Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 3: Glenn v Cimini
Date: November 12, 2025
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Podcast: ESPN New York
Episode Overview
This hour of the show takes listeners on a classic sports radio ride, blending New York–centric team talk, behind-the-broadcast-booth banter, and rants about media, gamesmanship, and fan obsessions. The centerpiece is the ongoing tension between Jets head coach Aaron Glenn and veteran reporter Rich Cimini over injury leaks, plus deep dives into broadcaster preferences, Giants QB controversies, and some comic relief on the culture of sports and pop music.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Announcer Dynamics & Missing the Call (00:48–07:00)
- Don La Greca discusses missing an upcoming Devils game in Chicago (nationally televised), reflecting on what it's like when another broadcaster calls "your team."
- He admits he hates missing games but says the timing is good for family:
"I'm going to meet them in Washington, so I get to spend more time with the family… But I always hate missing games." (01:03) - The trio jokes about the subtle territorial pride among broadcasters, but Don downplays any real rivalry:
"It's actually not real, I entertained it yesterday... It was wrestling without a really deep storyline." (03:32) - Alan: "But there's a part of you that does, somebody else is calling your game..." (04:29)
Don: "Not even a thought. Night home with my kids... throw on the game, see what happens." (04:37)
- He admits he hates missing games but says the timing is good for family:
Memorable Moment (Lighthearted)
- They riff on childhood breakfasts and how sweet cereals were forbidden in Don’s house—
Don: "The sweetest cereal I recall ever having in my house...was O's." (07:16)
2. Parenting Banter & Kids Growing Up Fast (06:50–10:13)
- Anecdotes about their kids’ morning routines, with laughs about kids defying logic (e.g., waking up early only on weekends).
- Peter: "On the weekend, 7 o'clock, he's downstairs already..." (06:20)
- Reflections on returning from a road trip and noticing their children seem to have grown up:
Alan: "Eight days away, man. They were like different human beings when I came home." (09:00) - Don: "You're telling me it wouldn't make more sense...that I left Maya for 8 days at 9 months versus leaving 7-year-olds for 8 days?" (09:43)
- Chatter about changes noticed in kids over absences, with playful exaggeration:
Don: "Marco's smoking a heater, standing on the front porch in his underwear." (10:13)
3. Jets Injury News & the Glenn v Cimini Affair (11:30–17:53)
- Main Topic: Aaron Glenn (Jets HC) called out reporter Rich Cimini over injury reporting, blaming leaks and playing coy with the media.
- Peter's take: Glenn should "clog his leak" and not project blame:
"No, no, Aaron, clog your leak, okay? Because obviously Rich... got it from somebody from the Jets." (11:33) - Alan’s analysis: Questions Glenn’s motivation—"What’s the end game, Alan? ...Is [Glenn] trying to make Rich look bad for the fans?" (12:29–12:58)
- Glenn’s sarcasm or frustration is debated. Alan wonders if Glenn was just “breaking balls,” while Don thinks the tone made him sound mad.
- Alan: "He knows that the job of reporters...is to get stories. Why are you—you know that’s the game." (15:11)
- Peter: "I tend to believe that that's not the case... he's been like this...being contentious with the media..." (15:45)
- Caller Mike suggests Glenn’s issue was internal leaks—a plausible explanation that the hosts seem to agree with.
- Mike: "He was upset that someone leaked it...he never said, like, ‘Rich made that up’." (16:51)
- Alan: "That's a great take, Mike...he's saying...somebody from the inside is telling him..." (17:14)
Notable Quote
- Peter: "He sends the message like Rich is making things up. Rich has been around the organization for 40 years. He's one of the best to ever do it." (11:44)
- Alan: "You will never get a unanimous vote about any national broadcast." (22:49)
4. The Art of Play-by-Play & Color Commentary (18:44–25:57)
- They take calls on announcer rankings—passionate, subjective debate about which national play-by-play and color guys are best.
- Fans mention Joe Buck, Kenny Albert, Mike Breen, Dick Enberg, and more.
- Peter: "There are people that hated Doc Emmerich and I can't even wrap my mind around that...The great ones can do both [be enthusiastic and accurate]." (19:44–20:53)
- Don: "To me it's—are you able to be really clean while also slipping in your personality? That's what separates the special." (22:23)
- Debate about "personality" vs. technical perfection. Marv Albert, Vin Scully, and local legends figure in.
5. Yankees, Salary Caps, and the Paul Skenes Rumors (29:07–31:37)
- Alan: Shares a rumor that Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes wants to eventually play for the Yankees; discusses the economic realities of small-market teams losing stars.
- Peter: "That's what the salary cap is for, right? The feeling is the Yankees are going to be a big advocate for a salary cap...could that prohibit them from getting a player like Skenes?" (30:39)
- Conversation shifts to Brian Cashman’s reputation as a master “filibuster” (long-winded answers to avoid tough questions):
- Don: "The filibuster is the filibuster. No one's better." (32:12)
- Peter: "You want to ask me 12 questions—you’re only going to get to two." (32:15)
6. WNBA, Grammy Dreams, & Sports Pop Culture Mashup (33:35–36:40)
- Pickup discussion on LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson—aspiring for both a WNBA title and a Grammy award; the hosts riff on sports/music crossover ambitions.
- Don: "Her goal is to win a championship and a Grammy at the same time." (35:21)
- Peter: "That'd be cool. Anybody ever do that?" (35:24)
- Comic exploration of Mets-related music (e.g., "OMG" Iglesias) and what music deserves a Grammy.
7. Giants QB Situation & Risk Management (45:00–48:58)
- Caller Dave worries Jackson Dart will be put at risk by playing again this season post-concussion; Don and Alan steadfast that if a player is cleared, he should play, as experience is valuable.
- Peter: "If you're ready to play, you play. That's how it works in the NFL. You can't put them in bubble wrap." (46:06)
- Alan: "If he's healthy and cleared, he will play. There's still a lot he has to learn." (47:15–47:39)
- The guys stress the value of game reps and not overprotecting young QBs.
8. Eagles Dominance—Are They a Dynasty? (49:54–51:55)
- Eagle fan caller asks if the franchise is a dynasty yet.
- Don & Peter: They agree the Eagles are “dynasty-adjacent”—elite, but need a run of Super Bowl wins to claim true dynasty status.
- Peter: "You win the Super Bowl this year and next...that's a dynasty. But win three in four or five years, then we can have that conversation." (51:10)
Additional Notable Quotes & Moments
- Don: (On Susan Waldman) "Susan was the true star of that booth...She jumps off the page. Sounds so New York." (24:22)
- Peter: "People are also like, again, that, that's then the person that wants the broadcaster to be perfect...John often made mistakes, which is what made Susan so much...she finished sentences for him." (24:01)
- Lighthearted Calls: "Cookie Crisp" cereal memories and “OGM” Latin pop debates, plus a playful nod to Eddie Murphy’s unaging looks (39:44).
Quick Segment Timestamps
- 00:48–07:00 — La Greca missing Devils game; getting scooped, competitive broadcaster culture.
- 11:30–17:53 — The core “Glenn v Cimini” segment, unpacking Jets injury drama and coach-media gamesmanship.
- 18:44–25:57 — Play-by-play and color commentator rankings, personality vs. precision.
- 29:07–31:37 — Yankees, Skenes rumors, Cashman’s media “filibuster.”
- 33:35–36:40 — Women’s basketball/Grammy crossover chat.
- 45:00–48:58 — Jackson Dart/NY Giants debate: risk management vs. experience.
- 49:54–51:55 — Eagles dynasty debate.
Episode Takeaways
- Inside-Out: This episode’s heart is the Glenn v Cimini beef, a classic peek at how coaches and longtime media interact, blurred lines between “the game” and public gamesmanship.
- Relatable and Funny: These hosts don’t just inform—they riff on breakfast foods, kid hijinks, and pop culture, sprinkling levity amid the sports heat.
- Big Picture: Musings on the future of sports franchises (Yankees, Giants, Eagles), economic realities, and the ways broadcast personalities shape our experience as fans.
If you missed the live show, this episode delivers a little bit of everything: heated New York sports debates, inside-baseball on broadcasting, parenting giggles, and a reminder that in sports—and sports talk radio—personality is just as vital as precision.