Don, Hahn & Rosenberg Podcast

Episode: Hour 2 – Giants OC Search & Fraud Friday

Date: January 30, 2026
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg

Overview

This episode delves into the New York Giants’ ongoing search for an Offensive Coordinator after losing their top candidate, the psychology of long-suffering Jets fans, musings on switching sports fandom (“Fraud Friday”), classic New York sports heartbreaks, and the fun of sports conspiracy theories. The crew also takes listener calls, debates the boundaries of loyal fandom, and concludes with some Royal Rumble predictions from Peter.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Giants’ Offensive Coordinator Search

(00:04–04:55)

• The Situation: The Giants are unexpectedly back on the hunt for an OC after Todd Monken takes the Browns’ head coaching job, leaving Jim Harbaugh without his expected play-caller.
• Candidate Names:
  • Shane Day (Chargers QB coach, ties to Jim Harbaugh)
  • Jim Bob Cooter (Colts)
  • Davis Webb, Alex Taney
  • Charlie Weis Jr. (currently at LSU, strong Giants connections)
• Discussion on Attractiveness of the Job:
  “I’m confident that they'll find someone that'll be able to do the job. …I think it's an attractive job… If you have, you know, a dominant six, seven years, maybe someday you might be able to replace [Harbaugh] down the road.” – Don (03:35)
• Organizational Stability: The group draws a contrast between Harbaugh’s calm, stable track record and less proven coaches, implying Giants fans can have confidence in the process under his leadership.

2. Raw New York Jets Fandom

(05:36–13:51)

• Caller “Bobby” Laments Decades of Jets Pain:
  “I’m 75 in March. I’m turning blue… I deleted everything this year. I just couldn’t watch the games.” – Bobby (05:53)
• Hosts Reflect on Fan Loyalty:
  “The man's broken. You know, he's damaged.“ – Don (07:01)
  • They agree: after decades rooting for a losing team, it’s almost impossible to simply switch allegiances.
  • “It’s not going to feel the same. And it won't even be worth it.” – Alan (07:54)
• Rule for Fan Transitions:
  “You're not a fraud if you quit on your team and don't pick another. If you're going to tap out, say, all right, I’m done with football… but you can’t just pick up a new team.” – Don (08:02)
• Misery Olympics:
  The crew and a caller recount infamous Jets heartbreaks (e.g., playoff collapses, 15 years without the postseason), drawing painful parallels to Islanders and Sabres fans.

3. Sports Conspiracy Theories

(14:22–22:18)

• Caller Anthony on LeBron’s Rookie of the Year (18:00): Proposes the NBA handed LeBron James Rookie of the Year over Carmelo Anthony as a consolation for missing the All-Star Game.
  • “LeBron was 18 years old and did not yet have any clout in the league.” – Alan (18:54)
  • “It’s easy to say that now when you see what LeBron James has become… but an 18 year old kid having that kind of sway? No.” – Don (19:05)
• Creating a Recurring Segment:
  The guys pitch “Conspiracy Mondays” and brainstorm about fun ways to bake conspiracies into the show’s DNA.
  “I think maybe it should simply become a new thing on our show that whenever we're talking about a topic of the day, callers just hit us with the conspiracy theory that we're not even asking for.” – Peter (20:34)
  • Banter about using classic paranormal/unsolved mysteries theme music (X-Files, In Search Of).

4. Fraud Friday: The Ethics of “Switching Teams”

(23:35–36:57)

• Hypothetical: If the Jets Move Overseas, Can Fans Switch?
  • “Is it fraudulent behavior then for me to say, ‘Well, the Jets are gone, now I will root for the Giants?’” – Alan (24:48)
  • Don’s Legal Ruling:
    “It would not be fraudulent… They betray you. They leave. Was my dad a fraud when the Dodgers left for Los Angeles?... I can't call somebody a fraud if they pivot that way.” (25:07–27:37)
• Historical Context:
  The group discusses how fans adapted when the Dodgers left Brooklyn or Colts left Baltimore.
  • It’s more forgivable to switch to a local team when your team abandons you (less so if there were deep rivalries).
• Real-Life Examples/New York Fandom Nuances:
  • Many older fans switched allegiances simply because of ticket/unavailability issues (“The business forced you out.” – Alan, 30:30).
  • Having secondary loyalty to local teams for entertainment is “progressive,” but true loyalty shows when teams clash (33:09).

5. Listener Letters & Real World Scenarios

(30:58–35:13)

• Antonio from Phoenix:
  Raised in Arizona by a North Jersey family, roots for Yankees, Knicks, Jets—but also enjoys D’Backs, Suns, Cardinals.
  • “Am I a fraud for being a fan of both NY and Arizona sports teams?”
    Don’s Ruling: “No. Fraud…But he cried when the Yankees lost to the Diamondbacks, so he shows his allegiance when it’s necessary.” (32:10–33:47)
• Hosts elaborate: If your “side team” is just entertainment and you’re consistent in big moments, it’s not fraudulent. “It's like the wife that lets you go to the strip club… but when my girl comes in from New York, I take her out nice.” – Alan (34:25)
• Station Fraud Example:
  A colleague “breaks up with the Jets,” boxes up all memorabilia, and roots for both NY teams…
  Don: “Fraud. Goodbye. He soiled himself… right in the middle of the email.” (36:21)

6. The Emotional Reality of Lifelong (and Disillusioned) Fandom

(40:07–45:47)

• What’s the Point of Remaining a Fan?
  • “It’s almost like you stay in a loveless marriage for the children.” – Don (41:49)
• Alan’s Response:
  “I love Stephanie so much that if I ever lost her, I would never marry again... Nothing would compare. Right? So for me, I can't possibly root for another team now.” (41:49)
  • Alan admits emotional disconnection after Aaron Rodgers’ injury, but says he could never fully let go; quitting on the team “feels like quitting on my wife.”
  • Rosenberg predicts, “I think they start putting together a season, you start little by little, falling back in love again and… before you know, the flame is ignited.” (46:48)
• Don pushes:
  “It feels fraudulent. Like there. Get out. Well, why, why, why, why not just get out. You're obviously not completely in love. It's not, it doesn't define you. It's not who you are.” (43:43)

7. Fun & Closer: Royal Rumble Predictions

(47:56–50:16)

• Peter's Picks for WWE Royal Rumble:
  • Men: “Chalk pick—Roman Reigns… but Obafemi [from NXT] would be a great swerve.”
  • Women: “Hope is Bianca Belair returns… but Becky Lynch actually has a chance to win this whole thing.” (48:20–49:33)
  • Quick wrestling banter and jokes about Rosy’s WWE scrapes and Don’s broadcasting family.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “The man's broken. You know, he's damaged.” – Don, on a caller’s lifetime of Jets heartbreak (07:01)
• “You’re not a fraud if you quit on your team and don’t pick another. If you tap out, just say I’m done with football… but you can’t just pick up a new team.” – Don (08:02)
• “If your family tree doesn’t fork, you might be a redneck.” – Peter, joking about coach names (02:37)
• “It’s almost like you stay in a loveless marriage for the children.” – Don (41:49)
• “I love Stephanie so much that if I ever lost her, I would never marry again… Nothing would compare. Right? So for me, I can't possibly root for another team now.” – Alan (41:49)
• “He soiled himself right in the middle of the email. Just all over himself.” – Don, about a fan’s ‘NY football fan’ fence-sitting (36:21)

Notable Timestamps for Segments

• 00:04–04:55: Giants OC Search and John Harbaugh’s effect
• 05:36–13:51: Jets fandom agony; “Can you just switch teams?”
• 14:22–22:18: Conspiracy theories in sports—LeBron vs. Melo rookie year
• 23:35–36:57: Fraud Friday: what is "fraudulent" fandom?
• 40:07–45:47: Fandom as “loveless marriage”; existential fan crisis
• 47:56–50:16: Peter’s Royal Rumble picks

Tone & Vibe

Spirited, irreverent, and deeply knowledgeable. The conversation blends humor (“If your family tree doesn’t fork...”), heartfelt confessions (Alan’s sports heartbreaks), New York bravado, and a passionate desire to define the ‘rules’ of true sports fandom. The hosts juggle nostalgia, therapy, and sports talk radio energy, making space for reflective banter, rulemaking, and listener engagement.

For longtime NY sports fans and casual listeners alike, this episode delivers catharsis, camaraderie, and a touch of conspiracy-fueled fun.