Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 1: NBA v MLB Popularity (March 20, 2026)

Main Theme / Purpose

This episode dives deep into the debate over the relative popularity of Major League Baseball (MLB) versus the NBA in the U.S., sparked by recent television ratings and some bold takes from colleague Michael Kay. Alan Hahn, Don LaGreca, and Peter Rosenberg analyze what the numbers really mean, unpack regional versus national appeal, and comment on the evolution of American sports fandom. The show also keeps a running eye on March Madness, with heartfelt banter about their alma maters and March bracket drama, alongside their signature "Drop Madness" fun—a bracket of the trio’s favorite on-air soundbites.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. March Madness and the LIU Game

• Early Show Context (01:11 – 07:16)
  • The hosts discuss the struggles of LIU (Long Island University) as they get blown out by Arizona in the NCAA tournament's first round.
  • Alan Hahn reflects candidly on experiencing disappointment as an invested fan:

    "This is my first experience in it...It's the first time it kind of like, I gotta admit, kind of hurts. Kind of sucks." – Alan Hahn [05:17]

  • They discuss the disparity between big and small programs in college hoops, noting the physical mismatches for lower-seeded teams (e.g., LIU’s lack of height).
  • Don projects hope for LIU if Rod Strickland stays as coach, suggesting a path to better seeding and more favorable outcomes in future tournaments.

2. MLB vs. NBA Popularity: Is Baseball Really Back?

• The Michael Kay Argument & Rating Trends (07:16 – 19:37)
  • Michael Kay claims, based on World Baseball Classic (WBC) and recent World Series viewership, that MLB is surpassing the NBA as the #2 sport in America.
  • Peter Rosenberg and Alan Hahn push back, calling the stance "cherry picking" and contextualizing the numbers:

    "I'm not...it's cherry picking because in Oklahoma City, Indiana, those two markets playing in the Finals is akin to when we had the Diamondbacks and the Rangers..." – Alan Hahn [09:21]

  • The group points out that market size and big names (Judge, Ohtani, Dodgers, Yankees) drive MLB spikes, while NBA struggles when finals feature smaller-market teams.
  • They note that the NBA, despite "load management" and "tanking," still rivals MLB in viewership even during a “down” period.
  • Hahn and Rosenberg clarify that baseball’s appeal remains more regional, while the NBA retains greater national (and global) attention:

    "Baseball is a regional sport. It is not a national sport...The NBA is a far more national and even global sport because its stars become a bigger part of the story and the drama." – Alan Hahn [16:36]

  • The looming threat of an MLB lockout in 2027 could jeopardize baseball’s momentum.

3. Media Consumption & the Meaning of Popularity

• Debate Over What the Numbers Prove (19:04 – 21:19)
  • The hosts highlight how TV ratings alone don't capture fandom as many consume highlights and follow games on social media.
  • Rosenberg notes:

    "It's not a very current way to judge popularity." – Peter Rosenberg [19:37]

  • The only sport currently insulated from declining ratings is the NFL.
  • National sports talk shows discuss NBA far more than MLB, further supporting the argument for basketball’s broader relevance.

4. Drop Madness: A Bracket of Show Soundbites

• Signature Segment Launch (20:00 – 24:22)
  • The team kicks off their annual “Drop Madness,” pitting favorite show sound bites in a bracket format.
  • Features playful banter about the origins of various drops, inside jokes, and competitive predictions for winner.

5. Society, Social Media & Sports Insecurity

• Exploring the Roots of the Debate (28:32 – 40:14)
  • The conversation shifts to lament how social media and clickbait headlines inflame tribalism among fans.
  • Hahn observes:

    "We are an expert at reading headlines and turning them into opinions rather than getting the context." – Alan Hahn [28:32]

  • They muse on why fans tie personal identity to the popularity of “their” sport.
  • Don:

    "Why do you find your own self-worth based on what other people think about what you like? Why do we do that? I do it. I do it. Hockey." – Don LaGreca [35:04]

  • Discussion equates this dynamic with behaviors in politics and pop culture (e.g., streaming shows).
  • Rosenberg’s advice:

    "Be the 1,800 of your own life." – Peter Rosenberg [40:14]

6. Listener Interaction & Knicks Playoff Hope

• Caller Segment – Moose from Jamaica (44:41 – 47:32)
  • “Moose” calls in with a detailed statistical argument on the Knicks’ chances of winning the Eastern Conference.
  • The hosts analyze probabilities, referencing Basketball Reference’s simulations and trade friendly Knicks banter.

7. On Tattoos, Storytelling, and the Layers of Fandom

• [47:10 – 49:32]
  • A humorous tangent about tattoos commemorating New York sports figures, featuring:
    • Gina, a staffer, has a "Danny Dimes" (Daniel Jones) tattoo, which she plans to morph into an Eli Manning tribute if needed.
    • Playful references to hosts’ own tattoo plans and anecdotes.

8. Remembering Chuck Norris & Social Media Reactions

• Cultural Commentary (27:06 – 32:17)
  • Discussion on Chuck Norris’s passing, the legacy of celebrity “jokes,” and social media’s role in spreading misinformation or out-of-context hot takes.
  • Hahn:

    "Let's celebrate a life, right?...These [Chuck Norris] jokes and the memes and all that stuff about him. They'll live forever, right?" – Alan Hahn [31:12]

  • Commentary on the tendency for headlines, not actual content, to drive outrage or misunderstanding.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the significance of seeding and “Cinderella” teams in March Madness:

  "There is a big difference, guys...that 15 and 16 has always been different than everything. Yeah, there's a big gap between 13, 14, and then it widens even more for 15 and 16."
  – Don LaGreca [05:37]

• On star power and national reach:

  "You travel around with the Dodgers, you're going to get Dodgers fans in all the buildings you go to on the road. When the Lakers and the Knicks travel...half the building are Knick fans. Half the building could be Laker fans. It's a real thing."
  – Alan Hahn [11:16]

• Summing up the psychology of sports tribalism:

  "Why does your sport have to be the best? Does that make you feel special that your sport's number one or your sport's better than the other guy's sport? I love hockey. If nobody else loves it, boy, they're really spending a lot of money on just me."
  – Don LaGreca [35:04]

• On measuring modern sports popularity:

  "It's not a very current way to judge popularity."
  – Peter Rosenberg [19:37]

• Advice for the era of hot takes and bandwagons:

  "Be the 1,800 of your own life."
  – Peter Rosenberg [40:14]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• LIU/Arizona tournament blowout, heartbreak, and hope: [01:11 – 07:16]
• MLB vs. NBA TV ratings, market analysis & Michael Kay take: [07:16 – 19:37]
• TV ratings and fandom nuance, rise of social media sports punditry: [19:04 – 21:19]
• Drop Madness tournament starts: [20:00 – 24:22]
• Social media clickbait debate, celebrating Chuck Norris: [27:06 – 32:17]
• Sports insecurity & why we seek validation as fans: [35:04 – 40:14]
• Listener “Moose” Knicks playoff odds & sports tattoos banter: [44:41 – 49:32]

Overall Tone & Format

The episode features the classic blend of heartfelt New York sports fandom, honest skepticism, playful banter, and thoughtful social commentary. The trio bounce between stats, storytelling, and cultural critique—never taking themselves (or the debate) too seriously but always digging for what's real beneath the headlines and rivalry. If you’re a passionate sports fan, or just curious why these debates recur every March, this hour provides sharp conversation, laughs, and insight—no matter your favorite sport.