Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 2: Jeff Passan & Booger McFarland

Date: October 29, 2025
Host(s): Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Guests: Jeff Passan (ESPN baseball reporter), Booger McFarland (ESPN football analyst)

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the latest in New York sports, with a particular focus on the drama and highlights from the World Series, New York Knicks storylines, and football talk centering on the Giants and Jets. Jeff Passan joins to break down the World Series’ electric storyline, Shohei Ohtani’s stardom, and shares personal reflections on journalism and his late father. Booger McFarland brings honest, sometimes scorching takes about the Giants defense, the development of their quarterback, and the Jets’ never-ending quarterback carousel. The hosts keep their signature blend of banter, humor, and incisive analysis flowing throughout.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. World Series Drama: Shohei Ohtani’s Historic Run

Segment: [00:48] – [16:38]

• Game 3 Recap:
  The crew recounts an epic 18-inning Game 3, calling it an instant classic for the ages with all-time greats on display (Scherzer, Kershaw, Ohtani, Betts, Freeman).
  Quote (Peter Rosenberg, [06:38]):
  “That game is going to be a classic they show on whatever ESPN Classic is 50 years from now. … the amount of Hall of Famers firepower — that was an absolute classic.”

• Shohei Ohtani’s Unprecedented Performance:
  Passan draws direct comparisons to athletes like LeBron and Messi, saying Ohtani’s impact on baseball is beyond anything witnessed in his career.
  Quote (Jeff Passan, [05:17]):
  “It’s LeBron, it’s Messi. It’s seeing the absolute best player in the world at his absolute peak doing absolutely incredible things... I have not seen anything like Ohtani.”

• Extra-Innings Strategy – Walking Ohtani:
  Discussion about the controversial managerial choice to intentionally walk Ohtani multiple times, even leading off extra innings. Quote (Don La Greca, [12:08]):
  “I see two home runs, two doubles... let me get to the World Series. Never saw the man move his bat.”
  Quote (Jeff Passan, [12:26]):
  “I see it as strategy too. You have the ability to say, ‘I’m not going to lose to their best player.’ That’s exactly what John Schneider did.”

• Baseball’s Star Power & Relevance:
  The hosts and Passan agree that having truly marketable stars like Ohtani and Judge is critical for the sport’s future.
  Quote (Alan Hahn, [15:50]):
  “Isn’t it great though, for the sport, that one [star] is on the West Coast, one on the East Coast in major markets, and you can make an argument for either one...?”

2. Judge vs. Ohtani: Who’s the Best?

Segment: [14:05] – [16:38]

• Raw Opinions:
  Passan takes a hard stance: “Ohtani’s better, period. As long as he’s pitching.” He clarifies Judge is a better pure hitter, but Ohtani is having two careers at once. Quote (Jeff Passan, [15:19]):
  “Ohtani’s better, period... If it’s just hitting, I will take Aaron Judge all day... but Ohtani just also happens to be one of the best pitchers.”

• Banter about the debate in New York:
  The hosts joke about “Yankee interference” cutting Passan’s anti-Judge answer short.

3. Reflections on Sports Journalism & Rich Passan Scholarship

Segment: [17:06] – [20:09]

• Remembering Rich Passan:
  Jeff Passan honors his late father, a legendary Cleveland sportswriter, and details the new “Rich Passan Sports Writing Scholarship.” A candid, affectionate story about his dad’s “terrible take” on Belichick is shared.
  Quote (Jeff Passan, [19:22]):
  “This is great. Bill Belichick is a terrible coach.” [laughter]

• Encouragement for Young Writers:
  Passan invites student journalists to apply via the National Press Club, and urges donations for the scholarship.

4. New York Giants: Defensive Concerns and Dexter Lawrence

Segment: [24:00] – [27:45]

• Booger’s Honest Take:
  McFarland says Dexter Lawrence hasn’t lived up to last year’s All-Pro standard and needs to take ownership, despite injury hangover.
  Quote (Booger McFarland, [24:54]):
  “I don’t see the same — or I haven’t seen the same — Dexter Lawrence consistently. I see it in spurts, I see moments of it. But... we all expected him to build upon last year.”

• Team-wide Issues:
  Questions about the unit’s overall coaching, citing other defenders’ underperformance.

5. Injuries, X-Factors, and Quarterback Progression

Segment: [27:45] – [32:13]

• Impact of Cam Scadabo’s Absence:
  The loss of the energetic fullback hurts, but Booger insists the QB remains the team’s future determinant.

• Jackson Dart’s Development:
  McFarland sees legitimate promise in the young quarterback, emphasizing consistency and leadership:
  “He’s a force multiplier... at this point in his career, he’s the best he could be right now as a rookie quarterback.”

6. Jets’ QB Carousel and Justin Fields

Segment: [32:13] – [36:04]

• Fields as Placeholder:
  Booger bluntly says Fields isn’t a long-term answer:
  “I don’t think Justin Fields is a starting quarterback in the NFL... I think he’s a placeholder.”

• Jets’ Perpetual Dilemma:
  If there’s no sure-thing QB in the draft, the Jets must keep looking, not force a pick:
  “The job of the general manager is to get the best guy that fits the Jets that’s available. And if there’s not one available, then you can’t get one.”

7. Jets Ownership & Woody Johnson Banter

Segment: [36:04] – [38:15]

• Ownership Frustration:
  Hahn and Booger joke about owner Woody Johnson’s role in the Jets’ dysfunction.
  Quote (Peter Rosenberg, [37:05]):
  “If I asked out Sydney Sweeney... well, listen, he really wanted to go out with her, but he’s an awkward schlub who couldn’t get it done, but he still wanted to.”
  Quote (Don La Greca, [37:19]):
  “That’s a great comp for Woody Johnson. Woody Johnson winning football is like Don La Greca asking out an A-list starlet.”
  Quote (Booger McFarland, [37:30]):
  “There are so many analogies you could have come up with. You might have picked the worst one.”
  Quote (Alan Hahn, [37:56]):
  “That’s why it works. And winning has not been in the ballpark of Woody Johnson.”

8. Knicks Early Struggles & Listener Feedback

Segment: [42:05] – [47:57]

• Knicks’ Road Woes:
  Discussion of the Knicks’ 2–2 start, poor second halves, and struggles without Mitchell Robinson. Listener “Spike” calls in to blame coaching lapses, aging rosters, and injuries.
  • Spike laments: “They can’t win without [Robinson].”
  • Hahn: Management is holding Robinson back out of long-term caution after surgeries.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Jeff Passan on Ohtani’s Impact:
  [05:17] Jeff Passan: “It’s LeBron, it’s Messi… I have not seen anything like Ohtani.”

• Passan on World Series Game 3:
  [07:29] Jeff Passan: “…Six and a half hours is no joke for any sporting event… it makes every pitch matter more. It’s why watching [Ohtani] do what he did... It’s just so cool to me.”

• Booger McFarland on the Giants D-line:
  [24:54] “I just needed to see more… last year he was dominating. I don’t see the same Dexter Lawrence consistently.”

• Booger on Jets QB Problem:
  [34:04] “You can only choose from what’s available… hopefully the Jets don’t [force a pick].”

• Woody Johnson Analogy:
  [37:19] Don La Greca: “Woody Johnson winning football is like Don La Greca asking out an A-list starlet.”

• Jeff Passan’s Bad Dad Take:
  [19:22] Jeff Passan: “Bill Belichick is a terrible coach.” (about his father’s infamous opinion)

Timestamps & Segment Guide

• [00:48] – [03:23]: Recap of NY sports night, introduction of Jeff Passan
• [03:23] – [16:38]: World Series analysis with Jeff Passan: Ohtani, strategy, stars
• [17:06] – [20:09]: Jeff Passan on the Rich Passan scholarship, sportswriting, and family stories
• [24:00] – [32:13]: Booger McFarland on Giants defense, Cam Scadabo’s injury, and Jackson Dart’s growth
• [32:13] – [36:04]: Jets QB woes, Justin Fields critique, draft dilemmas
• [36:04] – [38:15]: Ownership issues and Woody Johnson discussion, with signature show humor
• [42:05] – [47:57]: Knicks early season struggles, fan call (Spike), injury talk
• [47:57] – end: Show banter and outro

Tone and Style

Energetic, knowledgeable, and irreverent — hosts and guests mix expert analysis with jabs, jokes, and genuine enthusiasm for New York sports and beyond. The show is fast-paced, with plenty of inside jokes and old-school sports radio banter.

Summary

This hour of Don, Hahn & Rosenberg captures the essence of big-time sports talk in New York: from the transcendent spectacle of the World Series and Shohei Ohtani’s global stardom, to blunt realities facing the Giants and Jets, to the Knicks’ enduring quest for relevance. Jeff Passan’s baseball reporting blends deep expertise with heartfelt personal stories, while Booger McFarland brings candor and humor to football frustrations. All the while, the hosts keep it lively, honest, and unapologetically New York.