Podcast Summary: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg
Episode: Hour 3: Judge & Cohen's comments
Date: February 16, 2026
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Producer/Guests: Jake Asman, Anthony Pusick
Overview
On this episode, Don, Hahn & Rosenberg take a wide-ranging journey through the ongoing issues in the NBA—focusing heavily on tanking, the draft lottery, and Adam Silver’s stewardship. The conversation then pivots to MLB, spotlighting Aaron Judge’s unusually pointed offseason comments about the Yankees, followed by Steve Cohen’s optimism about the Mets. The trio, joined by contributors, also share candid thoughts on sports media, pop culture, and what it means to be a New York sports fan amid cycles of hype and letdown.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. NBA Tanking & The Draft Lottery Problem
(00:29 – 14:47)
- Caller & Crew Banter: The team recounts regular NBA caller “Richard in Manhattan”—how he presents off-topic, sometimes convoluted proposals, and a humorous debate on what callers “sound” like versus how they look.
- Tanking Solutions Debated:
- Hahn’s Proposal: Proposes a rule barring teams from picking in the top 3 (or top 5) multiple years running, to “deincentivize” tanking.
- Rosenberg’s Radical Idea: “Just get rid of the draft, make it free agency for all the players. Now you got to create a system that allows for like salary allocation…” (07:44)
- Pushback: This could stack stars with marquee teams and force smaller-market clubs to dump core players, counteracting parity aims.
- Recognition of Silver’s Laxness: Hahn emphasizes former commissioner David Stern would’ve “nipped it in the bud,” contrasting this with what they see as Silver’s “pro player” approach.
- All-Star Game & League Narrative: Rosenberg notes that, at a moment when NBA should own the stage post-Super Bowl, the league’s dominant stories are tanking, load management, and a lack of competitive intensity.
Notable Quotes
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Don Hahn [03:19]: “There’s no way to fix the tanking problem...other than getting rid of the lottery and making it random.”
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Rosenberg [06:04]: “If you’re not going to get penalized...as they should [tank], especially if you’re not going to get penalized.”
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Don Hahn [10:28]: “A big criticism of Silver and part of his legacy will be it has been allowed to get to this point under his watch.”
Listener Call
- Tim from Charleston [12:28]: Suggests rewarding “middle 15” teams who try but aren’t good enough, instead of the bottom-feeders.
- Rosenberg [12:56]: Flags that this could push fringe playoff teams to tank for a better lottery position.
2. Aaron Judge’s Revealing Yankees Comments
(14:51 – 22:22)
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Judge’s Honest Soundbite: Yankees captain Aaron Judge tells the media his offseason was “brutal,” expressing visible frustration at the team’s slower, conservative approach compared to rivals. He emphasizes excitement over bringing back key players but questions why the Yankees didn’t act sooner or more aggressively.
- Judge [14:51]: “It was brutal. ...I’m seeing other teams around the league get better…we kind of were sitting there for a while, making smaller moves…early on it was pretty tough to watch. I’m like, we’re the New York Yankees. Let’s go out there and get the right people.”
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Host Reactions & Skepticism:
- Rosenberg [15:37]: “I’ve never heard Judge talk that way.”
- Don Hahn [16:20]: Notes Judge groups Paul Goldschmidt—a 38-year-old platoon player—alongside star returnees, possibly overstating roster improvements.
- Rosenberg [17:18]: “I’ve got a take. I don’t believe Aaron Judge. …He’s being professional...but I find it very hard [to believe]...he goes from being frustrated to ‘we’re right where we want to be.’ It doesn’t...line up for me.”
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Long-Term Frustration:
- Hahn [18:10]: Believes Judge “has confidence in his team,” but doubts the organization is “doing everything in [its] power to win” with a generational talent in his prime.
Notable Quotes
- Aaron Judge [14:51; 18:53]: “It was brutal…But I think we're right where we need to be.”
- Don Hahn [21:57]: “If you gave him truth serum, his answer should have been: ‘Hey, I'm in my prime…we have this window right now...Let's go for it right now.’”
3. Steve Cohen’s Optimism & Mets Expectations
(34:03 – 38:06)
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Cohen’s Spring Training Mood:
- Cohen [34:03]: “I feel like there’s a different energy here this year than last year...I’m really excited by this team.”
- Rosenberg [34:19]: Skeptically suggests Cohen is implying subtraction of negative clubhouse influences, but wonders why last year’s highly anticipated roster didn’t inspire greater optimism.
- Don Hahn [35:17]: “He just says that. He’s a billionaire...Every year you ask Steve Cohen about the energy, he’ll tell you it’s great.”
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Pressure on Mets’ Brass:
- Rosenberg [36:12]: “If Stearns doesn’t get this team to the playoffs, he’s got to be gone. Everybody’s got to go.”
- There’s consensus that the Mets—after record spending and big talk—must now deliver results, not just aspire to “be the Dodgers East.”
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Historical Woes:
- Don Hahn [37:46]: “The Jets have made the playoffs in their history more times than the New York Mets have.”
4. Pop Culture, Super Bowl & New York Life
(24:51 – 46:08; Scattered segments)
- Movie & Series Talk: The hosts and crew trade takes on “American Pie,” “Boys n the Hood,” “Big Momma’s House,” plus recent Netflix shows like “Fool Me Once.” This segues into how cultural references play into station banter and show chemistry.
- Super Bowl on Valentine’s Day 2027:
- Rosenberg [40:27]: Playfully proposes solutions (“do Valentine’s Saturday, game on Sunday—make it work!”), reflecting on football’s supreme pull in American culture.
- Conversation highlights possible impacts on relationships, restaurant business, and the possible new Super Bowl tradition if NFL moves to 18 games.
- NBA Expansion Ire:
- Rosenberg [45:00]: “The NBA, like the parent who can't handle the kids...they already have...but they're already talking about getting pregnant again. ...You’ve got a third of the league tanking and now you want to expand?”
- Don Hahn [45:27]: “It's all about money. ...Adam Silver has done nothing to stop tanking...Devalue the regular season...They don't care about the quality of those teams.”
- Running “Pusick” Name Bit: Hosts joke about using crew members' surnames as slang—another example of their loose, inside-joke-laden style.
Notable Quotes
- Rosenberg [41:12]: “My one true love is football. So the fact that it's on Valentine's Day, what's not to love?”
- Don Hahn [45:27]: “...They just do not care about the fans. ...[the NBA's] completely devalued the regular season.”
Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)
- Rosenberg [07:44]: “Just get rid of the draft, make it free agency for all the players. Now you got to create a system that allows for, like, salary allocation...”
- Don Hahn [10:28]: “A big criticism of Silver and part of his legacy will be it has been allowed to get to this point under his watch.”
- Aaron Judge [14:51]: “It was brutal…But I think we're right where we need to be.”
- Rosenberg [17:18]: “I don’t believe Aaron Judge. …He’s being professional…”
- Rosenberg [36:12]: “If Stearns doesn’t get this team [Mets] to the playoffs, he’s got to be gone.”
- Don Hahn [45:27]: “They have. Adam Silver has done nothing to stop tanking. He's done nothing to stop the load management aspect which...devalue the product in the regular season.”
Timestamps for Important Segments
- NBA tanking discussion & solutions: 00:29–14:47
- Aaron Judge’s comments, Yankees offseason: 14:51–22:22
- Pop culture segment/movies: 24:51–31:40
- Super Bowl falling on Valentine's Day: 40:27–43:54
- NBA expansion criticism: 45:00–46:08
- Steve Cohen & Mets conversation: 34:03–38:06
Memorable Moments
- Richard in Manhattan banter: Light-hearted look at memorable regular callers and their quirks. (00:58)
- Movie viewing “requirement” bit: Ongoing joke about whether producers/staff can work on the show if they haven’t seen certain classic movies. (24:51–29:22)
- Super Bowl/Valentine’s mix: Playful but practical breakdown of managing both the NFL’s big day and relationship obligations. (40:27–43:54)
- "Pusick" name as verb: Humorous, recurring bit with show staff names. (42:11; 46:08)
Tone & Style
The episode showcases the show's blend of sharp analysis, unfiltered opinions, playful New York sports cynicism, and inside jokes. While topics traverse games, leagues, pop culture, and lifestyle, the hosts never lose their audience—sports-obsessed New Yorkers who appreciate forthright criticism just as much as irreverent banter.