Don, Hahn & Rosenberg — Hour 3: “Harbaugh Update”

January 14, 2026 | ESPN New York | Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg

Episode Overview

This hour mixes breaking New York Giants coaching news with classic Don, Hahn, and Rosenberg banter: rapid-fire calls, music debates, NBA hot takes, and the recurring theme of sports media personalities and their egos. The central sports topic is the Giants’ ongoing high-profile interview with John Harbaugh for their head coach position, while the show also spirals into lively discussions about music history, basketball culture, and sports fandom.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Giants Coaching Search: John Harbaugh Update

• Breaking news: John Harbaugh is in an extensive, hours-long interview with the NY Giants.
• Details from reporters Mike Garafolo and Dan Graziano:
  • Giants’ young quarterback Jackson Dart was involved in the meeting with Harbaugh.
  • Eli Manning and Brian Daboll have both reached out to Harbaugh to vouch for the Giants.
  • Harbaugh will fly home to Baltimore after the meeting; no official interviews with other teams yet, but Tennessee and Atlanta are interested.
  • Green Bay could be in play “if it came open.”
  • Expect Harbaugh’s decision within a week.
• Hosts’ reactions: They analyze why team figureheads (especially Daboll, who coached the Giants last year but is no longer with the team) would advocate so strongly.

Memorable quote:

“As of 5pm Eastern Time here in New York, John Harbaugh remains in New Jersey meeting with the Giants, and he has spent a lot of time at the facility and they haven't let him out yet.”
—Alan Hahn (05:16)

Don’s take on why coaches vouch even after parting ways:

“It's such a small community, and you never know whose path you're going to cross down the road. So why...burn bridges that you might need down the road?”
—Don La Greca (02:40)

2. Sports Media, Ego, and the Michael Kay Debate

• Rosenberg’s “dead to me” moment with Michael Kay:
  • Rosenberg praised Joe Tessitore on his wrestling podcast for being the best on-air “point guard” he’s worked with, causing (semi-joking) offense from Michael Kay, his ESPN colleague.
  • The hosts riff on sports media personalities’ egos—needing to be the “bride at every wedding and the corpse at every funeral.”
• Comparison to basketball roles: Kay = Stockton, Don = Malone, Rosenberg = (jokingly) Mark Eaton.

Notable exchange:

“Michael is the bride at every wedding and the corpse at every funeral. Everything has to be Michael.”
—Peter Rosenberg (10:15, about Michael Kay)

3. Listener Calls: Music History & Debates

• Topics:
  • Best solo careers from group members (e.g., Lionel Richie, Neil Young, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Justin Timberlake).
  • The controversy of whether Tupac counts as an official Digital Underground member.
  • Is Ronnie James Dio as influential in heavy metal as Big Daddy Kane is in hip-hop?
  • The Beatles vs. NWA: Group members’ solo careers compared.
• Standout moments:
  • Don expresses his distaste for synthesizers in rock (e.g., Van Halen’s “Jump” and its impact on 80s rock).
  • Alan gets a local bar recommendation live on-air.
  • Callers defend Lionel Richie’s solo legacy with detailed chart statistics.

Memorable exchange:

“Synthesizer is what killed music...if you're a metal band & all of a sudden you see, like, keyboards on it…”
—Don La Greca (13:46-13:57)

4. NBA State of Play: Diva Tendencies & League Critiques

• Conversation starters:
  • Giannis Antetokounmpo booed by home fans, “boos back,” and the hosts question his sensitivity and connection with fans.
  • LeBron James’ focus on “haters” even as a celebrated legend and the “23 seasons” jersey patch.
• Bigger issue:
  • NBA stars are increasingly obsessed with adoration, unable to handle criticism, and this is alienating for many fans.
  • The regular season is seen as devalued because of the league’s marketing of star personas and the prevalence of “drama.”
• Listener Jay in Elizabeth’s concerns:
  • Load management (debunked by Alan—league now fines teams for illegitimate rest)
  • Pace of play reduces star dominance
  • Too many teams make the playoffs (playing tournament makes regular season less meaningful)
• Hosts’ responses: Fast pace creates “layup line” games, non-star players scoring big, but stars still decide games.

Giannis quote:

“When I get booed, I boo back. I’ve been doing it all season...I play basketball for my teammates. I play basketball for myself and my family. When people don't believe in me, I don't tend to be with them.”
—Giannis Antetokounmpo (34:49)

Host reactions:

“Does this to me feels very bizarre to operate this way instead of owning the fact that the team has not played well...and that you’re losing by 30 at home...”
—Alan Hahn (35:46)

“You want out? I mean, are you tone deaf?...How do you expect the fans to react?”
—Don LaGreca (36:10)

“It just...continues to be, ‘You have to love me. That's the only thing I accept.’ And that—from the biggest stars—that's what it seems like.”
—Alan Hahn (39:29)

5. Music Debates: Deep Dives and Generational Gaps

• Big Daddy Kane vs. Ronnie James Dio:
  • Don and Peter rib each other for not knowing the other's influential artist.
  • Alan: “Big Daddy Kane is not...just because they both have three names.”
• Bob Marley & The Wailers:
  • Questions over solo/group distinction.
  • Rosenberg: “If there was a period where it was The Wailers and he didn’t have his own separate delineation, then I think he would easily become top five.”

6. St. John’s Basketball Management Scandal

• Brief news segment: GM Matt Abdel Massie fired amid allegations of furtive financial deals, despite a statement of innocence.
• Hosts: Note the bigger context with college sports’ lucrative “general manager” positions.

7. Game Time and Upcoming NY Sports

• Knicks & Rangers schedules
• Alan Hahn has the night off from Knicks broadcasting

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• Don, on sports coaching brotherhood:

  "It's such a small community, and you never know whose path you're going to cross down the road. So why...burn bridges that you might need down the road?" —Don La Greca (02:40)

• Peter, on media egos:

  “Michael is the bride at every wedding and the corpse at every funeral. Everything has to be Michael.” —Peter Rosenberg (10:15)

• Don, on synthesizers in hard rock:

  “Synthesizer is what killed music...if you're a metal band & all of a sudden you see, like, keyboards on it…” —Don La Greca (13:46-13:57)

• Caller, defending Lionel Richie:

  “You have to have Lionel Richie in there...more number one albums as a solo artist than any of the other people he mentioned, except for Michael Jackson.” —Caller Rob (22:20)

• Giannis Antetokounmpo, on fan boos:

  “When I get booed, I boo back...I play basketball for my teammates...for myself and my family...” —Giannis (34:49)

• Alan, critiquing Giannis’ reaction:

  “Does this to me feels very bizarre to operate this way instead of owning the fact that the team has not played well...and that you’re losing by 30 at home...” —Alan Hahn (35:46)

• Alan, on NBA’s star culture:

  "It just...continues to be, ‘You have to love me. That's the only thing I accept.’" —Alan Hahn (39:29)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:04–05:25] Harbaugh-Giants interview updates & reactions
• [05:26–14:00] Sports media egos, “point guard” analogies, and Michael Kay debate
• [14:01–24:36] Caller debates: Van Halen, Purple Rain, Lionel Richie, Digital Underground, NWA vs. Beatles, Neil Young
• [27:52–33:13] Ronnie James Dio vs. Big Daddy Kane, Bob Marley/Wailers debate, St. John’s GM firing news
• [34:49–39:57] NBA diva culture: Giannis and LeBron reactions, hosts' critiques
• [48:02–51:15] NBA fan call—load management, pace of play, playoffs structure
• [45:16–47:55] NY sports game time, Knicks, Rangers
• Throughout: Callers prompting deep dives into music/sports history and generational knowledge gaps

Tone & Vibe

• Authentic, fan-driven, good-natured ribbing: The trio mix hard sports news with plenty of humor, pop culture references, and playful jabs.
• Unscripted, conversational: Listeners feel like part of an extended barstool chat—chaotic at times, but always engaging.
• Sharp opinions, open debates: Whether sports, music, or media, the hosts and callers engage in lively, often passionate debate, pulling from decades of sports/music history.

For Listeners Who Missed The Episode

• Get the latest Giants coaching search scoop, including why John Harbaugh is the #1 target and how the franchise, past and present, is rallying to attract him.
• Dive into classic Don, Hahn, and Rosenberg energy: candid conversations about egos, teamwork (in both sports and media), and what makes a good “point guard” in broadcasting.
• Enjoy deep-dive debates about music legends, solo careers, and whether genre icons from different musical worlds deserve equal respect.
• Hear a sharp critique of modern NBA culture—why star “diva” behavior and league policies are turning off lifelong fans.
• Join in on the jokes, ribbing, and punchy banter that make the show feel like a hang with old friends.

A quintessential DHR hour: news you need, tangents you love, and the debates that carry over into the group chat.