Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 2: Dart & Fraud Alert Friday

Date: November 21, 2025
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Podcast: ESPN New York

Overview

The second hour of Don, Hahn & Rosenberg is a quintessential blend of New York sports talk, passion, and humor, covering two main threads:

1. A spirited debate over whether Giants rookie QB Jackson Dart is truly "The Guy."
2. The hilariously judgy and always-popular “Fraud Alert Friday,” where listeners air their sports fandom insecurities—and get judged.

Amid lively banter, the trio wrestle with the perils of crowning a franchise quarterback too early and dissect the psychology of fan allegiance and "fraudulence" in sports. The tone is classic DHR: fast, self-aware, playful, and rooted in New York fandom.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Is Jackson Dart the Giants’ Franchise QB?

(Timestamps: 00:34 – 08:34)

• Skepticism & Hype:

  • Rosenberg voices measured hesitation at anointing Dart as “The Guy” after just seven games, noting that excited fans and media may be jumping the gun:
    • “The tone we were getting from other people...People are past where you're at. They're like, 'Oh my God, we have it.' And I just don't know. I just don't know yet.” (03:46)
  • Hahn expresses optimism grounded in Dart’s character, arm talent, and leadership, but stops short of Eli Manning comparisons:
    • “If you tell me that health is not going to be an issue for him, I would bet that he is going to be the next quarterback of this team. Not sure if he'll be Eli, but...he'll be their quarterback for the foreseeable future.” (02:51)
  • Don (La Greca) highlights Dart's leadership and physical skills, seeing a "force multiplier" and bona fide leader amid a weak squad:
    • “What I'm looking at is a bona fide leader. He's a force multiplier and he does have the skill set physically and the arm talent to play the game the way it's played right now.” (04:11)

• Injury & Protection Concerns:

  • The crew stresses the fragility of Dart's situation due to recurring concussions and the importance of organizational support.

• The "It" Factor & Decision-Making:

  • Don praises Dart's in-game leadership and emotional impact but acknowledges that true franchise credentials still require more proof:
    • “He already understands how to talk to teammates and keep them fired up and engaged. That's a tough thing...Quarterbacks have to be that guy.” (05:00)

• Comparisons to Other QBs:

  • Parallels are made to Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts, and Lamar Jackson, emphasizing context: talent surrounding the QB, coaching, and organizational consistency.

Notable Quotes

• “The right answer is Peter's answer. I need to see more. But right now, I think he's checked a lot of boxes.” – Alan Hahn (01:42)
• “It's not just about how the quarterback plays, but when you look at it, you see that there seems to be a lot there.” – Alan Hahn (08:08)
• “To believe you have it is great. It's just...If I were a Giant fan, every time I'd say it, it would be like, I think.” – Peter Rosenberg (17:28)

Listener Calls Highlight

(Timestamps: 09:05 – 13:45)

• Jay (Bronx):
  • Praises Dart’s talent but questions the Giants’ ability to develop him, stressing the need for stability in coaching (09:09).
• Jose (New Jersey):
  • Echoes injury concern, skepticism about franchise support, and fears Dart will “run himself ragged” if the team fails to build around him (10:27).
• Nick (Emerson):
  • Challenges Rosenberg's take, accusing him of inconsistency—and even hypocrisy—compared to his quicker confidence in Jaden Daniels one year earlier (12:33).
    • “I distinctly remember a certain Rosenberg...heralding that he's the guy. Why are we supposed to? ...Jackson Dart has seven more touchdowns in his first seven games...” (13:37)

2. Sports Fandom, Loyalty & “Fraud Alert Friday”

(Timestamps: 22:04 – 50:31 [Segment starts in earnest after 22:04])

What is “Fraud Alert Friday”?
Listeners confess potential fan “fraud” (changing loyalties, questionable rooting interests, etc.), and Don, as the “Fraud Judge,” rules on the matter—often stirring strong opinions and laughs.

Key Frauds of the Day & Judgments

• Switching Allegiances Young:

  • (Kyle, from NH) Switched from Jets to Giants at age 12.
    • Verdict: FRAUD. “Oh, 12 years old. Jets stink. Giants win in Super Bowls. Oh, I'll be a Giant fan now.” (31:22)

• College Rooting “Frauds”:

  • Don rails passionately against adults rooting for college teams they didn’t attend:
    • “You go to a school, you go to the games. Because you go to that school, you become an alumni and you root for the team. It just feels weird to root for a school you didn't go to.” (35:34)
  • Family loyalty and local ties are debated. Exceptions for townies? What if your own college doesn’t have a football team?
    • “At 14, going to Denver, he decided to declare. If he is still a Bronco fan to this day. There's no fraud guys.” (30:52)

• Bandwagon Jumping:

  • Jets fan gives up and watches the Giants for “entertainment.”
    • Verdict: FRAUD. “Sit in your own filth, alright?...You picked your team. Sit in it.” (34:15)

• Rooting for Multiple Colleges:

  • Arguments about rooting for St. John’s (despite attending elsewhere), ties to parents’ alma mater, etc.
    • Don: “It lends to it because of that...That’d be stupid for him to go to Michigan if he felt that Villanova was the better school...that's the reason why I think, like rooting for colleges you didn’t go to, it leads to the fraudulent.” (44:23)

• Rudy Rant:

  • Don cuts loose on the “Rudy” movie family as peak college rooting frauds:
    • “That was the motivation. He didn't care about playing in Notre Dame. Want to show his stupid father up. Sitting there, lazy ass, playing shuffleboard...and then having the audacity...” (36:05)
    • “The whole family of frauds. Not one of them had...two high school diplomas together and they're sitting there rooting for Notre Dame.” (36:36)

Listener Mailbag Gems

• Heartwarming email from Megan about listening with her grandmother with dementia (25:19).
• Rocco (a kid) picks goalie number based on an NHL hero, not his dad—judgment: Not Fraud (32:33).
• Rule on adopting a team at age 14 after moving states: Not Fraud (29:49).
• Adopting a college team via gambling wins: Technically “YOYO” (not a real fan), but allowed (43:21).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Favorite Lines:

• “Sit in your own filth, all right? ...You picked the Jets, that's what you get. … No, sorry, sit in your stink.” – Don La Greca ([34:15–34:49])
• “I'm not going to call this lovely woman the salt of the earth...a fraud. Not going to do it. Not doing it.” – Don, on grandma listener ([27:04])
• “The whole family of frauds. Not one of them had...two high school diplomas together and they're sitting there rooting for Notre Dame.” – Don, on Rudy ([36:36])
• “You pick a pro team, that’s it.” – Don ([44:55])
• “If you are just a townie—oh, you cannot grow up in Chapel Hill and not be a North Carolina fan.” – Peter ([46:26])

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Jackson Dart QB Debate: 00:34–08:34
• Listener Calls (On Dart, Team Development): 09:05–13:45
• Fraud Alert Friday Begins: 22:04
  • Listener switch: Jets → Giants: 23:29, verdict at 31:18
  • Heartwarming grandma email: 25:19
  • College fandom fraud rants: 35:10, 42:08, 47:54
  • Rudy “fraud” rant: 36:06–38:24
• Pro vs College Fandom Loyalty: 44:23–49:23

Tone & Flow

• Lively, sarcastic, and opinionated—a seamless mix of playful antagonism and genuine sports knowledge.
• Fan perspectives honored but put under the microscope, with Don embracing the role of both judge and provocateur.
• Memorable, quotable radio thanks to evocative rants and crowd-sourced listener questions.

Summary for Non-Listeners

This episode of DHR is a sports radio masterclass in passionate debate and New York sports culture. The show is split between a thoughtful, measured discussion about the Giants’ new QB—highlighting the dangers of overhype—and the tongue-in-cheek courtroom drama of “Fraud Alert Friday.” Hosts and callers challenge each other on what it means to be a “true fan”—with Don ruling the bench, rooting out bandwagoners and college “YOYOs.”

Whether you are a Giants optimist, a shellshocked Jets fan, or a college team bandwagoner, you’ll find yourself laughing, arguing, and maybe questioning your own fandom loyalties.

Can Jackson Dart succeed in New York? Depends who you ask. But if you change teams at 12 or root for a college you never attended—watch out, Don’s got a gavel and he’s not afraid to use it.