Don, Hahn & Rosenberg — ESPN New York Podcast
Episode: Hour 2: Hart on KAT & Fraud Friday
Date: January 23, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode kicks off with winter storm preparations in New York, a tribute to local legend "Uncle Floyd," then dives deep into challenges facing Knicks star Karl-Anthony Towns (KAT), including revealing locker room dynamics. The second half features the fan-favorite segment "Fraud Friday," with listeners seeking judgment on whether their fandom or tendencies make them “frauds” in the world of sports loyalty. The trio’s lively banter, sharp New York sports insight, and warm wit are on full display.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Storm Prep & Local Nostalgia (00:00–07:52)

• Weather Impact: The crew talks about the impending snowstorm set to hit New York over the weekend, with cold temperatures and significant accumulation expected.
  • “Jim Cantore’s coming to town. You know it’s a weather event when Jim Cantore is here.” — Alan Hahn (01:02)
• Remote School & Lost Snow Days: The hosts lament the end of traditional “snow days,” replaced by remote learning, and how it’s affected kids’ experiences.
  • “One of the things that Covid gave us — our traditional snow days... Now these poor kids, you’ll have remote learning today.” — Alan Hahn (03:10)
• Uncle Floyd Tribute: Alan pays respect to Jersey TV and comedy icon Floyd “Uncle Floyd” Vivino, who passed at 74, reflecting on his influence in the region and even mentioning Bon Jovi’s TV debut on Floyd’s show.
  • “If you’re from Jersey, you most likely know how significant he was... Bon Jovi actually made their television debut on his show.” — Alan Hahn (07:15)

2. Knicks Talk: Karl-Anthony Towns Under the Microscope (07:54–21:20)

A. What’s Wrong with KAT?

• Inconsistent Play & Team Frustration: The team discusses Towns’ hot-and-cold performance, high salary, and his importance to the Knicks' success, comparing his unpredictability to Julius Randle.
• Locker Room Dynamics: They play a revealing Josh Hart quote about KAT needing to focus on defense and avoid offensive mistakes:
  • “We need him to be aggressive, we need him to be smart... but I also want to hear about him blocking shots.” — Josh Hart (09:39–09:53)
• Interpreting Hart’s Comments: Peter Rosenberg suggests this signals a public turning point inside the locker room:
  • “That feels like the delicate beginning of a direct, front-facing convo to the public about what the problems may be.” — Rosenberg (10:54)
• Role & Expectations: The crew stresses Towns’ role as the team’s highest-paid player and prior All-NBA status, underlining that he should be the difference-maker:
  • “You can’t really overstate his importance to this team... he would have easily been the best player on the team.” — Rosenberg (11:26)

B. Off-court Factors Affecting KAT

• Rumors & Mental Hurdles:
  • Discuss potential impact of trade rumors (possibly for Giannis), lack of contract extension, new coaching staff, and fan/media scrutiny.
  • “He’s got so much from the neck up happening to him right now... I keep saying they gotta get Towns’ head right.” — Hahn (16:01)
• Comparisons to Work-Life Drama: Rosenberg relates the situation to his own past professional friction, explaining how negativity can spiral and become self-fulfilling if not confronted.
  • “Your negativity can then beget bad play, which begets more negativity from the organization, which leads to more rumors... Eventually, you gotta decide: do you want to make it work here?” — Rosenberg (17:17)
• Professional Challenge: Don emphasizes that once the trade is off the table, it’s time to buckle down.
  • “At some point, you gotta put that aside, go out and play ball, man.” — Don La Greca (19:12)

C. KAT’s Path Forward

• Making it Work or Moving on: They agree Towns has the power to shape his narrative either by reinvesting with his current teammates or brooding and becoming a trade candidate.
  • “If they do move me, people are like, ‘whoa, he was helping you win.’ That’s all you can do.” — Hahn (19:31)
• Ultimate Stakes: The season’s success might hinge on Towns’ mindset and effort:
  • “This whole season could be about whether or not Karl-Anthony Towns decides, ‘I’m going to play my ass off, because I need to show I’m a winner.’” — Hahn (20:59)

3. “Fraud Friday” — Judging Fandom (23:40–46:17)

Segment introduced with humor and mock-legal dramatics, where fans plead their cases regarding sports loyalty “infractions.”

Listener Cases

• Having a Second Favorite Player (Peyton Manning) as a Giants Fan: No fraud.
  • “There’s nothing wrong with a second favorite player—especially the brother of your favorite.” — Don (25:19)
• Rooting for Yankees & Patriots as a New Arrival from Brazil: No fraud due to unique life circumstances.
  • “You fall in love when you fall in love.” — Don (27:26)
• Decorating an Apartment Both Yankees & Dodgers Due to Roommate/Sibling Pressure: Survival, not fraud.
  • “What was he supposed to do... sometimes that’s the way you got to go to survive.” — Don (29:59)
• Mel Kiper Jr. Declaring Both Ravens & Rams: FRAUD.
  • “By the letter of the law, he’d be a fraud to root for both the Ravens and Rams.” — Don (31:39)
• Becoming an Eagles Fan After Casual Pre-Existing Football Fandom: Odd, but not a fraud if no team was previously declared.
  • “He’s odd... but by the letter of the law, he is not a fraud.” — Don (35:10)

Notable Call-In Cases & Fun Moments

• Rooting Against Giants for Draft Position: No fraud.
  • “You’re not rooting for the Cowboys because you like them, it helps your team’s situation.” — Don (41:24)
• Fan Couple Considering Swapping Jets for Bills and Yankees for Mets: Would be fraud if executed—Don jokes about marital consequences.
  • “If you made this deal, you and your wife would become frauds. Your wife’s a fraud for even suggesting it.” — Don (43:32)
  • Rosenberg quips: “If Nancy said Don’s not allowed to watch his teams anymore, he’d go, ‘Alright, honey, what else can I get from the grocery store?’” (45:27)

4. “Coach’s Corner” & New York Living in the Snow (36:55–40:54)

• Travel Disruptions: Over 2,000 US flights cancelled ahead of the storm, especially affecting Dallas airports.
• City-Dweller Advantages: Rosenberg reflects on how being in Manhattan is easier during snow: you can walk for what you need, and the city becomes a pedestrian playground.
  • “When it gets nuts, the roads just completely empty... free reign as people who live in Manhattan to kind of just wander around.” — Rosenberg (39:21)
• Family Sledding Plans: Peter jokes about taking his daughter out for her first real snow day — with Alan and Don humorously riffing on sled safety.

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• Josh Hart’s directness on KAT:
  “We need him to be aggressive... want to make sure we focus on defense. I don’t want to hear too much about his touches. I want to hear about him blocking shots.” — Josh Hart (09:39–10:00)

• Locker Room Honesty:
  “That feels like the delicate beginning of a direct, front-facing convo to the public about what the problems may be.” — Rosenberg (10:54)

• KAT’s Mental Struggles:
  “I think they gotta get Towns’ head right... that’s what’s wrong with the Knicks.” — Hahn (16:01)

• On ‘Fraud’ Swap Between Spouses (Jets/Bills for Mets/Yankees):
  “If you made this deal, you and your wife would become frauds. Your wife’s a fraud for even suggesting it.” — Don (43:32)

• Coping with the Storm in NYC:
  “Listen, we’ve got the technology to work from home, to play from home... tons of sports. Just relax.” — Don (38:52)

• Rosenberg on city’s upside in a storm:
  “When it gets nuts, the roads just completely empty... you have free reign as people who live in Manhattan.” (39:21)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Storm Prep, Nostalgia, Uncle Floyd: 00:00–07:52
• Knicks & KAT Discussion: 07:54–21:20
  • Josh Hart comments on KAT: 09:38
• Fraud Friday Listener Cases: 23:40–46:17
  • Mel Kiper verdict: 31:39
  • Swap scenario verdict: 43:32
• Snowstorm Impacts & NYC Living: 36:55–40:54

Tone & Style

The conversation is classic New York: fast, opinionated, witty, and frequently playful. The crew is honest but empathetic, whether discussing team performance or the peculiarities of fandom. Their interactions, especially during Fraud Friday, are half-courtroom, half-barbershop—always keeping the conversation engaging for diehard fans and casual listeners alike.