Podcast Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg

Hour 2: Jets Apathy & Fraud Alert Friday
Date: October 10, 2025
Podcast Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Network: ESPN New York

Overview

Hour 2 of the "Don, Hahn & Rosenberg" podcast tackles two major themes:

1. Jets Apathy: The panel explores the New York Jets’ spiral into irrelevance, dissecting the uniquely apathetic attitude among fans and the implications for team leadership.
2. Fraud Alert Friday: The hosts dive into fan dilemmas about “fraudulent” fan behavior in sports, ruling on various listener-submitted scenarios involving loyalty, betting, and allegiances.

The hour is filled with spirited banter, New York sports nostalgia, and authentic debate about what it means to be a “true fan”—all with the panel’s trademark mix of humor and candor.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Jets Apathy & State of the Franchise

The Apathy Disaster

• The Jets’ 0-5 start, their abysmal track record in London games, and the astounding lack of fan energy are dissected. Don notes a historic low in Jets fan engagement.
• Quote – Don (09:00):

  “I’ve never in my time being around this team, I’ve seen this level of disinterest in the Jets. I mean, just flat out disinterest.”

• The fanbase, traditionally passionate regardless of success or failure, has seemingly given up. Don compares this to previous disasters ("Owen 13 from 2020") but sees a new indifference.
• Alan, a long-time observer and sometimes fan, admits to a personal disconnection from the team after Aaron Rodgers’ injury:

  “The last time I felt anything was right before Aaron Rodgers’ Achilles snapped… From that point forward, I couldn’t feel anymore.” (10:49)

The London Game & NFL Optics

• The hosts are puzzled by the NFL sending such a poor team overseas; Alan provides stats showing international games rarely reverse the fortunes of winless teams.
  – Only 1 out of 7 prior winless teams have won their international game (06:10)
• Don floats the idea of picking the Jets out of sheer NFL chaos—“Bizarro NFL”—echoing the unpredictability of recent seasons.
• The crew agrees on the Jets’ talent deficit, particularly on offense, and criticize the reliance on a single wide receiver against an elite Broncos defense (08:08).

Coaching Future & Fireability

• Listener “Black Metronome” poses: If the Jets go 0–17, would new coach Aaron Glenn get fired?
  • Don: “I could see Woody Johnson being embarrassed by 0 and 17 and making the move.” (11:51)
  • Alan: “If it looks like the discipline never gets checked… then that shows me there’s poor leadership, and maybe I’ve got a guy that’s over his head.” (13:51)
• The panel ultimately says it depends on how the team looks—if it’s consistently undisciplined and mistake-ridden, firing could be warranted.

Patience, Heritage & Fandom

• The debate turns philosophical: Does being a beloved former player (like current coach Glenn) buy more time? Alan believes Glenn’s pedigree and ties (“blood and ground in the ground”) might buy patience.

  • But, both agree, New York fans will turn quickly if no progress is visible—a contrast to recent Giants management decisions.

• Alan admits a detachment from the Jets—he can "keep it at a distance and not get emotionally involved.” (17:35) Don likens fandom to a relationship:

  “If it’s too one-sided, you’re gonna lose interest.” (18:25)

• Perspective: For young fans, the Jets’ playoff drought is nearly their entire life:

  • “You were six the last time this team went to the playoffs. You’ve spent 75% of your life watching a lousy football team.” (18:25)

Players-Only Meeting

• Discussion about a defensive “players only” meeting pre-London. Alan is skeptical:

  “When that gets out, it's because we want you to know that we're talking about it... I’d rather know [about] a team meeting after you win the game.” (19:42)

Fraud Alert Friday

A signature segment where listeners submit sports “fandom crimes” for "trial."

Crossing Team Loyalty Lines

1. Multi-Team NHL Fandom (27:13)

   • Listener Tommy P, a Blackhawks fan, also supports the Devils and Rangers because he lives in Jersey.
   • Ruling:
     • Don: “I’m going to say no fraud… There’s no real rivalry.”
     • Alan: “Blackhawks, Rangers and Devils are just like sister wives—it’s acceptable.”

2. Betting Over on Your Favorite Team’s Game (29:20)

   • Is it fraud for a die-hard Yankee fan to bet the over, needing both teams to score runs?
   • Consensus: No fraud—“We all make business decisions… that’s not being a fraud.” Fantasy sports and betting require rooting for different outcomes.

3. Emotional Hedge: Betting on Your Rival (32:26)

   • Sox fans betting on the Yankees as an emotional safeguard.
   • Ruling:
     • Don: “If you’re happy either way, that’s fraudulent. If you’d rather lose the money, then no fraud. But if you want the money more, you’re a fraud.” (33:12–35:51)
     • Alan: “It’s blood money. You can’t wash it off.” (35:51)

4. Kids Wearing Rival Players’ Jerseys (36:34)

   • Is a parent creating a fraud by letting kids wear jerseys of random players/teams?
   • Ruling:
     • Don: “No, you make yourself a fraud. The whole jersey thing has changed over time—now it’s often just fashion.” (36:34–37:08)

5. Under-30 Yankees Fans: Can They Hold the Team to a Championship Standard Set Before They Were Born? (38:33)

   • The panel dives deep into the philosophy of inherited championship “standards.”
   • Don: “Should you celebrate all 27 [Yankees titles] if you weren’t alive for most? I think you should only be allowed to celebrate the ones in your lifetime.” (41:12)
   • Alan: “History comes with being a fan [but]... those hit way different because you experienced them.” (44:41, 48:20)
   • They agree: celebrating team history is natural, but boasting about pre-birth championships is diluted. “You can’t claim all 27, Al, is what I’m saying.”

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “The only thing I remember you saying is you like the Giants with the seven and a half... Never made it your three point play.” – Don (03:31)
• “The Jets have one receiver. You know what? The Broncos have the best cornerback in the game. How’s that gonna work out?” – Alan (08:08)
• “It is, in a lot of ways, a relationship and if it’s too one-sided, you’re gonna lose interest.” – Don (18:25)
• “Boring money moves make kind of lame songs, but they sound pretty sweet to your wallet.” – Don, singing a bank jingle (23:58)
• “If you root for three teams equally, then you don’t have a favorite team. But he said the Blackhawks are his team.” – Don (28:16)
• “I think betting against your team is where we get into trouble.” – Anthony (30:32)
• “If you want to know where fraudulent starts: it starts because people don’t want to be depressed… you don’t have that luxury. You’re a fraud.” – Don (34:52)
• “Jerseys are fashion now. It’s not like who you like.” – Alan (36:41)
• “If you’re happy either way, that’s fraudulent... you don’t get to be good either way.” – Don (34:52)
• “History comes with being a fan of a franchise... you still celebrate the history of your franchise.” – Alan (43:16)
• “But you get a punchable face when you do that, by the way.” – Don, ribbing Alan about championship “ownership” (47:04)

Segment Timestamps

| Timestamp | Topic | |-----------|----------------------------------------------------| | 00:44 | Show intro, sports preview, and casual banter | | 03:06 | “Three point play” Giants pick—debate | | 05:33 | Discussion of Jets’ futility, London stats | | 08:42 | Jets fan apathy and “checked out” fandom | | 11:14 | Listener Q: Should Aaron Glenn be fired? | | 17:35 | Fandom as a relationship; keeping emotional distance| | 19:42 | Players-only meeting & public relations skepticism | | 25:15 | Fraud Alert Friday segment begins | | 27:13 | Multi-team fan loyalty (NHL scenario) | | 29:20 | Betting “over” on your team—fan integrity | | 32:26 | Betting on rivals; emotional hedging | | 36:34 | Letting kids wear various jerseys—fraud? | | 38:33 | Under-30 Yankees fans & inherited standards | | 41:12 | Inheriting championships from before your birth | | 44:41 | Debate about fan “ownership” of team history | | 47:04 | “Punchable face” joke over Yankees titles | | 49:05 | Closing banter, lighting, and “Mount Zion” metaphor |

Tone & Style

• The episode is conversational, irreverent, and laden with New York sports nostalgia.
• The hosts blend inside jokes with deep dives; they shift easily between playful roasting and genuine sports analysis.
• Listener engagement is high, with emails and YouTube chat entries fueling spirited debate.
• The segment transitions are seamless, with the “Fraud Alert Friday” having a mock-judicial, comedic flair.

Conclusion

This episode delivers a cathartic, honest look at the suffering and apathy of Jets fandom—highlighted by brutal stats and true confessions of detachment—all while underscoring the enduring bonds (and odd rituals) that define being a sports fan. "Fraud Alert Friday" provides comic relief and food for thought on the blurry lines of modern fandom, betting, and team loyalty.

For listeners (or readers), Hour 2 is a robust example of how sports—especially in New York—are never “just a game,” but a web of loyalty, frustration, nostalgia, and routine self-questioning. At root: It’s about caring enough to argue about what counts.