Daly

• Don introduces Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly for a wide-ranging interview.

- NHL’s Competitive Balance & Young Talent

• Don: “Seven points separate first place in the Metro and last place...Is it good? Is it because everyone’s good?” (28:26)
• Bill Daly: “The skill level of the players is at an all-time high...players coming into the league are coming in more skilled than they’ve ever been.” (29:40)

- Younger, More Visible League

• Bill: “We have five, six, seven superstar teenagers, which we’ve never had in our history...and superstar senior citizens pushing stories every night.” (30:00)
• Alan: “Sid the kid is a senior citizen...I watched him in my 20s, I’m 46!” (30:46)
• Bill on promoting youth: “We spend a lot of time...to make players more accessible, to open lines of communication with the fans.” (33:36)

- Olympics Infrastructure Problems

• Don: “As of right now, arenas aren’t done. We’ve got nine weeks. Is there going to be a place to play?” (34:27)
• Bill: “I think at the end of the day, they will be done...It’s going to be a kind of race to the finish.” (34:42)
• Alan and Peter probe: “Did it sound to you like there’s some, like, funny business going on...Guys are trying to make money off this and they’re not going to work until you pay them.” (48:26)

- Jerseys, Market Surprises, & Utah’s Merch Boom

• Alan: “Who are the teams that might surprise you about whose popularity...does really well?” (37:00)
• Bill: “Utah [merch] is moving very, very well...even last year when they didn’t have a nickname…” (38:18)

- Cap League and Tax Disparities

• Don: "How do you deal with that in a cap sport where, you know, $17 million is different in New York than it is in Dallas and Tampa...?" (38:40)
• Bill: “It’s a fact. It’s one of many factors...but with a good team, you typically draw better players.” (39:21)

- Ownership: Snoop Dogg Hypothetical

• Alan: “Is that sort of ownership...something that could be appealing?” (42:34)
• Bill: “Of course. You look for those crossover opportunities every chance you get...for the league and the popularity of the league.” (42:34)

- Commissioner Succession & League Progress

• Don: “Is that a job you’re looking forward to throwing your hat in the ring for?” (43:17)
• Bill Daly: “I don't even think about it to be honest. Gary still loves his job...I don’t expect he will [leave] anytime soon.” (43:17)
• On recovery post-lockout: “The progression of the sport and the business over that period has been pretty remarkable.” (44:26)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Don, on the Giants:
  “It’s not about sending eight, nine guys to the Pro Bowl. It’s about winning football games. But they don’t win. And why don’t they win? Because there’s something wrong with the culture...” (12:47)

• Peter (on the infamous field goal):
  “The toe caught the turf before it reached the ball. It’s like he was just kicking the ground.” (06:22)

• Alan, re: “Plaza” regional dispute:
  “My Garden State Plaza was Wheaton Plaza. I assure you, it’s rougher than Garden State.” (02:19)

• Bill Daly (on NHL future stars):
  “We have five, six, seven superstar teenagers, which we've never had in our history.” (30:00)

• Bill Daly (on Snoop Dogg the owner):
  “You look for those crossover opportunities every chance you get. It creates opportunity for the league and the popularity of the league...” (42:34)

• Peter (on Olympic venue corruption):
  “The only thing more corrupt than these is the NCAA. Let’s be honest.” (48:47)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00 – 02:51: Opening banter, show open, Plaza/Plaza debate
• 03:26 – 15:55: Giants flameout post-mortem, Giants culture debate, pivotal moments (Coughlin, Beckham)
• 17:18 – 23:13: GM vs. coach power/hiring debate, the Kafka hot seat, who really sets the standard
• 24:04 – 28:16: Introduce Bill Daly, NHL shop, NHL’s young stars and competitive balance
• 28:26 – 33:36: NHL’s global player base, youth movement, promotion of star players
• 34:27 – 41:39: Olympic venue crisis in Milan, international logistics, new markets/experimenting with outdoor games
• 42:34 – 44:26: Ownership diversity, Snoop Dogg hypothetical, voice of the league, NHL’s post-lockout recovery
• 47:53 – 49:55: Olympics infrastructure/corruption, NHL’s learning from past international experience
• 53:44 – 54:24: Callers/tease next hour, wrap up

Episode Tone & Closing Thoughts

• Full of self-deprecating humor, inside jokes, and familiar barbs between co-hosts, balanced by sharp, passionate New York sports analysis.
• The transition from football chaos to hockey optimism is seamless, with Bill Daly bringing calm, measured insight.
• Politics of sports ownership, coaching, and culture are unpacked with candor—no one is spared.
• The show remains easily accessible for casual listeners, yet meaty enough for hardcore fans.

If you missed it:
You missed a blend of relentless honesty about New York football, inside media jokes, a genuinely insightful state-of-the-NHL conversation with Bill Daly, and a snapshot of how three hosts can keep sports radio uniquely irreverent yet smart.