Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 2: Geno Smith & Fraud Alert Friday
March 20, 2026 | Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Overview
This episode revolves around three signature elements:
- College basketball tournament updates and banter;
- A deep dive on Geno Smith’s return to the Jets, expectations, and what it means for the franchise and its fans;
- The ever-popular “Fraud Friday,” where the trio judges fans on their sports loyalties and authenticity.
The conversation blends sports analysis with humor, personal anecdotes, and lively debates about what makes someone a “fraud” in the world of fandom.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
March Madness/Tournament Updates ([03:47], [10:37], [45:35])
- Don La Greca shares real-time NCAA tournament updates, reviewing wins and upsets, and commiserates over local Long Island teams’ (LIU, Hofstra) troubles.
- Quote: “Hofstra’s up 30:25 on Alabama late in the first half... Kentucky wins in a thriller classic ending 89:84.” – Don, [03:58]
- Panel laments Hofstra blowing a 10-point lead, the impact of “dirty” play, and all express mild heartbreak over Long Island’s misfortunes.
Geno Smith’s Return to the Jets: Hope or Mirage? ([06:09] – [16:44])
Geno Smith Audio & Reaction ([06:28] – [07:40])
- Geno Smith (clip): Sounds genuinely motivated, wants to “hoist that trophy,” emphasizing it’s about winning, not money or ego.
- “I gotta hoist that trophy. That’s why I’m still playing, you know, it’s not a money thing. It’s not an ego thing. I really want to be a champion, man, before I call it quits.” – Geno Smith, [07:11]
- Peter Rosenberg is impressed by Geno’s attitude, likens his narrative to “the prodigal son returning.”
- “It’s a pipe dream... but I love the attitude. That would fire me up if I’m a Jet fan.” – Peter, [08:08]
- Alan Hahn is unmoved, expressing classic Jets-fan skepticism.
- “No, it doesn’t fire me up...I can’t feel right now, Don, whatever he's feeling.” – Alan, [08:40]
- Rosenberg sees Smith as a possible bright spot, contrasting him with past QBs who were “here for the numbers” (Cousins, Rodgers).
- “This sounds like a guy that...might want to stick around.” – Peter, [11:44]
The “Jets Fairy Tale” & Offseason Blues ([12:05] – [16:44])
- Hahn calls the Jets “one of the great fairy tales in the history of the NFL,” always loaded with hope that vanishes by September:
- “When we get to nonfiction, it’s the reality bites.” – Alan, [12:11]
- Rosenberg says the important thing is Smith wants to be in NY; not all arrivals have that mindset.
- The ongoing problem? Chasing “one big victory” (like Rodgers) instead of accepting slow, steady progress.
- All three agree: With Smith, it’s better than nothing, but no one believes the drought ends soon.
- “If you haven’t made the playoffs in 16 years... you’re trying to turn it into one big victory... It needs to be an immediate impact.” – Alan, [14:32]
Fan Callers: Tournament Banter and “Fraud” Accusations
“Top Chokers in Sports” Debate ([17:53] – [24:56])
- Caller Danny playfully calls out Alan for past “choker” rankings, questions if Roberto Luongo and Henrik Lundqvist deserved mention.
- “Just make sure to win a championship doesn’t make you a choker.” – Caller Danny, [19:21]
- Hahn & Rosenberg both defend Lundqvist:
- “There’s no way he’s a choker. No way.” – Peter, [21:02]
- “He carried those teams that were good teams and made them great. Because of him.” – Peter, [21:30]
- Greg Maddux, Clayton Kershaw, Peyton Manning also cited as all-time greats with postseason letdowns.
Fraud Alert Friday ([27:28] – [41:12])
A cornerstone segment where listeners write in with their own fan “dilemmas,” judged by the crew (with La Greca as “Judge”).
Fraud Case 1: Seattle Sonics/Celtics Dual Fandom ([29:06] – [31:47])
- Listener Luke: Grew up in Seattle, became a Celtics fan after Sonics left, now wants to root for both if Sonics return.
- Verdict:
- No fraud—for now. Both Rosenberg and Hahn reason it was justified since the Sonics left, but say “when the Sonics come back, you gotta choose.”
- “Once the Sonics come back... I do think you’ve got to make a choice.” – Alan, [31:12]
Fraud Case 2: The Lapsed Yankees Fan ([32:59] – [37:13])
- Listener Ramesh: Adopted Yankees as a new immigrant, fell off during college, missed the 2009 World Series, only regained interest because of Aaron Judge.
- Debate:
- Rosenberg: “Fraud!” – “Didn’t even watch the 2009 World Series. You can’t call yourself a fan.”
- Hahn: “Fair weather but not fraud.”
- La Greca: Leans not fraud—says precedent is only truly fraudulent if you switched teams.
- “Your own precedent has said that.” – Alan, [35:20]
- No full consensus—highlighting how the threshold for ‘fraud’ varies.
Fraud Case 3: Rooting for Venezuela Over the USA—Why? ([37:22] – [40:48])
- Listener Joseph: Caller Richard chose to root for Venezuela in baseball over USA, reasoning “it’s the American way to root for the underdog.”
- Verdict:
- Not fraud for rooting for another national team per se, but fraud for a contrived justification.
- “What makes him a fraud is the reasoning. It’s American to root for the underdog. That’s a fraudulent reason.” – Peter, [39:07]
- “In sports, it’s fun. But if somebody is taking lives here and is American but yet has roots in another country... I want to root for my heritage. God bless, man.” – Alan, [40:10]
Other Noteworthy Moments & Quotes
- Don “Judge” La Greca’s Energy: Even under the weather, he presides over Fraud Friday with humor and clarity, at one point joking, “Don, light your blunt. You ready?” ([31:57]) in response to geographic coincidences.
- Banter on Hemp and Hype: Sidebar on the YouTube “hype” button leads to a joke about their audience being very familiar with “hemp.” ([29:05])
- Islanders and NHL Standings Rant: End-of-hour frustration regarding the NHL’s “broken” point system and its unfair effect on the playoff race.
- “The Islanders could be the best team to not make the playoffs since this system began.” – Alan, [44:03]
- Richard from Manhattan’s Stats: Gives an MVP trivia challenge—Jeter, Aaron, Clemente, Griffey Jr. combined have as many MVPs as Judge.
Timestamps of Important Segments
| Segment | Description | Start Time | |---|---|---| | Tournament Updates | NCAA scores and local teams | 03:47, 10:37, 45:35 | | Geno Smith Jets Interview | Geno’s audio, roundtable analysis | 06:28 | | Jet Fan Realism vs. Hope | Is Smith’s attitude meaningful? | 08:40 – 16:44 | | Fraud Friday, Listener Cases | Fandom loyalty debates | 27:28 – 41:12 | | Chokers in Sports Debate | Luongo, Lundqvist, Maddux, Kershaw, Manning | 17:53 – 24:56 | | NHL Standings Rant | Islanders/Oilers and the point system | 44:03 – 45:34 |
Notable Quotes
- “I really want to be a champion, man, before I call it quits. And so I’m giving everything I got to the city.” – Geno Smith, [07:11]
- “No, it doesn’t fire me up...I appreciate his enthusiasm...But I can’t feel right now, Don, whatever he’s feeling.” – Alan Hahn, [08:40]
- “Here’s a guy that maybe he didn’t necessarily want to be here, but now that he’s here, he’s embracing it.” – Peter Rosenberg, [11:09]
- “The Jets are one of the great fairy tales in NFL history...But when we get to nonfiction, it’s the reality bites.” – Alan Hahn, [12:11]
- “There’s no way [Lundqvist]’s a choker. No way.” – Peter Rosenberg, [21:02]
- “If you haven’t made the playoffs in 16 years...you’re trying to turn it into one big victory...” – Alan Hahn, [14:32]
- “Didn’t even watch the 2009 World Series. You can’t call yourself a fan.” – Peter Rosenberg, [36:51]
- “What makes him a fraud is the reasoning. It’s American to root for the underdog. That’s a fraudulent reason.” – Peter Rosenberg, [39:07]
Conclusion
This episode is classic Don, Hahn & Rosenberg: sharp sports talk, metro-NY flavor, and “Fraud Alert Friday” delivering both laughs and food for thought. Whether talking the Jets’ never-ending search for a franchise QB, defending the legacy of hockey’s misunderstood greats, or ruling on fandom crimes, the hosts’ blend of heart and wit keeps the energy high.
If you’re a Jets fan in need of hope, a die-hard constantly re-examining your own fan credentials, or you just want a few “Long Island is cursed” commiserations—this hour is for you.