Don, Hahn & Rosenberg — Hour 2: Fraudulence & The NFL Binge
Date: December 29, 2025
Hosts: Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg, Don La Greca (along with contributor Anthony Pusick)
Episode Overview
This lively second hour of "Don, Hahn & Rosenberg" is a dive into the heart of sports fandom’s suffering, NFL playoff drama, and the sometimes hilarious (sometimes painful) contradictions of rooting for multiple teams. Hosts Alan Hahn and Peter Rosenberg, joined by Don La Greca and frequent contributor Anthony Pusick, mix genuine football analysis with self-deprecating humor and big New York energy as they debate team loyalty, the NFL's wild playoff picture, big coaching decisions, and the agony of being a Jets (or Padres/Mets) fan.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Intro & The Suffering of the Sports Fan
- The hosts commiserate over the emotional cost of being lifelong fans of perennially disappointing teams (San Diego Padres, New York Mets/Jets).
- Don’s Coffee Journey: Don’s caffeine addict confessional sets a jovial tone. He describes the “remedies” (protein drinks, accidental hot chocolate) needed to power through hosting:
“I accidentally hit hot chocolate. So, yeah, now I’m on hot chocolate with a little bit of remedy, and then I’m smart watering.”
— Don Hahn [01:44]
2. Fandom, Family Ties & “Fraudulence”
- A running debate ensues: Can you root for two teams? Is it “fraudulent” to be swayed by family or place?
- Don is grilled for his Padres/Mets split. Rosenberg finds this suspect:
“Those are frauds.” — Rosenberg [08:03]
Don fires back:
“It’s not weak. It’s actually the opposite. I don’t have to suffer with Mets fans. I choose to suffer with Mets fans.”
— Don Hahn [08:34] - The pain of “choosing” suffering unites them:
“It’s a confusing life, but it’s a life under six foot that doesn’t experience championship. A lot of self fraud. Fraud.”
— Don Hahn [07:17]
3. Baseball Free Agency and Mets Misery
- Discussion turns to the Mets’ and Padres’ team-building struggles: Soto’s trade, Pete Alonso’s future, and what teams should pay for players like Wondale Robinson.
“You don’t just replace a burger [referring to Citi Field’s ‘Polar Burger’ dedicated to Alonso]. That was an entire right field dedicated to the polar bear area. What do you do? Very upsetting.”
— Don Hahn [15:07] - On Alonso's exit:
“I can’t believe they let him walk to the lowly Orioles who fired their coach after making the playoff track.”
— Don Hahn [15:31]
4. Jets & Giants: Season in Perpetual Misery
- Jets Fan Callers: Season ticket holder “AC Phil” calls in to express exhaustion:
“The past four weeks… it’s just been pathetic. It’s getting worse.” — AC Phil [16:46]
- Rosenberg sympathizes:
“You sound so beaten down, man. I feel for him. I mean honestly, who wouldn’t be?” — Rosenberg [17:19]
- Coaching Decisions and Future:
Criticism of coaching (especially Aaron Glenn) is relentless.“The general manager, Glenn, if you want to call it that, his decision making is terrible… What are we doing now? Now we got to deal with this contract and this guy on our roster for years.”
— Don Hahn [20:06]
5. NFL Quarterback Decisions & Culture Building
- Were the right moves made with quarterbacks? Should the Jets have moved on from Aaron Rodgers?
“The best way to build a culture is to win football games. So you move on from Aaron…”
— Rosenberg [21:31] - The failed Justin Fields experiment is dissected:
“The Fields experiment didn’t work because he came to dysfunction.”
— Don Hahn [22:16]
6. Turnover Drought and Defensive Futililty
- The Jets’ historically bad turnover numbers are lampooned:
“Going an entire season and I’m rooting for it by the way. Yeah, without an interception is just nuts.”
— Rosenberg [23:09]
7. NFL Binge Segment — Playoff Scenarios, Coaching Brilliance & Big Calls
(Starts at [29:13])
- Anthony Pusick hosts the “NFL Binge,” swiftly moving through key matchups and playoff implications, with classic banter.
Saturday Night — Ravens vs. Packers Recap
- Harbaugh praised for backup QB management:
“A plus. I mean a plus. Give him two pluses on top of that, maybe three. He couldn’t be any better.”
— John Harbaugh, via clip [31:04]
Steelers vs. Browns Upset & Playoff Impact
- Sets up “win-and-in” AFC North final between Steelers/Ravens.
- Don is hilariously overconfident:
“I’m taking the Steelers. I’m on the Steelers to win the Super Bowl. I’ll walk home voluntarily… if they lose.”
— Don Hahn [34:11]
On Rooting for Ex-Jet Aaron Rodgers
- Rosenberg:
“I would love to see Aaron, it would be comedy if he leaves the jets and immediately wins the Super Bowl… Some of it has been fair, but we’ve gone too far.”
— Rosenberg [35:02]
Buffalo Bills’ Two-Point Conversion Controversy
(Bills vs. Eagles finish, clock at [37:06])
- McDermott’s decision to go for two is debated:
“Want to be aggressive? …I’m going to be aggressive. So I’m not gonna sit back.”
— Sean McDermott (clip) [37:53] - Hahn and Rosenberg spar:
“I feel like McDermott, he doesn’t have feel…”
— Don Hahn [45:54] “Would you agree that Philly’s defense for the entirety of that game was exceptional?”
— Rosenberg [47:02] Discussion covers analytics, weather, and clutch vs. conservative coaching.
Josh Allen Accountability & The Quarterback vs. Coach Debate
- Multiple passionate exchanges about whether Allen or McDermott is most to blame:
“Every time Josh Allen loses, it’s always someone else’s fault.”
— Rosenberg [45:28] “Can two things be true? You are absolutely right. Josh Allen lost the game. But what does it also mean? …McDermott doesn’t trust his defense.”
— Don Hahn [52:29]
49ers’ Resilience & Kyle Shanahan Coach of the Year
- 49ers’ coaching through injuries is praised:
“Can we all admit that when the coach of the year award is handed out, it has to go to Kyle Shanahan?”
— Rosenberg [42:14] “Probably one of the greatest group coaching efforts we’ve seen in recent memory.”
— Don Hahn [42:45]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Junior Fandom:
“It’s a confusing life, but it’s a life under six foot that doesn’t experience championship. A lot of self fraud. Fraud.”
— Don Hahn [07:17] -
On Jets Misery:
“You sound so beaten down, man. I feel for him. I mean honestly, who wouldn’t be?”
— Rosenberg [17:19] -
On Defensive Futililty:
“Going an entire season and I’m rooting for it by the way. Yeah, without an interception is just nuts.”
— Rosenberg [23:09] -
On Harbaugh’s Coaching:
“A plus. I mean a plus. Give him two pluses on top of that, maybe three. He couldn’t be any better.”
— John Harbaugh (clip) [31:04] -
On Big NFL Coaching Decisions:
“I feel like McDermott, he doesn’t have feel. He doesn’t have feel. What does that mean? It’s live analytics, if you will. It’s like knowing as a good point guard who to get the ball to and when.”
— Don Hahn [45:54] -
On Suffering as a Choice:
“I don’t have to suffer with Mets fans. I choose to suffer with Mets fans.”
— Don Hahn [08:34] -
On the AFC Playoff Picture:
“Just a couple of weeks ago… AFC wide open… Which means Josh Allen is the favorite to win that conference… And now what are we hearing today? Man, that foot… That foot’s giving him some problems…”
— Rosenberg [50:43]
Useful Timestamps
- [01:44] Don’s accidental hot chocolate and “remedy” beverage saga
- [07:17] Don’s self-deprecating “fraud” monologue on double-fandom
- [08:03–09:21] Fandom authenticity debate between Don & Rosenberg
- [15:07–15:31] “Polar Burger” and Pete Alonso Mets lament
- [16:39–17:19] AC Phil, the beaten-down Jets season ticket holder
- [21:31] Big quarterback/culture debate (Rodgers v. Fields)
- [23:09] Jets’ epic lack of interceptions
- [29:13] Start of “NFL Binge” segment
- [31:04] John Harbaugh soundbite – backup QB praise
- [34:11] Don justifies his Steelers Super Bowl pick (“I’ll walk home voluntarily…”)
- [37:53] McDermott defends two-point call
- [42:14] Kyle Shanahan as likely coach of the year
- [45:28] “Every time Josh Allen loses, it’s always someone else’s fault.” — QB vs. Coach blame debate
- [47:02–47:39] “Would you agree that Philly’s defense…?” — Play-calling analytics talk
Tone & Style
Fast-paced, irreverent, deeply New York. The hosts mix sharp analysis with genuine fan anguish, wisecracks, and the kind of arguments only heard between people who live for their teams. They’re as comfortable quoting Geno Smith (“they wrote me off, I didn’t write back”) as they are diving into betting trends, and every big sports feeling—joy, cynicism, and obsession—gets aired out.
For Listeners: Why You Should Care
- If you’re an authentic, long-suffering sports fan—especially in New York—this hour is a group therapy session with great insight.
- NFL obsessives will find sharp analysis on the playoff picture, coaching trends, and the thin margin between genius and scapegoat.
- Fans of sports radio banter get classic rapid-fire debates and a taste of what it feels like to root for teams that “choose suffering.”
Final Words
The episode is a rich tapestry of sports suffering, classic radio energy, and genuine debate about what “real” fandom is and what makes (or breaks) NFL teams. Amid the laughs and rants, the heart of sports passion is fully on display.