Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – "Hour 1: Mock Madness"

ESPN New York – November 19, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of "Don, Hahn & Rosenberg" dives into the follies, frustrations, and forecasts of New York sports fandom, with a hefty emphasis on the New York Jets' future and the pitfalls of NFL draft desperation. The trio – Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg – deliver their signature blend of sharp sports analysis, wit, and behind-the-scenes banter as they dissect mock drafts, question team management strategies, debate coaching philosophies, and riff on everything from quarter-zips to the cultural impact of Miami Vice. Caller interactions punctuate the hour, bringing authentic New York fan perspectives to bear.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Alan's Morning in Florida

• [01:19] Alan shares that he managed to enjoy the pool in Florida before Devils practice—describing his makeshift balcony studio with an ocean view for the day’s show.
• “Our time of arrival in the pool is a little bit before 10:00am...wanted to take advantage.” – Alan
• Light banter about remote broadcasting, Florida weather, and packing technology for road games.

2. Mock Draft Madness and Jets Meltdown

A. Matt Miller’s Mock Draft & Jets Critique

• [04:33] Don vents about a too-early mock draft suggesting the Jets should trade a trove of picks to move up for a quarterback not even considered elite.
• Don labels this strategy “what bad franchises do,” and rails against the idea of mortgaging the future out of desperation rather than conviction.
• “You don’t have to do that in this draft, with these draft picks, you don’t have to do that. But what he’s suggesting is they have to do it because that’s what bad, desperate franchises do that are more worried about perception.” – Don [06:20]
• Alan brings in an analogy about desperate marriage choices, emphasizing bad decision-making under pressure:
  “I gotta get married. It’s 3 o'clock in the morning at the bar... Some last call, somebody come home with me so we can get married. That’s what bad franchises do.” – Alan [07:26]

B. When to Go All-In: The Case for a True Franchise QB

• If Jets GM Muji (Darren Muji) is genuinely sold on a quarterback, Don is OK with using draft capital—but only with true conviction, not just out of positional need.
• Reference to Ernie Accorsi’s careful scouting of Eli Manning; great teams move decisively for the right player, not just “because we need a QB.”
• “You gotta know that’s your guy and you gotta have the stones to go, nope, I’m letting it go. No, I’m not drafting him.” – Don [16:22]

C. Pool and Darts: “Poke and Hope” Approach

• Alan draws an analogy to pool:
  “There’s a saying... If you don’t have a shot, you just wail on the cue ball and hope something goes in. That’s not what you want your general manager doing.” [08:54]
• Emphasis on planning, not randomness, in successful franchises.

D. The Value of Draft Capital

• Don cites advice from Mike Tannenbaum:
  “I would draft the quarterback every year in the draft until you find one, till you get your guy.” – Don [13:31]
• Alan underscores that picks have specific value and should be invested in conviction, not perception.

3. Fan Calls and New York Realities

• [31:46] Several callers weigh in, echoing the hosts’ skepticism on mortgaging the future for an uncertain quarterback, suggesting instead hoarding or leveraging picks for better opportunities.
• “What if they just hold on to their picks, pass them forward to other teams, and build up more capital for the following year?” – Tony, Caller [32:20]

4. Fashion Interlude: The Quarter-Zip Tangent

• [17:47] Spirited debate on the merits and quirks of the quarter-zip sweater, team-branded apparel, and Disney wardrobe choices.
• “You look uncircumcised that way.” – Alan (on zipping up the quarter-zip fully) [18:40]
• John Winthrop, their producer, is ribbed for his extensive Disney and company-issued apparel collection.

5. Pop Culture: Miami Vice & TV Blind Spots

• [26:28] Lively nostalgia about Miami Vice’s influence on TV and music in the ‘80s. Alan confesses he’s never watched it, prompting discussion of how phases of life lead to gaps in pop culture knowledge.
• “Miami Vice was a turning point of television. I mean, it was like a big cultural deal because they started making it feel cinematic instead of just a TV show.” – Caller Danny [34:54]

6. Coaching, Media, and New York Pressure

A. Tyrod Taylor Named Giants QB

• [38:28] Excerpts from Giants coach Aaron Glenn, who tersely justifies his choice:
  “Because I wanted to.”
• Rosenberg and Don riff on the pitfalls of coach-media relations, stressing openness and accountability.
• “Your thing is bigger than all of ours. It’s the biggest one. Show it to the room, drop it on the table...But just answer, man.” – Rosenberg [39:25]

B. Media Relations: Is Openness Important?

• Alan and Don argue that fans do care about injury and personnel updates; transparency not only builds trust, but limits speculation and negative press.
• “None of them are going to have his thoughts... There are people out there that do care. You’re not one of those people. But can’t you understand there are people that do care about what he thinks about his quarterback?” – Alan [49:28]

C. The Unique Beast of New York Sports

• Don reflects on the real, relentless pressure of New York sports media, noting many coaches only realize how tough it is after leaving.

7. Knicks and Miscellaneous Sports News

• [44:31] Discussion of the Knicks-Mavericks matchup, Jalen Brunson’s injury status, and questions about Knicks player development.
• [45:27] Caller wonders about Jalen Brunson’s playing style contributing to injuries.
• Talk on former player T.J. Warren and the Knicks’ bench depth.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “That’s what bad franchises do... I’m against this 100%.” – Don LaGreca [07:23]
• “You gotta have the stones to say, that’s not my guy, that’s not the guy.” – Don [15:39]
• “You look uncircumcised that way.” – Alan Hahn, on quarter-zips [18:40]
• “When I zipped that up, I felt uncircumcised.” – Don LaGreca [18:45]
• “Your thing is bigger than all of ours. It’s the biggest one. Show it to the room, drop it on the table.” – Peter Rosenberg, mocking coach bravado [39:25]
• “I gotta get married. It’s 3 o'clock in the morning at the bar... That’s what bad franchises do.” – Alan Hahn [07:26]
• “Miami Vice was a turning point of television... it was like a big cultural deal because they started making it feel cinematic.” – Caller Danny [34:54]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:19–03:15: Alan’s pool morning and remote setup in Florida
• 04:33–16:49: Jets’ draft strategy, mock draft criticism, franchise-building philosophies
• 17:47–23:07: Quarter-zips, fashion, John’s Disney apparel
• 26:28–31:42: Miami Vice/80s TV nostalgia and callers’ takes on sports-cultural gaps
• 31:46–36:02: Fan calls about Jets’ picks, Newsday’s sports call list
• 38:28–41:34: Giants’ QB change, coach-media relations
• 44:31–46:46: Knicks vs. Mavericks, Jalen Brunson’s status, concerns about player injuries

Tone & Style

The signature tone is equal parts irreverent, insightful, and openly New York: candor, wisecracks, and authentic sports talk. The hosts aren’t shy about calling out dumb decisions or poking fun at themselves, the teams, or each other—making this episode both a geeky breakdown for hardcore fans and an engaging listen for casuals who love the eccentricities of sports culture in the city.