Don, Hahn & Rosenberg Podcast

ESPN New York – November 18, 2025

Episode: Hour 2: Giants & Talk About It
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Theme: New York Sports Culture, Media Details, and Organizational Management (with lots of humor and listener banter)

Episode Overview

This episode dives into dynamics around the New York Giants, NFL media presentation, and a controversial moment involving a rookie’s TV appearance and team management. The trio also explores topics such as team injury management, nuances of television sports scheduling, and finishes with their "Talk About It Tuesday" segment covering everything from NFL stadium grass to heated UNO rules debates. Expect a colorful, boisterous glimpse into New York sports—and sports culture at large.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The TV 'Fonting' Controversy: Giants Rookies and Media Exposure

• Background: Cam Scatterboo (Giants rookie), Abdul Carter (third overall pick), and Jackson Dart are the focus of a TV segment that didn’t highlight Carter, despite his draft prestige. This prompts talk about internal team dynamics and media mishaps.
• Key Issues:
  • Media ‘fonting’ (graphic on TV) listed Carter as “and others,” sidelining his prominence while shining the spotlight on Scatterboo and Dart.
  • Potential for internal team resentment and morale problems arising from these media choices.
• Quotes & Banter:
  • "[Abdul Carter] is right now the third most popular rookie on the team and by a wide margin, third, like far in third place." – Peter Rosenberg (02:33)
  • "You know what Abdul ended up last night? He was what me and Don would have been if, God forbid, one of our flights to the Super Bowl had gone down...Michael K. And others." – Michael Kay (03:44)
  • "How is this going to be fonted? ... Avoid those situations and say, can you please identify our opponent players or don’t identify them at all." – Don Hahn (04:19)
• Insight: The players (and their agents) notice every detail, and when the team's big rookie gets reduced to 'others,' it can breed tension both in the locker room and with fans.

Timestamps:

• TV fonting debate: 02:19–06:47
• Organizational image concerns: 05:10–06:46

2. Giants’ Player Management & Public Narrative

• Focuses on Abdul Carter missing practice (was refuted as an honest mistake, not laziness); yet, media and fan narratives escalate.
• Importance of clarity and communication from coaches; how lingering stories can harm reputations.
• Quotes:
  • "He reached out to Adam Schefter, strongly refuted that...it was a mistake, but it was an honest mistake." – Michael Kay (01:34)
  • "Let this story go away. Don’t let this keep going on...now we’re talking about he's been sleeping in meetings and all of this stuff." – James (Caller, 17:57)
  • "If they don’t address it, then what they’re saying is Carter’s lying." – Don Hahn (20:52)
• Insight: Former players and fans are quick to pass judgment, but teams must control the message; silence or vague discipline opens the door to rumor and damage.

Timestamps:

• Missed practice story: 01:34–04:47, 17:57–21:18

3. Fan & Caller Reactions: The Balance Between Criticism and Empathy

• Listeners weigh in on whether public/media outrage is fair when young players are involved in extracurriculars or minor missteps.
• Relationship between athletes’ off-field activities and fan expectations (should a hurt or struggling player be “miserable”?).
• Humor and realness from callers on the culture of sports talk and the podcast’s dynamic.
• Quotes:
  • "People just want to be miserable. People just want to be upset..." – Kadeem (Caller, 12:17)
  • "You want him to just watch film for 18 hours a day?" – Kadeem (12:58)
  • "You want your players to be like Rocky in Rocky 1—live in squalor, wake up, have raw eggs, and do sit ups." – Peter Rosenberg (13:26)
• Insight: Sports media thrives on outrage, but fans may hold unrealistic standards for players’ devotion or suffering.

Timestamps:

• Callers debate on player expectations: 12:17–14:09, 15:21–17:37

4. Comparing Organizational Styles: Giants vs. Yankees/Knicks/Rangers

• Discussion about how different New York teams safeguard their image and players in media.
• Yankees: Highly controlling, always aware of appearances ("somebody from Yankee security would have been in the scrum" – Don Hahn, 10:32).
• Knicks/Rangers: Similarly hands-on.
• Giants: Seemingly looser now—possibly organizational distraction or a shift in philosophy.
• Insight: The best organizations micromanage perception, but trends might be shifting towards letting players handle more themselves.

Timestamps:

• Media control comparisons: 09:17–12:10

5. NFL Stadium Turf & Player Health

• Impassioned calls for MetLife Stadium (Giants/Jets) to install grass, given frequent injuries—especially after comparing with European (Real Madrid) stadium tech and prep for the World Cup.
• Dynamic of shared stadium responsibility—neither Giants nor Jets want to foot the entire bill.
• Quotes:
  • "These two football teams that use this stadium can’t come together and spend the money to take care of their players." – Michael Kay (33:03)
  • "At some point, they’re going to lose a lot of face off in free agency. Why would I want to play there and have my career cut short?" – Don Hahn (37:16)
• Insight: Injury reputation threatens free agency and long-term franchise health, but cost and bureaucracy stall solutions; NFLPA seen as toothless ("so weak" – Don Hahn, 36:29).

Timestamps:

• Stadium surface critique: 32:08–38:40

6. Talk About It Tuesday – Riffs on Game Scheduling, UNO Rules, & More

• How late TV doubleheaders (due to national schedules) hurt local fan experience—e.g., Knicks/Mavs game set to start at 9:30pm+.
• Quotes:
  • "Is it fair to have fans sit there and then watch a game that starts at 8:52 local time on a Saturday?" – Don Hahn (26:48)
  • "All they care about is the networks…I get that." – Don Hahn (28:13)
• Massive tangent on time zones, daylight savings, and fantasy “one-time-zone” America (Don’s doomed campaign idea).
• UNO rules controversy: UNO’s official social media says you can’t stack draw twos; hosts universally reject and say “house rules apply.”
• Quotes:
  • "UNO has decided to really ruin the game by going on social media and telling you all the things that you thought were in the rules…saying, no, you can’t do that." – Peter Rosenberg (38:42)
  • "It’s your UNO." – Michael Kay (40:16)
• Insight: New York sports problems are often structural and institutional—but the things fans and friends shout about can be as trivial as UNO house rules.

Timestamps:

• TV scheduling and time zones: 25:13–31:12
• UNO rules: 38:42–41:11

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "You were treated like Matt Damon on Jimmy Kimmel. I was treated like Abdul Carter. It was Alan, Peter and others." – Don Hahn [31:56]
• "Cam’s crazy." – Andrew Thomas on Cam Scatterboo’s WWE debut [20:09]
• "You brought a great atmosphere from hip hop to sports…The best trio in sports talk, man. The best. Nobody, hands down. You guys have it." – Trucker Gill, Brooklyn caller appreciation [16:40–17:29]
• "I believe if I became president, I’m doing away with time zones in the United States…" – Don Hahn (30:15)
• "UNO is really no longer as fun as I thought it was. Does anybody agree with me?" – Peter Rosenberg (40:01)

Episode Timeline (Timestamps)

00:13 – Michael Kay joins, details about NXT wrestling assignment
01:34 – Abdul Carter's missed practice and the narrative
02:19–06:47 – Giants TV fonting/rookie hierarchy debate
09:17–12:10 – Organization control: Yankees, Knicks, Giants, etc.
12:17–14:09 – Callers: Fan outrage vs. player empathy
17:57–21:18 – Carter discipline story and advice
25:13–31:12 – National TV sports schedules, time zones, and ratings
32:08–38:40 – Stadium turf debate: Giants, Jets, grass vs. injuries, NFLPA
38:42–41:11 – UNO rules and why the “official” game is wrong
43:12–50:54 – Music nostalgia, time zones, presidential aging tangents
51:05–End – Closing with humor, personal asides, vision for show dynamic

Tone & Style

The episode combines classic New York sports talk radio energy—lively, irreverent, and cutting—with a layer of inside-baseball media analysis and genuine concern for organizational details. No one’s afraid to tease, commiserate, or debate both trivial and serious issues; listener calls are woven in seamlessly, amplifying the “talk amongst friends” energy. Show is peppered with quick-witted jabs, self-deprecation, and on-the-fly catchphrases.

For New/comeback Listeners

• Expect: Deep insights into New York sports organizations, sharp-witted banter, and periodic detours into playful debates over pop culture and family game night rules.
• Don’t expect: Bland, straight-laced analysis or rigid segments. The joy is in the chemistry and the ability to go from serious NFL injury policy to “is UNO ruined forever?” in a heartbeat.

Recommended Segments:

• Giants media mishap and team-building insight (02:19–06:47)
• Stadium grass debate & fan call-ins (32:08–38:40)
• “Talk About It Tuesday”—the NBA/TV schedule/time zones and UNO rant (25:13–31:12, 38:42–41:11)

This summary captures the core energy, structure, and highlights of Don, Hahn & Rosenberg’s “Giants & Talk About It” episode for both avid fans and new sports listeners alike!