Don, Hahn & Rosenberg — Hour 3: Fashion & Marisa Tomei (Feb 26, 2026)

Episode Overview

This vibrant hour pivots between the sharp wit and local flavor of Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg, blending New York sports, fashion banter, pop culture nostalgia, and some soulful music debate. While the show’s sporting roots are ever-present, this hour leans hard into the offbeat: the small rituals of on-air fashion, wild athlete superstitions, memories of cinematic and musical icons, and a full-throated debate on the evolving concept of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Guest callers and regulars join to riff on everything from how to wear a suit to delivering an Oscar-winning Marisa Tomei monologue.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. On-Air (and Travel) Fashion Choices

[00:44–07:51]

• Priestly Looks and Turtlenecks:

  • Alan jokes about PK Suban looking like a priest due to his shirt ("It makes him look like Father PK, right?" – Alan Hahn, 01:14).
  • The trio discusses their fashion preferences for TV appearances: turtlenecks, ties, and quarter-zips.
  • Don claims Peter looks best in turtlenecks, leading Rosenberg to muse on doing that look for an upcoming game.

• Suit Rotations & Behind-the-Scenes Rituals:

  • Don admits he’s got eight suits in his broadcast rotation for Devils games [03:24].
  • The crew laughs about the realities—and dry-cleaning costs—of on-air wardrobes.
  • Changing Suits in Transit:
    • Discussion on whether to change out of suits before getting on team flights.
    • Don: "I have literally changed next to the bus." (05:05)
    • Peter: “Never seen anybody do it.” (04:47)
    • Alan: “You don’t have to dress up to get on your Pan Am flight.” (05:26)
  • They observe the subtle hierarchy and rule-watching of team travel, especially when new to the job.
  • Alan draws parallels to his time at WWE, cautioning how “crossing the Rubicons” as a fresh face can be tricky.

2. Athlete Superstitions & Nutritional Oddities

[08:32–10:56]

• Mets Pitching Prospect Ryan Lambert:
  • Don tells the almost absurd backstory of Mets prospect Ryan Lambert—famous for eating "30 raw eggs a day," scarfing down chicken hearts, sleeping to optimize circadian rhythms, and throwing 99.6 MPH "heaters from the heart."
  • Alan, incredulous: "30 raw eggs… No. 30 raw eggs." (10:21)
  • Don: "He is my favorite Met right now." (10:18)
  • The crew marvels at his regimen, likening it to legendary oddball stories (Sid Finch).
  • Food sidebar: Alan shares his appreciation for chicken hearts at Brazilian barbecue; Don deadpans, "Or Fear Factor..."

3. Supporting Those in Need: Ron Duguay’s Cancer Fight

[14:08–17:21]

• The hosts quickly pivot to address somber news: NHL veteran Ron Duguay’s cancer battle and financial need.
• The team shuts down Twitter/X critics who question why a former pro is seeking help:
  • Don: “Brother, brother. Look at when he played!” ([14:49])
  • Alan: “If you didn’t... invest well... you have kids to take care of, you have life, you send kids to college…” ([16:59])
• The team urges listeners to support Duguay’s GoFundMe, decrying the toxicity of social media.
  • “Shut up and just go to the GoFundMe page and support people in need!” – Alan Hahn ([17:18])

4. Pop Culture Detour: Mariah Carey’s Underrated Catalog

[21:02–27:31]

• The trio muses on Mariah Carey's deep roster of hits, from early forgotten smashes ("Vision of Love", "Love Takes Time") to perennial favorites like "Hero", "Always Be My Baby", "Fantasy", and of course, the Christmas juggernaut "All I Want for Christmas Is You".
• Alan: “Dude, it is one of the great comedies of all time. I watch it quite a bit...” ([13:09]) – Actually for "What About Bob" but same tone used when rating Mariah's musical output.
• They debate the wear and tear of Mariah’s vocals and her evolution into diva status, with Don cheekily noting her high heel obsession and Alan questioning why she won’t simply wear sneakers:
  • Alan: “…once you have to be carried around, I’m going, these aren’t the shoes for you.” ([26:01])
• Listener Heather calls in to recommend the "My All" remix featuring Lord Tariq & Peter Gunz, and delights the crew with a pitch-perfect Marisa Tomei "My Cousin Vinny" monologue ([30:14–31:12]).

5. Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: What is ‘Rock’?

[35:00–43:18]

• Caller debate: Who belongs in the Rock Hall?
  • Alex laments omissions like Meatloaf/Jim Steinman, and challenges where acts like Sade or Mariah Carey fit.
• Rosenberg and Hahn argue for thinking of "Rock & Roll" as a foundational musical “tree” with many genre “branches”:
  • Don: “Rock and Roll’s the tree, it has many branches, many genres…” ([36:39])
  • Alan: “It kind of just sounds better than the ‘pop hall of fame.’” ([40:50])
• The discussion covers evolving genre definitions, industry business motives, and the need for inclusivity as musical trends shift away from classic rock:
  • Rosenberg: “30 years from now... Who are you inducting? ...Where is rock and roll?” ([38:57])
  • Alan: "If people looked... at Led Zeppelin or The Who and went, 'those guys don't look anything like Little Richard'... it's been evolving since it was created." ([39:26])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On dressing for broadcast:
  • Don: “You can’t do joggers and a hoodie. You can’t do that. You end up going quarter zip. That’s at least comfortable.” (02:56)
• On suit-wearing rituals with sports teams:
  • Don: “I have literally changed next to the bus.” (05:05)
  • Alan: “What is this, the 50s? You don’t have to dress up to get on your Pan Am flight.” (05:26)
• On strange athlete habits:
  • Peter: “He eat his own hair. As long as he’s throwing strikes, I don’t care.” (17:33)
• On social media and supporting former athletes:
  • Don: “Someone actually said, 'Can’t believe this guy’s asking for money. He made millions playing hockey.' Like brother, brother. Look at when he played.” (14:49)
• On Mariah Carey:
  • Alan: “She had absolute smash. Pun: smashes…” (25:14)
  • Don: “Isn’t that the definition of what she is—a diva?” (26:11)
• Listener Heather’s Marisa Tomei impression:
  • “Imagine you’re a little doe—idea—you get thirsty…” (30:46)
    — Accompanied by roaring laughter from the hosts.
• On the Hall of Fame tree analogy:
  • Don: “When you think of rock and roll… that’s not how it’s being viewed when it comes to the Hall of Fame. It’s being viewed as a tree with now many branches that make sense.” (37:39)
• On the need for nuance:
  • Alan: “Just requires nuance. That’s all.” (42:57)

Highlights by Timestamp

• 00:44–07:51: Fashion & suits ritual, on-the-road wardrobe logistics.
• 08:32–10:56: Mets prospect Ryan Lambert’s eccentric habits; “Heaters from the heart.”
• 14:08–17:21: Support for Ron Duguay’s cancer fight, player salaries, and financial struggles of past athletes.
• 21:02–27:31: Mariah Carey hits rundown, diva fashion, vocal durability debate, listeners chime in on favorite songs and movie monologues.
• 35:00–43:18: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame debate — genre definitions, shifting industry trends, the inclusivity (and business reality) of "rock," and the “music tree” analogy.

Tone and Takeaway

This episode is classic Don, Hahn & Rosenberg: irreverent but thoughtful, deeply New York, full of pop-culture savvy, and generously open to audience participation. The hosts offer a compelling mix of behind-the-scenes sports talk, empathetic commentary on real-life struggles, and a willingness to poke fun at themselves and their icons alike. Regular callers feel like old friends, and the debates—fashion, sports, music—showcase both knowledge and, above all, personality.

For listeners seeking sharp sports and pop insights with a true NY flavor—and a few belly laughs—this hour is not to be missed.