Don, Hahn & Rosenberg — Hour 1: Song of the Summer?

Date: August 19, 2025
Hosts: Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Podcast: ESPN New York

Overview

This episode kicks off with the hosts reveling in the early signs of fall and quickly pivoting to a range of topics, including the unpredictable New York weather, beach safety, NFL quarterback controversies (with a long discussion about Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson), the pitfalls of rushing rookie QBs, college football changes, and a spirited search for the elusive "Song of the Summer." As always, the show blends sports expertise with New York attitude and a flair for pop culture detours.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Weather & the New York Mood (00:55–05:12)

• Early Fall Feels: The hosts joke about the chilly August weather in New York, noting a crispness in the air and connecting it to the return of football and back-to-school energy.
  • Alan: “It felt like last night, walking the dogs... this feels like it’s time to go back to school. Like the chill in the air, a little crisp.” (01:03)
  • Peter: “That’s called summer in New York.” (02:16)
• Summer Recap: Debate on whether New York actually had much of a summer, with Peter bringing up his recent trip to France.
• Farmer’s Almanac & Hurricane Chat: Skepticism and some jokes about weather predictions, leading to safety advice for beachgoers due to dangerous riptides.
  • Peter: “People need to understand the ocean is undefeated. I do not play around with the ocean.” (04:38)

2. Shoutouts, Softball, and Sports Headlines (05:26–06:45)

• Annual Mark Sasso Softball Game: Announcement and banter about Don La Greca’s All-Stars and the upcoming charity game in Hawthorne, NJ.

3. John Wall and the Tragedy of Unfulfilled Talent (06:46–09:41)

• John Wall Retirement: Reflections on Wall’s unfulfilled potential due to injuries and being drafted by a struggling franchise.
  • Alan: “He was one of the fastest players basketball with the ball you’ve ever seen, ever.” (07:04)
  • Link to other 'high ceiling, low outcome' prospects, with discussion about the impact of organizations on player development (e.g., Trevor Lawrence, Zion Williamson).

4. Daniel Jones Named Colts Starter & NFL QB Pathways (09:41–13:53)

• Daniel Jones to Colts: Speculation on whether he can reinvent himself in Indy, paralleling other QBs like Baker Mayfield and Geno Smith.
  • Alan: “I think what we’ve seen out of Daniel Jones is the best you’ll see... There is no getting better from where he is.” (10:52)
• Athleticism vs. Processing: Explains the new era of "Instagram quarterbacks"—players whose athletic highlights eclipse their mental processing and decision-making, drawing comparisons to Zach Wilson and Anthony Richardson.
  • Alan: “The problem is another guy can’t process.” (13:07)
  • “It’s now the Instagram quarterback, the guys that just look the part until it’s time to actually process.” (13:26)
• Shador Sanders Praised: Noted as an example of a QB with both physical gifts and high-level football IQ.

5. Rookie QB Development—Patience vs. Hype (14:01–25:13)

• Colts’ Coach Shane Steichen’s Comments: On what went wrong with Anthony Richardson—suggesting it was too soon to start him.
  • Steichen: “I think everyone’s journey’s different, and for the first time, this is an opportunity for him to sit and learn.” (17:01)
• Why the Giants Should Wait on Jackson Dart: The perils of playing rookie quarterbacks too soon, using Richardson as a cautionary tale and highlighting the necessity for patience in the Giants’ strategy.
  • Alan: “You’ve got to hold your horses when it comes to Dart... you don’t need to put him out there when you know he’s not ready.” (24:17)
• Dan Orlovsky’s Take: Orlovsky argues that relying on a rookie's athleticism can stunt their long-term development as a pocket passer.
  • Orlovsky: “You actually want to develop a little bit of their game to be less reliant upon [athleticism]... It’s all about patience.” (20:48)
• Jackson Dart’s Maturity: Clip where Dart demonstrates humility and a learning mindset.
  • Dart: “The amount of knowledge in that quarterback room was... very humbling. So, you know, I’m just trying to... catch up on a lot of information.” (22:56)

6. Preseason NFL Observations—Burrow, Giants, and Commanders (27:28–34:45)

• Jaden Daniels’ Preseason Highlight: He rushes for a TD without attempting a pass; the hosts note the Commanders’ prudent decision to limit his snaps (28:22).
• Joe Burrow's Durability Concerns: Bengals’ poor O-line play and defensive struggles in preseason raise questions for the coming season.
• Giants-Commanders Season Opener: The unpredictable nature of rivalry games and the physicality the new Giants team might bring (30:19–31:34).

7. Preseason Standouts—Mitchell Tinsley & Roster Hopes (32:57–36:03)

• Mitchell Tinsley’s Breakout: Praise for his highlight-reel catches and a call for New York teams to keep an eye on him.
  • Alan: “The catches he was making last night—insane.... If he doesn’t make the roster... the Giants could certainly use more playmakers.” (33:57)
• Discussion of NFL’s ‘Victor Cruz Stories’: Preseason is mostly redeemed by seeing unknowns break out, referencing Victor Cruz and Wayne Chrebet.

8. Rosenberg's College Football Pledge (36:03–39:44)

• Peter Announces He’ll Try to Follow College Football More: Cites both career reasons (First Take appearances) and changes in home life (watching with his infant daughter).
  • Alan is skeptical: “‘I am not buying this at all.’” (35:54)
• Light-hearted “Where Do They Play?” Game: Teasing Peter on changing college football conference alignments (SEC, Big Ten, etc.)

9. Song of the Summer—Millennial Disconnect (26:26 & 43:11–50:24)

• Cardi B’s Jay Z “Imaginary Players” Cover: Discussing its merits but ruling it out as “Song of the Summer.”
  • Alan: “It’s a 4.0 to a 4.6.” (27:06)
  • Peter: “I don’t think it’s gonna be song of the summer.” (27:09)
• No 2025 “Song of the Summer”?: Both hosts are baffled after polling various focus groups (teens, college athletes) and finding no consensus hit for this summer’s anthem.
  • Alan: “There might not be a song this summer for the first time ever.” (48:22)
  • Peter: “None of them had an answer. It suggests to me there really isn’t one this year.” (50:14)
• Music Deep-Dive: The hosts reminisce about classic summer hits and debate favorite hip-hop samples from so-called "Yacht Rock"/Blue-Eyed Soul artists (e.g., De La Soul sampling Steely Dan, Common sampling Bobby Caldwell).
  • Alan: “That’s the one I was going to [pick]…both versions…that’s pretty good.” (46:12)
  • Peter: “Damn right, I did.” (47:05)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Summer in New York:
  • “We skipped spring... we're going to skip fall. Have you heard we could have snow in October?” — Alan (03:03)
• On Ocean Safety:
  • “The ocean ain’t to be played with... Water scares me.” — Peter (04:45)
• On Daniel Jones:
  • “He’s just that kind of player... two plays after he gives you an incredible athletic moment, he’ll give you a facepalm moment.” — Alan (11:20)
• On the “Instagram Quarterback” Era:
  • “It’s now the Instagram quarterback, the guys that just look the part until it’s time to actually process.” — Alan (13:26)
• On the Elusive Song of the Summer:
  • “We called all of our older kids. None of them had an answer... there might not be a song this summer for the first time ever.” — Alan (48:22)

Important Segment Timestamps

• Weather and Back-to-School Vibe: 00:55–03:13
• Beach Safety & Ocean Dangers: 04:36–05:12
• Softball Game & Don Lagreca Shoutout: 05:45–06:21
• John Wall/Drafted-By-Bad-Teams Discussion: 06:45–09:41
• Daniel Jones Colts Starter Discussion: 09:41–14:01
• Rookie QB Development/Anthony Richardson: 14:01–20:00
• Dan Orlovsky & Dart Development Philosophy: 20:45–22:56
• Jackson Dart’s Own Perspective (clip): ~22:56
• Jaden Daniels & Commanders Talk: 27:28–29:23
• Mitchell Tinsley Preseason Story: 32:57–36:03
• Song of the Summer Segment: 43:11–50:24

Tone & Style

The conversation is lively, banter-filled, and distinctly New York, combining witty sarcasm, sports nerdery, and cultural asides. Rosenberg’s references span sports, hip-hop, and family life; Hahn brings the sportswriter’s eye and a touch of sentimental nostalgia.

Summary Takeaways

• The New York summer feels strangely short, and the hosts embrace autumn’s arrival.
• NFL preseason prompts deep dives into the wisdom (or lack thereof) in how teams develop quarterbacks—“Patience is a virtue.”
• Daniel Jones’ fate in Indianapolis, juxtaposed with Anthony Richardson’s learning curve, is used to justify the Giants’ slow-play approach with Jackson Dart.
• College football realignment remains so chaotic even seasoned sports guys lose track—setting up Rosenberg’s half-serious vow to follow more closely.
• The hunt for a definitive 2025 song of the summer turns up empty, leading to a nostalgic celebration of older summer hits and samples.
• The episode balances genuine sports insight with irreverent, candid pop culture talk—a full New York experience.

For Full Content, Listen Between:

00:55–50:24 (ads, network promos, and outros not covered above)