Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 2: Jerseys & Fraud Alert

Date: December 5, 2025
Hosts: Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg, Don La Greca

Overview

This episode focuses on the evolution of sports jersey traditions and fan behaviors, especially surrounding the NFL’s home/away jersey customs and the business of alternate uniforms. Afterward, the trio launches into "Fraud Friday," their recurring comedic investigation into sports fandom fraudulence—from rooting for rival teams to questionable jersey purchases. Throughout, the hosts mix lighthearted ribbing with genuine takes on tradition, loyalty, and the quirks of sports fan life.

Key Discussion Points

1. Cowboys in Blue Jerseys: Nostalgia & Lost Traditions

(00:59 – 06:45)

• Don reflects on a bygone NFL tradition: Home teams used to force the Dallas Cowboys to wear their unpopular blue jerseys; this started after their loss in Super Bowl V (01:00).

  • "When I was growing up, you made the Cowboys wear the blue jerseys." – Don (01:00)

• Don notes that this tradition has faded after decades of coaching and team turnover.

  • Alan and Peter debate why these details get lost and the importance of keeping such traditions alive in organizations.

• Merchandising & Jersey Choices:

  • Peter asks why teams don’t wear white at home more often (03:19). Alan and Don point out it’s about selling merch—the NBA, MLB, and NFL all push colored and alternate jerseys for marketing (03:29–06:37).

2. Tradition vs. Business: Jersey Colors Across Leagues

(03:45 – 06:45)

• Alan laments the loss of classic looks (e.g., Knicks in crisp whites, Yankees in pinstripes) due to marketing and constant jersey changes.
• Don shares NHL’s move back to dark home jerseys for “throwback" vibes and why some fans prefer colorful visitors.

3. Callers & Personal Fandom Stories

(07:43 – 10:29)

• Felicia from Mississippi shares a fun story about reverse-jinxing her hockey team with a cheap, distorted goal horn (07:47–08:45).
• Discussion shifts to age and activity: Don’s desire to keep shoveling snow and doing housework despite concerns about health risks with age.
  • “I want to do everything... I don’t want to get to the point where like, oh, no, Dad’s too old to do that.” – Alan (11:00)
• Peter tells a cautionary Thanksgiving story where his dad took a fall, stressing the balance between pride and safety as you age (12:26–14:55).

4. Tie Talk: Don’s 90s Arrow Tie

(15:13 – 17:08)

• Listeners comment on Don’s old-school tie—a purple Arrow from the late 90s (16:19).
• The crew teases Don for the retro style, likening it to a 90s courtroom or sitcom attire.

5. Fan Origin Stories: Jets, Cowboys, and Giants

(17:41 – 21:19)

• Alan shares how he became a Jets fan: He wasn’t from a football family but received a Richard Todd jersey as a gift (18:14–19:00).
  • “It was probably because that’s the Christmas I got the jersey.” – Alan (19:00)
• Callers reminisce about their own fandom roots and traumas, with Alan reflecting on the emotional scars of early Jets disappointment (19:07).

6. Giants Talk & Prospective Coaches

(19:33 – 21:19)

• Caller Andrew stumps for Mike McCarthy as the next Giants head coach and debates draft strategy.
• Alan and Don discuss positional needs and whether trading high picks for veterans makes sense, considering the Giants’ multiple needs.

7. Fraud Friday: The Trials Begin

(25:13 – 32:57)

• Alan “prosecutes” Peter for rooting enthusiastically for the Cowboys (current Commanders rival), playing damning audio as evidence of “fraudulent” fandom (26:07–27:12)
  • Alan: “This is the people against Peter Rosenberg.” (25:23)
  • Audio: “Let’s go Cowboys… How about them Cowboys?” – Peter (26:07)
• Don rules: Not full “fraud,” but definitely “fraudulent behavior” (27:04).
• The debate continues over emotional detachment and rooting for rivals for business or show purposes.
• They read listener emails on questionable fandom, delivering verdicts amid plenty of sarcasm and laughs.

8. Fraud Friday Email Court: Judgments & Gray Areas

(29:24 – 38:35)

• Case 1: Growing up in the Bronx, roots for all NY teams but picks sides when they play—ruled as "Big F. Fraud" (30:01–30:37)
• Case 2: Utah local adopts Yankees, then Knicks and Giants as a transplant—ruled not a fraud due to lack of local teams and honest disclosure (32:14–32:57)
• Case 3: Lakers superfan turns into a Lakers hater after LeBron joins—hosts say it’s “humongous fraud,” questioning her fandom if one player can sway her that hard (35:00–36:51)
  • “So how much do you really love your team if one guy…can make you then hate the team?” – Don (35:34)
• Case 4: Is it fraud to buy gear of a rival team as a gift for someone else? – “That’s not fraud. You’re not buying it because you’re a fan.” (37:33–37:55)

9. More Calls: Vintage Jerseys, Bar Mitzvah Photos, and Fandom “Conversion”

(43:22 – 47:47)

• Caller Chad confesses a bar mitzvah photo wearing Giants gear, even though he’s been a Cowboys fan for decades. Don rules: No fraud—he only found his authentic fandom later (44:47).
• Another caller, Paul, shares how a “Jets Fans Only” parking sign at a family friend’s house influenced a lifetime fandom (46:02–47:41).
• Alan explains how the 80s Sears NFL jerseys—faux-style with team names—became his gateway into Jets fandom (47:43).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I want to do everything… I don’t want to get to the point where… Dad's too old to do that.” – Alan (11:00)
• “You should never make a pick when you go… Guys, everyone knows the smart pick here is Detroit.” – Peter, on making “business decisions” with picks (27:48)
• “If one guy…can make you then hate the team, like that easily… She was looking for a way out.” – Don, on the "Lakers hater" email (35:34)
• “That was the sign that this is fugazi, right?” – Peter, on old NFL jerseys with team names across the front (47:41)
• “I will read the average book. Like I said, I’m reading Bob Saget’s book right now… but the one thing I love more than… average books is good radio and Peter reading, you know, 10 minutes of a detailed description of how big a fan somebody is. You know what? Big Laker fan would have sufficed.” – Don, on concise storytelling (39:01)
• “You don’t think that added? I painted a picture—color!” – Peter (39:34), defending his wordy readings

Entertaining Segments & Running Gags

• Tie Talk: Don’s retro tie becomes a running joke, with speculation on its material, origin, and "90s law firm" aesthetics (16:19–17:08).
• Fraud Courtroom: Fake courtroom banter as Peter and listeners stand accused of fraudulent fandom, complete with mock rulings and sentences (25:13–32:57).
• Donna Summer Tangent: Brief disco interlude, debating her best tracks ("Love to Love You Baby," "Bad Girls") (41:31–43:10).
• Jersey Merch Rants: Shared nostalgia and pet peeves about NFL jerseys and the commercialization of alternate uniforms (03:29–06:37, 47:25–47:51).

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Cowboys Blue Jersey Tradition: 01:00–06:45
• Jersey Marketing & Team Uniforms: 03:29–06:37
• Caller: Felicia & Shoveling Snow Debate: 07:43–11:20
• Thanksgiving Fall Story (Aging & Pride): 12:26–14:55
• Don’s Arrow Tie Joke: 15:13–17:08
• Jets Fandom Origin: 18:14–19:00, 47:06–47:25
• Fraud Friday, Peter on Trial: 25:13–27:12
• Email Trials (NY Fandom; Utah Fandom; Lakers Fan Turned Hater): 29:24–38:35
• Final Verdicts and More Calls: 43:22–47:41

Tone & Style

The episode is playful, irreverent, and sharp—a blend of inside jokes, listener participation, and heartfelt sports nostalgia. The trio mixes genuine sports analysis with mock-serious “fraud” court proceedings, inviting listeners to reflect and laugh at their own quirks as fans.

Best For:
Anyone fascinated with the quirks of sports fandom, the evolution of jersey culture in pro sports, and the endless debates over what makes someone a "real" fan, all delivered with New York wit and camaraderie.