Don, Hahn & Rosenberg Podcast
Episode: Hour 2 – “SAS v Wilson & That Guy Thursday”
Date: January 8, 2026
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Episode Overview
This episode of Don, Hahn & Rosenberg centers on two main threads:
- The escalating media back-and-forth between ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith and Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson.
- The lighter, recurring "That Guy Thursday" segment, featuring stories about characters in sports acting like “that guy,” plus spirited discussion about music, especially classic acts like the Bee Gees, Paul Simon, and Kenny Loggins.
In typical fashion, the hosts bring energetic banter, passionate sports takes, and plenty of humor, with signature New York candor.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Bee Gees, Nostalgia, and Misconceptions
[00:14-03:26]
- The show opens on a light note with Rosenberg and the crew discussing the Bee Gees’ reputation. They lament how the band is pigeonholed by their disco-era successes, especially "Stayin’ Alive," and overlooked for their broader catalog.
- Rosenberg confesses he once thought the Bee Gees defined cheesy pop (01:01): “As a kid, they were the definition in my head of, like, the Macarena. It was the Bee Gees... because of poor branding and one huge, really huge hit in particular, Stayin’ Alive. I literally thought they were the definition of crap.”
- Thanks to the recent documentary, both Peter and Alan have gained a greater appreciation for the Bee Gees' musical range.
2. Stephen A. Smith vs. Garrett Wilson & the State of the New York Jets
Background & Social Media Exchange
[03:26-05:48]
- Peter recaps the dispute: Stephen A. Smith called the Jets an “abomination” on First Take; Garrett Wilson fired back on Instagram, calling ESPN hosts “sellouts” and lamenting what the network has become.
- Stephen A. addressed Wilson directly on air, defending his take and clarifying he meant organizational criticism, not a personal attack.
Stephen A. Smith’s Response
Notable Quote (04:03):
“The Jets are horrible. ... The Jets are horrible. You haven’t been in the playoffs since 2010.” – Stephen A. Smith [as played on show]
- Stephen A. argues he was advocating for players like Wilson to get help or leave rather than criticizing Wilson directly (05:00).
The Hosts’ Analysis
[05:48-09:24]
- Alan admires Wilson for defending his team, seeing it as a sign of commitment, but notes: “He is still 10 toes down with this organization. You have every reason to think like why would you be? But he is and that says a lot about him.” (09:21)
- Dom and Alan suggest Wilson’s best move would have been to defend his team without taking shots at ESPN; by bringing the network into it, he gave Stephen A. a reason to respond.
- The hosts agree the core issue is organizational failure: the Jets’ leadership is the reason they’re a “laughingstock,” and no amount of bravado from players or coaches will change perceptions until the team actually wins games.
Fan Calls on the Jets Saga
[14:43-21:52]
- Caller Griff asks about NFL playoff upsets but is also swept up in the Jets debate.
- Caller Dennis offers a contrarian angle, arguing Wilson’s defense is self-serving, based on a need for a better QB and protection for his own career: “He’s not the reason. But Alan, you reported this or you brought this up last year, you didn’t get along with Aaron Rodgers..” (21:00)
Organizational Accountability and the New York Market
[13:54-14:36]
- The hosts reflect on why New York teams are held to a different standard by fans and media:
“That’s the one thing that makes New York unique... there’s a level of accountability... They expect it to be better and they’re going to hold you accountable. And now you’re the butt of jokes.” – Dom (14:01)
3. NFL Playoff Matchups: Odds, Underdogs, and Betting Angles
[14:52-19:50]
- Discussion shifts to upcoming playoff games, with particular focus on Buffalo vs. Jacksonville. The hosts debate why Buffalo is favored and what makes Jacksonville a sneaky pick, ultimately pointing to public perception and star power as drivers of betting lines.
- Playful confusion ensues about which games are “dogs”—Rams vs. Panthers is deemed especially unexciting (“homely hairy mole game” – Dom, 18:33).
4. That Guy Thursday
[23:01-37:50]
Lane Kiffin’s Departure & College Football Ethics
[24:55-26:04]
- The “That Guy” spotlight falls on Lane Kiffin for his controversial coaching moves and attempts to poach assistants post-departure.
- Jimbo Fisher weighs in:
“You set the rules of the game. You don’t change the rules in the middle of the game. As a coach, it’s hurting the kids, and it pisses me off.” – Jimbo Fisher (25:19)
- The segment also lampoons the weirdness and cynicism of major college football, including jokes about assistant coaches’ loyalty and hypocrisy in “amateurism” post-NIL and portal era.
Is College Football Still “College” Football?
[30:04-32:27]
- Dom mourns the death of the old college-ideal, arguing money, NIL, and transfers have “gone too far the other way. And it’s minor league football, but it’s still immensely popular because so much is invested.” (30:23)
The Quarterback Archetype: Can a True "Dorcas Mallorcus" Lead?
[32:37-34:39]
- Peter brings up audio from Fernando Mendoza and ponders whether a “square,” earnest, meditative QB can really lead NFL teams:
“If you think Russell Wilson is kind of weird... I don’t know if you can be this much of a... dorcas mallorcus... and be a leader of grown men in a football team.” (33:07)
NBA Drama: Giannis's Trade Games
[34:46-37:28]
- Alan nominates Giannis Antetokounmpo as “that guy” for publicly proclaiming his loyalty to the Bucks while “playing the semantical game” of never officially demanding a trade—despite behind-the-scenes maneuvering:
“My plan is to be here for the rest of my career. If they don’t want me, I’m not the one in charge. I am an employee.” – Giannis quote relayed by Alan (35:38)
- Alan and Dom assert everyone in the NBA knows Giannis wants out—he just wants the team to pull the trigger so he keeps his reputation clean.
5. Music, Aging Legends, and the Art of Legacy
[38:10-44:16]
- The pod ends with passionate conversation about Kenny Loggins, Paul Simon, and Simon & Garfunkel.
- Peter criticizes Howard Stern for “sycophantic” interviewing of Paul Simon, wishing Stern had pressed harder on the Simon & Garfunkel relationship and Simon’s reputation for prickliness:
“You guys are 80 years old. How is it right now? Wouldn’t you like your relationship to be good when it’s all said and done?” – Peter Rosenberg (43:35)
- There’s wistfulness about legacy, competition, and what gets left unsaid between icons—mirroring the show’s broader themes about accountability, pride, and facing reality.
Notable Quotes by Timestamp
-
On Bee Gees’ misunderstood reputation:
“As a kid, they were the definition in my head of, like, the Macarena. It was the Bee Gees... because of poor branding and one huge, really huge hit in particular, Stayin’ Alive. I literally thought they were the definition of crap.”
— Peter Rosenberg (01:01) -
On Garrett Wilson defending the Jets:
“He is still 10 toes down with this organization. You have every reason to think like why would you be? But he is and that says a lot about him.”
— Alan Hahn (09:21) -
On New York sports culture:
“That’s the one thing that makes New York unique... there’s a level of accountability... They expect it to be better and they’re going to hold you accountable. And now you’re the butt of jokes.”
— Dom (14:01) -
On Lane Kiffin’s college football meddling:
“You set the rules of the game. You don’t change the rules in the middle of the game. As a coach, it’s hurting the kids, and it pisses me off.”
— Jimbo Fisher (25:19) -
On the new reality of college football:
“It’s minor league football, but it’s still immensely popular because so much is invested... but it’s not what college football is supposed to be.”
— Dom (30:23) -
On “That Guy” Giannis and NBA semantics:
“We all know the dirty little secret is Giannis wants out of there... What he wants the Bucks to do is to realize Giannis is not going to sign an extension... That’s this summer. Why you just say nothing? Giannis just don’t say anything here.”
— Alan Hahn (36:32) -
On leading as an “uncool” QB:
“If you think Russell Wilson is kind of weird... I don’t know if you can be this much of a... dorcas mallorcus... and be a leader of grown men in a football team.”
— Peter Rosenberg (33:07)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Bee Gees & Music Talk: 00:14 – 03:26, 38:10 – 44:16
- Stephen A. v. Garrett Wilson/ESPN v. Jets: 03:26 – 14:01
- Caller segment & NFL Playoffs Preview: 14:43 – 21:52
- That Guy Thursday: Lane Kiffin / Coaches / College Football: 23:01 – 32:27
- NFL Quarterbacks & “Dorcas Mallorcus” Concept: 32:37 – 34:39
- NBA “That Guy” (Giannis): 34:46 – 37:28
- Legacy and Music Industry Critique: 38:10 – 44:16
Conclusion
This episode captures Don, Hahn & Rosenberg at their best: mixing punchy, frank sports analysis with comic relief and some culture talk. This hour sees them at the heart of two New York sports obsessions (Jets dysfunction and star loyalty), while the “That Guy Thursday” segment gleefully skewers big personalities and fragile egos in professional sports and beyond. Through it all, the hosts’ chemistry, wit, and love of both the game (sports and music alike) keep things rollicking and insightful.