Don, Hahn & Rosenberg

Hour 1: The 40-20 Rule

Date: February 11, 2026
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Theme: New York Sports, Knicks Postgame, The 40-20 NBA Championship Rule, Reminiscence, and Rock Song Debates

Episode Overview

This hour blends classic New York sports banter and sharp Knicks analysis with pop culture reflections, camaraderie, and poignant reminders about health. The show pays tribute to James Van Der Beek following his passing, features a deep dive into the NBA's 40-20 rule for championship contenders, and builds anticipation for a heated debate about the greatest rock songs of all time.

Key Segments & Insights

1. Studio Chatter, Michael Kay Stories & Charlie Kay's Broadcasting Aspirations

[00:46 – 03:41]

• The hosts open with lighthearted teasing about their morning routines, office snacks, and on-air camaraderie, poking fun at each other for affectionate moments ("You look good... This has never happened in radio." – Peter, [01:18]).
• Discussion around Michael Kay's son, Charlie, showing interest in radio:
  • Charlie wanted to join Kay on air; considered responsible for declining to read gambling/alcohol ads ([02:31]).
  • The crew muses about "Charlie K" being a classic athlete name and envisioning his sports logo ([03:20]).

2. REMEMBERING JAMES VAN DER BEEK:

[03:41 – 10:01]

• Immediate reaction to James Van Der Beek's passing (noted for “Varsity Blues” and “Dawson’s Creek”):
  • Hosts recall his underrated contributions to sports films (“Super underrated sports actor.” – Peter, [03:58]).
  • Sober discussion about the importance of preventative health screens—with genuine, unscripted advice:
    • “Just go… it's time to put away the stigma and the giggles... just get it done.” – Alan, [04:25]
    • Health care in America is critiqued: “This country and the way we handle health is disgusting. And it’s a for profit business when it shouldn't be...” – Peter, [04:31]
    • The hosts normalize colonoscopies and share stories about their procedures—turning a somber topic into inclusive, relatable humor:
      • “It’s the best nap [you’ll get]!” – Alan, [05:13]
      • “I always looked at [it] like a spa day... you get the day off work...” – Don, [06:12]
      • “You go, you get a feather, they’re going to tell you, you know, count backwards from 100... you’ll get to, like, 98. You're out.” – Don, [06:56]
    • The conversation closes with a call to get screened earlier, especially if there's family risk.

3. NBA’s 40-20 RULE & KNICKS IMPLICATIONS:

[10:11 – 27:45]

Setting Up the Rock Songs Debate Tease

• The hosts preview their upcoming Top 5 greatest rock songs segment, emphasizing the need for universally recognized, influential tracks ([10:38]).

Knicks-Pacers Loss: Trends, Stats, and the 40-20 Rule

[12:34 – 19:45]

• Alan and Don dissect the Knicks’ recent overtime loss to Indiana and shift focus to a key NBA stat for championship contenders:
  • The 40-20 Rule (Phil Jackson Era Onward):
    • “You have to have won 40 games before losing 20. All but four of the NBA champions since then have done it.” – Alan, [14:27]
    • The hosts try to recall the exceptions, highlighting Miami (2006), Detroit (2004), Milwaukee in the COVID-shortened season, and possibly Houston ([15:59]).
    • Don emphasizes: “It’s a stat you can’t ignore… only three teams have done it [in an 82-game season].” [26:18]
  • Current season implications: Only a small handful of teams (OKC, Detroit, San Antonio) are on pace. The Knicks are not among them ([18:17]).
  • Vegas still favors the Knicks out of the East, but the numbers say otherwise ([19:57]).
  • Lively debate on whether this year will be an “outlier” for the rule due to league parity ([22:37]).
  • Podcast listeners get a historical run-through of Knicks seasons where this statistical trend rang true, adding context to championship hopes ([21:04]).

Listener Reflection:

• “Good teams...show you over the period of their first 60 games who they are.” – Peter, [26:57]

4. Cultural Reflection: Revisiting Bowie & Prince

[31:02 – 33:26]

• A segue from trends in sports to trends in music consumption:
  • Reflection on how social media allows audiences to discover/catch up on artists they missed in their prime.
  • “Of all the things we hate the Internet and social media for...the one redeeming thing is you can go back and connect to things you missed in real time.” – Alan, [33:26]
  • Hosts confess to only appreciating iconic musicians like David Bowie and Prince in retrospect: “People are honest, which they rarely are, there’s a lot of holes musically that everybody goes through...” – Don, [33:02]

5. Debating Lists, Theatrics, and the Art of the Rock Song Argument

[35:05 – 38:40]

• Tension and competitiveness surface as the guys finalize their rock song lists. Alan admits to over-preparing, Peter worries about Don’s judging (“Don—arbiter of all things rock and roll—will be like, 'you’re garbage for that selection.'” – Peter, [35:19]).
• Discussion on how to present song selections: Play first notes for recognition, or build suspense with narrative ([37:22]).
• The segment teases the depth of thought and fun banter for the following hour’s music debate.

6. Switching Back: Knicks, NBA Trends, and Fan Q&A

[44:59 – 48:53]

• Caller “Flavio” asks if the Knicks’ loss to the Pacers is cause for concern, noting defensive lapses and lack of urgency ([44:59]).
  • Alan notes: “Going into the game, defense was better...Indiana...this is Knicks-Pacers...they locked in. Knicks gave up early open threes...couldn’t put out the fire.” ([45:49])
  • Don is frustrated by the lack of finish in overtime: “Just be the better team for five minutes—and they couldn’t.” ([48:04])
• Another caller, Spike, offers rock song picks and Knicks playoff scenarios, sparking predictions and more Knicks discussion.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “This country and the way we handle health is disgusting. And it’s a for profit business when it shouldn’t be.” – Peter Rosenberg, [04:31]
• “You’re going to have the best sleep of your life.” – Don La Greca, [06:02]
• “All but four NBA champions since [the merger] have won 40 before losing 20...That’s huge.” – Don La Greca, [14:40]
• “Good teams show you...who they are.” – Peter Rosenberg, [26:57]
• “Of all the things we hate the Internet for...the one redeeming thing is you can go back and connect to things you missed in real time.” – Alan Hahn, [33:26]
• “Don—arbiter of all things rock and roll—will be like, 'you’re garbage for that selection.'” – Peter Rosenberg, [35:19]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:46 – 03:41]: Michael Kay, Charlie K aspirations, on-air ribbing
• [03:41 – 10:01]: James Van Der Beek tribute, health care, colonoscopy encouragement
• [10:11 – 12:34]: Rock song segment preview and setup
• [12:34 – 27:45]: Knicks-Pacers postmortem, the 40-20 rule in NBA history, current contenders
• [31:02 – 33:26]: Cultural reflection on music discovery, Bowie and Prince
• [35:05 – 38:40]: Rock list banter, presentation debate
• [44:59 – 48:53]: Knicks defense Q&A, overtime woes, playoff speculation

Overall Tone & Style

The episode is charged with trademark New York edge: quick banter, candid opinions, and irreverent humor balanced with genuine moments (in health, remembrance, and sports passion). The camaraderie and competitiveness among the hosts, especially around sports, list-making, and cultural knowledge, create a lively, engaging listen.

For Listeners Who Missed It

• Expect a blend of Knicks concerns, NBA analytics, and classic pop culture.
• Don’t miss the moving, real-talk segment on health in memory of James Van Der Beek.
• Prepare for the next episode’s Top 5 Rock Songs segment—set up with plenty of passion and friendly rivalry.

Skip directly to:

• [03:41] Tribute & health talk on Van Der Beek
• [12:34] Knicks’ 40-20 rule discussion
• [31:02] Music and pop culture reflection
• [44:59] Callers & further Knicks insights