Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – "Hour 2: Let's Talk About It"

Date: February 3, 2026
Hosts: Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg, (Allen) Don La Greca
Episode Theme: Social dynamics in sports media, sports controversies, everyday life observations, and audience engagement.

Episode Overview

This episode mixes personal banter with deeper discussions about sports culture, social media etiquette among colleagues, high-profile controversies in the NFL, new-age annoyances in digital advertising, and relatable New York City driving moments. The hosts pull from personal experience and current sports headlines to highlight both the trivial and the urgent in the world of sports and society. Listeners are offered a humorous, candid look at how sports personalities navigate public and private interactions, handle scandals, and manage everyday inconveniences.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Social Media Etiquette and Validation (00:13–11:04)

The Michael Kay Instagram Tribute Saga

• Alan Hahn discusses a tribute post he made for Michael Kay and wonders about the “proper” response he should expect from Kay.
• Rosenberg and Don debate whether public posts require public gratitude, or whether private acknowledgment suffices.
• The group explores the dual motivations behind such tributes — genuine appreciation versus hoping for validation.
• Hahn sheepishly confesses to directly messaging Kay to check if he’d seen the post. Kay’s brief reply, “I saw it. Lovely.” is dissected at length for tone and adequacy.

Notable Quotes:

• "Can’t both be true? Can’t both be true that you mean it and you want to express it, and you still want the validation back?" – Alan Hahn (02:10)
• "Did you send him a link? Like, 'In case you missed it. I said nice things.'" – Allen (04:49)
• "If you write HBD to me, you’re dead. You didn’t have enough time to write 'Happy Birthday...'” – Alan Hahn (09:51)

Memorable Moment

• The crew clowns Alan for fishing for a response, comparing brief social media replies to the ultimate snub (“HBD”) and mockingly debate deeper meanings in simple replies.
• Allen quips: "You are a gutless puke." (08:32)

Segment Timestamps

• 00:13 – 11:18: Social media tribute etiquette, Kay's reply saga, lamenting dry responses, and mock-serious analysis of digital manners.

2. NFL Scandal: The Tish/Epstein Allegations (13:20–19:31)

Caller Confronts the NFL's Response

• Caller Dave expresses frustration about the NFL’s handling of scandal involving Tish and Epstein. Hosts affirm the gravity yet stress the need for due process, cautioning against knee-jerk reactions.
• Rosenberg and Allen note that while public outrage is understandable, legal protocols and the league’s own timing (Super Bowl week) dictate that no action can be taken quickly.
• Discussion draws parallels with past sports controversies that fade when major events begin, referencing Ray Lewis’s deer antler spray drama before a Super Bowl.

Notable Quotes:

• "You have people who were protesting Michael Vick... This is a really big thing, and it’s not getting its due in the press." – Caller Dave (13:33)
• "You can’t go to the town square and hang the man just because everybody’s mad." – Allen (14:43)
• "Other than satisfying the general public that wants a stake on a head immediately, why not wait?" – Peter Rosenberg (17:28)

Segment Timestamps

• 13:20 – 19:31: Caller segment and hosts' nuanced discussion of the NFL's legal process regarding scandals close to Super Bowl week.

3. "Talk About It Tuesday" – Societal Rants & Laughs (20:27–32:56)

a. AI-Driven YouTube Ads and Vulnerability (21:08–27:56)

• Allen vents about the proliferation of AI-generated, predatory YouTube advertisements, particularly their impact on vulnerable groups and the lack of regulation.
• The hosts discuss how these ads manipulate viewers, use urgency and fake reviews, and exploit anxieties.
• Conversations touch on how older people are especially at risk, with Allen describing time spent debunking such commercials for relatives.

Notable Quotes:

• "It’s getting kind of scary...a lot of these companies think we’re stupid... There must be people out there that are that dumb that they fall for this stuff." – Allen (21:19)
• "It’s the wild, wild west in so much of this stuff." – Alan Hahn (24:54)

b. New York Driving Etiquette: The Prayer Hands Wave (27:56–31:33)

• Allen shares a traffic story where another driver uses “prayer hands” and then “heart hands” to ask for and give thanks for lane access, sparking debate over sincerity vs. trying too hard.
• Is this a new standard for politeness, or just over the top?

Notable Quotes:

• "A grown adult man, you know, is very odd." – Alan Hahn (31:06)
• "Only man he’s allowed to do it—and barely—is Justin Bieber." – Peter Rosenberg (31:11)

4. The Pro Bowl – Should It Even Exist? (33:01–38:08)

• The group collectively trashes the relevance and authenticity of the modern NFL Pro Bowl, mocking the inclusion of unremarkable players and “celebrity” spots.
• Rosenberg compares the Pro Bowl’s dwindling credibility to historic sports arguments ("Phil Housley thing") and laments how future generations may misread what it means to be a “Pro Bowler” due to watered-down rosters.
• Suggestions are floated to replace the Pro Bowl with fan fests or celebrations focused on honoring players, not padded marketing events.

Notable Quotes:

• "If you’re watching this, you need help, quite honestly." – Peter Rosenberg (33:34)
• "You have cheapened the value of being a Pro Bowler because there’s no longer any worthiness to it..." – Allen (38:11)

5. Rapid-Fire Listener Interactions & Sports Takes (41:45–47:20)

a. Wrestling and Canadian Rock Tangent (41:45–42:44)

• A caller mixes wrestling fantasy bookings (“Jelly Roll” at WrestleMania) and Canadian rock band nostalgia (Triumph, Rush, Zebra), prompting playful music nerdery among the hosts.

b. Ranger Fan Despair & Olympic Hockey (41:48–44:43)

• Disappointment with the Rangers and optimism for Olympic hockey, with the caveat of inconvenient time zones for international tournaments.

c. Jets/Quarterback Chatter: Malik Willis vs. Kyler Murray (44:51–47:20)

• Listener discusses the Jets' quarterback options. Hosts weigh the potential upside and cost of acquiring Kyler Murray or Malik Willis, referencing the wider NFL context and front office confidence.

Notable Quotes:

• "He is what he is. He’ll be a nice stop gap until you can kind of figure it out." – Peter Rosenberg on Kyler Murray (45:35)

Notable Quotes – All Segments

| Speaker | Quote | Timestamp | |---------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------| | Alan Hahn | "Can’t both be true...that you mean it and you want to express it, and you still want the validation back?" | 02:10 | | Peter Rosenberg | "If you're watching [the Pro Bowl], you need help, quite honestly." | 33:34 | | Allen | "You can't go to the town square and hang the man just because everybody's mad." | 14:43 | | Alan Hahn | "If you write HBD to me, you're dead." | 09:51 | | Allen | "A grown adult man, you know, is very odd [heart hands in traffic]." | 31:06 | | Peter Rosenberg | "Only man he's allowed to do it—and barely—is Justin Bieber." | 31:11 | | Allen | "You have cheapened the value of being a Pro Bowler because there’s no longer any worthiness to it..." | 38:11 |

Memorable Moments

• Meta Analysis of Social Media: The hosts’ painstaking, mock-therapeutic breakdown of Michael Kay’s minimalist Instagram acknowledgment (00:49–11:18).
• Allen’s Traffic Story: “Prayer hands” and “heart hands” as new maneuvering tools on NYC highways (27:56–31:33).
• Pro Bowl Rant: Leveling the NFL for turning what was a celebration into a transparent cash-and-marketing grab (33:01–38:08).

Important Timestamps

• 00:13 – 11:18 – Social Media/Tribute Drama
• 13:20 – 19:31 – Tish/Epstein NFL Scandal & Due Process
• 20:27 – 32:56 – “Talk About It Tuesday”: AI Scam Ads & New York Traffic Gestures
• 33:01 – 38:08 – Death of the Pro Bowl
• 41:45 – 44:43 – Callers: Rock Bands, Rangers, Olympic Hockey
• 44:51 – 47:20 – Jets Quarterback Debate

Tone & Style

• Candid, irreverent, sharp-witted, and hyper-local, balancing personal experience and dry humor with informed sports analysis.
• The hosts maintain a casual, banter-filled atmosphere with regular doses of self-deprecation and audience-inclusive jokes.

Summary for Listeners

This episode delivers both laughs and insight, moving fluidly between social media meta-commentary, the real-world frustration of waiting for NFL investigations, and everyday annoyances like scam ads or navigating NYC traffic. The hosts take the time to break down not just the headlines, but the everyday etiquette of being both a sports professional and a New Yorker. The result is an hour of both relatable arena talk and sports radio catharsis you’ll appreciate—especially if you ever sent, or obsessed over, the perfect “Happy Birthday” text.