Hour 3: Going For It

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg Podcast – Hour 3: Going For It

Date: December 22, 2025
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, (Peter Rosenberg absent)
Platform: ESPN New York

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Overview of the Episode

Hour 3 finds Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and producer Anthony Pusick grappling with the bleak state of New York sports, specifically the Giants and Jets. The mood is one of frustration and fatigue, as the hosts vent about tanking, poor coaching decisions, front office missteps, and the cyclical disappointment inherent to covering losing franchises. They shift to commiserate with callers, debate philosophies of team building, and have spirited asides about broadcast respect, Christmas nostalgia, and recent on-air moments. Throughout, the tone is honest, sarcastic, and infused with the dark humor native to long-suffering New York fans.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Giants and Jets: Hopelessness and Frustration

• State of the Teams: Both franchises are in despair, limping through “lost seasons” with little hope. Don and Alan lament the boredom and lack of inspiration:
  • “The state of football is as bad as it's ever been. It's not going to get any better... if you're a Jet fan, hope that they got the right pieces in place. Go find a quarterback in the offseason.” (Don, 02:29)
• Tanking vs. Caring: Don rails against the idea of tanking, arguing that it’s a psychological crutch for fans who want to avoid caring about the team’s performance.
  • “I guess the reason why I'm so against Tanking is because it's just... an easy out for fans, right? So they don't have the moment that I had yesterday because they don't care anymore. They're still watching Tank lose, get the pick.” (Don, 07:55)
• Coaching Criticisms: Don vents over a questionable 4th-and-5 decision:
  • "Listen, you're lucky you score a point. You suck. So it's three nothing. Kick the damn field goal. Tie the game." (Don, 06:04)
  • Hahn and Don joke about text thread rants, with Don’s expletive-laden reactions signifying the deep emotional toll of watching bad football.
• Media Ennui: Alan shares what it’s like being a beat reporter in lost seasons, alluding to the “Groundhog Day” aspect.
  • “It almost feels like, you know, Groundhog Day, where it's just the same thing. You wake up and I got you babies playing on the alarm clock.” (Alan, 02:54)
  • Sympathy is extended to Rich Cimini, long-time Jets reporter: “Think about how many losing seasons he's been through... the whole thing of the idea of the hope of something happening that’s going to turn things around. And it doesn’t.” (Alan, 03:51)

2. Rant Highlights & Memorable Quotes

• On Analytics-Driven Coaching Moves:
  • "You're compensating for something else... Like when the middle aged guy buys the Camaro... It's not gonna get any bigger. Just coach the damn game." (Don, 06:27)
• Front Office Clean Sweep:
  • “They just got to wipe this clean. Like, really. They got a Brillo it down to the nub power. Everybody's got to go.” (Don, 07:14)
• On the Pain of Hopeless Sports Fandom:
  • “If you're a Met fan that also happens to be a Giant fan and a Ranger fan, oh boy. Your front office is doing what the other two didn't have the guts to do.” (Don, 09:51)
• Morale Sinks on Sports Endings:
  • “It's like repeats of I Love Lucy. There's nothing. There's nothing there. You got nothing.” (Don, 34:15)

3. Caller Segments: Fans, Nostalgia, and Critiques

• Danny in Long Island (14:00):
  • Wishes happy holidays, delivers humor including a “Drop Madness” line on Don’s rant, and lists top Christmas cartoon characters, emphasizing how nostalgia and tradition color the sports experience.
  • Touches on officiating inconsistencies and the agony of crucial calls.
  • "I dropped to my knees like it was Christmas morning." (Danny, 16:31)
• Yankees Christmas Letter (Juan in White Plains) (28:43):
  • Bemoans Brian Cashman and the Yankees’ inactivity in the offseason: “Everyone else gets to open their Christmas presents early, but for the second straight year, the Yankees have absolutely nothing under my tree.” (Juan, 29:13)
  • Don and Alan remind Juan and fans to wait for the full picture regarding roster moves, especially regarding Bellinger.
  • “Yankee fans were told that this was not going to be one of those years where... there was going to be a frenzy.” (Don, 32:50)
• Robbie in Lennox, MA (35:10):
  • Resigned about the Giants’ and Rangers’ lack of direction and cultural change; yearns for a return to foundational leadership.
  • “There's no direction right now. They have some young players. We just need somebody to infuse something.” (Robbie, 36:20)
• Steve in Homeville (43:48):
  • Contrasts Joe Schoen’s poor decision-making with Howie Roseman (Eagles), highlighting the perils of GM stubbornness and the need to quickly cut losses.

4. New York Sports General Woes and Philosophies

• Clean House or Stay the Course?
  • Don and Alan discuss the merits of blowing up a team (“Brillo it down to the nub power”) versus sticking with a core that may not produce results—using the Mets, Giants, and Rangers as examples.
  • “Given the Mets credit, they blew it up and yet they're getting killed for it. Then you got the Giants and the Rangers didn't blow it up and they're getting killed for it. Like, let's wait and see how it works out.” (Don, 39:16)
• Front Office Philosophies and Patience:
  • The importance of not rushing to judgment on off-season strategies.
  • “They're not given the benefit of the doubt. But you're right, you gotta wait and see what it is.” (Don, 11:01)

5. The State of the League: NFL’s Lack of Dominance

• No Clear Favorites:
  • The hosts commiserate about the unpredictable, parity-driven NFL season:
    • "Every week I think I found the team and then every two weeks I'm like, nope, got to change it..." (Alan, 19:55)
  • The absence of powerhouse franchises (Chiefs, Cowboys, Lions, Ravens) leads to less “sex appeal” for national ratings but opens possibilities for unexpected teams.

6. Knicks and Broadcast Moments

• Alan’s Moment with Jalen Brunson:
  • Alan recounts a fun on-court exchange with Jalen Brunson, relating to friendly banter about “bad friends” and a well-timed “thumbs up.”
    • "Thumbs up to that. Thank you, Jalen." (Alan, 25:40)
  • The moment goes viral but Alan playfully grumbles about not being credited by aggregate NBA social accounts.
    • "I'm being referenced as reporter, quote, unquote. How do I feel about that now?" (Alan, 25:10)
  • Don is sympathetic to broadcast anonymity:
    • "That's what they do. They figured we don't care about the announcer. We care about the moment kind of thing." (Don, 26:39)

7. Nostalgic and Light-Hearted Tangents

• Christmas Cartoons & Childhood:
  • The trio (with Anthony) rate favorite Christmas animation characters, segue into Claymation specials and how children experience tradition—tying personal nostalgia into the broader sports conversation.

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Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• Don (on tanking, 07:55):
  “I guess the reason why I'm so against Tanking is because it's just... an easy out for fans, right? So they don't have the moment that I had yesterday because they don't care anymore.”
• Alan (on lost seasons’ ennui, 02:54):
  “It almost feels like, you know, Groundhog Day... you wake up and I got you babies playing on the alarm clock.”
• Don (on coaching hubris, 06:27):
  “You're compensating for something else. Like when the middle aged guy buys the Camaro… It's not gonna get any bigger. Just coach the damn game.”
• Don (clean house, 07:14):
  “They just got to wipe this clean... Brillo it down to the nub power. Everybody's got to go.”
• Alan (viral Knicks moment, 25:40):
  "Thumbs up to that. Thank you, Jalen."
• Caller Danny (Christmas cartoons, 15:06):
  “The Winter Warlock. Love the character. Evil, but turned out to be a good guy.”
• Alan (NFL chaos, 19:55):
  “Every week I think I found the team and then every two weeks I'm like, nope, got to change it because it's unreal.”
• Don (New York fan malaise, 09:51):
  "If you're a Met fan that also happens to be a Giant fan and a Ranger fan, oh boy. Your front office is doing what the other two didn't have the guts to do."
• Juan (Yankees Christmas letter, 29:13):
  "Everyone else gets to open their Christmas presents early, but for the second straight year, the Yankees have absolutely nothing under my tree."
• Robbie (culture change call, 36:20):
  "There's no direction right now. They have some young players. We just need somebody to infuse something."
• Don (offseason boredom, 34:15):
  "It's like repeats of I Love Lucy. There's nothing. There's nothing there. You got nothing."

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Important Segments & Timestamps

• State of the Giants and Jets (00:38–09:05)
  • Extended venting about coaching, tanking, and emotional fatigue.
• Coaching Decision Rant & Text Thread Drama (04:27–09:27)
  • Don’s impassioned monologue on 4th-down failures and coaching psychology.
• Mets, Giants, Rumor and Fan Patience (09:45–13:00)
  • Comparing team pivots and long-term strategies.
• Danny in Long Island—Holiday and Officiating Call (14:00–18:43)
• NFL Parity Discourse (19:55–20:45)
• Knicks, Jalen Brunson, and Broadcast Respect (24:07–28:25)
• Caller—Yankees Christmas Wishlist & Roster Woes (28:43–34:40)
• Robbie in MA—Giants and Rangers Malaise (35:10–39:16)
• Steve in Homeville—Giants Draft/GM Failure (43:48–48:41)

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Tone & Language

• Sardonic, embittered, honest, with bursts of self-deprecating humor that betray both deep fandom and professional exhaustion.
• Conversational flow, frequent pop culture and personal references, and rants delivered with the fervor of seasoned sports radio personalities.

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Summary Takeaway

This episode encapsulates the despair, gallows humor, and hard-earned perspective of New York sports fandom at a low ebb. The hosts articulate the pain of watching passionless football, deflecting with sarcasm, banter about holiday traditions, and calls for cultural changes and clean sweeps. The show is peppered with classic sports radio energy—rants, recurring jokes, and an openness to venting—providing catharsis for equally beleaguered listeners. For those absent from the lived experience: you’re up to speed—with all the weariness and wit that comes with a December in New York sports talk radio.

Transcript

[Don LaGreca]

When the holidays start to feel a bit repetitive, reach for a Sprite Winter Spiced Cranberry and put your twist on tradition. A bold cranberry and Winter Spice Flavor Fusion Sprite Winter Spice Cranberry is a refreshing way to shake things up this sipping season, and only for a limited time. Sprite obey your thirst.

[Alan Hahn]

This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg.

[Don LaGreca]

Podcast that sounds like heaven to me. Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New.

[Alan Hahn]

York app and your smart speakers 504.

[Don LaGreca]

In the big city. Don Han and Rosenberg with you until 7 o'. Clock. Pleasure hanging out with you guys today and we're going to be off for the rest of the calendar year as we normally do. We'll be back with you guys coming up on January 2nd, so enjoy your holidays, but we still have a couple of hours of Sports talk with you. 1-800-919-3776. Most of it bad Giants lose and again, I think Giant fans want them to lose and try to get that first overall pick. But it still doesn't look great to see your team and then see Jackson dart feel like he's taking a step back. You know, we had Jordan Ron on earlier and he said he did miss a couple of games because of the concussion. It's probably that does feel like that they're playing a little bit more conservative because of the injuries on the offensive line. He doesn't have any weapons. Slayton had another drop that could have been a touchdown. It's just so miserable to watch. Honestly, if you're somebody that wants them to lose. All right, I get it. But then don't watch because if and I know Jordan really explained it well about hey, there weren't it wasn't as bad just running the football. There just wasn't a lot of passes. The offensive line was banged up, but I think it was like one for five in the first half and they were just running the ball. It's like I thought part of the reason I want to watch the Giants is be entertained by darts and now they're not even doing that. Jets, I don't know what to tell you. Like, I understand your frustration if you're a Jet fan, Alan, they're dead. You know, you're dead inside with them.

[Alan Hahn]

I am.

[Don LaGreca]

But you know, everybody's coming back and you hope that this off season and this pick, whatever they have, they could find a quarterback. But I can't tell you that what you're watching is entertaining. You're getting zero quarterback play. You know, the Defense was getting shredded at times. Really the only thing to watch with the jets in recent vintage.

[Alan Hahn]

Special teams.

[Don LaGreca]

Special teams.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

And that. And that's been it. So the state of football is as bad as it's ever been. It's not going to get any better. So you're just going to have to, if you're a Jet fan, hope that they got the right pieces in place. Go find a quarterback in the offseason. And if you're the Giants, hopefully they'll get it right with the next general manager and the head coach. But now you're just kind of going through the motions these final couple of weeks. I'm glad I'm off because what. What. What's. What's there even to discuss about?

[Alan Hahn]

Like, you heard Jordan. That's exactly it, Don. I'm the. I feel the same as you do. It's. What. What the hell else did I talk about? I've. I've. I've been in Jordan's shoes. I have been through that. Where you're. You're covering a team in a lost season, and it almost feels like, you know, Groundhog Day, where it's just the same thing. You wake up and I got you babies playing on the alarm clock.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

And you're just like, here we go again. I've been. You get tired of it. Not that. Like, you're invested in the team. Winning or losing, you're invested in. Just give me something fresher to write about. I've written this story already. Like, and then you have the coach at the podium. You know, he's going through the motions. What am I asking this guy? Like, why am I asking him? Does anybody really give a rip what he's got to say about the Giants right now? He's not even going to be here in a month. That's the problem that I think you're seeing over and over again. Which is why, by the way, let's take a moment to just pour one out for Rich Samini. The guy's been covering the team for, like, 35 years.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Think about how many losing seasons he's been through, how many seasons like this with a new coach that you know isn't going anywhere and a team that isn't going anywhere. And the whole thing of the idea of the hope of something happening that's going to turn things around. And it doesn't. Like, that's just unfortunately what happened. So we are in that place that we all agree we all need to. I hate to use it, but it's. It's really the acronym of Jets. Just end the season. Can we just get to the off season? Because it's the only time there's anything really to talk about with the team where you feel like you're looking ahead, man.

[Don LaGreca]

And what was the last time we could actually analyze the game? Like, I was on the text thread yesterday. Just. I was upset. I can't repeat any things that I text you guys.

[Alan Hahn]

I will.

[Don LaGreca]

When they went for it on 4th and 5.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, and that was really. I like the second one.

[Don LaGreca]

That was vintage Don because I still get emotional about the team because as much as this business kind of changes stuff.

[Alan Hahn]

Can I read the second one at least?

[Don LaGreca]

Go ahead. What the hell, it's Christmas.

[Alan Hahn]

No, no, I can't read the second.

[Don LaGreca]

You can't?

[Alan Hahn]

No. I can read the first one, though. Look at me. I say blank and go for it. On fourth down, I have a huge blank.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

With job.

[Don LaGreca]

It'S 4th and 5. What are they at, like the 10? I'm like, where do you go? Just kick the game. Why? Why? What is. And again, these, these coaches. It's so frustrating with these coaches because I could. I'm going to play. I'm going to play a little pop psychologist, okay? I stayed in a Holiday Inn Express last night. Is that they think they're being tough guys, you know? Ah. But I'm going to go for it. I'm fourth and I'm not gonna just tie the game. We win with touchdowns, not field goals. Listen, you're lucky. You score a point. You suck. So it's three nothing. Kick the damn field goal. Tie the game. The 4th and 5. Just get your quarterback sacked. As everybody and their mother knows that you're passing because you can't run on 4th and 5, what are you going for? Kick the damn field goal. That's the one thing that bothers me. Even because I was in transit having to go to the devil game. You know when Carl Banks even said it? Oh, go for it on fourth down. Why not? Like, oh, so we're at the state. What does it matter? Why punt? Go for it at your own goal line. You know, like, what does it matter? There's got to be some structure. You're still playing a game, you're still game planning. You're still preparing. And for these stupid coaches to go, I'm old man and I go for it.

[Anthony Busick]

I'm four down.

[Alan Hahn]

You know what? You know what?

[Don LaGreca]

You're compensating for something else. Okay? Like when the. When the middle aged guy buys the Camaro is because he's lacking in other areas of his body. Okay? You're not. It's not gonna grow. It is what it is. It's what God gave you. So whether you go for fourth or not, it's not gonna matter. It's not gonna get any bigger. Just coach the damn game.

[Alan Hahn]

What if it's a Firebird?

[Don LaGreca]

Coach it. I change. I go on television because I'm really. No, you're gonna be out of a job. And. And rightly so.

[Anthony Busick]

And you know what?

[Don LaGreca]

Either don't wear the hat or have the hat actually on your head.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, no.

[Don LaGreca]

All right.

[Alan Hahn]

Go there. Go ahead.

[Don LaGreca]

Because you look like you know what you look like. You look like what I was just talking about.

[Alan Hahn]

Yep.

[Don LaGreca]

What you're compensating for, you're now looking like on the top of your head. I went from really thinking this guy had a chance to get this job to where I can't wait for him to get the hell out. Anthony Pusick said it, right? Now Anthony doesn't get credit because Anthony's negative about everything. All right? So when you're negative about everything, there's going to be some things you're going to get right. But he was right. I mean, they just got to wipe this clean. Like, really. They got a brillo it down to the nub power. Everybody's got to go.

[Alan Hahn]

It stinks. Yeah, it needs dude wipes.

[Don LaGreca]

It just stinks.

[Alan Hahn]

Just dude wipes all over the franchise.

[Don LaGreca]

And I know it doesn't matter. I guess the reason why I'm so against Tanking is because it's just. It's an easy out for fans, right? So they don't have the moment that I had yesterday because they don't care anymore. They're still watching Tank lose, get the pick. The positive byproduct of that is then you don't have to care anymore. You don't have to get upset at the poor play and the missed tackles and the bad decisions because you've already tapped out. But you don't want to admit you tapped out. So you're saying, well, I want them to Tank so I get the better pick. What does it matter when the team's an absolute mess? You could have handed this team Joe Montana in their prime. They'll screw it up because they're a mess. So we got to fix it by cleaning it out, man. Clean it the hell out. Shane Kafka, they all gotta go. That just stinks. The jets deserve another shot because it's only Year one. And again, I didn't think the expectations were that much to begin with. But this giant thing, man, a year ago, almost to the day, you know, they made. I thought they were going to clean it out, and they brought everybody back. And that was one of the worst mistakes John Maher ever made. And now it was all.

[Alan Hahn]

It was all because he watched the documentary, right? All because of the documentary. He felt he just had emotion in that moment. I propose we do a Don Lagra Mad Libs, where we take texts of his that you can't read verbatim, take out the words and see if people can figure out the words.

[Don LaGreca]

The. I got it every. You just did it. You're. You're dope if you don't know what words.

[Alan Hahn]

I was pretty clear. Pretty clear. But it's still. It's still like that. That's definitely a fun game.

[Don LaGreca]

I'm glad I'm able to share all that with the thread. The text thread sometimes can be very confused, cathartic.

[Alan Hahn]

It's what I. I try to use it as such. Sometimes I end up talking to myself, but I'm used to that.

[Don LaGreca]

It's like, go ahead, Anthony. Sorry, Don. If you're a Met fan that also happens to be a Giant fan and a Ranger fan, oh, boy. Your front office is doing what the other two didn't have the guts to do.

[Alan Hahn]

You may love all of those players. Alonzo Diaz, Nimmo McNeil.

[Don LaGreca]

Love that they take their shirts off when they win games.

[Alan Hahn]

Love that they hug at the end of games.

[Don LaGreca]

Love that it seems like they have cool little handshakes and they have the trumpet, but they weren't winning. And it really hurts when you lose guys that you've liked for a really, really long time. But you know what's going to be even better than the guys that you like actually winning a championship.

[Alan Hahn]

Because the Rangers didn't move on from their core and now they're in no man's land.

[Don LaGreca]

And the Giants, I don't listen. That's a completely different story.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't know what it is that.

[Don LaGreca]

They loved about any of the things.

[Alan Hahn]

In particular, but they decided to stick with it and it didn't work. And they didn't keep guys that the fan base loved and they replaced them with bad guys. So you've seen it on the Met side of, if it doesn't work out, this is what it could look like. But that's the problem, is we don't know what you have to try. You have to wait.

[Don LaGreca]

Can we just wait and see?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

There's a lot of reasons why you wait and see. And there's also a lot of reasons why people buy in Ramsey Mazda selection. It's their customer service and it's their savings.

[Alan Hahn]

Brilliant.

[Don LaGreca]

More to move you Sales event lease a new 2025 Mazda CX 3.5s all wheel drive for 159 for 36 months. Start shopping now at Ramsey Mazda.com choose wisely. Choose Ramsey Mazda. Call 833-853-2970 for details. Finn SM 839072 MSRP 602066900 secured deposit ends 1226 and don't put the if you're a Giant Met fan as I am, don't put the evils on one franchise and assume it's attached to the other. Because Anthony's right. The Mets are moving on from a team that didn't win. They did entertain us. They were fun, but they didn't win. And you're willing to kill them not knowing what the pivot is because history tells you that it's probably not going to work anyway. Mets haven't won since 86 and the Giants, even though they've won recently, most recent New York franchise, by the way, to win a title, still have had so much dysfunction since then. They're not given the benefit of the doubt. But you're right, you gotta wait and see what it is. And that caller's right. I see it. I go onto social media, the Mets will tweet something out and it's a bunch of middle finger emojis and I hate you, yada yada. What are you going to say if what the plan is works? What are you going to say now? You going to apologize? You're going to say I was wrong? Or are you going to still find a way to hate them and say, oh, they'll still screw it up anyway. Can I at least see what it is? And they have. They're under no obligation, Allen, to tell you what the plan is. You you wish you knew. I think that's the other thing. Fans are upset because they don't know who's coming. Like last year they knew Soto was on the table. Is Bellinger on the table? Is school on the table? By the way, Skeens was at the Devil game last night.

[Alan Hahn]

Not only Skeens.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh no, Livy was there as well.

[Alan Hahn]

She was there too.

[Don LaGreca]

They wouldn't come on though. Danico was red hot. Danico is a big baseball fan. I think he was going to recruit for the Mets. It wouldn't come on.

[Alan Hahn]

That's probably why.

[Don LaGreca]

And it would be.

[Alan Hahn]

It had been a bad look if they did. I find it. I find it more interesting that Tate was there. We know anything about her and Jack? They. They were allegedly seen canoodling in New York City recently.

[Don LaGreca]

They were. They're showing pictures.

[Alan Hahn]

We know anything? Any scuttlebutt? What do you got?

[Don LaGreca]

She was there.

[Alan Hahn]

Something for Page Six. Right now you can break it.

[Don LaGreca]

Something's going on. So she was in the building. Livy who grew up in Jersey, so she's actually a Devil fan. Skeins grew up in California. I don't know if he knows anything about hockey. Wow. Yeah. So it was quite the. It was quite the place to be last night with those three.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

See, Devils are hot. Everybody wants to be a part of that.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Look what happens when you take over.

[Don LaGreca]

Like to see a few more goals than just one.

[Alan Hahn]

That'd be helpful.

[Don LaGreca]

It was cool to see you score, though. But it was.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, that. That part. That part was very, very.

[Don LaGreca]

Everybody. Almost everybody played yesterday, right? And now nobody. Today we had the jets, you had the Giants, you had the Knicks, you had the Rangers, you had the Devils.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

So that's where we stand. 1-800-919-3776. Danny in Long Island. Merry Christmas, brother.

[Anthony Busick]

Christmas came early at Danny's house yesterday, that's for sure. First of all, I'd like to wish everybody a happy Hanukkah that's over. Merry Christmas for everybody. And a happy New Year. And in case Peter's paternity leave doesn't end anytime soon, Happy Memorial Day. Happy Fourth of July. And happy Labor Day.

[Don LaGreca]

You know what? You're not. You're not wrong. You're not wrong, but.

[Anthony Busick]

Don, we just got a word that the Drop Madness, your number one category is now it's not going to grow. It's what nature gave you. Just. Just a line of biblical proportions. Let me. Let me talk you. Can we. Before we get to the obvious one I want to talk about, can I. Can I give you the last list of 20, 25. A little light hearted. We all have kids. We watch the same movies over and over again.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay.

[Anthony Busick]

Till our eyes bled and the kids watched them every time like it was the first time. Let me. I can give you my five favorite Christmas cartoons or my favorite five Christmas cartoon characters.

[Don LaGreca]

Okay.

[Anthony Busick]

Which would you like?

[Alan Hahn]

Characters.

[Anthony Busick]

Okay. Character number one.

[Alan Hahn]

Characters.

[Don LaGreca]

One. What do you got?

[Anthony Busick]

The Winter Warlock. Love the character. Evil, but turned out to be a good guy.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes.

[Anthony Busick]

Burger meister. Meister. Burger. Mean all around, but a great character.

[Don LaGreca]

Very mean.

[Anthony Busick]

Yukon Cornelius from Rural to Reynolds reindeer.

[Don LaGreca]

Silver and gold came back. They couldn't kill him.

[Anthony Busick]

Couldn't kill him.

[Alan Hahn]

Bumbles bounce.

[Anthony Busick]

Bumbles bounce.

[Don LaGreca]

Yes.

[Anthony Busick]

How about Jaime? Special attention, special merit for Jaime. From Rural to Reynolds reindeer. That was a good guy. And let's not forget Heat Miser, called Miser from the Year Without a Santa Claus. That was. That was an underrated Christmas special, if I may say so.

[Alan Hahn]

Those were, by the way, when you watch them now as an adult, because I don't know if everybody else does, but when it's on you stop because it's nostalgic. Then you realize these were horrifyingly scary.

[Anthony Busick]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

It's amazing how they made these things so scary for a kid. Where today to anything today. Now that you watch, it's all like, everything's happy and sweet. Those were like, how did you not have nightmare? How did we not have nightmares watching stuff like that?

[Anthony Busick]

And some of them, like Santa Claus is Coming to Town, which, by the way, as Peter would say, with a Fred Astaire vehicle. And that was like Claymation where they had to move the dolls every second to make them appear like they were moving.

[Alan Hahn]

Three years to film that.

[Anthony Busick]

Yeah. Right. So, anyway, listen, obviously, I nearly had a nervous breakdown and a heart attack all in one moment yesterday. Longest three minutes of my life waiting for the referees to decide what they wanted for dinner after the game. I mean, I don't know. That was just.

[Alan Hahn]

As a fan, you were invested.

[Anthony Busick]

So, yeah, I dropped to my knees like I got like. Like it was Christmas morning. The. I would say one thing I do, Will, I do agree with you that the first path interference call was a little questionable and the second pass interference call obviously was the right call.

[Alan Hahn]

That was.

[Anthony Busick]

And you made a statement, right, and you made a statement that if you either call it or you don't. The problem was it called on the Steelers in the second quarter. The same. They. The Steelers tight end did the pick and they called it against the Steelers.

[Don LaGreca]

They looked at.

[Anthony Busick]

They lost the touchdown. So obviously there was a. There was somewhat. There was some referee Harding in the end zone who woke up this morning saying, this is my moment to call this offensive pass interference in the end zone. Because, you know, see it that often. I always feel bad for the defensive guy because when you look at the play, the last play, if. If he runs straight into the Steeler quarterback, they're going to call offensive, they're going to call defense. The fact that he put his hands out and Pushed him was what made it offense to me. If a defensive guy has position, whether you're in hockey, basketball, and you run straight into him, you commit a penalty. But only in football can a. Can can a quarterback have position and you run straight into him.

[Alan Hahn]

Ye.

[Anthony Busick]

You get called withholding or defensive holding or pass interference. And now that, that I saw, I always feel bad for the defensive people because they're always on the wrong end of it.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, you're always coming. Yeah.

[Anthony Busick]

The only problem I have with the delay, with the trustee of what. What they're thinking about, and all I could come up with is, well, wait a second. If they blew. If they agreed again to the huddle and that they did blow the whistle on the forward progress, well, that would mean they blew the whistle, the clock stopped, and now there's going to be another play. Because if. Because if it's a touchdown, the Steelers have to take the penalty which knocks them back, you know, so basically say, okay, he scored a touchdown and there's two seconds to go. So therefore, the Steelers have to accept the penalty, knock him back 15 yards, and there's going to be one other play. Once they established that, yes, there was a touchdown, but there was no more time remaining, there wasn't going to be another play. And therefore, with the grace of God, we got out. And then the Ravens lose at night. So I could barely get to bed last night. I was so pumped up. My kids were really brought up about it.

[Don LaGreca]

Amazing to me. We have. We have fun with you, Danny. Merry Christmas and happy.

[Alan Hahn]

All the best.

[Don LaGreca]

We'll talk to you in 2026. I understand your frustration with Tomlin, I do. But coming from a Giant and Jet fan, respectively, here, we laugh at your complaints because you're going to have another winning season. You're going to win this division. On the year in which everyone chanted, fire Tomlin, they're going to win this division. Now, I don't think they're a great team, but guess what? Who is a great team? It's all about who's hot, who's in the right position, that's who's going to come out of these two respective conferences. Because who are the best teams? We thought it was the Rams. And then, you know, the Rams end up losing to the Panthers and then they lose to the Seahawks. You know, it's the Bears right now, but I'm not confident to say the Bears are coming out of the nfc. Philadelphia is having meetings behind their quarterbacks back. The afc, Buffalo want to anoint them. They barely beat Cleveland, that was. Yeah, you know, Denver's unstoppable. They lose to Jacksonville, Jacksonville could turn around and lose the next two games. Who the heck knows? I mean, so Pittsburgh's got themselves an experienced quarterback. They got a great coach. I wouldn't expect them to go far. But who's going far, Alan? Who's the team that you're going to say? That's, that's the team I'm confident in saying is going to go to the Super Bowl? The Bills, they never do.

[Alan Hahn]

It's amazing. Every week I think I found the team and then every two weeks I'm like, nope, got to change it because it's, it's unreal. You go from the Rams, you go like, we have bounced around with so many teams. Early on it was Buffalo for me. Then for a while, like I said, the Rams had you. Early on it was the Bucks. They can't even beat Carolina now. Carolina's like in control now in that division. So is all of a sudden Jacksonville now the flavor of the month? I mean, who are the teams that. Broncos, for a minute you felt. And then, then they get their doors blown off. There's so many different things. New England a couple of weeks ago now, are you sure? It's. This is, this is a lot different this year than we've seen in a long time. And a lot of it has to do with the fact that Mahomes and the Chiefs are. They're done. They got a fork in them.

[Don LaGreca]

You know, the lines are done. The Chiefs are done. Yeah, you know, a lot of nothing NFL needs sexy to get ratings at interest. But you're not going to have the Chiefs, you're not going to have the Cowboys, you're not going to have the Lions. You know, you're probably not going to have the Ravens. You know, some like really sexy teams, big time quarterbacks are not going to be playing in the postseason, but they'll still have enough to get, you know, a billion people to watch their games. If you've shopped online, chances are you've bought from a business powered by Shopify. You know that purple shop pay button you see at checkout? The one that makes buying so incredibly easy? That's Shopify. And there's a reason so many businesses sell with it. Because Shopify makes it incredibly easy to start and run your business. Shopify is the commerce platform behind 10% of all e commerce in the US from household names like Mattel and Gymshark to brands just getting started. Shopify gives you a leg up with hundreds of beautiful ready to go templates to express your brand style and forget about the code. Tackle all those important tasks in one place. From inventory to payments to analytics and more. Spread your brand's word with built in marketing and email tools to find and keep new customers. And did I mention that iconic purple Shop pay button that's used by millions of businesses around the world? It's why Shopify has the best converting checkout on the planet. Your customers already love it. If you want to see less carts being abandoned, it's time for you to head over to Shopify. Sign up for your $1 per month trial and start selling today at shopify.comnetwork. go to shopify.comnetwork shopify.comnetwork as you know, managing maintenance, repair and operations is never easy. But for the ones who always rise to the challenge, Grainger has your back. From professional grade products you can count on to fast, dependable delivery, they're there to help you keep things running smoothly. Plus, their technical product specialists are here to help answer your toughest questions. And because Grainger knows safety is always a priority, they're committed to being your partner in protecting both your people and your facilities. Call 1-800-GRAINGER Click grainger.com or just stop by.

[Alan Hahn]

This is Kevin Clark from Manscaped. The holidays are rolling in and if your wish list is missing a little something, Manscaped has you covered. Folks, it's December. It's the holiday season. You've got to be game ready for not just a bunch of holiday parties. But I mean, my wife is asking me to take all sorts of photos in front of the tree with my son. If you're not game ready, it could be some bad angles. Guys. There's some bad angles if you're not grooming exactly the way you should. If you stay ready, you don't have to get ready. That's my philosophy this time of year. I've had some bad photos. I saw one from last year. I got the beard. It's too heavy. And I got these great pajamas. Everything should look awesome. And guess what? My face isn't up for it. My face wasn't game ready. From the beard hedger to the lawnmower Trimmer Manscaped Trademark Precision Tools keep you looking sharp, feeling confident and ready for every event and celebration. Right now at Target, get 20% off the Handyman Shaver Beard Hedger and the Chairman Plus Essentials Kit, a must have for a smooth face shave. Hurry. Offer ends December 27th. Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn.

[Don LaGreca]

And Rosenberg Podcast I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Alan Hahn]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. So I don't know. You were busy last night, so you probably didn't see it, but Jalen Brunson and I had another one of those moments on the court after the game.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, I didn't hear about this.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, it was. It was. It was fun.

[Don LaGreca]

Did he stick his thumb somewhere?

[Alan Hahn]

Well, I. It did have to do with thumb.

[Don LaGreca]

Okay.

[Alan Hahn]

He just. The last question I asked him was just picking. There was three different plays, and I just said, which one do you think was the best one? And he said that a play that Josh made. And he said, even though he hasn't been a good friend lately. And so when he was done, he just said, but, you know, I got to give him credit. And I said, yeah, thumbs up to that. And he walked away like, he turned and he gave me like a funny look and he started laughing like he got it. Okay. And so that, you know, it. It certainly has made the rounds, which is always good. But now that it's being picked up by a lot of the aggregate accounts, I'm being referenced as reporter, quote, unquote. How do I feel about that now?

[Don LaGreca]

You should feel a way about not.

[Alan Hahn]

Not being identified at all.

[Don LaGreca]

No, I guess, but. Well, don't take it personal because it's just laziness out of people they don't know. And rather than do the work, the five seconds it would take to their basketball accounts, though.

[Alan Hahn]

Donnie, they're basketball accounts.

[Don LaGreca]

We have. We have audio.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, you have it. Okay, you want to play? I'm putting you on the spot.

[Don LaGreca]

Josh. I'm gonna say Josh, unfortunately, I'm gonna say Josh. You know, he's.

[Anthony Busick]

He's been a pretty terrible friend as.

[Don LaGreca]

Of recently, but I'm gonna say josh.

[Alan Hahn]

Thumbs up to that. Thank you, Jaylen. So after I said it, he like, made a face. And then when I said thank you, he turned. Then he turns back to the camera and me and he points like, you're bad. Like. But he's laughing. Thank goodness he got, you know, he thought it was funny, which I figured he would. But first of all, I. I don't care about the. I just. I'm noticing on my feed, the notifications I'm getting, there's a lot of people that are saying, putting my knee, like, adding me under these accounts. I'm like, what is this about? And it's cuz I'm being labeled as reporter.

[Don LaGreca]

I know.

[Alan Hahn]

And These are basketball account. Like, you would think basketball cats would.

[Don LaGreca]

Know who the hell I am, right when the when. But, hey, I had. I had.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't get paid anymore for that.

[Don LaGreca]

I. I had some moments early on with the Devils when they had won eight in a row and the Brat Breakaway in overtime against Canadians. And there were a few times, like, spitting Chiclets, which is like the Bible to hockey fans.

[Alan Hahn]

And they know you, let's say.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, they'll. They'll say, like, announcer goes crazy in Devil game. You know, it's like, they wouldn't give me credit, but some fans will say, no, hey, that's Don legreca, you know, because they're cool. But I just. I just. That's what they do. They figured we don't care about the announcer. We care about the moment kind of thing. So they don't want to do the two seconds to just double check who called the game or. Or who interviewed the player. You'd like to think that these accounts can know you by sight, but I just wonder if it's because they. They would get more attention if they added you on it, like, interviewing Brunson, like, because they get even more love. But they. I don't think it's just. Well, you know, it's funny. The people who do it, I don't think give it that kind of time of day, you know? Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

It's the same accounts, though, that in August are like, can you come on the podcast? So it's like, I'm. I don't care. I bring it up just to have some fun with it, but also because I just happen to see, like, I'm getting notifications like, what the hell's going on now? Because last night it went. It was fun. It went all over the place. It was really funny. This morning, a little more. I got some texts from friends, but seeing it now, and people are, like, mad, like, put some respect on his name. And I love it. Nick fans dragging these accounts because they didn't name me, which. God bless the Nick fans. That's why I love him. But it, Like, I was wondering if you understood it, like, course, as something that it's like, wait a minute. Like, I could understand if it's some, like, a random sports account, but it's a basketball. Like, they do. All they do is basketball. But that's fine. I. I don't need that kind of. Like I said, if I got paid for it, then I'd be mad. I'm not paid for it, so I don't care.

[Don LaGreca]

It's interesting, but again, the people know who you are, so they came to your defense. And that's a good thing.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, let's do. Let's do it. By the way, just to shout out the. The chat on YouTube because we have a huge audience today, which is great to see in Christmas week that people are still with us, which is awesome. So we thank them, we appreciate them. But I know that Juan in White Plains has been waiting forever to talk a little Yanks.

[Don LaGreca]

Okay, Sorry, Juan.

[Alan Hahn]

Why don't we bring him?

[Don LaGreca]

The show got away from us.

[Anthony Busick]

It's all good. Don't. Alan, thank you so much for taking my call today. Okay. I've been meaning to make this call sooner, but for whatever reason, I'm making it today. And it's appropriate because it's the beginning of Christmas week. Don Allen. As people are writing their letters to Santa, I'm writing mine to Brian Cashman.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, boy.

[Anthony Busick]

Brian, I know you're listening, so turn the volume up. Last year. Oh, dear Brian, I'm sorry. Last year around this time, the Mets went out and got Juan Soto. This year, the Dodgers went, landed Edwin Diaz. Last two weeks ago, the Orioles grabbed Pete Alonzo. You know, everyone else gets to open their Christmas presents early, but for the second straight year, the Yankees have absolutely nothing under my tree. Okay? And, you know, furthermore, last year at the trade deadline, I didn't get anything either, you know, and. Fine, you know, it's fine. You know, inflation. Right. Times are tough. I get it. But you know what makes this even more frustrating is that I look at the Orioles and Blue Jays offenses and they look significantly better than the Yankees right now. I mean, I'm just going to name a few real quick. The Orioles are rolling out Pete Alonso, Jordan Westbrook, Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rushman, the Blue Jays, you know, Vladdy, you know, Barger, George Springer, you know the guy, Ernie Clement. Sure, you heard of him. These are good young hitters. You know, guys who hit for average, they run the bases, they put pressure. Yeah. They put pressure on defenses.

[Don LaGreca]

So, you know, what does this tell you?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. Well, before, before we ask you why you feel the way you feel, I just. Can I just do a little bit of like, fact checking? Last, last trade deadline was. Last year was Jazz Chisel. Last off season, under your tree was Cody Bellinger and Max Freed. Okay, that's a pretty good. I mean, that's a pretty good pivot from Juan Soto, right?

[Anthony Busick]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

So. So I want you understand, like, like your cupboard wasn't bare at all. But. So let's just go there. I could don. Now, I just.

[Don LaGreca]

Told.

[Anthony Busick]

Thank you. No, thank you very much. Cody Bellinger was leased. I mean, the Yankees didn't even buy me.

[Don LaGreca]

You don't know that.

[Alan Hahn]

You don't know that yet.

[Anthony Busick]

Well, they haven't yet. I know.

[Alan Hahn]

You're right.

[Anthony Busick]

They haven't yet. And they gave me, you know, Trent Grisham, Aaron Judge. That's it. That's an expensive outfield. You're going to tell me they're going to commit to 30 million to Bellinger.

[Don LaGreca]

You just hit it.

[Alan Hahn]

Don't ever mention his name.

[Don LaGreca]

The scary. You've been told, you were told by Michael K. By many different people, that there is going to be a budget. They have no appetite to go over 300 million. There's a. There's a pending lockout or strike, a possible cap that's coming. And that's all being factored in here, that it's probably going to be a team as presently constituted with Bellinger back that they can add to once they get to the deadline if they believe they need something. Now, you'll have a complaint, Juan, and thank you for the phone call. If Bellinger doesn't come back and they don't replace him, then I think you got a complaint. But as long as Bellinger is still there to be brought back, I don't know what else you can complain about. Yeah, the Blue Jays are going to be active. I get it. You've got a rotation. Granted, it's not going to be healthy to start the year, but Cole's going to come back. Rodon is going to come back. You've got Judge. If you don't have Bellinger, then I can understand. But can we see what it looks like first? Before you know, you're writing letters instead of Santa Claus to Brian Cashman. But Yankee fans were told that this was not going to be one of those years.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

Where they were going to be, there was going to be a frenzy.

[Alan Hahn]

No, they're waiting to get healthy in May. They think that they weren't really healthy all last year because of those. Especially because of the Cole injury. They lost a lot of pitchers last year and they feel like. I do think the Bellinger thing, though, is definitely. That, to me is a pivot move, though. That. That's a pivot point, I should say. Right, Don? If he does not come back, that does change a lot with your lineup and your defense and your options. Yes, yes, at least that. But the rest of it, pitching. No, they have tons of pitching. They have to get it healthy. And in May they hope to have everybody healthy. But the Bellinger thing I do feel like is a pivot point for this off season. If they don't bring him back, if he signed somewhere else because they couldn't sign him, they didn't want to pay him whatever it was, that to me would be alarming.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, I can't ask Juan because we already disconnected it. But who did you want that they didn't get? Like, did you want ds? Did you go on Alonzo like you saw some big names, but were any of the ones that you wanted to get or are you just upset they haven't done anything to entertain your hot stove? That's not their job. Their job is not to entertain you in December. Like, I feel bad for those baseball only fans that like, live for the offseason. I gotta be honest with you. It's. It's like repeats of I Love Lucy. There's nothing. There's nothing there. You got nothing. I agree with you. But the Yankees aren't in the business of entertaining you during the wintertime. They're going to try to do their best to. So I don't know what they missed out on yet. Maybe they did. I don't know. Do you feel like they missed out anybody? Was anybody wired during the off season? You said, boy, I wanted the Yankees.

[Alan Hahn]

There's no name that really like, had me like, oh, man, Bellinger.

[Don LaGreca]

You knew. Bring back Bellinger.

[Alan Hahn]

That's it. I think that's the. That's definitely part of it.

[Don LaGreca]

Bellinger comes back. If Bellinger signs with the Mets and the Yankees don't do anything to counter that, then I can understand you being really upset.

[Alan Hahn]

Listen, I. This, that's two from the chat, by the way. Two calls from the chat. You guys in the chat, man, that, that, those are two tough calls. Those were two tough ones today.

[Don LaGreca]

Also on hold for a while, if you wanted to do that, is Robbie in Lennox, Massachusetts. He's been on hold, sure. And 52 minutes. I apologize, Robbie, but we had a lot going on. What do you got?

[Alan Hahn]

And we don't talk hockey around.

[Anthony Busick]

Here's the deal.

[Don LaGreca]

Talk about.

[Anthony Busick]

First about the New York Giants. You know, Don, I'm a couple years older than you and I sat behind the post at Yankee Stadium. When I first started going with my father in 1972, when Norm Seed, Rocky Thompson, Ron Johnson and Spider Lockhart. And you know, we had traded. When they traded away my, my first year with France Harkington, I sold it to the Vikings. But then I became a Charger supporter because the Giants were so bad in the 70s. It was unbelievable. But this is the worst I've ever seen. Don, you were mentioning before early in the show about the teams in the 70s. At least we had a respectable defense. I can't stand bad defense, Don. I would rather see it a game that has great defense than a bunch of scoring with no defense. I like defensive football. And this is an embarrassing team, the Giants. You not only have to change the personnel on this team and the general manager, you have to bring in a player who wants to change the culture of this team. Like Lauren Lance Taylor and Phil Sims changed the culture of this team. I want to see former Giants come back. John Merritt, if you're listening out there, like this guy just talked about a letter, okay? He talked about a letter to Cashmere.

[Don LaGreca]

All right?

[Anthony Busick]

And I love the Yankees, trust me. I'm born in the Bronx and raised in Westchester all my life. And I've been up here in the Bursley for about 21 years. But I mean, I am just so disgusted with the fact that I love John Mayer and his family. I had a chance to meet Wellington as an NFL dinner many years ago as a 19 year old kid. And I walked up to. I was a little nervous. But I mean, seriously guys, there's no direction right now. They have some young players. We just need somebody to infuse something. I like your idea. Called Bill Parcells. Call Tom Coblin, get a meeting together. Let John Maris talk to these guys, see what they can come up with, see if they have names, bring in a guy. Maybe there's somebody out there that they think can run the organization the way it's supposed to be run, with proper drafting, with proper scouting, with, you know, having the Giant name worn on their heart. That's what they need. They need an infusion of that. They need to bring guys back to teach them the Giant way, okay? Just like the Rangers need the same thing right now. Now, Chris Drew play for the Rangers, a pretty good player. It's not only Drury. It's the past. It's. It's the past. The Rangers have been a disaster, Don, okay? In the front office. Because to me, what they don't do is they don't develop players. Why are they bringing back slow, older players and contracts? Look, J.T. miller is past his prime, okay? All these guys are past their prime. They're all. What is the plan right now exactly? They couldn't even go and try to get Quinn used. Was that the plan, Don? Anyway, listen to your comments. I'm so disgusted last night. I know it's tough on the schedule, but can you give me a better effort? And can Mike Sullivan have a more boring style of hockey? I know they don't have a lot of talent, but can we just, can we just bring up the kids, please? Why don't they. I would. Listen, I would take two years of missing the playoffs just to bring the kids.

[Don LaGreca]

What kids are you going to.

[Anthony Busick]

I know that's the promise, like an NHL team that I know, Don, I agree with you. But what do you do? Listen, I'll get your thoughts on and.

[Don LaGreca]

Thank you so much.

[Anthony Busick]

You guys have a wonderful holiday.

[Don LaGreca]

Thank you. Merry Christmas. Anthony brought it up about like making the changes that the Mets are making. Well, you know, they wanted to get rid of Savannah Jetta. He wouldn't waive his no movement clause. All right, they got rid of Kreider. They brought J.T. miller in because they thought that they still had enough there. But he's over 30, you know, what are you going to do with Panarin? He's in the last year of his contract. Like you're, you're kind of like you're not that old of a team. You're not that young either. It's, it's tough in a cap sport, Alan, to make these changes. Baseball, you could do it a little bit easier because there aren't that dead money and all the cap lingo that you get. You just, if you're willing to eat the money, you can get rid of guys.

[Alan Hahn]

You know, it's tough to get out of it. But that's the problem with no move clauses with these long term, these eight year deals like it. And you also, I do feel like there was a lot of gun to your head decisions made a couple of years ago when they were in the midst of looking like a team that, you know, was, was sort of in a run, right? Like that was it, was it two, two final fours in three years or something like it, you know, that's what it feels like. And now, now they're paying the price.

[Don LaGreca]

And, and that's, that's just like the Mets and it's kind of just like the Giants, right? Well, the Giants, wait a minute. In 22, they won nine games. They won a playoff game. They're close. No, they weren't close. They weren't even close to close. Oh, well, the Mets, they won 101 games. They, they went to game six of the league championship series. They're close. You're not really that close. All the jets are close back to back championship now. Now not close. And the Rangers had those two runs and that's what they were. They were runs, but they weren't sustainable and they're not as good as they thought they were. But you locked up contracts and you made certain deals and you talk about bringing up kids. There's no kids to bring up. You brought up the kids. But they need some place to play, right? I mean, you're not going to have all these older players be healthy scratches. It's, you know, listen, you're, you're, you're betwixt in between. And that's what a lot of these franchises are. And given the Mets credit, they blew it up and yet they're getting killed for it. Then you got the Giants and the Rangers didn't blow it up and they're getting killed for it. Like, let's wait and see how it works out. And I feel like the Mets did the right thing. I'll be proven right or wrong, I guess in a few months. This episode is brought to you by State Farm. Listening to this podcast Smart move. Being financially savvy. Smart move. Another smart move. Having State Farm help you create a competitive price when you choose to bundle home and auto bundling. Just another way to save with a personal price plan like a good neighbor. State Farm is there. Prices are based on rating plans that vary by state. Coverage options are selected by the the customer. Availability, amount of discounts and savings and eligibility vary by state. There's a reason Chevy trucks are known.

[Anthony Busick]

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[Don LaGreca]

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[Anthony Busick]

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[Don LaGreca]

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[Anthony Busick]

Chevrolet together.

[Don LaGreca]

Let's drive.

[Anthony Busick]

Good morning crust.

[Don LaGreca]

It's a great day to be a bread brother. Mornings are not my jam or jelly. Oh, come on. Stop loafing around. I just woke up feeling hollow inside.

[Anthony Busick]

Just grab one of the new morning.

[Don LaGreca]

Uncrustable sandwiches like Bright Eyed Berry or up an apple filled with 12 grams of protein and tons of deliciousness crust. What are you eating?

[Alan Hahn]

It's just granola.

[Don LaGreca]

Not even yogurt no crust, no fuss. Uncrust your mornings.

[Alan Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don LaGreca]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Alan Hahn]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want.

[Anthony Busick]

Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcast.

[Don LaGreca]

Don on Roseberg Radio 7 tonight 6 o' clock we'll have Ian Ann with Anthony Busick lot on the table to talk about as we are doing our last show of the year. We will have the likes of Ty Butler and Pat o'. Keefe.

[Alan Hahn]

The likes of that are going to.

[Don LaGreca]

Be filling in and on the morning you're going to have some Dan Grasso, you're going to have some Jake Aspen. Dan Grasse had the flight in New Orleans insurance in case Bob was shoes and couldn't make it to the game. But Dan did a good job doing sidelines on the radio yesterday. Caught some of free trip to New Orleans and that's not happening. That's not nothing. A little charter meal back and forth, stay at a nice hotel. So but Bourbon Street Bob made it. Bob made it for the game because he's a pro boy he deserves better. Such a good broadcaster and you can.

[Alan Hahn]

Hear it like listening to the broadcast. It's such a quality broadcast. It is and he just tried. He's it did like he's just trying real hard. He really like just I'm giving you all I got.

[Don LaGreca]

It's still NFL, it's still a game and you know you got to be on top of it and you do the best you can with what you got to work with. That's it just has not been a lot to work with as you know 15 straight years of missing the playoffs. 14 of those 15 losing seasons is but you know, maybe this is the regime. We'll see. It hasn't been great for the Giants, although they did appear in the playoffs a couple of times in that span. But still not much since their last Super bowl in 2011. So it's been bad for sure. 1-800-919-3776 let's go to Steve. He's in Homeville. You're on ESPN New York. What's up Steve?

[Anthony Busick]

Hey guys, good talking to you. I I think as of yesterday the Maras and the Tisha's probably have put Joe Shane in charge of the next general manager search. Just to know just the notion that anybody can entertain the idea there's any chance of this guy coming back. It's unfathomable. No fan would ever tolerate this. That ship has sailed and I just want to bring up. One thing Joe Shane said a few weeks ago at his press conference during the bye week. He said he doesn't make the same mistake twice. That's true. He makes it three, four, five times at least. I want to get contrast something that Shane has done repeatedly and contrast that with something how he rose made did from the first two drafts that Shane had in 2023. His first and third round draft pick from 2022. Evan Neal and Joshua Zudu are completely non functional players yet they will have lasted all four years of the contracts of their rookie contracts and the following new year. Deontay Banks in the first round and Jalen Hyatt in the third round have lasted three of the four years. So those are four highly drafted players that are unplayable and completely useless. And I want to bring up something that Howie Roseman did that just shows you why he's probably the best general manager in football and also why the Eagles have such success. The year of the great receiver back I believe was in 2021 and that was the year that Justin Jefferson was drafted and t. Higgins and C.D. lamb and the Eagles made a catastrophic mistake. They drafted right before Justin Jefferson. They drafted Jalen Rager, a complete bust. Obviously the Eagles wide receiving core was depleted and they felt the need to take a first round receiver. It took him one year to dump this guy realizing he was a complete bust and what does he do? He trades for A.J. brown and then he drafts Devonta Smith the next year. Now all of a sudden the Eagles have one of the best receiving cores. He didn't sit there and go gee I drafted a first round guy, I got to hold on to this guy. It's going to look bad. Joe Shane is horrible. He's going to end up with with five wins in the last into over two seasons and there's no way that he can retain his position at this.

[Don LaGreca]

Point and he won't. Steve and thank you for the phone call and happy holidays. It's what happens is when you don't have a quarterback and you go from Daniel Jones to you know, the pivot at the end of last year to was it a bridge quarterback? Are we going to trade for Dart? We didn't know this time last year they were going to have Jackson Dart that when you're evaluating talent, especially offensive side of the ball Allen, you don't have a quarterback, you're thinking well maybe if I get the right quarterback this pick will work and then you find out I get the right quarterback and the pick still doesn't work you've got to be able to evaluate in real time what you have. And. And he's had way too many misses.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

And you double down on guys like giving Slayton the contract and all he's doing is dropping balls and listen Slayton was a good wide receiver for this team for a while. Sometimes you got to know when to cut bait and or you know any double down and and it didn't work.

[Alan Hahn]

Out well they did that but I could see the reasoning behind it. You're right that it's not working out but right when you have you know yet Jalen Hyatt, Wondale Robinson and Malik Neighbors, you got to have a grown up in the room right in the wide receiver of course so you know that you're thinking along those lines and.

[Don LaGreca]

Then you lose neighbors and more is Slayton's shoulders and he obviously couldn't there's reasons for everything, right? Like as much as you may not like Joe Shane or you may not like McCagnon with the jets or Drew.

[Alan Hahn]

Every team has a plan.

[Don LaGreca]

There's a plan. It just doesn't always work. It's. Yeah, I know you want to say in comment they're not stupid. They just have a plan. Some work, some don't. They see something and what they saw never transpired. Sometimes it's on the player. Sometimes they looked at it and said this player is supposed to work but the player didn't work out. And it's the general manager that pays the price for it, unfortunately. But you know what he said it could be end up being five wins over the last two years. That's ultimately it, right? Not how many Pro Bowls, not how much room you have under the cap. Wins and losses.

[Alan Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast. I don't want to know how the sausage is made, but I just want to know it's good. Hear more of Don Allen and Peter.

[Don LaGreca]

Weekday afternoon starting at 3.

[Anthony Busick]

Free on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN.

[Alan Hahn]

New York app and your smart speakers.

[Don LaGreca]

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