Don, Hahn & Rosenberg — "Fandom & Fraud Alert Friday"

Episode Date: September 26, 2025 (Hour 2)
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Theme: An exploration of fan identity, rivalries, and what makes someone a "fraud" in the world of sports fandom, with classic New York banter and listener call-ins.

EPISODE OVERVIEW

The second hour of "Don, Hahn & Rosenberg" dives into the tribalism of New York sports fandom, the psychology of local rivalries, and the endless debate: What behaviors make someone a fraudulent (or "bandwagon") fan? Through personal stories, heated listener calls, and their signature humor, the hosts dig into what it really means to be a fan—right or wrong.

KEY DISCUSSION POINTS & INSIGHTS

1. The Big Brother/Little Brother Dynamic in New York Sports

(01:00–06:27)

• Don La Greca opens with classic Giants/Jets talk, explaining why he never felt any sympathy for the Jets as little brother:
  • “I want to own the town. I want my team to be better than the other team.” (01:50, Don)
• Alan Hahn compares his childhood as an Islanders fan constantly overshadowed by the Rangers, despite the Isles' historic run:
  • “Nope. There was always this feeling that it was still not as great as whatever… It never felt enough.” (03:45, Alan)
• Major market teams (Mets vs. Yankees, Jets vs. Giants) are discussed, with both agreeing the rivalry often boils down to attention and legacy, not just wins.

2. Fan Base Rivalries: Legacy, Attention, and Identity

(06:27–11:34)

• Listener Anthony (Caller) (06:27) voices the “Yankees are above it all” mentality:
  • “When we beat the Mets during the season, I don't go bragging... We're on a different level.” (07:33, Anthony)
• Don pushes back that legacy should be irrelevant for current disappointments, leading to debate if “27 championships” is ever a valid excuse.
• The hosts explore how Mets/Yankees parity shifts from season to season, but the Yankees’ brand power often trumps all.

3. Why Fan Hatred Mostly Comes from Other Fans

(16:19–19:17)

• Lewis (Caller) shares that his dislike for the Mets didn’t come from the team itself but from “Mets fans talking crap about Yankee fans.” (16:42, Lewis)
• Don reflects:
  • “A lot of the quote-unquote hate… comes from the fan base than the team itself.” (17:27, Don)
• Alan and Don note that changing player rosters and league dynamics make hating a team for its players harder, shifting animosity to fan interactions and legacy.

4. Fraud Alert Friday: What Makes a ‘Fraudulent’ Fan?

(22:20–46:00)

Key Email Scenarios:

• Celtics fan wears Pacers jersey to troll Knicks fans (23:10–24:29)

  • Ruling: Not a fraud, just petty fun.
    • “There’s no fraud there. It was to troll.” (23:48, Don)
    • “I personally couldn't wear a TJ McConnell jersey. I wouldn't be able to sleep at night. But listen, God bless.” (24:35, Rosenberg)

• Lifelong Jets fan switches to the Raiders after heartbreak (25:16–27:18)

  • Ruling: Definite fraud.
    • “Well, no offense, but it's kind of the definition of a fraud, isn't it?” (25:56, Don)
    • “Raiders, Jets, it's a hatred.” (26:03, Alan)

• Jets fan keeps rooting for Aaron Rodgers after he leaves (27:34–31:51)

  • Ruling: No fraud.
    • “I normally never understood the passion for following another individual player, but at the same time, I get it. If the Jets have given him no joy… I'm gonna say no, fraud.” (29:17, Don)

• Giants fan gives up entirely, keeps no new allegiance (34:20–35:02)

  • Ruling: Not a fraud—as long as he doesn’t pick a new team later.
    • “If a guy wants to tap out, that's his life, man. If he's done, he's done. Show me something and be done.” (34:56, Don)

• Office worker wears fake Giants jersey to get into a group photo (44:09–45:38)

  • Ruling: Fraud.
    • “You're not gonna do that with my team... You're a fraud. What are you doing?” (44:10, Tessa, caller)
    • “We don't accept fraudulence. If you got us, you got to stick with your team, people.” (44:42, Rosenberg)

Memorable Analogy

• Rosenberg compares abandoning your sports team to a loveless marriage, and rooting for a new one to an affair:
  • “...there’s just some beautiful, hot, incredible, special specimen, just got off the first flight from San Juan… when your lips touch… that was Aaron Rodgers.” (30:08, Rosenberg)

5. Player Contracts: Do They EVER Age Well?

(40:07–42:52)

• The hosts lament the reality that multi-year mega contracts (in any sport) never age well:
  • “How many non first contracts of great players age well? They don't.” (40:40, Rosenberg)
• They agree the only way a big contract is remembered fondly is if it brings a championship early.

NOTABLE QUOTES & MOMENTS

• Alan Hahn on Islanders fandom:
  • “The dynasty’s never given any credit in the history of the sport... it really does still bother me to this day.” (03:45)
• Don on fraudulent fandom:
  • “If a guy wants to tap out, that’s his life, man… If you come back or pick another team, then you’re a fraud.” (34:56)
• Rosenberg (on rooting for other teams/players after heartbreak):
  • “It's more of an arrangement than a marriage at this point.” (29:31)
• Don (on the player hatred debate):
  • “How can you hate teams based on players anymore? They're constantly changing uniforms…” (18:17)
• Tessa (caller) on jersey switching:
  • “Take that jersey off right now. You look like a freaking bag of trash with fish guts in it.” (44:10)

TIMESTAMPED SEGMENTS

| Timestamp | Topic | |-----------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:00 | Giants/Jets rivalry, ‘big brother’ complex | | 03:05 | Alan’s Islanders nostalgia and lasting sports resentment | | 06:27 | Listener calls begin — Yankees/Mets perspective | | 11:08 | Why Yankees fans are the angriest — “fans hate them, that’s irritating” (11:08, Don) | | 16:19 | How rivalry hate is more about fans than teams (Lewis in the truck) | | 19:17 | Player hatred then vs now, shifting dynamics (NBA/MLB examples) | | 22:20 | “Fraud Alert Friday” segment launch: what makes a fan a fraud? | | 23:10 | Celtics fan’s Pacers-trolling jersey—verdict and banter | | 25:16 | “Bandwagon” Jets-to-Raiders switcher—verdict: fraudulent | | 27:34 | Jets fan rooting for Aaron Rodgers elsewhere—verdict: not a fraud | | 34:20 | Giants fan ‘taps out’ of fandom, staying neutral—allowed, unless they bandwagon later | | 44:09 | Angry office Giants fan outs ‘fraud’ coworker wearing fake jersey for a group photo | | 40:07 | Do big contracts ever age well? (CC Sabathia, Max Fried, Stanton deals…) |

OVERALL TONE & STYLE

• Energetic, self-aware, and unapologetically New York
• Blunt honesty mixed with dry and sometimes biting humor
• Clear camaraderie among the hosts, balanced with pointed debate and ribbing from listeners
• Frequent callbacks to New York sports history and pop culture

TAKEAWAYS FOR NON-LISTENERS

• In New York, fandom is serious business—coming from your family, your hometown, and your bitterest rivals.
• Deciding to jump ship, hate a player, or “bandwagon” is the fastest way to get called out as a fraud—unless, like one listener, you completely wash your hands of fandom and don’t come back.
• Ultimately, the most bitter rivalries aren’t always about teams or cities, but the look-you-in-the-eye arguments with the people you know.
• “Fraud Alert Friday” is a cathartic, entertaining way to hash out the endless (and endlessly petty) ethics of being a sports fan in one of the world’s most opinionated cities.

CLOSING REMARK

As Alan says:

“You're allowed out, but if you come back, that's what makes you a fraud.” (35:02, Alan)

And Don, on why we do it at all:

“But it makes the whole thing fun, that's for sure.” (12:07, Don)