Don, Hahn & Rosenberg Podcast: “Hour 3: Fraud, That Guy & Picks”

ESPN New York | November 26, 2025
With Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg

Episode Overview

This episode is a pre-Thanksgiving special featuring a “segment-palooza” as the trio squeeze several fan-favorite segments into one show: “Fraud Alert Friday,” “That Guy Thursday,” and their weekly NFL picks. The main thread running through the hour is fandom authenticity — what makes someone a “fraud” as a sports fan — and spirited debates around team allegiance, sports traditions, and Thanksgiving football predictions. Expect lively listener interaction, playful ribbing, and signature ESPN New York energy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Fraud Alert Friday: Confessions and Rulings

(Starts ~00:36)

A. The Great Fandom Debate

• Origin Stories: Listeners call and write in with backstories on how they chose their sports teams, seeking rulings from “Judge Don” on whether they’re “frauds.”
• Nuance in Fandom: The hosts contemplate whether loyalty matters more than origin, whether “bandwagon” fans are always frauds, and how local ties play a role.

B. Listener Cases

• Zach’s Dilemma: Steelers vs Jets (02:00)

  • At 15, Zach bet his team allegiance on the 2010 Jets-Steelers AFC Championship. Steelers won, so he’s been die-hard Steelers since, despite NYC roots.
  • Ruling:
    • Don: “I’m going to say no fraud.” (03:48)
    • Insight: “It feels like a fugazi way of becoming a fan, but since he became a fan he’s die hard... no fraud.” (03:45–03:51)

• Rooting for College You Never Attended (04:32, 05:10)

  • Multiple listeners admit to being big fans of UConn, Georgetown, or Ohio State (see Mike from Terrytown at 11:07), despite never attending.
  • Don’s General Barometer: “It’s fraudulent to me...He’s never set foot on the campus. So he doesn’t go to games.” (05:10)
  • But...
  • On Ohio State Fan Mike: “You almost went there. There’s a little something... I’m going to say no fraud.” (11:52)
  • Insight: Intent and effort matter — wanting to go to a college, or being local, may absolve “fraud” in Don’s eyes.

• Dual Loyalty: Jets & Giants Fan (Bradley in Queens, 13:39)

  • Admits to rooting for both teams due to family upbringing.
  • Consensus:
    • Don: “What you were experiencing was fraud.” (14:49)
    • Rosenberg: “That weird feeling was fraud.” (14:51)
    • Insight: “It’s polygamy...you’re married to two people. It’s not right.” (15:06)

• Bandwagon Chiefs Fan (Oscar’s Sister, 19:02)

  • Sister became a Chiefs fan with Mahomes’ rise, accused of “fake fandom.”
  • Ruling:
    • “Until she jumps ship, no fraud. But I think she’ll jump ship.” (20:03)
    • Insight: “You gotta let that play out.” (20:15)

• Hockey Fan Conversion (Nas in Queens, 20:50)

  • From “default” Rangers fan to an Islanders die-hard after partying with the team.
  • Ruling:
    • Don: “Alcoholic. No fraud.” (23:07, 23:31)
    • Memorable moment: “Oh my god, the sacrifice! I’m going to say alcoholic. No fraud.” (23:07)

C. Fun Side Moments

• Emergencies like “texting Damien Woody in all capitals — FRAUD” about not watching Napoleon Dynamite (10:31–10:49)
• Comparing fandom “polygamy” to indecisiveness at a buffet (15:16), and playful barbs exchanged among the trio and callers.

2. That Guy Thursday: Lane Kiffin’s Coaching Drama

(28:34–35:14, especially 29:29–35:14)

A. The Segment Premise

• Focus on figures who are “being that guy” — i.e., displaying annoying, selfish or evasive behavior in sports.

B. Lane Kiffin Under the Microscope

• Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin is grilled for deflecting media questions about his rumored job moves before the Egg Bowl, despite being open on the Pat McAfee show.
  • Media: “Are you able to elaborate on the nature of that meeting at all?” Kiffin: “Like I said at the beginning, very fair question. But we’re not answering anything...” (30:33–30:41)
  • Hahn: “He’s being that guy...because is he... We all know. And you went on McAfee and spoke pretty openly about things.” (31:18–31:28)
  • Don (offering sympathy): “But I do sometimes feel bad for these guys...we all want information, and we are the first to kill these coaches...It’s unfortunate because people care.” (33:25–34:06)

C. Consensus

• Kiffin’s blend of politeness and evasiveness makes him “that guy”—but not the worst iteration. Respectful, but still not transparent; a classic college football PR dance.

3. New York Giants Coaching Future and NFL Coaching Carousel

(35:14–37:55)

• Extended discussion on Giants interim coach Kafka — whether he keeps the job if GM Shane stays.
  • Don: “If Shane stays, Kafka stays. If Shane’s gone, then Kafka’s gone. That’s my opinion.” (36:53)
• Revisiting the idea that familiarity and “not upsetting too much” are prioritized in front office decision-making.

4. NFL Picks: Thanksgiving and Beyond

(44:43–56:14)

A. Standings & Scoring Dispute

• Don leads (17-19, 32 pts), Alan trails (14-22, 28 pts), Peter in the rear (11-25, 22 pts).
• Heated but good-natured debate over whether certain weeks’ points were properly recorded, culminating in:
  • Peter: “You know what that’s called? It’s called a teammate and it’s called honest.” (46:20)

B. Picks Breakdown (Key Games and Rationales)

• Don’s Picks:

  1. Bengals (+7 vs Ravens) – “Burrow wants to see if he can’t make something of this season.”
  2. Bills (covering in Pittsburgh vs Steelers) – “Show me something here!”
  3. Giants (+7.5 at New England) – “At some point, the worm’s got to turn, right?...Wouldn’t be shocked if they actually won.”

• Alan’s Picks:

  1. Bengals (+7) (aligns with Don)
  2. Lions (-2.5 vs Packers) – “This feels like the type of game for the Lions...biting kneecaps.”
  3. Chiefs (-3.5 at Dallas) – “I know that Dak doesn’t lose at home, but that’s only when he plays the NFC East.”

• Peter’s Picks:

  1. Giants (+7.5) – “I’ll take the Giants to cover the number...giants play everyone close.”
  2. Packers (+2.5 @ Detroit) – “Give me the Packers.”
  3. Cowboys (-3.5 vs Chiefs) – “And my three on them Cowboys. I’ve never been prouder of our pick.” (55:51)

C. Memorable Banter

• Peter: “If I win, I’m back. If I lose, I’m that meme on the internet of Elmo with the fires...I’m just relishing.” (55:54)
• Alan: “I’m not out of my mind. I’m taking the Chiefs. I’m laying the three and a half. And the Chiefs, their hand’s gonna come up from the grave and they’re gonna say, ‘Oh, we’re back.’” (52:24–52:55)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Don (on dual team fandom):
  “It’s polygamy, right? You’re married to two people. It’s not right.” (15:06)

• Alan (on Buffalo Bills heartache):
  “The game that stands out to me, and it wasn’t their fault but it kind of was...Jets need a win and they’re in the playoffs, and they go up there and lay an egg.” (08:53–09:10)

• Don (on Lane Kiffin):
  “He sounded like a guy that got it—like, ‘I understand why you’re doing this, but I just can’t answer the question.’ How often do you see a coach go three-deep with those?” (34:32)

• Peter (summarizing Oscar’s failed attempt to “out” his sister):
  “Oscar called the show hoping to get someone else to be called into the fraud carpet. That was denied and he was called a fraud instead. Fantastic moment.” (20:18–20:30)

• Don (on bandwagon fans):
  “If she sticks with it, she’s not a fraud. But do you think she’s going to stick with it?” (19:36)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:36 – Fraud Alert Friday intro and fan fraud cases begin
• 02:00 – Zach’s Steelers/Jets dilemma
• 04:32 – Fans of colleges they never attended
• 11:07 – Mike from Terrytown’s Ohio State story
• 13:39 – Bradley in Queens admits to rooting for Jets and Giants
• 19:02 – Oscar outs his Chiefs-fan sister as a potential fraud
• 20:50 – Nas from Queens’ Islanders conversion story
• 28:34 – Transition to “That Guy Thursday” (Lane Kiffin segment begins)
• 29:29 – Lane Kiffin press conference exchange
• 35:14 – New York Giants/Kafka coaching discussion
• 44:43 – NFL picks segment begins
• 47:52 – Giant picks banter, “going off the cliff together”
• 55:54 – Peter: “I’m that meme on the internet...”

Overall Tone

The hosts are playful, opinionated, and quick-witted, often ribbing each other and their passionate callers. They embody quintessential New York sports banter—sarcastic but warm, fiercely loyal but ready to question the rules of fandom. The show moves fast, mixing real sports insight with humor, nostalgia, and signature ESPN New York personality.

Final Take

This episode is a quintessential “hang out” sports talk show, where debates about fan authenticity, college roots, and NFL outlook dovetail with personal stories and community engagement. “Fraud Alert Friday” delivers true radio theater, and “That Guy Thursday” plus the picks segment offer a full sampler of what makes Don, Hahn & Rosenberg a destination for New York sports fans.

Recommended for:
Anyone wanting a deep dive into the intricacies of fandom, college football drama, or straight-up entertaining NFL talk—with the warmth and wit of three pros who love their city’s sports and aren’t afraid to call out “that guy.”