Podcast Summary
Don, Hahn & Rosenberg | Feb 5, 2026
Episode Title: Hour 2: Harry Styles & That Guy Thursday
Hosts: Alan Hahn, Don LaGreca, Peter Rosenberg
Theme: Music, sports culture, and “that guy” moments in sports and life
Episode Overview
This hour delivers a blend of sports, pop culture, and New York flavor, with lively debates on Harry Styles’ MSG residency, the economics and dynamics of live event ticketing, and sharp takes on “that guy” behavior in sports—focusing on Tom Brady and Giannis Antetokounmpo. The hosts’ signature banter—which veers from playful mockery to meditative nostalgia—keeps both sports and entertainment front of mind.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Cleveland vs. Milwaukee—A Question for AI
- Don and Alan recount Don’s experiment of asking AI “which city has better strippers: Cleveland or Milwaukee?”
- Result: AI offers a diplomatic answer, highlighting Cleveland for “high end Vegas lite experience” and Milwaukee for “low-key, friendly atmosphere where the cover charge won’t break the bank.”
- Consensus: “So the answer is Cleveland.” (00:50)
- Light, humorous start pointing at the absurdity and range of topics the show might cover.
2. Harry Styles’ MSG Residency: Phenomenon or Fad? [01:10–14:13]
a. The Setup
- Alan: Describes the struggle to get tickets for his two daughters to see Harry Styles—15+ shows sold out at Madison Square Garden (MSG), now expanded to 30 over 3 months.
- Don: // "Can you believe, though, that Harry Styles is playing 30 dates at MSG over a few months?" (01:29)
b. Residency as a Music Business Move
- Peter: “He’s got a banner up there!” (01:59)
- Alan: Styles opts to bring fans to him, not tour— “Rather than do the tour life, which nobody likes, he just, I'll do a residency because it worked out the last time.” (02:44)
- Comparison to classic NYC residencies (Billy Joel, Phish).
c. Popularity & Audience Breakdown
- Don: Wonders at the velocity of Styles’ rise from boy band member to solo superstar: “It happened so quick when he became the guy who would do 30 shows at MSG.” (03:07)
- Alan & Peter: Compare to Timberlake, Swift, and speculate on how many fans come from outside NYC.
- Don: “Even if you live here and you're a huge fan and you go three times, he's doing 30.” (04:56)
- Peter notes “sick, affluent fans” who attend all 30—“might be like 10%.” (05:51)
d. Ticket Economics & Fan Experience
- Callers and hosts detail the struggle and costs to get tickets.
- Caller Jimmy: Attempts to score tickets through pre-sale among “10,000 people for seats in the Garden… Didn't get one single ticket.” (11:58)
- Don: “Even if there's 30 shows, the prices can't be affordable.” (13:11)
- Alan: Suggests last-minute patience for day-of ticket drops, but most aren’t willing to risk it.
3. Bands with Massive Catalogs: The Phish/Billy Joel Test [06:30–10:21]
- Peter: Marvels over Phish selling out 13 straight nights at MSG without repeating songs. “I can't even wrap my mind around that.” (06:55)
- Discussion—could Jay-Z, Billy Joel, or other acts do this? (07:45–08:00)
- Peter: Imagines disappointment as a fan if your favorite isn’t played: “I'd be red hot the night that I go [and my favorite’s not played].” (08:18)
- Don: Phish cultivates a unique, dedicated type of fan for this experience.
4. Concert Economy and Ticket Stories: Then vs. Now [15:53–20:17]
- Hosts reminisce about the battered economics of concert-going from the 1980s/90s vs. today.
- Don: Describes paying $100 as a poor intern for a Simon & Garfunkel reunion as “the best hundred dollars I ever spent” (17:14) despite making “minimum wage.”
- Peter: Contrasts how inflation didn’t scale with ticket prices: “You could go probably to a really big deal concert in 1990 for 25 bucks. Inflation is not 10 times since 1990. But the tickets are.” (16:23)
- Nostalgia trip: Gas, cigarettes, first jobs, and how “the good old days” compare to now.
5. ‘That Guy’ Thursday—Spotlighting Sports Personalities [22:03–38:36]
a. Tom Brady’s “No Dog in the Fight” Super Bowl Stance [23:06–31:08]
- Brady, now partly owner of the Raiders and Fox Sports analyst, says he has “no dog in the fight” between Patriots and their Super Bowl opponents.
- Alan: “I don't believe you.” (24:14)
- Peter: “Why can’t he just say he’s leaning toward the Patriots?” (24:15)
- The hosts discuss—Is this professionalism, politeness, or something else given his new NFL role?
- Former Patriot teammates criticize Brady:
- Asante Samuel: “I'm highly, highly disappointed in you not rooting for your ex teammate Mike Vrabel.” (26:00)
- Vince Wilfork: “If you're a patriot for life, you know what it is. Don't give me that political bullcrap.” (27:22)
- Peter: Finds the teammates’ outrage “corny” and sides with Brady’s neutrality. “I kind of respect Tom for not... just waving the flag for the team he played for.” (28:26)
- Debates: Can Brady not have a rooting interest as a minority owner and broadcaster? Is he overthinking?
- Don: Suggests maybe Brady has moved on emotionally from the Patriots: “He’s all set.” (30:41)
b. Giannis and NBA Trade Rumors: Social Media “That Guy” Moment [33:14–38:36]
- Giannis Antetokounmpo stays with the Bucks through the NBA trade deadline.
- On Instagram, he posts Wolf of Wall Street’s infamous “I’m not leaving” meme and captions: “Legends don’t chase, they attract.”
- Peter & Don: Call it the “definition of that guy”—the social media flex after weeks of trade rumors saying he wants a move:
- Don: "At best fraudulent because... Giannis has clearly made very clear he wants to go, and there was no market at this exact time." (36:02)
- They debate whether Giannis is signaling he wants the Knicks to pursue him, or just covering up a failed trade move.
- Alan: Hints the Knicks may not even want him now, so Giannis might be stuck.
6. Music as Fame & Identity: Harry Styles vs. One Direction [39:18–40:07]
- The hosts reflect on Styles’ rise—now “one of the biggest solo acts on earth”:
- Alan: “If you can sell out 30 dates at MSG, I think you’re pretty big.” (40:02)
- Compare to other breakouts from former boy bands.
7. Broadcasting Rivalries and Cross-network Friendships [41:02–46:46]
- Alan: Torn between watching Don’s or the Islanders’ broadcast.
- Peter: “You’ve known me for 25 years…and these casual acquaintances are going to win the day!” (43:19)
- Nostalgic fun about early Devils fandom: Don’s childhood fan club card found and aired on TV.
Memorable Quotes & Moments
- Don LaGreca (on Phish fans): “If you're not a Phish fan, you can't name a Phish song.” (06:43)
- Peter Rosenberg (on multi-night concerts): “Imagine any band…13 straight nights and not repeat a song.” (06:55)
- Alan Hahn (on Harry Styles): “Rather than do the tour life, which nobody likes, he just, I'll do a residency.” (02:44)
- Don LaGreca (on ticket prices): “Even if there’s 30 shows, the prices can’t be affordable. Even with 30.” (13:11)
- Peter Rosenberg (on sports loyalty): “You made like a 350-pound defensive lineman say bullcrap.” (28:08)
- Don LaGreca (on Giannis): “It’s at best fraudulent because Giannis has clearly made very clear he wants to go…” (36:02)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 00:33 AI on Cleveland vs. Milwaukee nightlife
- 01:10–05:57 Harry Styles residency and ticket hunt
- 06:30–08:23 Phish’s residencies and catalog flex
- 11:58–13:11 Fan struggles with ticket resale prices
- 15:53–17:14 Hosts discuss priciest tickets ever bought
- 23:06–31:08 Tom Brady’s “that guy” moment and teammates react
- 33:14–38:36 Giannis, the meme, and the NBA trade deadline
- 39:18–40:07 Harry Styles as a pop solo icon
- 41:02–46:46 On-air rivalry, fandom, and broadcasting picks
Overall Tone
Playful, occasionally irreverent, steeped in New York sports radio tradition. There’s a blend of nostalgia, skepticism, and current events—all through a lens of good-natured ribbing and genuine debate. The “That Guy Thursday” theme helps spotlight both sports figures and social media moments, with hosts quick to call out “fraudulence” or corniness—yet also ready to poke fun at themselves and each other.
For listeners: This episode is a fun, quick-hitting trip through sports, culture, and NYC attitude—rich with ticket tales, pop fandom, and “that guy” performances, all in the inimitable style of Don, Hahn, and Rosenberg.