Don, Hahn & Rosenberg — Hour 1: Michael Kay & Knicks–Thunder

March 5, 2026 | ESPN New York | Hosts: Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg, Don La Greca | Special Appearance: Michael Kay

Episode Overview

This episode mixes classic banter, station inside jokes, and sharp New York sports insight, with a special pop-in from Michael Kay. The show covers broadcast inside baseball, celebrity privacy, Knicks-Thunder reactions, and broader NBA debates about the regular season's true value.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Michael Kay Joins in Studio: Dynamics and Show Evolution

• The show opens with lively debate about whether Michael Kay should be an official guest host and the playful politics of show branding.
  • Rosenberg jokes: “He claims that if we call it the Michael K show till 6:30, he'll stay the entire show.” (01:17)
  • Kay challenges: “But then Don also said…the one who does not want you here is Peter.” (01:26)
  • Alan insists he has “zero sensitivities” to show transitions, poking fun at the revolving host culture: “Michael wants to stay, I will see myself out. Like, I win, I win.” (01:47)
• Joke about needing a laugh track as a solo host: “You need somebody, you need a control room to just open up the key and laugh in your ear.” — Michael Kay (02:43)
• The loose, locker-room banter features jokes about vacation time, age, and appearance, with Michael Kay discussing his wife's (Jody's) age — “She's 61. She'll be 62 May 2nd.” (18:17) — and the panel riffing about hair color, skincare, and aging on TV.

2. Celebrity Privacy and Athlete Public Life

• The group discusses the scrutiny Aaron Rodgers' wife receives:
  • Michael Kay: “You marry Aaron Rodgers. What do you think you're signing up for—anonymity?” (05:00)
  • Alan Hahn tracks Rodgers’ celebrity history, referencing Danica Patrick, Olivia Munn, and Shailene Woodley, then adds: “Don’t pretend like all of a sudden you're backing out. And now no one should care.” (06:09)
  • Rosenberg: “He's not doing any favors by keeping it a secret… if he had just said, this is my wife, there would be less curiosity. But now there's even more…” (05:12)
• Discussion on Pat McAfee's rise, mixing respect and envy:
  • “He gets everybody. It’s crazy.” — Alan Hahn (07:14)
  • Kay appreciates McAfee’s success: “The guy’s got the formula. Everybody in the world goes on his show.” (06:42)

3. Defining "Nozzles" in Sports: Ego, Coaches, and Media

• Continued running gag about "top five nozzles in sports," i.e., most aggravating or self-important figures.
  • Alan Hahn references Tim Tebow (for "tight shirt on in the rain" vibes), Draymond Green, and argues many college basketball and football coaches belong: “College basketball coaches, too. They're in there.” (08:40)
  • Don La Greca: “But the kid [student paper writer] won that one. The rare bully nozzle.” (08:56)
• Michael Kay’s punchline: “I don't know if, you know, this kid left school. Heading to Mexico. Nobody knows where he is.” (09:11) — a humorously absurd escalation.

4. Knicks–Thunder Reactions: What Does This Game Mean?

• Extended breakdown of the Knicks’ nail-biter vs. the Thunder, with a passionate look at fans/media trying to gauge "what matters" in the regular season.
• Game Analysis:
  • Rosenberg: “Great game last night between the Knicks and the Thunder. Good back and forth... it lived up to the expectations.” (31:04)
  • Don: “It had a presence, it had a moment… Fat Joe got up. Everybody was losing it. And it got the crowd from being the typical, 'let’s just enjoy' to 'oh, we hate them now.'” (31:22)
  • Alan Hahn: "The Knicks… scored 40 in the third quarter… going toe to toe… there was a big time feel of, 'they’re going to pull this off.'" (32:50)
  • The show's consensus: The team’s toughness is finally visible, even as the loss stings.
• Debating Regular Season Value:
  • Rosenberg rails against “pick and choose” analysis: “I’m just tired of these games getting used for whatever you want... does it matter or does it not matter?” (36:47)
  • Don: “Every game has to have some sort of takeaway… confidence comes from demonstrated performance and you're giving Detroit confidence.” (47:06)
  • Alan Hahn notes improved record vs. top teams: “Last year, 10 and 20 against top six… this year they're 16 and 10.” (48:05)
• Big Picture: The panel agrees that Knicks fans can’t ignore bad losses (like to the Pistons) while hyping tough wins/losses, and that the path to the Finals may pit NY against teams like Boston, Detroit, or OKC.

5. NBA Playoff Outlook & Celtics Threat

• Caller David and the hosts dissect the landscape:
  • Alan Hahn: “If Tatum… is playing like Tatum… they're the favorite [in the East]. Sorry Detroit.” (52:09)
  • Don: “They're not as deep as they once were… if you wanted to put money on them, I have a buyer beware.” (52:45)
  • Discussion of gauntlet stretch, playoff seeding, and the importance of finishing strong to avoid bad first-round matchups.
  • “You’re not the little engine that could anymore. You’re in the conversation.” — Rosenberg, discussing the Knicks stepping up to contenders. (48:29)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Solo Hosting & Laughter:
  “You don’t know if you’re funny… you need a control room to just open up the key and laugh in your ear.” — Michael Kay (02:32)
• On Aaron Rodgers' Celebrity:
  “Don’t pretend like all of a sudden you’re backing out. And now no one should care.” — Alan Hahn (06:09)
• On “Nozzles”:
  “The rare bully nozzle.” — Don Hahn (08:56)
• About Knicks Fans’ Emotional Swings:
  “I want to take them as they come… I don’t want there to be an excuse every time your team loses and then every time your team wins it’s ‘oh, my God, we’re going to win the championship.’ That’s just so frustrating about basketball right now.” — Rosenberg (40:04)
• About NBA Standings:
  “You’re not the little engine that could anymore. You’re in the conversation.” — Rosenberg (48:29)

Important Timestamps

• 00:30 – 03:10: Hosts riff on Michael Kay's cameo, show branding, and the need for a laugh track.
• 04:38 – 06:30: Celebrity, privacy, and Aaron Rodgers’ wife debate.
• 06:42 – 08:19: Pat McAfee’s media dominance and envy/respect discussion.
• 07:46 – 09:14: "Nozzle" power rankings and coach/media personality critiques.
• 31:04 – 40:00: Knicks–Thunder postgame analysis, meaning of regular season results, and fan/media expectations.
• 45:00 – 50:30: The playoff gauntlet, impact of current streak, Mitchell Robinson’s health, and expectations for the closing stretch.
• 52:00 – 53:00: Celtics as a new/returning favorite with Tatum’s return.

Tone & Format

The episode is classic NYC sports radio—sarcastic, self-aware, deeply filled with inside jokes and time-worn banter. Each host brings both humor and hard-edged basketball takes, and Michael Kay’s presence adds to that iconic feel. It’s as much about the culture of sports broadcasting and fandom as it is about the Knicks or NBA specifics.

For New Listeners

This installment is perfect for those who love unscripted, honest New York sports talk—where taking shots, breaking down big games, and waxing about the state of media (and aging) all mix with genuine basketball insight. Expect playful ribbing, savvy playoff analysis, and the ongoing debate: what really matters in the NBA regular season?