Don, Hahn & Rosenberg Podcast

Episode: Hour 3 – Jets Ticket Prices & The List
Date: October 29, 2025
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg

Episode Overview

The third hour of the Don, Hahn & Rosenberg show pivots from the Knicks to tackle two signature themes: the controversial rise in New York Jets’ season ticket prices after years of underperformance, and a lighthearted, spirited "The List" segment, where the crew and callers remember all-time great athletes who ended their Hall of Fame careers in the most unlikely, forgettable, or downright "jabroni" jerseys. Throughout, they combine sharp wit, passionate opinions, and deep sports knowledge, creating an episode that’s at once cathartic for frustrated fans and pure entertainment for sports history buffs.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Jets Season Ticket Price Hike (02:22–16:11)

The Outrage and Rationale

• Hosts express disbelief at news that Jets season ticket invoices for 2026 include an approximate 11% price hike—despite another losing season and 15+ years without playoff football.

  • Don La Greca [02:45]:
    "How the hell are you raising your ticket prices, especially for your loyal season ticket holders? ... After we have given you nothing but losing for 15 years!"

• Theory on Franchise Logic:
  Alan Hahn speculates that front offices justify this by calculating expected drop-offs in ticket renewals, then raising prices on remaining loyal fans to offset those losses.

  • Alan Hahn [04:16]:
    "We’re going to lose X amount of season ticket holders... so let’s raise the tickets 11% for the guys that we know are going to come back."

• Critique of Groupthink:
  The hosts mock the supposed meetings where nobody speaks out against tone-deaf price hikes.

  • Don La Greca [05:15]:
    "How do we have a meeting in a franchise like this where… everybody thinks that's a good idea? There's not a single person in the room like, 'Guys, that's one thing we cannot do.'"

The Loyalty Conundrum

• Business vs. Human Perspective:
  • Alan Hahn [07:32]:
    "They look at the loyalty as—we can make money off of your loyalty. We know you’re not going to give up your tickets."
  • Peter Rosenberg [14:23]:
    "If you love it, let it go. If you truly love them and want them to be better, don't do it... If you’re desperate to go to games again, you’ll be able to get tickets."

Team Justification Debunked

• Jets Justification:
  • Citing “addition of a ninth home game” after an international series game, which the hosts and Mike Florio summarily call misleading or "factually incorrect."
  • Don La Greca [13:22]:
    "Mike Florio is actually saying it's factually incorrect what the Jets are saying... The extra game next year is preseason."

Fan Voices & Calls

• Caller (“Peter in Mamaronek”) [14:54]:
  Tells the tale of giving up tickets after a disastrous game:
  "At the end of the first half, I looked at my son… I said, 'Let’s go hit Carvel and go home.'"

• The hosts reflect on the anxiety of being the last loyal fan to hold tickets—fearful that your departure brings a curse-breaking season.

  • Alan Hahn [16:11]:
    "The year I finally just say I’m done, that’s what you’re afraid of... like you’re holding the franchise back.”

• Modern Reality Check:

  • Alan Hahn [16:26]:
    "We live in an era now—I don’t care how hot the event is—you can find a way... Probably not that much more expensive than what you’re probably paying for season tickets anyway."

Memorable Quotes

• Don La Greca [11:02]:
  "If I'm a snake oil salesman, I'm going to tell you this is going to cure cancer... What are the Jets selling? We're awful."
• Alan Hahn [21:02]:
  "Just suffering and going into debt and driving yourself crazy doesn’t make you a better fan."

2. The List – “Jabroni Land” Athletes in Odd Uniforms (24:49–41:56)

Defining “Jabroni Land”

• The Segment’s Purpose:
  The hosts create and debate a “Jabroni List”—all-time great athletes who ended their careers with forgettable, awkward, or downright sad stints on random teams.
  • Alan Hahn [25:18]:
    "It’s a great player—like, oh my God, I can’t believe he’s on that team!"

List Curation: Notable Picks & Banter

• Franco Harris as a Seahawk (26:01):
  "No recollection." (Peter Rosenberg)

• Joe Montana as a Kansas City Chief (26:22):
  "It just never should’ve happened, in my opinion." (Peter Rosenberg)

• Hakeem Olajuwon as a Toronto Raptor (27:39):
  "That's not a thing that... That happened." (Peter Rosenberg)
  "Right up there with Patrick as a Seattle Supersonic." (Alan Hahn)

• Johnny Unitas as a San Diego Charger (28:31):
  "Didn't know the Chargers existed when he played." (Peter Rosenberg)

• Mike Piazza as an Oakland Athletic (30:22):
  "Don't remember this either." (Peter Rosenberg)

• Marty Brodeur as a St. Louis Blue (31:17):
  "He should have—certain players should never wear another jersey." (Don La Greca)

• Emmitt Smith as an Arizona Cardinal (32:04):
  "Emmitt Smith on the Cardinals was repugnant." (Peter Rosenberg)

• Ken Griffey Jr. as a Chicago White Sox (32:44):
  "That's 41 games." (Don La Greca)

• Allen Iverson as a Memphis Grizzly (33:05):
  "So bad at the end, there was no tread on the tire." (Don La Greca)

• Jordan as a Wizard, Ewing as a Sonic, Shaq as a Celtic:
  Basketball legends in odd locales—summed up as "examples of the list" (27:02).

Criteria Debate & Final “Top 5”

• Criteria: Not just forgotten stints, but moments that were “epic fail,” jarring, or insulted a player’s legacy.
  • Peter Rosenberg [30:07]:
    "It's not simply you don't remember; it's also epic fail."

Final Top Five (as agreed on air around 41:35):

1. Michael Jordan – Washington Wizards

2. Joe Namath – Los Angeles Rams

3. Ken Griffey Jr. – Chicago White Sox

4. Hakeem Olajuwon – Toronto Raptors

5. Martin Brodeur – St. Louis Blues

   • Brodeur’s inclusion sparks debate; Rosenberg concludes, "You could have just finished the career, but you went for one more." (36:05)

Extended Honorable Mentions/Callers & Social Submissions (43:25–above)

• Brian Leetch on the Bruins or Leafs
• Wayne Gretzky on the Blues
• Tracy McGrady as a Knick
• Alonzo Mourning as a Net, Tony Parker as a Hornet
• Matt Ryan as a Colt
• Reggie White as a Carolina Panther
• Babe Ruth as a Boston Brave, Willie Mays as a Met

3. Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Don La Greca [05:16]:
  "How do we have a meeting? ... 'We're going to jack them up 10%, 11%' ... there's not a single person in the room who says, 'We cannot do that!'"

• Peter Rosenberg [12:25]:
  "Once the weather starts to turn, there's not going to be anybody in the building."

• Alan Hahn [21:22]:
  "That's such a commitment to a team that doesn't commit to you."

• Caller (Juicy) [48:31]:
  Offers heartfelt thanks to Don and suggests a merch-based charity drive:
  "We care deeply about you... I would love to make a contribution to that charity because I know it's so close to you, and I want you to know how much we care about you because you are our guy..."

Segment Timestamps

| Segment Description | Timestamp | |-------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------| | Jets Ticket Price Outrage & Analysis | 02:22–16:11| | Fans’ perspectives on giving up season tickets | 14:54–17:33| | List Introduction ("Jabroni Land" for Legends) | 24:49–41:56| | Social/caller additions to the list (Leetch, Gretzky, T-Mac, etc.) | 43:25–44:42| | Heartfelt Calls & Don Appreciation (Juicy’s charity call) | 48:31–50:09|

Tone & Style

• The episode is classic New York sports radio: blunt, passionate, sarcastic, and colloquial.
• Moments of earnest fan empathy mix with the show’s signature banter, sarcasm, and old-school/deep-cut sports references.
• Listener calls are emotionally honest, reinforcing a tight-knit community feel.

For First-Time Listeners

This episode spotlights what makes Don, Hahn & Rosenberg a favorite for New York sports fans—unfiltered takes on local teams’ mistreatment of loyal fans, a creative and interactive trip through sports nostalgia, and plenty of sharp one-liners. Whether you’re a disillusioned Jets supporter or a sports trivia buff, you’ll find catharsis, laughter, and likely a moment where you yell, "I forgot he played for them!" at your speakers.