Podcast Summary: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg

Episode: Hour 2: Monica McNutt & The List
Date: March 25, 2026
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Guest: Monica McNutt

Episode Overview

This hour finds Don, Hahn & Rosenberg in classic form, blending lively New York sports rivalry talk with sharp opinions and side conversations. The episode’s focal points are Monica McNutt’s thoughts on the Knicks’ recent seven-game winning streak and team identity, a spirited movie debate about Oscar winner One Battle After Another, and Don’s highly-anticipated “List” on why Rob Manfred is a bad MLB Commissioner. The group’s humor, candor, and city-rooted sports knowledge are on full display, making this a rich listen even beyond sports.

Knicks Talk with Monica McNutt

Main theme: Are Knicks fans having trouble celebrating success? Is statistical dominance hiding deeper team questions?

Key Points & Quotes:

• Winning Streak Asterisk:

  • Monica acknowledges the value of a seven-game streak but says skepticism is understandable:

    “If there had been not seven wins in a row, city would have been on fire.” (01:35, Monica McNutt)

  • She details the team's recent "sluggish" play, despite results, and says even some players weren’t thrilled by their run against lackluster opponents.

• “Ruggish” vs. Sluggish – Nickname Origins:

  • Monica clarifies “ruggish” means rugged with swagger, contrasting it to just being slow or messy:

    “There's a confidence and an air of, like, swag about it... It's not too proper. It's what you need. It's colloquial. But it's on point… I didn't feel like they were on point. They were just sluggish.” (02:41, Monica McNutt)

• Bench Depth and Lineups:

  • Monica would “check the box” for bench development, commending minutes for Madi Award and Jordan Clarkson (04:55).
  • She praises the evolving “double big” look and tests with backup point guards like Alvarado alongside Brunson (05:26).

• Team Identity and Statistical Paradox:

  • Hahn notes Knicks are near historic franchise marks (top-5 in offense, defense, net rating); previous times this occurred, the team won the championship. Still, visually, “Sometimes after games, we’re going, what the hell was that first quarter?” (06:40, Alan Hahn)
  • Monica counters:

    “I don't think we're too close and I don't think the numbers are lying. But... the biggest competition... is what they have been in the past.” (07:49, Monica McNutt)

  • She cites the lost intangible toughness of Knicks teams from the recent past as the cause for fan suspicion.

• Impact of a "Weird" NBA Year:

  • Don suggests tanking and injuries make the stats less meaningful:

    “Is this year the aberration?... as many as eight to possibly 10 teams tanking.” (09:36, Don LaGreca)

  • Monica reasons it’s more a perception problem than a statistical fluke.

    “They're dealing with the ghost of Knicks teams past.” (10:16, Monica McNutt)

• Mike Brown’s Coaching Evolution:

  • Hahn credits the coach for adapting lineups and philosophy to suit current personnel. Monica agrees, calling it “a renovation not a demolition” (12:15) and praises his collaborative nature.

• New York Basketball Sentiment:

  • Monica sums up the die-hard fan perspective:

    “I have cheered for Knicks teams that won 20 games. I'm not going to complain about where we are now, even if they don't ultimately be the team that's holding the Larry O'Brien trophy. But they're good. So the magnifying glass is always on.” (13:04, Monica McNutt)

Women's March Madness & Tournament Structure

Key Points:

• Monica was “disappointed” by Syracuse’s big loss to UConn, but finds fault in focusing on tournament seeding/structure;

  • “If you go all the way out to the west coast and lose, are you then like, why'd they send us all the way out here?” (14:13, Monica McNutt)

• She supports current hosting rewards for top-16 teams:

  • “I think right now it is a perk to be a top 16 team. And so until that is neutralized, because crowds are that ravenous... I'm okay with that.” (16:15, Monica McNutt)

Movie Debate: One Battle After Another

Context:
The hosts and Monica dissect the recent Oscar-winning film, One Battle After Another, with opinions ranging from outright hatred to bemused approval. Monica suggests Don watch 1001 as a more worthwhile Teyana Taylor performance.

Memorable Moments:

• Monica’s Take:

  • “That movie could never, ever be made. And I want my time back... It's like sitting and looking at roadkill. I hated every bit of it.” (18:32, Monica McNutt)

• Don on Ambiguity:

  • “There was no hero. There was no one to root for... it just... I would never watch it again.” (17:58, Don LaGreca)

• Peter Defends It:

  • “I loved the first hour. I thought the first hour was tremendous. Loved it. And I absolutely love Leonardo DiCaprio's, like, anti-hero...” (19:04, Peter Rosenberg)

• Assignment: Monica recommends the film 1001 (21:00).
• Don’s Viewing Process: Don likens watching the Oscar winner to “eating kale,” and claims he needed to watch Happy Gilmore right after as a “palate cleanser.” (21:00, Don LaGreca)

Don’s "List": Top 5 Reasons Rob Manfred is a Bad Commissioner

(27:27–33:02)

The List:

1. Too Many Apps:
   “I’m a Yankee fan. There’s six, seven different apps to watch the games. Ridiculous.”
   (27:48, Don LaGreca)

2. Unstable Franchises:
   Cites A’s move/uncertainty, bad stadium situations for A’s, Rays, and Marlins. (28:21–29:00)

3. Ruined Opening Day:
   The league spread the action over several days, losing the “treasured holiday” feel.

   “Opening day used to be a holiday... Now we got one night game... stretched what was a tremendous holiday into three days.”
   (29:01, Don LaGreca)

4. Called the Trophy ‘a Piece of Tin’:
   Exposed as a “tone-deaf” comment about the World Series trophy. (31:10, Don LaGreca)

5. Never Punished Astros Players:
   “He never rightfully punished the Houston Astros for cheating. Those players all got away with it.”
   (31:11, Don LaGreca)

Hosts’ Reactions:
Hahn and Rosenberg are effusive in their praise:

“Put it in the Hall of Fame now... Unanimous vote...”
(32:14, Alan Hahn)

Hahn on MLB’s lost opportunity:

“There is something sacred about opening day... out of the four majors.”
(33:02, Alan Hahn)

Lighter Moments & Pop Culture

• Basketball History Tangent:
  The hosts reminisce about the legendary early 90s UNLV teams, contrasting player names and their city affiliations (42:00–43:15).

• Inside Jokes & Banter:
  The running joke about Peter “pretending” to love the movie devolves into them poking fun at one another’s tastes and emotional investment (44:32–48:12).

Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• Monica McNutt (on Knicks streak):

  "If there had been not seven wins in a row, city would have been on fire." (01:35)

• Monica McNutt (on team identity):

  "They're dealing with the ghost of Knicks teams past." (10:16)

• Don LaGreca (on Opening Day):

  “Opening day used to be a holiday... Now we got one night game.” (29:01)

• Monica McNutt (on hating One Battle After Another):

  “I want my time back. It’s like sitting and looking at roadkill.” (18:32)

• Alan Hahn (on MLB’s lost traditions):

  "There is something sacred about opening day... out of the four majors." (33:02)

Key Segments & Timestamps

• Knicks Winning Streak & Identity: 00:34–14:04
• Women's March Madness & Hosting Debate: 14:05–17:06
• Movie Debate (One Battle After Another, 1001): 17:20–21:49
• Don’s List – Rob Manfred Rant: 27:27–33:02
• UNLV Nostalgia & Banter: 42:00–44:05
• Movie Debate Part II (Peter vs. Don): 44:10–49:10

Episode Takeaways

• Knicks: Results impress, skepticism persists due to past scars and lack of a clear new team “personality.”
• MLB: Don’s enumerated frustrations show longstanding fan disconnect with current leadership and tradition loss.
• Pop Culture: Movie tastes spark fierce debate—honest, not filtered, and full of New York opinion.
• Tone: The hour exemplifies the show’s winning blend of impassioned sports debate, city wit, and killer camaraderie—a great listen for diehard fans and pop culture connoisseurs alike.