Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 3: March Madness & Cockroaches

Date: March 19, 2026
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg

Episode Overview

This episode is a lively blend of New York sports discussion, March Madness updates, affectionate broadcaster reminiscences, and signature banter. With NCAA basketball drama unfolding live, the trio transitions from upsets and New York baseball transitions to sharp, humorous exchanges on cockroach pronunciation and a comedic movie review segment.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. March Madness Update and Upsets

• Live Tournament Coverage:
  • Alan provides real-time NCAA updates, focusing on near-upset between Siena (16-seed) and Duke (1-seed).
  • Other upsets: High Point (12-seed) defeats Wisconsin; TCU (9) beats Ohio State (8); Nebraska wins its first NCAA tournament game.
• The Anatomy of an Upset:
  • Don describes the "tipping point" in upsets:

    “Once you dip into that under-16 first commercial break and if they maintain a big lead, that's when you start to say maybe upset could be a possibility.” (01:57)

  • Siena’s missed opportunities: lost on missed dunks and cold shooting, with Duke’s quality ultimately prevailing.

    “You just can't leave that door open even a crack. And they did and Duke just kicked it down.” (02:31)

2. Howie Rose’s Retirement – A New York Broadcasting Milestone

• Tribute to a Voice of a Generation:
  • Howie Rose, legendary Mets announcer, announces final season; Don and Alan share personal memories and career impact.
  • Don contextualizes Rose among other retiring New York voices (Doc Emmerich, John Sterling, Sam Rosen), painting a picture of a changing guard in NYC sports media.
• On Broadcasting’s Personal Toll:
  • Don explains Rose’s reasons: family, night games, and late returns home:

    “…when you do a game, especially a night game, you're coming home at 11:30 at night, she's eating dinner by herself because it's an empty nest now… he wants to be able to be with his wife and relax.” (05:00)

  • Rose’s promise: he won’t return, even if the Mets make a future World Series.
  • Don shares gratitude and nostalgia for listening to Rose’s iconic “put it in the books” call.

Notable Quote:

“Another voice of a generation, you know, our generation of listening to sports in New York that is calling it quits, saying goodbye, and well deserved for him.” – Alan Hahn (04:05)

3. World Baseball Classic (WBC): Where Does It Fit?

• Debate on Meaning and Format:
  • Don argues that current WBC compromises—especially on pitcher availability—keep it from equaling the World Series or Olympics in true excitement.

    “You can't have those moments, guys. Because he could have pitched… Because it wasn't a safe situation... that is what stops it from being at the level that it should.” (11:47)

• Restructuring Proposals:
  • Peter advocates moving the WBC in-season, like the NHL does the Olympics, to ensure top players’ full investment.
  • The hosts debate logistics: two-week mid-season pause, All-Star break restructuring, challenges of player workload, and U.S. team’s lack of urgency versus international teams.

    “Middle of the year… the dead zone that is July… This is ideal for baseball. If you want to own the sports headlines… you have this instead.” – Peter Rosenberg (18:46)

4. The Aaron Judge Paradox

• Media Pressure and Personality:
  • The hosts reflect on Judge’s reserved demeanor and the outsized scrutiny Yankees stars face.

    “Just imagine living life knowing everything that you say… millions of people are gonna comment on it. It's gotta be exhausting.” – Don LaGreca (21:04)

• WBC Struggles:
  • Peter and Don dissect Judge’s WBC at-bats, lamenting fan expectations and media overreaction when he underperformed:

    “We predicted… If he goes 0-4 with three strikeouts… that's what he did. And it's just sad, but it's so predictable…” – Peter Rosenberg (23:00)

  • Alan asserts Judge “shrunk in the moment again.” (24:25)
  • Hosts wish for Judge’s "redemption arc" in the MLB season.

5. Game Time & NHL Playoff Push

• Rangers and Islanders Scenarios:
  • Alan and Peter outline crucial playoff races:
    • Rangers playing Columbus, importance for Islanders’ playoff outlook.
    • Losses, overtime points, and remaining games all come into focus as the race tightens.
  • Alan: “This is the time of year, Don, where it’s… you start to root for your rival…” (27:43)

6. Minutia & New York Quirks: The Cockroach Debate

• Linguistic Comedy:
  • The crew riffs on Don’s unique pronunciation—“cockroach” (as in “cock-a-roach”)—sparking a classic New York cultural debate.
    • Alan: “The word is definitely not cockroach. The word is cockroach.” (32:30)
    • Don: “I've been saying it. Nobody's ever corrected me.” (33:49)
  • Peter: “It worked for Scarface. It worked for Tony Montana.” (33:59)
• Accent and Identity:
  • Don recalls being told he “has no accent,” but the segment morphs into affectionate teasing and New York–Jersey accent observations.

    “I say things wrong because I'm simple, but I don't… think I have a Jersey accent… I have what they call just ignorance.” – Don LaGreca (36:06)

  • The discussion becomes a quirky, lovable New York moment about language, class, and sports radio culture.

7. Don’s Movie Reviews: “One Battle After Another” & “Happy Gilmore”

• Oscars and Contemporary Film:
  • Don reviews the recent Oscars Best Picture winner, “One Battle After Another” (fictional film), calling it “very well acted” but “a mess.”
    • Key criticisms: unclear characters, no obvious hero, and an odd ending involving the character Lockjaw.
    • Alan counters that the film’s characters are intentionally complex:

      “Bob’s character is an anti-hero… He’s a stoned weirdo… Nobody to root for. He’s one of my favorite Leo characters of all time.” (44:47)

  • Don: “I'm not sure… I won't watch it again… Next day I finally got around to watching Happy Gilmore and I laughed through the entire movie. I thought it was absolutely fabulous.” (45:20)
  • General consensus: Sometimes, a comedy just delivers more joy.

8. Other Notable Moments & Quick Hits

• Islanders’ AHL Team Move:
  • Announcement: Islanders’ minor league affiliate moving from Bridgeport to Hamilton, Ontario.
  • Sentimental mention of the “end of an era” for local hockey fans and behind-the-scenes stories.
• Pronunciation Flubs and Banter:
  • The trio bond over tricky words (“anonymity,” “cockroach”), classic NYC/Jersey pronunciations, and broadcaster mishaps.

Memorable Quotes & Moments (Timestamps)

• On March Madness Upends Expectations:

  “You just can't leave that door open even a crack. And they did and Duke just kicked it down.”
  – Don LaGreca (02:31)

• Howie Rose’s Impact:

  “Another voice of a generation … calling it quits… and well deserved for him.”
  – Alan Hahn (04:05)

• On WBC Authentic Competition:

  “You can't have those moments, guys. … that's what stops it from being at the level that it should.”
  – Don LaGreca (11:47)

• Judge Under the Microscope:

  “Just imagine living life knowing everything that you say… millions of people are gonna comment on it. It's gotta be exhausting.”
  – Don LaGreca (21:04)

• On “Cockroach” Pronunciation:

  “It worked for Scarface. It worked for Tony Montana.”
  – Peter Rosenberg (33:59) "I say things wrong because I'm simple, but ... I have what they call just ignorance."
  – Don LaGreca (36:06)

• Movie Review Juxtaposition:

  “I'm not sure… I won't watch it again… Next day I finally got around to watching Happy Gilmore and I laughed through the entire movie. I thought it was absolutely fabulous.”
  – Don LaGreca (45:20) "Bob’s character is an anti-hero… He’s a stoned weirdo… Nobody to root for. He’s one of my favorite Leo characters of all time."
  – Alan Hahn (44:47)

Closing Tone and Takeaways

This hour demonstrates the unique chemistry between Don, Hahn & Rosenberg: sharp sports analysis, deep New York roots, and an easy humor that morphs even mispronounced “cockroach” into communal lore. The episode flows from live tournament drama to moments of nostalgia and raucous laughter, illustrating New York sports radio at its most engaging and relatable. Whether dissecting a baseball pitcher’s absence or the finer points of Scarface diction, the boys offer an ideal blend of informed insight and local color.