Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 2: Jets, Fraud Alert & Alex Monaco

Date: October 24, 2025
Podcast: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg (ESPN New York)
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Special Guest: Alex Monaco (MSG Networks)

Overview

Hour 2 delivers a full-scale New York sports therapy session, with the trio lacing into the state of the New York Jets (especially ownership), pondering the nature of sports fandom, handling questions of “fan fraudulence” on their signature “Fraud Friday” segment, and then wrapping up with gambling insights from guest Alex Monaco. The tone is witty, frustrated, and self-aware—a perfect reflection of the average long-suffering NYC sports fan.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Jets Dysfunction: Ownership, Media, and the Fan Exodus

• Woody Johnson’s Meddling:
  The show launches into a blistering critique of Jets owner Woody Johnson, tying the Jets’ struggles directly to his comments and interference.
• Coaching Dilemma:
  The drama centers on Aaron Glenn’s refusal to name a starting quarterback due to injuries and public statements from ownership, leading to a media frenzy and locker room uncertainty.
• Media’s Role:
  Alan points out the media thrives on owner drama when the team is bad (“mana from heaven is the owner that can't shut his mouth” [09:20]).
• Fan Disillusionment:
  Listeners call in to express long-term frustration, some even “checking out” after decades—the hosts warn that generational support for the Jets is eroding.

2. Notable Bits & Analogies

• Don’s Brain Surgeon Analogy ([10:36]):
  “Let's say I'm a billionaire... and I hire a bunch of surgeons that operate on brains. Unfortunately, 50% of my patients die on the spot.”
  Used to illustrate how dangerous uninformed ownership meddling is.
• The Worst Offense:
  They agree the only thing riskier than being a losing team is having a fan base lose interest:
  “The scariest place for any owner is not your team losing. It's your fan base losing interest and just letting go.” – Alan [14:36]

3. Fraud Friday – Debating Fan Allegiances

• Fans call in to confess or seek judgments on their own (or their children’s) “fraudulent” sports behavior, from wanting to follow other teams to picking college football allegiances when your school doesn’t have a team.
• Rulings:
  • It’s a “felony” (fraud) to give up on the Jets and start actively supporting Giants players as a Jets fan, less so if you’re merely watching for enjoyment [28:09].
  • “Let your kid root for whoever he wants,” but he has to stick with that team once chosen [36:16].

4. Sports Trivia and Hip-Hop Knowledge

• A listener quizzes Peter Rosenberg on music history (Mickey & Sylvia/Sylvia Robinson) and the hosts debate the boundaries of fraudulent “expertise.”
  • Don: “I don't think you ever claim to be like a hip hop savant that knew everything.” [33:26]
  • Alan points out even supposed experts can’t know every obscure stat.

5. Alex Monaco's Guest Segment – NFL Picks

• Monaco’s Approach:
  Strong opinionated picks, with local relevance, numbers, and “revenge game” factors.
• Jets-Bengals:
  Monaco likes the Jets with 6.5 points against Cincy, arguing the numbers belie the standings (“the worst team that's getting six and a half has actually a better output than Cincy” [41:07]).
• Giants-Eagles:
  He takes the Giants +7.5, noting Philly hasn't blown anyone out, and the Giants’ recent competitiveness.
• Best Bet:
  Pittsburgh Steelers as home underdogs, citing Tomlin’s surprisingly strong historical record in this spot.
• Hosts Commentary:
  Don and Alan joke about Monaco’s energy and pacing during picks, with technical glitches requiring him to move around for a better connection.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Woody Johnson & Jets Ownership

• Don’s Scathing Take on Woody:
  "It's a man that is beyond his depth. It's a man that has zero understanding of what he owns. And that's okay. Just because you're a billionaire doesn't make you an expert in the field in which you want to invest your money. But unfortunately, he thinks he knows, and that makes him even more dangerous."
  — Don, [11:12]

• On Generational Loss of Fans:
  "The scariest place for any owner is not your team losing. It's your fan base losing interest and just letting go. Fifteen years, one winning season. In those 15 years, no playoffs for a decade and a half. If you're 30, half your life you’ve watched the team do absolutely nothing."
  — Alan, [14:36]/[15:04]

“Fraud Friday” Fan Judgments

• Alan the Counselor:
  "Everything that you said up until jumping on the Giant Scatter Boo dart bandwagon... that's not even a misdemeanor. That's a felony. Like, are you sure you want to make this move?"
  — Alan, [27:39]

• Peter on Parenting Honesty:
  "Now when people ask, how are you? I’ve gotten awkwardly honest... some days are great, some days are really hard, and some days are bad... but I'll be honest, guys, sometimes it's just really, really tough."
  — Peter, [25:00]

On Sports Fandom & Allegiance

• Don on College Allegiance:
  "If you're an alum, you root. I don't understand why people root for college teams they didn’t go to... but do what you want because you didn’t have an alternative anyway.”
  — Don, [31:32]
• Setting Fandom Rules for Kids:
  "Let your kid grow up to be a fan of who he wants to be that way, genuine... So you stay a 49er fan... if all of a sudden you get a hankering for some Giants down the road... you then become a fraud.”
  — Don, [36:12]

Notable Segments & Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment/Highlight | |-------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:48 | Alan reveals he can hear the ESPN NY station all the way in New Hampshire – banter on technical quirks. | | 04:02 | “Full Frontal Friday” + game time update, on-air lineup rundown. | | 05:12 | Jets drama: Coaching subplot, owner’s interference, and insider media strategy. | | 10:36 | Don’s “brain surgeon” billionaire analogy for out-of-depth ownership. | | 13:19 | Longtime Jets fan calls in, admits “I am checked out” after 50+ years. | | 14:36 | Discussion of generational fan loss, and whether owner-caused malaise can destroy a fanbase. | | 27:09 | Fraud Friday: Fans ask if giving up on Jets (and bandwagoning locally) is fraudulent. | | 36:12 | Father asks if his 8-year-old son switching allegiance due to flag football is “fraudulent.” | | 41:07 | Alex Monaco’s segment begins: NFL picks (Jets-Bengals, Giants-Eagles, deep data, and favorite angles). | | 44:56 | Hosts ask Monaco how Vegas bakes in “revenge game” factors, and his analytic approach to handicapping. |

Tone and Style

The show is fast-paced, irreverent, and directly wry—anchored by Don’s gruff sarcasm, Alan’s analytical candor, and Peter’s self-aware humor. Listeners (and even their children) are welcomed to share fan dilemmas, and everyone gets a verdict, with plenty of banter all around. Monaco brings a high-energy, numbers-driven approach to the NFL gambling segment.

Useful for Listeners Who Missed the Episode

• Jets fans: It’s a cathartic hour—You’ll commiserate with frustration at ownership, laugh at the sad analogies, and maybe see yourself in the callers “checking out.”
• Sports “fraud” segment: Play along with the guys about what constitutes real, rational, or fraudulent fan behavior (especially if your teams are bad).
• NFL gambling heads: Monaco’s data-backed picks and trend explanations provide actionable insight, especially for Giants/Jets fans.
• NY sports life: The show catches the particular agony, biting humor, and resilience of being a New York sports fan—whether you’re tuning in from the city or (like Alan) all the way in Portsmouth, NH.

Final Thoughts

This episode channels New York’s exhausted-yet-eternal hopefulness, with the sharp edge of realism about franchise futility. It’s a confessional and a group therapy for the long-suffering, leavened with plenty of wit and the occasional stats deep-dive—a recommended listen for any true NY sports diehard.

Want the next episode or another hour? Just ask!