Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 3: Benny & The Yanks
Date: April 14, 2026
Podcast Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Network: ESPN New York
Episode Overview
Hour three opens with the trio in peak banter mode, riffing on everything from Rock & Roll Hall of Fame snubs to the state of New York sports. This lively segment centers on sports/music analogies, Hall of Fame debates, deep-dive Knicks and Mets talk, and plenty of trademark humor. The episode delivers a blend of robust sports analysis and pop-culture debate, peppered with listener calls and memorable anecdotes about everything from baby milestones to 80s metal bands.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame vs. Sports Hall of Fame
Timestamps: 00:44-04:41; 27:50-29:31
- The guys launch into a spirited debate about recent Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees, questioning if influence should outweigh longevity or commercial success.
- Joy Division, Depeche Mode, and Nirvana are dissected, with Peter likening the Hall’s standards to inducting “borderline” athletes:
- Peter: "The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...the equivalent would be, I know, Gus Frerotte being a borderline Hall of Famer." (01:16)
- The crew struggles to find the right sports comparison for musical legends of brief but massive influence—offerings include KJ (Kevin Johnson), Dan Majerle, and eventually, Jeremy Lin and Tim Lincecum, for "brilliant, compressed" careers.
- Alan: "Nirvana had, what, five, six really good years. It'd be like a player who burned hot and then was gone." (03:17)
- Don: "Oasis is like Jeremy Lin. People still talk about it. Just an amazing experience." (28:16)
2. Knicks Playoff Preview & OG Anunoby’s X-Factor Status
Timestamps: 06:07-08:31; 20:12-21:39
- Callers and hosts break down the Knicks’ playoff chances, zeroing in on OG Anunoby’s health and impact:
- Caller (Nick in Woodbridge): "If they're going to get through Atlanta and make a deep run. I do truly believe it’s OG. So I hope that ankle is good to go." (07:09)
- Don: "Anunoby is the X factor you take for granted...he's going to guard the other team's best player, and that's not easy to do, and on top of it, have to hit those corner threes." (07:14)
- Analysis from "Windy" (Brian Windhorst) highlights New York's size advantage versus the Hawks, with Don noting:
- "They should dominate the glass in this series." (20:50)
3. Vintage and Modern NYC Sports Talk (Stadiums, History)
Timestamps: 10:20-15:19
- The crew and callers reminisce about classic stadium names (Yankee Stadium, Madison Square Garden) and their resilient lack of corporate rebranding:
- Caller: "I call the new ballpark Macombsdam Park...there's no corporate sponsorship. That's cool." (11:13)
- Deep cut: Don recounts the scandalous murder of MSG’s architect Stanford White—a legendary New York story.
- Don: "The architect was murdered on the roof...crime of passion." (13:25)
4. Yankees and Mets: Nicknames, Lineups & Frustrations
Timestamps: 15:30-18:55; 31:22-38:05
- Yankees:
- Manager Aaron Boone audio on lineup choices and use of “Benny” (Ben Rice) and "Goldie" (Goldschmidt) draws a hilarious roast:
- Peter: "Benny. His whole name is literally two syllables. Ben Rice, but it’s Benny." (17:05)
- Alan: "Maybe the reason the Yankees play soft in the playoffs is because they literally have to have pet names for each other. I mean, could you be softer?" (17:12)
- Mets:
- Don, Alan, and Peter vent about the club’s chronic mediocrity and lack of sustainable team-building:
- Don: "I’m tired of these little spurts. They're like the Mets are like diarrhea. They go on runs. That’s what they do." (31:12)
- Alan: "When are they gonna build something that is always good? And that's why I jump, Alan, when he complains about the Yankees." (31:22)
- Discussion on Francisco Lindor's contract, inconsistent play, and the tough prospects of trading him:
- Peter: "Who’s going to take that contract? He’s under contract through 31. That’s too big of a contract to think you’re going to get what you need for him." (36:35)
5. Lighthearted Moments & Listener Interactions
Timestamps: 04:23-06:07; 41:00-45:52
- Hilarious riffs on Chris Rock’s early film roles and 90s/80s movie nostalgia; the “End of the Road/ New Jack City” riff stands out (04:29-05:50).
- Extended playful banter about band names, parental app usage, and baby first words (chicken!)
- Alan: "But now she has added 'hi'...and this is a big one—chicken." (44:01)
- Multiple references to the hosts’ families listening, or not listening, to the show, building camaraderie and audience connection.
6. 80s/90s Pop-Culture & Mascot Music Debates
Timestamps: 24:45-27:08; 40:21-42:43
- The hosts continue to compare bands like Oasis (and their stadium anthem "Wonderwall") to sports greats—debating whether brief dominance is enough for 'hall' recognition.
- Alan: "Wonderwall is the definition of a really well done commercial [song]." (27:31)
- Peter: "I guess you can't come up...it's difficult to compare Sports hall of Fame to the Rock and Roll hall of Fame, because there isn't much of a body of work as significant as it was." (27:55)
- Iron Maiden vs. Judas Priest: rock allegiances are declared—Don prefers Maiden, Alan riffs on Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (40:21-41:41).
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
Peter Rosenberg [01:15]:
“The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...the equivalent would be, I know, Gus Frerotte being a borderline Hall of Famer.”
Don Hahn [07:14]:
“Anunoby is the X-factor...you take for granted what he provides each series, because...he's going to guard the other team's best player, and that's not easy to do.”
Don Hahn [31:12]:
“I’m tired of these little spurts. They're like the Mets are like diarrhea. They go on runs. That’s what they do.”
Alan Hahn [17:12]:
“Maybe the reason the Yankees play soft in the playoffs is because they literally have to have pet names for each other.”
Alan Hahn [44:01]:
“But now she has added 'hi'...and this is a big one—chicken.”
Don Hahn [28:16]:
“Oasis is like Jeremy Lin. People still talk about it. Just an amazing experience.”
Important Segment Timestamps
- Rock & Roll Hall of Fame analogy mania: 00:44–04:41
- Knicks Playoff X-Factors (Anunoby): 06:07–08:31
- MSG/Yankee Stadium history & murder lore: 10:20–15:19
- Yankee Lineup Riff & Nicknames: 15:30–18:55
- Knicks size advantage vs. Hawks (Windhorst): 20:12–21:39
- Oasis/Sports comp extended banter: 27:50–29:31
- Mets woes, Lindor, and sustainability rant: 31:22–38:05
- Iron Maiden v Judas Priest, Bill & Ted: 40:21–41:41
- Listener family/child/dunking stories: 41:00–45:52
Tone and Style
Lively, sarcastic, nostalgic, and New York to the core. The banter is kinetic, the language direct, and good-natured roasting is never far away. Sports knowledge intermingles with pop-culture savvy, all with the hosts’ signature blend of self-deprecating humor and strong opinions.
In Summary
This episode is vintage "Don, Hahn & Rosenberg": sports argument disguised as comedy club banter, music nostalgia, New York trivia, and fans who love a passionate, culture-infused breakdown of their city’s teams. Stern opinions and laughter abound, making for an entertaining, insightful listen for any sports—or pop culture—fan.